{"id":49543,"date":"2021-12-09T09:27:23","date_gmt":"2021-12-09T14:27:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=49543"},"modified":"2021-12-09T09:27:23","modified_gmt":"2021-12-09T14:27:23","slug":"on-stage-allman-family-revival-at-the-fillmore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=49543","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Allman Family Revival at the Fillmore"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"\"

Allman Betts Band<\/p><\/div>\n

On December 9, a very special tour will touch down in Philadelphia when the Fillmore (1100 Canal Street, Philadelphia, 215-309-0150, themetphilly.com\/event\/allman-family-revival\/<\/a>) hosts the \u201cAllman Family Revival.\u201d<\/p>\n

The \u201cFifth Annual Allman Family Revival\u201d is a 19-city, coast-to-coast tour featuring the Allman Betts Band and an all-star cast of guest artists, including Robert Randolph, North Mississippi Allstars\u2019 Cody and Luther Dickinson, Eric Gales, Jimmy Hall, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and others, paying tribute to the life and music of Gregg Allman.<\/p>\n

Other previously announced performers include\u00a0Charlie Starr, Eric Krasno, Donavon Frankenreiter,\u00a0Lilly Hiatt,\u00a0Joanne Shaw Taylor,\u00a0Lamar Williams Jr., G. Love, George Porter,\u00a0Karl Denson,\u00a0Marc Ford,\u00a0Ivan Neville,\u00a0Art Edmaiston,\u00a0Beth Hart,\u00a0J.D. Simo,\u00a0Jessica Lynn, Ally Venable,\u00a0Samantha Fish,\u00a0Alex Orbison, and\u00a0Kenny Aronoff. <\/p>\n

The Allman Betts Band features Devon Allman (son of Gregg Allman), Duane Betts (son of Dicky Betts), Berry Oakley Jr. (son of original Allman Brothers Band bassist Berry Oakley), John Ginty, Johnny Stachela, R. Scott Bryan, and John Lum.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the Allman Betts Band, I felt like it was a pretty good outfit to consider as a home base,\u201d said Allman, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon on his way to a tour stop in Boston. \u201cDuane, Berry and I go back so far that we\u2019re definitely family.\u201d<\/p>\n

In December 2017, Allman organized a concert at the historic Fillmore in San Francisco. Betts recently had turned solo after a touring stint with folk-rockers Dawes and was as an opening artist on the Devon Allman Project 2018 world tour, as well as joining Allman each night for a musical tip of the hat to their respective fathers.<\/p>\n

The year-long trek was the first to pair Allman and Betts and saw the two perform nearly 100 shows at theaters and festivals nationally and internationally. During off-days on the bus or in hotel rooms, Allman and Betts collaborated on new original material, inviting respected songwriter Stoll Vaughn for writing sessions on the road.\u00a0They called up their old friend Berry Duane Oakley and floated the idea of joining them.<\/p>\n

Then, they recruited seasoned players from the Project ensemble — slide guitar ace Johnny Stachela, drummer John Lum, and percussionist R Scott Bryan. In November of 2018, they announced the formation of The Allman Betts Band.<\/p>\n

Enlisting producer Matt Ross-Spang (Jason Isbell, Margo Price) the band booked a post-Thanksgiving week at the famed Muscle Shoals Sound Studios.\u00a0They brought in Gregg Allman\u2019s former bandmate, Peter Levin, and former Allman Brother Chuck Leavell as guests on organ and piano.<\/p>\n

Motivated by classic recording techniques and vintage gear in the historic Alabama studio, they cut the album live — no computers, no digital editing. Setting up as one in the studio, they tracked nine songs on two-inch analog tape and the result was their debut album, \u201cDown to the River.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Allman Family Revival is a celebration of the life, spirit, and music of\u00a0Gregg Allman, hosted by Devon Allman,\u00a0and anchored by his group,\u00a0The Allman Betts Band.<\/p>\n

\u201cI expected the Revival to be a one-off concert,\u201d said Allman. \u201cEverything after that was unplanned.\u201d<\/p>\n

In December 2016, Allman\u2019s mother, Shelly Jefts, died in December 2016 and his father, Gregg Allman, died in May 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen my dad died, I cancelled a whole year of touring to grieve,\u201d said Allman. \u201cAfter six months, I decided to go out and do what I do.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was supposed to be a comeback show in Florida and then it got moved to the Fillmore in San Francisco. There was only one date available \u2013 December 8. That would have been my dad\u2019s 70thbirthday \u2013 his first posthumous birthday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt sold out right away. The Fillmore said \u2013 let\u2019s do it again next year for two days. It just kept growing from there. In 2020 because of COVID, we did a socially distant show at the Ryman in Nashville.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the next tour (2021), we expected six or seven shows. We got 31 offers. I cherry-picked the best venues. Maybe next year, we\u2019ll get to some of the venues we missed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The development of the 2021 tour took as long as the gestation of a human baby.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started out on March 16,\u201d said Allman. \u201cI sent out the first few offers to secure talent for a three-week tour. For the last nine months, it\u2019s been a labor of love. When I\u2019m not playing, I\u2019m working with my team.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe carry all the gear including a 40-foot by 20-foot video wall. We have one semi truck and three buses for the band.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew going in what the tour meant. It\u2019s a free-for-all — but a highly organized free-for-all.\u201d<\/p>\n

Allman assumes a role similar to an orchestra\u2019s musical director.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have five guitars,\u201d said Allman. \u201cWe have three drummers \u2013 80 percent of the time it\u2019s two drummers and a third playing percussion. When I look at the set, I know who needs to take a break and when. It really depends on the song.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the night, there are 27 people on stage. We do have an inner core of musicians on the tour \u2013 Jimmy Hall, Luther and Cody Dickenson, Lamar Williams Jr. and the guys from our band. The outer circle might be with us for two or three shows.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout 60 per cent of the set list is the same every show. We do two sets each night and every set list is different. It\u2019s a three-and-a-half-hour show.\u201d<\/p>\n

The format for the shows is similar to Joe Cocker\u2019s \u201cMad Dogs and Englishmen\u201d tours or The Band\u2019s \u201cThe Last Waltz\u201d concert<\/p>\n

\u201cThis tour is definitely modeled after \u2018The Last Waltz,\u2019\u201d said Allman. \u201cI\u2019m having artists that were friends with my dad or played with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really great to end the year with a big reunion. It\u2019s absolutely a family reunion \u2013 brothers, sisters, uncles and aunts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Allman Family Revival — https:\/\/youtu.be\/FmwmV5OpLJY<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at The Fillmore on December 9 will start at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Ticket prices start at $25.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at The Fillmore are Mt. Joy on December 11 and 12 and Intervals on December 15.<\/p>\n

If this were a time prior to the invention of ways to record TV shows and Jamey Reilly were an avid NFL fan, the veteran musician would be conflicted every Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s because every Sunday afternoon from noon-3 p.m., Reilly hosts a Sunday Blues Brunch at his club, Jamey\u2019s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985,www.jameyshouseofmusic.com<\/a>) \u2013 and because Reilly and his band the Philly Blues Kings (www.phillyblueskings.com<\/a>) are the performers each week.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Philly Blues Kings are a veteran outfit comprised of David Reiter on guitar, keyboards and vocals, Bill Marconi on drums and vocals and Reilly on bass guitar. They have performed together for 15 years and are the house band for Jamey\u2019s House of Music. They are well known for tight, jazz inflected classic blues.<\/p>\n

Reiter performs on a seven-string guitar and Reilly plays a fretless five string bass and that sets the group above the ordinary. The three veteran musicians have each spent decades playing the blues professionally and have backed many well-known national artists.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been together a long time \u2013 even back to many years ago at the PSALM Salon,\u201d said Reilly, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from his club in Delaware County.<\/p>\n

One missing element for the band in recent times has been a full-time lead singer capable of meeting the trio\u2019s high standards.<\/p>\n

That element is no longer missing.<\/p>\n

On December 5, Maci Miller, an internationally recognized jazz singer based in Philadelphia, joined the Blues Kings and quickly established herself as a top-flight front woman.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had the blues jam on Sundays for well over a decade,\u201d said Reilly. \u201cDave and I have been playing together for 15 years. We\u2019ve gone through many iterations of a singer over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reilly had heard Miller sing several times and had booked her for several shows at his club in the past year.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I booked her for Jamey\u2019s, I knew she was a straightforward jazz singer,\u201d said Reilly. \u201cI liked her voice. I knew she could kill the blues.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Reilly asked Miller to join his band, she quickly replied \u2013 yes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited to be part of Jamey\u2019s Sunday Jam,\u201d said Miller, during a phone interview Tuesday from her home in Bucks County.\u00a0\u201cHe\u2019s such a wonderful human being.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a musician so he knows how to treat musicians. I\u2019ve played Jamey\u2019s a few times and I\u2019ve always enjoyed watching the blues jams there.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen he asked me to do this, it was a no-brainer. Jazz is my favorite music and now blues is in a close tie. These guys are great to work with.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a good fit because I always had a good number of blues songs in my repertoire \u2013 more jazzy blues tunes. Now, I\u2019ve learned some of his blues tunes. And I have a new original that we\u2019ll debut this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because of her varied musical background, Miller is equally comfortable singing an Ella Fitzgerald classic like \u201cLullaby of Birdland,\u201d \u201cMoje Zlato\u201d (a Croatian wedding song) or one of her many melodic original compositions.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was singing into a hairbrush ever since I was able to talk,\u201d said Miller.<\/p>\n

As a young girl, Maci discovered her grandparent\u2019s vast collection of vinyl, and after studying every great artist from Ella to Ellington, she honed her vocal skills and made her debut in local clubs and at special events.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were a lot of musicians on my mother\u2019s side,\u201d said Miller. \u201cI had a lot of talented uncles who were writers, producers and sound guys. On my dad\u2019s side, there was the Croatian influence. There was always Croatian music being played.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was growing up, I was always singing in choirs and performing at local shows. When I was 20, I got into dinner theater in Harrisburg. Then I joined a funk band named Smooth \u2013 a pop\/funk band.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miller grew up in the Harrisburg area in a small town called Enhaut and then graduated from Central Dauphin East High School.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was in a lot of bands that did wedding gigs,\u201d said Miller. \u201cThen, I did a lot of modeling and acting when I moved to Philadelphia. I also worked in New York. After a while, I stopped all the other things and focused on music. It was later that I got into jazz.\u201d<\/p>\n

Based in Philadelphia, Miller worked regularly at the casinos in Atlantic City.<\/p>\n

\u201cI worked at several casinos,\u201d said Miller. \u201cI performed a lot at the Claridge. I\u2019d listen to jazz a lot on the way home and think \u2013 why aren\u2019t I singing this. I really liked old music. I got into Ella Fitzgerald and then dug deeper.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miller released her debut album, \u201cA Very Good Night,\u201d in 2001.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy first album was a big band album,\u201d said Miller. \u201cIt was all originals written in \u201940s style. My second album, which came out in 2004 was \u2018Take A Closer Look.\u2019 It was a pop\/jazz fusion album.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miller\u2019s third album was written for a very specific audience.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe third album was \u2018Butterfly Moon\u2019,\u201d said Miller. \u201cIt was a lullaby album for my baby girl, Ruby. We adopted her from Thailand. I made the album so she could get used to my voice before we went to Thailand to get her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Miller\u2019s other creative endeavors as an actor, model, and spokesperson have afforded her numerous appearances on film (The Sixth Sense), print (Modern Bride, Women\u2019s World Magazine), and television (Law and Order). Her charitable contributions include a lullaby entitled \u201cButterfly Moon\u201d, originally composed for her daughter, which she contributed to a CD for The Mercy Center in Bangkok, which gives aid to orphans and children living with HIV.<\/p>\n

Miller has worked with several music greats including trumpeter Steve Jankowski (Nile Rodgers, Chicago), saxophonist Larry McKenna (Woody Herman, Buddy DeFranco), Dean Schneider (music director for Diahann Carroll), Demitrious Pappas (Smokey Robinson\u2019s music director), and the late George Mesterhazy (Shirley Horn).<\/p>\n

She has sung in legendary rooms such as the The Jazz Standard and Danny\u2019s Skylight Room in New York City, Ortliebs and Chris\u2019s Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia, Caesar\u2019s Palace in Las Vegas, and Bally\u2019s, Harrah\u2019s and the Claridge in Atlantic City. Her travels have also taken her to the iconic Bamboo Bar in Bangkok, Thailand for several extended runs.<\/p>\n

The arrival of Ruby marked a career shift for Miller.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t sing for about eight years so I could focus on being a mom,\u201d said Miller. \u201cTwo years ago, my friend David O\u2019Rourke said \u2013 you should sing again.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo years ago, I decided to dip my toe back in and an album came out of it \u2013 \u2018Round Midnight.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

On \u201cRound Midnight,\u201d Miller sings 15 favorite standards in an intimate duet format with guitarist David O\u2019Rourke.<\/p>\n

\u201cI recorded \u2018Round Midnight\u2019 and released it just before the pandemic,\u201d said Miller. \u201cI was four gigs into my comeback and the world shut down.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I got equipment and did my own gigs. I had livestream shows in my backyard throughout the pandemic. I\u2019ve been fortunate to be able to do live shows at different places including here at the farmhouse. Now, I\u2019m working on a new album.\u201d<\/p>\n

She is also working on a new project \u2013 singing the blues every Sunday at Jamey\u2019s House of Music.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis room has all the factors,\u201d said Miller. \u201cThe sound is excellent. It\u2019s a musician\u2019s kind of place. It\u2019s a great place to hang \u2013 and I\u2019ll be doing it every Sunday indefinitely.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Philly Blues Kings — https:\/\/youtu.be\/bAnBVLc7Wsg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Video link for Maci Miller —\u00a0https:\/\/youtu.be\/D3ktSJTVxDs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Jamey\u2019s House of Music on 12 will start at noon. Admission is free.<\/p>\n

On December 10, Jamey\u2019s will host Dan May\u2019s \u201cAnnual Birthday Palooza\u201d and the Barrelhouse Blues Band will headline on December 11.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Dan May<\/p><\/div>\n

Back in the beginning of May, Dan May experienced a situation of \u201cbeing close yet so far away.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, some people virtually became hermits. Singer\/songwriter Dan May literally became a hermit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI stopped going out for any reason,\u201d said May, during a phone interview from his home in Drexel Hill. \u201cI was really sequestered. I had everything delivered. The only times I went out were for a Soundbooth Session at the Sellersville Theater and two Livestream performances from Morningstar Studio.\u201d<\/p>\n

May was scheduled to headline a show on May 7 at the Sellersville Theater but it never happened. The show got postponed and its cancellation had nothing to do with COVID-19.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got a virus that went straight to my voice,\u201d said May. \u201cI don\u2019t know how I got it. I have no idea what its name is. I just know that it paralyzed my vocal cords. The virus made it impossible for me to sing.\u201d<\/p>\n

May took a circuitous route to his current place as a singer\/songwriter.<\/p>\n

He has worked as a gravedigger, television cameraman, short order cook, nuclear missile security guard, gas station attendant, ice cream truck driver, delivery man, amusement park worker and greenhouse laborer.
\nWhile studying music composition in college, he inadvertently stumbled upon an international opera career that forced him to leave a promising future as a songwriter behind.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in Sandusky, Ohio,\u201d said May. \u201cI went to Bowling Green University and studied journalism. Then, I was writing for a daily newspaper.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy wife wanted to go to Ohio State University, so we moved to Columbus. I went to Ohio State as a composition major. Somebody said I should sing opera, so I decided to try it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI studied opera at the Academy of Vocals Arts for four years. That\u2019s what brought us to this area, and we\u2019ve been here ever since. I was a bass\/baritone and sang professionally for 12 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then, his path took another unexpected turn.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had surgery on my vocal cords,\u201d said May. \u201cThey had become paralyzed. In the surgery, they injected fat into my vocal cords. I can sing with a full range, but my voice can\u2019t meet the demands of singing opera \u2013 especially the volume needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI switched to being a singer\/songwriter in 2005 and I\u2019ve released six records since then. I also did two CDs with Elise Dadourian.\u201d<\/p>\n

May\u2019s sextet of LPs includes \u201cOnce Was Red,\u201d \u201cFate Said Nevermind,\u201d \u201cThe Long Road Home,\u201d \u201cHeartland,\u201d \u201cDying Breed\u201d and \u201cBeacon.\u201d The albums with Dadourian are \u201cGold Brick Road\u201d and \u201cSimple Truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Dan May — https:\/\/youtu.be\/nkeTZzjzEGM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Jamey\u2019s on December 10 will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.<\/p>\n

This weekend, Lyric Fest (https:\/\/lyricfest.org\/concerts\/my-letter-to-the-world\/<\/a>) will perform \u201cMy Letter to the World,\u201d a special concert centered on the life and writings of Emily Dickinson.<\/p>\n

There will be two performances — December 11 at 3 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill (8855 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia) and December 12 at 3 p.m. at the Academy of Vocal Arts (1920 Spruce Street, Philadelphia).<\/p>\n

This unique program of letters and narration features 20th and 21st century song settings by Arthur Farwell, Aaron Copland, Andre Previn, Daron Hagen, Lori Laitman, Richard Hundley, Logan Skelton, Scott Gendel, and Jake Heggie, among others sung by soprano Christine Lyons, mezzo-soprano Pascale Spinney, tenor Aaron Crouch, and baritone Gregory Feldmann. Joining them are Lyric Fest Co-Founders and Artistic Directors Laura Ward and Suzanne DuPlantis, with Ward on piano and DuPlantis serving as narrator.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re an art song revival series and this is our 19th season,\u201d said DuPlantis, during a phone interview Tuesday morning from Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe take a theme and create a program. We curate songs and also do commissioned music. We\u2019ve commissioned 200 songs in our history. For this particular program, we did not commission any songs. All of the songs are extant songs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The source material was poems by Emily Dickinson.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor this program, there are 19 composers and 28 songs,\u201d said DuPlantis, a New Orleans native who moved to Philadelphia 30 years ago. \u201cI listened to 70 or so songs so I was really targeted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emily Dickinson\u00a0(December 10, 1830\u00a0\u2013 May 15, 1886) was an American poet. Little-known during her life, she has since been regarded as one of the most important figures in\u00a0American poetry.<\/p>\n

Dickinson lived much of her life in isolation and later in her life rarely left her bedroom. Dickinson never married, and most friendships between her and others depended entirely upon correspondence.<\/p>\n

While Dickinson was a prolific writer, her only publications during her lifetime were 10 of her nearly 1,800 poems, and one letter. Many of her poems deal with themes of death and immortality, two recurring topics in letters to her friends, and also explore aesthetics, society, nature and spirituality.<\/p>\n

Her work did not become public until 1886 when, after her death, her younger sister Lavinia discovered her cache of poems.<\/p>\n

According to DuPlantis says, \u201cDickinson died with nearly 1,800 poems locked in a chest, written in notebooks, on cards, and scribbled onto envelopes with their glue seams pressed open. The vast majority of these poems were completely unknown to the world. Lyric Fest shares the story of the beguiling life of one of America\u2019s most notable and beloved poets.\u201d<\/p>\n

The poems morphed easily into musical compositions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s musical just to recite her poems,\u201d said DuPlantis. \u201cThe poetry itself is music. It\u2019s sparse and there is space between the words.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn this program, there is no chronological order for the songs. The biography is chronological. We use songs to move her biography forward. Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Ralph Waldo Emerson are the pinnacles of 18th century literature \u2013 the foundation of American literature and poetry.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn these concerts, there will be a narrator telling the story of her life. The songs are poems that have been set to music. We chose ones that show where she was at that point in her life.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was hardly known in her lifetime. She was very reclusive. She needed solitude to create art. It\u2019s a fascinating and bizarre story. More than 3,000 songs have been set to her poetry.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis concert will be mostly classical compositions \u2013 piano and vocal\u2026soprano, tenor, mezzo-soprano and baritone. The 19 compositions were all done mainly in the 21st century with a few from the 20th century.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Lyric Fest — https:\/\/youtu.be\/ankbV2WOsg8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $25 for either performance.<\/p>\n

There are several rock music holiday performance traditions in Philadelphia such as the Slambovian Circus of Dreams\u2019 annual \u201cChristmas Eve Eve\u201d show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live.<\/p>\n

Another is the \u201cAnnual Holiday Concert\u201d by Chester County musician Don McCloskey \u2013 an event which will be held on December 15 at Johnny Brenda\u2019s (1201 North Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the fifth year I\u2019ve been doing this,\u201d said McCloskey, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from his home in West Caln.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, we didn\u2019t do one last year because of COVID. Before that we did shows at Johnny Brenda\u2019s and before that at The Tin Angel.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pandemic not only altered McCloskey\u2019s performance plans, it also changed the course of his soon-to-be-released album, \u201cThe Chaos and The Beauty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe record began with a Kickstarter campaign two-and-a-half years ago,\u201d said McCloskey. \u201cI thought it would probably take a year. Then COVID hit and it took a lot longer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was living in Brooklyn then. I recorded the album with producer Devin Greenwood at Honey Jar Studio in Brooklyn. It\u2019s a great studio with all analog gear.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, we\u2019re coming out of a low ebb in music. I released the first single, \u2018First in Flight,\u2019 on June 25.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst in Flight,\u201d\u00a0was prominently featured in the season two finale of\u00a0\u201cMythic Quest.\u201d It was handpicked by series creator and\u00a0McCloskey\u2019s high school friend, Rob McElhenney. It has been streamed more than 500k times and counting.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe second single, which came out in November is, \u2018O Holy Night,\u2019 said McCloskey. \u201cIt\u2019s the retelling of a story.\u201d<\/p>\n

McCloskey\u2019s reimagining of the holiday classic is sung from the perspective of two French lovers in 1843 France who could only be together while the rest of their village was attending Midnight Mass. The first performance of\u00a0\u201cO Holy Night\u201d\u00a0took place in the small town of Roquemare, France on Christmas Eve in 1847 while the poem that inspired it was written four years prior.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe third single will be \u2018Unbecoming\u2019 and it\u2019s scheduled for release on January 5. Then the album comes out in February.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Chaos and The Beauty\u201d was crowdsourced by his intensely loyal fanbase who raised $22,000 in less than two days on Kickstarter. McCloskey joined with Producer Devin Greenwood (Norah Jones, Sufjan Stevens, Half Waif) to record the album at his studio.<\/p>\n

The album was cut live-to-tape at The Honey Jar featuring a collective of world class musicians and vocalists. Billed as \u201ca celebration of the human spirit in a digital age,\u201d the LP feels instantly sonically familiar and lyrically poignant.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d go in and do the basic tracks one or two at a time,\u201d said McCloskey. \u201cAfter that, we\u2019d do the overdubs.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking back, I see a thread throughout \u2013 multiple people following an impulse, It starts with my impulse to write songs and then other people\u2019s impulse to hear the songs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt started with approximately 30 songs and then we cut it to 10. We used only analog instruments and Devin did an amazing job with the production.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe songs come from the 80s when singer\/songwriters were coming out of the 70s with a different world and a different way of appropiating pop music.\u201d<\/p>\n

McCloskey\u2019s involvement with music dates back to when he was a young boy growing up in Bucks County \u2013 in Bristol.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always been into music,\u201d said McCloskey. \u201cI come from a family of music lovers \u2013 and people who love to make music. My uncle was an Irish tenor who played guitar and my cousin played guitar. My parents had a great record collection and I listened to the radio a lot.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was into music at church and school. And there was the Bristol Riverside Theater where I first heard musicals. I worked at the theater and performed there.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy music is a mix of singer\/songwriter and folk tribalism that has absorbed a lot of stimulus \u2013 classic rock, folk, jazz, hip hop, grunge and the British Invasion. It\u2019s very eclectic.\u201d<\/p>\n

After graduating from St. Joseph\u2019s Prep in Philadelphia, McCloskey attended Fordham University and eventually landed in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I started playing, I was an acoustic guitarist,\u201d said McCloskey. \u201cI was into the \u2018anti-folk\u2019 movement going on at the Sidewalk Caf\u00e9 in the Lower East Side. It was an incubator for artists like Jeffery Lewis and Regina Spektor. It was the first time I realized you could synthesize all the elements.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came back to Philly and was doing solo gigs at the Grape Street Pub, The Fire and The Tin Angel.<\/p>\n

\u201cI toured with G.Love and, through him, met Chuck Treece and Tom Spiker. I began playing in a band with them. On my second album, \u2018Northern Liberties,\u2019 I recorded three songs with Tom at Northern Liberties Studio.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, McCloskey is returning to the Northern Liberties area (Fishtown actually) \u2013 returning for a holiday tradition show.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll have an eight-piece band with me,\u201d said McCloskey. \u201cWe\u2019ll be playing most of the songs from the new album, a good mix of my older songs and an assortment of Christmas songs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Don McCloskey — https:\/\/youtu.be\/3c3bT2sypBQ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Johnny Brenda\u2019s on December 15 will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $17.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at Johnny Brenda\u2019s are Strand of Oaks on December 9 and Full Bush on December 16.<\/p>\n

The COVID-19 pandemic has had its effect on all musicians and bands \u2013 some more than others.<\/p>\n

Whether performing solo or with his band The Revivalists, David Shaw has found a way to adapt.<\/p>\n

Shaw is now out on tour in support of his debut self-titled solo album,\u00a0which was released in May via his own imprint\u00a0Yokoko Records\u00a0in partnership with\u00a0C3 Records. The tour visits Philly on December 15 with a show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\u201cWe started this tour on December 4 in Atlanta,\u201d said Shaw, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from a tour stop in Bloomington, Indiana. \u201cIt ends on December 18 in D.C.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did a bunch of one-offs in September and October. We did probably 25 shows with the band \u2013 not too shabby with COVID.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe remain careful. We definitely play clubs with vaccine requirements or else outdoor shows. We\u2019ve got to keep our fans safe \u2013 and our crew safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the last decade, Shaw has made four albums and two EPs with The Revivalists. This year, he added his first-ever solo work.<\/p>\n

Produced by\u00a0Jack Splash\u00a0(four-time Grammy award-winning producer of Kendrick Lamar, Alicia Keys, Solange, Valerie June, St Paul and The Broken Bones),\u00a0Shaw\u2019s\u00a012-track\u00a0LP showcases his true self — exemplifying his hard-working and courageous nature as he placed a renewed focus on self-care and personal growth.<\/p>\n

Joining Shaw on the album were guitarist and co-writer\u00a0Chris Gelbuda, guitarist and vocalist Neal Francis, bassist Mike Starr, and The Revivalists current drummer PJ Howard. Several singles were released to promote the album, including \u201cGot Me Feeling Good,\u201d \u201cHeavy Soul,\u201d \u201cShivers,\u201d \u201cShaken\u201d and \u201cPromised Land.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe cut the album in early 2020 \u2013 January and February,\u201d said Shaw. \u201cWe recorded some of it at a friend\u2019s basement studio in Nashville with Chris Gebulda. He\u2019s been a friend for 10 years. Then, we went to New Orleans and finished it at Parlor Studio.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe released five singles,\u201d said Shaw. \u201cThe song \u2018Shaken\u2019 is really near and dear to my heart. It started the project. After five singles, we let it rip with the album with seven more songs. It\u2019s a pretty good balance.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of the songs were written pre-pandemic \u2013 most some time before. I definitely started writing a lot when it hit. I\u2019ve got a bunch of songs going.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to go in with the Revs to the studio in the next few months. I\u2019ve really figured out the songs that I\u2019m excited to do with the band. Some will be for solo.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always knew I was going to do a solo album but didn\u2019t know when. I didn\u2019t expect to be making it during a pandemic. Fortunately, I had a bunch of songs that I\u2019ve been stockpiling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shaw\u2019s fans have had seven months to get familiar with the songs from his solo album and Shaw is ready to deliver them live onstage.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m playing every song from the album,\u201d said Shaw. \u201cThere are a few different covers that we pull out every night. And I always have to play Soulflight \u2013 acoustic.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Revivalists\u00a0will close out 2021 in their home base of\u00a0New Orleans\u00a0for their\u00a0annual New Year\u2019s Eve celebration\u00a0featuring an extra special pre-show set celebrating the return of an extremely limited and intimate\u00a0RevHeads Ball. Both events will take place on\u00a0December 31\u00a0at\u00a0Mardi Gras World.<\/p>\n

Video link for David Shaw \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/VbQK9b-MtsE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show on December 15 at World Caf\u00e9 Live will start at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets start at $27.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at World Caf\u00e9 Live are William Elliott Whitmore on December 9, Kevin Devine on December 11, The Moth on December 14 and Michigan Rattlers on December 14.<\/p>\n

Now through January 2, People\u2019s Light (39 Conestoga Road, Malvern,\u00a0peopleslight.org<\/a>) is presenting the world premiere of \u201cA Christmas Carol.\u201d<\/p>\n

This version of \u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d is adapted from Charles Dickens by Zak Berkman and features original music by Zak Berkman.<\/p>\n

Callous Scrooge, shackled Marley, and the haunting spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future spring vividly to life in this fresh adaptation of a favorite yuletide ghost story.<\/p>\n

Featuring a lively mix of original songs and newly arranged 19th-century English carols, this music-infused retelling captures the magic, joy, and generosity of Dickens\u2019 beloved classic.<\/p>\n

Each year, the People\u2019s Light holiday\u00a0show is a panto\u00a0that transforms a beloved children\u2019s story into a musical extravaganza filled with outrageous characters, toe-tapping original music, slapstick comedy, and topical humor for both kids and adults.<\/p>\n

\u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d\u00a0is not a panto. But it is music-filled, interactive fun for every age — whether you believe in spirits or not.<\/p>\n

Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester,\u00a0uptownwestchester.org<\/a>)is presenting \u201cThe Best Christmas Pageant Ever\u201d on December 10, 11,12, 16 and 18.<\/p>\n

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) will have The Hypothetical House Band \u2013 Jon Herington and Dennis Espantman on December 10, John Flynn on December 11 and Heather Maloney on December 15.<\/p>\n

Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/a>) is hosting The mavericks on December 10 and 11.<\/p>\n

The Queen (500 North Market Street, Wilmington, 202-730-3331, www.thequeenwilmington.com<\/a>) will have Jadakiss on December 9, The Wonder Years on December 10, and Van Halen Nation on December 11.<\/p>\n

Arden concerts (The Highway, Arden, Delaware, ardenconcerts.com<\/a>) will host Marshall Crenshaw on December 11.<\/p>\n

Marshall Crenshaw will also play the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/a>) on December 10. Other upcoming acts at the venue are Matt Cappy on December 9, Ted Vigil’s A John Denver Christmas on December 11, ABBAFAB on December 12, DePue Brothers Band on December 13, Irish Christmas In America on December 14 and Stanley Jordan on December 15.<\/p>\n

The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com<\/a>) will present Dopapod on December 9 and 10 and Aunt Mary Pat on December 16.<\/p>\n

The Living Room (35 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, https:\/\/thelivingroomat35east.com<\/a>) will present Kenn Kweder on December 11.<\/p>\n

118 North (118 North Wayne Avenue, Wayne, www.118northwayne.com<\/a>) will host Jason\u2019s Children on December 9, Dueling Pianos on December 10, DNR on December 11 and Eric Mintel on December 15.<\/p>\n

The Xcite Center at Parx Casino (2999 Street Road, Bensalem, 888-588-7279, https:\/\/parxcasino.com<\/a>) will present America on December 9, Nikki Glaser on December 10 and Kathleen Madigan on December 11.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times On December 9, a very special tour will touch down in Philadelphia when the Fillmore (1100 Canal Street, Philadelphia, 215-309-0150, themetphilly.com\/event\/allman-family-revival\/) hosts the \u201cAllman Family Revival.\u201d The \u201cFifth Annual Allman Family Revival\u201d is a 19-city, coast-to-coast tour featuring the Allman Betts Band and an all-star cast of guest […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":49544,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[287],"tags":[14243,13808,7426,14244],"class_list":["post-49543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts","tag-allman-betts-band","tag-dan-may","tag-featured","tag-the-philly-blues-kings"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49543","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=49543"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49543\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49545,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49543\/revisions\/49545"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/49544"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=49543"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=49543"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=49543"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}