Rock N Roll

President Obama struggled to give up his Blackberry after he took office. I remember laughing when I heard that. It's really no laughing matter. It's been five days, 14 hours and 23 minutes since my cellphone was taken away. I left it in the pocket of my shorts last Friday while we were at the beach, fishing. It swims with the fishes. (I always wanted to write that in a column.) I tried to give it CPR. I tried to dry it off. I even tried mouth to mouth. We opted for soaking it in a bag of rice overnight, but it was too late.

Fans can expect a more cohesive sound from Plunge, a young rock band scheduled to perform north of Boonsboro on Friday. The five twentysomethings from the Timonium, Md., area are scheduled to perform with The Grilled Lincolns at Stinger's Sports Pub & Grill. The band has just finished recording tracks for its second full-length album, "SuperHuman," which is scheduled for release next year. The rockers are now sifting through more than 50 new songs, trying to determine which to keep for the new record, said the band's frontman Mike Ruocco.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- They say 40 is the new 20. So if that's true, the average age for foursome Lucky Punk & The Chicken would be around 25. "We're all kind of older than your typical rock 'n' roll age," said frontman Wayne Driscoll, the band's guitarist and vocalist. His wife, Collien, plays bass and sings vocals. "My wife really wouldn't want her age out there," Driscoll said. Age is a touchy subject, but Driscoll did say that the youngest member was 36. Every one else is in their 40s and 50s. Age aside, the band still likes to rock.

BOONSBORO - Back then, big hair and big sound were synonymous with rock 'n' roll. At least that's how it was 25 years ago, when the Hagerstown-area band Kix signed with Atlantic Records and released its first album, which carried the hit song "Kix Are for Kids. " But things change. Seven albums and more than two decades later, the band dissolved. "The whole West Coast, Seattle scene just took over and said 'Get out of town, we're throwing this party and you're not invited,'" said Kix frontman Steve Whiteman, referring to the takeover of grunge in the early '90s.

Hagerstown Community College will present the Superlatives show choir performing "Only in America" at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, at HCC's Kepler Theater, Robinwood Drive, Hagerstown. The concert will feature a history of popular music from the oldies but goodies through the best of rock 'n' roll. The concert is free.

Woman killed in crash on W.Va. 9 near Martinsburg Police briefs Charges against fired North Branch officer are dropped Hubcaps to rock 'n' roll for local teen Take pride in education, Obama tells students

As part of a tribute to the King of Rock 'n' Roll during the month of January, the Twin Oaks Assisted Living facility at Williamsport Retirement Village is sponsoring a number of activities to honor the life and music of Elvis Presley.

1. Dr. John at the Opera House Rock 'n' roll legend Dr. John and his band, The Lower 911, will perform a benefit concert. The show will be filmed for broadcast on television. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, Shepherdstown Opera House, 131 W. German St., Shepherdstown, W.Va. $85. For tickets, go to www.operahouselive.com . 2. Labor Day picnic Food will be sold; bring a side dish to share. The Rohrersville Band will perform. 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3, at Morgan's Grove Park, near Shepherdstown, W.Va.

shappell@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - Blues music was not the only game in town Sunday as the North American Rod & Gun Club hosted a rockin' benefit for two assisted-living facilities in Hagerstown. And while organizers got sunny weather and a spirited performance by The Fabulous Hubcaps, there seemed to be one noticeable omission at the benefit - a large crowd. Ginger Smith, one of the event's organizers, said Sunday's benefit was designed to raise money for Holly Place and Holly Place North, both on South Potomac Street in Hagerstown.

1. Heart of rock 'n' roll Huey Lewis and The News will perform 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center at Shippensburg University, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, Pa. Tickets cost $55 to $75. Call 717-477-7469 or go to www.luhrscenter.com . 2. Scared yet? Jennifer Vanderau will tell spooky tales Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Renfrew Museum and Park, 1010 E. Main St., Waynesboro, Pa.  Story times are 6:30 p.m. stories for children of all ages; 7 p.m., spookier stories.

The Washington County Free Library Noteworthy Sundays at Your Library concert on Sunday, Sept. 9, will feature Terry and Tobias. The concert starts at 3 p.m. and will be held at the Leonard P. Snyder Memorial Branch Library at 12624 Broadfording Road, Clear Spring. Terry Gourley is a singer-songwriter from Baltimore. She sings from the heart, singing everything  from rock 'n' roll to ballads, as well as some pop songs. Gourley is accompanied by acoustic guitarist Tobias Hurwitz, whose blend of classic rock covers and originals is a crowd pleaser.

Growing up in Greencastle, Pa., Jason Kabler was all rock 'n' roll. He said he loved to sing in the style of Axl Rose, former lead singer of Guns 'N Roses. But then something happened - his voice changed and he couldn't hit the notes just right anymore. His mother, who taught her son how to play guitar, introduced him to the music of a new artist. "She's like, 'he's not rock, but he's as close as you're gonna get in country.' And at that time, I was like, 'Country, mom, come on,'" Kabler recalled during a telephone interview from Nashville, Tenn., his home for more than a decade.

President Obama struggled to give up his Blackberry after he took office. I remember laughing when I heard that. It's really no laughing matter. It's been five days, 14 hours and 23 minutes since my cellphone was taken away. I left it in the pocket of my shorts last Friday while we were at the beach, fishing. It swims with the fishes. (I always wanted to write that in a column.) I tried to give it CPR. I tried to dry it off. I even tried mouth to mouth. We opted for soaking it in a bag of rice overnight, but it was too late.

A new rock 'n' roll school is hoping to strike a chord in Hagerstown. Hagerstown Rock School will open Jan. 8, co-owner Kate Rader said. Students will learn to sing and play instruments — drums, guitar, bass and keyboard — during three-month semesters throughout the year. One difference between this and other music programs is that students will form bands and perform at the end of the semester, Rader said. Scott Fisher, the other co-owner, is the music director.

Today Open mic hosted by Denny Spickler 8 to 11 p.m., Hempen Hill BBQ Bar & Grill, 13208 Fountainhead Plaza, north of Hagerstown. 301-797-4455. No cover. Open mic 8 to 11 p.m., Colonel Murphy's Mansion House, 2 S. Main St. Mercersburg, Pa. 717-328-5090. Mighty Mojo Band and open mic Blues, 8 to 11 p.m., Crazy Horse Steakhouse and Saloon, 104 Railway Lane, Hagerstown. 301-791-2611. Karaoke night hosted by Daniel Thorpe 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., The Broad Axe, 28 W. Franklin St., Hagerstown.