{"id":18401,"date":"2016-02-04T10:10:14","date_gmt":"2016-02-04T15:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=18401"},"modified":"2016-02-04T09:49:58","modified_gmt":"2016-02-04T14:49:58","slug":"on-stage-pa-ballet-offers-emotional-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=18401","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Pa. Ballet offers emotional journey"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"><em><strong>Also: McMurtry&#8217;s do father and son twin bill in Sellersville<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><span class=\"s1\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>By Denny Dyroff,<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\"><em><span class=\"s1\">Staff Writer, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/penna-ballet-300x300.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-1276807\" src=\"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/penna-ballet-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"penna-ballet\" \/><\/a>Some ballet fans prefer full-length productions while others prefer ballet shows that feature several individual pieces.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">If you\u2019re in the camp that prefers a program line-up with variety, then you should definitely check out the Pennsylvania Ballet\u2019s new show which is running from February 4-7 at the Merriam Theater (250 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215-893-1999, <a href=\"http:\/\/paballet.org\/\"><span class=\"s2\">paballet.org<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Pennsylvania Ballet and Artistic Director Angel Corella will take audiences on an emotional journey with four different choreographers in the upcoming performance titled \u201cStrength and Longing.\u201d<\/span><!--more--><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The diverse and highly entertaining show will feature Nacho Duato\u2019s \u201cWithout Words,\u201d Jerome Robbins\u2019 \u201cNY Export, Opus Jazz,\u201d Justin Peck\u2019s \u201cChutes and Ladders,\u201d and Christopher Wheeldon\u2019s \u201cFor Four .\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe started rehearsals for this on December 31 &#8212; right after \u2018The Nutcracker\u2019 ended,\u201d said Corella, during a phone interview last week. \u201cI wanted to balance it out with things that are very spectacular and showy while others are more serene.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The program opens with Nacho Duato\u2019s \u201cWithout Words,\u201d which highlights themes of life and death through six stripped-down instrumental compositions by Franz Schubert.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cIn \u2018Without Words,\u2019 the dancers are practically nude. They wear flesh-colored outfits. It is about relationships between humans &#8212; very intimate with images on the backdrop. The dancers have a position and then it gets put on the backdrop. It\u2019s a very calm piece.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cFor Four\u201d was created in California in 2006 for \u201cKings of the Dance,\u201d an all-star showcase of top male ballet dancers. The piece displays a quartet to Schubert\u2019s \u201cDeath and the Maiden.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u00a0It was created for four of the best male dancers in the world from four different schools of dance (Cuban, Russian, Danish and American \u2013 the Balanchine style), including Artistic Director Angel Corella. Each movement demonstrates the different styles of dance and highlights how men have taken their place in the ballet world.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThis piece is very challenging because it was created for famous dancers from around the world,\u201d said Corella. \u201cThere are four different movements and very powerful music. The great thing about dance is that every dancer is different &#8212; different styles and different dynamics. Our dancers have reacted very well. The movement is really big.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Justin Peck\u2019s \u201cChutes and Ladders\u201d is primarily an interpretation of the music, exposing details of the music through movement. Set to Benjamin Britten\u2019s \u201cString Quartet No. 1 in D Major,\u201d this Company premiere covers a range of moods and tempos as a string quartet performs onstage with the dancers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">This is not only a Company premiere, but also the first time the Company will perform a piece by Justin Peck. At only 27 years old Peck, Resident Choreographer of New York City Ballet, is quickly becoming one of the top 21st century choreographers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cJustin Peck is one of the world\u2019s most famous choreographers &#8212; and he is very young,\u201d said Corella. \u201cWith the pas de deux, we came back to power and strength. The movement Peck created is very unusual. Justin is extremely original.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Jerome Robbins\u2019 NY Export: Opus Jazz\u201d is an abstract ballet, set to cool jazz and angst-ridden beats, that reflects the post-war era of New York City streets, bustling with teens expressing their relationships and emotions through movement.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cJerome Robbins\u2019 jazz movements all are very abstract,\u201d said Corella. \u201c. This one is more about what the body does when listening to jazz music. Robbins, who is most known for \u2018West Side Story,\u2019 is a great in the ballet world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Video link for \u201cStrength and Longing\u201d &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Mg842q2OIIU\"><span class=\"s2\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/Mg842q2OIIU<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The shows at the Merriam are scheduled for February 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m., February 6 at 2 and 8 p.m., and February 7 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices range from $29-$125.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1276809\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/james-mcmurtry-300x300.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1276809\" class=\"wp-image-1276809 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/james-mcmurtry-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"james mcmurtry\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1276809\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">james McMurtry<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">There are a number of musicians whose sons have followed in their footsteps, including Led Zeppelin\u2019s John Bonham, Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa and James Taylor. But, it isn\u2019t often that they record or perform together.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">On February 5, the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.st94.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">www.st94.com<\/span><\/a>) will host a special show with James McMurtry as the headliner and his son Curtis McMurtry as the opening act.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThis is just a four-day flyout,\u201d said James McMurtry, during a phone interview last week from his Texas home. \u201cIt\u2019s an acoustic thing. What Curtis and I are just doing is flying into Baltimore and then doing shows in Alexandria, Annapolis, Sellersville and New York.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI can\u2019t get my band to the East Coast because I\u2019ve already used up the route since we put the record out. We toured the whole country in a van &#8212; starting in Texas and working our way around the country. I can\u2019t fly my band east just for a couple shows.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cIt used to be that we toured an album to promote record sales. It\u2019s changed a lot. Now, we make records to promote our tour dates.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">McMurtry spent a good chunk of 2015 touring his \u201cComplicated Game\u201d album. It was the musician\/storyteller\u2019s first album after a six-year gap.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI\u2019m starting to write a little bit,\u201d said McMurtry. \u201cI try to avoid writing like the plague. Usually, I get two lines and a melody together. It\u2019s &#8212; O.K., who said that? When I find a character, I start to build the story.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1276811\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/curtis-mcmurtry-300x225.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1276811\" class=\"wp-image-1276811 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/curtis-mcmurtry-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"curtis mcmurtry\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1276811\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Curtis McMurtry<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWith the songs on \u2018Complicated Game,\u2019 some are old and some are new. \u2018You Got to Me\u2019 started 20 years ago while \u2018Ain\u2019t Got a Place\u2019 took 15 minutes. For my set list, I play whatever works. Some songs work and some don\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI choose from catalogue material &#8212; all the way back to the \u201980s. I\u2019m playing these few dates with Curtis and he\u2019s bringing along Diana Burgess to play cello. She is great. We\u2019ve been putting together a special encore for this tour.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">James McMurtey\u2019s father &#8212; novelist Larry McMurtry &#8212; gave him his first guitar at age seven. His mother, an English professor, taught him how to play it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cMy dad\u2019s influence on me?,\u201d said McMurtey. \u201cI don\u2019t know about his writing &#8212; his speech had more to do with it. He\u2019d sit at the table and tell stories. He grew up ranching in North Texas and oral tradition was still alive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Now, Curtis McMurtry represents the third generation of storytellers in the family &#8212; as a singer-songwriter just like his father.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u00a0\u201cWhen I was 12 or 13 playing in my first garage and punk bands, it became clear that music was what I wanted to do as a career,\u201d said Curtis McMurtry, during a phone interview last week from his home in Austin, Texas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI took some guitar lessons but I was primarily self-taught. I really didn\u2019t get much from my dad. He is a phenomenal guitarist but he doesn\u2019t play many jazz chords. It\u2019s all in his right-hand picking where the complexity comes from. He has this incredible bluegrass picking style.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWhen I was young, I got really excited about jazz guitar and players like Django (Reinhardt). I started playing sax when I was 11. I was also in marching bands and ensembles in school.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI continued to study jazz in college. I studied jazz theory and was influenced by sax greats such as Gerry Mulligan. Sparse instrumentation had a big influence on me.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 2013 with a major in ethno-musicology and music composition &#8212; primarily instrumental stuff &#8212; Bulgarian and West African. I try to fit it all in my music but I try not to force it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">In August 2014, McMurtry released \u201cRespectable Enemy\u201d &#8212; his debut album on Berkalin Records.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cLately, I\u2019ve been playing banjo and guitar in a trio with a cellist and a trumpet player,\u201d said McMurtry. \u201cDiana Burgess is the cello player and also does harmony vocals. She is coming with me on this tour. We\u2019ll be a duo for my sets and also will do a few sogs with my dad.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Video link for James McMurtry &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/4bE3DVMwjfw\"><span class=\"s2\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/4bE3DVMwjfw<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Video link for Curtis McMurtry &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/QOU8QtvcgB8\"><span class=\"s2\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/QOU8QtvcgB8<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The show at Sellersville will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $21.50 and $29.50.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Other upcoming shows at the theater are Sierra Hull and Honey Dew Drops on February 4,\u00a0 Brianna Nelson and Brian Dunne on February 6, the jimmy Dorsey Orchestra on February 7, Richard Thompson on February 8, Candlebox\u00a0 on February 9 and Clifton Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band on February 10.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1276813\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/catey-shaw-300x200.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1276813\" class=\"wp-image-1276813 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/catey-shaw-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"catey shaw\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1276813\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Catey Shaw<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The story of Catey Shaw\u2019s music career almost has a storybook vibe &#8212; something a screenwriter would create. The talented singer-songwriter, who is performing February 5 at MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, 215- 925-6455, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.milkboyphilly.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">www.milkboyphilly.com<\/span><\/a>), is already on the brink of stardom.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A native of Virginia Beach, she moved to Brooklyn in 2010 to pursue a career in the arts. Shaw was discovered by her producer, Jay Levine, in the subways of New York City while busking to raise money for food.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Levine is a music producer and songwriter who is credited for discovering multi-platinum artists such as Fefe Dobson, Susan Cagle, Prozzak, and The Philosopher Kings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI was and artists and had moved to New York to study oil painting at the School of Visual Arts,\u201d said Shaw, during a phone interview Monday afternoon from her home in Brooklyn. After a year, I left school because I ran out of money.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cIn 2012, I went to the New York subway and started busking. That\u2019s where Jay Levine heard me play. The doors of the subway car opened and we were looking right at each other. He got off at the next stop and then took a ride back to talk with me.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cHe told me he wanted us to write together. I was a little skeptical at first. But, there was this instant trust between us. There was a weird out-of-body thing that said it was going to be O.K.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe were working together four or five days a week. We did hundreds of sessions together. In the last year, we\u2019ve gotten even more focused.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Shaw\u2019s discography includes three EPs &#8212; \u201cClouds\u201d (2013), \u201cThe Brooklyn EP\u201d (2014) and \u201cHuman Contact: Remix EP\u201d (2015). She also has released seven singles &#8212; \u201cFamily\u201d in 2012, \u201cCuddle Up,\u201d\u00a0 \u201cHuman Contact,\u201d and \u201cBrooklyn Girls in 2014 and \u201cTell Everyone,\u201d\u00a0 \u201cWalks All Over You,\u201d and \u201cRumble In The Park\u201d in 2015.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Another storybook-style event happened in the summer of 2014. Shaw\u2019s \u201cBrooklyn Girls\u201d caught fire on the Internet. The video went viral and racked up close to a half-million YouTube views.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A lot of people loved the song and the video &#8212; and a lot of people really disliked it. In July 2014, Entertainment Weekly described it as \u201cthe most hated song on the internet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201c\u2019Brooklyn Girls\u2019 definitely drew both positive and negative reactions,\u201d said Shaw.\u00a0 \u201cBut, it was all good because it generated a lot of publicity for me &#8212; got people to know my name. The song was written about Brooklyn and what\u2019s cool about Brooklyn. People us \u2018Brooklyn\u2019 as an adjective for \u2018cool.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cMy earlier music was more acoustic and sweet. Then, the song \u2018Run, Run, Run\u2019 was out of nowhere. It was different and we realized we had something special. It wasn\u2019t until \u2018Human Contact\u2019 started to take off that things started happening with my identity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Next up for Shaw is the release of her debut album.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI\u2019ve been working on the LP,\u201d said Shaw. \u201cIt\u2019s done for the most part. I\u2019m excited to put out a full body of work. All the songs were written in the last year and they all relate to one topic. It\u2019s a relationship album &#8212; a \u2018breaking up\u2019 album that I didn\u2019t know I was writing &#8212; an album about the way we get wrapped up in things.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Video link for Catey Shaw &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/pw7WKxCOlos\"><span class=\"s2\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/pw7WKxCOlos<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The show at MilkBoy will start at 8:30 p.m. with opening act Whiting. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Other shows this week at MilkBoy are Allan Rayman, LoLo, Mothers, Thee, Idea Men and John Vettese on February 4, Lionize, Screaming Rattler and BlackHand on February 6, and The Prettiots and Liz and the Lost Boys on February 10.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Another hot show on February 5 will be the \u201cAnjunabeats Tour,\u201d which will touch down at SoundGarden Hall (520 North Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, 847-268-8331, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.soundgardenhall.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">http:\/\/www.soundgardenhall.com<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1276815\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/ilan-bluestone-300x300.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1276815\" class=\"wp-image-1276815 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/ilan-bluestone-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"ilan bluestone\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1276815\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ilan Bluestone<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The EDM (electronic dance music) concert features Anjunabeats artists ilan Bluestone and Andrew Bayer as headliners and Giuliao Presta and Jeriqo as the openers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Anjunabeats<i> <\/i>is the electronic music label owned and operated by Above &amp; Beyond, an English progressive trance group featuring Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness, and Paavo Siljam\u00e4ki.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">At a young age, Bluestone taught himself guitar and keyboards and gradually developed his sound. In the last year, the London-based producer has evolved from a little-known newcomer to one of the most promising new acts on the international dance music scene.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">With recent releases \u201cNamaste\u201d and \u201cCapetown\u201d on Anjunabeats, Bluestone has become a permanent fixture in Above &amp; Beyond\u2019s recent DJ sets as well as gaining comprehensive support from other international DJs including Ti\u00ebsto, Arty, Gareth Emery and Myon &amp; Shane 54.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">In the last 12 months, the London-based producer has continued to dominate the Beatport Trance charts, with dance floor anthem \u201c43\u201d marking his ninth Number One hit and his Snapdragon EP reaching Number One in the overall releases chart. His upcoming release \u201cBigger Than Love\u201d is expected to be one of his most massive hits to date.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThis is one of the best Anjunabeats tours ever,\u201d said Bluestone, during a phone interview last week from a tour stop in Montreal. \u201cAt the moment, I\u2019ve got quite a few new tracks that I\u2019ve been working on while I\u2019m on the road.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI have been working with a lot of different artists over the last year or two but, at the moment, I\u2019m concentrating on my own stuff. Experimentation is the key &#8212; trying to find things that people like.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThe market for Trance is coming back &#8212; in many different ways.\u00a0 The whole Big Room scene took over trance. Now, Big Room is moving on and Deep House is coming back. Shuffle House is \u2018in\u2019 and Big Room is dying out. The EDM market is changing on a daily basis.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Over the years, Bluestone has created music in a variety of EDM styles and has employed an array of different software and hardware.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cMy preferred software is Cakewalk,\u201d said Bluestone, who has a house in London with his family and a place of his own in Los Angeles. \u201cThe software has developed itself to match up with Ableton. They all do the same thing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI\u2019m always producing. I have a mini-studio set up in my hotel room. I see myself as an experimental artist. I try to base my music around a soundtrack. Lately, I\u2019ve been offered soundtracks but I haven\u2019t started making any. As I said before, right now, I just want to concentrate on my own stuff.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Video link for ilan Bluestone &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/K2Vy3kqllg0\"><span class=\"s2\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/K2Vy3kqllg0<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The show at SoundGarden Hall will get underway at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Just over 40 years ago, the legendary San Francisco band The Residents recorded an album and then forgot about it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Not Available was originally recorded as a follow-up to 1974\u2019s \u201cMeet the Residents.\u201d However, following the band\u2019s \u201cTheory of Obscurity,\u201d the album was immediately locked away in a bank vault with no plans to issue it until the members of the band had completely forgotten about its existence. It eventually was released in 1978.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/still-flyin-300x300.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-medium wp-image-1276816 alignleft\" src=\"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/still-flyin-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"still flyin\" \/><\/a>A similar situation happened in recent years with another San Francisco band.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Still Flyin\u2019, which will be in the area for a concert on February 4 at Kung Fu Necktie (1248 North Front Street, Philadelphia, 215-291-4919, <a href=\"http:\/\/kungfunecktie.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">kungfunecktie.com<\/span><\/a>), just released a new album that almost never saw the light of day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The band has always been Sean Rawls and whatever musicians he has playing with him at any given time. On January 15, the Ernest Jenning Record Co. released \u201cPerfect Future,\u201d the fourth album from Still Flyin\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI recorded half the album pretty much on my own &#8212; except for the drums,\u201d said Rawls, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from his home in San Francisco. \u201cThe rest were recorded live with the band. Most of the songs were new.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI had toured a lot on the last album \u2018On a Bedroom Wall,\u2019 which came out in 2012. Then, we had a kid in late 2012 and I had to cut back on music. Writing, I didn\u2019t have much time so it was stream of consciousness. I had very little time to work on crafting the songs. I\u2019d write songs and then record them immediately.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cIt was refreshing to do it this way. In the past, I\u2019d write a song and then work on it for a year. This was the complete opposite &#8212; so it felt good. The lyrics have a theme of rawness so recording it this way was a good fit. A lot of the songs were done in one or two takes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Raising a child and dealing with family responsibilities have a way of being distractions &#8212; and of causing shifts in priorities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe mixed the albums right when we finished recording it at the end of 2014,\u201d said Rawls. \u201cOnce I was done, I just forgot about the album. I wasn\u2019t thinking about putting it out or doing a tour.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThen, last year some time, Pete (D\u2019Angelo), a friend of mine from the Ernest Jenning Record Co. asked me about the album. I told him it was done and he said he was interested in putting it out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Rawls has always been a bit unconventional with how he has handled his band.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cAt the start, I invited a lot of my friends to be in the band,\u201d said Rawls, who is the band\u2019s vocalist and main guitarist. \u201cIn the beginning, we had 15-16 people on stage. Financially, it was impossible to tour with a band that big. The first cut was the percussionist. Then, we cut one of the horns.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThe line-up continued to decrease through the years. Around 2010, we were touring a lot but I couldn\u2019t tour Europe with 10 people in the band. So, I settled with a six-person line-up. Now, it\u2019s pretty much six of us most of the time &#8212; but not always.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThere will be six of us on this tour. Phil Horan is on drums, Gabe Saucedo on vibraphone, saxophone, guitar and vocals, Zach Moran on guitar, Maria Niubo on keyboards and Samuele Palazzi on bass.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe never play the same set list. We talk between songs. I like to keep it interesting for the audience &#8212; and for us. We\u2019re playing only one song from \u2018Never Gonna Touch the Ground,\u2019 which was our first album in 2009. We\u2019re going to be playing a lot of the new songs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Video link for Still Flyin\u2019 &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/1J2_sxYI1JA\"><span class=\"s2\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/1J2_sxYI1JA<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The show at Kung Fu Necktie will start at 8 p.m. with opening acts Rabbit and Scott Churchman. Tickets are $6.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Other upcoming shows at Kung Fu Necktie are The Good Mess and Mr. Brimstone on February 5, Sharon Needles and Gash on February 6, RFA and Atlas Bloom on February 8, and Line Leader and Killmama on February 10.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1276819\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/voivod-300x200.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1276819\" class=\"wp-image-1276819 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/voivod-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"voivod\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1276819\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Voivod<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">All through its 33-year existence, Voivod has shown the ability to mutate, grow, change line-ups and explore new territory without ever losing the core of its music &#8212; and its corps of fans.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Montreal-based band, which has released 13 studio albums and countless singles and EPs, will return to the area for a pair of shows &#8212; February 8 at Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, <a href=\"http:\/\/undergroundarts.org\/\"><span class=\"s2\">http:\/\/undergroundarts.org<\/span><\/a>) and February 12 at the Chameleon Club (223 North Water Street, Lancaster, 717-299-9684, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chameleonclub.net\/\"><span class=\"s2\">http:\/\/www.chameleonclub.net<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The current roster for Voivod includes Michel \u201cAway\u201d Langevin (drums), Denis \u201cSnake\u201d B\u00e9langer (vocals), Daniel \u201cChewy\u201d Mongrain (guitar) and Dominique \u201cRocky\u201d Laroche (bass). The band\u2019s most recent release is the \u201cPost Society\u201d EP on Cebntury Media Records.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe started working on the EP about a year ago,\u201d said Langevin, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from his home in Montreal. \u201cWe had a tour with Napalm Death and we wanted something new for the merchandise table.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cSo, we did a split seven-inch with Napalm Death. Our song was \u2018We Are Connected\u2019 and that started our work on the EP. We actually write on the tour bus and then go into the studio between tours.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Canadian progressive metal pioneers just finished touring Europe as part of the \u201cDeathcrusher 2015 Tour\u201d along with Carcass, Obituary, Herod and label-mate Napalm Death.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThis tour now is of the East Coast and eastern Canada,\u201d said Langevin. \u201cIn May, we\u2019ll play the West Coast and then come back with shows across Canada. \u201cIn June and July, we\u2019ll play festivals in Canada and Europe and then return to Europe for a club tour in the fall. We\u2019ll be doing a lot of writing on the bus this year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Langevin is the only original member of the band &#8212; a band that has always had progressive rock and metal music as its foundation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI met Denis when I was a kid and we\u2019ve been friends ever since,\u201d said Langevin. \u201cThe other two guys also grew up and went to school together. The first concert they went to was when they were 13 and came to see Voivod. That show inspired them to learn to play guitar &#8212; and they\u2019ve learned their instruments well.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWhen Voivod began, it was very influenced by New Wave British Heavy Metal. We were also big fans of prog-rock and we incorporated that into our music very early. Between 1983 and 1989, we rehearsed every night. We were really serious. That\u2019s when we focused a lot on prog-rock.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cIn the 1990s, we tried to be less intricate in our song structure and we got more psychedelic. In the late \u201990s, we went back to more metal. With Jason (Newsted, bass player in the early 2000s), the three albums were more stoner rock and punk metal. Ever since we re-formed in 2008, we\u2019ve been going back toward prog-rock.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Voivod showed its direction to prog-rock by recording a cover of \u201cSilver Machine,\u201d a song that was a hit in 1972 for British experimental music legends Hawkwind.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cOur fans have stayed with us through the years and through the changes,\u201d said Langevin. \u201cIt\u2019s impressive. Our fans are very loyal. Lately, there has been increased interest in music from the \u201980s and we benefit from it. Our crowd is very diverse and crosses several generations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s3\">Video link for Voivod &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=itHcrRaZhXs\"><span class=\"s4\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=itHcrRaZhXs<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The tour will also feature opening acts Vektor and Eight Bellswill with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets for the show on February 8 are $25. For the show in Lancaster, tickets are $15 in advance and $18 at the door.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Other upcoming shows at the Chameleon are Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Tweed on February 5 and Essential End, Head Case and Sweet Sister Misery on February 6.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Other shows this week at Underground Arts will be \u201cThe Underwater Sounds Farewell Show\u201d with The Snails and The Rosemary Fiki Band on February 5, and Ben Arnold with The Fractals on February 6.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org\/\"><span class=\"s5\">http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/span><\/a>) will present Buffalo Chip and the Heard and Naked Blue on February 5 and the Sin City Band on February 6.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/chaplinslive.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\"><i>http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/i><\/span><\/a>) will host Bacton Hill, Lex Patrick and Jason Ray on February 5 and Civil Discord, Fidlam Bens and The Fermentors on February 6.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\"><i>www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/i><\/span><\/a>) will host November Lounge Trio on February 4, Steal Your Face (Grateful Dead Tribute Band) on February 5 and Rootology and Steve Zinno &amp; His Brothers on February 6.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s3\">The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ardmoremusic.com\/\"><span class=\"s4\"><i>www.ardmoremusic.com<\/i><\/span><\/a>) will have <a href=\"http:\/\/email.ticketfly.com\/wf\/click?upn=z7YLkXH7cgBhWEXhyUQmIZpMVLl0icqbzcQxWfhbRabNRm04CrcyAwFjPKpW4M-2BuM-2FmZmz5RtFb46-2FnqfDIKtclM3r82nhSeGX-2FE8Qol4G0-3D_Ag2XO8lR0eVgoecp4gqxVIy5mQHe4redgwntHP3f4p7Jp0fTG9OycKAJ51vFIOKb30L3o0VtELS-2BIhcUnUwA-2FqvooK-2BwXHY-2BG7Zu43Tg5ydRP-2BOil97yXU3-2BE36wKehkHoxoeES5HVnvg0h560yWQIUQB82yCGnlW-2FfLfJaM5DRry3KDJdigld6ctb-2B4wmsh-2FsXUqKcmcxkYE1p3vh9cOPZeYrQ9vKRtQ5s8xhSVOIS2xVF-2Brz1aA0u9ILbbZH5Z\"><span class=\"s4\"><i>Steve Poltz, Grant-Lee Phillips<\/i><\/span><\/a> on February 4, <a href=\"http:\/\/email.ticketfly.com\/wf\/click?upn=z7YLkXH7cgBhWEXhyUQmIZpMVLl0icqbzcQxWfhbRaa1nTtCdrcqJVs4t2m5kbrMdam7wQQ5b4U2G3OzXGWkn3H6T0IODZvnNwvwP8-2FLv2k-3D_Ag2XO8lR0eVgoecp4gqxVIy5mQHe4redgwntHP3f4p7Jp0fTG9OycKAJ51vFIOKbCRJyGdtV126378VW-2FZovHMfj-2BjEvd0-2B8SFoUpyN-2FH-2FYl3NBdWlk5v-2Bxhf6QA13mNxxywi-2BrQT9AohYNwHnG-2BAoTKZF2roAEZ5n7bEvlvS0WY-2Fag0ssVoHo6Nu0RVML0MZ2n8DiiEmGkuTxKRt9tn-2BFO93wN7p-2B7jb2TWwRipoU5fXIUAIzQZeaCcOEfO4ZBY\"><span class=\"s4\"><i>Wiki of Ratking, Reef The Lost Cauze<\/i><\/span><\/a> on February 5, <a href=\"http:\/\/email.ticketfly.com\/wf\/click?upn=z7YLkXH7cgBhWEXhyUQmIZpMVLl0icqbzcQxWfhbRaaTxyhOTIUf72QFhIVADdGp1sPonjNxvC-2Fp06eKFS0TuZSIc6L4s9ovYK-2BmkilBmJw-3D_Ag2XO8lR0eVgoecp4gqxVIy5mQHe4redgwntHP3f4p7Jp0fTG9OycKAJ51vFIOKb4rSR3-2FUW-2BWXO2MPUuY0RMTHbYyntLyyBSPiuhGfe88WNNn7NQSlTma-2F5ai6f8Cm-2F-2BPpkddpmiY71EAXTnD8QduMm4BD1qK22WQQT7YNtPb6CqqdwVkMqVt74JpZsWB7N1Kzyp6kCrMMRg40aGGea2roKI5m338Rnl6ZO7YygS80HOlSACfst4TbrxVKGHqW1\"><span class=\"s4\"><i>Dweezil Zappa &amp; The Zappa Plays Zappa Band<\/i> <\/span><\/a>on February 6 and <a href=\"http:\/\/email.ticketfly.com\/wf\/click?upn=z7YLkXH7cgBhWEXhyUQmIZpMVLl0icqbzcQxWfhbRabki40sAOoZqN7w1PGG7U58yT-2B7g0FK2aT7nPOC-2FxFdiiUlm7vmwUaRu75jb8zAa0g-3D_Ag2XO8lR0eVgoecp4gqxVIy5mQHe4redgwntHP3f4p7Jp0fTG9OycKAJ51vFIOKbaTxrFJUPXt9TEDDLOJ-2FRgStc5VHlZ-2BpIoIzEG7Rfe2HQ8TF7qrWVASWzSEJCBPlRCkzdJJsEBKnmQQMe8W-2BdoVmGcfzqsF9MxxNJ1350JRbUCUn-2FWH9ldfABGifyl59KvaRTxNtFj8cxpBvHs1uCndcKmioA-2BTy0Up-2F5dox8h447VVBl65AA33ZrjLUIwuDO\"><span class=\"s4\"><i>Brother Joscephus and the Love Revolution<\/i><\/span><\/a> on February 9.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Doc Watson\u2019s Public House (150 North Pottstown Pike, Exton, 610-524-2424, <a href=\"http:\/\/docwatsonspublichouse.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">docwatsonspublichouse.com<\/span><\/a>) will present Brazen on February 5 and Missing Link on February 6.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Valley Forge Casino (1160 First Avenue, King Of Prussia, 610-354-8118, <a href=\"https:\/\/vfcasino.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">https:\/\/vfcasino.com<\/span><\/a>) will host a concert by Split Decision on February 6.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Burlap &amp; Bean Coffeehouse (204 South Newtown Street Road, Newtown Square, 484-427-4547,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.burlapandbean.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">www.burlapandbean.com<\/span><\/a>) will present Cassidy and The Music with Ethan Pierce on February 5, and Kerri Powers and Chelsea Berry on February 6.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.keswicktheatre.com\/\"><span class=\"s5\">www.keswicktheatre.com<\/span><\/a>) presents Paul Reiser on February 5.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Grand Opera House (818 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-652-5577, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thegrandwilmington.org\/\"><span class=\"s5\">www.thegrandwilmington.org<\/span><\/a>) will host a convert by Southside Johnny on February 6 in its Copeland Hall.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Also: McMurtry&#8217;s do father and son twin bill in Sellersville By Denny Dyroff,\u00a0Staff Writer, The Times Some ballet fans prefer full-length productions while others prefer ballet shows that feature several individual pieces. If you\u2019re in the camp that prefers a program line-up with variety, then you should definitely check out the Pennsylvania Ballet\u2019s new show [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18394,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51,4],"tags":[7075,7074,7073,220,7072,7076],"class_list":["post-18401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-entertainment","category-featured","tag-catey-shaw","tag-edm","tag-mcmurtry","tag-music","tag-pennsylvania-ballet","tag-still-flyin-voivod"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18401","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=18401"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18401\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18406,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18401\/revisions\/18406"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/18394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}