{"id":25082,"date":"2017-07-16T09:26:06","date_gmt":"2017-07-16T13:26:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=25082"},"modified":"2017-07-16T09:26:08","modified_gmt":"2017-07-16T13:26:08","slug":"on-stage-extra-gilfillian-returns-to-his-roots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=25082","title":{"rendered":"On Stage (Extra): Gilfillian returns to his roots"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Devon Gilfillian<\/p><\/div>\n

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>,\u00a0Staff Writer, The Times<\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not uncommon for musicians who have relocated to different cities to return to their hometowns to perform in concert for their welcoming fans.<\/p>\n

Such is the case with Devon Gilfillian.<\/p>\n

Gilfillian grew up in suburban Philadelphia \u2013 in Morton in Delaware County \u2013 and then got his degree from West Chester University.<\/p>\n

A few years ago, the young and talented soul\/blues artist relocated to Nashville, Tennessee. Now, he is coming back to the Delaware Valley for a pair of shows.<\/p>\n

On July 18, Gilfillian will play a free outdoor show at Eagleview Town Center (540 Wellington Square, Exton, http:\/\/eagleviewtowncenter.com\/july-concerts<\/a>).<\/p>\n

On July 19, he will headline a show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com).<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re off the road for about a week,\u201d said Gilfillian, during a phone interview Monday afternoon from his home in the Music City.<\/p>\n

\u201cI head up to Philly next week to hang with the family and do shows at Eagleview and World Caf\u00e9. We have a show in D.C. and then had back home. After that, we\u2019ll be doing festivals \u2013 including Musikfest in Bethlehem.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gilfillian\u2019s music meshes together gospel-blues and southern soul. Both styles are upfront on his self-titled debut EP which is powered by groove, guitar, and the powerful punch of Gilfillian’s voice.<\/p>\n

His songs and vocals show the influence of artists such as Al Green, Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding and Ray Charles but also display the young artist\u2019s originality.<\/p>\n

The five-song EP or originals is a showcase for Gilfillian\u2019s abundant talents as a singer, songwriter and kickass guitarist.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dad is a musician \u2013 a wedding singer and a percussionist,\u201d said Gilfillian. \u201cI\u2019ve been singing since I was in elementary school \u2013 Motown, old soul, Ray Charles. My dad introduced me to it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat put the nail in the coffin was when I picked up electric guitar when I was 14. I was listening to \u2018Under the Bridge\u2019 by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and my dad said \u2013 that guy sounds like Jimi Hendrix.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know Jimi Hendrix at all. So, my dad got me the \u2018Jimi Hendrix Greatest Hits\u2019 CD. Listening to the music Jimi Hendix made changed everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

But, music wasn\u2019t the main thing on Gilfillian\u2019s plate back then \u2013 education was.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went to West Chester University to major in psychology,\u201d said Gilfillian. \u201cIn high school, I had a band called Black Sheep. When I was at West Chester, I did solo gigs and acoustic shows.<\/p>\n

\u201cI graduated from WCU in 2013. After that, I spent a year working for a non-profit \u2013 AmeriCorps\u2019 \u2018Rebuilding Together.\u2019 I got accepted to work at a program here in Nashville.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRebuilding Together\u201d is dedicated to national service. Every year, \u201cRebuilding Together\u2019 engages more than 80 AmeriCorps members to make an impact on homeowners and in communities across the country. They develop and apply valuable professional skills, earn money for education, and are active citizens in the local community.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first got to Nashville, I played guitar and sang for random bands,\u201d said Gilfillian. \u201cOne of them was Black Cat Crossing, a Delta Blues cover band.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter I got done with AmeriCorps, I started working at City Winery (a restaurant\/winery barrel room\/entertainment venue in Nashville). I met my drummer Jonathan Smalt there.<\/p>\n

\u201cJonathan is also my manager and his friend Taylor Thompson is now my bass player. My band, which I\u2019ve had together for 14 months, also includes Carson Cody on keyboards and Zac Smith on guitar, harmonica and percussion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI recorded the EP in February 2016 at Fat Back Studio in East Nashville. At the time, I was listening to a lot of Staples Singers as well as Jimi and Otis. We recorded the EP over a course of three days.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Devon Gilfillian — https:\/\/youtu.be\/X322S_lcns8.<\/p>\n

The show at Eagleview Town Center, which has Dirty Dollhouse as the opening act, will start at 7 p.m. Admission is free.<\/p>\n

Video link for Dirty Dollhouse — https:\/\/youtu.be\/xBVZIZpw_Hk.<\/p>\n

The show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live, which has the Chris Jacobs as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at the World Caf\u00e9 Live are Charles Havira with Band and OXBLOOD, BobbyrocK on July 16; The Nightowls on July 18; and The Crane Wives on July 19.<\/p>\n

David Olney is a musician who has been around the block \u2013 and then some. On July 16, Olney is headed to the country for a low-key event.<\/p>\n

On Sunday evening, Olney will perform a solo show at Landhaven Bed and Breakfast (1194 Huffs Church Road, Barto, 610-845-3257, www.landhavenbandb.com).<\/p>\n

Olney released his first solo record \u201cEye of the Storm\u201d on Philo\/Rounder Records in 1986. On March 31, 2017, he released his 28th solo LP \u201cDon\u2019t Try to Fight It\u201d on Red Parlor Records.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of the songs on the new album are pretty old and some were written last year,\u201d said Olney, during a phone interview Monday afternoon from his home in Nashville, Tennessee. \u201cWhen I go into to record an album, I look for songs that fit together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t Try to Fight It\u201d was recorded at The Big Muddy Recording Studio in Carleton Place, Ontario.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went there because I wanted to work with this Canadian producer Brock Zeman,\u201d said Olney. \u201cMy goal was to drop it in his lap and not micromanage.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was no theme for the album. I think the way it came about \u2013 my manager sent demos to Brock. Then, Brock listened to them and said \u2013 let\u2019s do this one and let\u2019s do that one.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s definitely not a concept album. I wanted to do some slower ballad songs and not just rockers. When I was growing up, that\u2019s the way it was done.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Beatles would do \u2018Day Tripper\u2019 and \u2018Yesterday\u2019 on the same album. Even before rock and roll, Frank Sinatra tried to show different sides of his personality by recording both fast songs and slow songs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The recording of the album flowed smoothly when Olney and Zeman began working together.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe narrowed it down to 10 songs on the LP,\u201d said Olney, whose songs have been covered by such artists as Linda Ronstadt, Del McCoury, Mimi Fari\u00f1a and The Wailin\u2019 Jennys.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere wasn\u2019t any extra stuff. When you have a limited budget, you have to make the decision beforehand. I went up to Toronto last spring and had one week to get my part done. Then, I dumped it on Brock and he worked on it for six months.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s also a performer and the session players he used were guys from his band. I\u2019d record vocals and guitar here in Nashville and send the tracks to Brock. He\u2019d try different things with the tracks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen, he said come up and do vocals and guitar with the tracks he had worked on. The first thing we did when I got up there was me playing harmonica through a bullhorn. It was good for me to get out of my comfort zone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for David Olney \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/SbMFQZ4ey1U?list=PLgEy8Q519zDxmZWpycWb6mfH8FJgPbRaY.<\/p>\n

The show at Landhaven B&B will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25. All Concerts are BYOB and children over 12 are welcome.<\/p>\n

People are drawn to becoming musicians in many different ways \u2013 music at home when they were young, a teacher at school, seeing a band play live \u2013 the possibilities are endless.<\/p>\n

For the members of the band Morgan Heritage, the path to their existence was definitely guided by genetics.<\/p>\n

Morgan Heritage, which is performing on July 19 at the Theatre of the Living Arts (334 South Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1011, http:\/\/www.lnphilly.com), is a reggae band formed in 1994 by five children of reggae artist Denroy Morgan — Peter \u201cPeetah\u201d Morgan, Una Morgan, Roy \u201cGramps\u201d Morgan, Nakhamyah \u201cLukes\u201d Morgan, and Memmalatel \u201cMr. Mojo\u201d Morgan.<\/p>\n

Denroy Morgan is a veteran reggae start whose debut album \u201cI\u2019ll Do Anything for You\u201d came out in 1981. His children were all musical growing up and have since formed two separate bands and several solo acts.<\/p>\n

The dancehall band LMS features Noshayah Morgan, Otiyah \u201cLaza\u201d Morgan and Miriam Morgan. Otiyah Morgan and Roy Morgan are successful solo acts and Roy Morgan\u2019s son Jemere Morgan has also launched a solo music career.<\/p>\n

Morgan Heritage is now touring in support of its new album \u201cAvrakedabra,\u201d which was just released on the band\u2019s own independent label CTBC (Cool To Be Conscious) Music Group.<\/p>\n

In the wake of the quintet\u2019s historical Grammy Award win for Best Reggae Album as the Producer and Artist for \u201cStrictly Roots,\u201d Morgan Heritage has kept the momentum going with another classic album.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded \u2018Avrakedabra\u2019 on five different continents as we toured the world,\u201d said Peetah Morgan, during a phone interview Friday afternoon from a tour stop in Brooklyn, New York.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of recording was done in our hotels. We\u2019d set up our recording equipment in the hotel\u2019s meeting room. We also would go to real studios in different cities for a day or two when we had the time \u2013 Paris, London, Miami, New York and Jamaica.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeveral of us live in Florida now while Gramps lives in Nashville and Jamaica. But, our musical business is based in Jamaica. Our roots are in St. Thomas, Jamaica.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morgan Heritage never really took time off to sit and compose songs for the new album.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are able to write on the road,\u201d said Morgan. \u201cWe never stop writing. You never know when inspiration is going to hit. An album is never really completed until the very end. Sometimes, we get a new song as the album is being mixed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did the final part of the recording at Circle House, which is Inner Circle\u2019s studio in Miami. It\u2019s a beautiful complex. We spent about four weeks mixing the album. And, even during the mixing phase, we\u2019d sometimes change the mix.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morgan Heritage\u2019s new album honors the band\u2019s roots in classic reggae but also includes elements of today\u2019s hip-hop and EDM music genres.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith our music, we don\u2019t want to make our grandparents\u2019 music,\u201d said Morgan. \u201cWe want to appeal to the younger generation. With Morgan Heritage, we refuse to be pigeonholed.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s audience doesn\u2019t want to hear Jacob Miller or Black Uhuru. To stay current, you\u2019ve got to be an innovator \u2013 to push the envelope. We don\u2019t want our music to sound like it was made 35 years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Morgan Heritage — https:\/\/youtu.be\/yYtVDTQxjLk.<\/p>\n

The show at TLA will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $19.50.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff,\u00a0Staff Writer, The Times It\u2019s not uncommon for musicians who have relocated to different cities to return to their hometowns to perform in concert for their welcoming fans. Such is the case with Devon Gilfillian. Gilfillian grew up in suburban Philadelphia \u2013 in Morton in Delaware County \u2013 and then got his degree […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25084,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[9202,9201,6518],"class_list":["post-25082","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-david-olney","tag-delford-gilfillian","tag-featured"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25082","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=25082"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25082\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25083,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25082\/revisions\/25083"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25082"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}