Category: Music

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, Beyond What We Know, Books, Childhood Memories, Entertainment, Life, Music

GoodReads Giveaway: “Beyond What We Know”

With most major outlets sold out of the print edition of my new book, “Beyond What We Know” it makes sense to give everyone a chance to win one of the paperback copies for free!

Enter now to win one of 5 signed copies of James Wood’s 80’s-themed new adult thriller, “Beyond What We Know.” With an ending you’ll never see coming! The five random winners will also receive a BWWK bookmark, cover card and stickers.

Riddled with guilt over the death of his father, high school graduate Mike Collins spends his last summer at home disquieted by thoughts of leaving behind his mother and first love as he prepares to depart for college. 

Unbeknownst to him, Mike will soon meet his musical hero, Chris Steele, whose perspective of life will teach him to believe in the possibility of second chances.

Filled with rich imagery from the 1980s, “Beyond What We Know” is a coming-of-age story exploring life’s obstacles, the music and the machinery, while illuminating the power of friendship with the metaphysical transcendence of the unknown, and an ending you’ll never see coming!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Beyond What We Know by James Wood

Beyond What We Know

by James Wood

Giveaway ends October 13, 2025.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

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Special Offer on Paperback Version of ‘Beyond What We Know’

Amazon and Barnes & Noble may currently be out of stock of the paperback version of my new novel, “Beyond What We Know,” but you can now get a special deal by ordering the book directly through my publisher.

For a limited time, you can purchase the paperback version of Beyond What We Know for just $13 (plus tax & s/h) simply by using coupon code gojimmygo at checkout. That’s an almost 20% discount!

Click here to read more and to order.

Synopsis:

Riddled with guilt over the death of his father, high school graduate Mike Collins spends his last summer at home disquieted by thoughts of leaving behind his mother and first love as he prepares to depart for college. Unbeknownst to him, Mike will soon meet his musical hero, Chris Steele, whose perspective of life will teach him to believe in the possibility of second chances. Filled with rich imagery from the 1980s, “Beyond What We Know” is a coming-of-age story exploring life’s obstacles, the music and the machinery, while illuminating the power of friendship with the metaphysical transcendence of the unknown, and an ending you’ll never see coming.

Praise for “Beyond What We Know”:

Loved this Book!

This book kept me enthralled from start to finish, it was very hard to put down. The struggles Mike went through really made you think about your own life. Just when I thought I knew what was about to happen there was a twist and Oh boy what an ending. Loved all the references from the 80’s.

~ T.C. (Amazon Review)

Couldn’t Put It Down

Jim Wood’s writing style makes for an easy read and I appreciated the detailed storytelling as the sights, sounds, sensations, and scents of each moment were brought to life to propel the plot forward. Fun reading and makes you think a little about life, love, and loss.

~ J Weaver (Amazon Review)

Couldn’t Put This Book Down Once I Started!!!

An absolutely amazing, creative, and heart felt story!!! A real page turner with entertaining references of the 80s mixed into a coming of age story that everyone will love reading! Don’t miss out!

~ Mike34 (Barnes & Noble)

Made Me Stop and Think

This book surprised me in the best way. Beyond What We Know made me stop and think about my own memories and how quickly time slips by. It’s tender, a little bittersweet, and filled with moments that feel so real you’ll swear you’ve lived them too. If you’re looking for a story that lingers with you long after you’ve finished, this is it.

~ Dale Wilson (GoodReads)

Thanks so much to everyone who’s read the story of Mike Collins and Chris Steele so far! Keep the reviews coming!

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Book Signing Wrap-Up: Beyond What We Know

Just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who came out to the first book signing for “Beyond What We Know” at Barnes & Noble Southmont Plaza in Easton, PA on Saturday, September 6th. It was an amazing and surreal event.

I met so many wonderful people, signed dozens of copies of the book, handed out bookmarks, cover cards and stickers, and also had anyone and everyone sign my 11×17 poster of the book cover to commemorate the occasion. There was even one person who had purchased my first novel “Neapolitan Sky,” and brought it to the event for me to sign as well.

If you missed the signing and want to learn more about “Beyond What We Know,” check it out on Barnes & Noble and Amazon. You can even read a few sample chapters of the story. There’s also an in-depth interview I recently did about the book for Medium which answers a lot of behind the scenes questions, including inspiration, dedications and the writing process itself.

Please be sure to leave a review on your favorite sites and add “Beyond What We Know” to your GoodReads “Want to Read” list! Looking forward to sharing more events soon!

I hope you all enjoy reading the story of Mike Collins and Chris Steele as much as I did writing it!

1980's, Beyond What We Know, Books, Entertainment, Life, Music

‘Beyond What We Know’ Has Arrived!

The day has finally arrived. My new book, “Beyond What We Know” has now been released. Amazon is already temporarily out of stock of the paperback version, which is surreal. The Kindle and E-book version of the book is still available immediately and I’ll have physical copies at the book signing on Saturday at the Barnes & Noble Southmont in Easton, PA.

What an amazing journey it’s been. This book has been in the works for nearly seven years and it’s now finally here. Some people have asked me why it’s being released on a Sunday when most new books come out on Tuesday. I did this on purpose. Today would’ve been my dad’s 79th birthday. I dedicated the book to him (as you’ll read about in the story) and wanted to honor him with it.

Thanks to everyone who’s been on this journey with me. To the ones who encouraged me, the early test readers, editors and those who attended the book launch and pre-ordered the book. I sincerely hope you enjoy the story of Mike Collins and Chris Steele.

One last request, please be sure to leave me a review about the book on your favorite outlets (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, GoodReads). I’m looking forward to seeing you all at Barnes & Noble on Saturday. If you haven’t RSVP’d, check my events page. Have a great Sunday!

The book is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other outlets.

1980's, Beyond What We Know, Books, Childhood Memories, Entertainment, Life, Music

Book Launch – Beyond What We Know

Had a great book launch event at an 80’s themed retro-arcade on August 29 to celebrate tomorrow’s release of my brand new book “Beyond What We Know.” Since the story is set in the 1980s, I thought there was no better place to mark the occasion than by putting the book up against a backdrop of Galaga, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Frogger and other 80s classics.

The journey to this finished story has been a long time coming. The book has actually been in development for nearly 7 years. Looking at it now in its finished form is surreal.

For those in the area, I will be doing my first book signing at the Barnes & Noble in Easton, PA on Saturday, September 6th from 1-4 p.m. I’ll be giving away bookmarks, images of the cover and stickers. I’ll also be bringing along the poster you see for everyone to autograph. I’ll sign books, and you get to sign this for me. It’s a win-win.

You can pre-order the book in both paperback and e-book through all your favorite outlets, including Barnes & Noble and Amazon. You can also order it directly through my publisher, Book Baby. Please be sure to leave a review/comment of the book on your favorite outlets, including Good Reads.

Early Good Reads review:

“This is a reflective, quietly imaginative story that follows a teenager named Mike as he spends his remaining days before heading off to college. The book is written as a kind of journal or memory piece, and it has an interesting “story within a story” structure that makes it feel a bit like peeling back layers of a dream or a memory.”

The writing style reflects the narrator’s age and personality—sometimes a bit earnest or unpolished, but it feels intentional and true to the voice of someone still figuring things out. That gave it a kind of charm, especially since a big part of the book is about growing up, dealing with loss, and trying to make sense of life’s turning points.

The plot has a slightly surreal element that I wasn’t expecting, and that added something extra to an otherwise grounded story. I won’t spoil it, but it gives the book a feeling that’s somewhere between realistic fiction and something a little more speculative. Overall, this was a thoughtful read with a nostalgic tone and a lot of heart.“

Only one more day and “Beyond What We Know” is here. Hope you enjoy the story.

1980's, Beyond What We Know, Books, Childhood Memories, Dreams, Entertainment, Life, Music

Beyond What We Know – One Week Away!

We are now officially one week away from the release of my new 232-page book, “Beyond What We Know!” It’s been such an amazing journey getting here and I’m so excited to finally be able to share this story with you.

Here are some things to prepare you for the story of Mike Collins and Chris Steele:

Trailer 1: The first trailer for the book:

Synopsis:

Riddled with guilt over the death of his father, high school graduate Mike Collins spends his last summer at home disquieted by thoughts of leaving behind his mother and first love as he prepares to depart for college. Unbeknownst to him, Mike will soon meet his musical hero, Chris Steele, whose perspective of life will teach him to believe in the possibility of second chances.

Filled with rich imagery from the 1980s, “Beyond What We Know” is a coming-of-age story exploring life’s obstacles, the music and the machinery, while illuminating the power of friendship with the metaphysical transcendence of the unknown with an ending you’ll never see coming.

Trailer 2: The second trailer for the book:

New Interview:

Read my latest interview for some behind the scenes info about Beyond What We Know.

Book Signing:

If you’re in the Easton, PA area, I’ll be doing a book signing event at the Southmont Plaza Barnes & Noble on Saturday, September 6. More info can be found here.

My first novel “Neapolitan Sky” with “Beyond What We Know

Goodreads:

Are you on Goodreads? If so, please add “Beyond What We Know” to your Want to Read list and give it a review.

Trailer 3: The third trailer for the book:

Pre-order Beyond What We Know:

You can pre-order the new book on Amazon here. Pre-order the new book on Barnes & Noble here.

Thanks to everyone for their support and encouragement during this project. The wait is almost over!

1980's, Beyond What We Know, Books, Childhood Memories, Entertainment, Life, Music

Beyond What We Know – NEW TRAILER

Happy Saturday, everyone! I’m excited to share a few updates with you about the new book. There’s a lot going on, so let’s get to it!

New Book Trailer!

First off is the third trailer for my new 232-page novel, “Beyond What We Know.” All three trailers tease at what you can expect as you read the story of Mike Collins. Please let me know what you think in the comments:

Book Signing Event

On Saturday, September 6th I’ll be at the Barnes & Noble Southmont Plaza in Easton, PA signing copies of the new book. I’ll be giving away bookmarks, 4×6 images of the book cover and stickers. You’ll also be able to do your own signing on an 11×17 poster of the cover. If you’re in the area, please stop by and say hello.

ARC Team Info

Interested in being on the Beyond What We Know ARC (Advance Reader Copy) Team? It’s easy. Click on this link and fill out the form for a chance to receive a free copy of the new book on your Kindle (or free Kindle reader app) in exchange for a review.

New Interview

I recently shared an interview I did on the new book for Medium. If you’re interested in learning more about the story, characters and the writing process then Click Here.

The book will be released on August 31st, 2025 but is available now for pre-order at both Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

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!