{"id":30609,"date":"2018-12-27T06:00:48","date_gmt":"2018-12-27T11:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=30609"},"modified":"2018-12-22T10:28:41","modified_gmt":"2018-12-22T15:28:41","slug":"on-stage-get-slammed-for-new-years-eve-eve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=30609","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Get ‘Slammed’ for New Year’s Eve Eve"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Slambovian Circus of Dreams<\/p><\/div>\n

There is one date each year when the penultimate and the ultimate come together.<\/p>\n

Once the calendar year starts, area music fans have to wait until the very end of the year to enjoy <\/span>what ultimately is one of the best shows of the year \u2013 to wait until the final full night of the year \u2013 to wait until the penultimate date for a <\/span>special concert presentation<\/span> by the Slambovian Circus of Dreams<\/span>.<\/p>\n

But the wait is always worth it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some bands have a tradition of performing a New Year\u2019s Eve show each year at the same venue.<\/span> The Slambovian Circus of Dreams has a similar yet very different tradition. Each year, the band treats area fans to a New Year\u2019s Eve Eve show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

The Slambovian Circus of Dreams, which has been making music since 1998, features founding members Joziah Longo (singer, songwriter, guitarist, leader of the band), his wife Tink Lloyd (accordion, cello, flute, ukulele, Theremin, keyboards), Bob Torsello (bass)<\/span>,\u00a0Sharkey McEwen (guitar,\u00a0mandolin, backing vocals)<\/span> and Felipe Torres (drums)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just did <\/span>six of our Christmas shows (\u201cA Very Slambovian Christmas\u201d) <\/span>this week,\u201d said Lloyd, during a phone interview <\/span>Thursday afternoon from the couple\u2019s home along the Hudson River north of New York City. <\/span>\u201cWe just got back from Utica yesterday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe ha<\/span>ve two more Christmas shows<\/span> and then it\u2019s the New Year\u2019s Eve Eve show. We\u2019re excited about the Philly show<\/span> because we don\u2019t play Philly proper that much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Longo said, \u201cIt\u2019s been a<\/span>n interesting good year.<\/span> We\u2019re finishing up a good run of nine Christmas shows. It\u2019s an abundance. The shows have been better than ever and we\u2019re in the process of booking a U.K. tour in the spring.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Slambovian Circus of Dreams<\/span> is in the rare position of touring in support of a new release. The \u201cA Very Slambovian Christmas\u201d<\/span> shows correspond with the release of the Slambovians\u2019 \u201cYo Ho Ho! Merry Xmas Holiday EP.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo of the five tracks are from previous New Year\u2019s Eve Eve shows \u2013 \u2018Pirates Xmas\u2019 and \u2018Evenings Like This,\u2019,\u201d said Longo. \u201cThe Pirate song is one people ask for a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other three studio recordings on the holiday EP are \u201cSnow,\u201d \u201cEvery Little Night\u201d and \u201cSuddenly It\u2019s Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe song \u2018Snow\u2019 is also pretty popular with fans,\u201d said Longo. \u201cIt\u2019s about snow saving us from school. It was originally a song by my previous band The Ancestors.\u201d<\/p>\n

A year ago, Longo talked about his connection with a few Canadian producers\/musicians.<\/p>\n

\u201cDio Tadin, a deep fan of ours from Canada, has been bugging us to come up to his studio in Ontario to do some recording<\/span>,\u201d said Longo. \u201cMe and Tink went up and recorded eight killer vocal tracks. Then, he came down here and did some more recording of Tink\u2019s vocal parts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re positioning ourselves to get projects going. The means of production are coming into place. The universe is moving in a way to pull the pieces together.<\/span> The whole production environment is coming together. We\u2019ve been gypsies for so long. At some point, you want to maximize your art before you\u2019re dead.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n

Longo is still working on a new Slambovian Circus of Dreams<\/span> album.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe key is to keep going,\u201d said Longo. \u201cDio Tadin moved here from Canada \u2013 10 minutes away in Beacon,\u201d said Longo. \u201cHe has a great studio. I didn\u2019t get our album done yet, but my son got an album done and my daughter got an album done. My family hangs out with the Tadins.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Slambovians\u2019 line-up <\/span>has been stable for years and the band just keeps getting tighter.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really appreciate this band,\u201d said Longo. \u201cIt brings down a certain realm. I feel like I\u2019m in the 70\u2019s. I particularly dig the vibe of this band. In addition to me, Tink and Sharkey, we have Bob Torsello, a punk bass player, and Felipe Torres. He\u2019s been playing drums and percussion for us for about two years now. He used to be the drummer for Davy Jones of the Monkees. And, Tristan will be a very good addition.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Slambovian Circus of Dreams has its roots in another New York band.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were in a group called The Ancestors in New York,\u201d said Longo. \u201cEddie Kramer, who was the Stones\u2019 engineer and producer, did an album with us. That brought everybody around to see us play. We were doing really well. One time, we played Carnegie Hall and CBGBs the same night.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were ahead of the curve and then we disappeared \u2014 on purpose. We went to the hinterlands and hid out in the folk scene. We were playing folk music that was different with things like an electric slide mandolin. It was \u2018Floydian\u2019 folk. The folkies really took to it. We found our niche.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

They found a niche and they found a new name \u2014 Gandalf Murphy and The Slambovian Circus of Dreams.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was just a name I made up,\u201d said Longo, a Philly native who went to St. John Neumann High in South Philadelphia. <\/span>\u201cEventually, we cut off the Gandalf part. It made it easier to fit the name on marquees.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The band always approaches its New Year\u2019s Eve Eve show in Philly as something special.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a South Philly boy and all my South Philly people bring umbrellas and dance like jellyfish,\u201d said Longo. \u201cComing back to Philly means a lot to me because it\u2019s the place where I was born. It\u2019s a great way to end the year. We\u2019re all trying to find our best self. New Year\u2019s is an analysis of what we want to be \u2013 where are we going to go this year. Let\u2019s unravel everything we know and get back to feeling for each other. Let\u2019s get in a room and escape what other people call reality \u2013 even though it\u2019s not real reality. Real reality is love, unity and friendship.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPhilly is our home town. It\u2019s like we come back and bring it to the elders. This is our 11th year to do this show. Being in Philly at this time of year just feels right.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for the Slambovian Circus of Dreams \u2013<\/span> https:\/\/youtu.be\/pErRR026vz8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $24 in advance and $27 night of show.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at the World Caf\u00e9 Live are Barber Acoustic on December 27, Margo Price and Lilly Hiatt on December 28, A Dickens Of A Murder Mystery Dinner on December 29,<\/span>and Start Making Sense on December 31.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Doyle<\/p><\/div>\n

If you have any lingering lethargy from holiday celebrations, a good way to shake it off is to attend Doyle\u2019s \u201cAs We Die World Abomination Tour 2018\u201d when it touches down on December 27 at the Foundry at Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal Street, Philadelphia, 215-309-0150, <\/span>www.thefillmorephilly.com<\/a><\/span>)<\/span><\/cite>.<\/cite><\/p>\n

Misfits Legendary guitarist Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein released his second solo album \u201cAs We Die\u201d <\/span>just over\u00a0 a year ago on EMP Label Group\/Monsterman Records.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m already working on new stuff,\u201d said Doyle, during a recent phone interview <\/span>as he travelled to a gig in Seattle, Washington.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m working on new stuff every time I pick up the guitar. But, I haven\u2019t been doing any recording.<\/span> I\u2019m always writing but I haven\u2019t been in the studio at all.<\/p>\n

Both Doyle\u2019s solo albums \u2013 \u201cAs We Die\u201d and \u201cAbominator\u201d \u2014 are sonically-thick and lyrically-evil slabs of horror-punk metal that finds him expanding in a logical progression upon the genre of music he helped create.<\/span><\/p>\n

Doyle\u2019s first band, the infamous Glenn Danzig-fronted Misfits, helped create the genre of speed\/thrash metal with their last album, 1983\u2019s \u201cEarth AD\/Wolf\u2019s Blood.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe cut the new album at House of Von Frankenstein,\u201d said Doyle. \u201cWe recorded all the guitars and bass for both albums in 2012. The only thing we did in a studio later was recording the drums because we got a new drummer. And, I did some vocals over when we remixed it in 2016.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Recording both guitar and bass tracks for the albums, the unmistakable sound of Doyle\u2019s signature Annihilator guitar cuts through on every tune.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have five Annihilators,\u201d said Doyle. \u201cI\u2019ll bring there of four of them with me. I only play Annihilators \u2013 100 per cent of the time. I made them for myself.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

While the horror punk vibe of The Misfits does permeate the album, the guitar work on \u201cAbominator\u201d and \u201cAs We Die\u201d is more technical than your average punk rock record.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTo me, both albums were made at the same time so they\u2019re the same album,\u201d said Doyle. \u201cIn my live show, I\u2019m doing stuff from both albums because they are the same.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been working on new songs. I have about a dozen things \u2013 some new ideas for the next album. But, I\u2019m not in any rush.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Doyle, \u201cFans at his show should expect to get pummeled and then go home and ask themselves \u2018What the f*** just happened to me?!?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Doyle\u2019s shows are not for the timid.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe show always has a lot of intensity,\u201d said Doyle. \u201cI keep it at a very high level. It\u2019s a hard job. We work really long, hard hours. I just keep writing and writing every time I pick up my guitar.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI do 150 shows a year and that\u2019s a lot. This tour was too long. I like being at home with my girlfriend.<\/span> At the same time, I want to take this thing as far as I can.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Doyle \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/S5-j82QECj4<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at the Foundry, which also features Wolves Attack!!! and They Call Us Death, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $17.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other show this week at the Foundry are Mr. Brightside on December 28, Armani White on December 29, and \u201cNew Queers\u2019 Eve Party\u201d on December 31.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Popa Chubby<\/p><\/div>\n

On December 28, another hard-touring rocker will perform in the area when the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0<\/span>www.st94.com<\/a><\/span>) hosts a show by Popa Chubby.<\/span><\/p>\n

Popa Chubby, one of America\u2019s modern-day blues-rock\/blues masters,<\/span> plays between 180 and 200 shows each year. The veteran rocker just released a new album \u2014 \u201cPrime Cuts \u2013 The Very Best of the Beast from the East.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

With a career spanning nearly 30 years, Popa Chubby has delivered a hand-picked anthology of 15 tracks from his prolific and ever-expanding catalogue. \u201cPrime Cuts\u201d reflects Popa\u2019s choice of the best of his best — tracks that keep the Chubby legacy fresh and the fans happy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI went all the way back and picked the best stuff from my last 38 records,\u201d said Popa Chubby, during a phone interview Tuesday from his home in New York\u2019s Hudson Valley.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere were two criteria. First, I had to really like the song. Second, it had to be music the fans request. A lot of it was easy<\/span>. A a lot came down to the fans<\/span> \u2013 \u2018Sweet Goddess of Love and Beer<\/span>,\u2019 \u2018Angel on My Shoulder<\/span>,\u2019 \u2018Light of Day\u2019 \u2013 give the people what they want.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were all original album tracks, but some were alternate mixes. I did a lot of re-mastering. There were also two new tracks \u2013 and a Christmas song. It took a couple months to put it all together. It just came out at the end of November.\u201d<\/p>\n

Popa Chubby\u2019s last two studio albums were \u201cThe Catfish\u201d in 2016 and \u201cTwo Dogs\u201d in 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never stop recording,\u201d said Popa Chubby. \u201cI recorded \u2018Two Dogs\u2019 right after I finished making \u2018The Catfish.\u2019 I\u2019m working on my next album now. This is the time of year when I\u2019m home and can get recording work done.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a studio in my home. For D.I.Y. stuff, I use ProTools. My studio is filled with vintage stuff \u2013 RCA mics, old compressors and vintage guitars and drums.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a background in recording. I worked as an engineer and I started out working with tape. It\u2019s all digital now \u2014 but I have an analog way of getting in and an analog way of getting out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was working with Tom Dowd, a legendary engineer, he was so happy to go to digital instead of tape. He explained that each time the tape goes over the (recording) head, it loses particles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finding time to get in the studio is a luxury for Popa Chubby.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m never home,\u201d said Popa Chubby. \u201cIt seems that I\u2019m always touring a lot. The progression of my career has been slow and steady. I like to g<\/span>ive people real music. The best music for me comes from not making music. It comes from me jamming with myself.\u201d Video link for Popa Chubby \u2014 https:\/\/youtu.be\/r3ledCIoXH8<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at the Sellersville Theatre will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and $39.50.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at the Sellersville Theatre are Lotus Land<\/span> on December 27, The Cast of Beatlemania on December 29, Live Wire on December 30, and Dr. K\u2019s Motown Revue on December 31.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Francis Dunnery<\/p><\/div>\n

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0<\/span>http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a><\/span>) will have Francis Dunnery (Solo) on December 28, <\/span>\u201cAn Intimate Evening with Bettye LaVette<\/span>\u201d featuring Evan Mercer on <\/span>keyboards on December 29, \u201cFilms & Words – Lambert & Stamp\u201d with guest lecture by Bill Luther on December 30, and Jeffrey Gaines on December 31.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, <\/span>www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/a><\/span>) will present \u201cOpen Mic Night\u201d on December 27 and Lift Street on December 29.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0<\/span>http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/a><\/span>) <\/span>will host The POF<\/span>, Big Boy Brass<\/span> and Joel Keeley<\/span> on December 28 and<\/span> CPTime<\/span>, Dre Carter<\/span> and Jesse Be\u00a0<\/span>on December 29.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0<\/span>www.ardmoremusic.com<\/a><\/span>) will host Ghostface Killah on December 28, Everyone Orchestra on December 29, Pink Talking Phish on December 30, Family Jam with Alex & The Kaleidoscope on December 31 (10:30 a.m.), and Splintered Sunlight\/Swift Technique<\/span> on December 31.<\/p>\n

The Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/a>) presents Chrisette Michele on December 27, David Uosikkinen\u2019s In The Pocket on December 28, The Genesis Show on December 29, and \u201cThe First Night of Funny\u201d on December 31.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Grand Opera House <\/span>(818 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-652-5577, <\/span>www.thegrandwilmington.org<\/a><\/span>) will present <\/span>Delbert McClinton on December 28.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Locks at Sona (4417 Main Street, Manayunk, 484- 273-0481, sonapub.com<\/a>)<\/span> will have David Wax Museum (duo)<\/span> on December 27, Billy Price<\/span> on December 28<\/span>, The John Bryne Band plays the music of Shane McGowan and The Pogues<\/span> on December 29 <\/span>and Joseph Arthur<\/span> on December 30<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Rrazz Room (6426 Lower York Road, New Hope, 888-596-1027, <\/span>www.TheRrazzRoom.com<\/a><\/span>) will present P<\/span>oppy Champlin & Karen Williams \u2013 \u201cThe Queer Queens of Comedy\u201d on December 31.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff,\u00a0Entertainment Editor, The Times There is one date each year when the penultimate and the ultimate come together. Once the calendar year starts, area music fans have to wait until the very end of the year to enjoy what ultimately is one of the best shows of the year \u2013 to wait until […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30611,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[9637,6518,8987,7638,7553],"class_list":["post-30609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-doyle","tag-featured","tag-francis-dunnery","tag-popa-chubby","tag-slambovian-circus-of-dreams"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30609","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=30609"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30609\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30610,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30609\/revisions\/30610"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30611"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}