{"id":13830,"date":"2017-12-14T09:31:08","date_gmt":"2017-12-14T14:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/?p=13830"},"modified":"2017-12-14T09:31:13","modified_gmt":"2017-12-14T14:31:13","slug":"on-stage-aimee-mann-comes-to-the-colonial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/?p=13830","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Aimee Mann comes to the Colonial"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Staff Writer, The Times<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Aimee Mann<\/p><\/div>\n

Aimee Mann has probably played more different area venues than any other act on the scene \u2013 starting with her formative days in \u2019til Tuesday and\u00a0 continuing through her long solo career.<\/p>\n

Mann has played everywhere from huge arenas (the Spectrum) to outdoor venues (Mann Music Center, Philadelphia Zoo) to small clubs (Chestnut Cabaret, World Caf\u00e9 Live at the Queen).<\/p>\n

On December 14, Mann will add another venue to the long and varied list when she headlines a Point Entertainment show at the Colonial Theatre (Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610- 917-1228, www.thecolonialtheatre.com<\/a>) with sometimes musical mate Ted Leo as the opener.<\/p>\n

This time last year, Mann and Leo performed together in a special holiday show at Union Transfer in Philadelphia. This year, Mann\u2019s lone holiday show will be at the Beacon Theatre in New York. The December 15 N.Y. show will be sandwiched between her regular shows at two Pennsylvania venues \u2013 the Colonial Theatre on December 14 and the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg on December 16.<\/p>\n

Mann is touring in support of her new album \u201cMental Illness,\u201d which was released independently in March on her own label \u2013 Super Ego Records.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m home in L.A. right now \u2013 working on a project on-and-off,\u201d said Mann, during a recent phone interview. \u201cI\u2019m working on turning a record into a musical. The record is \u2018The Forgotten Arm,\u201d which I released about 10 years ago. I stay busy \u2013 just little things here and there\u2026like doing a song for a Tom Waits cover album.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese shows I\u2019m doing with Ted are not holiday shows. Ted has a new album out that he is touring as an opener. The shows are straight ahead. But, we\u2019ll do some songs together and probably do a few Christmas tunes for the December shows. It\u2019s always nice to do some around the holiday season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mann has a huge repertoire from which to draw for her current shows.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know that I have an any \u2018must play\u2019 songs,\u201d said Mann. \u201cIt\u2019s hard for me to know. It\u2019s not always the same. A few years ago, I did an acoustic show with all requests.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my live set for this tour, probably half is songs from the new record. And, I always do a lot of older stuff. Sometimes, it\u2019s not easy to choose songs. For this tour, we had a rehearsal the day before it started, and it was easier to see which songs fit. My producer Paul Bryan helps me choose the set. We\u2019re rotating new songs in-and-out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMental Illness\u201d is an album of mostly-acoustic, stripped-down songs augmented frequently by string arrangements by Bryan.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded \u2018Mental Illness\u2019 at Paul\u2019s home studio in L.A.,\u201d said Mann. \u201cAnd, we had a string section work on some of the tracks at United Studio in L.A. There were a couple of songs I had written before but mostly were written specifically for this project.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt does help to have a project that you\u2019re working on \u2013 to work a little every day. Some of the songs were written about several people I know who are bi-polar.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe album has a stripped-down sound because I wanted to make a record that was very quiet from beginning to end \u2013 an introspective album like the ones Leonard Cohen made in the early 60s.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to this show in the Philly area. Philly is the greatest. I remember the Chestnut Cabaret. We always had a great show at the Chestnut Cabaret.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, it\u2019s three decades later and time for a great show at the Colonial Theatre.<\/p>\n

Video link for Aimee Mann \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/XSUF_umjo0E<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the Colonial Theatre, which has Ted Leo as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $37.50, $47.50 and $54.50.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Jon McLaughlin<\/p><\/div>\n

On December 14, the Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com<\/a>) will host highly-acclaimed singer-songwriter Jon McLaughlin.<\/p>\n

Born and raised in Anderson, Indiana, McLaughlin began taking classical piano lessons at an early age. During high school he began incorporating his piano skills into soulful pop music, then enrolled in the music program at Anderson University, where he studied piano and spent his free time writing songs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have a great music program at Anderson University,\u201d said McLaughlin, during a recent phone interview from his home in Nashville, Tennessee. \u201cI studied music business with the emphasis on classical piano.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up in Anderson and began taking piano lessons when I was four. But, I didn\u2019t get serious about music until I was in college.<\/p>\n

McLaughlin released an independent album entitled, \u201cUp Until Now\u201d in 2003. This quickly led to McLaughlin becoming the first artist to sign on with the school\u2019s rapidly growing record label, Orangehaus Records.<\/p>\n

\u201cI made my first album when I was still in college,\u201d said McLaughlin. \u201cI recorded it at Orangehaus, which is a student-run recording studio at Anderson.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2006, McLaughlin signed a record deal with Island Records. After signing with Island Records and releasing his debut album, McLaughlin watched as his song \u201cBeautiful Disaster\u201d quickly climbed the charts, with \u201cBeating My Heart\u201d following quickly after.<\/p>\n

Hollywood took notice of the young songwriter and began using his music for films and commercials. McLaughlin also had a role in the hit film \u201cEnchanted,\u201d where he performed his song \u201cSo Close.\u201d The song was later nominated for an Academy Award. In 2008, he was onstage at the Oscars performing the song in front of 32 million US viewers.<\/p>\n

McLaughlin eventually freed himself from Island Records and has been forging his own independent path for the past few years. He is currently gearing up to release a holiday EP this fall, with a new album on the way.<\/p>\n

McLaughlin\u2019s most recent album, \u201cLike Us,\u201d dropped in October of 2015 via Razor & Tie, and he spent the past few years touring extensively before heading back into his Nashville studio to work on new music.<\/p>\n

The musician\u2019s latest project is a Christmas EP, titled \u201cRed & Green,\u201d his second release celebrating the holidays. This one, recorded with various collaborators around Nashville, features three original tunes and two covers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe new album will come out next year,\u201d said McLaughlin. \u201cI could probably release a disc of songs I\u2019d be proud of right now. For every Christmas song I wrote, I wrote three of four new songs. At the top of the year, I\u2019ll start recording. We\u2019ll pick the songs once we start recording.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like the idea of putting out two or three songs at a time \u2013 as long as there is an album coming at the end of it. I still want to make an album. I want an album to specifically be in people\u2019s hands.\u201d<\/p>\n

The current tour is in support of \u201cRed & Green,\u201d which was released on November 17. The first song from the EP, \u201cChristmas Time is Here (But You\u2019re Not)” is available now on all digital platforms. To celebrate the EP, McLaughlin is on the road backed by Rich Brinsfield on bass and Chris Farney on drums. The trio will be performing a mix of Christmas music and songs from his previous albums.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just left rehearsals with the band,\u201d said McLaughlin. \u201cWe rehearsed mo0re than we need. I\u2019m trying to play all the Christmas stuff and then throw in some other non-Christmas songs chosen by an informal poll with my fans. After this tour, my focus will be on recording the new album.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Jon McLaughlin \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/Hu3-0CMxQUM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Ardmore Music Hall, which has Maitland as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $26.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Richie and Rosie<\/p><\/div>\n

There will be another show that is soft around the edges in the area on December 14 when Richie and Rosie perform at a Philadelphia Folksong Society House Concert in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

Richie Stearns and Rosie Newton, who are now based in Ithaca, New York, grew up in towns less than 200 miles apart — but in different generations. Ironically, professional cellists raised both. Stearns began playing banjo when he was 14. Newton got an even earlier start and started studying piano when she was eight years old.<\/p>\n

Stearns\u2019 family founded the iconic GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance (of which he is now president). He was \u2013 and still is \u2013 a member of Horse Flies, an American alternative rock\/folk band, founded in the late 1970s in Ithaca, N.Y.<\/p>\n

By the time Newton was 16, she was playing fiddle and touring with folk rock band The Mammals. During that time, the two were introduced at Saratoga Springs\u2019 Flurry festival — a meeting that marked the genesis of their collaboration.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up near Woodstock, New York,\u201d said Newton. \u201cI came to Ithaca around 10 years ago to go to Ithaca College. I majored in viola performance there and got drawn to the old-time music scene in Ithaca. I was a big fan of the Horse Flies.<\/p>\n

\u201cI met Richie when the Horse Flies played the Flurry Festival,\u201d said Newton. \u201cI was playing the festival with my very first band when I was 15. I liked his music. And, I was struck by his attire. I had never seen an adult wearing Converse before.\u201d<\/p>\n

While studying viola at Ithaca College and playing fiddle on the side, Newton started incorporating folk with her traditional Celtic and classical upbringing. Meanwhile, Stearns was a well-established singer and banjo player in the community, having performed around the world with bands like Bela Fleck, Pete Seeger, David Byrne, Billy Bragg & Wilco, Old Crow Medicine Show, and Joan Baez.<\/p>\n

\u201cRichie was playing Maxie\u2019s Supper Club & Oyster Bar in Ithaca once a week \u2013 every Tuesday,\u201d said Newton. \u201cI started sitting in on fiddle. Eventually, we started touring together as part of the Evil City String Band. We toured a little with them and then realized it was hard to travel with that many people. About nine years ago, we started playing as a duo.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2013, Richie and Rosie released their debut album \u201cTractor Beam,\u201d a 12-track mix of originals and classics, including Townes Van Zandt\u2019s \u201cIf I Needed You\u201d and \u201cSay Darlin\u2019 Say\u201d, a traditional lullaby. Being their first exclusive release as Richie and Rosie, the pair wanted to give fans a polished recording of the songs that they played live.<\/p>\n

After three years of touring and writing, the duo returned to the studio last December to record their second full-length album, \u201cNowhere in Time.\u201d The record occupies a junction of Americana, old-time, and folk \u2013 and, at the same time, brings a new sound to traditional music.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded the new album with producer Alex Perialas at Pyramid Sound Studios in Ithaca,\u201d said Newton. \u201cWe did it over the course of a year in three sessions.<\/p>\n

\u201cRichie writes the songs \u2013 but we did write \u2018No Longer Lonely\u2019 together. He just writes the songs and then we see what we can do together after that. A lot of songs on the new album are more introspective than the first \u2013 songs talking about life as a subject.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, in our live set, 90 per cent of the stuff is from the new album. We also do some songs from the first album, a Towns Van Zandt cover and a few traditional fiddle tunes. But, the main focus is on the new songs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video Link for Richie and Rosie \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/O0Aa6KATziQ<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Advance registration (https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/events\/1405809582863744\/<\/a>) for this performance is required. Admission is free for PFS members and $10 for Advanced Tickets for non-members. The location for the concert will be at the McGlinchey residence in South Philadelphia. Exact address given upon registration. Guests are requested to bring something to share with a \u201cPot Luck\u201d at 7 p.m. followed by live music at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

For music fans wanting to rock out rather than to sit and listen, there is another show on December 14 that should be more to their liking.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Family Crest<\/p><\/div>\n

Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215-232-2100, www.utphilly.com<\/a>) will host a twin-bill featuring The Dear Hunter and The Family Crest.<\/p>\n

Considering that the band was founded by a frontman named Liam McCormick, you might expect a group of traditional musicians playing Celtic Rock.<\/p>\n

But, such is not the case. The Family Crest is a seven-piece core band from san Francisco that has built a reputation based on its own brand of orchestral pop music.<\/p>\n

The current lineup for The Family Crest includes Liam McCormick \u00b7 Voice and Guitar; John Seeterlin \u00b7 Bass; Charlie Giesige \u00b7 Drums, Percussion; Laura Bergmann \u00b7 Flute, Percussion, Voice; George Mousa Samaan, Trombone; Charly Akert \u00b7 Cello; and Owen Sutter \u00b7 Violin. The band also boasts of more than 400 \u201cExtended Family\u201d members who have contributed to the music<\/p>\n

\u201cWe actually started as a recording project seven or eight years ago,\u201d said McCormick, during a phone interview last week from a tour stop in Salt Lake City, Utah. \u201cJohn, our bass player, and I had been in a different band and were becoming disillusioned.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were a little jaded and we were thinking about leaving music. I\u2019ve always like collaborating with people. So, I reached out to friends and we had about 100 responses. We put ads everywhere. We posted on Craigslist and emailed old friends from school.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to learn how to compose for different classical instruments. After a while, the extended family asked about seeing it done live. All this was happening in San Francisco. Over the years, the extended family stretched up and down the West Coast \u2013 from Seattle to Los Angeles.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Family Crest released its album\u00a0\u201cBeneath the Brine\u201d in February 2014 and featured a wide range of instruments including bassoon, vibraphone and French horn. It demonstrated The Family Crest\u2019s ability to infuse pop into complex arrangements \u2013 and served as a showcase for the incredible range of McCormick\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wrote all the music,\u201d said McCormick. \u201cIt was conceptualized right after we made \u2018The Village\u2019 album. It allowed me to do a lot of writing.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur new album \u2013 \u2018The War: Act 1\u2019 is a record about conflict. Unintentionally, it\u2019s being released at a time when there is so much conflict in America. We feel it\u2019s important to release a record like this at this time. February 23 is when the record drops. Then, the train starts moving.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for The Family Crest \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/0zUpZKHy6N8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The all-ages show at Union Transfer, which has Vava as the opening act, will start at 7:45 p.m. Tickets are $25.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at Union Transfer are \u201cThe Hoots & Hellmouth & Johnny Showcase Soulstice Spectacle\u201d on December 15; Converge, Pile, and Give on December 16; and GAS on December 18.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Shines<\/p><\/div>\n

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) will have The Shines, Wendell Woods, Jr. and Charis Latshaw on December 14, and \u201cBetter than Bacon – 7th Annual Non-Denominational Holiday Extravaganza\u201d on December 16.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Jenni Lynn<\/p><\/div>\n

The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/a>) will host Jenni Lynn and Serene Green on December 15 and Hurricane Hoss with special guests The Martin Sisters on December 16.<\/p>\n

Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/a>) will present Elastic Karma on December 15.<\/p>\n

Burlap & Bean Coffeehouse (204 South Newtown Street Road, Newtown Square, 484-427-4547,\u00a0www.burlapandbean.com<\/a>) will present Far Pines with Ian Alexy of Hobo Nephews on December 15 and Tracy Grammer with Jim Henry on December 16.<\/p>\n

The Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/a>) presents Will Downing\u2019s Soulful Sounds of Christmas <\/a>on December 14, Victor Wooten Trio feat. Dennis Chambers & Bob Franceschini <\/a>on December 15, and Shadows of The 60’s <\/a>on December 16.<\/p>\n

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/a>) will have Lloyd Cole on December 14, Girls Guns & Glory on December 15, the Glenn Miller Orchestra on December 16, Judi Collins on December 17, and Whiskeyhickon Boys on December 20.<\/p>\n

The Grand Opera House (818 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-652-5577, www.thegrandwilmington.org<\/a>) will present Sinbad on December 15 and Damien Escobar on December 16.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times Aimee Mann has probably played more different area venues than any other act on the scene \u2013 starting with her formative days in \u2019til Tuesday and\u00a0 continuing through her long solo career. Mann has played everywhere from huge arenas (the Spectrum) to outdoor venues (Mann Music Center, Philadelphia […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13832,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4357],"tags":[6503,3162,6507,6504,6505,5649,6506],"class_list":["post-13830","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-aimee-mann","tag-featured","tag-jenni-lynn","tag-jon-mclaughlin","tag-richie-and-rosie","tag-the-family-crest","tag-the-shines"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13830","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13830"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13830\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13831,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13830\/revisions\/13831"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13832"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13830"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}