On Stage: The Claudettes, who defy genre, come to Delco

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times  The Claudettes The Claudettes are a Chicago-based band whose music spans a wide array of genres — jazz, punk, Chicago blues, pop standards and rock. The Claudettes, who are driven by the music of founding member Johnny Iguana, combine the Chicago blues-piano tradition with the energy of rockabilly and punk and the sultry sound of ’60s soul-jazz...

On Stage: Humbleman Band rocks and works to help the community

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Humbleman Band Humbleman Band is one of the Philadelphia area’s longest-running rock bands — and a band which has been involved in projects all over the country. The talented sextet, whose members reside mostly in the northwest region of the Philadelphia area, will have the opportunity to play a gig in its own backyard this weekend. Humbleman...

On Stage: Sons of Cream keep the music alive

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Sons of Cream This weekend, two musicians will bring their band to the area for a much-anticipated show. The British bassist and drummer are linked permanently by their families’ DNA because their fathers played together in several bands. Their London-based fathers first played together in Blues Incorporated in 1962. In the early part of the decade,...

On Stage: Joe Samba returns to area for W. Chester show

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Joe Samba South America has the samba. North America has Joe Samba. In Brazil, samba is a lively dance of Afro-Brazilian origin danced to samba music. It originally referred to any of several Latin duet dances with origins from the Congo and Angola. Today, Samba is the most prevalent dance form in Brazil, and reaches the height of its importance...

On Stage Extra: Foghat tops bill at Musikfest

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Foghat Over the years, Musikfest (www.musikfest.org) has established itself as one of America’s top annual music festivals an event that offers big name headliners as well as a wide variety of folk, rock, pop and ethnic music acts. It also sports some impressive numbers. The festival, which is celebrating its 34th anniversary this year, features...

On Stage: WCU student, Ciara Grace hits stage at World Cafe Live

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Ciara Grace If you look at some of the talented acts that will be playing in the area over the next few days, Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” might just pop into your head. There are plenty of girls/female artists who will be having fun along with their audiences at different venues around the Delaware Valley – Ciara Grace, Kelli...

On Stage Extra: John Ondrasik comes to Ardmore

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times John Ondrasik There are two attractive midweek shows that will appeal to two very different generations – Five for Fighting tonight in Ardmore and Zoe Ko on August 7 in Philadelphia. John Ondrasik, a veteran rocker from Los Angeles, has performed in the Delaware Valley many times over the last quarter century – mostly doing shows under the name...

On Stage: Iona Sky to make US debut in Skippack

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Iona Sky If you heard about a British band from Cambridge with four veteran male musicians and a female singer in her mid-20s, it would be logical to assume that it was a group of British folk musicians fronted by a student or grad from Cambridge University. Your assumption would be way off target. Iona Sky, which is based in Cambridgeshire, features...

On Stage Spotlight: Styx still rockin’ after all these years

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Styx If Styx and the Energizer Bunny had an endurance challenge, the nameless pink bunny eventually would stop beating his drum while Styx would still be rocking hard. Styx formed in Chicago in 1972 and released their debut album, “Styx,” in August that year. Now, 52 years and 42 albums later, Styx are still going strong – and touring like...

On Stage: almost monday brings a bit of California to Philly

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times almost monday When the Beach Boys released their debut album, “Surfin’ Safari,” in 1962, it was the beginning of the California sound in rock music. The band’s music made listeners think of Southern California, days at the beach, riding in convertible, surfing and summer love. Now, more than 60 years later there is another band from Southern...