{"id":42084,"date":"2023-11-24T09:15:13","date_gmt":"2023-11-24T14:15:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=42084"},"modified":"2023-11-24T09:15:14","modified_gmt":"2023-11-24T14:15:14","slug":"on-stage-turkeyd-out-now-feast-of-great-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=42084","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Turkey’d out? Now feast of great music"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"\"

Gretchen Emery Band<\/p><\/div>\n

The day after Thanksgiving often demands extra motivation from those who are prone to sitting around the house recovering from the day before.<\/p>\n

November 24 is the day after Thanksgiving this year and there is definite motivation to get out and hear live music performed by a pair of top-flight acts — the Gretchen Emery Band and Greg Sover.<\/p>\n

On Friday night, Stoney\u2019s Pub (3007 Concord Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, www.stoneyspub.com<\/a>) will present a performance by the Gretchen Emery Band, one of the premier new bands in the Delaware Valley.<\/p>\n

The night at Stoney\u2019s will also feature a treat for the taste buds with a menu featuring tasty authentic British Pub food.<\/p>\n

Vocal powerhouse Emery\u00a0was recently honored with the 2023 award for \u201cBest Lead Singer\u201d by Delaware Valley Hometown Heroes. Her husband Kenny Windle is the band\u2019s guitarist and Emery\u2019s co-writer. The band also features Randy Waters (bass), Mike Leger (drums), and Frank Donato (keys).<\/p>\n

The Gretchen\u00a0Emery\u00a0Band has toured steadily in the Mid-Atlantic region over the last four years. The band released its debut EP, \u201cIf Love Were Enough,\u201d in July 2022.<\/p>\n

The EP, which was released on a\/i\/r records, has been described as a \u201crootsy, soul-fueled mix of rockin\u2019 R&B\u2026. blending both traditional and contemporary influences, creating something that feels instantly familiar yet excitingly fresh at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMy husband and I write together,\u201d said Emery, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from her home in Newark, Delaware.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe comes up with the chord structure and I develop the melody. Then, I take care of the lyrics.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018If Love Were Enough\u2019 was the first one where we achieved the result that we were really happy with.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded it at BarnSound Studio in Newtown Square. It\u2019s Derek Chafin\u2019s studio which he has now moved to Chester Springs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe used Derek Chafin as our producer for the EP. He made all the difference for us.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe brought him the song \u2018If Love Were Enough\u2019 to listen to. He liked it and agreed to produce us. We had never used a producer before. Now, we\u2019re working on a full-length with him. The new album won\u2019t be out until? \u2013 when we\u2019re all done.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both Emery and her husband grew up in Dover, Delaware.<\/p>\n

\u201cI stayed in Dover for college and went to Wesley College,\u201d said Emery, who spent more than two decades as a pediatric nurse. \u201cMy mom was a professor there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went to nursing school and got my degree. I worked as a nurse for a long time. Now, I work for the V.A. in Philly. I\u2019m in administration so fortunately I can work from home.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was growing up, music was obligatory in our home. Everyone is musical. My mom has been a singer since she was really young. My dad played the clarinet and his brother played organ and piano. I started singing in church. In school, I played flute in the band and sang.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emery, who has been involved in quite a few bands over the years, now has found the right sound and the right mixture of players.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a band called Gretchen Emery Band and Dirty Boots,\u201d said Emery. \u201cWe competed in the IBC (International Blues Competition) in 2013 and then broke up a year later.<\/p>\n

\u201cKenny and I stopped playing for a while. Then, we realized we can\u2019t not play.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the places that Emery and her band \u201ccan\u2019t not play\u201d is Stoney\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Stoney\u2019s is a stand-alone bar\/restaurant along Concord Pike just south of the state line.<\/p>\n

Close your eyes and you could imagine being in a pub along the River Aire in Leeds. Open them and the vibe is the same but the football pennants on the wall are for Philadelphia Union not Leeds United. Stoney\u2019s features real British food like bangers-and-mash and Beef Wellington along with a mega-list of brews from the British Isles.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s only natural that owner Mike Stone presents live music several nights a week. He worked in the music industry in England in the 60s and 70s. The wall of his pub is adorned with shots of him with such artists as Rod Stewart and Keith Richards.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe love playing shows at Stoney\u2019s,\u201d said Emery. \u201cStoney\u2019s was the first place we played during the pandemic \u2013 three outdoor shows in 2021.<\/p>\n

\u201cStoney\u2019s has sort of become our home. Stoney is the most supportive guy. And I love his wall pictures \u2013 especially Tina Turner, Keith Richards and Bonnie Raitt.\u201d<\/p>\n

For those of you who like British food (or want to try something really different), Stoney\u2019s will have an authentic Feast of St. Andrew Celebration on December 3 complete with haggis, neeps and tatties.<\/p>\n

Video link for the Gretchen Emery Band \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/yUWijOc-OuM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Stoney\u2019s Pub on November 24, which has free admission, will start at 7 p.m.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Greg Sover<\/p><\/div>\n

On November 24, Greg Sover will be making a return appearance in the area with a show at Jamey\u2019s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985, www.jameyshouseofmusic.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In the bigger picture, Sover is making another return \u2013 a return to some of the music that was his earliest influences.<\/p>\n

More specifically, it is the music of Jimi Hendrix.<\/p>\n

Sover, a singer, songwriter and guitarist extraordinaire, released his newest album, \u201cHIS-Story,\u201d on July 21 on Grounded Soul Records.\u00a0 The 10-song album features a combination of original tunes — eight bluesy rockers \u2013 and a pair of songs by Hendrix.<\/p>\n

On the two Hendrix compositions, Sover was joined by Band of Gypsies\u00a0bassist\u00a0Billy Cox — on\u00a0Hendrix\u2019s\u00a0\u201cManic Depression\u201d\u00a0and rarely heard album cut,\u00a0\u201cRemember,\u201d which was originally on the U.K. version of Hendrix\u2019s debut album, \u201cAre You Experienced.\u201d
\n\u201cIt was great working with Billy Cox,\u201d said Sover, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from his home in Abington. \u201cIt was an honor to play with him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had wanted to do a version of \u2018Manic Depression.\u2019 My manager came up with a crazy idea — \u2018I wonder if Billy would like to work on it.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cWe talked with Billy, and I told him that I wanted to record \u2018Manic Depression\u2019 and would he like to play on it.<\/p>\n

\u201cBilly agreed to play on the song. Then, he asked if I would record a little-known Hendrix song, \u201cRemember\u201d and include it on the album.\u201d<\/p>\n

The album was recorded with internationally acclaimed bass player\u00a0Kenny\u00a0Aaronson\u00a0(Bob Dylan, Rick Derringer, the Yardbirds, Joan Jett) and drummer extraordinaire, The Hooters\u2019 David Uosikkinen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI recorded the album at Cambridge Studio in South Philly,\u201d said Sover. \u201cI co-produced the album with\u00a0Jim Salamone. It\u2019s a nice studio \u2013 a lot of digital and some analog. I tried to stick with an authentic approach without relying on technology.<\/p>\n

\u201cLyrically, it was the most personal album I\u2019ve done. There were a lot of things I had — issues with what Greg Sover was going through.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlso, I have a son now \u2013 Damian, who just turned one on Saturday. Having a son was an inspiration. I felt young. I felt motivated \u2013 more inspired.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe album just came out on July 28. We\u2019ve been getting a good reception. And the album is getting more radio play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sover has another Hendrix connection. On June 17, he performed a show \u2013 \u201cAn Evening of Jimi Hendrix with Greg Sover\u201d — at the Newton Theatre in Bucks County.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a solo show \u2013 just me, no band,\u201d said Sover. \u201cI played two 50-minute sets of strictly Jimi Hendrix songs. I don\u2019t think Jimi ever did two 50-minute sets in one night.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a lot of fun and the audience loved it. It was a full house. Now, they want me to come back again. I\u2019m thinking about putting together a Hendrix show to have in addition to my own shows.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sover\u00a0is a blues\/rock musician from Philly who is well known to Chester County audiences from shows at area venues \u2013 especially the Steel City Coffee House in Phoenixville where he recorded a live show.<\/p>\n

Sover\u2019s most recent release before \u201cHIS-Story\u201d was \u201cThe Parade\u201d in 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Parade\u201d featured five originals and the band\u2019s interpretation of the Cream classic, \u201cPolitician.\u201d\u00a0 I<\/p>\n

With heavier guitars, blazing solos and impactful lyrics,\u00a0\u201cThe Parade\u201d\u00a0explores themes of personal evolution, staying true to oneself and perseverance.<\/p>\n

Sover, who grew up in Philly and attended William Penn High, became fascinated with the guitar at age 13. His father taught him the French song \u201cLa Maladie d\u2019Amour\u201d and Sover\u00a0took it from there. He taught himself how to play guitar, how to write songs and, eventually, how to sing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. and my family moved to Philadelphia when I was 10,\u201d said Sover, whose parent were from Haiti. \u201cI was exposed to music when I was really young.\u00a0 I had musicians on both sides of my family. My whole life I\u2019ve had access to the guitar.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith guitar, I started really knowing what I was doing when I was around 15. At the same time, I was playing electric bass at my church.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sover\u00a0says his music doesn\u2019t fit into one particular genre. It includes elements of \u201cblues and rock with a dash of everything else.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Philly musician first attracted serious attention when he won the 2015 Hard Rock Rising competition at Philadelphia\u2019s Hard Rock Cafe.<\/p>\n

Over the last few years, the Greg Sover\u00a0Band has opened for many renowned blues-rock artists including the Yardbirds, Jeffrey Gaines, Jimmy Vivino, Tommy Conwell & the Young Rumblers, Johnny A, Ana Popovic, Walter Trout, Sonny Landreth, Popa Chubby, Marcus King Band and Davy Knowles.<\/p>\n

Now, it\u2019s time for Sover to step into the spotlight and move forward as a headliner in his own right.<\/p>\n

Video link for Greg Sover — https:\/\/youtu.be\/4mWIXx9UbrU<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show on November 24 at Jamey\u2019s will start at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.<\/p>\n

Sover will also be playing earlier in the day in Philly on November 24.<\/p>\n

\u201cWXPN Free At Noon\u201d will feature Sover and his current band — Kenny Aaronson on bass, Wally Smith on keyboards and Tommy Tsunami Keifer on drums.<\/p>\n

The free show will take place at World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, www.worldcafelive.com<\/a>) at noon.<\/p>\n

On November 25, Jamey\u2019s will host The Cold Soil Drifters.<\/p>\n

The Cold Soil Drifters, who play music drawn from the red clay of central New Jersey, is a central Jersey consortium of veteran musicians who came together in 2022 to create a unique musical experience. They quickly arranged and released their first album of original music, \u201cShanks Pony,\u201d in the spring of 2023.<\/p>\n

The genesis of the band began with a vision of longtime local singer\/songwriter\/guitarist Bump Yuchmow who was then joined by Danny Coffey (The Shaxe, The Fletchers) on guitar and vocals, Brian Quinn (The Shaxe) on lap steel, mandolin, harmonica, and vocals, Ryan Thornton (Chris Harford, RANA) on drums and vocals, and Matt Kohut (Chris Harford, formerly of Ween) on bass. Their music has been described as rooted in bluegrass with elements of calypso, funk, and \u201cpsycho-billy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The show on November 24 at Jamey\u2019s will start at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.<\/p>\n

Many questions that were left unanswered in \u201cThe Wizard of Oz\u201d were answered at a later date — questions such as what the witches of Oz were doing before they encountered Dorothy and how they got to be the way they were.<\/p>\n

They were answered in \u201cWicked,\u201d the hit musical based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire. \u201cWicked,\u201d the fourth-longest running Broadway production,\u201d is a winner of 15 major awards — including a Grammy Award and three Tony Awards. The show features the music and lyrics of Stephen Schwartz.<\/p>\n

The musical, which has already had several sold-out runs in Philadelphia dating back to the early 2000s, is back for another hot-selling visit. \u201cWicked\u201d is running now through November 26 at the Academy of Music (Broad and Locust streets, Philadelphia, www.kimmelculturalcampus.org<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

\u201cWicked\u201d\u00a0is the winner of over 100 international awards, including Grammy\u00ae\u00a0and Tony Awards\u00ae. Since opening in 2003,\u00a0\u201cWicked\u201d\u00a0has been performed in over 100 cities in 16 countries around the world (U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Japan,\u00a0Germany, Holland, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, The Philippines, Mexico, Brazil, Switzerland, and China) and has thus far been translated into six languages: Japanese, German, Dutch, Spanish, Korean, and Portuguese.\u00a0\u201cWicked\u201d\u00a0has been seen by over\u00a060 million people\u00a0worldwide and has amassed over\u00a0$5 billion\u00a0in global sales.<\/p>\n

The production is directed by Tony Award\u00ae\u00a0winner Joe Mantello with musical staging by Tony Award\u00ae\u00a0winner Wayne Cilento.\u00a0Wicked\u00a0is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Stage Productions, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt, and David Stone.<\/p>\n

The ultra-popular show depicts what the witches of Oz were doing before they encountered Dorothy and how they got to be the way they were.<\/p>\n

\u201cWicked\u201d, which carries the subtitle \u201cthe untold story of the witches of Oz\u201d, tells the story of two girls who meet in the Land of Oz. The one born with emerald green skin is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular.<\/p>\n

The show tells the tale of how these two unlikely friends end up as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch. Their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships\u2026until the world decides to call one \u201cgood,\u201d and the other one \u201cwicked.\u201d<\/p>\n

Madame Morrible is the headmistress of Shiz University\u2019s Crage Hall, which Elphaba and Glinda attend. Elphaba and her friends suspect Morrible to be responsible for the murder of Doctor Dillamond.<\/p>\n

At one point, Madame Morrible proposes that Elphaba, Galinda, and Nessarose become future behind-the-scenes rulers in Oz, a proposal that they never willingly accept.<\/p>\n

Elphaba suspects that Madame Morrible has at least some magical powers and may have indeed controlled the fates of the three women. It remains unknown whether Elphaba murdered her or if she died of natural causes minutes before Elphaba\u2019s attempt.<\/p>\n

The cast features Celia Hottenstein as Glenda, Olivia Valli as Elphaba and Kathy Fitzgerald as Madame Morrible.<\/p>\n

With a thrilling score that includes the hits \u201cDefying Gravity,\u201d \u201cPopular\u201d and \u201cFor Good,\u201d\u00a0\u201cWicked\u201d\u00a0has been hailed by\u00a0The New York Times\u00a0as \u201cthe defining musical of the decade\u201d and by\u00a0Time Magazine\u00a0as \u201ca magical Broadway musical with brains, heart, and courage.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0NBC Nightly News\u00a0called the hit musical \u201cthe most successful Broadway show ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a thrilling score that includes the hits \u201cDefying Gravity,\u201d \u201cPopular\u201d and \u201cFor Good,\u201d\u00a0Wicked\u00a0has been hailed by\u00a0The New York Times\u00a0as \u201cthe defining musical of the decade\u201d and by\u00a0Time Magazine\u00a0as \u201ca magical Broadway musical with brains, heart, and courage.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0NBC Nightly News\u00a0called the hit musical \u201cthe most successful Broadway show ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s an amazing family show. It\u2019s a great Broadway production. The songs are incredible. The dancing is amazing. It\u2019s funny. It\u2019s relatable. Everyone knows the story of the Wizard of Oz.<\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cWicked\u201d \u2013\u00a0https:\/\/youtu.be\/WNIuOrz0Gt8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWicked\u201d is running now through November 26 at the Academy of Music. Ticket prices start at $30.<\/p>\n

Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org<\/a>) is presenting \u201cSuperunknown\u00a0– A Tribute to the Legacy of Chris Cornell\u201d on November 25.<\/p>\n

The Living Room and Cricket Caf\u00e9 (104 Cricket Avenue, Ardmore, livingroomardmore.com<\/a>) will present Joseph Parsons on November 25.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times The day after Thanksgiving often demands extra motivation from those who are prone to sitting around the house recovering from the day before. November 24 is the day after Thanksgiving this year and there is definite motivation to get out and hear live music performed by a pair […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42082,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[6518,7805,14492,14491],"class_list":["post-42084","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-featured","tag-greg-sover","tag-stoneys","tag-the-gretchen-emery-band"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42084","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=42084"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42084\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42085,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42084\/revisions\/42085"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/42082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=42084"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=42084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}