Tag Archives: music

Summer Sounds: Perfect music for the steamy heat.

June 30, 2015 | by Andrew Dyrli Hermeling

Saintseneca. Photo courtesy of Saintseneca.

We’ve made it into the heart of the summer. The temperature continues to rise, but so does the quality of music here in the city. And this month we have three perfect audio companions for the summer heat.

All three featured artists build their sound on an acoustic base, but take it in very different directions. On the one hand, you have complex, African-inspired polyrhythms; on the other, quiet melodies well suited for a campfire. Whichever you prefer, make sure to add these shows to the soundtrack of your summer.

RUSTED ROOT, 7/2, 7PM, SAWYER’S, FREE

Most people are familiar with Rusted Root’s single, “Send Me On My Way.” Fusing world music rhythms with acoustic jam band songwriting, these Pittsburgh natives dropped the platinum album, “When I Woke,” back in 1994. But they haven’t stopped touring and have released five additional albums in the 20-odd years since they broke out. They’ve always had a distinctly summer sound, so they’ll fit in perfectly on Sawyer’s outdoor stage in the heart of the city. So whether you come for the nostalgia or you’ve been following their lengthy career, this is a great opportunity to celebrate the warm nights of July.

LYDIA LOVELESS, 7/9, 8PM, H*MAC HERR STREET STAGE, $12

Lydia Loveless, an alternative country artist on Bloodshot records, possesses a sound and attitude that is beyond her years. Ohio born, she has earned a reputation for being a strong, assertive woman in an industry that all too often prefers that women stick to unchallenging love songs. She attributes her attitude to her punk rock childhood, a quality that places her in the company of a hard-living alt-country man, Ryan Adams, who is also a Bloodshot alum. So whether you prefer rock or country, this show will be perfectly paired with a shot of whiskey.

SAINTSENECA w/HEAVY LIGHTS, 7/29, 10PM, MILLWORKS, FREE

Like Loveless, Saintseneca hails from Ohio. Employing a wide range of acoustic instruments and led by songwriter Zac Little, they have been garnering significant critical attention, even recording a Tiny Desk Concert for NPR’s “All Songs Considered.” This isn’t their first time making their way through our city, but their star seems to be shining a bit brighter since I saw them perform at a backyard house show a few years ago. With their creative and delicate arrangements, they’re a perfect match for the Millworks and a terrific expression of the summer’s quieter moments.

Mentionables: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, 7/12, The Forum; Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, 7/17, Abbey Bar; Jarekus Singleton, 7/22, H*MAC Herr Street Stage; Dustbowl Revival, 7/23, The Millworks; Porcelain, 7/25, Midtown Scholar Bookstore

Bending Sound: Carlisle-based Rivers dives into the local indie scene.

June 1, 2015 | by Missy Smith

Rivers is a smattering of genre-bending sounds—tapping into folk rock, pop, funk, blues, chamber pop, Americana, roots rock and alternative—that make up a fluid and dynamic indie folk style.

But, when you think you can put a finger on their overall sound, Rivers keeps you guessing. That’s the beauty of their music.

After just two short years of playing together, Joe Schaefer, 25, Matt Sinkovitz, 31, and Vincent Yarnell, 25, are eagerly working to get their distinctive folk amalgamation into the eardrums of as many people as possible.

“People really love our music,” said Sinkovitz, the percussionist. “It’s amazing to share what you’ve created with people and get such a positive response. It makes you feel like you are doing something right. We have kids sitting around us at farmers markets, and we play senior homes. We can hold it down for most audiences.”

They regularly play at some favorite local spots—Appalachian Brewing Co., Little Amps, Suba and The MakeSpace in Harrisburg, as well as the fourth Monday of every month at Andalusia Tapas Bar in their hometown of Carlisle. They’re also picking up gigs at bars, restaurants, markets and festivals in places like Philadelphia, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Influences and Sounds

Yarnell leads the vocals and plays guitar and banjo with acoustic grit and smoky soul, drawing inspiration from musicians like James Taylor, the Wood Brothers and Gorillaz.

Schaefer’s voice and upright bass are smooth and easy going, yet fearless. Drawing from his classical training and love of bassist Edgar Meyer, he lends classical sounds, but can rock out fiercely.

“Joe just bashes the bass. He plays it like a 12-piece drum set,” said Yarnell, who added that his bandmate is “super funky.”

Sinkovitz is the rhythmic heartbeat of Rivers as the percussionist, bringing a love of many genres to the table—jazz, classical and hip-hop—from Simon and Garfunkel to The Notorious B.I.G.

Drawing from wide-ranging influences and sounds, the seven-track “Rivers (EP)” is a pleasing, multifaceted experience.

Pop folk ballad “Heartland” is an inviting, smooth listen that has potential for commercial appeal. “Halymorpha Halys Blues” channels gritty alternative rock and moody blues, cleverly relaying the plight of a brown marmorated stink bug—its scientific name serving as the song’s namesake. “Photographic Memories” weaves the swing and coolness of jazz with the plucking cadence of bluegrass.

The EP’s cover, a collage crafted by Carlisle artist Aron Rook, seamlessly joins Rivers’ folk rock sound with its indie image.

“We just asked her to use a piece from a collage series she had recently created,” Sinkovitz said. “Aron is our favorite artist and has done several poster designs for us as well.”

By the end of the summer, Rivers plans to release a second EP, and, as 2015 wraps up, they hope to record a full album of more original material.

Open Mic Magic

Rivers formed thanks to the area’s active open mic circuit.

Sinkovitz and Yarnell met each other first at the Alibis open mic in Carlisle and started playing together.

“I was drawn to Vince because I could immediately see that he was a great guitar player and a strong, original songwriter,” said Sinkovitz. “Once we started playing together, we discussed trying to find a bass player.”

Shortly thereafter, they saw Schaefer perform at the Courthouse Common open mic.

“His skill level and ‘sick-nastiness’ on the bass is what encouraged us to reach out to him,” said Sinkovitz.

You could say that the three musicians were at the right open mics at the right time.

“We were there just to perform and play music. Our meeting was serendipitous,” said Sinkovitz.

After just a year of playing together, the young folk musicians made a momentous decision. They hung up their hats at their day jobs and embarked on the life of a full-time band.

This year, they have set a goal of playing 200 dates and, counting June bookings, were almost halfway there.

“It feels good to make a goal and see the goal in action working for you,” said Yarnell. “This is the best job you could ever ask for. If we have a day off [from playing], we are writing more songs.We are paying the bills getting to play music from our hearts.”

To find Rivers shows in the area and to download “Rivers (EP),” visit www.theriversband.com.

June Concert Dates

June 6, 9-11 p.m.—Suba Mangia Qui, Harrisburg
June 10, 3-7 p.m.—Farmers on the Square, Carlisle
June 19, 9 p.m.- 12 a.m.—Yardz Bar and Grill, Enola
June 20, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.—Broad Street Market, Harrisburg
June 22, 6-9 p.m.—Andalusia, Carlisle
June 27, 4-8 p.m.—Music in the Garden, Carlisle

Love Is the Key: Harrisburg troubadour Josh Krevsky pursues his musical journey.

April 30, 2015 | by Alexis Dow Campbell

Josh Krevsky has been singing for as long as he can remember. In fact, some of his earliest memories are singing along with his parents’ records.

“Props to my parents for having an incredible record collection,” the Harrisburg-based singer-songwriter said. “Very eclectic.”

He credits them for laying the foundation for a solid appreciation of music: The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Sinatra, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen.

“Then I heard Green Day and R.E.M. and No Doubt,” Krevsky recalled. “And then Nirvana and The Counting Crows, these last two were game changers.”

When he was 15, Krevsky got his first guitar and almost immediately began writing his own music. He didn’t add lyrics at that point, just worked through melodies and chords. He still writes songs in that same order: melody, then lyrics.

“As I played more guitar and put together more melodies, I began to experiment with adding some verses and chorus,” he explained. “Slowly but surely, I started to find a structure from which decent songs were emerging…at least I thought so.”

Krevsky began playing those songs for his friends and family, then at open mic nights, then started booking solo shows.

“The more I wrote, the more I played, and a repertoire soon developed,” he said.

But, like most musicians starting out, Krevsky played a lot of covers in addition to his original tunes, an experience that he retrospectively values.

“When you’re getting started playing live shows, cover songs are part of the deal,” he explained. “When I was learning how to play guitar and sing, covers were the vehicle in helping me eventually find my own style and sound.”

He’s been honing those songwriting skills over the past several years and now is putting the finishing touches on his first solo EP.

“This collection of songs has great meaning to me and chronicles some of the greatest and worst experiences in life thus far,” Krevsky said. “The therapeutic power of that has been profound. Plus, no one else can ever say they wrote those exact same melodies with those exact same lyrics.”

In recent months, he’s shared the results of some of his musical journey at local venues like HMAC Stage on Herr, Midtown Scholar Bookstore and Little Amps, all in Harrisburg, and Battlefield Brew Works in Gettysburg.

“Even if no one else in the world liked a single song I wrote, there’s still something amazing about that accomplishment,” he continued. “The joy and fulfillment that brings me is more than any cover song performance can ever deliver. And it just makes me hungry to write more and more and more.”

When I asked Krevsky what sorts of things inspire his music, he gave me a one-word answer: “Love.”

Then he elaborated.

“I could give you some long, drawn-out answer, but all other answers eventually lead there anyway,” he said. “Whether it’s family, friends, women, work, God…anything. Love is the key to it all.”

You can hear samples of Josh Krevsky’s music on his ReverbNation page, www.reverbnation.com/joshkrevsky. Keep an eye his Facebook page, Josh Krevsky Music, for information on his EP release.

Musical Notes: May Montage–Something for everyone this month.

April 30, 2015 | by Andrew Dyrli Hermeling

Whether you’re in the mood for literary songwriting, ethereal pop or genre-defying frenetic rock, May has a live show perfectly suited for your tastes. And, as spring nears its finish line, there is no better time for live music. Days are longer, and the evenings are warm. So either relax or move to the beat, just make sure to order a beverage and take in May’s musical offerings.

FREEDY JOHNSTON, 5/7, HMAC, TIME AND ADMISSION TBD
One of the ‘90s most acclaimed singer-songwriters, Freedy Johnston has continued to build upon his extensive repertoire. He will by stopping by the capital of the Commonwealth in support of his forthcoming LP, “Neon Repairman.” Like many of his contemporaries, Johnston has used a faltering record industry to his advantage, taking creative direction into his own hands and producing his most recent work through private fundraising. This is fitting considering he is often referred to as “a songwriter’s songwriter.” This is a perfect show for fans of Neil Young, Tom Petty or Elvis Costello.

ERIC + ERICA w/SHAWAN & THE WONTON, 5/8, 6:30PM, LITTLE AMPS DOWNTOWN
Dreampop seems to make a lot more sense come the warmer months. It’s hazy yet inviting, never in too much of a hurry, but not morose. Durham, N.C.’s Eric + Erica perfectly exemplify these particular characteristics. Their live performances feature such exotic instrumentation as autoharp and foot pedal bass synth. Yet their music is also somehow familiar and reassuring. Since the release of their first album “This is Where”in 2013, they have been constantly touring. They are wrapping up their second full-length album, due to be released later this year. They will be joined by local artist Shawan & the Wonton.

JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION, 5/27, 8PM, ABBEY BAR, $15
Formed more than 20 years ago, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion has earned a reputation for musical iconoclasm and limitless experimentation. Drawing influences from such divergent styles as R&B, noise rock and rockabilly, they have worked with equally diverse artists such as Ad Rock, Elliott Smith and Steve Albini. Their live shows are high energy and electric, disorienting yet still somehow indisputably rock n’ roll. Either way, this is a show that will surely make you move.

Mentionables: Vacationer, 5/1, The Millworks; Cruisr, 5/8, FedLive; the Baseball Project, 5/15, HMAC; Steven Wilson, 5/23, Whitaker Center; Kelly Zullo, 5/30, Midtown Scholar

Musical Notes: Memory serves–this month, recollections of new music.

December 30, 2014 | by Andrew Dyrli Hermeling

Memory best sums up this month’s musical slate.

It reminds me of my childhood when “alternative” radio still felt like an alternative to something. It reminds me of when being a high school outsider meant getting together with a couple of other outsiders and working through the angst in the form of a few power chords. All of these bands are powerful doorways into memories of the past, either real or imagined. I think that’s what makes music so wonderful. And January’s offerings certainly prove the point.

BELLOWS, ESKIMEAUX & ADULT MOM, 1/16, 6PM, LITTLE AMPS DOWNTOWN, $5 SUGGESTED DONATION

NPR’s Bob Boilen recently named Bellows’ 2014 record, “Blue Breath,” as an honorable mention in his year-end, top-10 album list. The band is joined by Eskimeaux, who are part of the same musical collective, the Epoch. Based in Brooklyn, N.Y., Bellows’ spacey, roughly hewn, handmade psychedelic pop is deeply personal. Marked by sharp juxtapositions of soft, melodic lines and intentional cacophony, Bellows will be a perfect match for the intimate space of the downtown Little Amps shop.

THE WHIGS, 1/22, 8PM, THE ABBEY BAR, $7/$10

Formed in Athens, Ga., the Whigs have five albums under their belts, along with a number of performances on the late-night talk show circuit. A jangly three piece, they play the kind of stripped-down garage rock that finds its power in its simplicity. They are currently touring in support of their most recent release, “Modern Creation.”This is a band that pairs perfectly with a pitcher of beer, so make your way over to the Abbey Bar and take in this raw and impactful show.

10,000 MANIACS, 1/23, 8PM, WHITAKER CENTER, $29.50/$39.50

Remember when MTV Unplugged featured authentic, amazing and memorable performances? Nirvana, Neil Young, REM? And one of my all time favorites, 10,000 Maniacs. Although the current lineup is missing Natalie Merchant, these college radio darlings from the ‘80s and ‘90s haven’t given up the touring life. They continue to record with vocalist Mary Ramsey, who joined immediately after Merchant’s departure. With a repertoire that spans more than 30 years, the band certainly will feature plenty of familiar hits, along with a number of exciting new songs.

Mentionables: Flux Capacitor, 1/2, HMAC; Camela Widad, 1/10, HMAC; Bumperyachts w/Rivers, 1/23, Little Amps downtown; Spiritual Rez, 1/30, Abbey Bar; Pete & Maura Kennedy, Fort Hunter Centennial Barn, 1/31

A Ritch Life: Poet Jeremy Ritch has a voice—and he’s not afraid to use it.

June 30, 2014 | by Lori M. Myers

Jeremy Ritch, photo by Dani Fresh, www.danifresh.com

Being with artist, musician, poet/writer, blogger and former pastor Jeremy Ritch is easy.

Ask a question, sit back and listen; take it all in. No pressure. Ritch has a lot to say, and he doesn’t hold back.

He’s complex, has lived many lifetimes in quite a few places—Philadelphia, Atlanta and now Harrisburg. And while his beginnings date back 30-plus years to Cleveland, where he was “a white kid in a black neighborhood,” Ritch wouldn’t have it any other way. Those surroundings molded his passions, his concern and his yearning to speak out against injustice.

“My mom was open to people,” Ritch recalls. “She fed the kids in the neighborhood. I was very accepted, and it’s something that stays with you.”

Ritch’s mother was an artist, his father a bass player. Music was a mainstay in the home where Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin and Motown were played. Later, it was Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash. Ritch started to write songs and recognized the “poetry” of country music.

“I wrote a lot of music,” Ritch says. “As a kid, my identity was through music. Music was my biggest influence and became everything. It was a way to escape. In Cleveland, I listened to black music and started to learn about punk rock.”

Musically, Ritch is currently writing with local singer/songwriter Nina Scarcia.

His old neighborhood is gone now but not Ritch’s rebellious spirit—a spirit, he says, that has been redirected and re-harnessed into the written word. Case in point: his poem, “Philadelphia (Take Me Back),” begins with “Mad love to Philadelphia/Mean street Killadelphia/Straight Illadelphia…”—and ends with “That’s Philadelphia/Just Relax and Chilladelphia.”

“While I was in college, I was obsessed with Philadelphia,” he says. “There’s so much diversity there.”

Ritch’s love of cities is evident in his latest book of poems, “Sidewalk Stories and Other Poems,” recently published by Atlanta-based Autumn+Colour.

Growing up that white kid in a black neighborhood resulted in his respect for groundbreakers like Martin Luther King, Jr., and baseball player Jackie Robinson as evidenced in Ritch’s “#42 (A Poem For Jackie).”

“Show those ignorant folks that it is time for a new day/Where we judge by character not by skin/Jackie helped break that down and he also did win/He was at the top of the game as an elite player/Robinson helped to quiet the racist naysayer.”

“Jackie Robinson sacrificed a lot,” Ritch muses. “Many people don’t have a voice. I’m not the most appropriate voice, but I do have one.”

That voice echoes in his blog, which is a mix of his poetry and the columns he writes for today’s the day Harrisburg, where he points out the injustices faced by the less fortunate, particularly those living in urban areas like Harrisburg. One that he is particularly passionate about is ending the “war on drugs,” which, he says, has devastated poor communities for decades, especially the African American community. Another is prison reform and making sure sentencing is fair for minor crimes.

“There are generations of black men who have been destroyed by an unbalanced justice system and by the ‘three strikes’ rule that many states have,” Ritch says. “The poor of our country are devastated by unfair drug laws. It is fine to find the source of these drugs and go after that, but punishing users and small-time dealers with outrageous jail terms is a great injustice.”

While there are two sides to every story, Ritch only knows to relay any one story with honesty—an attribute he values greatly. For instance, he’ll tell you without hesitation what needs to be fixed in Harrisburg: The arts district is too spread out, Allison Hill needs attention, downtown needs more retail, and something should be done about all the abandoned buildings.

While the themes of Ritch’s work are hope and justice, he does like to sprinkle in a bit of comedy because he loves making people laugh.

Yes, musician, writer, blogger and a former “man of the cloth.” This rebel, this Harrisburg citizen who wants his city to be the best it can be, has planted his roots in our fair city and is sticking around a while. It’s never been easy, but that’s okay.

“Growing up, our family had a hard life,” he says. “My mother knew I was a strong kid. I’d call myself a survivor.”

Find out more about Jeremy Ritch’s life and work by visiting his blog: jeremymarkritch.wordpress.com. His work also can be read at www.todaysthedayhbg.com.

Coming to HBG: April is the coolest month.

April 22, 2013 | by Admin

The month of April is chock-full of genre-busting, sing-a-long, symphonic goodness. It’s hard to contain our recommendations to a few bands. So, we’ve put together an alphabetized guide to your best bets over the next 30 days.

Appalachian Brewing Company

March 4th Marching Band, April 10

Think Village People meets local marching band meets Kiss. Dressed in kitschy band attire, this music carnival contains a section of horns, drums, electric guitarists, flag and fire dancers, stilt walkers and acrobats. The adult Barnum & Bailey has arrived. Their motto is “A Date. A Command. A Band.” Don’t forget it.

Mentionables: Start Making Sense on April 6, and The Dirty Sweet on April 13

FedLive

Brown Bird, April 10

Hailing from Portland, Maine, this 3-person-band fronted by Dave Lamb will bring out all the instrumental stops: fiddle, cello, ukulele, lap steel guitar, upright bass and a dobro. Don’t know what a dobro is? Come out and view this Americana trio that will treat you to blues, swing, country and folk tunes.

Mentionables: Wayne “The Train” Hancock on April 1, and Jenny Owens Young on April 20

HMAC Stage on Herr

The Woggles, April 25

The Woggles (not the Wiggles although they parodied them on “30 Rock” last year) draw their inspiration from rockabilly, a marriage of rock, country and rhythm and blues. If you like uptempo garage rock, and respect the following bands they’ve shared the stage with—Johnny Cash, the Strokes and the New York Dolls—then opt for The Woggles (again, not The Wiggles).

Mentionables: Tartufi w/ You You Dark Forest on April 2, and The Greatest Funeral Ever on April 20

TheMakeSpace

Barren Girls, April 25

The four-piece, all-female punk garage band was recently signed to the near-legendary indie label, Merge Records this winter. This high-energy, sweat-inducing show will justify this band’s rising profile in the music industry. Put on your boots for this one.

Mentionables: Jake Lewis/Widad on April 27, and Jack Grelle/The Johnson Family on April 30

Whitaker Center/The Forum

B.B. King, April 19

Does the 87-year-old virtuoso need an introduction? The blues master who made his start in the ‘60s, due to Sinatra’s backing, makes the word “tour de force” sound like a simple jog. He’s playing 18 shows in April alone from Michigan to Mississippi. You want to hear that one-note vibrato that defines this icon.

Mentionables: 2CELLOS on April 2, and Dave Mason Acoustic Duo on April 12 (both at Whitaker Center)

Coming to HBG: Hot bands warm a chilly month.

March 16, 2013 | by Dan Webster

March Music Madness tips off in Harrisburg this month, with an 11-band lineup series called Winterfest.

Vetour Productions will be presenting tunes on both stages at Appalachian Brewing Company, featuring the precocious upstarts, The Flower Garden, and the more rootsy, bluegrass band, the Coal Town Rounders. Others who will share the stage over the course of the evening are: the Incubus-inspired sounds of Minshara, Taillights, Colors, Vegas Under Lights, Spotted Atrocious, Feed Your Ego, Crobot and That Girl—a wonderful array of band names and sounds.

Makespace, the ever-dynamic creative entity, has become the dandy of intimate indie venues in Harrisburg. This month, it proves it by bringing in Wooden Wand, the stage name for the mercurial James Jackson Toth.

Toth has never boxed himself in by genre or generation, but Pitchfork describes his new album, “Blood Oaths of the New Blues,” “as affording songs ripped from the headlines or rescued from personal journeys [the] necessary empathy and intimacy” they deserve. The opener, a two-song medley “No Bed for Beatle Wand/Days This Long,” is a question-driven one that seems an appropriate balance to the closer, “No Debts,” which is a clear admission of a life ending without questions, but rather, with contentment. This concert will be like watching a fine story telling, one imbued with honesty and imagination.

At the end of the month, The Corty Byron Band plays at Stage on Herr. The eponymous front man started gigging his way around central Pennsylvania at the age of 16 with his former group, The Green Onions. Following this stint, he took his talents out to Southern California. Byron clearly has an immense respect for Hendrix, found in his song “I Am,” but his skills span the rock ‘n’ roll spectrum, from the simple traveling man ballad, “Mississippi Moan,” to the harmonica-driven “Leavin’ Love.”

This jack-of-all-trades impresses on all fronts, and he will deliver on his chameleonic material. Don’t be shy about coming to this one early, too. The Kyle Morgan Band opens with its honky-tonk balladry; Morgan is a lyricist with impeccable writing and guitar skills, and should not be missed.

Take your pick of the mercurial this March. In this bracket, you’re not going to choose a loser.

Winterfest, March 3, Abbey Bar at Appalachian Brewing Co., 50 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg. Starts at 7:30 p.m.

Wooden Wand, March 9, MakeSpace, 1916 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg. Starts at 8 p.m.

The Corty Byron Band, March 30, HMAC Stage on Herr, 268 Herr St., Harrisburg.

Christmas Mystery, in Song: Mistletoe Magic glitters at Forum.

December 20, 2012 | by Peter Durantine

Music calls forth memories, whether happy or sad, but no tunes seem as evocative as those played during the holiday season.

“It just takes us back to our childhoods,” said pianist Rich Ridenour. “For me, it takes me back to my childhood and all the mystery and magic of Christmas.”

Jazz vocalist Amy Banks said no matter what the holiday, the music is part of the pattern of our traditions.

“From the religious carols to ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer;’ it’s part of the fabric of who we are,” she said. “That’s for any holiday music.”

For Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra’s “Mistletoe Magic” program this month, Ridenour and Banks will perform holiday favorites accompanied by the Messiah College Concert Choir and Susquehanna Children’s Chorale.

With Stuart Malina conducting, the program will include “Christmas Time is Here,” “Joy to the World,” “Carol of the Bells,” “Rhapsody in Blue Christmas,” the “Hallelujah Chorus” and more.

With Ridenour and Banks, the program is expected to have a special magic – Ridenour infusing his splendid arrangements with humor and comedy; and Banks, a torch singer with a wonderful smoky-sounding voice that evokes many emotions.

“I hope my strong suit is evoking emotion in the music I sing,” said the modest singer who lives in Lancaster and has performed around the world including, earlier this year, her European club debut at Jazz Club Soyouz Kompozitorov in Moscow.

Like Christmas music, jazz endures, Banks said. “I think jazz, in a lot of ways, is ageless,” she said. “Jazz is an art that requires some maturity.”

From his home in Jacksonville, Fla., where he’s involved in helping underprivileged youth access music education and instruments (he organized placing pianos around the city for anyone to sit down and play), Ridenour talked about the effect of comedy between performances of Beethoven and Gershwin.

“I think it draws the audience in more and draws a wider audience,” he said. “You can have fun with music.”

Like Christmas music, their instruments – Banks’ vocals, Ridenour’s piano – evoke something about them as people, about who they are.

“I can feel awful all day long and then I sit down at the piano and I feel great,” Ridenour said.

Speaking of herself, Banks said, “It’s a blessing to have a genre that you can relate to so strongly.”

Christmas music is no doubt a blessing to many, and so are its performers.

Mistletoe Magic is 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 8 and 3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 9 at the Forum in Harrisburg. Tickets are $12 to $45, depending on seating location, and available online at www.HarrisburgSymphony.org or by calling 717-545-5527.

Coming to HBG: Great music, all month long.

September 18, 2012 | by Lawrance Binda

In Harrisburg, the music scene starts out strong this month with three days of bands on three stages at the annual Kipona Festival, Sept. 1 to 3–then only picks up steam with the Dauphin County Jazz Festival the following weekend.

However, it’s not until closer to the end of the month that things really reach a peak.

On Sept. 21, Harrisburg’s own Jet City Vega touches down in HMAC’s Stage on Herr, delivering its style of finely polished guitar-and-vocals rock.

Jet City Vega deftly combines influences both old and new, as can be clearly heard on such tracks as “This One Kid” and “Only Human.” From song to song, one can detect more than 30 years of evolving sounds that range from arena rock to metal to grunge.

In fact, it’s that respect for the history of rock, in addition to rhythm and blues, that propels the quartet, formed just last year from members of other local bands. These guys are clearly students, as well as masters of the genre, something often difficult to find on today’s scene.

If nothing else, one should attend a Jet City Vega show to check out the guitar-playing of Brandon Reece, whose style and skill recall some of the legends of the instrument from the 1970s.

Across town, on Sept. 26, Arrested Development makes a stop into the Abbey Bar at Appalachian Brewing Co., bringing their brand of socially conscious hip-hop and R&B that today seems so lost–and is so needed.

Yes, my young friends, there was a time when rap meant more than scoring bling, bucks and booty–and exacting revenge on those who prevented the acquisition.

Two decades ago, Arrested Development arrived on the scene in dramatic fashion, winning a Grammy Award for Best New Artist and being named Band of the Year by Rolling Stone.

Since then, the group has seen its ups and downs, even breaking up for a time. However, these serious musicians could never leave the world of composing songs and performing together. Experience beloved oldies such as “Mr. Wendal,” “People Everyday” and “Tennessee,” as well as the band’s newer material.

Just two days later, on Sept. 28, the local scene switches course with the alt-folk duo, Over the Rhine, which checks in at Midtown Scholar Bookstore.

The husband-and-wife team of Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist has opened for such folk giants as Bob Dylan, Ani DiFranco and John Prine, but the couple’s 20+-year career in music is best appreciated in longer form and in an intimate venue like Midtown Scholar.

Over the Rhine is not your typical folk group, with deeply felt, finely composed songs based just as often on Detweiler’s piano as Bergquist’s guitar, as heard in a song such as “I Want You to Be My Love.” Bergquist’s sweet soprano adds a measure of beauty even to difficult compositions and dark subjects, like in the song “She.”

Does your musical taste lean to the strong vocal-and-piano style of Sarah McLachlen, sometimes mixed with the lighter touch of Cowboy Junkies? Then buy your ticket immediately.

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