{"id":32521,"date":"2019-09-05T09:32:33","date_gmt":"2019-09-05T13:32:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=32521"},"modified":"2019-09-05T09:32:38","modified_gmt":"2019-09-05T13:32:38","slug":"on-stage-christie-lenee-brings-big-guitar-talent-to-the-flash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=32521","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Christie Len\u00e9e brings big guitar talent to The Flash"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"\"<\/a>

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

If Christie Len\u00e9e played electric guitar with roots in the blues instead of acoustic guitar with a fingerpicking pedigree, she would be on a plateau with Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.<\/span><\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t mean that Len\u00e9e is not an internationally acclaimed guitarist who is one of the best in the world at what she does.<\/span><\/p>\n

Len\u00e9e is an International Fingerstyle Guitar Champion, an award-winning singer-songwriter and\u00a0a finalist for Acoustic Guitarist of the Year.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to being a top-flight guitarist with her signature percussive finger picking, Len\u00e9e is also an impressive singer-songwriter with an expressive voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

The musical nomad, who now makes her home in Asheville, North Carolina, has played in many area venues over the years including Kennett Flash, World Caf\u00e9 Live, Melodies Caf\u00e9, Sellersville Theater and Ardmore Music Hall. She has played the Flash more than any other venue.<\/span><\/p>\n

On September 5, she is returning to Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) with the Christie Len\u00e9e Project and will follow with a pair of festival gigs in Arkansas and Kansas prior to heading to the U.K. for a string of shows.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited to be coming back to the Flash,\u201d said Len\u00e9e, during a phone interview last week from her home in the mountains of North Carolina. \u201cI\u2019m reuniting with my band in Philly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy band features Chris LeFevre on bass and Andy Meyer on drums. When I play in London later in September, it will be just me on acoustic guitar \u2013 all instrumental, no vocals. It will be special because it\u2019s the same weekend that I won the International Fingerstyle Guitar Championship in 2017.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do a few more shows in the U.K. and then go to Germany for the Musisheans Guitar Tour with two German guitarists (Judith Beckedorf and Karlijn Langendijk). In the middle of that tour, I\u2019ll take three days off to open for Tommy Emmanuel in Poland.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When Len\u00e9e is playing acoustic guitar, symphonic compositions flow from her fingertips effortlessly, with sound ranging from transcendental folk-pop to virtuosic instrumentals. She is often described as \u201cMichael Hedges meets Joni Mitchell and Dave Matthews,\u201d an integration melodic pop lyricism with catchy hooks and percussive, harmonic textures.<\/span><\/p>\n

With a menu of percussive and sonic effects, and larger than life sounding instruments, her solo shows embody layers of orchestral elements with a wide array of dynamics and harmonic textures. On her tapping technique, she uses her right-hand index, middle, and pinky fingers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Len\u00e9e has released five albums, with \u201cSTAY\u201d gaining critical success on a music video supporting Suicide Prevention. The LP is a collection of hopeful, inspiring songs featuring special guest Tim Reynolds (Guitarist from Dave Matthews Band). The album also contains three instrumental pieces produced by the legendary and Multi-Grammy Award Winning Producer Will Ackerman (founder of Windham Hill Records).<\/span><\/p>\n

The title track, which deals with a friend\u2019s suicide, features amazing finger work, adept percussive touches and emotive vocals that showcase the poignant lyrics.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGuitar is a vibrational instrument,\u201d said Len\u00e9e. \u201cIt\u2019s very useful in healing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had a great high school guitar teacher \u2013 John Michael Davis \u2013 when I was in school at Blake High School for Performing Arts in Tampa. Then, I majored in jazz guitar and classical music composition at the University of South Florida.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen, Michael Hedges come into my life. After listening to his playing, I experimented with open tuning. It created so much freedom to be creative with percussion and bass.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Len\u00e9e, who lived in Nashville and Portland prior to moving to Asheville, also spent time living in the Philadelphia area \u2013 including Chester County.
\n\u201cI grew up in Tampa,\u201d said Len\u00e9e. \u201cI grew up in a performing arts group and got involved in theater and acting.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI switched to music. I got into to guitar — especially jazz guitar. When I went to the University of South Florida, I switched from acting to music.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cI initially came to the Philadelphia area after I graduated to visit my uncle. He had bought a new house and I wanted to move from Florida, so I moved in with him. His name is Dale Nelson and he\u2019s one of my greatest heroes. He set the Guinness World Record for Most Skydives in One Day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Her time living in the Delaware Valley was a catalyst for her music career.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first moved to Philly, I put out an album with a choir and big arrangements,\u201d said Len\u00e9e. \u201cThen, when I was still in Philadelphia, I started performing as a solo act.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

\u201cThat\u2019s how I got started in this tapping style of guitar. It gives it a really large sound. There\u2019s a lot going on \u2013 but I don\u2019t use a loop pedal. This style was developed out of necessity. Still, the biggest part missing was percussion. So, I added a Toe Kicker Foot Stomp Box, which is similar to a kick drum.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Len\u00e9e\u2019s fans can expect a new album sometime soon.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been spending a lot of time making my new record \u2013 writing and rewriting\u2026sorting stuff out\u201d said Len\u00e9e. \u201cI\u2019ve done a ton of pre-production. I\u2019ve been working with Steven Miller, a great Windham Hill engineer who is also the engineer for the Dave Matthews Band. Right now, there are just singles.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Christie Len\u00e9e — https:\/\/youtu.be\/S74HfjyO4G8<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Kennett Flash featuring Christie Len\u00e9e will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 and $15.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at Kennett Flash are Package on September 6 and Marah on September 7.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most people are polarized when it comes to deciding whether communication with dead is real. They either believe in the power of a medium or they look at it as a scam.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Theresa Caputo<\/p><\/div>\n

On September 5 and 6, believers and skeptics alike will have the opportunity to see a medium in action when the Xcite Center at Parx Casino (2999 Street Road, Bensalem, 888-588-7279, https:\/\/parxcasino.com<\/a>) presents \u201cTheresa Caputo Live! The Experience.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was just there in November,\u201d said Caputo, during a phone interview last week from her home in Long Island, New York. \u201cWhen I started doing larger venues, I was a little nervous.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEven though that show was only 10 months ago, these shows will be different. Five people or 5,000 \u2013 it doesn\u2019t matter. I\u2019m down in the crowd \u2013 with a great dress and fabulous shoes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Caputo will share personal stories about her life and explain how her gift works. She will deliver healing messages to audience members and give people comfort knowing that their loved ones who passed are still with them, just in a different way. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Experience\u201d brings Theresa face-to-face with her fans, as she lets spirit guide her through the audience. A video display ensures everyone in the venue has an up-close-hands-on experience regardless of seat location.<\/span><\/p>\n

Caputo, who has her own television show — TLC\u2019s \u201cLong Island Medium\u201d — has been a practicing medium professionally for almost two decades but her encounters with the dead have gone on much longer than that.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was four years old, I can remember seeing and connecting with spirits,\u201d said Caputo. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t until I was around 28 that I realized what I really had.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Caputo describes the process of receiving information as \u201cfeeling\u201d spirits. She sees shadows and hears voices, but the overwhelming process is the sensory feeling and presence of those wishing to get messages across.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI can never turn things off,\u201d said Caputo. \u201cAnd, it\u2019s not just people. I\u2019ve had communication from people\u2019s dogs and cats — and even a pet squirrel. I don\u2019t ask for these spirits to come to me. They just appear. When I want to be alone, I just don\u2019t acknowledge them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Caputo, \u201cPeople ask me to describe how I receive information, and it\u2019s hard to put into words because I see, hear, and feel things differently than we do in the physical world.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSpirit mostly speaks to me through a sixth sense — a kind of feeling and knowing. When I get information, it feels like very strong intuition, or recall. Spirit also uses a vocabulary of signs and symbols that they show me during a reading.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Caputo has earned an extensive following in the New York area and currently has a two-year waiting list for private readings.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Spirit talks about things only you would know about, you can\u2019 deny what you saw or witnessed,\u201d said Caputo. \u201cI want people to believe in themselves and that the soul\u2019s bond will never be broken. It\u2019s a little hello from heaven. When Spirit shows me roses, it\u2019s a symbol of love or devotion. People can communicate with their loved ones who have died.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone can connect with their loved ones. With every message, Spirit has to validate with something unique. Spirit gives us what we need to hear. It helps people with the healing process. I don\u2019t like to hear the word \u2018closure.\u2019 I prefer to use the word \u2018peace.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhether you get read or not, it\u2019s a life-changing experience. To me, it\u2019s just such a powerful experience.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Caputo is also a successful author.<\/span><\/p>\n

Her latest book \u201cGood Grief: Heal Your Soul, Honor Your Loved Ones, and Learn to Live Again\u201d was released in 2017 and debuted on the New York Times bestseller list at Number 3. With her energetic, positive and encouraging tone, Theresa uses the lessons from Spirit to guide the\u00a0reader through grief toward a place of solace and healing. Her second book \u201cYou Can\u2019t Make This Stuff Up\u201d was released in September 2014 and debuted at Number 9 on the New York Times bestseller list. Her first book \u201cThere\u2019s More to Life Than This\u201d was released in the fall of 2013.<\/span><\/p>\n

Caputo never gets upset if someone thinks she is a fake.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI never feel a need to defend or prove my gift,\u201d said Caputo. \u201cI expect people to be skeptical.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Theresa Caputo — https:\/\/youtu.be\/YnpxmQUOv_Y<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The shows at Parx Casino on September 5 and 6 will start at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $55-$135.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Crooked Colours<\/p><\/div>\n

Crooked Colours, an electronic trio from Australia, has been steadily building a fan base in North America. The band, which features Philip Slabber, Leon Debaughn and Liam Merrett-Park, has just released its sophomore album, \u201cLangata\u201d via Sweat It Out. Its first album, \u201cVera,\u201d was released in 2017 on the same label.<\/span><\/p>\n

The trio is now touring North America in support of the new LP. The tour stops in Philly on September 5 at Johnny Brenda\u2019s (1201 North Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is our fourth North American tour,\u201d said Slabber, during a recent phone interview from Los Angeles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been together for six years. This was the first band for all of us. We grew up in the same neighborhood. We were mates.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Crooked Colours has come a long way in six years \u2013 musically and geographically.<\/span><\/p>\n

The band hails from Australia, which is a long way from the United States. The group\u2019s home base is Perth, a city in western Australia that is a long way from most of the country\u2019s heavily populated cities. Crooked Colours even came from a town that was a long way from Perth \u2013 Mandurah, a coastal city in the Australian state of Western Australia, situated approximately 72 kilometers (45\u00a0miles) south of the state capital, Perth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Currently, the band members live a long way from each other.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m living in L.A. now,\u201d said Slabber. \u201cI\u2019ve been living in Brentwood for three months. Liam still lives in Perth and Leon has moved to Melbourne.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we first started playing together back in the Perth area, we began recording right off the bat. Our first single was \u2018Another Way\u2019 and it did pretty well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Crooked Colours burst onto the scene in 2013 with breakout singles \u201cCome Down,\u201d \u201cCapricious\u201d and \u201cAnother Way,\u201d earning three consecutive Number 1 hits on Hype Machine and gaining a solid fanbase from the outset.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded \u2018Langata\u2019 on and off after the first record,\u201d said Slabber. \u201cWe were on the road touring the album, so we were recording on our laptops. We finished it toward the end of last year. I had a studio at my house in Sydney. Then, we finished tracking at Leon\u2019s house in Perth and had Tim Watt mix it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSome songs on the album were left over from the first record but 90 per cent were written for the new album. Usually, we do the instrumental part in full before we start writing the lyrics. The songs usually start with one element such as a melody or a synth sound. But a few of the songs are definitely lyric-driven. It comes in track-by-track.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cComparing our first album to the new one, I\u2019d like to think the overall polishedness has improved. In hindsight, the first record was a little disjointed. Sonically, the new one has a little mote purposefullness to the sound.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Crooked Colours \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/_6ATS3uGI-Y<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Johnny Brenda\u2019s will start at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at Johnny Brenda\u2019s are West Philadelphia Orchestra on September 6, Fontaines D.C. on September 7, Neil Hamburger on September 8, Mega Bog on September 9, and Stop Light Observations and Argonaut & Wasp on September 10.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/a>) will have Angelina Valente and Todd Fausnacht on September 6.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com<\/a>) will present Steel Pulse on September 5, SPAGA on September 6, AM Radio on September 7, and Fortunate Youth with special guests Bumpin\u2019 Uglies and Educated Phools on September 11.<\/span><\/p>\n

118 North (118 North Wayne Avenue, Wayne, www.118northwayne.com<\/a>) hosts Philip Sayce and James Pace Band on September 5, Melt With You (80s Alternative Tribute) on September 6, All Good People (Yes Tribute)<\/a> on September 7, and Alex Skolnick Trio (Guitarist – Testament) on September 10.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/a>) presents Frank Gamble on September 5, Adam Ezra Group on September 6, Cody Fry on September 7, and \u201cLive & Local\u201d with The Vaughns, Commonwealth Choir & Someone In A Tree \u00a0on September 11.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Locks at Sona (4417 Main Street, Manayunk, 484- 273-0481, sonapub.com<\/a>) hosts Sunny War with special guest Lizzie No<\/span><\/p>\n

Thursday on September 5, Grayson Capps with special guest Silvershade Scenery on September 6, and The Other Favorites on September11.<\/span><\/p>\n

Living Room (35 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, https:\/\/thelivingroomat35east.com<\/a>) presents Songwriters Night with Reggie Harris, Meghan Cary, Aaron Nathans and Avi Wisnia on September 5, Dave Goddess Group on September 6, and The ROAMies with Mark Alberici on September 7.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times If Christie Len\u00e9e played electric guitar with roots in the blues instead of acoustic guitar with a fingerpicking pedigree, she would be on a plateau with Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. That doesn\u2019t mean that Len\u00e9e is not an internationally acclaimed guitarist who is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32523,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[411,6518,11476],"class_list":["post-32521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-christie-lenee","tag-featured","tag-theresa-caputo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32521","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=32521"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32521\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32522,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32521\/revisions\/32522"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/32523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32521"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32521"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32521"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}