Another great week in the DRockrock ahead.

Rides Again, those mavens of melodic modern rock, make a rare appearance in Johnny Bs tonight while next Wednesday Tokyo's disturb-the-peace club, aka the ZooBombs, are set to rock the Bs right outta Johnny. Whitby's Mark Inside brings its saucerful of secrets plus a hatful of hollow to open. Chris Levoir, the front for MI, has been writing a daily column for the National Post this week.

I first met the Zoobombs when I picked the band and their bruiser of a promoter, Dan Burke (recently profiled in the Toronto Star), up at the GO train station. They needed a ride; I had a van. They were playing the Velvet Elvis in what would become a legendary night. Truly one of the great rockin-rolla nites these bones have endured. Elvis has left that building so the returning Japanese set up in the AMC plaza mid-week.

It is important to remember how valuable small houses like the Elvis and its owner, Ms. Whalley, are to the fostering of local, national and international talent. Little is born large. Every scene needs someone who is willing to take a risk on the art and soul of an unknown, who pushes, promotes, champions on their behalf. Their reward is rarely measured in cash. A thank-you in the liner notes or a +1 on the guest list is more usually the compensation. The Really Great Champions get name-checked in song. Without their care, as we see in Oshawa, the scene withers.

Incubator is the boardroom-speak for such places. It's a word we will hear more off in Durham Region over the next while as many now see the need to foster our locals in more concrete terms.

I can think of no better "incubator" than the Get Bent Family, who have built a company around the company of locals. Get Bent Records invites friends, fans and family to their annual Solstice celebrations, which take place all day Saturday in Newcastle (3388 Con. Rd 3). This is an all-ages outdoor music festival featuring Susan Latimer, Trish Robb, Ron Warne, Jeff Leech, Recroom, Micronite Filters plus more. Can't wait to get the tunes outside again. Details at getbentrecords.com.

Make Yourself Bleed

Park Road

www.myspace.com/parkroadmusic

There is a history of gritty rock 'n roll in Oshawa. The dirty shwa, as it is tagged in certain circles, continues to produce rock on the grimy side; greasy, muddy music and perhaps more authentic for all of that. While not all of the rockers are residents, it appears even those who have spent any time in clubs such as the Dungeon have been stained by it and glory in it. Mark Inside, Drunk Woman, Diableros, No No Zero, Timber Timbre, Baker Muck Rattlers, FATO, Robots, Caution Inc, Thrill Whitey ... Anagram, of course... the list is long and notorious.

So now add Park Road. I've been keeping an ear on Park Road's myspace for a while ... the songs stand up, albeit with a whole lot of stumbling and sliding and thrashing around in the sticky slick mud. The track Make Yourself Bleed is like the monster from the Black Lagoon after a few jars ... like Mars Bonfire strutting little red rooster rock ... Born To Be Wilder.

William McGuirk is a freelance writer and longtime Oshawa resident. He can be contacted at wmacg@yahoo.com.