Burt Bacharach wrote one the most beloved songbooks in all of popular music — timeless classics like “Walk On By,” “Alfie,” “I Say A Little Prayer” and “What’s New Pussycat,” which have been recorded by legends like Dionne Warwick, Tom Jones, Aretha Franklin and Barbara Streisand, to name but a few.
Although he passed away in 2023, Bacharach’s music and influence continues to be celebrated around the world.
On Friday, Bacharach fans will be able to take part in a one-of-a-kind experience, “The Bacharach Songbook Live,” at Wind Creek Event Center. Led by longtime Burt Bacharach music director Rob Shirakbari, the show will feature a nine-piece ensemble that’s worked with artists like Stevie Wonder, Adele, Dionne Warwick, Brian Wilson and Aretha Franklin.
Another legendary artist, Todd Rundgren, will also take part in the performance, where he’ll be covering some of his own personal favorite Bacharach songs.
I recently spoke with Todd Rundgren about “The Bacharach Songbook Live” and the influence Bacharach’s music had on him. We also discuss his early band The Nazz, production work, a few memorable moments and more in this exclusive new interview.
Q: How did this celebration of Burt Bacharach come about? What inspired it?
Todd Rundgren: Well, it wasn’t really inspired by me because I had sort of sworn off doing tribute shows after I finished one celebrating the music of David Bowie. But then the producers of the David Bowie thing came to me with the Bacharach idea and I realized that there was too much Bacharach in my music to avoid doing it. In some ways it was closer to me than a lot of the other stuff we’d done. I think that will make it more fun to do.
You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview by Clicking Here.
Widely regarded as one of the most successful and controversial computer video games of its time, Phantasmagoria wowed gamers when it was released in the summer of 1995.
The interactive point-and-click horror adventure created by Sierra Online, one of the first games for both MS-DOS and Windows, spanned seven discs and grossed more than $12 million dollars on its opening weekend, easily becoming one of the year’s best-selling games.
The hugely detailed 550-page script developed by Roberta Williams told the story of Adrienne Delaney (portrayed by actress Victoria Morsell Hemingson), a writer who moves into a remote mansion only to find herself terrorized by supernatural forces. The game featured both live action and cinematic footage mixed within a three-dimensionally rendered environment.
Despite the buzz and high demand it generated, Phantasmagoria was also considered controversial upon its release in 1995, with several major retailers refusing to even stock the game because of content they considered to contain “highly realistic violence.” Something that seems trivial in comparison to the games currently occupying store shelves three decades later.
Although the game was hugely successful, Victoria Morsell Hemingson decided to switch gears from acting in order to pursue a career in writing shortly after the release of Phantasmagoria, as well as to concentrate on marriage and raising a family. In 2021 she was awarded the grand prize in the Mystery/Thriller category in Book Pipeline Unpublished for her novel, “Awful Necessary Things.”
Today, she’s concentrating on several different writing projects, including novels as well as a powerfully written and personal non-fiction piece about a difficult time in her life. She’s also had the opportunity to actually play Phantasmagoria herself for the very first time on the Conversations with Curtis YouTube channel.
I recently spoke with Hemingson about Phantasmagoria’s 30th anniversary and its impact, her writing and more in this new interview.
It’s been thirty years since the release of Phantasmagoria. When you look back now with so much perspective what thoughts come to mind?
Victoria Morsell Hemingson: I remember it was actually really fun to make. We had such a great time because it was like a dream job. They put us up in cabins and we all got to stay by a lake. We were a tight knit group and it was nice to have something steady for a few months. If you follow Conversations With Curtis on YouTube, that was the first time I ever actually played the game. I remember when I was hired I really didn’t know very much about computer video games but I was told it was a new kind of game that was cutting edge. I had originally auditioned for the director for another project. He had seen me act before and knew I’d be right for the part in Phantasmagoria.
Did you know what you were getting into with this game?
Hemingson: It was hard to envision exactly what it was going to look like at first. It was a gigantic script and there was a lot we didn’t understand going in. For example, the set was in front of a blue screen and was completely empty. There was no furniture; just boxes for steps, beds and chairs. I remember we had to stand facing a monitor and could see the animation that they already had done on the TV and where we were going to be in relation to the game while we were doing it. It took a while to get used to how to move and be in the right place on screen. As an actor it was a bit of a challenge not knowing how big or small to go. We were all figuring it out as we went along.
What was it like learning the story and what were some of the little nuances in the 500+ page script?
Hemingson: Roberta Williams told me the story. The script itself was all in order but it contained everything, like first I would have to open a drawer to find the matches. Then I would open the drawer to see the matches, then open the drawer and not see the matches. Each of those kinds of variations was part of the script. I remember when we filmed we were there for a few months and then brought back in a few months later to shoot for a final few weeks.
What made you decide to make the transition from acting to writing?
Hemingson: I always wrote when I was a kid and a lot of the acting I was starting to do wasn’t as satisfying or fulfilling. I wanted to do something I was really proud of. I still remember the exact moment I realized that I was done acting. I had gone on an audition for a play and they kept everyone waiting around for hours and hours. Then when it was finally my turn to audition it was like a split second. It just felt like it wasn’t worth it. So I decided to go back to school and got a master’s in writing. The writing was something I always wanted to do.
What’s your writing process like?
Hemingson: It can be difficult trying to get into the groove but I try to write in the morning and then later on in the afternoon, Of course, it’s different when I’m revising. When I was in school I was a little more efficient with my time working and writing.
What are some of the projects you’re currently working on?
Hemingson: I recently wrote a personal non-fiction piece for Hippocampus Magazine. I used to work as a receptionist when I was younger and had an eating disorder. It was during this time that I started seeing this actor, whose name I won’t reveal.
I’ve also written a fiction piece for South Carolina Review about a woman in Los Angeles who’s trying to get off a cycle of bad choices and am working on a new novel.
What are you most looking forward to about this next phase of your career?
Hemingson: I guess it would have to be completing these new projects. I’m excited about working on them. I need to get them out of me. I may also be collaborating with my husband on something which will be fun. He’s a screenwriter who wrote the film, “The Holdovers.”
Comedian Sam Morril is one of the fastest rising and most popular stand-ups on the scene today. In addition to constantly touring his eclectic show at venues across the globe, he’s appeared on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” as well as done stints on “Last Comic Standing” and “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
Morril can regularly be heard on the popular “We Might Be Drunk” podcast alongside fellow comedian and co-host Mark Normand, and his latest special, “Sam Morril: You’ve Changed,” is available for streaming on Amazon Prime.
Morril is currently out on his brand new The Errors Tour — a “swift” play on words about a hugely successful recording artist. The show makes a stop at The Wind Creek Event Center on Saturday.
I recently spoke with Morril about The Errors Tour, his comedy and more in this new interview.
Q: What can fans expect from your upcoming Errors Tour performance in Bethlehem?
Sam Morril: Expect a lot of new material. It’s already in a good place right now but I’m going to be a hitting a lot of cities so it will keep getting better.
Why call it “The Errors Tour?”
I thought it would be kind of fun and figured if at least one boyfriend says to his girlfriend, “Hey I got you tickets to the Errors Tour” she’ll be like, “Oh my god!” And then when she shows up he can say, “Well, at least I didn’t lie. You’re just a bad listener” [laughs].
You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview by clicking here.
Rascal Flatts will perform Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the PPL Center in Allentown. (ABC/ADAM BETTCHER)
t may be hard to believe, but the arrival of 2025 means that we’re now officially one-quarter of the way into the 21st century. It’s a new year that brings with it an opportunity to make resolutions to do things you’ve kept putting off for one reason or another.
If one of the resolutions you’ve made this year is to get out and explore what’s going on in the Lehigh Valley, then we’ve got you covered. Because 2025 is already shaping up to be a memorable one for live entertainment.
Set aside those winter blues and enjoy this list of some of the exciting options happening in an around the Valley in the new year.
Musikfest Cafe
The fun officially kicks off over in Bethlehem at the Musikfest Café with the smooth sounds of Yacht Rock as well as the return of several familiar faces. It begins on Friday, Jan. 10, when New York City-based band Yacht Lobsters performs a signature blend of soft rock of the ’70s and ’80s. It continues on Friday, Jan. 24, when Go Go Gadjet returns with their popular high energy show. They’ll be followed the very next week with fan-favorites The Amish Outlaws on Friday, Jan. 31.
Wind Creek Event Center
If dancing is more your thing, Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem has two performances of the popular “Dancing With Stars Live” at 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25. Comedian Sam Morril will return to the Wind Creek stage on Saturday, Feb. 8; classic rock legends The Marshall Tucker Band perform on Friday, Feb. 14, and fans of the ’90s can relive the nostalgia with “I Love the 90s” featuring Vanilla Ice, Rob Base, Tone Loc and C&C Music Factory featuring Freedom Williams on Saturday, March 15.
You can read the rest of my article previewing the 2025 Concert Season by clicking here.
Rick Springfield has worn many hats over the course of his legendary career. A Grammy-winning artist who’s sold more than 25 million albums over the last four decades, he’s also a celebrated actor who’s appeared in numerous TV shows and films as well as a New York Times best-selling author.
Springfield’s musical resume includes, of course, the monstrous 1981 hit “Jessie’s Girl” — a song from his multiplatinum-selling album Working Class Dog and one that to this day remains a centerpiece of any ’80s playlist. He’d go on to score additional Top 40 hits like “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “Human Touch” and “Love Somebody,” to name a few, the latter of which a song from his 1984 feature length film, “Hard to Hold.”
Springfield’s new music has also garnered rave reviews, including songs from his most recent album Automatic where he continues to go for (and find) the big hook. His recently released new song, “Lose Myself,” talks about a tumultuous relationship and only further reinforces Springfield as the consummate artist. The song will be part of a new greatest hits package that will include a coffee table book of photographs and is slated for release next year.
In the meantime, fans of Rick Springfield will get a taste of his ubiquitous musical career when the legendary entertainer performs at the Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem on Sunday.
I recently spoke with Springfield about the show, his music, memorable moments and more in this new interview.
Q. What can fans expect from your performance at Wind Creek Event Center?
Rick Springfield: You’ve always got to do the hits that everyone expects, but we also include some of the newer songs and songs that work with the audience. Even if they might not know the song sometimes, the song still works if it’s the right one. I have a great band so it’s also about what we feel like playing.
Speaking of new songs, you recently released the new single, “Lose Myself.” What can you tell me about it?
I wrote that song with a guy in Sweden named Niclas Lundin. For some reason, the Swedish guys seem to be killing it in the pop world these days with great melodies. We wrote the song about being caught up in a relationship that is destructive but incredible.
You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Rick Springfield by clicking here!
Politics aside, you want to know why this country is going down the tubes? It’s because of things like this news story. It’s only a matter of time before it’s eliminated completely. No outlet for kids to have creativity of any kind. No chance to express themselves as individuals or work together as one ensemble to create something magical that brings joy to people each Christmas and spring season.
I’m sure I’m not alone when I say this as a 55 year old man: being part of the music and choir program at school was the only thing that saved me. It’s why when my favorite teacher, the late Ed Milisits, retired after three decades at Easton Area High School and tried starting a community choir that nearly ALL of it was comprised of now middle-aged former alumni who felt so strongly about what they experienced years ago that they blocked off time in their busy adult schedules to come back and sing. A vast majority of them hadn’t sang like that since they graduated decades ago. What does that tell you?
To quote from Whitman (and Robin Williams’ performance in Dead Poet’s Society): “O me! O life!… of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless… of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?”
Answer: That you are here – that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse.
I’d love to hear your thoughts about this. Please feel free to leave a note in the comments section.
This is the fourteenth entry in my series of annual birthday reflections. Something I started doing shortly after I began my writing journey in the fall of 2011. As I sit here now, drinking coffee on this beautiful fall Saturday morning, it’s hard to believe that I’m exactly half-way through my fifties.
It seems like it was only yesterday I was the youthful teenager driving my pals around in a beat-up 1973 Toyota station wagon, hauling my guitar to lesson every week, going to the Palmer Park Mall on Friday nights after school, pouring millions of dollars worth of quarters from summer lawn mowing money into video game cabinets, having my fill of Orange Julius and wishing I could somehow muster up the courage to go over and talk to the cute girl who was standing with her friends outside of the Listening Booth record store.
Wasn’t I the one who was able to go to rock concerts and stay up until the wee hours of the morning? Sitting in some dingy downtown diner deep into the night; chain smoking cigarettes, eating french fries smothered in imitation cheese sauce and drinking gallons of coffee. Talking with my friends about our plans to take on the world and make all of our dreams come true. And who could possibly forget singing ̶h̶o̶r̶r̶i̶f̶i̶c̶ beautiful three-part acapella versions of Eagles songs in the parking lot until 2 a.m. until we finally called it a night. Then to get home and lay there alone in the dark, listening to the whirring sound of a portable fan and feeling excited about the possibility of everything we’d just talked about coming true, before finally drifting off to sleep. These days, I’m lucky if I can stay up past 10 p.m.
There’s an odd sense of immortality you have when you’re young that makes you believe time will always stand still. One that pulls you close and then whispers in your ear, telling you that you’ll never be as old as your parents. But then one day you take a nap and unknowingly wake up in their role and realize your parents are gone and time waits for no one.
To give you some perspective, my father died twenty-seven years ago this month at the age of 51. As of today, my birthday, I’ve outlived him by four years. My mother died in March of 2020, almost five years ago. This year, one of the friends who made those many coffee and cheese fry runs with me has been gone for ten years, and I recently heard the news about another classmate I knew quite well who had passed away unexpectedly.
A few years ago I stumbled upon my Easton Area Middle School student ID card. It was hiding beneath a pile of old knick knacks and memories in the crawl space of my basement. Why I decided to keep it all these years I’ll never know, but seeing it reminded me of the day the teacher handed them out in the fall of 1980. It was the first time I ever received a photo identification card of any kind, and although I didn’t much care for my fresh-faced goofy grin photo on the front, there was something printed on the back of the now worn, laminated card that had immediately caught my attention.
There among my bus route and home room numbers were the words, “YR GRAD-87.” It was the first time I saw the year of my future high school graduation (1987) and the first time I believed it was so very far away. To this shy eleven-year-old boy, seven years seemed like an eternity. The very idea of a youthful me not only seeing the year 1987 but eventually living in the year 2000 and beyond was the equivalent of having a starring role in The Jetsons or a Star Wars movie. It was inconceivable for me to even comprehend living in the space age. My parents were both very much alive at the time as well as both sets of grandparents and all of my classmates and friends. I didn’t have a job, or any roles and responsibilities for that matter, and the only things I looked forward to back in 1980 was Pizza Friday at school, my birthday, Christmas and summer vacation. As far as I was concerned, seven years away could’ve been seven hundred.
Fast forward and here I am now, sitting on a couch with a scruffy gray beard and a bit thick in the middle, celebrating the double nickel birthday thirty-seven years post high school and twenty-four years beyond the year 2000. It’s mind boggling to think that we’re almost 25% of the way through another century. Back in 1980, I thought I had all the time I’d ever need, and now I often find myself feeling the urge to make the most of the time I have left.
As many of you know, I suffered a bimalleolar ankle fracture back in February. It was the first time I had ever broken a bone in my life and had to have surgery. One of the worst and scariest things to ever happen to me. I was laid up for what felt like an eternity, so when the doctor finally looked at the x-ray of my healed bones weeks later and told me to get up and walk, the emotion I felt was almost Biblical. I’m so grateful to be back walking, although my ankle does make a point of reminding me nearly every day about what happened. The doctor said it will probably take up to a year before things get back to “normal,” whatever that is. I’m thankful for everyone who took the time to wish me well, bring me over a coffee or mow the lawn while I was laid up in the cast and boot. As a side note I will say that, in addition to the wheel and central air conditioning, the knee scooter is one of the greatest things ever invented by man.
Now that I’m back on two feet let’s finish this birthday post by talking about what’s going on now, in the present day. In addition to continuing to do interviews—hopefully, you’ve read a few of them over the years, I’m still writing and doing watercolor painting. Both of which have been great forms of stress relief.
I think I may celebrate this day by spending some time at an old-school arcade in Allentown. One targeted to Generation X that still has all of the retro game cabinets. There’s no need to drop quarters into the machines anymore – it’s pay one price for unlimited play, which is a good thing considering I’ve been out of practice for the last forty years. And while I’m being annihilated by the invaders of Galaga and Zaxxon, I’ll reminisce about my friends who’ve moved on as well as the coffee and cheese fries—especially now that I’m eligible for the 55+ discount menu! I’ll also think about the plans and dreams we made that came true, and the ones still left to find.
In the meantime, I hope this day and my next trip around the sun brings all of us a newfound sense of hope, peace and most of all, love.
Troubadour Tom Chapin’s career has covered an incredible amount of creative ground, including six decades in music with 27 albums and three Grammy awards.
Chapin’s the son of noted jazz drummer Jim Chapin and, as a teenager, began performing professionally in the Greenwich Village folk scene alongside siblings Harry and Steve as The Chapin Brothers. Tom’s brother, Harry, would later go on to have a renowned solo career, one which included the storytelling songs “Taxi,” “Mr. Tanner,” and the ubiquitous, “Cats In The Cradle,” the latter topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart 50 years ago this December.
Although Harry passed away in 1981, his family continues to keep his music and memory alive to this very day.
On Sunday, Sept. 15, fans of Harry Chapin and his family will get to experience the rich history of this legendary artist when The Chapin Family brings “Harry Chapin Greatest Stories Live” to the State Theatre in Easton.
To honor Harry’s commitment to fighting hunger, the event will also be holding a food drive. The audience is encouraged to bring along non-perishable food items, which will be donated to a local food bank.
I recently spoke with Tom Chapin about his family’s performance at the State Theatre, Harry’s legacy and more in this new interview.
Q. You’ve performed at the State Theatre many times. What do you like most about the venue?
Tom Chapin: It’s kind of hard to describe but the essentials of history are there. It feels like you’re part of a long run of amazing music and drama that have taken place and it energizes you. I love the old theaters.
You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Tom Chapin by Clicking Here.
The summer season is starting to wind down in the Lehigh Valley, but it doesn’t mean the opportunity to see live entertainment has to stop.
When the kids head back to school and thoughts begin to turn to sweater weather and raking leaves it can only mean one thing — the fall concert season is back! And this year promises to be one of the most exciting and versatile in recent memory.
Many big-name acts are slated to visit the area over the course of the next few months that will cover all of the bases. Everything from comedy, classic rock and ’80s hit makers, to modern rock, pop and country as well as a local favorite and even a few living legends.
For starters, PPL Center in Allentown has a wide array of musical talent showcased on its calendar, and Marketing Manager Kayla Vaught isn’t shy about wanting to spread the word.
“I’m thrilled about the incredible lineup of events we have coming this fall,” Vaught said. “PPL Center has consistently proven to be a premier destination for live music, attracting top-tier talent from around the globe. There’s something for everyone here, and each event is a unique experience that adds to the vibrant culture of the Lehigh Valley.”
You can read the rest of my Morning Call feature article by clicking here.
Since their emergence in 2011, Pentatonix has become one of most innovative vocal groups of all time and redefined what a cappella is all about.
The three-time Grammy winning vocal quintet, which features Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola and Matt Sallee, have sold more than 10 million albums and performed everywhere from The White House to The Hollywood Bowl. Last year the group completed their biggest Christmas tour to date by selling more than 200,000 tickets in support of their Greatest Christmas Hits album.
This weekend, the group is bringing its ubiquitous vocal talent and high energy to the Allentown Fair for a performance on Saturday, with special guest and “American Idol” alum David Archuleta. It’s a show that promises both a healthy dose of classic Pentatonix material as well as new songs along with a few surprises.
I recently spoke with vocalist Kirstin Maldonado about Pentatonix’s Allentown Fair show and more in this new interview.
Q. What can Pentatonix fans expect from your Allentown Fair performance?
Kirstin Maldonado: We’re really looking forward to the show. It will be fun and different. Last year we were touring constantly and this year we had a lot had time off to be able to work on new music and we’re also bringing back some oldies and classics. We always try to include the songs everyone wants to hear.
You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Kristin Maldonado by Clicking Here.
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