{"id":44245,"date":"2019-11-09T08:11:32","date_gmt":"2019-11-09T13:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=44245"},"modified":"2019-11-09T08:11:44","modified_gmt":"2019-11-09T13:11:44","slug":"on-stage-the-music-inspired-by-bucks-county-at-michener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=44245","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: The music inspired by Bucks County at Michener"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"\"<\/a>

Karen Gross<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span>If you enjoy visiting museums, listening to good music or are a history buff \u2013 or all three \u2013 then you should consider a trip to Doylestown on November 10 to visit the James A. Michener Art Museum (138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, MichenerArtMuseum.org<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

On Sunday afternoon, the Michener Art Museum will host singer and songwriter Karen Gross as she presents \u201cBucks County as Muse: A Cabaret Celebrating Art, Music, and Nature.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Bucks County has been a source of creativity for many artists, including the Pennsylvania Impressionists, Broadway lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II, and author James A. Michener.<\/span><\/p>\n

Through story and song, Gross will honor Bucks County as muse during \u201cSunday Afternoon Music at the Michener.\u201d The acclaimed cabaret artist will focus on the music of the early 20th century when Pennsylvania Impressionism flourished.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gross<\/span> has an extensive musical repertoire \u2013 from timeless jazz and Broadway standards to contemporary and original music \u2013 and she also engages audiences with classy, sassy humor. She has scripted, performed, and produced a number of popular cabaret shows, including a sold-out concert of Oscar Hammerstein’s music at his longtime home, Highland Farm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Back in September, Gross presented another cabaret show \u2013 \u201cAnything Goes: Stories, Songs, and Stars from 1930s Broadway Musicals.\u201d \u00a0The production was staged at the Studio of Ben Solowey in Ottsville.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI love playing traditional clubs, but I also like performing in alternate spaces \u2013 like the show I did at the Studio of Ben Solowey,\u201d said Gross. \u201cHis studio is an arts installation that is like a mini-museum dedicated to his work. I performed in an intimate gallery space. I\u2019ve done three shows there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

On Sunday, Gross is delivering a show <\/span>at another non-traditional space — \u201cBucks County as Muse: A Cabaret Celebrating Art, Music, and Nature\u201d at the Michener Art Museum in Doylestown.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a show that provides some interesting history,\u201d said Gross. \u201cIt draws on my background as a journalist.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gross<\/span> is a talented singer and storyteller\u2026a composer of heartfelt original music. She is also a throwback to a bygone era\u2026a playful chanteuse who can perform sophisticated,\u00a0sassy cabaret shows.<\/span><\/p>\n

She has performed at prestigious venues including Lincoln Center in New York City and the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia.<\/span><\/p>\n

The versatile entertainer has built a large fanbase in the Northeast with her ability to charms audiences with her warmth, wit, and heartfelt singing.\u00a0She has headlined celebrated cabaret and music clubs including The Metropolitan Room, Don\u2019t Tell Mama, Tin Angel, and Cabaret at Odette\u2019s. She was the featured entertainer at a private party in Frank Sinatra’s former NYC penthouse, featured on the HGTV show “Selling New York.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Performing a show at the Michener Art Museum holds special significance for her.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Gross, \u201cAs a native of Doylestown, I\u2019ve enjoyed visiting the Michener Art Museum many times over the years. I\u2019m particularly moved by the current exhibition \u2018Impressionism to Modernism: The Lenfest Collection of American Art\u2019 and learning about the artists who have lived, worked, and drawn inspiration from this area\u2019s unparalleled beauty.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs I\u2019ve gotten older, my appreciation for Bucks County and its artistic heritage has continued to grow. This new cabaret show is a chance to celebrate and give thanks to Bucks County through words and music.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gross<\/span> is a modern-day Renaissance woman. She has recorded her original music with three Grammy Award-winning producers. Her voice and lyrics can also be heard on electronic dance music developed in collaboration with her brother, Silk Music label director Jacob Henry<\/a>, and globally recognized producers Dinka, Mango, and Aeron Aether.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show this Sunday in Doylestown is an opportunity to see her shine in another of her many incarnations \u2013 and in an impressive setting.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Michener Art Museum collects, preserves, interprets and exhibits American art, and promotes the work of nationally and internationally known Delaware Valley artists of all eras and creative disciplines.<\/span><\/p>\n

The museum presents exhibitions that explore a variety of artistic expressions and offers diverse educational programs that develop a lifelong involvement in the arts. Throughout the year, the Michener Art Museum hosts a wide range of programs open to the public, including lectures, artist conversations, gallery talks, artist studio tours, dance performances, jazz and other musical performances, family-themed activities, and other events.<\/span><\/p>\n

The museum also offers a diverse selection of art classes for children and adults, which include instruction in drawing, painting, sculpting, and printmaking as well as programs for the public, schools, and teachers designed to support arts and STEAM education. The Michener Art Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.<\/span><\/p>\n

Guests are encouraged to enjoy the Museum\u2019s galleries before or after the performance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Karen Gross — https:\/\/youtu.be\/IZxV9ZVwG7E<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at the Michener Art Museum will on November 10 will start at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25 — $10 for students.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gross has been a performer for more than two decades, but when it comes to longevity, she can\u2019t compete with one of the other acts on this weekend\u2019s schedule.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Carl Palmer<\/p><\/div>\n

The act with the most longevity has to be Carl Palmer, who will headline a show on November 9 at 2300 Arena (2300 South Swanson Street, Philadelphia, www.2300arena.com<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Palmer\u2019s music history takes him back to rocking England in the mid-1960s.<\/span><\/p>\n

After playing for a few small local bands in London in 1966, Palmer was invited to join Chris Farlowe and the Thunderbirds. In 1969, Palmer became the permanent drummer for The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, which was known world-wide for its hit single, \u201cFire.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After a stint with Atomic Rooster in 1970, Palmer joined forces with Keith Emerson, who had been the keyboard player with The Nice, and Greg Lake, who had just left King Crimson.<\/span><\/p>\n

The three British lads formed a band called Emerson, Lake & Palmer which later also was called ELP.<\/span><\/p>\n

With nine RIAA-certified gold record albums in the US, and an estimated 48 million records sold worldwide, ELP was one of the most popular and commercially successful progressive rock bands in the 1970s.<\/span><\/p>\n

Palmer is the only surviving member of the trio. Emerson died in March 2016 at his home in Santa Monica, California. In December 2016, cancer claimed Lake\u2019s life.<\/span><\/p>\n

After ELP disbanded in 1980, Palmer became part of another classic British progressive rock band \u2013 Asia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of all the bands in which Palmer played a key role, the one with the greatest legacy is Emerson, Lake & Palmer \u2013 and Palmer is still keeping that band\u2019s legacy alive with his 2019 World Tour,\u00a0\u201cEMERSON LAKE & PALMER LIVES ON!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Palmer, guitarist and vocalist Paul Bielatowicz\u00a0and bassist\u00a0Simon Fitzpatrick \u2013 a.k.a. Carl Palmer\u2019s ELP Legacy — are in the middle of a 14-show U.S. tour that started on October 31 and will conclude on November 23. This tour is a musical celebration of ELP.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAbout two years ago, I did a live DVD tribute to Greg and Keith and coupled it with a CD,\u201d said Palmer, during a recent trans-Atlantic phone interview from his home in North London.<\/span><\/p>\n

Palmer<\/span>\u2019s latest\u00a0CD\/DVD is an international release of a his 2016\u00a0\u201cPictures at An Exhibition\u201d\u00a0tribute to Keith Emerson \u2013 a project that featured Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, Vanilla Fudge keyboardist and vocalist Mark Stein and drummer David Frangioni.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another recent issue was the band\u2019s\u00a0\u201cLive in The USA\u201d CD. Palmer\u2019s label, BMG Music has had great success in the last few years with the re-issue of the entire ELP catalog.<\/span><\/p>\n

With nine gold albums by ELP, Palmer is faced with the task of deciding which songs to play in the live shows.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018In America, I look at the radio lists,\u201d said Palmer. \u201cI look at what got played a lot.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know what pieces are incredibly important to ELP fans \u2013 songs such as \u2018Tarkus,\u2019 \u2018Pictures at an Exhibition,\u2019 \u2018Hoedown,\u2019 \u2018Fanfare for the Common Man,\u2019 Carl Orff\u2019s \u2018Carmina Burana,\u2019 \u2018Lucky Man,\u2019 and \u2018Knife Edge.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI put an hour and 45 minutes together pretty easily. That\u2019s a good length. An hour-and-a-half or a little longer are the best for these shows.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI really don\u2019t do any new material. With 18 pieces in the back catalog that everyone wants to hear, the demographic isn\u2019t very keen to new material. But I have added \u2018America\u2019 \u2013 a new classical piece.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Next year will mark 50 years since Emerson, Lake & Palmer\u2019s formation and that calls for something special.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to have a special hologram show for the 50th anniversary of the group,\u201d said Palmer. \u201cThe shows will feature a hologram of Keith and Greg and me playing. I think Greg and Keith would approve. I think the 50th anniversary was the right time to do this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Palmer<\/span>\u2019s current tour also highlights his collection of fine art, which was recently done in conjunction with California\u2019s Scene Four Art Studios. The images combine motion, color, and lighting into some of the most compelling fine art visuals ever created.<\/span><\/p>\n

As with his previous solo tours, Palmer presents bold, new arrangements of the best-loved instrumental music of ELP, and other composers \u2013 in a multimedia experience combining music and video projection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Carl Palmer \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/kjLtpSTN8r8<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at 2300 Arena will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25, $40 and $100.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Twiztid<\/p><\/div>\n

Music of an entirely different nature will rattle the walls and attack brain cells when Twiztid makes a rare area appearance at Reverb (1402 North Ninth Street, Reading, 610-743-3069, www.reverbconcerts.com<\/a>) on November 9.<\/span><\/p>\n

Twiztid is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1997, Twiztid is composed of Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric, who perform under the stage names Jamie Madrox and Monoxide. Spaniolo and Methric are former members of the group House of Krazees, which disbanded in 1997 a year after the duo’s departure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Twiztid released its debut album in 1997. The two musicians always perform in make-up \u2013 make-up that makes them appear as if they just left the set of a horror movie.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Saturday night, Twiztid is playing the penultimate show of its \u201cEvery Day Is Halloween Tour.\u201d Then, the tour will be put to bed on November 10 in Worcester, Massachusetts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just finishing up the \u2018Every Day Is Halloween Tour\u2019 \u2013 down to the last three days,\u201d said Madrox, during a phone interview Thursday from a tour stop in Rochester, New York.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is more of an intimate show. There is no band — just me and Monoxide. It\u2019s a throwback to show what we were. We\u2019re playing a lot of old school shit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Formed in the late 1990s, Twiztid is an 11-time Billboard chart-topping rap duo. Now, 22 years later, the Twiztid guys are still going strong with more than 20 albums in their catalogue.<\/span><\/p>\n

Madrox and Monoxide Child could be content to settle into the cycle of releasing an album, touring extensively in support of the disc and then starting the cycle all over again with a new album.<\/span><\/p>\n

But that\u2019s never going to happen. That\u2019s the \u201cstraight\u201d way and Spaniolo and Methric do things the \u201cTwiztid\u201d way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Twiztid has its own record label and management company called Majik Ninja Entertainment. Recently, Twiztid released its 12th album \u2013 \u201cGeneration Nightmare.\u201d It was released on April 26, 2019 through Majik Ninja Entertainment. Recording sessions took place at the Dojo, Twiztid\u2019s Michigan recording studio.Production was handled by A Danger Within, Michael “Seven” Summers, YYBeats, Godsynth, Young Wicked, Fritz the Cat and Lunar<\/span>\u22c6<\/span>Vision.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe made the album a little while ago,\u201d said Madrox. \u201cWe released a single \u2013 \u2018Magic Spells\u2019 and then put out \u2018Wreck,\u2019 which people seemed to like.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded \u2018Generation Nightmare\u2019 on and off last year. We worked on it when we were out on the Warped Tour. By the end of the Warped Tour, we had the skeletal layout for a new record. But we still needed to flesh it out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Playing Warped Tour 2018 was a new, enjoyable and beneficial experience for Twiztid.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWarped Tour opened our eyes to show us that there are still people who enjoy music mad enjoy being entertained,\u201d said Madrox. \u201cIf you\u2019ve got what it takes, you will enamor these people.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPlaying on the Warped Tour was an opportunity of a lifetime for us. It took us out of this little petri dish and allowed us to be able to showcase our stuff to the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this for 20 years. The Warped Tour dates have been more productive for getting a new audience than half of the first 20 years. If we had done the Warped Tour 10 years ago, who knows where we\u2019d be now.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Warped Tour was like a festival. Just walking around, you hear so many different types of music. That was why there was room for us. I appreciate them (Warped Tour producers) putting up with our shit. We\u2019re not your typical act.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Twiztid \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/4QtokETDSiQ?list=RD4QtokETDSiQ<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Reverb, which has September Mourning, Bake Lo, Gibby Stites, and Syde Projekt as opening acts, will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Loud Luxury<\/p><\/div>\n

On November 9, another duo who can perform with or without a band is headlining a show in downtown Philadelphia. On Saturday night, Loud Luxury will headline a show at Franklin Music Hall (421 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia, https:\/\/www.bowerypresents.com\/greater-philly\/shows\/franklin-music-hall<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Loud Luxury — Andrew Fedyk and Joe Depace \u2013 is a Canadian music production and DJ known for producing house music\u2026. deep house, future house, trance house.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a little more than two years, Loud Luxury has been increasing its popularity in the dance music scene and gaining the support of EDM luninaries such as Tiesto, Oliver Heldens, and Martin Garrix.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gaining international attention for their remix of Dzeko & Torres\u2019 hit single \u201cHome\u2019 (which reached #3 on the HypeM charts) and then followed with a #1 on the charts with their unofficial remix of Justin Timberlake\u2019s \u201cCan’t Stop The Feeling.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Loud Luxury took a quantum leap forward with the hit track \u201cBody\u201d (feat. brando), which was the most played song on dance radio for all of 2018. JUNO-Award winners Loud Luxury have had a remarkable musical career thus far with their hit single \u201cBody\u201d which has almost 600 million streams on Spotify. <\/span><\/p>\n

On the \u201cNights Like This\u201d tour, they are supporting this track as well as \u201cI\u2019m Not Alright.\u201d Loud Luxury has also shown off their production talents by recently remixing Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber\u2019s smashing hit \u201cI Don\u2019t Care.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to the popular tracks, the duo is road testing new material that will appear on the upcoming EP due out later this fall.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re out on a pretty big tour right now,\u201d said Fedyk, during a phone interview Thursday afternoon. \u201cIt\u2019s a 65-show tour and we have about a third left. We\u2019ll finish near the end of December.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The music is set to a custom high-production show complete with confetti, massive sparkle bursts from Europe and Vegas-style lighting for a complete dance party.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a big show with a lot of production support,\u201d said Depace. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a bus full of people. We bring our own production with full lighting. It\u2019s a massive live production.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBody\u201d (feat. brando) has sold platinum across the globe (7x in Canada, 3x in Australia, 2x in Switzerland and 1x in the U.K. U.S., Netherlands, Austria and more), held the #1 spot in the U.S. Mediabase Dance Airplay chart for two weeks, charted in the Top 40 of U.S. Pop radio and the U.K.\u2019s Official Singles Chart (#4) and accumulated hundreds of millions of plays across the most popular streaming services. On Spotify alone, the track has received over 531,000,000 plays.<\/span><\/p>\n

Its follow-up single \u201cLove No More\u201d (with anders) garnered 12 million streams on Spotify alone in its first month and currently sits at an impressive 86 million+ plays on the streaming platform.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAfter university, we\u2019ve always been doing music,\u201d said Fedyk, who attended Western University in London, Ontario. \u201cWe were playing in bands before we met but we\u2019ve always loved dance music.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn our shows, we play a mixture of our own music with a mixture of stuff we like,\u201d said Depace. \u201cWe\u2019ve done some instrumental stuff, but we prefer working with singing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDeciding who we\u2019d like to work with comes in different ways. We\u2019re pretty open. At the end of the day, whoever writes a good song \u2013 that\u2019s what we look for.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Loud Luxury \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/Gu24QY2369Y<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Franklin Music Hall, which has Justin Caruso as the opener, will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.<\/span><\/p>\n

If American music — folk, R&B, jazz, gospel, bluegrass and rock and roll — is your cup of tea, there is a show in Philly on November 9 that you\u2019re sure to like.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Way Down Wanderers<\/p><\/div>\n

On Saturday evening, City Winery (990 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, citywinery.com\/philadelphia\/<\/a>) is presenting a twin-bill with The Way Down Wanderers opening for Upstate.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Way Down Wanderers — Austin Thompson- Vocals, Guitar; Collin Krause- Vocals, Mandolin, Violin, Electric Guitar; John Williams- Vocals, Upright Bass; John Merikoski – Drums, Percussion; Travis Kowalsky – banjo, fiddle — are from the heartland of America. They hail from Peoria, Illinois \u2013 and that\u2019s about as heartland as it gets.<\/span><\/p>\n

The band\u2019s music exhibits a variety of influences — bluegrass, classic rock, jazz, classical music and even hip-hop. The group crafts stories inspired by the heartland with a unique blend of influences stemming from their varied musical backgrounds.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMe and Collin started the band in 2013 in Peoria,\u201d said Thompson, during a phone interview Wednesday morning from a tour stop in Cambridge, Massachusetts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe and I had been in different bands but neither of us were front men. When we first started, I was going to a community college and he was 15. Shortly after that, we met our bass player John Williams in a coffee shop. Then, we met our drummer John Merikoski through friends. A few years later, we met our banjo player Travis Kowalsky at a festival in northern Michigan.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After a few years, the band released its self-titled debut album.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe made that first album in 2016 at Sonic Ranch Studio in Texas,\u201d said Thomas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sonic Ranch is a legendary studio in Tonillo, Texas located on a huge pecan orchard that borders the Rio Grande River and Mexico. It is the world’s largest residential recording studio complex and features five world-class studios.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWorking at Sonic Ranch was amazing,\u201d said Thompson.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now The Way Down Wanderers are on tour in support of their independent sophomore release\u00a0\u201cillusions.\u201d \u00a0Though their sound is built on a foundation of Americana and bluegrass, The Way Down Wanderers inject their signature multi-part harmonies with unexpected elements of pop and reggae. Rolling Stone Country just featured them as one of \u201c10 New Artists You Need To Know\u201d, saying \u201cThe Way Down Wanderers are taking bluegrass in a wild new direction…their intricate, hypnotic rhythms call to mind ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ more than bluegrass traditional.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe cut \u2018illusions\u2019 in March 2018 at Sargent Studio in L.A.,\u201d said Thompson. \u201cIt used to be called Echo Studio. It\u2019s got great analog gear.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe album was produced and engineered by David Schiffman, who has worked with acts such as Johnny Cash. We particularly liked the work he did with the Strumbellas.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had been building up songs for about a year before we went in the studio. We went in with 20 and came out with 11.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Songwriting for The Way Down Wanderers happens in a variety of ways.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe each do our own writing,\u201d said Thompson. \u201cAnd we also collaborate and construct songs together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The variety of influences on the band\u2019s different members leads to the band\u2019s variety of styles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it comes to genres or styles, we don\u2019t like to pin ourselves down too much,\u201d said Thompson. \u201cPeople try to pigeonhole us. When they see the banjo, they want to call us bluegrass. But we\u2019re a lot more than that.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith the new album, we wanted to get across that we\u2019re more than just an acoustic bluegrass band. The new songs have more space. We had Toger Manning play keys and that brought each song t the next level.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re gearing up for a U.K. tour in the spring. And we\u2019re writing all the time. We already have eight or nine songs ready to record. We\u2019re hoping to get another album out in 2020.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for The Way Down Wanderers \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/p5ZEb3Tfwm0<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at City Winery on November 9, which has the Way Down Wanderers opening for Upstate, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Amythyst Kiah<\/p><\/div>\n

Another show featuring American roots music with a feeling of being \u201cauthentically\u201d real will take place November 9 when the Locks at Sona (4417 Main Street, Manayunk, 484- 273-0481, sonapub.com<\/a>) presents Amythyst Kiah.<\/span><\/p>\n

Southern Gothic alt-country blues singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah has strong vocal integrity and eclectic influences that span decades. She draws heavily on old-time music and is inspired by vocal stylings of R&B and country music from the 1950s to the 1970s, as well as many leading contemporary artists.<\/span><\/p>\n

Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee and now based in Johnson City, Tennessee, Kiah has a commanding stage presence marked by her raw and powerful vocals \u2013 a deeply moving, hypnotic sound that stirs echoes of a distant and restless past.
\nAccompanied interchangeably with banjo, acoustic guitar, or a full band, her eclectic influences span decades, finding inspiration in old time music, alternative rock, folk, country, and blues.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up around a lot of music,\u201d said Kiah, during a phone interview Wednesday morning from her home in Johnson City.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy dad had a really big record collection \u2013 all kinds of music. When I was 13, I wanted to learn to play guitar. So, my parents bought me an acoustic guitar.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI played sports and was involved in other activities at school and they wanted me to have a well-rounded education. I wrote poetry and short stories and I liked to read a lot.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt first, I just played the guitar in my room. I learned how to play by ear \u2013 and by watching videos. I was in talent shows and I sang at my mother\u2019s funeral. Those experiences gave me positive feedback.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t start performing until I was in my early 20s when I was going to school at East Tennessee State University.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt didn\u2019t take long for me to get interested in traditional music. \u00a0What started as catharsis as a teenager tuned into a career.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Kiah\u2019s career developed quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI studied bluegrass at East Tennessee State with Jack Tottle and then I got interested in Celtic bands. After that, I transitioned into playing in old-time bands.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt the university, Roy Andrade asked me to be in the first-ever East Tennessee State Old-Time Pride Band because he heard my voice and felt like I would fit well. From then on, I just did old-time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While in college, Kiah not only studied music, she studied about music.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI also took cultural classes,\u201d said Kiah. \u201cI took an American Folk Music class by Dr. Ted Olson. I was learning about the history of all the music I loved. I realized that all the music I loved was connected.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy first EP was recorded back in 2011 and it\u2019s not in print anymore. My first full length was \u2018Dig\u2019 in 2013 and my first album with a full band was \u2018Her Chest of Glass\u2019 in 2016. My new album will be coming out soon.\u201d
\nVideo link for Amythyst Kiah \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/31MjqjcdCUM<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Locks at Sona, which has Alexa Rose as the opener, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12.<\/span><\/p>\n

On back-to-back nights, Locks at Sona will go from presenting a very young and new artist to presenting an old and well-season artist \u2013 from Amythyst Kiah, who is three albums into her career, to Kinky Friedman, a septuagenarian whose career than has spanned more than a half-century.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kinky Friedman<\/p><\/div>\n

Over the years, Kinky Friedman has been called a lot of things \u2013 by friend and foe \u2013 but \u201cprolific\u201d isn\u2019t one of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Friedman, who will play November 10 at the Locks at Sona could probably go an entire year without even having thoughts of making a new album.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prior to \u201cThe Loneliest Man I Ever Met,\u201d which was released in October 2015, Friedman had released just 10 studio albums — starting with \u201cSold American\u201d in 1973.<\/span><\/p>\n

But the pattern has changed a little bit recently.<\/span><\/p>\n

Friedman released \u201cCircus of Life,\u201d his first all-new album of original tunes in four decades in July 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, Friedman has flirted with being prolific by releasing perhaps his greatest work ever, the album\u00a0\u201cResurrection,\u201d which was released on October 25, 2019\u00a0via Echo Hill Records.\u00a0.<\/span><\/p>\n

In working with superstar producer, multi-instrumentalist, and three-time\u00a0Grammy Award\u00a0winner\u00a0Larry Campbell,\u00a0Friedman found the perfect complement to his jagged-edged Texas Hill Country persona. Together with three-time Grammy-winning engineer\u00a0Justin Guip, they have produced one of the crowning achievements of the Kinkster\u2019s career \u2013 \u201cResurrection.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With 11 new tunes and a special guest appearance by long-time friend Willie Nelson\u00a0on the title track, Friedman puts on an impressive display of his chops as a songwriter. Now, Friedman is out on a six-week, 25-show tour in support of the new LP.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis tour \u2013 the \u2018Merry Kinkster Tour\u2019 — is a sleep deprivation tour,\u201d said Friedman, during a phone interview last week on the eve of his 75th birthday. \u201cThere aren\u2019t many days off \u2013 and even those are likely to get filled.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis record \u2013 \u2018Resurrection\u2019 \u2013 is suddenly getting airplay from all kinds of places you wouldn\u2019t expect,\u201d said Friedman.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe album was made north of Woodstock at Justin Guip\u2019s studio. I had the greatest producer in the world \u2013 Larry Campbell. I was worried about the budget. He said \u2013 don\u2019t worry about anything\u2026don\u2019t worry about the money \u2026just be the music man.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Dylan first got started, he picked up the guitar to get laid. His idea of success was to hear his music on the radio. With my new album, the challenge for Larry Campbell was to make it sound different from all the crap coming out of Nashville and still get on the radio.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWillie Nelson and Bob Dylan have written over 2,000 songs apiece. After that, you have to do stylistic stuff like Sinatra music. It\u2019s interesting to me how Willie and Bob have merged with the road.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve toured with Willie, but I prefer shows that are cabaret style. A tour with Willie has big audiences \u2013 bigger than I like. Plus, when I tour with Willie, I get so high I need a stepladder to scratch my ass.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A few years ago, Nelson was responsible for Friedman ending his album drought with the \u201cCircus of Life\u201d record.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI got a 3 a.m. phone call from Willie,\u201d said Friedman. \u201cHe asked me was doing at that moment. I told him I was watching \u2018Matlock\u2019 on TV. He told me that it was a sure sign of depression. He said \u2013 Kinky, turn Matlock off and start writing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I did. I got inspired. I wrote 12 tunes in about five weeks. That\u2019s a fact. Willie said \u2013 send them to me. Writing was fun. For example, the song \u2018Jesus in Pajamas\u2019 is a true story. It really happened.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Friedman is a singer-songwriter who has been recording music since the mid-1960s. But that only tells part of his story. He was making music that was a blend of country, folk and rock long before the term \u201cAmericana\u201d was coined.<\/span><\/p>\n

His music and his outlook have always had humorous sides. His first real group was Kinky Friedman and The Texas Jewboys, a name which parodied the famous country\/western swing band Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys.<\/span><\/p>\n

By the mid-1970s, Friedman\u2019s music was poplar enough to land him a spot as the opening act for one of Bob Dylan\u2019s tours. One of his signature songs from that era was \u201cThey Ain\u2019t Makin\u2019 Jews Like Jesus Anymore.\u201d a song in which Kinky puts down a drunken white racist who has been spewing hate for blacks, Jews and frat boys.<\/span><\/p>\n

Friedman\u2019s bio almost reads like fiction \u2013 but it\u2019s all true. He served two years in the United States Peace Corps as a teacher in Borneo. Just over 20 years ago, he started writing detective novels with a fictionalized version of himself as a New York City detective.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2004, Friedman began a serious but unsuccessful campaign to get elected as the Governor of Texas with campaign slogans such as \u201cMy Governor is a Jewish Cowboy\u201d and \u201cHe ain\u2019t Kinky, he\u2019s my Governor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t regret running for Governor,\u201d said Friedman, who also ran for a short while in the 2010 Texas gubernatorial election. \u201cI lost in 2006 but I still got 600,000 votes. That\u2019s not bad at all. The governor\u2019s race was the one I won everywhere but Texas. I\u2019ve been ahead of my time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Friedman has also become a well-respected cigar maker. His line of Kinky Friedman Cigars includes stogies called Kinkycristo, Texas Jewboy, The Wille (inspired by his friend Wille Nelson), Lone Star #4, The Governor, Utopian and Kinky Lady. He will have his cigars on sale at his show in Philly.<\/span><\/p>\n

He also sells Kinky Friedman Cigars Coffee which is grown by Fara Coffee, a company that produces Rainforest Alliance-certified 100 percent shade-grown Arabica coffee on its own farms in the mountainous rainforests of Nicaragua. And, he founded Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch to care for stray, abused and aging animals.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, music is on the main burner right now with a new album and a major U.S. tour.<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Kinky Friedman \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/DxYxF3khdJM<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Locks at Sona, which has Cleve Hattersly as the opening act, will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 and $40.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>On November 10, there will be a concert at the at the Scottish Rite Auditorium (315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood, New Jersey, scottishriteauditorium.com<\/a>) that is unlike any other concert around.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show is BASE Hologram\u2019s \u201cRoy Orbison & Buddy Holly: The Rock \u2018N\u2019 Roll Dream Tour.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Obviously, Holly and Orbison will not be performing live onstage, <\/span>Holly was killed in a tragic plane crash at age 22 along with Richie Valens and the Big Bopper in 1959. Orbison died of a heart attack at age 52 in 1988.<\/span><\/p>\n

This production uses holograms of the two rock legends.<\/span><\/p>\n

Accompanied by a live band and back-up singers, this cutting-edge, holographic performance with remastered audio will transport audiences back in time for an unforgettable evening of Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly\u2019s greatest hits onstage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Performing (virtually) together for the first time, this once in a lifetime show will feature chartbuster favorites including Roy Orbison\u2019s \u201cOh, Pretty Woman,\u201d \u201cYou Got It,\u201d \u201cOnly the Lonely\u201d and Buddy Holly\u2019s \u201cOh Boy!,\u201d \u201cNot Fade Away\u201d and \u201cThat’ll Be the Day\u201d, among many others.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Stemming from the success of BASE Hologram\u2019s\u201d In Dreams: Roy Orbison in Concert\u201d tour that broke records across the globe in 2018, the company will bring Orbison and Holly together for an exciting new production .Eric Schaeffer (\u201cMillion Dollar Quartet\u201d), who shepherded the \u201cIn Dreams: Roy Orbison\u201d production will return as the director.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBASE has done hologram shows for Roy Orbison and Maria Callas,\u201d said David Hirshland, during a phone\u00a0 interview from New York last week. \u201cThey were excited to put Buddy together with Roy for a tour.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hirshland is the executive vice president of music publishing catalogs at BMG.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI purchased the rights to Buddy Holly\u2019s catalog, name, image and likeness from his widow Maria Elena Holly back in 2015,\u201d said Hirshland said. \u201cShe\u2019s 85 and still very frisky. After hearing about the hologram show of Tupac, she said \u2013 I want to do that for Buddy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Making the holograms is a painstaking process.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou shoot an actor who is imitating the moves and look of Buddy Holly,\u201d said Hirshland. \u201cMakeup takes a lot of time and then you shoot with a special camera. After that is done, you do CGI work to enhance the image more to make it appear as if it really is Buddy Holly on stage.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe effect is really striking. When Buddy Holly\u2019s hologram is playing, it has the effect of a real person. This show features 10 or 11 Buddy Holly songs \u2013 all of which were hits.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Holly wrote 46 songs in an 18-month period and nearly all of them were hits, including \u201cNot Fade Away,\u201d \u201cEveryday,\u201d \u201cThat\u2019ll Be the Day,\u201d \u201cIt Doesn\u2019t Matter Anymore,\u201d \u201cPeggy Sue,\u201d \u201cRave On,\u201d \u201cMaybe Baby\u201d and \u201cOh, Boy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cRoy Orbison & Buddy Holly: The Rock \u2018N\u2019 Roll Dream Tour\u201d — https:\/\/youtu.be\/tcGSQtuxOcg<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show on November 10 at the at the Scottish Rite Auditorium (315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood, New Jersey, scottishriteauditorium.com<\/a>) will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $49.50, $59.50 and $79.50.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to cap off your weekend with a show Sunday night that features an old-and-new singer\/songwriter twin-bill, head out to the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

John Hiatt and Adam Chaffins<\/p><\/div>\n

The lineup for the November 10 show has John Hiatt as the headliner and Adam Chaffins as the opener.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chaffins is <\/span>a singer-songwriter and upright bass player extraordinaire recently named by NPR as one of the Best New Artist Playing AmericanaFest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chaffin is no stranger to the Americana, bluegrass, indie-rock or alt-country scenes having previously played with The Deadly Gentleman, Town Mountain plus many others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have a new album coming out at the beginning of next year,\u201d said Chaffins, during a phone interview Tuesday morning from his home in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. \u201cSo far, I\u2019ve just been releasing a few singles from it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The current release is \u201cHer,\u201d a reflective song about a past love-filled with lush yet haunting melodies.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI did an EP in May called, \u2018I\u2019m Over You.\u2019 I did a video for that with a full string section which came out with the EP. There was an acoustic version as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI put out five singles from the album so far. There will be nine tracks on the album. This is my debut album as a solo artist so I\u2019m still introducing things.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The album was recorded over a two-year period at Zac Brown\u2019s Southern Ground Nashville recording studio. Producer Ethan Ballinger (Lee Ann Womack, Andrew Combs, Ryan Culwell) and engineer Brandon Bell (Brent Cobb, The Wood Brothers, Sarah Jarosz) teamed up on the project to maximize the effect of Chaffins\u2019 wide-ranging sonic palette and unique voice. A talented cast of Nashville musicians such as Matty Alger and Aubrie Sellers also played on the record.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEthan is a great player,\u201d said Chaffins, who sings and plays bass. \u201cAnd, Southern Ground Nashville is a great studio. The recording process happened over the course of several years. We wrapped up recording in 2017. I\u2019m still working on the record deal. That\u2019s why we\u2019re holding the release date until early next year.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a diverse album because I have a pretty diverse music background. I grew up listening to 90s country and bluegrass. Then, I studied jazz at Morehead State University in Kentucky. Then, I started touring with progressive bluegrass bands. And, I\u2019ve been a session musician in Nashville for about a decade. The album is a mixed bag of everything I\u2019m into.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Adam Chaffins \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/JOAAyzH0mpU<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at the Sellersville Theater, which has John Hiatt as the headliner, will start at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $79.50 to $95.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times \u00a0If you enjoy visiting museums, listening to good music or are a history buff \u2013 or all three \u2013 then you should consider a trip to Doylestown on November 10 to visit the James A. Michener Art Museum (138 South Pine Street, Doylestown, MichenerArtMuseum.org). On Sunday afternoon, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44247,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[12582,12579,7426,12584,12232,12580,12583,12581,6847],"class_list":["post-44245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-amythyst-kiah","tag-carl-palmer","tag-featured","tag-john-hiatt-and-adam-chaffins","tag-karen-gross","tag-loud-luxury","tag-roy-orbison-buddy-holly-the-rock-n-roll-dream-tour","tag-the-way-down-wanderers","tag-twiztid"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44245","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=44245"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44245\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44246,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44245\/revisions\/44246"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/44247"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=44245"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=44245"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=44245"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}