'Bands of Brothers' Reality Show Seeks Veterans Who Can Carry a Tune

The new Web-based reality show is casting musically inclined veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and will raise awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Steve Holtzman knows the power of music firsthand. He’s watched his daughter, Julia, blossom from a “shy, retiring girl” to the lead singer in the house band at School of Rock in Cherry Hill, which teaches stagecraft and musicianship to young people. Holtzman believes music can have a similar impact on military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “If this is what could happen for a child,” he said of his 12-year-old daughter, “what could happen for an adult who might be feeling down or isolated?” Working with Lou Faiola, owner of the Cherry Hill School of Rock, Holtzman is producing a Web-based reality show called Bands of Brothers. The premise: Twelve musically inclined veterans of the wars in Iraq and …

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Gonna Go Back In Time ... One Night Only

Four beloved Lansdale hardcore bands - Dysphoria, Chine, Inkling and Inane - are reuniting for one show of revolutionary proportions

Marty McFly and Doc Brown (and Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale for that matter) have lied to us. You don't need a flux capacitor, 88mph or 1.21 gigawatts to go back in time. It will be proven, here in Lansdale on Friday night at Third and Walnut Bar, that all you need is a desire, a passion and a need for local music. Musician and Quakertown resident Kevin Mooney and Lansdale promoter and West Point resident Derek Calhoun, of Lansdale Local Promotions, have played the roles of Doc Brown and Marty McFly, respectively. (Of course, those that know Mr. Mooney would think that analogy may have worked better with those long-gone dreadlocks substituting for crazy white hair). The duo have organized an auditory revival of epic microcosmic proportions…

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Opportunity Rocks

Always Remember: The “kids” are constant

There is a Halloween concert this Saturday in Lansdale, returning for the fifth year in a row. That’s half a decade. It is at the Lansdale VFW Post 32 on West Second Street at 6:30. The show is all ages, with 21 and up allowed to drink. There’s a costume contest, natch, with a prize. The Facebook event page has 99 attending guests. But here’s the treat – Nine bands. Five bucks. The Graveyard Smash, as it’s called, began as a Halloween-oriented house party at an old farmhouse in Pipersville. In recent years, it was moved to Third and Walnut in Lansdale. Each year, the bill grows a little more in size. Each year, a new scene appears at the show. Each year, the same man is behind it. One Wednesday evening finds North Wales native and local …

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But This One Goes to 11

Get Justified

Local 'rawternapunk' band Rough Justice defines fun as shredding guitars and original riffs.

If you live somewhere long enough, you experience some form of evolution. To many, it’s biological. To others, ecological. Those who have grown up in Lansdale over the past 20 some years have been subjects of a rare and unusual natural selection that is more binaural than biological. It is an evolution where mainstream churned into an undertow. AOR became DOA. It is one where the term “underground” is not defined by the style, but by where that style is created and admired. With evolution comes change. But ask any 20 or 30-something in Lansdale, and they’ll tell you change hasn’t come. Here, when you’re bored, you do something to bide your time. Some drink, some get high, some play video games, and some jam. The latter is the origin of a …

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Pennbrook Middle School Hosts Jazz Festival

Rhythm was on display as area schools competed for top jazz honors.

Thursday night's Jazz Festival featured competition between area middle school jazz bands, including those from Milford, Pennridge-South and Wissahickon. In addition, bands from York Avenue Elementary, and Pennbrook, Penndale and Pennfield middle schools, as well as North Penn High School, entertained the many in attendance with exhibitions of style and sound.

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Viewfinder

A look at the people at places doing the things they love (or hate)

This week's Viewfinder comes to us from reader Ashley Thomas, of Hatfield. Pictured are members of local band Rough Justice at last Saturday's punk rock show at the VFW on Second Street in Lansdale. Got some pictures to send us of people and places around town? E-mail tony.didomizio@patch.com.

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Lansdale benefit set for Hatboro mother, son

A Jan. 15 fire destroyed the duplex in Hatboro where Jennifer Koch and her son had moved in two weeks prior

A benefit is set for Feb. 18 at Third and Walnut Bar in Lansdale for a Hatboro mother and son who were victims of a house fire in January. Proceeds from the beef and beer will go to Jennifer Koch and her son, Brodyn. Koch is co-owner of GimmeDesign.com, a web design and development, graphic design and branding company. The event is being organized by Brodyn’s father, David Braun, and Koch’s sister Jess Koch-Tambourino. The benefit, running from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m., is $20 per person and features music from local Lansdale band Drop Anchor and DJ Remedy.  There will be raffles and a 50/50. Donations to the family can be made through PayPal by visiting www.gimmedesign.com/donate. There is a second benefit for Koch and her son taking place Feb…

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