On Stage (Extra): Bobby Rush isn’t slowing down

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times

The singer who is headlining the show on October 16 at the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com) released his first single in 1952. Now, 64 years have gone by and he’s in no rush to make his final single. But, he’s always in a rush – he’s Bobby Rush.

The veteran bluesman is now in his 80s and is showing no signs of slowing down. He just released his new album “Porcupine Meat” in September on Rounder Records.

Without a doubt, Rush is not your typical octogenarian.

At age 82, he exudes the energy of a 20-year-old and is performing on the road for more than 200 dates a year. His hectic tour schedule has earned him the affectionate title
“King of the Chitlin’ Circuit.” Rush has traveled the globe including Japan and Beirut. In 2007, he earned the distinction of being the first blues artist to play at the Great Wall of China. His renowned stage act features his famed shake dancers, who personify his funky blues and the ribald humor that he has cultivated during the course of his storied career.

“I’ve been in it for more than 60 years and I’ve made 377 records,” said Rush, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from a tour stop in Warwick, Rhode Island.

Born Emmet Ellis, Jr. in Homer, Louisiana, he adopted the stage name Bobby Rush out of respect for his father, a pastor. According to Rush, his parents never talked about the blues being the devil’s music.

According to Rush, “My daddy never told me to sing the blues, but he also didn’t tell me to not sing the blues. I took that as a green light.”

Rush grew up in Louisiana and still lives in the Delta Blues area – Jackson, Mississippi.

“I grew up with the blues,” said Rush. “I moved to Chicago in the early 1950s. I was making blues with musicians like B.B. King, Howling Wolf and Muddy Waters. My first 45 was ‘Do The Do’ – ‘do what you did to me last night.’ Making music in the 50s was really tough but I loved doing it.

“I came from a place where we didn’t have the freedom to go where we go now. It’s bene a great thing that people have accepted me for who I am. I’ve always said – let’s deal with what we have in this life and try to make it better.

“I was only making $12 a month on my first job. In 1953, I was making $7.50 a night as a band leader and, at times, I had to give some of that to a guitarist.

“It’s been a joyous trip – good times and bad times. I didn’t get in it for the money. The biggest thing has been my love of the music. I would do it for free. I’ve just loved what I’m doing. I didn’t care if it was liked by black people or by white people.

“I played the music for myself. I just kept playing Bobby Rush. I played a lot of juke joints – including white clubs for white audiences. In the white clubs, I played behind a curtain. They wanted to hear me but they didn’t want to see me.”

Now, Rush is world famous for his music and has had a long career of performing for people of all shapes, sizes, colors and nationalities.

“I’ve been pretty blessed,” said Rush. “I’ve been playing 200 shows a year for 50 years and I’m still doing it. I’d definitely say I’ve been blessed.”

Video link for Bobby Rush — https://youtu.be/q1qiJjef_Mw?t=13.

The show at the Sellersville Theater will start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 and $45.

Another artist who has been making music for a long time will be on stage in the area on October 16 when the World Café Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com) presents Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers. The following night, the venue will host singer/songwriter John Paul White.

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers (RCPM) are on tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Refreshments’ (predecessor to RCPM) album “Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy” by performing the album front-to-back.

Formed in 1992, The Refreshments released their major label debut “Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy” on Mercury Records in 1996. That album produced the hit “Banditos” and generated a corps of loyal fans who have stuck with the band for more than two decades. The single also found a niche in pop culture history as the theme song to Fox’s animated show “King of the Hill.”

The Refreshments disbanded in 1998 and re-emerged with several of the original members as Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers — the only act to release seven consecutive studios albums to land on the top 10 of Billboard’s Internet Sales Chart. They may also be the only rock band in America with their own tequila brand — Mexican Moonshine.

This year, Universal Records released “Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy” on vinyl and a tribute record is forthcoming. Miles Neilson and Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers premiered the first cover of “Blue Collar Suicide,” on Diffuser.fm in May and The Yawpers recently covered “European Swallow”. Additional covers/singles are coming from Alice Cooper, Lydia Loveless, and Richard Christy.

Dubbed the “Springsteen of the Southwest” by the Asbury Park Press, Clyne and his guitar have toured around the world over his 20-year career, starting with The Refreshments and now with the Peacemakers.

“We’ve been touring this all year and finished on October 1,” said Clyne, during a phone interview Monday morning from a tour stop in Kansas City, Missouri. “We started up again on October 7. I was home with just enough time to wash the laundry, hug the kids and get back on the bus.

“We’ve dedicated this year – February to December — to this tour. When we come to a town for the first time, we play the album. The second time – we’ll play more of our catalogue.

“This is the first time for Philly on this tour. We’ll begin the set with the 12 songs from the album. Then, we’ll take a brief break – just a pause to let it echo into the distance –and then go into other material.

“When we were rehearsing for the tour, we tried to capture the original feel of the record. ‘Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy’ was our first national release – on Mercury Records. It was the first to get us out of Arizona. It was the first to get us to the East Coast. It’s a beloved record.”

Clyne reflected on the time when the album was made.

“It was really exciting,” said Clyne, whose home base is Tempe, Arizona.

“It was my very first studio time with a good producer. We slowed our tempos down and got more atmospheric. In the end, it still stands the test of time. It doesn’t sound like it’s from the 90s. We wanted it to be timeless.”

After a lineup shift in The Refreshments in 1998, front man/guitarist/songwriter Clyne and drummer Paul “P.H.” Naffah restructured the band and became Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers.

“Ever since the Peacemakers formed, we’ve kept a lot of songs from The Refreshments,” said Clyne. “I never want to abandon some of those songs that I wrote.”

Video link for Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers — https://youtu.be/c849UIHEOmk?t=2.

The show at the World Café Live will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20.

On October 17, fans at the World Café Live will be treated to the pleasant “Southern Folk” of John Paul White. Many music fans first became aware of White’s talents from his work in the duo The Civil Wars.

White released his debut solo album “The Long Goodbye” in 2008. The following year White joined Joy Williams to form The Civil Wars. The duo won the 2012 Grammy Awards for “Best Folk Album” and “Country Performance by a Duo or Group.” White, is a co-owner of Single Lock Records, released his new album “Beulah” on the label back in August.

“With our label, we sign artists who really love what they do – and artists who we think people will like,” said White, during a phone interview Tuesday morning from a tour stop in Manhattan. We do one-record deals. It’s really about keeping the costs down.”

White knows the music industry – especially from spending many years as a writer in Nashville.

“I was writing songs professionally for about 15 years – 9-5 writing,” said White. “It’s a strange existence. It’s like a muscle you learn to flex. I could turn it on and off.

“When I was writing songs for my first solo album, I was kind of miserable. I was writing what I thought other people would like to sing. Then, I decided to write for me. As soon as I started doing that, people started using my songs. I got attention and I signed a deal with Capitol Records.”

After a stint as part of The Civil Wars for a few years, White is back on his own as a solo artist. The first result of that decision is “Beulah.” “Beulah” is a diverse collection of swampy southern rock, folk balladry and dark acoustic pop, songs that came unbidden to White.

“I really wasn’t looking to do an album.,” said White. “I was happy being a husband, dad and label owner. But, these songs kept popping into my head. I couldn’t get them to go away. I tried to avoid them, but then I realized the only way I was going to get rid of them was if I wrote them down. One day I told my wife — I think I’m going to go write a song.”

And, that started the ball rolling.

“After I wrote the songs, I started recording them,” said White. “After I recorded them, I wanted people to hear them. There was a need for interaction. I’m extremely happy with the results.”

Video link for John Paul White — https://youtu.be/GYBaUU34iy4?t=7.

The show at the World Café Live, which has The Kernal as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20.

There will be another concert in Philadelphia on October 16 featuring another band from Arizona band when Kongos headline a show at the Electric Factory (421 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia, 215-627-1332, www.electricfactory.info).

The band from Phoenix features four brothers — Johnny (accordion, keyboards, vocals), Jesse (drums, percussion, vocals), Daniel (guitar, vocals), and Dylan Kongos (bass guitar, lap slide guitar, vocals).

“I was 14 or 15 when the band started – and I’m the youngest,” said Danny Kongos. “My brother Johnny was the oldest and he was 20 or 21. In 2007, we did our fittest album. That’s when we started taking it more seriously. Now, we’ve been on the road since 2014.”

The brothers spent their childhoods in London, England and Johannesburg, South Africa. They ended up in Phoenix, Arizona and attended Arizona State University. The four men are the sons of recording artist John Kongos.

“I was born in South Africa in 1988 and the other three were born in London,” said Kongos. “We moved back to South Africa to be with my dad’s mom. We were in Johannesburg for eight years and then moved back to the states. We’re half Greek so we went to a Hellenic school in South Africa.”

With a heritage that also includes a Mexican influence, the brothers have a lot of diversity in their make-up. But, there are no traces of South African, Mexican or Greek influence in the music they make. The brothers simply rock.

The film “Holy Motors” and the video games “Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel” and “Payday 2” used their song “Come with Me Now” in their official trailers. WWE also used this song as the theme for their 2014 pay-per-view event “Extreme Rules.” It is also the theme song for the Australian version of reality television series “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!” since 2015. It was used in the soundtrack to the movie “The Expendables 3” and for the trailer to the automotive show “The Grand Tour.”

“Those placements were huge,” said Kongos. “They gave us a lot of exposure. And, ‘Come With Me Now’ became A RADIO HIT.’

The band’s debut album “Kongos” came out in 2007 and the brothers followed with “Lunatic” in 2012.

Released in June via Epic Records, “Egomaniac” — the band’s third full-length album and second major-label release — features the lead single “Take It From Me,” which reached Top 10 at Alternative radio this summer and was performed on NBC’s Today show, and a new single “The World Would Run Better.”

“The biggest change in the band over the years is that we’ve now got a sense of what works with the audience – and we’ve all started writing a lot more,” said Kongos.

 “We cater to the live show. We try to keep a decent mix of what people want from ‘Lunatic’ but we’re more excited about the new stuff. We don’t play anything from the first album.”

Video link for Kongos – https://youtu.be/QLN-a2w568M?t=7.

The show at the Electric Factory, which also features The Joy Formidable and Arkells, will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.

There will be a real international flavor at another Philly show on October 16 when Locos Por Juana play a concert Connie’s Ric Rac (1132 South Ninth Street, Philadelphia, http://conniesricrac.com).

Locos Por Juana released its new album “Caribe” earlier this month. On “Caribe,” the talented musicians take their music back to the Caribbean, connecting their hometown of Miami with everything from soca to champeta. The Miami masters of Pan-Latin hybrid sounds are also heavily influenced by reggae and other island sounds. “Caribe” features collaborations with ChocQuibTown, Talib Kweli, Collie Buddz, Jorge Villamizar, Rocky Dawuni, Akae Beka (formally Midnite), and Notch.

The band was formed in Miami, Florida in 2000. Locos Por Juana features vocalist Itawe Correa, bassist Dave Pransky, guitarist Mark Kondrat and drummer Javier Delgado as the nucleus of the group along with trombonist Lasim Richards and percussionist Carlos Palmet.

“We put the band together 15 years ago – right after high school,” said Correa, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from his home in Miami. “It was just a dream of making music and doing something positive.

“Javier, our drummer, is a jazz musician from Barranquilla, Colombia – the cradle of cumbia. Our guitarist Mark is from Virginia and is of Colombian descent. His dad is from the Ukraine and his mom is from Colombia. I’m from Medellin, Colombia. My dad was a musician who played in a lot of salsa bands. Dave is from Vermont. He’s the American in the band.”

Locos Por Juana was there at the start of this latest, party-friendly but wildly intelligent wave of Miami bands. With their hybrid tendencies, the fiery musicians prompted a change in the Latin scene. They broke new ground by putting lesser-known rhythms and styles — many from several of the band members’ homeland of Colombia — into bright contrast with familiar Latin or mainstream sounds. Electronic elements and Afrobeat, the glittering guitar of soukous and the catchiness of soca, pop sheen and rock grit have all found their place in the mix. Yet the heart that beats behind it all is African.

According to Correa, “The music of Locos Por Juana will always have an African base, because of the heavy influences and the beauty. Our sound is always going to be based in Africa.”

The music has African roots but it is delivered in Pan-African and Pan-Caribbean style.

“Our music is a big gumbo that is so diverse,” said Correa. “Our music is for everybody. There are no language barriers. It’s a feeling. People dance. Our new album is the first bi-lingual album we’ve made. It has great energy – and something for everybody.”

Video link for Locos Por Juana — https://youtu.be/PJLoaYyGuVM?t=77

The show at Connie’s Ric Rac will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12.

Two weeks ago, 11-time Billboard chart-topping rap duo Twiztid embarked on its 2016 fall tour, the “Spooktacular Horror Show.” The massive tour will visit more than 30 cities and will include a local date on October 17 at the Trocadero (10th and Arch streets, Philadelphia, 215-922-6888, www.thetroc.com). Joining Twiztid on stage will be live drummer Drayven of Davey Suicide/Static X/Genitorturers, who has previously performed behind the kit as drummer for The Wickedness, Twiztid’s full live band.

Formed in 1997, Twiztid is a duo featuring Jamie Madrox and Monoxide Child (a.k.a. Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric). The two former members of the group House of Krazees departed that group and formed Twiztid in 1997.

Now, almost 20 years later, Twiztid is still going strong with more than 20 albums in their catalogue. The two rappers’ most recent album is “The Darkness,” which was released on their own label Majik Ninja in January.

 “The Darkness” debuted at Number 29 on the Billboard Top 200 charts, making this album their 11th album to land on the Top 200 charts since the inception of the group in 1997. It hit Number 2 on Top Rap Album Chart, Number 4 on Top Independent Album Chart and Number 17 on Top Albums Chart.

“It debuted in the Top 30,” said Monoxide. “That was insane.

“This is our passion. Every record has its time and some are ahead of their time,” said Madrox, during a recent phone interview. “We’ll never been content. We saw a lane open up and we took it. We finally have our own studio so we can work when we want. We recorded ‘The Darkness’ in three weeks. We’re extremely efficient in the studio because we were used to doing albums quickly because to the high cost of renting a studio.

“We knew the beats but nothing was written and we had no concept. We just went in and designed it. Once you get the concept, it’s pretty much just putting it all together. We finished the songs and then went to the chalk board and picked the order for the songs to be on the album.”

“The Darkness” was Twiztid’s first album on its own label Majik Ninja. Prior to that, the duo released its albums on Psychopathic Records, a label run by Insane Clown Posse. “Freek Show,” which was the duo’s second record for Psychopathic, was released October 31, 2000.

The album, which peaked at #51 on the Billboard 200, featured 18 intense tracks such as “Mutant X,” “We Don’t Die,” “Leace Me Alone,” “Wut tha Ded Like,” “Where itz Goin’ Down,” “Empty,” “Maniac Killa,” “Different” and “I’m Allright.”

Now, Twiztid is getting ready to unleash a new batch of songs – the duo’s 12^th album “The Continuous Evilution Of Life’s ?’s.”

“The new album will drop on January 27,” said Madrox. “What I like about the new one – we didn’t have any boundaries. We did songs we like to do.

“It wasn’t about doing what was expected of anyone. We catered to ourselves and we had a great time in the studio. I feel this time around there is a nice blend of everything. There is something for everyone – even if they didn’t know they wanted it.

“It was taking shape for a year out. The writing was different. Usually, it was one of three ways – one, Monoxide and I would hear a beat and write it on the spot; two, we’d write separately; three, I’d write a song ‘ith no music and sing it to him. This time, we worked together more.”

“The Continuous Evilution Of Life’s?’s” will feature 12 all new tracks, primarily produced by longtime Twiztid producer Seven. However, the new album features four tracks with a clear hard rock influence — a crossover genre the duo has successfully dabbled in for over a decade. These tracks were produced by famed goth rock frontman Davey Suicide and his keyboardist Needlz.

“At least three of the songs are hard rock,” said Madrox. “And, there is the darkness we bring. And, there were some tracks where we went with the idea of what Twiztid would be like if we weren’t there.”

Video link for Twiztid — https://youtu.be/oTb_F_pr2E4?t=3.

The “Spooktacular Horror Show” tour, which features special guests Mac Lethal, Zodiac Mprint (Blaze and The R.O.C.), Lex The Hex Master, Menage 2 Sobriety and Godz Of Kaos, will start at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $28.

There will be a wide array of live music on tap on October 18 including the metalcore music of Memphis May Fire, the math-rock sounds of Cinemechanica and the avant-garde adventures of Thor and Friends.

Thor & Friends make music unlike what you’ve probably ever heard before.

The band, which will perform on October 18 at Johnny Brenda’s (1201 North Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-739-9684, www.johnnybrendas.com), has a trio as its nucleus — Peggy Ghorbani on marimba, Sarah Gautier on mallet instruments, keyboards and voice, and Thor Harris on percussion, reeds and electric hammer dulcimer.

Harris had been the long-time percussionist for Swans but departed Michael Gira’s experimental band in search of a change.

 “A couple promoters in San Antonia and Montreal wanted me to do solo shows,” said Harris, during a phone interview Tuesday morning from his home in Austin, Texas.

“I did one in Montreal and found it terrifying. I was playing marimba and vibraphone onstage by myself. For my san Antonio show, I taught my girlfriend Peggy to play marimba and then got a violin player to join.

“I had been touring with Michael Gira a long time. I started with Angels of Light in 1996 and then in the newly-reformed Swans in 2010. A little while ago, I opted out of the touring cycle. I wanted to hear something that wasn’t bass, drums and distorted guitar.

“Instead, I went with huge melodic percussion instruments – vibraphone, xylophone and a 4.5-octave marimba. We might even bring tubular bells on this tour – if they’ll fit. I also have violin and a guy playing Wurlitzer.”

The music made by Thor and friends is both complex and melodic and, at the same time, simple and minimalistic.

“It’s based in the mid-60s minimalists – Steve Reich, Terry Riley, Charlemagne Palestine and Philip Glass,” said Harris. “I like music that is repetitive and hypnotic. I like a lot of electronic music – new and old.

“This band has a set line-up. But, when we play in Austin or in New York, there are about 10 of us on stage. The compositions are simple and repetitive so I can teach them to people easily.”

The band’s debut album “Thor & Friends” was released on October 7.

“Heather (Trost) and Jeremy (Barnes) of A Hawk & A Hacksaw asked me to come to their studio in Albuquerque to make the record,” said Harris. “So, me and Peggy and Sarah went to New Mexico. We recorded the album in February 2016 and it just came out. One of the reasons for threw long time gap was that we released it on vinyl and it takes so long to manufacture vinyl.

“In our live show, we’re doing some tracks from the album – ‘Crusades,’ ‘Whose Fingers’ and ‘White Sands.’ And, we’re doing some new pieces as well.  We’ve already started recording a new album.”

Video link for Thor & Friends — https://youtu.be/BYFOhfczjEU?t=4.

The show at Johnny Brenda’s, which also features Adam Torres and Lowercase Roses, will start at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12.

On October 18, Cinemechanica will headline a show at Boot and Saddle (1131 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, 215-639-4528, www.bootandsaddlephilly.com).

Cinemechanica, which is based in Athens, Georgia, is centered around the constant trio of guitarist Bryant Williamson, bassist Joel Hatstat, and drummer Mike Albanese. The fourth member now is Bryan Aiken on guitar and vocals.

The band has been anything but prolific with its recorded output. The group formed in 2002 and didn’t release its debut album “The Martial Arts” until 2006. There was an EP in 2008 and then nothing until the newly-released “LP/2.”

“We made the first album and then started touring,” said Hatstat. “The band’s next record was the EP called ‘Rivals.’ I had left the band by then and had taken over a friend’s recording studio.

“They had recorded the EP somewhere else and it didn’t turn out that good. So, they came to me to mix it. That set the path for me to rejoin the band. Bryant and Mike had started up another band Bit Brigade that did a soundtrack for a Nintendo game and Mike had joined a band called Maserati. Cinemechanica ended up in the back. We never really stopped the band. Basically, life just got in the way.

“We got back together and began making the new album in January 2014 at a studio in Louisville. We made a good record. But then we listened to it and it didn’t sound right. We weren’t in good spirits as a band. So, we just sat on it for a while. Eventually, we just decided to finish it. After the album was done, our vocalist at the time Jordan Olivera texted us ‘I’m not in the band anymore.’ So, we had to hold the recording process. We got Bryan Aiken as our new vocalist, changed the vocals and here we are.”

Video link for Cinemechanica – https://youtu.be/u5eWt79mLKA?t=4.

The show at Boot and Saddle, which also features Cheap Dinosaurs and Tiny Vices, will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Memphis May Fire was formed in 2006 and has gone through a number of personnel changes. The band, which has had a stable line-up for the last four years, is currently on tour and will release its fourth full-length “This Light I Hold” on October 28 on Rise Records. The tour brings them to Philly for a show Tuesday night at the Electric Factory (421 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia, 215-627-1332, www.electricfactory.info).

The current line-up of Memphis May Fire includes Matty Mullins (Vocals), Kellen McGregor (Lead Guitar), Jake Garland (Drums), Anthony Sepe (Guitar) and Cory Elder (Bass).

“The band originally formed in Dallas,” said Mullins, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. “Members were added through the internet – through My Space. They held vocal auditions over the internet. They went through more than 180 auditions for a singer and were ready to call it quits. When they got my audition, they called me. I flew to Dallas, sang for 30 minutes and that was it.”

Mullins has been with the band since 2008. The only member with a longer tenure is McGregor, the only member left from the original line-up.

“Three of us live in Nashville now and the other two in Orlando,” said Mullins. “This is the best line-up we’ve ever had. You can really hear it on the new album.

“We were in the studio for about four months. We recorded it in Phoenix with Matt Good. It was the first time we worked with him. It was a good choice because he’s so new and fresh. We wanted someone with a perspective that wasn’t the same old thing. We cut the tracks at his studio Good Sound.

“But, I did the vocals at a different studio in Phoenix with Cameron Mizell. He’s done my vocals on most of my previous albums.”

The process obviously was a successful one.

“We went in with 13 tracks expecting to cut a few,” said Mullins. “But, we kept all 13. The sound is more real – especially the way they did the guitars. They captured the tones and did some really cool stuff. It came out cleaner.

“I’m still screaming but I’m actually singing quite a lot more. We wanted a more mature sound that reflected the band’s maturity. I love singing. If I could, I’d never scream again – but, that’s not what our fans want. I do have a solo project that is all clean.”

Video link for Memphis May Fire — https://youtu.be/01BzeeoBXuI?t=2.

More metal music will be on tap on October 19 when Attila brings its “The Noise Presents Attila: The Chaos Tour” to the Theatre of the Living Arts (334 South Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1011, http://www.lnphilly.com).

Attila — Chris “Fronz” Fronzak (vocals), Chris Linck (guitar), Kalan Blehm (bass), Sean Heenan (drums) – had its start in Atlanta and released its debut album “Fallacy” in 2007. The band has never gone more than two years without an album release and is now on its ninth LP “Chaos,” which is due out later this year.

“This tour starts on October 18 in Charlotte and will be out for about a month,” said Fronzak, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon from his home in Orlando, Florida. “The album actually gets released on November 4 on SharpTone Records.

“Some of the songs were written in a live environment and then there was some tweaking in the studio. None of the songs have been played in concert. This will be the first time people get to hear the songs. This is our first U.S. tour this year. We did Europe, Japan and the U.K.

“We actually have already released three songs. There were ‘Ignite’ and ‘Public Apology.’ The latest was ‘Bulletproof’ and we have a video for that one.”

The veteran musicians took their time making “Chaos.”

“We were in L.A. all summer recording at Grey Area Studio with producer Erik Ron,” said Fronzak. “We wanted a new producer that had a fresh outlook on the band – a producer that was very hands-on. He was very hands-on – and very vocal-oriented.

“One of the big differences is that there is a little bit of clean vocals sprinkled in the album. I just want to expand and push the limits. The whole reason I became a vocalist is to be diverse. With dirty vocals, I don’t know how long a voice can last doing this. I don’t feel like I’m killing myself.

“When the album was done, it was done. We were happy with it. We took a long time on it. We weren’t rushed at all like we had been in the past. We did five albums in six years. I think this album is such high quality that we can tour on it for two years.”

Video link for Attila – https://youtu.be/awR-DQpibw8?t=29.

The show at TLA, which also features Chelsea Grin, Emmure, Sylar, and Virals, will start at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20.

Another show in Philly on October 19 will have a totally different vibe. There will be a New Orleans flavor in the music when Dirty Bourbon River Show plays at the Barbary (Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, www.facebook.com/thebarbary).

The Dirty Bourbon River Show features Noah Adams (vocals, piano, guitar, accordion, trumpet), Matt Thomas (vocals, tenor and baritone saxophone, clarinet), Jimmy Williams (bass, sousaphone), Dane “Bootsy” Schindler (drums), Sandra Love (back-up vocals, percussion, wind toys), and Adam Lessnau (back-up vocals, trombone).

The band deftly melds sounds that range from hard-edged blues to Lisztian piano-driven ballads to New Orleans brass — all into a blast of creative energy. Since forming in early 2009, the Dirty Bourbon River Show has released nine studio albums and played over 750 live shows — earning a stellar reputation along the way for its tight, multi-faceted sound and high-energy performances.

“Originally in 2009, it was just a bunch of guys playing music together at Loyola University,” said Thomas, during a phone interview Monday evening as the band traveled through New Jersey to a show in New York. “We threw a band together for a gig at Tipitina’s – as part of the club’s ‘Homegrown Series.’ Things went well from there. We recorded a couple albums and started touring in the spring of 2011.

“The band grew in number and went through some personnel changes over the years. Now, we’re back to five and leaning more heavily on the New Orleans brass band sound.

‘Our music still is kind of a big mix of things. Earlier, there was a bit more Americana and there always has been a jazz element and a rock and roll element. We had more of an operatic singer for a while but he left and Noah took over the vocals. We’ve gone through some changes but we’re a good, solid five-piece band now.”

The Dirty Bourbon River Show is currently touring in support of its latest album “Important Things Humans Should Know”.

“This is our ninth album in seven years and there’s been no live album yet,” said Thomas. “We have a lot of studio songs we’re working through. There will be some brass band, some Latin, some dance, some funk. We always draw inspiration from what we’re listening to.

“We’re going to have the new album out in spring 2017. We recorded everything last August at Esplanade Studio here in New Orleans. We’re starting to talk about release date and tour support for the album now. We’ve spent a lot of time in the last few years touring and expanding our circle.”

Video link for Dirty Bourbon River Show – https://youtu.be/eDnO3US-JcY?t=4.

The show at the Barbary, which also features The Late Saints, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $7.