Rock band .38 Special to headline Homecoming
Michael ErbArticle Photos
PARKERSBURG - Rock band .38 Special will headline Parkersburg's 2009 Homecoming celebration.
The band, best known for its 1981 hit "Hold on Loosely," will perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 23 on center stage in downtown Parkersburg.
Officials with the homecoming board said this year's entertainment is sponsored by Suddenlink Communications. The main stage will be renamed the Suddenlink Stage for this year's activities.
"Without their help, we wouldn't have been able to go forward with this," said board member Chuck Lipps.
Suddenlink's sponsorship also has helped the cash-strapped homecoming event to bring back several other events, such as square dancing and a bed race.
"Things are looking good for homecoming this year," said homecoming board President Randall Roberts.
Featured at Bicentennial Park will be concerts by classic-rock band Retroflection at 10 p.m. Aug. 21, 14-year-old vocalist Brandon Stover at 6 p.m. Aug. 22 and the eighth annual Johnny Staats Bluegrass Festival all day Aug 23.
At the Suddenlink Stage in downtown Parkersburg will be country artist Justin Moore at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 21, The Steve Hussey Band at 8:30 p.m. and gospel singer Taj Rohr at 10:30 p.m. Aug. 22, and a classic-rock band yet to be named opening for .38 Special at 7 p.m. Aug. 23.
Other events, such as Saturday's Kids Fest activities, annual talent show and evening fireworks display also will return this year.
Roberts said the most important aspect of this year's celebration will be the Rubber Ducky Derby, the main fundraising effort for the Homecoming board.
"That is key to making homecoming good for the year," he said.
Officials said they had high hopes for all of the events.
"I think this is going to be one of our best homecomings in years," Lipps said.
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marcellacruella
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07-10-09 7:22 AM
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I am glad to see a great band like .38 Special is coming to the big Pburg!! I for one am tired of the country stars! don't get me wrong, i like country, but it seems like thats all weve had for the past several years! Nelson was a no show! i just hope 38 doesn't pull the same crap!
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WVCommissioner
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07-10-09 6:04 AM
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Until Homecoming starts charging for the entertainment then the types of acts will remain. Just think, if you wanted a big time act, the fee would be 50-75-100K or more. The only way to do that is charge for the entertainment. I am not opposed to having reserved seating and charge 10-20 a ticket, but I would be that many would howl. For a free entertainment weekend, homecoming does fairly well.
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elviscole
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07-09-09 11:42 PM
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Wonder why comments are disabled on some stories? Strange don't you think?
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UncleGrunt
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07-09-09 10:47 PM
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.38 Special is a great band. But if you want to see some local talent go see The Fossils at the River Roar, Marietta, Friday evening, Lafayette Hotel and later from 9PM to midnight at Spagna's on Marietta's West Side, Harmar Villabe. These guys rock! No cover, good music.
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Steelerfan
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07-09-09 9:37 PM
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Sorry, this is the comment I was commenting on: SHELIA 07-09-09 8:57 AM »Report Abuse WVU, if you are so bitter about Parkersburg, and loathe it here and think it's a rathole, why do you stay? Go try Cali or Miami or NYC and see how you like their awful attitudes, killings, drug dealing on every corner, the awful news every day etc etc etc. If you dont like the homecoming, dont go, no one is forcing you. You seem to have a poor attitude, maybe try Colombus for awhile, I bet you'll like the atmosphere after you spend a few weeks there and watch their news for awhile.
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Steelerfan
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07-09-09 9:35 PM
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Commenting on the earlier comment attached below: I was born and raised in Parkersburg and it is a good place to live. Unfortunately, there are no good-paying jobs unless you like working at Wal-mart or other low-paying retail jobs. Many of us, including myself, have had to leave the area seeking quality employment to raise our families. I happen to live in Columbus and most of the hard core crime is limited to the "ghetto" areas. In fact, many of the criminals from Columbus seem to like it in Parkersburg. Better watch out, SHEILA. And by the way, I love .38 Special and will be attending the Homecoming like I do every year. Peace. SHELIA 07-09-09 2:20 PM »Report Abuse No one is forcing anyone to go or to stay away, also, no one is forcing anyone to be sober or drunk, if you want to be drunk, so be it, if you want to be sober, so be it. I dont see what the big to do is over a band playing at the homecoming, either go or dont, give it a rest, geez.
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wvupridefan
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07-09-09 8:30 PM
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I think it's about time they got someone decent to listen to. YAY...They can count on me being there with bells on. And by the way, Eddy Money was great and I think they realized that it was time to get away from the same old crap every yr. GOOD JOB GUYS... Now how about some ZZ Top, Journey, Styx, ... Oh.. if .. only
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Mama01
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07-09-09 7:19 PM
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Yay, no country music!
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ProudMom
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07-09-09 3:40 PM
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Reding these comments is always more interesting then the actual news. ****. I personally like .38 Special and Im not "old". I don't think you have to be "old" to enjoy them.
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bobzim
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07-09-09 3:31 PM
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MrAlex.....The Homecoming committee getting .38 Special is all just part of the Evil Obama plot! What they really have in mind is using the band to secretly hypnotize people into following Obama's policies! Maybe if you set-up a stand near the stage and sold little tin foil hats like you wear, you could "foil" the plot! Watch for the guy wearing the Rebel flag shirt and the mullet; he is probably on your side.
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Finecawine
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07-09-09 2:18 PM
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I guess your not allowed to speak of Michael Jackson.
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Bowermj
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07-09-09 1:36 PM
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To all the folks who apparently don't like .38 special coming.....last year, I was happy to see Eddie Money....1st time I had went to homecoming since the 3rd one! .38 may not be my favorite, but it sure beats the usual red-neck type stuff we used to have. (yeah, I know this is a little red too, but what the heck!)
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MOVHomewrecker
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07-09-09 11:16 AM
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LOL!!! don't go, that kind of crowd usually gangs up on db's
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MatthewBB
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07-09-09 11:01 AM
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hahahaha, .38 Special? at the Parkersburg WV homecoming. i can only imagine the crowd that will be there....That ALMOST makes it worth going. I would LOL all night
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DCGibson
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07-09-09 10:11 AM
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.38 Special is a classic rock act , that is as good live as on the radio. Mr.A Amount of money = fresh acts . If Suddenlink wouldn't have thrown in what they did wouldn't have a group anyone's heard of. Donnie Van Zant singer for .38 Spl is brother to Johnnie ( syknryd) and both of them recorded 2 albums for their country group Van Zant . .38 Spl has had several hits besides Hold On Loosely , ...Rockin into the Night ,Stone Cold Believer ,Wild Eyed Southern Boys ,Fantasy Girl , to name a few . I'll be there . BE POSITIVE !
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mrknowitall
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07-09-09 9:09 AM
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Maybe if they sold beer at Homecoming, they could use the proceeds to fund "newer" talent...nah, forget it...that's CRAZY talk! .38 Special is a great act...I'll be there...without my beer, of course.
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WVUROCKS
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07-09-09 2:49 AM
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MrAlex, have you forgotten where you live? In WV, it is hard to get anyone decent or recent to come do a concert, let alone a concert here in Parkersburg for pennies on the dollar. I personally still listen to this group as well as a lot of the older rock music. Just because you think this group is washed up, doesn't mean that everyone does. If you were hoping for someone like the bubble head Spears or Simpson to come do a concert, wake up and smell the coffee. This is a rat hole of a town that will never be anything. I personally think we should quite wasting money on the homecoming and do something more worthwhile. JMHO
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MrAlex
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07-09-09 1:16 AM
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.38 Special? ...Yeah.. I think their last hit was about 38 years ago. Is this the best we can do? Please! .38 Special? Aren't they all little old men by now? Sorry... I mean, little old cowboys? Do you think they'll play all their greatest HIT? Let's see... will they play "Hold on Loosely"? They don't even play these guys on the radio any more. They're not even relevant any more. Have they even had a new album out THIS DECADE? In the last 2 decades? Who is in charge of hiring the entertainment for the Parkersburg Homecoming? Maybe we can get The Village People for next year. Maybe it's time to get a new person to find the entertainment.
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