The Vindys swing for the fence with ‘Are You Ready’

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

dastolfo@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

It has been almost a year since the Vindys last performed a full-band show in their hometown.

The drought will end Friday, when the Youngstown-based rockers will play West Side Bowl, with Cleveland’s the Modern Electric as openers.

The last time the Vindys played in Youngstown proper was at Federal Frenzy, the downtown music festival, in April 2018. The act has since played a lot of shows on the road, including a slot at the Brite Winter festival in Cleveland last month.

Before the West Side Bowl show, the Vindys will preview their new song, “Are You Ready,” at 4 p.m. Friday on the Summit radio (WKTL-90.7 FM). The band will be in the studio with the Summit’s Brad Savage to talk about the song and the unique circumstances of its origin.

“Are You Ready” will be released on all digital and streaming platforms April 5.

That’s the same day The Vindys will make their debut on Friday Night Rocks, which is a series of segments that are interspersed into Pittsburgh Pirates telecasts on AT&T Sports Network on Fridays throughout the baseball season.

Friday Night Rocks, now in its fifth year, features Pittsburgh region’s best rock bands, and the Vindys will be the first Youngstown act to be included. Clips from a performance of the band, shot last week at Jergel’s, in Warrendale, Pa., will be shown during breaks in the action throughout the game.

Jackie Popovec, singer and songwriter for the Vindys, said the network approached the band about Friday Night Rocks.

“They liked our song ‘Chasin’,’ but they wanted us to change the lyrics a little,” said Popovec. “I said, ‘what if I actually wrote another song that’s more rock-heavy and subtly sports-themed?”

That’s what she did and the sports network loved “Are You Ready.”

So do fans.

“I wrote it for this occasion but it turned out to be one of our fans’ favorites when we play it out at shows,” said Popovec.

The rest of the Vindys’ spring schedule will be highlighted by festival appearances.

The band – which also includes John Anthony, Rick Deak, Ed Davis and Scott Boyer, plus a horn section – will appear at the annual 330 Day concert, sponsored by the Summit radio, on Saturday in Canton.

The Vindys have gained a foothold in several markets, including Cleveland and Columbus, and hope to do the same in Pittsburgh, where they will play a May 18 gig at Club Cafe.

After that, the band will appear at the LaureLive Music Festival in Geauga County on May 18; the Winnetka Music Festival on June 22 in Winnetka, Ill.; and the Ribs-N-Rock Festival in Boardman on June 30.