DEBORA SHAULIS | On the Scene Get in tune with local bands

Perhaps you've read the names of local bands in our Where to Go calendar, but you just don't know what kind of music they play, whether they are worth the cover charge and how strongly you'll smell of cigarette smoke when you leave the bar.
Those excuses won't hold up this month, as bands are joining together for two open-air concerts at prices that aren't much more than a night at the movies.
The first will be Sunday at B & amp;B Backstage, behind Bull & amp; Bear Tavern, U.S. Route 224 and Tiffany Boulevard South in Boardman. Music will begin at 6 p.m. with Edison's Medicine, followed by The Smackdaddys at 7:30 and The HouseBand at 9 p.m. General admission tickets are $10; call B & amp;B at (330) 758-1557.
HouseBand plays dance music, Top 40, oldies, dinner music, hard rock and original songs. Work should begin soon on HouseBand's third original CD. Edison's Medicine and The Smackdaddys both play 80s rock favorites.
If Ozzfest is more your style, a localized version is on the way. Just like Ozzy Osbourne's popular concert festival tour that played last month at Blossom Music Center and Post-Gazette pavilion, this festival features several bands for one price, except it'll be a lot closer to home -- the outdoor stage at McMenamy's, 325 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles.
"9-11 Ozzy and Friends," beginning at 8 p.m. Sept. 11, will have performances by Black Sabbath tribute band War Pigs as well as local rock band Dilligaf, Cleveland-based metal rock acts Sappy Bell and Girth and special guest Dennis T. Menace of Left End. Get tickets for $10 by calling McMenamy's at (330) 544-1732.
In other musical notes:
Scholarship campaign
Local country singer Joey Shamp, who was Neal McCoy's opening act Wednesday night at the Canfield Fair, also used his fair appearance to kick off an Aspiring Musician Scholarship campaign. Between now and Oct. 2, Shamp wants to raise $1,000 to award to a high school senior who plans to enroll at Youngstown State University Dana School of Music. Fundraisers will include raffles, a pie-baking contest and an auction for a date with him. He'll perform again Oct. 2 at Yankee Lake Ballroom near Brookfield. Call the promoter, All Occasion & amp; Different, at (330) 792-4693 for details.
Shamp is awaiting the release of his first full-length CD, which he recorded in Nashville.
Mahoning Valley native Larry Kennedy still sings with The Jellybricks, a Harrisburg, Pa., band that will play its power pop songs Saturday night at Cedar Lounge, downtown Youngstown. Another Harrisburg band, Bridges and a Bottle, will be there, too, revealing influences as retro as The Beatles and as recent as Oasis and Coldplay.
Randy P. Strader, whose Randy & amp; the Renegades owed its name to the late WHOT-AM disc jockey Boots Bell, is keeping it in the family with his new band, Tribute. Sons Jeff and Brandon Strader are regulars, and original Randy & amp; the Renegades drummer Fred Naragon will sit in when Tribute plays during Bike Night events from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at B.B. Rooner's, 256 E. State St., Salem. It'll also be a CD release party for Strader's new collection of original music from the 1970s to 1990s.
Randy & amp; the Renegades went from being a local opening act for Duane Eddy in 1961 at Idora Park Ballroom to performing on Dick Clark's "Caravan of Stars" tours twice and producing a hit song titled "4-Speed."
Christian music
Youngstown band SounDoctrine, which composes its own alternative Christian funk music, wants to help United Way and Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley. When the band plays at 9 p.m. Sept. 11 at Club Khameleon, 626 N. Water St., Kent, it'll give a portion of its proceeds that night to those charities. Many bands will perform that night to benefit other organizations, so fans are asked to download a form on www.soundoctrine.com to be presented at the door.
In addition, SounDoctrine will play a special rendition of a song titled "Sacrifice" that keyboard player Jim Couchenour composed in memory of Sept. 11 terrorist attack victims. It's on Couchenour's debut solo CD.
Christian rock band Identity will open for contemporary Christian singer Shaun Groves at 8 p.m. Sept. 17 at First Christian Church, 2600 Cleveland Ave. N.W., Canton. This is part of the Malone College concert series (call 330-471-8502 for details). Identity's lead vocalist is Sara Pecchia, a student at Canfield High School who took first place in the "Teens for Christ" vocal competition in Columbus earlier this year. Rounding out the band are guitarist Dan Pecchia, Sara's father; drummer Lenny Madole; keyboard player Eric Wintersteller; and bass player Mike Baerwalde.
XDebora Shaulis is entertainment editor. Write her at shaulis@vindy.com.