{"id":17351,"date":"2017-04-23T08:29:03","date_gmt":"2017-04-23T12:29:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/?p=17351"},"modified":"2017-04-23T08:29:08","modified_gmt":"2017-04-23T12:29:08","slug":"on-stage-bonus-see-heather-maloney-in-a-whole-new-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/?p=17351","title":{"rendered":"On Stage (Bonus): See Heather Maloney in a whole new light"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\"><strong>By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><em><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Staff Writer, The Times<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3834\" style=\"width: 235px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/heather-maloney.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3834\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3834\" src=\"http:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/heather-maloney-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3834\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Heather Maloney<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Area music fans \u2013 get ready to see Heather Maloney in a whole new light.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Maloney is a singer-songwriter-rocker from western Massachusetts who has released several critically-acclaimed albums \u2013 the most recent being \u201cMaking Me Break\u201d in 2015.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">She has been recording and playing her music live since 2009 and has had numerous performances in this area.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">On April 23, Maloney will headline a show at Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,<\/span><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org\/\">http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a><span style=\"color: #222222;\">).<\/span><\/span><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Maloney is coming to Kennett Flash with her \u201cProjecTour,\u201d which is billed as \u201cthe audio-visual-show-that-determines-which-new-songs-will-be-on-my-next-record.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">The tour looks at something that has become a dying art form.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cThis tour is an ode to the album insert,\u201d said Maloney, during a phone interview Tuesday from her home in Northampton, Massachusetts.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cWe\u2019re now in an era where CDs are becoming obsolete and downloading becoming less popular because of streaming. I found myself thinking more-and-more about how I used to buy records.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cI\u2019d buy a record and then go to my room and listen to it front-to-back while reading the insert and looking at the art. Back then, we were involved in the whole experience.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cI would always read the lyrics. That little ritual I had was what made me fall in love with music. I missed that ritual and wanted to pay homage to it.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cOne thing that hasn\u2019t gone away with musicians is the live show. I don\u2019t think anything is ever going to replace the live experience.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Maloney decided to combine the two \u2013 appreciation of inserts and art and the experience of live music.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cI created ProjecTour to honor this dying ritual with a live representation of it,\u201d said Maloney. \u201cI figured I\u2019d project it onstage and see what happens.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cLyrics and artwork are projected behind me as I play a set of almost entirely new music. It\u2019s a live version of the insert.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">There is another non-mainstream aspect of ProjecTour.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cI invite people into the record-making process,\u201d said Maloney.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cAnyone who attends a ProjecTour\u00a0show across the country has the opportunity to vote on which three songs they\u2019d like me to include on the next full-length record.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cThe show culminates with a vote on which songs the people want to hear on the record. I\u2019m getting immediate feedback. I\u2019m making this record with my audience.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cWith regard to the artwork and inserts, I do feel it is our job to show what is being lost. Having a visual element to the show is making people more interested.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cWe have great projections including a set of animated slides with lyrics \u2013 going through the pages and letting people digest the material. We also have wonderful little coloring books.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cWhen this tour is over, I\u2019ll get in the studio to make a record. When the record comes out, I\u2019ll go on the road again with a very polished version of this project.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Maloney\u2019s involvement with music goes back to her student days.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cI studied jazz vocals so I\u2019m also a very percussive singer,\u201d said Maloney. \u201cI studied music at a college in North Jersey and focused on classical operatic vocals. Then, I left everything music behind and lived at a meditation center in western Massachusetts for three years. I was a vegetarian cook there.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cWhen I\u2019m writing songs, I start with an analogy on the modern world and then take it deeper. The lyrics are written as signposts. When I\u2019m writing, voice is the first instrument and piano the second instrument. Piano is where I started writing songs.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cThe songs come in little waves. I have a lot of influences. I listened to a lot of Indian music, classical opera, kirtan and jazz improvisation. I write a few new songs every month.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Maloney frequently plays with her band but not on these shows.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cIt\u2019s a duo set,\u201d said Maloney. \u201cI have an incredible guitarist \u2013 Ryan Hommel. He\u2019s also a great harmony singer. We\u2019re doing mostly new songs in these shows now.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Video link for Heather Maloney \u2013 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/UUTa51DX5_A\"><span style=\"color: #00008b;\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/UUTa51DX5_A<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #222222;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">The show at Kennett Flash, which has <\/span><span style=\"color: #222222;\">TJ Smith and the Wild North as the opening act, will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3835\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/lakou-mizik.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3835\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3835\" src=\"http:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/lakou-mizik-350x201.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"201\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3835\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lakou Mizik<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Also on April 23, there will be two shows featuring bands and music from warm climates \u2013 Lakou Mizik, one of Haiti\u2019s top bands, and Ozomatli, an L.A. band with Mexican roots.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Lakou Mizik, which will be performing at the Calvary Center<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">(801 South 48th Street, Philadelphia, <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.crossroadsconcerts.org\/\"><span style=\"color: #00008b;\">www.crossroadsconcerts.org<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #222222;\">), is a multigenerational collective of Haitian musicians formed in the aftermath of the devastating 2010 earthquake.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">The group includes elder legends and rising young talents who are united in a mission to honor the healing spirit of their collective culture.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cWe started Lakou Mizik after the earthquake,\u201d said guitarist\/vocalist Steeve Valcourt, during a phone interview last week. \u201cZach Niles came to Haiti to find old songs and bring them back to life.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">The idea for the band was hatched in 2010 on a hot November night in Port-au-Prince. Haiti was still reeling from the earthquake, a cholera epidemic was raging and a political crisis filled the streets with enough tire-burning ferocity to close the international airport.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Steeve Valcourt, a guitarist and singer whose father is one of the country\u2019s iconic musicians, singer Jonas Attis and American producer Zach Niles met in Valcourt\u2019s muggy basement studio and agreed that Haiti\u2019s music and culture could serve as an antidote to the flood of negativity.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cThey were bringing people to shelters after the earthquake,\u201d said Valcourt. \u201cWe wanted to figure out a way to help them through music. We went to the camps every day.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Niles, who 10 years previously was part of the documentary film and management team that introduced Sierra Leone\u2019s Refugee All Stars to the world, had traveled to Haiti to explore ways in which music could help play a role in recovery and empowering social change.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">According to Niles, \u201cI always wanted to use music and story of musicians to create a deeper connection to the country than either the one-note negative press or the falsified hope-and-inspiration NGO stories that get pushed to the public.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">They assembled an exceptional lineup &#8212; a powerhouse collective of singers, rara horn players, drummers, guitarists and even an accordionist.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cZach and I both were interested in bringing old songs back to life,\u201d said Valcourt. \u201cThe first song we did was just a project. After that, people liked the song. We started with one performance six years ago and it\u2019s grown from there\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Over the next few years, the band honed its electrifying live show, presenting hours long concerts that blended the soulful spirit of a church revival, the social engagement of a political rally and the trance-inducing intoxication of a vodoun (voodoo) ritual.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Finally, after building a devoted local fan base, the band headed to the Artists Institute in Jacmel, home to a beautiful new recording studio. The resulting album, \u201cWa Di Yo,\u201d reflects the African, French, Caribbean and U.S. influences that collide in Haiti.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">The end result is a soulful stew of deeply danceable grooves that feels strangely familiar yet intensely new &#8212; and 100% Haitian.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cWe wanted to really bring out the cultural part of Haiti,\u201d said Valcourt. \u201cWe wanted to show Haiti from its early days. Some of the songs are 40-50 years old. And, the voudon tradition goes all the way back to Africa.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">The nine members of Lakou Mizik range in age from late sixties to early twenties and come from across Haiti\u2019s musical, social, religious, and geographic spectrum.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Video link for Lakjou Mizik \u2013 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/assgrxO3Fl8\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/assgrxO3Fl8<\/a><span style=\"color: #222222;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">The show at Calvary Center will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3836\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/ozomatli.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3836\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3836\" src=\"http:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/ozomatli-350x233.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"233\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3836\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ozomatli<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Ozomatli will be in Philly on Sunday night at Union Transfer (1026 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, 215-232-2100, <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.utphilly.com\/\">www.utphilly.com<\/a><span style=\"color: #222222;\">) &#8212; sharing the bill with Squirrel Nut Zippers on the band\u2019s \u201cUnited Together Tour.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Ozomatli features Wil-Dog Abers: Bass, Background Vocals; Ulises Bella: Saxophone, Clarinet; Requinto Jarocho, Keyboard, Melodica, Background Vocals; Ra\u00fal &#8220;El Bully&#8221; Pacheco: Guitar, Tres, Jarana, Lead Vocals; Justin &#8220;El Ni\u00f1o Por\u00e9e: Percussion, Rap Vocals; Asdru Sierra: Trumpet, Keyboard, Lead Vocals; and Jiro Yamaguchi: Drums, Tabla, Percussion, Background Vocals.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">The lively band from Los Angeles has its own musical style that spans multiple genres &#8212; urban, hip-hop, rock, salsa, jazz, rap, funk, classic to modern Latino and a variety of other world styles.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Since its inception in 1995, innovation and creativity have defined Ozomatli. The band has defined how to represent L.A.\u2019s eclectic culture through music that appeals to the local community and the world beyond.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cWe\u2019re 22 years old,\u201d said Bella, during a phone interview Wednesday from a tour stop in Burlington, Vermont. \u201cOur birthday was April 1.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Ozomatli may have April Fool\u2019s Day as its birthday but the versatile band has never been anybody\u2019s fool.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cWe started with our first live shows at a community center for youth and arts in downtown L.A.,\u201d said Bella. \u201cEvery weekend, we\u2019d play shows as a benefit.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Ozomatli, which has the nickname \u201cDioses del Baile,\u201d or \u201cGods of Dance,\u201d is also known for advocating for farm-workers&#8217; rights and immigration reform. The band has performed in various countries all over the world, including China, Tunisia, Jordan, and Burma.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">The group released its self-titled debut album in 1998 and followed with \u201cEmbrace the Chaos\u201d (2001), \u201cStreet Signs\u201d (2004), \u201cDon\u2019t Mess with the Dragon\u201d, (2007), \u201cFire Away (2010), \u201cOzomatli Presents Ozokidz (2012) and \u201cPlace in the Sun (2014).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Ozomatli\u2019s new album \u201cNON-STOP: Mexico to Jamaica\u201d is set for a May 5 release.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">The music on the album has the feel of a casual Mexican-American gathering \u2013 under the stars on a beach in Negril, Jamaica.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">There is a good reason for this.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cNON-STOP: Mexico to Jamaica\u201d was produced by drum-and-bass reggae legends <\/span><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Sly &amp; Robbie<\/span><span style=\"color: #222222;\"> \u2013 one of the premier rhythm sections in the world and previous collaborators with Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Madonna and No Doubt.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">On the new disc, Ozomatli perform songs written by <\/span><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Selena, Caf\u00e9 Tacuba, Juan Gabriel, Julieta Venegas and Los Tigres del Norte &#8212; along with <\/span><span style=\"color: #222222;\">classic tracks from their youth.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cOur music has changed a lot over the years,\u201d said Bella. \u201cOur influences are ones we grew up with in L.A.\u2014all kinds of music and cultures.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cThen, other influences come from touring relentlessly and hearing music from New York and New Orleans. Then with our international travels, we got to hear music we had never even heard of &#8212; Indian music and other world music from North Africa.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cWe recorded the album all last year \u2013 give-or-take. It\u2019s kind of a departure. It\u2019s a cover record. We picked music we liked \u2013 classic songs from Mexico\u2026old and new.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Working with Sly &amp; Robbie added a whole new dimension.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cWe recorded a song for Sly &amp; Robbie\u2019s last album,\u201d said Bella. \u201cWe had run into them at different festivals and we were always big fans. We asked them to work with us on the new album and they were happy to do it.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">The new album is the musical equivalent of steak fajitas with Jamaican jerk sauce \u2013 hot, cool and very tasty.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Video link for Ozomatli \u2013 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/fdE1XMqxwsc\"><span style=\"color: #00008b;\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/fdE1XMqxwsc<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #222222;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">The show at Union Transfer, which also features Squirrel Nut Zippers, will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $35.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3837\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"http:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Lucky_Chops_Original_Walter_Photo.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3837\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3837\" src=\"http:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Lucky_Chops_Original_Walter_Photo-350x143.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"143\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3837\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lucky Chops<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">If you like the sound of horns and the dance groove generated by Ozomatli, then there is a very good chance that you\u2019ll really like the music of Lucky Chops \u2013 a New York band that is playing April 25 at the World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.worldcafelive.com\/\"><span style=\"color: #00008b;\">www.worldcafelive.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #222222;\">).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">The line-up of instruments for Lucky Chops includes trombone, tenor sax, trumpet, sousaphone and drums. It\u2019s a mix of instruments that gets people up-and-dancing.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">With no electric instruments, the band can set up and play virtually anywhere \u2013 from a town plaza in a seaside city in Italy to a subway platform in New York City.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Lucky Chops have played both of those locations and, it was in the subways stations of Manhattan that the band developed its initial following.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Lucky Chops features Josh Holcomb-Trombone, Daro Behroozi-Tenor Sax, Joshua Gawel-Trumpet, Charles Sams IV-Drums and<br \/>\nRaphael Buyo-Sousaphone.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cWe met when we were in high school in Manhattan,\u201d said Josh Holcomb, during a phone interview Thursday from his New York home. \u201cWe all went to La Guardia High School 10 years ago. It\u2019s a specialized arts high school.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music &amp; Art and Performing Arts is a high school specializing in teaching visual arts and performing arts. Situated near Lincoln Center in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of the Upper West Side, it was founded by Mayor LaGuardia.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">In 1948, a similar institution \u2013 the School of Performing Arts \u2013 was created to harness students\u2019 talents in dance. The schools merged on paper in 1961. The 1980 dramatic film \u201cFame\u201d was based on student life at the School of Performing Arts prior to its merger into LaGuardia High School.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cWhen we began, we started playing in the streets and subways stations in New York,\u201d said Holcomb. \u201cWe just all started playing our instruments prior to high school.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cAll my friends were playing guitar,\u201d said Holcomb. \u201cI wanted an instrument that was the most rebellious. So, I chose trombone. We all pursued different careers after high school but we still kept the band going.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cTwo years ago, we got more serious about Lucky Chops. With the other bands around the world in swing dance, there was a lack of energy. None of them have the energy that Lucky Chops does.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cThe reason we started pursuing it more seriously as a career was pour desire to expose more people to the instrumentalization and music.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cWe have an unusual lineup and we want people to hear the type of music we play. There are five of us and we play 15 instruments between us. We like to keep it interesting.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cWe\u2019ve released two albums and our new EP \u2018Walter\u2019 is scheduled to come out on April 28. We called it \u2018Walter\u2019 because out tuba is named Walter. The EP is about the personality of our tuba Walter. He\u2019s a wild guy and he makes a heavy scene.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Lucky Chops might be one of the few bands in America to hone its chops on the subway platforms beneath Grand Central Station.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cPlay three hours on a subway station in New York and, if you\u2019re good, you can make enough money to sustain yourself,\u201d said Holcomb. \u201cIt helps you learn how to captivate an audience.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Video link for Lucky Chops \u2013 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/WM3hNE-7094\"><span style=\"color: #00008b;\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/WM3hNE-7094<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #222222;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">The show at World Caf\u00e9 Live, which has Madaila as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Another band that is horn-oriented and spans genres will be visiting the area this week.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_3838\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"http:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/the-dustbowl-revival.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3838\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3838\" src=\"http:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/the-dustbowl-revival-350x245.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"245\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-3838\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Dustbowl Revival<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">On April 26, the Dustbowl Revival will headline a show at Johnny Brenda\u2019s (1201 North Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-739-9684, <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.johnnybrendas.com\/\"><span style=\"color: #00008b;\">www.johnnybrendas.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #222222;\">).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">The Dustbowl Revival, which is based in Venice, California, merges old school bluegrass, gospel, pre-war blues and the hot swing of New Orleans and bravely brings together many styles of traditional American music. Known for their high energy live shows, the Dustbowl Revival has been described as a \u201cstring band-brass band mash-up.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">The lively group\u2019s line-up includes Zach Lupetin (guitars, vocals), Liz Beebe (vocals, washboard), Daniel Mark (mandolin), Connor Vance (fiddle), Matt Rubin (trumpet), Ulf \u00a0Bjorlin (trombone), Josh Heffernan (drums) and James Klopfleisch (bass).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cThe band started in 2008 and expanded over the years &#8212; from a string band at first to eight people down the road,\u201d said Lupetin, during a recent phone interview last week from a tour stop in Tampa, Florida.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cThe first expansion was fiddle and mandolin. It\u2019s like a little traveling circus. The full big band line-up has been going strong for about four years. It can expand or contract at times.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cI\u2019m from Chicago and was playing folk and blues when I was in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The idea for a band like this came to me when I was in college at the University of Michigan. I was dreaming about a band that played songs in different genres at once.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cI was in a blues-rock band and started listening to pre-war jazz. I moved from Chicago to Los Angeles. Once I got to L.A., I placed an innocent ad on Craigslist for musicians who loved music from that era. From that, I got together instruments that don\u2019t usually go together.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cI wanted to do something authentic and high energy. I think American music has a lot of different roots. For me, it all starts with the blues and branches out from there. Hank Williams, Muddy Waters, Bob Wills, Mahalia Jackson &#8212; all playing this very heartfelt soulful music.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cWe try for that. I started learning traditional songs that were the seeds of rock and roll. Music should be real. I don\u2019t want to make over-produced empty music. And, we want to have family appeal. Our audience is a pretty wide mix.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">In 2013, the Dustbowl Revival was named \u201cBest Live Band in LA\u201d by The LA Weekly.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cAround 2013, we decided that we were going to do it for real,\u201d said Lupetin. \u201cLiz Beebe joined the band and we began doing 150-200 gigs a year.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cWe\u2019ve had different musicians come and go but the core members have been around for a long time. To play around the country, you need a dedicated group.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">\u201cIt\u2019s really just old-time party music. It\u2019s just a matter of putting it in a different environment. This band is a work-in-progress.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">Video link for Dustbowl Revival \u2013 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/cZAlQHFYEFg\"><span style=\"color: #00008b;\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/cZAlQHFYEFg<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #222222;\">.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\"><span style=\"color: #222222;\">The show at Johnny Brenda\u2019s, which has Ladybird as the opener, will start at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Denny Dyroff,\u00a0Staff Writer, The Times Area music fans \u2013 get ready to see Heather Maloney in a whole new light. Maloney is a singer-songwriter-rocker from western Massachusetts who has released several critically-acclaimed albums \u2013 the most recent being \u201cMaking Me Break\u201d in 2015. She has been recording and playing her music live since 2009 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17353,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5166],"tags":[3912,6459,6462,6463,6461,6460],"class_list":["post-17351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-featured","tag-heather-maloney","tag-lakou-mizik","tag-lucky-chops","tag-ozomatil","tag-the-dustbowl-revival"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17351","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=17351"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17352,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17351\/revisions\/17352"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}