{"id":43815,"date":"2019-09-23T10:42:29","date_gmt":"2019-09-23T14:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=43815"},"modified":"2019-09-23T10:42:33","modified_gmt":"2019-09-23T14:42:33","slug":"on-stage-smooth-hound-smith-rocks-with-conviction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=43815","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Smooth Hound Smith rocks with conviction"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"\"<\/a>

Smooth Hound Smith<\/p><\/div>\n

Smooth Hound Smith, which is headlining a show at Boot and Saddle (1131 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215-639-4528, www.bootandsaddlephilly.com<\/a>) on September 23 is like an Americana band with balls.<\/span><\/p>\n

The band, which was founded by\u00a0Zack Smith (guitars\/vocals\/foot drums\/harmonicas\/banjo) and\u00a0Caitlin Doyle-Smith (vocals\/percussion), records and performs a varied style of folky, garage-infused rhythm & blues. Using primal foot percussion, complex, fuzzed-out, finger-picked guitar patterns, warbled harmonicas, tasty harmonies and syncopated tambourine, the duo plays a modern interpretation of early blues, soul, and rock-and-roll roll.<\/span><\/p>\n

Smooth Hound Smith is now touring in support of its new album, \u201cDog in a Manger.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe album was officially released on August 9,\u201d said Zack Smith, during a phone interview last week from the couple\u2019s home in East Nashville.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were trickling out singles for a while \u2013 five of then \u2013 just trying to rustle up interest. Part of me knows singles. We\u2019re back to a singles culture. But there\u2019s something I like about making an album and bringing it to fruition.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Caitlin Smith said, \u201cWe grew up with albums and so did our fan base, which is all age groups. So, there are people like us who want to buy albums. We love albums.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Zack said, \u201cI also like vinyl. We just got the vinyl of the album this week. It took a while for it to get done but when you\u2019re putting out an album on vinyl, there is a need for patience.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Caitlin added, \u201cAlso, there are few physical things that aren\u2019t packaged in hard plastic anymore. Our vinyl album even comes with a poster.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDog in a Manger,\u201d which sounds like what you\u2019d see on a Christmas card from an animal rescue center, has been a while in the making.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe cut the album over the course of a year dating back to 2017,\u201d said Zack.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur friend Jesse Thompson runs a studio converted from a house called fat Back Studio. He engineered the record and Steve Daley co-produced it. The majority of it was the four of us going back-and-forth between the studio and the control room.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Caitlin said, \u201cIt\u2019s mostly Zack \u2013 between the four of us, it was mostly Zack.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The duo released its self-titled album in 2014 and followed with the sophomore album, \u201cSweet Tennessee Honey\u201d in 2016.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFrom a songwriting standpoint, our first album had songs we had been sitting with for a while,\u201d said Zack. \u201cYou know what they say \u2013 you have your whole life to make your first album and 18 months to make your second.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSonically, we\u2019re putting together a catalog of things we like to listen to. It\u2019s not all one genre. Our influences include R&B, bossa nova, ballads, lighter folk songs and heavier rock.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Caitlin said, \u201cWe\u2019re also influenced by jazz, Motown and acts like Tom Petty, Neil Young and the Travelling Wilburys..\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With three albums from which to draw, Smooth Hound Smith have plenty of songs for their live show.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur live show is a mix,\u201d said Caitlin. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to be bringing a rhythm section. It\u2019s a four-pierce with Sammi Potts on drums and Justin Serwerda on bass. We like it this way bwecauise it\u2019s difficult to go out as a duo.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Smooth Hound Smith \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/J8gH7MgClY4<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Boot & Saddle will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at the venue are Lily & Madeleine and The Ophelias on September 24, and Drahla and Russian Baths on September 25.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Skerrymore?<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Skerrymore<\/p><\/div>\n

Is it \u2013 a) a remote island that lies off the west coast of Scotland; b) the tallest lighthouse in Scotland; c) a Scottish rock band that has been around for 15 years; d) a museum in Tiree, Scotland; or e) all of the above.<\/span><\/p>\n

The correct answer is \u201ce.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While you\u2019d need to travel to the U.K. to see three of the four, you can see Skerrymore the band when it headlines a show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com<\/a>) on September 24.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hailing from the island of Tiree, Skerryvore formed in 2005. The band\u2019s music is an eclectic fusion of rock, pop and traditional music with an emphatic thundering of drums and bagpipes and is as rich as a single malt scotch. With outstanding musicianship and the mesmerizing voice of award-winning Alec <\/span>Dalglish<\/span>, Skerryvore has become an international sensation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to Dalglish on lead vocals and guitar, the band includes brothers Daniel Gillespie (accordion) and Martin Gillespie (bagpipes, whistles & accordions), Fraser West (drums & vocals), Craig Espie (fiddles), Alan Scobie (keyboards), Jodie Bremaneson (bass) and Scott Wood (bagpipes). \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Skerryvore\u2019s earlier work was \u2018West Coast Ceilidh\u2019 inspired, with Celtic influences which have remained present in all their work. As the band evolved, rock<\/a>, pop<\/a>, jazz<\/a>, Cajun <\/a>and country influences have influenced the sound but the traditional Celtic roots and instrumentation have remained.<\/span><\/p>\n

Skerryvore, which is now based in Glasgow, Scotland, is bringing its \u201c360 World Tour\u201d to Philly. The band has toured the entire year of 2019 all the while filming every show with a specialized 360 camera.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe \u2018360 Camera Tour\u2019 was just a fun idea,\u201d said Dalglish, during a phone interview last Friday, a few hours after the band landed in America after its Trans-Atlantic flight from Glasgow.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a special camera with 360-degree capability. It uploads things in segments. You can swipe left, swipe right, you get a panoramic view.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The \u201c360 Tour\u201d began with a performance at Skerryvore\u2019s own music festival \u2018Oban Live\u2019 which sold out to 10,000 people over two days in the beautiful west coast town of Oban in Scotland.<\/span><\/p>\n

The tour includes visits to Spain, Germany, Denmark, Holland, England, Dubai, Singapore, Australia and several runs in the U.S. and Canada. The finale of the tour in June of 2020 will be the Skerryvore\u2019s biggest show to date with a special grand event to celebrate 15 years as a band. All of the shows will feature the 360 camera.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Dalglish, \u201cThe camera offers the chance for fans to see life on the road and on stage from our perspective with much of it being filmed for possible use for a documentary on down the line.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The band\u2019s most recent album was \u201cEvo,\u201d which was released in June 2018. It features all original tunes plus one cover song and ranges from big blast numbers to heartfelt reflective tracks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Skerryvore\u2019s previous albums were <\/span>\u201cWest Coast Life\u201d (2005), \u201cOn the Road\u201d (2007), \u201cSkerryvore\u201d (2010), \u201cWorld of Chances\u201d (2012), \u201cChasing the Sun\u201d (2014), and \u201cDecade\u201d (2015).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re playing a fair amount of songs from \u2018Evo\u2019 and also older ones that don\u2019t leave the set,\u201d said Dalglish. \u201cThere are no songs from \u2018<\/span>West Coast Life\u2019 and \u2018On the Road.\u2019 They were too long ago. But we do play \u2018On the Road\u2019 sometimes because it\u2019s the first sound we wrote on our own. \u2018West Coast Life\u2019 was very traditional.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re more rock now \u2018On the Road\u2019 was the transition to us writing our own stuff. \u2018On the Road\u2019 was the first song I wrote. I still write all the songs and arrange the music to give to the band.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut these traditional elements will never end. Songs start out with pop or rock. Then, I\u2019ll write parts geared for accordion or pipes \u2013 or maybe fiddle. We do have two pipers in the band.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Skerryvore is twice winners of Scotland\u2019s Traditional Music Awards coveted \u201cLive Act of the Year\u201d (2011 and 2016). The band has performed in more than 25 countries and is very popular in the Middle East, China, U.K. and the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe formed in 2004 and I never expected us to be doing this 15 years later,\u201d said Dalglish. \u201cWe\u2019ve been coming to America for eight or nine years. Early on, it would be for a festival and we\u2019d add a pub date at the end. It took quite a long time to get to the next level. It\u2019s only been the last five years that we\u2019ve been doing the bigger tours.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Skerryvore \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/cbDn7PNM0F4<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live, which has House of Hamill as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $22 and $27.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows this week at the venue are Leslie Stevens on September 25 and Toby Lightman on September 26.<\/span><\/p>\n

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By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Smooth Hound Smith, which is headlining a show at Boot and Saddle (1131 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215-639-4528, www.bootandsaddlephilly.com) on September 23 is like an Americana band with balls. The band, which was founded by\u00a0Zack Smith (guitars\/vocals\/foot drums\/harmonicas\/banjo) and\u00a0Caitlin Doyle-Smith (vocals\/percussion), records and performs a varied style of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43817,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8457],"tags":[7426,12468,12467],"class_list":["post-43815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-featured","tag-skerrymore","tag-smooth-hound-smith"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43815","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=43815"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43815\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43816,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43815\/revisions\/43816"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/43817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=43815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=43815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=43815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}