Some Hands. Photograph by Joey Ulrich.
If you’re new to Harrisburg, this column is especially for you. Welcome! If you’re a veteran reader, glad you’re back for more music. Something you should know about me is that I love calling Harrisburg my home, and I also love giving others the chance to love it, too. One way that I get people into the city is by taking them to a show at one of our growing number of venues. I’m always excited to know what’s going on around town, and I love getting people excited about it. Continuing to follow my heart, I’m here to showcase our September shows for all of you lovely readers both old and new. This month, I’ve created the quintessential Harrisburg experience filled with local artists, touring artists, dance parties, rock n’ roll, musical throwbacks and fresh new sounds. There’s something for everybody’s tastes in the city. You just have to know where to look.
PLUSH JUSTICE, 9/8, 8PM, RUBICON, FREE
Picture a perfect evening out: an excellent dinner and then a rockin’ show. At Rubicon, you can have both! Plush Justice is a newer local touring group around Harrisburg. The band is made up of frontman Josh Ari and guitarist Kevin Bock, both Harrisburg natives. “[Ari] is the only other constant member so far,” Bock said. “We have a rotating rhythm section depending on the needs of each venue.” Plush Justice is known for their original renditions of R&B and hip-hop music from the ‘90s and ‘00s, energizing popular local venues such as H*MAC. If you want another take on Bock’s music, check out his soulful solo act Some Hands, performing later this month at Bridge’s Social Club. Get some local flavor into your life with Plush Justice.
P.O.D., 9/10, 7PM, H*MAC CAPITOL ROOM, $25-$30
From personal experience, H*MAC’s Capitol Room is the perfect place to catch some rock n’ roll in Harrisburg. P.O.D. headlines on their Soundboy Killaz tour, featuring special guests Alien Ant Farm, Powerflo and Fire from the Gods. Also known as “Payable on Death,” P.O.D. is a nu-metal band that formed in 1992 in San Diego. The group has released eight albums since its conception, only pausing in 2008 to renew their passion for performing. If you want a sense of their sound, check out their definitive album, “Murdered Love.” “This is the best record we’ve ever done,” said vocalist Sonny Sandoval. “And that can only come from what we’ve put into this. We’re the same four down-to-earth guys we were when we were putting out indie records. There’s an honesty and an underdog vibe to everything we do that you can definitely hear in our music.” So far in their career, the group has sold more than 10 million albums and reached triple platinum on their record, “Satellite.” This group is truly a modern rock tour de force that can’t be missed.
THE APRIL SKIES, 9/23, 8PM, THE ABBEY BAR, FREE
This show is shaping up to be quite the throwback. The April Skies formed in the early ‘90s, influenced by college radio and alternative music. Their popularity grew fast, and their debut album, “A Strange Western Mood,” was revered by some critics as the best indie album of 1991. After touring their 1992 EP “Drive-In,” the band took a lengthy break and came back in 2002 with another EP, “Breathe.” Since then, they’ve been sharing the stage with artists like The Ocean Blue, Riverside and The Dashboard Saviors, among many others. For this eventful evening, The April Skies will be performing newer material as well as some fan favorites in a surprising way. The first part of the show will feature its current members, David Kemper, Jake Crawford, Jason Leidich and Mitchell Curry, while the second half will feature the re-release of “A Strange Western Mood” on CD and a musical performance by the ‘90s lineup of Eric Moore, Jake Crawford, Cary Brown and Mark Tritico, featuring music from their early career. Something old, something new.
Mentionables: MarchFourth, Sept. 1, The Abbey Bar; Yam Yam, Rivers & Jr Wolf, Sept. 16, H*MAC Stage on Herr; Black Bunny Party, Sept. 16, River City Blues Club; The Dead Boys, Sept. 20, H*MAC Stage on Herr; Some Hands with Ben Brandt, Sept. 22, Bridge’s Social Club
9/8
PLUSH JUSTICE
RUBICON
270 NORTH STREET, HARRISBURG
STARTS AT 8PM
9/10
P.O.D.
H*MAC CAPITOL ROOM
1110 N. 3RD ST., HARRISBURG
STARTS AT 7PM
9/20
THE DEAD BOYS
H*MAC STAGE ON HERR
1110 N. 3RD ST., HARRISBURG
STARTS AT 8PM
9/22
SOME HANDS WITH BEN BRANDT
BRIDGE’S SOCIAL CLUB
321 N. 2ND ST., HARRISBURG
STARTS AT 9PM
9/23
THE APRIL SKIES
ABBEY BAR
50 N. CAMERON ST., HARRISBURG
STARTS AT 8PM
Author: Kait Gibboney
