Thursday, June 26, 2008
Valley24 gets its Mojo workinSSRq
The Web site is celebrating its first year.
the vindicator
Valley24.com, the area’s alternative-entertainment Web site, is turning 1.
To mark its birthday, the site is throwing a party Friday at Mojo’s Pub and Grille in Austintown with these acts: the Kellys, Turbo Lovers, 5 Elements, Khaled Tabbara and We Famous. An online poll at the site will determine the order in which they play.
Valley24.com went live last summer and has made great strides since its inception.
“We couldn’t be happier with the first year of valley24,” said Jason Holmes, executive producer of the Web site. “We’ve been able to appeal to an audience of over 10,000 people per month and keep them up to date with what’s happening in the Valley.”
The site includes stories, reviews, a nightlife calendar, photos, videos and blogs. In the upcoming year, it plans to build on what it started.
“The biggest changes I see coming will be giving the bands more control over their presentation on the site and more user blogs,” said Holmes. “Also, more pics and videos — especially stuff submitted by our audience.”
Friday will also be a notable night for Mojo’s.
The pub has also seen a lot of action as a rock club in the past year, but the v24 party could be its biggest event to date.
Mojo’s holds about 300 people in two adjacent rooms. The bands will be on a stage on one side, with the bar, kitchen and dining room open on the other.
Owner-chef John Marino, who books bands through 3rd Arm Productions, points out the bar’s name has its origins in rock — “Mr. Mojo Risin’” from The Doors’ “L.A. Woman.”
Grey Dealer, The Breezeway, 5 Elements, Grand Fury and Acoustic Juggernaut are among the bands that have played Mojo’s in the past year.
A comfortable neighborhood-type establishment, Mojo’s differentiates itself with a restaurant-caliber menu. The burgers, wings and appetizers are there, but so are steaks, seafood and ribs.