A Conversation With, Entertainment, Interview, Morning Call, Movies and TV, Music

From boxing to Big Band to ‘Taxi’: Tony Danza to talk personal life and career at Musikfest Cafe

For more than 45 years, actor and singer Tony Danza has been one of the world’s most beloved entertainers. Whether it’s his celebrated performances on shows like “Taxi” and “Who’s The Boss,” his extensive movie and Broadway credits, or even rubbing elbows with the likes of legends like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and songwriter Sammy Cahn, Danza has firmly established himself as a multi-generational icon.

But for all you know about Tony Danza, one of the things you might not know is that prior to becoming an actor, Danza envisioned himself as a teacher, even earning a bachelor’s degree in education. Before finding a job teaching, he made a living as a professional boxer until fate stepped in and took his life in a whole new direction.

This is a small example of the stories fans can expect to hear on Friday, when Tony Danza brings his acclaimed “Standards &Stories,” to the Musikfest Café in Bethlehem.

The show combines Danza’s love of performing the timeless music from the Great American Songbook while interweaving stories from his personal and professional life. Who knows, there may even be a dash of soft shoe dancing and ukulele performances as well.

I recently spoke with Danza about his show and more in this exclusive new interview.

Q: How did the idea to do a show called “Standards & Stories” come about?

Tony Danza: Back in 1993 I hit a tree while skiing and almost killed myself. When I came back from it I said to myself, “I’m getting a second chance. What haven’t I done yet?” By then I had already been tap dancing for about 10 years and realized what I wanted to do was be a song and dance man. So I called up my agent and said I wanted to try it and wrote it up. It’s called “Standards & Stories,” which is pretty self-explanatory. It’s some of the greatest songs ever written played by a four-piece band led by Joe Davidian that will knock your socks off. Then I tell my stories: some professional, some personal, and a story about my mother that I’m very excited to tell. I try to make a connection with the audience and have them relate to the songs. People really seem to enjoy it and we have a great time playing it.

You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Tony Danza by clicking here.

A Conversation With, Entertainment, Interview, Morning Call, Music

Aardvarks to celebrate 20th anniversary on home turf with Musikfest Cafe performance

Chalk it up to musicianship, perseverance, or simply being able to give audiences what they want to hear as reasons for The Aardvarks musical longevity, but one thing’s for sure: The band has defied the odds over the last 20 years and cemented themselves as one of the Lehigh Valley’s premier and longest running rock bands. 

After years of performing together in and around the Valley in The Armadillos, bandmates Michael Rauscher (vocalist/guitarist) and Rod Walls (vocalist/keyboardist) founded The Aardvarks in 2004. The band would quickly evolve with the arrival of vocalist/guitarist Jason Morgan and vocalist/bassist Jon Novak in 2006, and later, when vocalist/drummer Ted Donatelli joined, six years later. 

The current line-up of The Aardvarks has been together for more than a dozen years; constantly updating their song catalog with an eclectic and energetic blend of rock and pop from the 1970s through the 2000s. At any given show you’re just as likely to hear the band’s spin on songs from Earth, Wind and Fire and Pink Floyd as you are to hear covers and medleys from artists like The Bee Gees, Rick Springfield and Blink 182. 

On Saturday, The Aardvarks will begin their new season and celebrate their 20th anniversary as a band along with another familiar Lehigh Valley group, The Honey Buzzards, when they perform at the Musikfest Café in Bethlehem. 

I recently spoke with Rauscher and Donatelli about the show, the band’s milestone anniversary and more in this new interview. 

What can fans expect from the band’s upcoming performance at Musikfest Café?

Michael Rauscher: The guys and I have been working hard on learning new material over our winter break, and I think our fans will be pleased. We’re also bringing up a surprise guest to dive into our old material. It’ll be a hoot!

Read the rest of my Morning Call interview with The Aardvarks by clicking here!

A Conversation With, Entertainment, Interview, Morning Call, Music

‘Thanks for making us something’: Amish Outlaws’ Brother Eazy Ezekiel previews band’s 20th anniversary show

Four of the original six members of the group The Amish Outlaws were raised in nearby Lancaster with a strict Amish upbringing. That meant things like musical instruments, land-line telephones and alcohol were strictly forbidden.

Suffice it to say that once the future band mates went through Rumspringa (an Amish rite of passage allowing 16-year-old Amish children to either remain in the Amish community or set out on their own), they chose the latter.

In the 20 years since their musical formation, The Amish Outlaws have not only continued to pay homage to their heritage by wearing simple slacks with suspenders and straw hats but have also become one of the most acclaimed and versatile cover bands around.

Want proof? The Amish Outlaws have shared the stage with such artists as Charlie Daniels, Buckcherry, Marshall Tucker and George Thorogood. Their shows regularly set the capacity record at Musikfest and their musicianship and stage presence keep fans of all musical generations coming back for more.

On Saturday, The Amish Outlaws will once again return the Lehigh Valley to celebrate their 20th anniversary at The Musikfest Café in Bethlehem.

The Amish Outlaws are Brother Hezekiah X (Lead Vocals), Brother Big Daddy Abel (lead vocals), Brother Snoop Job (guitar / vocals), Brother Amos Def (keyboards/vocals), Brother Eazy Ezekiel (bass) and Brother Jakob the Pipelayer (drums).

I recently caught up with Brother Eazy Ezekiel to talk about The Amish Outlaws anniversary and more in this new interview.

This year marks the Amish Outlaws’ 20th anniversary. When you look back with so much perspective what thoughts come to mind?

Brother Eazy Ezekiel: We are lucky, that’s the main thought that comes to mind. We work really hard and are blessed to be able to do what we love for a living. Perspective has taught us to never rest on our laurels because each and every person that gets in the car and drives to a show and coughs up his or her hard-earned money to see us deserves everything we can give them, short of our wallets and shoes [laughs].

Read the rest of my Morning Call interview with The Amish Outlaws by Clicking Here!

A Conversation With, comedy, Entertainment, Interview, Morning Call

‘Last Comic Standing’ comedian Josh Blue bringing tour to Lehigh Valley. What you need to know
Photo: Nick Larson

In the years since winning the fourth season of “Last Comic Standing,” comedian Josh Blue has worked tirelessly at honing his craft, and the results speaks for themselves.

In addition to performing more than 200 shows a year, Blue’s got six comedy specials under his belt and even achieved a third-place finish on the 16th season of “America’s Got Talent” in 2021.

Blue’s acclaimed stand-up is a constantly evolving paradigm built upon casual observation, off-the-cuff improv and using his own disability to poke fun at himself. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child, Blue uses it as a constant source of material in his routine. His self-deprecating wit and ability to find humor in the most mundane of circumstances makes him one of the most fun and in-demand stand-ups on the comedy circuit.

On Friday, Blue will be bringing his Freak Accident Tour to Musikfest Café in Bethlehem for an intimate performance. I recently spoke with him about the show, his comedy, career and more in this new interview.

Q: Is there way you can put into words what your comedy is all about?

Josh Blue: Yes, it’s very funny [laughs]. Actually, I’m very self-deprecating and I’m happy to throw myself under the bus for your entertainment. I’m also very observational and talk about my life and the random things that happen to me.

Having said that, what can fans expect from your Musikfest Café performance?

Blue: They’re going to laugh start to finish because once I step on the stage I don’t take my foot off the gas pedal until you pee yourself. So, bring a change of clothes [laughs].

You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Josh Blue by clicking here.

A Conversation With, Entertainment, Interview, Morning Call, Music

Allentown’s Miller Symphony Hall is turning 125. Here’s what’s coming in its new season

Variety is the key word when it comes to describing the new season as Allentown’s historic Miller Symphony Hall marks its 125th anniversary.

Originally named the Lyric Theatre when it opened its doors in 1899 and home to the Allentown Symphony Orchestra (ASO), the building has transformed itself from an indoor market into the premier theatre that exists today and is enjoyed by thousands of people each year.

The ASO recently announced its 2024-25 concert season, which includes pieces from the likes of Tchaikovsky, Gershwin, Louis Armstrong and William Grant Still as well as the celebrated film music of John Williams, and the rock and roll of Billy Joel and Chicago accompanied by the full orchestra.

I recently spoke with Diane Wittry (musical director / conductor), Al Jacobsen (executive director) and Lori Beneyton (marketing director) about the anniversary and what to expect from this exciting new season.

Q: This year not only marks the 125th anniversary of Miller Symphony Hall but also Wittry’s 30th season as musical director and conductor. What thoughts come to mind when you think about these milestones?

Diane Wittry: For me, what comes to mind is how far we’ve come as an organization and orchestra as well as the addition of different types of concerts and our outreach to schools and the partnerships with the community we’ve built and maintained. We’ve met every challenge along the way and continue to grow. It’s been very exciting.

Al Jacobsen: The theater opened in 1899 and the orchestra itself dates back to 1951, so when I think about the milestone I think about some of the amazing performances and artists that have graced the stage like Duke Ellington, John Phillip Sousa and his band, The Marx Brothers before they made it big, and speakers like Booker T. Washington and President Teddy Roosevelt.

Read the rest of my Morning Call Interview by Clicking Here.

A Conversation With, Entertainment, Interview, Morning Call, Music

‘Damn The Torpedoes’: Rich Kubicz previews Tom Petty tribute at SteelStacks

For frontman Rich Kubicz, forming a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tribute band was a no-brainer.

Already a huge Heartbreaker fan and having been playing guitar and singing since his early teens, Kubicz had also been told by many people how much he resembled and sounded  like the famed artist. Kubicz’s goal was not just to put together a group of top musicians that could play all of Petty’s studio hits note for note, but also ones that could as re-create live versions and deep cuts to give audiences the illusion of a full Tom Petty concert experience.

So in 2007 Damn The Torpedoes, a band aptly named after Petty’s 1979 breakthrough album, was born.

Today the band performs upwards of 50 shows a year and keeps the music and spirit of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers alive more than six years after Petty’s untimely passing.

When Damn The Torpedoes performs at the Musikfest Café on Friday, fans can certainly expect to hear many of Petty’s signature hits, which include songs like “The Waiting,” “Refugee,” “Free Fallin’,” “Runnin’ Down a Dream,” “Listen to Her Heart,” “You Got Lucky,” “Breakdown” and “American Girl,” as well as a few surprises.

Damn The Torpedoes features Kubicz in the “role” of Petty and also includes Lee Boice (guitars), Gary Castelluccio (keyboards / harmonica), Jon Provan (bass / piano) and Ross Kantor (drums).

I recently spoke with Kubicz about Damn The Torpedoes and more in this new interview.

Q: In your opinion, what makes the music of Tom Petty so timeless and special?

Rich Kubicz: To me, Tom Petty was the quintessential American rock star. He was the first one to create American Rock influenced by American Folk. From Elvis through The Byrds with a nod to The British Invasion, but always loyal to the twelve-string twang of Americana. He was also an awesome songwriter — melodies, riffs, lyrical meaning. They all have us swinging to this very day.

Read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Rich Kubicz by Clicking Here!

A Conversation With, Entertainment, Interview, Morning Call, Music

‘Lords of 52nd Street:’ Liberty DeVitto previews State Theatre performance celebrating the music of Billy Joel

Often described as the Legends of Billy Joel Band, the talented contributions of drummer Liberty DeVitto, saxophonist Richie Cannata and guitarist Russell Javors (along with late bassist Doug Stegmeyer), helped establish Joel’s formidable sound during the ’70s and ’80s and sell more than 150 million records.

It was Joel himself, along with famed producer Phil Ramone, who coined the group “The Lords of 52nd Street.”

The band would go on to record and tour with Joel for years as well as do various other projects, but it wasn’t until their induction into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2014 that DeVitto, Cannata and Javors decided to reunite after a 30-year separation and perform in front of live audiences together again.

On Friday, fans can experience The Lords of 52nd Street when they perform Joel’s signature album The Nylon Curtain in its entirely and much more at the State Theatre in Easton.

I recently spoke with DeVitto about The Lords of 52nd Street, his time working with Billy Joel, the music and more in this new interview.

How did the Lords of 52nd Street originate?

Liberty DeVitto: Myself, Russell Javors, Richie Cannata and the late Doug Stegmeyer had been inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. We played a few songs that night and afterwards someone said to us, “You guys need to do this music because you’re the real guys who sound just like the record and people need to know what you guys did for Billy.” So we put it together and got a few guys to fill in where we needed and it turned into a really successful thing. We do the songs in the original keys of the record and people love to see and hear it.

You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Liberty DeVitto by Clicking Here.

A Conversation With, Entertainment, Interview, Morning Call, Music

Go Go Gadjet bringing high-energy show to Musikfest Cafe

Perhaps no band straddles the line between band and DJ better than Go Go Gadjet. Their innovative combination of musicianship with traditional instruments and modern controllers crafts an indelible sound that’s uniquely their own and one that simply must be experienced.

The acclaimed band, which performs upwards of 120 shows a year, will begin the new year with a sold-out performance at Bethlehem’s Musikfest Café on Friday.

Go Go Gadjet is Joel Bermudez (drums), Alex Buonopane (lead vocals), Rheed (lead vocals), Pete Macartney (guitars) and Luke Anderson (bass).

In addition to having founded Go Go Gadjet, manager Jeff Tomrell continues to build upon his success from his 8,000-square-foot creative studio, Three Hive, located in Sinking Spring. Last year his tribute creation Magical Mystery Doors, which pays homage to the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and the Doors, was voted “Best Casino Show,” beating out the likes of Keith Urban, Shania Twain and Cirque du Soleil.

I recently spoke with Rheed and Pete Macartney of Go Go Gadjet and Tomrell about the band’s upcoming Musikfest Café performance, their origin and more in this new interview.

Go Go Gadjet is not a typical cover/bar band. Having said that, how would you describe the band in terms of its sound?

Rheed / Pete Macartney: We try to put an interesting and modern spin on everything we play. We’ll blend older and new songs across all different genres. The outcome is a sound uniquely our own. Go Go Gadjet has often been described as a band version of a DJ. The band is comprised of very talented musicians on their own individual instruments. This allows us to improvise and connect with an audience in an entirely different way than a DJ.

Read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Go Go Gadjet by Clicking Here.

A Conversation With, comedy, Entertainment, Interview, Morning Call

Off script: Improv comedy troupe bringing show to Nazareth for good cause

Scriptless in Seattle is a young improv comedy group that regularly tours the Midwest and mid-Atlantic. Reminiscent of the classic show “Whose Line Is It Anyway,” the group prides itself on creating a uniquely entertaining experience combining elements of classic improv games with fresh takes and new spins, all of them based on audience suggestions.

The group also strives to support the arts in local communities whenever possible, and such will be the case when Scriptless in Seattle brings their one-of-a-kind show to the Nazareth Area High School auditorium at 2 p.m. Saturday. Proceeds from the family-friendly event will benefit both the Nazareth Area High School theater program as well as the Nazareth Center for the Arts, which is also presenting the show. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at ScriptlessInSeattle.com.

I recently spoke with Scriptless in Seattle’s Justin Folger about the performance, the group’s origins and more in this new interview.

Q: How did Scriptless in Seattle come together?

Justin Folger: When I was in high school I was part of an improv group called the Royal Fools. A number of us were about to graduate and decided that we wanted to do some more improv. So three of us signed up for a talent show and while we were waiting in the wings of a theater the emcees of the show pulled us aside and asked what we should be called. We didn’t have a name so one off us suggested a pun on the Meg Ryan / Tom Hanks movie “Sleepless in Seattle.” So they introduced us as Scriptless in Seattle and we did our sketches. A few months later I got a call from a coffee shop in town who wanted to book us. We did that coffee shop and things just took off from there.

Read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Justin Folger by Clicking Here.

A Conversation With, Entertainment, Interview, Morning Call, Music

Kashmir lead singer Jean Violet previews upcoming Led Zeppelin tribute performance at Musikfest Cafe

Kashmir is considered the nation’s No. 1 Led Zeppelin tribute show, and for good reason. The band, which prides itself on bringing fans a true audio and visual Led Zeppelin experience, offers perhaps the most authentic representation and energy of the mighty Zep on the touring scene.

Kashmir’s set is a playlist of classic rock radio, and their show not only features songs that have become the soundtrack to people’s lives but also pay homage to one of the most identifiable voices in rock history, Robert Plant, as well as other Zeppelin trademarks, like a Jimmy Page-inspired double-neck guitar and a John Bonham-style drum solo.

Zeppelin fans of all generations can experience Kashmir for themselves when the band performs at the Musikfest Café in Bethlehem on Saturday. .

Kashmir is Jean Violet (vocals/harmonica), Kevin Slover (guitars, theremin & bow), Paul Cooper (drums) and Felix Hanemann (bass, keys and mandolin).

I recently spoke with Violet about the band and more in this new interview.

Q: Everyone has their own opinion but as someone who sings the songs night after night, what do you think makes the music of Led Zeppelin so special?

Jean Violet: I always like to use the analogy of steak and potatoes. It’s been on the menu for hundreds of years. When something tastes good and people like to eat it then it’s going to be around a long time. I think classic rock is in the same realm as classical music — it’s timeless. We now have kids who are 12 and 13 years old coming out to see our show who are into Led Zeppelin.

Read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Jean Violet by Clicking Here!