{"id":42856,"date":"2019-05-11T09:29:22","date_gmt":"2019-05-11T13:29:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=42856"},"modified":"2019-05-11T09:29:26","modified_gmt":"2019-05-11T13:29:26","slug":"on-stage-some-options-for-mothers-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=42856","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Some options for Mothers’ Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"\"<\/a>

Freddie Jackson<\/p><\/div>\n

If you\u2019re thinking about taking mom out to a concert to celebrate Mother\u2019s Day on Sunday night, you have several choices ranging from smooth — Freddie Jackson — to rough — Disparager.<\/span><\/p>\n

If your mom likes romantic songs delivered by a classic R&B singer, Freddie Jackson should be your choice. If your mom has tattoos and like music that rattles the rafters, Disparager should be your choice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jackson, who is headlining a show on May 12 at the Keswick Theatre (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/a>), has been thrilling audiences for more than three decades with his signature romantic ballads and mid-tempo love songs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRock Me Tonight\u201d stormed the R&B charts in 1985, spent six weeks at Number One, and made Jackson an instant hit on urban contemporary radio.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since the mid-1980s, Jackson has been a mainstay on Quiet Storm radio. Jackson\u2019s classics like \u201cRock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake),\u201d \u201cHave You Ever Loved Somebody,\u201d \u201cJam Tonight,\u201d \u201cDo Me Again,\u201d \u201cTasty Love,\u201d \u201cYou Are My Lady\u201d and \u201cNice & Slow\u201d have been a part of listeners\u2019 soundtrack for romance.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s now 2019 and Jackson\u2019s old songs are still relevant, and his new songs are keeping the tradition alive. His latest album, \u201cLove Signals,\u201d which was released last year, features more songs that work best when the lights are low and a romantic mood is set.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople say R&B is dead but I\u2019m still selling out shows with my R&B music,\u201d said Jackson, during a phone interview last week from his home in Voorhees, New Jersey.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll I\u2019ve ever known is love songs \u2013 from Donny Hathaway to Luther Vandross. Crooning is still very much a part of the R&B world. True love songs will never die. If I tried to cross over to another style of music, it wouldn\u2019t be right. Put on \u2018You Are My Lady\u2019 or Do Me Again\u2019 — there\u2019s no shame in my genre when I make songs like this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In many ways, \u201cLove Signals\u201d is the most personal and introspective release of his distinguished 33-year career.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Jackson, \u201cI\u2019m at a place in my life of quiet, peace and tranquility. I\u2019ve taken control of my artistry and songwriting. I\u2019ve made lifestyle changes that have transformed me physically, emotionally, personally, and even spiritually.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll those transformations which I\u2019ve embraced are part of what you hear coming through on \u2018Love Signals.\u2019 Each song was carefully curated to send \u2018love signals\u2019 of passion, love, and light all over the world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jackson\u2019s career was sidetracked recently with some health issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had kidney problems,\u201d said Jackson. \u201cI went through highs and lows. I went on this diet and thought that was why I was losing weight. Instead, I was damaging my kidneys. It almost got to a point where they were failing. Now, I\u2019m back to a good weight and I feel great.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jackson grew up in New York City \u2013 a location that shaped his musical tastes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Apollo was my education,\u201d said Jackson, referring to Harlem\u2019s legendary Apollo Theater. \u201cEvery Saturday, I was at the Apollo. It truly was my place of education. I also sang at about every church in Harlem.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy dream was to be like Otis Redding and those other great R&B singers. Even though I don\u2019t live in Harlem now, my show is still there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Jackson now lives in Voorhees, New Jersey \u2013 not far from the Cherry Hill Mall.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis whole change has been great,\u201d said Jackson. \u201cMy manager and my entire band are in Philadelphia and South Jersey, so I kept coming out and spending time with them here. Moving here is like moving to be with family.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was time to make a change. I was tired of New York \u2013 of its impatience. I needed peace of mind \u2013 some quiet time and some trees. I needed a place away from New York \u2013 away from ambulances, police sirens and yellow cabs \u2013 away from the hustle and bustle.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf I miss New York, I can just get a train from 30th Street Station to 34th Street and I\u2019m there in under two hours. And, if it gets to me, I can just say \u2013 take me back to Voorhees.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, almost four decades since he started, Jackson still plays a role in romantic evenings.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Jackson, \u201cI\u2019ve been blessed to create songs that have become the soundtrack for love.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The formula remains the same. The lights are turned low and Jackson\u2019s music fills the air. The singer croons. The lady swoons. Romance is in the house.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe generation in my audience is spreading out,\u201d said Jackson. \u201cI was in an airport and a woman came up to me and said \u2013 this is my son\u2026he is a \u2018Tasty Love\u2019 baby. That made me smile because I know there are \u2018Tasty Love\u2019 babies running all around town.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have great fans in my audience at every show. My fans are the reason I keep going.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Freddie Jackson — https:\/\/youtu.be\/PyjAOelCPtQ<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at the Keswick Theatre, which has Meli\u2019sa Morgan as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $49.50 and $69.50.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Disparager<\/p><\/div>\n

Disparager is a hardcore\/metal band from Brooklyn that has been making intense music since 2013. The band\u2019s first recorded output was its \u201cTimeless Ageless\u201d EP, which was independently released in February 2014.<\/span><\/p>\n

The band released its debut album \u201cExistential Dread\u201d last week. The album, which dropped on May 3, is also an independent release.<\/span><\/p>\n

Disparager is now on the road touring in support of \u201cExistential Dread\u201d \u2013 a tour that brings the band to Philly on May 12 for a show at The Barbary (951 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, www.barbarylive.com<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Disparager\u2019s line-up features Chris AhKao (guitar, vocals), Jason Kim (guitar), Chris Castelli (drums) and Collin Stables (bass).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMe and Jason started the band in Brooklyn,\u201d said AhKao. \u201cBut the band members are from all over. Colin is from Kansas and he\u2019s been in Brooklyn for four years. Jason is from Long Island and Chris is from just across the river in New Jersey.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were all playing on our own and we found each other through the internet. We just net up over the common thread of metal music.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The result was a band intent on making music that was hardcore and, at the same time, emotionally charged.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe album just dropped but we released a couple singles before this to give people a taste,\u201d said AhKao, during a phone interview last week from his home in Brooklyn.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe first single was \u2018Fall.\u2019 We did a video for it with Gauntlet Studio in Boston. The second single was \u2018Promise.\u2019 The song is a little crazy \u2013 creepy but fun. The video was introduced on Brooklyn Vegan. The third single \u2013 \u2018Fire\u2019 \u2013 was just released today (April 30). It debuted on metalinjection.net<\/a>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Disparager\u2019s new album is a vortex of raw human emotion. The music channels sorrow, anguish, and punishing sadness and then brings listeners back to the calm white light.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to AhKao, \u201cThis record is about pain, meaninglessness, existential dread, perseverance, and spiritual peace. This record is something that I have made, drawn from my own personal experiences, from my point of view, very steeped in my identity and sense of self.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI give this record to you, that my story may be heard, or understood, or remembered. Whether you came to know me through this record, or at a show, or side by side at the bar, or through friends or family, or sheer luck, thank you for knowing me. You have been the best listeners a man could ask for.\u201d
\n\u201cExistential Dread\u201d was produced by Jay Maas (Defeater, Bane, H2O, Counterparts) and mastered by Mike Kalajian (Machine Head, Saosin, Moving Mountains).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith us, songwriting is a collaborative effort,\u201d said AhKao. \u201cWe recorded the album with Jay at The Getaway, a studio in the northern suburbs of Boston. Our sound is metal. Recorded the wrong way, it sounds too polished. So, we wanted to get more of a punk producer. We\u2019re really happy with the results.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Disparager \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/VzT42myqCTI<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at The Barbary, which also features Desert Hands, Worst Ones, and Troll Teeth, will start at 7 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tickets are $5.<\/span><\/p>\n

Disparager is also playing on May 19 at the Chameleon Club\u2019s Lizard Lounge (223 North Water Street, Lancaster, 717-299-9684, http:\/\/www.chameleonclub.net<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times If you\u2019re thinking about taking mom out to a concert to celebrate Mother\u2019s Day on Sunday night, you have several choices ranging from smooth — Freddie Jackson — to rough — Disparager. If your mom likes romantic songs delivered by a classic R&B singer, Freddie Jackson should be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42858,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8457],"tags":[12148,7426,12147],"class_list":["post-42856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-disparager","tag-featured","tag-freddie-jackson"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42856","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=42856"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42856\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42857,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42856\/revisions\/42857"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/42858"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=42856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=42856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}