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Coinmonster is set to make comeback at Pabstolutely fest
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
Pabstolutely rock festival returns this Saturday for the seventh straight year, bringing with it an eclectic lineup of 12 regional and national bands and the first local appearance by Coinmonster in at least three years.
Coinmonster had built up a strong following in the area before going inactive in 2011. The heavy-metal trio from New Castle, Pa., took a hiatus as its members couldn’t find time to balance family with the demands of touring, writing music and rehearsing.
The band’s reappearance at Pabstolutely — an all-day event in the street and parking lot at the Royal Oaks Bar on the near East Side — has caused a buzz among its fan base.
“The reaction has been awesome,” said Jon Reider, guitarist and vocalist for the band. “When I first posted about the possibility of a show, it really took off. Then once I confirmed it, it really went crazy.”
The band hopes to add more shows in the coming months in Youngstown, Cleveland and Pittsburgh if its members’ personal schedules permit it.
Saturday’s event at the Royal Oaks is just the right time and place for a Coinmonster comeback show, said Reider.
“I’ve always thought Pabstolutely would be a great opportunity for us, since we’ve got a very strong history with Youngstown,” said Reider. “Youngstown is where we played our first show back in 1990, and was always our home base.”
The band also includes Rick Stoner on bass and keyboards and David Galazia on drums and vocals.
For its set at Pabstolutely, Coinmonster will stick with its most-popular songs.
“We decided to hold off on the new stuff for this one,” said Reider. “Since it’s an all-day event with several bands and tight schedules, we figured we’d go through and pick the eight to 10 songs that people know or have requested. We’ve got a pretty decent pool of songs to pick from, but when we’re doing a short set, we try to make it count.”
The members of Coinmonster also have a cover band, the Greenfield Triggers, that does ultra-heavy takes on ’70s rock and plays frequently in New Castle, Pa. The side project serves to keep the members sharp and on the same page, even when it comes to playing as Coinmonster.
“We’ve only had a handful of rehearsals for Pabstolutely, but we’ve been playing together for almost 25 years, so the rust quickly comes off,” said Reider. “And playing in a cover band helps with that.”
Coinmonster was founded in 1990. After building a regional following, it hit the road every weekend.
The band’s top achievement, according to Reider, was getting songs placed on The WB series “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and HBO’s “Six Feet Under.”
Pabstolutely is organized by a group that includes Joe Stilson, Royal Oaks owners John and Louie Kennedy, B.J. Lisko and Jimmy Sutman. Proceeds benefit Golden String, an agency directed by Sutman that serves handicapped adults.
Stilson said the group is pleased to be able to stage the event for seven years.
“It has been beneficial to our great friends with disabilities through Golden String, and that is the sole purpose of this event,” said Stilson. “It grows every year in the amount of great people involved and attending. We believe in Youngstown and try to bring together many styles of music, local and national acts, and try to mix it up every September.”