{"id":29299,"date":"2018-08-02T09:31:37","date_gmt":"2018-08-02T13:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=29299"},"modified":"2018-08-02T09:31:42","modified_gmt":"2018-08-02T13:31:42","slug":"on-stage-experiencing-birthh-in-philly-tonight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=29299","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Experiencing BIRTHH in Philly tonight"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"\"<\/a>

Alice Bisi<\/p><\/div>\n

All living human beings have experienced birth. All fans of popular music should experience BIRTHH.<\/p>\n

Area music fans can experience BIRTHH live on Aug. 2 at PhilaMOCA (531 North 12th Street, Philadelphia, 267-519-9651, www.philamoca.org<\/a>).<\/p>\n

BIRTHH is the stage name of Alice Bisi, a talented young musician from Firenze, Italy. She released her debut album \u201cBorn in the Woods\u201d in 2016 and is working on songs for her sophomore album.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in Firenze up on a hill,\u201d said Bisi, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from a tour stop in New York City.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy father is a musician. He does it in his free time. So, I had music as a natural thing. But, that wasn\u2019t the reason I became a musician.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was young, I saw this film and it made me want to be a drummer. It really made me realize that I wanted to make music. I started studying classical guitar when I was six and stared writing songs when I was eight. Instead of playing with dolls, I was playing music.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first time I performed outside my house was in middle school at an end-of-school party. I performed with my band at the time. My first professional show was five-to-six years ago at a small venue in Bologna.\u201d<\/p>\n

BIRTHH\u2019s debut was filled with songs of a darker nature. It featured songs such as \u201cQueen of Failureland,\u201d \u201cPrelude for the Loveless,\u201d \u201cInterlude for the Lifeless,\u201d \u201cInterlude for the Hopeless,\u201d and \u201cFor the Heartless.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the song \u201cWraith,\u201d she sang, \u201cI\u2019ll be poison in your blood \/ And I\u2019ll be darkness in your eyes \/ And I\u2019ll be propane in your lungs.\u201d In another song \u2013 \u201cChlorine\u201d \u2013 Bisi sang, \u201cYou\u2019re chlorine in my veins \/ The blood flooding to my brain.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked why such dark lyrics, Bisi replied, \u201cBeing a teenager not knowing what to do with my life. I was feeling a bit blue. I explained what I was going through at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

With all her lyrics, Bisi shows a strong command of the English language \u2013 especially for someone who has never lived in the United States or the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t write in Italian,\u201d said Bisi. \u201cI\u2019ve always written in English. It comes out more naturally. But, I\u2019m an Italian. I\u2019m not an English or American wannabe. I grew up reading Italian literature.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bisi also explained why she chose to perform as BIRTHH.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always been fascinated with the concept of origin,\u201d said Bisi, who will turn 22 in October. \u201cBIRTHH is certain and uncertain at the same time. Everything around us has been born. Finding the origin is more complicated.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Bisi performs in Europe, it is usually with her band. Her tour of America this summer is as a solo act.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s me with an electronic set-up,\u201d said Bisi. \u201cI\u2019m going to build all the songs from scratch with looping. I have a drum pad, keyboard and guitar. I loop everything and sing with it. It\u2019s the most fun I\u2019ve done without a band. I do like playing with a band also.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have new songs I\u2019m working on for my next album. I had an album out a few years ago. I\u2019ll be doing songs from that album and 10 songs from the next album. I just want to test the songs before I record them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for BIRTHH \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/8UblL3uxZYI<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at PhilaMOCA, which also features Work Drugs and Ryan M. Todd, will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $14.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at PhilaMOCA are Deakin on August 4, Tak\u00e9nobu on August 5 and Kraus on August 7.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Julien-K<\/p><\/div>\n

Julien-K is out on a national tour called \u201cThe Revolution 3 Tour\u201d with Stone Temple Pilots, Bush and The Cult.<\/p>\n

On off days, Julien-K is filling in with headline club dates. One of those solo shows is scheduled for August 2 at the Voltage Lounge (421 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia, 215- 964-9602, www.voltagelounge.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Julien-K\u00a0is an\u00a0indietronica band that began as a side project for electronic music created by\u00a0Amir Derakh\u00a0and\u00a0Ryan Shuck\u00a0when they were paying in the band Orgy. The band\u2019s name comes from the movie\u00a0\u201cAmerican Gigolo\u201d in which\u00a0Richard Gere\u2019s character was named Julian Kaye.<\/p>\n

Derakh\u00a0and\u00a0Shuck\u00a0have been musical partners for more than 15 years. In the late 90s, they were responsible for hits such as \u201cBlue Monday,\u201d \u201cStitches,\u201d and \u201cFiction\u201d with Orgy, and \u201cCrawl Back In\u201d and \u201cLet Down\u201d with Dead By Sunrise (with their friend\u00a0Chester Bennington).<\/p>\n

The two veteran musicians have spent the last 10 years methodically moving away from the mainstream approach that put them on the map — opting to steer their fans in a new direction toward their new independent alternative electro rock project Julien-K.<\/p>\n

In 2009, Julien-K released its debut album\u00a0\u201cDeath to Analog,\u201d which included long-time collaborators\u00a0Anthony \u201cFu\u201d Valcic\u00a0and\u00a0Brandon Belsky. In 2012, the band released its sophomore\u00a0album \u201cWe\u2019re Here With You.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2014, Julien-K launched its new album cycle with a three-song prelude to an ambitious double concept album called\u00a0\u201cCalifornia Noir.\u201d<\/p>\n

The concept continued in 2015 and 2016 with successful Indiegogo crowdfunding campaigns and two self-released albums \u2013 \u201cCalifornia Noir: Analog Beaches\u00a0and\u00a0Digital Cities\u201d\u00a0and\u00a0\u201cCalifornia Noir: Nightlife in Neon.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2017, the band released\u00a0\u201cTime Capsule: A Future Retrospective\u201d \u2013 a four-disk, 64-song mega-package which featured unreleased songs, B-sides, never heard before remixes, and live versions of some of the band\u2019s biggest hits.<\/p>\n

Julien-K has become a crowdfunding giant, with all four of its campaigns hitting and holding the #1 Indiegogo chart position for the duration of the campaigns.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just started an Indiegogo campaign for our next album,\u201d said Shuck, during a phone interview Tuesday from a tour stop in Boston. \u201cIt\u2019s our fifth crowdfunding and already it\u2019s gone to Number One.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe album, which will be called \u2018Harmonic Disruptor,\u2019 is not finished — but that\u2019s the point of crowdfunding. Our fans are our record label. We have no marketing, no label \u2013 we just go direct.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been recording the music for it for a while. We use two recording studios in Long Beach (CA). One is Amir\u2019s studio and the other is my studio.\u201d<\/p>\n

The album\u2019s recording has been moving along at a steady pace.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have 13-14 songs that are listenable,\u201d said Shuck, who grew up in Taft, California. \u201cWe\u2019ll probably write 30 songs or more and then pick the best.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen, we\u2019ll let the other songs decide what we\u2019ll do with them \u2013 maybe EPs or B-sides. I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll have material that is very good but doesn\u2019t musically fit the album.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn our last project, which was crowdfunded, we put out a four-disk set that had all the stuff that didn\u2019t see the light of day from the last 10 years. It\u2019s one of our best-selling indie releases.\u201d<\/p>\n

Derakh and Shuck have been a strong songwriting team ever since they teamed up in Orgy in 1994.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe write separately, and we write together,\u201d said Shuck. \u201cI will typically write on guitar and bring it to the band. Amir is a conceptual writer with technology and effects \u2013 odd drum machines and interesting old synths. When I write, it could start with a lyric, a riff, a line or a melody. It\u2019s always different.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Julien-K \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/U7HOptfkkQo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The all-ages show at the Voltage Lounge, which has The Russian White as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $14.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at the Voltage Lounge are Psychostick on August 5 and De Lux on August 7.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Castlecomer<\/p><\/div>\n

On August 3, one of the best new bands from Australia will make a return visit to the area. On Friday night, Castlecomer will headline a show at Kung Fu Necktie (1248 North Front Street, Philadelphia, 215-291-4919, kungfunecktie.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Castlecomer \u2013 Bede, vocals; Tommy, guitar; Neely, keyboards; Joe, bass; Patch, drums \u2013 has been performing professionally in Australia since 2015.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all from Sydney, Australia,\u201d said Bede Kennedy, during a phone interview Tuesday evening. \u201cWe grew up in a working-class section \u2013 an area known as the Inner West.<\/p>\n

\u201cFour of us are related and the keyboard player is our best friend since kindergarten. We all lived within three blocks of each other when we were growing up. But, we\u2019ve all since moved out of Inner West.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018We\u2019ve been making music together our whole life but we didn\u2019t get serious as a band until about five years ago. It was in 2105 when we really decided to go for it seriously. We had been writing good tunes and getting better as musicians.<\/p>\n

\u201cI quit my day job and wrote 200 songs in six months tine. At first, we had three different names we\u2019d play under so that we could play five shows a week. Since then we\u2019ve played more than 500 shows.\u201d<\/p>\n

Castlecomer took a big step forward when it took a big step geographically.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe never left Australia until 2017,\u201d said Kennedy. \u201cWe came to America to play at SXSW in Austin, Texas.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way we saw it \u2013 America is the biggest market in the world for rock-and-roll. We were all working full-time jobs and doing the band in Australia. We felt we had to come to America and just focus on our music.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had just one five-track EP prior to leaving Australia. Altogether now, we\u2019ve released three EPs with four or five songs each. We didn\u2019t want to make our debut album until we had enough experience at recording.\u201d<\/p>\n

Castlecomer\u2019s song \u201cFire Alarm\u201d played a big role in the band\u2019s breakthrough.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Fire Alarm\u2019 was the first song I wrote after we got dropped by a local label in Australia,\u201d said Kennedy. \u201cWe got dropped because we weren\u2019t taking it seriously enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

With its driving beat and earworm of a melody, \u201cFire Alarm\u201d was a runaway hit on Spotify, where it reached #6 on the Global Viral chart and racked up more than five million streams.<\/p>\n

According to Kennedy, \u201cWhen I wrote \u2018Fire Alarm,\u2019 I decided then and there to quit my day job and focus solely on music. That song marked this cathartic moment where I really put a stake in the ground and committed to going all in. For the next 12 months, I did nothing but write for nine hours a day — every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n

After signing with Concord Records, the band took a leap of faith in early 2018 and moved to the United States.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve finished recording our debut album,\u201d said Kennedy. \u201cIt\u2019s mixed and mastered and pretty much ready to go. We did it all in Sydney in four sessions with three producers. There are 11 tracks \u2013 five rock songs, three ballads and three tunes that are more pop-leaning. Our music is straight-ahead rock \u2013 no frills \u2013 hit the ground running\u201d<\/p>\n

When Castlecomer hits he stage in Philly Friday night, it\u2019s a safe bet that the hard-rocking quintet from Down Under will be ready to hit the ground running — and kick some serious ass.<\/p>\n

Video link for Castlecomer \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/h5pxUgCcXYk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Kung Fu Necktie, which has Rexdog as the opener, will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at Kung Fu Necktie are Birds In Row on August 2, Wino on August 4, the Dollyrots on August 6 and the Pink Spiders on August 7.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Julie Goldman<\/p><\/div>\n

Another interesting show on August 3 will take place at the Rrazz Room (6426 Lower York Road, New Hope, 888-596-1027, www.TheRrazzRoom.com<\/a>) when the cabaret in Bucks County presents Julie Goldman.<\/p>\n

Goldman is a nationally-known comedian with two shows that were featured on the Bravo network \u2013 \u201cThe People\u2019s Couch\u201d and \u201cVanderpump Rules After Show.\u201d She also is known for her work on LOGO\u2019s \u201cBig Gay Sketch Show\u201d and \u201cGay Skit Happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

She has also been a guest star on several TV shows including MTV\u2019s \u201cFaking It\u201d and the upcoming HBO reboot of \u201cCurb Your Enthusiasm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Goldman’s stand-up is delightfully in-your-face, honest and aggressively funny and has been described as \u201cunapologetically un-PC.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts and went to Emerson College,\u201d said Goldman, during a phone interview Tuesday night from her home in Sherman Oaks, California.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started doing standup and then moved to New York. I was working on the \u201cBig Gay Sketch Show\u201d and then moved to L.A. in 2009. My first work there was on Bravo\u2019s \u2018The People\u2019s Couch.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cI co-hosted a show with Brandy Howard. She\u2019s a working partner and a best friend. She collaborates with me on standup. We now have our own podcast \u2018Dumb Gay Politics with Julie & Brandy.\u2019 It\u2019s an audio show you can download. We also do it on Patreon \u2013 an extra one you can subscribe to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Goldman has been involved in comedy since her teen years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know why I started doing comedy,\u201d said Goldman. \u201cWhen I was 15, I did standup at Comedy Connection in Boston.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was always an avid questioner when I was young \u2013 with my teachers at school, with my parents, in my mom\u2019s station wagon. I\u2019d ask questions about life. That stuff was important to me then.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Goldman came out, her comedy routines naturally shifted a bit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came out and that was a big thing \u2013 being gay, looking gay,\u201d said Goldman, whose filmography includes \u201cThe Sopranos,\u201d \u201cThe Mindy Project,\u201d \u201cThe New Normal,\u201d \u201cThe D Word,\u201d and \u201cButch in the City.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI had stories about my life, I came out when I was 19, The catalyst was an acting class.\u201d<\/p>\n

Being gay and being Jewish never really was a problem for Goldman.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur family was quite active in the Jewish community,\u201d said Goldman. \u201cWhen I came out, I don\u2019t think they were surprised. They were O.K. with it. I didn\u2019t have much trouble.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was hard at first doing gay comedy. But, I never felt threatened even though it was a very male fraternity-type business. People are pushing diversity now.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy comedy is still based on how I react to things. Brandy helps me generate a lot. In our live podcasts, we like to talk about everything. It\u2019s reality TV and we\u2019re not experts \u2013 we\u2019re people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Julie Goldman \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/q77IR1FKFYE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the Rrazz Room will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $24.<\/p>\n

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) will present \u201cFlash Funniest 2018 – A Summer Comedy Festival – Week #1\u201d with Erin Dohoney, Jeff Rosser, Alan Massenburg, Andy Lane, Casey Kuftic, and Marc Staudenmaier on August 2, \u201cThe Rock Orchestra presents an Evening of Peter Gabriel\u201d on August 3, \u201cVinyl Artifacts with special guests Blues Reincarnation Project\u201d on August 4, and \u201cOpen Mic with guest host Adam Beck\u201d on August 5.<\/p>\n

The Kennett Flash & Anson B. Nixon Park will present Radio Free Honduras on August 8 at Anson B. Nixon Park. Showtime for the all-ages concert is 7 p.m. Admission is free.<\/p>\n

Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/a>) will present the \u201cFirst Annual Schuylkill Freedoms Festival\u201d on August 4 from noon-8 p.m. at Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, which is located\u00a0 at 1601 Valley Forge Road in Phoenixville.<\/p>\n

The festival will feature Broken Arrow, the Cozy, Florida Wayne, Dirty Dozen Dance Band, DNR, Lauren Lindley, Alyssa Garcia, Ralph Pagano, and Zach Sagrantz & Jason Riggs.<\/p>\n

The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com<\/a>) will host God Street Wine on August 2, Splintered Sunlight on August 3, and Breakwater and The Urban Guerilla Orchestra on August 4.<\/p>\n

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/a>) will have Jamie McLean Band & Greg Sover Band<\/a> on August 2, Melissa Manchester on August 3, \u201cTribute To Frank Sinatra Starring Tony Sands: It Was A Very Good Year<\/a>\u201d on August 4, Nellie McKay on August 4, Patrick Moraz on August 5, and Hayes Carll on August 6.<\/p>\n

The Queen (500 North Market Street, Wilmington, 202-730-3331, www.thequeenwilmington.com<\/a>) will host the Gin Blossoms on August 3,<\/p>\n

\u201cColors Presents: R&B ONLY with Dauch\u00e8, and Jabari\u201d on August 4, and Squirrel Nut Zippers on August 5.<\/p>\n

The Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware,\u00a0302- 475-2313,\u00a0www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org<\/a>) is presenting \u201cDo Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?\u201d<\/p>\n

The theater\u2019s current production is running now through August 26. Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings (doors 6 p.m.\/show, 8 p.m.) and Sunday afternoons (doors, 1 p.m.\/show, 3 p.m.). Tickets, which include dinner and show, are $63 for adults and $33 for children (ages 4-12).<\/p>\n

Now through August 19, Cirque du Soleil is performing its new show \u201cVolta\u201d under the Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) which has been erected on the grounds adjacent to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks. \u201cVolta,\u201d the show in Oaks Center (100 Station Avenue, Oaks,\u00a0www.cirquedusoleil.com<\/a>) will be Cirque du Soleil\u2019s\u00a0first Big Top production in five years.<\/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

Performances of Cirque du Soleil\u2019s \u201cVolta\u201d will be presented until August 19 under the Grand Chapiteau in Oaks. Ticket prices range from $49-$155.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times All living human beings have experienced birth. All fans of popular music should experience BIRTHH. Area music fans can experience BIRTHH live on Aug. 2 at PhilaMOCA (531 North 12th Street, Philadelphia, 267-519-9651, www.philamoca.org). BIRTHH is the stage name of Alice Bisi, a talented young musician from Firenze, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29301,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[10493,10495,6518,10496,10494],"class_list":["post-29299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-birthh","tag-castlecomer","tag-featured","tag-julie-goldman","tag-julien-k"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29299","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=29299"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29299\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29300,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29299\/revisions\/29300"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/29301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=29299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=29299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=29299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}