{"id":37492,"date":"2017-11-18T11:51:52","date_gmt":"2017-11-18T16:51:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=37492"},"modified":"2017-11-18T11:51:57","modified_gmt":"2017-11-18T16:51:57","slug":"on-stage-bonus-savoy-brown-50-years-and-still-rocking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=37492","title":{"rendered":"On Stage (Bonus): Savoy Brown, 50 years and still rocking"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"\"<\/a>

Savoy Brown<\/p><\/div>\n

A band with a history that dates back more than a half-century will be performing in the area this weekend.<\/p>\n

On November 18, Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown will have a concert at the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Savoy Brown is still rocking the blues after more than 50 years and in 2017 is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the band\u2019s first album release with a tour featuring songs from the first album, their five-decade history and songs from their new release later this year.<\/p>\n

Savoy Brown is an English blues rock band formed in Battersea in the southwest part of London in 1965. The band was formed by guitarist Kim Simmonds and harmonica player John O\u2019Leary.<\/p>\n

Since then, the band\u2019s line-up has featured more than 60 talented musicians with Simmonds as the only constant. The current line-up, which features Pat DeSalvo on bass, Garnet Grimm on drums and Simmonds on guitars, keyboards, harmonica and vocals, has been together since 2009.<\/p>\n

Originally called the Savoy Brown Blues Band, this group can rightly take credit for cutting the farewell anthem of the 1960s British blues boom, in the form of a modern blues aptly titled \u201cTrain to Nowhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Historically as well as musically, this song remains a sad reminder that by the time of its 1969 release as a single, most original blues were no longer commercially viable in Britain, as more and more blues clubs closed their doors for good.<\/p>\n

Within four years of the band\u2019s formation, however, it had become a top-tier live act in America. At home in Britain, it was a different story. The band never really broke out of the club scene until much later in its career.<\/p>\n

Savoy Brown has released more than 40 albums — the most recent of which is \u201cWitchy Feelin\u2019,\u201d which is hot off the presses.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe new album just came out in September,\u201d said Simmonds, during a phone interview Wednesday morning from his home in Oswego, New York. \u201cIt\u2019s doing well. It\u2019s been received great and that makes us feel really good.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe album is our first Number One album on the Billboard Blues Chart. In the 60s and 70s, we were regulars on the Billboard pop charts. With the new LP, it\u2019s been reassuring to get good reviews.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fans and critics have been steadfast in their support of Savoy Brown over the last five decades.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s amazing that it\u2019s been 50 years since our first album came out,\u201d said Simmonds, whose ties to the U.K. still include support of the Fulham soccer team.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlbums capture a moment in time \u2014 where you\u2019re at during that time. We\u2019re at the stage where I demo the albums at home and then send the demos to the other two guys. I have my own studio out back and it\u2019s been my retreat away from the reality of life. I write the material and send it to my friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaking it from a demo to a band project is a different process. At sound checks is where we really rehearse as a band. Sometimes, it only takes five minutes to figure out a song. It\u2019s pretty good that way because you\u2019re already in an environment for a show. You\u2019re in a real head space.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a song is ready, we play it for audiences and see their reactions. It\u2019s the way I\u2019ve done it many times in the past. It\u2019s very important that the vibe you play is fresh and interesting. Previewing it live is a great way to judge the vibe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simmonds, who has released 15 Savoy Brown albums in the last 19 years, has never been content to rest on his laurels.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started testing the new material during our last European tour,\u201d said Simmonds. \u201cThis album has been in the planning for more than two years. I started with 100 songs \u2013 maybe 150 \u2013 and honed it down to get 11 or 12 that are really good. The songs always start with the lyrics.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery morning, I\u2019d start writing lyrics \u2013 all from scratch. Maybe I should have been a writer. I was always a string writer when I was in school writing stories.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith songs \u2013 for me, it\u2019s all about the writing. The riffs are the easy part. If I can\u2019t write the riff by now, I\u2019m done.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe road-tested a lot of the songs. Once we got the kinks out, we went in the studio. We recorded the album back in February. Most of what you hear was recorded on the first take.\u201d<\/p>\n

On this tour, Savoy Brown\u2019s selection of songs to play stretches from the beginning to the present.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaking the set list for the live show is a lot easier than it sounds,\u201d said Simmonds. \u201cYou play what you know. We still play \u2018Wang Dang Doodle\u2019 but the new material is so strong it carries the show.\u201d<\/p>\n

The show on Saturday night, which has Dustin Arbuckle & The Damnations as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 and $45.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming acts at the Sellersville Theater are Boy Named Banjo<\/a> and Maybe April<\/a> on November 19 and Brother Joscephus and the Love Revolution on November 22.<\/p>\n

On November 18, Kung Fu Necktie (1248 North Front Street, Philadelphia, 215-291-4919, kungfunecktie.com<\/a>) will host a twin-bill featuring Eyelids and Jay Gonzalez.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Eyelids<\/p><\/div>\n

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Eyelids is a talented and diverse band featuring Chris Slusarenko (vocals, guitar), John Moen (vocals, guitar), Jonathan Drews (vocals, guitar), Jim Talstra (bass) and Paul Pulvirenti (drums).<\/p>\n

Eyelids have a collective history of creating music for some of the most legendary indie songwriters. They were not only the principal instrumentalists for Robert Pollard\u2019s post-Guided By Voices band Boston Spaceships for over eight releases, but they have also worked with Stephen Malkmus, The Decemberists, Elliott Smith, Sam Coomes of Quasi, Black Prairie, Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, Loch Lomond, Damien Jurado and R.E.M.\u2019s Peter Buck (who produced their new EP).<\/p>\n

“A lot of us have known each other since we were around 19,\u201d said Slusarenko, during a recent phone interview from his home in the Beaver State.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe played in different bands in the Portland area. John and Jim were in the Dharma Bums. In Portland, there were so few bands that we were all friends. We\u2019ve all been in different bands together such as Guided By Voices.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt one point, John Moen and I decided that we wanted to work together. We did a couple demos bu thtn that project got swallowed up by other commitments.\u201d<\/p>\n

That was the point that Eyelids started their gestation period.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt started as a project,\u201d said Slusarenko. \u201cJonathan, myself and John put out a single and asked Jim and Pauley to p;lay with us. We went back and re-recorded the song from the original demos. Our first single was a map of where we had eben.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn three years, we\u2019ve released five 7-inch singles, an EP and two full-lengths. And, we\u2019ve toured quite a bit. We really toured a lot when the foirst album came out. Charlatans UK put the album out in the U.K. and we toured with them. Earlier this year, we toured Europe with Drive By Truckers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eyelids are now touring in support of their new album \u201cor.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the U.K., the album is titled \u2018Eyelids or\u2019 but in the U.S. it\u2019s just \u2018or\u2019,\u201d said Slusarenko. \u201cIt came out over here in June and it\u2019s been very well-received.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe cut it in Portland at Destination Universe. Peter Buck produced it and also played on the record. It has a nice casual feel. We recorded it in December during an ice storm. It was fun.<\/p>\n

\u201cJonathan and I do most of the songwriting and then bring it to the others. We have three guitarists and we\u2019re all pretty different \u2013 Jonathan is folk, John is ethereal and I\u2019m very guttural and rooted. We make a different space that doesn\u2019t get messy. The songs come together pretty quickly when we bring things together.\u201d<\/p>\n

The show at Kung Fu Necktie will be special for Eyelids.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve all played in Philadelphia with our different bands before,\u201d said Slusarenko. \u201cBut, this is our first show in Philly as Eyelids so we\u2019re really looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Eyelids \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/eklFSRY0_5w<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Kung Fu Necktie, which also features Hurry and Jay Gonzalez, will start at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $10.<\/p>\n

When the Voltage Lounge (421 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia, 215- 964-9602, www.voltagelounge.com<\/a>) hosts a matinee show on November 18, the focus will be on \u201cSwingStyle\u201d music.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be fooled into thinking that this is swing music from the Big Band era or country swing from Texas dancehalls. And, don\u2019t expect the dance floor to have anyone doing the jitterbug.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Downswing<\/p><\/div>\n

This is \u201cAlbany SwingStyle\u201d music \u2013 the music made by Downswing, an in-your-face hard-core band from Albany, New York. And, the floor in front of the stage will be filled by body-smashing, arm-flailing fans creating havoc in the mosh pit.<\/p>\n

Downswing\u2019s line-up features Brett Colvin (vocals), Anthony Salvaggio (guitar), Chris Arnold (guitar), Brandon Jared (bass) and Nick Manzella (drums).<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is our first real tour in general,\u201d said Colvin, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon form a tour stop in Panama City, Florida.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve been trying to hit Philly since we\u2019ve been a band.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur debut was September 23 last year and our first real show was October 29 in Poughkeepsie (NY). We dropped our first track \u2018Contain\u2019 not long after that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, the quintet is on the road in support of its new EP \u201cDark Side of the Mind,\u201d which was released on November 10 on Rise Records.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur first record was a three-song demo called \u2018SwingStyle\u2019 with the songs \u2018Contain,\u2019 \u2018Blame\u2019 and \u2018Cut the Brakes,\u2019\u201d said Colvin. \u201cThe new EP has five songs \u2013 \u2018Hell,\u2019 \u2018Disease,\u2019 \u2018Enough,\u2019 \u2018Immolate\u2019 and \u2018Bitter.\u2019 We started recording it last winter and finished it in January.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll eight songs we\u2019ve recorded have been with our friend Jon Folino as the producer. He\u2019s from the Albany band Animal.<\/p>\n

\u201cDownswing is a phoenix risen from the ashes of many failed bands in Albany,\u201d said Colvin. \u201cChris and I come from the pop-rock scene in Albany. Now, I\u2019ve found my niche by stepping outside my comfort zone. This is the first band where I can write what I want.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s exciting. We\u2019re just here to have fun. That\u2019s what SwingStyle is about. It\u2019s also called \u2018East Coast Trash.\u2019 Bands out of Albany sound a certain way \u2013 Albany-style.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn our live shows, we\u2019re more of a punk-hardcore band than a straight hardcore band. It\u2019s very energetic \u2013 explosive non-stop energy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Downswing — https:\/\/youtu.be\/o2ujwrUnmgY<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the Voltage Lounge, which also features Traitors and Sabella, will start at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at The Voltage Lounge are The Emo Band on November 18, In Hearts Wake, Like Moths To Flames, Phinehas and Fit For A King on November 21, and Bitsky, Mirkos, Average Joe and NO SIR E on November 22.<\/p>\n

There will be another matinee show this weekend in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

herMajesty<\/p><\/div>\n

On November 19, herMajesty is playing an afternoon show at The Pharmacy Coffee Shop (1300 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, https:\/\/thepharmacyphilly.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Based in New York, herMajesty features JP (vocals, rhythm guitars, programming), David Leatherwood (guitars, backup vocals), Joan Chew (bass, backup vocals), and Konrad Meissner (drums, percussion). Additional percussion is provided by Josh Shusterman.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was originated by me,\u201d said JP, during a phone interview Thursday. \u201cThen, I reached ouit to musicians in the New York scene who I thought were kindred spirits. I brought them into the band to elaborate on the sound I had in mind \u2013 a complex sound with different layers \u2013 a sound that was lyrical and magical.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started the original idea in 2009. Then, in 2010, I connected with producer Nic Hard. Since then, I\u2019ve made one full album, two EPs and a slew of singles. I\u2019m currently working on another single that will be released in the new year. After a whiloe, I\u2019ll compile the singles into an EP.\u201d<\/p>\n

herMajesty’s new single, \u201cI Saw the Dog,\u201d was released on vinyl through Midday Records on November 2 and digital stores on November 8. It features Chris McQueen (lead guitar) and Henry Hey (keys), both musicians in Bowie\u2019s play, Lazarus, and his recording ensemble on \u201cThe Next Day.\u201d It was produced by Hard, a Grammy Award winner.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe band line-up we have now is a stable line-uip,\u201d said JP, a Greek native whose full name is John Pasagiannis. \u201cIt has been together for four years. And, I\u2019ve been working with David since 2009.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m influenced by David Bowie, Lou Reed and Peter Gabriel. Other bands I listen to a lot are Apparat, Jon Hopkins, Moderat, Brian Eno, Joy Division, Wire, New Order and the punk rock of The Clash.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like to create songs with interesting, complex characters. I occupy the space of that character and sing out of that space. My relationship to the songs has morphed. I have more emotional connection to the characters. Generally, I do the songwriting and then we flesh it out as a band.\u201d<\/p>\n

The band\u2019s music has been described as New Wave, indie, art rock, glam, pop, punk and rock. It is all that \u2013 and more.<\/p>\n

Despite having a rather limited recorded output over the last eight years, herMajesty has a full plate of songs for its live shows.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe actually have a lot of material,\u201d said JP. \u201cThe pace we record is a lot slower than the pace we write. When it comes to sound, I\u2019m a perfectionist and it can take up to a year to make a song. I\u2019m a bit obsessive when it comes to that.\u201d<\/p>\n

By the way \u2013 herMajesty should not be confused with Her Majesty, a pop-rock\/folk band from Norway, that was founded in 2014 in Oslo.<\/p>\n

Video link for herMajesty \u2013 https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/hermajestyny\/videos\/10151207977816537\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at The Pharmacy, which also features The Goodnight, will start at 3 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $7.<\/p>\n

There is another upcoming show at the same venue that also features a band trying to establish a name for itself.<\/p>\n

In this digital age, many young bands rely on the internet \u2013 especially Google searches \u2013 to get themselves recognized. There is a new band from Brooklyn for which that strategy just isn\u2019t working.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

BIRDS<\/p><\/div>\n

The name of the band is BIRDS and finding internet links directly to the band is difficult to say the least. Search for BIRDS and you get the early British rock band The Birds (which featured future Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood), the venerable L.A. band The Byrds or links to a variety of the avian types associated with the name.<\/p>\n

On November 20, BIRDS will visit the area for a show at The Pharmacy Coffee Shop (1300 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, https:\/\/thepharmacyphilly.org<\/a>).
\nBIRDS is a psych rock band from Brooklyn, NY. Started as a recording project by Lauginiger, the band first featured a looser circle of musicians and friends, finally settling into a permanent line-up that features Timothy John Plunkett (drums), Jess Rees (guitar), Jessica Reynoza (bass, vocals) and Lauginiger (guitar, vocals).<\/p>\n

\u201cI started writing songs in my basement studio,\u201d said Lauginiger, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon as the band was on its way to a gig in Detroit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was recording demos. I started meeting people to fill in here and there. Jess Rees and I had been playing together the whole time. We had a drummer and we used different bass players. Then, I got Jessica to play bass and Tim to play drums.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was just a recording session. But, the rhythm section kicked it. The songs were already there. Once we got in the same room, it just worked. That was one-and-a-half years ago. Our first gig was at a record store in Philly \u2013 Beautiful World Syndicate. That was in spring 2016.\u201d<\/p>\n

From there, BIRDS took flight.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had done a couple EPs with different musicians,\u201d said Lauginiger, a Virginia native who lived in South Philly for a while a few years ago before relocating to Brooklyn.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first band effort was \u2018Everything all at Once.\u2019 I wrote all the songs. They were a build-up. We tracked it at our friend Paul Kostabi\u2019s studio \u2013 Thunderdome Studio in Piermont, New York. Then, I took it back to my studio and mixed it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sound got fuller. I was hearing what I wanted to hear. For the next album, we\u2019ll be writing together a lot more.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything All At Once\u201d was released in August by Greenway Records. The album is eight tracks of mangled, fuzzy pop about feeling disconnected. Written at Time Castle (a basement studio run by Lauginiger), the songs meld the hooks of 60s pop with the distorted, blown-out sounds of the 90s.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how to describe our music,\u201d said Lauginiger. \u201cPeople are calling it psych-rock. To me, they just sound like pop songs.\u201d
\nVideo link for Birds — https:\/\/youtu.be\/sZ106le46y8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Pharmacy, which also features Stuyedeyed, will start at 2 p.m. Tickets are $78.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times A band with a history that dates back more than a half-century will be performing in the area this weekend. On November 18, Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown will have a concert at the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com). Savoy Brown is still rocking the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37494,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[10629,10628,10630,7426,10627,8830],"class_list":["post-37492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-birds","tag-downswing","tag-eyelids","tag-featured","tag-her-majesty","tag-savoy-brown"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37492","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=37492"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37492\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37493,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37492\/revisions\/37493"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/37494"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=37492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=37492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=37492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}