Make plans to see classic rock band, Stockyard Parade this Fall. Most recently performing at Carnegie Hall’s Ivy Terrace concert series, their upcoming shows include Moncove Lake State Park in Gap Mills on Friday, August 3; the Water Festival in Hinton on Saturday, August 4th; and Hill and Holler in Lewisburg on Saturday, October 13th.

Together almost a year, the band members include Mark Cline on guitar and lead vocals, Todd Longanacre on drums, and Virgil Kelly on bass and vocals. They cover mostly 70s and 80s and mix in originals. They tell us they always have a great time watching people dance to the tunes they play. Mark tells us they are a power trio, “We tend to cover songs that use guitar, bass, drums, and vocals. We like songs that are slightly challenging for one reason or another. ZZ Top, Pink Floyd, LED Zeppelin, Aerosmith, and tunes from that time period.”

The band recently came out with a CD titled “Stockyard’s first CD”. They describe it as having old and new songs and say it’s a cool, lazy style making it easy for listening. The band says the CD’s lyrics include a social commentary that keep the listener thinking even as the tunes capture the mood. One song on the CD is called “Serial Killer” and it is about addiction. Greenbrier East High School (GEHS) students recorded the music video for this song, which features Mark with his eyes covered in a band. It can be viewed at youtube.com/watch?v=OPgwVIquwIc or search Stockyard Parade Serial Killer. Mark tells us, “the students did a great job with it.” The youtube video has received various feedback including comments: “I honestly just don’t know what to say,” by Andrea Adkins; “Love this boy. Scares me tho” by Tyler Smith; “This is just wow Mr. Cline” by Hailey M.; and “This is the sh*t” by Ranger Squirts. Serial Killer is also available for purchase on iTunes. Mark says this song has been played on a syndicated radio show called “The Deuce” It’s also received airplay in the U.K. Germany, Canada and some other stations in the states. Mark goes onto say, “It’s probably not the best song on the CD but I wanted to put that message out there for the kids in this community.” 

The name, Stockyard Parade, was inspired by domesticated animals. Mark says, “the name interested me because I can see using domesticated animals as sort of a metaphor for several things. Doing covers for now is like ‘stock’. The animals are familiar. I also like the imagery from a marketing standpoint. There’s literary reference to Animal Farm.”

If you miss their early August shows, don’t miss Stockyard Parade on October 13th at Hill and Holler, following Carnegie Hall’s 35th Annual Taste of our Town (TOOT) in downtown Lewisburg. To follow their event schedule, find them @markclineandstockyardparade on facebook