On Stage Part II: Live music is back

With Pope Francis safely out of town, stages are full of shows today and this week

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times

The live music scene in the Philadelphia area went into limbo last weekend when Pope Francis and his horde of faithful followers took over the city.

It bounced back in a big way with a full schedule of live shows at venues all around the area on the weekend of October 3-5 and the opening of a major new venue — Fillmore Philadelphia.

Even Sunday night, which is traditionally a slow night on the entertainment calendar, has a full slate of attractive shows including performances by David Berkeley, Defeater, Loudpvck and the Danielle Nicole Band.

Berkeley, who will play on October 4 at the Tin Angel (20 South Second Street, Philadelphia, 215-928-0770, http://www.tinangel.com), has just released a new album “Cardboard Boat”  along with a novella titled “The Free Brontosaurus,” which Berkeley wrote to accompany “Cardboard Boat.”

“I first did a book/CD combination ‘140 Goats and a Guitar’ four years ago,” said Berkeley, during a phone interview last week from his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. “”I was more of a memoir and a set-up for my album ‘Some Kind of Cure.’ I did talks and workshops as well as a tour.

“Later, I realized the real way to do this kind of project was as a fiction rather than a memoir. Part of what I was feeling with the memoir was that it was all about me and my world. I had just become a father.”

“Colored Birds” is told from the perspective of Suzie, the main character from “Freezer Drawer,” a story from the novella. It’s a story about a single mom struggling to hold it all together, feeling nostalgia for the time when she was the child and her mother was taking care of her. Each song on “Cardboard Boat” is sung from perspective of the main characters that appear in the 10 interwoven stories from the novella.

“All the stories weave together,” said Berkeley, who has released six albums beginning with his debut album ‘The Confluence’ in 2002. “The characters meet in other songs.

“I wanted to write about characters that weren’t as fortunate as others. I was living in Chicago for a while and met a lot of strange people. I wove together a world of vignettes about these people who weren’t comfortable in their shoes. They were people who were just off enough that they’re a little wacky — not quite normal.

“I saw this piece of art — a brontosaurus — on the lawn of one of my neighbors. This guy fell into that category. So did the girl I’d see in the market who was always talking to herself. It started with guys like these.

“I’m intrigues by the other side. The cool thing about this project is that I was able to give these characters a song. Getting a way to sing for them is a way to empathize with these characters. But, none of the songs are based on a single person. Usually, it’s a combination of two or three.

“The big difference between the songs and the stories is that with stories, I could keep writing forever. I can’t do that with songs. With a song, you have to lock into a story line early on.

“I started recording the album last April. I’d been working on the book for over three years. The book wasn’t entirely done when I started making the album. I’ve been editing the book and rewriting the book as I go along.”

At the Tin Angel, Berkeley’s fans will get a chance to hear some of both the book and the music. “For my live show, I have musicians with me — usually just two or three,” said Berkeley. “At the shows, I’ll read from the first story and then play the songs that come out form that. But, I don’t do the stories in the same order as they are in the book.”

Video link for David Berkeley — https://youtu.be/XVmzwPnlrN0.

The show the Tin Angel, which features Adrien Reju as the opener, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15. The club will also host Sharon Shannon with John Byrne on October 7.

Defeater, which plays Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215-232-2100, www.utphilly.com) on October 4, is also a musical act that has a literary feel to its music. The hardcore band from Massachusetts, is touring in support of its new album “Abandoned,” which was just released on August 28 on Epitaph Records.

The band doesn’t write songs so much as it writes histories — specifically the history of a never-named New Jersey family whose already troubled lives disintegrate into torment.

The story is rendered all the more tragic for the depth and detail of singer Derek Archambault’s lyrics. “Abandoned” was written and recorded in a welcome period of relief in Archambault’s life, after he’d finally received a life-changing surgery that repaired severe hip damage he suffered in an injury.

For years, chronic pain had been constricting his life, interfering with Defeater’s performances and tours. Archambault’s surgery, he says, allowed him to redouble his connection with his own writing, leaving him clear to truly inhabit what he calls his own Glass family — after the famous J.D. Salinger characters.

“I started writing it in October 2014,” said Archambault, during a recent phone interview from a tour stop in Houston. “We tracked it from December to February. Every record is planned our before we start working on it.

“I try to leave the meaning of the story up to people’s imaginations. It transcends punk and hardcore. It is a relatable story for everyman. I want people to get what they can from the story.

“When I first plan it out, it’s a loose storyline. It’s not hard for me to be in the minds of the characters. But, I’m such a revisionist. I have it down one way and then change it up in the studio. I still write the music on punk loud guitars.”

Fortunately, Archambault is well on his way back from the hip injury.

“I’m almost 100 per cent recovered,” said Archambault. “I didn’t take any pain meds to deal with the pain from the injury. I was in a messed -up place. Chronic pain affected my whole personality. I was a miserable SOB for two years. I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t sit. It was living hell.”

According to Archambault, the pain his characters feel comes from pain he’s witnessed or experienced, and the unexplainable event that triggers the story of “Abandoned” — the action of a higher power or just chance. It deals with his main character’s agonizing relationship with that higher power.

Defeater, which features Jay Maas (guitar, backing vocals), Jake Woodruff  (guitar),  Mike Poulin (bass), Joe Longobardi (drums) and Archambault (lead vocals), is energized by its first album in two years and ready to hit the road.

“It feels really good to be back with the band and to be able to deal with everything,” said Archambault. “We have a three-week tour of America, three weeks at home and then we’re off to Europe for another tour. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

Video link for Defeater — https://youtu.be/4KshMoGC6Y0?list=PLcZMZxR9uxC_bltbdHuMwSK7ByLMsglIc.

The show at Union Transfer, which starts at 7 p.m., also features Four Year Strong, Superheaven and Elder Brother. Tickets are $20.

Other upcoming shows at Union Transfer are The Growlers, The Babe Rainbow and DJ Johnny Basil (October 5), Autechre, cygnus and Rob Hall (October 6) and Lucero (October 7).

Another musician who has had to deal with serious health issues will be bringing his band to town this week. On October 7, Beauty Pill will headline a show at Boot and Saddle (1131 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215-639-4528, www.bootandsaddlephilly.com).

Beauty Pill is a Washington, DC-based, semi-electronic band led by producer, singer, songwriter, and guitarist Chad Clark. The band includes Basla Andolun, Jean Cook, Drew Doucette and Devin Ocampo.

After several critically-acclaimed records, Beauty Pill amicably parted ways with Dischord Records in 2014. The band is back now with a new album on Buuterscotch Records — “Beauty Pill Describes Things As They Are.”

The  excitement  surrounding  the  return  of  Beauty  Pill is not just because of the densely-constructed and deeply-felt music found on the new album but also because Clark is healthy and able to continue creating music.

In 2007, Clark was stricken with viral cardiomyopathy, a rare condition resulting from a virus invading and inflaming the heart. In 2008, he underwent two open heart surgeries that saved his life.

“I have a heart condition that came from a virus,” said Clark, during a phone interview last week from his home in D.C. “So, there are no super-long drives when we are on tour. We just set up short tours when we go out.

“A few years ago, a virus went to my heart. Usually, it is fatal because the heart has very few defenses against viruses. I had a couple surgeries that saved my life. I’m grateful just to be alive. I still want to tour but I have to do it safely. The doctors told me to make sane decisions. I feel great — especially when we’re playing.”

The band now is doing is mini-tours in support of the well-received “Beauty Pill Describes Things As They Are” album.

“My health condition was definitely one of the themes of the album,” said Clark. “The struggle — mortality looms over the record. It’s fine that they see my reality. I don’t think that it’s a gloomy record. There is only one song that directly addresses my experience.

“Most of the things we know about mortality are already well documented in literature. Life is short. You need to try to live life understanding how short it is — and how precious it is. Death is threaded through the songs in a less direct way.”

Beauty Pill is a vehicle for Clark’s songs.

“I do all the writing for the band,” said Clark. “My band mates all have their own projects in addition to Beauty Pill but the line-up has stayed steady. I really value my band mates but, at its core, the band is my vision.

Video link for Beauty Pill — https://youtu.be/0GENOl4sbiE.

The show at Boot and Saddle will start at 8:15 p.m. with Scott Churchman and Clique as the opening acts. Tickets are $12 in advance and $14 at the door.

Other shows this week at Boot and Saddle are Ought, LVL UP and Littler on October 5, and Pure Bathing Culture and Wild Ones (October 6).

On October 7, The Fire (412 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, 267-671-9298, thefirephilly.com) will present a show by Martin Bisi — a multi-talented musician who has a reputation as a top-flight performer, engineer, recording artist and record producer.

There are some musicians who have made indelible marks in the history book of rock music even though they have remained primarily in the background — talented musicians who have also become masters of the recording studio as producers and engineers.

Some of the world-acclaimed musicians who top the list in this category are Brian Eno (Roxy Music, David Byrne, U2, Robert Fripp) and Bill Laswell (Material, Herbie Hancock, Mick Jagger, Ornette Coleman). Bisi is right up there with them  — and he has worked with both.

In the recording studio, Bisi has worked with an amazing range of artists — from Iggy Pop, The Ramones and White Zombie to John Zorn, Herbie Hancock and Sonic Youth. He also produced the Dresden Dolls and has worked frequently with Dresden Dolls drummer Brian Viglione.

Bisi is also a solo rock artist who performs live and occasionally releases an album. The New York-based musician released his first album “Creole Mass” in 1988 and followed with “All Will Be Won” (1992),” See Ya In Tiajuana” EP (1994), “Dear Papi I’m In Jail” EP (1996), “Milkyway Of Love (1999), “Sirens Of The Apocalypse” (2008), “Son Of A Gun” EP (2010) and “Ex Nihilo” (2014).

Next up for Bisi is a new album called “Solstice.”

“’Solstice’ is coming along slower than I expected — but faster than a typical record for me,” said Bisi, during a phone interview last week from his home in New York. “The EP ‘Son of a Gun’ was intended to be fast and collaborative. In ‘Ex Nihilo,’ there are songs that are pretty worked out and strung together.

“My personal music has changed a lot over the years. From a practical standpoint, the older stuff is so off-target from what I’m doing now. There was ethical and spiritual stuff on ‘Creole Mass.’ Then, there was garage stuff in the 90s and indie pop stuff after that. That music was concise. Now, my music is darker — almost like a soundtrack.”

“‘Ex Nihilo’ was recorded over a period of time — from 2010-2013. The song ‘Fine Line’ was the genesis of that album. It was written with the Dresden Dolls’ Brian Viglione in mind. The rest of the album is very different. I even have a professional opera singer — Amanda White — singing on the album.

“For my next album, I fell into this concept that seems so obvious to me. It will feel like a follow-up to ‘Ex Nihilo.’ I’m going to call it ‘Solstice’ and base each side on a solstice — a path of a year.

“‘Solstice’ is more like song ideas — taking good song ideas and not developing them into a structure. Structure can be formulaic and tedious. ‘Solstice’ is really a suite. Each side will be six or seven segments — waves that come in and out. It’s definitely very ambient and like my live sets when I go between moody-and-eclectic and cathartic-and-aggressive.

“The album has ambient bits with layers and droning interspersed with weird, jarring sounds. It’s calm but it could be unsettling at any moment. And, there is a lot of operatic singing. It’s odd — but it works in there. It’s dramatic in a way similar to opera.

“It’s going to be somewhat operatic with post-punk noise underneath — rhythm and voice and a lot of weird sounds. And, I want it on vinyl. Vinyl is round and looks like a planet — and it has two sides. One side will be winter and the other side will be summer.

“My live show is still stuff mostly from ‘Ex Nihilo.’ I feel like I finally have a perfect set. It took me this long to completely nail it.”

Video link for Martin Bisi — https://youtu.be/lDY780y13wc.

The show at The Fire, which will get underway at 8 p.m., also features Invisible Things, Eddy Sids of Grandchildren and Big Plastic Finger. Tickets are $8.

Other shows this week at The Fire are Jail Solidarity, Clean Girls, Girl Dog and Humanshapes on October 4, Sydney Eloise, Night Windows and Upperfields on October 5, and Cowmuddy, Chelsea Sue Allen and Vilebread on October 6.

On October 4, The Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) will host “Open Mic with Sam Kwietniak.”

Chaplin’s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110, http://chaplinslive.com)  will also host an “Open Mic Night” on October 4 while Melodies Café (2 East Ardmore Avenue, Ardmore, 610-645-5269, www.melodiescafe.com) will host an “Open Mic Night” on October 6.

The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389, www.ardmoremusic.com) will host a “Jam for Sam Benefit” on October 4 and present a twin bill featuring Naughty Professor and Out of the Beardspace on October 7.

The Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650, www.keswicktheatre.com) presents Patty Griffin with Darlingside as the opening act on October 7.

The American Music Theatre (2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, 800-0 648-4102, www.AMTshows.com) will present Under the Streetlamp on October 5 and Inspire on October 6.

The Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com) will present Flamin’ Harry & The Roadhouse Rockers & Skyla Burrell Band on October 6.