{"id":30847,"date":"2019-01-31T08:50:11","date_gmt":"2019-01-31T13:50:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=30847"},"modified":"2019-01-31T11:44:37","modified_gmt":"2019-01-31T16:44:37","slug":"on-stage-colin-blunstone-brings-his-legendary-voice-to-philly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=30847","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Colin Blunstone brings his legendary voice to Philly"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"\"<\/a>

Colin Blunstone<\/p><\/div>\n

If you wanted someone to sing romantic love songs to your sweetheart for Valentine\u2019s Day, you\u2019d be hard-pressed to find anyone better than Colin Blunstone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blunstone has one of the loveliest and most distinctive voices in popular music. His delivery is powerful and velvety at the same time \u2013 and has been for more than 50 years.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 1961, Blunstone started his singing career as the vocalist for the Zombies \u2013 the English Invasion band that produced such classic hits as \u201cTell Her No,\u201d \u201cShe\u2019s Not There,\u201d and \u201cTime of the Season.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, almost six decades later, the Zombies are still putting on great shows \u2013 fueled by Rod Argent with his keyboard prowess and Blunstone with his breathy, emotive vocals.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Zombies, Blunstone has also built an impressive career as a solo artist.<\/span><\/p>\n

In recent years, Blunstone, Argent and their bandmates in the Zombies have played several times at the World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400,www.worldcafelive.com<\/a>). On February 2, Blunstone will return to headline a solo show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blunstone\u2019s voice was considered one of the main factors in making the Zombies\u2019 single, \u201cShe\u2019s Not There\u201d an international hit. Blunstone began his solo career in 1969, releasing three singles under a pseudonym of Neil MacArthur. He emerged as a solo artist under his own name in 1972 with \u201cSay You Don’t Mind,\u201d which peaked at number 15 in the UK chart, and \u201cI Don\u2019t Believe in Miracles,” which hit number 31 in the UK chart.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since then, he has released 10 studio albums and one live album under his real name. His solo hits include his version of \u201cShe\u2019s Not There,\u201d \u201cSay You Don\u2019t Mind,\u201d \u201cI Don\u2019t Believe in Miracles,\u201d \u201cHow Could We Dare to Be Wrong,\u201d \u201cWhat Becomes of the Brokenhearted,\u201d and \u201cThe Tracks of My Tears.\u201d He is also known for his participation on various albums with the Alan Parsons Project.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis will not be a show of me performing Zombies\u2019 songs,\u201d said Blunstone, during a recent phone interview from his home outside London in Surrey, England. \u201cI\u2019ve got a great band and we\u2019ll be doing my songs. Steve Rodford plays drums and Elliot Mason is on bass. Manolo Polidario is my guitarist and we have a great keyboardist \u2013 Pete Billington.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe love to write, love to record and love to get out on the road. We\u2019re a live band that likes to play all the time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn the shows on this tour, I will do \u2018She\u2019s Not There\u2019 and \u2018Time of the Season\u2019 as well as \u2018Old and Wise,\u2019 a song I sang with the Alan Parsons Project \u2013 but most of the set list comes from my solo career.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll the songs in my show have been hits somewhere but not necessarily in the U.K. There will be six or seven songs that I\u2019ve written. There will be two from my original band \u2013 \u2018Just Out of Reach\u2019 and \u2018How We were Before\u2019 \u2013 and two from this band \u2013 \u2018Any Other Way\u2019 and \u2018Never Get Over You.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be singing a lot of favorites such as \u2018Andorra,\u2019 \u2018The Tracks of My Tears,\u2019 \u2018Say You Don\u2019t Mind,\u2019 \u2018I Want Some More,\u2019 \u2018What Becomes of the Brokenhearted,\u2019 and \u2018I Don\u2019t Believe in Miracles.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re familiar with the vocals on \u201cShe\u2019s Not There\u201d or \u201cTime of the Season,\u201d you might have doubts that Blunstone\u2019s voice can still do the songs justice after a half-century. Amazingly, his voice is as good \u2013 or better \u2013 than it was back in the 60s.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe science of singing intrigues me,\u201d said Blunstone. \u201cMaintaining it takes a little luck and then exercise. I exercise my voice every day. On the road, if I get a cold, I lose the top end of my voice. That apart, I seem to have kept my range. The Zombies\u2019 songs are still in the same key as when we recorded them from 1964 onwards. The main thing before you sing, you take a breath and then try to work your diaphragm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Last month, the Zombies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very exciting,\u201d said Blunstone, who is a longtime fan of London\u2019s world-class Chelsea football squad.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt was our fourth time to be nominated for the Hall of Fame. I was thrilled the first time we got a nomination. Now, we\u2019re being inducted. We got 330,000 votes and made it to the top seven.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Colin Blustone \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/4LhuEdB7QUM<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live, which has Clarence Bucaro as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 and $45.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at the World Caf\u00e9 Live are the Kingston Trio on January 31, Osler Circle presents a benefit for Children\u2019s Hospital: The Fab Four \u2013 Together and Apart on February 1, and Thomas Dybdahl and Kenny White on February 6.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Second City<\/p><\/div>\n

Even if you\u2019re not familiar with The Second City, you almost definitely are familiar with many of the comedy club\u2019s alumni. The roster of top-flight comedians that came through The Second City includes such luminaries as Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Amy Poehler, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, and Upper Darby\u2019s Tina Fey.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Kimmel Center (Broad and Spruce streets, Philadelphia, 215-731-3333, www.kimmelcenter.org<\/a>) is hosting one of The Second City\u2019s touring productions this weekend. Now through February 2, the Kimmel is presenting \u201cIt\u2019s Not You, It\u2019s Me. – The Second City\u201d in its Perelman Theater.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have three different troupes that tour,\u201d said Jo Scott, one of the cast members of \u201cIt’s Not You, It\u2019s Me. – The Second City,\u201d during a phone interview Monday morning from her home in Chicago. \u201cThis cast has four females, two males and a musical director.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in the middle of snowstorm here today. We fly out Wednesday morning straight to the theater in Philly to tech and then open that night.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we tour stuff, we do some things that are archived material and some originals. The Second City has hundreds of sketches in its archives. Most of the sketches are archived.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s cool to see scenes that our idols did and then add our own touch to the skits. Each tour is one-of-a-kind. The directors pick it what is good for the cast.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Second City has been laughing at love and its infinite scroll of side effects for decades. In the world-famous comedy company\u2019s latest laughter-inducing undertaking, \u201cIt’s Not You, It\u2019s Me. – The Second City\u201d takes shots at heartbreak, missed connections and the mire of human relationships. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe just finished our holiday show,\u201d said Scott. \u201cNow, we\u2019ve switched over to relationship themes for February and Valentine\u2019s Day. We\u2019ll do this show for a couple months.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Scott moved to Chicago to join The Second City.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAfter college, my husband and I were in the Peace Corps in Suriname,\u201d said Scott. \u201cLater, we ended up in Washington, D.C. where he worked in public relations. I took an improv class as a side thing and they told my husband and me that we needed to move to Chicago.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re both from Indiana originally \u2013 I\u2019m from South Bend and he\u2019s from Indianapolis \u2013 so it wasn\u2019t hard to us to move back to the Midwest. I went to Chicago specifically to join The Second City and I\u2019ve been touring with them for a couple years.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, Scott and her castmates are descending on Philly to set the mood for Valentine\u2019s Day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an original show,\u201d said Scott. \u201cEach act is 50 minutes with 10-12 scenes that are each three-to-four minutes. Some are sentimental. Some interact with audiences and some are just goofy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Second City is a show you want your friends to see. There is always something for everyone in every show.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cIt’s Not You, It\u2019s Me. – The Second City\u201d \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/nW4k2O2HDQA<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The shows at the Kimmel Center\u2019s Perelman Theater are scheduled for January 31 and February 1 at 8 p.m. and February 2 at 4 and 8:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $23-$63.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many of the top songwriters in popular music prefer to write about their own life experiences \u2013 at least for a while until they run out of stories.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

JP Harris<\/p><\/div>\n

JP Harris, who will headline a show at Kung Fu Necktie (1248 North Front Street, Philadelphia, 215-291-4919, kungfunecktie.com<\/a>) on January 31, is a veteran guitarist and country singer\/songwriter with lots of personal stories in his songs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Harris has a CV that provides him a seemingly endless source of material.<\/span><\/p>\n

He was born in Montgomery, Alabama. When he was seven, his family moved to Apple Valley, California<\/a> and later to Las Vegas. When Harris was 14, he left home after finishing eighth grade.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I left home, I changed my music tastes,\u201d said Harris, during a recent phone interview from Nashville. \u201cMy parents listened to folk \u2013 and some country. My grandparents down south were big country music fans. I heard it a lot when I was around them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

After leaving home, Harris spent time in Oakland. The California punk music scene had a major influence on his music at that point.<\/span><\/p>\n

Harris then moved around the country and worked a huge variety of jobs \u2013 sheep herder, sheet metal scrapper, orchard worker, farm laborer, luthier, heavy equipment operator, logger, and historic restoration carpenter.<\/span><\/p>\n

From the time he was 16 until his relocation to Nashville, he lived in various remote cabins without electricity or running water for nearly 13 years. He also moved on from punk rock \u2013 to country and genuine Americana.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe older you get, the more mature types of music start resonating with you,\u201d said Harris. \u201cI also had some friends who were into traditional American music. When I left home, I lived in a lot of rural places. I learned building trades and did forest logging.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAlso, I always wanted to relate to older folks. I was raised by a real southern family. We were taught manners. Country music is that middle ground. It aligned with my lifestyle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Harris released his debut album \u201cI\u2019ll Keep Calling\u201d in 2011 and followed with \u201cHome Is Where the Hurt Is\u201d in 2014 and \u201cSometime Dogs Bark at Nothing\u201d last year. His love affair with the guitar goes back a long time before he started making albums.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy mama got me an acoustic guitar for Christmas when I was 12,\u201d said Harris, who also has spent a lot of time hopping freight trains across America. \u201cI took a few lessons from an old blues dude and learned power chords. I traded my skateboard for an electric guitar and worked on learning power chords. Then, some older kids started teaching me real chords. And, I realized playing music was a way to make friends.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI lived a simple lifestyle. I had gotten into traditional Appalachian music. I was completely into acoustic music. I was against even an electric pickup on a guitar. I went to a lot of fiddlers\u2019 conventions. I realized I wanted to have a different environment \u2013 to be in bars where people were laughing and dancing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wrote the first couple songs and started a band for fun. I didn\u2019t expect it to go anywhere. Then, I realized I liked drums and pedal steel \u2013 then amps \u2013 then Stratocasters. I went back to \u2018Square One\u2019 and reverse-engineered into what I do now.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have a unique approach to traditional country music. I go back to the music of George Jones and Hank Williams \u2013 Jimmie Rodgers and Doc Watson.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Harris\u2019 influences shine brightly on \u201cSometimes Dogs Bark at Nothing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Harris, \u201cI feel like I was trying to make this record for two or three years before we actually got around to making it. I had written at least half of the songs a couple years before we got close to a plan of how to make it. I really wanted to wait for the right situation to come up before I made this album.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of things changed in my life between when I made my previous album and when we decided to go into the studio last year to make this one. I felt like I had a very different approach to life and music in general. It was really important to wait for the right situation to coalesce before I dove into making something new.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, Harris is touring in support of his new album \u2013 a tour that brings him to Philadelphia.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve played shows in places around Philadelphia, but this will be my first real show in Philly,\u201d said Harris. \u201cI\u2019m definitely looking forward to it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for JP Harris \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/HoJ-PQL6NLA<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Kung Fu Necktie, which also features Baby\u2019s First Rodeo, The Cheddar Boys and The Flat Wheels, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $9.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at Kung Fu Necktie are Green Jelly on February 1, The Fleshtones on February 2, Walking the Cadaver on February 3, Bay Faction on February 5 and Good Clean Fun on February 6.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Cory Wong<\/p><\/div>\n

It\u2019s too early to tell if it will be really cold, bitterly cold or painfully cold when Cory Wong hits Philly on February 1 for a show at The Foundry at The <\/span>Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal Street, Philadelphia, 215-309-0150, www.thefillmorephilly.com<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

But, there are two weather-related things for sure.<\/span><\/p>\n

It might be brutally cold outside the Fillmore, but things will heat up quickly when Wong and his band start rocking out onstage at The Foundry. And, the temperatures might be frigid in Philly, but they will pale in comparison to those his wife and kids are experiencing in his hometown \u2013 Minneapolis.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey cancelled classes all week at my kids\u2019 school in Minnesota,\u201d said Wong, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from a tour stop in Burlington, Vermont. \u201cWith the wind chill, it\u2019s 46 degrees below zero back there right now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Best known for his thrifty guitarwork in the midwestern funk ensemble Vulfpeck, Wong\u00a0released his sophomore solo record,\u00a0\u201cThe Optimist,\u201d last fall with a corresponding seven-inch single release in collaboration with smooth jazz legend Dave Koz.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my first big go at putting out a record,\u201d said Wong. \u201cIt sold out every copy presale before it came out. I ended up shipping them all out from my house. I decided to do a second pressing and only sell it at my live shows.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAfter this tour, they\u2019ll be all gone, and I\u2019ll do another pressing. Things are going great. The album keeps selling out and almost every show on the tour is sold out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Optimist,\u201d which came out on August 17, was recorded in just six days last year.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy recording process was rapid-fire with huge spurts in a short time,\u201d said Wong. \u201cI gave myself six days to put together the songs for the album. We had three different sessions \u2013 six songs at each session with different musicians. One session was done in Nashville with members of Ben Rector\u2019s band.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnother session was done in Minneapolis with musicians who have played with Prince. I grew up in Minneapolis, so I\u2019ve always been influenced by the Prince camp. All my mentors were Prince players or alumni. The third session was done with my live band in Minneapolis \u2013 the band that\u2019s out with me now.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m touring with a seven-piece band \u2013 guitar, bass, keyboards, drums \u2013 and a three-piece horn section \u2013 sax, trombone and trumpet. Also, Emily Browning, who is the opening act, sings with me in my set.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wong\u2019s interest in music dates back to when he was still in grade school.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy dad was a big music head \u2013 everything from Hendrix to Miles \u2013 from Zep to Keith Jarrett,\u201d said Wong. \u201cThat influenced me when I was young. And then, when I was in sixth grade, I discovered punk rock.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, when I perform live, it\u2019s an eclectic mix. I\u2019m playing stuff from my new record, songs from my previous records and I\u2019m testing new material. I\u2019m morphing the set as the tour goes on.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Cory Wong \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/_MbMMGMMpA0<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at The Foundry, which has Emily Browning as the opener, will start at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at The Foundry are Daley & JMSN on January 31, Cautious Clay on February 2 and El Ten Eleven on February 6.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s going to be extremely cold when Cory Wong visits Philly for a show on February 1 at The Foundry at Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal Street, Philadelphia, 215-309-0150,www.thefillmorephilly.com<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

If you attempted to collect every record on which members of The Hit Men played, you would have to spend a lot of money. And, you\u2019d need the space to house hundreds of albums.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Hit Men<\/p><\/div>\n

When the Hit Men perform onstage, they present a show that is a journey through the history of rock and roll — an authentic journey. On February 2, area fans can embark on that journey when The Hit Men visit the area for a concert at Montgomery County Community College (340 Dekalb Pike, Blue Bell, 215-641-6518, https:\/\/www.mc3.edu\/events<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Since coming together in November 2010, The Hit Men have established a legacy of number one hits come to life like no other group. The Hit Men are extraordinary players and singers as well as world-class entertainers — but, most importantly, they were there when these songs were recorded, and they have the backstage, insider stories to prove it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keyboardist and group founder Lee Shapiro, lead guitarist\/vocalist Jimmy Ryan, bassist\/vocalist Jeff Ganz, vocalist Russ Velazquez and drummer Steve Murphy deliver sizzling shows that combine live music, eye-popping videos and reminiscences born from their witnessing and making musical history as it happened.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Hit Men are the real guys you saw on stage,\u201d said Shapiro, during a phone interview Monday morning from his home in Bergen County, New Jersey.<\/span><\/p>\n

The capsule biographies of the five veteran players offer a glimpse at how meshed in the fabric of American rock these musicians are.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shapiro<\/span> is a music producer, arranger, and musician who has been involved in the New York music scene for over three decades. After Frankie Valli\u2019s road manager saw him perform at a club in New Jersey, Lee became one of Frankie Valli\u2019s celebrated Four Seasons as both an arranger and a keyboardist.<\/span><\/p>\n

He toured the world with the band, performing classic hits and acting as the musical director and arranger on others including \u201cOh, What A Night\u201d and \u201cWho Loves You.\u201d These experiences gave Lee the vehicle to meet and collaborate with a wide variety of stars including touring with Tommy James as one of the Shondells, co-producing the score to \u201cCopacabana the Musical\u201d with Barry Manilow, and collaborating with true music icons such as Bob Gaudio, Charlie Calello, Jimmy and Jerry Vivino, Paul Schaffer, and Will Lee.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ryan started his musical career in the mid-sixties as lead guitarist, vocalist and co-songwriter with The Critters, who had three top hits — \u201cYounger Girl,\u201d \u201cMr. Dieingly Sad\u201d and \u201cDon\u2019t Let The Rain Fall Down on Me\u201d (which he composes).<\/span><\/p>\n

When the Critters split up in 1969, Ryan continued his career as lead guitarist, backup vocalist, often arranger, and occasional co-writer with Carly Simon. He has played on many of Simon\u2019s hits and has performed with her in two HBO specials — \u201cLive from Martha\u2019s Vineyard\u201d and \u201cMy Romance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Ryan has recorded albums with many other artists including Cat Stevens, Jim Croce, Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, John Entwhistle, Jim Webb, Elton John and Kiki Dee. He also has scored more than 40 films for theater and TV.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ganz has toured and recorded with such legends as Johnny Winter, Roy Buchanan, John Lee Hooker, Gerry Mulligan, Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed, Tito Puente, Chuck Berry, Joe Morello, Melvin Van Peebles, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Dr. John, Larry Coryell, Eddie Money, Jim Dawson, Christine Lavin, Marilyn Michaels, Cheap Trick, Vanilla Fudge, and Blood, Sweat & Tears.<\/span><\/p>\n

He also has played bass in concert and on recordings for such artists as Rita Moreno, Howard Levy, Melanie, Al Cohn, Johnnie Johnson, The Village People, Billie Joe Royal, Marvin Hamlisch, Cleo Laine, Liza Minnelli, Clint Holmes, Andy Williams, Kenwood Dennard, and Ben Vereen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Velazquez<\/span> is a singer, composer, arranger, and producer — an in-demand studio musician who has performed on thousands of studio sessions covering an extraordinary range of genres and styles. He has worked with Sting, Carol King, the Ramones, LL Cool J, Luther Vandross, Korn, and Paula Abdul.<\/span><\/p>\n

He is a four-time Emmy-nominated composer and arranger for his work on the children\u2019s television show \u201cSesame Street,\u201d and had a Number One record on the children\u2019s charts and Radio Disney for his song \u201c2BA Master,\u201d, the \u201cPokemon\u201d CD title song. Additionally, the veteran player has composed, arranged, produced and performed several popular TV themes and shows.<\/span><\/p>\n

Steve Murphy<\/span> is a drummer\/singer\/producer\/engineer who has been involved in the New York music scene since the late 1980s. His first big break came in 1998 when he was asked to work as a vocalist in the studio with legendary producer Phil Ramone on a project for Elton John. His voice was featured on dozens of national commercials including The US Army\u2019s \u201cBe All You Can Be\u201d campaign. He was a member of The Alan Parsons Live Project and has also toured with Jack Bruce, Eric Burdon and the Animals, Chuck Negron, Felix Cavaliere, Dave Mason, Todd Rundgren, Christopher Cross, Mark Farner, The Turtles, Mickey Dolenz, Gary Puckett, and Mitch Ryder.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is our ninth year and we have three of the five original members,\u201d said Shapiro. \u201cOur bass player Larry Gates passed away recently from bone and blood cancer. He was 63 and we had been friends since were eight years old. When he knew he was passing and had to leave the band, he recommended Jeff Ganz.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur old drummer Gerry Polci left the band two years ago. He got married and retired from his job and didn\u2019t have the time to keep going with The Hitmen. They were both great players, but their replacements are also great players.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Hit Men\u2019s second album, \u201cDon\u2019t Stop,\u201d is filled with classic hits such as Journey\u2019s \u201cDon\u2019t Stop Believin\u2019,\u201d Foreigner\u2019s \u201cI Want To Know What Love Is,\u201d The Who\u2019s \u201cPinball Wizard,\u201d The Turtles\u2019 \u201cHappy Together,\u201d and The Four Seasons\u2019 \u201cWho Loves You\u201d and \u201cDec \u201963 Oh What A Night.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Don\u2019t Stop\u2019 is our newest album,\u201d said Shapiro. \u201cIt\u2019s got a lot of great songs including hits by Journey and Foreigner. It was made with the new members. The album is representative of our current show.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for The Hit Men — https:\/\/youtu.be\/6RAKv2Mwpg4<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at <\/span>Montgomery County Community College on <\/span>February 2 will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) will have Raymond the Amish Comic and Downingtown\u2019s Steph Termini on February 1 and \u201cRust \u2013 A Tribute to Neil Young\u201d on February 2.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/a>) will host the Whiskeyhickon Boys on February 1.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Colonial Theatre (Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610- 917-1228, www.thecolonialtheatre.com<\/a>) hosts Loudon Wainwright III \/ Susan Werner on February 2.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/a>) will host The Odyssey, Semblance and Liz Greene on<\/span><\/p>\n

February 1 and Obscure Identity, Static Drift and The Crucidicks on February 2.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com<\/a>) will present West Philadelphia Orchestra and Johnny Showcase on January 31, Junior Marvin (of the Wailers) on February 1, and TAUK on February 2.<\/span><\/p>\n

Burlap & Bean Coffeehouse (204 South Newtown Street Road, Newtown Square, 484-427-4547,\u00a0www.burlapandbean.com<\/a>) will present the John Byrne Band on February 2.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/a>) presents The Midtown Men <\/a>on January 31 and Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle on February 1.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/a>) presents The Mighty Manatees And Mike Guldin & Rollin\u2019 & Tumblin\u2019 on January 31, KICK (The INXS Experience) on February 1, The Weight Band with Kerri Powers on February 2, International Guitar Night on February 5 and Eric Gales with Matthew Curry on February 6.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Grand Opera House <\/span>(818 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-652-5577, <\/span>www.thegrandwilmington.org<\/a><\/span>) hosts \u201c<\/span>Classic Albums Live \u2013 Led Zeppelin 1\u201d on February 1 and Freedom Bound on February 5.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Locks at Sona (4417 Main Street, Manayunk, 484- 273-0481, sonapub.com<\/a>) hosts Amy Helm with special guest Zach Djanikian on February 1 and Meadow Mountain with special guest River Bones Band on February 6.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rrazz Room (6426 Lower York Road, New Hope, 888-596-1027, www.TheRrazzRoom.com<\/a>) will present \u201cCracked Up Comedy Hosted by Dwayne Dunlevy\u201d on February 2.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff,\u00a0Entertainment Editor, The Times If you wanted someone to sing romantic love songs to your sweetheart for Valentine\u2019s Day, you\u2019d be hard-pressed to find anyone better than Colin Blunstone. Blunstone has one of the loveliest and most distinctive voices in popular music. His delivery is powerful and velvety at the same time \u2013 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30849,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[10940,10943,6518,10942,10941,7489],"class_list":["post-30847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-colin-blunstone","tag-cory-wong","tag-featured","tag-jp-harris","tag-second-city","tag-the-hit-men"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30847","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=30847"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30847\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30850,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30847\/revisions\/30850"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}