{"id":42176,"date":"2023-12-14T09:17:09","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T14:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=42176"},"modified":"2023-12-14T09:17:10","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T14:17:10","slug":"on-stage-laura-cheadle-rocks-holiday-tunes-at-jameys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/?p=42176","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Laura Cheadle rocks holiday tunes at Jamey’s"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

\"\"

Laura Cheadle<\/p><\/div>\n

If you like Christmas music but would like to hear something other than the same old traditional songs done the same old traditional way, there is a show for you this weekend. If you want to enjoy the traditional songs and rock out at the same time, plan a trip to Lansdowne.<\/p>\n

On December 16, Jamey\u2019s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985, www.jameyshouseofmusic.com<\/a>) is hosting a concert billed as \u201cA Very Cheadle\u00a0Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Laura Cheadle, Christmas came a little early this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just won a game show on CBS,\u201d said Cheadle, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from her home in Philadelphia. \u201cThe game show was \u2018Raid the Cage’ and the final aired last week.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRaid the Cage\u201d\u00a0is a television game show hosted by\u00a0Damon Wayans Jr.\u00a0and\u00a0Jeannie Mai\u00a0that premiered on\u00a0CBS\u00a0on October 13, 2023. It is an adaptation of the\u00a0Israeli television series\u00a0of the same name. Two teams of two contestants compete on each episode to earn time to retrieve prizes from a giant cage, with the team having the highest total keeping the prizes and playing the bonus round.<\/p>\n

\u201cI won $91,000,\u201d said Cheadle. \u201cAnd having all the people see me on national TV in the finals will be a real boost to my music career. This has been my best year ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

Whenever Cheadle\u00a0plays the area, it seems that she has a special theme for that particular show.<\/p>\n

When the powerful blues\/jazz\/rock singer played Jamey\u2019s back in December\u00a02021,\u00a0it was a\u00a0concert billed as \u201cA Very Cheadle\u00a0Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n

On February 11 last year, Cheadle\u00a0came back to The Living Room in Ardmore and presented \u201cLaura Cheadle\u00a0Sings The Sexy Valentine Blues.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Valentine show was actually a release party for my new album on Sony Orchard — a preview of all the songs on the album,\u201d said Cheadle, during a phone interview Wednesday from her home in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been doing a lot of singles.\u00a0The first was \u2018Reverberate\u2019\u00a0and the second was\u00a0\u2018Lust In Between.\u2019\u00a0I released a new Christmas single \u2013 \u2018On This Christmas Night.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Christmas shows and Christmas albums are nothing new for Cheadle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI signed a deal with Sony Music,\u201d said Cheadle. \u201cI released a Christmas album with Sony on their Orchard label.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll have a new album coming out on Sony Orchard early next year and then I\u2019ll go out on a support tour. I recorded it at Papa Cheadle\u2019s studio.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been writing songs for four years. It\u2019s my best album yet \u2013 with a lot of emotions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen the COVID shutdown arrived, I started writing and couldn\u2019t stop. I just relaxed and enjoyed it.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the results of her writing outburst was her 2021 holiday album, \u201cLet\u2019s Get Together for Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a family affair,\u201d said Cheadle. \u201cI recorded it at my dad\u2019s studio with my brothers and him. My dad was the producer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did a Christmas album before \u2013 in 2010. It was more of a jazz album. This one is definitely bluesier.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a Christmas album but it\u2019s a real sexy, sultry album \u2013 very R&B. I really got a chance to showcase my voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe music on my upcoming album is also very R&B-based. I just wrote another song the other day. Songs keep flying out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The holiday show at Jamey\u2019s features Cheadle and her band. Cheadle has a band that features blues, soul, funk \u2013 and a lot of Cheadles.<\/p>\n

Her four-piece group features her brother Jim Cheadle\u00a0on guitar and her father James Cheadle\u00a0on keyboards along with\u00a0Ben Smith, the only non-Cheadle,\u00a0on drums.<\/p>\n

James \u201cPapa Cheadle\u201d has played and recorded with Don Cornell, DJ Jazzy Jeff, The Four Aces, Grover Washington Jr., The Soul Survivors, Jaco Pastorius and Peter Erskine.<\/p>\n

Cheadle\u00a0has played with her family ever since she was a young girl.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy father has influenced me so much,\u201d said Cheadle. \u201cHe\u2019s a seasoned jazz musician who used to be a music professor at Rowan University. So, I\u2019ve always been involved with music.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has his own recording studio in South Jersey called the Swedesboro Music Studio and he records a lot of different people. He and I are both devoted to music. His influence on me is blues and jazz \u2013 but I make it modern.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cheadle\u2019s music career began when she was four years old. Her father created the \u201cAppreciation Choir\u201d for the Persian Gulf War troops in the early nineties and created a music video that was aired on VH1 and MTV. Along with her two older twin brothers and various other children, Cheadle\u00a0toured around the United States singing for audiences.<\/p>\n

When she was 11, she enlisted her father to teach her how to play drums. From her \u201ctween\u201d to \u201cmid-teen\u201d years, Cheadle\u00a0was in a band with her brothers called Sibling \u2013 a pop group that played at local restaurants, churches, music venues, private parties and parades.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been in the Philadelphia\/New Jersey music scene for quite some time,\u201d said Cheadle. \u201cI\u2019ve been doing acoustic stuff since I was 16 and then put my band together later. Sibling was a blend and I morphed into my music. Songwriting comes very naturally for me. Sometimes, I wake up with a melody in my head. It\u2019s just there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always been a super fan of old soul. My biggest influences are Aretha Franklin, Tower of Power, James Brown and Stevie Wonder. I love real drums and all the organic instruments. Some of my songs are rock. Some of them are blues. It\u2019s hard to classify me \u2013 maybe pop\/rock with soul influence. I just do what I feel.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cheadle\u00a0Family has built a strong reputation nationally.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were on an NBC television show called \u2018The Next Great Family Band\u2019 in 2013,\u201d said Cheadle. \u201cThat got us a lot of interest in being booked for tours. They actually came to our place in Swedesboro. The exposure was great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fans will get plenty of Cheadle\u2019s music \u2013 old and new,\u00a0R&B and holiday\u00a0\u2013 this Saturday night at Jamey\u2019s.<\/p>\n

Video link for Laura Cheadle — https:\/\/youtu.be\/LkCzIHeLivo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Video link for Laura Cheadle on \u201cRaid the Cage\u201d — https:\/\/youtu.be\/nkThnKBGijQ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Jamey\u2019s on December 16\u00a0will start at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $25\u00a0in advance and $30 at the door.<\/p>\n

On December 14, Jamey\u2019s will present \u201cThe Journey Home\u201d — a documentary film about one group of veterans, their community and PTSD along with a performance by John Flynn.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Journey Home\u201d is a film about one group of veterans, their community, and their transition back to civilian life.\u00a0The story is a documentary film dedicated to telling the story of the challenges veterans face on returning to civilian life, focusing on their lives, the impact on their families and caring community members in small-town Pennsylvania who step up to help them.<\/p>\n

The free event will feature complimentary Chinese buffet prepared by Chef Suyun– radish root and egg soup, chicken curry, vegetarian curry, fried rice noodles, savory shrimp with scallions, braised pork, spring rolls, white rice, dinner rolls, and coffee (regular and decaf).<\/p>\n

This weekend, Jamey\u2019s will also present The Porkroll Project on December 15.<\/p>\n

Philadelphia-based band The Porkroll Project is a hard-rocking five-piece blues group that plays a high energy blend of fresh covers and originals.<\/p>\n

The music is blues, but it’s done up \u201cPorkroll Style.\u201d<\/p>\n

The band has a collective experience that runs deep and wide, having played together in various other projects for more than 10 ten years. They are veterans of events such as the Philadelphia Jam on the River, the Annual Chameleon Club Blues Festival, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the Riverfront Blues Festival, the Billtown Blues Festival, the Paoli Blues Festival and the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.
\nThe Porkroll Project show on December 15 will start at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

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

\"\"

Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius<\/p><\/div>\n

Joe Deninzon began his career as a recording artist with a solo release, \u201cElectric Blue,\u201d in 1998 on Wilbert\u2019s Blues Records. Right from the start, he was a busy musician.<\/p>\n

Now, a quarter of a century later, Deninzon is still very busy \u2013 maybe busier than he\u2019s ever been.<\/p>\n

Deninzon is currently a founding member of the band Stratospheerius and, since May 2023, the violin player for rock legends Kansas.<\/p>\n

On December 15, Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius will open for the Levin Brothers at the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Stratospheerius\u00a0is an American\u00a0progressive rock\u00a0band based in New York City. The band is led by electric violinist Joe Deninzon, who also plays the\u00a0mandolin\u00a0and serves as the band’s\u00a0lead vocalist.<\/p>\n

Deninzon\u00a0is the new violinist with legendary rockers Kansas, now on tour celebrating their 50th anniversary. He has played violin for the Who, Bruce Springsteen, 50Cent, Sheryl Crow, and as the concertmaster for Renaissance.<\/p>\n

Other members of Stratospheerius are drummer Jason Gianni, guitarist Michelangelo Quirinale and bassist Paul Ranieri .<\/p>\n

The band took a break as Deninzon and bassist Bob Bowen teamed up with guitarist Steve Benson in 2010 as the\u00a0Joe Deninzon Trio\u00a0to record the acoustic jazz album, \u201cExuberance.\u201d In 2011, Deninzon joined the faculty of the Mark Wood Rock Orchestra Camp.<\/p>\n

Despite numerous personnel changes, Deninzon kept Stratospheerius alive \u2013 and stayed very busy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did 38 shows with Kansas \u2013 two shows a week \u2013 since June,\u201d said Deninzon, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from his home in Old Tappan, New Jersey.<\/p>\n

\u201cKansas is on a one-month break. I have a few shows with Stratospheerius \u2013 and we\u2019re finishing the next album.<\/p>\n

After creating the SonicVoyageFest Tour, Stratospheerius performed in Chicago’s Progtoberfest 2017, and at ProgStock in 2019, 2020 and 2021.<\/p>\n

Stratospheerius plays a style of music that defies categorization — a blend of straight-up rock, jazz, folk, fusion, prog-rock and funk.\u00a0Deninzon\u00a0describes the band\u2019s sound as \u201cpsychojazz trip funk.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deninzon\u00a0& Stratospheerius released their most recent album, \u201cGuilty of Innocence,\u201d in 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuilty of Innocence\u201d highlights include a reimagined cover of muse\u2019s \u201cHysteria,\u201d a 12-minute prog epic titled \u201cSoul Food\u201d and \u201cDream Diary Cadenza,\u201d a solo electric violin extravaganza by\u00a0Deninzon.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaking this album was a long process,\u201d said\u00a0Deninzon. \u201cWe had a new approach. Usually, we\u2019d get 10 or more songs together and book a studio. This time, we did one of two songs at a time and released them as singles.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we revisited stuff from 2014 and tweaked it. It was cost-effective \u2013 a single here and there. Also, it allowed us to make each song the best it could be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe let it evolve naturally. The only real challenge was to make the album sound cohesive \u2013 and it does. Nowadays, people expect you to come up with new stuff all the time. But, as a musician, you want your music to be good \u2013 and that takes time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deninzon, who plays a special seven-string Trident electric violin known as The Viper, has a diverse music background and a long history with his band Stratospheerius.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had the band for quite a while now — in a lot of configurations,\u201d said\u00a0Deninzon. \u201cI recorded my first CD when I was in Cleveland. It was called \u2018Electric\/Blue\u2019 and it was a jazz fusion album. Over the years, I wanted to go in a more rock direction.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I moved to New York, I formed the Joe\u00a0Deninzon\u00a0Band and it later became Stratospheerius. I\u2019ve always loved rock and folk music. Back then, I had two things going — playing guitar and singing in coffee shops and playing jazz music with my band.\u201d<\/p>\n

Deninzon had diverse influences.<\/p>\n

\u201cI looked at artists like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and John Popper — bands that were instrumentally great and were fronted by a vocalist,\u201d said\u00a0Deninzon, who was born in St. Petersburg (Russia) and moved to Cleveland when he was a boy and his father landed a position as violinist for the Cleveland Orchestra.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was also influenced by progressive rock bands from the 1970s such as Yes, the Mahavishnu Orchestra and King Crimson.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a big rock fan — always have been. I studied jazz in college, but rock is what I wanted to play. Vocals are important. We have a lot of instrumentals but 70 per cent of our songs feature vocals. With all the different genres, I was finding my way over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Straospheerius\u2019 other album releases are \u201cThe Adventures of Stratospheerius,\u201d \u201cLive Wires,\u201d \u201cHeadspace\u201d and \u201cThe Next World.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStratospheerius has grown into a progressive rock band — a progressive rock band with cool vocals,\u201d said Deninzon. \u201cOur stuff has gotten more structured. But I also like the element of freedom. I never play a song the same way twice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Joe\u00a0Deninzon\u00a0& Stratospheerius \u2013 https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/scl\/fo\/mer2vzxdw5xsvcawh6aya\/h\/Behind%20the%20Curtain%20Live%20Final%20comp.mov?rlkey=95b7uaiedulnljyepmdwxt012&dl=0<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Levin Brothers feature Tony Levin, his brother Pete Levin, Ken Giofre and Jeff Siegel.<\/p>\n

Since graduating from the Eastman School of Music, Tony Levin has become the bass and Chapman Stick voice for Peter Gabriel and King Crimson. In addition, he has played on notable recordings for John Lennon, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Dire Straits, Carly Simon, Judy Collins, and many others. Tony has major jazz credentials, having worked with Buddy Rich, Steps Ahead, L’Image, Gary Burton, Chuck Mangione, and Herbie Mann. He currently records and tours with Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, Stick Men, and The Crimson ProjeKCt.<\/p>\n

As a French Horn major, Pete Levin earned a master\u2019s degree from the Juilliard School. In the early 2000\u2019s, he switched to keyboards, becoming a synthesizer specialist in the New York City recording studio scene.<\/p>\n

Over the years, he has been part of hundreds of jazz and pop recordings and performances by artists such as Miles Davis, Gil Evans, Jimmy Giuffre, Dave Brubeck, David Sanborn, Joe Louis Walker, Don Elliott, Freddie Hubbard, Annie Lennox, Charles Mingus, Jaco Pastorius and Wayne Shorter. He currently records with his organ trio with Dave Stryker and Lenny White.<\/p>\n

After five decades of glorious careers playing with virtually who is who in all genres of music — jazz, fusion, rock, pop and world music — and after guesting on each other\u2019s projects, the brothers finally decided to have their own jazz band.<\/p>\n

The Levin Brothers released their self-titled first album in 2014, and the follow up live albums\u00a0\u201cSpecial Delivery\u201d\u00a0in 2017 and\u00a0\u201cLive at Daryl\u2019s House\u201d\u00a0in 2020.<\/p>\n

The show on December 15 in Sellersville will start at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Ticket prices range from $29.50-$45.<\/p>\n

Both The Levin Brothers and Joe\u00a0Deninzon\u00a0& Stratospheerius have performed in Chester County with shows at Kennett Flash.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just played Kennett Flash in September,\u201d said Deninzon. \u201cWe\u2019ll come back there for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

This weekend, Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) will host Better Than Bacon\u2019s 12th Annual Non-Denominational Holiday Extravaganza on December 16.<\/p>\n

The show will start at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $20 with a $5 BYOB fee.<\/p>\n

The Sellersville Theater will shift into full holiday mode this weekend when it hosts shows by vocalist extraordinaire Annie Haslam and Herman\u2019s Hermit\u2019s Peter Noone.<\/p>\n

On December 16, the theater will present \u201cAnnie Haslam & Friends…In the Spirit of the Holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beginning in 1999, Haslam has performed a Christmas show each year called \u201cIn the Spirit of the Holidays\u201d — originally at the Upper Tinicum Lutheran Church, and then at the larger Sellersville Theatre in Sellersville, Pennsylvania, since 2006.<\/p>\n

The Christmas show has been held every year except 2012, because of the death of her friend and colleague, Michael Dunford, in November of that year. Haslam stated that \u201cthere was just too much sadness at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI started the holiday shows a long time ago,\u201d said Haslam, during a phone interview from her home in Bucks County.<\/p>\n

\u201cI first did the show at the church here in Upper Black Eddy. What I did \u2013 I included vegetarian Christmas food in the price of the ticket. It was really different. It was wonderful.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter a few years, the pastor moved to Kansas. Then, I started doing holiday shows at the Sellersville Theater. It was a perfect place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Included in the program are secular, and religious Christmas carols, as well as her own compositions, and some Renaissance songs.<\/p>\n

Haslam, Renaissance\u2019s lead vocalist, has become a heralded solo artist and a gifted painter. She has graced the most prestigious world stages with her five-octave voice, including London’s Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and NYC’s Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.<\/p>\n

In recent years she has been recording and touring with Renaissance which has taken her to Japan, Brazil, Argentina, UK, Belgium, Portugal and Israel.<\/p>\n

Renaissance is a band with a rich history as progressive rock pioneers that rose from the ashes of the Yardbirds, a blues-influenced British rock band known for introducing three of rock\u2019s greatest guitarists — Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page.<\/p>\n

Acclaimed for its unique blending of progressive rock with classical and symphonic influences, Renaissance\u2019s long and successful career has been spearheaded by the five-octave voice of\u00a0Haslam\u00a0and the masterful songwriting skills of Michael Dunford.<\/p>\n

Renaissance had a Top 10 hit in the U.K. with the song\u00a0\u201cNorthern Lights.\u201d In October and November 2017, the band debuted its \u201cSymphonic Journey\u201d tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did four shows with the 10-piece orchestra \u2013 an orchestra that featured strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion,\u201d said\u00a0Haslam. \u201cOne of those shows was at the Keswick Theatre in Glenside. We filmed the show.\u201d<\/p>\n

Haslam, who was born in Bolton, Lancashire, first gained worldwide recognition when she was asked to become the lead singer of Renaissance, a band formed by Keith Relf after he left the Yardbirds.<\/p>\n

According to\u00a0Haslam, \u201cI joined the band New Year\u2019s Day 1971. Now, more than 50 years later we are still performing and bringing our unique style of music to more and more fans all over the world.<\/p>\n

While with Renaissance, Haslam was the lead vocalist on seven studio albums during their classic period (1972\u20131979), four studio albums from 1981\u2013present, and a number of live albums.<\/p>\n

In 1977, Haslam began her solo career with her album \u201cAnnie in Wonderland,\u201d produced by\u00a0Roy Wood\u00a0(who was a key member of The Move, one of England\u2019s best rock bands in the late 1960s). Wood played most of the musical instruments.<\/p>\n

Haslam has since released eight studio albums, three of which were released through her own record label, White Dove. She has also collaborated with\u00a0Steve Howe\u00a0of the prog rock band Yes, on a number of projects.<\/p>\n

From the year 2002, Haslam has developed a parallel career as a visual artist, producing paintings on canvas, painted musical instruments, and gicl\u00e9es.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe show at Sellersville will open with some Renaissance songs. I don\u2019t want it to be a Renaissance show, so I just touch on it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be singing a lot of Christmas standards \u2013 \u2018Silent Night,\u2019 \u2018Silver Bells,\u2019 \u2018Joy to the World,\u2019 \u2018Oh Holy Night,\u2019 \u2018It Snows in Heaven,\u2019 \u2018White Christmas,\u2019 and \u2018The 12 Days of Christmas.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Annie Haslam \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/MeB82QmGa1Q<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show on December 16, which has Jason Decker as the opening act will start at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Ticket prices start at $35.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn Olde English Christmas with Herman\u2019s Hermits starring Peter Noone\u201d is scheduled for December 17.<\/p>\n

Noone was a popular British pop star in the 1960s with his band Herman\u2019s Hermits. Some of their international hits were \u201cMrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter,\u201d \u201cI\u2019m Henry VIII, I Am\u201d and \u201cListen People.\u201d<\/p>\n

Noone and his band will perform two shows on Sunday \u2013 a matinee at 3 p.m. and an evening show at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Ticket prices start at $65.<\/p>\n

Another upcoming show at the Sellersville Theater is The Mahavishnu Project on December 14 at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

When a band can last long enough to celebrate its 10th anniversary, it has earned the right to bask in its glory.<\/p>\n

When a band from North Carolina heads out on a 10th-anniversary tour, it has earned the right to \u201cBask\u201d in its glory.<\/p>\n

North Carolina\u2019s Bask have spent the last decade exhibiting their progressive blend of heavy psychedelia and soulful Americana across North America and Europe.<\/p>\n

On December 14, Bask — Jesse Van Note, bass; Scott Middleton, drums; Ray Worth, guitar; Zeb Camp, guitar\/vocals \u2013 will return to Philadelphia for a show at Kung Fu Necktie.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all found our way to Asheville 10 years ago,\u201d said Middleton, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from a tour stop in Boston.<\/p>\n

\u201cJesse and I are from Carolina, Ray is from Lexington and Jesse is from somewhere in upstate New York. \u201cI was done with college and Zeb was in his last year.<\/p>\n

Camp said, \u201cI was studying literature at the University of North Carolina-Asheville. I met these guys through musical friends. Our first show was in 2013 at the Odditorium in Asheville.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Bask\u00a0was fully conceived in the fall of 2013 when the four musicians came together to produce sounds that were properly reflective of the lush yet rugged Appalachian habitat. The band\u2019s newest record, \u2018III,\u2019 showcases a soulful juxtaposition of Americana rock \u2018n\u2019 roll with progressive and psychedelic elements, separating Bask\u00a0from your average rock band from the South.<\/p>\n

Over the past decade, Bask\u2019s music has been described as everything from country to Americana to metal.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow do you describe our music,\u201d said Middleton. \u201cHeavy, post-rock, indie, psychedelic, Americana, prog, metal \u2013 put it all in a blender.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re a hard rock band with psychedelic and folk influences and some progressive tendencies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Camp said, \u201cWe all have pretty diverse tastes. Two of us have North Carolina folk and traditional. Growing up, punk and hardcore were popular and we all found our ways to heavier stuff. Now, we\u2019re back to traditional.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe description depends. We\u2019re often the lightest band on a metal bill and the heaviest band on an indie rock bill.\u201d<\/p>\n

Middleton explained how the band has been able to keep going strong for more than 10 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been stubborn and dedicated,\u201d said Middleton. \u201cOur first album was \u201cAmerican Hollow\u201d in 2014 and the second was \u2018Ramble Beyond\u2019 in 2017. Our most recent album is \u2018III,\u2019 which was released in 2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur set list is divided pretty evenly between the three albums. We\u2019ve been writing for a new album that we\u2019ll record in 2024. We\u2019re playing a new song from it on this tour.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Bask \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/1lONxOS6U4M<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Kung Fu Necktie on December 14, which has Call of Pripyat and Savage Mystic as the opening acts, will start at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets are $15.<\/p>\n

Leo Sawikin released his debut album\u00a0\u201cRow Me Away\u201d\u00a0in 2021 during COVID.<\/p>\n

It was definitely not the best timing for a new artist \u2013 especially considering that a support tour was out of the question.<\/p>\n

\u201cRow Me Away\u201d had two tracks, \u201cA Whole World Waiting\u201d and \u201cBorn Too Late,\u201d that scored indie radio spins in the U.S. and the UK. The album\u2019s first single, the ethereal rock ballad \u201cGolden Days,\u201d earned a prominent spot in the influential American Songwriter.<\/p>\n

Now, Sawikin is finally getting out on the road.<\/p>\n

Back in November, Sawikin posted this message on\u00a0 his Facebook page \u2013 \u201cI am so so so excited to announce that I will be going on tour opening up for Jon Mclaughlin<\/a>\u00a0this December!! This is the longest tour I\u2019ve ever done and will be my first time visiting a lot of these cities. Incredibly thankful to be joining Jon for these shows and for the opportunity to explore the country in this way.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tour is a 10-day, 10-city venture that features 12 shows. One of those shows will be on December 17 at City Winery (990 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, www.citywinery.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Sawikin is the former front man of the indie band The Chordaes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did a couple mini-tours with The Chordaes \u2013 two or three stops within the I-95 corridor,\u201d said Sawikin, during a phone interview Tuesday from a tour stop in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve never played as far south or so far west as I am with this tour. I have played Philly a few times \u2013 the Grape Room and two times at The Fire.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m touring with Jon McLaughlin and Bobbie Lee Stamper. Bobbie was in Jon\u2019s band a while ago. I\u2019ve never played with either before. My agent sent Jon my music and Jon asked me to go out on tour with him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even though his debut album came out just three years ago, Sawikind has some music history.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did two albums and one EP with the Chordaes,\u201d said Sawikin. \u201cThen, I did my solo album right before the pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll release my next EP next summer. Until then, I\u2019m going to be pretty much releasing every track as a single. One of my songs \u2013 \u2018The Same Mistakes\u2019 \u2013 has continued to get traction for the last four months.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Same Mistakes,\u201d according to Celebmix, a \u201cgorgeous, shimmering\u2026 lusciously pensive\u201d track. The song asks why so many of us, both collectively and personally, seem powerless to escape cycles of self-sabotage and self-destruction.<\/p>\n

When it was time to record the album, Sawikin went west \u2013 to the Pacific Northwest.<\/p>\n

\u201cBack in March, I went to Seattle to work with Phil Ek,\u201d said Sawikin, refereeing to the legendary producer who has worked with Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, The Shins, and Fleet Foxes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went to Seattle three times to work on the album with Phil. I\u2019ve been releasing singles ever since \u2013 four out and six to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sawikin\u2019s most recent single is, \u201cNew York I\u2019m Coming Home,\u201d which is the fourth single recorded at Pearl Jam\u2019s Stone Gossard\u2019s Studio Litho Ek as producer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI took a trip to Europe last year and that\u2019s when I wrote this song,\u201d said Sawikin. \u201cI was in Europe for a month. The song was about how that changed me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was riding on a train from Rome to Barcelona when I wrote it. I wrote the music in a day but the lyrics took several months.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sawikin is a true New Yorker.<\/p>\n

\u201cI live in New York,\u201d said the rising young singer\/songwriter. \u201cI was born and raised there. I grew up on the Upper West Side. Now, I live close to Soho, Little Italy and Chinatown.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Sawikin plays Philly this weekend, his position as opener will mean a shorter than usual set.<\/p>\n

\u201cBobbie and I each are doing 25-minute sets,\u201d said Sawikin. \u201cIn my set, I\u2019m doing some older songs and mostly new stuff. I also have a Christmas song that I recorded a while back \u2013 It\u2019s Getting Close to Christmas.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

That sounds like a fitting song for a show on December 17.<\/p>\n

Video link for Leo Sawikin \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/j1xVVFMC950<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at City Winery on December 17 will start at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets prices range from $35-$45.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times If you like Christmas music but would like to hear something other than the same old traditional songs done the same old traditional way, there is a show for you this weekend. If you want to enjoy the traditional songs and rock out at the same time, plan […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42174,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7529],"tags":[6518,9942,9692],"class_list":["post-42176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-featured","tag-joe-deninzon-stratospheerius","tag-laura-cheadle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42176","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=42176"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42177,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42176\/revisions\/42177"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/42174"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=42176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=42176"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kennetttimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=42176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}