On Stage: When the music comes back, a time to celebrate Bowie

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Sass Jordan Back at the beginning of the year, Bowie fans were excited. Sass Jordan was also excited about “A Bowie Celebration” tour through North America. “A Bowie Celebration” was set to return to North America in March following a major European tour in January this year.  The run was slated to kick off in San Diego on March 3 and include...

On Stage: Can’t go to the show? Let it come to you

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Brian Fitzy This is spring 2020 and, because of the “shelter in place” order caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, you can’t go to concerts, theater shows or other entertainment. But they can come to you. There are hundreds of live streaming shows, online concerts and podcasts every week. One of the best is coming up this weekend – and one of...

Not On Stage: Summer stadium arena shows postponed, delayed, cancelled

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Kenny Chesney All you music fans out there who are dreaming about heading to the Wells Fargo Center, Citizens Bank Park or Lincoln Financial Field over the next few months to attend concerts by major country, Top 40 or rap acts – forget about it. If the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening to wipe out the Eagles’ season, then shows such as Kenny...

Music Spotlight: Gilbert O’Sullivan ‘alone again’ after shutdown stalls US tour

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Gilbert O’Sullivan With the “shelter in place” order necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are finding themselves alone because of the restrictions. Being “alone” can offer a welcome respite from an ultra-busy schedule. Being “alone” as a full-time option is a different story – especially when it’s mandated by...

Music Spotlight: Chesco’s Mascherino leads move for live music online

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times This is a strange time for music fans who want to hear their favorite acts perform live. Because of the restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, attending a live event is a “thing of the past.” But that doesn’t mean that listeners no longer have access to “live” music. Many artists are performing alone and streaming their performances...

Music Spotlight: Colin Hay says ‘see you next year’

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Colin Hay On April 5, Colin Hay was supposed to perform a show at the Keswick Theater in Glenside, but we all know that that’s not happening now. On March 24, his management announced, “In response to COVID-19, the Colin Hay Sunday, April 5th, 2020 show at Keswick Theatre, in Glenside, PA has been rescheduled to Wednesday, April 7th, 2021.” It...

Music Spotlight: Music artists cope with pause in age of Coronavirus

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Noa When it comes to concerts, shows, annual events and other entertainment and group activities, the coronavirus pandemic has thrown us into an era of “would have” – an era in which virtually everything involving more that three or four people being together has been cancelled. On May 15, it would have been the 42nd annual staging of the Winterthur...

On Stage: The Play That Goes Wrong

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times The Play That Goes Wrong Thursdays are traditionally party nights — “anticipating the weekend” wild nights. Tonight, you can get wild with theater or with music. If you want to get wild with an evening of laughter, plan a trip to The Playhouse on Rodney Square (10th and Market streets, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-888-0200, www. duponttheatre.com). Now...

On Stage: Wire still showing spark after all these years

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Wire Those who work with electricity know that when dealing with wire, it’s better to assume it might be live even if it appears to be dead. The same can be said for music fans when dealing with the British band Wire, which is headlining a show on March 10 at Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, http://undergroundarts.org) There...

On Stage: Nelson meets life challenges with new music

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Ryan “Gooch” Nelson If you googled the word “resiliency,” an appropriate entry in the search results would be a picture of Ryan “Gooch” Nelson. Nelson has suffered several major physical and medical setbacks. Back in 2004, he was paralyzed in a truck accident. In addition to being a quadriplegic, he had to deal with leukemia a few years...