{"id":6748,"date":"2016-03-10T10:15:26","date_gmt":"2016-03-10T15:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/?p=6748"},"modified":"2016-03-10T09:43:48","modified_gmt":"2016-03-10T14:43:48","slug":"on-stage-celtic-music-just-in-time-for-st-patricks-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/?p=6748","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Celtic music just in time for St. Patrick&#8217;s Day"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;\"><em><strong>The Chieftains come to Philadelphia to mark the holiday<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><span class=\"s1\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>By Denny Dyroff<\/strong><\/span>,\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\"><em><span class=\"s1\">Staff Writer, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1304952\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/the-chieftains-300x201.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1304952\" class=\"wp-image-1304952 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/the-chieftains-300x201.jpg\" alt=\"the chieftains\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1304952\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Chieftains come to Philadelphia this week \u2014 just in time for St. Patrick&#8217;s Day.<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The middle of March is when St. Patrick\u2019s Day festivities fill the calendar every year. And, St. Patty\u2019s Day activities in the area always include concerts by bands that perform Celtic music.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The pattern hold true this year with Enter the Haggis performing in Philadelphia on March 12 and the Chieftains visiting the city for a concert on March 13.<\/span><!--more--><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">In the world of Celtic music, there is simply no match for the Chieftains &#8212; in terms of longevity, talent, musical influence and recorded output. On Sunday afternoon, the Kimmel Center will present a concert by the Chieftains at the Merriam Theater (250 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215-893-1999, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.kimmelcenter.org\/\"><span class=\"s2\">www.kimmelcenter.org<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Chieftains &#8212; Paddy Moloney, Kevin Conneff and Matt Molloy &#8212; are a traditional Irish band formed in Dublin, Ireland in November 1962, by Sean Potts, Michael Tubridy and Moloney.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">In 2012, they celebrated their 50th anniversary with an ambitious album and tour. The album \u201cVoice of Ages\u201d was produced by T-Bone Burnett and featured the Chieftains collaborating with many musicians including Bon Iver, Paolo Nutini and The Decemberists.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">It also included a collaboration with NASA astronaut Cady Coleman playing the flute aboard the International Space Station as it orbited the earth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cCady Coleman had one of Matt\u2019s flutes and one of my tin whistles with him in space,\u201d said Moloney, during a phone interview last week from a tour stop in Michigan. \u201cCady played an instrumental version of \u2018Moondance.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cFor our show in Philadelphia, we will also feature a bagpiper and a choir to help us with our music. There is something magical about bagpipes. On our \u2018San Patricio\u2019 album, we worked with a Mexican bagpipe band called Saint Patrick\u2019s Battalion (Banda de Gaita de Batall\u00f3n de San Patricio) on the song \u2018March to Battle.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe have a choir help us with music from \u2018Long Journey Home\u2019 &#8212; a song we usually do with a supporting orchestra. And, in honor of 150 years of W.B. Yeats, we set one of his poems to music &#8212; \u2018Never Give All the Heart.\u2019 In our shows, we also have the Pilatzkes with Ottawa Valley step dancing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Chieftains have become known for their collaborations with popular musicians of many genres including Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, Marianne Faithfull, Bela Fleck, Art Garfunkel, Mick Jagger, Tom Jones, Mark Knopfler, Lyle Lovett, Madonna, Ziggy Marley, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, Luciano Pavarotti and the Rolling Stones.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe did this song called \u2018Troublemaker\u2019s Jig\u2019 for a documentary movie about Nelson Mandela,\u201d said Moloney. \u201cMandela\u2019s middle name was \u2018Troublemaker\u2019 so we honored that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Moloney, who will turn 78 in August, has been playing music for a very long time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cMy grandfather played flute so there was always music in the family,\u201d saiod Moloney, a native of the Donnycarney area of Dublin. \u201cWhen I was six years old, my mom bought me a tin whistle for one shilling, nine pence and then I taught myself to play.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cNow, I\u2019ve been making music with the Chieftains for 53 years. We\u2019ve made over 50 albums and have won six Grammys. I don\u2019t see any reason to stop now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Video link for the Chieftains &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/7sEgTY2aDWU\"><span class=\"s2\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/7sEgTY2aDWU<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The show at the Merriam Theater will get underway at 3 p.m. Tickets are $45, $70 and $80.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1304954\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/enter-the-haggis-300x200.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1304954\" class=\"wp-image-1304954 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/enter-the-haggis-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"enter the haggis\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1304954\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Enter The Haggis<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Enter the Haggis will return to Philly for a concert at the World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, <a href=\"http:\/\/philly.worldcafelive.com\/\"><span class=\"s3\">philly.worldcafelive.com<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Enter The Haggis have been one of North America\u2019s premier Celtic Folk Rock bands for more than two decades\u00a0 &#8212; establishing a reputation for memorable performances, inspired songwriting, musical proficiency and high quality recordings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Toronto-based band has released eight acclaimed studio albums, the most recent debuting at Number 9 on the U.S. national Billboard Heatseekers charts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The band\u2019s original songs such as \u201cOne Last Drink,\u201d \u201cDown With The Ship\u201d and \u201cGasoline\u201d have become folk rock anthems and have been used in such films\u00a0 as \u201cGoon,\u201d \u201c10mph\u201d and \u201cAddicted to Plastic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The band was formed in 1995 in Toronto by Craig Downie, the only remaining original member in the lineup. The band currently consists of Downie (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Highland_bagpipes\"><span class=\"s2\">highland bagpipes<\/span><\/a>, vocals), Brian Buchanan (vocals, fiddle, guitar), Trevor Lewington (vocals, guitar), Mark Abraham (bass), and Bruce McCarthy (drums).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The band\u2019s latest single \u201cMrs. Elliott\u201d showcases Enter the Haggis\u2019 signature sound and instrumentation &#8212; bagpipes, a powerhouse hard-rock rhythm section and lead vocals by Lewington and Buchanan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Enter the Haggis\u2019 current tour is in support of the band\u2019s 20th Anniversary retrospective double album \u201cCheers and Echoes,\u201d which features the band\u2019s best-loved songs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Their eighth and latest studio album \u201cPenny Black\u201d was released in 2014 under the Jubilee Riots name.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cOur music over the last 15 years went through a lot of evolution,\u201d said Buchanan, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from Toronto. \u201cWith \u2018Penny Black,\u2019 we did an Enter the Haggis album but it didn\u2019t have any of the Celtic Enter the Haggis elements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThere was a bit of frustration after 15 years of Enter the Haggis. So, we changed the name so it wasn\u2019t saddled with the Enter the Haggis legacy. Enter the Haggis was a name people recognize. It was a name that was appropriate for what we had been playing but it wasn\u2019t appropriate for what we were doing. So, Jubilee Riots was an experiment with a non-descript name.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Jubilee Riots didn\u2019t last long.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cA while after we did the \u2018Penny Black\u2019 album, we started working on new music and the Celtic influence was back,\u201d said Buchanan. \u201cWe didn\u2019t regret what we did but we did go back to being Enter the Haggis.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">While the rest of the band is based in Canada, Buchanan lives in Chestnut Hill with his girlfriend Rose Baldino, fiddle player for the Philadelphia -based Celtic band Burning Bridget Cleary.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cLiving with a fiddle player, I rediscovered my love for the instrument,\u201d said Buchanan. \u201cThere is a lot more fiddle in the songs I\u2019ve been writing lately. We went to Dublin for a few weeks and I really got back into Celtic music. Rosie also introduced me to the music of a lot of good new Celtic rock bands.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe just released \u2018Cheers and Echoes,\u2019 which spans our whole career. I hadn\u2019t gone back and listened to our old stuff in years. It was interesting to listen to it. We realized that we do have some strengths in those areas.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Video link for Enter the Haggis &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/MfK7n7BMrd0\"><span class=\"s2\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/MfK7n7BMrd0<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $17 SRO and $27 seated.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1304957\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/too-close-to-touch-300x300.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1304957\" class=\"wp-image-1304957 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/too-close-to-touch-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"too close to touch\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1304957\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Too Close To Touch<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Music fans can start their weekend off early with two attractive shows tonight at venues in Philadelpha. BANNERS will perform at the Foundry at Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal Street, Philadelphia, 215-309-0150, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thefillmorephilly.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">www.thefillmorephilly.com<\/span><\/a>) while Too Close To Touch will headline a show at the Voltage Lounge (421 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia, 215- 964-9602, <a href=\"http:\/\/voltagelounge.com\/\"><span class=\"s3\">http:\/\/voltagelounge.com\/<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Kentucky-based band Too Close to Touch visited the area back in July 8 for a highly-anticipated show at the Voltage Lounge (421 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia, 215- 964-9602, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Voltagelounge\"><span class=\"s2\">www.facebook.com\/Voltagelounge<\/span><\/a>) and did not disappoint.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Now, the band &#8212; guitarists Mason Marble and Thomas Kidd, bassist Travis Moore, drummer Kenneth Downey, and vocalist Keaton Pierce &#8212; is returning to do it again.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe had an awesome show at the Voltage Lounge,\u201d said Pierce, during a phone interview Monday from a tour stop in Worcester, Massachusetts. \u201cThe sound system is really good and they have a cool upper deck.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Earlier this year, Too Close To Touch celebrated singlehood on Valentine\u2019s Day with the release of an acoustic song called \u201cHeavy Hearts.\u201d\u00a0 According to Pierce in a press release quote &#8212; \u201cOur new acoustic track<i>\u00a0<\/i>\u2018Heavy Hearts\u2019 is very personal to me.\u00a0 It tells a story that I\u2019m not too fond of reliving, and there really was no happy ending.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">On last summer\u2019s tour, Too Close To Touch was on the road in support of its debut album \u201cNerve Endings,\u201d which came out on Epitaph Records in April 2015.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201c\u2019Heavy Hearts\u2019 was a B-side we were sitting on,\u201d said Pierce. \u201cIt\u2019s an acoustic song we were waiting to release.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cA new album is what we\u2019re looking at right now. We already announced it on our website. Right now, we\u2019re just writing and making demos &#8212; no recording yet. I was just down in Florida co-writing with Tom Denney from A Day To Remember.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThe songwriting for the band depends on the situation. Somebody might have an idea on his own or we might write collectively. We place a lot of emphasis on songwriting. It\u2019s very important to us. Creativity is important to us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Too Close To Touch has been around since 2012.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe\u2019re just a bunch of friends who were hanging out in Lexington,\u201d said Marble. \u201cMe, Ken and Travis were here in Lexington. Keaton moved up from Benton, Kentucky and Thomas had moved to the area from Arizona.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe just all clicked immediately. The music just came out of the overflow of our friendship. We started writing songs together three years ago and the first gig with this line-up was in late summer 2014. We write songs all different random ways.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The band\u2019s chemistry was obvious from the start.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWhen you get a bunch of creative people together, it just happens,\u201d said Moore. \u201cOur first hit \u2018Deep End\u2019 was one of the first songs we wrote. It didn\u2019t take us long to vibe off each other.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cFor this record, we picked a finite direction where we wanted to go,\u201d said Moore. \u201cEveryone in the band had this idea of what they wanted us to be and we\u2019re all in tune with that. We wanted to focus on the emotions as well as the catchiness of the songs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe met with our producer Erik Ron in California. He kept us in line &#8212; and co-wrote some songs. The album was written over the course of a yea<\/span><span class=\"s4\">r <\/span><span class=\"s1\">and we went out to L.A. three times to work in the studio with Erik.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cAt first, we had a five-song EP. Then, we needed some additional content. We recorded more songs and expanded the EP to a full-length. With three trips out west, we had grown a little more each time. It brought diversity to the record and allowed us to focus on each segment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s5\">Video link for Too Close to Touch &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?feature=player_detailpage&amp;v=x20a3n__zuk\"><span class=\"s6\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?feature=player_detailpage&amp;v=x20a3n__zuk<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The all-ages show at Voltage, which starts at 6:30 p.m., also features Secrets, Palisades and Picturesque. Tickets are $13.50 in advance and $15 at the door.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1304955\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/BANNERS-300x300.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1304955\" class=\"wp-image-1304955 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/BANNERS-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"BANNERS\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1304955\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">BANNERS<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">BANNERS, which is the stage name for British singer-songwriter Mike Nelson. At the Foundry, the Liverpool native and Spotify Spotlight 2016 artist will perform as part of the \u201cSiriusXM Presents Alt Nation<b><i> <\/i><\/b>Advanced Placement Tour,\u201d which also features Pop Etc., and The Moth &amp; The Flame.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cIt\u2019s fun to be out touring with them because they are two great bands,\u201d said Nelson, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon en route from New York to Philadelphia. \u201cWe get along well and we change the order of performing every night.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Nelson is tour in support of his self-titled debut five-song EP \u201cBANNERS.\u201d The EP\u2019s five tracks are \u201cShine A Light,\u201d \u201cGhosts,\u201d \u201cStart A Riot,\u201d \u201cGold Dust,\u201d and \u201cBack When We Had Nothing.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI do a 45-minute set and play all five songs from the EP,\u201d said Nelson. \u201cI also play four new ones that are from the group of songs I\u2019ve written for my debut album. I\u2019ve done all the recording in Toronto, where I now live.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI write and record with my producer Stephen Kozmeniuk. I play piano and guitar in the studio. When I\u2019m touring, I have a keyboard player with me and I play acoustic and electric guitar.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThe album is pretty far along. I\u2019ve got pretty much everything written. After this tour, I\u2019ll have time off and I\u2019ll get back into the studio. We have a decent enough pool of songs to draw from &#8212; about 20 songs that have been finished.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Nelson has already shown the knack for writing pleasing songs with strong melodies and heartfelt lyrics.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWhen writing, the most stressful thing is getting the hook,\u201d said Nelson. \u201cOnce you get the hook, the song is written. Then, you just figure out the lyrics. The most important thing is that it is something that I feel strongly about. And, the song has to work with just an acoustic guitar or a piano.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Nelson grew up singing in the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral Choir and the Liverpool Kop (home to the world-famous football club Liverpool F.C.). After singing in cathedrals and concert halls across Europe, he went to work on his own material.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThere was always music in our house,\u201d said Nelson. \u201cMy mom plays piano, sings and plays clarinet and my father is a record producer. I just always wanted to make music. There was never a decision about what type of music or what genre. I just wanted to make music that I wanted to listen to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Now, he is making music that a lot of people want to listen to.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">After his signing to Island Records early last year, BANNERS first connected with audiences on his debut single \u201cGhosts\u201d which rose to Number 2 at Hype Machine, and was heard on MTV\u2019s \u201cTeen Wolf.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cShine A Light\u201d was heard on ESPN\u2019s \u201cMonday Night Football,\u201d the official trailer for EA\u2019s new blockbuster game \u201cFIFA 16 Ultimate Team Legends\u201d<i> <\/i>and an episode of FOX\u2019s \u201cAmerican Idol.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cStart A Riot\u201d went on to be featured in an episode of E! Channel\u2019s UK-centric \u201cThe Royals.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI have a really good TV and film department and they\u2019ve done a great job of getting songs placed,\u201d said Nelson. \u201cThe song on the FIFA game really works well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Nelson is die-hard Liverpool F.C. fan &#8212; a longtime season ticket holder for the Reds. Hopefully, he will be smiling when he takes the stage at the Foundry &#8212; smiling because the Reds emerged victorious in today\u2019s UEFA Europa League game against Manchester United. The two most successful English clubs in history will vie for a place in the last eight of the Europa League with the first leg taking place at Anfield, the Reds\u2019 home stadium.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cFor two hours, I\u2019ll be locked in front of the television set,\u201d said Nelson. \u201cNo-one will be able to disturb me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s5\">Video link for BANNERS &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/uaLblVmnNL4\"><span class=\"s6\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/uaLblVmnNL4<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The show at The Foundry will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are priced at $15.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1304959\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/the-tenors-300x177.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1304959\" class=\"wp-image-1304959 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/the-tenors-300x177.jpg\" alt=\"the tenors\" width=\"300\" height=\"177\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1304959\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Tenors<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">This area will also host another band based in Toronto this weekend when The Tenors perform on March 13 at the Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.keswicktheatre.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">www.keswicktheatre.com<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Tenors (formerly known as The Canadian Tenors) are a vocal quartet featuring Remigio Pereira, Victor Micallef, Fraser Walters, and Clifton Murray. They perform operatic pop music that is a mixture of classical and pop.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Canadian multi-Platinum, Juno Award-winning vocal group is touring in support of its latest Number 1 album \u201cUnder One Sky\u201d &#8212; an album that was just nominated for a Juno \u201cAdult Contemporary Album of the Year\u201d Award.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe\u2019re in Toronto now starting the process of making our next album,\u201d said Murray, during a phone interview Monday afternoon. \u201cAnd, we\u2019re rehearsing songs for the Juno Awards show in April.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThe lineup of the band has been together for nine years. Fraser and I were in similar circles &#8212; one degree removed. I joined the group seven-and-a-half years ago. I was the final piece of the puzzle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe own the company and the creative buck stops with us. We have the rule of the creativity. We play instruments. We tell stories. We\u2019re intimately involved in all aspects &#8212; song selection, creativity, arranging, choosing the orchestra. We also produced a number of the songs on the album ourselves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cNow, we\u2019re out on a 78-city tour. Between our Christmas tour, corporate shows and regular tours, we do 200-230 shows a year globally. It really is all about the artistry of the four of us together.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Over <\/span><span class=\"s7\">the<\/span><span class=\"s1\"> past several years, The Tenors have been selling out concerts across Canada, <\/span><span class=\"s7\">the<\/span><span class=\"s1\"> U.S. and <\/span><span class=\"s7\">the<\/span><span class=\"s1\"> U.K., and have performed over 500 live shows on five continents.\u00a0 In 2014, they performed for <\/span><span class=\"s7\">the<\/span><span class=\"s1\"> Obamas at <\/span><span class=\"s7\">the<\/span><span class=\"s1\"> prestigious National Christmas Tree Lighting.\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"s7\">The<\/span><span class=\"s1\">ir previous TV appearances&#8211;over 150 worldwide&#8211;include <\/span><span class=\"s7\">the<\/span><span class=\"s1\"> Today Show, Good Morning America, Dr. Phil, Oprah (with Celine Dion),\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s7\">the<\/span><span class=\"s1\"> Primetime Emmy Awards, ITV\u2019s Diamond Jubilee Show for <\/span><span class=\"s7\">the<\/span><span class=\"s1\"> Queen and many more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s7\">The<\/span><span class=\"s1\">y have shared <\/span><span class=\"s7\">the<\/span><span class=\"s1\"> stage with such luminaries as Andrea Bocelli, Sting, Elton John, Earth Wind &amp; Fire, Paul McCartney, Jennifer Hudson,\u00a0Ellie Goulding, Justin Bieber and more. The Tenors\u2019 first self-titled album is certified double Platinum, and <\/span><span class=\"s7\">the<\/span><span class=\"s1\">ir 2010 \u201cThe Perfect Gift\u201d holiday album is certified triple Platinum in Canada.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Their third album &#8212; 2012\u2019s \u201cLead With Your Heart\u201d &#8212; went double Platinum, won a 2013 Juno Award for Adult Contemporary Album of the Year and debuted at Number 1 on Billboard\u2019s \u201cClassical Albums\u201d and \u201cClassical Crossover Albums\u201d charts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cUnder One Sky\u201d is a 13-track album combining a mix of originals alongside new interpretations of familiar favorites, including Queen\u2019s \u201cWho Wants To Live Forever\u201d (featuring Lindsey Stirling), \u201cLean On Me,\u201d \u201cYou Are So Beautiful\u201d (duet featuring Walters\u2019 wife, Kelly Levesque), \u201cGranada,\u201d \u201cBesame Mucho\u201d and \u201cAgnus Dei.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The quartet has also released a highly-acclaimed video for the song \u201cUnder One Sky.\u201d The video captures each of The Tenors visiting different parts of the world along with to videos submitted by their fans gathered via a social media campaign. Walters began writing \u201cUnder One Sky\u201d as a theme for the Pan Am Games, reflecting on his experience on Canada\u2019s national track and field team 15 years ago. The reflective upbeat tune soon morphed into something more universal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe were in Prague talking about making a video with all our fans,\u201d said Murray. \u201cWe figured what better way than to have them send in videos of themselves pointing one finger up to the sky. That\u2019s our message &#8212; bringing together people from all walks of life.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Video link for The Tenors &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/jzMZ4C_XtBU\"><span class=\"s2\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/jzMZ4C_XtBU<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The show at the Keswick will get underway at 8 p.m. Ticket prices are $49.50 and $69.50.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1304960\" style=\"width: 260px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/dead-ships.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1304960\" class=\"wp-image-1304960 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/dead-ships.jpg\" alt=\"dead ships\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1304960\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Dead Ships<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">There will be a lot of interesting acts playing at venues around the area on May 11 including Dead Ships at Underground Arts, Tancred at Union Transfer, Rob Crow\u2019s Gloomy Place at Boot &amp; Saddle and Patty Larkin at the Sellersville Theater.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Area fans will have two opportunities to hear the Dead Ships perform this weekend.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">On March 11, they will play a show at Underground Arts (1200 Callowhill Street, Philadelphia, <a href=\"http:\/\/undergroundarts.org\/\"><span class=\"s2\">http:\/\/undergroundarts.org<\/span><\/a>). On March 12, they will headline a show at Home Grown Caf\u00e9 (126 East Main Street, Newark, Delaware, 302-266-6993, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.homegrowncafe.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">www.homegrowncafe.com<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Dead Ships &#8212; a garage rock trio featuring Devlin McCluskey (vocals, guitar), Christopher Spindelilus (drums) and Alex Moore (bass) &#8212; formed around four years ago in Los Angeles and released their debut album \u201cElectric Ahab\u201d in 2012.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">That album led to led to a collaboration with Broken Social Scene\u2019s Brendan Canning, who produced the band\u2019s \u201cEP1\u201d and the lead single \u201cBig Quiet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe played a couple shows in Toronto at NXNE,\u201d said McCluskey, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from Brooklyn. \u201cWe had some mutual friends so Brendan came to one of our shows.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cHe saw something in us. We hung out together in Toronto for a night. A month later, he offered to produce us. It was great because we were all big Broken Social Scene fans. He came down to L.A. and we did two separate recording sessions with him. The first was in November 2014 and the second in spring 2015.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">McCluskey, who grew up in Illinois, first arrived in L.A. to pursue a career in film and TV.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI had been writing music since I was 15,\u201d said McCluskey. \u201cI met up with Chris when we worked at a reality TV company. I overheard Chris talking about getting a new drum kit. I told him &#8212; I have all these songs\u2026we should get together and play. He had never really been in bands before so it was a way for both of us to ease into playing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe\u2019ve been growing and building for the last three years. Our first gig was about four-and-a-half years ago. Our second gig was at the Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco. On our third gig, we opened for King Khan at the Echo in L.A. Echo has always been my favorite venue in L.A. And, I live right across the street from it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Dead Ships still have songs in the can that they recorded with Canning and more new ones in progress.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe\u2019re looking to get out a full-length with all the songs we did with Brendan,\u201d said McCluskey. \u201cWe just need to find a label that wants to do it. All our records so far have been self-released.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI\u2019ve been writing a ton in the last year and I\u2019m itching to get back in the studio. We playing at SXSW later this month and we got signed to play for this year\u2019s Coachella (Music and Arts Festival). Hopefully, it will be a big year for us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Video link for the Dead Ships &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/LP_MIw8Lvrk\"><span class=\"s2\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/LP_MIw8Lvrk<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1304961\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/tancred-300x199.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1304961\" class=\"wp-image-1304961 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/tancred-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"tancred\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1304961\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tancred<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The show at Underground Arts, which has Le Butcherettes as the headliner, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12. The free show at Home Grown Caf\u00e9, which has Travel Songs as the opener, will start at 9 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">When Jess Abbott is playing in a band, she goes by the name Jess Abbott. When Abbott is recording or performing on her own, she goes by the name Tancred. On March 11, Tancred will be in Philly for a show at Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215-232-2100, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.utphilly.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">www.utphilly.com<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI started Tancred in 2011 as a side project,\u201d said Abbott, during a phone interview Tuesday en route from Chicago to a tour date in Detroit. \u201cI never tried to tour with it before. It was just a recording thing. It\u2019s been about a year now that I\u2019ve been putting everything into it. \u201c<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Abbott is touring in support of a new Tancred album titled \u201cOut of the Garden,\u201d which will be released on April 1 on Polyvinyl Records. The first single \u201cSell My Head\u201d recently premiered on Stereogum.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWhen I decided I was going to take it on the road, I didn\u2019t want a solo project,\u201d said Abbott. \u201cI wanted a fuller sound.\u00a0 So, I put together a trio with a bass player, a drummer and me on guitar and vocals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI wrote all the songs myself. I started in late 2014 and wrote the last one in January 2015. Then, I went into the studio in May. It was produced by Anna Waronker from That Dog and Steven McDonald from Off! and Redd Kross at Whiskey Kitchen Studio.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">According to Abbott, the album was shaped by her experiences living in Minneapolis and working at a liquor store in a rough part of town &#8212; \u201cI learned how to speak up when I needed to and how to truly be myself without reservation. I felt afraid walking home at night, and after a couple of months I just got sick of it and started getting into self-defense and self-empowerment as a means of coping. Finding my own strength changed everything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">When Abbott composed the songs for the album, she knew where she wanted it to go musically.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI wrote them with a full band in mind,\u201d said Abbott. \u201cThis is the third Tancred album but it feels like the first because the songs are so different &#8212; not only a new page but a new book.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI always write on guitar. I\u2019ll pick up the guitar and it will always start with a riff for a chord progression. Ideas for songs will pop in my head and I\u2019ll jot something in a notebook and then come up with a riff. But, I\u2019ve never written lyrics first.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s5\">Video link for Tancred &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/A2Bmn05F5zw\"><span class=\"s6\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/A2Bmn05F5zw<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The all-ages show at Union Transfer, which starts at 7:30 p.m., also features Foxing and Lymbyc System. Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 day of show.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1304962\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/rob-crow-300x300.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1304962\" class=\"wp-image-1304962 size-medium\" src=\"http:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/rob-crow-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"rob crow\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-1304962\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rob Crow<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The show by Rob Crow\u2019s Gloomy Place at Boot and Saddle (1131 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215-639-4528, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.bootandsaddlephilly.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">www.bootandsaddlephilly.com<\/span><\/a>) will present Crow in a different light.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Crow definitely has something to crow about &#8212; imcluding a new album titled \u201cYou\u2019re Doomed. Be Nice.,\u201d which was released on March 4 via Temporary Residence Ltd.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cYou\u2019<b><i>re Doomed. Be Nice<\/i><\/b>.\u201d is Crow\u2019s first album since his heavily-publicized withdrawal from music \u2013 specifically the toxic byproducts of the lifestyle of a\u00a0touring professional musician attempting to survive in an industry of diminishing returns.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI never wanted to stop creating,\u201d said Crow, during a phone interview Monday, en route from Louisville to a tour stop in Baltimore. \u201cI just felt that being a touring musician was irresponsible for my family. It takes so much time and effort and money.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI had to focus on supporting my family. I have three kids and a wife. And, I needed to get myself in shape in general. I realized I had to stop and I did it right then and there. All I knew was that I had to get my shit together. I had family responsibilities and I was trying not to lose my home. I had to figure out how.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">On a Facebook post, Crow wrote &#8212; The bank was threatening to foreclose on my house.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">I was unhealthy and directionless. I felt terrible, worthless, and ashamed. I couldn\u2019t support my family, let alone release any of the music I felt I was so selfishly creating.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">I was drinking an average of a pint of Jameson and a bottle of red wine every night.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Pinback, as a creative partnership, pretty much dried.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Our family\u2019s plan had always been for me to support us, at least until my wife graduated nursing school, after which we would at least have her job to keep us afloat. Unfortunately, my income was waning faster than it was taking her to finish, and when she did graduate (with honors), it turns out that due to a glut of nursing schools in our area, the actual jobs were few and far between. Meanwhile, I was trying to live the life of an &#8220;artist&#8221;, but everything was falling apart.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Fortunately, things took a turn in a positive direction for Crow and his clan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI worked really hard trying to find a real job,\u201d said Crow, who also had been the frontman for the band Pinback. \u201cMy wife found her job &#8212; but it took over a year to do it. I stopped drinking. I gave up everything at once &#8212; including caffeine. I went on a very strict diet and did 10 miles a day on the elliptical. Now, I run 5K (3.1 milws) every day. And, I\u2019ve lost 100 pounds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI had an album\u2019s worth of material that I had written at home. I sent it to Jeremy (Temporary Residence Ltd. founder Jeremy deVine) and asked if it was viable. He said it was. So, I put a band together, went into the studio and re-did everything.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u2018Now, I\u2019m out on tour with my band &#8212; a full month-long stateside tour. I\u2019ve done six gigs so far. The audiences have been small but enthusiastic. I\u2019m surprised when anybody listens to my stuff. Having people listen to your music is a privilege not a right.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Video link for Rob Crow &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/_qO-S1EULB4\"><span class=\"s2\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/_qO-S1EULB4<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The show at Boot &amp; Saddle, which has Palm as the opening act, will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Patty Larkin will be in the area for a pair of shows this weekend sharing the bill with Jonatha Brooke in both of them. They will perform March 11 at the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.st94.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">www.st94.com<\/span><\/a>) and March 12 at the World Caf\u00e9 Live at the Queen (500 North Market Street, Wilmington, 302- 994-1400,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.queen.worldcafelive.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">www.queen.worldcafelive.com<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Larkin writes and plays folk-urban pop music characterized by her inventive guitar phrasings and uncompromising vocals and lyrics. Larkin comes from a long line of Irish American singers and taletellers. Her mother was a painter and her sisters are both musicians.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The veteran singer-songwriter sang throughout her high school and college career, starting out in coffeehouses in Oregon and San Francisco. Upon graduation from the University of Oregon, she moved to Boston and devoted herself to music &#8212; busking on the streets of Cambridge and studying jazz guitar at Berklee College of Music and with Boston area jazz guitarists.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Larkin has already achieved a number of milestones in her music career. In 2008, she reached double figures with her solo album discography with her album \u201cWatch the Sky\u201d on Vanguard Records.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">In 2010, she celebrated 25 years in the business with an album titled \u201c25\u201d and subtitled \u201c25 Years, 25 Love Songs, 25 Friends\u201d. Her most recent album is \u201cStill Green,\u201d which was released in 2103 on Signature Sounds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThis year, I\u2019ve been working on a new project &#8212; a multi-media project,\u201d said Larkin, during a phone interview Wednesday morning from a tour stop in Maryland. \u201cI did ths performance art piece last summer &#8212; a short video clip. I\u2019ve also been doing some short story writing &#8212; memoirs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI\u2019ve also been recording a bunch of instrumentals &#8212; seeing what shape the songs take &#8212; story songs. The new album will be song-oriented with a couple instrumentals thrown in. Songwriting comes natural to me. I\u2019ll probably be working with Mike Denneen in his Q Division Studio in Boston. Before that, I have a home studio to get a feel for what I\u2019ve got.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">On this mini-tour, fans will be treated to a well-rounded show featuring two of today\u2019s premier singer-songwriters.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI\u2019m looking at a set list that will have songs from all my albums,\u201d said Larkin. \u201cSome of the older songs that I play resonate with me differently now. I still do one song from \u2018Step into the Light,\u2019 my first album from 1985. Also, requests from the audience might push me into playing an old song.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI play electric guitar, acoustic guitar and I get some loops going on electric guitar. Jonatha and I will be doing some songs together &#8212; including a love song called \u2018Only One\u2019 that she sang with me on my \u201825\u2019 album. She\u2019s an exciting performer to co-bill with.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Video link for Patty Larkin &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Zl_DDzmu1qw\"><span class=\"s2\"><b><i>https:\/\/youtu.be\/Zl_DDzmu1qw<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The show at Sellersville on March 11 will start at 8 p.m. with tickets priced at $29.50 and $45. The show at the Queen on March 12 will get underway at 8 p.m. and tickets are $32.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Things will definitely be lively on March 12 at the Sellersville Theater when the venue hosts a show by Roomful of Blues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Rhode Island-based band boasts a recording career that has lasted longer than 40 years and resulted in more than 20 albums. The band has toured worldwide and has treated fans around the world to its unique blend of a variety of music genres including rock and roll, swing, R&amp;B, boogie-woogie, soul and a number of different blues styles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Roomful of Blues has received five Grammy Award nominations and seven Blues Music Awards , including \u201cBlues Band Of The Year\u201d in 2005). The Down Beat International Critics Poll has twice selected Roomful of Blues as \u201cBest Blues Band.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Over the years, more than 50 different musicians have been part of Roomful of Blues\u2019 line-up, including vocalist\/guitarist Duke Robillard, vocalist Lou Ann Barton, keyboardist Junior Brantley and trumpeter Fred Jackson.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Roomful of Blues is currently an eight-piece unit led by guitarist Chris Vachon and long-time tenor and alto sax player Rich Lataille. The other members are Mark Earley (saxophone), Rusty Scott (piano, Hammond B-3 organ), Chris Rivelli (drums), Doug Woolverton (trumpet), John Turner (bass) and\u00a0Phil Pemberton (vocals).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe\u2019re going to do a new album pretty soon,\u201d said Vachon, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from his home in Rhode Island. \u201cWe used to do one every couple years.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Roomful of Blues\u2019 latest album is titled \u201c45 Live.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe recorded the album in 2013,\u201d said Vachon. \u201cIt was our 45th year being together so we decided to do a live record. We did it in Rhode Island at a club called Ocean Mist in Wakefield. We recorded three nights in a row there and there were sell-out crowds every night. It\u2019s our favorite little bar.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe worked there a lot before so we knew it was going to be a good situation. We set up with a control room on the side. We played the same set every night. When it was time to put the album together, I ended up picking stuff from all three shows. There were a lot of people there for every show. It was St. Patrick\u2019s Day weekend so people were really in a party mood.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Not many bands stay together for more than 10-15 years. Very few make it past 25 and passing a 40th anniversary is almost unheard of. Roomful of Blues is less than three years away from its golden anniversary (50 years) but, according to Vachon, there is no great secret to the band\u2019s ability to keep it going.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWhat\u2019s the reason for our longevity &#8212; it\u2019s the music we like to play,\u201d said Vachon. \u201cWe\u2019ve had our ups and downs. Some years we\u2019ve toured more than others. We currently play about 150 shows a year. We used to do more but it\u2019s becoming harder to do weekday dates. Lots of venues aren\u2019t even doing weekday nights.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThe band keeps getting new fans and there are a lot of older people who have been listening to us for years. For young people, their only exposure to us has been at festivals. We play a lot of festivals every year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">With a 48-year history and 20-plus albums from which to draw songs, choosing a set list for a show can be easy and difficult at the same time &#8212; what to play and what to leave out.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe always mix it up,\u201d said Vachon. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of stuff from over the years. We\u2019ve got so many albums, it\u2019s hard to just pull one out. We try to keep some variety there with tempos and beats &#8212; trying to mix it up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWhat I like to do is have a variety of stuff so people aren\u2019t listening to the same beat over and over again. It\u2019s more of a journey instead of 10 shuffles in a row. And, we do a fair amount of covers &#8212; not familiar stuff but rather mostly obscure stuff that no-one knows.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Video for Roomful of Blues &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/9Fb7m4Ilsl8\"><span class=\"s2\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/9Fb7m4Ilsl8<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The show at Sellersville will get underway at 8 p.m. with the Kim Brewer Band as the opening act. Tickets are $25 and $39.50.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Another hot show at Boot &amp; Saddle this weekend will take place on March 12 when the venue on South Broad Street hosts Skylar Gudasz.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Gudasz is touring in support of her debut LP \u201cOleander.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThis is my first full-length,\u201d said Gudasz, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from her home in Durham, North Carolina. \u201cI had a 7-inch in 2014, a digital single and some EPs with Ugly Girls. This feels like my first full-length because it\u2019s solo.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">A native of Ashland, Va., Gudasz started playing flute at age 5. Her brother taught her to play guitar in elementary school, and she began learning piano on her own a few years later. She studied theater and creative writing at the University of North Carolina, and stuck around in Chapel Hill and Durham post-college after connecting with some of the area\u2019s most promising young musicians.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">It didn\u2019t take long for renowned Chapel Hill producer Chris Stamey to be drawn to Gudasz\u2019s distinctiveness as a songwriter. Shortly after his ambitious Big Star Third collective began playing, Stamey brought Gudasz aboard &#8212; introducing her to a cast that included Big Star drummer Jody Stephens, R.E.M.\u2019s Mike Mills and the Posies\u2019 Ken Stringfellow.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI recorded \u2018Oleander\u2019 with Chris Stamey at his Modern Recording Studio in Chapel Hill and with Mitch Easter at Fidelitorium in Turnersville, North Carolina,\u201d said Gudasz.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI had some songs that I didn\u2019t feel I could play with my rock band (Ugly Girls). I made some demos with Chris and he said we should make a record out of them. I also had some older songs from 2012. All the songs that start with \u2018I\u2019 are the newer ones.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI just tried to keep writing songs. I write on guitar and keyboards. I feel more at home on piano. I\u2019ve played piano when I was younger. I also had classical training on flue when I was young.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cI\u2019ve written songs my whole life. I was a theater student and a creative writing student when I was in college. I graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2009. There\u2019s a great music scene in the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill) and I got into it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cAfter I did the Big Star tour, I wanted to start a new musical project. Now, I have a five-piece band with a drummer, a guitarist, a bass player and an organist\/guitarist. I play guitar and keyboards and sing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThis will be my first time to play Philadelphia. I\u2019m looking forward to it because I come from a Quaker family. My dad went to the University of Pennsylvania.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Video link for Skylar Gudasz &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/Lekuvamm7Bs\"><span class=\"s2\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/Lekuvamm7Bs<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The show at Boot &amp; Saddle, which also features Mount Moriah, will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">This seems to be the week that music acts from Toronto are destined to play the Philly area. On March 15, Metric, a Canadian indie-rock band, will play a show at Fillmore Philadelphia.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Metric got its start in Toronto in 1998 when vocalist Emily Haines and guitarist Jimmy Shaw crossed paths. The band\u2019 lineup now includes, Joshua Winstead (bass, synthesizers, backing vocals), Joules Scott-Key (drums, percussion), Haines (lead vocals, synthesizers, guitar, tambourine, harmonica, piano) and Shaw (guitar, synthesizers, theremin, backing vocals).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Metric has released five albums with 2009\u2019s \u201cFantasies\u201d and 2012\u2019s \u201cSynthetica\u201d winning Juno Awards for \u201cBest Alternative Album.\u201d Metric\u2019s new album \u201cPagans in Vegas\u201d was released in September 2015 on Metric Music International.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe recorded most of the album in 2014 and kind of wrapped up in March 2015,\u201d said Shaw, during a recent phone interview from his home in Toronto. \u201cWe cut most of it in our own studio in Toronto and did a little at a studio in New York owned by Adam from the Beastie Boys.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cWe used a ton of analog gear. We recorded a lot to ProTools and we also recorded a lot to tape. It\u2019s a throwback to the 80s English sound &#8212; bands like the Cure and Depeche Mode. I grew up with a lot of synth-pop stuff &#8212; and I was raised classically.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThere weren\u2019t a whole lot of Canadian bands when I was growing up. I was raised on classical music. That\u2019s what I listened to as a kid.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The making of \u201cPagans in Vegas\u201d didn\u2019t go quite as Shaw and his mates planned.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThe album came out in September in the U.S. and in Canada,\u201d said Shaw. \u201cIt was a strange turn of events. We were almost finished the album and we got invited to tour with Imagine Dragons. It wasn\u2019t the healthiest of things for us because we had to get the record together faster than usual &#8212; and get the show together. It wasn\u2019t an advantage. We also had another record that we recorded on the road. By the time we got off that tour, we were exhausted &#8212; and prepping for the release of the \u2018Pagans in Vegas\u2019 album.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Now, the members of Metric are refreshed, revitalized and ready to rock.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cIn our live show, we\u2019ll probably be playing a fair amount of songs from the \u2018Pagans in Vegas\u2019 album,\u201d said Shaw. \u201cWe\u2019re six albums deep. At this point, whatever album we just did becomes part of our repertoire. We don\u2019t necessarily like to tour just an album.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s5\">Video link for Metric &#8212; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/XnJKGwOA2vI\"><span class=\"s6\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/XnJKGwOA2vI<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The show at Fillmore Philadelphia, which also features Joywave, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $26.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org\/\"><span class=\"s2\">http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/span><\/a>) will present Better Than Bacon on March 10, Raymond the Amish Comic on March 11, Lucy Kaplansky and Geri Smith on March 12,<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Bathing Suit, Charis Latshaw, Hanna Paige, and Lily Albright on March 13 and<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Ben Caplan, Chris Ferron and Brad McNemar of Jive Sons of Turkey on March 14.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/span><\/a>) will host Femme Brulee on March 10, No Good Sister and Caleb Hawley on March 11 and Jacob Snider, Chelsea Sue Allen and Dave Spencer on March 12.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/chaplinslive.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\"><b><i>http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/a>) will have The Walkabouts, Sky\u2019s Edge and Blanko Dave on March 11 and Pisces Party with Sliding Delta on March 12.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.ardmoremusic.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">www.ardmoremusic.com<\/span><\/a>) will present Quanticr, Xenia Rubinos and Worldtown SoundSystem on March 10, Robert Randolph and The Family Band and Nik Greeley &amp; The Operators on March 11, Control for Smilers (Phish Tribute), Aqueous and\u00a0 Dale and the ZDubs on March 12, AM Radio on March 13 and The Druids and Galway Guild on March 15.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Doc Watson\u2019s Public House (150 North Pottstown Pike, Exton, 610-524-2424, <a href=\"http:\/\/docwatsonspublichouse.com\/\"><span class=\"s3\">docwatsonspublichouse.com<\/span><\/a>) will present the Tommy Froelich Trio on March 12.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Burlap &amp; Bean Coffeehouse (204 South Newtown Street Road, Newtown Square, 484-427-4547,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.burlapandbean.com\/\"><span class=\"s2\">www.burlapandbean.com<\/span><\/a>) will present Diana Jones and Rod Picott on March 10, Christine Havrilla &amp; Gypsy Fuzz with Colin McGetrick on March 11and JD Malone with Zak Trojano on March 12.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware,\u00a0302- 475-2313,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org\/\"><span class=\"s2\">www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org<\/span><\/a>) will open a new show this weekend. \u201cThe Secret Garden\u201d will debut on March 12 and run through April 24.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Chieftains come to Philadelphia to mark the holiday By Denny Dyroff,\u00a0Staff Writer, The Times The middle of March is when St. Patrick\u2019s Day festivities fill the calendar every year. And, St. Patty\u2019s Day activities in the area always include concerts by bands that perform Celtic music. The pattern hold true this year with Enter [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6740,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,8],"tags":[4062,206,4061],"class_list":["post-6748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-entertainment","category-featured","tag-delaware-valley","tag-music","tag-performance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6748","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=6748"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6748\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6752,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6748\/revisions\/6752"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/downingtowntimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}