Scott Tady: Grushecky to rock Beaver, as 4 Ghost Hounds did

Part of the bedrock of the Pittsburgh music scene since the 1970s, Joe Grushecky and his Houserockers play their first Beaver County show in almost two decades, Aug. 26, at Beaver Station Cultural & Events Center.

Heck, I might forgo one of those trendy craft beers Beaver Station gives out complimentary with concert reservations, and pre-game instead by pumping an Iron City Beer, in honor of Grushecky's signature song, "Pumping Iron."

"We're glad to be back playing, and it's going to be fun coming back up to Beaver County, which we haven't played since the good old days," Grushecky said in a phone chat Monday.

Grushecky & The Houserockers last played here at Thursday's in Bridgewater, and did a show at the late, great Rochester Riverfront Stage in the early part of this century. Though the band's biggest local turnouts came circa 1980, at the even later and greater Morry's Speakeasy in Rochester Township.

In those days, Rolling Stone magazine urged readers to check out Grushecky.

Bruce Springsteen did, beginning a regular collaboration with Grushecky, starting with the Pittsburgh rocker's 1995 "American Babylon" album. Springsteen joined Grushecky & The Houserockers on stage at Nick's Fat City on East Carson Street that October. A recording of that show was released last year as part of an "American Babylon" reissue.

Grushecky's band typically hops on stage with The Boss at his Pittsburgh arena shows.

This past February, Grushecky teamed with Dunkin' donut stores in the Pittsburgh area on "Houserockin with Dunkin'," a specially curated QR playlist showcasing Grushecky and the Houserockers and other regional rockers, including The Clarks, the Commonheart, Wreck Loose and Beaver County's Donnie Iris and Andre Costello.

The first two years of the pandemic limited the number of gigs for Grushecky's band, which has headlined the Rivers Casino and South Park amphitheaters this summer. Having stripped away the keyboards and saxophone from recent years, the Houserockers are now a leaner, guitar-driven machine, their boss says.

"We're sounding the best we've ever been," Grushecky said.

Joining them at Beaver Station will be The Forty Nineteens, the California band led by drummer Nick Zeigler, a Monaca native, on drums. The Forty Nineteens get coast-to-coast radio airplay from deejays digging the band's retro garage-rock vibe. Two of the band's most famous fans are TV's Drew Carey and Springsteen guitarist Little Steven, who both regularly feature The Forty Nineteens on their SiriusXM radio programs.

The outdoor Beaver show (seats provided) includes the Los Gingos Tacos food truck, and starting at 6:30 p.m. complimentary beer and wine as part of your $30 reservation at beaverstation.org At 6 p.m., DJ Ian will spin music supplied by InnerGroove Record Store of Monaca.

New to the scene

Forged in March, The StreetSide Saints play their biggest show yet, Aug. 27, at Thursday's in Bridgewater.

"This show is very important to me personally," StreetSide Saints singer Dave Joseph said. "In the many bands I’ve been in, I have yet to play at Thursday's. That stage and setup they have out back is second to none, and I’m very excited to be playing out there, weather permitting."

You might remember Joseph as the singer for local blues band Izzy Garbone, a group inspired by guitar immortal Stevie Ray Vaughan.

It's no coincidence the Thursday's show falls on the 32nd anniversary of Vaughan perishing in a helicopter crash.

"There’s no denying he brought the blues to the MTV Generation," Joseph said. "He, quite simply, was my Elvis. I literally had people calling my house to offer me their condolences when he passed. I’ve always wanted to do something special to commemorate the occasion, and while working with the folks at Thursday's, I noticed the date and couldn’t pass it up."

While the StreetSide Saints touch on the blues, including on a few original songs, the band's two-hour-long sets also cover an eclectic mix ranging from the Beatles to the Doobie Brothers to Bob Marley and George Benson. StreetSide Saints include two other former Izzy Garbone members who also were with Joseph in Misery Loves Company.

"So far, the feedback has all been very positive, and we are beginning to gain a bit of an audience," Joseph said.

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Sailing in Beaver

The Yacht Rock concert last weekend in Beaver ended thrillingly, when audience members Johnny Baab and Blaise Lanzetta − both of Pittsburgh's Ghost Hounds − hopped on stage alongside their Ghost Hounds bandmates Joe Munroe and Tre Nation for a blazing version of Cliff Richards' "Devil Woman."

Munroe, of Center, had served as keyboardist and band leader for an evening of '70s and '80s hits like "How Long" by Ace, "Midnight at The Oasis" by Maria Muldaur, "Still The One" by Orleans, "Hold The Line" by Toto and "Reminiscing" by Little River Band. Lead vocals were shared by three dazzling talents: Pete Hewlett, Erika Vasquez and Katie Simone, whose treatment of Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do With It" was a show-stopper.

Spectators danced more at last year's Elton John tribute at Linn Park. Many of the Yacht Rock show's selections, like The Eagles' "I Can't Tell You Why," Steely Dan's "Deacon Blues" and Linda Ronstadt's "Blue Bayou" were more for sitting back and savoring the musicianship.

Nation, the Ghost Hounds' charismatic singer, kicked the energy level up a few notches, singing lead on four songs, including the show-launcher "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson, accompanied by 13 moonwalking, shiny single-glove wearing dancers from the MSDX Co., a competitive team from Maria's School of Dance in New Brighton.

It was cool to see four of the six Ghost Hounds represent in Beaver. Remember: That bluesy band from Pittsburgh has kept busy this summer opening stadium concerts for the Rolling Stones and Garth Brooks.

In the Beaver concert's final minutes, with the crowd on its feet, Larry Renninger, the local businessman who masterminds these annual Linn Park shows, had a twinkle in his eyes. I bet he's already planning next year's show, and pondering more Ghost Hounds involvement.

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Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Tady: Grushecky to rock Beaver, as 4 Ghost Hounds did