Category: Morning Call

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

The Bangles’ Vicki Peterson and The Cowsills’ John Cowsill bring harmonies, hits to Sellersville Theater
Photo: Henry Diltz

For Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill, singing and touring together wasn’t part of a grand design. It began almost accidentally — a casual blending of voices that revealed an undeniable spark.

As songs emerged and their unique harmonies locked in, it became clear that the married pair shared more than just a personal bond. They had discovered a rare creative chemistry. Drawing on decades spent inside some of pop music’s most influential bands, Peterson and Cowsill quickly developed a musical shorthand that transformed a chance collaboration into a fully formed partnership.

Peterson first captured the spotlight as a founding member of The Bangles and some of the most indelible hits of the 1980s, including the global smash “Walk Like an Egyptian.” Cowsill’s resume is equally storied, beginning with the platinum-selling family group The Cowsills and continuing through more than 20 years as drummer and co-vocalist with The Beach Boys.

Together, they bring a deep well of pop history to a project that honors classic songwriting while embracing an avant-garde spirit.

That spirit is especially evident on their debut Americana album, “Long After the Fire,” a deeply personal collection built upon songs written by John’s late brothers, Barry and Bill Cowsill.

Many of the compositions date back more than half a century, carrying an unmistakable AM-radio warmth, while never once feeling nostalgic. Instead, the songs sound fresh and immediate, animated by the duo’s distinctive harmonies and shared devotion to their craft.

Fans of Peterson and Cowsill — as well as devotees of their respective bands — will have the opportunity to experience that chemistry firsthand when the duo performs at the intimate Sellersville Theater on Tuesday.

I recently spoke with Peterson and Cowsill about their upcoming performance, the making of “Long After the Fire,” and the remarkable stories that have shaped their careers.

Q: Both of you have performed on some of the world’s biggest stages. What do you enjoy about having the opportunity to perform in a smaller, more intimate venue?

Vicki Peterson: When it’s just John and me, I prefer the more intimate settings. We can hear each other because it’s just two guitars and two voices. From where you’re sitting, it gives you the sense of being in someone else’s living room, hanging out and singing songs. The interesting aspect is that, even though we’ve both been doing this for decades, this is the first project where each of us have our own name on it and not being part of a collective. It’s exciting to be alive at this point in time and have something completely new and challenging ahead of you.

You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill by Clicking Here!

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

Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas previews intimate Wind Creek performance benefiting Sidewalk Angels nonprofit

For the past two decades, multi-platinum, Grammy-winning artist Rob Thomas has made it a tradition to kick off the new year with a series of special benefit concerts supporting his Sidewalk Angels Foundation.

Founded with his wife, Marisol, the nonprofit provides critical funding to more than 20 no-kill animal shelters and rescue organizations across the country, with all proceeds from the shows going directly to the cause.

Thomas, of course, needs little introduction. From fronting Matchbox Twenty to a wildly successful solo career, he’s been a defining voice in modern pop and rock. His collaborations are just as legendary, including the iconic 1999 hit “Smooth,” which he co-wrote and then recorded with Carlos Santana. The song spent 12 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard charts, earned three Grammy Awards, and was once ranked as the second most successful song in Billboard history.

On Friday, Thomas will bring his stripped-down, acoustic Sidewalk Angels performance to Wind Creek Event Center. The intimate evening will feature career-spanning hits, deep album cuts, and personal stories behind the songs that shaped his journey.

I recently caught up with Rob Thomas to talk about the Sidewalk Angels show, Matchbox Twenty, memorable moments and more in this new interview.

Q, What inspired Sidewalk Angels?

Thomas: When we started off my wife and I would go to this place in Middletown, N.Y., called Pets Alive and would donate money and our time. We began to realize we were missing an opportunity with all of the platforms I had. We thought if we wanted to do something on a bigger scale, we could figure out a way to help out with all of the organizations. The foundation is still small in that it’s still me, my wife and her mother. The thing that helps make it work is that my business managers donate their time. So we don’t have the overhead of salaries or giant galas that we have to pay for. If we raise a million dollars in a year, then a million dollars goes directly to no kill shelters and animal rescues.

You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Rob Thomas by Clicking Here!

Entertainment, Morning Call, Music

From classic rock to comedy, Broadway to children’s music, here are some of the top shows coming to the Lehigh Valley in 2026
Rod Stewart performs in concert at the Xcel Energy Center on Sunday, August 10, 2014. (Pioneer Press: Scott Takushi)

The arrival of 2026 can mean only one thing: another year packed with the best live entertainment the Lehigh Valley has to offer.

Over the next 12 months, the region’s stages will welcome something for everyone — from world-renowned artists and top-tier comedians to Broadway sensations and beloved regional favorites. As we do at the start of each year, here’s a look at some of the highlights music and performance fans can look forward to across the Lehigh Valley in 2026.

Several legendary acts will make what may be their final visits to the region as they embark on farewell tours. The sendoffs begin at Allentown’s PPL Center, where two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Sir Rod Stewart brings his One Last Time Tour to town on Saturday, March 14. The evening promises a career-spanning set filled with unforgettable hits from his more than 50 years in music.

Classic-rock icons Journey follow on Thursday, June 11, with their Last Frontier Tour. Billed as a special “Evening With” performance, the show reunites guitarist Neal Schon and  keyboardist Jonathan Cain from the band’s pivotal ’80s lineup for an extended, all-Journey set with no opening act.

Also in Allentown, Archer Music Hall rings in the new year with a diverse slate of artists.

Alternative rockers Seahaven perform their album Winter Forever in its entirety on Tuesday, Feb. 3, celebrating its 15th anniversary. Maggie Lindemann brings her ethereal pop sound to the stage on Sunday, March 1, followed by melodic death-metal favorites Nekrogoblikon on Thursday, March 12.

Read the rest of my Morning Call feature on the entertainment lineup for 2026 by clicking here!

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

Concert pick: Gogol Bordello at Allentown’s Archer Music Hall

Fueled by a relentless blend of primal drive and unshakable optimism, Gogol Bordello roots its sound in hyper-charged, forward-leaning post-punk textures.

The band has long prided itself on pairing infectious, techno-driven rhythms with sharp social and political commentary. That approach continues on the recent single “Hater Liquidator,” taken from the forthcoming album “We Mean It, Man!” — a defiant, high-energy track that plays like post-punk revenge set to a dance-floor pulse.

Led by Ukrainian-born frontman Eugene Hütz, Gogol Bordello is closing out the year with a run of East Coast dates, including a stop at Archer Music Hall in Allentown on Sunday.

I recently spoke with Hütz about the upcoming Allentown performance, the new album and more in the interview below.

Q. What can fans expect from the band’s upcoming performance at Archer Music Hall in Allentown?

Hütz: We just came back from touring Europe and spent two months sizzling up to perfection our new material. So it’s a safe time to say the new material is fully activated. We’re not going to be testing it out. It’s fully blazing. It’s going to be a broiler and a boiler.

Is there a way you can put into words what the music of Gogol Bordello is all about?

As a band we wanted to do something that was going to be chimney for our love of music. We have all of these logs burning with our love for punk rock, gypsy music, classical, hardcore and techno in this one fireplace called Gogol Bordello. It’s a synthesis of all of these elements. By margining this orchestra pit with mosh pit aesthetics we stumbled into this Frankenstein of high energy sinful, gypsy and hardcore folk punk.

Read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Eugene Hütz and subscribe for more feature content by clicking here.

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

Concert pick: Banjo player Tony Trischka brings holiday show to Godfrey Daniels
Banjo player Tony Trischka performs Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, at Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem. (Greg Heisler)

There’s no question that Tony Trischka stands as one of the most preeminent banjo artists of our time. For more than 50 years, his innovative style, dazzling speed, and musical ingenuity have shaped and inspired generations of bluegrass musicians.

Beyond his celebrated career as a performer, Trischka has authored 15 influential instructional books, produced artists like fellow banjoist Steve Martin, and recently released “Earl Jam,” an album paying tribute to one of his own musical heroes, Earl Scruggs.

Trischka continues to maintain an active touring schedule, and on Thursday, the Syracuse native will bring a banjo-fueled celebration of the season to Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem.

I recently spoke with Tony Trischka about his upcoming performance and more in this new interview.

Q. What can you tell me about your upcoming performance at Godfrey Daniels?

Trischka: I’ve got a great band and we’ll be doing Christmas, holiday and seasonal tunes. Many of which are not the standard ones you hear. We have Hannah Read from Scotland who’s an incredible singer/songwriter. We also have Tim Eriksen, who’s been doing these Christmas shows with me for the last 27 years. Then there’s Jared Engel on bass and my son, Sean, who’s also in the band playing drums and mandolin.

Read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Tony Trischka by Clicking Here.

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

Lehigh Valley concert pick: John McCrea of Cake previews SteelStacks performance

It’s hard to pigeonhole the music of Cake into one single slice. That’s because the band, which formed in the early 1990s, has a sound genre reminiscent of all the best elements of country, jazz, folk and bluegrass.

Cake’s ubiquitous American flavor and hits like “The Distance” and “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” have earned them both critical acclaim and a loyal following. Their last release, 2011’s “Showroom of Compassion,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and in the years since they have put out a live album as well as a collection of B-sides and demos.

The band plans to release a brand new, and long-awaited, studio album in early 2026, one which will include their latest song, “Billionaires in Space.”

Fans of the band can hear the classic songs, new material and more when Cake performs at The Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks on Sunday. I recently spoke with vocalist John McCrea about Cake’s upcoming performance and more in this new interview.

Q: Cake has been together now for more than 30 years. When you think about that milestone with so much perspective, what thoughts come to mind?

John McCrea: It’s unusual in the music industry for a band to live this long. I remember when we were first starting out there were a lot of bands that were a way bigger deal than us, but then they’d be gone in three years. Then there’d be another group of bands that were really important, and three years later they’d be gone too. It almost felt like we worked at McDonald’s for too long and saw people just come and go [laughs].

What can fans look forward to from the band’s upcoming performance here in Bethlehem?

A messier, louder version of the studio recordings that are a little more energetic. We also have a few new songs that we throw in every so often that will be featured on our next album. There’s a new song called “Billionaires in Space” we’ve been playing that has been going over well along with a George Jones cover that we just started playing this year. We stopped using a set list because it allows us more freedom to do what we want to do. So we probably won’t know what we’ll be playing until we’re standing up on stage. We’ll play it by ear and see what feels right for the situation.

You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with John McCrea by Clicking Here.

1980's, A Conversation With, Entertainment, Interview, Morning Call, Music

Concert pick: 1980s tribute band Rubix Kube to rock the crowd at Musikfest

They’re dubbed “The Galaxy’s Most Excellent ’80s Tribute Band” for good reason. It’s because the members of Rubix Kube pride themselves on re-creating the music from the decade of decadence with gnarly note-for-note precision.

Their high-energy, costume-fueled, interactive extravaganzas have not only earned them critical acclaim as the premier ’80s act, but many of the original artists whose music they cover have actually joined their stage, with Rubix Kube performing as the artist’s backing band for extended sets.

On Monday, Rubix Kube will once again bring the soundtrack of the 80’s to Musikfest’s Air Products Americaplatz at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks for a summer performance every fan of the decade should experience.

Just be sure to bring along your neon socks, Aqua Net and a few spare quarters for Galaga and Pac-Man (I’m kidding).

I recently spoke to Rubix Kube founder and frontwoman Cherie Martorana Neve about the band’s Musikfest appearance, what makes the music of the 1980s so timeless and more in this new interview.

Q. What can fans expect from Rubix Kube’s performance at Musikfest?

Cherie Martorana Neve: They can expect an all-out ’80s extravaganza of endless energy taking them back to the best decade of music of all time.

Q. In your opinion what makes the music of the ’80s so timeless?

First of all it’s the only decade of music that has so many sub genres. The ’80s had pop, hair metal, new wave, dance, punk. It’s something that continues to appeal to so many demographics even after all of these decades. We’re doing just as many college parties now in 2025 for people who are between the ages of 18-22 who didn’t even grow up in the ’80s. It’s a testament to how appealing the music is to have so many different types of people and age groups as fans. The ’80s also had MTV — the first generation to have videos and picture stories put to the music. So you were no longer just listening to the music but were also seeing it. It was a really exciting and fun time.

Read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Rubix Kube by clicking here!

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

Concert pick: Bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers return to Bethlehem with Musikfest Cafe performance

Since their formation in 2000, Steep Canyon Rangers have been wowing audiences with their eclectic mix of bluegrass and Americana.

The Grammy-Award winning band, which features Graham Sharp on banjo, Mike Guggino on mandolin, Aaron Burdett on guitar, Nicky Sanders on fiddle, Mike Ashworth on drums and Barrett Smith on bass, guitar, all provide vocals and have released 14 studio albums as well as three collaborative albums with actor and banjoist Steve Martin.

The band credits its longevity to a culture and community among its members, most of whom have known each other since their college days. It’s a foundation of friendship that really comes across to audiences whenever they perform.

Steep Canyon Rangers have also served as the “house band” for Steve Martin and Martin Short’s comedy show, having performed with them several times at Wind Creek Event Center. Now the band from North Carolina is gearing up for their first appearance in Bethlehem on their own, performing at The Musikfest Café in Bethlehem on Sunday.

I recently spoke with Barrett Smith of Steep Canyon Rangers about the band’s upcoming performance in Bethlehem and more in this new interview.

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

Smith: What we hang our hat on is a really good live show. Each is tailor made for the space where we are. So we’ll land in Bethlehem earlier in the day, get a feel for what the night’s going to be like and then make a set list. Maybe we’ll stick to it and maybe we won’t. We like real engagement with the crowd and making it as fun a night as we can. We’ve already played several times at the [Wind Creek] casino as the house band for the comedy show Steve Martin and Martin Short so we know the area well.

You can read the rest of my interview with Steep Canyon Rangers by Clicking Here.

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

Sounds of Summer: The Beach Boys bring their tour to the State Theatre in Easton

You can’t say the words “The Beach Boys” without instantly conjuring up images of California sun, surf, infectious harmonies and sophisticated musical arrangement.

The band’s indelible catalog has sold more than 100 million records over the last six decades and their ubiquitous album, Pet Sounds from 1966, is widely regarded as one of the most influential albums of all time. Even Paul McCartney, who knows a thing or two about the craft of songwriting, once proclaimed a track from that album, “God Only Knows,” as being the perfect song.

The Beach Boys arsenal of music includes nearly 40 Top 40 hits like “Good Vibrations,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “California Girls,” Surfin’ USA,” “Little Deuce Coupe,” and “Kokomo,” to name but a few.

Fans of the legendary group can relive the magic, music and memories when The Beach Boys bring their Sounds of Summer Tour to Easton’s historic State Theatre on Sunday, at a special time of 3 p.m.

I recently spoke with Mike Love about The Beach Boys upcoming performance in Easton, the band’s timeless career and more in this new interview.

What can Lehigh Valley fans expect from your upcoming performance in Easton?

Mike Love: A lot of music. We do a two-hour show: an hour followed by a 20-minute intermission and then another hour. In the first hour we like to get retro, so I like to do the “surfer” and “car” songs like “Don’t Worry Baby” and “I Get Around.” After intermission we get a little more introspective. We’ll do some Pet Sounds stuff like “God Only Knows,” “Sloop John B” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” I like to do songs I wrote with my cousin Brian [Wilson] and tell stories about the songs. I remember in November of 1963 we wrote this beautiful song called “The Warmth of The Sun” and were awakened the next morning to the news that President Kennedy had been taken to the hospital in Dallas. We recorded that song about a month later with a tremendous amount of emotion.

Of course we have to do “Good Vibrations” and wouldn’t want to leave the area without doing “California Girls,” “Fun Fun Fun,” “Barbara Ann,” and “Help Me Rhonda.”

You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Mike Love by Clicking Here.

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

Jon Lovitz talks career, his ‘that’s the ticket’ catchphrase ahead of Bethlehem stand-up show

For more than 40 years, Jon Lovitz has been one of the best-known comedians of his generation.

His brand of funny can be traced back to his stint on “Saturday Night Live” in the mid-80s, where the catch phrase “Yeah, that’s the ticket,” from his character, Tommy Flanagan the Pathological Liar, became a weekend staple of must see TV.

He’s appeared in several Adam Sandler films over the years and done voiceovers for “The Simpsons” as well as his own show, “The Critic.” Lovitz even had the opportunity to work with his comedic hero, Woody Allen, on Allen’s film, “Small Time Crooks” in 2000.

On Friday, Lovitz will bring his unique brand of stand-up humor to the Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem. I recently spoke with him to preview his upcoming performance and get his thoughts on the current state of comedy and more in this new interview.

How would you describe your style of comedy?

Lovitz: It’s about my personal opinions about stuff and trying to understand what’s going on in the world. It’s funny, everyone thinks of themselves as being young and hip and then all of a sudden it’s not — it becomes the opposite of what you grew up to believe in. Some people just go along with it, and I just can’t. The show is just me talking about all different subjects and what’s going on in the world and how I see it.

You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Jon Lovitz by Clicking Here.