{"id":54969,"date":"2024-12-12T15:18:17","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T20:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=54969"},"modified":"2024-12-12T15:18:18","modified_gmt":"2024-12-12T20:18:18","slug":"on-stage-gretchen-emery-band-wendy-logan-band-share-bill-at-jameys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=54969","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Gretchen\u00a0Emery\u00a0Band, Wendy Logan Band share bill at Jamey’s"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/em><\/div>\n
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Gretchen Emery Band<\/p><\/div>\n

This is a good weekend for blues fans with shows by the Gretchen Emery Band, the Wendy Logan Band and the Deb Callahan Band.<\/p><\/div>\n

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The Gretchen\u00a0Emery\u00a0Band continues to add to its fan base by performing well-received shows at popular area venues such as Jamey\u2019s House of Music, the Elkton Music Hall and Stoney\u2019s Pub.<\/div>\n
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On December 14, the Gretchen\u00a0Emery\u00a0Band will headline a show at Jamey\u2019s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985,www.jameyshouseofmusic.com<\/a>).<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe show will be a double bill with the Wendy Logan Band,\u201d said\u00a0Emery, during a phone interview Wednesday night from her home in Newark, Delaware.<\/div>\n
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\u201cShe\u2019s a great, great blues singer. She will open the show on Saturday night. This will be a good double bill for blues fans.\u201d<\/div>\n

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Emery and her band are becoming fan favorites at Jamey\u2019s.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThis is the third time we\u2019ve headlined a show at Jamey\u2019s,\u201d said Emery.<\/div>\n
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\u201cI was first told about Jamey\u2019s by a friend back in pre-COVID. I got in touch with Jamey (Reilly), and he let us come in for an Open Blues Jam. After COVID was over, we played a Blues Jam again.<\/div>\n
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\u201cI like everything about Jamey\u2019s. As a performer, I like that Jamey makes it very easy and comfortable for the artists. The stage and the sound are already set up. You just have to walk in with your instrument and play. The sound system is great.<\/div>\n
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\u201cJamey is a wonderful guy — very easy to work with. He\u2019s been very supportive. For audiences, it\u2019s a great place to see a show. It has good sound, free parking and great food \u2013 and he has a livestream option.\u201d<\/div>\n
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The Gretchen\u00a0Emery\u00a0Band\u2019s show this Saturday will be available on pay-per-view.<\/div>\n
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Vocal powerhouse\u00a0Emery\u00a0was recently honored with the 2023 award for \u201cBest Lead Singer\u201d by Delaware Valley Hometown Heroes. Her husband Kenny Windle is the band\u2019s guitarist and\u00a0Emery\u2019s co-writer. The band also features Randy Waters (bass), Mike Leger (drums), and Frank Donato (keys).<\/div>\n
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The Gretchen\u00a0Emery\u00a0Band has toured steadily in the Mid-Atlantic region over the last four years. The band released its debut EP, \u201cIf Love Were Enough,\u201d in July 2022.<\/div>\n
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The EP, which was released on a\/i\/r records, has been described as a \u201crootsy, soul-fueled mix of rockin\u2019 R&B\u2026. blending both traditional and contemporary influences, creating something that feels instantly familiar yet excitingly fresh at the same time.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Now, they are working on a new release on a\/i\/r records. Their most recent area show was at Stoney\u2019s Pub in Wilmington last month.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019re still working on our new album,\u201d said Emery. \u201cMy husband and I write together. \u201cHe comes up with the chord structure and I develop the melody. Then, I take care of the lyrics.<\/div>\n
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\u201c\u2018If Love Were Enough\u2019 was the first one where we achieved the result that we were really happy with.<\/div>\n
\u201cWe recorded it at BarnSound Studio in Newtown Square. It\u2019s Derek Chafin\u2019s studio which he has now moved to Chester Springs.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe used Derek Chafin as our producer for the EP. He made all the difference for us.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe brought him the song \u2018If Love Were Enough\u2019 to listen to. He liked it and agreed to produce us. We had never used a producer before. Now, we\u2019re working on a full-length with him.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe new album won\u2019t be out until \u2018?\u2019 \u2013 until we\u2019re all done. Let\u2019s just say \u2018early next year.\u2019<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019re getting close. We just finished the vocals. Next, we have to add backup vocals and horns.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019re still writing. Kenny and I have three songs we\u2019re working on now.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Emery\u00a0grew up in Dover, Delaware while her husband is a native of North Philadelphia.<\/div>\n
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\u201cI stayed in Dover for college and went to Wesley College,\u201d said\u00a0Emery, who spent more than two decades as a pediatric nurse. \u201cMy mom was a professor there.<\/div>\n
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\u201cI went to nursing school and got my degree. I worked as a nurse for a long time. Now, I work for the V.A. in Philly. I\u2019m in administration so fortunately I can work from home.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWhen I was growing up, music was obligatory in our home. Everyone is musical. My mom has been a singer since she was really young. My dad played the clarinet and his brother played organ and piano. I started singing in church. In school, I played flute in the band and sang.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Emery, who has been involved in quite a few bands over the years, now has found the right sound and the right mixture of players.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe had a band called Gretchen\u00a0Emery\u00a0Band and Dirty Boots,\u201d said\u00a0Emery. \u201cWe competed in the IBC (International Blues Competition) in 2013 and then broke up a year later.<\/div>\n
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\u201cKenny and I stopped playing for a while. Then, we realized we can\u2019t not play.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Video link for the Gretchen\u00a0Emery\u00a0Band \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/yUWijOc-OuM<\/a>.<\/div>\n
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The show at Jamey\u2019s House of Music will start at 8 p.m. with a set by the Wendy Logan Band.<\/div>\n
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The Wendy Logan Band<\/p><\/div>\n

The Wendy Logan Band is a group of seasoned musicians on a musical journey.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Led by the powerful, gritty and sultry vocals of Wendy Logan, along with topnotch musicians, Glenn Hall (bass), Jack Obusek (keys\/sax), and Greg Spencer (drums), WLB weaves a tapestry of blues, funk, soul and a little bit of rock and roll.<\/div>\n
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Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. It will also be available as a pay-per-view at $15.<\/div>\n
On December 13, Jamey\u2019s The Future of the Blues with special guest Jake Friel.<\/div>\n
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A heavy dose of the blues will be served up on December 14 when the Deb Callahan Band performs at<\/div>\n
World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, www.worldcafelive.com<\/a>) hosts the Deb Callahan Band Holiday Show featuring Roger Girke.<\/div>\n
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\u201cI\u2019m from the Boston area and I\u2019ve been in Philly for over 20 years,\u201d said\u00a0Callahan. \u201cI moved here to go to grad school at Penn.\u201d<\/div>\n
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After graduation from the University of Pennsylvania\u2019s School of Social Work,\u00a0Callahan\u00a0stayed in the area and still works as a social worker in the city.\u201d<\/div>\n
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\u201cI got a master\u2019s degree in social work,\u201d said\u00a0Callahan. \u201cI do youth counseling. My music is definitely influenced by my work as a social worker.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Callahan, who has been a fixture in the Delaware Valley blues\/rock scene for over two decades will be performing with her longtime band which features Garry Lee on bass and Allen James on guitar along with new drummer Fred Berman.<\/div>\n
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Callahan\u2019s debut LP was \u201cIf Blues Had Wings\u201d and she followed with \u201cThe Blue Pearl\u201d in 2005, \u201cGrace and Grit\u201d in 2008 and \u201cTell It Like It Is\u2019 in 2010.<\/div>\n
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Her most recent album, which was released in 2023, is \u201cBackbone,\u201d which was released on Blue Pearl Records. The CD, produced by Philadelphia producer, songwriter and guitarist Chris Arms was recorded live at Morningstar Studios in Norristown, with overdubs and mixing completed at Arms\u2019 Studio 501 in Philadelphia.<\/div>\n
Callahan recorded this album with her road tested, all- star band along with London-based producer and songwriter Danny Schogger on keyboards and Arms on slide guitar.<\/div>\n
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There are also guest appearances by Philly\u2019s Jay Davidson on sax, John Colgan Davis on harmonica and Charlene Holloway on backing vocals. The core band\u2019s years of playing together creates a unique chemistry and an ability to play with an easy, nuanced improvisation.<\/div>\n
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Callahan has been performing, touring, recording and entertaining music fans both regionally and around the United States since the late 1990s.<\/div>\n
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She has graced the stages of many festivals nationwide from The Monterey Bay Blues Festival in Monterey, CA, The Springing the Blues Fest in Jacksonville, FL, The Bayfront Blues Fest in Duluth, MN to WXPN\u2019s XPonential Music Festival right here in Philly.<\/div>\n
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Often compared to Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tedeschi and Etta James, Callahan has developed a unique sound all her own.<\/div>\n
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Roger Girke is a road-tested guitarist, singer and writer who has performed over 5,000 career live shows, concerts and festivals.<\/div>\n
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\u201cRoger has his own band but for this show, he will join my band,\u201d said Callahan. \u201cHe and I will do things together and do things separately.<\/div>\n
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\u201cHe and I have played festivals and been on the same bill at various venues. We always had a good musical connection. I like his music.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Girke\u2019s career began performing in rock bands in the eastern PA\/NJ area, eventually joining the legendary Philadelphia area roots rock band Pickins (Capitol\/Ariola), followed by many years of touring and recording with Sharks (Elektra), Robert Hazard (RCA), and many other notable artists.<\/div>\n
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Since 2000, Roger has released five albums and has regularly performed at blues festivals, clubs and concerts throughout the Mid-Atlantic.<\/div>\n
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The Roger Girke Band was a top 10 finalist in the 2009 Memphis, TN International Blues Challenge as well as receiving top tier Independent CD finalist awards* in the 2005 and 2009 International Blues Challenge, a part of the Blues Foundation.<\/div>\n
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On Saturday, Callahan and Girke will showcase their original blues, soul, funk originals with some special holiday gems.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019ll play all of \u2018Backbone\u2019 and favorites from some of my other albums,\u201d said Callahan. \u201cI\u2019ll also be doing some covers and playing some holiday songs.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Video link for Deb\u00a0Callahan\u00a0— https:\/\/youtu.be\/G8yCZBc5lIM<\/a>.<\/div>\n
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The show at The Lounge at World Cafe Live\u00a0on Saturday will start at 8:30 p.m.<\/div>\n
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Tickets are $20 in advance and $22 at the door.<\/div>\n
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Some acts have developed long-standing music performance traditions such as Annie Haslam\u2019s annual holiday music show in Bucks County.<\/div>\n
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On December 14, Haslam is returning to the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com<\/a>) with \u201cAnnie Haslam & Friends…In The Spirit Of The Holidays.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Beginning in 1999,\u00a0Haslam\u00a0has performed a Christmas show\u00a0each year\u00a0called\u00a0\u201cIn the Spirit of the Holidays\u201d —\u00a0originally at the Upper Tinicum Lutheran Church, and then at the larger Sellersville Theatre in\u00a0Sellersville, Pennsylvania, since 2006.<\/div>\n
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The Christmas show has been held every year except 2012, because of the death of her friend and colleague, Michael Dunford, in November of that year.\u00a0Haslam\u00a0stated that \u201cthere was just too much sadness at the time.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cI started the holiday shows a long time ago,\u201d said\u00a0Haslam, during a phone interview from her home in Bucks County.<\/div>\n
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\u201cI first did the show at the church here in Upper Black Eddy. What I did \u2013 I included vegetarian Christmas food in the price of the ticket. It was really different. It was wonderful.<\/div>\n
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\u201cAfter a few years, the pastor moved to Kansas. Then, I started doing holiday shows at the Sellersville Theater. It was a perfect place.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Included in the program are secular, and religious Christmas carols, as well as her own compositions, and some Renaissance songs.<\/div>\n
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Haslam, Renaissance\u2019s lead vocalist, has become a heralded solo artist and a gifted painter. She has graced the most prestigious world stages with her five-octave voice, including London’s Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and NYC’s Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.<\/div>\n
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In recent years she has been recording and touring with Renaissance which has taken her to Japan, Brazil, Argentina, UK, Belgium, Portugal and Israel.<\/div>\n
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Renaissance is a band with a rich history as progressive rock pioneers that rose from the ashes of the Yardbirds, a blues-influenced British rock band known for introducing three of rock\u2019s greatest guitarists — Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page.<\/div>\n
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Acclaimed for its unique blending of progressive rock with classical and symphonic influences, Renaissance\u2019s long and successful career has been spearheaded by the five-octave voice of\u00a0Haslam\u00a0and the masterful songwriting skills of Michael Dunford.<\/div>\n
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Renaissance had a Top 10 hit in the U.K. with the song\u00a0\u201cNorthern Lights.\u201d In October and November 2017, the band debuted its \u201cSymphonic Journey\u201d tour.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe did four shows with the 10-piece orchestra \u2013 an orchestra that featured strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion,\u201d said\u00a0Haslam. \u201cOne of those shows was at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside. We filmed the show.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Haslam, who was born in Bolton, Lancashire, first gained worldwide recognition when she was asked to become the lead singer of Renaissance, a band formed by Keith Relf after he left the Yardbirds.<\/div>\n
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According to\u00a0Haslam, \u201cI joined the band New Year\u2019s Day 1971. Now, more than 50 years later we are still performing and bringing our unique style of music to more and more fans all over the world.<\/div>\n
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While with Renaissance,\u00a0Haslam\u00a0was the lead vocalist on seven studio albums during their classic period (1972\u20131979), four studio albums from 1981\u2013present, and a number of live albums.<\/div>\n
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In 1977,\u00a0Haslam\u00a0began her solo career with her album \u201cAnnie in Wonderland,\u201d produced by\u00a0Roy Wood\u00a0(who was a key member of The Move, one of England\u2019s best rock bands in the late 1960s). Wood played most of the musical instruments.<\/div>\n
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Haslam\u00a0has since released eight studio albums, three of which were released through her own record label, White Dove. She has also collaborated with\u00a0Steve Howe\u00a0of the prog rock band Yes, on a number of projects.<\/div>\n
From the year 2002,\u00a0Haslam\u00a0has developed a parallel career as a visual artist, producing paintings on canvas, painted musical instruments, and gicl\u00e9es.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe show at Sellersville will open with some Renaissance songs. I don\u2019t want it to be a Renaissance show, so I just touch on it.<\/div>\n
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\u201cI\u2019ll be singing a lot of Christmas standards \u2013 \u2018Silent Night,\u2019 \u2018Silver Bells,\u2019 \u2018Joy to the World,\u2019 \u2018Oh Holy Night,\u2019 \u2018It Snows in Heaven,\u2019 \u2018White Christmas,\u2019 and \u2018The 12 Days of Christmas.\u2019\u201d<\/div>\n
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Video link for Annie\u00a0Haslam\u00a0\u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/MeB82QmGa1Q<\/a>.<\/div>\n
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The show on December 14, which has Lizanne Knott ft. Ciara Grace & John Conahan as the opening act will start at 8 p.m.<\/div>\n
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Ticket prices start at $35.<\/div>\n
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\u201cAn Olde English Christmas with Herman\u2019s Hermits starring Peter Noone\u201d is scheduled for December 15.<\/div>\n
Noone was a popular British pop star in the 1960s with his band Herman\u2019s Hermits. Some of their international hits were \u201cMrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter,\u201d \u201cI\u2019m Henry VIII, I Am\u201d and \u201cListen People.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Noone and his band will perform two shows on Sunday \u2013 a matinee at 3 p.m. and an evening show at 8 p.m.<\/div>\n
Ticket prices start at $65.<\/div>\n
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Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org<\/a>) will present Rock This Town on December 13 and Twelve Twenty-Four on December 18.<\/div>\n
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Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) is presenting Ellis Paul on December 12 and Better Than Bacon on December 13.<\/div>\n
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The\u00a0Candlelight\u00a0Theatre (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware,\u00a0302- 475-2313, candlelighttheatredelaware.org<\/a>) is presenting Irving Berlin\u2019s \u201cHoliday Inn\u201d now through December 22.<\/div>\n
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A Connecticut farmhouse is transformed into an inn featuring shows to celebrate each holiday from Thanksgiving to the Fourth of July. Inspired by the Academy Award winning film of the same name, \u201cHoliday Inn\u201d is a story of romance with a mix of small-town living, bright lights, and the lure of stardom.<\/div>\n
This joyous musical features thrilling dance numbers, laugh out loud comedy, and nearly two dozen Irving Berlin classics with a book by Gordon Greenberg and Chad Hodge.<\/div>\n
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Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings (8 p.m.), Sunday afternoons (3 p.m.) and Wednesdays (11 a.m.)<\/div>\n
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Tickets, which include dinner and show, are $70.50 for adults and $35 for children (ages 4-12).<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times This is a good weekend for blues fans with shows by the Gretchen Emery Band, the Wendy Logan Band and the Deb Callahan Band. The Gretchen\u00a0Emery\u00a0Band continues to add to its fan base by performing well-received shows at popular area venues such as Jamey\u2019s House of Music, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":54967,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8457],"tags":[7426,15561,15899],"class_list":["post-54969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-featured","tag-gretchen-emery-band","tag-the-wendy-logan-band"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54969","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=54969"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54969\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54970,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54969\/revisions\/54970"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/54967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=54969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=54969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=54969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}