{"id":34561,"date":"2017-04-13T09:12:04","date_gmt":"2017-04-13T13:12:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=34561"},"modified":"2017-04-13T09:12:11","modified_gmt":"2017-04-13T13:12:11","slug":"on-stage-mindy-rhodes-transcends-genres","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=34561","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Mindy Rhodes transcends genres"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Staff Writer, The Times<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Mindy Rhodes<\/p><\/div>\n

Mindy Rhodes is a versatile performer whose music transcends genres. She has performed in nightclubs as a jazz vocalist with a backing band, at smaller venues with her solo cabaret act and frequently at area restaurants with a duo line-up.<\/p>\n

For years, Rhodes has been a regular attraction at General Warren Inne (Old Lancaster Highway, Malvern, 610-296-3637, www.generalwarren.com<\/a>) and more recently a performer with a monthly gig at the Duling-Kurtz House (146 South Whitford Road, Exton, 610-524-1830, www.dulingkurtz.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

On April 13, Rhodes will bring her show of warm, heartfelt music to the General Warren Inne and she will perform on April 14 at the Duling-Kurtz House.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the General Warren Inne, I play two months on and one month off,\u201d said Rhodes, during a phone interview Wednesday evening from her home in Marshallton. \u201cI play the Duling-Kurtz about once a month.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rhodes\u2019 resume includes a pair of solo albums \u2013 \u201cWhisper Wind\u201d and \u201cBlush\u201d — as well as a stint as the vocalist for the band 9 Steps Down. She was a piano performance major at Penn State University with voice as her second instrument.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did solo classical recitals when I was at Penn State,\u201d said Rhodes, who attended Hillsdale Elementary School, West Chester Henderson High and Westtown School. \u201cI won a concerto competition my senior year and performed with the Penn State Philharmonic.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was at Penn State, I also started playing coffeehouses and singing my own material \u2013 no cover tunes — just my own songs. It took me a while to learn the coordination of singing and playing. My early stuff was pretty raw.\u201d<\/p>\n

After living in Hawaii and California for a while, Rhodes returned to Pennsylvania in 1999 and released her debut LP a year later. In 2001, Rhodes released \u201cBlush\u201d, which was recorded live at the Dilworthtown Inn.<\/p>\n

Rhodes now is slowly working on her third album.<\/p>\n

Rhodes is actually a multi-tiered artist \u2014 a veteran singer-pianist-songwriter and a top-flight floral artist.<\/p>\n

She is also a woman enjoying life in a country home \u2014 sharing that life with her fianc\u00e9 John, her horse White Spike, three dogs, three cats, two miniature donkeys, a fish, a rabbit and six chickens.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy full-time work is flowers \u2013 weddings, funerals, special occasions \u2013 and teaching music classes,\u201d said Rhodes, who will have her own Quaker wedding in October<\/p>\n

\u201cI teach piano lessons for beginners. I love working with children. Recently, I raised almost $1,500 donating a class to Francis Vale Animal Rescue.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is Rhodes\u2019 sense of melody and rhythm \u2013 and her smooth, expressive voice \u2013 which has allowed her to develop a legion of fans throughout the Delaware Valley.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy audience is pretty diverse,\u201d said Rhodes, who cites Natalie Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand and Nina Simone as influences. \u201cI have a lot of repeat customers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love performing at the General Warren and at Duling-Kurtz,\u201d said Rhodes. \u201cThey are great places to play and the people there are wonderful. I play jazz standards, blues classics and original songs \u2013 a little bit of everything.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy shows at the General Warren Inn are usually duos with Bill Schilling, who plays bass and piano. When I\u2019m singing and playing piano, he\u2019s on bass. When he shifts to piano, I concentrate solely on vocals.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaying with people frees me up to do different styles. When I\u2019m not focusing on several things at once, I can concentrate on my singing. I\u2019m enjoying it now more than ever because the pressure isn\u2019t so intense.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I\u2019m playing and singing, I try to crawl inside the song. It has to be something that means something to me. When I write songs, I look to give myself comfort and to give comfort to the listeners.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rhodes is a versatile artist whose creative realm includes painting and floral arranging as well as music. Samples of her work can be seen at her websites \u00a0—www.whisperwindstudio.com<\/a> and www.mindyrhodes.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On May 6, Rhodes will perform at the Thornbury Farm Market and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) \u201cBands and Bonfire Benefit (http:\/\/www.thornburyfarmcsa.com\/bonfire.php<\/a>).\u201d<\/p>\n

The event, which runs from 4-10 p.m., also features Younger than Charlie and the Bravo Theatre Company along with a silent auction and a display of antique cars from the Chester County Antique Car Club.<\/p>\n

Video link for Mindy Rhodes \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/xdMdE_pVlFU<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rhodes will perform at the General Warren Inne on April 13 from 6-10 p.m. and at the Duling-Kurtz House on April 14 from 6-9 p.m. There is no cover charge for either show.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Sundara Karma<\/p><\/div>\n

Back in November, Sundara Karma made its area debut with a show at the Foundry at Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal Street, Philadelphia, 215-309-0150,www.thefillmorephilly.com<\/a>) as part of the \u201cBBC Presents Sundara Karma, Spring King and Izzy Bizu USA Tour.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, the young English band is returning to Philadelphia for another show at the same venue. Then highly-touted quartet will share the bill with 888 and Coast Modern at The Foundry on April 13.<\/p>\n

Sundara Karma means \u201cbeautiful karma\u201d in Sanskrit. The band, which features\u00a0Oscar Pollock (vocals\/guitar),\u00a0Haydn Evans\u00a0(drums),\u00a0Dom Cordell\u00a0(bass) and\u00a0Ally Baty (guitar), is based in Reading, England.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat tour in the winter was a good introductory tour,\u201d said Pollock, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon as the band travelled through Connecticut on the way to a radio gig.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe shows were a lot smaller than what we\u2019re used to in the U.K.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s nice to be able to come over to the states and play smaller venues. In the U.K., we\u2019re playing arenas. It can get boring playing the same kind of shows all the time. The stateside tours are also good for us because we\u2019re winning new fans while supporting other acts.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith this tour, we\u2019re alternating headliners so I\u2019m not sure everyone there is coming to see us. But, I think we are starting to get known in the states. We\u2019re getting more recognition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Late last year, Sundara Karma released an EP titled \u201cLoveblood\u201d exclusively in America via\u00a0Bee & El\/Sony RAL. The band released its debut album, \u201cYouth Is Only Ever Fun In Retrospect,\u201d earlier this year on the same label.<\/p>\n

Sundara Karma\u2019s new single \u201cShe Said\u201d made a strong debut securing major radio airplay as the #1 most added at Alternative Radio\u00a0on its first radio impact week.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all grew up together in Reading,\u201d said Pollock. \u201cIt\u2019s been very organic. We started when we were 13 and became Sundara Karma when we were 14. When we were 15, we were working on our first recording.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Pollock, \u201cLoveblood\u201d is \u201cinspired by Oscar Wilde\u2019s short story \u2018Lord Arthur Savile\u2019s Crime.\u2019 The story is a mystery about the unexplainable, and that theme has a huge inspiration in our music.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dealing in anthemic guitar music with soaring choruses, brooding romanticism and a sense of euphoric uplift,\u00a0Sundara Karma\u00a0has already established a dedicated cult fan base, sold-out shows up and down the UK and\u00a0opened the main stage at Reading Festival\u00a0in 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur album has been done for a while,\u201d said Pollock. \u201cWe sat on it for a little bit. We didn\u2019t want to rush things. We had been writing songs for a few years prior to the album. I tend to do most of the writing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded it about a year ago. Most of the album was done in Berlin. We went there because we heard it was a very creative hub. It was very appealing to us.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is so much culture there. We wanted to get that feeling with our recording. Some of the album was also done in England \u2013 Oxford, London and Brixton. And, we did one track on a boat \u2013 a big red boat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sundara Karma\u2019s music has a spacey, euphoric feel in many of the songs \u2013 not surprising considering the band\u2019s influences.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of our main influences are Pink Floyd, the Doors, The Smiths, The Cure and Joy Division,\u201d said Pollock. \u201cWe like spacey, psychedelic music.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn our live show, we play the songs pretty much as they were recorded. They haven\u2019t really gone through any changes on stage. After this tour, we\u2019ll go home and start playing festivals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Sundara Karma —https:\/\/youtu.be\/aRORIKvOR4Y<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at The Foundry, which also features 888 and Coast Modern, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.<\/p>\n

The Ladybug Festival is an annual celebration of women in music that is held every July in Downtown Wilmington in July \u2013 a festival that features a wide array of very talented female artists.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, area music fans will not have to wait until July to see two of the best acts that have performed at Ladybug in recent years — Nalani & Sarina and Rachael Sage.<\/p>\n

On April 14, Ladybug Festival producers, Gable Music Ventures, are bringing them together for an intimate night at the World Caf\u00e9 Live at the Queen (500 North Market Street, Wilmington, 302- 994-1400,\u00a0www.worldcafelive.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Nalani & Sarina<\/p><\/div>\n

Nalani & Sarina are 23-year-old twin sisters from central New Jersey who have been leaving a trail of ardent fans in their wake whenever they perform.<\/p>\n

The highly-talented siblings have already established themselves as top-flight vocalists, songwriters, and multi-instrumentalists.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve bene dong a lot of shows this month,\u201d said Nalani, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from their New Jersey home. \u201cWe\u2019ve been hopping all over the place \u2013 covering new ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nalani & Sarina have been building a huge fan base in the Mid-Atlantic region for the last four years. They have performed at several venues around the area including Kennett Flash, the Eagleview Concert Series in Exton, the Queen in Wilmington, the Puck in Doylestown, and, earlier this week, MilkBoy Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe area we\u2019ve been playing stretches from Boston to Washington, D.C.,\u201d said Sarina. \u201cAnd, we\u2019ve done gigs in L.A. each of the last two summers. We keep expanding our territory.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing a lot of Sofar shows in and around New York City. It stands for \u2018sounds from a room.\u2019 They\u2019re pop-up shows to a completely new audience \u2013 young music-lovers in their 20s. They\u2019re held in different parts of New York City from Brooklyn to Greenwich Village. New York has a very cool type of audience.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe write songs for people in their 20s. One of our songs is about trying to find work after graduating from college. Another one is about how an old friend who hadn\u2019t seen in a long time came to see us play and how we inspired him to pursue a career in music. We\u2019re writing about people our age \u2013 observing other people\u2019s stories.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like stories about kids\u2019 lives from their early to late 20s \u2013 love, first relationships, work. The songs are about what life is like for people our age. But, people of all ages can relate to these songs. We\u2019ve had older people tell us that they can identify with these songs.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Nalani & Sarina are not performing on stage, they\u2019re hard at work in the recording studio,<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been working in the studio a lot lately,\u201d said Nalani. \u201cWe\u2019ve been recording a lot. We\u2019re taking a pretty relaxed approach — doing it piece-by-piece\u2026song-by-song.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are no deadlines. What\u2019s great about that is that we don\u2019t have to force creativity and that makes it a lot less stressful. We\u2019ve been recording at Carriage House Studio in Stamford, Connecticut and at the home studio in Wayne (PA) or our engineer Julian Herzfeld.\u201d<\/p>\n

With roots based in rhythm-and-blues, soul, rock and especially funk, the sisters create vocal harmonies that only twins can make.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re identical twins,\u201d said Nalani. \u201cWe graduated early from Hunterdon Central High a few years ago and we\u2019ve been doing music ever since.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe both started playing classical piano when were six and then studied operatic vocals when we were in sixth grade.<\/p>\n

\u201cClassical music and opera provided good basics for us. Our mom was a folkie so we listened to a lot of folk music when we were young \u2014 great songwriters like Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. And, we\u2019ve listened to a lot of classic rock.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe always have the funk. It\u2019s impossible for us to keep the funk out. We\u2019ve always had funk in our blood. We play shows with just the two of us, it always sounds more singer-songwriter. When we do shows with our band, it gets more funky.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the show this Friday, we won\u2019t have our band with us. We\u2019ll be performing as a duo. But, the funk will still be there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Nalani & Sarina \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/OMe0lVy6eMM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Rachael Sage<\/p><\/div>\n

Rachael Sage released her new album \u201cChoreographic\u201d last May on Mpress Records. Since then, she has been hitting the road in support of the well-received disc.<\/p>\n

With nearly 10 million YouTube views and 12 full-length albums,\u00a0Sage is one of the busiest touring artists in independent music. She performs more than 100 shows a year — both solo and with her band, The Sequins.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been very busy \u2013 all good stuff,\u201d said Sage, during a phone interview Wednesday evening from her home in New York City. \u201cI just got back from a nine-week tour overseas \u2013 four weeks with Beth Hart and five weeks with Howard Jones.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, I\u2019m back \u2013 recovering from Passover with my folks. I\u2019m excited about this show in Delaware. I was invited by Nalani & Sarina to do the show. I adore them. They\u2019re great musicians and really nice people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sage is like a modern-day Renaissance woman — singer-songwriter, ballerina, pianist, poet, record label owner, actress, organist, writer and record producer. Currently, she is focused on being a performer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI recorded the album in August 2015,\u201d said Sage. \u201cIt went pretty quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n

On \u201cChoreography,\u201d Sage reconnects\u00a0to her dance roots. The album is an inspired set of piano-based chamber pop sounds merging orchestral elements with her signature blend of folk, pop and rock.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got the idea to do a dance-themed concept album,\u201d said Sage, who studied and danced professionally with the New York City Ballet when she was younger and then went on to get a degree in theater at Stanford University.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe TV show \u2018Dance Moms\u2019 had used a lot of my music with its choreography. Maddie Ziegler kept using more and more of my songs in her dance routines.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought about how ballet and my experiences in ballet had informed my influences. I holed myself up in a hotel in London. Each day, I wouldn\u2019t leave until I had at least one song written. It\u2019s always exciting when it gets done as something different.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was writing the songs in London, I watched the Glastonbury Festival on TV. I had a keyboard and also wrote some on guitar. It was mostly on piano because I was writing more with an orchestral sensibility.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn general, I usually write the lyrics and the melody at the same time. There were certain musical themes that developed as I wrote. My process is very subconscious at that point. All my channels were open.<\/p>\n

\u201cProducer Andy Zulla, who I had worked with before, said he\u2019d like to work with me again. I recorded the bulk of the songs with him at Carriage House Studio in Connecticut. It\u2019s a rustic environment. It\u2019s kind of a retreat for me. There is such a great energy there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once the album dropped, the songs from \u201cChoreography\u201d changed from studio offerings to rousing live onstage versions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they\u2019re not playable live, I make them playable live,\u201d said Sage, whose expressive voice instinctively wraps itself around her well-thought lyrics. \u201cBeing a production head, I can work with songs. But, it can be a challenge at times.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my live shows, I have a wonderful accompanist \u2013 Kelly Halloran. She is a very talented violin player who has been with me for about five years. Right now, I\u2019m still focusing on songs from \u2018Choreography\u2019 and also playing songs from my new EP.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sage recently released a new\u00a0EP\u00a0of protest songs,\u00a0\u201cThe Tide.\u201d The five-track disc adds her voice to the current worldwide protests and public demonstrations.<\/p>\n

All net proceeds from the EP will be donated to\u00a0ArcLife.org<\/a>\u00a0(American Refugee Committee), one of the world\u2019s leading international refugee assistance organizations.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe songs are political protests and songs about human rights,\u201d said Sage. \u201c\u2018The Tide\u2019 was inspired by a photo of Elie Weisel after helping Syrian refugees.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elie Wiesel is an Auschwitz Survivor and Nobel Peace Prize Winner who died last year at the age of 87.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way things are going now, protest songs are important,\u201d said Sage. \u201cThey need to be made and artists have that job.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Rachael Sage \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/HPSvrD_nE8c<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the Queen, which has Kira Alejandro, as the opener, will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Celtic Woman<\/p><\/div>\n

Another act from across the Atlantic will be performing in Philly this weekend. On April 14, Celtic Woman will bring its internationally-acclaimed show to the Academy of Music (Broad and Locust streets, Philadelphia, 215-731-3333, www.kimmelcenter.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The Grammy Award-Nominated group just embarked on a 91-city world tour to perform songs from its new best-selling album \u201cVoices of Angels.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVoices of Angels\u201d (Manhattan\/Caroline) debuted at Number 1 on<\/p>\n

Billboard’s World Albums chart to become the group’s 12th consecutive Number 1.<\/p>\n

The album, which was recorded with the 72-piece Orchestra of Ireland, also debuted in the top slot of Billboard’s Classical Albums chart.<\/p>\n

The current group\u2019s line-up features a trio of top-flight vocalists — Susan McFadden, Mair\u00e9ad Carlin, \u00c9abha McMahon \u2013 along with new Celtic violinist Tara McNeill.<\/p>\n

The four ladies are accompanied by an ensemble that includes Irish dancers, bagpipers and a full band playing an array of traditional Irish instruments.<\/p>\n

Celtic Woman has a remarkable 12-year-legacy of introducing the most talented singers and musicians from Ireland onto the world stage.<\/p>\n

The group\u2019s fusion of traditional Irish music and contemporary songcraft celebrates Ireland\u2019s history while reflecting the vibrant spirit of modern Ireland. The group’s repertoire encompasses Irish classics, contemporary songs, classical favorites and stirring originals.<\/p>\n

The lineup of performers has evolved in the years since the group’s inception, but the signature sound of Celtic Woman has remained consistent, showcasing the members\u2019 individual and collaborative talents. Since its inception in 2004, the group has had 14 different members.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m in my fourth year with Celtic Woman,\u201d said Mair\u00e9ad Carlin, during a phone interview last week from a tour stop in Providence, Rhode Island.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had gotten a call from Ireland America to sing at a charity gig in New York. I was just chilling with a fellow at the show and he asked for my card.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know at the time that he worked for Celtic Woman. When Chlo\u00eb Agnew left the group, they called me to come to Dublin to audition for David Downes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Celtic Woman\u2019s story is like a tale about a couple celebrating its silver wedding anniversary 25 years after going out on what both parties expected to be \u201cjust one date.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2004, David Downes, who previously had been the musical director of the Irish stage show \u201cRiverdance\u201d, assembled a group of five Irish musical artists for a television special.<\/p>\n

Downes looked at the success of the touring Irish stage shows \u201cRiverdance\u201d and \u201cLord of the Dance\u201d and decided to mount a similar show without the dance. So, he put together a show focusing on the talents of lovely female singers and a lively female violinist.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was very familiar with Celtic Woman. I grew up listening to their music. Celtic Woman is one of the only groups that brings Irish music to the world stage. It feels great to bring this treasure to people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Celtic Woman — https:\/\/youtu.be\/HsCp5LG_zNE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the Academy of Music will start at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $43-$103.<\/p>\n

With acts from England and Ireland performing in Philadelphia over the next few days, it\u2019s only fair that Scotland should also be represented.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Biffy Clyro<\/p><\/div>\n

And, it will be when Biffy Clyro headline a show at the Theatre of the Living Arts (334 South Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1011, http:\/\/www.lnphilly.com<\/a>) on April 14.<\/p>\n

The band was touring in support of its freshly-released album \u201cOpposites,\u201d which was released in the states on 14th Floor Records, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Records.<\/p>\n

That was the last stateside tour for Biffy Clyro, a trio from Kilmarnock,\u00a0East Ayrshire featuring Simon Neil\u00a0(guitar, lead vocals) and twin brothers\u00a0James Johnston\u00a0(bass, vocals) and\u00a0Ben Johnston\u00a0(drums, vocals), still lives in Scotland.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe toured America after the release of \u2018Opposites\u2019 and then we burned out a little,\u201d said Johnson, during a recent phone interview from his home in Scotland.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had to take a little break from touring and recording. We were always in the studio so we just broke the mold a bit. We finally got to start over in 2015.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a bit of needed \u201cR&R,\u201d Biffy Clyro began writing and recording. The result was the band\u2019s tasty new album \u201cEllipsis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Released by Warner Bros. Records\/14th Floor Recordings in July, \u201cEllipsis\u201d went straight to number one in the U.K. album chart and was also number one in Switzerland, Germany and Ireland. \u00a0It remained in the U.K. Top 40 for 11 weeks before claiming the top spot on the album chart, making it Biffy Clyro\u2019s\u00a0second Number 1 album.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe spent six months in the studio altogether,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cWe got on board Rich Costey to produce it. He\u2019s Death Cab for Cutie\u2019s producer. We went to Burbank with six or seven songs with all parts done. Rich had already come to Scotland for pre-production.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded the vocals first on some of the songs. We\u2019ve never ever done that. It was a bit of an eye-opener. It was very different for me as a drummer. I had to wait until the end.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a way to try to force a tune. If you have a good melody, you have a good song \u2013 and then you try to find a way to decorate it by adding drums and guitar.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe actually have a whole other album of music coming out \u2013 B-sides that were recorded in the session while making \u2018Ellipsis.\u2019 It\u2019s more a rock album. It shows that we had a lot of ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n

The band operates out of Glasgow but is still based in Kilmarnock.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe still practice there,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cFor a while now, we\u2019ve had our own studio at a working farm. It\u2019s a nice place to be to get away from the music industry. Simon writes all the songs and he does that at home. Then, we start to work up the songs in the practice room.\u201d<\/p>\n

With seven albums from which to draw songs, assembling a set list for shows can be a challenge for Biffy Clyro.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what the set list will include,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cSome people will be seeing us for the first time so we should tip our hat to earlier records. We\u2019ll do songs from all the way back to \u2018Blackened Sky,\u2019 which was our first album in 2002.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Biffy Clyro \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/8r-WbSan6D0<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at TLA, which has O\u2019Brother as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25.<\/p>\n

The wide array of acts playing in Philly on April 14 includes a progressive funk-rock band from Nashville, a full-tilt rock band from Austin, and an indie-rock band from New York.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Sweet Spirit<\/p><\/div>\n

The full-tilt rock band from Austin, Texas is Sweet Spirit \u2013 a genre-spanning group that will headline a show at the Dawson Street Pub (100 Dawson Street, Philadelphia, 215-482-5677, http:\/\/www.dawsonstreetpub.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The band\u2019s current core members are Sabrina Ellis, Andrew Cashen, Joshua Merry, Jake Knight, Jon Fichter and Danny Lion and members added in 2015 are Cara Tillman, Leslie Matthews and Samuel Protich Rives.<\/p>\n

Ironically, the nine-piece band started as a solo project.<\/p>\n

Ellis was going through some distressing times. Bobby Jelaousy, the band that she fronted for several years with her then husband was disintegrating along with their relationship.<\/p>\n

Everything Ellis was working toward was suddenly in free-fall. So, she started Sweet Spirit to hone her ability to write and perform on her own.<\/p>\n

When Ellis initiated Sweet Spirit, she was still writing and performing with her longstanding garage punk band A Giant Dog. AGD Co-founder Andrew Cashen was intrigued by Ellis\u2019 new emphasis on soul and country and pop music as touchstones for Sweet Spirit and quickly climbed on board the project.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt started as an outlet for me \u2013 an outlet for my songs that weren\u2019t punk rock,\u201d said Ellis, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the first time I had to take my songs to a band \u2013 people that I didn\u2019t know and didn\u2019t have a long history of working with.\u201d<\/p>\n

It required a different writing focus for Ellis.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore songs hit a band, they\u2019re pretty similar with melody and lyrics,\u201d said Ellis. \u201cIt was a pretty slow evolution for me to do songs that were longer than two-and-a-half to three minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis new record \u2013 \u2018St. Mojo\u2019 — has some four-and-a-half minute songs. Part of me wonders if there is a place for longer songs with all the ADD going on. Most of the Sweet Spirit songs are mid-tempo.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is a local connection for Sweet Spirit. The band\u2019s \u201cSt. Mojo\u201d album was produced by Los Lobos sax player Steve Berlin, who grew up in nearby Abington.<\/p>\n

\u201cI loved working with Steve Berlin,\u201d said Ellis. \u201cHe wasn\u2019t afraid of a long solo. Taking those levels of risk really helped. We recorded the album last March \u2013 right after SXSW.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe took five days off after SXSW and then tore into the project. We had played a lot of shows at SXSW and we were lean \u2013 we were lean and tight.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur live show is mostly songs from \u2018St. Mojo\u2019 along with four or five favorites from earlier records. Both our albums \u2013 \u2018Cokomo\u2019 and \u2018St. Mojo\u2019 \u2013 have the quality of being versatile. They have songs that sound different from each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Sweet Spirit \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/nRKWzT6PLY0<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the Dawson Street Pub, which has The Burgeoning as the opener, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The progressive funk-rock band from Nashville is Backup Planet \u2013 a group that is billed as \u201chigh-energy, experimental rock\/funk band.\u201d<\/p>\n

On April 14, Backup Planet will headline a show at MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, 215- 925-6455, www.milkboyphilly.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The band is a versatile quartet featuring Ben Cooper, Gavin Donati, Blake Gallant, and Chris Potocik \u2013 a foursome with its roots in Knoxville, Tennessee.<\/p>\n

Backup Planet plays music that blends elements of jazz, funk, roots, blues, electronic, and progressive rock into a fusion that has also has pop, 70s-style rock and funk, high-energy improv and heavy metal in its DNA.<\/p>\n

\u201cI met Gavin in 2009,\u201d said Cooper, during a phone interview Monday afternoon from Nashville. \u201cWe played for a while at U.T. (University of Tennessee) and went through several drummers and bassists. At the end of 2012, we decided to take it seriously. We tried a number of bassists who didn\u2019t fit. So, I played key bass for a while until we got Blake at the end of 2014.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cooper (keys, vocals), Potocik (drums, vocals), Donati (guitar, vocals), and Gallant (bass, vocals) released their full-length debut \u201cElement\u2019 in 2015.<\/p>\n

Things were moving in a positive direction for Backup Planet \u2013 until they flipped around.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a vanb accident in June 2015,\u201d said Cooper. \u201cWe were playing a string of dates in the Midwest and were heading to a festival. We were leaving Chicago on an overpass and the next thing we knew, our van was flipped over on the interstate sliding sideways.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was glass everywhere. A guy driving 90 mph crazy drunk hit us in the back of our trailer. We lost our van, our equipment and our trailer. But, we didn\u2019t lose our lives. So, we just pulled together and started rebuilding.\u201d<\/p>\n

Backup Planet worked hard and got its career back on track. On March 31, the quartet released its sophomore album \u201cReactions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe van crash and what happened afterwards \u2013 that\u2019s what the recent album is thematically about,\u201d said Cooper. \u201cIt\u2019s about the experience. It\u2019s about not focusing on trivial matters.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a crash like that happens, at first there is the bewilderment of being in a wreck and then you get angry and upset. Then, it comes full circle about picking up life. And then, there is a sense of gratitude.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe song \u2018Lookin\u2019 Up\u2019 talks about being alive and being happy for what you did do and what you might do. The song \u2018All In\u2019 tells you to \u2018just go for it.\u2019 Making this album was a good experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Backup Planet \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/PkH8neJ8aFg<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Milkboy, which also features The Heavy Pets, will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Stolen Jars<\/p><\/div>\n

The indie-rock band from New York is Stolen Jars, which is headlining a show on April 14 at The Pharmacy<\/em><\/a> (1300 South 18th Street, Philadelphia<\/p>\n

Stolen Jars is a socially-conscious band featuring the nucleus of Cody Fitzgerald, Molly Grund, Sarah Coffey and Matt Marsico. Other \u201cassociate members\u201d are Peter Enriquez, Max Finkelstein, Connor McGuigan and Grant Meyer.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are five or six members at any given time,\u201d said Fitzgerald, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. \u201cWe\u2019re doing a small tour right now. We\u2019ll do a longer tour in July \u2013 a loop through the Midwest.\u201d<\/p>\n

The band began small and continued to grow.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt started as my vehicle,\u201d said Fitzgerald. \u201cI started writing songs for the first album when I was in high school. I graduated from Montclair High in North Jersey in 2011.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a big music scene in Montclair when I was in high school. A lot of bands grew out of that scene. Molly, who is also from Montclair, has been with me in the band the longest.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went to college at Brown University and Molly went to Wesleyan. We kept the band going and added people over the years. There have been a few different iterations of our live band.\u201d<\/p>\n

On April 7, Stolen Jars released its new EP, \u201cglint.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Fitzgerald, \u201cA glint is a shimmering reflection of light and, at the end of the day, that is really what this EP is — a small 16-minute moment of reflection.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is five songs centered around themes of loss and renewal, songs about finding hints of memory in the present and trying to keep sight of them just long enough to let them go.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u201cglint<\/em>\u201d EP b<\/em>reaks apart into different visual interpretations. Each track on the EP plays alongside a composition from different video artists, animators, choreographers, and directors \u2013\u00a0Evelyn Ross for “Eliot,” Jenelle Pearring and Nora Alami for “Gold Age,” Abie Sidell and Felix Handte for “Long New York,” Marissa Goldman and Blaine Dunkley for “Gone Away,” and Henry Chaisson for “Afterlight.”<\/p>\n

\u201cI wrote \u2018glint\u2019 as my thesis at school,\u201d said Fitzgerald. \u201cFor the visuals, all were friends or friends of friends. I\u2019m still surprised we were able to get all these amazing people to help us. We\u2019ve only released two of the five videos so far \u2013 \u2018Eliot\u2019 and \u2018Long New York.\u2019 \u2018Gone Away\u2019 is next.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Stolen Jars — https:\/\/youtu.be\/XoWLYH9TQQo<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at The Pharmacy, which will also include Tall Friend, Teen Spaceship, and Poppy Patica, will start at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $12.<\/p>\n

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/em><\/a>) will have Better Than Bacon Improv Comedy on April 13, \u201cFirst Impression – A Progressive Classic Rock Tribute\u201d on April 14, and The Melton Brothers and Dan May on April 15.<\/p>\n

The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/em><\/a>) will host The Odyssey with Double Suede and Katie Dale on April 14.<\/p>\n

The Colonial Theatre (Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610- 917-1228, www.thecolonialtheatre.com<\/a>) will host \u201cTwo Funny Guys\u201d on April 15.<\/p>\n

The Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/a>) presents Leela James on April 13 and The Musical Box on April 15.<\/p>\n

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/em><\/a>) will host The Weight Band: Playing Songs of The Band on April 13, The Land Of Ozz (The Ultimate Ozzy Experience) on April 14, Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre Band on April 15 and Paul McKenna & Andrew Finn Magill on April 19.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times Mindy Rhodes is a versatile performer whose music transcends genres. She has performed in nightclubs as a jazz vocalist with a backing band, at smaller venues with her solo cabaret act and frequently at area restaurants with a duo line-up. For years, Rhodes has been a regular attraction […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34563,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8457],"tags":[9686,9688,7426,9685,9689,9690,9687,9144,9691],"class_list":["post-34561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-backup-planet","tag-biffy-clyro","tag-featured","tag-mindy-rhodes","tag-nalania-sarina","tag-rachel-sage","tag-stoeln-jars","tag-sundara-karma","tag-sweet-spirit"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34561","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=34561"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34561\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34562,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34561\/revisions\/34562"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/34563"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=34561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=34561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=34561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}