{"id":17200,"date":"2015-09-24T10:00:34","date_gmt":"2015-09-24T14:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=17200"},"modified":"2015-09-24T09:59:02","modified_gmt":"2015-09-24T13:59:02","slug":"on-stage-pope-francis-visit-shakes-up-concert-schedules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=17200","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Pope Francis’ visit shakes up concert schedules"},"content":{"rendered":"

But shows still happening, including Ghost, Fidlar and more<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By Denny Dyroff<\/span>,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Staff Writer, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"papa-francesco\"<\/a>

With Pope Francis’ historic visit to Philadelphia, much of the local music and performance scene is seeking schedule changes.<\/p><\/div>\n

Back in the mid-1980s during MTV\u2019s heyday, \u201cFrankie Goes to Hollywood\u201d was a band that drew thousands of fans at every appearance. This weekend, \u201cFrankie Goes to Philadelphia\u201d will draw millions when it comes to this area.<\/span><\/p>\n

On September 26 and 27, Philadelphia will be inundated with visitors who have made a pilgrimage for the opportunity of being in the presence of Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pope Francis will be in Philadelphia on Saturday and Sunday to celebrate the final two days of a week of activities by the World Meeting of Families Congress, an event that was created by former Pope St. John Paul II in 1994 in Rome to explore the role family plays in society.<\/span><\/p>\n

This event means that normal life in Philadelphia will be suspended.<\/span><\/p>\n

Major highways into and out of Philadelphia are being closed. The Ben Franklin Bridge, a major bridge providing passage from the city to New Jersey, will be closed to vehicular traffic. Schools and universities are being closed. Rail service will be eliminated or severely restricted.<\/span><\/p>\n

The center city section of Philadelphia is being shut down\u00a0and residents have been told to move\u00a0their vehicles from restricted areas or risk having the vehicles being towed. The State of New Jersey is declaring a\u00a0State of Emergency. Pennsylvania is mobilizing the National Guard.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another side effect of the Papal visit will be the cancelling and rescheduling of many of the city\u2019s music events — especially acts who were set to play Philly clubs on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ghost, a Swedish quintet featuring \u201cPapa Emeritus III and his Nameless Ghouls,\u201d is one of those acts. According to its Facebook page, \u201cGhost records and performs pop hymns that glorify and glamorize the disgusting and sacrilegious.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"ghost\"<\/a>The doom metal band from Link\u00f6ping was slated to perform September 26 at Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215-232-2100, www.utphilly.com<\/span><\/a>). But, after assessing the situation, the band shifted its Philly show to September 29 at the same venue.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFrankie was bigger than Papa Emeritus III so we decided not to try to play in the city that weekend,\u201d said one of the Nameless Ghouls, during a trans-Atlantic phone interview last week from his home in Stockholm, Sweden.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere definitely were a few words back-and-forth. We offered to co-headline the show with the Pope but they wouldn\u2019t have it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In an official announcement, Ghost wrote, \u201cWe wish to inform you that due to Frankie’s visit next month in Philadelphia, we received a letter informing us that Ghost fans would not be able to use public transportation or park their cars next Union Transfer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn hopes to ensure that each and every Ghost fan can attend this show, we have decided to move the Philadelphia concert at Union Transfer to Tuesday, September 29th.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ghost will be in North America for its seven-week \u201cBlack to the Future Tour\u201d in support of its new album. \u201cMeliora,\u201d the third \u201csacred psalm from Ghost,\u201d has debuted in the Top 10 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart. Currently on the chart at No. 8, the album sold over 29,000 copies in its first week alone, marking one of the strongest metal debuts of the year.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn talking about the album\u2019s theme, the word we used was \u2018futuristuc\u2019,\u201d said the Nameless Ghoul. \u201cIt was supposed to have an air of futurism. Our last two albums were more Gothic — more looking back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBefore we went in the studio to make \u2018Meliora,\u2019 we spent a lot of time doing pre-production. We did a few sessions last summer. Since October 1, we\u2019ve been in one studio or another constantly. We finished recording in February and remixed it in March. Five months in the studio — it took a lot of time. The longest studio times were in Sweden and in L.A. We used six studio altogether. This record really cost a lot of money to make.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A lot of the album was made in Sweden with Klas \u00c5hlund as the producer. The album also marked the debut of the band\u2019s third lead singer — Papa Emeritus III. The band\u2019s original vocalist Papa Emeritus was with the group from 2008-2012 and Papa Emeritus II was the frontman from 2012 until last year.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPapa Emeritus III has been in the band for almost a year,\u201d said the Nameless Ghoul. \u201cHe was appointed to us this time last year. The band is two guitars, one keyboard, bass and drums — and a vocalist\/kazoo master.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Ghost — https:\/\/youtu.be\/6A-IoOEPbUs<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Union Transfer will get underway at 8 p.m. Tickets are $32.60.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"FIDLAR\"<\/a>You can beat the crowd to Philly and catch a show at Union Transfer tonight. The downtown venue will present a show featuring FIDLAR on September 24. It will be an all-ages show.<\/span><\/p>\n

FIDLAR, a skate punk band from L.A. featuring Zac Carper, Brandon Schwartzel, Elvis Kuehn and Max Kuehn, is touring in support of an album that is \u201chot off the presses.\u201d The band\u2019s new disc \u201cToo\u201d was released on September 4 on the Mom+Pop Music label.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded \u2018Too\u2019 last December,\u201d said Carper, during a phone interview last week from a tour stop in Denver. \u201cWe cut the album in Nashville. It was good to get out of L.A. — to get away from distractions. Plus, our producer Jay Joyce has a sick studio in Nashville called St. Charles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a guitar player so there are a lot of guitars there — a lot of amps and a lot of big speakers. We each had our own room and we made the album in 12 days. We recorded all the basic tracks live. There were some guitar overdubs but not many.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The album is FIDLAR\u2019s sophomore album. The debut LP was \u201cFIDLAR,\u201d which came out on Mom+Pop in 2013.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe first album was actually recorded in a more professional manner — scratch tracks and all,\u201d said Carper. \u201cThis one we wanted to do live. I wrote eight of the 12 songs. All were written right before we went in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur first record was so party band. It would have been easy for us to make a similar record and our fans would have loved it. But, I wanted to make a different record — a real record.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was trying to not drink or use any drugs so a lot of the songs were about dealing with emotional stuff. I had been really into speed and heroin and, a lot of times, drinking and drugs cover the emotions. This time, the emotions were right up front.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for FIDLAR — https:\/\/youtu.be\/YhZy3Srs5HU<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Union Transfer tonight will start at 8:30 p.m. with the opening act Dune Rats. Tickets are $15.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other shows at Union Transfer over the next week are Godspeed You! Black Emperor along with Xylouris White on September 28 and Twin Shadow and Lolawolf on September 30.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking to hear live music by national acts in Philadelphia this weekend, you\u2019re going to have to look really hard.<\/span><\/p>\n

The long list of venues that have opted not to have live shows includes the Electric Factory, Bourbon and Branch, The Voltage Lounge, Boot and Saddle, the Trocadero, the Tower Theater, MilkBoy Philly, Hard Rock Caf\u00e9,\u00a0<\/span>Melodies Caf\u00e9, PhilaMOCA, the Fire, the Tin Angel, North Star Bar, District N9ne, and the Theatre of the Living Arts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"wavves\"<\/a>

Waaves<\/p><\/div>\n

The Theatre of the Living Arts (334 South Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1011, http:\/\/www.lnphilly.com<\/span><\/a>) will have a hot show when Wavves takes the stage on September 30.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wavves was put together in 2008 in San Diego, California in 2008 by singer-songwriter Nathan Williams. The veteran noise pop band also features Alex Gates (guitar, backing vocals), Stephen Pope (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Brian Hill (drums).<\/span><\/p>\n

Inspired by their personal experiences with agoraphobia, sleepwalking, teeth grinding, time wasting, night terrors, toxic relationships, Web MD, and screwing up while trying to be better people, the members of Wavves ventured into more mature hopeful territory when making their fifth album \u201cV.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Featuring the previously released \u201cWay Too Much\u201d and \u201cFlamezesz\u201d, the 11-track album was recorded in Los Angeles with the help of Woody Jackson as producer. Jackson took the band\u2019s trademark distorted no-fi into crisper, even more visceral territory while still remaining true to the band\u2019s 90s-influenced roots.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRight after our last tour, we took time off from each other,\u201d said Gates, during a phone interview last week from his home in L.A. \u201cMe and Stephen and Nathan all came up with a bunch of demos. I write on guitar — or just in my head.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had 25 songs to choose from. We recorded live in the studio. The songs were all pretty fresh. Some were written just hours before the recording. We had a few months in the studio so we were pretty concerned with not overproducing the songs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were focusing on tone and texture more than tons of parts. Most of the songs came together pretty well. But, there were one or two that we struggled with. We used all the songs we recorded.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cV<\/i>\u201d officially hits stores October 2 via Ghost Ramp\/Warner Bros., and will be supported with a North American tour.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOn this tour, we\u2019ll be playing four or five tracks from the new record,\u201d said Gates. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to do some more from our first album (\u2018Wavves\u2019) — maybe three altogether. The rest is pretty evenly split between our last three records. The first single is \u2018Way Too Much.\u2019 The video for it is coming out in the next few weeks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Wavves — https:\/\/youtu.be\/gPdx7Il9DrM<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show, which also features Twin Peaks and Steep Leans, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $18.<\/span><\/p>\n

Johnny Brenda\u2019s (1201 North Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com<\/i><\/span><\/a>) will be open as normal during the Papal visit with El Ten Eleven and Sego on September 26 and Mikal Cronin, The Cairo Gang and The Tough Shits on September 27. The club will also have Superhumanoids, Rush Midnight and Bondage & Discipline on September 29.<\/span><\/p>\n

Festival Pier at Penn\u2019s Landing (601 North Columbus Boulevard at Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215- 629-3200, www.festivalpierphilly.com<\/span><\/a>) will brave the invasion of the pilgrims and host a show by alt-J, an indie rock band from Leeds, England, on September 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $37.50.<\/span><\/p>\n

Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, http:\/\/undergroundarts.org<\/span><\/a>) will be dark for a few days but will spring back to life with a power-packed show on September 30 featuring headliner Pentagram along with Satan\u2019s Satyrs, Electric Citizen and Righteous Bloom.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pentagram, like Ghost, is a doom metal band known for the darker elements in its music. The quartet features Bobby Liebling (vocals), Victor Griffin (guitar), Greg Turley (bass) and Pete Campbell (drums).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cThe band seems to be stabilized now but there have been a lot of changes over the years,\u201d said Griffin, during a recent phone interview from his home in Knoxville, Tennessee. \u201cThe band started back in the 1970s and Bobby is the only original member left.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pentagram had a large number of musicians pass through the band in the early days but had no recordings at the end of its first decade. In the early 1980s, the band moved up to a new level.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI started a band called Death Row here in Knoxville in 1981 and then moved up to D.C.,\u201d said Griffin. \u201cWe got Bobby to join as the lead singer. The band was Death Row until 1985 when the \u2018Pentagram\u2019 album came out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe early band\u2019s sound was cleaner and more psychedelic. By 1981, it was a heavier sound and the doom element came into play. It\u2019s been pretty much the same since 1981 outside tech things. My guitar tone is in the same frequency range as it was back then.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe current line-up has been the same since 2010 — except for Pete. We went through a couple drummers. Sean Saley was the drummer for a couple years right up until we started making the new album.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Pentagram\u2019s new album \u201cCurious Volume\u201d came out August 28 on Peaceville Records. It was recorded with Swedish producer Mattias Nilsson at studios located in Maryland and Virginia. Additional\u00a0recording took place in Tennessee with Grammy-nominated producer Travis Wyrick (who also produced Pentagram\u2019s previous album \u201cLast Rites.\u201d)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were actually in the studio and had laid down tracks with Sean on drums,\u201d said Griffin. \u201cWe had to go in and change the drum tracks. We recorded the drums and vocals at Mad Pie in Baltimore. We did the guitars at Lakeside Studio in Knoxville. Greg did his bass parts at his home studio in northern Virginia. It took us about six weeks to finish the recording. We finished it at the end of spring and it came out in August.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe share in the songwriting but I wrote about 75 per cent of the songs on \u2018Curious Volume.\u2019 There is still a lot of collaboration. And, Billy usually has a few songs that he contributes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have eight studio albums and a couple live albums. In our live shows, we try to include at least one song from every album. \u2018Sign of the Wolf,\u2019 \u2018Relentless\u2019 and \u2018Be Forewarned\u2019 are some of our \u2018must play\u2019 songs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Pentagram — https:\/\/youtu.be\/8elSgO3Sw9s<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The four-band show will get underway at 8 p.m. Tickets are priced at $20.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kung Fu Necktie (1250 N Front St, Philadelphia, 215-291-4919, www.kungfunecktie.com<\/span><\/a>) will have D.O.A. on September 25, Cruel Intentions on September 26, Blood Sound on September 27, Dead Flowers and The Go Set on September 28, The Extra Dark on September 29 and GGOOLLDD on September 30.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"dead<\/a>

Dead Flowers<\/p><\/div>\n

The show on September 28 will mark the Philadelphia debut of Dead Flowers, a band from Texas featuring Ed Chaney (Drums), Evan Winston Johnson (Bass), Vince Tuley (Guitar\/vocals) and Corey Howe (Guitar\/Vocals).<\/span><\/p>\n

Amazingly, the hard-rocking group from Dallas has been around for six years, has toured all over the country a lot and yet is only now having its first show in Philly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were supposed to play Kung Fu Necktie back in the spring but the schedule got changed and we missed Philadelphia,\u201d said Howe, during a phone interview last week from his Texas home.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019ve been together as Dead Flowers for four years. \u201cMe and Vince played together when we went to college together in Chicago. I moved back to Dallas and met Ed and Evan through mutual friend. We had four or five songs so we out a band together. Our first album was \u2018For You\u2019 in 2011. Then, we released \u2018His Blues\u2019 in 2014.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

New music is on the way.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe just released a single and a video,\u201d said Howe. \u201c\u201dIt\u2019s called \u2018Dying in the Streets.\u2019 We recorded it at an all-analog studio. It was the first time we recorded something without a computer in the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFortunately, we were able to get in the studio right after our last tour. We wanted something that sounded completely live and really organic. We\u2019re going back to the same studio after this tour to do another single.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to do the whole next album that way. We\u2019re shooting to record the album in November. We\u2019re on to our third album in three years so we\u2019re not going to put something out in a hurry just to put something out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we\u2019re not on tour, we still get together every Wednesday to rehearse. After we write songs, we get excited. We want to play them. Even on this tour, we\u2019re playing songs we haven\u2019t recorded yet.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m about 9-10 songs into the next album and we have three songs from the last tour that we haven\u2019t recorded yet. With the new material, some parts are more aggressive and some are very melodic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Dead Flowers — https:\/\/youtu.be\/B1iphOCY_OM<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Kung Fu Necktie, which also features The Mad Splatter, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $6.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"scot<\/a>

Scot Sax and Suzie Brown<\/p><\/div>\n

The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com<\/span><\/a>) will have Dead Fish Orchestra on September 26 and Scot Sax and Suzie Brown in September 30.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sax and Brown are a married couple as well as a musical couple and the arrangement has worked out very well.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe met in 2010 and got married in 2011,\u201d said Sax, during a phone interview this week from a stop in Boston.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sax was a veteran musician who had fronted the band Wanderlust and later worked as a songwriter with a number of publishing deals.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brown moved to Philadelphia a few years ago to get her masters\u2019 degree in cardiology from the University of Pennsylvania.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI got my pre-med degree from Dartmouth and then went to Harvard for medical school,\u201d said Brown, during a prior phone interview. \u201cI also went to Berklee College of Music for a little while. Then, I came to Penn on a cardiology fellowship.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI started going to hear music four or five nights a week and met all these great Philadelphia musicians. I decided then that making music made me happier than anything else. I started writing songs in summer 2008 and did my first solo show a few months later. I recorded my first EP in spring 2009.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It took a long time for the couple to get around to making music together.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t involved in any of her records,\u201d said Sax. \u201cCommonly, people start as a musical duo first. We were the opposite.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis was a romantic relationship first. I don\u2019t think we would have gotten together initially just for the music. Then, when Suzie was going on tour, it was a drag not to be with her. We really love each other — and I really like her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Today (September 25), the duo released their first album together — a tasty collection of songs titled \u201cOur Album Doesn\u2019t Like You Either.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we played together live, we\u2019d do songs from Suzie\u2019s album and songs from mine,\u201d said Sax, who grew up in Plymouth Meeting and graduated from Plymouth Whitemarsh High.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, we decided to make an album together. Our music reflects what our life together is. I provide the comic relief to hers and she adds the serious side to mine.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up on every kind of music from my parents\u2019 Frank Sinatra records to the Beatles to my Dylan records. Suzie rally grew up on folk music. Her parents were Canadian liberal, folk music-loving doctors. She brought that to my music and I brought the lively rhythms.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to being parents, a devoted couple and working musicians, Sax and Brown keep other irons in the fire.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sax\u2019s documentary\u00a0\u201cPlatinum Rush,\u201d which focused on the creative drive of songwriters,\u00a0premiered at the New Hope Film Festival. Brown was selected to speak at the TEDMED annual conference this fall along with the Surgeon General and other leaders in the medical community.<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Scot Sax and Suzie Brown — https:\/\/youtu.be\/72MBXc1iTy0<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show in Ardmore will start at 7:30 p.m. with opening act Jesse Terry. Tickets are $15 in advance and $18 day of show.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"ben<\/a>

Ben Katzman<\/p><\/div>\n

Ben Katzman\u2019s DeGreaser <\/b>is getting ready to release its sophomore album in a few weeks. The new disc \u201cVenus in Pisces,\u201d which is coming out on Katzman\u2019s own BUFU Records, is set for release on October 30.<\/span><\/p>\n

Undaunted by the expected mass of humanity in the city, Katzman and his band is bringing its \u201cAll Out Of Bubblegum 2015 Tour\u201d to Philly on September 15 for a show at Sound Hole (43rd Street and Osage Avenue, Philadelphia, https:\/\/roundtown.com<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

The undeniably fun Boston \u201cbasement glam\u201d rockers have been making a name for themselves in the garage rock community over the past couple years, bouncing between Boston and the band\u2019s home-away-from-home Miami, bringing their signature \u201cchillin\u2019 hard\u201d attitude with them everywhere they go.<\/span><\/p>\n

The album\u2019s first single, \u201cYou Shred (But You\u2019re Really Just Playing Me) Baby\u201d (which features guest shredding from Guerilla Toss\u2019 Arian Shafiee) sets the tone for the album, described by Katzman as the transitional tale of \u201cSad Boy to Bad Boy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI started writing it about a year ago,\u201d said Katzman, during a phone interview last week. \u201cI finished the last song about a week before I went into the studio. I write the songs in my head. Over the course of a year, I wrote two albums. The other was \u2018Rok and Rol Community College.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI recorded \u2018Venus in Pisces\u2019 in my hometown, which is Miami Beach. It probably took about four days. I knew what I was going for. \u2018Rok and Rol Community College\u2019 was done live in the studio. \u2018Venus\u2019 was track by track. This one was so serious. I did the other one for fun.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI took this semester off from school. I\u2019m a professional music major at Berklee College of Music in Boston. I don\u2019t like Berklee. It\u2019s not an art school. They don\u2019t teach you how to be creative. Teachers I\u2019ve had never really engage.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut, I love the weather in Boston — especially winter. It\u2019s so brutal. It\u2019s like a heavy metal record. I grew up in Miami Beach a couple blocks from the ocean. I was in a metal band in high school.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a joke, I applied to Berklee. To my surprise, I got accepted. Actually, the business courses have helped me with my label. The only thing you really need is a distributor. We do everything else on our own. We press the records and make the tapes — and sell out of everything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The line-up of Degreaser is far from stable.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy band is constantly evolving,\u201d said Katzman. \u201cIt\u2019s a solo project with an ever-changing line-up. Right now, we\u2019re a power trio. In the studio, it\u2019s mostly me and whoever is playing drums. I play guitar, bass, drums, piano, sax, upright bass and Segovia guitar.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Katzman\u2019s love of astrology is evident in the new album — and not just with the title.<\/span><\/p>\n

As for the album\u2019s name, Katzman describes it as \u201cin astrology terms.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI drop a lot of astrology on the new record,\u201d said Katzman. \u201cWhen it comes to signs, \u2018Venus\u2019 is the planet that rules your love life. \u2018Pisces\u2019 is the ultimate \u2018Sad Boy\u2019 sign. These songs are all about being dumped.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really into astrology. My mom used to go to an astrologer. She had our entire family\u2019s star charts done. I\u2019m a \u2018Scorpio Rising\u2019 so I\u2019m always analyzing everything around me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Ben Katzman\u2019s Degreaser — https:\/\/youtu.be\/aV1L1Yvd3cE<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The show at the Sound Hole will start at 8 p.m. The concert will also feature Tall Juan, blue smiley and Krispy Kareem.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

World Caf\u00e9 Live at the Queen (500 North Market Street, Wilmington, 302- 994-1400,\u00a0www.queen.worldcafelive.com<\/span><\/a>) will have shows as usual over the weekend and into the next week. The Downstairs Stage will have the Marshall Tucker Band on September 25 and the \u201cSave the Valley Music Fest\u201d on September 26.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Upstairs Stage will feature Bobby Long on September 25 and Angela Sheik on September 26.<\/span><\/p>\n

Long is a talented young singer-songwriter-guitarist from England who arrived in the states six years ago. Initially, he gained international recognition based on a song he wrote called \u201cLet Me Sign\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

The song was sung by his friend Robert Pattinson, who stars in the hit movie \u201cTwilight\u201d and was included on the film soundtrack \u2013 an album that debuted at number one on the Billboard Top 200 and has remained on the chart for over six months.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fans first discovered Bobby\u2019s music via the film, YouTube and his MySpace page. Long\u2019s early musical influences were artists such as Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Gram Parsons and Neil Young.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the last six years, Long has recorded eight albums. The most recent is \u201cOde to Thinking,\u201d which came out on Compass Records on August 9.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just signed a new world-wide deal with Compass,\u201d said Long, during a phone interview last week from his home in New York. \u201cI never had that before. This is my first record that came out in Europe. With my earlier albums, we always focused on America and Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI started working on the album at the end of 2013. I was getting the songs ready. I did a lot of touring last year and I played the songs a lot. I did a pledge campaign to fund the record and then went into the studio just over a year ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe musical side is actually pretty simple. Everything else is a delicate process with the album release, tours, publicity and all those other things. With my music, I know what I want from my writing. Socially, I\u2019m more aware.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Long is a true road warrior.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI did just under 100 dates last year,\u201d said Long. \u201cNo long tours — just a week here and there in different places. It was a worthwhile experience because I got to play all the songs before I recorded them. I felt very lucky to be able to do that. It was great.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI made the album with producer Mark Hallman, who has worked with acts such as Oasis and Ani DiFranco. We did it at Congress House in Austin, which is the oldest studio in Texas. It\u2019s a real songwriters\u2019 studio because Mark can play almost every instrument.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were looking for something quite specific. We didn\u2019t want to take a band into the studio. He works fast which is the way I like to do it. It just felt right. We had 14 songs finished in 10 days. I like recording live a lot. A lot of the songs were done on one or two takes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe album is more about the songs than about me. I played guitar and did all the vocals and Mark played everything else. We were a really good team.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The result of their efforts was a really good album.<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Bobby Long — https:\/\/youtu.be\/uHm1r-ppAL0<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show will start at 8 p.m. with opening act Brian Dunne. Tickets are $15 in advance and $17 at the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another show outside Philadelphia will take place on September 24 when Jenni Alpert performs at the New Leaf Club (1225 Montrose Avenue, Bryn Mawr, 610-525-1711, www.newleafclub.org<\/span><\/a>) as the featured artist for Open Mic Night.<\/span><\/p>\n

Alpert\u2019s haunting, powerful, and sultry voice has gained the respect of fans and music tastemakers worldwide. Her emotionally-driven songs fuse modern pop influences with favorites such as Ella Fitzgerald, Julie London, Patsy Cline, Bonnie Riatt and Carole King.<\/span><\/p>\n

Equally inspired by the vocal delivery and songs from male soul singers, Alpert\u2019s music is a blend best described as \u201ceclectic Soul-Americana Pop.\u201d She is currently touring in support of her new album \u201cUntil Then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI recorded \u2018Until Then\u2019 by happenstance back in February,\u201d said Alpert, during a recent phone interview from her home in Los Angeles. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t meant to be a record to be released.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI did four or five months of concentrated writing. It was a different mindset — playing cities every night and writing every day. I had recorded a couple songs live in L.A. with a band. It was leaning more toward a folksy Americana album.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I put my tent in my car and headed to Nashville. What was expected to be three weeks turned into five months. At the same time, I was invited to record for a record company in New York. While I was in recording in New York expecting a fully-produced studio album, I was also in Nashville recording songs live in the studio with Guthrie Trapp.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI did three weeks in Nashville\/three weeks in New York for five months. In Nashville, I did two or three takes of every song live with Guthrie. Then, Rob Matson mixed it and made us comfortable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Alpert loves touring around the country performing for her fans.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI try to be on the road as much as possible,\u201d said Alpert. \u201cI want to perform as often as I can.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs musicians, if our songs inspire someone\u2019s life or changes their mood, it\u2019s our moral responsibility to follow through with our skills and take the music to the people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Jenni Alpert — https:\/\/youtu.be\/gmnFurtMnHc<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The music will start at 8 p.m. tonight at the New Leaf Club. The show is free and open to the public.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On September 25, pianist Andy Milne and Dapp Theory will premiere his new suite \u201cThe Seasons of Being\u201d at Millersville University\u2019s Ware Center (42 North Prince Street, Lancaster, 717-871-7600, http:\/\/www.artsmu.com<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Seasons of Being\u201d is a collection of musical compositions that reflect Milne\u2019s positive personal experiences with classical homeopathic healing. This ambitious project utilizes Milne\u2019s model for identifying human behavioral patterns (pathologies) through understanding how one\u2019s subconscious preferences for music or sound are connected to their pathology.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ambitious musical project was awarded Chamber Music America\u2019s New Jazz Works Commission and is funded by The Doris Duke Foundation. The September 25 performance will also be recorded for Yamaha Piano\u2019s Diskclavier TV series.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Seasons of Being\u201d is a 60-minute suite. Composed for 10 musicians, it is set around Milne\u2019s genre-bending quintet,\u00a0Dapp Theory, which occupies the crossroads between lyrical jazz piano, funkified polyrhythmic exploration, and spoken word poeticism. This project is a significant new direction for the band, representing its first large-scale collaboration with multiple improvisers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dapp Theory is augmented with five diverse, top-notch improvisers from the New York creative music scene — Ralph Alessi (trumpet), Ben Monder (guitar), La Tanya Hall (vocals and narration), Michael Attias (baritone saxophone) and Christopher Hoffman (cello).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI started working on this music over a year ago,\u201d said Milne, during a phone interview last week from his home in New York. \u201cI take a look at some of the experiences I had with homeopathic healing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI looked at how I might channel the diagnostic insights of homeopathy into music. Homeopathy has a lot of powers. But, there are still a lot of things we don\u2019t understand about the human body — like how music interacts with people.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI did a series of studies — non-musicians and then musicians — asking then to respond to a short segment of music to conjure different emotional responses. There are these patterns you might not understand without homeopathy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While Milne is a student of homeopathy, he is also a teacher. He teaches music at New School University in New York as well as at New York University and Columbia University.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a 10-piece project,\u201d said Milne, who was born in Ontario, Canada. \u201cThe core group is five people — Dapp Theory. That\u2019s this band that I\u2019ve had together for more than five years. And, there are five guests who have collaborated with me before.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere will be premiers of \u2018The Seasons of Being\u2019 in September in three Northeast cities — Lancaster, Baltimore and New York. Then, we\u2019ll be recording it the week after in New York. It\u2019s sort of a suite with eight or nine parts in specific sequence. La Tanya Hall, who is my fianc\u00e9, is the vocalist who will also be telling stories.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Andy Milne — https:\/\/youtu.be\/VHJ1LbyKnMA<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Milne\u2019s show at Millersville University will get underway at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/span><\/a>) will host the Annie Moses Band on September 24, Nalani & Sarina and Ceramic Animal on September 25, Dead on Live on September 26, The Happenings and Steve & Steve on September 27, Mediaeval Baebes on September 29 and Elliott Yamin and Christina Holmes on September 30.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/span><\/a>) will present \u201cAn Evening of Singer Songwriters\u201d with Ben Smith, Jimmy Brett, Gina Degnars, Wild North and Michael Rudolph Cummings on September\u00a0 25, and Angelee along with Lori Citro on September 26;.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/span><\/a>) will host Ansdrew Savage, Eric Reavey and Bacton Hill on September 24, Aztec Two-Step on September 25 and The Death of Saul with Voila along with Nathan Earl & Rachel Joy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/span><\/a>) will present Caroline Reese, Native Harrow and Kristina D\u2019Amico on September 26.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Burlap & Bean Coffeehouse (204 South Newtown Street Road, Newtown Square, 484-427-4547,\u00a0www.burlapandbean.com<\/span><\/a>) will present <\/span>Nathan Bell and Craig Bickhardt on September 25, Mary Fahl on September 26, and Slaid Cleaves on September 29.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/span><\/a>) presents An Acoustic Evening with Yo La Tengo on September 24, Kashmir on September 25, The Airborne Toxic Event and Dreamers on September 26, Passenger and Gregory Alan Isakov on September 27, and Bo Burnham on September 29 and 30.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chameleon Club (223 North Water Street, Lancaster, 717-299-9684, http:\/\/www.chameleonclub.net<\/span><\/a>) will have The Stonewall Vessels, Moonstriker, Night Idea, Divided Heaven, Glass Eyed Ghost on September 25; and The Hackensaw Boys and American Hollar on September 26.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reverb (1402 North Ninth Street, Reading, 610-743-3069, www.reverbconcerts.com<\/span><\/a>) will have Floor Show, Arsenic Barbecue<\/span><\/p>\n

Already Dead, Navigating The Decline, Olde Tigers, Back To Life, xSluggernautx and Dot Your Eye on September 24, and Madball, Doyle, Walls Of Jericho, Crown of Thornz, Death Threat, Murphy’s Law, Indecision, The Eddie Leeway Show, Penntera, Cruel Hand, Dementor, For The Love Of…, Rude Awakening, Objection, Dead on the Streets and Sicker Than Most on September 26.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now through November 1, the Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware,\u00a0302- 475-2313,\u00a0www.nctstage.org<\/span><\/a>) is presenting \u201cSweeney Todd,\u201d a play that won eight Tony Awards and nine Drama Desk awards. Tickets, which include a tasty buffet dinner, are $59 for adults and $33 for children (ages 4-12).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Rainbow Comedy Playhouse (3065 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, 800-292-4301, www.RainbowDinnerTheatre.com<\/span><\/a>) is presenting \u201cOver the River & Through the Woods\u201d now through October 24. \u00a0Ticket prices range from $30-$55.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

But shows still happening, including Ghost, Fidlar and more By Denny Dyroff,\u00a0Staff Writer, The Times Back in the mid-1980s during MTV\u2019s heyday, \u201cFrankie Goes to Hollywood\u201d was a band that drew thousands of fans at every appearance. This weekend, \u201cFrankie Goes to Philadelphia\u201d will draw millions when it comes to this area. On September 26 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17193,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51,4],"tags":[6618,6616,6614,557,6108,6617,6615],"class_list":["post-17200","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-entertainment","category-featured","tag-ben-katzman","tag-dead-flowers","tag-ghost","tag-philadelphia","tag-pope-francis","tag-scot-sax-and-suzie-brown","tag-waaves"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17200","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17200"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17200\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17201,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17200\/revisions\/17201"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17200"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17200"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17200"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}