You may recognize the names of the headliners at this year's Mahoning Valley Rib Burn Off, but what

You may recognize the names of the headliners at this year's Mahoning Valley Rib Burn Off, but what do you know about the area's bands that will be warming up the crowd? Get in tune with notes from Entertainment Editor Debora Shaulis.
TONIGHT
6:30 p.m.: No X-Cuse plays a mix of classic rock and dance music. You may have seen this band at Hammer Jacks in Warren.
8:30 p.m.: The Earthquakers look like genteel Amish men, with their straw hats, plain shirts, suspenders and dark pants. That is, until they launch into covers of rock classics such as AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long."
10 p.m.: The Shagadelics features the former lead singer and drummer of Disco Explosion as well as former members of the show band Disco, Inc., who performed at many major casinos in Las Vegas. Disco remains the name of their musical game.
FRIDAY
6:30 p.m.: Cottonmouth is a Southern rock band from Twinsburg that has toured with Eddie Money and .38 Special, among others.
8 p.m.: Meet Karli, AKA 18-year-old Karli Whetstone of Howland, a country-rock vocalist whose debut EP will be available for the first time at this performance. Besides the rib festival, Karli will be an opening act twice -- once for Neal McCoy, another time for Phil Vassar -- at B & amp;B Backstage in Boardman.
10 p.m.: Headliner Lee Greenwood ("God Bless the U.S.A.").
SATURDAY
6 p.m.: Edison's Medicine plays 1980s rock -- Billy Idol, Bon Jovi, Journey, Kiss and Motley Crue, among others. This four-man band probably won't stay for ribs and beer after the show. They're due on stage at 10:30 at Ice House Inn, West Webb Road at state Route 46, Austintown.
7:45 p.m.: Bad Habits, AKA The Eye Docs of Rock, has roots at Ohio State University in Columbus. That's where Niles native Ken Kuhn, an optician with offices in his hometown and Boardman, met some doctors-in-training who liked rock music as much as he did. They played in Columbus bars while they were in graduate school and continue to perform at medical conventions as well as nightspots. Their set list includes songs from 1950 to 1990.
9 p.m.: Vesica Pisces is a female-fronted pop-rock band that is touring with Cheap Trick. Since winning the 2000 Los Angeles Music Award for Best Adult Contemporary Artist, Vesica Pisces has recorded "Halfway to Naked," its second CD on Big3 Records, with Grammy-winning producer Jack Douglas. Vocalist-songwriter Kelly Fitzgerald asks "What's so bad about being single?" in the band's first song from the CD, "Single." As for the meaning of the band's name, it's the term for the shared space when two circles overlap.
10 p.m.: Headliner Cheap Trick ("I Want You To Want Me," "The Flame").
SUNDAY
6 p.m.: Classic rock band The Fuzz features drummer John Sferra, who also is part of Glass Harp; bass player Ted Pecchio, a seasoned musician whose father, Dan Pecchio, is Sferra's Glass Harp band mate; and guitarist Mike Baranski, who has played in nationally known bands. The Fuzz will be one of the opening acts at the "Yankee Lake Jam" concert in Brookfield on Aug. 31, featuring ZZ Top and Ted Nugent.
7:15 p.m.: Classic and contemporary rock band The Benders features guitarist Dave Lemasters of Howland, who defines "working musician." Lemasters recently released his second solo CD, "Reasons To Be," which demonstrates his ability to write catchy modern songs that really rock as well as meaningful ballads. The CD includes one song with his Benders band mates (Bill Griffin, Jeff Draime and Dante Cerni). The Benders will be traveling this summer to Hot Rod Cafes in Columbus and Dayton. Lemasters also plays guitar in Left End, the classic rock band that will perform next month with Eddie Money at B & amp;B Backstage and at the "Yankee Lake Jam." Lemasters also performs with the trio Triple Play and in a private-party band called The Hubcaps. For Lemasters information, go to www.members.aol.com/dmaster261. The Benders will join The Fuzz and others at the "Yankee Lake Jam" on Aug. 31.
9 p.m.: Headliner The Gin Blossoms ("Hey Jealousy").
10:30 p.m.: Fireworks show.