{"id":42303,"date":"2019-03-02T09:02:07","date_gmt":"2019-03-02T14:02:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=42303"},"modified":"2019-03-02T09:02:16","modified_gmt":"2019-03-02T14:02:16","slug":"on-stage-divas-on-stage-at-keswick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=42303","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: ‘Divas’ on stage at Keswick"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, <\/span><\/strong>Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cCalling All Divas,\u201d which is being presented by the Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/a>) on March 2, is more than just one form of entertainment.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a play. It is a concert. It is an evening of fun in a theater. And, it is a world premiere.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are other things about the show that come in aspects of four. \u201cCalling All Divas\u201d features four diverse and very talented female singers \u2013 Broadway performer and Radio City Rockette Lisa Sherman, favorite Philly R&B vocalist Carol Riddick, Nashville siren Trenna Barnes and 20-year-old newcomer Brittneyann Accetta as the blossoming subway singer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCalling All Divas\u201d is a hit parade of songs in four genres — pop, rock, soul, and country. The show affirms the power of music, friendship, and sisterhood through the journey of Frankie, a struggling, wannabe hit songwriter. Frankie searches the city to find the next \u201cUn4gettable\u201d female voice in a desperate plan to save a faltering iconic music nightspot from closing its doors. Along the way, he finds far more than he could have ever imagined \u2013 four female vocalists with superstar potential.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of these vocalists \u2013 Trenna Barnes \u2013 has already achieved international fame though her previous band Cowboy Crush.<\/span><\/p>\n

As lead singer-songwriter for her Nashville-based all-girl band and Curb Records recording artist Cowboy Crush, Barnes has toured 35 countries, headlined over 500 shows, and appeared with such diverse artists as Huey Lewis, Charlie Daniels, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Trace Adkins, and Kellie Pickler. Cowboy Crush is most known for its hit \u201cNobody Ever Died of a Broken Heart.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As an actress, Barnes has portrayed \u201cRing of Fire\u201d principal June Carter with the Denver Center Theatre Company, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Casa Manana Theater, Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Cabrillo Theater (LA Ovation Award Nominee), Fox Riverside Theatre, Totem Pole Playhouse, St. Louis Repertory Theatre, and Cincinnati Playhouse.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI got into this project because of Randy (Alexander),\u201d said Barnes, during a phone interview Monday evening. \u201cCowboy Crush was performing in Atlanta and Randy, who was there with Patti LaBelle, saw us play. Later he introduced us to Patti.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Alexander is a New Jersey-based music industry vet who is \u201cVP Marketing and Publicity\u201d for \u201cCalling All Divas.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCowboy Crush started when we were students at Belmont University in Nashville,\u201d said Barnes. \u201cAn A&R guy from Curb saw us play in a garage and signed us to Curb Records. We toured for a decade. The band isn\u2019t together any more \u2013 for now. Everyone is still alive. Who knows what the future might bring?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat was all girls back with Cowboy Crush and I\u2019m working with all girls now. With \u2018Calling All Divas,\u2019 it\u2019s like a family. It\u2019s all about girl power.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCalling All Divas\u201d is brimming with girl power as the female foursome celebrates the timeless tunes and talents of Etta James, Carole King, The Pointer Sisters, Kelly Clarkson, Aretha Franklin, Miley Cyrus, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, and many more.<\/span><\/p>\n

Academy Award-winning songwriter Franke Previte (\u201cDirty Dancing\u201d) and world-renowned live show specialist\u00a0Michael LaFleur (Disney, Universal, Celine Dion, etc.) have joined forces to put \u201cCalling All Divas\u201d together.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe main person was Frankie Previte,\u201d said Barnes. \u201cHe saw Lisa perform and that was the start. She always had this vision and started her own show \u2018Decades of Divas.\u2019 She did tons of shows with that.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, it has morphed. Now, it\u2019s a play. It is a play and it\u2019s a concert with music from different genres \u2013 country, soul, rock, gospel and pop. The first act is a play and the second act is a concert.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFrankie and Lisa are a couple in real life and it\u2019s really nice to see their love story come to life. He loves her singing and wants people to listen to her. Frankie wanted to write Lisa a show and he got a wonderful director to work with — Michael LaFleur.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a wonderful script for the play about a legendary bar that\u2019s struggling. Frankie starts looking for talent to save the bar. He finds Lisa in a recording studio and Carol in a church. He encounters <\/span>Brittneyann on a subway and finds me in a country bar.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Barnes has performed in countless country bars since relocating to Nashville.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in Oklahoma \u2013 in Tulsa,\u201d said Barnes. \u201cI moved to Nashville in the 90s and was a student at Belmont University. It was awesome. I got college credits to work at Opryland. I\u2019ve been fortunate \u2013 going to Belmont, working in Nashville and singing in Cowboy Crush. Now, I\u2019m in \u2018Calling All Divas,\u2019 which is great. It\u2019s a real feel-good show.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cCalling All Divas\u201d \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/9qL_AlRpJII<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at the Keswick Theater will start at 8 p.m. Tickets prices range from $37.50-$75.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at the Keswick Theater are Alan Parsons on March 3 and The Monkees on March 6.<\/span><\/p>\n

For years, the music world has known and loved the Three Tenors \u2013 a trio of international opera greats featuring Jos\u00e9 Carreras, Pl\u00e1cido Domingo and LucianoPavarotti.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Three Tremors<\/p><\/div>\n

Now, the music world also has the Three Tremors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Up until a few years ago, \u201cthree tremors\u201d could only refer to readings found on seismologist\u2019s equipment \u2013 especially seismographs.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Three Tremors now also refers to a singing trio featuring <\/span>three of metal\u2019s finest vocalists — Tim \u201cRipper\u201d Owens (Judas Priest, Iced Earth), Harry \u201cThe Tyrant\u201d Conklin (Jag Panzer, Titan Force, Satan\u2019s Host), and Sean \u201cThe Hell Destroyer\u201d Peck (Cage, Death Dealer).<\/span><\/p>\n

On March 2, the Three Tremors will make their area debut with a show at Bar XIII (1706 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-746-2213,http:\/\/barxiii.com\/event\/echo<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSean called me about three years ago,\u201d said Owens, during a phone interview Friday afternoon on his way to a gig in Poughkeepsie, New York.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe wanted to mastermind a three-singer thing. He didn\u2019t want us to perform just singing hits from our other bands. He wanted us to sing original songs \u2013 and make an album.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Both of Peck\u2019s dreams have become realities.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Three Tremors\u2019 self-titled debut album was just released on February 22. Now, the band is on the road \u2013 touring in support of its maiden album.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a throwback,\u201d said Owens. \u201cEverything is over the top.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was in the biggest band \u2013 Judas Priest \u2013 but all three of us have a lot of band history. We have a lot of metal fans. We can also go mainstream and we\u2019re even getting some of the fans of underground.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe album just came out. At a lot of these shows, people hadn\u2019t even heard the CD yet. We did 17 shows in Europe in October because we thought the CD was coming out in October. It wasn\u2019t released and we were still drawing big crowds. Fans have really been into it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Much of the album\u2019s DNA was provided by Peck.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSean had already written the music,\u201d said Owens. \u201cHe sent me the version to sing to. He did that with both me and Harry. We\u2019d do our parts and send them back to Sean. I like the work ethic of Sean.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI also made my own version of the music. I did a different voice with a lot of layering and harmonies. We could all release our own versions of the album \u2013 and we might do it. We\u2019ve talked about putting out as a triple-CD sometime in the future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Owens lives in Akron, Ohio, while Peck and Conklin call San Diego home. Peck also has his own band in Southern California \u2013 a metal band called Cage.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Three Tremors use Cage as their touring band. Cage features Alex Pickard on bass, Dave Garcia on guitar, Sean Elg on drums and Casey Trask on guitar.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn our live shows, we stay with the same arrangements we had on the album,\u201d said Owens. \u201cWe do have a couple songs that have sped up live. But, we\u2019ve tried to keep it pretty much the same as what fans are used to hearing. We\u2019ve done 23 shows so far and we keep making it better.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for The Three Tremors \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/j_qEDLpOprM<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Bar XIII will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $22.50.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

William Ryan Key<\/p><\/div>\n

For almost 20 years, William Ryan Key was a key member of Yellowcard, a rock\/pop\/punk group from Jacksonville, Florida.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two years ago, Yellowcard made the decision to break up for good. The band played its final show in March 25, 2017 in Anaheim<\/a>, California.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, after almost two decades, Key was free to do whatever he wanted musically.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had a lot of plans in mind,\u201d said Key, during a phone interview last week from a tour stop in Raleigh, North Carolina.<\/span><\/p>\n

That tour brings him to the area on March 2 for a show at The Foundry at Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal Street, Philadelphia, 215-309-0150,www.thefillmorephilly.com<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I\u2019d transition more into a production role,\u201d said Key. \u201cI live in Franklin, Tennessee, which is just outside Nashville. I have a great studio here. I did a couple records for other people and some songwriting sessions \u2013 but I didn\u2019t feel fulfilled.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI felt like I have a lot of hustle left in me \u2013 but not that kind of hustle. I didn\u2019t have a big producer resume so that was a big challenge. It all went back to me writing my songs and playing my music. At that point, I could taste blood. I got really ambitious and hit the ground running.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Key released his debut solo EP, \u201cThirteen,\u201d in May 2018 via The Lone Tree Recordings.
\nAccording to Key, \u201cIt took a long time to find my own focus and direction after 17 years in a band. However, once I found it, the music felt like coming home. There was new freedom and creativity that I channeled into each of the songs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThirteen\u201d took off \u2013 and so did Key.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had been offered a tour opening for New Found Glory,\u201d said Key. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to the nostalgia thing with an acoustic Yellowcard set. I released \u2018Thirteen\u2019 and decided to do my own thing. I enjoyed the trial-by-fire.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy solo career went in a new direction. I\u2019ve had a lot of influences not associated with Yellowcard. I kind of shifted into listening to electronic music, soundscapes and soundtracks. I was also listening to more singer\/songwriter indie folk. When I started writing this stuff, all of it found its way into my second EP.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Key\u2019s second EP was \u201cVirtue,\u201d which came out on November 30, 2018 via\u00a0The Lone Tree Recordings.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy first EP \u2018Thirteen\u2019 was really stripped-down,\u201d said Key. \u201c\u2018Virtue\u2019 has more percussion, electric guitar and more work with vocals. I\u2019m exploring still. With \u2018Virtue,\u2019 I think I\u2019m closer to the sound I\u2019m looking for.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cVirtue\u201d\u00a0is a natural progression from its stark and vulnerable\u00a0predecessor.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Key, \u201cWith\u00a0\u2018Virtue,\u2019 I wanted to explore and expand on the sound I\u2019ve discovered both musically and lyrically. Similar to my first release, all of the songs came together in such a spontaneous manner. The recording sessions were very much driven by capturing what felt right in the moment and moving on to the next idea<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always had a strong affinity for New York City. Ever since my first visit in 1999, I\u2019ve felt drawn to it in some way. I\u2019ve spent a good amount of time there this year, and it really had a major influence on the lyrical themes that make up the EP. I\u2019ve learned that when attempting to develop your own sound, it\u2019s important to remove overthinking and over analyzing from the equation. I\u2019m really proud of these songs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for William Ryan Key \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/_5aMufSm6vI<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at The Foundry, which has Selfish Things, Cory Wells, and Dave Melillo as opening acts, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $16.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at The Foundry are Oliver Tree on March 3, Dean Lewis on March 5 and Gavin James on March 6.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Steph Richards<\/p><\/div>\n

Trumpeter Steph Richards makes music that spans genres and breaks down the walls between them. Her music has been tagged avant-garde, experimental, jazz, contemporary, improv and electronic.<\/span><\/p>\n

During her years in New York City, Richards made a name for herself in the Manhattan\/Brooklyn improvised and experimental scenes. She worked with a wide array of legendary artists including Anthony Braxton, Henry Threadgill, Jason Moran, David Byrne, St Vincent, Yoko Ono and John Zorn. Her works have premiered at Carnegie Hall, the Blue Note and Lincoln Center.<\/span><\/p>\n

In recent years, she has opted for solo work and has released two solo albums \u2013 \u201cFullmoon\u201d and \u201cTake the Neon Lights.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTake the Neon Lights\u201d was just released on March 1 on Birdwatcher Records.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, Richards is performing shows in support of her newly-released LP including a concert on March 4 at The Rotunda\u00a0(4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia,http:\/\/www.therotunda.org\/event\/steph-richards<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI started making solo records late in my career,\u201d said Richards, during a phone interview Friday afternoon. \u201cThe current record is my second record. The first was actually a quartet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Richards is currently performing with a quartet — NYC players James Carney on piano, Sam Minaie on bass and her husband Andrew Munsey on drums.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI recorded \u2018Take the Neon Lights\u2019 three years ago Tedesco Studios in Paramus, New Jersey,\u201d said Richards. \u201cIt has sat around for a long time. I co-produced it with Andrew. He also did the mixing and mastering. We recorded it in one very short session.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOn my first record, I was very interested in choreography. I was interested in activation other instruments with my horn. On the second album, the tunes were older. They were all written about places in New York.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Conceived as a lyric poem to New York City, her compositions are an arresting exploration of spontaneous prose, woven with grit and brilliance. Titles are named from poems that similarly evoke the city\u2014poems by literary icons Maya Angelou, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and Langston Hughes. Richards leads an acoustic quartet that oscillates between dense complex structures and expansively vulnerable improvisations.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe entire thing is structured,\u201d said Richards. \u201cInside of it is a lot of free space. But, even in a free context, there is a lot of structure. Most of the tracks on the record are notated in some form.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Richards does not concern herself with how accessible her music is to listeners. She has trust in their ability to follow.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe need our audience,\u201d said Richards. \u201cThey are built into the architecture of the music. I think the way we package things has a lot to do with people feeling excluded or included with the adventurousness of the music. I never ask my self \u2013 is it too far? This group pushed things forward.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Richards now resides\u00a0in San Diego, California where she is a professor of performance at University of California — San Diego.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in western Canada \u2013 in Calgary, Alberta,\u201d said Richards. \u201cMusic was just a natural thing. I was glued to a piano at an early age. I loved dancing as a really young kid. That led to the idea that I can let my body take over while I play. I get lost in the sound. I was around 12 when I started playing trumpet. I love the sizzle of trumpet. The first record I bought was Miles Davis\u2019 \u2018Kind of Blue.\u2019 It took me a few years to finally understand it. I was also influenced a lot by Freddie Hubbard and Duke Ellington.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Richards is already looking ahead to her next project and will treat fans this weekend to a preview of what to expect.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn my shows now, half are songs from the just-released album and half are new songs,\u201d said Richards. \u201cThe new record features compositions based on smells.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For a talented and creative artist like Richards, her next project makes sense \u2013 or scents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Steph Richards \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/RlNsoMNvHKg<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at The Rotunda, which also features Nick Millevoi and Brian Osborne, will start at p.m. Admission is free but donations are accepted.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times \u201cCalling All Divas,\u201d which is being presented by the Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com) on March 2, is more than just one form of entertainment. It\u2019s a play. It is a concert. It is an evening of fun in a theater. And, it is a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42305,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8457],"tags":[11973,7426,11976,11974,11975],"class_list":["post-42303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-calling-all-divas","tag-featured","tag-steph-richards","tag-three-tremors","tag-william-ryan-key"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42303","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=42303"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42304,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42303\/revisions\/42304"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/42305"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=42303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=42303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}