By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
This is a strange time for music fans who want to hear their favorite acts perform live.
Because of the restrictions necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, attending a live event is a “thing of the past.”
But that doesn’t mean that listeners no longer have access to “live” music. Many artists are performing alone and streaming their performances live.
Fortunately, the internet makes it possible for music and theater acts to deliver a live performance in one space and have fans around the world enjoy the performance in the comfort of their home.
Sure, it’s not the same as being there in person – feeling the vibes of the room, the crowd and the show — but it’s better than nothing.
And, you don’t have to deal with weather, getting to the show and back, hassling with finding an expensive parking space and buying overpriced drinks – and you don’t have to fork over any money for tickets.
There is a series of streamed performances that smartpukrecords has been presenting called “Smartpunk & Friends – Live on Instragram.”
On April 9, the final act on the four-act bill will feature Chester County’s Fred Mascherino and his band The Color Fred.
It gets underway at 3 p.m. with Mover Shaker followed by Absinthe the Father from 3:30-4 p.m. Taking Meds will take over from 4-4:30 p.m. and the The Color Fred will have the spotlight at 4:30 p.m.
The event will have @sjcdrums hosting, and @vans will be giving away another free pair of custom shoes. The link for the music is @sjcdrums.
The Color Fred is an indie-rock band headed by Mascherino, a former guitarist/vocalist for Taking Back Sunday. The Color Fred’s debut full-length album, “Bend to Break,” was released in October 2007 via Equal Vision Records. The album peaked at #8 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart. TCF toured the U.S., Canada and the U.K. The Color Fred released “The Intervention EP” in April 2009. The EP featured new and old songs performed acoustic, plus two home demos.
When Mascherino entered the studio to record the second TCF album, he began collaborating with his friends Josh Eppard (Coheed and Cambria) and Andy Jackson (Hot Rod Circuit) in what eventually became Terrible Things. That band released its self-titled debut album on Universal Motown. Mascherino then went on tour playing bass for The Lemonheads and guitar for Say Anything.
During that time, Mascherino was producing and writing for bands, eventually building his own studio, Diver Down. In late 2018, he decided to close the studio to the public and start recording his own music again.
Mascherino had been living at a house located between Coatesville and West Chester for a while but now is a resident of West Goshen.
“I moved here two years ago,” said Mascherino, during a recent phone interview. “I downsized a bit and turned the garage into a soundproof studio. I finished I about a year ago and then stared working on new music.
“I had been producing and writing for other bands for about the past 10 years. I played bass in the Lemonheads. I played guitar with Say Anything. And, I had a band called Terrible Things.
“This is The Color Fred, which is my solo project. The new single – ‘Don’t Give Up On Me’ – is the first thing under that name in 10 years. I did all the music on the record.
There are a number of Coatesville natives who have achieved international stardom and repeatedly expressed pride in their hometown. One of the first was Calvin Grove, who was a world champion boxer. Then, there was basketball star Rip Hamilton, who was one of the premier players in the NBA. Mascherino’s name also belongs on that list.
Mascherino has always had respect for his roots and pride in his hometown and it showed up in two tracks by Terrible Things.
“Steel Town” was inspired by the series of fires in Coatesville a few years ago. Another TT song – “Up at Night” – dealt with that period when they told residents to keep lights on at night. The lyrics talk about being able to see Coatesville from space that night.
“I grew up in Coatesville,” said Mascherino, who has a degree from Temple University in jazz performance/guitar.
“I have a history of referring to Coatesville in my songs. I’m proud of being from there. Some people don’t have a good impression of Coatesville, but I think it was a good place to grow up and is still a good place to live.”
Now, Mascherino has been developing an attachment to West Chester.
“My wife Elena opened up a vegan restaurant in West Chester,” said Mascherino, who was top-flight swimmer at Bishop Shanahan in the 1990s.
His wife’s restaurant is called Love Again Local (18 South Church Street, West Chester, www.loveagainlocal.com). It features a wide variety of vegan sandwiches, salads, daily specials and desserts.
“We’ve been vegans for 20 years,” said Mascherino. “Elena’s restaurant has been open for two years. It started when she had success making vegan cookies and evolved into a restaurant in downtown West Chester. We make a lot of the meats and cheeses ourselves.”
With organically developed The Color Fred music and fresh vegan food, Mascherino has become a natural success.
Unfortunately, Love Again Local has the following message posted on its website, “As of Tuesday, March 24, we are closed until further notice.
We’ve made this decision for the safety and wellbeing of our staff, customers, and community. Thank you for your continued love and support, we miss you all dearly! Xoxlal.”
Mascherino, The Color Fred and Love Local Again will all offer the message of the title of the band’s latest single – “Don’t Give Up On Me.”
Video link for The Color Fred — https://youtu.be/WcT-4wd-hVE.
The Ladybug Festival (https://theladybugfestival.com) has built a reputation for great festivals and other music events featuring the motto – “All Female, All Fun, All Free.” Now, it’s doing it digitally.
On April 10, the promoters will present a “Mini Digital Ladybug Fest” from 8-9:30 p.m. with another impressive lineup.
The music will start at 8 p.m. with Pittsburgh’s Alyssa Hankey followed by Philadelphia’s Alexandra Kay March. The Knotty G’s from Asheville N.C. will perform at 8:40 p.m. with Sweet Leda from Annapolis, Maryland as the closing act.
One of the most impressive performances over the weekend will take place on Easter Sunday (April 12).
Italian tenor and global music icon Andrea Bocelli will give a solo performance at the historic Duomo, the cathedral of Milan, Italy, by invitation of the City and of the cathedral, and thanks to the hospitality of the Archpriest and the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo.
“On the day in which we celebrate the trust in a life that triumphs, I’m honored and happy to answer ‘Sì’ to the invitation of the City and the Duomo of Milan”. This is how Andrea Bocelli said ‘yes’ to the City of Milan in this dark time that has wounded all of Italy.
There will be no audience present, and strictly no access for the public (in compliance with government regulations on Covid-19), but the concert will be exclusively streamed live globally on the tenor’s YouTube channel, (https://youtu.be/huTUOek4LgU) from 1 p.m. ET.
Andrea Bocelli
In a concert representing a message of love, healing and hope to Italy and the world, the Duomo,a national and international landmark, currently closed to all, will open its doors exceptionally for Bocelli who will be accompanied only by the cathedral organist, Emanuele Vianelli, playing one of world’s largest pipe organs.
The carefully selected pieces, specially arranged for solo voice and organ for the occasion, will include the well-loved “Ave Maria” setting by Bach/Gounod and Mascagni’s “Sancta Maria.”
Bocelli, with his Foundation, is currently involved in an emergency COVID-19 campaign. The Andrea Bocelli Foundation (ABF) has started a fundraiser to help hospitals purchase all the instrumentation and equipment necessary to protect their medical staff. It is possible to donate through the GoFundMe campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/wk67wc-abfxcamerino.
Video link for Andrea Bocelli — https://youtu.be/pwp1CH5R-w4.
Philadelphia Orchestra
A good source of live/virtual music is the Philadelphia Orchestra (www.philorch.org/virtual). Audiences can watch both past and previously unreleased Philadelphia Orchestra performances every Thursday night at 8 PM ET.
On April 9, the concert will be “Yannick and Bruckner” at 8 p.m. Philadelphia Orchestra conductor Yannick Nezét-Séguin conductor will present a program featuring Wagner’s “Siegfried Idyll” and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7
Every Friday and Saturday night at 8 PM ET, you can listen to previously unreleased audio of Philadelphia Orchestra concerts via Listen On Demand.
On April 10 at 8 p.m., it will be “St. Matthew Passion” performed in Verizon Hall on March 28, 2013 featuring “Bach The Passion According to St. Matthew.”
On April 11 at 8 p.m., it will be “Music of Faith” performed in Verizon Hall January 24, 2019 featuring Bernstein’s “Symphony No. 3 (“Kaddish”)” and Rossini’s “Stabat Mater.”
The Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera (www.metopera.org) is offering “Live Opera Streams” nightly with a schedule that this week includes Wagner’s “Parsifal” on April 9, Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” on April 10, Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” on April 11 and Mozart’s “Così fan tutte” on April 12.
Video link for Metropolitan Opera — https://www.metopera.org/discover/video/?videoName=cosi-fan-tutte-per-pieta-ben-mio-perdona&videoId=6132418621001.
National Public Radio (https://www.npr.org) is keeping music alive with its highly-regarded “Live Sessions” (https://livesessions.npr.org/live).
The spotlight will be on Jaime Wyatt on April 9 at 7 p.m. Video link for Jaime Wyatt — https://youtu.be/mFGI6EQU1X4.
Other shows this weekend will feature Aubrie Sellers on April 10 at 6 p.m. and Hamilton Leithauser on April 10 at 7 p.m.
Philadelphia’s Theatre Ariel (https://www.facebook.com/142855292419311/videos/214618226439141/) is bringing live theater to your living space starting with “Ethics of the Fathers!,” which ran earlier this month
If you missed the show when it was initially presented or want to watch again, visit this link — https://www.facebook.com/142855292419311/videos/214618226439141/
Future live stream performances include Jesse Bernstein’s newest play, “The Scribe.”
Other sites worth checking out for live music are The Violin Channel Presents (https://theviolinchannel.com), Lincoln Center (lincolncenter.org) presents “Lincoln Center from Home #ConcertsForKids” and Live from Our Living Rooms Jazz Festival (https://www.livefromourlivingrooms.com/).
The following is a daily schedule of where to go to find live goodies delivered to you personally – without the help of Amazon or GrubHub.
April 9
Columbia’s Livestreams continue on Instagram with Quinn XCII (6pm ET), Simxsantana (9pm ET) and Diplo (10pm ET). The Buckleys’ second virtual tour date set kicks off at 7:00 p.m. EDT, and can be streamed via their YouTube page. Pickathon Presents A Concert A Day is hosting Ex Hex at 1 p.m. PST on Facebook, Twitch and YouTube.
The schedule also includes UnCancelled Music Festival: Rett Madison, Tayor Ashton, Conscious Pilot and more from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. ET at UnCancelled Music Festival; Audio Assemble Plugged In Online Music Festival at 6:30 p.m. ET at Audio Assemble; Mikel Jollet of The Airborne Toxic Event at 1 p.m. at Instagram; Hayley Orrantia at 9:00 PM EDT at https://www.instagram.com/iam_jordanjames; X Ambassadors at 6:30 p.m. ET at Twitch; and Dirty Heads at 8 p.m. ET at Twitch.
The lineup for Thursday night also includes Melissa Etheridge at 5:45 p.m. ET at Facebook; and Colin Meloy of the Decemberists at KEXP / YouTube / Facebook; Margaret Glaspy at 4 p.m. ET at Facebook; Sarah Evans at 8:30 p.m. ET at Instagram; Americana Highways: Ordinary Elephant, Reckless Saints, Albert Cummings and Jon Latham at 7 p.m. ET at Facebook; Fruition at 7 p.m. ET at Facebook; Turkuaz at 5 p.m. ET at Facebook; and Bob Moses at 8 p.m. ET at YouTube.
April 10
Acclaimed Norwegian band KVELERTAK have announced plans for a special live stream show on April 10, dubbed “Live From Your Living Room.” The 60-minute set will be broadcast from the venue Artilleriverkstedet in Norway via this location at 3 p.m. ET. “Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert,” the documentary about the annual music festival, hits streaming services on the date it was originally supposed to open. Columbia’s Livestreams continue on Instagram with Quinn XCII (6pm ET), Chloe X Halle (8pm ET) and Diplo (11pm ET). DIY Mag’sDIYsolation Festival kicks off featuring more than 20 artists (Pale Waves, Self Esteem) over three days.
Overcoats’ JJ and Hana are hosting an IG Live series Friday Night Fights, where they perform songs, host game shows and more in lieu of their planned spring tour. The third virtual North American tour date set by The Buckleys kicks off at 4 p.m. EDT, and can be streamed via their YouTube page. Los Angeles-based indie rockers Sure Sure invite people inside their shared abode at 8 p.m. ET for their Home Home Tour. Freedom Fry will be hosting a “Homechella” at 8:30 p.m. PT to preview new songs. Pickathon Presents A Concert A Day is hosting Tyler Childers at 1 p.m. PST on Facebook, Twitch and YouTube.
The lineup also features Christian McBride + Melissa Walker: Jazz House KiDS’ Friday Night Listening Party at 8 p.m. ET at Facebook / Zoom; Audio Assemble Plugged In Online Music Festival at 6:30 p.m. ET at Audio Assemble; Lukas Nelson at 7 p.m. ET at YouTube; Americana Highways: Jana Pochop and Shawnee Kilgore, Mike Frazier, Ted Russell Kamp and Jerry Castle at 7 p.m. ET at Facebook; Insomnium and Omnium Gatherum at noon ET at East Coast Events; Frankie Cosmos at 9 p.m. ET at Instagram; Melissa Etheridge at 5:45 p.m. ET at Facebook; Hayley Orrantia at 1 p.m. EDT at https://www.instagram.com/iam_jordanjames; Overcoats at 8:30 p.m. at Instagram; and Hayleau at 8:01 p.m. ET at Instagram;
April 11
Facebook Live will be hosting Human to Human, a benefit event from noon to midnight ET. Confirmed performances include Alec Bejanim, Andrew McMahon, Butch Walker, Grouplove, Hunter Hayes, Jensen McRae, Jewel, Lauren Daigle, Lucie Silvas, Nicolas Petricca (Walk The Moon), Sam Nelson Harris (X Ambassadors), Skylar Grey, Tim McIlrath (Rise Against), Tori Kelly and more. Proceeds from the event will benefit PLUS1’s COVID-19 Relief Fund working in conjunction with MusiCares and Sweet Relief. Viewers will be to contribute via Facebook’s Donate feature or by texting PLUS1H2H to 50155.
Farm Aid teams up with AXS TV to broadcast At Home With Farm Aid, featuring performances by Farm Aid Board Members Willie Nelson (joined by his sons Lukas and Micah), John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews. Broadcast starts at 8 p.m. ET on AXS TV and FarmAid.org. The Grammy Museum is releasing its digital public program with Tanya Tucker, Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings here.
LIVIT will be hosting a virtual concert, Wi-FEST, at 6 p.m. PST with powerful performances by rising talent Shalom Dubas, Emani 22, KoraTheArtist and more. All proceeds from Wi-FEST will be going to WHO and United Nations Foundation. Columbia’s Livestreams continue on Instagram with Lennon Stella (5pm ET) and Diplo (11pm ET). Pickathon Presents A Concert A Day is hosting Charles Bradley at 1 p.m. PST on Facebook, Twitch and YouTube.
Saturday’s other featured shows are Nether Meant Festival: American Football, Anamanaguchi, Skylar Spence, Baths, more at Minecraft; Fred Hersch at 1 p.m. ET at Facebook; Tanya Tucker, Brandi Carlile and Shooter Jennings at 2 p.m. ET at Grammy Museum; Michael McDermott at 4 p.m. ET at Stage It: “7 Deaths of Maria Callas” at 12:30 p.m. ET at Bavariand Staatsoper; Audio Assemble Plugged In Online Music Festival at 6:30 p.m. ET at Audio Assemble; Jaden Smith at 8:01 p.m. ET at Instagram; Harry Hudson at 7:40 p.m. ET at Instagram; and Ike Reilly at 9 p.m. ET at https://www.facebook.com/events/560369894589439;
April 12
Los Angeles-based indie rockers Sure Sure invite people inside their shared abode at 8 p.m. ET for their Home Home Tour, with tickets available here. Pickathon Presents A Concert A Day is hosting Tank & the Bangas at 1 p.m. PST on Facebook, Twitch and YouTube. You can also watch and listen to Nadia Reid at 6 a.m. ET at Zoom and Avi Kaplan at noon at YouTube.
April 13
The Grammy Museum is releasing its digital public program with Common here. Pickathon Presents A Concert A Day is hosting Damien Jurado at 1 p.m. PST on Facebook, Twitch and YouTube and Lukas Nelson is on at 7 p.m. ET at YouTube
April 14
The Seder Stream Music Festival, curated by Kosha Dillz with the nonprofit Value Culture, will include Passover performances from Southern Avenue, Kosha Dillz, Howi Spangler of Ballyhoo!, Flavia, Verbs and Devmo, Bud. E. Luv, Ray Goren, DJ Vala Nirenberg, Black Crystal Wolf Kids and more. It runs from noon to 9 p.m. PT and will raise funds for charities of the artists’ choosing.
Los Angeles-based indie rockers Sure Sure invite people inside their shared abode at 8 p.m. ET for their Home Home Tour, with tickets available here. Pickathon Presents A Concert A Day is hosting People Under the Stairs at 1 p.m. PST on Facebook, Twitch and YouTube.
April 15
The Grammy Museum is releasing its digital public program with Alice Merton here. Avi Kaplan will be streaming “Full Moon” live from YouTube Space LA at 9 a.m. PST here. Pickathon Presents A Concert A Day is hosting DakhaBrakha at 1 p.m. PST on Facebook, Twitch and YouTube.
Finally, to end on an optimistic note, here’s a link to video just made by Karen Gross, a nationally-acclaimed singer from Bucks County – “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” (sung with a rainbow in the background) —https://www.facebook.com/karen.gross.18/videos/pcb.10157663622943411/10157663619493411/?type=3&theater.
