{"id":26271,"date":"2017-10-21T12:54:33","date_gmt":"2017-10-21T16:54:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=26271"},"modified":"2017-10-21T12:54:38","modified_gmt":"2017-10-21T16:54:38","slug":"on-stage-extra-jj-grey-and-the-music-of-the-swamp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=26271","title":{"rendered":"On Stage (Extra) JJ Grey and the music of the swamp"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"\"<\/a>

JJ Grey<\/p><\/div>\n

JJ Grey doesn\u2019t hollowly boast about \u201cdraining the swamp\u201d but rather brings the music of the swamp to listeners around the world.<\/p>\n

Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Grey and his band JJ Grey & Mofro are known for playing lively southern swamp rock.<\/p>\n

On October 21, JJ Grey & Mofro will visit the area for a show at Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215-232-2100, www.utphilly.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Unlike most music acts on tour, Grey is not on the road in support of a new album. The band\u2019s most recent disc was \u201cOl\u2019 Glory\u201d in 2015.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been in the studio but I\u2019m taking my time,\u201d said Grey, during a recent phone interview from a tour stop in Portland, Maine.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been on the road a lot.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, Hurricane Matthew wiped out my house last year. We had to lift the house five feet and cut it loose from the slab. They put in four giant steel beams and then tied the house together.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been slow putting together a new record because it\u2019s been hard to find the time. I\u2019m going to jump back into the studio heavier after this tour.\u201d<\/p>\n

From the days of playing greasy local juke joints to headlining major festivals, JJ Grey remains an unfettered, blissful performer, singing with a blue-collared spirit over the bone-deep grooves of his compositions.<\/p>\n

The early days of Mofro can be traced back to the mid-nineties when John Higginbotham aka \u201cJJ Grey” and Daryl Hance signed with a United Kingdom label and played shows in Europe as Mofro Magic.<\/p>\n

Grey and Hance met in their hometown of Jacksonville, Florida while working for an air conditioning company and developed a friendship through music.<\/p>\n

Their first band together was a rock band called Faith Nation followed by a funk band called Alma Zuma. The deal with the record label in London fell through, and Grey and Hance returned to their native Jacksonville and formed Mofro.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started the band in 1998,\u201d said Grey. \u201cNone of the guys who are with me now were there back then when I was doing Mofro. The name Mofro came from what a guy at work called me. I didn\u2019t even have a set band then. A lot of guys have played with me over the years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just stumbled my way into music. I was always doing it but never took it too serious. I never made it my life. I live my life and music just happens. It\u2019s just something I did.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always felt like something I could do. I just started out singing in cover bands at home. I always had friends with bands that didn\u2019t have a singer so they\u2019d call me. Finally, I just started doing my own thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Grey explained how John Higginbotham became JJ Grey.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy family used to call ne John John and Grey is my middle name,\u201d said Grey. \u201cHigginbotham was just too long a name. Jerry Reed (Jerry Reed Hubbard) and Ray Charles (Ray Charles Robinson) used their middle names too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for JJ Grey & Mofro \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/Tz5LuXmoBsQ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Union Transfer, which has The Commonheart as opening act, will start at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $25.<\/p>\n

Another show in Philly on October 21 will feature an act from the other end of the music spectrum \u2013 the EDM and trap sounds of KRANE.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

KRANE<\/p><\/div>\n

KRANE will perform at District N9ne (460 North Ninth Street, Philadelphia, 215-769-2780, http:\/\/districtn9ne.com<\/a>) as the opening act for Party Favor\u2019s \u201cThe Tuned Out Tour.\u201d<\/p>\n

KRANE is known for his unique take on electronic, hip-hop and dance music. The Northern California native\u2019s jazz upbringing and modern perspective has allowed him to remain a ground-breaking musician.<\/p>\n

Since the start of the project, KRANE (born Zachary Krane), had quickly reached bigger heights than planned. After leaving his full-time job, the early days of hosting demos online grew into acclaimed singles, remixes, an album and a celebrated imprint\/collaborative series, SESSIONS.<\/p>\n

The end of 2015 was met with the release of \u201cTOKiMONSTA\u201d and the single \u201cPut It Down.\u201d featuring Anderson. Other projects include his \u201cDebris\u201d album series in 2016, a wide array of singles<\/p>\n

And collaborations with producers Keys N Krates and Ekali.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got an album I just finished,\u201d said Krane, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from his home in Oakland.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are 10 tracks on the album and my set now has most of them in it. People who know my sets and know me as a producer know I\u2019m really productive. My sets always have new and unreleased stuff \u2013 half of which people have never heard before.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m constantly producing. I don\u2019t wait for inspiration. It\u2019s important to be always doing something new. Sometimes, it\u2019s the act of doing that that creates the inspiration.\u201d<\/p>\n

KRANE\u2019s music is characterized by its variety.<\/p>\n

\u201cInspiration can come from anywhere \u2013 from this genre, from an overall song, from a sound design,\u201d said Krane. \u201cAll are elements I can make my own.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m always changing. When I first started producing, it was more hip hop. Then, I got into EDM and dance \u2013 and trap. EDM is today\u2019s popular folk music. It\u2019s the barrier entry level.<\/p>\n

\u201cI listen a lot to minimal music \u2013 Arvo P\u00e4rt, Max Richter, Steve Reich. I incorporate it into my music. I used to be an animation designer \u2013 and I\u2019m a guitar player. As a producer, I just want to play my own music.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I\u2019m making my music, I use Ableton. My setup is really minimal \u2013 laptop and headphones. I like to be able to work anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for KRANE \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/LwJob-mb1Ss<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at District N9ne will start at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.<\/p>\n

On October 22 on the Upstairs Stage at World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com<\/a>), Christie Len\u00e9e will headline the \u201cAll Strung Up\u201d show.<\/p>\n

Three of the world\u2019s hottest young guitar virtuosos, singers, songwriters and performers have teamed up to tour the states this fall.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Christie Len\u00e9e<\/p><\/div>\n

The show, featuring Christie Len\u00e9e (USA), Daniel Champagne (Australia) and Hussy Hicks featuring Julz Parker and Leeza Gentz (Australia), combines the talents of these highly-acclaimed artists.<\/p>\n

Len\u00e9e\u2019s unique guitar work is often compared to Michael Hedges meets Joni Mitchell and Dave Matthews, delivering profound instrumental compositions with heartfelt, consciously uplifting songs.<\/p>\n

Len\u00e9e\u2019s new album \u201cSTAY,\u201d which was released October 1, is a collection of hopeful, inspiring songs featuring special guest Tim Reynolds (Guitarist from Dave Matthews Band). The album also contains three instrumental pieces produced by the legendary and Multi-Grammy Award Winning Producer Will Ackerman (founder of Windham Hill Records).<\/p>\n

Len\u00e9e lives in Nashville and was born and raised in Florida. She also spent time living in the Philadelphia area \u2013 including Chester County.
\n\u201cI grew up in Tampa,\u201d said Len\u00e9e, during a recent phone interview from her home in Nashville. \u201cI grew up in a performing arts group and got involved in theater and acting.<\/p>\n

\u201cI switched to music. I got into to guitar — especially jazz guitar \u00a0— when I went to the University of South Florida. That\u2019s when I switched from acting to music.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cI lived in Philly for about six years. I have family there. I came up to visit my uncle in Malvern right after I finished college. Then, I lived in Devon for a while. Philly is a nice city. After that, I moved to Portland, Oregon, back to Florida and then to Nashville.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first moved to Philly, I put out an album with a choir and big arrangements. Then, when I was still in Philadelphia, I stared performing as a solo act.<\/p>\n

\u201cI took a new approach with the guitar. I looked at each string and each fret as a separate voice. That way, I could have multipole parts going on at the same time. I experimented with changing the tuning of the guitar. A lot of it ended up working.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s how I got started in this tapping style of guitar. It gives it a really large sound. There\u2019s a lot going on \u2013 but I don\u2019t use a loop pedal. This style was developed out of necessity.<\/p>\n

\u201cStill, the biggest part missing was percussion. So, I added a<\/p>\n

Toe Kicker Foot Stomp box, which is similar to a kick drum.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Christie Len\u00e9e — https:\/\/youtu.be\/cp9zEbl-XQs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $14.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Noah Gundersen<\/p><\/div>\n

There will also be a great show on the Downstairs Stage at the World Caf\u00e9 Live on October 22 — a show featuring Noah Gundersen.<\/p>\n

As a teenager, Gundersen formed his first band, Beneath Oceans, with a few friends from his high school. In 2008, Gundersen produced his first EP, \u201cBrand New World <\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gundersen just released his third studio LP \u201cWhite Noise\u201d<\/strong> on Cooking Vinyl America.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The conception of \u201cWhite Noise\u201d <\/em>started long before Gundersen stepped into his homemade studio, nestled inside a 1,600-square foot loft on the marina in Seattle, Washington.<\/p>\n

\u201cI spent most of the summer 2016 writing \u2013 every day writing a lot,\u201d said Gundersen, during a phone interview Froday from a tour stop in New York City.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to make a record that felt different from my previous work. It was trail-and-error. I had been stuck on a plateau. I didn\u2019t want to make the same kind of music I\u2019d done in the past.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gundersen was ready for a change.<\/p>\n

According to Gundersen, \u201cAt the beginning of 2016, I walked on stage and was met with a feeling of overwhelming emptiness. I imagined a career playing music I didn\u2019t believe in and was terrified.<\/em>\u201d
\nAfter his set, a fellow songwriter expressed a quote to Gundersen from famed choreographer, Martha Graham: \u201cNo artist is ever pleased… There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction; a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.\u201d<\/p>\n

From there, something awoke in Gundersen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had made confessional songwriter music for years,\u201d said Gundersen. \u201cI wanted to write about different things. I wanted to talk about socio-political things, climate problems, anxiety and fears.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all going through this very weird time. From an artistic perspective, I felt literation is a cheap way out. I knew there was a better way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Noah Gundersen \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/PoPy11YD7lM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $22.<\/p>\n

Can you imagine having hot flashes in 30-degree weather?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Amazing Kreskin<\/p><\/div>\n

You might just find yourself sweating in the cold if the Amazing Kreskin told you that you would.<\/p>\n

Or, at his suggestion, you might think that your arm is glowing or that you\u2019re a lion in the jungle.<\/p>\n

Kreskin, who will be performing at The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/a>) on October 22, is one of the world\u2019s best at reading minds and using the power of suggestion.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my third time at Rrazz,\u201d said Kreskin, during a phone interview Monday afternoon from his home in North Jersey. \u201cIt\u2019s near Halloween so we\u2019re going to have a ghost sighting \u2013 ghosts coming up from the audience to the stage.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his stage show, Kreskin deals with audience members and introduces them to the power of his suggestion. He also offers predictions and ends each show with his trademark act \u2013 the hidden paycheck trick.<\/p>\n

At the conclusion of his show, Kreskin leaves the building and the audience decides where to hide his paycheck. When he returns to the building, his task is to find the hidden check. If he fails to find it, he doesn\u2019t get paid for the show.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe check test is always popular with the audience,\u201d said Kreskin. \u201cI\u2019ve been very successful with it. I\u2019ve only had 10 fails out of more than 6,000 attempts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finding his evening\u2019s wages hasn\u2019t always been easy for him.<\/p>\n

According to Kreskin, \u201cThere have been a lot of strange hiding places I\u2019ve had to find over the years. One time, I was performing at a press reception for over 100 people in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

\u201cI walked up to a man in a gray suit and asked him \u2013 do you have an artificial leg? They had hidden the check in the knee joint mechanism.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kreskin also is famous for his predictions \u2013 most of which are right on the money. On Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Kreskin predicted the\u00a02012 United States Presidential Election — 18 months before Election Day.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s also picked Super Bowl winners. As revealed on Fox television\u00a0for the 2016 Super Bowl, Kreskin made three predictions. He foresaw the deciding quarter of the game, the winning team, and the game\u2019s final score.<\/p>\n

With a showman\u2019s flair, a comedian\u2019s wit, and the capacities of a bona fide mentalist or thought reader,\u00a0The Amazing Kreskin has, for six decades, dramatized the unique facets of the human mind — his own. His very name has become an integral part of pop culture throughout the world.<\/p>\n

During the past fifty years Kreskin has had a television series, his own board game by Milton Bradley, 20 twenty published books, and a major motion picture inspired by his work.<\/p>\n

In 2014, Kreskin mentally trained three up-and-coming boxers to victory. One of the winners was Heather \u201cThe Heat\u201d Hardy who went on to win the WBC International Junior Featherweight Championship of the World.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith Heather, I taught her how to look for the punches,\u201d said Kreskin.<\/p>\n

Through the years Kreskin has received worldwide recognition for extraordinary predictions, often\u00a0dealing with international affairs, and sports. Call him a clairvoyant, a mind reader or a mentalist but don\u2019t call him a hypnotist.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t get people to do things through hypnotism,\u201d said Kreskin. \u201cI have dedicated part of my life to showing that hypnotism doesn\u2019t exist.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe that there is a legitimate phenomenon called the power of suggestion. I use power of suggestion to get all kinds of crazy responses. And, the people aren\u2019t play-acting. As a mentalist, the most important part is dealing with how people think.\u201d<\/p>\n

From his early experiments, Kreskin developed a theory that, in most cases, the phenomena of thought transference can be explained as a kind of hyperaesthesia \u2013an almost unconscious raising of the threshold of one\u2019s senses to a degree far exceeding one\u2019s everyday feelings.<\/p>\n

When the Amazing Kreskin performs his show at the Rrazz Room, the audience can expect predictions, funny sketches, clear-cut displays of the power of suggestion \u2013 and a lot of fun.<\/p>\n

Video link for The Amazing Kreskin \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/Jdz6ihhObJk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/a>) will start at 1 p.m. Tickets are $25 and $40.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Cash Box Kings<\/p><\/div>\n

The Cash Box Kings play the blues the way the music should be played \u2013 straight-forward and with feeling.<\/p>\n

On October 22, the Cash Box Kings will perform as part of the Bucks County Blues Society\u2019s \u201cAfternoon of Old School Blues\u201d at the Terchon VFW (1315 Hardy Street, Edgely, http:\/\/www.buckscountybluessociety.org<\/a>) to promote their raucous Alligator Records debut, \u201cRoyal Mint.\u201d<\/p>\n

Known as one of the finest purveyors of vintage Chicago blues with a modern twist, The Cash Box Kings deliver a potent mix of tough vocals, powerhouse harmonica and stinging guitar.<\/p>\n

Joe Nosek founded The Cash Box Kings in Madison, Wisconsin in 2001 and, since 2007, has co-led the band with the charismatic, larger-than-life vocalist Oscar Wilson.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Royal Mint\u2019 was released in June,\u201d said Nosek, during a phone interview Wednesday from his home in Madison, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded it over a year-long period in 2016. It was the first time in a while that we didn\u2019t record our album in Chicago. It was recorded in Madison and mixed it in Chicago.<\/p>\n

\u201cMark Haines, our drummer, is also a recording engineer. He built his studio in Madison with all analog gear. We recorded live in one room to tape.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nosek and his bandmates knew the sound of the blues is better real that doctored up with technical advances.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe decided to go back in time and do it old school,\u201d said Nosek. \u201cWe had two live performance LPs and the rest were done in studios with minimal overdubs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe took our time making the new album. It was more important to retain a real feel. Going to tape elevates the game \u2013 you know it\u2019s rolling.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did four different recording dates over the course of a year. Some of our originals were written as we were recording them. Even though we recorded in Wisconsin, we\u2019re a Chicago blues band. Our sound and approach is rooted in traditional Chicago blues.\u201d<\/p>\n

The genius of The Cash Box Kings is their ability to capture the infectious spirit of classic blues with a dash of Memphis-drenched rockabilly and meld them with contemporary lyrics that stand side by side with the old school songs that they revitalize.<\/p>\n

Video link for The Cash Box Kings \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/Jp3rotfk2x8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show in Bucks County will start at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times JJ Grey doesn\u2019t hollowly boast about \u201cdraining the swamp\u201d but rather brings the music of the swamp to listeners around the world. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Grey and his band JJ Grey & Mofro are known for playing lively southern swamp rock. On October 21, JJ Grey & […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26273,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[411,6518,9601,9600],"class_list":["post-26271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-christie-lenee","tag-featured","tag-jj-grey","tag-krane"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26271","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=26271"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26271\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26272,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26271\/revisions\/26272"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/26273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}