{"id":48906,"date":"2021-09-09T09:36:48","date_gmt":"2021-09-09T13:36:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=48906"},"modified":"2021-09-09T16:11:50","modified_gmt":"2021-09-09T20:11:50","slug":"on-stage-updated-uptown-set-to-reopen-friday-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=48906","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Updated Uptown! set to reopen, Friday night"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"\"<\/a>

Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s time for West Chester to start rocking again.<\/p>\n

Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center, a chic, 300-plus seat music and entertainment venue located in the heart of West Chester (226 North High Street, West Chester, uptownwestchester.org<\/a>) is ready to reopen its doors after a shutdown caused by the pandemic.<\/p>\n

The theater has taken advantage of its down time to lift itself to a higher level with state-of-the-art COVID-safe renovations, an innovative new sound and multi-media system, an energizing branding campaign and a star-studded lineup of music and performers.<\/p>\n

The first event of the new era is a \u201cGrand Re-Opening Party\u201d on September 10 at 7:30 p.m. Open to the public, the celebration will feature music by critically acclaimed performers\u00a0The Urban Guerilla Orchestra, who will present the \u201cSounds Of Philadelphia.\u201d The UGO has worked with artists such as Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, Boyz II Men, Alicia Keys, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Kool & the Gang, and The Roots. <\/p>\n

Following the \u201cGrand Re-Opening,\u201d the theater is presenting a series of shows by an array of top-flight acts such as Kasim Sulton, bassist for Todd Rudgren, (September 12); Let\u2019s Hang On: America\u2019s #1 Frankie Valli Tribute Show (September 18); KASHMIR: Tribute To Led Zeppelin (September 24); Into The Mystic: Tribute To Van Morrison (September 30); Eaglemania: The World\u2019s Greatest Eagles Tribute Band (October 2) and more.<\/p>\n

As part of its re-opening, Uptown! also promises that all of its performances will be held in the healthiest and safest environment possible. Revolutionary, new COVID-19-safety measures were implemented throughout the building including the installation of the\u00a0iWave Air Purification Systems in all areas of the historic theater.<\/p>\n

This creates a healthier environment for patrons, thanks to technology known as Needle-Point Bi-Polar Ionization (NPBI). These units begin to neutralize viruses within minutes, with laboratory testing showing 99.4 percent of SARS-CoV-2 (the cause of COVID) rendered inactive within 30 minutes.<\/p>\n

In addition to its advanced safety measures, Uptown! has also upgraded its technology systems, allowing for a new multi-media platform for the venue to offer special livestream capabilities for specific shows and provide added-value content for featured performers.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>You may not recognize\u00a0Kasim\u00a0Sulton by name, but you most certainly have been exposed to his musical efforts.<\/p>\n

Sulton has a list of names on his musical resume that looks like the \u201cWho\u2019s Who\u201d of the world\u2019s best rock musicians.<\/p>\n

Sulton is most known for his work with Todd Rundgren\u2019s Utopia and on a number of other projects with Rundgren. He also has spent a lot of time over the last few years playing bass for Blue \u00d6yster Cult.<\/p>\n

The long list of acts he has worked with includes Mick Jagger, Bon Jovi, Meat Loaf, Celine Dion, Tom Robinson Band, Ronnie Spector, Hall & Oates,\u00a0Cheap Trick, The Cars, Patty Smyth,\u00a0Patti Smith,\u00a0The Rubinoos, Sounding Rick, David Drew, Phil Thornalley, Johnny Hates Jazz, Steve Hillage, Richie Sambora, Lulu, Scandal, Shaun Cassidy, Rick Derringer, Indigo Girls, Joan Jett, Bonnie Tyler, Steve Stevens, Glen Burtnik,\u00a0Boy Meets Girl, Eileen Ivers, The Burns Sisters and Ricky Byrd.<\/p>\n

Over the last four decades, Sulton has been involved with the making of more than 100 albums \u2014 including three of his own. His most recent albums are \u201c3,\u201d which came out in 2014, and \u201cLive\u00a0Bootleg,\u201d which was recorded in 2015 at\u00a0The Cutting Room\u00a0in NYC and\u00a0Hotel Utah\u00a0in San Francisco.<\/p>\n

Sulton has a new album ready to drop. \u201cKasim 2021\u201d will be released this month through Deko Entertainment (ADA\/Warner Music Group).<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a new record that will be out on September 17,\u201d said Sulton, during a phone interview Monday afternoon from his home on Staten Island, New York.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m doing a Livestream show on September 9 on volume.com<\/a> and then my first show is in West Chester on September 12. I\u2019m only doing three shows and then I\u2019ll be heading out on tour with Todd.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter I finished the record, I solicited a couple labels. I chose Deko because they were more artist centric.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t want to wait until 2022 to release it. I finished it in March this year and I didn\u2019t want it to languish on a shelf. I had a tour booked with Todd starting in October.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt just so happened that September was the release date. It gave me a little window for a few live shows. I have a full band for these shows \u2013 Matt Beck on guitar, John Korba on piano and Andy Escolese on drums. It\u2019s just the three of them and me.\u201d<\/p>\n

The album will come out in September, but a full release support tour will have to wait until next year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to get back on my horse in February 2022,\u201d said Sulton. \u201cHopefully, the world will be a little more normal then.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sulton sang lead on 1980s \u201cSet Me Free,\u201d Utopia\u2019s only Top 40 hit in the United States. As a solo artist, Sulton hit the Canadian top 40 in 1982 with \u201cDon’t Break My Heart.\u201d Sulton was the bassist and sang background vocals on the breakout Meat Loaf album \u201cBat Out of Hell\u201d and has played and sung on albums that have sold more than 85 million copies worldwide.<\/p>\n

His latest album, \u201c\u00a0Kasim\u00a02021,\u201d which is set for release next week, features standout tracks such as \u201cUnsung,\u201d \u201cFastcar,\u201d and a unique cover of the Nick Lowe\u2019s tune, “(What’s So Funny\u00a0‘Bout)\u00a0Peace,\u00a0Love, and\u00a0Understanding”. The first single \u201cMore Love\u201d was released on August 20.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did part of the album in London with my writing partner Phil Thornalley,\u201d said Sulton. \u201cThe initial songwriting happens when we\u2019re in the same room. We sit down and pick three or four songs at a time. Then, I come back to the states and work on the tracks. Most of it is done remotely.<\/p>\n

\u201cPhil sand I are multi-instrumentalists — guitar, bass, piano \u2013 and Phil also plays drums. We cover all the bases.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bulk of the record was done late last year. In January and February, Phil and I took stock of what we had. We had 20 songs and needed two more. I wrote \u2018More Love\u2019 then and the other late bloomer was \u2018Fast Car.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Sulton will be back in the area on October 11 and 12 when Todd Rundgren\u2019s \u201cThe Individualist \u2013 A True Star Tour\u201d touches down at the Fillmore in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

Video link for Kasim Sulton \u2013 https:\/\/fb.watch\/2fSH8T57-O\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show on September 12 at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30.<\/p>\n

Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center will also be presenting Better Than Bacon: Improv Comedy on September 9.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Danny Beissel<\/p><\/div>\n

Danny Beissel has spent more than a decade performing with many of rock music\u2019s all-time greats and playing shows at venues all around the world.<\/p>\n

This weekend, Beissel will make his Chester County debut when he brings his band Featherborn to Kennett Square. On September 12, Beissel and Featherborn will headline the latest installment of \u00a0Kennett Flash\u2019s Rooftop Series (Kennett Square Parking Garage Rooftop, 100 East Linden Street., Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Beissel, who is involved in a variety of music projects, is focusing on Featherborn and his new album of the same name.<\/p>\n

In February 2019, Beissel presented a concert celebrating the release of his debut album \u201cFeatherborn\u201d at the Centre Theater in Norristown.<\/p>\n

But the album never came out \u2013 thanks to an impediment known as COVID-19.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe sat on it because of the pandemic,\u201d said Beissel, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from his home in Collegeville. \u201cYou never want to release an album if you can\u2019t go out and tour to support it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis album is extremely personal to me as these are the songs I\u2019ve been waiting to record and the players I\u2019ve been waiting to record with.\u201d<\/p>\n

The album will now see the light of day in early 2022.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor \u2018Featherborn,\u2019 I used one bunch of musicians in the studio when I was making the album,\u201d said Beissel, who has worked with such musical stalwarts as Jeffrey \u201cSkunk\u201d Baxter (Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers), Barry Goudreau (Formerly of Boston), James Burton (Elvis, Ricky Nelson).<\/p>\n

\u201cFor my live shows, I just put guys together. I use different cats in different towns. Now in Philly, I\u2019m playing with all my friends from the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my first band show with Featherborn since the pandemic started. We did that show at the Centre Theater and then everything shut down.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joining Beissel on stage for the Kennett Flash concert will be Mike Czimback (drums), Doug Depta (keyboards), Yoseph Elkaim (bass), Joey DiCullio (guitar\/vocals) and the duo Amanda and Teddy on vocals and rhythm guitar respectively.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a brand-new guitar player in Joey DiCullio,\u201d said Beissel. \u201cHe\u2019s really really good. At 23, he\u2019s a prodigy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Local favorites Amanda and Teddy are members of the West Chester-based soul\/rock band Afrobear.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmanda and Teddy will be performing the Afrobear song \u2018Without Your Love\u2019 as part of this Sunday\u2019s show,\u201d said Beissel, who will be performing without his long-time partner Brian Quinn. \u201cAmanda\u2019s singing reminds me a lot of Susan Tedeschi.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Sunday night, Quinn will be playing guitar at Baltimore Soundstage with his other band Candlebox.<\/p>\n

On the rooftop in Kennett Square, Featherborn will be playing its entire album along with some covers. Obviously, the emphasis will be on the album\u2019s diverse tracks.<\/p>\n

The first record from his new project \u201cFeatherborn,\u201d the album is described by Beissel as a \u201cthe culmination of (his) musical voyage\u201d after fronting such super-star bands as The American Vinyl All Star Band, which featured current and former members of Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, Boston, The Wailers and Fosterchild (with members of Candlebox, Tantric, and FUEL).<\/p>\n

\u201cI leave this Thursday for an American Vinyl show in North Carolina,\u201d said Beissel. \u201cThat show is on September 11 and then I fly back to Philly on Sunday morning.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Featherborn album was recorded at the iconic Blackbird Studio in Nashville with veteran engineer John McBride (Martina McBride, Stevie Nicks, Garth Brooks). It features two founding members of Train \u2014 Charlie Colin on guitar\/bass and vocals and Scott Underwood performing double duty as drummer and producer.<\/p>\n

What elevates \u201cFeatherborn\u201d to the level of an all-star project is the first-class special guest appearances by friends and former bandmates including Baxter and Quinn.<\/p>\n

Inspired by Elvis Presley at an early age, Beissel started his musical journey fronting The Elvis Experience, a band dedicated to preserving the Presley\u2019s integrity through music rather than theatrical stage performances<\/p>\n

\u201cElvis got me into music,\u201d said Beissel, who grew up in Philly\u2019s Frankford section and graduated from Cardinal Dougherty High School. \u201cI didn\u2019t try to impersonate Elvis. Instead, I tried to capture the essence of Elvis.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was always attracted to music and started playing guitar when I was young. I was also into acting and performed at Fringe Festival events. I studied method acting \u2013 the Meisner technique.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Meisner technique is an approach to acting which was developed by the American theatre practitioner Sanford Meisner. The focus of the Meisner approach is for the actor to \u201cget out of their head,\u201d such that the actor is behaving instinctively to the surrounding environment.<\/p>\n

In the IMDb online database, Beissel\u2019s biography states, \u201cDanny Beissel is an actor and director, known for \u201cConspiracized\u201d (2003), \u201cBlush\u201d (2018) and \u201cSeptember 12th\u201d (2005).\u201d<\/p>\n

Beissel\u2019s foray into the world of films has added to his CV but music all along has been his primary focus.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Elvis Experience started in 1995,\u201d said Beissel. \u201cI stopped it around 2001 after I had played Graceland. That\u2019s when I started writing my own music instead of just playing someone else\u2019s music.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy first original band was The Daze and we only lasted for two shows. Around that time, I met Brian Quinn down on Philly\u2019s South Street. He and I started playing together. Then, we started writing together. Kevin Miller left Fuel and hit up Brian to join his new band Fosterchild.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fosterchild was formed in 2005 by drummer Kevin Miller and guitarist Brian Quinn soon after Miller\u2019s departure from Fuel and Quinn\u2019s resignation from Octane. A few years later, the band\u2019s line-up was \u2014 Danny Beissel- Voice\/Guitar; Brian Quinn- Guitar\/Vocals; Mike Vlaanderen- Bass\/Vocals; and Bobby Pirylis Jr.- Drums\/Vocals.<\/p>\n

Next up for Beissel was the American Vinyl All Star Band. This band features celebrity members from some of the most popular groups in history ranging from the 1960s to the 2010s \u2013 Skunk Baxter, Barry Goudreau (Former member of the band Boston), Tim Archibald, Leroy Romans (The Wailers\/Third World), Robert \u201cMousey\u201d Thomson (James Brown).<\/p>\n

The all-star band has shared the stage with rock luminaries such as Steven Tyler, Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Rick Derringer (McCoys), James Montgomery, Cliff Williams (AC\/DC), Slim Jim Phantom (The Stray Cats), Hugh McDonald (Bon Jovi), and Ronnie Vannucci (The Killers).<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2012, I went to see the American Vinyl All Star Band in Fort Myers, Florida,\u201d said Beissel. \u201cI joined them a week later in Utah. I was singing all their hits from all their bands.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Featherborn, Beissel has been able to concentrate on his originals including two singles\/videos \u2013 \u201cBlush\u201d and \u201cIt Comes and It Goes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTo me, \u2018It Comes and It Goes\u2019 is the best song I\u2019ve ever written,\u201d said Beissel. \u201cIt\u2019s pretty heavy. At first, I called it \u2018Three Wise Men.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about three people who changed my life \u2013 all who died in the month of October. One was my father Joseph Beissel, who died when I was three. One was my grandfather Patrick O\u2019Neill, and one was my acting teacher, Sidney Kay.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also have recorded and made a video of a Christmas song \u2013 \u2018Bells of Christmas Day.\u2019 It features Aubrey Toone. The video should be out around Thanksgiving.\u201d<\/p>\n

As always, Beissel has a lot of things on his schedule. Fortunately, one of them is a visit to Kennett Square this weekend.<\/p>\n

Video link for Danny Beissel \u2013\u00a0https:\/\/youtu.be\/vTGV57bYaBE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Video link for Amanda and Teddy\/Afrobear — https:\/\/youtu.be\/fSPxqmAL5CQ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show on the Rooftop will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $<\/p>\n

On September 11, the Rooftop Series concert will feature Know Return\/Fooling Ourselves \u2013 A Tribute to Kansas & Styx.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Crossing<\/p><\/div>\n

The Crossing is an American professional chamber choir based in Philadelphia. The Crossing is conducted by\u00a0Nally\u00a0and dedicated to new music. It is committed to working with creative teams to make and record new, substantial works for choir that explore and expand ways of writing for choir, singing in choir, and listening to music for choir.<\/p>\n

Many of its nearly 90 commissioned premieres address social, environmental, and political issues. With a commitment to recording its commissions, The Crossing has issued 19 releases and received two Grammy Awards for Best Choral Performance (2018, 2019), and three Grammy nominations in as many years.<\/p>\n

On September 11, The Crossing will begin its 2021-2022 season with a program titled \u201cReturning\u201d \u2013 a program that will honor the 20th anniversary of the terror attacks on New York City, Washington D.C., and rural western Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Returning\u2019 is a reflection,\u201d said Nally during a phone interview Wednesday morning from his office in Philadelphia. \u201cIt is a celebration. The title comes from Michael Gilbertson\u2019s work of the same name, which asks the question, \u2018What knits us to the soul of another?\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cJust like it was for everyone else, it hasn\u2019t been easy for us during the pandemic \u2013 but we\u2019ve done pretty well. We did a lot of outdoor things.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Crossing has staged outdoor performances this year at Awbury Arboretum in Philadelphia, Bowman\u2019s Hill Wildflower Preserve in New Hope and The Woodlands in Philadelphia\u2019s University City.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt generated a lot of content that way,\u201d said Nally. \u201cThis Saturday will be the first time since the pandemic started that we\u2019ll be performing in a normal indoor setting.\u201d<\/p>\n

The following was posted on The Crossing\u2019s website:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat kind of singing matters?\u201d<\/p>\n

This question we have asked nearly every day for the past 18 months, audibly in some of our pandemic works.<\/p>\n

On Saturday we present a program, a simple one, of what we think matters, picking up where we left off, moving forward with a work that \u201cwould have been.\u201d<\/p>\n

We remember our frustrations and profess our determination.<\/p>\n

We honor lives we couldn\u2019t celebrate as they came to a close.<\/p>\n

We look back to our foundation with works that speak to us from the past \u2013 the aural history of this community. What we think matters.<\/p>\n

This is The Crossing.<\/p>\n

This is…<\/p>\n

Returning.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Crossing will open Saturday evening\u2019s \u201cReturning\u201d concert with of Ayanna Woods\u2019\u00a0\u201cShift,\u201d a multi-layered contemplation on the reimagining of our monuments.\u00a0 In June, the choir performed a world premiere expanded version at the Awbury Arboretum.<\/p>\n

Highlights of Saturday\u2019s concert will be Ayanna Woods\u2019 \u201cShift,\u201d Michael Gilbertson\u2019s \u201cReturning,\u201d Eriks Esenvalds\u2019 \u201cEarth Teach Me Quiet,\u201d James Primosch\u2019s \u201cGloria\u201d and \u201cAgnus Dei\u201d movements from his \u201cMass for the Day of St. Thomas Didymus,\u201d Michael Gordon\u2019s \u201cTravel Guide to Nicaragua,\u201d and John Tavener\u2019s \u201cFuneral Ikos.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Shift\u2019 was written over the course of the pandemic by Ayanna Woods,\u201d said Nally. \u201cIt is her reflection on upheaval, strife and injustice in America. It\u2019s a really strong piece that was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther king and other Black authors. We\u2019re doing two of the three movements.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Returning is kind of a big, focused piece of the concert. We first did it in December 2017. It\u2019s based on the biblical text about the story of Jonathan and David from the Old Testament. It\u2019s about what knits us to the soul of another.\u201d<\/p>\n

James Primosch\u2019s \u201cGloria\u201d and \u201cAgnus Dei\u201d movements from his \u201cMass for the Day of St. Thomas Didymus\u201d will play a big role in Saturday\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cJim died a few months ago,\u201d said Nally.\u00a0 \u201cHe wrote a lot of music for The Crossing. We wanted to put these in the program to honor him. It\u2019s very contemplative.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Gloria\u2019 is a big celebration of all the things that earth gives us. \u2018Agnus Dei\u2019 deals with the need for spirituality for humans.<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2018Funeral Ikos\u2019 is in the middle of the program \u2013 the centerpiece. It\u2019s based on Eastern Orthodoxy. Each verse is grounded by an \u2018Hallelujah.\u2019 It\u2019s dark but it is also a celebration of life,<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Earth Teach Me Quiet\u2019 features marimba played by Ted Babcock and tuned water glasses \u2013 seven people, seven pitches. It\u2019s a Native American prayer that talks about all the things that earth can teach us if we listen. It\u2019s the closing piece.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nally will lead a pre-concert talk in the Burleigh Cruikshank Memorial Chapel at 6:30 p.m. Additionally, there will be a homecoming gathering on the front lawn of the church following the concert.<\/p>\n

The Crossing also posted this message:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe basic, and important, info:<\/p>\n