originally published: 06/04/2024

On June 4, 2024, Pittsburgh rock ‘n’ roll legend Joe Grushecky shared an official music video for “Here In ‘68,” a track taken from his new studio album Can’t Outrun A Memory, out on July 12 through Omnivore Recording, which will be the first release of new material in 7 years from Joe and The Houserockers. It features 13 Grushecky originals coupled with a blistering cover of The Animals classic “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place.” Coupled with the new album, Grushecky recently released Houserocker: A Joe Grushecky Anthology, which is out now through Omnivore Recordings.

“In 1968 it seemed that music, fashion, movies, politics, religion, and everything in between was being turned upside down,” Grushecky explains the significance of that year. “I wanted to explore and learn. I spent 3 weeks traveling from PA to Key West and back in the winter during semester break from college, and then the entire summer living in an apartment on the Atlantic City Boardwalk while working at its racetrack. I hitchhiked to Philly to see the Rascals, and saw the Beach Boys and Ray Charles with Billy Preston up close and personal at the Steel Pier. I bought my first Tele and promised my girl that I was going to make a record someday. I started playing in a band again when I went back to school and haven't stopped since. I started to discover and listen to my own voice. I wanted to be part of it. At times it seemed the whole country was going to implode.”

Joe Grushecky grew up in the coal mining town of Biddle, Pittsburgh, but after seeing The Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show—he soon had a guitar in hand, and a future in Rock ahead of him. Joe worked as a Special Education educator by day, while his band, Iron City Houserockers gigged by night. They were signed in 1979 by Steve Popovich to his Cleveland International (home of Meat Loaf, Jim Steinman, Ronnie Spector). From the first album Love’s So Tough through the present day, Joe solo, and with various incarnations of the Houserockers, journeyed through albums filled with hard-edged rock with lyrics true to their Pittsburgh Steeltown roots. Albums have included productions and contributions from Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople), Mick Ronson (David Bowie), Steve Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Cropper (Booker T. & The MG’s), and many others.

Houserocker: A Joe Grushecky Anthology covers 40 years of these performances from Iron City Houserockers, Joey G., Joe Grushecky And The Houserockers, and under his own name. Newly remastered by multiple Grammy-winner Michael Graves, and co-Produced by Joe’s son and current Houserocker Johnny Grushecky, and multiple Grammy-winner Cheryl Pawelski, Houserocker’s packaging includes photos from across the years and comprehensive liner notes from Mike Ragogna with Joe, and special Track-by-Track remarks from Grushecky himself. Houserocker: A Joe Grushecky Anthology is the ultimate look at the hardest working band in Rock and Roll and Pittsburgh legend, Joe Grushecky.

Available on double-LP, CD, and Digital, Can’t Outrun A Memory features 17 tracks of pure Rock and Roll and shows that Grushecky and crew can still deliver the same driving music they have for decades. “This one was a long time coming,” says Grushecky of Can’t Outrun A Memory, “but we worked through never losing sight that we were creating one of our best records. I believe we captured the band at its peak.”

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Throughout the 40 years of Joe’s career, he has always balanced his passion for caring for those in need with delivering blistering, energetic rock, while simultaneously breaking boundaries on other fronts. Currently a Board Member on the Light Of Day Foundation, Joe continues to rock the house at the annual Light of Day benefits.