{"id":29072,"date":"2018-07-12T16:46:58","date_gmt":"2018-07-12T20:46:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=29072"},"modified":"2018-07-12T16:47:03","modified_gmt":"2018-07-12T20:47:03","slug":"on-stage-the-circuses-sort-of-are-coming-to-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=29072","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: The circuses \u2014 sort of \u2014 are coming to town"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Volta<\/p><\/div>\n

There are two circus-style events coming to the area this week \u2013 but not the one-ring type with lions, tigers, elephants and clowns. One is a new age style and the other is a day-long rock tour that is more like a circus than a concert.<\/p>\n

From July 12-August 5, Cirque du Soleil will take up residence under the Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) which has been erected on the grounds adjacent to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks. On July 13, the annual Warped Tour will touch down at the BB&T Pavilion in Camden, New Jersey.<\/p>\n

\u201cVolta,\u201d the show in Oaks Center (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, www.cirquedusoleil.com<\/a>) will be Cirque du Soleil\u2019s\u00a0first Big Top production in five years.<\/p>\n

It is Cirque du Soleil\u2019s 41st production since 1984, and its 18th show presented under the Grand Chapiteau. Its creative team features 16 creators under the artistic guidance of Jean Guibert (Director of Creation) and Bastien Alexandre (Writer and Director). The production had its debut in April 2017 in Montreal, Quebec.<\/p>\n

\u201cVolta\u201d is a captivating voyage of discovery about finding yourself, unveiling your personal powers and fulfilling your true potential. It\u2019s about the ultimate freedom that comes with self-acceptance and the liberation from the judgement of others.<\/p>\n

Inspired in part by the adventurous spirit that fuels the culture of street sports, the show weaves acrobatics in a visually striking world driven by a stirring melodic score.<\/p>\n

Waz, the central figure, is a game show contestant who has lost touch with himself. He enters the show in search of fame — thinking that this will bring him love and acceptance from others. He finds that fame is not the answer.<\/p>\n

The show\u2019s themes and inspirations are street sports and the spirit of adventure and authenticity as an antidote to superficiality.\u00a0 Using the rise of the celebrity culture and reality TV as a subtext, \u201cVolta\u201d teaches us that the path to fame is not necessarily the path to freedom.<\/p>\n

The characters of \u201cVolta\u201d are Waz, The Greys (city dwellers who have accumulated the dust of inertia over time), The Freespirits (Greys who have escaped the everyday), Ela (the archetypal Freespirit), and Mr. Wow and the Judges (who represent the collective judgement of society).<\/p>\n

Mr. Wow, however, as the executive producer and supreme judge possesses the supreme veto — holding the power to make or break contestants. He might remind people of a former American game show host (who should return to that profession as soon as possible).<\/p>\n

Ela plays a key role in the story. She sees the untapped potential in others and tries to rouse them from their apathy. The role of Ela is performed by Paola Fraschini, a native of Genoa, Italy.<\/p>\n

Fraschini is a physical therapist specializing in sports physiotherapy. She has a master\u2019s degree in sports psychology and also teaches pilates. But, her activity in \u201cVolta\u201d is something entirely different.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a roller skater,\u201d said Fraschini, during a recent phone interview. \u201cI was skating my whole life since I was four. I\u2019ve won a world championship as a skater.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was actually my dream to bring roller skating outside the rink. So, to do a show like this is really a dream come true.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fraschini\u2019s specialty is not speed skating.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do figure roller skating,\u201d said Fraschini. \u201cI specialized in dance \u2013 individual and pairs \u2013 with more focus on dance. When I finished with competition, I wanted to keep with skating. I applied online to Cirque du Soleil and they called me in for an audition. After one month, they called me back and said I was the one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fraschini talked about this show and her character \u2013 Ela.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis show has a story \u2013 a beautiful message,\u201d said Fraschini. \u201cIt\u2019s a message about finding ourselves \u2013 finding our true self.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my role, my mission is to bring Waz outside and show him that it\u2019s cool to have blue hair \u2013 that it\u2019s cool to be different. I think it\u2019s really nice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have different numbers in the show because of my role which has acting to link the parts together. Acting is something I\u2019ve taught myself. I\u2019ve had this talent since I was young.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you are an artist\/dancer, you have to feel the emotions. You have to be real. You have to be able to involve the audience in what you\u2019re doing. I love the connection with the audience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVolta\u201d has a wide variety of specialty acts, including:<\/p>\n

\u201cAcro Lamp\u201d — An aerial artist flies in long sweeping arcs. Hanging on with his hands or feet, he swings and spins gracefully using the light to metaphorically illuminate the journey of the character.<\/p>\n

\u201cHand to Hand\u201d — Two colorful acrobats perform a daring hand to hand duo while rolling on a unicycle as part of a striking group choreography.<\/p>\n

\u201cShape Diving\u201d — In an electric, urban atmosphere, artists tumble and jump through shapes, sometimes feet first, sometimes backwards, sometimes bent in half –even adding breakdancing and hip-hop-style moves into the mix.<\/p>\n

\u201cBMX\u201d — Five riders invade the stage to deliver a jaw-dropping, fast and furious performance of nonstop acrobatics on wheels.<\/p>\n

\u201cFlatland & Ballet Duo\u201d — Coming from disciplines that seem worlds apart, two artists create mirror-like images in a mesmerizing synchronized choreography.<\/p>\n

\u201cRope Skipping\u201d — With an urban, hip hop attitude, they tumble, flip, and perform handstand hops through the spinning ropes.<\/p>\n

\u201cAcrobatic Ladders\u201d — Artists climb on two giant articulated ladders pivoting on stage. They execute stunning acrobatic figures while spinning majestically over the audience.<\/p>\n

The outer ring of the circular stage is a revolving plate with footlights that illuminate the performances. It is used to generate kinetic energy on stage as well as move props and artists. Articulated hydraulic lifts emerge from the stage floor to populate the space above the stage. Higher up, a bridge that spans two of the Big Top\u2019s four masts can move gracefully up and down to modulate the audience\u2019s focus and serve as a second stage. All of the mechanics on stage provide a showcase for the story.<\/p>\n

The Cube, a magic box where Waz keeps treasured childhood mementos, is a 5,900-kg, highly versatile mechanical device \u2013 one of the iconic symbols in the world of \u201cVolta.\u201d The Cube can pivot and move upstage and downstage. Two of its movable panels are used for delivering video content. In this show under the Big Top, the audience has a 240-degree view of the \u201cVolta\u201d stage.<\/p>\n

As always, this Cirque du Soleil production promises audiences a breath-taking experience \u2013 and lives up to that promise in every performance.<\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cVolta\u201d \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/CE_IxUaojt4<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Video link for Paola Fraschini \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/TxWlspY6gSg<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Performances of Cirque du Soleil\u2019s \u201cVolta\u201d will be presented from July 12-August 5 under the Grand Chapiteau in Oaks. Ticket prices range from $49-$155.<\/p>\n

Despite all odds, the Vans Warped Tour is well into its third decade. The touring music festival was started back in 1994 by Kevin Lyman and has continued to grow and flourish ever since.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, this year\u2019s Warped Tour will be the final one. Lyman has decided that the time has come to pull the plug.<\/p>\n

In its early days, the tour featured mostly\u00a0punk rock<\/a>\u00a0and ska bands.<\/p>\n

Over the years, the lineup has become more diversified. It is an impressive tour that features more than 90 bands and covers a variety of genres \u2014 mainly punk, hardcore, power pop and the harder side of alternative.<\/p>\n

Those attending this years\u2019 Warped Tour on July 13 in Camden (1 Harbour Boulevard, Camden, New Jersey, 856-225-0163,\u00a0www1.ticketmaster.com<\/a>) can listen to live performances by bands as diverse as Twiztid, Tatiana DeMaria, Harm\u2019s Way, Ice Nine Kills, Frank Turner and Cassadee Pope.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Twiztid<\/p><\/div>\n

Each year, there are number of bands making their Vans Warped Tour debut. One of 2018\u2019s rookie entries is a music act that came into existence three years after the inaugural Warped Tour \u2013 Twiztid.<\/p>\n

Twiztid\u00a0is an American\u00a0hip hop\u00a0group from\u00a0Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1997, Twiztid is a duo featuring Jamie Spaniolo\u00a0and\u00a0Paul Methric, who perform under the respective personas of Jamie Madrox and Monoxide.<\/p>\n

The two musicians always perform in make-up \u2013 make-up that makes them appear as if they just left the set of a horror movie. Hard to believe, performing on the Warped Tour on outdoor stages in 90 degree-plus weather has not been a challenge for their facial stage appearance.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur make-up doesn\u2019t run \u2013 even in the sun on really hot days,\u201d said Madrox, during a recent phone interview. \u201cWe use a special make-up called Mehron. It\u2019s high quality make-up that allows you to sweat through it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Formed in 1997, Twiztid is an 11-time Billboard chart-topping rap duo featuring Jamie Madrox and Monoxide Child (a.k.a. Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric). The two former members of the group House of Krazees departed that group and formed Twiztid in 1997.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, 21 years later, the Twiztid guys are still going strong with more than 20 albums in their catalogue.<\/span><\/p>\n

Madrox and Monoxide Child could be content to settle into the cycle of releasing an album, touring extensively in support of the disc and then starting the cycle all over again with a new album.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, that\u2019s never going to happen. That\u2019s the \u201cstraight\u201d way and Spaniolo and Methric do things the \u201cTwiztid\u201d way.<\/span><\/p>\n

Usually, Twiztid hit the road with themed tours with unique names. Last year, the duo played in Reading on its \u201cEat Your Heart Out\u201d U.S. tour.<\/span><\/p>\n

A few months earlier, Twiztid played a gig at the Troc in Philly as part of its \u201cSpooktacular Horror Show\u201d tour. Another recent area visit was on the pair\u2019s \u201cFreektasteless Show\u201d tour.<\/span><\/p>\n

Twiztid has its own record label and management company called Majik Ninja Entertainment and last year released its 12th album \u201cThe Continuous Evilution Of Life\u2019s ?\u2019s.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were recording the album all of 2016,\u201d said Madrox. \u201cBut, we stopped everything when it was time to go on the road. After the tours, it was re-getting familiar with the songs and getting back in the zone. It helped taking a break from the songs and then going back to them. We\u2019re absolutely happy with how the record came out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Continuous Evilution Of Life\u2019s ?\u2019s\u201d might just be Twiztid\u2019s best album ever.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I like about the new one \u2013 we didn\u2019t have any boundaries,\u201d said Madrox. \u201cWe did songs we like to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t about doing what was expected of anyone. We catered to ourselves and we had a great time in the studio. I feel this time around there is a nice blend of everything. There is something for everyone \u2013 even if they didn\u2019t know they wanted it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was taking shape for a year out. The writing was different. Usually, it was one of three ways \u2013 one, Monoxide and I would hear a beat and write it on the spot; two, we\u2019d write separately; three, I\u2019d write a song with no music and sing it to him. This time, we worked together more.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Continuous Evilution Of Life\u2019s?\u2019s\u201d features 12 all new tracks, primarily produced by longtime Twiztid producer Seven. However, the new album features four tracks with a clear hard rock influence \u2014 a crossover genre the duo has successfully dabbled in for over a decade. These tracks were produced by famed goth rock front man Davey Suicide and his keyboardist Needlz.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a catalyst for us doing a few hard rock songs,\u201d said Madrox. \u201cRight around the time we made our \u2018Freekshow\u2019 album in 2000, was when rap rock started taking off.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI like rock. Monoxide is more rap. Together, we\u2019re like peanut butter and jelly. We were primarily introduced as a rap duo but we\u2019ve become an entertainment duo. We\u2019re doing shit that we want to do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A new Twiztid album might feature a long wait.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve started working on new Twiztid songs,\u201d said Madrox. \u201cThen, we went out for a short run of shows to get wared up for the Warped Tour. Playing on the <\/span>Warped Tour is an opportunity of a lifetime for us.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been doing this for 20 years. The last eight shows (Warped Tour dates) have been more productive for getting a new audience than half of the first 20 years. If we had done the Warped Tour 10 years ago, who knows where we\u2019d be now.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Warped Tour is like a festival. Just walking around, you hear so many different types of music. That is why there is room for us. I appreciate them (Warped Tour producers) putting up with our shit. We\u2019re not your typical act.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Vans Warped Tour features a grueling schedule of non-stop dates \u2014 frequently in venue parking lots in addition to main stages. And, it hits the road during the hottest part of the summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe heat has been ungodly,\u201d said Madrox. \u201cWe\u2019ve been performing on days when the temperature has been over 100 degrees. One day, it was 111. It was a real scorcher. It\u2019s difficult. It\u2019s been keeping us on our toes.\u00a0Social media keeps reminding fans at the show to stay hydrated.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe fans at the shows have been great. And, the bands on the tour have been great. Three is nothing like playing the Warped Tour. It\u2019s like a tight-knit family.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Another thing that sets the Warped Tour apart from all the others is that each band is allotted a 30-minute set \u2013 a policy that must be strictly adhered to.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith such a short set, we try to focus on energetic material \u2013 and also be diverse,\u201d said Madrox. \u201cWe do some new material. We also do some classics. If these songs have been right all this time, they will still be right. And, a lot of songs we did when we first started are new songs to these fans and they\u2019re going over well. Our music is not dated<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Twiztid \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/4QtokETDSiQ<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Tatiana DeMaria<\/p><\/div>\n

Tatiana DeMaria, a British rocker with her roots in punk music, is a Warped Tour veteran. The first time she played in this area was almost a decade ago on the Warped Tour with her band TAT. This time, she is rocking out as a solo act even though TAT is still alive.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people \u2013 especially in America \u2013 think TAT refers to tattoos or is named after me,\u201d said DeMaria, during a recent phone interview. \u201cActually, then name comes from the British word \u2018tat\u2019 which means \u2018rubbish\u2019 or \u2018trash\u2019 as in an \u2018old load of tat\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

DeMaria is a Brit singer\/songwriter\/guitarist whose musical roots can be traced back to the era when the Clash, the Jam and the Sex Pistols ruled the British music scene.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I wrote my early stuff, I loved everything, but punk was my main influence,\u201d said DeMaria. \u201cI started writing when I was in high school.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving my own band was a dream come true. We got to record and we toured for six years. We had a great time. Then, after a while, it was time to get off the road, go home and reconnect with friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was writing for myself, writing and producing for other artists, doing stuff for movies and writing jingles for ads \u2013 including a jingle for a 7-UP ad. I kept writing, but everything sounded like TAT. I needed a different sound, so I decided to write and produce songs in a different way and see how they would sound. So, TAT is one things and my solo project is a different thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe solo project came to the forefront. Right now, it\u2019s the main thing I want to do. I have a new EP coming with new videos being put out every month.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to give people something they can feel connected to. I want to give people music I want them to hear \u2013 just a few singles every month or so. I like giving people chunks of music rather than a full album.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, DeMaria has given the fans an impressive new EP to appreciate.<\/p>\n

\u201cI made the EP over the course of the last two years,\u201d said DeMaria. \u201cI haven\u2019t been touring too much because my focus has been on writing.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaintaining identity without emphasis on guitar has been a challenge \u2013 a challenge to maintain an edge. But, I think a lot of edge can come out with vocal delivery. This EP has been an exploration of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Demaria\u2019s touring band includes Tyler Zarzeka on bass and Mick Campetore on drums.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is very new,\u201d said DeMaria. \u201cWe\u2019ve only played eight shows together. It\u2019s been fun. With TAT, I knew the set intimately. Now, it\u2019s great to start fresh and work out a new live set. It\u2019s challenging, exciting and a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Tatiana DeMaria — https:\/\/youtu.be\/a9LfTiAilk8<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Harm\u2019s Way<\/p><\/div>\n

If you\u2019re wandering around the festival grounds at the Warped Tour and you\u2019re in the mood for some seriously heavy music, be sure to check out Harm\u2019s Way\u2019s set.<\/p>\n

Harm\u2019s Way — Bo Lueders, Christopher Mills, James Pligge, Nick Gauthier, Casey Soyk — is hardcore punk<\/a> band from Chicago that has been playing its own blend of metal, industrial, and hardcore music since <\/a>2006.<\/p>\n

Harm\u2019s Way released three studio albums prior to this year \u2013 \u201cReality Approaches\u201d (2009), \u201cIsolation\u201d (2011) and \u201cRust<\/a>\u201d (2015). In February, the band released its critically-acclaimed Metal Blade Records debut \u2013 \u201cPosthuman.\u201d They have been recognized for their unique blend of metal<\/a>, industrial<\/a>, and hardcore music.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe band had its start as a group called Few and Proud, became another band and then Harm\u2019s Way took the helm,\u201d said Mills, during a phone interview this week from a tour stop in Nashville, Tennessee. \u201cThree of the originals are still in the band \u2013 James, Bo and me.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the years, we\u2019ve become more metallic \u2013 heavier and more industrial. In the early days, we were more power punk with quick songs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe made \u2018Posthuman\u2019 in August 2017. We recorded it in three weeks with producer Will Putney at Graphic Mature Audio in New Jersey. He had some cool ideas that he brought to the table. He helped us create the best album we\u2019ve ever made.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe demo\u2019ed the songs in Milwaukee and then came to New Jersey. We also wrote another song in the studio. The demos were done live but when we got in the studio in New Jersey, we layered it track by track \u2013 drums then guitar then bass then electronics.\u201d<\/p>\n

The band\u2019s new album is its most complex LP \u2013 musically and lyrically.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe lyrics were more introspective \u2013 pertaining to James\u2019 personal struggles,\u201d said Mills. \u201cJames takes the helm with the lyrical content. The lyrics also are taking a bigger look at society and our place in it.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of the themes in \u2018Posthuman\u2019 look at the potential danger of power put in the wrong hands. Fans are getting the message.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor our set list at Warped, half is songs from \u2018Posthuman\u2019 along with three songs from \u2018Rust\u2019 and one from \u2018Isolation.\u2019 We\u2019re playing the Monster Stage and you only have so much you can pack into a 30-minute set.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Harm\u2019s Way \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/9bYTsegjXbE?list=PLy8LfIp6j3aJK0TspFvj01hIBkirbN5F2<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Some of this year\u2019s other featured acts are Yungblud, Doll Skin, Every Time I Die, Motionless in White, Nekrogoblikon, Senses Fail, Sharptooth, Hatebreed, This Wild Life, All Time Low, Falling in Reverse, Ech<\/span>osmith and Less Than Jake.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Warped Tour will run from 11 a.m.-midnight. Tickets are $45.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Katie Herzig<\/p><\/div>\n

If you\u2019re looking for softer, more complex music, you should check out the show by Katie Herzig on July 12 at Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal Street, Philadelphia, 215-309-0150, www.thefillmorephilly.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Herzig is a singer, songwriter and multifaceted musician who grew up in Colorado and now calls Nashville home. She is currently touring in support of her new album \u201cMoment of Bliss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m touring now with a five-piece band,\u201d said Herzig, during a phone interview last week on her way from Nashville to a gig in St. Louis, Missouri. \u201cIt\u2019s me plus guitar, bass, drums and keyboards.<\/p>\n

\u201cI made \u2018Moment of Bliss\u2019 over the course of many years. My most recent album came out in 2014 and I started writing new songs right after it came out. I had a lot of life happen. So, I took my time. It\u2019s the longest time I\u2019ve ever taken between album releases.\u201d<\/p>\n

Surprisingly, Herzig followed the album\u2019s release with a six-song EP \u2013 \u201cDelicate\u201d \u2013 which was just released on June 29. The stripped-down EP contains reimagined versions of some fan favorites including the recent single \u201cBeat of Your Own.\u201d\u00a0Along with her originals, Herzig delivers a gorgeous cover of James Blake\u2019s \u201cThe Wilhelm Scream.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018The reason I decided to put out an EP was that I didn\u2019t want to wait another four years. The EP was a response to the long time gap. I like making music more than I like putting it out and promoting it. It was my way of pushing back. The live thing is what is most important to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Herzig, \u201cAfter spending the last year releasing my new album\u00a0Moment of Bliss\u00a0in slow motion, and before my tour this summer, I desperately wanted to get my hands dirty, to experience the immediacy of recording songs and getting to share them right away. So the last couple months I dug in and I dug deep:) Today I am releasing\u00a0Delicate<\/a>, a small collection of 6 delicately re-imagined acoustic vibey versions of these previously released songs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Herzig\u2019s \u201cMoment of Bliss\u201d album is a collection of sonic delights.<\/p>\n

\u201cI co-produced \u2018Moment of Bliss\u2019 with Cason Cooley,\u201d said Herzig. \u201cI\u2019ve always been quite involved with the production because it talks me to the next level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Herzig has also worked as a producer for several top-fight artists including Ingrid Michaelson.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve worked with Ingrid on her last two records,\u201d said Herzig. \u201cI\u2019ve gotten more involved each time. Now, Ingrid and I are working on a new one.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do want to do more production work \u2013 but I need it to be an inspiring fit. And, I\u2019ll always want to keep my own production on my songs.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy songwriting in recent years has been more a musical thing happening that draws me in. I haven\u2019t done the standard lyrics thing in a while. A lot of times, I\u2019ll do stream of consciousness writing. The sonic part invites me into the space. Once I\u2019m in that mode, I discover things I want to write.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy recent material has been more organic. I have a home studio, so the new album was intentionally a very solo effort \u2013 a pretty hands-on effort. It was done all digitally with ProTools. I\u2019ve always had a pretty good balance between organic music and sampled sounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Herzig also has a knack for selecting words for both their meaning and they way they sound.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I\u2019m writing, at times I wanted to sound in a certain way and tgere isn\u2019t a word that fits,\u201d said Herzig. \u201cI\u2019ve enjoyed a lot of music \u2013 maybe in different languages where I don\u2019t understand what they\u2019re singing. I like that feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Katie Herzig — https:\/\/youtu.be\/-UrEjDktCmg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the Fillmore will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at the Fillmore are Emo Night Brooklyn on July 13, So Far Gone on July 14, and Adelitas Way on July 17.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Marcia Ball<\/p><\/div>\n

If you like your music with a southern vibe \u2013 especially music with its roots in the myriad of styles found in New Orleans \u2013 then you need to check out Marcia Ball\u2019s show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400,\u00a0www.worldcafelive.com<\/span><\/a>) on July 12.<\/p>\n

Ball is touring in support of her new album \u201cSine Bright,\u201d which was jus released on Alligator Records and produced by Los Lobos\u2019 sax player Steve Berlin.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe cut \u2018Shine Bright\u2019 last October and November,\u201d said Ball, during a phone interview last week from her home in Austin, Texas.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded part of it in Louisiana and did eight songs in Austin, Texas.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve known Steve for a while. He was at an event in Austin and I thought \u2013 if he\u2019s coming to Austin, maybe we can get together and do some recording. He did have some time and he was happy to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to ball, \u201cWith \u2018Shine Bright,\u2019 I wanted to make the best Marcia Ball record I could make. It is a ridiculously hopeful, cheerful record.\u201d<\/p>\n

In doing so, she has put together the most musically substantial, hopeful and uplifting set of songs of her five-decade career. \u201cShine Bright\u201d contains 12 songs (including nine originals), ranging from the title track’s rousing appeal for public and private acts of courage to the upbeat call to action of “Pots and Pans,” a song inspired by renowned Texas political writer and humorist Molly Ivins. From the humorous advice of “Life of The Party” to the poignantly optimistic “World Full Of Love,” the intensity of Ball’s conviction never wavers while, simultaneously, the fun never stops.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Louisiana, we recorded at a studio called Dockside Studio in Maurice,\u201d said Ball, who was named Texas\u2019 \u201cState Musician\u201d this year. \u201cIt\u2019s a legendary studio. It\u2019s where B.B. King recorded \u2018Blues on the Bayou\u2019 and it\u2019s also where Buckwheat Zydeco made a lot of records.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the years, there have been a number of stellar piano players from Louisiana who have made the region\u2019s blend of blues, soul and swamp boogie famous around the world. The list is mostly male-dominated — Fats Domino, Huey \u201cPiano\u201d Smith, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Professor Longhair — but also includes Marcia Ball.<\/p>\n

Ball\u2019s music has always been able to blend Gulf Coast blues, New Orleans R&B, swampy Louisiana ballads, and jumping, Tex-\u00ad\u2010Mex flavored zydeco into a one\u00ad\u2010of\u00ad\u2010a\u00ad\u2010kind musical gumbo — a sound she has been perfecting over the course of her legendary career.<\/p>\n

Ball received the 2014 Blues Music Award (BMA) for the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year. She has now won a total of 10 BMAs and has received a whopping 44 nominations. Ball recently received a 2015 Living Blues Readers’ Poll Award for Most Outstanding Musician (Keyboard) and now holds nine Living Blues Awards in all.<\/p>\n

She was inducted into the Gulf Coast Hall of Fame in 2010 and into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2012. This year, she was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall Of Fame \u2013 along with Los Lobos and Ray Charles.<\/p>\n

Ball released her first album in 1972. Her career is still going full-tilt 46 years later and her popularity continues to grow.<\/p>\n

It was back in the early 1970s when she immersed herself in the music of the great New Orleans piano players — especially Professor Longhair. Her solo album debut was a country-rock album called \u201cCircuit Queen\u201d that was released in 1978 on Capitol Records.<\/p>\n

Before long, Ball developed her own sound which was much more in line with the sweat-drenched music played in clubs in the Texas-Louisiana border region than with traditional country music. She released six critically-acclaimed albums on the Rounder label during the 1980s and 1990s.<\/p>\n

The Louisiana vibe became more pronounced when she moved to Alligator Records in 2001. She has recorded seven albums for Alligator, including \u201cRoadside Attractions\u201d, which received a 2011 Grammy Award nomination in the Best Blues Album category.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m still a little studio shy — and I don\u2019t write that much,\u201d said Ball. \u201cI make a lot of notes, hum songs into my cell phone and then finally sit at a piano at home. I\u2019m busy and it\u2019s hard to find time to write with so much going on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even though Ball has been recording and touring for more than four decades, the spirited veteran is showing no signs of slowing down.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m still doing more than 100 shows a year and that\u2019s fine,\u201d said Ball. \u201cI play clubs and theaters and do a few festivals each year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never get tired of being on the road because home is where the homework is. My band is what it is — a five-piece with bass, drums, guitar, sax and me on keyboards and vocals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ball and her band members all have roots in the Louisiana\/Texas music scene.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in Louisiana,\u201d said Ball. \u201cI was listening to New Orleans music, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis. I also listened to a lot of blues musicians who did gigs in Baton Rouge. I have a lot of R&B in my background along with the great legacy of Delta music.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Marcia Ball \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/kqB8PqOORls<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the World Cafe Live will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 and $35.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at the World Caf\u00e9 Live are Sharon Katz & The Peace Train: Side-By-Side CD Release Party on July 13, Antigone Rising on July 14, Nuevofest 2018 on July 15, Nick Hakim on July 17, and Slum Village on July 18.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Vacationer<\/p><\/div>\n

On July 13, Philadelphia-based Vacationer will introduce its newly-released album \u201cMindset\u201d at a show at Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215-232-2100, www.utphilly.com<\/span><\/a>) that also features the L.A.-based band Sego.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got Vacationer together in 2010,\u201d said band leader Ken Vasoli, during a phone interview this week from his home in Willow Grove.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got two guys \u2013 Grant Wheeler and Matt Young \u2013 to form an electronic hybrid band. I wanted to incorporate more electronic sounds into it. I had always been in love with rock bands, so I wanted something fresh \u2013 and not super-loud.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarlier vibes were electro influence with bands like Radiohead. \u2018Kid A\u2019 struck a chord with me. Since then, I\u2019ve been influenced by a variety of bands from Aphex Twin and Four Tet. When I was still making experimental music, I got into Bran Eno. This latest version of vacationer is a fusion of electro and my pop sensibilities.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMindset\u201d is built on delicate melodies and crystalline rhythms that seem to alter the very texture of the world around you. Ornately composed but breezy in energy, the album\u2019s warm-hearted dream-pop perfectly mirrors Vasoli\u2019s intentions in making the album.<\/p>\n

According to Vasoli, \u201cThe objective was to write songs that remind me how my brain needs to operate for my own wellbeing and happiness. That\u2019s where the title comes from — the record is filled with all these reminders that put me in a good mindset for the day.\u201d
\nDespite its often-euphoric effect, Mindset began in frustration for Vasoli. After countless false starts on the follow-up to 2014\u2019s \u201cRelief,\u201d the Philadelphia-based musician decided to completely upend his creative approach.<\/p>\n

While Vacationer\u2019s previous albums came to life in close collaboration with fellow members Matthew Young and Grant Wheeler, Vasoli shifted his focus from songwriting to production and worked entirely on his own for months on end. During that time, he immersed himself in exploring the nuances of Ableton and analyzing the construction of beloved albums by artists like the Beach Boys, Barry White, and Curtis Mayfield.<\/p>\n

\u201cActually, \u2018Mindset\u2019 is more collaborative than ever,\u201d said Vasoli. \u201cFor example, when Brian Wilson was doing things for the Beach Boys, he made stuff knowing that he could trust it to other players.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith my music now, it doesn\u2019t become a reality until I bring it to other players. These guys in my live band have been with me for years \u2013 and I hang out with them socially. I\u2019ll do the basics of the songs and then bring them to the band. If it has Vacationer on the bill, it\u2019s going to be the four of us — Greg Altman, Ryan Zimmaro, Michael Mullin and me.<\/p>\n

\u201cBringing the new album to the stage can be a challenge because there are lot of tracks on the record. But, it\u2019s a challenge we\u2019ve been able to meet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Vacationer \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/BsjTlwWYNXE<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you asked most people to name the best music acts from Provo, they\u2019d probably respond \u2013 where is Provo?<\/p>\n

Those in the know, however, would reply \u2013 Donny and Marie Osmond.<\/p>\n

Those really in the know would reply \u2013 Donny and Marie Osmond\u2026and Sego.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Sego<\/p><\/div>\n

Sego\u2019s Spencer Petersen and Thomas Carroll both got started in the burgeoning Provo, Utah music scene. However, finding inspiration in the dissonance that the\u00a0towering structures and bustling city offers over the mountains and relative quiet of Provo, the two young musicians relocated to an old pasta factory in downtown Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

Through various projects together, both founding members uncovered their distinct sound – lazy, grungy guitars with digital overlays and refreshingly honest lyrics — angular guitars, complex arrangements and musings from an 80\u2019s kid contemplating the void left from the misguided hope of our youth.<\/p>\n

\u201cTom and I went to the same high school but never met until we were in college,\u201d said Peterson, during a phone interview earlier this week while waiting for the tour vehicle to ger repaired in Albuquerque, New Mexico. \u201cI went to BYU (Brigham Young University) and Tom went to UVU (Utah Valley University).<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were in different band and played a show together. The band I was in needed a drummer, so we hit up Tom. That band was Elizabethan Report. When we moved to L.A., it changed its name to Eyes Lips Eyes. That band broke up and it left Tom and me in a lurch. We were stuck in L.A. with nothing to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe kept jamming together. I was never interested in singing with a band. I played guitar and Tom played drums. We always intended toi start a four-piece to play live. It stared as a four-piece but always with Tom and me as the core. Now, we\u2019re a set four-piece when we play live with Brandon McBride on keys and guitar and Alyssa Davey on bass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Over the past three years, Sego has released two EPs and one full-length, which came out two years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re just getting ready to release our second full-length,\u201d said Peterson. \u201cWe\u2019ve finished it twice and then keep adding to it. It\u2019s still in the process \u2013 but, it\u2019s getting close.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been recording it all over the place \u2013 in Canada in Toronto, some in Provo and a lot at our warehouse studio in downtown L.A. We write, rehearse and record at the warehouse. It\u2019s been our home base since we moved from Utah \u2013 and we also live there.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn our live show, we play the singles and stuff from our previous records, but the new LP is the bulk of the show. I like testing out new material.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Sego — https:\/\/youtu.be\/zVNcMxjKkM4<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Union Transfer will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $18<\/p>\n

The only other show this week at Union Transfer will be Snail Mail on July 14.<\/p>\n

Another interesting show in Philly on July 13 will be Howlin\u2019 Rain\u2019s concert at Johnny Brenda\u2019s (1201 North Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com<\/span><\/a>).<\/p>\n

Howlin\u2019 Rain was founded by Ethan Miller in San Francisco in 2004 and released its self-titled debut album in 2006. The band\u2019s lineup features Ethan Miller, vocals, guitar; Jeff Mcelroy, bass; Dan Cervantes, guitar; and Justin Smith, drums.<\/p>\n

Howlin\u2019 Rain\u00a0is on tour\u00a0this summer\u00a0in support of its fifth album,\u00a0\u201cThe Alligator Bride,\u201d which was released on June 8 via\u00a0Silver Current Records.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018The Alligator Bride\u2019 was recorded in 2016 on the night of the election,\u201d said Miller, during a phone interview Monday from his home in Oakland, California.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded three days surrounding the election. Being in October, we expected something different to happen. The song \u2018The Alligator Bride\u2019 was already written and we recorded it on election night. It was about standing on the edge in the United States in the moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had just closed the end of the last American era \u2013 then end of the last century that brought things like color TV and faster cars. Now, we\u2019ve been catapulted into a new era. The song was a poetic meditation on that. I had pre-written it and, luckily, history gave it meaning.\u201d<\/p>\n

For \u201cThe Alligator Bride,\u201d Miller and company drew inspiration from classic rock formations such as the Grateful Dead\u2019s \u201cEurope ’72,\u201d\u00a0Mountain Bus’ 1974 album \u201cSundance,\u201d and\u00a0Free\u2019s \u201cFire and Water.\u201d The collection was recorded at the\u00a0Mansion Studio in San Francisco — the same space that gave birth to modern garage-psych classics by\u00a0Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees\u00a0and\u00a0Mikal Cronin.\u00a0The record was tracked over three days with the band playing live to tape and cutting the material in first and second takes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe made the album at the Mansion and co-produced it with Eric Bauer,\u201d said Miller. \u201cI liked the late 60\u2019s era in San Francisco. I did want to tap into that because it\u2019s where the hear of Howlin\u2019 Rain lives. There are also some nods to the first Howlin\u2019 Rain record \u2013 that little vibe of classic hippie music but not just stoner music.\u201d<\/p>\n

The band\u2019s new album spans American eras and generations.<\/p>\n

According to Miller, \u201cWe\u2019re in a vortex of futuristic events. At this present moment, we can still remember the way the train whistle sounded in the middle of the night, rolling through the dark on the outskirts of town. An old America before we walked on the moon, before TV, cell phones, and the internet. ‘The Alligator Bride’ is about standing in the eye of that tornado of time — between the past and the present — in America.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Alligator Bride\u201d is part of a larger project.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is the second album of a trilogy,\u201d said Miller. \u201cThe first part was \u2018Mansion Songs\u2019 in 2015. We just started working on the third part.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was writing and had this ton of stuff coming out. Some are completely finished and waiting to be mastered. I also have other new stuff that I\u2019ll be working on.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn our live shows on this tour, we\u2019re playing a lot from \u2018The Alligator Bride.\u2019 We\u2019ve put a set together with at least one song from each album \u2013 and a lot from the new album. It\u2019s a good balance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Howlin\u2019 Rain \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/-1NuHx5HjkQ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Johnny Brenda\u2019s, which has the Mountain Movers and Violet Phase as opening acts, will start at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at Johnny Brenda\u2019s are Ortolan on July 15, Cut Worms on July 17 and An Horse on July 18.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Eilen Jewell<\/p><\/div>\n

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/span><\/a>) presents New Summer Sounds at the Kennett Flash: Week 1– Tyler Greene, Backyard Blue, Guam, Levi Dylan and the Former Ruins on July 12; The GTVs and Kitty Rotten on July 13; Eilen Jewell on July 14; Open Mic with guest host Angelee on July 15; The 2nd Annual Ben Arnold Summer Residency – Week 2: Matthew Rineer on July 17; and The Kennett Flash & Anson B. Nixon Park Present Matt Cappy Quintet Anson B. Nixon Park on July 18.<\/p>\n

The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/span><\/a>) will host Blob Fest Family Story Time with Patient Creatures on July 14.<\/p>\n

Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/span><\/a>) \u00a0will have Cardinal Sin, Double Suede and Think Machine on July 13 and House Plants on July 14.<\/p>\n

The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com<\/span><\/a>) will present Yellowman and Kuf Knotz on July 12; Melvin Seals and the Jerry Garcia Bands on July 13; andMapache on July 15.<\/span><\/u><\/p>\n

Kimmel Center (Broad and Spruce streets, Philadelphia, 215-731-3333, www.kimmelcenter.org<\/span><\/a>) will present the \u201cFree at the Kimmel Organ Demonstration\u201d on July 14.<\/p>\n

The Merriam Theater (250 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org<\/span><\/a>) will host \u201cBring It! LIVE\u201d on July 14.<\/p>\n

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/span><\/a>) hosts Malina Moye and Joshua Howard on July 13, Lotus Land (Rush Tribute) on July 14, Simply Streisand on July 15, Kinky Friedman on July 16 and The Felice Brothers<\/span><\/a> on July 18.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times There are two circus-style events coming to the area this week \u2013 but not the one-ring type with lions, tigers, elephants and clowns. One is a new age style and the other is a day-long rock tour that is more like a circus than a concert. From July […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29074,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[5155,6518,10420,10421,7927,10423,10419,5947,10422,10417,10418],"class_list":["post-29072","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-cirque-du-soleil","tag-featured","tag-harms-way","tag-katie-herzig","tag-marcia-ball","tag-sego","tag-tatiana-demaria","tag-twiztid","tag-vacationer","tag-volta","tag-warped-tour"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29072","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=29072"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29072\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29073,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29072\/revisions\/29073"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/29074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29072"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29072"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29072"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}