{"id":20620,"date":"2016-07-28T09:30:26","date_gmt":"2016-07-28T13:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=20620"},"modified":"2016-07-28T15:35:04","modified_gmt":"2016-07-28T19:35:04","slug":"on-stage-nalani-sarina-twice-as-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=20620","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Nalani & Sarina twice as good"},"content":{"rendered":"

Also: Rich Robinson gets past The Black Crowes<\/em><\/h2>\n

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

\"nalani

Nalani & Sarina<\/p><\/div>\n

There can be good things about a buzz and there can be bad things.<\/span><\/p>\n

A buzz at an outdoor picnic can be a bad thing because it probably means that there are pesky insects in the area. A buzz in electronic equipment is definitely a bad thing. A buzz is also something bad if it describes a driver\u2019s mental condition when pulled over at a DUI checkpoint.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the music world, a buzz can definitely be a good thing — as long as it\u2019s not a buzz coming from a faulty amplifier. Creating a buzz for a music act is the process of building up the act\u2019s fan base, improving recognition and adding to the act\u2019s overall popularity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nalani & Sarina, 23-year-old twin sisters Nalani and Sarina Bolton from central New Jersey, have been creating a buzz in the Mid-Atlantic region for the last several years. The duo has performed at a variety of venues around the area — including the Kennett Flash, World Caf\u00e9 Live at the Queen and MilkBoy Philadelphia.<\/span><\/p>\n

The sisters will be pleasing their fan base and adding to it over the next week when they build more of a buzz by playing three shows in the area.<\/span><\/p>\n

On July 28, they will be performing at Kid\u2019s Day at Cool Springs Park Farmers Market (Cool Springs Park, 10th Street and North Van Buren Avenue, Wilmington, https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Cool-Spring-Farmers-Market-103958403032410\/<\/span><\/a>). The event, which runs from 5-7 p.m., is free and open to the public.<\/span><\/p>\n

On August 2, the sisters, who already are experienced vocalists, songwriters, and multi-instrumentalists, will visit Chester County to play Family Night at the Eagleview Concert Series (540 Wellington Square, Exton, http:\/\/www.ineagleview.com\/?p=4203<\/span><\/a>) at 7 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the Eagleview Concert Series, a show will be held every Tuesday night now through August 30. The series, which has become a popular summer tradition in Chester County, is also free and open to the public.<\/span><\/p>\n

On August 4, Nalani & Sarina will play at Pairings on the Parkway (Sister Cities Park, 210 North 18th Street, Philadelphia, http:\/\/www.ccdparks.org\/sister-cities-park\/events\/pairings-on-the-parkway2016-11<\/span><\/a>). This BYOB event features singer-songwriter style live music from\u00a05:30-7:30 p.m. each week — and is free and open to the public.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were just in the studio again this week and we\u2019ll be in the studio for most of August,\u201d said Nalani, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from the twins\u2019 home Flemington, New Jersey.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s mainly pre-production stuff for our new album. We\u2019re taking a pretty relaxed approach — doing it piece-by-piece\u2026song-by-song. There are no deadlines and that makes it a lot less stressful.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sarina said, \u201cThey\u2019re all new songs \u2014 all of them written in the last six months. We had a new approach this time. The songs on our last album were based on personal experiences. This time, it\u2019s other people\u2019s stories \u2014 more of a world-wide approach.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nalani said, \u201cWe did just release a secret link for our fans — a link to a video for one of our new songs. We\u2019ll release it for the public soon. We\u2019re testing the water. It\u2019s more of as pop-rock song that can fit in a lot of genres.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With roots based in rhythm-and-blues, soul and rock, the sisters create vocal harmonies that only twins can make.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re sonically alike and there is this telepathy,\u201d said Sarina. \u201cWe\u2019ll be singing a new song and when one of us gravitates to a harmony, the other knows exactly where to go. We\u2019ve been singing together ever since we were three. Being twin sisters, there was nothing else to do. We started singing professionally when we were 15.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The songs tell stories but they still are tight songs \u2014 not long rambling stories set to music.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re telling a story and using choruses to look at people\u2019s emotions,\u201d said Nalani. \u201cOne of the songs came out of thin air when we were playing in our basement at 2 a.m. one night. The lyrics just came in and it took on this perspective in our lives. It also had a different production aspect \u2014 a Beatles influence with weird sounds.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sarina said, \u201cWe\u2019ve definitely become more comfortable in the studio. We\u2019ve gotten used to the studio environment and gotten better with how to handle vocals. We try to recreate how they\u2019re done live. We really emphasized on making vocals different so they can relate to the stories.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Nalani & Sarina, who just turned 23 last week, have been making music together for a long time. They list acoustic guitar, piano and ukulele as their main instruments.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re identical twins,\u201d said Nalani. \u201cWe graduated early from Hunterdon Central High a few years ago and we\u2019ve been doing music ever since. Actually, we both started playing classical piano when were six and then studied operatic vocals when we were in sixth grade.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cClassical music and opera provided good basics for us. Our mom was a folkie so we listened to a lot of folk music when we were young \u2014 great songwriters like Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. And, we\u2019ve listened to a lot of classic rock.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The sisters have already released an EP titled \u201cScattered World\u201d and an album titled \u201cLessons Learned.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAfter we released our last album \u2014 \u2018Lessons Learned\u2019 \u2014 we just continued to write\u201d said Nalani.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sarina said, \u201cWe tested all the new songs before we recorded them. We\u2019ve learned that the best way to test a song is by the audience\u2019s reaction. Another test is the way it feels to us as we\u2019re playing it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf a song works out well live then we know it\u2019s a good song to record. We go with the mentality that you have to have 10 songs to get one good one. We\u2019re really hard on ourselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe just go and see where a song will take us. We want the song to direct the production. The band that we used in the studio really helped with how the songs sound on the album. We are huge fans of groove and funk and it shows on the new record.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nalani said, \u201cWe\u2019ve always had funk in our blood. We play shows with just the two of us, it always sounds more singer-songwriter. When we do shows with our band, it gets more funky.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The sisters\u2019 eclectic taste in music is evident in their set lists for live shows — especially when they include ukulele duets of either AC\/DC\u2019s \u201cHighway to Hell\u201d or the Ramones\u2019 \u201cI Wanna Be Sedated.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe really love playing live,\u201d said Nalani. \u201cWe\u2019d play eight days a week if we could. We\u2019ve been doing a lot more full band shows lately. Playing with a band brings it up to a whole new level \u2014 a lot more energy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Audio\u00a0link for Nalani & Sarina — https:\/\/youtu.be\/SBpqsaHYaRE<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Rich

Rich Robinson<\/p><\/div>\n

Rich Robinson has been touring a lot over the years. He has toured for more than three decades with the Black Crowes, the band he founded with his brother Chris Robinson in Atlanta in 1984. This year, he has been touring with Bad Company as their guitarist.<\/span><\/p>\n

Robinson is also touring with his own five-piece band — the band with which he just recorded his new solo album \u201cFlux,\u201d which was released on June 24 by Eagle Rock Entertainment. The tour will touch down locally on July 28 at the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been out on this \u2018Flux\u2019 tour for a week-and-a-half and we\u2019re driving somewhere in Pennsylvania right now,\u201d said Robinson, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. \u201cWe travel all the time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re playing a lot of the songs from \u2018Flux\u2019 along with songs from my other solo albums. We even do some Black Crowes songs. We\u2019re playing a different set list every night. I\u2019ve always done that my whole career.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Eagle Rock Entertainment has released expanded, re-imagined versions of \u00a0Robinson\u2019s solo albums, including \u201cPaper,\u201d \u201cLlama Blues,\u201d \u201cThrough A Crooked Sun,\u201d and \u201cWoodstock Sessions\u201d (on CD and colored vinyl), and Record Store Day exclusives of \u201cGot To Get Better In A Little While\u201d (10-inch vinyl) and \u201cOh! Sweet Nuthin\u2019\u201d (seven-inch vinyl). These re-issues served as a fitting lead-up to \u201cFlux.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI signed with Eagle Rock Entertainment and they were interested in having all my records under one roof,\u201d said Robinson. \u201cIn the past, they were all on different labels. This was an opportunity to being them all together. I re-mixed and re-mastered \u2018Paper\u2019 and just re-mastered the rest of them. They do sound different now.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey, \u2018Paper\u2019 was destroyed. I saved the record and got most of the information off the tapes. But, the vocals were gone. I had to record all the vocals again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With \u201cFlux,\u201d Robinson presents his most accomplished solo album to date — 13 new, original songs that draw deeply on his diverse roots. To make the album, he returned to Applehead Studios in Saugerties, NY, the Woodstock area recording facility that has become his creative hub.<\/span><\/p>\n

Robinson\u2019s work at the studio over the years has yielded \u201cWoodstock Sessions,\u201d \u201cThe Ceaseless Sight,\u201d and now \u201cFlux.\u201d The new album showcases a rich variety of tempos, tones, and guitar tuning.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just write songs and whatever comes out dictates what the record will be,\u201d said Robinson. \u201cI write in the studio. I might come in with parts of songs but the songs don\u2019t really develop until I get in the studio. I like to see how the album unfolds.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Last year, the Black Crowes broke up after a career that produced eight studio albums and a number of hit singles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith the Black Crowes gone, I definitely have more time,\u201d said Robinson. \u201cIt has allowed me to re-focus. Now, I\u2019ll be touring the rest of the year. I have a couple more shows to do with Bad Company and then I\u2019ll be back on my tour.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Rich Robinson — https:\/\/youtu.be\/inVnLLmCKQA<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Sellersville, which has Bonnie Bishop, as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 and $45.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other shows over the next week at the venue will be Joe Ely and Jack Murphy on July 29, Tresspass — the Music of Genesis on July 30, The B-Side Players (Curtis Mayfield Tribute) on July 31, \u201cIn the Bar: Bluegrass Jam\u201d on August 2 and Leftover Salmon and The Congress on August 3.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"harpooner\"If you\u2019re looking for \u201ca harpooner,\u201d Indiana and Tennessee probably should be two of the last places you look. When the largest fish in the two areas is a blue catfish, there is little need for harpoons.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, if it\u2019s Harpooner you\u2019re searching for, two of the top places to look are Bloomington, Indiana and Nashville, Tennessee.<\/span><\/p>\n

Harpooner is a three-piece rock band that was founded in Bloomington and now calls Nashville home. The group features Scott Schmadeke (vocals, piano, Mellotron, guitar, organ, synthesizer), Max Mullen (bass, background vocals) and Josh Morrow (drums).<\/span><\/p>\n

The band is touring in support of its debut album \u201cRose Park,\u201d which was just released on June 24. The tour brings the trio to Philly for a show July 28 at Ortlieb\u2019s (847 North Third Street, Philadelphia, 267- 324-3348, www.ticketfly.com<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe all worked at an Italian restaurant in Bloomington,\u201d said Schmadeke, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from a tour stop in New York City. \u201cAll our previous bands played together at shows when we were students at Indiana University. When those bands broke up, we got together and began playing together.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe did a lot of house shows — every week. We built a pretty good following that way. The first actual Harpooner gig was in 2013. We were a four-piece when we were in Bloomington. When we decided to move to Nashville, our old guitarist moved to L.A. with his other band.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In recent years, Nashville has become a Mecca for fledgling indie-rock band and young singer-songwriters.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe moved to Nashville because there is a great music scene here,\u201d said Schmadeke. \u201cWe get to play with a lot of other good musicians. We\u2019ve been travelling with our own string section –twin fiddles. They\u2019re couple who moved to Nashville from Austin, Texas. They\u2019re my roommates now.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe started recording \u2018Rose Park\u2019 in 2015. After we moved to Nashville, we went back to Bloomington to record the album. Our friends had just opened an analog recording studio called Blockhouse and they invited us to be the first to record there. We were the guinea pigs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were up there four days a month for 10 months — tracking and mixing the record. We did it all to tape. We set up live in the studio and did piano, bass and drums live. After that, I overdubbed vocals, guitar and some additional keyboards.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe nice thing with this band is that the three of us have musical tastes that are entirely different. I do all the songwriting. Some of the artists I like are Carole King, Paul McCartney, Leon Russell and Jeff Lynne.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m writing more now that the album is released. It was weird. I really couldn\u2019t start writing new songs until the album was almost out. In our live show, we\u2019re doing a lot of songs from \u2018Rose Park,\u2019 a couple new ones and one cover.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Harpooner — https:\/\/youtu.be\/415yma5pYvg<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Ortlieb\u2019s, which starts at 8 p.m., also features Pine Barons, Telepathic and Tangiers. Tickets are $10.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"the

the Li Daiguo\/Rick Parker duo<\/p><\/div>\n

On July 29, there will be shows around the area to sate almost any musical appetite — international experimental jazz (Li Daiguo and Rick Parker), hard rock (Gemini Syndrome), 80\u2019s era MTV pop (The Romantics), a Grateful Dead\/Allman Brothers tribute band (Old Soul Revival) and veteran singer\/songwriter (Slaid Cleaves).<\/span><\/p>\n

Li Daiguo and Rick Parker together form a duo that is billed as \u201cA two-headed ancient, science fiction, pharmaceutical entity casting shadows in Brooklyn and Dali commingles sounds of the trombone, cello, pipa, voice and a variety of electronic remedies to create audio healing potions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

On July 29, the Li Daiguo\/Rick Parker duo will perform in concert at Vox Populi (319 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, 215-238-1236, \u00a0http:\/\/www.museumfire.com\/events<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

The duo has had performances and recording sessions over the last two years in both New York City and Dali, a small city in southwest China. The result was the Parker and Li\u2019s debut record, \u201cFree World Music,\u201d on Brooklyn\u2019s Very Special Recordings and the eleven2eleven record label.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe album came out on July 8,\u201d said Parker, during a phone interview Monday evening from his home in New York.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been going to China a lot with my wife Marcella Szablewicz, who has gone there as part of Pace University\u2019s Mandarin media study. I\u2019ve been performing there — mainly in Shanghai and Beijing — doing standard jazz with western musicians.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGoing all the way over there, I wanted to connect with Chinese musicians. Peter Scherr knew Li and introduced us in 2014. After Daiguo and I checked out each other\u2019s music, he suggested that I come to Dali. We only performed just one show but we did a lot of rehearsals prior to the show. After the show, we did a recording session he next day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe last three tracks from the album — \u2018golden age of neuroscience = next phase of human mythology,\u2019 \u2018the city’s glory was defined not only by every citizen wearing silk robes, or by their seamless melding of modern technology with the human body, but by the compassion that emanated from the design of their matching stilettos,\u2019 and \u2018a steady heartbeat is the sound of death\u2019 — were from that session.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Later that fall, Li travelled to New York where the two creative musicians spent another day in the recording studio and performed concerts at Manhattan Inn and Trans-Pecos.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the summer of 2015, they were invited to take part in a week long composition residency at COART in Lijiang, China which culminated in a concert of the music they created together during that week.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a great situation that Daiguo organized,\u201d said Parker, who graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in economics and New York University with a master\u2019s degree in music.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a big art center. They put us up for a week to compose all day long — three sessions that were two to three hours long. Then, we presented the compositions at the end of the week. Some of those compositions are in our live show now. We\u2019ve been integrating the Lijang stuff with our recorded material –incorporating sound concepts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Both musicians have established their own successful careers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Li Daiguo (<\/span>\u674e\u5e36\u83d3<\/span>) is a major figure in the experimental traditional music world in China and abroad. The multi-instrumentalist has performed solo concerts on cello, pipa, throat singing and beat boxing in France, Switzerland, India and all over China. He has also composed for the Guangzhou Modern Dance Company, Guangzhou Ballet Company, Nobu Khan Malaysian Butoh Dance festival and has released numerous recordings on his own.<\/span><\/p>\n

Parker\u2019s music combines jazz, experimental, electronic and rock and features his trombone playing augmented by electronics and synthesizers. He leads several groups including the Rick Parker Collective (jazz quintet) and Little Worlds (trio). Parker has worked with such notable musicians as Tim Berne, Mingus Big Band, Wu Tang Clan, Ghostface Killah, DMC and Ximena Sari\u00f1ana.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of the compositions Daiguo and I have written are very open and sound different every time we play them,\u201d said Parker.<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for the Li Daiguo\/Rick Parker duo — https:\/\/youtu.be\/21Zd9t6zmzc<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Vox Populi, which also features Fursaxa and Hallowed Bells, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $7-$10 sliding scale.<\/span><\/p>\n

More than half the metal bands that tour America each year skip Philadelphia when they are putting together their itineraries. Fortunately for metal\/hard rock fans in eastern Pennsylvania, a lot of these bands hit the area for a show at the Chameleon Club in downtown Lancaster.<\/span><\/p>\n

On July 29, the Chameleon Club (223 North Water Street, Lancaster, 717-299-9684, http:\/\/www.chameleonclub.net<\/span><\/a>) will host a show by the veteran West Coast hard rock band Gemini Syndrome.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Gemini

Gemini Syndrome<\/p><\/div>\n

, which is based in Los Angeles, features Aaron Nordstrom, Brian Steele Medina, Alessandro Paveri, Daniel Sahag\u00fan and Charles Lee Salvaggio. The band will release its new album, \u201cMemento Mori,\u201d on August 19 via Another Century. The soon-to-be-released disc is a follow-up to the quintet\u2019s 2013 debut \u201cLux.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe had our first gig back in 2010,\u201d said Nordstrom, during a phone interview Tuesday evening from a tour stop in Pittsburgh. \u201cBrian and I lived in L.A. since 2000. We were in similar circles with mutual friends but never met until 2009. I\u2019m from Chicago and had moved back there for a few years. Then, I happened to be in L.A. when they were looking to form a band.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had played in OTEP for a couple years. After I left that band, I didn\u2019t know what I wanted to do. Then, this opportunity came up. I joined with them and then went back to Chicago and wrote 14 songs in six weeks. Those songs were used on our six-song EP. In 2012, we went in the studio in L.A. and recorded \u2018Lux.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAfter that, we did a lot of touring — including the Avatar Tour and Shiprocked 2014. In March 2015, I started writing songs for \u2018Memento Mori.\u2019 We spent a lot of time in L.A. working on the songs for the album.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen, we went to The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas to make the album. We did the whole record in seven weeks. We were doing six days a week — 12-14 hours a day. Moist of the lyrics are written by me. The music is more a collective.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gemini Syndrome\u2019s current line-up features two recently-added replacement guitarists — Sahag\u00fan\u00a0and Salvaggio.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe two new guys weren\u2019t there for the recording of the album,\u201d said Nordstrom. \u201cBut, we were able to get them to come in and do some lead guitar stuff and some vocals. What they brought to the table was stuff that I would have never thought to do. We met through mutual friends and it\u2019s worked out great.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Both album titles are in Latin. \u201cLux\u201d is the Latin word for \u201clight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Nordstrom said, \u201cThe phrase \u2018Memento Mori\u2019 means \u2018Remember, we die,\u2019 or more accurately, \u2018Remember, you must die.\u2019 It\u2019s a reminder to all of us about our mortality.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c The difference between \u2018Lux\u2019 and the new album is that \u2018Memento Mori\u2019 is a little darker lyrically. Some of the music is darker too. And, it\u2019s more mature musically.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Gemini Syndrome — https:\/\/youtu.be\/kUHsY6gPCys<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at the Chameleon Club, which also features Stitched Up Heart and 9ELECTRIC, will start at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The

The Romantics<\/p><\/div>\n

The Romantics, who are performing on July 29 at Musikfest Caf\u00e9\u00a0 (101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, 610-332-3378, http:\/\/www.steelstacks.org\/<\/span><\/a>), \u00a0are a power pop band that formed in Detroit in 1977.<\/span><\/p>\n

The band\u2019s music found a home on MTV and the quartet had a number of hit singles in the 1980s.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even if you\u2019ve never heard of The Romantics, you\u2019ve heard their music — no matter how old you are. It\u2019s hard to find anyone who doesn\u2019t recognize the song \u201cWhat I Like About You.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I Like About You\u201d has become a staple of modern rock that is often played at sporting events, parties and at bars and clubs.The song has also been heard promoting products, services and institutions including the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, Budweiser, Barbie toy dolls, SeaWorld and T.G.I. Friday\u2019s restaurants.<\/span><\/p>\n

The catchy pop tune was also featured in TV commercials for Hampton Inn, Esurance, Papa John\u2019s Pizza, Toon Disney and Toyota. It was also included in the films \u201cRichie Rich,\u201d \u201cFreaky Friday,\u201d \u201cShrek 2,\u201d \u201cSurf’s Up,\u201d \u201cMarmaduke\u201d and \u201cOpen Season: Scared Silly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I Like About You\u201d was voted #97 on VH1\u2019s television special<\/i><\/span><\/a> \u201cThe 100 Greatest Songs of the \u201980s.\u201d The song is featured in the video game \u201cDonkey Konga\u201d and was used in trailers for the video game \u201cFamily Guy Video Game!\u201d and the film \u201cStuart Little 2.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Romantics\u2019 original lineup included lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and harmonica player Wally Palmar, lead guitarist and vocalist Mike Skill, bassist and backing vocalist Rich Cole, and drummer and lead vocalist Jimmy Marinos.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe still have three of the original members from Detroit,\u201d said Still, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon, \u201cAnd, we have a new drummer — Brad Elvis.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Romantics have survived — and thrived — despite a number of roadblocks along the way. One of the biggest roadblocks could have been disastrous but turned out all right.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the late 1980s, the Romantics discovered that their managers had been misappropriating the profits earned by the band from its records and live performances. Additionally, \u201cWhat I Like About You\u201d had been licensed for use in television commercials without the band\u2019s knowledge or approval.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cConsequently, The Romantics filed a lawsuit against their management in 1987, and the legalities involved prevented the band from recording new music until the mid-1990s.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe continued to keep playing,\u201d said Still. \u201cThe lawsuit kept us going. We still recorded a few things but to release something and deal with a new label wasn\u2019t a good idea at that time. Still, we just kept the band going and never stopped.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The band\u2019s roots go way back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up with the original drummer Jimmy Marinos,\u201d said Still. \u201cI played with him in a band when we were in high school. And, Wally went to school with Rich. We started this band and, at the same time, would go to shows by other Detroit bands like MC5, Bob Segher and the Stooges and hang out with them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were just jamming. Then, around 1973, we got the urge to go to New York. We put some songs together, loaded up the truck and headed to New York. Before long, we were playing clubs like CBGB\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen, we headed back home. We heard the Flaming Groovies and I said to our drummer –we can do this. We played straight rock and roll like the Jam and the Groovies and we wanted to write original songs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll our predecessors in Detroit wore suits and ties. So, we went to thrift shops and got 50s\/60s clothes. We got an offer to open for MC5 and we wore these orange 60s suits. We wore them and we were all over the stage like the bands in London. We got asked by the venue to come back two weeks later and we opened for Mink Deville.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur first big show was at the Pontiac Silverdome when we were the opening act on a bill that featured Peter Frampton, the J. Geils Band and Steve Miller. We went on at 6 p.m. There were only a couple thousand people in the stadium that early but it was still an amazing experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople from Nemperor Records saw us and got in touch with us. We signed with them and released our first album in 1980. \u2018What I Like About You\u2019 was written in 1978 and finished in 1980. After that, MTV was a big part of our success.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for The Romantics — https:\/\/youtu.be\/Rqnw5IfbZOU<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Musikfest Caf\u00e9 will start at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $27-$39.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Old

Old Soul Revival<\/p><\/div>\n

Old Soul Revival a band that specializes in recreating the music of the Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers will perform at Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/span><\/a>) on July 29 at 8 p.m. On July 30, the venue will present Arden Kind, 46 Sherman and Shooting Shark.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/span><\/a>) will host singer\/songwriter\/storyteller Slaid Cleaves on July 29 at 8 p.m. On July 30, Steel City will present \u201cPhish vs. The Dead with Michael Borowski and Mike Miz.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/span><\/a>) will feature Nathan Allebach, Elk Embassy, and MIM on July 29 and Aaron Ferguson on July 30.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"ardmore\"The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com<\/i><\/span><\/a>) will present Digable Planets and Camp Lo on July 28 and 29; A \u201cJerry Week Celebration\u201d Remembering Garcia\u2019s birthday with Splintered Sunlight (Grateful Dead Tribute) and Tom Hamilton (JRAD \/ American Babies) — acoustic set and sit-in on July 30; Sarah Jarosz and Donovan Woods on July 31; and \u00a0Kaleo<\/i><\/span><\/a> on August 2.<\/span><\/p>\n

Doc Watson\u2019s Public House (150 North Pottstown Pike, Exton, 610-524-2424, docwatsonspublichouse.com<\/span><\/a>) will present MGK House Band Competition on July 29 and Civil Discard on July 30.<\/span><\/p>\n

Valley Forge Casino (1160 First Avenue, King of Prussia, 610-354-8118, www.vfcasino.com<\/span><\/a>) will present Crazy in Stereo at Valley Beach on July 30.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/span><\/a>) presents George Thorogood and the Destroyers on August 2 with the Mike Eldred Trio as the opening act.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware,\u00a0302- 475-2313,\u00a0www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org<\/span><\/a>) is presenting the classic musical \u201cMusic Man\u201d now through August 27.<\/span><\/p>\n

Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings (doors 6 p.m.\/show, 8 p.m.) and Sunday afternoons (doors, 1 p.m.\/show, 3 p.m.). Tickets, which include dinner and show, are $59 for adults and $33 for children (ages 4-12).<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Also: Rich Robinson gets past The Black Crowes By Denny Dyroff,\u00a0Staff Writer, The Times There can be good things about a buzz and there can be bad things. A buzz at an outdoor picnic can be a bad thing because it probably means that there are pesky insects in the area. A buzz in electronic […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20622,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[7752,5324,7749,7751,7750],"class_list":["post-20620","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-harpooner","tag-nalani-sarina","tag-old-soul-revival","tag-rich-robinson","tag-the-romantics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20620","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=20620"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20620\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20623,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20620\/revisions\/20623"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}