{"id":12068,"date":"2015-12-10T11:10:21","date_gmt":"2015-12-10T16:10:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/?p=12068"},"modified":"2015-12-10T17:02:13","modified_gmt":"2015-12-10T22:02:13","slug":"on-stage-the-nutcracker-ushers-in-holiday-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/?p=12068","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: The Nutcracker ushers in holiday season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Also: Jethro Tull co-founder brings his band to area<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By Denny Dyroff,<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Staff Writer, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Nutcracker_Image\"<\/a>The Pennsylvania Ballet\u2019s annual production of \u201cGeorge Balanchine\u2019s The Nutcracker\u201d is one of the most cherished\u2014and longest running\u2014family holiday traditions for families in the region. For many, a visit to Philadelphia to enjoy the lavish presentation by the world-famous Pennsylvania Ballet is a integral part of the holiday season.<\/span><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s production, which is running December 11-31 at the Academy of Music (Broad and Locust streets, Philadelphia, 215-893-1999, www.paballet.org<\/span><\/a>), is the 47<\/span>th<\/sup><\/span> annual staging of the classic ballet. The ballet is based on E.T.A. Hoffman\u2019s tale \u201cThe Nutcracker and The Mouse King\u201d and set to a score by Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky.<\/span><\/p>\n

Featuring lively dances, colorful costumes and elaborate sets, \u201cThe Nutcracker\u201d is a production that appeals to audiences of all ages. The original version of the timeless classic was first presented in Saint Petersburg, Russia in 1892.<\/span><\/p>\n

This season, there is a new man at the helm of the Pennsylvania Ballet\u2014artistic director Angel Corella. Born in Madrid, Spain, Corella joined American Ballet Theatre in 1995 and was quickly promoted to principal dancer. In his 17-year career with ABT, he established himself as one of the greatest male dancers of his time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Corella has also appeared as a guest artist with the Royal Ballet in London, the Kirov Ballet in Russia, and New York City Ballet. From 2008-2014, he served as director for his own company, the Barcelona Ballet.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI was here last year during (Nutcracker) rehearsals but I had to go back to Spain to retire,\u201d said Corella, during a recent phone interview. \u201cI was already artistic director but I couldn\u2019t be full-time until January 1.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBallet is full-time\u2014for me and for the dancers. The challenge is to keep it fresh. The energy and dynamic of the company is changing. It\u2019s very exciting now. With \u2018The Nutcracker,\u2019 it might be the first time for audience members so dancers have to go onstage like it\u2019s the first time. It\u2019s very important that the theatrical part of the show is there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Balanchine\u2019s choreography plays a major role in the Pennsylvania Ballet\u2019s annual production of \u201cThe Nutcracker.\u201d The company has been doing both acts by Balanchine for the last 28 years.<\/span><\/p>\n

George Balanchine, who was named Giorgi Balanchivadze when he was born in Russia in 1904, was one of the last century\u2019s most celebrated choreographers. He was a primary developer of ballet in the United States in his position as co-founder and ballet master of New York City Ballet. Balanchine created his version of \u201cThe Nutcracker\u201d for the New York City Ballet in 1955.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Pennsylvania Ballet\u2019s production of the ballet features over 100 performers and has an annual audience attendance of over 50,000. The company\u2019s production is big, colorful and elaborate. And, it is staged in one of the most beautiful performance halls in the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

The version of \u201cThe Nutcracker\u201d performed by the Pennsylvania Ballet features everything audiences associate with the timeless ballet\u2014a cast of 19<\/span>th<\/sup><\/span>-century families celebrating Christmas Eve, a little girl\u2019s dream of her Nutcracker Prince, the Prince\u2019s toy soldiers battling a fleet of mice led by the Mouse King and the crowd-pleasing second act of dances in the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRight now, we\u2019re still doing Balanchine\u2019s \u2018Nutcracker\u2019 because it works,\u201d said Corella. \u201cIt has nice choreography. A good way to change it is to have a different approach. When I danced, the approach would be different every night. I think every dancer can make it special and different every day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have five principals doing \u2018Sugar Plum\u2019\u2014same but different. How a dancer\u2019s body reacts to the music\u2014even a dancer\u2019s height\u2014can make a difference. We have some new dancers\u2014especially three very talented apprentices. It should be very exciting.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

One thing that never changes is the audiences\u2019 love for \u201cThe Nutcracker.\u201d It is a spectacular production that turns everyone\u2014adults, children and seniors\u2014into wide-eyed kids.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole process makes it feel like it\u2019s Christmas,\u201d said Corella. \u201cThere is hot chocolate. It\u2019s snowing outside. The whole family is there and time seems to stop. It goes back to a certain place and time that everyone seems to recognize\u2014being able to re-connect and share.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Pennsylvania Ballet\u2019s \u201cGeorge Balanchine\u2019s The Nutcracker\u201d\u2014https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6j4HATkhrSY<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Performances are scheduled for December 11 at 7 p.m., December 12 at 2 and 7 p.m., December 13 at noon and 5 p.m., December 17 at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., December 18 at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., December 19 at 2 and 7 p.m., December 20 at noon and 5 p.m., December 22 at 2 and 7 p.m., December 23 at 2 and 7 p.m., December 24 at noon, December 26 at 2 and 7 p.m., December 27 at noon and 5 p.m., December 29 at 2 and 7 p.m., December 30 at 2 and 7 p.m. and\u00a0 December 31 at noon. Ticket prices range from $35 -$150.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"martin<\/a>

Martin Barre<\/p><\/div>\n

If you\u2019re a fan of classic rock, you\u2019re most likely a fan of Jethro Tull. And, if you\u2019re a fan of\u00a0 Jethro Tull, you most likely have spent many hours listening to the guitar work of Martin Barre.<\/span><\/p>\n

From 1968 until 2014, Barre and Jethro Tull vocalist\/flautist Ian Anderson formed the core of Jethro Tull. Then, Anderson pulled the plug on Jethro Tull. Now, there are two bands playing Tull music and their own music\u2014the Martin Barre Band and the Ian Anderson Band.<\/span><\/p>\n

Barre has had his band together for a few years and has recorded several albums. Finally, Barre and his crew have crossed the Atlantic for a North American tour\u2014a tour that will bring them to the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808,\u00a0www.st94.com<\/span><\/a>) on December 10.<\/span><\/p>\n

The tour is billed as \u201cJethro Tull\u2019s Martin Barre Band\u2014An Evening of Blues-Rock-Tull.\u201d The band includes Dan Crisp (vocals\/acoustic\/bouzouki), George Lindsay (drums), Richard Beesley (horns), Alan Thomson (bass) and Barre (guitar).<\/span><\/p>\n

Barre has released three albums in the past few years\u2014\u201cMartin Barre\u201d (2012), \u201cAway With Words\u201d (2013) and \u201cBack to Steel\u201d (2015).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe finished making \u2018Back to Steel\u2019 in November,\u201d said Barre, during a phone interview Tuesday morning. \u201cThe longest session for me was doing the lyrics. I spent well over a month working on the lyrics.\u00a0 I actually spent a lot of time on every aspect of the album – even on the art.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTraditionally, I\u2019ve written instrumentals\u2014four-piece band originals. I wanted songs that were direct so there were very little lyrics. In the eight previous solo albums I\u2019ve done, there were only a few songs with lyrics.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFirst of all, the music has to be there. That\u2019s the most important thing. Because I\u2019m not a singer, it\u2019s a challenge to write lyrics. I wrote many, many versions of songs with lyrics until I got them right.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had my live band on the road for four years but this is our first time to tour America. I still do a lot of old Tull songs but in a way that\u2019s more bluesy and rock. I love music to be very broad in scope. Blues is the backbone of rock.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But, there is more to Barre\u2019s music than just blues-rock tunes and different renditions of Jethro Tull classics. He is a world-class guitarist who knows how to explore the instrument\u2019s wide range.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI like melody,\u201d said Barre. \u201cI like dynamics. I like space. Blues is open to that. Space is important. I don\u2019t want there to always be an onslaught of notes. Dynamics make everything work.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSongwriting is a pleasure for me. It\u2019s never a chore. I love arranging. I play guitar every day and come up with things that might develop into a song. Because I\u2019m a late starter with solo work, I\u2019m like a youngster in songwriting terms.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to numerous Jethro Tull albums, has performed or recorded with many other distinguished artists, including Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Gary Moore, Joe Bonamassa and Chris Thompson. He has shared a stage with such legends as Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though Barre had worked on a few solo projects over the last 40 years, most of the time was devoted to being one of the musical mainstays of Jethro Tull. But, that ended suddenly when Anderson opted to follow a different road.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe end of Jethro Tull\u2014I didn\u2019t see it coming,\u201d said Barre. \u201cIt was a difficult time for me. It took me about six months to sort out what I need to be doing. Now, I\u2019m so happy. I have a great band and it\u2019s going great. I\u2019m very happy now.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPeople who see our band play get a great Tull experience. I feel like I\u2019m carrying the tradition.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Martin Barre\u2014https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CBWWkqxGMEQ<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Sellersville will start at 8 p.m. with Joe Deninzon & Randy McStine as the opening act. Tickets are $29 and $39.50.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming acts at the Sellersville Theatre are Depue Brothers Band on December 11, Phil Keaggy with Trevor Gordon Hall on December 12, Claire Lynch Band on December 13 and Whiskeyhickon Boys with Chestnut Grove on December 16.<\/span><\/p>\n

One very popular rock music genre is metal\u2014often referred to as heavy metal. But, \u201cmetal\u201d hardly describes the vastness of the genre as evidenced by the outrageous number of sub-genres.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"12219531_10153651495377324_6665055489802721132_n\"<\/a>The lengthy list includes Black Metal, Death Metal, Speed Metal, Progressive Metal, Doom Metal, Thrash Metal, Metalcore, Industrial Metal, Stoner Metal, Grindcore, Celtic Metal, Avante Metal, Punk Metal, Christian Metal, Goth Metal, Symphonic Metal, Power Metal and Glam Metal. There is even Christian Metal\u2014and Post-Metal.<\/span><\/p>\n

The \u201cComa Ecliptic Tour III,\u201d a metal tour that touches down at the Theatre of the Living Arts (334 South Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1011, http:\/\/www.lnphilly.com<\/span><\/a>) on December 13, features a variety of metal acts including Between The Buried And Me, Intronaut, Enslaved and Native Construct.<\/span><\/p>\n

Between the Buried and Me is billed as an American progressive metal band. On its Facebook page, Intronaut refers to itself as a post-prog metal band. Native Construct is described by its record label\u2014Metal Blade Records\u2014as a progressive metal band. On its Facebook page, Enslaved identifies itself as a Norwegian extreme metal band.<\/span><\/p>\n

Taken altogether, it means that this four-act bill will feature plenty of loud, intense metal music that is far from being run-of-the-mill metal with speed guitar, aggressive drumming and screamed vocals.<\/span><\/p>\n

Intronaut was formed in Los Angeles in 2004 as a prog-metal quartet. Only one line-up change has happened since then and the foursome of Sacha Dunable (guitar, vocals), Dave Timnick (guitar, vocals, tabla, percussion), Danny Walker (drums, samples) and Joe Lester (bass) has been together for almost a decade already.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI came into the band in early 2007,\u201d said Timnick, during a phone interview Wednesday en route from Atlanta to Toronto. \u2018I\u2019ve been with the band for four albums. I\u2019ve know Joe since we were in grade school when we were growing up in L.A.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe became friends in sixth grade and started playing music together. After high school, we went our separate ways. He went to college in Santa Cruz to study jazz and I stayed in L.A. I was playing drums back then.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAfter college, Joe came back to L.A. and hooked up with Sacha to form Intronaut. When their guitar player left, they called me. Joe said that it would be great for me because they weren\u2019t looking for a shredder and being a shredder wasn\u2019t what I was all about.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Timnick switched back to guitar\u2014but didn\u2019t completely abandon his drum set.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had to learn to focus on guitar playing\u2014along with singing and writing,\u201d said Timnick. \u201cBut, on the song \u2018Valley of Smoke,\u2019 me and Danny played full drum sets and we had two bass players.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cValley of Smoke\u201d is the title track of the band\u2019s third album which came out in 2010. Intronaut has released five albums, four of which are on Century Media\u2014\u201cPrehistoricisms\u201d (2008), \u201cValley of Smoke,\u201d \u201cHabitual Levitations (Instilling Words with Tones)\u201d (2013)\u00a0 and\u00a0 \u201cThe Direction of Last Things\u201d (2015).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded \u2018The Direction of Last Things\u2019 in April,\u201d said Timnick. \u201cWe tracked the whole record in four days.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Timnick also talked about genres and labels.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor all intents and purposes, we are a metal band. But, they way we think about music is definitely not metal. It has heavy riffs and screams but we\u2019re not concerned with keeping it contained to just metal. For us, we don\u2019t think about genres.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re more melodic than most metal bands because we\u2019re influenced by music that is not metal in any way. We\u2019re more concerned about crafting songs\u2014more melodic and more song-oriented.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOn this tour, we only have a 30-minute so we\u2019re just playing four songs from the new album. It definitely presents a different kind of challenge\u2014but we\u2019re no strangers to 30-minute sets with all the tours we\u2019ve done as an opening act.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Intronaut\u2014https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Ujb4E7oEZq0<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

As one of the tour\u2019s other opening acts, Native Construct\u2014Myles Yang, Robert Edens, Max Harchik, Kee Poh Hock\u2014also has to be satisfied with a short set this time around.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a 25-minute set on this tour,\u201d said Yang, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. \u201cIt\u2019s a little hard. We\u2019re only doing four songs with no space in between. It\u2019s a very dense set.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been together since 2011 but we didn\u2019t start doing live gigs until earlier this year. Our first two was in August\u2014a headlining tour of clubs on the East Coast. This is just our second tour and it\u2019s a much bigger tour because we\u2018re just an opening act.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great introduction to a whole new group of people who had never heard of us. We\u2019ve been getting a lot of positive feedback from new listeners. But, I\u2019m sure some of the real hardcore metal fans don\u2019t appreciate our eclecticism.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Native Construct started as a collaboration between several students at Berklee College of Music in Boston. The band has a wide array of influences ranging from classical to musical theatre\u2014with a lot of prog-metal stops along the way. The music features extended-range guitars, theatrical vocals and a variety of symphonic instrumentation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI usually describe our music as prog-metal or prog-rock,\u201d said Yang. \u201cEarly on, my influences were mostly metal and prog-rock. Later on, I started getting into classical music\u2014and also musical theater. I see them now as core components of our music.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Native Construct\u2019s just recently released its debut album \u201cQuiet World\u201d on Metal Blade Records.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe started record \u2018Quiet World\u2019 in late 2011 and finished it earlier this year,\u201d said Yang. \u201cIt was a pretty lengthy process because we were still in school and we just worked on it when we had time between our studies. It took a long time but that\u2019s all right because we wanted to make sure we did it right. We did some of it at the recording studios at Berklee but mostly it was done in our apartments. Even though it took a long time, it wasn\u2019t hard to keep consistency between the songs because of the way we structured the compositions. It was very thematic. We always came back to unifying elements.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Native Construct\u2014https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=v99dHD9oWfU&feature=player_detailpage<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at the Theatre of the Living Arts will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other shows at the TLA over the next week will be The Acacia Strain, Counterparts, Fit for an Autopsy, Kublai Khan, Proletariat, Left To Vanish on December 11 and Kevin Devine, Brianna Collins & Ben Walsh, Jesse Lacey, Matthew Caws, Meredith Graves, Mike Kinsella, Cymbals Eat Guitars on December 12.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Chamomile<\/a>

Chamomile and Whiskey<\/p><\/div>\n

Band names and their origins can be interesting stories. Three young rock bands that are heading to town this weekend all chose their names in widely different ways\u2014a literary reference, a recipe for an improvised alcoholic drink and a random finger pointing on the page of an atlas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chamomile and Whiskey, which is performing on December 10 at the Fire (412 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, 267-671-9298, thefirephilly.com<\/span><\/a>), took its name from the combination of two popular beverages.<\/span><\/p>\n

The band, which lists its genre as \u201cRock, Folk, Americana, Gypsy, Celtic, Roots\u201d features Marie Borman (Fiddle\/Vocals), Koda Kerl (Guitar\/Vocals), Lavin (Banjo\/Vocals), Brenning Greenfield ( Drums\/Washboard) and Tim Deibler (Upright Bass).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been together about five years now,\u201d said Kerl, during a phone interview Tuesday as the band travelled north to a show in Washington, D.C. \u201cMarie and I had been touring as a duo and as part f other projects. We had toured all over the state playing small clubs and coffee houses. We got back to Charlottesville (VA) and decided to put a band together.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRight away, we got Lavin and Brenning and they\u2019re still with the band. We\u2019ve gone through a number of bass players. But, everyone who has played with us is still a part of the family. We\u2019ll bring everyone in to record or for a special show.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In the band\u2019s embryonic stage, Kerl and Borman were contemplating how to proceed\u2014and the name came to them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Marie and I decided to start the band, we were sitting around at her place talking about it,\u201d said Kerl. \u201cShe had made chamomile tea with lemon and honey and I had a bottle of Evan Williams (Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSo, we put the two together. It made a nice drink\u2014and it gave us our name. If you\u2019re going to make the drink, you need the lemon and the honey. Whiskey and chamomile tea without lemon and honey is a bit too much.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Chamomile and Whiskey has released two albums on County Wide Records and has toured extensively up and down the east coast.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe last record we made\u2014every song we had played live for at least a year,\u201d said Kern. \u201cWe road-tested all the songs. For our next one, about half the songs will be road-tested and the other half not. We started working on our next record last night and we\u2019re hoping to have it out in late spring. The songs are all awritten but maybe we\u2019ll still get a few more.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur last album\u2014\u2018Wandering Boots\u2019\u2014came out in the middle of 2013 so we\u2019re anxious to get new material out. We like all the songs we\u2019ve been playing for a long time but they don\u2019t have the extra excitement of a new song. The new record will be more rock-based\u2014more written in a rock format.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the years, Chamomile and Whiskey developed into a fan favorite because of its intense and highly energetic live shows\u2014sort of like Americana on steroids.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of time, we have people who have never heard us play live and, when they come to our show, they are surprised at how rock it is,\u201d said Kern, whose band has just acoustic instruments such as fiddle, banjo, guitar and string bass. \u201cIt\u2019s more whiskey than chamomile.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Chamomile and Whiskey\u2014https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XmzuLWfECIY<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at The Fire is scheduled to get underway at 8 p.m. with opening acts Old Arrows and Hunter\u2019s Cannon. Tickets are $8.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming acts at The Fire are Dares, Northern Liberties and Pig Pen (December 11), Bridge Underwater, Mamma Hankton, Assemble and Socko (December 12),<\/span><\/p>\n

Geena and Joyel Crawford (December 15) and A Major Triad, L.A.W., Seagrave and Landstryder (December 16).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"the-yawpers-rock\"<\/a>

The Yawpers<\/p><\/div>\n

The Yawpers, who will perform on December 10 at MilkBoy Philly (1100 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, 215- 925-6455, www.milkboyphilly.com<\/span><\/a>), are a three-piece band from Denver. They also rock hard while playing acoustic instruments.<\/span><\/p>\n

The band features Nate Cook on lead vocals and guitar, Jesse Parmet on slide guitar and harmonies, and Noah Shomberg on drums. The Yawpers had a self-released album called \u201cCapon Crusade\u201d in 2012 and then\u00a0 released its major label debut \u201cAmerican Man\u201d earlier this year on Bloodshot Records.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI had a residency as a solo artist in Boulder,\u201d said Cook, during a phone interview Tuesday from a tour stop in Long Island. \u201cJesse and I had been in bands together prior to that. So, we started playing together again.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Yawpers came into existence at the end of 2011. Since then, we\u2019ve had four members who are no longer in the band. This incarnation has been together for two years. The music has progressed from a folk sound to a more progressive punk-influenced sound. But, we\u2019re still all acoustic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At the SXSW Festival in Austin, Bloodshot Records heard a set by the Yawpers and was so impressed that it immediately offered the band a recording contract.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMost of the songs on \u2018American Man\u2019 had been around for quite awhile,\u201d said Cook. \u201cThat allowed us to record live in the studio. We knew it would be our first real foray into the national consciousness. So, it was important to be honest. We record the whole album analog and almost everything on the record was the second or third take.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn our live show, we\u2019re doing mostly songs from \u2018American Man\u2019\u2014probably 80 per cent. But, we still do an occasional old song or a cover. The songs are always in flux. I do all the songwriting. And, I came up with the name for the band.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The band got its name from Verse 52 of a poem by Walt Whitman called \u201cSong of Myself\u201d\u2014\u201cI too am not a bit tamed\u2014I too am untranslatable; I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c I\u2019m a huge Walt Whitman fan,\u201d said Cook, who was delighted to learn that Philadelphia had a bridge named the \u201cWalt Whitman Bridge\u201d and that there was a Walt Whitman House Museum in nearby Camden, New Jersey.<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for the Yawpers\u2014https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ReIZ7tS8PXM<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The show at Milkboy Philly will start at 8 p.m. with opening act Morning River Band. Tickets are $12 at the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at Milkboy are Mount Holly and Darby (December 11),\u00a0 Sounds To Visions (Art & Music) with Schooly D featuring\u00a0 Sarah Kane, Eric Horwitz, and Cookie Rabinowitz\u00a0 (December 12) and Darlingside along with Reed Kendall (December 16).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"des<\/a>

Des Ark<\/p><\/div>\n

Des Ark, which plays at Everybody Hits Philadelphia (529 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-769-7500 http:\/\/everybodyhitsphila.com<\/span><\/a>) on December 11, is basically the musical vehicle for singer-songwriter-guitarist Aim\u00e9e Argote.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the band\u2019s Facebook page, she offers this explanation\u2014this band is: always aim\u00e9e argote, mostly taylor holenbeck, often catherine edgerton, sometimes jesse kees, nathan wilder, occasionally sean mcguinness, for one great tour johnny ward, was noah howard, ashley arnwine, pygmy lush. 1,000,000 drummers & counting.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the only original member,\u201d said Argote, durimg a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. \u201cIt was sort of that way by design. I really felt I needed an outlet for my songs and to have the creative freedom to go wherever I wanted to go\u2014lyrically and musically. Some people have been around for one show and some for years.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith this band, it\u2019s hard because audiences might never get what they expect. Ultimately, what I would like to give to people that something that is dynamic\u2014very live and in-the-moment. That keeps me engaged.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis band has always been messy live\u2014and that\u2019s by design. Right now, it\u2019s a four-piece\u2014not as loud as we have been and not as quiet as we have been. Our latest record exists in the middle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That record is \u201cEverything Dies,\u201d which is out on LP, CD and digitally via\u00a0Graveface Records.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe recording process started in 2013,\u201d said Argote, an Arkansas native who lived in Philadelphia from 2010-2012. \u201cSongwriting is a different process for me. The songs get delivered to me. It\u2019s like when you\u2019re getting a cold. The first symptoms arrive and then the cold hits you full. That\u2019s how songs come to me.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt took me two years to finish making the new album. I recorded in seven different studios with a lot of different musicians — whoever was around.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSome of the quieter songs I\u2019d build piece-by-piece starting with a guitar line. But, doing the whole album that way would have taken a really long time — too long. So, I went to where the musicians were — mainly Austin, Texas and Richmond, Virginia. Then, I remixed it in Atlanta with Andy LeMaster,\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Argote explained the origin of the band\u2019s name.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t have a band name,\u201d said Argote. \u201cSo, stuck my finger on a map in an atlas and came up with Des Ark. It\u2019s a town in Arkansas — but I misspelled it. It actually is Des Arc, Arkansas. But, it\u2019s good because this way there won\u2019t be confusion if you Google the name.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Des Ark — https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=gAfb-62fDeU<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Des Ark show at Everybody Hits Philadelphia has a starting time of 8:30 p.m. with Thin Lips and Shannen Moser as the openers. Tickets are $10.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"everything<\/a>

Everything Ever<\/p><\/div>\n

A healthy serving of fresh New York punk music will be the featured item on the musical menu when Everything Ever plays a show on December 13 at the Milhouse (15<\/span>th<\/sup><\/span> and Ellsworth streets, Philadelphia, https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/events\/548899201929239\/<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe band has two official members — myself and guitarist Andrew Paladino,\u201d said bassist\/vocalist John Trotta, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. \u201cHe and I have been best friends since we were in third grade together at St, Claire\u2019s elementary school in Staten Island.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe started making music together when we were in seventh grade and then went to high school together in Staten Island. Now, I still live in Staten Island and Dino lives in Manhattan. I like Staten Island a lot. It\u2019s still a place where real New Yorkers live.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Trotta acknowledges that the band has had a lot of influences but none as big as the first one.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur biggest influence was Blink 182,\u201d said Trotta. \u201cWe grew up listening to them. The first songs we learned to play were blink 182 songs. Actually, Dino was first inspired to play guitar after we went to our first Blink 182 concert.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve also been influenced by ands like Green Day and My Chemical Romance. But, we listen to a lot of different music. When we were younger, we were pretty much limited to what we were exposed to on TV.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen, my uncle got me into Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Dino\u2019s dad is a jazz musician so Dino is pretty familiar with jazz. As we both got older, we got into punk — punk and New Wave. Now, I listen to a lot more punk.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The guitarist and bassist make a big sound for just two musicians.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe were a three-piece for a long time,\u201d said Trotta. \u201cThen, we had to part ways with our drummer. Now, Dino and I are the only full-time members. We have touring members who play drums and we even have a studio drummer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe writing is mostly done by Dino. He comes up with the song skeletons and structures — and the lyrics. Then, he brings it to me and I help work out the music.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2014, the band signed with Brooklyn\/Rochester, NY-based label Secret Audio Club. The duo released its debut album \u201cSolid Ground\u201d earlier this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded the album in Weehawkin, New Jersey,\u201d said Trotta.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s pretty long for a punk — 12 songs and 40 minutes. \u2018We\u2019re going to start working on a new EP son. We\u2019ll do it live in the studio.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for Everything Ever — https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=xv4Sa_2eGco<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

The Everything Ever show at the Milhouse, which starts at 8 p.m., has four opening acts — The Blithedale Romance, Uncle\/Father Oscar, Weird and Wonderful Words and Sister City. Tickets are a $5 donation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nalani & Sarina, one of the best acts to hit the East Coast circuit this year, will close out their 2015 schedule with two performances — the last of which will be singing the National Anthem at the New Jersey Devils\u2019 NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks on December 19 at the Prudential Center in Newark.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prior to that, the talented twin sisters will perform at show with a focus on their latest EP \u201cScattered World\u201d at the Triumph Brewing (400 Union Square Drive, New Hope, 215-862-8300, www.triumphbrewing.com\/new-hope<\/span><\/a>) on December 12. Show time is 10 p.m. and tickets are $5.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/span><\/a>) will have its Third Annual Hometown Holiday Show on December 11 with Billy Penn Burger, Todd Chappelle, Lori Citro and Jessica Graae. On December 12, the venue will host \u201cMojo Stu Blue Christmas — A Benefit for KidPHIT\u201d and then close out the weekend on December 13 with a concert featuring Johnny Neel and Melissa Alesi.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com<\/span><\/a>) will host Joe Kenney and Elle Gyandoh on December 10 and Joe Crookston & The Bluebird Jubille on December 11.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chaplin\u2019s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110,\u00a0http:\/\/chaplinslive.com<\/span><\/a>) will have Peter Evans and Drew Nugent on December 11 and \u201cTrespass – The Music of Genesis\u201d on December 12.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com<\/span><\/a>) will host a \u201cSuperjam\u201d on December 12 presented by Tone Wheel Music Group. The band will feature Natalie Cressman and Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), Michelangelo Carubba \u00ad and Craig Brodhead (Turkuaz), Steveland Swatkins (Allen Stone\/Juno What?!), Dave Livolsi (Jazz is Dead), Danny Mayer (Alan Evans Trio\/On The Spot Trio) and Justin Henricks \u00ad( Beau Sasser\u2019s Escape Plan).<\/span><\/p>\n

The venue will also host Delta Rae with Penny and Sparrow on December 10, and<\/span><\/p>\n

Box of Rain (’68-’74 Dead tribute) and The Wallace Brothers Band on December 11.<\/span><\/p>\n

Burlap & Bean Coffeehouse (204 South Newtown Street Road, Newtown Square, 484-427-4547,\u00a0www.burlapandbean.com<\/span><\/a>) will present Ethan Pierce and Chelsea Allen on December 12.<\/span><\/p>\n

Melodies Caf\u00e9 (2 East Ardmore Avenue, Ardmore, 610-645-5269, www.melodiescafe.com<\/span><\/a>) will host \u201cCardinal Arms presents: The\u00a0 \u201cSongs for Filip\u201d Benefit Show\u201d on December\u00a0 11 and Mind\u2019s Eye Society, Tim Madden and Evan Scheerer on December 12.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/span><\/a>) presents Kenny G on December 10, Matisyahu on December 11, and Todd Rudgren on December 13.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Upstairs Stage at World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, philly.worldcafelive.com<\/span><\/a>) will feature Cas Haley and Collin Hauser (December 10), Bird\u2019s Eye Trio: Jen Curtis, Ayane Kozasa & Paul Wiancko (December 11), Evan Dando\u00a0 (of The Lemonheads) (December 11), Martha Davis And The Motels and Eddie Japan (December 12), You Do You, The Rooks and Justin Graham (December 13) and\u00a0 Miss Tess & the Talkbacks and Jacob Snider (December 15).<\/span><\/p>\n

The Downstairs Stage will have Bronze Radio Return and\u00a0 Brothers McCann (December 11) and\u00a0 Cartoon Christmas Trio (December 13) and The Applejacks (December 14).<\/span><\/p>\n

World Caf\u00e9 Live at the Queen (500 North Market Street, Wilmington, 302- 994-1400,\u00a0www.queen.worldcafelive.com<\/span><\/a>) will present Peace, Love and Poetry (December<\/span><\/p>\n

(December 10) and Peek-a-Boo Review (December 11) on its Downstairs Stage. The Upstairs Stage will feature Girls, Guns and Glory (December 10) and Marcus Goldhaber (December 11).<\/span><\/p>\n

The Grand Opera House (818 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-652-5577, www.thegrandwilmington.org<\/span><\/a>) will host the Punch Brothers on December 11 and Wilmington Ballet\u2019s production of \u201cThe Nutcracker\u201d on December 12.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Book of Mormon\u201d is running now through December 27 at the Forrest Theatre (1114 Walnut Street, Philadelphia 866-276-2947,\u00a0www.kimmelcenter.org\/broadway<\/span><\/a>) as part of the Kimmel Center\u2019s \u201cBroadway Philadelphia\u201d series.<\/span><\/p>\n

Video link for \u201cThe Book of Mormon\u201d — https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=OKkLV1zE8M0<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ticket prices ranges from $67-$177.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware,\u00a0302- 475-2313,\u00a0www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org<\/span><\/a>) will present the classic hit musical \u201cMame\u201d now through December 20.<\/span><\/p>\n

Performances are December 10, 11, 12, 18 and 19 (doors 6 p.m.\/show, 8 p.m.), December 13 and 20 (doors, 1 p.m.\/show, 3 p.m.) and December 16 (doors, 11 a.m.\/show, 1 p.m.) Tickets, which include dinner and show, are $59 for adults and $33 for children (ages 4-12).<\/span><\/p>\n

The Rainbow Comedy Theatre (3065 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, 800-292-4301, www.RainbowDinnerTheatre.com<\/span><\/a>) is presenting \u201cGood Night, Mrs. Puffin\u201d now through December 27<\/span><\/p>\n

Matinee performances are every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and selected Saturdays with an 11:30 a.m. lunch and a 1 p.m. curtain. Evening performances are every Friday, Saturday and selected Thursdays with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the show following at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $49-$55.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Also: Jethro Tull co-founder brings his band to area By Denny Dyroff,\u00a0Staff Writer, The Times The Pennsylvania Ballet\u2019s annual production of \u201cGeorge Balanchine\u2019s The Nutcracker\u201d is one of the most cherished\u2014and longest running\u2014family holiday traditions for families in the region. For many, a visit to Philadelphia to enjoy the lavish presentation by the world-famous Pennsylvania […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12061,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[91,3],"tags":[4498,4500,4501,4495,4497,4496,4494,4499],"class_list":["post-12068","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-entertainment","category-featured","tag-chamomile-and-whiskey","tag-des-ark","tag-everything-ever","tag-jethro-tull","tag-martin-barre","tag-metal","tag-nutcracker","tag-the-yawpers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12068"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12068\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12081,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12068\/revisions\/12081"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}