{"id":37076,"date":"2022-08-04T09:43:18","date_gmt":"2022-08-04T13:43:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/?p=37076"},"modified":"2022-08-04T09:43:22","modified_gmt":"2022-08-04T13:43:22","slug":"on-stage-bill-toms-and-hard-rain-make-music-no-matter-what","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/?p=37076","title":{"rendered":"On Stage: Bill Toms and Hard Rain make music, no matter what"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Entertainment Editor, The Times\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"

Bill Toms and Hard Rain<\/p><\/div>\n

If you\u2019re a fan of jazz or blues, you should check out the schedule every week for the shows at Jamey\u2019s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985,www.jameyshouseofmusic.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a fan of both jazz and blues, then you should know you\u2019ll find a show to match your taste every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the comfortable venue in Delaware County.<\/p>\n

The \u201cThursday Night Jazz Jam\u201d and the \u201cSunday Blues Brunch & Jam\u201d are regular features on Jamey\u2019s calendar while Friday and Saturday night shows feature national and regional acts.<\/p>\n

The only headline concert this weekend will take place on August 6 when Jamey\u2019s hosts Bill Toms and Hard Rain.<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh\u2019s\u00a0Bill Toms and Hard Rain\u00a0have a mission \u2013 a mission to record and play music no matter what. <\/p>\n

\u201cMusic is my passion,\u201d said Toms, during a recent phone interview from his home in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n

The performing part of his passion was put on hold when the pandemic hit but he still continued making music.<\/p>\n

In 2020, Toms and Hard Rain recorded their 10th studio album, “Keep Movin’ On.”\u00a0Then, it was on released on Terraplane Records on April 30, 2021.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just started when the pandemic hit,\u201d said Toms. \u201cWe had one session and then that was it.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Keep Movin’ On”\u00a0was produced by music legend, Rick Witkowski (Crack the Sky, B.E. Taylor). It features contributions from The Soulville Horns, as well as award-winning instrumentalist\/producer, Will Kimbrough, on a graceful blend of rock, soul, and rhythm & blues.<\/p>\n

Like most collaborative efforts in 2020, the album is a product of distance, which of course provided an unprecedented hurdle in terms of capturing and honing Toms\u2019 original songwriting vision, especially when considering such pandemic-unfriendly musical elements as wind instruments.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, they decided to take the plunge and see what they could do as a virtual ensemble.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recorded it during the pandemic and the band was never all together in the same building,\u201d said Toms explains. \u201cI recorded most guitars at home, as did the other players. A lot of songs flew back-and-forth.\u201d
\nThe initial track from\u00a0the album, \u201cMan\u2019s Soul Is On Trial,\u201d was released in October 2020.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re still out in support of this record,\u201d said Toms. \u201cWe\u2019re catching up on shows that were cancelled because of the pandemic.<\/p>\n

Toms\u2019 musical career gained national recognition in the late 1980s as lead guitarist of Pittsburgh\u2019s legendary band Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers.<\/p>\n

While playing guitar, co-writing, and adding backup vocals for the Houserockers, Toms and the band recorded six studio albums and one live concert album. In 1995, The Houserockers released \u201cAmerican Babylon,\u201d which was recorded and produced by Bruce Springsteen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been doing this for 42 years,\u201d said Toms, a graduate of Chartiers Valley High in the Pittsburgh suburbs. \u201cI started playing locally in Pittsburgh in 1980.<\/p>\n

\u201cI joined Joe Grushecky and The Houserockers in 1986 was with them for 20 years. I had put my own band together 10 years before and also did a lot of acoustic shows. We play a lot of summertime gigs and festivals. We did outdoor summer things last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsually, we play 70-80 gigs a year. The core of my band has been together 20 years. Our latest addition was a trumpet player in 2017.<\/p>\n

There is a good reason for the band\u2019s line-up stability.<\/p>\n

\u201cA few of the guys are actually retired,\u201d said Toms. \u201cEverybody else have jobs that allow them do music.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had day jobs and also taught guitar. I did what I had to do to make money \u2013 including 10 years as a piping and welding inspector at a U.S. Steel plant. We\u2019re never going to get rich but we\u2019re happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Music has always been in Toms\u2019 life.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy love of music goes back to when I was a kid,\u201d said Toms. \u201cI had a sister who was 10 years older, and I\u2019d listen to her music \u2013 Motown, Stax, Aretha Franklin. My sister played piano, and my father played trumpet. Music has always been a big part of my life. Soul songs were a big influence.<\/p>\n

\u201cAround the time I graduated from high school, I was listening to Tom Petty\u2019s \u2018Damn the Torpedoes,\u2019 The Clash\u2019s \u2018London Calling,\u2019 and Bruce Springsteen\u2019s \u2018Darkness on the Edge of Town.\u2019 Those three albums gave me the desire to be a musician and play guitar. Then, I got into Graham Parker. He had the same kind of guitar-oriented energy.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the things that always affected me were the lyrics. \u2018Slow Train\u2019 by Dylan \u2013 that got me into lyrics writing. Soul music and lyrics are my music \u2013 blues-based, rock-and-roll soul music.\u201d<\/p>\n

The band\u2019s show at Jamey\u2019s will feature a bunch of songs from \u201cKeep Movin\u2019 On,\u201d a wide array of Toms-penned tunes from the past \u2013 and maybe a cover. \u00a0Bill Toms and Hard Rain\u2019s discography includes \u201cParadise Avenue,\u201d \u201cMy Own Eyes,\u201d \u201cThis Old World,\u201d \u201cThe West End Kid,\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSpirits, Chaos, and a Troubadour Soul\u2019,\u201d \u201cLive at Moondogs: Another Moonlight Mystery,\u201d \u201cMemphis,\u201d \u201cDeep In The Shadows,\u201d \u201cGood For My Soul,\u201d \u201cLIVE,\u201d and \u201cKeep Movin\u2019 On\u201d \u2013 along with one Bill Toms solo LP, \u201cOne Lonesome Moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur live shows are almost all original songs,\u201d said Toms. \u201cI\u2019ve only done two cover songs that I can remember \u2013 The Waterboys\u2019 \u2018Fisherman\u2019s Blues\u2019 and Dr. John\u2019s \u2018Let\u2019s Make A Better World.\u2019 I\u2019ve done 12 albums all told and maybe will play four or five from the new record.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Bill Toms and Hard Rain — https:\/\/youtu.be\/ciiVr2hY_YU<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show on August 6 will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, Jamey\u2019s started a popular \u201cGuest Singer Series\u201d featuring many of the best singers in the region performing a set from 7-8 p.m. with the backing of the Dave Reiter Trio and occasional guest musicians.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Wendy Simon<\/p><\/div>\n

This week\u2019s featured performer will be Wendy Simon (Sinkler) on August 4. Actress, professor of music and internationally touring jazz singer,\u00a0Simon has been performing jazz music for decades.<\/p>\n

\u201cBack in 1985, I had an album with the band 52nd Street,\u201d said Simon, during a phone interview Wednesday afternoon from her home in Glenside. \u201cWe recorded it for Inner City Records and played the Village Vanguard every night for an entire week in May 1985.\u201d<\/p>\n

52nd Street was a vocal team featuring Simon and the late pianist\/vocalist Eric Shaw. That album with its sly Philly\/New York title was \u201cScrapple to the Apple.\u201d<\/p>\n

The well-received LP featured jazz renditions of songs from a wide variety of genres, including the Rogers & Hammerstein tune \u201cMy Favorite Things\u201d from \u201cSound of Music,\u201d Lovin\u2019 Spoonful\u2019s \u201cCoconut Grove,\u201d which was penned by the band\u2019s John Sebastian and Zal Yanovsky, and the Duke Ellington\/Billy Strayhorn classic, \u201cTake the A Train.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve performed at Jamey\u2019s several times,\u201d said Simon, who went to school in New Jersey (Nutley High, Montclair State) and followed with a master\u2019s degree from nearby Arcadia University.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did a show there in April and also performed there with a lot of other great artists in a benefit for Jamey and his club. It\u2019s a wonderful venue and I look forward to playing there again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI initially heard about Jamey\u2019s through Facebook and from some of the people who had performed there. Maci Miller first tole me about it. She was the one who sponsored the fundraiser in the spring.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m really grateful that Jamey\u2019s has incorporated a jazz program. It\u2019s really a great jazz room with its intimacy.\u201d<\/p>\n

For an area as big as Philadelphia and its suburbs, there are relatively few places for jazz artists to perform live.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen rock and R&B came out in the 60s and 70s, people weren\u2019t listening to jazz very much anymore,\u201d said Simon, who spent 18 years teaching in the Springfield (Montco) School District.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of the few venues for jazz in recent years have been South in Philly, Paris Bistro in Chestnut Hill, and Thyme in Center City. \u00a0Isang at South several times. Lately, I\u2019ve been playing a lot at Shere-E-Punjab in Media.\u201d<\/p>\n

Simon has also recently performed at the Blue Bell Inn in Montgomery County, Bowman\u2019s Tavern in Bucks County, Troubles End Brewing in Collegeville and The Vault Brewery in Yardley.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been doing shows with a lot of great musicians \u2013 Aaron Graves, Lee Smith, Dave Posmontier, Steve Varner, Kevin MacConnell, Steve Beskrone \u2013 am my husband George Sinkler, who plays piano,\u201d said Simon, whose son Andrew Sinkler is a musician and recording studio owner living in West Chester.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a singer who uses my voice to tell stories through the art of jazz. I do a lot of different styles of jazz \u2013 including bossa nova and scat singing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Dave Reiter Trio lays down the backing for some out of this world jazz to happen, and you never know who might show up to join in. Reiter is a long-time jazz pro who plays seven-string guitar, Nord keyboard and Hammond organ. Bill Marconi is an internationally acclaimed drummer and George Livanos is an in-demand session bass player.<\/p>\n

Video link for Wendy Simon Sinkler \u2013 www.wendysimonmusic.com\/press-kit.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other upcoming shows are Lorraine Barrett on August 11, Greg Farnese on August 18 and Maci Miller on August 25.<\/p>\n

There is a $10 cover charge at the door for the \u201cThursday Night Jazz Jam.\u201d The show will feature the guest singer from 7-8 p.m. and a jazz jam from 8-10 p.m. The evening will get underway with a \u201cCrooked Eye Brewery Happy Hour\u201d from 6-7 p.m. featuring two dollars off draft beers and hard ciders, one dollar off wines, and 10 per cent off menu items.<\/p>\n

\u201cSunday Blues Brunch & Jam\u201d is a favorite of Jamey\u2019s regulars because Reilly and his band the Philly Blues Kings (www.phillyblueskings.com<\/a>) are the performers each week.<\/p>\n

The Philly Blues King are a veteran outfit comprised of David Reiter on guitar, keyboards and vocals, Maci Miller on vocals, Bill Marconi on drums and vocals and Reilly on bass guitar. They have performed together for 15 years (except for Miller) and are the house band for Jamey\u2019s House of Music. They are well known for tight, jazz inflected classic blues.<\/p>\n

Reiter performs on a seven-string guitar and Reilly plays a fretless five string bass and that sets the group above the ordinary. The three veteran musicians have each spent decades playing the blues professionally and have backed many well-known national artists. Maci Miller, an internationally recognized jazz singer based in Philadelphia, joined the Blues Kings and quickly established herself as a top-flight front woman.<\/p>\n

Video link for Philly Blues Kings \u2014\u00a0https:\/\/youtu.be\/bAnBVLc7Wsg<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The show at Jamey\u2019s House of Music on August 7 will start at noon. Admission is free.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cBig Spender\u201d and \u201cIf My Friends Could See Me Now\u201d are just two of the standout tunes in the award-winning musical, \u201cSweet Charity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Candlelight\u00a0Theatre (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware,\u00a0www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org<\/a>) is presenting the all-time classic musical as its fourth production run of 2022. The lively comedy \u201cSweet Charity\u201d is running now through August 28.<\/p>\n

\u201cSweet Charity\u201d\u00a0is a musical with music by\u00a0Cy Coleman, lyrics by\u00a0Dorothy Fields\u00a0and book by\u00a0Neil Simon. It was directed and choreographed for Broadway by\u00a0Bob Fosse\u00a0starring his wife and muse\u00a0Gwen Verdon\u00a0alongside\u00a0John McMartin.<\/p>\n

It is based on the screenplay for Federico Fellini\u2019s 1957 Italian film, \u201cNights of Cabiria.\u201d<\/p>\n

Besides the obvious major change of resetting the story from Rome to New York, the biggest change is Cabiria\/Charity\u2019s occupation. Cabiria is a \u201chooker with a heart of gold.\u201d This had to be softened for American musical audiences in 1966, so Charity works instead as a taxi dancer at the Fandango Ballroom.<\/p>\n

In the early 20th century, men could go to dance halls and pay to dance with the woman of their choice, usually for 10 cents a song (thus the famous Rodgers & Hart song \u201cTen Cents a Dance.\u201d) However, by the1960s, taxi dance halls were not nearly as common. It\u2019s suggested, at least in \u201cSweet Charity,\u201d that most of the women who were still taxi dancers were willing to do more than just dance, if the price is right.<\/p>\n

The musical premiered on\u00a0Broadway\u00a0in 1966, where it was nominated for nine\u00a0Tony Awards, winning the\u00a0Tony Award for Best Choreography. The production also ran in London\u2019s West End\u00a0as well as having revivals and international productions.<\/p>\n

The musical was adapted for the screen in 1969 with\u00a0Shirley MacLaine\u00a0as Charity and\u00a0John McMartin\u00a0recreating his Broadway role as Oscar Lindquist. For Bob Fosse, who directed and choreographed, the\u00a0film\u00a0was his feature-film directorial debut.<\/p>\n

The production at the Candlelight features stellar performances by Phoebe Gavula on the title role of Charity Hope Valentine. The other main character — Oscar Lindquist \u2013 is performed admirably by Jared Calhoun.<\/p>\n

Other key performers are Gabrielle Impriano as Helene, Beth Dugan as Nickie, Tess Sinatra as Carmen, JJ Vavrik as Herman, Joe Falcone as Vittorio Vidal, and Rebecca Schall as Ursula March.<\/p>\n

The production at the Candlelight Dinner Theatre is directed by Jessica Bostock with choreography by Jody Anderson and musical direction by Christopher Tolomeo.<\/p>\n

\u201cSweet Charity\u201d is running now through August 28.<\/p>\n

Tickets, which include dinner, non-alcoholic beverages and free parking, are $65.50 for adults and $33 for children (ages 4-12).<\/p>\n

On August 7, the West Goshen Community Park (1023 Fern Hill Road, West Chester, www.westgoshen.org\/201\/Summer-Concert-Series<\/a>) will be the site of the latest offering in the West Goshen Summer Concert Series.<\/p>\n

At 6:30 p.m., there will be an outdoor concert by Blue Philly Magic. The band, which is a favorite of area fans, features classic Motown music.<\/p>\n

The West Goshen Summer Concert Series offers free performances, a summer tradition on Sunday evenings in West Goshen Community Park. The final show will be on August 21 with Irish music by The Malarkey Brothers, Irish Rock Concert<\/p>\n

Video link for Blue Philly Magic — https:\/\/youtu.be\/U-wLtLbVawI<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Kennett Flash (102 Sycamore Alley, Kennett Square, 484-732-8295,\u00a0http:\/\/www.kennettflash.org<\/a>) is presenting Sharon Bousquet with Tom Glenn on August 5, Ellis Paul on August 11, Tret Fure and Heather Mae on August 19, Sugar Lime Blue on August 20, and The Real Diamond on August 27.<\/p>\n

The Sound Bank (119 South Main Street, Phoenixville, www.soundbankphx.com<\/a>) will have Pure Jerry on August 5, Night of the Leos 2022 on August 6.<\/p>\n

Ardmore Music Hall (23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, 610-649-8389,\u00a0www.ardmoremusic.com)<\/a>\u00a0will have Leftover Salmon on August 4, Splintered Sunlight on August 6 and Jon Anderson (of Yes) on August 7.<\/p>\n

Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts (9 South Bryn Mawr Avenue, Bryn Mawr,<\/a> brynmawrtwilightconcerts.com<\/a>) will present Christine Havrilla Duo with Colleen Clark on August 6, Livingston Taylor on August 13, Cris Jacobs Band on August 19, Trout Fishing in America on August 24, and The Dirty Grass Players on August 28.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Rose Tree Summer Festival (Rose Tree Park, Route 252, Media, www.delcopa.gov\/departments\/parks<\/a>)\u00a0will host Zydeco-A-Go-Go on August 4, The Core: Clapton on August 5, Ben Singleton & Chameleon on August 6, Blackbird Society Orchestra on August 7, The Six-String Soldiers on August 10, Twelfth Night on August 11, Basic Cable on August 12, Lonnie Shields Band & Jesse Loewy on August 13, and Land of Ozz on August 14.<\/p>\n

The schedule for \u201cConcerts Under the Stars\u201d (Upper Merion Township Building Park, King of Prussia, concertsunderthestarskop.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n

features Hezekiah Jones and Carsie Blanton on August 4, Dave Hause & The Mermaid on August 14, Steal Your Peach on August 19, Devon Gilfillian on August 25, Brett Dennen on September 14, David Bromberg on September 23, and The Wailers on September 30.<\/p>\n

Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (226 North High Street, West Chester, www.uptownwestchester.org<\/a>) is presenting AM Radio Tribute Show on August 12, Hollywood Nights on August 13, One Alternative on August 18, Sarah Diamond and the Soul Miners on August 20, and Best Friend\u2019s Girl on August 27.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times\u00a0 If you\u2019re a fan of jazz or blues, you should check out the schedule every week for the shows at Jamey\u2019s House of Music (32 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, 215-477-9985,www.jameyshouseofmusic.com). If you\u2019re a fan of both jazz and blues, then you should know you\u2019ll find a show to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37074,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7441],"tags":[14027,6269,14015,14028],"class_list":["post-37076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-bill-toms-and-hard-rain","tag-featured","tag-sweet-charity","tag-wendy-simon"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37076","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=37076"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37076\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37077,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37076\/revisions\/37077"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/37074"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=37076"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=37076"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chescotimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=37076"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}