1980s Pittsburgh rockers Haywire will reunite for acoustic show in Butler

The members of Haywire, a Pittsburgh-area rock band active in the 1980s, have fond memories of playing all over the region, but particularly in the Butler area.

Howard “Hutch” Hockenberger said Butler fans at venues like Conley’s, John’s Bar, Ribit and Night People’s Place were always good to the group, which over the years opened for national headliners like Kenny Loggins, Hank Williams Jr., the Charlie Daniels Band and others.

Hockenberger, along with fellow founding members Arte Tedesco and Jim Varhola will reunite for a Dec. 11 acoustic show, 7-9:30 p.m. at the Sons & Daughters of Italy Hall in Butler.

The original incarnation of the band also included bassist Pete LaCava and drummer Steve Juffe.

“After all these years, spending time playing music with these guys again is an emotional exercise,” Tedesco said. “The feeling that we’re brothers remains, and the magic of our music still electrifies the air.”

Tedesco lives in Orlando, and worked as a music composer and producer for an Orlando PBS affiliate.

Hockenberger moved to Nashville, Tenn., where he started a business career with music taking a backseat. But as a semi-retired grandfather these days, he’s rediscovered his musical passion.

“I’m at the point in my life now where I could devote the time and energy to do it justice,” Hockenberger said. “The October acoustic event we did in New Kensington was so special, making music and memories again with Arte and Slim, and visiting old friends and road crew members. We’re excited that the Butler event will be even better.”

Varhola has also pursued a non-musical career, but in 2012 formed a group with former band-mate LaCava called The Shiners, which recorded two albums of their own.

“Reuniting with Arte and Hutch has been a real blast,” Varhola said. “We spent more time laughing telling ‘remember-the-time’ stories than playing at our first rehearsal. But playing these Haywire songs, seeing folks’ reactions and spending time with old friends has been priceless.”

The evening will feature the band members discussing the origins and stories behind their songs in addition to the performance.

Tickets are $20 in advance via EventBrite, by entering “haywire butler” into the search box, or $25 at the door. The Sons & Daughters of Italy hall is at 338 South Main Street in Butler.

For more, see Haywire’s Facebook page.