43
Cyrus to reunite for Vexfest performance
Rapper Kenny Ali will perform with a backing band.
YOUNGSTOWN — If only it fell on a three-day weekend.
The holiday known as Vexfest is Sunday, the fifth incarnation of the all-day free rock festival in downtown Youngstown.
For many, the show on West Federal Street is the culmination of weeks of anticipation. The promoters expect up to 10,000 people to pass through the gates over the course of the day, a little more than last year.
It will be a busy day downtown, with a rib cook-off going on all weekend in the nearby Chevrolet Centre parking lot.
“We didn’t know about the rib festival when we picked this date, because we like to hold Vexfest on a day when nothing else is happening,” said Dan Crump of Youngstown Local Music and former owner of Barley’s pub on West Federal. YLM and 3rd Arm Productions put on the event.
At least 40 bands are scheduled to perform on three stages — two outdoors and one inside Barley’s, which is in the middle of the festival block, between Wick Avenue and Phelps Street.
Just about every band in Youngstown is on the bill, including local favorites Asleep, The Zou, and rapper Kenny Ali, who will perform with a three-piece backup band that includes a violin. Via Sahara will give their penultimate performance before calling it quits.
Vexfest will also be something of a record release party for Jones for Revival. Their new album, entitled “No Cheddar,” drops this week.
With Cyrus as the headliner, Vexfest will come full circle. The heavy rock quintet was largely responsible for getting the festival started years ago.
“We had the idea for it and went to Fred Rafidi who helped us get it done,” said Bill Strahin, lead vocalist for the band. “We didn’t know what we were getting into. But it’s come a long way. The whole scene of it is much more professional now.” Rafidi is still one of the festival organizers.
The members of Cyrus went their separate ways years ago, with guitarist Frankie Bennett becoming a part of the mercurial band Cherry Monroe, and Strahin handling radio promotions for the band’s label, Rust Record of Cleveland.
The bandmates are coming from far and wide for the reunion show: drummer Donnie DeCicco from Las Vegas, Bennett from Los Angeles and vocalist Ocachin Taylor from Alabama. They’ll join Strahin and the band’s other local member, guitarist Bob Rolley, for several days of hard rehearsal.
Strahin said Cyrus will play its old recorded material, a few songs that never made it onto a CD, and maybe even a new song.
Will the reunion show lead to more performances? Strahin couldn’t say. “We really don’t know,” he said. “It’s been awhile since we’ve been together. We’ve kept in contact. If it goes well, we might plan another show.”
Cyrus has always wanted to do a reunion show, he said, but the stars didn’t line up until now. “Careers and projects got in the way,” said Strahin.
Music is the main element of Vexfest, but there is also a sideshow scene, with vendors, food and drink.
One change from last year is that beer will be sold on draught only. “We learned our lesson from last year, when we used plastic bottles,” said Crump. Not only did the empties pile up, but extra help was required to keep the coolers stocked.
Many of the same vendors will return to Vexfest, and a few new ones as well, including Nocturnal Terrors, a haunted attraction in Campbell that will create a monster over the course of the day. Chine Box Tattoo of Austintown is also new this year.
Cornhole boards and the mechanic bull that proved such a hit at Jonesfest earlier this summer will add to the atmosphere.
Now, if we could just get Monday off from work.