Tag Archives: Jewel

Review: Megan Knight – Self-titled

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Artist: Megan Knight
Album: Self-Titled (BUY)
Released: Dec. 7, 2015
Genre: Country/Rock

The marriage of country and rock has become increasingly popularized in recent years. This trend is brought out in full force on Megan Knight’s self-titled effort, which successfully straddles a line between the two genres.

Knight’s powerhouse vocals render her capable of doing great things in either genre. This much is apparent right off the bat on up-tempo album opener, “Go Home.” Meanwhile, tracks like “Half of a Man” and “How to Say This” have a definitive rock flair, with the former showcasing pointed, angry vocals from Knight, and the latter featuring a bit of power balladry and an opening riff that recalls Bon Jovi’s “Thank You for Loving Me.”

The shining moment, however, is the Jewel cover, “Who Will Save Your Soul,” which closes out the album with a bang. Knight’s vocal chops are again present here, as she expertly nails the essence of this folk rock classic with her own flair.

Track listing:
Go Home
Fall for Two
Half of a Man
A Lifetime’s Not Long Enough
Time Machine
How to Say This
Subconsciously Attached
Desperate for Acceptance
Everything You Said
In Case You Cared
Who Will Save Your Soul

Review: JD & the Straight Shot at Sands Bethlehem Event Center

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On Friday night, Jewel’s Bethlehem stop on her “Picking Up the Pieces” tour was kicked off by JD & the Straight Shot, who are on the road with the Alaska native in support of their new album, “Ballyhoo.”

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JD & the Straight Shot’s Jim Dolan welcomed thousands to Sands Bethlehem Event Center on Friday night.

The six-piece Americana band came to Sands Bethlehem Event Center to perform a 45-minute, all-acoustic set of selections mostly off of the new album. Frontman Jim Dolan was particularly welcoming with a confident, calm charisma in front of a near-sellout crowd. As a whole, the band was in sync for the entirety of its set, marked by crisp vocal harmonies and well-balanced, skillful instrumentation.

Highlights included the new album’s title track, whose instrumental buildup – marked by Erin Slaver’s epic fiddle work – translated well live and left the audience in awe. Also, the jazz rhythms and duet-style harmonies of “Better Find a Church” carried well through the venue and showcased Dolan and Slaver’s onstage chemistry. Staying on vocals, the band’s soaring four-part harmony on “Nature’s Way” provided another magical moment, especially for the trained ears in the audience.

JD & the Straight Shot heads with Jewel to Atlantic City tonight, before heading back north to Boston to round out the weekend. We wish them well in their travels, and hope they’ll visit the Lehigh Valley again soon!

Setlist:
Empty
Violet’s Song
Glide
Perdition
Nature’s Way
Don’t Waste My Time
Better Find a Church
Ballyhoo
Let it Roll (Little Feat cover)

Can’t-Miss Shows of the Week: Apr. 11-17

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We get our MoJo back and much, much more this week!

It’s a big week at Lehigh Valley Underground. Not only are we coming off of an insane lineup of great shows from last week, but we’re going to keep the momentum moving right along. From free shows to big tickets, it is our duty this and every Monday to bring you the…

Can’t-Miss Shows of the Week!

Thurs., Apr. 14 | 7 p.m.
The Originals Music Series
Venue: Chicago Restaurant, 1179 Airport Road, Allentown
Admission: FREE
Description: It’s singer-songwriter night with Adam Jacob, Jonny Cornelius and MoJo.

Fri., Apr. 15 | 6 p.m.
Jewel “Picking Up the Pieces” Tour with special guest, JD & the Straight Shot
Venue: Sands Bethlehem Event Center, 77 Sands Blvd., Bethlehem
Admission: $35-65
Description: Find out what the “Ballyhoo” is about as JD & the Straight Shot joins international star Jewel on tour.

Sat., Apr. 16 | 10:30 p.m.
Soundtrack Comes Alive: This Way to the Egress in front of Reefer Madness
Venue: ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem
Admission: $15/$13 student/$12.50 ArtsQuest member
Description: One of the Lehigh Valley’s most revered (and unique) bands plays in front of this cult propaganda film from the 1930s.

Review: JD & the Straight Shot – Ballyhoo

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Artist: JD & the Straight Shot
Album: Ballyhoo (LISTEN)
Released: Jan. 15, 2016
Genre: Americana

When JD & the Straight Shot comes to the Sands Bethlehem Event Center this Friday to open for Jewel, they’ll surely play selections from their latest release, “Ballyhoo.”

If that’s the case, those in attendance at Friday night’s show are in for a treat.

The 11-track, all-acoustic offering is JD & the Straight Shot at their stripped-down best. Mirroring the band’s typical acoustic songwriting process, the record features poignant stories told in frontman Jim Dolan’s baritone voice, rich vocal harmonies, and a variety of influences spread across music history.

Album highlights include the title track of “Ballyhoo,” where Dolan takes a carnival barker approach to remind us that each of us has a “freak” inside. The song also features a blazing, fiddle-driven instrumental break that picks up in tempo and intensity, showcasing violinist Erin Slaver at her very best on the album.

Slaver also adds important accents on “Hard to Find,” an old-time waltz that laments unwelcome winds of change brought on by love and life. Another unique moment is the uplifting “Glide.” Bright and with a bluegrassy feel, its lyrics approach life with a childlike enthusiasm and sense of boundless wonder.

For any fan of storytelling roots rock, “Ballyhoo” is a must-have. The album will give you a greater look inside the human condition, while leaving you in awe of its musical sophistication.

Track listing:
1. Empty
2. Better Find a Church
3. Under That Hood
4. Perdition
5. Glide
6. Nature’s Way
7. Don’t Waste My Time
8. Ballyhoo
9. Hard to Find
10. Here He Comes
11. I’ll See You Again