Matt James and the Progress Notes
Parkersburg, West Virginia, United States | SELF
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PARKERSBURG - Local bands will come together to raise money for cancer awareness during the fifth annual Outcry for Rock fundraiser Saturday at City Park in Parkersburg.
The daylong concert will begin at noon and run until 10 p.m. in the City Park Bandshell.
A different band will take the stage every hour beginning at noon. Some of the participating bands include Meaningful Gnames, Matt James and the Progress Notes, In Another Life, Underneath It All, Panick Attack, Malice, Cowbell Heroes and Jinx'd.
Carmen Hathaway, community manager for the American Cancer Society in Parkersburg, said she wants to see the entire community in City Park for the event.
"The entertainment is free," she said. "We have a great lineup, so bring your chair, all of your friends, and spend the day."
With the concert being free of charge, the ACS hopes to make between $2,000 and $2,500 by selling concert T-shirts and other items, concessions and a 50/50 raffle.
"We have these incredible bands that donate their time and talent out of the goodness of their hearts," Hathaway said. "This event always makes me feel grateful for the support we get to help fund cancer research."
Hathaway said she hopes this year's Outcry for Rock does not get rained out like last year's, which was rescheduled and moved to Bicentennial Park.
"This year we are back in City Park and have such a beautiful setting with shade that is perfect for everyone to set up their lawn chairs and enjoy the concert; I just hope the weather cooperates," she said.
For more updates and information, call the American Cancer Society at (304) 422-1472, join Facebook Event: Outcry For Rock or search for Outcry For Rock on MySpace.
- The Marietta Times
PARKERSBURG -About 50 skateboarders participated in the Get Me Off the Streets" Skate Competition and Concert at Corning Park Saturday.
"This is something we can do to get the community involved in what we do," said Alan Hughes, vice president of the Parkersburg Skate Plaza Foundation.
Ramps from Alpha Omega Board Shop in Williamstown were set up in the parking lot for skateboarders and bikers.
Hughes said last year's event was a fundraiser for the skate plaza and this year's will be to maintain the skate park that will soon be built at Fort Neal Park off Camden Avenue near the Elite Sports Center.
"We have raised all of the money we need for the construction, but we will need funds for upkeep and that is what this event and future ones will be about," Hughes said.
The day not only included skaters showing off their moves, but also live music.
"This is bigger than the last where we had only one band and this time we have four," Hughes said.
The bands included Matt James and The Progress Notes, Marc Noland, Living On Stolen Time and Revulvas. - Jolene Craig - Parkersburg News and Sentinel
If you didn’t come to the event yesterday you really missed out. We want to thank all the bands, Matt James & The Progress Notes for coming out the second year in a row, Marc Noland (he told me the new name of his band yesterday but I’ve already forgot), Living On Stolen TIme, and Revulvas. - Allen Huges - The Parkersburg Skate Plaza
Parkersburg trio Matt James & the Progress Notes will be performing in Ripley, West Virginia at the Fairplain Yacht Club, located at 3984 Cedar Lakes Drive, on April 10 at 10pm. The band, which consists of drummer John Wass, bassist/vocalist Jarod Eddy, and harmonic player/guitarist and vocalist Matthew James have been actively touring the Mid-Ohio Valley for almost a year.
Their sound is eclectic, a blend of country, grunge, folk, and punk they count acts diverse as David Bowie, Talking Heads, and The Beatles as major influences. However, they draw most of their inspiration from early 1990’s Alternative Rock acts like Alice in Chains, Nirvana, and Cake.
Interested parties can stay current with Matt James & the Progress notes at their web site www.myspace.com/progressnoteswv.
Also slated to perform that evening, local singer, and songwriter Justin Johnson.
Continue reading on Examiner.com: Matt James & the Progress Notes to play the Fairplain Yacht Club - Parkersburg rock music | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/rock-music-in-parkersburg/matt-james-the-progress-notes-to-play-the-fairplain-yacht-club#ixzz1DKT4CiPg
- Jeremy Brown - www.examiner.com
Discography
Spread It Around - Demo
I'm Not Telling
Fighting Demons with Song
Never Was a Question
Have You Ever
Photos
Bio
Rooted in the Appalachian region of West Virginia, Matt James and the Progress Notes emerged onto the music scene with their unique blend of acoustic infused with alternative and punk rock, creating a new genre that has been coined as Alternabilly.
Band members Jarod Eddy and John Wass met soon after they graduated high school in 1996, forming a friendship based on music and their love for technology. In the beginning, John and Jarod spent many nights and weekends playing music with friends in the area. The pair were inspired by rock and funk sounds of Primus, Talking Heads, Clutch, and Nirvana.
After playing together on and off throughout college, the duo began working together in corporate America where they met singer/songwriter, Matt James, in 2009. Jarod and Matt began playing songs that echoed the early sounds of Matt James an the Progress Notes in their project, Two Guys and Four First Names. After playing in small coffee shops and bookstores in the area, they realized they needed more so took their ideas to John. Adding the backing of John’s drums to the mix was just what their sound needed.
Highly motivated, the group began building a loyal fan base throughout the Appalachian area, while performing at local bars and small venues.
Matt James and the Progress Notes is also proactive in supporting many causes and regularly volunteers for fundraisers such as The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and the Mid-Ohio Valley “In The Pink” Breast Cancer Walk where they provided musical entertainment. They have played events promoting the exposure of local musicians at the Outcry For Rock Festival and The Parkersburg Skate Plaza Foundation.
Today, the band is making its way up the ladder in the music business. They have recently expanded their Internet presence and are working on their debut album expected to be out by fall 2011. Their demo, Spread It Around, has been highly requested and is played on Internet radio worldwide.
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