Ellwood City Arts, Crafts and Food Festival: Behind the Scenes Part 2 of 4

Nickel Plated Revolver to Perform at Ellwood City Festival

Nickel Plated Revolver is a cover rock band that originated in Ellwood City around six years ago. There are five members in the band, Chrissy Paglia on Vocals, Todd Swogger on Guitar, Dave Fowler on Vocals and guitar, Steve Confer on Bass and Mark Barnes on Drums. The band will be performing at The Ellwood City Festival on June 29, at 7 p.m.

The band started when Swogger got a call from a friend saying he had to go listen a Paglia sing karaoke.

“A friend of mine called me and said, you have to hear this lady singing karaoke. I road over to the Double Dealin’ Cafe in Ellwood, and that’s where it all started,” Swogger said. “When Chrissy was done singing I asked her if she wanted to start a band and she said sure. That’s how it all got rolling, and her and I have never looked back.”

The band is known for playing Classic Rock music ranging from the 60’s to current day. They play well known hits and try to take people back to the era of the music they are playing.

The band has a couple songs they play that really hits home for them and has a special meaning. Swogger’s personal favorites are “Born Free,” by Kid Rock and the bands Led Zeppelin mash up.

“There are a couple of songs that we would consider special or favorites for different reasons. I have a daughter in the Army, so when we play Born Free by Kid Rock and wave the American Flag, it gets emotional for me, coming from a family of military vets and being proud of all our veterans, past present and future,” Swogger said.

“Our Led Zeppelin mash up is truly a crowd favorite and to hear Chrissy sing it the way she does is an amazing experience! At one point she hits the same note as the bass player and you can feel your legs and the floor vibrate.”

The band feels the most fun part of playing a show is seeing the expressions on everyone’s faces.

“When you are “hittin the note” as the Allmans used to say, people lock in on it, and it is a great feeling,” Swogger said.

The whole band is unique in different ways, when it was formed the band wanted to take people back to the era of the music they were playing through clothing, music, lights, twin guitar’s, powerhouse vocals and pounding rhythm section of a southern rock/classic rock band.

“We wanted to take it up a notch and make people go “WOW That hit the spot,” Music played with emotion never goes out of style,” Swogger said. “When you see someone lost in what they are playing, it really sets you back in your seat.”

The band was approached by Vic Grangle around four years ago to do their first festival show and have played ever since.

“For everyone in this band, looking out and seeing all the American flags and feeling that pride that comes with it, really gets your heart pounding,” Swogger said. “You can’t beat playing for the Hometown crowd in beautiful Ewing Park!”

This article is part two of a four part series, check back tomorrow for some more new behind the scenes coverage of the Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food and Entertainment Festival.