Here is a listing of Altoona area live music happenings for the weekend and week of Friday, March 1 through Thursday, March 7.
McGarvey’s will be a busy venue this weekend, as they bring in two influential and pioneering bands on Friday and Saturday nights. New York-based ska music pioneers The Toasters visit McGarvey’s on Friday night. Formed by Robert “Bucket” Hingley in 1981, The Toasters were one of the original third-wave ska bands that emerged in the 1980s and 1990s. (The wave also included such names as the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Fishbone, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake and more.) The group has issued at least ten albums, and their music has been used on the Nickelodeon television show “KaBlam,” as well as commercials for Coca Cola and America Online. Hingley is the remaining original member of the group, which has undergone numerous personnel changes over the years. Opening Friday’s show will be local guests The Snipped and The Whatleys. The show begins after 7 p.m.
Pioneering Chicago-based Celtic punk rock band The Tossers come to McGarvey’s on Saturday night. Formed in 1993, The Tossers have toured with such names as the Dropkick Murphys, Reverend Horton Heat, Flogging Molly, Sick Of It All, Clutch and more. The Tossers have created a lengthy discography since their formation, including their most recent album, “Smash the Windows,” which came out in 2017. The group also visited the region in 2007 as part of the AmeriServ Johnstown Folkfest. Opening Saturday’s show will be area Celtic rock favorites Full Kilt. The show will begin after 7 p.m.
And big hair rock and the “Decade of Decadence” return to Glenn’s Place in Claysburg on Saturday night as Hair Force One returns to southern Blair County for the first time in a while. Expect to hear classics from the 1980s hair band glory years, from such names as Poison, Bon Jovi, Guns N’Roses, Faster Pussycat, Motley Crue, Def Leppard and many more. The show begins at 10 p.m.
For outdoor shows, in the event of inclement weather, please call or use social media to check ahead to make sure the show is still taking place, especially if you are driving any distance to attend.
Check out and support the area live music! And if you celebrate heavily while doing so, please designate a sober driver or call a taxi to get you home.
FRIDAY NIGHT 3/1:
The Toasters with The Snipped and The Whatleys at McGarvey’s, Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)
Rue Moyer at Holiday Bowl (Strike Zone Bar & Grill), Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)
Raining Blue and Ron “Music Man” Balestino at Cesar Battiste, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
Night Train at Bavarian Aid Society, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
The Moore Brothers at Newburg Firehall, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)
Casey Gray & Tyler Shultz at The Dog House, Bellwood (starts 9 p.m.)
Scotti Scott at Blue Knob Clubhouse, Blue Knob Ski Resort (starts 6 p.m.)
Bodacious B at Huntingdon Elks, Huntingdon (starts 7 p.m.)
Kenny Jubas at Woody Lodge Winery, Ashville (starts 6 p.m.)
SATURDAY NIGHT 3/2:
11th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner & Dance with Felix & the Hurricanes at The Casino, Lakemont Park, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
The Tossers with Full Kilt at McGarvey’s, Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)
Asbury Lane at Railroad City Brewing Company, Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)
Casey Gray & Tyler Shultz at Family Pizza & Pub, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
Giants of Science at Four Dees Lounge, Altoona (starts 10 p.m.)
Matt Wagner at Holiday Bowl (Strike Zone Bar & Grill), Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)
Back in the Day at Unter Uns, Altoona (Fashing Celebration, starts 8 p.m.)
Washington Slept Here at Newburg Firehall, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)
Stormy at U.S. Hotel, Hollidaysburg (starts 8 p.m.)
Rue Moyer at Argonne Cafe, Hollidaysburg (starts 8 p.m.)
Ed N’Born at Shan Nicole’s Irish Pub, Hollidaysburg (starts 10 p.m.)
Hair Force One at Glenn’s Place, Claysburg (starts 10 p.m.)
Coltt Winter Lepley at R & J’s Tavern, Bedford (starts 8 p.m.)
Make Mine Country at Huntingdon Moose, Huntingdon (starts 7 p.m.)
Sound of Silence at Hill Valley Inn, Mount Union (starts 9 p.m.)
2nd Street at Woody Lodge Winery, Ashville (starts 7 p.m.)
Danny Hayes at Park Avenue Pub, Patton (starts 9:30 p.m.)
Rokkandy at Patton VFW, Patton (starts 10 p.m.)
Downshift at Castle Pub, Ebensburg (starts 10 p.m.)
SUNDAY NIGHT 3/3:
OZ at Unter Uns Musical & Entertainment Society, Altoona (starts 6 p.m.)
Felix & the Hurricanes at Black & Gold Tavern, Altoona (starts 9 p.m.)
Huntingdon Chamber of Commerce Spring Jam at Huntingdon Country Club, Huntingdon; featuring Lauren & Joe with former Flight 19 members (starts 5 p.m.)
TUESDAY 3/5:
Adam D at D’Ottavio’s Gran Sasso, Hollidaysburg (starts 8 p.m.)
“Tuesday Night Therapy” at Bedford Tavern, Bedford (starts 6 p.m.)
WEDNESDAY NIGHT 3/6:
Open Mic Night at Unter Uns, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
THURSDAY NIGHT 3/7:
Steve Summerhill at Jethro’s, Altoona (starts 7 p.m.)
Greg Burley at McGarvey’s, Altoona (starts 8 p.m.)
Open Stage Night at Green Bean Coffee, Altoona (starts 6 p.m.)
(NOTE: More shows may be added to this list as information becomes available. Feel free to check back.)
To report additional shows or corrections to this listing, email information to jptheprofessor@gmail.com. Deadline to submit information for the initial posting is each Friday morning at 9 a.m.