Burlesque is Coming to the Opera House

The resurgence of the exotic Burlesque is headed to Jim Thorpe. The movement has become wildly popular in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New Orleans where female based troops and acts perform on a weekly basis then play host to a yearly festival of sorts honoring this generations artists. A handful of local women are hoping to land Jim Thorpe on the increasingly popular nostalgic Burlesque circuit and have come up with a plan to do such a thing.

Brooke Aubuchon (Proprietor of Dragon Town Corsets,),Tara Kubas (Mauch Chunk Historical Society) and Michelle Gallagher (Local Artist) are three independent businesswomen with a love for glamour and things of the past. They are fast at work on bringing the revival of Burlesque dance, a vintage, intimate, exotic experience, together to benefit The Mauch Chunk Opera House.

Jim Thorpe’s First Annual Burlesque Festival is slated for March 27th & 28th 2010. The weekend will be filled with glitter, feathers, glamour and Burlesque talent from all over the country. There will be Burlesque workshops and classes on the history of the art form and more. The Mauch Chunk Museum & Cultural Center will hold a vendor bazaar on both days. And, of course, 'The Big Reveal', in form of tassel and twirl , will be the Burlesque show itself showcasing up to forty exotic musical numbers.

In support of this event, we would like to announce our Intro To Burlesque Class. On December 12th Bay Area performer Eva Valentina will land in Jim Thorpe to host “An Introduction to Burlesque” at the Opera House. This two-hour class will touch upon all the basic elements that make up the world of burlesque so that by the end of the two hours you will know the history, types of acts & how to develop your own act, an overview of hair, make up and costuming, how to pick a name and of course basic dance moves. This amazing art welcomes men and women of all shapes, ages and sizes.For more info or to get involved with the upcoming production please visit JimThorpeBurlesque.com

Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams

I was a "newbie" , as the band likes to call all those experiencing them for the first time. I really had no idea what to expect and, their name just added to the intrigue of what , exactly, this band is all about. Normally I would interview the band prior to the show, however, Saturday evening was pretty tight for the group and there was no time to have a sit down before they went on stage. I did have the opportunity to speak with their lead singer, Joziah, after the show. As usual, I set to record the question and answer interview to which I would transcribe into this blog later. Unfortunately, the entire conversation did not record. But more on that later.

First, I need to relate to you exactly what I thought and felt while watching this group perform. I don't know if you've ever met or had the experience of meeting someone that seems to have a direct connection to channeling something from beyond on a higher level. As I was watching and listening to the band perform, I could really sense an amazing energy that surrounded them and filled the room. That energy just poured out of their music. I'm not talking about the type of energy that is usually associated with driving fast beats but rather a cosmic energy.

The venue was full of loyal fans that travel to watch this band play and I have never met a more dedicated group of , well, "groupies" before . His fans are so loyal that, the first time they played here in Jim Thorpe a few years ago, a fan purchased 40 tickets and told JTAMS to pass them out on the streets so that people here would have an opportunity to get to know the band. When speaking with him I made mention of how adoring his fans are of him and the music. He professed that , to him, his fans always feel more familial than anything else.

Throughout the show he peppers in comments (self- deprecating, but not in a pathetic way) that just makes you laugh. He'll tell you about some dream he had that brought about the revelation of the next song he is about to play. He'll make jokes about the music business and how he ran from being signed by a major label (he even put down a song called 'Clear Channel' on his 'The Great Unravel' CD about the industry and one of it's dominating giants). He'll talk about hope and how the world is changing and what he hopes for the future.

My favorite song of the night was "Baby Jane". It was absolutely beautiful and, since that night, I have been playing it over and over again in my car. It is a powerful song that he said he wrote for all the woman of the world. He calls it one of his "sissy songs" but says that the song seems to have had a huge impact on some of his fans. Many woman have related to it and, he has been told that it has led to them walking away from bad , broken and abusive relationships. Now that is powerful stuff.

When I did get to sit down with him the first question I asked was about the name 'Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams". I had been somewhat perplexed by the name, especially after finding out that the lead singer was not named Gandalf Murphy, but is rather named Joziah. He told me that the inspiration for such an unusual name came from a Paul McCartney story about a band that had a similarly odd name (something to do with a Medicine Man, but I can't recall it now) and how he had even thought of calling his band by that same name at one point. Then, one day while walking in the woods, the name Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams just popped into his head as if it was infused into his brain from a higher place . While, originally, the name made me scratch my head, after meeting with him , seeing his band perform and hearing their music, and speaking with him I completely get it. The name makes absolutely perfect sense and fits them well.

Our conversation was indeed a very deep one with a lot of talk of spirituality. He is one of those rare people in life that you meet that have an immense level of spiritual energy . While speaking with him you feel that you are lifted off this plane into a higher one.

We spoke a lot about the Beatles and his experience of having met John Lennon, another highly tuned in spiritual and prolific soul. He spoke about how the Beatles, when they came to America, tapped into something amazing that just swept over people in a way that is hard to describe. He also spoke about how the 60's was a time of much enlightenment but , that the drugs of that era seems to have kind of knocked that generation off of it's path. He feels that we are back on that path once again and that times are changing in a very profound way . We spoke about Obama being the first black President in America (and how very cool that is) and how he brings with him a message of hope and change and how some are just not quite as ready to accept those changes for whatever reason, whether they are just fearful or not quite as enlightened.

Yesterday, when I was listening to his 'Flapjacks in the Sky Album' and particularly the song 'Look Ma, No Hands' , I was reminded of our conversation pertaining to the 60's when I heard this line in the song;

Look Ma, No Drugs
And I'm floating high and stoned as can be
Only difference is I got no strings on me
Yeah I'm free, I'm so free
Look Ma, No Hands

The interview was one of the most interesting I have had to date. I could have sat there for hours talking with him in great depth about the world, music and the spirituality of it all . Our conversation did go to some wonderfully deep places. Perhaps that was, as he put it, only a conversation meant to be between him and I. I have to admit it was quite strange how my usually reliable recorder didn't get any of the interview. It was a 'things that make you go hmm' moment.

The band now has a new fan and I have been listening to his 'Flapjacks in the Sky' and 'The Great Unravel" over and over again in my car. Now that he is once again ready to take on the industry (as he feels it has shifted back to being more genuine, at least more so than it was at one point) it's only a matter of time before a record AR person picks up on just how great this band is.

You can visit the bands website at Slambovia.com. They even have their own brand of coffee you can buy which I hear is absolutely amazing.

Real Diamond at the Mauch Chunk Opera House

Real Diamond, a Neil Diamond tribute band, graced the stage this past Saturday night at the Mauch Chunk Opera House and played to a nearly sold out crowd.

The full band consists of Kevin Crandall (Keys, Acoustic Guitar, Musical Director), Pam Carbona (Keys/Vocals) , Larry Bergman (Bass Guitar/ Promotional Manager), Fred Sega (Drums) , Mike Pollack (Trombone/Percussion) , Debbie Fossile (Singer/Percussion) and Sharon Stirling (Singer/Percussion). All are led by a Neil Diamond channeling lead vocalist Curt Di Domizio. No joke, this man sounds just like the real Neil Diamond!

I had the opportunity to sit with the entire band before the show and ask them a few questions about touring and about their love for all things Neil Diamond.

Q: How long have you guys been together as a band?

Curtis: Since June of 2008.

Q: So you haven’t been together that long?

Curtis: It was my brain child. I found all the musicians on Craig’s List. One guy brought in another friend and so on and so on and Real Diamond was formed.

Q: And what brought you to Neil Diamond , what was it about Neil Diamond that made you want to go out and be a Neil Diamond tribute band?

Curtis: Rock and Roll was only good for bars, which is what I always really did , and I wanted to go to the next step up; playing casinos and places like that. And, it was either Elvis or Neil Diamond and there are already too many Elvis impersonators, so it was Neil Diamond.

A: So is your goal to get a gig playing in Vegas?

Curits: Eventually. We’re playing Trump Marina next Saturday and it will be our third trip to Atlantic City. Then, after that, we’re up to Connecticut on December 6^th at the Mohegan Sun. We’ve also played the Delware Park Casino . We are a casino and theater band.

Q: Have you played in Sands yet in Bethlehem?

Curits: It’s too small . If you look at the size of my band the stage is very small and tight. If we played there we would have to do a scaled down version and then you are not getting the real show and the full Neil Diamond experience.

Q: And what is the most interested place or venue you guys have played?

At this point the entire band started talking about their favorite venue. Most of them, being PA natives, immediately mentioned Penn’s Peak as their favorite.

Curtis: Mohegan Sun. They were great. They rolled out the red carpet gave us food, rooms .

Q: Put you in the high roller suite huh? And , how much money have you guys lost? (everyone laughs)

Someone mentions Manhattan and how much fun it was to play there.

Q: Usually I ask all the acts that come through here about their touring and to share with us some really outrageous story from the road. I’m sure you must have one.

Curtis: nCan you turn that off (referring to my recording device and the entire room breaks out in laughter)

Q: You can make it PG version.

Curtis: We had a show in Michigan and so we rented the van and seven of us piled into this van with all of our equipment and we drove for 10 ½ straight hours. We kept going to Canada. We drove out there and we showed up and we thought we were at the wrong place because it looked like an estate and there was an entrance with a 400 ft long driveway and at least 100 acres surrounding it. They really treated us great . There was this one member of the band that was out of control and he ended up steeling booze. It was a James Bond themed party and they spared no expense. They had girls dressed up like each of the James Bonds girls. It was insane.

Q; I take it that member is no longer with the band?

Curtis : Oh no, and that’s why he’s not with us anymore.

Curtis: The funniest part was that every time I was heading back I kept ending up at the bridge into Canada. I couldn’t get away from that stupid bridge. We drove two or three hours out of our way to get home. So that was probably he most interesting.

Another band member: Yeah.. this big white van packed with people kept pulling up to the border and turning around.

I made a joke about the short lived TV show National Security this past summer, and how they all would have ended up on it if they were filming then, and they all laughed.

Curtis: We also got lost in Detroit in the ganglands. It was bad.

Q; I’m sure each of you have your own personal favorite Neil Diamond song so we’ll go down the list and you can each name your favorite.

Curtis: We’ll start with Jamie

Jamie: I would say Crunchy Granola’s (several other band members are in agreement with that choice)

Larry: I was going to say that too (Crunchy Granola)

Pam: Well I play piano and I just love September Morn

Bobby: Cherry Cherry

Mark: Solitary Man

Debbie: ‘Play Me’

Sharon: I love ‘You got to me’

Steven: ‘ Sweet Caroline’

Micheal: Right now I’m liking ‘Brooklyn Roads’

Someone else chimed in ‘Crunchy Granola’

Curtis: ‘Love on the Rocks’ is my favorite because the new version we’ll be launching, not tonight but in a week or so, is a really powerful version.

Larry: The love songs are beautiful.

With that we went on to talk about how everyone knows at least one Neil Diamond Song, no matter what age. With that I asked if anyone had anything to add.

Curtis : You’ve got a really cool town here!

I agree completely!

Interview With Jazz Duo Tuck & Patty

This past Saturday the duo Tuck and Patty performed at the Opera House. If you are unfamiliar, Tuck and Patty are jazz guitarist /vocalist duo based in California. Their careers have spanned decades and the globe . They are not only partners in music, but are partners in life. They are true soul mates and that love is an energy that emanates from both of them and is so evident in their performances together. They are the parents and the music their child that they love, nurture and share in together.

I had the opportunity to speak with Tuck and Patty before they took the stage and ask them questions about their music and their life together on the road.

Q : So you guys have been on the road together for how long now?

A: Well, we’ve been playing together for 31 years and we didn’t’ start making records till 11 years after we met so we’ve been together all that time and playing together all that time. But , we have really been actively on the road constantly the last 21 years.

Q: And how much of your life is on the road?

Patty: Well now it’s about half and half, six months on and six months off. But, it’s not all at once. It’s sort of spread out over the year. In the beginning, in the first few years, it was more like 10, sometimes more.

Q: Now , you’ve probably been to a lot of great places and seen a lot of great things and one of the questions I always like to ask of the musicians that come through here is about some story , somehow or somewhere about something outrageous , funny or mystical or magical that has happened to you on the road. Do you have any story you can share with us?

Tuck: Well there was this time we went to Jim Thorpe … (all laughing)

Patty: You know, what happens is, each time you go out people always ask when was your favorite time or place to play and it’s usually the last time to played was your favorite time. It’s the people in the places that make the places. I mean, we have been driving into Paris at 5 am after having driven all night with Miles Davis playing, you know, stuff like that. So, there is all these little moments and vignettes and snapshots out of your life that jumps out for you, but really the thing that remains is the people and the people that you meet. We have been traveling for so long and we get to go back to lots of places in different countries. We have really been able to make friendships. Like when we go back to Japan, I’m really happy to be going back to Tokyo but , what I’m really glad about is that I’m going to get to see my friends there again and sort of reconnect with them. So , I think the biggest thing for me and the magical and mystical part of it is the fact that I travel around the world and am in a different place every day; a different city, different place, different language, different food, different customs but, the really amazing thing you find is that all those seeming differences are just superficial and that people are all the same and , we just basicallyall want the same things and have the same desires , feelings and everything. And , it’ s reassuring in an insane world, it seems, that we actually are so much more alike than we re different. That was the most profound affect I think that traveling has had on me.

Q: What country besides the U.S have you played in the most?

Patty: Europe generally Western Europe. We‘ve done a little of the East we haven’t done a lot of Eastern Europe. Japan we play in a lot. Because we play in Japan at Blue Notes we wind up being there five, six , seven nights a week in three different cities. So, probably physically more time in Japan.

Tuck: I think more total time in Japan and Italy next. We’ve had marked success in Italy early on for some reason and that has seen us through 85 90 different cities in Italy. We have been to more cities than Italians even heard of much less been to.

Q: Well there are probably a lot of people in the U. S who haven’t heard of Jim Thorpe (all laughing). So, here you are in one of them here in the U.S.

You’ve kind of told us about how while we are all different we are a like. In reception to your music, how do Europeans different from the American crowd?

Tuck: I think they are markedly similar.

Patti: I don’t think that part of it is so different because people come out to hear them music because they like the music, or the group or they know the songs. So it’s similar that way. I think where the division really happens is in the support for the arts and for music is just much more solid in Europe, I think, than it is in the U.S.

Q: Now in all that time is there one experience, one night or one performance that hit you in a more profound way than another? You must have at least one out there event or some outrageous story of some hiccups that happen while on the road and traveling. ( I went on to share with them the story the Nields had told me as an example)

Tuck: We probably have a lot of those but, the thing is , what eclipses those in our memory tends to be the micro moments which are musical. The sublime moment that goes by and we get to live that really short term micro moment adventure so intensely. I think it kind of causes us not to pay attention to the other stuff. I think the other stuff is just the overhead of life, missed flight, canceled concert, someone starts getting shocked during the show because of the rain coming down, and all those types of things. You kind of start to forget the specifics and instead like to focus on the ebb and flow in the middle of the music and, in our case it’s so intense cause we’ve worn the in -ear -monitors for so long and have gotten so lost in the sounds of each other you kind of live in the details of the moment. It’s all really intensified for us. I mean in the moment of performing the music there is nothing in the universe besides Patty for me because we both have our habit of focusing on the music that way and the fact that it gets re-enforced with the way we monitor and the whole audio part of it.

It ends up being the music and I especially say the micro moments you can’t really hold on to because your on to the next micro moment.

Patty: Yeah, that is the fabric of it. I mean the plane is late, the stuff is there, the guy in the town way out in the rural part of Italy, or the guy in the big city that comes out with a little set of stereo speakers instead of a PA because he said it sounded great on my stereo at home. All that kind of stuff happens over and over and over again , you know. Ultimately if you are going to chose to do music, there is nothing wrong with pop stardom and all those things, but ultimately if you are going to do music the only thing you have left at the end of it all is the love for the music and how you treat that and what you make of that. So to us the music part becomes the sacred space that through all that crazy stuff nothing can touch that.

Q: I find, and I think it’s refreshing, that the artists that come through here are really the true musical artists. They are unspoiled by the fame that limits so many artists on mainstream radio. They are not ruined by that. You have you own success in being able to be musicians but you’re not spoiled by that fame that tends to box you in. (I gave them the example of Britney Spears)

Patt: I think in some cases it’s not that art or the music that was ruined it was all the peripheral stuff around it and the reason shet started to do it was because that’s what she wanted to do and she loved to do that and loved to sing and dance and somehow that gets lost in it when that other thing starts to happen beyond it. But , I think that it takes a lot of artistry to do that job that they do , an amazing amount.

Q: Oh no absolutely, it’s just in a different sense in that she and others like her are very limited in what they can do and ey tcan’t explore beyond that. But, you can and you do and a lot of people that come through the Opera House do because they have been spoiled and that is really neat. For example, when Jeffery Gaines came through here a few months ago we were talking about that and after his concert I kind of said to him that I’m glad he never reached that level because it didn’t ruin him. He was able to do what he does and be the artist I enjoyed watching and listening to because he wasn’t and isn’t boxed in.

Tuck: That’s true

Patty: Because it’s not your decision when you reach that level. It’s more music by committee.

Tuck: ..and you’re operating at a corporate level.

Q: I really like that and that’s why I’m looking forward to you r concert tonight because I know that’s the type of artist you are and why I like attending shows at the Opera House. It has so broadened my horizons.

Patty: It’s great what you have here.

Tuck: It’s a great resource.

Q: How long have you been in Jim Thorpe?

Patty: We drove in late last night. We had a gig in Bayshore, NY and then we drove here. Then, we go right out tomorrow morning and we have to fly to Minneapolis from Philadelphia. So, we’re on the road right now and ending up in Europe at the end of the month. We’ll be traveling past the middle of November.

Q: What’s the smallest country you have ever played?

Patty: Luxemburg probably.

Tuck: It would have to be Luxemburg. The city is the country.

I then started talking to them and asking them if they ever played in the small country of the Slovak Republic (My husband is from there) and we went on to discuss the Czech Republic. Turns out that they will be heading to the beautiful city of Prague for the first time in November and playing in Ostrava the day before, also for the first time.

Q: One of the questions I also like to always ask is, out of all the songs you perform or have written , which one is the one that hits you the most emotionally or is your favorite to perform and that is really from the gut.

Patty: Well, we don’t do it if it’s not from the gut. But again, I think , because so many people love it, ‘Take’s my Breath Away ‘ is a really special song.

Tuck: Which we didn’t write

Patty: We didn’t write it another artist named Claire Hamill wrote it. I love all my original tunes too. We are just so blessed to like it you know. A lot of , their music will come on and they will not want to hear it or want to take it off and they don’t like it. But, I like what we do. I know they have big mistakes in it all the time and I know where all the mistakes are but, you have to kind of fall in love with it mistakes and all. But I think “Takes My Breath Away” because it touches so many people.

Tuck: The actual name of it is probably “You Take My Breath Away” but we learned it as Take My breath Away so we’ve always called it that.

Their concert was beautiful. Her voice is amazing. They played their original tunes and as well as their own jazz versions of songs by artists like Eric Clapton and Hendrix. At one point Patty went off stage for a little break and Tuck stood up and told a story to the audience about how he would like to take things apart and put them back together as a child dissecting them. He particularly liked to do that with music. He, in a very humorous way, introduced the next song he was going to play on a guitar informing us that it was his favorite childhood song and that , when he got older, he dissected it amd put it back together again. He then started playing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. Hearing him play it on his guitar was like hearing it for the first time because while it was familiar it was also very unique. It also rang true for all the other familiar tunes that both Tuck and Patty delivered together.

They closed out the evening with their beautiful version of the Cindy Lauper hit, “Time After Time”. And, Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, for their encore performance they did ‘You Take My Breath Away’. Patty was absolutely right in that it is extremely touching. But, I don’t think it’s so much the words of the song, but the delivery of it that Patty gives vocally that brought tears to my eyes.

Post Show Conversation with Larry Kirwan

This past weekend we had Black 47 at the Opera House. If you don’t know Black 47, they are an Irish rock band based out of NYC. Their band leader and song writer, Larry Kirwan, was interviewed by JTAMS and Historical Society Board Member Dan Hugos a few weeks back. I had the opportunity to follow up with Larry after his performance on Saturday night.

Given the nature of the band’s music, which is very politically driven, the conversation with Larry was a lot of fun. Larry sings about the working class, the every day man and his struggle against tyranny and oppression, both in current times and in Ireland’s political history. There is no mistaking where his political affiliations, thoughts, and beliefs lie. He also makes no apologies for his outspoken nature and what he has to say.

Q: You were kind of playing with the idea of writing a Molly Maguires song but said that you couldn’t quite get into their head or the mindset. I was wondering, being in Jim Thorpe right now where it all went down, have you kind of explored a little bit and had the opportunity to visit the Jail and Museum?

A: They were all closed when I got here, but I got a feeling of the place. I come from an old historical place Wexford, Ireland. If you’re used to feeling history around you, you can always sense it.

Q: Aww. So you missed the jail?

A: Yeah.

I went way beyond just thinking about a Molly Maguires song, I’ve actually written them. But they weren’t right, you know. With the Bobby Sands songs it took me 15 years to get into his head. So, it’s like fishing almost. You throw the line out and maybe you get it. You can’t rush it.

Q: Are you staying in town overnight?

A: No, but I know the area. I know Pottsville and I know Scranton .This is the first time I’ve actually been here. But I’ll come back. It’s more of getting into the mindset of the guys that were here, and their wives.

Q: I think the Jail would give you something. I hadn’t heard of the Molly Maguires before I moved here . I took the tour and it was very fascinating. The hand print on the wall and the fact that they were hung there, you can feel something and it gave you a good sense of things then.

A; Yeah, I’ll get it. I know it’s there. I even had the music of one.

Q: You just felt it didn’t do it justice?

A: Exactly. I could do it, that’s no problem. I could write a song right now, but I didn’t get into it right yet. It has to be unique because they were unique people. You have to do them justice. Doing them justice is the thing.

Q: Your music is very political. I wanted to ask about what you thought of the political climate in the U.S today?

A: I think it,s crazy. It,s nutty. Television and talk radio are just such a bad influence on the country. It’s a 24-hour news cycle and everyone is just jumping on the smallest thing. Nothing is getting done. It’s going to be a bad health insurance bill.

Q: I know. I’m ready to break out in tears because I’ve waited 8 years for a President to actually do something about the problem and now we have this all going on with it.

A; My health insurance just went up 17%, right. But I did get choice. I can go to this other company and it would be fine but they don’t use any of the doctors that I go to. So then I’d have to start all over.

Q: I paid $850 per month for me and my son alone when I lived in NY. I ended up lapsing when I moved and I have a pre-existing condition and, well, you can imagine.

A: The whole thing is ridiculous and it shouldn’t be that way. It’s not that way in any other industrialized world and yet it’s going to be a bad health insurance plan that’s going to be coming in. It will be watered down. And the problem will have to be dealt with 10 or 15 years down the line.

Q: I like how you sing about the working class especially since I feel our government has been taken over by corporations.

A: It has. I don’t like polls, but for instance, 65% of the American people want a public option. But their representatives don’t because they are getting paid off by the insurance companies. And they are using this big thing of socialism or the government but when it comes down to it…

Q: They are comparing Obama to Hitler for crying out loud!

A: Yeah, It’s crazy. He’s going to get killed you know. He’s going to get shot because of that.

Q: We’re going through our own political revolution here in the U.S.

A: Well, you know you’ve got to get beyond the talk shows and cable TV because basically what they are doing are is selling ads that are saying things that are outrageous.

I went on to tell Larry about the HR 200 bill and that I personally read a lot of portions of the bill. I particularly read the parts that were referred to by a right wing radio commentator in which he stated the page numbers and section and went on to tell his listeners what it said. Some of it was so outrageous that I took it as a challenge to find out if what he spoke was the truth or fabrication. Of course, upon reading each line, section and page he outlined, I found that 99% of what he had said was an outright lie or a big stretch all meant to put fear in the minds of the American people. We had some conversation about that and in particular the “kill granny” propaganda.

A: You know another thing is people have to face up to the truth of it. If you are 85 or 90 and you’re on the way out and Dr’s want to give you triple bypass at that point I mean give me a break. You have to face up to that .

Q: That is uniquely an American problem. I think that one of the reasons that the Europeans are able to have such a system of medicine is because they face the reality of it.

A: But you know that has to be something that has to be dealt with.

Q: You have to write a song about health care reform. (laughing)

A:.. (Laughing) That is a hard one to do. I write about characters. It’s hard to write about issues. It’s a lot harder because you’re preaching. All I can do is set up a character or a certain set of events and write about that and the people take their own message from it.

Q: Write about Glenn Beck. (both laughing)

A: I can’t deal with these idiots, you know?

At this point in the conversation I joked about having to edit this blog somewhat so as not to alienate any of our patrons.

A: Well, you know we speak out and we get alienated. We would have double the crowd if we weren’t that way but that’s what Black 47 is about. People leave when they hear we are political, you know. You can see people walking out. They don’t walk out as much any more. When we were doing the Iraq album in the midst of the war it was like chaos every night. There were people walking out and smashing the album.

Q: Your songs in the Iraq album weren’t necessarily bashing anyone though.

A: Well, we were against the war. We were against it when most were for it. A lot of people were for the war. Eight five percent (85%) of the people were for the invasion.

Q: Well, I supported it because I thought it was necessary until I found out it wasn’t necessary and we shouldn’t have been there.

A: Well, I didn’t because I knew it was bullshit right from the start. The first night we invaded was on St. Patrick’s day and we had a big show. We came out against it and it was just a nightmare. People walked out, but you know you have got to do it.

Q: Having been on the road you must have some fun stories about touring.

A: No. I don’t have any. What happens on the road stays on the road. (laughing)

Q: You don’t have to tell me the dirtiest or the most embarrassing.

A: Well, I don’t have any really. Everyday is a different thing. There are some awful and good things that happen.

Q: I guess an appropriate answer would be the story you just told me about your St. Patrick’s day performance and how you were outspoken about the war.

A: Yeah you can talk about that one. That was a mind blower actually.

Q: Describe what happened, exactly.

A: Well, I just thought it was ridiculous thing to invade Iraq. Not just on political basis but, if you understood the history of the area or you understood history of places like Yugoslavia. When you knock off Marshal Tito and you have the Serbs and the Croats all fighting whereas, he (Tito) kept them all down. It’s going to be the same thing with the Sunnis and the Shiites. To be going into an area like that was ridiculous, I thought.

Q: And what happened at your concert that night?

A: Ah, it was like people were booing and whatever. They were walking out and taking albums, throwing them on the ground. Not everyone was.

Q: Now they would love you.

A: No no, now they dance to it. But back then…

Q: Isn’t that amazing how it changed in 8 years?

A: But you have to remember there are 150,000 troops there. It’s bullshit that they are still there. Everyone’s forgotten about the thing by now and you have to remember we’re going to have 40,000 more troops going to Afghanistan.

Q: Yeah... and we still haven’t caught one man strapped to dialysis machine hiding out in the mountains!

A: He’s probably in the East Village of NY (laughing). I mean if you are going to hide out, NY would be a great place to do it, like in the Men in Black movie.

Q: What did you think of Sarah Palin and the previous election?

A: She’s a fucking dope and you can quote me on that. I mean she’s very decent enough woman in a ways but, to be considering her for President I mean that’s nuts. Well it doesn’t say much to John McCain for the decision to have her on the ticket.

I mean to have Sarah Palin be president? I mean we are in enough trouble already.

We were soon joined by others from the Opera House lingering after the show and our political discussions continued. Larry pointed out that today’s news outlets do not give you the news straight but deliver it with a slant, whether it’s Fox News, which tends to lean right, and MSNBC which tends to lean to the left. He said that he is already left wing and doesn’t need the news on that slant, but that he would like his news straight and then make his own conclusions, of which all of us whole heartedly agreed.

The conversation that I had with Larry is indeed a political one but, to edit it in order to avoid possible alienation of our readers and patrons with a different political point of view would in no way do the band and the message of its front man justice. Black 47 has a message, and whether you agree with that message or not you have to appreciate the passion he puts into his work and what he tries to do with his music. As he says, anyone reading this that may not agree with his points would simply say “ah, he’s just another asshole from NY’.

Interview with Craig Thatcher

This weekend marks the fourth time the prominent Lehigh Valley guitarist Craig Thatcher has brought his Eric Clapton Retrospective show to the Opera House. Spanning all the various creative phases of Clapton's career, Thatcher's band seems to channel the great guitarist virtually note for note. And it's not only the guitar work: with Craig Kastelnik on the Hammond B-3 organ and the dynamic rhythm section of bassist Wayde Leonard and drummer Don Plowman, the Craig Thatcher Band is quite up to the task of performing this great music.

The show is this Saturday, 10/10 with doors at 7:30 and showtime 8:30. Tickets are only $20 and can be purchased online at MauchChunkOperaHouse.com or by calling the box office at 570-325-0249. Wine and beer will be sold, with all proceeds benefiting the Opera House.

A consistent recipient of accolades from the Lehigh Valley Music Awards of the years, Thatcher has was recently able to take some time from his schedule to respond to a few pre-show questions:

JT: What is the story behind the Eric Clapton Retrospective? How did the idea become reality?

CT: I was seeing all sorts of "tribute" acts out there but nothing--at least on the east coast--portraying the music of EC.

His music is so widespread and depending on the time period, quite varied in style and taste. And I, having been so influenced and nurtured by EC's guitar playing from a very young age on (having first heard of him in 1966 when I was 10), felt that I could assemble a group of musicians who could accurately reproduce the music, and not just one era, but all of the various stylistic periods.

And I think that's what we've accomplished. I was certainly aware that in order to make this special and not a bar-gig that we'd need to perform in very special venues only--such as the Mauch Chunk Opera House-- so I enlisted the help of Seth Weber, a prominent former-Philly attorney who happened to really like the band and wanted to help us with the project. Seth opened the door for us at MCOH, the State Theatre in Easton, the Sellersville Theatre, the House of Blues in Atlantic City and several other venues. Seth also contacted EC's attorneys for permission to do the show and fortunately, they agreed to let us do so.

JT: We understand you've been able to take this show to some exotic locations like Telluride, Colorado and even Europe. How has it been received?

CT: Actually, we've/I've performed in those locations and quite a few other cool areas, with 3 tours of Europe last year alone, but it wasn't the Eric Clapton Retrospective. We performed either as Craig Thatcher Band, Eric Steckel and the Craig Thatcher Band, or me alone, as guitarist for Simone, the daughter of the world renowned jazz artist, Nina Simone.

As far as audience reaction to the EC show, it's mostly been very, very positive. There will always be detractors, as there are for any type of show or musical style, but that doesn't bother me as I've been in this business for a long, long time and if I let a few negative reactions bother me I would have quit a long time ago. Let me add, we aren't trying to act like, look like or dress like Eric Clapton or any of his band members, present or past. We're just tracing the musical history of some great musical performances--and song writing--from EC's broad audio history.

JT. How did you assemble your band? It seems perfectly suited for EC's music.

CT: The show is based around our trio which features Wayde Leonard, bass/vocals and Don Plowman on drums. Wayde really does justice to Jack Bruce's playing and vocal style, which isn't an easy task, so he's perfect for the Cream-era Clapton material. Don can play any style and fits right in and together, we've always played a lot of EC music anyway, so we've always been quite well-versed with it.

However, in presenting a full show--unless we just do the Cream era (I am hoping to do a "Cream of Eric Clapton" type show at some point)we needed to have an organist, as it's so prominently featured in many EC tunes; at least one female backup vocalist; and a second guitarist--especially to recreate Layla properly (actually, we could use 3 guitarists on that one).

So Craig Kastelnik is the logical choice for keys and his wife Pat sings and plays percussion. We've worked together in many other musical situations so it was pretty obvious. The member that wasn't obvious to me was the second guitarist. We needed someone to provide mainly rhythm guitar and most of the pro-players I've worked with wouldn't be happy doing that.

Sometimes the rhythm guitar isn't very noticeable, until you remove it, and then one can tell that something's missing. So to me, it's a very important part. To fill that role I decided upon one of my young guitar students who can play, is easy to work with and very respectful. And that is Chris Morrison. He's been very happy to be a part of this show and we are pleased to have him. He does an excellent job.

JT: Is there a particularly memorable EC concert you've been to?

CT: Well the most memorable for me was the Cream Reunion at Madison Square Gardens a few years ago. Jack Bruce was in even better shape than the earlier reunion shows at the Royal Albert Hall. It was truly an amazing opportunity for me to see just the three of them as I never did get so see Cream live back in the '60s. And I'd have to say the second most memorable show for me was the Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood show, again at the Gardens. There were definitely shades of Blind Faith occurring at that show! Of course there've been many great EC solo shows as well. I remember one show I saw at the Spectrum in Philly in August of 1990. It was less than two weeks later when EC was performing with Stevie Ray Vaughn and after the show, Vaughn was killed in the helicopter crash, along with several other members of EC's entourage, including his personal valet. That was a tough time for many of us.

Black 47 This Weekend! Interview with the Bandleader

This weekend, on October 3rd the Opera House presents the New York City-based Irish rock group, Black 47 (www.Black47.com). No venue could provide better atmosphere for a show like this than the Opera House.

Adult refreshments will be served for this show, the proceeds of which benefit the Opera House. So bring a designated driver and hoist a few!

One of the truly hard-working groups around, Black 47 tours relentlessly and is currently preparing to release a new CD. As if that's not enough, bandleader Larry Kirwan is working on several new and ongoing projects of his won. Fortunately, he found the time to answer a few questions:

MCOH: Sorry to ask oft-repeated questions, but: who were your biggest musical influences as you were growing up? Any music out there today that attracts your notice?

LK: I can honestly say that my influences were legion. On the one hand I was exposed to all the traditional music of Co. Wexford where I grew up allied with the amazing variety of music that one heard on the BBC, Pirate Radio Caroline, and Irish state radio. Dylan, Lennon, Hendrix and American folk music were big influences. And like many Irish people I was greatly into the Black music of the day – Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and all the Stax and Motown artists.

I can’t say that there’s anything “modern” that blows me away. Rock music seems to be very referential – meaning that I can recognize all the influences, so that tends to take away from the originality factor – which is pretty important to me. I do like some rap and hip-hop, as much for the beats as the lyrical content. I do admire a lot of World music – mostly because the rhythms are intricate and I don’t know exactly what’s being said – which helps with the inevitable banality factor.

MCOH: In addition to being the front man for Black 47, you’re a solo artist, an author and playwright, an actor, a husband and father, and a political activist. How do you find the time?

LK: Well, I’m a bad sleeper and rarely get more than 5 hours a night. I also don’t watch television on any kind of regular basis. That gives me more time in a day than most people. But I also find it refreshing to go from one genre to another. Writing novels and plays is almost relaxing after a night of playing music. But then I’ve put in the time learning the craft of both of those disciplines so that it’s pleasurable to stretch yourself, in the same way that someone who has learned carpentry takes pleasure in fashioning wood.

I also do a weekly column for the Irish Echo www.irishecho.com and that tends to keep my writing skills fairly well honed. And I do a weekly radio show, Celtic Crush for Sirius XM. That really helps with communication skills and just basically thinking and speaking under pressure.

I guess what I’m saying somewhat un-artfully is that doing many things tends to help individual skills and there’s rarely a dull moment.

MCOH: Would you consider yourself a poet or a storyteller?

LK: Where I come from a culture where you would never label yourself a poet – that’s an honor that’s bestowed on you by your community. But to be honest, I don’t consider myself a poet. It’s something you should work on from an early age and it’s far too late for me - the last thing the world needs right now is another mediocre poet.

Still, I do read poetry for enjoyment and stimulation – if you write songs and you don’t read poetry, you’re pretty much working in a dark room on a summer’s day. I also use certain poetic principles to work on songs, plays and novels. I love the sounds of words and their deep roots in the culture and language of people.

I do write a lot of character-driven or story songs. In many ways I’m updating the Irish traditional form of song – by using the old structure but adapting it to reflect current psychological and social realities. So, I suppose I am a bit of a storyteller.

MCOH: You’re hard at work on a new CD, any details we can leak to the press?

LK: Black 47’s CDs have always been very varied and this one is no exception. I made a point of trying to write songs that would give the brass and pipe players a chance to really shine. On this one we get a chance to explore our Latin and Klezmer influences, among others, while still maintaining the overall Black 47 sound. So, I think it’s strong musically. There are songs on there that are a bit more pop and dance oriented than IRAQ, our last album – not surprisingly.

The CD will also containe one of the most intense songs that we’ve recorded – Red Hugh O’Donnell. He was a childhood hero but I could never nail him. With the war in Afghanistan I was able to put him in a modern context, oddly enough – a man totally on edge, fearful that Queen Elizabeth I is trying to poison him. A religious fundamentalist, passionate and driven but whose time is running out and whose culture is being over run.

There is also a “shaggy dog” song about the Long Lost Tapes of Jimi Hendrix and where they actually can be found.

MCOH: Have you come up with a five-word description for the band? If not, we’ll take the 20-word version.

LK: I wish I could do that. It seems that Black 47 is just its own thing. You have a rock & roll and Irish base on which you toss a lot of lyrical ideas and a defined political sensibility, mix in a willingness and delight in taking risks – we have never done the same set in over 2000 gigs – and that’s Black 47.

MCOH: When you get weary, how do you manage to put out the energy each night onstage?

LK: When you hit that first big guitar chord, everything changes. If you trust the songs and the musicians around you, the energy will come. And if it doesn’t there’s always Jameson’s.

MCOH: What Irish immigrants endured in the coal regions of Pennsylvania is still on very much on people’s minds around Jim Thorpe, given voice by an ongoing debate over whether the Mollie Maguires were freedom fighters or something else. Does the Irish narrative so prevalent in our region affect your approach to the show at the Opera House?

LK: Black 47 has strong political elements and sensitivities so we don’t really need to take a particular approach to any area. Oddly enough, I’ve tried a number of times to write a song about the Mollie Maguires, but was never able to find a distinctive way into the heart of the story. Who knows though, maybe some day. It took me 15 years to find a way inside Bobby Sands head and that lead to the songBobby Sand MP. I think our song, James Connolly, will have resonance in the Jim Thorpe area because Connolly was much more about the rights of the working people than he was about Irish nationalism. I’m looking forward to playing in the Mollies area. I’ve always enjoyed performing in Scranton and think that Black 47 will be a good fit for Jim Thorpe.

For more info on this show visit www.MauchChunkOperaHouse.com or www.Black47.com