Artist: The Groove Merchants
Album: Take It (LISTEN)
Released: Aug. 9, 2016
Genre: Blues/Funk/Rock
Need New Year’s Eve plans? Ring in 2017 with The Groove Merchants at The Hamilton Kitchen beginning at 9 p.m. Details here.
The Groove Merchants have gained a reputation for their big sound, funky rhythms, and stellar musicianship. They deliver on all of those points on their recent full-length effort, “Take It.”
Photo credit: WildAdriatic.com.
Back in March, when Lehigh Valley Underground was but a young, eager music blog, I ventured to Philadelphia to see our friends, The Wayside Shakeup. They were performing that night at Milkboy, opening for Animal Years and headliner Wild Adriatic.
Dana Gaynor is one of our music scene’s true icons and veterans. She’s won awards, and has played and toured with world-renowned artists.
All of Dana’s influences and experiences seem to come together splendidly on her band’s latest release, “Power to the People,” a seamless 14-track journey through the lands of blues, funk, country, and rock and roll.
Dana’s guitar work on “Power to the People” is, as expected, magnificent. A particular highlight is “In the Land of Fool’s Gold,” which features two well-crafted solos. Things get grittier on “Road to Oblivion,” which is complemented nicely with a fun groove in the rhythm section.
One thing to note about “Power to the People” is versatility. “Frenchman’s Wife” draws its main influence from country, while “Ghost Train” showcases the band’s blues side. Meanwhile, the album’s title track brings out the funk as Gaynor cries out for mankind to stand together and find unity in the world’s madness.
By crossing so many different styles and appealing to so many different tastes, Dana Gaynor makes it possible to find that unity, not only through her lyrics, but through a thoughtful album that offers something for everyone.
Standout tracks: “In the Land of Fool’s Gold,” “Power to the People”
Blues fans were treated to a matinee of epic proportions on Sunday afternoon when The Friar’s Point Band teamed with Thirteen Butterflies Productions to pay a 50th anniversary tribute to the John Mayall & the Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton album at Allentown Masonic Temple.
The afternoon was headlined by a full recreation of the album, and also featured The Friar’s Point Band joined onstage by a who’s who list of local blues and soul musicians throughout the day. These musicians included Craig Thatcher; Wade Leonard; Don Plowman; Dana Gaynor; Charlie Brown; Jenn McCracken; Mike Dugan; Mike Guldin; Johnny T; Karl Frick; Bob Hogan; Don Hoffman; The Beano Horns; and the Lesson Center Kids. The afternoon was hosted by Glenn “Mitch” Mitchell from 99.9 FM The Hawk and A.J. Fritz of 91.3 FM WLVR.
Each featured musician skillfully performed a few selections — covers or originals — with The Friar’s Point Band before switching things up for their contemporaries, giving the afternoon a true blues jam feel.
A couple videos of this terrific day exist on our Facebook page. Join us for a better (more hi-res) look at the photos below.
The cameras are revved up – can you rev up a camera? – for another great week of shows here in the Lehigh Valley! A weekly showcase returns on Thursday, and the possibilities are limitless all weekend with these…
Thurs., Sept. 15 | 7 p.m.
Julius and Carefree Constant at the Originals Music Series
Venue: Chicago Restaurant’s Club Gravity, 1179 Airport Road, Allentown
Admission: FREE
Description: Our bread-and-butter gig returns for the fall, presented by the Fyre & Ice Show.
Fri., Sept. 16 | 6 p.m.
We Have Ghosts, Kate Dressed Up & Kyle Gischel
Venue: Coffeehouse Without Limits, 707 N. 4th St., Allentown
Admission: $5
Description: Two Philly bands join a local singer-songwriter for a diverse night of live music.
Sat., Sept. 17 | 10 a.m.
Blue Jean
Venue: Easton Farmers Market, Center Sq., Easton
Admission: FREE
Description: Enjoy some fresh produce, as well as acoustic covers and originals with your morning coffee.
Sat., Sept. 17 | 3:30 p.m.
The Bastard Sons of Burt Sugarman
Venue: Weyerbacher Brewing, 905 Line St., Easton
Admission: FREE
Description: Keep it in Easton as Mike Roi, Carter Lansing, Pentley Holmes, and Shane Reimer perform solo acoustic versions of their songs and tell the stories behind them.
Sun., Sept. 18 | 2 p.m.
Tribute to 50 Years: John Mayall & the Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton
Venue: Allentown Masonic Temple, 1524 W. Linden St., Allentown
Admission: $15
Description: Friar’s Point Band and special guests pay tribute to the British Blues Invasion of 1966.
The second weekend of Musikfest 2016 is now upon us.
Although we’re sad that the ‘Fest is winding down for another year, there’s still an entire weekend’s worth of memories and awesome performances still to come. Have some variety today on us!
The Philadelphia German Brass Band | 12 p.m.
Stage: Wells Fargo Festplatz (North)
Description: How about some Musikfest-traditional polka on your lunch break? That is, if you went to work at all today…
Crushed Out | 3 p.m.
Stage: Volksplatz (North)
Description: Blues rock from Brooklyn highlights your afternoon.
Wild Planes | 5 & 7 p.m.
Stage: Provident Bank Main Street (North)
Description: Fly with some funk and soul from New York City.
Jessi Lee Ross | 7 p.m.
Stage: Martin Guitar Lyrikplatz at Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas
Description: An intimate acoustic performance from a local artist. Speaking of local artists…
Sabrina Carpenter | 7:30 p.m.
Stage: Sands Steel Stage (South)
Description: Pretty cool that one of eastern PA’s own is headlining Musikfest on a Friday night, isn’t it?
There’s more where that came from! Check in with DustinSchoof.com every morning throughout Musikfest for a full free stage lineup!
Artist: Elwood James Band
Album: Forgetting the Sound EP (LISTEN)
Released: Nov. 16, 2015
Genre: Rock ‘n Roll/Blues
Elwood James Band comes to us from nearby Bucks County with “Forgetting the Sound,” a five-track EP that showcases a little bit of everything the band does best.
Whether you’re a fan of blues or rock and roll, there’s something for you here. The opening track – and album’s namesake – kicks things off with crisp harmonies and a British Invasion vibe, which are married together with modern pop rock sensibilities. Another straightforward rocker, the mid-tempo “Soulful Look,” is driven forth by keys and crisp vocal harmonies.
As mentioned, Elwood James Band isn’t afraid to get bluesy on “Forgetting the Sound.” “Riding the Storm” features a rhythm section that slightly resembles Ted Nugent’s “Stranglehold,” while being driven forward by down and dirty guitars and a striking keyboard melody. Album closer “Black Cherry” also features drums and bass that set a bluesy tone, before becoming more progressive with an intense instrumental break about halfway through the tune.
With “Forgetting the Sound,” Elwood James Band has a collection of songs that has the potential to appeal to our Valley’s masses. For sure, these tracks would hold up well alongside SteelStacks’ usual Saturday night lineup.
Track listing:
Forgetting the Sound
Riding the Storm
Alabama
Soulful Look
Black Cherry
Scott Marshall has a deep and very real appreciation and respect for the United States military. This can be heard in the songs he sings, and can be seen on full display on days like today.
To commemorate Memorial Day, Marshall and his band Marshall’s Highway performed on Mayfair’s Liberty Stage at Allentown Fairgrounds. Hundreds of friends and fans came out on what turned out to be a gorgeous Memorial Day to hear two-plus hours of music, as well as thoughts from Marshall, saxophonist Glenn Hofmann, and local guest of honor John Cramsey, who shared stories and letters to honor the nation’s veterans and to remember those who never returned from war.
Marshall’s Highway made Memorial Day 2016 one to remember. Now, this great day will forever be immortalized in photos on Lehigh Valley Underground!
Memorial Day Weekend will soon be upon us! The unofficial start of summer brings with it increasing opportunities to check out the wild musical world around us.
Fri., May 27 | 7:30 p.m.
Dana Gaynor at Mayfair Festival of the Arts
Venue: 601 Hamilton St., Allentown
Admission: $6 advance, $8 at the door (free for children under 10 and U.S. military veterans)
Description: Dana Gaynor and her blues band headline Mayfair’s Discovery Stage on the festival’s first night.
Sat., May 28 | 8 p.m.
Julius at the West Coplay Maennerchor
Venue: 3326 N Ruch St., Whitehall
Admission: FREE
Description: Julius receives full band support to blow the roof off of the club. Membership is not necessary to attend.
Mon., May 30 | 12:30 p.m.
Scott Marshall & Marshall’s Highway at Mayfair Festival of the Arts
Venue: Allentown Fairgrounds
Description: Scott Marshall and his eponymous band cap a big holiday weekend with a performance for the troops, to be followed by a ceremony in their honor.
On Wednesday night, we were back at the Musikfest Cafe on the third floor of the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks. This time, it was to experience RiverJazz through the sounds of multi-time Grammy winner and six-decade music veteran, Delbert McClinton.
McClinton, who was supported by an outstanding opening set from singer-songwriter Brian Dunne, took the stage with his band to play their patented uplifting blues rock in front of a packed house.
