{"id":17548,"date":"2019-01-17T07:59:55","date_gmt":"2019-01-17T12:59:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/?p=17548"},"modified":"2019-01-17T08:00:05","modified_gmt":"2019-01-17T13:00:05","slug":"on-stage-ash-comes-home-to-delaware-valley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/?p=17548","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: ASH comes home to Delaware Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>In world of mythology, a phoenix rises from the ashes. In the world of modern dance, it\u2019s ash that has arisen \u2013 actually ASH.<\/span><\/p>\n

West Chester\u2019s Braham Crane put together his highly-acclaimed dance company in Chester County more than 10 years ago and called it A.S.H. (which stands for \u201cArtists.Simply.Human\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n

A.S.H. made its area debut in 2004 with a pair of shows at the Painted Bride Art Center. In 2006, Crane brought his company back to Philly for a show at the prestigious Annenberg Center venue on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the years, A.S.H. has developed into one of the most respected modern dance companies in America. It also changed its punctuation and became simply ASH. The 2018-2019 tour season for ASH starts and concludes in Florida. It began in October in Orlando and will conclude in April in Jacksonville.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the stops along the way are Tysons Corner, Nashville, Austin, Cleveland, Dallas, Birmingham, Santa Clara, Atlantic City, Boston, Provo, New Brunswick, Greenville, Houston, Chicago, Denver, Baltimore, Burbank, and Philadelphia. The local event will take place this weekend at Loew\u2019s Philadelphia Hotel (1200 Market Street, Philadelphia) from January 18-20.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a dance education type event,\u201d said Crane, whose mother Joyce Crane ran Crane Performing Arts in West Chester for more than 25 years before recently closing shop. \u201cIt\u2019s not like dance competition events. We have 11 faculty members and a crew of 10.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis year, we\u2019re going to 21 regional cities and then we\u2019ll finish at Nationals in Orlando this summer. We have many faculty members who are tops in the industry. They all travel to different cities. This is our eighth tour \u2013 and our ninth annual event in Philly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn Philly, it will be a three-day event with 100 companies and around 1,500 dancers. There will be two performance showcases with about 250 numbers over the two shows and a closing show on Sunday with the best numbers from the performance showcases along with faculty performances. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe event will also have workshops with master teachers as well as competitions and showcases. There will be a lot of scholarships provided by ASH, various colleges and different sponsors. There will be over $250,000 in scholarships just at the Philly event.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

All current styles of dance will be represented including jazz, tap, hip hop, ballet, jazz-funk and contemporary.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere will be activities for teachers, parents, dancers and spectators,\u201d said Crane. \u201cThere will be more than 250 pieces by dancers. We expect about 1,500 attendees. It will run from noon-8 p.m. on Friday and 3:30-9 p.m. on Saturday with the final event on Sunday at 1:45 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAll the shows are free and open to the public. And, all the showcases will be broadcast live via the internet at www.ASHWebcast.com<\/a>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for ASH Productions — <\/span>https:\/\/youtu.be\/ZdWc7P2mdAc<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The event will run from noon on January 18 until 3 p.m. on January 20. The final activity will be the \u201cClosing Show\u201d on Sunday at 1:45 p.m. For more information on activities and schedules, call 855-ASH-Dance (855-274-3262) or visit <\/span>https:\/\/ashdance.com<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (236 North High Street, West Chester, https:\/\/uptownwestchester.org\/<\/a>) will feature a bustle of activity over the next few days \u2013 starting<\/span> on January 17<\/span> with the first <\/span>Jazz Cocktail Hour at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center of 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

Each session of Jazz Cocktail Hour <\/span>begins with drinks or a signature cocktail, and small bites. Concerts are held on the second floor, The Univest Room, of the Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center.<\/span><\/p>\n

This intimate room allows the audience to experience the creative, improvisational form of jazz, up close and personal. Sara Michaels, jazz and blues vocalist and local resident, gives a brief introduction to connect the artist with the audience. The 2018\/2019 series is sponsored in memory of William E. \u201cBill\u201d Donoghue 1941-2017.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Jazz Cocktail Hour on January 17 is a \u201cProhibition Party\u201d and show on the main stage. <\/span>Chelsea Reed & The Fair Weather Five Swing Band will perform in concert as professional swing dancers fill the dance floor. Audience members will also have a chance to dance on stage as well if they wish. Vintage dress is encouraged.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Chelsea Reed & The Fair Weather Five<\/p><\/div>\n

Chelsea Reed & The Fair Weather Five play at all the best swing dances, jazz clubs and concert halls from renowned Philadelphia venues to nationwide Lindy and Blues exchanges and workshops. They\u2019ve had the honor of sharing the stage with trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, who is featured on their 2017 release, \u201cSpreadin\u2019 Rhythm Around.\u201d The ensemble specializes in exploring the roots of jazz and finding creative ways to interpret forgotten songs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bandleader Chelsea Reed has an interesting Philadelphia jazz story.<\/span><\/p>\n

In October 2012, Reed\u00a0brought five friends, fellow students at Temple University, together to play some tunes in a South Philly dining room. Secretly, her plan was to form a band that played for swing dancers, so she could finally have the chance to sing <\/span><\/p>\n

Those same five players are still in the Fair Weather Five — Noah Hocker on trumpet, Chris Oatts on saxophone, Jake Kelberman on guitar, Joe Plowman on bass, and Austin Wagner behind the drums. Drawing upon the intensity of powerhouse vocalists, the ingenuity of 20th century composers, and the soul of the dance floor,\u00a0Chelsea\u00a0Reed\u00a0& The Fair Weather Five honor the heritage of jazz with fresh arrangements and original songs.<\/span><\/p>\n

To make it a true Prohibition Party, \u201chooch\u201d tastings by Manatawny Still Works of nearby Pottstown will be offered in the Uptown! Bar from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Twenty VIP ticket holders will not only get front row seats, they will also get a \u201cSwing Dance Lesson\u201d with Faryl Codispoti of The Swing Kat Dancers at 5 p.m. and the chance to dance onstage along with the pros. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the Jazz Cocktail Hour on February 15, Paula Johns presents \u201cThe Look of Love — A Tribute to Burt Bacharach & Dionne Warwick.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming Jazz Cocktail Hour programs are Mike Boone Quartet with Mekhi Boone on March 21, and Terell Stafford with Rhenda Fearrington on April 25.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Jazz Cocktail Hour Prohibition Party on January 17 will start at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults and $23 for students.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other shows this weekend at the Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center are Better Than Bacon: Interactive Improv Comedy on January 18 and \u201cEchoes, The American Pink Floyd\u201d on January 19.<\/span><\/p>\n

There will be several shows in the area this weekend with acts that have been around almost as long as the real Pink Floyd \u2013 original acts such as John Oates and Crack the Sky. And, both concerts will be presented by the Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0<\/span>www.ardmoremusic.com<\/a><\/span>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

John Oates<\/p><\/div>\n

On January 19, John Oates and The Good Road Band\u2019s tour will visit the area for a show at the comfortable, intimate venue along the Main Line. Oates will perform music from his critically acclaimed album,\u00a0\u201cArkansas.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It will be a homecoming for Oates, who is one half of the best-selling duo of all time, Hall & Oates, as well as an accomplished solo artist. Oates grew up in North Wales and attended North Penn High. Hall is from Chester County and still went by his original name, Daryl Hohl, when he was a student at Owen J. Roberts High. They originally bonded as students at Temple University. Their first album together was \u201cWhole Oats\u201d in 1972.<\/span><\/p>\n

A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Oates has recorded six solo albums and the 2015 DVD docu-concert \u201cAnother Good Road.\u201d Influenced by R&B and folk music while growing up near Philadelphia, Oates was honored as a BMI Icon in 2008. In 2016, Hall & Oates received a star on the Hollywood of Fame. In addition to his solo shows, Oates continues to tour with Daryl Hall, playing sold-out concerts around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

St. Martin\u2019s Press released the paperback of Oates’ memoir, Change of Seasons, May 29, which includes new content. Oates resides in Nashville.<\/span><\/p>\n

Oates has released five solo studio albums \u2013 \u201cPhunk Shui\u201d (2002), \u201c1000 Miles of Life\u201d (2008), \u201cMississippi Mile\u201d (2011), \u201cGood Road to Follow\u201d (2013) and \u201cArkansas\u201d (2018).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis \u2018Arkansas\u2019 album project basically started when I first began to record solo albums in the mid-2000s,\u201d said Oates, during a recent phone interview from his home in Nashville.<\/span><\/p>\n

The project originally began as a tribute to Oates\u2019 idol, Mississippi John Hurt. During a series of Nashville recording sessions, it evolved organically to become a unique collection drawing from a wide range of Oates\u2019 musical influences. According to Oates, \u201cthe style and sound of \u2018Arkansas\u2019 is like Dixieland, dipped in bluegrass, and salted with Delta blues.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Recorded at Addiction Studios in Nashville, the album was produced by Oates and David Kalmusky. Oates teamed with an amazing group of accomplished and rising stars in the Americana music world, \u201cThe Good Road Band.\u201d The impressive lineup on the record features Sam Bush on mandolin, Russ Pahl on pedal steel, Guthrie Trapp on electric guitar, Steve Mackey on bass, Nathaniel Smith on cello, and Josh Day on drums and percussion. With this incredible band, Oates shines a light on music from America\u2019s past long before the birth of rock-and-roll.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI realized the depth of amazing singers and songwriters,\u201d said Oates. \u201cI had been visiting the Americana scene \u2013 in and out. I felt confident with these players from the Americana scene in Nashville. These players are so good. I use a core of great players \u2013 Guthrie Trapp on electric guitar, Steve Mackey on bass, and Josh Day on percussion. I play acoustic guitar.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI met Jerry Ricks in Philadelphia when I was in college. He was involved in the early folk scene. He introduced me to Mississippi John Hurt, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee and Doc Watson. That gave me experience with traditional players.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gerald \u201cJerry\u201d Ricks was an American country blues<\/a> guitarist<\/a> and singer. He passed away in December 2007.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was into Mississippi John Hurt\u2019s guitar work when I was a student at Temple in 1964,\u201d said Oates. \u201cIt goes back to rock. That was a great time to be in Philadelphia. I was listening to good folk music and going to the Uptown (Theater in North Philly) to hear great soul bands.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2016, Hall & Oates received a star on the Hollywood of Fame. In addition to his solo shows, Oates continues to tour with Daryl Hall, playing sold-out concerts around the world. St. Martin\u2019s Press released the paperback of Oates\u2019 memoir, \u201cChange of Seasons,\u201d in May 2018. \u201cArkansas\u201d was released via Thirty Tigers in February 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe \u2018Arkansas\u2019 project started in a very unique way,\u201d said Oates. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to embark on a major project. I had bought one of Mississippi John Hurt\u2019s guitars \u2013 his Guild \u201964 F-30 \u2013 so I thought I\u2019d put out an EP of Mississippi John Hurt songs. It all sounded good. Then. I thought \u2013 \u2018Why am I doing it? It can\u2019t be better than the original.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI realized a Mississippi John Hurt tribute would be limited. I looked back to what were hit records at the time and recorded songs such as \u2018Anytime\u2019 by Emmett Miller and \u2018Miss the Mississippi and You\u2019 by Jimmie Rodgers. Then, I assembled this amazing rhythm section and went in the studio. The end result was the \u2018Arkansas\u2019 album.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for John Oates \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/eMX-AAy-rDg<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Ardmore Music Hall on January 19, which has Jeffrey Gaines as the opener, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $35.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Crack the Sky<\/p><\/div>\n

Crack the Sky is an American progressive rock band formed in Weirton, West Virginia in the early 1970s. Over the last 40 years, the band has had a few periods of dormancy but has also shown a lot of resilience. CTS has released more than 25 albums over four decades and is currently operating with three of the five original members still in the lineup.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 2019 edition of Crack the Sky features original members singer\/composer John Palumbo, guitarist Rick Witkowski and drummer Joey D’Amico along with longtime guitarist Bobby Hird, keyboardist Glenn Workman and bassist Dave DeMarco. The current CTS lineup is the longest-running incarnation of the band at eight years.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 1975, Rolling Stone declared CTS\u2019 first album for Lifesong Records \u201cdebut album of the year.\u201d In 2017 they signed to Loud and Proud Records and in 2018 simultaneously released two new CDs \u2013 \u201cCrackology,\u201d a re-recorded best of package and \u201cLiving In Reverse,\u201d featuring 12 brand new originals which continue to solidify CTS’s reputation of genre-bending progressive rock.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLast year was a busy year \u2013 and a good year,\u201d said DeMarco, during a phone interview last week from his home in Montgomery County, Maryland. \u201cWe had a lot of fun things going. We recorded two albums \u2013 both at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe started recording \u2018Living In Reverse\u2019 and, during that process, our label suggested a career retrospective since we were already in the studio. \u2018Living In Reverse\u2019 was the first one we finished.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe way we record is centered at our main studio at Rick\u2019s house in Weirton. It starts with John making demos. Then, he sends them to Rick and Bobby, and they add their parts. After that, Joey adds the drum tracks. Then, they send the track to me and I put bass on it.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve done about 30 albums with this reverse process \u2013 including every Crack the Sky album I\u2019ve played on. It\u2019s a reverse jigsaw puzzle and it\u2019s been working well. For me, it\u2019s a learning process. Back in the glory days, bands would mail tapes to each other to make records this way. My first CTS album was remote, and I\u2019d already done 20 albums that way with other musicians.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJoey is such a great drummer. He puts in these amazing fills. Neat fill-ins on bass and drums have always been a trademark of Crack the Sky. When making Crack the Sky songs, John is the composer, but he gives us carte-blanche.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAn Evening with Crack the Sky\u201d will be comprehensive enough to please even the fussiest of the band\u2019s fans.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to DeMarco, \u201cThe response to the new album has ignited something within us as artists and musicians. We have a renewed energy that we can\u2019t wait to bring to Philly. Fans \u2013 young and old \u2013 are going to experience\u00a0the band\u00a0as if it\u2019s their first time, no matter how many times they\u2019ve seen us.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During this special, one-night only performance, CTS will play an eclectic assortment of songs from its repertoire, including tracks from \u201cLiving In Reverse.\u201d Featuring an assemblage of genre-defying tracks, \u201cLiving in Reverse\u201d charted at\u00a0#7 Heatseekers, #31 Independent Current Albums, and\u00a0#40 Top Current Albums.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur set list goes all the way back to the 1975 \u2018Crack the Sky\u2019 and 1976 \u2018Animal Notes\u2019 albums,\u201d said DeMarco. \u201cThere is a good bit of early stuff, a smattering of newer stuff and even songs from \u2018Ostrich,\u2019 which was my first album with the band.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Crack the Sky \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/j_IooBC3qmQ<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAn Evening with Crack the Sky\u201d will start at 7 p.m. on January 20. Tickets are $29.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at the Ardmore Music Hall are Lez Zeppelin with special guest Brown Sugar on January 17, and Box of Rain with special guest The Big Jangle on January 18.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Jesse McCartney<\/p><\/div>\n

Jesse McCartney, who will headline a show on January 19 at Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal Street, Philadelphia, 215-309-0150, <\/span>www.thefillmorephilly.com<\/a><\/span>),<\/span><\/cite> is in his early 30s and already has been involved in several successful careers in the entertainment world. He captured a gold record as a member of the pop boy band Dream Street. He started his solo career with a platinum album in 2004.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the acting side, McCartney appeared with The Who’s Roger Daltrey in \u201cA Christmas Carol\u201d at Madison Square Garden. From 1998\u20132001, McCartney played Adam Chandler, Jr. in the ABC soap opera \u201cAll My Children,\u201d a role for which he earned two Young Artist Awards and two Daytime Emmy Award nominations. He also later starred in the short-lived series \u201cSummerland,\u201d which aired on The WB for two seasons, playing orphaned teenager Bradin Westerly.<\/span><\/p>\n

McCartney also worked in several installments of the Square Enix video game series \u201cKingdom Hearts.\u201d He was featured as Roxas in \u201cKingdom Hearts II\u201d in 2006 and reprised the role in 2009 in \u201cKingdom Hearts 358\/2 Days.\u201d He also provided the voice work for Ventus, a character in the video game of the series \u201cKingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep.\u201d He reprised both roles in \u201cKingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance,\u201d which was released in 2012. His standout voice work has earned him three Behind the Voice Actors Awards.<\/span><\/p>\n

He is known for his philanthropic activities such as being an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit organization that provides free musical instruments and instruction to children in underserved public schools throughout the U.S.A. He sits on LKR\u2019s Honorary Board of Directors. He has donated proceeds of his 2005 tour for disaster relief, recorded radio spots promoting the “Kids For A Drug-Free America” campaign, is a spokesperson for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and is involved in the charity SPACE. McCartney performed at the Hope Rocks concert in 2005 to benefit the City of Hope Cancer Center and appeared in the Concert for Hope in — 2009 with Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato.<\/span><\/p>\n

McCartney\u2019s discography of solo albums includes \u201cBeautiful Soul\u201d (2004), \u201cRight Where You Want Me\u201d (2006), \u201cDeparture\u201d (2008), \u201cHave It All\u201d (2010) and \u201cIn Technicolor\u201d (2014).<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2018, McCartney experienced a career surge with his single \u201cBetter With You\u201d re-engaging the audience and creating a solid foundation for a sold-out tour in the summer. He just released a new single \u201cWasted\u201d and is bringing his \u201cThe Resolution Tour 2019\u201d to even bigger venues \u2013 such as the Fillmore. In addition to proper touring, he\u2019s doing amazingly well playing at colleges with almost 60 colleges booked just this year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

McCartney<\/span> has sold over 2.5 million albums and 8 million\u00a0singles\u00a0across his award-winning career. Prior to last year\u2019s singles, it had been since 2014 that he last put out new music. There were several reasons for the long gap.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest reason was \u2013 stop and smell the roses\u2026enjoy life a little more\u201d said McCartney, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from a tour stop in Nashville.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a lot of things I wanted to do, and my career got in the way. I took time off to travel and soak up new cultures. I took cooking classes and became a barbecue pit master. I explored nature and spent a lot of time outdoors. I also was doing a lot of voice acting.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen, I woke up one day and realized that it had been four years since I released any new music. I had gone in the studio and done some writing. I also went to Nashville for country\/pop songwriting classes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat time in Nashville was exciting \u2013 and creatively liberating for me. I wrote probably a dozen songs in the country genre. That was probably the biggest catalyst. I have five or six songs done. Two are released and I\u2019ll put out two or three more in the spring. I just have to find windows of time to get into the studio.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

McCartney plays a variety of diverse venues \u2013 and a lot of college gigs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI played 20 or 30 universities so far with my college touring,\u201d said McCartney. \u201cMy agents reached out with an offer to do a college show \u2013 a smaller show with just myself and a guitar player with some backline tracks. It\u2019s a fun show that picked up traction and had a domino effect. I\u2019ve also inserted more of my personality. There is a lot more meat to bite on.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOn this tour, it\u2019s a guitarist and a drummer with me on keyboards. And, we have a programmed LED wall adding to the show. The new songs are still pop music \u2013 100 per cent pop which has been my audience since the jump. But they are also songs of a 31-year-old guy with lyrics about personal experiences.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Jesse McCartney — https:\/\/youtu.be\/F4ymReNh15M<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Fillmore Philadelphia will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at Fillmore Philadelphia are Ookay Live on January 17, <\/cite>Kacey Musgraves on January 18, and Gnash on January 20.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Wood Brothers<\/p><\/div>\n

The Wood Brothers released their latest album almost a year ago — on February 2, 2018. Area fans had an opportunity to hear many of the songs before the LP\u2019s release when the band played a show in January at Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215-232-2100, <\/span>www.utphilly.com<\/a><\/span>).<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, after playing the new tunes for 12 months, the Wood Brothers are returning to the Union Transfer to show their fans how the tunes have changed over the course of a year. The concert is scheduled for January 19.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Wood Brothers is a trio featuring Oliver Wood (Vocals and Guitar), Chris Wood (Vocals and Bass) and Jano Rix (Drums). The group release its sixth studio album, \u201cOne Drop of Truth,\u201d last February 2 via Honey Jar Records\/Thirty Tigers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been touring a bunch in support of the album,\u201d said Rix, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from a tour stop in Millvale, Pennsylvania. \u201cWe\u2019ve done a lot of touring. I\u2019m not sure exactly how many shows we did in the last year, but we were on the road close to 200 days.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe go out on shorter tours \u2013 a lot of two-week tours. It\u2019s always in-and-out. We keep the tours short because we have kids and we want to be with our families. Plus, doing shorter tours keeps us sane.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first single from the album was its opening track \u2013 \u201cRiver Takes The Town.\u201d The song is one of many poignant moments throughout the 10-track, self-produced collection. Written prior to natural disasters that decimated parts of the world in 2017, it was recorded just one day after Hurricane Harvey hit Houston.<\/span><\/p>\n

While previous outings by The Wood Brothers have often followed a conceptual and sonic through-line, \u201cOne Drop of Truth\u201d dives headfirst into a deep wellspring of sounds, styles and recording approaches, treating each song as if it were its own short film.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe started the album January 2017,\u201d said Chris Wood. \u201cIt was different this time. We didn\u2019t write the songs first.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d write a few and then go into the cheaper studios to make demos. We\u2019d do a song, let it sit and then go back a little later and listen to it with fresh ears. It takes the pressure off instead of cramming in everything together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The band extended this approach to the mixing process, sending tracks to four different mixing engineers, each selected based on what the song demanded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe traditional way of writing all the songs at once and recording in one shot \u2013 it\u2019s so much to wrap your brain around,\u201d said Wood. \u201cWe\u2019d finish a song, rehearse it and then go in the studio. It was always just the three of us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Recording in different phases and at different times can be a challenge to an album\u2019s sense of cohesiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe wondered how it was going to turn out,\u201d said Wood. \u201cWe wanted to give different songs different sonic treatments. It\u2019s kind of eclectic. But, even in our lives shows, we like diversity.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Another activity by the Woods Brothers in the last year changes the band\u2019s recording method.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe made our own studio,\u201d said Rix. \u201cWe bought a space and created a studio in West Nashville. The engineer who tracked most of our last record lost his space, so we partnered with him on a new space. Now, we can go in the studio and relax because we\u2019re not paying for the time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOn this tour, we\u2019re playing a little bit of everything. We\u2019re doing a lot from the new album, `but fans want to hear older songs too. We go all the way back to our first two albums. Everyone wants to hear \u2018Luckiest Man.\u2019 We do change arrangements. We\u2019ve probably had three different arrangements of \u2018Luckiest Man\u2019 in the last year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Wood Brothers will interrupt their touring to be in Los Angeles on February 10 \u2013 to be in the Staples Center, the site of the 2019 Grammy Awards.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne Drop of Truth\u201d was nominated for the Best Americana Album award at the 61st Grammy Awards.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Grammy nomination definitely sparked some interest,\u201d said Rix. \u201cWe have yet to see what it means in the long term. Everybody says it\u2019s a big deal to get nominated.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for The Wood Brothers \u2013 <\/span>https:\/\/youtu.be\/LKIoiVWwF5A<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Union Transfer, which also features Priscilla Renea, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $27.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kategory 5<\/p><\/div>\n

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0<\/span>http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a><\/span>) will host <\/span>Kategory 5’s Rewind to Vinyl Tribute on <\/a>J<\/span>anuary 18 and 19 followed by <\/span>Open Mic with guest host Phil Young<\/a><\/span>\u00a0 January 20.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, <\/span>www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/a><\/span>) will host Kyle Swartzwelder with Mark Mandeville and Raianne Richards on January 18.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0<\/span>http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/a><\/span>) will present Shadow Merchant and Colby Bennett on January 18 and The Reasons on January 19.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/a>) presents Taylor Dayne & Color Me Badd on January 18.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0<\/span>www.st94.com<\/a><\/span>) hosts Classic Albums Live: CCR\u2019s Chronicle on January 17, <\/span><\/p>\n

Blues & Brews Ft. Dukes Of Destiny, Greg Sover Band & Deb Callahan Band on January 18, and Harry James Orchestra Directed By Fred Radke on January 19.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Grand Opera House <\/span>(818 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-652-5577, <\/span>www.thegrandwilmington.org<\/a><\/span>) presents \u201cThe Phantom Tollbooth\u201d on<\/span> January 17 and Drumline on January 18.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Locks at Sona (4417 Main Street, Manayunk, 484- 273-0481, sonapub.com<\/a>) will present Cory Massi on January 20.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jamey\u2019s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985, <\/span>\u00a0will host David Coppa and Scrapple on January 19.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff,\u00a0Entertainment Editor, The Times In world of mythology, a phoenix rises from the ashes. In the world of modern dance, it\u2019s ash that has arisen \u2013 actually ASH. West Chester\u2019s Braham Crane put together his highly-acclaimed dance company in Chester County more than 10 years ago and called it A.S.H. (which stands for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17550,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4357],"tags":[3834,7665,7667,3162,7668,7666,6623],"class_list":["post-17548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-ash","tag-chelsea-reed-the-fair-weather-five","tag-crack-the-sky","tag-featured","tag-jesse-mccartney","tag-john-oates","tag-the-wood-brothers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17548","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=17548"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17548\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17549,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17548\/revisions\/17549"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17550"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17548"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17548"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17548"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}