By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Steve Forbert
Steve Forbert, a singer-songwriter whose career spans decades, is no stranger to Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org).
He played there before the pandemic and after the pandemic. Forbert even had a Flash date during the pandemic as part of the Flash’s “Rooftop Series,” a series of outdoor, safely spaced concerts atop a nearby parking garage.
Now, Forbert is returning to the venue in southern Chester County for a show an April 11 – and he’s bringing a new album with him.
Forbert released his 21st album, “Daylight Savings Time,” in November on Blue Rose Music. It was his fourth album in the last six years on the label.
“We released the album last fall,” said Forbert, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from his home in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
“We recorded the album last year here in Asbury Park. It was produced by Steve Greenwell, and we used his studio. I did the last two albums before this there.
“The songs are all recent. Before it was recorded, I hadn’t performed any of them live.
“My current set has about half the songs from ‘Daylight Savings Time’ and the rest is songs from previous albums. The rest is what people want to hear – songs like ‘What Kinda Guy,’ ‘Romeo’s Tune’ and ‘Going Down to Laurel.’”
In 1984, Forbert had a disagreement with his record company Nemperor and contractual issues prevented him from recording for a number of years afterwards.
His 1988 album, “Streets of This Town,” and the 1992 follow-up, “The American in Me,” were released by Geffen Records and both received significant airplay.
Over the next two decades, Forbert released 11 albums on seven labels before settling down with Blue Rose Music.
“We recorded 10 songs for the new album. The last one, ‘Dixie Miles,’ I wrote as we were finishing the album.”
Written as he approached his 70th birthday, “Daylight Savings Time” contemplates and celebrates the proverbial “extra hour of daylight” that comes with the time change.
“The links between the songs – a lot of nature appreciation,” said Forbert.
“Daylight Savings Time is that extra hour of daylight. It’s similar to late middle age.”
On the album’s first single, “Sound Existence,” Forbert sings, “Yeah to chirping crickets and to daylight savings time! The best ain’t yet to come, but you could still get by just fine.”
Over the years, Forbert has been involved in political activism and that spirit is still alive.
“I just finished a brand-new single called “Ebeneezer’s back in Town,’,” said Forbert. “It will be played for the first time live this Friday in Kennett Square.
“My show at the Flash will be just a duo – Rob Clores on keyboards and accordion and me. Rob is a fabulous musician. He played on all of my last three albums.
“Writing is something I do all the time. I always go on inspiration. I don’t want to take a break. It’s always there. It’s my job.
“What I do is more about songs. I just do what I’ve always done. Lyrics — and topics — move with me through life. I don’t pay attention to fads.”
Video link for Steve Forbert – https://youtu.be/wTze13syk7s.
The show at Kennett Flash on April 11 will start at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $40.
Other upcoming shows at Kennett Flash are Superunknown on April 12 and Open Mic Night with Hobo Houston on April 13.
The Candlelight Theatre (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware, 302- 475-2313, candlelighttheatredelaware.org) has a heartfelt musical as its latest production that is not very well known — “Bright Star.”
“Bright Star” is a musical written and composed by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell. It is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina in 1945–46 with flashbacks to 1923. The musical is inspired by their Grammy-winning collaboration on the 2013 bluegrass album “Love Has Come for You” and, in turn, the folk tale of the “Iron Mountain Baby.”The show began previews at the Cort Theatre on Broadway on February 25, 2016, before officially opening on March 24.
“Bright Star” is the story of one woman at two different points in her life: the first, when she is a wild young thing growing up barefoot and carefree in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina; the second, when she is a well-to-do magazine editor in Asheville, 22 years later.
Her story is inevitably woven with that of an idealistic young man named Billy, with whom she shares a mysterious connection.
As a young teen in Zebulon, North Carolina, Alice Murphy is hopelessly in love with small town heartthrob Jimmy Ray, the mayor’s son. Although their love was pure, it falls victim to the interference of ambitious parents, and their infant son is whisked away before their happy ending could ever begin.
More than two decades later, Alice is the successful editor of The Asheville Southern Journal, and meets a promising young writer named Billy.
Eventually they realize that they share a hometown, and when Alice sees the handmade sweater she knitted for her baby 20 years before in his personal belongings, she realizes that he is the son she lost so long ago.
Their happiness is compounded at the end of the story with a Shakespeare-esque double wedding.
“Bright Star” is billed as “an uplifting theatrical journey that holds you tightly in its grasp – as refreshingly genuine as it is daringly hopeful.”
The cast at the Candlelight features Victoria Healy (Alice Murphy), Jimmy Ray Dobbs (Max Redman), Billy Cail (Galen Graham), Paul Weagraff (Mayor Dobbs) Madison Luckey (Margo Crawford) and Anthony Connell (Daryl Ames).
“I actually did this show in 2019 at the University of New Hampshire,” said Graham, during a phone interview Tuesday night from his apartment in Center City Philadelphia.
“I hadn’t heard of it before that. The end – the ending caught me by surprise. I also didn’t know how much of a banjo guy Steve Martin was.”
Graham is a Boston native who found his way to Philly a few years ago.
“After I graduated, I came to Philadelphia to be an apprentice at the Walnut Street Theatre,” said Graham.
Graham did a few shows there including ‘Beautiful,’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ and “Escape to Margaritaville.”
Ironically, “Escape to Margaritaville” will be the Candlelight’s next production after the theater closes for six weeks of renovation. It will run from July 12-August 24.
“‘Bright Star’ is a show that hits you with how deep it is – how really personal it is,” said Graham.
“I’m a young guy all the way. My character Billy gets back from the war. He just keeps writing – trying to get his work published.
“Then, things are different 20 years later. Alice finds out that Billy is her son. When he finds out, he takes off. It’s a full month until he comes back.
“Then, there is a happy ending. It’s so cool the way things work out. It’s a story about a woman who loves something dearly and rediscovers it later in life.”
Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings (8 p.m.), Sunday afternoons (3 p.m.) and Wednesdays (11 a.m.)
Tickets, which include dinner and show, are $73.50 for adults and $35 for children (ages 4-12).
This week, get two tickets for $99 to see this heartwarming story when you use CODE:BRIGHT99.
Video link for “Bright Star” — https://youtu.be/z619PUgnc8w.
“Bright Star” will run through April 19.
The Candlelight Theatre will host the latest installment of its Comedy Club on April 17 with Jay Black and Leigh Ann Lord as co-headliners and Justin Gonzalez as the MC.
The theater will also host “Candlelight Quizzo” on April 14. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and there is a $5 cover.
Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985,www.jameyshouseofmusic.com) will start this week’s events with The Fabulous Dueling Pianos on April 10.
Showtime is 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $20 at the door.
On April 11, Jamey’s will host The Nick Moss Band with Dennis Gruenling.
With their third Alligator Records album, “Get Your Back Into It!,” Chicago native, guitarist and vocalist Nick Moss and New Jersey native, harmonica player and vocalist Dennis Gruenling – together with Rodrigo Mantovani on bass, Taylor Streiff on keyboards and Pierce Downer on drums – deliver a deeply rooted, timeless blue-collar blues album.
According to Moss, “We are a rare breed as far as how authentic we like to keep the music.”
That’s not a surprise to longtime fans, as Moss proudly represents the city of Chicago as one of the few bluesmen working today to have learned his craft firsthand directly from many of the genre’s original creators.
Moss first made a name for himself playing bass for bluesman Jimmy “Fast Fingers” Dawkins. Dawkins encouraged Nick to unleash his fire and passion. From there, Moss was chosen by Willie “Big Eyes” Smith to join his Legendary Blues Band, but Smith insisted Moss switch to guitar.
Blues icon Jimmy Rogers (whose best-known songs included Walking By Myself and Ludella) hired Moss as his touring guitarist, mentoring him on the blues lifestyle along the way.
Today, Moss’ blistering fretwork, impassioned, soul-charged vocals and memorable original songs place him in a league of his own.
Gruenling, Moss’ friend of over 20 years, is considered among today’s most innovative and creative blues harmonica players. His high-energy, full-throttle reed work has earned him comparisons to many of the greats, including the late James Cotton.
Gruenling, Moss’ friend of over 20 years, is considered among today’s most innovative and creative blues harmonica players. His high-energy, full-throttle reed work has earned him comparisons to many of the greats, including the late James Cotton.
A self-taught player and a natural entertainer with seven solo albums and numerous guest appearances to his credit, Gruenling’s giant, fat-toned harp work, raw-boned singing and untamed energy are a perfect foil for Moss’ inspired guitar playing and straight-from-the-shoulder blues vocals.
Moss, Gruenling and the band received a total of five Blues Music Awards, with wins in 2020 for Band Of The Year, Song Of The Year (Lucky Guy) and Traditional Blues Album Of The Year (Lucky Guy!), and in 2019 for Traditional Blues Male Artist (Moss) and Instrumentalist—Harmonica (Gruenling).
Video link for the Nick Moss Band – https://youtu.be/dAm_5nhk9Fw.
The show on April 11 will start at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Pay-per-view tickets are $15.
The show on April 12 will feature slim and the Boogaloo Bandits with Kyle Rowland.
The show on Saturday will start at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Pay-per-view tickets are $15.
The Sunday Blues Brunch & Jam with the Girke-Davis Project will start at 1 p.m. on April 13.
The open mic jam runs from 1-3 p.m. with the host band laying down a set from noon-1 p.m. to get things rolling and then supporting guest jammers as needed.
The show features free admission.
Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org) will present High Noon on April 12.
Elkton Music Hall (107 North Street, Elkton, Maryland, www.elktonmusichall.com) will host Yarn on April 11 and Richard Thompson on April 12.
Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, www.ardmoremusic.com) will have Modern Bliss on April 12, Etana on April 13, Buckethead on April 15 and Flock of Seagulls on April 16.
The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com) will have Yacht Lobsters on April 10, Nektar on April 11, David Cook on April 12, California Guitar Trio and Kaki King on April 15 and Duane Betts on April 15.
