On Stage: Rusted Root enjoys loyal following

Also: a tribute to Karen Carpenter at Sellersville

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times

Sunday night shows are always a challenge for bands — especially when potential audience members have to deal with start-the-week Monday mornings only a few hours after the concert ends.

During the summer months in Philadelphia, the challenge is even greater because fans often are out of town — partying at the beach or vacationing at locations far from area venues.

Rusted Root is a band that doesn’t face these challenges. The Pittsburgh-based rockers have built a well-established fan base of die-hard followers — fans who will put everything else aside when Rusted Root plays in the area.

So, when Rusted Root visits the Delaware Valley for a show on August 28 at the Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650, www.keswicktheatre.com), the house will be packed. It can be Sunday, Monday or Thursday — summer, autumn or winter — the fans will be there and the house will be rocking whenever Rusted Root takes the stage.

Some bands get excited when they enter their second decade. Rusted Root sailed past that marker a long time ago and now is entering its second quarter-century. Rusted Root has a long and interesting history.

Actually, the veteran group of musicians has cemented its legacy as one of the premier rock bands to come from Pennsylvania. The group, which still includes three of the original five members, continues to write, record and tour. And, it still calls Pittsburgh home.

The trio of founding members includes Michael Glabicki (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica, mandolin), Patrick Norman (bass guitar, backing vocals, percussion) and Liz Berlin (percussion, backing vocals). Rounding out the quintet are Preach Freedom (percussion, backing vocals) and Dirk Miller (guitar, backing vocals).

In honor of its 25th Anniversary, Rusted Root embarked on an extensive national tour to support the current release “The Movement,” which is described by Glabicki as “an extremely joyous recording with seriously deep undertones.” “The Movement” was released on Shanachie Records in 2012.

Rusted Root, which is known for its fusion of acoustic, rock and world, has recorded eight albums and sold over three million records worldwide. The band’s music has been featured in films such as “Ice Age,” “Twister” and “Matilda” and TV shows such as “Ally McBeal,” “New Girl” and “Charmed.”

 “We’ve had this lineup together for over five years now,” said Glabicki, during a recent phone interview from his home in the western part of the state. “Colter (Harper), our other guitarist, left after the last album to teach school in Ghana. Preach has been our drummer for six years. Before that, he was our percussionist.”

While “The Movement” was more of a spiritual, highly-creative work, Rusted Root’s next album looks to be heading in a different direction.

“We’ve been working on our next album,” said Glabicki. “We’ve been performing a lot of the music live — fleshing it out for live audiences. We took 70 songs and narrowed it to 12-15 for the album. There are 10 that are definitely going to make it.

 “There are different vignettes throughout the song instead of a whole song being just one vignette. The background vocals are laid out differently. And, I’ve been writing the blueprints for the arrangements first. Each song is its own entity and there is a lot of variety.

“Some songs are about heartache — powerful explosive ballads. One is an intimate spiritual song. Other songs go from that to a faster groove. I’m still writing four or five songs now and seeing about the blueprint.

“‘The Movement’ was a celebration of what we learned over the first 25 years. The new album is the start of the next 25 years. I can see the band being together for that long. I don’t see why not. The band keeps getting better. There are more landscapes to explore musically. And, we’re still getting bliss from the audience.”

Rusted Root’s first major success came with the band’s 1994 album “When I Woke,” which went platinum, and its breakout song was a catchy tune called “Send Me On My Way.”

“We’ve been playing that song so long that it has a life of its own — we just follow it where it goes,” said Glabicki. “We’ve been getting great responses with the new songs. It’s a little scary because the sound is different — but the crowd gets it. The grooves are more organic and moving. There’s a little bit of funk — and some straight-ahead rock grooves.”

Video link for Rusted Root — https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=IGMabBGydC0.

The show at the Keswick, which also features Toad the Wet Sprocket, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 and $39.50.

Earlier this month, Michelle Berting Brett took her latest musical project to its source and it was a smashing success for the singer and the audience. Brett performed her show “We’ve Only Just Begun: Carpenters Remembered” at the Downey Theatre in Downey, California — the former home of Richard and Karen Carpenter.

Now, Berting Brett is bringing her impressive act to the area for a concert on August 25 at Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com).

“We’ve Only Just Begun: Carpenters Remembered” is the definitive concert show celebrating the music of one of the most successful recording acts of all time. Berting Brett, who is accompanied by a seven-piece Nashville band directed by Harry Sharpe, re-creates the Carpenters’ original sound.

Originally from Saskatchewan, Berting Brett trained in opera and theater on scholarship at Dickinson State University in the U.S. and is an award-winning graduate of the Music Theatre program at Sheridan College in Ontario, Canada. Berting Brett began her career performing in musical theater. 

She also performed in murder mysteries, corporate industrial shows, with an improv troupe, as a background vocalist in studio and on tour, and as a voice-over artist. Berting Brett has toured the world performing the American Songbook and jazz repertoire in her own cabaret shows.

Then, she found her true calling as a vocalist who could accomplish the difficult task of singing Carpenters’ songs just like Karen Carpenter sang them.

“I was doing pop shows and people told me that I sounded like Karen Carpenter,” said Berting Brett, during a phone interview Monday from her home in Connecticut.

“Then, my husband Mark (producer Mark Brett) heard me singing ‘Merry Christmas Darling.’ I told him I always had a dream of doing a Karen Carpenter show and he said — let’s do it. I tried it out at a small show in Toronto and it was a great success. We definitely thought we were on to something.”

It didn’t take long for the musical couple to turn the dream into a reality.

“We started searching around for a music director,” said Berting Brett. “The Carpenters’ sound was very special so we knew we had to find the right person to be the music director. We found Harry Sharpe, who is based in Nashville.”

Sharpe’s career in Nashville began years ago when he toured with Eddy Raven playing piano and singing background vocals.  He did the same with Tanya Tucker and Donna Summer. Sharpe was Wynonna Judd’s music director for six of the 11 years he worked with her.

“Mark, Harry and I hand-picked this wonderful group of musicians,” said Bering Brett. “For the last three years, we’ve travelled all across the country doing shows. One of the most exciting shows was the one we just did in Downey.”

Singing Carpenters’ songs and nailing them every time is no easy task for any vocalist.

“What Karen Carpenter does vocally is tremendous,” said Berting Brett. “She makes it seem so easy but it is very difficult. She sang without any affectations. There were no tricks. It was always about that rich, warm tone. She had such a great gift.”

“We’ve Only Just Begun: Carpenters Remembered” is an intimate behind-the-scenes portrait of the pop music phenomenon that defined an era. It features performances of the Carpenters’ most memorable songs — including “Close to You,” “Yesterday Once More,” “Rainy Days & Mondays,” “A Song for You” and “We’ve Only Just Begun.”

Video link for “We’ve Only Just Begun: Carpenters Remembered” — https://youtu.be/nOygVKgzG4k.

The show at Sellersville will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 and $45.

In the Spanish language, “Somos” means “we are” while in the world of medicine, “SOMOS” stands for the “Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons.” In the world of rock music, Somos is an American rock band from New England.

Somos — Michael Fiorentino (bass, vocals), Phil Haggerty (guitar), Justin Hahn (guitar), Mike Benoit (drums) — got its start just over three years ago in Boston.

The band, which will play a show on August 25 at the Foundry at Fillmore Philadelphia (1100 Canal Street, Philadelphia, 215-309-0150, www.thefillmorephilly.com), actually has roots that go way back.

“We knew each other in high school,” said Fiorentino, during a phone interview Wednesday morning from Boston as the band was getting ready to embark on a month-long, coast-to-coast tour.

“We all went to a music high school — Pioneer Valley Performing Arts School in South Hadley, Massachusetts.

“It’s a charter school in western Massachusetts that is so popular that there is a lottery to get in each year. We all grew up in western Massachusetts in the Northampton area.”

After high school, the four musicians relocated to Boston where Somos was born.

“Our first show was three-and-a-half years ago,” said Fiorentino. “It was a house show in Alston, a Boston suburb. We’ve only had one line-up change since then — with our drummer. But, now our original drummer Mike Benoit is back in the band.”

Somos has released two albums — “Temple of Plenty” in 2014 on Tiny Engines Records and “First Day Back” this year on Hopeless Records.

According to the band’s bio, “Somos are as no-frills and trend-averse as it gets. The Boston band works in catchy, passionate three-minute rock songs recorded with too much punch to be lo-fi, too melodically contoured to be punk.”

‘”We put out ‘Temple of Plenty’ a year-and-a-half after we formed,” said Fiorentino. “We spent a year of writing and re-writing before we went in the studio. Phil and I bring the skeleton of a song and the melody. Then, Justin and Mike help flesh it out at practice. I’m the one who writes all the lyrics.

“We did three full U.S. tours supporting ‘Temple of Plenty.’ Our second record — ‘First Day Back’ — came out this year in February. We recorded it last summer in Haverhill, Massachusetts with producer/engineer Jay Maas. He was the guy we really wanted to work with. “

According to Fiorentino, “We are very proud of ‘First Day Back’. Musically, I think it represents a step forward and highlights a number of new influences and styles. In terms of lyrics, I attempted to incorporate themes of alienation and struggle but also resistance and resilience.

“We live in trying times, but it’s important to keep in mind that the immense challenges we face as a society exist alongside green shoots of hope. This record is dedicated to all revolutionaries and freedom fighters the world over.”

The new songs are finally getting to see the light of day.

“We didn’t play any of the songs from ‘First Day Back’ in our live show prior to recording them,” said Fiorentino. “In our shows, we always want to play songs people know. We did our first tour for the new album back in March. People are now getting to know the songs.”

Video link for Somos — https://youtu.be/zIbWn7teKLs

The show at the Foundry, which also features Free Throw, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12.

Another high energy show will take place in Philly on August 25 when the Shondes take the stage at Johnny Brenda’s (1201 North Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com).

The show at Johnny Brenda’s will be the lid-lifter for the Shondes’ month-long, 15-city national tour — a tour that introduces the band’s new album “Brighton,” which will be released on September 16 via Exotic Fever Records.

The Shondes (rhymes with Hondas) — Louisa Rachel Solomon (vocals/bass), Elijah Oberman (violin), Courtney Robbins (guitar), Alex Smith (drums) — formed 10 years ago and released four other albums prior to ‘Brighton.”

“Louisa and I met when we were in college and started playing music together in different bands,” said Oberman, during a phone interview Tuesday from Brooklyn. “We were going to school at Eugene Lang (Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts). We both majored in cultural studies.”

The Shondes are a cultural blend all their own. They are a pop, punk, feminist, rock band with Jewish influences.

“The name of the band is Yiddish word meaning shames or disgraces,” said Oberman. “It’s a nod to our Jewish heritage. Also, it’s a punk rock thing to name our band ‘The Disgraces.’ We have a feminist punk background — and we’re all queer.”

On their website, the Shondes describe their ensemble as “a rock band from Brooklyn, NY, who play Bikini Kill-meets-Bruce Springsteen-style sing-along anthems for you.”

Oberman said, “We’ve had different line-ups over the years but it’s always been Louisa and me. The current line-up is the real line-up. We’ve been together for two years now. This is our second tour. And, ‘Brighton’ was the first album we all recorded together.

“All four of us live in Brooklyn. ‘Brighton’ is our fifth album and our third with Exotic Fever. It’s really good label that is run by Katy Otto — a small feminist label. We recorded the album in February in Brooklyn — at Studio G with Tony Maimone, who is a member of veteran avant-garage band Pere Ubu.

“‘Brighton’ has the Shondes’ sound,” said Oberman. “It’s not a huge shift from our previous albums but, as with all our albums, it is a progression. It’s more refined. We’re continually working on our songwriting. Courtney and Alex have brought us to as new level of musicianship.”

Unlike in the restaurants and on the beaches of Brighton, no Russian words can be heard on “Brighton.” And, despite the band’s Jewish heritage, they have not recorded any songs in Hebrew or Yiddish.

“The Jewish influence — it’s not something we actively try to do,” said Oberman. “But, you can hear some traces of liturgical Jewish melodies in our music — and the joy of klezmer. With some of my violin playing, people say they can hear the Jewish influence.”

Video link for the Shondes — https://youtu.be/NppptLV4VAQ.

The show at Johnny Brenda’s, which also features Blowdryer and Andromeda Sky, will start at 9 p.m. Tickets are 10.

On August 27, Johnny Brenda’s will host a show by Oldermost, a Philly band featuring Bradford Bucknum (rhythm guitar, lead vocals), Stephen Robbins (drums, producer), Dan Wolgemuth (bass) and Mike Sobel (lead guitar, lap steel) — with keyboardist Dave Richards as a non-travelling member.

“Dan and I went to school together at James Madison University,” said Bucknum, during a phone interview Monday from his home in Philadelphia. “Steve was one of dan’s childhood friends. We decided to come to Philadelphia seven years ago and moved to Kensington.”

The band’s first release, “Oldermost EP” (2010), was recorded shortly after three founding members of the band packed their bags and left the Shenendoah Valley to live together in Philadelphia.

In 2015, the band released “It’s Difficult To Know Anything At All,” which was recorded in their Philadelphia studio. The five-song collection followed their full-length debut “I Live Here Now” (2014), which was produced by Jonathan Low, who has also done albums for Sharon Van Etten, Daniel Rossen, Kurt Vile, and Mr. Twin Sister.

“Right now, we’re spacing out some singles instead of working on an album,” said Bucknum. “We released ‘Honey With Tea’ two weeks ago. We have a new song  — ‘Finally Unsure’ — ready to be released next Wednesday and then we’ll follow with another single two weeks after that.’

“Honey with Tea” highlights Bucknum’s vocal delivery which oscillates between semi-theatrical energetic bursts to gentle, sugary crooning.

“Our live shows are super passionate but, when we get in the studio, we turn into minutia-loving music nerds,” said Bucknum. “We recorded all our music at our home studio in Brewerytown. It’s really nice because it allows us to take our time.

“The three singles were recorded really slowly over time. A lot of the guys in the band are still working day jobs so we’ll spend two nights a week in the studio.

“This recording project releases things incrementally instead of making an album and seeing if people will listen to a whole album. People aren’t really listening to full albums anymore. It’s all part of a larger project. Our real goal is to find a partner.”

Video link for Oldermost — https://youtu.be/0HDdOwxeQuc.

The show at Johnny Brenda’s on August 27 at 9 p.m. also features American Trappist and Hemming (solo). Tickets are $10.

In its short three-year history, The Wind and The Wave has released three albums, has had its songs featured in a wide array of television shows and films and has built a legion of devoted fans around the United States.

On August 26, The Wind and The Wave — Dwight Baker and Patricia Lynn Drew — will visit Philly to share the bill with Butch Walker at the Theatre of the Living Arts (334 South Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1011, http://www.lnphilly.com).

“We’re on our way to D.C. today for what I think is the 14th of 95 dates,” said baker, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon as he was getting ready for a show at Washington’s U Street Music Hall.

The Wind and The Wave played its first show as the opening act for Bob Schneider on Independence Day  2013 in Austin, Texas.

Previously, Drew had been the lead singer of Soldier Thread and Baker worked both in front of the microphone as well as in the recording studio for Alpha Rev, Brandi Carlile, Blue October, and Bob Schneider.  In addition, Baker has also written music for Kelly Clarkson and is the owner/operator of Matchbox Studios in Austin.

“I produced two records for her band Soldier Thread and we became friends,” said Baker. “Then, we decided to write songs together. There is a big age difference so I’m presenting her music she’s not familiar with.  She also has her own influences. The hybrid of our two influences makes us sound like we do.”

The Wind and The Wave signed to RCA Records in 2013 and the duo’s debut album “From the Wreckage” was released on August 5, 2014. Billed by many critics as one of the best albums of the year, “From the Wreckage” featured a rootsy tone that encompassed everything from indie-folk, to alt-country to blues-rock to Southern psychedelia.

According to Baker, “People really treasure that album. We got tons of letters from people saying it saved their life. They’re people who are conflicted and searching and they connect with Patty’s lyrics more than anything. With the new album, we felt some bit of an obligation to deliver that again.”

The band’s cover of “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol was featured in season 11of “Grey’s Anatomy.” The placement propelled the song to the number one spot on Shazam’s USA future hits chart.

The band signed with Island Records in March 2016 and released the single “Grand Canyon” on May 13, 2016. The Wind and the The Wave’s first album with Island Records, which is due out later this year, is titled “Happiness Is Not a Place.”

“I produced our first record,” maids Baker. “When we started this record, I was pretty burned out. We did 180 shows a year for the first two years and, when we weren’t on the road, I was producing records for other artists. I wanted to take a break and spend more time with my family.

“So, we looked for an outside producer. Butch (Walker) was high on both our lists of possible producers. Plus, he was a guy who knew what I was going through and how to handle it.”

The new album was recorded live by Walker, a songwriter and musician who has produced records for such artists as Weezer and Panic! At The Disco. Where “From The Wreckage” was manicured and polished because of  Baker’s meticulous production, “Happiness Is Not A Place” is rawer and rougher.

“We cut the album at Butch’s studio in L.A.,” said Baker. “We had 30 days booked for the studio and finished it in nine days. Most of it is live. It’s raw. It’s urgent. Butch wanted the performances to sound like we were playing the song for the first time — and we were.

“Our debut album was on RCA and then RCA released an album of our cover songs. Patty and I both have good publishing deals and we had 40 placements from our last record. We made the new record under RCA and then they dropped us when we were done. We shopped around for five or six months and then found Island.  Island is a good label — and has been for a long time.

“We used to be just a duo but for our live shows now, we carry a drummer and a guitarist. Our new record is so live-sounding that we found that we needed more people on stage. When people hear our band, they love it. When they see us play, they really love us.”

Video link for The Wind and The Wave — https://youtu.be/–zhov5kpbQ.

The show at the TLA with Butch Walker, which also features Suzanne Santo, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25.

On August 27, Fresh Cut Orchestra is bringing it all back to where it started — to the Painted Bride Art Center (230 Vine Street, Philadelphia, 215-925-9914, https://paintedbride.org).

Philadelphia’s Fresh Cut Orchestra is a large-ensemble collection of the city’s finest jazz talents. They convened for the first time in 2015 for their debut record “From the Vine,”
a live album recorded at the Painted Bride.

The music of the Fresh Cut Orchestra is an eclectic blend of “straight ahead” jazz, contemporary classical, progressive rock, hip hop, and modern electronica.

Fresh Cut Orchestra is co-led by trumpeter Josh Lawrence, bassist Jason Fraticelli and drummer Anwar Marshall, all equally lending their compositional voices to the band. The other seven members are Tim Conley (guitar and Ableton Live), Brent White (trombone),

Francois Zayas (percussion), Brian Marsella (piano), Matt Davis (guitar), Mark Allen (saxophone) and Mike Cemprola (saxophone).

“The three of them — Josh, Jason and Anwar — got put together by the Painted Bride Art Center’s Lenny Seidman,” said Conley, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from Fraticelli’s house in Phoenixville. “He wanted them to form a band and create new music.”

Seidman brought the three bandleaders together and gave them funding to produce an original work for large ensemble.

“Each of the three composed music and hand-picked the members of the band for what was supposed to be a one-off show,” said Conley, a Bucks County native who now lives in Los Angeles. “I had played with Jason in different bands for years. I had also played with Anwar and Francois. Philly has a tight-knit music community.”

Their first show in October 2012 was a sellout — and a rousing success. In 2013, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts awarded the band a residency. At the Kimmel, the three leaders wrote and performed a formidable array of new works — some involving a vocalist, Joanna Pascale — plus video art projections.

In November 2015,the band performed  “Life Mosaic: Reflection on Birth, Adolescence, Maturing, and Death.”  The piece, composed by Lawrence, Fraticelli, Marshall, and Conley, was written during their term as Jazz Residency Artists at the Kimmel Center in the 2013-14 Season and received its World Premiere in June 2014.

Fresh Cut Orchestra also received a Pew Center for Arts & Heritage grant that brought the band members into the studio where they recorded “From the Vine,” along with enough songs for another full-length.

On August 26, Ropeadope Records is releasing FCO’s “Mind Behind Closed Eyes,” a highly varied collection of pieces from the three composers. The album also marks the recorded début of Fraticelli on cuatro, a Puerto Rican stringed instrument similar to the Cuban tres.

“The songs on “Mind Behind Closed Eyes” were recorded in the original session,” said Conley. “We recorded a lot of songs and there were tracks that didn’t make it to the first album.

“We also added a few new things to the new album. Now, we’re going into the studio of Friday to record ‘Life Mosaic.’ We have rehearsals all day Thursday and we’ll record all day Friday.

“The show at the Painted Bride is a release party for ‘Mind Behind Closed Eyes.’ There will be two sets and the show will focus on songs from the new album along with tracks from the first album and ‘Mosaic.’

“The compositions in this band are pretty through-composed. But, every song has parts that feature soloists or parts where the band can improvise. There is a lot of creativity with this band.”

Video link for Fresh Cut Orchestra — https://youtu.be/LqhrULTlIuk.

The show at the Painted Bride Art Center will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of show.

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295, http://www.kennettflash.org) will host Sadhound, The Dispersions, and The POF on August 25; Seventh Sojourn – The Moody Blues Experience on August 26; Bert Lams (of California Guitar Trio) & Tom Griesgraber on August 27; and Bent Knee, Joe Trainor Trio, and Kenz & Kiera on August 30.

The Steel City Coffee House (203 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-933-4043, www.steelcitycoffeehouse.com) will host Carsie Blanton with the Rondo Rigs on August 26.

Chaplin’s (66 North Main Street, Spring City, 610-792-4110, http://chaplinslive.com) will have Seption, Jam Traffic, and Sky’s Edge on August 26 and Nothing Vital, CJ Dunleavy, Raquel & Ayva, and Owen Wallace on August 27.

Doc Watson’s Public House (150 North Pottstown Pike, Exton, 610-524-2424, docwatsonspublichouse.com) will present Habaneros on August 26 and the Tommy Froelich Trio on August 27.

The Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware, 302- 475-2313, www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org) is presenting the classic musical “Music Man” now through August 27.

Video link for “Music Man”  — https://youtu.be/p9VxoirCZHI.

Performances are Friday and Saturday evenings (doors 6 p.m./show, 8 p.m.) and Sunday afternoons (doors, 1 p.m./show, 3 p.m.). Tickets, which include dinner and show, are $59 for adults and $33 for children (ages 4-12).

Rainbow’s Comedy Playhouse (3065 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, 800-292-4301, http://www.rainbowcomedy.com) is presenting “Is There Life After 50?” now through October 29.

Video link for ‘Is Ther3e Life After 50?” — https://youtu.be/NDPqk3FrYgI?list=UUXwt-UjYRy3zJ2S0SozUXPA.

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. There will also be “Twilight Performances” on selected Sundays with dinner at 2:30 p.m. and the show at 4 p.m. Ticket prices range from $30-$55.