By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times
Marah
There is an old saying that says you can never go home again.
Don’t tell that to Dave Bielanko or his band Marah.
Marah was formed in 1993 by singer/songwriter/guitarist Dave Bielanko from Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, bass guitarist Danny Metz and drummer Ronnie Vance in 1993. Singer/songwriter/guitarist and harmonica player Serge Bielanko, Dave’s older brother, joined the band in 1995.
On June 24, Marah will headline the first annual Conshohocken Music Festival (https://tickets.morethanthecurve.com/event/Conshohocken-Music-Festival).
The festival, which will run from 1-9 p.m., will be held at Garthwaite Stadium (106 East 11th Avenue, Conshohocken). The festival will offer a variety of music from an opening show just for the kids to Marah headlining later in the evening.
“A Conshy music festival – I can see it becoming successful,” said Dave Bielanko, during a phone interview Tuesday morning from his home in Sugar Valley in upstate Pennsylvania.
“Conshy has a coolness about it. I grew up in Conshy at 9th and Fayette. Our house was a large old farmhouse which was one of the oldest in the town. I graduated from Plymouth-Whitemarsh High in 1993.
“Right from P-W after graduation, I went to the city (Philadelphia) and started the band. Actually, Norristown is where we started our music thing.”
Marah recorded two albums “Let’s Cut The Crap & Hook Up Later On Tonight” for Black Dog Records in 1998, and “Kids in Philly” for Steve Earle‘s now-defunct E-Squared Records in 2000.
Both well-received albums were recorded and produced by the band and recording engineer/producer Paul Smith above an auto repair garage (Frank’s Auto Body) in south Philadelphia.
After several personnel changes, The Bielankos with drummer Jon Kois and bassist Jamie Mahon left for Wales in late 2001 to record their third CD, “Float Away With the Friday Night Gods” – an album that featured Bruce Springsteen on vocals and guitar on the title track.
In 2003, Marah returned to the auto garage and recorded the band’s fourth record, “20,000 Streets Under the Sky.”
Since then, the line-up of Marah has gone through more changes and released seven albums — “Kids in Amsterdam: Live” (2004), “Float Away Deconstructed” (2005), “If You Didn’t Laugh, You’d Cry” (2205), “A Christmas Kind of Town” (2005), “Angels of Destruction!” (2008), “Life is a Problem” (2010), and “Marah Presents Mountain Minstrelsy of Pennsylvania” (2014).
The current line-up of Marah includes Dave Bielanko, Serge Bielanko, Adam Garbinski, Dave Petersen, Mike “Slo-mo” Brenner.
“When the band broke up in 2008, it was tragic for me,” said Bielanko. “Everyone split and went to different places. We were gone from each other’s lives. We played live on Conan O’Brien’s TV show and the next day it was over.
“We spent eight years broken up and then got back together in 2015 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the release of ‘Kids in Philadelphia.’ Then, we decided to stick around a bit and that led to this – to making a new record and playing live shows.
“We’re working on a new album now and playing some good shows. We just played New York and D.C. and we’re going to the Midwest for a festival – and we have the Conshy thing. We’ve already played Europe twice this year – Ireland, England and Spain.
“I’m really happy with how the new album is going. It’s new material – super analog – that we’re making with Paul Smith producing again. It’s absolutely back to the basics. It’s going to be very organic – nothing to do with the music business or trying to be accepted.
The roster of entertainers for the Conshohocken Music Festival includes The First Notes, Lolly & YoYo, Sparkle Pony, The Boatloads, Vince Zeller, Coast to Coast, The Sofa Kings, and Marah.
In addition to all the music, the event will have a kids area with bounce houses, instruments and more. The kids area is sponsored by John Kennedy Ford Conshohocken and John Kennedy Mazda Conshohocken.
There will be beer, wine and great food for sale. Attendees can bring their own lawn chairs and beach blankets and spread out on the field.
Video link for Marah — https://youtu.be/JrtooewzJxw.
Tickets are $25.00 for adults, $10.00 for kids five to 17 and free to those four and under. The event is brought to you by LoveConshy and MoreThanTheCurve.com.
Imelda May
After a three-year wait, Imelda May’s fans were treated to new batch of songs when May released her new album “Life, Love, Flesh, Blood,” which came out on April 21 via Verve Records. There is also a new video from the album — “Should’ve Been You.”
Produced by the legendary T Bone Burnett, the new album marks a new direction for May who recently ended her marriage of 18 years — making “Life, Love, Flesh, Blood” her most autobiographical record to date. The album features contributions from Jeff Beck and Jools Holland.
May will celebrate the new release with U.S. tour dates this summer. She is also performing select dates with Elvis Costello in June. The tour will bring her to the area for a show on June 25 at Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215-232-2100, www.utphilly.com).
“I recorded the album last year in the Village and in L.A.,” said May, during a phone interview from Richmond, Virginia from side stage as she watched Elvis Costello’s set Tuesday.
“When I finished writing the songs for the album, my manager asked me who I wanted to produce the album. I said — T Bone Burnett. You always have to aim high.”
May’s career has included aiming high and succeeding. She has recorded and performed with rick guitar legend and performed at the 52nd Grammy Awards with Jeff Beck in tribute to Les Paul.
May has recorded songs in the studio with artists such as Lou Reed, Jools Holland, Smokey Robinson, Tom Jones, Paul Brady, Meat Loaf, The Levellers, The Chieftains, Mary Black, and The Dubliners.
Additionally, she has performed onstage with David Gilmour, Jools Holland, Smokey Robinson, Bono, U2, Tom Jones, Marc Almond, Sinead O’Connor, Paul Brady, Meat Loaf, Lulu, The Boomtown Rats, The Levellers, The Chieftains, Mary Black, The Dubliners, Elvis Costello, Paolo Nutini, Michel Legrand, Wanda Jackson, and Kodaline.
May’s career as a singer was given an enormous boost when she got involved in several projects with Jeff Beck, one of the all-time best rock guitarists. May knows that her talent is what caught Beck’s eye – actually his ears – but the singer from Dublin, Ireland owes a lot of gratitude to Dave.
Dave was the catalyst that caused the careers of Beck and May to come together. But, Dave is not a musician or a mutual friend. Dave is a crow.
“My first big break came when I performed on the British television show ‘Later…with Jools Holland’,” said May. “I had done a tour with Jools and when I told him that I wasn’t signed to a record label, he said – I really have to get you on my TV show.
“A few weeks later, I got as notice that I was scheduled to be on in two days. So, I had to rush from Dublin down to London. Jeff Beck was at the show. I nearly passed out when Jeff said that the main reason he was there was to hear me play. It was like a dream.”
May sings music from a variety of genres – jazz, blues, rock and rockabilly. Beck, who is one of the most electrifying rock guitarists, also is a big rockabilly fan.
“A few years ago, I rescued a baby crow from a local park,” said May. “I took it home and hand-raised it. My former husband and I used to bring it to gigs with us.
“We were opening for Jools in London and Jeff and his wife Sandra came to the gig. Sandra rescues animals and birds. She said that she would take Dave to her aviary and work with him so he could return to the wild.
“So, we took Dave to their place. When we were there, Jeff and I started jamming together. It was great and he said he wanted to play with me. I’ve performed with him at the Grammys and at Royal Albert Hall – and we’ve gone on tour together.”
Now, Dave has recovered, been released and is having a wonderful life in the wild.
May hooked up with T Bone Burnett in a much more conventional way.
“The record company contacted T Bone and I got him,” said May, who has lived in England for the last 10 years. “T Bone said to me – I’ve been watching you for a long time. You weren’t ready for me then. You’re ready now.
“I was ready to write an honest album. My life had changed and I was open for change. Change is a songwriter’s inspiration. I’ve always written honestly before but I found a way of hiding stuff.
“I didn’t want to do that on this album. I wrote the album I had to write. Everything is an influence. Life is an influence. My divorce is an influence but the album wasn’t just about a divorce. I write about what’s going on in my life. Even if you make mistakes, you have to follow your heart.”
At this point in the interview, May had to take a break because Elvis Costello called her out on stage to join him singing his version of the Sam and Dave classic “Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down.”
When the interview resumed, May said, “I write about my life but I love when the sons then belong to someone else. Fans come up to me and tell me that they’ve gone through similar things – that it’s exactly what they were feeling but they couldn’t put it into words.
“Comments like that are very gratifying. It’s all about the heart and soul – and connecting with people.
“The album was a synopsis of my life – love, having guilt, heartbreak, having regret for my family. Writing these songs and making this album was 100 per cent cathartic. And, based on what my fans have told me, it’s very cathartic for them too.”
Video link for Imelda May — https://youtu.be/gIZ2rRHn-SQ.
The show at Union Transfer, which has Hemming as the opening act, will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.
