Tag Archives: Easton

PHOTOS: Soundscapes with Shawn Cav and Dan DeChellis at Pearly Baker’s

Posted on by Leave a comment

Thursday night brought me to Easton, where I would visit Pearly Baker’s for the first time. It was a nice first visit to Pearly’s; a mellow evening, accented wonderfully by the musical efforts of Shawn Cav and Dan DeChellis.

Each artist had a chance to showcase his mastery to the Pearly Baker’s crowd. Cav’s work on guitar and bass impressively defied genre, while DeChellis’ captivating work on keys filled the room with a plethora of sounds. Together, the duo created lush atmospheric, improvisational grooves to keep music lovers engaged and guessing what might come next.

This laid back evening of great talent and tunes made me want to return to Pearly Baker’s. Fortunately, I’ll have that chance on Saturday for another Shawn Cav band, the Acoustic Bite Trio.

Until then, enjoy a few photos courtesy of LVU!

 

Help Roi & the Secret People Win $5,000

Posted on by One comment

UPDATE (6/24): Roi & the Secret People’s video for “Phoenix” has made the Final Four. Help them reach the finals!

We’ve heard it all before. Plenty of local bands could do truly awesome things if they “only had the money.”

Well, you have the opportunity to help Easton’s Roi & the Secret People do some of those truly awesome things — and all it will take is a few minutes of your time.

The band’s video for “Phoenix” has outlasted thousands of other videos to make it to the Final 8 of the latest MusicBrackets.com music video competition. Now, they need your help to win the contest and secure $5,000, which will go to support the band’s endeavors.

All you have to do is head over there, sign up for free, and vote for “Phoenix” when it pops up. Yep, that’s it. In doing so, you’ll be exposed to tons more great indie artists and their music. Bonus!

And, just to entice you even more, you can watch the band’s video for “Phoenix” below.

Can’t-Miss Shows of the Week: June 20-26

Posted on by Leave a comment

The Originals Music Series… is taking the week off.

On that note, you might think that we’d be lost without our bread and butter. However, there’s plenty more going on in and around the Valley to keep us occupied this week. Explore your region or take a field trip with this week’s..

Can’t-Miss Shows of the Week!

Mon., June 20 | 7:30 p.m.
Sleep at Union Transfer
Venue: Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia
Admission: $25
Description: Start your week with a field trip to Philly to see Sleep, with special guests Windhand.

Tues., June 21 | 5 p.m.
3 Pill Morning
Venue: Gin Mill & Grille, 1750 Main St., Northampton
Admission: $10
Description: Minneapolis-based melodic hard rockers come to the Lehigh Valley to perform tracks off of their upcoming release, “Never Look Back.”

Sat., June 25 | 12 p.m.
The Stoop’s Summer Starter Pack
Venue: The Stoop, 1953 West Township Line Road, Blue Bell
Admission: $10
Description: A day of great music and fun awaits with Mage Hand, Kingfisher, Stay at Home Dad, Forest Ranger, Wetbrain, Chalmers, Bandit, Yung Boi Movement, and Haz Lo Correcto

Sat. June 25 | 7 p.m.
Roi & the Secret People and Acoustic Kitty Project
Venue: Rivals Sports Bar & Restaurant, 5 Lehns Ct., Easton
Admission: FREE
Description: The mongrels from Dog St. are meeting up with the cats from the Project in Easton’s hottest alley.

PHOTOS: A Night of Improvisation with The Now

Posted on by Leave a comment

Improvisational musicianship always impresses me, whether it is found in jazz or showcased through a number of other genres. On Thursday, The Now brought its one-of-a-kind improvisational act to the stage at Rivals Easton, ensuring an impressive night to remember for all.

The way The Now moved so seamlessly from idea to idea speaks to each member’s individual ability, as well as the cohesion of the band as a unit. The foursome, comprised of Dan DeChellis, John SanFillipo, Shawn Cav, and Carter Lansing, utilized their music to put the arts on full display, inviting interpretive dancers to accompany them. In addition, a video loop played on screens throughout the venue to add a visual component to the performance.

Now, we add our “visual component.” Enjoy our photos from this intriguing night.

 

Can’t-Miss Shows of the Week: June 6-12

Posted on by Leave a comment

Decisions, decisions…

There are a lot of great shows in the Lehigh Valley (and a bit beyond) this week. While we can’t possibly go wrong no matter what we choose, it has left us with some tough choices as we figure out our own schedule for Thursday and Friday. So, you get to share our (good) problem of having multiple excellent entertainment options. We present you with the…

Can’t-Miss Shows of the Week!

Thurs., June 9 | 7 p.m.
Acoustic singer-songwriter night at The Originals Music Series
Venue: Chicago Restaurant, 1179 Airport Road, Allentown
Admission: FREE
Description: Crossroads Duo and Adam Jacob highlight this stripped-down night at the weekly showcase.

Thurs., June 9 | 9 p.m.
A Night of Improvisation with The Now
Venue: Rivals Sports Bar, 5 Lehns Ct., Easton
Admission: FREE
Description: The Lehigh Valley’s improvised music group receives support from live dancers and a video display for an intriguing evening of performance art.

Fri., June 10 | 7 p.m.
Slingshot Dakota Hometown Album Release Show (w/ Summer Scouts and VoirVoir)
Venue: ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem
Admission: $10 advance; $12 door
Description: The nationally-known, Lehigh Valley-raised duo returns home to celebrate the release of its new album, “Break.”

Fri., June 10 | 8 p.m.
Lauren Marsh (w/ Giada J. and Lullanas)
Venue: Hard Rock Café, 1113-31 Market St., Philadelphia
Admission: $10 advance; $12 door
Description: The Jersey native with Lehigh Valley ties will perform tracks from her red-hot indie pop EP, “Veracity.”

LVU Wants to Know: Where Do You Want a New Venue?

Posted on by Leave a comment

We’re not suggesting anything with that image. We swear…

With our ever-growing music community producing more talent than perhaps ever before, the demand for venues – particularly, those which support original music – has increased in recent years.

Of course, this demand has been met by the emergence of hot spots in certain pockets of the Valley. SteelStacks has dominated the music scene in Bethlehem over the past five years, while the South Side also boasts mainstays Godfrey Daniels and The Funhouse. Meanwhile, Allentown’s resurgence and Easton’s emerging presence have, respectively, provided more local, original acts with places to play. There is always room to grow, however, especially as the list of talented artists in our area continues to do the same.

Of course, there is always speculation about turning Bethlehem’s Boyd Theatre into a live music venue. While we’re still on board with that being a great idea – think of the foot traffic! – we don’t own the place, and we realize that there are other areas of the Valley where bands and the community at large would also benefit from an increased presence of live music venues.

So… tell us where you are, why it would make a great place for a new venue, and what kind of music it should support. Or, in your opinion, is our scene fine as it is? Either way, we want to know what you think!

LVU Wants to Know: What Upcoming Shows Have You Excited?

Posted on by Leave a comment

With the unofficial start of summer just days away, the music scene here in the Lehigh Valley (and anywhere else with a music scene) is making like the temperature and heating up. We’re lucky enough to live in a place where, virtually any night of the week, you can find great live music from local talent.

There is always much to look forward to in the prime time of the year, but we want to know: Which shows in particular have caught your eye?

Perhaps you’re looking forward to your favorite Musikfest headliner. Or, if you’re like us, you want to show the love to our local artists, who keep this scene going year-round. Whatever your tastes, there’s bound to be something for everybody — and we want to know what dates are on your radar!

A couple that are upcoming for us? Well, in addition to our Can’t-Miss Shows of the Week (hello, Mayfair), we’re really looking forward to Slingshot Dakota’s Hometown Record Release Show at SteelStacks on Friday, June 10. Also, we can’t wait to mix it up with Scott Marshall, Pinnacle, Valdez and a host of other local music folks at The Originals Music Series’ Musicians Social on Thursday, June 16. LVU plans to be in attendance for both of those — and many more!

It’s your turn to tell us. What’s most exciting to you as a local music lover?

What’s ‘Poppin?’ A New Stage for School of Rock!

Posted on by Leave a comment

School of Rock Lehigh Valley is looking to give its students a better, more portable stage experience… and they’re selling popcorn to reach their goal!

The school, with locations in Easton and Allentown, has its eyes on purchasing an Intellistage 12’x16′ Portable Stage System which it says will “give (students) a better stage experience, and provide much better visibility when (they) play to larger crowds.”

To meet this goal, a Popcorn Palace fundraiser has been started by the School of Rock. Supporters can choose from twelve different popcorn flavors, from the somewhat-traditional white cheddar and kettle corn, to flavors like “Fruit Rainbow” and “Cookies & Dream.” Popcorn can be purchased in a jar, a “value bag”, or a two-gallon tin.

If its $9,000 goal is reached, this innovative – some might say delicious – fundraiser will help the School of Rock bring its shows anywhere, including to venues with little other staging than ground or pavement. The staging unit will find its permanent home between both School of Rock locations.

For more information on School of Rock Lehigh Valley, visit its Allentown and Easton locations on the web.

Can’t-Miss Shows of the Week: May 2-8

Posted on by Leave a comment

JazzFest continues, while local favorites make their presence felt.

Allentown JazzFest is just getting warmed up! Expect plenty more coverage here on Lehigh Valley Underground throughout the week as we take you to different venues with an array of different artists.

Naturally, a few of those shows are listed below. We also have others for folks of different tastes. To us, they’re all, without a doubt, the…

Can’t-Miss Shows of the Week!

Mon., May 2 | 7:30 p.m.
Adam Niewood Quartet (AJF 2016)
Venue: Allentown BrewWorks, 812 W. Hamilton St., Allentown
Admission: $20
Description: Niewood and his band will play selections from his latest effort, “Homage: Niewood Plays Niewood,” in honor of his late father, Gerry.

Wed., May 4 | 7:30 p.m.
Steve Coleman and Five Elements (AJF 2016)
Venue: Miller Symphony Hall, 23 N. 6th St., Allentown
Admission: $30 general; $50 VIP
Description: World-renowned saxophonist and MacArthur Fellow Steve Coleman performs at JazzFest.

Thurs., May 5 | 8 p.m.
Lucy Woodward (AJF 2016)
Venue: The Renaissance Ballroom, 12 N. 7th St., Allentown
Admission: $30 general; $47 VIP
Description: Acclaimed London-born singer-songwriter Lucy Woodward makes her Lehigh Valley debut.

Fri., May 6 | 5:30 p.m.
The Bastard Sons Ride Again
Venue: Weyerbacher Brewery, 905 Line St., Easton
Admission: FREE
Description: Come to Easton after work for songs and musings from Carter Lansing, Bryson Kay, Werner Sommer, and Mike Roi.

Fri., May 6 | 9 p.m.
The Groove Merchants
Venue: The Hamilton Kitchen, 645 W. Hamilton St., Allentown
Admission: FREE
Description: Shoot over to Allentown later on for a great night of excellent food, drinks, and Groove.

Sat., May 7 | 5 p.m.
JazzFest at Noches de Ritmo (AJF 2016)
Venue: West Park, 15th and Linden Sts., Allentown
Admission: FREE
Description: Hector Rosado’s Orq HACHE kicks things off, and the Jeff “Tain” Watts Quartet keeps it going.

Sat., May 8 | 5 p.m.
Jazz at Billy’s: The Bryan Tuk Complex (AJF 2016)
Venue: Billy’s Downtown Diner, 840 W. Hamilton St., Allentown
Admission: FREE
Description: Allentown JazzFest 2016 concludes with a show from the festival’s Executive Director and his ensemble, plus special guests.

Sunday Thought Series: The #UndergroundSwell Grows

Posted on by Leave a comment

In three months…

…and we’re just getting warmed up!

When I first hatched the idea for Lehigh Valley Underground, I did it because I believed in the talent and passion of our music community. I knew that our original music scene was on the verge of exploding, and it just needed some unifying forces to make the people aware of everything happening in their backyards.

We have a lot of work still to do. However, I must say that, in three months, I’m impressed with and inspired by how far we’ve come together.

Through Lehigh Valley Underground, artists have become aware of opportunities to perform and have their music heard by local and worldwide audiences. Lesser-known venues have received some much-needed and deserved spotlight. There was always a strong arts community here in the Lehigh Valley, but I would like to think that LVU has made it just a little bit closer-knit. So far, so good – we’re adhering to our mission, and we have big ideas to make this resource even better in the months to come.

Of course, it all starts with the beginning of another week. A new episode of The Quinn Spinn will hit sometime tomorrow and you’ll hear about the week’s Can’t-Miss Shows. In those two instances alone, you’re guaranteed to learn something you didn’t know before.

This isn’t any ordinary week, though. Allentown JazzFest kicks off Friday night with Al Chez & the Brothers of Funk. As an official media partner of the festival, you can be sure that we’ll be at that show and many others over the course of ten days.

Thank you for joining us as our #UndergroundSwell continues to grow. Stick with us, because the best is yet to come!

« Older Entries Recent Entries »