{"id":21536,"date":"2016-10-08T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-10-08T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=21536"},"modified":"2016-10-08T12:03:19","modified_gmt":"2016-10-08T16:03:19","slug":"on-stage-bonus-edition-mobley-rocks-it-alone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=21536","title":{"rendered":"On Stage (Bonus edition): Mobley rocks it alone"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"Mobley\"<\/a>

Mobley<\/p><\/div>\n

This is the time of year that bands \u2013 unless they are in the studio \u2013 love to be on the road. It is the season when touring dominates music acts\u2019 schedules.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mobley is one of those acts that has headed out on tour \u2013 a tour that visits the area on October 9 for a show at MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, 215- 925-6455, www.milkboyphilly.com<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though Mobley plays rock music, Mobley is not your typical rock band. Mobley is a one-man band feature a versatile musician from Austin, Texas.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI just fell into music when I was young,\u201d said Mobley, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from a tour stop in New Orleans. \u201cOver the course of my childhood, I studied violin then trumpet.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen, I began studying guitar \u2013 more when I was a student at the University of North Carolinas in Chapel Hill. I graduated form UNC in 2008.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOriginally, I was playing acoustic folky music. That evolved more into rock when I was in college. I started touring at the end of my college days. I recorded a couple times with various producers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEventually, I just decided that I\u2019d teach myself how to produce music and became my own producer. LogicPro is my main tool.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Mobley\u2019s live shows have always been solo affairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt shows, I\u2019d sing. I\u2019d play keyboards, guitar and bass. And, I have a drum kit that I use. On record, I add horns, violins, autoharp and harmonica.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, when I\u2019m on the road, I play mostly rock clubs. It\u2019s mostly pop music but I\u2019m also interested in drawing in some sonic textures. With my music, I want to cast a really wide net and not be limited to just one genre.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Mobley\u2019s most recent release was an EP titled \u201cSome Other Country.\u201d He also is wrapping up a new soon-to-be-released album titled \u201cFresh Lies.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the last few years, he’s composed dozens of pieces for stage and television (with placements on HBO, Fox, and NBC), played 200-plus national tour dates.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mobley has not been flying under the radar.<\/span><\/p>\n

He has had more than one million Spotify plays and over 575K Soundcloud plays. He was a CMJ 2015 official artist and a SXSW 2016 official artist.<\/span><\/p>\n

And, Mobley is not his real name.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe name came to me in a dream,\u201d said Mobley. \u201cIt originally started out as a band name and was nominally a band name until a few years ago. When I went solo, I wanted to keep the name.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Mobley — https:\/\/youtu.be\/vfViPcV42ko?t=7<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at MilkBoy, which also features Nina Diaz, will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Benyaro\"<\/a>

Benyaro<\/p><\/div>\n

It seems that bands just aren\u2019t as political as they have been in the past which is especially odd in 2016 with such a bizarre presidential election campaign going on.<\/span><\/p>\n

Benyaro, which will be performing on October 10 at Bourbon and Branch (705 North Second Street, Philadelphia, 215-238-0660, bourbonandbranchphilly.com<\/span><\/a>), is not afraid to be political.<\/span><\/p>\n

The band, which is based in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is Ben Musser’s indie-acoustic soul and roots project, which in his words, he \u201cformed to expand the boundaries of acoustic music and serve as a vehicle for my distilling artistry.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Musser is a multi-instrumentalist; a drummer, guitarist, singer, songwriter and schooled in jazz, rock, classical guitar and voice. Benyaro performs most frequently as a duo where Musser, along with an upright bass player Leif Routman, plays guitar, kick drum, hi-hat, shaker, harmonica, and his most important instrument, his voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Benyaro kicked off its current tour on August 14 with a \u201cRock the Vote\u201d show at Q Roadhouse in the band\u2019s adopted hometown of Jackson Hole.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re playing \u2018Rock the Vote\u2019 shows with the intention of getting people out to vote,\u201d said Musser, during a phone interview Wednesday from a tour stop in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re also partnering with a company called Head Count to register voters. And, we try to talk on stage to encourage people to go out and vote.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Musser, \u201cVoting is very important, no matter the choices. It may sound hyperbolic, but people die every day fighting to have that right. Many Americans take it for granted. I hope to encourage folks across the USA to shed cynicism, use your best judgement, and vote practically on November 8.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Musser and his band are warning young audiences about the dangers of having Donald Trump in the White House.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is our first time delving into the political,\u201d said Musser. \u201cOnce it became clear that it would be Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton, I felt the responsibility \u2013 especially considering the Supreme Court vacancy which is even more important.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m an outspoken person and I can\u2019t hide my feelings very well. I go out and play swing states and encourage people to vote \u2013 and to respect each other\u2019s differences.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This election season is particularly one of interest for Musser, a native of Manheim Township in Lancaster County who attended The Hill School in Pottstown alongside Donald Trump, Jr. Despite those school boy ties, Musser is actively campaigning against his former classmate\u2019s father.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHis kid was a year ahead of me and we played on the hockey team together,\u201d said Musser. \u201cHis father came and gave a talk at our school one year \u2013 and got very angry when a student asked him about his bankruptcies.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When the tour is over, Benyaro will get back to work on making a new album.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been trying to grow our sound,\u201d said Musser. \u201cThe new album is more rock and blues. We\u2019re a duo out here on the road so we\u2019re trying to use all our limbs to make as much music as possible. We\u2019re just trying to expand and build our sound.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Benyaro \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/x8va3CL2wss?t=2<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Bourbon & Branch, which also features Grayling, George Valdivia and Alejandro Meola, will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Furnsss\"<\/a>

Furnsss<\/p><\/div>\n

Furnsss, which recently played a show at PhilaMoca in Philadelphia will return to the area for a show on October 11 at Manor 99 (99 East Cleveland Avenue, Newark, Delaware, https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/events\/666927000131118\/<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Furnsss is the garage-tinged fuzz pop project led by Brendan Dyer. With compositions that call to mind what could be the raw B-sides of early Built To Spill, the band is the product of suburbia-induced boredom born out of\u00a0Connecticut.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dyer began the group with his brother Drew and their friends, brothers Nathan and Parker Nye. They split their time between Connecticut, Ohio, and Philadelphia rotating members when some are in school. Their taste in music ranges from Pavement to Velvet Underground.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dyer\u2019s take on life as a suburban youth is as ambitious as it is refreshingly raw. With voice demos recorded on phones and 8-track layers, the band finds new and interesting ways to incorporate their influences into each track while maintaining the group\u2019s glazed fuzzy aesthetic.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been about 10 years that I\u2019ve had Furnsss going,\u201d said Dyer, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from a tour stop in Houston, Texas. \u201cThe band was formed when I was in seventh grade and I\u2019m 20 now. It wasn\u2019t a serious endeavor until about two years ago.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was living in Philadelphia \u2013 actually in Lansdowne — for a while but right now, I\u2019m based in Bristol, Connecticut. I plan to move back to Philly in January. There is a pretty strong music scene in Philly and we want to be a part of it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Furnsss already has been building a catalog of recorded music.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have two albums and two EPs that you can stream on Spotify,\u201d said Dyer. \u201cOur most recent record is called \u2018New Moves\u2019 and it came out in August 2015. A New York label pressed it on colored vinyl.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe previous album was self-titled and recorded when I was a sophomore in high school. It\u2019s still available online but we don\u2019t play any of its songs in our live show anymore.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOn this tour, we do \u2018New Moves\u2019 songs and a lot of new songs. The band\u2019s line-up is always changing. Right now, it\u2019s a five-piece with three guitars, bass and drums. For years, the only constant member other than me is Tom Nagy on bass.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to say what\u2019s next. We\u2019ve already tracked 10 songs in July that we\u2019re sitting on. We\u2019ve been on tour for a while so I\u2019m a little burned out. I think I\u2019ll chill for a bit and do some writing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Furnsss \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/rvmoOCQEzfI?t=2<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Manor 99, which also features Arthur Shea, Bread Pilot and SadHound, will start at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re planning on attending Ice Nine Kills\u2019 show on October 12 at the Voltage Lounge (421 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia, 215- 964-9602, www.voltagelounge.com<\/span><\/a>), you better rent a tux or a dinner jacket and\/or break out a formal or semi-formal dress.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ice<\/a>

Ice Nine Kills<\/p><\/div>\n

Ice Nine Kills is a metal band from Boston known for its horror-inspired lyrics. The band was formed in 2006 by high school friends Spencer Charnas and Jeremy Schwartz. Charnas is currently the only remaining founding member.<\/span><\/p>\n

Recently, Ice Nine Kills\u00a0announced that its fall headline tour that would give fans\u00a0a unique opportunity to experience prom like never before.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sponsored by\u00a0Alternative Press Magazine,\u00a0\u201cThe Hell In The Hallways Tour\u201d plays off the band’s cinematic video for their song\u00a0\u201cHell in the Hallways,\u201d which creates a fresh, new spin on the 1976 cult classic film\u00a0\u201cCarrie,\u201d based on Stephen King’s 1974 novel of the same name.<\/span><\/p>\n

With no\u00a0details spared, fans are encouraged to wear their most elegant prom attire to the show, where there will be a prom king and queen crowned each night.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt seems that kids are really responding to the theme of the tour,\u201d said Charnas, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from a tour stop in Atlanta.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019ve learned that doing things outside the norm is something they can relate to. We wanted to provide an experience \u2013 a definitive theme. We try not to break out of character the whole show.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe \u2018Hell in the Hallway\u2019 story is based on Stephen King\u2019s \u2018Carrie.\u2019 Our backdrop on stage depicts a school location and the show is narrated by a principal\u2019s voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very much set up like a prom \u2013 but no-one is slow dancing like they do at proms. Instead, there is a lot of moshing and crowd-surfing. The screaming and diversity of outfits makes it fun.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, we pick a prom queen and prom king every show. We\u2019re looking for people who really put a lot into how they look. At one show, we had a girl dressed as Carrie and covered in blood. Some guys have the Ice Nine Kills logo on their tuxedos.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ice Nine Kills is touring in support of its latest album\u00a0\u201cEvery Trick In The Book,\u201d which showcases the band\u2019s love for storytelling and reflects on the dark side of such classic stories.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019re playing every single song from \u2018Every Trick in the Book\u2019 and more,\u201d said Charnas. \u201cWe generally play \u2018Hell in the Hallway\u2019 in the middle of the set \u2013 right after we announce the king and queen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Ice Nine Kills \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/_JM45T2XBZI?t=5<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at the Voltage Lounge, which also features Secrets, Sylar, Out Came The Wolves and Cover Your Tracks, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $16.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Giant<\/a>

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad<\/p><\/div>\n

Another show on October 12 will have a completely different vibe when 12 Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad take the stage at the World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

In recent years the band\u2019s studio recordings, which showcase the group\u2019s songwriting and musicianship across all genres of roots music, have further cemented the band\u2019s reputation as master innovators and artists.<\/span><\/p>\n

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad was formed in 2004 when childhood friends Chris O\u2019Brian, James Searl, and Matt O\u2019Brian teamed up with local Rochester guitar player Dylan Savage and started playing shows in Ithaca, New York.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prior to 2004 the guys had been playing music together for several years in their home town of Rochester, New York. Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad based their name off a fictional band \u201cGiant Panda Gypsy Blues Band\u201d in the novel \u201cAnother Roadside Attraction\u201d by Tom Robbins.<\/span><\/p>\n

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad first received praise for its live show, which combined world beats and reggae rhythms within jam band aesthetics. The band has released six albums \u2013 the most recent being \u201cMake It Better,\u201d which came out earlier this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMe and James and Dylan are original members,\u201d said Chris O\u2019Brian, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon form a tour stop in Brooklyn.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDan Keller has been in the band for four years and Tony Gallicchio joined two years ago. We\u2019re definitely very comfortable with each other. \u2018Make It Better\u2019 is the first full album we\u2019ve done with this line-up.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019ve been making music together since we\u2019ve been kids \u2013 rock and roll, funk and jamming. We grew up with bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. We were into bands like Phish and the Grateful Dead at the start. Then, as we listened more to reggae, our sound progressed into reggae.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor this album, James and I got together with producer Matt Goodwin in Farmington, New York. Then, he moved his studio to downtown Rochester so we finished the album there at Black Dog Studio.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJames and I tracked it about a year ago. We spent a lot of time working on it. We put it out on Rootfire Collective and did the release ourselves. It finally came out on September 16 and immediately reached the Number One slot on iTunes and Billboard reggae charts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/Kv6f7J_V0gg?t=5<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live, which also features Kuf Knotz and Dubsmith, will start 8 p.m. Tickets are $20.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff,\u00a0Staff Writer, The Times This is the time of year that bands \u2013 unless they are in the studio \u2013 love to be on the road. It is the season when touring dominates music acts\u2019 schedules. Mobley is one of those acts that has headed out on tour \u2013 a tour that visits […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21538,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[8044,6518,8045,6720,8046,8043],"class_list":["post-21536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-benyaro","tag-featured","tag-furnsss","tag-giant-panda-guerilla-dub-squad","tag-ice-nine-kills","tag-mobley"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21536","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=21536"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21536\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21537,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21536\/revisions\/21537"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/21538"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}