It’s kind of hard to believe, but that little ol’ band from Texas, ZZ Top, has been delivering their infectiously rowdy brand of blues, rock and boogie to legions of fans since man first walked on the moon.
The band has become a fixture of classic rock radio with songs like “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs,” “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” and (of course) “La Grange.” All of which instantly conjure up images of long beards, sunglasses, hot rods and guitar riffs.
For more than 50 years the lineup of ZZ Top — Billy Gibbons (guitars), Dusty Hill (bass) and Frank Beard (drums), remained unchanged. Selling millions of albums, touring the world and introducing us all to music videos containing spinning guitars and fast cars with magical keychains. It wasn’t until Hill’s passing in 2021 that the band called up Hill’s long time bass tech, Elwood Francis, to hold up the bottom end and keep their musical legacy flowing.
Fans can certainly expect to hear a plethora of songs from the band’s more than half-century of hits and more when ZZ Top closes out this year’s Musikfest with a performance at the Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza on Sunday, Aug. 11.
I recently spoke with Billy Gibbons about the band’s upcoming performance at Musikfest, its legacy, music and more in this new interview.
Q. This year marks the band’s 55th anniversary (coincidentally, the same age as this writer). When you look back on this milestone now with so much perspective what thoughts come to mind?
Billy Gibbons: We’re a band aiming to keep on keepin’ on as we genuinely like what it is we get to do. One of the true highlights of the experience was revealed when we heard ZZ over the radio airwaves for the first time. Then again, our induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Keith Richards delivering the honors also stands as a night to remember. We’re stoked that we continue getting to do what we do! The night-to-night intention is, ‘Have mercy! Let’s keep doing it!’
You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Billy Gibbons by Clicking Here.
Although you’ve never seen saxophonists Dean Mitchell and Saxsquatch in a room at the same time, it’s safe to say that the beast might have learned a thing or two from his human musical counterpart.
Saxsquatch began his career by posting videos of himself performing on social media; one of which, his smooth cover of Daft Punk’s song, “One More Time,” instantly went viral with nearly 3 million views.
After years and thousands of unconfirmed sightings and unsuccessful attempts by man to prove his family’s existence, it was Saxsquatch’s newly found notoriety that ultimately drew the cryptid out of the forest and onto the national scene, much to the delight of music fans everywhere.
It’s a journey that will bring Saxsquatch to Musikfest on Monday, Aug. 5 for two shows at 7 and 8:45 p.m., and Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 7 and 9 p.m. All shows will be held at the Highmark Blue Shield Community Stage.
I recently spoke with Saxsquatch and asked him about the mythos, music and monster as well as what fans can expect from his Musikfest appearances in this fun new interview.
Q. Where did Saxsquatch originate? What brought you out of the woods?
Saxsquatch: I originally started playing music with my family. My Grandfather, Gigfoot, was a guitar player and my sister, Bigflute, played the flute. I started out doing the beats but one day I heard the saxophone on the radio. Our radio access was limited due to extension cord issues but I listened every chance I got. It was Jr. Walker’s sax solo on “Urgent” by Foreigner that got me hooked. When I got a sax from a pawn shop and wouldn’t stop playing it, everyone started calling me Saxsquatch. I have to admit I did like the attention and eventually felt like it was my purpose for other people to hear the saxophone in the same way that it has brought me so much joy and awe.
You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Saxsquatch by Clicking Here.
Most know Terry Bradshaw as the four-time Super Bowl champion quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, two-time Super Bowl MVP and inductee in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Others know him for his 30-year stint as the Emmy-award winning co-host and analyst for FOX NFL Sunday, or for his scene-stealing appearances in film and television.
But did you know that not only is Bradshaw one of the only NFL players with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame but he also once scored a hit with a version of the Hank Williams classic, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”? A song that reached No. 17 on the country singles chart.
On Saturday, fans of the legendary athlete will hear all the details of Bradshaw’s life through laughter, memories and song when Bradshaw brings his acclaimed stage production, “The Terry Bradshaw Show,” to the Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem.
The family show, one of only three being performed this summer, focuses on Bradshaw’s reflective retelling of his incredible life and career both on and off the football field and features a three-piece band under the musical direction of Smokin’ Joe Escriba.
Bradshaw will use his signature charm, comedy and country singing to chronicle his humble beginnings in Louisiana to the soaring heights as a Super Bowl champion, actor, analyst and motivational speaker. He’ll also discuss family and relationships, including the journey that ultimately led him to meeting the love of his life, Tammy Bradshaw.
I recently spoke with Terry Bradshaw about his upcoming performance at Wind Creek and more in this exclusive new interview.
Q: What can fans expect from The Terry Bradshaw Show at Wind Creek Event Center?
Terry Bradshaw: Let me describe it to you. It’s a fun show with me entertaining, telling stories and having fun with the audience. I sing about nine songs, including some gospel and country. The show was originally written for Broadway. We cut it back and started it off in [Las] Vegas at the Mirage and then from there went to the Luxor. I had signed a five-year deal with the Luxor and got a year in before the pandemic hit. I’ve since restructured the show to give it a little more “me” and my personality. It’s off the cuff, fun and lively. I will say that I hope people walk away from it going, “Gee, I didn’t know he could sing!” [laughs].
You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Terry Bradshaw by Clicking Here.
Rising country artist Lilly Moss has roots that run deep through the Lehigh Valley. Born and raised in Bethlehem, the talented singer-songwriter is making a name for herself by combining her uniquely ubiquitous voice with a good measure of poetic storytelling.
This year, Moss performed for a sold-out crowd at the Pediatric Cancer Foundation’s Hearts of Gold Gala, where her mosaic artwork brought a winning bid of $20,000 for the foundation. She also performed at the Sherman Theater Showcase as a special guest of Hayes Warner, who was named one of People’s “Emerging Artists to Watch 2023.”
Moss’ second single, “Heartbreak Summer,” will be released Friday; the release date of her album will be announced soon. The title-track, “Meet Me on Broadway,” is an energetic tribute to Moss’ dream of a Nashville happily ever after and was produced by Grammy-nominated producer Dan Malsch of Soundmine Studios in Stroudsburg.
Moss’ summer schedule is shaping up nicely and includes both band and solo (guitarist-accompanied) performances, including a Musikfest appearance at Lyrikplatz on Monday, Aug. 5. On Monday, July 22, she’ll appear with her full band, The Steel Ponies, at the Williams Township 75th Country Fair. Her performance starts at 7 p.m.
You can find out more about Lilly Moss on her website: www.lillymoss.com. I recently spoke with Lilly Moss about her music in this new interview.
Q. Did you always know music was going to be your calling?
Lilly Moss: I like to say that I grew into it. I started voice lessons in sixth grade and took them up until I left high school but never really thought about performing because I was self-conscious of my voice and its tone. I wasn’t confident enough to put myself out there until I realized that’s what set me apart. I performed for the first time back in 2021 and remember never wanting to get off the stage. It was then that I thought, ‘OK, let’s do this for real.’
You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Lilly Moss by Clicking Here.
For more than 30 years, the band moe. has garnered critical acclaim for its exploratory musical improvisation along with members’ unfettered knack for both showmanship and songcraft.
The key to the jam band’s longevity can be credited to having never performed a song the same way twice and the camaraderie among its members, which includes founders Al Schnier (guitars/vocals), Chuck Garvey (guitars/vocals), and Rob Derhak (bassist/vocals) as well as longtime members Vinnie Amico (drums), Jim Loughlin (percussion) and Nate Wilson (keyboards).
It’s also reflected in the band’s passionate fanbase, aptly named, “Famoe.ly.”
On Wednesday, July 10, moe. will be bringing its unique style and mind-bending musicality to Bethlehem for a standing room only performance at Levitt Pavilion.
I recently spoke with Amico about the band’s upcoming performance. We also discuss songwriting, what it was like touring and hanging out backstage with Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, and more in this new interview.
What can moe. fans expect from your upcoming performance at Levitt Pavilion?
Vinnie Amico: Well, you’re going to get a high-powered set of rock and roll. We’ve been working a lot this year and playing better than ever. We’re also back in the studio putting together some new music. You’ll hear music from across our catalog. It’ll be a really good show.
You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Vinnie Amico by Clicking Here!
In her new book, “The True Tale of Mista Bone: A Rock and Roll Narrative,” Author K.L. Doty unveils the long-awaited story of the life of vocalist Jack Russell. From his early years as the original front man for American rock band Great White to the band’s subsequent success with its million-selling album, Once Bitten as well as thesubsequent follow-up, Twice Shy, and their infectious cover of the Ian Hunter song, “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” Russell gives readers an inside look into the glory days and debauchery of eighties hard rock.
Doty’s book, which will be released this summer, also promises to reveal a deeper, more complex story of Russell’s life. One that offers readers a personal and eye-opening account of the singer’s rise, fall, and return to fame following the horrific events of The Station Nightclub fire in February of 2003. In it, Doty helps to uncover Russell’s creative and enduring spirit, one showcased both in and outside of the spotlight.
I recently spoke with K.L. Doty about Jack Russell’s upcoming autobiography and more in this new interview.
How did you and Jack Russell connect?
My husband, Chip Z’Nuff is in a band Enuff Z’Nuff. They’ve been around since the eighties and still actively tour. I helped sell merchandise on the road for Enuff Z’Nuff for a long time and Jack Russell’s Great White was one of the bands that Chip toured with. That’s how I met him.
How did this project come about?
I had been approached several times over the course of a few years by Robby Lochner, who is Jack’s guitarist. I said no every time because even then I knew how much work was going to be involved. Then In September of 2020 I was asked again. At the time, I had just finished almost two years of study to become a wardrobe stylist through the New York University of Art and Science. I still wasn’t interested in taking on so much work but went to bed and literally woke up in the middle of the night thinking, “I have to do this.” That’s how it all started.
What was the writing process like?
People often ask me what my biggest advice for writing a book is, and it’s always “Don’t do it!” [laughs]. You start off with stars in your eyes but the longer you go the stars can start to dim, because it’s a lot of information. And it’s not like I was writing some cute little fairy tale from my own brain. I was writing someone else’s story and it was all true. So if someone tells me something, even if it was just a single sentence that contained a few facts, I would have to go and fact check with multiple sources. It can be hard to corral the information and still create a cohesive story. I had to learn to be organized and do whatever I could to seek out the information I needed.
What were some of the other challenges you faced during?
I didn’t realize I would be giving up as much as I did, including spending time on the road with my husband. I was working with other people’s schedules and had to put personal relationships on hold because this book had to be first. The whole process took four years in total and I spent the first two years interviewing Jack a few times a week for about an hour and half. It was all recorded and there was so much to transcribe. My goal was to get the general idea of things and then make it sound the best that I could. I received the first copy recently. It didn’t become real until I actually held it in my hands. That’s when it sunk in that this heavy thing I was holding; something that you could open up and look through, actually existed!
Did Jack share any fun “rock and roll” stories with you?
Oh, he had a lot of those. Little anecdotes, like when he was on tour with Judas Priest and they trashed the hotel room and threw everything out into the pool. It was one of the first times the band had been on the road and they wound up having to pay out a lot of money.
K.L. Doty – Photo by Jamie Benjamin
Jack says “I’m sorry” quite a bit when discussing the events of The Station Nightclub fire. How did you approach talking to him about such a difficult subject?
It was a heavy thing to have myself go through as a writer and I was very cautious talking about certain things. Jack says “I’m sorry” in the book because, legally, he wasn’t allowed to say it during the trial, because doing so would be considered an admission of guilt. This is the first time he gets to speak out on that.
Can you tell me a little about your background and how it helped shape you into who you are today?
I come from a very whimsical family and grew up around a lot of influential people in rock and roll and Hollywood. Growing up, my grandmother would host these incredible parties where random celebrities would just show up. I knew one day I wanted to be just like that — to host parties with people like that. When I was sixteen, I’d lie to get out of going to school by telling them I was sick or on a family vacation, and then I’d tell my parents that I was going on a field trip. Then I’d go to venues with these rock bands where I would just be there and interview them. Times were different then, but I’d show up and say I was so and so and I was writing articles for this or that magazine. Being female, it was inevitable that I was going to be labeled a groupie, so people looked at it the wrong way. But my main goal was to learn more about the industry.
Are there any other projects you’re currently working on right now?
I have a record that should be coming out by the end of the year. If you ask me how I would describe it, I’d say it’s what would happen if Norah Jones were to do a record with Alice Cooper, Nine Inch Nails and Beethoven. I like to give the sound the imaginary title of phantasmagoric pop. I like very soft, ghostly elements but I don’t mind the industrial drive in the bass. I’m also focusing on boxing right now. It’s something I didn’t know was in me but I really don’t mind hitting hard. We’ll see where it takes me.
Is there a message you’d like people to take away from reading the book?
I want them to take away the beauty of words. The story aside, I wrote this book in such a way where, even under the most horrible of events or feelings, it makes you feel like you’re eating something delicious. Adjectives, synonyms and what have you, it’s a beautiful little puzzle piece. My goal was to take all of the best words and put them in the right order to make a true story taste as incredible as it sounds.
The True Tale of Mista Bone: A Rock + Roll Narrative will be released this summer.
Inspired by renaissance, nature and love, Blackmore’s Night has been captivating audiences with their ubiquitous melodies and troubadour-style performances for more than 25 years at venues, festivals, and castles alike.
The group features vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Candice Night as well as legendary guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow). But don’t expect to hear screaming vocals or high-volume distorted electric guitar from this eclectic duo and their band. Instead, Blackmore’s Night live show is a passport to a time gone by; complete with merry camaraderie, medieval instruments like the hurdy-gurdy, shawms, and pennywhistles as well as renaissance garb.
The group is out on six-city tour, which includes a stop at The Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg at 8 p.m. Saturday.
I recently spoke with Candice Night about the band’s upcoming performance and more in this new interview.
It’s been nearly 30 years since you and Ritchie formed Blackmore’s Night. What inspired the project?
Candice Night: I had never heard of Renaissance music before I met Ritchie, yet I was always inspired by having one foot in a magical world, a world of fantasy. When I met him, he brought me to his dark English Tudor house in the woods of Connecticut with nothing but trees around for miles. He had a minstrels gallery; everything was very low lit with lots of tapestries on the walls and a huge fireplace. He would play nothing but purist Renaissance music on the sound system. And it was there, looking out the window as the snow fell and watching deer eat the grass off the front garden while this music played that it became the soundtrack to nature in my mind. It completed the picture — the perfect marriage of visual and audio.
Read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Candice Night by Clicking Here.
Graham Burrell is a Philly-based independent filmmaker whose passion for the craft began around the same time he learned how to say the word “camera.”
A Parkland High School and Muhlenberg College graduate, Burrell was heavily involved in the film programs at both schools. To date, he’s written, directed, and edited more than 25 shorts, garnering more than 20 awards and millions of views online.
His most recent short, “Grampy,” is a horror/dark comedy with a big beating heart at its core. It’s the story of a young woman who must spend a rainy night with the taxidermy corpse of an old man in a creaking farmhouse. With the help of other Lehigh Valley natives and despite having a shoe-string budget, Burrell has successfully woven a curious tale of dark humor, horror, and hope.
“Grampy” has been captivating festival audiences across the country, earning numerous awards including Best Director – U.S. Short Film at the Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival, Best Dark Comedy at the Allentown Film Festival, and Best in Fest at the Northeast Pennsylvania Film Festival.
The film will next be screened as part of this year’s Southside Film Festival, which will be held in Bethlehem June 11-15.
I recently spoke with Graham Burrell about “Grampy” and what it was like going through local school film programs in this new interview.
Where did the idea for Grampy originate? What inspired the story?
Graham Burrell: Back in 2021 I saw a comedic TikTok video about someone pretending that their friend was stuffed and immediately thought it would be a clever concept for a horror/dark comedy. The mental image of “taxidermy grandpa” was particularly compelling and felt ripe for a horror film. Unfortunately during the middle of pre-production, I lost my own step-grandfather to a battle with multiple myeloma. While mourning his loss, I realized that “taxidermy grandpa” could actually serve as a potent analogy for grief and the difficult process involved in saying goodbye to a loved one. The story went through a significant re-writing in order to give the film a deeper, dramatic edge. I added the backstory involving our protagonist grieving the loss of her father, and writing the film became an outlet for me after losing my own loved one.
You can read the rest of my interview with Graham Burrell by Clicking Here.
For guitarist Malina Moye, who’s left-handed, upside-down guitar wizardry instantly conjures up images of Jimi Hendrix, it’s always been about the blues.
Drawing inspiration from her own personal experience and with a genre-defying mixture of tone and style, Moye’s albums have felt right at home on the Billboard Blues Charts. Her 2018 release, “Bad As I Wanna Be,” even reached No. 1 for two consecutive weeks.
In addition to being an in-demand performer on her own, Moye is often asked to take part in other musical endeavors, like the Experience Hendrix Tour where she performed alongside other guitar greats like Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. She’s the first African-American woman to perform the national anthem for a major sporting event and was even invited to perform “God Save the Queen” to honor the Queen of England’s 60-year reign.
This summer, Moye will be performing two back-to-back shows in Allentown. The first, on Friday, June 21 at the Civic Theater in Allentown, is part of a benefit for Rush Arts Philanthropic Foundation. The following day, June 22, Moye will be taking part in Allentown’s 16th annual Blues, Brews & Barbecue festival.
I recently spoke with Malina Moye about her upcoming Allentown appearances in this new interview.
Q. What can fans expect from your Allentown performances?
Malina Moye: I always hope to bring excitement and fun. We do a high energy show and it’s always about keeping it fresh and making it cool. I’m excited to meet new people, saying hello to old friends and fans and just having a great time.
Your Friday show at the Civic Theater benefits the Rush Arts Philanthropic Foundation. How important is it for you to be a part of this benefit?
For me, being part of a benefit, especially one dealing with the arts, is very important. I think that when you get to a certain place part of your job is to give back. The reason I’m where I am right now is because someone poured into me. So, if I can be part of something that can make someone or something better then please include me and thank you.
You can read the rest of my Morning Call interview with Malina Moye by Clicking Here.
When the Wind Creek Event Center decided to upgrade its sound system, they weren’t going to settle for anything but the best.
With that in mind, the venue chose the coveted L-Acoustics L Series sound system to replace their antiquated 14-year-old system. The impressively innovative, concert-grade L Series is the first install on the East Coast and one of the first in the world.
Major artists always want to have the best possible sound while touring and have trusted L-Acoustics to fill that gap for years. Having the new state of the art, L Series system as part of its arsenal will be an even bigger incentive for artists and their audio teams to choose Wind Creek Event Center over other locations for their live performance events.
I recently spoke with several of the people involved in the Wind Creek Event Center’s new sound system about the L Series and what patrons can expect in this new interview.
What inspired the decision to upgrade the Event Center’s sound system?
Jeff Trainer [Owner]: When we first opened the Event Center we wanted to bring great concert experiences to the Lehigh Valley. Major upgrades like the sound system continues our commitment for world class entertainment here at Wind Creek.
Read the rest of my Morning Call Interview with the team from Wind Creek Event Center by clicking here!
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