On Stage: Timely tribute to Bowie hits Phoenixville

Also: ‘Once’ returns for new run at Academy of Music

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times

Holy Holy, an all-star line-up featuring Tony Visconti and Woody Woodmansey, was already touring North America performing David Bowie’s album  “The Man Who Sold the World” when news of Bowie’s death shocked the world earlier this week.

Bowie always maintained the attitude that “the show must go on,” so Holy Holy resumed its tour in Toronto the day after Bowie died. The tour will touch down in the area for a show on January 15 at the Colonial Theatre (Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610- 917-1228, www.thecolonialtheatre.com) and will play January 20 at the Chameleon Club (223 North Water Street, Lancaster, 717-299-9684, http://www.chameleonclub.net).

Producer Tony Visconti and drummer Mick (Woody) Woodmansey worked with Bowie on some of his seminal work, including “Space Oddity,” Aladdin Sane” and, of course, “The Man Who Sold the World.”

“David always had the attitude that ‘the show must go on,’” Woodmansey wrote on the band’s Facebook page. “So we want the fans to help us celebrate his life and music, that’s what he would have wanted.”

The Man Who Sold the World,” which was released in November 1970, featured David Bowie (vocals, guitars, organ, saxophone), Mick Ronson (guitars, backing vocals), Tony Visconti (bass guitar, piano, guitar, recorder, backing vocals) and Mick Woodmansey (drums, percussion). Visconti also produced the album with Ken Scott as the engineer.

“We were four young men who thought we could change the world with that album,” said Visconti, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. “David was always so far ahead of his time. That album and ‘Hunky Dory’ made him understand that about himself. He was always two-to-five years ahead of his time. It was cut in two studios in London with a five-week budget.

“Toward the end of making that album, David hooked up with a new manager named Tony Defries. Tony told David — you don’t need that band, you should be a solo artist. And, that’s when we got fired. That’s why ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ was never performed live. It’s a master opus that deserved to be played live. Instead, Woody and Mick went back to Hull in northern England.

“I stayed in London because I was working as a producer. I produced T. Rex and Marc (Bolan) was itchy for a hit single. A year later, David missed Mick and Woody so he brought them back to London to record ‘Hunky Dory.’”

“Hunky Dory,” which came out in 1971, featured Bowie, bassist Trevor Bolder (who passed away from cancer in 2013), Ronson (who passed away from liver cancer in 1993 at the age of 46), Woodmansey and session keyboardist Rick Wakeman (who joined Yes two years later).

A few years ago, Woodmansey, who is the last surviving member of the classic Ziggy Stardust lineup, was in London performing some of Bowie’s music.

“Woody was working with a friend of his in London doing low-level Bowie shows,” said Visconti. “He thought about doing ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ and called me to ask if I would do it with him. And, I agreed.

“It’s a big album with a lot of difficult bass playing. I spent three months playing everything to get ready to play it live. I had to write it all out in musical notation. In 2014, we did four shows in the U.K. and we knew we were good.

“In 2015, we did 15 shows in the U.K., Ireland and Scotland. Then, we got a call from a Japanese promoter and did four shows in Tokyo. We want to continue doing it and fans wanted us to bring it to America.”

The roster of artists for whom Visconti has produced records reads like a “Who’s Who” of rock music — the Moody Blues, Sparks, Argent, Iggy Pop, Thin Lizzy, Rick Wakeman, Kristeen Young, Manic Street Preachers, Anti-Flag, Morrissey, the Kaiser Chiefs and many, many more.

Visconti has produced a number of albums for Bowie starting with “Space Oddity” in 1969. He produced Bowie’s final four studio albums — “Heathen” (2002), “Reality” (2003), “The Next Day” (2013) and “Blackstar,” which was released through Bowie’s ISO Records label last Friday.

“David and I were in the studio on and off throughout 2015,” said Visconti. “We made demos in the middle of 2014 and then were inactive for a few months. Then, he made some more demos in his home studio and we officially started making the album in January 2015.”

Recording of this album took place in secret at The Magic Shop and Human Worldwide Studios in New York. Bowie’s medical condition was also a top secret.

“When I wasn’t in the studio with David, I was I was playing shows with Holy Holy,” said Visconti. “I couldn’t breathe a word about being in the studio. The guys from Holy Holy would ask if I had seen David and I’d have to say — yeah, I just saw him not long ago and he’s doing fine.

“David told me (about his cancer) last January. He said — can we have a little meeting? He sounded serious and I thought he was going to fire me.

“I went to see him and he was sitting in his office with a wool cap on. I noticed he had no eyebrows so I knew something was wrong. Then, he took off his hat and he was bald from chemotherapy. I broke out in tears.

“I thought he was going to beat it. And, he thought he was going to beat it. I’ve had a number of friends with cancer and most of them had beaten it — like Annie Haslam who beat breast cancer.

“David was getting chemo during the sessions but his energy was spectacular. He insisted to keep it secret — and to keep the making of the album secret. He told me it was terminal but I didn’t think it would be that quick.”

The album is stunning. And, the new video “Lazarus,” which was just released this week, can send chills up and down your spine — especially the opening line of “Look up here, I’m in heaven.”

“That was kind of a farewell song,” said Visconti. “Six or seven months ago when I read the lyrics of ‘Lazarus’, I said to him — what are you up to here? He just winked. He was writing about dying.

“Because he used metaphor so much in his writing, I wasn’t sure it was about him. Now, if you read all the lyrics, it was contingent on his death. Still, just 10 days ago, he told me he wanted to start working on his next album. His death — like his life — was a work of art.”

Bowie will live on through the volumes of great work he has produced — as a musician, an artist, an actor and a trendsetter. His music will always live on — especially with bands like Holy Holy around to keep it going.

“We’re not a tribute band — we’re the original musicians,” said Visconti. “David never saw Holy Holy play live. But, I showed him a good video of one of our shows and he loved it. He loved the way we sounded and said that he wished we had stayed together when we made ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ album.

“In our show, we play the entire ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ album in the first set. Then, I talk a little bit about the album and the music. Then, we play another set of Bowie’s music from that era — songs such as ‘Five Years,’ ‘Changes’ and ‘Ziggy Stardust.’ We do about 25 songs altogether.”

Video link for Holy Holy — https://youtu.be/0bge0HZy_Us.

Video link for David Bowie’s “Lazarus” — https://youtu.be/y-JqH1M4Ya8.

The show Friday night at the Colonial Theatre will start at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25-$42.50. The show at the Chameleon on January 20 will start at 7 p.m. with tickets priced at $20 and $23.

“Once” was a huge success when it made its Philadelphia debut in the fall of 2013 with a two-week sold-out run at the Academy of Music.

For fans of “Once,” once was not enough. The Grammy-winning musical returns to Philly this weekend for a three-day, five-show run from January 15-17 at the Academy of Music (Broad and Locust streets, Philadelphia, 215-731-3333, www.kimmelcenter.org) as part of the Kimmel Center’s “Broadway Philadelphia” series.

The main characters are a busker from Dublin who is identified only as “Guy” and de Waal’s character, a young woman from the Czech Republic identified only as “Girl.”

The show opened on Broadway in February 2012. It received 11 Tony Award nominations and won eight — including Best Musical. It also won the Drama League Award for Distinguished Production of a Musical for the 2011-12 season. “Once” also was the winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.

“Once” features an ensemble of actor/musicians who play their own instruments onstage. It tells the tale of a Dublin street musician who is about to give up on his dream and the chemistry that takes place when a beautiful young woman takes a sudden interest in his haunting love songs.

Over the course of a concentrated one-week time period, their unexpected friendship and collaboration evolves into a powerful but complicated romance that is intensified by the raw emotion of the songs they create together. 

One of the most versatile actresses in the cast is Julia Hoffman. She is the understudy for the three main female roles — Girl, Ex-Girlfriend and Réza.

 “I just graduated from Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia with a B.F.A. in acting and this is my first tour,” said Hoffman, during a recent phone interview.

“We started rehearsal tech at the beginning of December here in New York on 42^nd Street,” The First National Tour just ended and this is the Second National Tour. We’ll be out on tour for the next six months.”

Hoffman’s roots are in Pennsylvania. She graduated from Mechanicsburg High in 2011 and spent several summers acting at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in Manheim. And, her mom lives in Lansdowne in Delaware County.

“I studied piano when I was really young and then studied violin,” said Hoffman. Music was a big part of my life. Then, I started acting in high school and changed course. I saw the original Broadway production of ‘Once’ in 2012.

“One of the things I like about this show is that they use actual musicians, which is what I do. I was really attracted to that. I love when I play piano and violin. I get to do both because I’m the female swing for Girl, Ex-Girlfriend and Réza.”

The three characters are very different and all three appeal to Hoffman.

“I don’t have a favorite,” said Hoffman, who had to learn both an Irish and a Czech accent. “The Irish accent is coming easily. The Czech accent is more difficult.

“I’m happy to be a swing for all three incredible parts. Girl carries the show — and she gets to play piano. Réza is so fun — and the biggest challenge because she’s so feisty and alive. Ex-Girlfriend is the most comfortable.

“I’d like to do the show one day and have a set role but I love the challenge. I feel that after doing this so early in my career will be a great experience.

“Audiences like ‘Once’ because it’s relatable to every single person in one way or another. And, it’s so cool watching actual music being played onstage. The musicians dance with their instruments. It’s really magical. It has a very melancholy ending. I think it’s hopeful.”

Video link for “Once” — https://youtu.be/Zhymw3B2yv0.

Performances are scheduled for January 15 at 8 p.m., January 16 at 2 and 8 p.m. and January 17 at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Tickets range in price from $50-$110.

The Kimmel Center will be hosting another show this weekend when it presents three performances of “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE!” on January 15 and 16 at the Merriam Theater (250 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org).

“Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE!” is based on the television show, “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” produced by The Fred Rogers Company. This live theatrical production filled with singing, dancing and laughter carries on the legacy of “Mister Rogers Neighborhood.”

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood builds on the pioneering PBS show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. This new series, for a new generation of children, tells its engaging stories about the life of a preschooler using musical strategies grounded in Fred Rogers’ landmark social-emotional curriculum. Through imagination, creativity and music, Daniel and his friends learn the key social skills necessary for school and for life.

Now, Daniel and all of his friends are hopping aboard the trolley to delight live audiences. Wearing his familiar red sweater, Daniel takes the audience on an interactive musical adventure as he and his friends explore the vibrant world of their much-loved Neighborhood.

“We’re in rehearsals — in tech — right now,” said the show’s director/choreographer Jen Rapp, during a phone interview a few weeks ago. “We open in Wilkes-Barre on January 13 and then come to Philadelphia. We’re scheduled to tour until June and then we’ll go out again in the fall.

“This is the first time we’ve ever done a tour based on a Fred Rogers Company show. Mills Entertainment contacted the Fred Rogers Company to do a musical. We’ve been developing the show together for a couple years.

“The story is based on an episode from the television show — the ‘Neighbor Day’ episode. The TV show was about 23 minutes and we’ve made it into an hour-long stage show. The theme is ‘helping your neighbor.’ There are recognizable songs from the TV show and some originals.

“The hardest part of taking a cartoon live is making music at the right part and keeping the energy up. The challenge is keeping the momentum for an hour-long show and going from one high-energy event to the next. Kids respond to music so there are a lot of songs.

“What’s exciting for us is being able to take advantage of the opportunity to introduce kids to the live theater experience. It’s also exciting to give them the experience at being at a show with other kids rather than just at home in front of their televisions.

“We send characters into the audience. We have question-and-answer segments. And, there are interactive dance moments. It’s like a rock concert with a kiddie mosh pit and 36 songs. The show is aimed at kids in the four-to-seven age range. It’s definitely high energy — bouncing around one moment to the next.”

Video link for “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE!” — https://youtu.be/27AY2r-kAkY.

The show at the Merriam will be presented at 6:30 p.m. on January 15 and at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Ticket prices range from $20-$37.

Another show in Philadelphia on January 15 will feature one of the most promising new acts in the dance-pop scene when the Foundry (Fillmore Philadelphia, 1100 Canal Street, Philadelphia, 215-309-0150, www.thefillmorephilly.com) presents Cardiknox.

Based now in Los Angeles, Cardiknox is a duo featuring Lonnie Angle and Thomas Dutton. They originally got together in their hometown of Seattle and then later relocated to Brooklyn before moving back to the West Coast.

“Lonnie and I went to the same college — the University of Washington-Seattle — and met there,” said Dutton, during a phone interview last week. “I had been in rock bands as a kid. I wanted to make a rock opera-type album. I wanted to take it to the next level — to take it to the stage. Lonnie and I were re-introduced by a friend. She had a theater background and that was what I was looking for.”

Angle said, “A friend told me about this musician who wanted to do a theater piece. We started working together and then moved from Seattle to New York.”

Dutton said, “We went to New York to work on developing a show. We developed a cabaret-style performance. We took a piece I had been working on, consolidated characters and added new characters. It got to a stage to rehearse a new version of the show. People were interested in developing it. But, we got burned out.”

Angle said, “We were getting really burned out. So, we decided to make some 80’s-style pop music. And, then we moved to L.A. a year ago. We had such a love affair with New York City. We wouldn’t have left if we didn’t have to.”

So, the duo moved back to the other coast — to the bright sunshine of Southern California. Their debut album “Portrait” will be released early this year on Warner Bros. Records. The album, which was produced by Grammy Award-winning producer John Shanks, has a dozen tracks filled with heavy beats, tasty sonic exploration and powerful vocals.

“We recorded the album in L.A. before we even moved here,” said Dutton. “We really wanted to stay in New York but it made more sense to be here. ‘Portrait’ will be officially released on March 11 but pre-ordering opens up on January 15.

“With Lonnie and me, the writing is pretty collaborative. Sometimes, we start with a cool beat or a cool hook that Lonnie will come up with. I’m more focused with the music and Lonnie with the hook and melody. The core message of the song is the driving force. The first question is — what is the song about?”

Angle said, “We spent six months writing and recording the album. We started in late 2014 and finished in early 2015. We made the album with John Shanks at Henson Studios in L.A.

“John is an amazing man. We were in the studio seven days a week working with him. John is a gear head. He has a massive guitar collection. We used both analog and digital when we were recording the album.

While so much of dance-pop music is highly derivative — copy-cat songs abound in the genre — Cardiknox makes dance-pop music that is original and very refreshing.

“We try to be pretty conscious of not listening to modern music,” said Dutton. “We listened more to 80’s music. We wanted the music to feel really genuine and honest — and to not follow trends.”

Video link for Cardiknox — https://youtu.be/gW5kanfalcU

The show at the Foundry, which also features The Knocks and Sofi Tukker, will start at 11:59 p.m. Tickets are $15.

Other upcoming shows at the Fillmore and the Foundry are Rachel Brathen (Jan 14), Questlove Supreme (Jan 17) and G-Eazy (Jan 19 and 20).

Somehow, Fireships and The Fire seemed destined for each other. On January 15, The Fire (412 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, 267-671-9298, thefirephilly.com) will present a concert featuring Fireships.

Fireships is the new band from Honey Brothers founder and New York City indie veteran Andrew Vladeck. The band released its self-titled debut back in April on End Up Records. The 13-song album features a blend of indie-folk and Americana with some West African influences.

“I’ve been writing a lot,” said Vladeck, during a recent phone interview. “All of the songs had more of a cohesive nature than ever before. As I was fleshing them out, I had friends over to my parents’ house in the Hudson Valley.

“After living in Brooklyn for awhile, I was living there for the winter of 2012. Living in New York with so many musicians around, it was easy to find people to work with. They were all musicians from Brooklyn who came up to the house.

“Then, I went back to Brooklyn to live and to make the record. I recorded the album here in Brooklyn because this was where my world was and the musicians were here. Initially, it was just me. Then, I pulled Paul Loren in to produce it and play on it. We got Chris Buckridge on bass, Jason Lawrence on drums and Lauren Balthrop on vocals and keyboards. The five of us have been the nucleus all along.”

Slowly but surely, Vladeck and his mates put the album together.

“We finished recording it in 2013,” said Vladeck.  “It took a long time to make. We probably tracked the record over a course of four months and spent longer than that mixing it. Everyone is involved in other projects too so it was hard getting everyone together.

“Fortunately, I’ve made enough stars align so that we’re able to come together and tour. Our first tour was last spring when we did 16 dates. This one is about the same length. Then, Dan and I are going to play some dates on the West Coast. After that, I’m going to Europe for some solo dates in May.”

Going from solo to band format was easier than Vladeck expected.

“I write on finger-style guitar which works as a solo element with bass strings and melodies,” said Vladeck. “I was surprised when I saw the direction the band members could go in. They were able to keep the finger-picking element with things around it.

“Everything went smoothly. Paul and I had a lot of ideas that we worked up. We even had time to experiment. The record took longer than expected but it was worth it.

“With the live show, we’re working off a great record. I don’t expect the talented people I’m working with to stay with the recorded version. The parts lock together really well live because everyone is playing with each other in real time.”

Video link for Fireships — https://youtu.be/Co83LnNoYS8?list=PLnauEbqt-tA3fIqXtlblO4Ojd2oRFyWMQ.

The show at The Fire, which also features Jack Romanov, Disgruntled Sherpa Project and Readership, will get underway at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8.

Other upcoming shows at The Fire are Theodore Grams, Badland Breez, Mir Fontane, Dave Amigo, Journell Pierre, Harvey Cash, Eddie Madrid (Jan 14); Diff’rent Folks, 32 Pints, Minor Setbacks, Larry Nodder  (Jan 16, 5 p.m.); Beards and Whiskey, Kingsnake, Bourbon and Steel, Double Planet (Jan 16, 8:30 p.m.); DUVV, Eric Boss, Svvje, Native Kid, Destiny X, JAYDOT, Cloud Atrium (Jan 19) and In Different Sounds, Tapes & Tubes, Falang, Jakki Roberts (Jan 20).

When Toothgrinder performs on January 14 at The Voltage Lounge (421 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia, 215- 964-9602, www.facebook.com/Voltagelounge), fans know to expect an onslaught of music that is totally aggressive in nature.

The young band hails from Asbury Park, New Jersey — a region known for blue-collar rockers such as Bruce Springsteen and Southside Johnny. But, there is little similarity between the music of those artists and what is being served up by Toothgrinder.

Toothgrinder, a band that has been described as metal, hardcore and progressive metal, features Wills Weller (drums), Justin Matthews (vocals), Jason Goss (guitar) and Matt Arensdorf (bass, vocals).

 “I wasn’t really into metal growing up,” said Weller, during a recent phone interview as the band travelled to Michigan to start the tour. “My dad is a guitar player. My parents were encouraging about music and art. There was a lot of music in our home — from the Grateful Dead to the Descendants.

“The other dudes in our band have other musical backgrounds. Altogether, it comes out more aggressive. It’s an aggressive style — but it has a lot of emotion to it. Hopefully, each song makes you feel something.”

Toothgrinder traces its root back eight years when the members were in school together.

“We started in 2008 when we were going to Wall High School,” said Weller. “But, we really started taking it seriously in 2012. With regard to management and a record label, things got better from 2014 on.”

Toothgrinder won Best Heavy Rock Band (2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013) and Best Drummer (2011, 2013) in the Asbury Park Music Awards. In July 2011, the band released its first official EP called “Turning of the Tides.” In December 2012, Toothgrinder released its second record titled “Vibration/Colour/Frequency.”

Now, Toothgrinder is set to release its new album “Nocturnal Masquerade” on January 29 via Spinefarm Records. The record will include all five tracks from the band’s most recent EP titled “Schizophrenic Jubilee.”

“Everyone in the band writes and has a big part in constructing each song,” said Weller. “We had a couple D.I.Y. records. Right before this, Spinefarm put out the EP (“Schizophrenic Jubilee”). The new album, which comes out later this month, is our first full-length. It’s really exciting.

“We recorded ‘Nocturnal Masquerade’ in May. We spent the whole month of May in the studio. It was cool to have that much time to spend on making the album because we got the record we wanted to make.

“We did it at Taylor Larson’s studio in Bethesda, Maryland. The songs were all written before that but we still went in with an open mind. We try to make every song its own little universe.”

Video link for Toothgrinder — https://youtu.be/vuEIqN-c7_k

The show on January 14 is a heavy music marathon that starts at 5 p.m. and features Toothgrinder, Ghost Key, Breaking Falls, Proletariat, Polarity, The Blessing of This Curse and Sovereign Kings. Tickets for the all-ages show are $10.

It’s been almost a full decade since West Chester’s Braham Crane put together his company called A.S.H. (which stands for “Artists.Simply.Human”).

A.S.H. made its area debut in 2004 with a pair of shows at the Painted Bride Art Center. In 2006, Crane brought his company back to Philly for a show at the prestigious Annenberg Center venue on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.

Over the years, A.S.H. has developed into one of the most respected modern dance companies in America. It also changed its punctuation and became simply ASH. The 2015-2016 tour season for ASH began in October in Orlando and will conclude in May in Miami.

Some of the stops along the way are Denver, Santa Clara, Detroit, Toronto, Nashville, Houston, Chicago, Seattle, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. The local event will take place this weekend at Loew’s Philadelphia Hotel (1200 Market Street, Philadelphia).

“It’s a dance education type event,” said Crane, whose mother Joyce Crane ran Crane Performing Arts in West Chester for more than 25 years before recently closing shop. “It’s not like dance competition events.

“This year, we’re going to 20 different cities and then we’ll finish at Nationals in Orlando this summer. We have 13 different faculty members who are tops in the industry. They all travel to different cities.

“In Philly, it will be a three-day event with 100 companies and around 1,000 dancers. There will be two performance showcases with about 200 numbers over the two shows and a closing show on Sunday with the best numbers from the performance showcases along with faculty performances.

“All the shows are free and open to the public. And, all the showcases will be broadcast live via the internet.”

Video link for ASH Productions — https://youtu.be/PMFkLBwZgz4.

The event will run from noon on January 15 until 3 p.m. on January 17. The final activity will be the Collaboration Class performances on Sunday at 1:45 p.m. For more information on activities and schedules, call 855-ASH-Dance (855-274-3262) or visit https://ashdance.com.

Many bands put all their energy into playing original material and scoff at groups that are cover bands (unless they are really talented tribute acts).

Kristen and the Noise, on the other hand, has embraced being a cover band. And, its legion of fans has embraced the hard-working veteran foursome.

The band is based in the Delaware Valley but only plays a limited amount of shows in this area each year. Kristen and the Noise’s fans will have the opportunity to hear the band play locally when the Vault at the Valley Forge Casino (1160 First Avenue, King of Prussia, 610-354-8118, www.vfcasino.com) hosts the rocking quartet on January 16.

“We started the band at the end of 2002,” said Kristen, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from her home in Delaware County. “Since then, the various Kristen and the Noise members have cycled out. After a few years, they all left to have normal lives — except the drummer Chris Bones.

“We’ve had the same guitarist/keyboardist and bass player for 10-11 years. Chris Bones left the band about four years ago but now he’s coming back. The show this weekend will be his first in more than four years. It will be great to have him back.

“We do all covers. There’s always an intention to do original stuff but we got comfortable with doing covers. The guys all have other jobs and children. So, finding time to write hasn’t been a main priority. We’ve thought about starting to do some originals but it hasn’t happened yet.”

If a band is as good as Kristen and the Noise is at performing cover songs, there is no reason for it to look for any other path to travel.

“We cover so many different styles,” said Kristen. “Sometimes, it’s heavier on songs for dancing. Sometimes, it’s more rock. Sometimes, it’s more Motown for weddings. With weddings and clubs, they want danceable sings. They want to hear songs they’re familiar with.

“We have well over 400 songs in our repertoire. We usually do three sets so we might play 40-50 of them a night.  Some of the songs are appropriate for weddings that aren’t appropriate for clubs and vice versa.

“Even though we’ve been playing together for a long time, we’ve never made a CD. We’ve thought about doing a live CD but the stars haven’t aligned. We have posted videos of our promotional stuff on YouTube.”

Video link for Kristen and the Noise — https://youtu.be/bcvfQLp3Bs8.

Kristen and the Noise is obviously a live band and not a slick recording act. If you want to hear the band in its natural environment, head to King of Prussia this Saturday night. The show at Valley Forge Casino will start at 9 p.m.

Brooklyn-based electronic rock music trio Savoy released its latest EP “1000 Years” in December and has just embarked on a national 16-date headlining tour.”The 1000 Light Years Tour” will make a local stop on January 16 with a show at Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215-232-2100, www.utphilly.com).

The three members of Savoy — producer Gray Smith, guitarist Ben Eberdt and drummer Mike Kelly — were serious enough about their music career that they abandoned the clean mountain air and friendly atmosphere of Boulder, Colorado to move to Brooklyn, New York.

“We lived in Boulder for six years and it was awesome,” said Kelly, during a phone interview last week from a tour stop in Orlando. “There is a really good music scene there.

“We pride ourselves on doing things our way. Boulder was a challenge because there were a lot of great things going on. But, New York is a special spot. We get inspired by different things.”

Savoy is a live electronic rock threesome with a style that fuses together the classic sound of rock-and-roll, techno, dance, and bass music. The end result is a genre they created known as ERM (Electronic Rock Music).

 “We met when we were all students at the University of Colorado in Boulder,” said Kelly. “We were there for the music culture. We found we were very close in our tastes for musical styles. By the start of our sophomore year, we were a rock band.

“Then, we started playing around with Ableton (Ableton Live is a software music sequencer and digital audio workstation). We started incorporating pads and triggers into our sound and began using a MIDI keyboard.

“We saw Daft Punk play at Red Rocks (Amphitheater) and said — we want to do that. We were a live rock band that was the first band in our area to go electronic. We did get some backlash like Dylan got when he first went electric.

“We’re a dance act with rock instrumentation. It offers the best of both worlds — a rock band with huge bass drops and hands-up dance rave mentality.”

The trio has not only been groundbreaking with its music, it has also been groundbreaking with its visuals.

Savoy’s signature laser light show, which in 2015 was voted the Number One live laser show in the country by ILDA (International Laser Display Association), creates an immersive multi-sensory experience that perfectly complements the trio’s  high intensity musical performance.

“We travel with a team that handles sound, light and laser operation,” said Kelly. “The laser thing wasn’t used in the DJ scene but we were familiar with it — especially from European groups.

“They’re minimalists and we try to incorporate that at times. When the drops get crazier, the lasers get crazier and crazier. By the end, it’s off the wall.”

Video link for Savoy — https://youtu.be/Nu8CdHCSDsE.

The all-ages show at Union Transfer, which also features Crywolf and Mr. Sampson, will start at9 p.m. Tickets are priced at $18.

It’s been awhile since Halcyon Way played Philadelphia but that will change next week.

On January 20, the five-piece metal band from Atlanta — Steve Braun (Vocals), Jon Bodan (Lead Guitars, Backing Vocals, Death Vocals), Ernie Topran (Drums), Max Eve (Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals), Skyler Moore (Bass Guitar, Death Vocals) — will return for a show with Queensrhyche at the Theatre of the Living Arts (334 South Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1011, http://www.lnphilly.com).

“It was back in 2001 when I started the band in Atlanta,” said Bodan, during a recent phone interview from a tour stop at the House of Blues in Disneyland (Anaheim, California).

“I’m the only original member left but everybody in the band has been around since at least 2013. Before that, it was a four-piece. It’s alternated between a four-piece and a five-piece over the year — with and without a second guitar player.

“All the members live in Atlanta except our singer Steve who lives in Nashville. When I first put the band together, krunk was really popular in Atlanta. But, I’ve been listening to metal ever since I was really young.

“Queensryche’s ‘Operation: Mindcrime’ was one of the first albums I bought as a kid. It’s still one of my all-time favorites. So, for us to be out on tour with Queensrhyche is really exciting.”

The band will be returning to the studio this spring to record a new album to follow-up their Billboard-charting fourth album, “Conquer.” Halcyon Way has recorded four albums since 2008 — all on Nightmare Records.

“When we get back from this tour, we’re going to start working on the new album,” said Bodan. “We usually start with about 15 songs. They’ve got to be heavy and have a good groove. But, it also has to have a great hook. If it doesn’t have a great hook, we’ll kill it.

“I still have five or six more songs to write. I do a ton of the writing but everyone in the band contributes to the final version. I’ll demo the stuff in the studio. The other guys write on the skeleton. Then, Steve drives down from Nashville to work on the vocals. I figure we’ll be really getting it done by around June.”

Halcyon Way is an ever-evolving metal band.

“I’d say we’re a modern metal band,” said Bodan. “We started as a prog-metal band and each album has gotten heavier. I can keep our music fresh because I don’t listen much to the genre we’re in.”

Video link for Halcyon Way — https://youtu.be/3uyfRpknspg

The show at the TLA, which also features Queensryche and Meytal Cohen, will get underway at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25.

The Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) will host Better Than Bacon on January 14, The Collingwood and Mark Thousands on January 15, Sounds of Society – Chicago Tribute Band on January 16 and Open Mic with guest host Michael Melton on January 17.

The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com) will host Michael Labella and Judah Kimn on January 15, The Holts on January 16 and The Rent-A-Cops and White Limo on January 16.

Chaplin’s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110, http://chaplinslive.com) will have The Russian White, Pansy, Infinity and Impure Reality (Jan 15), Future Stars Showcase with Audra McLauglin, Whatever and Vincent James (Jan 16) and Awaking Mercury, Stargazer, Flyermile and Amora (Jan 17).

The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389, www.ardmoremusic.com) will present Ozomatli and People’s Blues Of Richmond (Jan 14); John Kadlecik (of Furthur): Solo Acousti’Lectric + Friends with Jam Stampede (Jan 15), Music For The Arts Benefit with High Kick, The Griz Band, Droppin Deuce, The TC Cole Riot and Next Wednesday (Jan 16) and Broken Arrow (Neil Young Tribute) with Tonebenders (Jan 17).

Burlap & Bean Coffeehouse (204 South Newtown Street Road, Newtown Square, 484-427-4547, www.burlapandbean.com) will present Rootology and Rivers on January 15 and Unsung Trio on January 16.

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com) will present Tom Chapin on January 14, Bruce in the USA on January 15, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies on January 16, Peter Asher & Albert Lee on January 17 and Collabro on January 20.

The Grand Opera House (818 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-652-5577, www.thegrandwilmington.org) will present The Musical Box on January 17 with a live re-creation of Genesis’ “Foxtrot” album.

World Café Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, philly.worldcafelive.com)

On January 15, Ars Nova Workshop will present a show at the Boot and Saddle (1131 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215-639-4528, www.bootandsaddlephilly.com) featuring three experimental music icons performing together — guitarist Nels Cline, drummer Gerald Cleaver, and saxophonist Larry Ochs. The show will also have the Nick Mazzarella Trio featuring Nick Mazzarella (alto saxophone), Anton Hatwich (bass) and Frank Rosaly (drums).