{"id":25571,"date":"2017-08-24T14:00:07","date_gmt":"2017-08-24T18:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=25571"},"modified":"2017-08-25T08:08:31","modified_gmt":"2017-08-25T12:08:31","slug":"on-stage-dee-jay-silver-puts-new-spin-on-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=25571","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Dee Jay Silver puts new spin on country"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"\"<\/a>

Dee Jay Silver<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s easy to assume that a musical act with the name Dee Jay Silver would be a Day-Glo drenched EDM (electronic dance music) act. However, if the artist\u2019s name were Jay Dee Silver, it would sound much more like a country act.<\/p>\n

On August 25, Dee Jay Silver will be performing at the BB&T Pavilion (1 Harbour Boulevard, Camden, New Jersey, 856-225-0163, www.livenation.com<\/a>) \u2013 treating the fans there to his own distinct sound as the opener on Jason Aldean\u2019s \u201cThey Don\u2019t Know Tour.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aldean is one of America\u2019s top country acts with a string of hit singles and albums, including his 2010 album \u201cMy Kinda Party\u201d which is certified quadruple-platinum.<\/p>\n

Silver is a country act. And, he is a DJ spinning music to get people on their feet dancing.<\/p>\n

RCA Nashville recording artist Dee Jay Silver has been a top touring DJ\/remixer\/producer for the past 15 years, having played in premier venues in virtually every major market in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.<\/p>\n

The groundbreaking open-format DJ\/performer has thrilled millions with his unique ability to blend all types of music from hip hop and rock to house and country for crowds of all sizes as well as on mash-ups and remixes.<\/p>\n

Silver has been traveling the world playing every kind of event and venue from the largest nightclubs, high-profile celebrity parties and exclusive private events to massive sporting events, award shows, major music festivals and arena tours and all that\u2019s in between.<\/p>\n

\u201cI play a whole lot of songs and I play them fast,\u201d said Silver, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from his home in Nashville, Tennessee.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it\u2019s not a song you like, just wait a minute or two and I will be playing a song you like.\u201d<\/p>\n

Silver began DJing while attending college in Arkansas and later moved to Springfield, Missouri. While working as a doorman for a club in Springfield, his interest peaked and he began opening up the dance floor until the headlining DJ would come on.<\/p>\n

According to Silver, \u201cOne gig turned into the next. Back in the day, you didn\u2019t have computers, YouTube, or schools to learn how to DJ. If you were going to DJ, you had to learn from another DJ.<\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing up in Texas, country music was all I ever heard. I was very versed in country music, so I\u2019ve always mixed it in. I\u2019m so happy to see that \u2018Country Remix\u2019 is actually a genre now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Silver\u2019s exposure to music started when he was just a kid.<\/p>\n

\u201cI sang in churches when I was young,\u201d said Silver. \u201cAnd, my dad played guitar on the porch. Then, go to college and the world changes. I was still into country but I also gravitated to big house music.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was in college, I got into N.W.A. and gangster rap. Older house music became my favorite. DJing is exciting. It draws you in. I\u2019ve been doing it for 20 years. Every day, I can\u2019t wait until I do my next show.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about being creative and relating to your crowd. No matter what song it is, people will dance if it\u2019s presented right. If they\u2019re familiar with a song, that\u2019s what makes them more comfortable to have a better time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Silver successfully was able to build his career with one foot in dance and one foot in country.<\/p>\n

\u201cWherever I played, I was the guy known for mixing in country,\u201d said Silver. \u201cClub owners would say \u2013 I know you\u2019re going to play some country so, when you do, get in and get out.<\/p>\n

\u201cSoon, the club owners realized that the fans loved it, Now, they\u2019re hiring me to play country 12 days at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

\u201cCountry music is something that people can relate to. Hip-hop is different. I don\u2019t have a Bugatti in my driveway \u2013 very few people do. Hip-hop \u2013 no-one is living like that.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, everybody knows \u2018Wagon Wheel\u2019 and \u2018Any Ol\u2019 Barstool\u2019 (country hits by Darius Rucker and Jason Aldean). It\u2019s just good laid-back music that people want to sit back and listen to with a beer.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2013, Silver signed a recording contract with RCA Nashville, becoming the first DJ to be signed to a major Nashville label. His 2013 EP, \u201cCountry Club,\u201d features creative and rhythmic country mash-ups of some of the format\u2019s most popular and beloved artists, including Alabama, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Jake Owen, and Love and Theft.<\/p>\n

In April of 2014, Silver launched a nationally syndicated weekly radio show called \u201cThe Country Club with Dee Jay Silver\u201d via the Sun Broadcast Group. Each week, the show features up-tempo mixes and mash-ups of hits from country\u2019s biggest stars and newcomers, with an infusion of unique rhythms as well as tracks from other genres.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just love house music and all its energy,\u201d said Silver. \u201cI look for new songs every day. But, old music is just as important. In this digital age, no-one listens to just one style of music anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two new activities have been added to Silver\u2019s hectic schedule \u2013 fatherhood and his own kids\u2019 clothing line called Nice Nice Babies (https:\/\/nicenicebabies.com\/<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\u201cMy son Wake Silver Perdue will be one-year old on September 1,\u201d said Silver. \u201cSo, I wanted a clothing line of cool shirts for my kid \u2013 and for other kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Dee Jay Silver \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/wJdN7y98J-c<\/a><\/p>\n

Jason Aldean\u2019s \u201cThey Don\u2019t Know Tour\u201d featuring Dee Jay Silver will start at 7:30 on August 25 at the BB&T Pavilion will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets prices range from $25.50-$65.50.<\/p>\n

Most people are familiar with Mexican music \u2013 especially Mariachi bands. And, many music fans are familiar with Mexican-American bands such as Los Lobos, P.O.D. and Los Lonely Boys.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

LOLAA<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s a safe bet that not many are familiar with Mexican-Canadian bands. But, you can get to experience a Mexican-Canadian band if you head down to the Barbary (951 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-634-7400, www.facebook.com\/thebarbary<\/a>) on August 25.<\/p>\n

On Friday night, the popular music venue in Philly\u2019s Fishtown neighborhood will host LOLAA \u2013 a band featuring Mexican-Canadian sisters Lex Valentine and Nadia Valerie King.<\/p>\n

While there is definitely Mexican music in their sonic DNA, the sisters play music that is better described as indie-rock. The Toronto-based sisters released their eponymous debut EP on May 22.<\/p>\n

Valentine and King emerged in 2016 as LOLAA and released their debut single, \u201cAlways Been<\/a>.\u201d The song featured backing vocals from \u201990s dance icon, Simone Denny of Love Inc.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe and Nadia have played together for a long time,\u201d said Valentine, during a phone interview Monday afternoon from her home in Toronto. \u201cWe were in Magneta Lane for 10 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

King and Valentine represented two-thirds of Toronto\u2019s Magneta Lane, a project begun in high school. That band released its debut record when the sisters were still in their mid-teens.<\/p>\n

When 2015 rolled around, King and Valentine were ready to take it to another level and began writing sessions in the studio with producer Jon Drew \u2013 music that featured drums, bass, movement, rhythm, pop-infused vocals and no-limits songwriting.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love working with my sister,\u201d said Valentine, the elder sister. \u201cWe\u2019re completely opposite \u2013 and we\u2019re good at being honest with each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing up, I remember being the sibling who got into vocal lessons. I was classically trained as a soprano \u2013 and then my voice dropped.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy sister was always the shy one. We joined a choir together when we were young. We wrote silly songs together and realized it was fun.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter a while, we got into things other than music. It was that way for a couple years and then our interest in music sparked up again. We were listening to music from the early-to-mid-2000s.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur mom was a big fan of bands like the Doors and Creedence Clearwater. Plus, we grew up in a Mexican household so we were influenced by a lot of Mexican pop music.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother influence was the powerful female front women from the 1980s \u2013 singers like Debbie Harry. Blondie\u2019s \u2018Parallel Lines\u2019 album was one of the reasons I wanted to be a lead singer.\u201d<\/p>\n

The sisters\u2019 time spent in Magneta Lane set the stage for LOLAA.<\/p>\n

\u201cMagneta Lane was an indie-rock three-piece \u2013 guitar, bass and drums with one vocal,\u201d said Valentine. \u201cWith this project, we experiment more with synths and other things. It was a natural progression of where we wanted to go.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is more emphasis on percussion. Our producer Jon Drew is an exceptionally-talented drummer. He\u2019s helped stretch our limit. We have a great dynamic.\u201d<\/p>\n

LOLAA is also looking back to its roots.<\/p>\n

According to Valentine, \u201cThe thing about Latin Americans is that our culture is so colorful. We are always smiling and laughing. We love to dance. We feel immensely – passion, sadness – we celebrate life. We wanted LOLAA to have these ideas at its core, no matter what shape the songs took.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of the songs have gone bi-lingual.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now, we\u2019re in the studio recording a Spanish version of our new EP,\u201d said Valentine. \u201cThere is something powerful about being Mexican and growing up in North America.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for LOLAA — https:\/\/youtu.be\/dnM81r5GeAc<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the Barbary, which also features Retroglyphs and Hueman Garbij, will start at 8:15 p.m. Tickets are $10.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Neal Morse Band<\/p><\/div>\n

The music made by the Neal Morse Band will never be classified as \u201ceasy listening\u201d music.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to say the music made by Morse and his stellar group of players is not enjoyable because it is fun to listen to. But, grasping the complexity of the music and following along with the stories in the lyrics is not so easy. Actually, it takes work on the part of the listener.<\/p>\n

A prime example is the new album just released by the Neal Morse Band \u2013 an album that will be introduced to area fans when the band performs in concert on August 26 at the Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The Neal Morse Band — singer\/guitarist\/keyboardist Neal Morse, drummer Mike Portnoy, bassist Randy George, keyboardist Bill Hubauer and guitarist Eric Gillette \u2013 treated fans to an intellectually challenging double-CD.<\/p>\n

The album is \u201cThe Similitude of A Dream,\u201d which was recently released on Radiant Records via Metal Blade Records\/Sony. The album, which has A running time of more than 100 minutes, is loosely based on the book \u201cThe Pilgrim\u2019s Progress.\u201d<\/p>\n

Officially titled \u201cThe Pilgrim\u2019s Progress from This World, to That Which Is to Come.\u201d is a 1678<\/a> Christian<\/a> allegory<\/a> written by John Bunyan<\/a>. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of religious English literature<\/a>, has been translated into more than 200 languages, and has never been out of print.<\/p>\n

The entire book is presented as a dream sequence narrated by an omniscient narrator. The allegory’s protagonist, Christian, is an everyman character, and the plot centers on his journey from his hometown, the \u201cCity of Destruction\u201d (\u201cthis world\u201d), to the \u201cCelestial City\u201d (\u201cthat which is to come\u201d — heaven) atop Mount Zion<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis album almost plays itself,\u201d said Morse, during a phone interview Tuesday morning from a tour stop in New York City. \u201cIt has such a flow to it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did the first writing session in January 2016 and we did most of the recording last spring. We mixed it in the summer and it was released on November 16.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was the only one really reading the book and going from it. I ended up writing all the words for the album. Musically, I\u2019d tell the band \u2013 this is what\u2019s going on in the story and this is the music it needs. Everyone worked on the mood of the piece.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Similitude of a Dream\u201d is the eighth studio album with Morse, Portnoy and George, and the second as a true collaboration with this current lineup.<\/p>\n

According to Morse, \u201cThe book chronicles the spiritual journey of a man from the City of Destruction to the place of Deliverance. Someone had suggested to me that I do a concept album based on this book, but I kind of forgot about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen when I began writing new songs last December, the suggestion came to my mind. I had never read the book, so I Googled the SparkNotes story outline and began to write some little song bits and instrumentals based on what I had read.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose bits combined with the ideas that the other guys brought to the table then miraculously exploded into this double concept album.”<\/p>\n

Morse was able to get his band in line with what he was looking for.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had this burst of creativity,\u201d said Morse. \u201cI\u2019d think \u2013 if he\u2019s leaving the City of Destruction, what would it sound like?<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of recurring themes in the album. When we wrote the songs, it got linear. At times, I wasn\u2019t sure where the music should go, so I went back to the book.\u201d<\/p>\n

Morse has been a major player in the prog rock scene for the last two decades.<\/p>\n

In the mid \u201990s he formed the quirky Spock\u2019s Beard, whose debut recording, \u201cThe Light,\u201d was an unexpected success. Over the next seven years, Spock\u2019s Beard released six critically-acclaimed studio recordings and multiple live recordings while establishing a passionate fan base in the prog rock community.<\/p>\n

In 2000, he formed the prog supergroup Transatlantic with drumming legend Mike Portnoy (formerly with Dream Theater), Marillion\u2019s Pete Trewavas and The Flower Kings\u2019 Roine Stolt.<\/p>\n

In 2001, Morse became a born-again Christian, left Spock\u2019s Beard and began a Christian rock solo career, releasing many progressive rock concept albums about his new religious faith. In the meantime, he continued to play with Transatlantic and formed three new bands, Yellow Matter Custard, Flying Colors and The Neal Morse Band.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started going to church with my wife in the church she grew up in,\u201d said Morse. \u201cAfter a while, I experienced something I had never experienced before. I experienced the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI quit Transatlantic and initially lost about half my fans because of the switch. Ultimately, I gained some. I gave my life to God and I\u2019m happy with what we have.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Similitude of a Dream\u201d is available in various formats — a two CD package, a Special Edition with the two CDs and \u201cThe Making of A Dream\u201d DVD, or as three vinyl records along with two CDs.<\/p>\n

\u201cNormal music fans might not listen to a project like this all the way to the end but prog fans will,\u201d said Morse. \u201cIn the prog world, the longer it is the better it will sell. They want the picture book and they\u2019re really ravenous for the music.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Neal Morse Band \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/8PNDS-_rmhQ<\/a><\/p>\n

The show at the Keswick Theater on August 26 will start at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Ticket prices range from $29.50-$65.<\/p>\n

The Keswick will also present Stephen Stills & Judy Collins with Kenny White on August 25 at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Varials<\/p><\/div>\n

Varials, a young metalcore band based in suburban Philadelphia, just released its debut album and now are introducing it to fans with a CD release show on August 26 at The Voltage Lounge (421 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia, 215- 964-9602, www.voltagelounge.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The hard-hitting quintet — Travis Tabron (vocals), Mitchell Rogers (guitar), James Hohenwarter (guitar), Sean Rauchut (drums) and Mike Foley (bass) \u2013has developed a sound that blends metallic unpredictability and hardcore spirit.<\/p>\n

\u201cSean started the band on his first day in college at Montgomery County Community College,\u201d said Tabron, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from his home in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t in the band then. I went on tour with them in 2014 running the merch table. I\u2019d also do a guest spot every night.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter a while, they booted their original vocalist. Sean called me and asked if I wanted to do it. It was a great opportunity for me.<\/p>\n

The group\u2019s debut\u00a0EP \u201cAbsolution\u201d yielded a string of fan favorites such as \u201cDeadweather\u201d and \u201cStigmata,\u201d which both cracked 100K Spotify streams.<\/p>\n

Varials approach heavy music from a different angle altogether on their full-length debut,\u00a0\u201cPain Again,\u201d which is out on Fearless Records. This mindset expands the possibilities of \u201cheavy\u201d throughout 11 bruising songs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded \u2018Pain Again\u2019 in February this year,\u201d said Tabron, a graduate of Perkiomen Valley High.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll our previous stuff was self-produced but we made the album with producer Josh Schroeder at Random Awesome Studio in Saginaw, Michigan.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had the studio booked for six weeks and we knocked the album out in two weeks. I only had four or five songs written from before we went there.<\/p>\n

I wrote new material in Studio B and while we were actually recording.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wrote 9.5 of the 11 songs. I work on the demos myself and play bass, drums, guitar and vocals. Then, I bring what I have to the band and it goes from there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a concept for the album a year before I started writing. I knew how the songs were supposed to feel. A lot of the songs lyrically touch off each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe theme of the album is bitter\u2026painful\u2026but it\u2019s also very calculated and precise. It\u2019s definitely an entire piece and not a collection of 11 songs. It\u2019s a contribution to the metalcore genre.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for the Varials \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/Fd8Elk-Fe-A<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at The Voltage Lounge, which also features Left Behind, Vicious Embrace and Mercy Blow, will start at 6 p.m. Tickets are $14.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

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

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) will present Glenmoore\u2019s The POF with <\/a>Elastic Blur, Kiana Corley<\/a> on August 25; Chicago 9 – A Tribute to Chicago on August 26; and Melodramatic, Eric Perez, Kaloni Baylor, and Marielle Kraft<\/a> on August 27.<\/p>\n

The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/a>) will host the Doubleclicks on August 25 and Bluestime and Some Hands on August 26.<\/p>\n

The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com<\/a>) will present Roots of Creation + Flux Capacitor<\/a> on August 24; Echoes (Pink Floyd tribute)<\/a> on August 25; and\u00a0 Splintered Sunlight (Grateful Dead tribute)<\/a> with special guest Kenny Brooks (RatDog), along with The Hoppin\u2019 Boxcars<\/a> on August 26.<\/p>\n

Valley Forge Casino (1160 First Avenue, King Of Prussia, 610-354-8118, www.vfcasino.com<\/a>) will present comedian Jim Breuer at The Venue with shows at 7 and 10 p.m.<\/p>\n

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/a>) will host Selwyn Birchwood<\/a> on August 23; The Fabulous Thunderbirds featuring Kim Wilson<\/a> along with Upright Man<\/a>on August 24; Bob Schneider<\/a> and Clarence Bucaro<\/a> on August 25; and Live At The Fillmore<\/a> on August 26.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times It\u2019s easy to assume that a musical act with the name Dee Jay Silver would be a Day-Glo drenched EDM (electronic dance music) act. However, if the artist\u2019s name were Jay Dee Silver, it would sound much more like a country act. On August 25, Dee Jay Silver […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25573,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[9374,6518,9376,9375,9378,9377],"class_list":["post-25571","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-dee-jay-silver","tag-featured","tag-lolaa","tag-neal-morse-band","tag-the-pof","tag-varials"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25571","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=25571"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25571\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25574,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25571\/revisions\/25574"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25573"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25571"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25571"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25571"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}