Listening to Joe Mesiano perform makes for one good time.

When he puts his gravelly voice to his usually clever lyrics, it's tough to have anything but a grin on your face.

The singer-guitarist-songwriter from Sharpsburg draws on the country tradition of bringing some fun to the proceedings, even with subject matters that should be serious. For example, "Family Heirloom," the title track of this second album, provides a chuckle-inspiring take on one option for the afterlife.

That doesn't mean he doesn't get serious. Some of his songs, as he puts it, could "bring a tear to a glass eye." He has a few of those on his latest CD, "You Didn't Hear It from Me," although the title track still raises a smile. Another track, "Jesus On the Weekend" - an old favorite of Joe's that finally made it onto disc - is food for thought about folks whose faith is a matter of convenience.

As far as his musical influences, Joe explains:

"I started listening to country in 1976, when disco came out. I listened to 'old' country and realized they're the songs my mom used to sing when she was doing laundry." Thus, an appreciation for the likes of the Carter Family, Roy Acuff and Hank Williams Sr.

Around the same time, a friend stole an album from his brother to check it out with Joe: "The Silver Tongued Devil and I," the landmark '72 recording by Kris Kristofferson.

"He was probably my first influence on my writing," Joe says, adding with tongue in cheek that he's a student of the "Kris Kristofferson school of vocal dexterity."

Another big influence has been John Prine, particularly on Joe's more fun material. He also cites songwriter extraordinaire Guy Clark and, on the rock 'n' roll side, "I just always loved Springsteen."

While at Slippery Rock College a few years later, he started fooling around with his roommate's guitar. Then, "I hawked my high school class ring and bought my own, after I borrowed $20 more off my sister."

Over the years, he's opened for the likes of Jerry Jeff Walker, Steve Earle, Commander Cody and David Bromberg. And Clint Black, "before he was famous." And Patti Loveless, "before she was famous."

Recently, Joe has limited his appearance to benefit shows here and there, citing some less-than-pleasurable experiences.

"This kid kept coming up to me one night, insisting I play the Black Crowes," he says. "This isn't a town where people want to hear original music in bars, particularly my singer-songwriter stuff."

He's been working his craft in the studio, though, with three albums to his credit, also including his debut, "I Don't Know." He recorded his first and third CDs with Dave Hanner of the Corbin-Hanner band, and cut the second in Nashville at the home studio of his friend and collaborator Gary Vincent. "Family Heirloom," by the way, features the playing of some of Nashville's top session men - including Joe Osborn, who also happened to play bass on mega-sellers like Ricky Nelson's "Travelin' Man" and Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

Hey, just a little name-dropping. But remember the name Joe Mesiano. And get ready to crack a smile.

Browse our Sound Files to download clips from Blind Date.

Blind Date's typical setlist is never quite typical.

Much like the Blues Brothers adapted for their impromptu gig at Bob's Country Bunker ("both kinds of music: country and western!"), Blind Date tries to tailor its performance to the audience.

"Some places we play rock all night. Some places we play country all night," explains bass player BobbyG.

The band's audience-pleasers include time-tested favorites from a variety of genres, which is all fine and dandy. But like many bands do once they get established, the guys are working more originals into their sets.

"They've been getting a good response," says BobbyG, who's actually Bob Giacometti of Washington. "People have been getting to know them."

They can get to know the songs quickly by listening to "Restless," the CD the band recorded last year. The 10 songs all were written by guitarist/vocalist David Ursenbach, a Carnegie resident.

The album has a decidedly country flavor, or alt-country, as BobbyG puts it: mostly a harder-edged, leaner sound drawing influence from artists like Dwight Yoakam, Steve Earle and some of the Rolling Stones' matieral in that vein. Some quieter numbers round out the set.

Other Blind Date members are Rod Cregut of Canonsburg on keyboards and Pat Rush of Cecil Township on drums. The band has been together in one incarnation or another since '99.

A couple of special Blind Date shows coming up: 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 15, at the Station Square Jam in front of the Hard Rock Cafe; and 9 p.m. Saturday, July 16, at the Uptown Theatre in Washington (lots of giveaways at that gig, BobbyG tells me).

If you're going, listen for the band's originals. Musicians always enjoy an enthusiastic response to something they've come up with themselves.

Mark the weekend of July 22-24 on your calendar for Lumberjam II, a festival featuring several bands from Friday night through Sunday morning right down the road in Eighty Four.

In the coming weeks, we'll plan on featuring some of the bands that will be playing. The host band is Doodis, which we've featured here before.

For now, check out the details here.

Browse our Sound Files to download clips from Tierney.

Band practice for Jon Dzurino means a 500-mile drive.

The Washington resident heads to New Jersey on available weekends to meet up with the rest of the members of Tierney. But that's par for the course, as far as he's concerned.

"If you want to describe our band in one word, it's dedication," says the guitar player and singer, whom most of his friends know as Dez.

His odysseys are just for the summer, though. Band members will reunite in the fall at Five Towns College on Long Island, a school known for its audio engineering program.

Tierney came together in the spring, drawing its moniker simply from the surname of lead singer Cary Ann Tierney.

"We decided, no one puts faith in their band names anymore," Dez says. And some of the ones out there are kind of cumbersome: "The story of their life is their band name, and it's like 15 words long!"

Dez shares vocal duties, and other members are lead guitarist Jay Falzone, bass player John DiMeglio and drummer Kevin "The Don" Donovan, who's hosting the summer rehearsals in Jersey.

The band's influences lean toward metal, as per Jay's riffs and Dez's vocals, but also include some jazz elements, particularly the bass playing. And Cary Ann brings a background as a theater major to her performances.

Tierney's repertoire consists wholly of originals, with the singing styles of Dez and Cary Ann serving as counterpoints to each other, often in the same tunes.

Although most of the band members hail from New Jersey (Cary Ann is from Connecticut), Dez says the others plan to come out this direction to check out the scene. Perhaps Tierney will be able to put its distinctive style on display locally in the near future.

As a featured event during Peters Township Community Day (Saturday, June 25), numerous local bands will be featured during Rock Off 2005.

Morning/afternoon bands will perform in the amphitheater at Peterswood Park. The lineup (subject to revision) is: The Comb-Toothed Blenny Experience, 11:30 a.m.; A Day Late, 12:15 p.m.; Catalyst, 1; Meguilla Gorilla, 1:45; SuperCede, 2:30; Doesn't Exist, 3:15; That Far Gone, 4:45; and The Ballihoo, 5:30.

Two bands will play at the park's Shelter 4, prior to Community Day's culminating fireworks display. Outcried Dilemma will perform at 6 p.m., followed by Chaind Stasis at 7:15.

More on those bands later as we approach Community Day.