On Stage: Venues reopen briefly, but…close again, due to COVID-19
By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
COVID-19 has almost completely wiped out live music and theater performances.
There were glimmers of hope for live shows recently. Some venues actually hosted indoor performances in late July but the era of indoor live shows 2020 has drawn to a close.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has announced statewide mitigation efforts as COVID-19 cases surge in Pennsylvania.
Some...
On Stage: Blues ace Toby Walker to perform in Landsdowne, Friday
By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Toby Walker
When Mike Tyson was in his prime, he would pummel his ring opponent with a barrage of short, powerful and severely damaging hooks to the midsection – never stopping until he had battered him into submission (frequently via a knockout).
COVID-19 has been brutalizing the area’s live entertainment scene with similar effectiveness.
Live entertainment...
On Stage: Candlelight offers comedy as area’s first reopened indoor venue
By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Julia Scotti
COVID-19 has been messing with live entertainment schedules for a while now. For more than four months, live performances have been scarcer than factual statements coming from the nation’s top elected officials.
It has only been the last few weeks that restaurants and other venues have been permitted to allow customers inside.
One of the...
Music Spotlight: Chesco’s Mascherino keeps busy, despite pandemic
By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Fred Mascherino
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and forced virtually everything to come to a halt, it was a shock – and it was something that took a lot of effort to get accustomed to.
It was similar to a blizzard that was unexpected, came on quickly and dropped six feet of snow on the area. Virtually everyone was forced to remain at home – to stay...
Music Spotlight: While readying for a virtual Ladybug Fest, local acts hope to be back on the road this fall
By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Soraia
The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the course of music more than any other event since the spring of 1860.
On April 9, 1860, the French inventor Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville created the first sound recording in history. An eerie rendition of the folksong “Au clair de la lune” was captured by Scott’s trademark invention —...
Music Spotlight: Chesco’s Sonnefeld LA move pays off big
By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Tim Sonnefeld
The Delaware Valley has been the home base of many great record producers such as Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, the founders of Philadelphia International Records; Joe Tarsia, founder and owner of the legendary Sigma Sound Studio; and brothers Phil and Joe Nicolo.
Los Angeles has always been a hotbed of recording studios and is famous for...
Music Spotlight: Downingtown’s Kate Klim back to work, readying 2021 album
By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Kate Klim
Kate Klim, a talented singer/songwriter and Chester County native, graduated from Downingtown High School in 2000.
In the two decades since, she has lived all around the country, built a reputation as a top-flight performer and released three albums.
It’s been five years since she released a new album but that could change in the not-too-distant...
Music Spotlight: Karen Gross looks to hit another High Note
By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Karen Gross
In what previously were normal times, if the subject line in an e-mail said – “Need a lift? – you might think it was an e-mail from Uber or another ride-sharing service.
This week, it was the subject line in an e-mail sent out by singer-songwriter Karen Gross and the lift offered was spiritual rather than transportation-oriented.
Gross,...
Music Spotlight: Chesco native helps fuel Troubadour 77’s Laurel Canyon sound
By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Troubadour 77
Spring is traditionally the time of year when artists like to release new albums. The holiday season, which is a brutal time to release an LP unless you’re named Jay Z or BTS or Billie Eilish, is done, the weather has gotten better and it’s a great time to tour in support of a new disc.
Troubadour 77’s new album, “Revolution &...
Music Spotlight: Chesco native Zell sees album plans put on hold, but finds silver lining
By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Nicole Zell
When America screeched to a halt in early March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, everything was turned upside-down and inside-out. Nothing was the same.
The music industry got slammed. Venues closed and tours got cancelled. Recording sessions were put in limbo. Album releases got put on hold indefinitely.
The shutdown was bad for the...
