By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Laura Cheadle
Laura Cheadle is coming back with a new theme and a new bag of surprises this weekend.
On May 27, Jamey’s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985, www.jameyshouseofmusic.com) is hosting a return engagement by Laura Cheadle.
Whenever Cheadle plays the area, it seems that she has a special theme for that particular show.
When the powerful blues/jazz/rock singer played Jamey’s back in December, the concert billed as “A Very Cheadle Christmas.”
On February 11, Cheadle came back on February 11 to The Living Room in Ardmore and presented “Laura Cheadle Sings The Sexy Valentine Blues.”
“This time, it’s actually a release party for my new album on Sony Orchard,” said Cheadle, during a phone interview Wednesday from her home in Philadelphia.
“It’s a preview of all the songs that are going to be on the album. The release date hasn’t been set yet – probably late summer or early fall.”
Fans have already gotten a small sneak peak at what to expect.
“I released two singles from the album so far,” said Cheadle. “The first was ‘Reverberate.’ The second one – ‘Lust In Between’ – just came out.”
The show features Laura Cheadle and her band. Cheadle has a band that features blues, soul, funk – and a lot of Cheadles.
Her four-piece group features her brother Jim Cheadle on guitar and her father James Cheadle on keyboards along with South Jersey’s Dave Ferebee on drums.
James “Papa Cheadle” has played and recorded with Don Cornell, DJ Jazzy Jeff, The Four Aces, Grover Washington Jr., The Soul Survivors, Jaco Pastorius and Peter Erskine.
“I’ve been in the studio a lot,” said Cheadle. “I hadn’t written in four years. When the COVID shutdown arrived, I started writing and couldn’t stop. I just relaxed and enjoyed it.”
One of the results of her writing outburst was her 2021 holiday album, “Let’s Get Together for Christmas.”
“It was a family affair,” said Cheadle. “I recorded it at my dad’s studio with my brothers and him. My dad was the producer.
“There are nine songs on the album with five originals and four standards – ‘Sleigh Ride,’ ‘Here Comes Santa Claus,’ ‘First Noel,’ and ‘Blue Christmas.’
“I did a Christmas album before – in 2010. It was more of a jazz album. This one is definitely bluesier.
“It’s a Christmas album but it’s a real sexy, sultry album – very R&B. I really got a chance to showcase my voice.
“The music on my upcoming album is also very R&B-based. I just wrote another song the other day. Songs keep flying out.”
Cheadle has played with her family ever since she was a young girl.
“My father has influenced me so much,” said Cheadle. “He’s a seasoned jazz musician who used to be a music professor at Rowan University. So, I’ve always been involved with music
“He 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 – but I make it modern.”
Cheadle’s music career began when she was four years old. Her father created the “Appreciation Choir” 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 toured around the United States singing for audiences.
When she was 11, she enlisted her father to teach her how to play drums. From her “tween” to “mid-teen” years, Cheadle was in a band with her brothers called Sibling – a pop group that played at local restaurants, churches, music venues, private parties and parades.
“I’ve been in the Philadelphia/New Jersey music scene for quite some time,” said Cheadle. “I’ve 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’s just there.
“I’ve 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’s hard to classify me – maybe pop/rock with soul influence. I just do what I feel.”
The Cheadle Family has built a strong reputation nationally.
“We were on an NBC television show called ‘The Next Great Family Band’ in 2013,” said Cheadle. “That got us a lot of interest in being booked for tours. They actually came to our place in Swedesboro. The exposure was great.”
Fans will get plenty of Cheadle’s music – old and new – this Friday night at Jamey’s.
“It’s a two-hour show with no opener,” said Cheadle. “It’s kind of like a preview party along with a lot of bluesy songs. I love playing Jamey’s because I get to let my hair down.”
Video link for Laura Cheadle – https://youtu.be/Ro-JwppZkJM.
The show at Jamey’s on May 27 will start at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $30 advance and $36 at the door.
Other upcoming shows at Jamey’s are Rupert Wate on May 28, THURSDAY NIGHT JAZZ JAM featuring Ella Gahnt on May 26 and SUNDAY BLUES BRUNCH & JAM featuring the Philly Blues Kings with Maci Miller on May 29.
Steve Forbert
Steve Forbert’s legion of fans in the area have been getting double treats the last two times Forbert played locally.
On his last visit to the Delaware Valley, he performed at Kennett Flash’s Rooftop Series and the Ardmore Music Hall.
This time around, Steve Forbert and the New Rendition — George Naha on guitar, Todd Lanka on bass, Caleb Estey on drums, Forbert on guitar and harmonica – will be performing at the Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts (9 South Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr, brynmawrtwilightconcerts.com) on May 28 and swinging back around on June 11 for a show at the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com) on June 11.
“I’ve been playing with these guys for three or four years,” said Forbert, during a phone interview Monday from his home in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
“I’m looking forward to playing the Bryn Mawr Twilight show. I’ve done it for years – at last five times at the current location and a few times at the old location.”
Forbert has been recording and playing music for four decades and has reached a point in his career where he knows how to stay busy but not too busy.
It’s pretty safe to say that Forbert has never oversaturated the market with his recorded output.
When Forbert released his album, “Compromised,” in 2015, it was 34 years after he released his debut album “Alive On Arrival.” In the three decades-plus, he only released 14 studio albums.
Fortunately, he has been more prolific in recent years.
He released “Flying at Night” on Rolling Tide Records in 2016 and followed with a pair of albums on Blue Rose Music – “The Magic Tree” in 2018 and “Early Morning Rain” in 2020.
“Early Morning Rain” is an album of covers – including the Grateful Dead’s “Box of Rain,” Elton John’s “Your Song,” the Kinks’ “Supersonic Rocket Ship”, and Danny O’Keefe’s “Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues” (which was released as a video).
Now, Forbert is touring in support of a new album which was just released this month – “Moving Through America” via Blue Rose Music.
“When I recorded ‘The Magic Tree’ in 2018, it was a solo record with just guitar and vocal,” said Forbert. “For ‘Moving Through America,’ I brought it up a couple notches and recorded with the whole band.
“Most of the songs were written in the last two years but none of them have anything to do with the virus. I started recording songs I had and some new ones came along.
“‘Living in a Dream’ is a rock-and-roll song. ‘Say Hello to Gainesville’ is a tribute to the late Tom Petty. When I started, I was writing about old orange juice ads from the 60s and when I finished, it was about Tom Petty.”
Filled with character portraits and quirky insights, “Moving Through America” unfolds like a mosaic of modern-day American life, delivered by someone who’s been crisscrossing the country for nearly half a century. With an author’s nuance and a humorist’s wit, Forbert offer glimpses into the everyday lives of his characters — a dog running from the sky’s thunderclaps; a Houston man preparing to take his girlfriend out for fried oysters; a former drug dealer celebrating his freedom after incarceration; a road-tripping motorist steadily making his way across the Midwest.
“We recorded the album at Steve Greenwell’s studio in Asbury Park,” said Forbert. “I’ve used that studio a lot over the years.
“With the new album, a lot of times the music came first. What happens is – I’ll get a melodic idea, write the music, and then work on the lyrics. One song on the album tells a story so, with that one, the lyrics came first.”
Forbert has a very solid fan base and that’s fine with him.
“What I do is more about songs,” said Forbert. “I just do what I’ve always done. Lyrics — and topics — move with me through life. I don’t pay attention to fads.
“I’m not a jam band or an act that plays for big crowds. It’s folk-rock and mostly acoustic. Even with these shows, the band doesn’t play super loud – and Caleb is not a loud drummer.
“I’m doing about half the new album in my current shows. But there is no set list. It depends on the audience. I like it that way. I couldn’t enjoy the same set list every night. I wouldn’t like that at all.”
Video link for Steve Forbert – https://youtu.be/tVjMsgaqW4g.
The show in Bryn Mawr on May 28, which has Maxie Mandel as the opener, will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15.
Forbert’s show in Sellersville on June 11 will start at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $29.50.
Nothing More
Another music act that is less than prolific with regard to album releases is Nothing More.
The band from San Antonio, Texas has been around since 2003. Two of the original four members are still int the band and a third who has been onboard since 2005.
This year, Nothing More has released two singles from an upcoming album – “TURN IT UP LIKE (Stand in the Fire)” in March and the just released “Tired of Winning.” The album, which will be released later this year on Better Noise Music, is just the fourth studio album by the Texas quartet.
Fans of the band will be able to hear some of the new music along with a lot of the older music on May 29 when the Santander Arena presents a bill co-headlined by Nothing More and labelmates Asking Alexandria. The opening acts will be Atreyu and Eva Under Fire.
Nothing More’s stable line-up features Jonny Hawkins – lead vocals (2008–present), drums (2003–2009), Mark Vollelunga – guitar, backing vocals (2003–present), Daniel Oliver – bass guitar, backing vocals (2004–present) and Ben Anderson – drums, percussion (2015–present).
“There is no official release date yet for the album,” said Oliver, during a phone interview Monday from a tour stop in Rochester, New York.
“It will be out sometime in the fall – hopefully early fall. It’s all done. We’re just finishing up some album artwork.
“Tired of Waiting’ was the first ‘official’ single. Before that, we released ‘Turn It Up.’ We’re playing both those songs in our live set. We could play more new songs, but we don’t want to overwhelm fans with too much new music.”
In 2017, Nothing More, which is known for its massive anthems with catchy hooks, earned three Grammy Award nominations – “Best Rock Album” for the album, “The Stories We Tell Ourselves” and “Best Rock Song” and “Best Rock Performance” for the single, “Go to War.”
“We did about 10 years in the underground before a label came around,” said Oliver. “We were a D.I.Y band. In the early years, we were just playing around Texas and Louisiana. When you’re a brand-new band, it takes a while until you’re a known name.”
Nothing More is definitely a known name as evidenced by its many national tours – the last of which was with Ghost in 2019.
“This is our first tour since the pandemic started,” said Oliver. “Our last tour was in 2019 with Ghost.
“We opened this tour in Kansas City two weeks ago. It was exciting to be playing live shows again. I was so nervous; I almost threw up before the show.
“Asking Alexandria is co-headlining with us. We take turns going on last. We’re doing a 70-minute set and playing a lot of songs from our last two albums.”
Video link for Nothing More — https://youtu.be/sbWr515vhkw.
The show in Reading on May 29 will start at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $29.50 and $36.50.
First, there was “Cluedo,” a murder mystery game for three to six players (depending on editions) that was devised in 1943 by British board game designer Anthony E. Pratt. The game was first manufactured by Waddingtons in the United Kingdom in 1949.
Then, there was “Clue,” which is what Cluedo became when it was introduced to the United States around the same time. “Clue” is the classic detective game.
In Clue, players move from room to room in a mansion to solve the mystery of: who done it, with what, and where? Players are dealt character, weapon, and location cards after the top card from each card type is secretly placed in the confidential file in the middle of the board. Players must move to a room and then make a suggestion against a character saying they did it in that room with a specific weapon. The player to the left must show one of any cards mentioned if in that player’s hand. Through deductive reasoning each player must figure out which character, weapon, and location are in the secret file.
To do this, each player must uncover what cards are in other players hands by making more and more suggestions. Once a player knows what cards the other players are holding, they will know what cards are in the secret file, and then make an accusation. If correct, the player wins, but if incorrect, the player must return the cards to the file without revealing them and may no longer make suggestions or accusations. A great game for those who enjoy reasoning and thinking things out.
After the board game “Clue,” next was the film called “Clue,” which came out in 1985.
“Clue” is an American black comedy mystery film based on the board game of the same name. Inspired by the nature of the board game, the film’s initial release featured various different endings, with one of three possibilities sent to movie theaters at the time. The film initially received mixed reviews and did poorly at the box office — but later developed a considerable cult following.
The next phase of “Clue” was “Clue the Musical,” which ran Off-Broadway in 1997 and never went on national tour.
Finally, there is “Clue: On Stage,” which is adapted from the Paramount Pictures film written by Jonathan Lynn and the board game from Hasbro, Inc. written by Sandy Rustin. It opened on Broadway in 2018 and won one Tony Award.
If you haven’t got a clue where all this is going – it’s going to Arden, Delaware.
The Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware, www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org) is presenting “Clue On Stage.” The very funny dark comedy is running now through June 26 at the dinner theater in the Village of Arden.
The talented cast features Anthony Connell (Wadsworth the butler), Sarah Braun (Miss Scarlett), Lauren Esser (Yvette), Connor Patrick (Professor Plum), Victoria Healy (Mrs. White), Jared Calhoun (Mr. Green), Yajaira Paredes (Mrs. Peacock), Paul McElwee (Colonel Mustard), Joe Falcone (Mr. Boddy), Leah Senseney (Cook) and JJ Vavrik (The Unexpected Cop).
The cast features several Candlelight newcomers, including a pair of recent Temple University graduates – Sarah Braun and Lauren Esser.
“I just graduated two weeks ago with a BFA in musical theater and a minor in dance,” said Esser, during a phone interview Monday from her home in Philadelphia.
“I heard about Candlelight from friends who had been in ‘South Pacific’ there. And, I had another friend who was in ‘Cabaret.’
“I auditioned for this show back in February online. Then, I got called back and went in person to meet the director (Peter Reynolds).”
Esser has been on stage most of her life.
“I started classes in dance and performing arts when I was three,” said Esser, who is a graduate of Gwynedd-Mercy Academy. “I did shows all through high school and did all the shows at Temple when I was there.”
When the curtain goes up at Candlelight for “Clue On Stage,” It’s a dark and stormy night, and you’ve been invited to a very unusual dinner party.
Each of the guests has an alias, the butler offers a variety of weapons, and the host is, well . . . dead. When their host turns up dead, they all become suspects. Led by Wadsworth the butler, Miss Scarlett, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock, and Colonel Mustard race to find the killer as the body count stacks up.
The play is a hilarious farce-meets-murder mystery that will leave both cult-fans and newcomers in stitches as they try to figure out…WHO did it, WHERE, and with WHAT!”
“I play Yvette, the maid,” said Esser. “I watched the movie before I auditioned. It’s definitely funny – a murder mystery farce.
“It’s written to be a one-act play but the Candlelight has divided it into two acts. It’s very intelligently written. There’s never a dull moment.”
Esser has been able to relate well to Yvette.
“It’s a comedic part,” said Esser. “She comes off one way – working as a maid – but she definitely knows a lot more than she lets on.
“This is just a fun show to be part of. It has a good pace and a wide variety of humor.
“It’s a wonderful cast and every character is funny. We know we’re going to get laughs.”
“Clue On Stage” is running now through June 26 at the Candlelight Theatre. Tickets, which include dinner, beverages and dessert, are $65.50 for adults and $33 for children (ages 4-12).
Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org) is presenting Dueling Pianos on May 26, and Boston Comedy Festival on May 28.
Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) is hosting Mark Unruh on June 3.
The Kimmel Cultural Campus (Broad and Spruce streets, Philadelphia, 215-731-3333, www.kimmelculturalcampus.org) will present Flaco Navaja & The Razor Blades on May 30.
The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389, www.ardmoremusic.com) will present Battles on May 26,
The Micah Graves Project on May 31, Digable Planets on June 2 and Sister Hazel on June 4.
118 North (118 North Wayne Avenue, Wayne, www.118northwayne.com) will host Cousin Curtis on May 26, We May Be Right on May 27, Avi Wisnia on May 28, Butchy Band on May 28, Amanda and Teddy on June 2, Popa Chubby on June 3, The End of America on June 4, Jefferson Berry on June 5 and Scott Sax and Suzie Brown on June 8.
The Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650, www.keswicktheatre.com) will host Mo’Nique on May 27, Tommy James on June 3, Tom Kiefer on June 4 and Abbafab on June 8.
Brooklyn Bowl (1009 Canal Street, Philadelphia, www.brooklynbowl.com/philadelphia) will have The Walters on May 26, Metalachi on June 2, Splintered Sunlight on June 3, Sugar Honey Ice Tea on June 5 and Stand Atlantic on June 8.
The Xcite Center at Parx Casino (2999 Street Road, Bensalem, 888-588-7279, https://parxcasino.com) will have Kansas on May 27 and Andrew Dice Clay on June 2
Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal Street, Philadelphia, 215-309-0150, www.thefillmorephilly.com)
26 Cut Worms on May 26, Orville Peck on May 27, Broods on May 29, Mansionair on June 2, T-Pain on June 2, Small Town Murder on June 4 and Last Dinosaurs on June 5.
Annenberg Center (3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, https://annenbergcenter.org/events) will present Momix from June 2-4.
The Queen (500 North Market Street, Wilmington, 202-730-3331, www.thequeenwilmington.com)
The Gilmour Project on May 27, Gasolina Party on May 28, Lanco on June 2, Jim Norton on June 4, Devon Allman on June 5, and Apollo Suns on June 8.
City Winery (990 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, citywinery.com) hosts Raheem DeVaghn on May 26, Alex Cuba on May 27, Conya Doss on May 27, Damn the Torpedoes on May 27, Yael Naim on May 28, Funky Dawgs on May 29, Will Downing on May 29-30, Kristin Hersh on June 1, Gooch & the Motion on June 2, Res on June 3, Grant-Lee Phillips on June 4, Miki Howard on June 5, Adam Ezra Group on June 5, Kaki King on June 6, Maddie Pope on June 7 andBombino on June 8.
The Met (858 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, http://themetphilly.com) will host Ray Lamontagne on June 1, Russ on June 2, Chelsea Handler on June 4 and Sigur Ros on June 7.
World Café Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com) will have Xenia Rubios on May 27, Lydia Hillliard Experience on May 28, Sara Kays on May 31, Kings Kaleidoscope on June 1 and Secret American on June 2.
Theatre of the Living Arts (334 South Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1011, http://www.lnphilly.com) is hosting Keshi on May 27, Dying Fetus on June 4, mxmtoon on June 5, Adekunle Gold on June 6 and Juno Birch on June 8.
Mann Music Center (Mann Center, 5201 N. Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-566-7900, http://manncenter.org) is presenting Haim on May 28, Lake Street Dive on June 3, Roots Picnic on June 4-5 and Rufus Du Sol on June 7.
Johnny Brenda’s (1201 North Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-739-9684,
www.johnnybrendas.com) presents Sam Evian on May 26, Post Animal on May 28, Anika on May 29, Nnamdi on May 31, Julien Chang on June 1, Willis on June 2, Jordana on June 3, Jesse Malin on June 4 and Blue Hawaii on June 8.
Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215-232-2100, www.utphilly.com) hosts Injury Reserve on May 26, Aurora on June 2, Kurt Vile on June 3-4 and Welcome to Night Vale on June 8.
Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, http://undergroundarts.org) will have Pain of Salvation on May 28 and Wet on June 3.
The American Music Theatre (2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, www.AMTshows.com) is hosting Girl Named Tom on May 27 and Kenny G on June 2.
