{"id":24578,"date":"2018-03-03T12:27:29","date_gmt":"2018-03-03T17:27:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chescotimes.com\/?p=24578"},"modified":"2018-03-03T12:27:34","modified_gmt":"2018-03-03T17:27:34","slug":"on-stage-two-dynamic-women-headline-this-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/?p=24578","title":{"rendered":"On stage: Two dynamic women headline this weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff,<\/strong> Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

LP<\/p><\/div>\n

Two very impressive female-fronted rock acts will be sharing a bill on March 3 at the Theatre of the Living Arts (334 South Street, Philadelphia, 215-922-1011, http:\/\/www.lnphilly.com<\/a>) \u2013 and both queer-friendly artists have cryptic names.<\/p>\n

For older music fans, LP refers to an album with LP taking its name from \u201cLong Player.\u201d Current music fans, on the other hand, know that LP refers to one of the most dynamic rockers making music today. LP derives her moniker from her given name \u2013 Laura Pergolizzi.<\/p>\n

There are plenty of cunning cats but there is only one Kat Cunning. The versatile singer\/actress\/dancer shortened her name Katrina Cunningham to Kat Cunning.<\/p>\n

LP is now touring in support of her latest album, \u201cLost On You,\u201d which was released May 2017 via BMG\/Vagrant. It is her fourth studio album.<\/p>\n

Executive produced by Mike Del Rio (Christina Aguilera, X Ambassadors) and including several tracks co-written by Nate Campany (Tove Lo, Carly Rae Jepsen, Martin Garrix), \u201cLost On You\u201d is soulful, bluesy and powerful. The album included the #1 most Shazam\u2019d song in the world at the time — \u201cLost On You\u201d in late 2016.<\/p>\n

In September 2015, the song \u201cMuddy Waters.\u201d the first single from the new album was released. In June 2016, the song was featured in the violent and emotionally-charged closing scene of the season four finale of Netflix<\/a>\u2019s original series \u201cOrange Is The New Black<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI already had a bunch of songs before I went into the studio,\u201d said LP, during a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. \u201cI got on a writing tear. And, I had others in the pipeline. At the end of summer 2016, I started writing a bunch more.<\/p>\n

\u201c When I\u2019m writing a record, it takes on a life of its own. I like to keep a different landscape. I might have three or four songs and then a few more will come.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn review, I wrote the album from a viewpoint of a breakup I had. It was very personal and deeply emotional. As I\u2019ve gotten more established, my fans expect more emotional things from me. My body of work has been well-received. I believe that a body of work builds. Fans hear older songs they love. It builds on itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

LP\u2019s previous albums were \u201cHeart-Shaped Scar\u201d in 2001, \u201cSuburban Sprawl & Alcohol\u201d in 2004 and \u201cForever for Now\u201d in 2014. She also has released three EPs \u2013 \u201cInto the Wild\u201d in 2012 and \u2018Spotify Sessions\u201d and \u201cDeath Valley\u201d in 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t go back to the early stuff in my live shows,\u201d said LP. \u201cI do go back to \u2018Into the Wild\u2019 and I play some songs from \u2018Forever for Now.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cSongs come to me. I think sometimes for me, I get them in a surprise attack. I have a real pop sensibility \u2013 even with the tone of my voice. I do what feels right to me. If you like it, you like it\u2026if you don\u2019t, you don\u2019t. My music has spun its own thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have two new songs I\u2019m playing in my set and they\u2019re getting really nice response. I don\u2019t play new songs until they\u2019re fairly hard done. It\u2019s always an interesting time when you\u2019re not releasing new stuff.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not releasing anything new right now. I\u2019m working on an album and I\u2019ll have a single out in a couple months. But, for right now, my show is a rock show and I\u2019m still enjoying playing the old stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for LP — https:\/\/youtu.be\/330Ge5WFaFA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Kat Cunning<\/p><\/div>\n

Kat Cunning is a singer-songwriter, choreographer and actress. The queer, sex-positive artist, who is a dance conservatory grad, got her start in Baroque-Burlesque Operas with Company XIVand made her dramatic debut playing Emilie in \u201cLes Liaison Dangereuses\u201d with Janet Mcteer and Liev Schreiber on Broadway.\u00a0\u00a0She made her official Broadway debut in 2016 playing Lila inCirque Du Soleil\u2019s \u201cParamour,\u201d for which she co-wrote Lila\u2019s score.<\/p>\n

She crafts songs blending pop, soul and Baroque arrangements, drawing from her study of dance as well as her time on stage.\u00a0 Cunning performed as the only live component in Refinery 29\u2019s \u201c29 Rooms\u201d Fashion Week exhibit. She brought artist Juno Calypso’s dreamlike, David Lynch-inspired room to life with real-time interpretations of audience member’s dreams (via song).<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m originally from Portland, Oregon,\u201d said cunning, during a phone interview Monday from a tour stop in Detroit, Michigfan.<\/p>\n

\u201cI graduated early from high school. I was dead set on not going to college. I was dead set on being a dancer. I went to visit SUNY (State University of New York) Purchase. It was dark and nothing to inspire you. That attracted me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was a dancer in Portland. I studied classical ballet. As a dancer, ever since I was little, I was obsessed with ballet. Everything I loved about dance led to ballet and theater.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was mostly music for me. With ballet, I wasn\u2019t concerned how high my leg could go. I was more into the music and how I could relate to it. All ballets are stories. They were more like plays than dance.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt 14, I went to study with the Joffrey Ballet. I had dreams of dancing for a company like ABT (American Ballet Theatre). Then, I realized that dance wasn\u2019t where I needed to be. I\u2019m curvy. I\u2019m not waif-like. And, with dance, I didn\u2019t have enough control. I went to SUNY and I learned modern dance and kung fu. I learned how to be heavy on my feet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, Cunning has found a way to blend dancing, acting and singing into her own unique performances.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to make concerts that incorporate modern dance \u2013 gorgeous contemporary choreography,\u201d said Cunning. \u201cI\u2019m always writing songs. I have a lot that I\u2019m sitting on. I\u2019ll be releasing an EP soon.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn this tour, I have a 20-minute, five-song set. I have a band with me \u2013 guitar and drums \u2013 and they give me a lot of energy on stage. I don\u2019t like to perform to just tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Kat Cunning — https:\/\/youtu.be\/_UrDtPZHlqc<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the TLA will start at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $22.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at the TLA are The Expendables on March 4, Spoon on March 6 and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark on March 7.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Joanne Shaw Taylor<\/p><\/div>\n

Another female-fronted act will be featured at a concert in the city when Joanne Shaw Taylor headlines a show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live (3025 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-222-1400, www.worldcafelive.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Taylor has established herself as one of the U.K.\u2019s top stars of the blues-rock world. She grew up in Wednesbury<\/a> in the Black Country<\/a>, England, and was inspired in her early teens to play the blues after hearing Stevie Ray Vaughan<\/a>, Albert Collins<\/a> and Jimi Hendrix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI grew up near Birmingham,\u201d said Taylor, during a recent phone interview<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dad played guitar and was a big music fan. He was also a big blues fan and listened to artists like Big Bill Broonzy and Bukka White.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started playing guitar when I was a teenager. I was listening to acts like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert Collins and ZZ Top. I also listened to Cream, Free, Led Zeppelin \u2013 anything that was loud. I didn\u2019t get into British blues acts like John Mayall or Alexis Korner until later.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was attracted to American music. It\u2019s funny because Joe Bonamassa, who is a friend of mine, was in New York listening to British guys and I was in Britain listening to American guys. I did a blues cruise with Joe Bonamassa a few years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always wanted to play guitar. I had played classical guitar at school. I knew I could play guitar but classical wasn\u2019t for me. It was too structured. When I listened to Albert Collins, there were no rules. I listened to the blues guys and imitated them. I loved it so much.<\/p>\n

The girl with the big voice from the Black Country has toured extensively around the world, released critically acclaimed albums and gained a global fan base as well as having the honor of playing alongside some of her musical idols.<\/p>\n

Taylor\u2019s debut album \u201cWhite Sugar,\u201d which was released in 2009, opened the door. Subsequent albums \u201cDiamonds in the Dirt\u201d (2010), \u201cAlmost Always Never\u201d (2012), \u201cSongs from the Road\u201d (2013) and \u201cThe Dirty Truth\u201d (2014) enabled Taylor to build a world-wide fan base.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Dirty Truth\u201d was a return to her original sound that mixes rock riffs with blues influences. The album was released in the U.K. in September 2014 on Taylor\u2019s own independent boutique label, Axehouse Records.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have 20 years of playing guitar,\u201d said Taylor. \u201cI started when I was 13. My first guitar was a Mexican Sunburst Strat.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, I have five studio albums and one live album. The most recent was \u2018Wild,\u2019 which I did in February 2016 with Kevin Shirley.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s worked with acts like Joe Bonamassa, Aerosmith, Journey, and Iron Maiden. I recorded the album in Nashville in a studio in the old RCA Building \u2013 Grand Victor Sound Studio. We were in the studio with the band for four days.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Taylor, \u201cRecording at Grand Victor was incredibly inspiring. It is quite the legendary studio. Dolly Parton cut \u2018Jolene\u2019 and \u2018I Will Always Love\u2019 you here. And Chet Atkins worked here. Basically, if there was a hit record out of Nashville, it was made here. I am very proud of this album, and I can\u2019t wait for everyone to hear it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Joanne Taylor Shaw \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/3DMP2YDXVJg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at the World Caf\u00e9 Live, which has the Billy Walton Band as the opening act, will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows at the World Caf\u00e9 Live are Start Making Sense and School of Rock Downingtown on March 3 and Adrian Daniel on March 7.<\/p>\n

There will also be another show in the area on March 3 that features a top-flight female guitarist \u2013 and a world-famous male guitarist. The show at the Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/a>) has Eric Johnson as the headliner and Arielle as the opening act.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Eric Johnson<\/p><\/div>\n

Johnson is a highly-acclaimed guitarist from Texas. His 1990 album \u201cAh Via Musicom\u201d was certified platinum by the RIAA, and the single “Cliffs of Dover” won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.<\/p>\n

While Johnson is most famous for his electric guitar skills, he is also a highly proficient aco<\/u>ustic, lap steel<\/a>, resonator<\/a>, and bass guitarist<\/a>, as well as an accomplished pianist and vocalist.<\/p>\n

He is also extremely versatile in the genres he plays including rock, blues<\/a>, jazz fusion<\/a>, soul<\/a>, folk<\/a>, new-age<\/a>, classical<\/a>, and country<\/a>. Guitar Player<\/a> magazine has called him \u201cone of the most respected guitarists on the planet.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the end of 2017, Johnson released a new album, \u201cCollage,\u201d that combines five new original songs with five covers that reflect both his inspirations and range. It features an acoustic version of Jimi Hendrix\u2019s \u201cOne Rainy Wish,\u201d The Beatles classic \u201cWe Can Work It Out\u201d in a Caribbean groove, B.B. King\u2019s \u201cRock Me Baby,\u201d the surf rock classic \u201cPipeline\u201d and Stevie Wonder\u2019s 1966 hit \u201cUptight (Everything\u2019s Alright).\u201d<\/p>\n

Recently, Johnson announced plans to perform \u201cAh Via Musicom\u201d in its entirety at dates across America in 2018.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never planned on doing a tour like this,\u201d said Johnson, during a recent phone interview from his home in Austin, Texas. \u201cI really never even planned a tour for \u2018Collage.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople were talking about artists touring old albums that were fan favorites. I said \u2013 well, mine would have to be \u2018Ah Via Musicom.\u2019 Then, I thought about doing a tour for \u2018Ah Via Musicom.\u201d I called Tommy and Kyle and they were available. We all thought it would be fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Johnson recorded \u2018Ah Via Musicom\u201d in Austin in 1988 and 1989, Tommy Taylor was his drummer and Kyle Brock was his bass player.<\/p>\n

According to Johnson, \u201cI listen to the fan feedback and comments as I plan my projects and tours.\u00a0That\u2019s how I got into the recording and subsequent tour with Mike Stern. Same thing with the acoustic recording and tour because I kept hearing \u2018Hey when are you gonna do that acoustic record you\u2019ve been talking about for years\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut by far, the most feedback I\u2019ve been getting from fans is to play the entire \u2018Ah Via Musicom\u2019 record live so I figured I\u2019ve put this off for too long.\u00a0 The time is now, and the timing worked out for Tommy Taylor and Kyle Brock to be involved too so here we go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnson will also be in the present with live performances of songs from \u201cCollage.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI spent six months recording \u2018Collage\u2019 at my studio here in Austin and finished it in October,\u201d said Johnson.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I\u2019m writing, usually the melody and the chords come concurrently and then I keep working on it. Most of the time, the lyrics come last \u2013 but not always. If it\u2019s a vocal tune, lyrics are really important. When I was making the album, I actually sang and played at the same time. I played live in the studio. I just tried to keep it as organic and natural as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tried to cut \u2018Collage\u2019 more live. We did a lot of songs in three takes. I didn\u2019t want to make an album that was pieced together. I wanted to make everything more soulful. I wanted to create a human experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cRecording it live made a difference. We just went in and did whatever felt like it would be fun \u2013to see what was working and what wasn\u2019t. We recorded twice as much as was on the record. And, there is a jazz track that is a bonus track on the Japanese release.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arielle, the opening act, and Johnson have a history together.<\/p>\n

\u201cArielle sang on \u2018Collage\u2019 and we\u2019ve written a couple songs together,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cShe\u2019ll join us for the \u2018Collage\u2019 part. Arielle will start the show with a short set and then introduce us. We\u2019ll play a short set of songs from \u2018Coillage\u2019 and some older stuff. After an intermission, we\u2019ll come back and play \u2018Ah Via Musicom\u2019 in its entirety.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Eric Johnson — https:\/\/youtu.be\/safVhk-Jnkg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Arielle<\/p><\/div>\n

Arielle is a singer-songwriter and guitar player from Austin. She just released a studio EP titled \u201cMind Lion\u201d on February 9 \u2013 one week before she headed out on the road as part of Johnson\u2019s tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cI release about three EPs a year,\u201d said Arielle, during a recent phone interview from her home in Austin. \u201cI usually tend to make EPs because it takes less time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI recorded \u2018Mind Lion\u2019 in December at home. I do most of it myself. One of my musical partners is in L.A. and he plays a little to help me put. He plays keyboards.\u201d<\/p>\n

On \u201cMind Lion,\u201d Arielle has created a vibe where the heart, emotion and observations are the essence of the compositions.<\/p>\n

According to Arielle, \u201cThe most important thing for me as a songwriter is to be genuine. To encapsulate the exact feeling into sound, into a bottled-up version of the purest form. The more I experience and can be real within myself, the more courage I have to write about things that make me feel vulnerable. The more they are able to reach more\u00a0people’s hearts. To always do what’s tasteful for the song, rather than what makes me feel validated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arielle is a prolific writer who has found that releasing EPs every few months is a better model than releasing a full-length album once a year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m always writing,\u201d said Arielle. \u201cI have so many songs that are already completed or else don\u2019t need much work. On each EP, the songs are fresh. I really try to create a theme with the songs. Each theme is a little snapshot of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Music has always been a big part of Arielle\u2019s life \u2013 even if it wasn\u2019t what her parents would have preferred.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy parents are both doctors and they had high hopes that I would be a doctor as well,\u201d said Arielle, who was born in Orange, New Jersey and raised in Hawaii and Northern California.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt age five when I was in school, I was already singing. My teachers told me that I sing different than most. They threw me into the choir and I developed a passion for instruments \u2013 and writing songs. I play ukulele, piano, bass, drums, banjo, cello, mandolin and guitar.\u201d<\/p>\n

On this tour, Arielle will be by herself on stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just me,\u201d said Arielle. \u201cI do have a looper \u2013 and I\u2019m also playing in Eric\u2019s band. I play one of my songs in his set.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy set is 25 minutes. I\u2019ve worked up a set o showcase some of my songs and totally get out of my comfort zone. I\u2019ll have fear, anxiety and a lot of emotion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Arielle \u2013 https:\/\/youtu.be\/aP6JvGxqFoY<\/a><\/p>\n

The show at the Keswick will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $29.50 and $49.50.<\/p>\n

Another show this week at the Keswick will be Rachelle Ferrell on March 4.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Two very impressive female-fronted rock acts will be sharing a bill on March 3 at the Theatre of the Living Arts (334 South Street, Philadelphia, 215-922-1011, http:\/\/www.lnphilly.com) \u2013 and both queer-friendly artists have cryptic names. For older music fans, LP refers to an album with LP taking its […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24580,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7441],"tags":[10239,8067,6269,10240,10241,10238],"class_list":["post-24578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-anelle","tag-eric-johnson","tag-featured","tag-joane-shaw-taylor","tag-kat-cunning","tag-lp"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24578"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24579,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24578\/revisions\/24579"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}