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Album Reviews ...... 7 Featured Bands ...... 11 Contributing Writers: Worldtown Soundsystem Q&A.. . . . 14 Benjamin Brooks Faith Evans & her Rooted Flow. . . . 19 Haley Levendusky

Ardmore Music Hall...... 24 Jeffrey Glenn3 Festival Family Photo Spread. . . . 28 Jessica More YAM YAM...... 31 Sarah Gittleman GrooveSafe...... 37 Veronica Daub XL LIVE...... 41 Copy Editor: Eye Spy!...... 47 Veronica Daub 2021 Festival Caldendar...... 54 Photos:

Karl McWherter

Matthew Schreffler

Design &

Creative Director:

Sarah Kate

Gittleman

3 Annnnd, we’re back! At least, mostly We all came out of this pandemic with back...we’re heading in the right direc- new pieces of ourselves—this pause tion. I’m sure for most readers, this has giving us a breath to explore a new hob- been the longest. I know it has been for by or pour even more into a cup that me. The longest time between snak- was too often passed along. Aside from ing my way through a dark, crowded finally graduating to Photoshop (can’t floor—my shoes sticking to spilled IPA you tell!?) I started paper collaging. and vodka crans. The longest time be- These prefaced pages are made up with tween having my toes in the sand of magazine clippings at the mercy of an Beardfest’s main stage. The longest pe- exacto knife. The choosing of subjects riod between my LED hula hoop melt- and slicing into the paper’s skin done ing against the projections in Jibber with contemplative intention. My own Jazz’s indoor jam barn during the late- meditation. Now that we’re heading late night set. The longest time with- back into the show, we can take these out a large campsite, without a packed new pieces along with us, and with ex- show. citement, share them with the people we’ve dearly missed. It feels good to be looking ahead. And for the first year getting back to our This is what I’d like to share with you. feet, there’s a lot to look ahead to (jump to the last page for this season’s run- You’ve been dearly missed. down of festivals). xo, I wasn’t sure how this year was going to sk go. I almost shelved the magazine for another year. But guys, I know I said this last year too—and I’ll probably say it next year again—but this is the best one yet. I always throw all of my- self into this project, but for this year, I gave even more. It had to be really something.

For all of us. 5

by Jeffrey Glenn Beets Began to Rise bursts from the speakers with a rich by Miss Cantaloupe texture, featuring glockenspiel over a ska guitar backing, tinkling electric pi- Released May 25, 2021 on ano, and a lilting melody presented by Beardspace Records doubled cello and flute. A tonal shift in Miss Can- the bridge disturbs the idyllic vibes and t a l o u p e hints at sinister undertones before the has distin- clouds part once again. Narrative inter- guished ludes form the connective tissue of the them- album and create a holistic listening ex- selves in a perience. Lyrical concerns move from crowded concrete natural beauty to metaphys- South Jer- ics and back, all filtered through the sey music knowing psychedelic grin of a pagan scene with priestess. The music is never self-seri- a self-consciously theatrical approach ous; the sonic banquet of Beets is pre- to performance, immersing audienc- sented with a healthy dose of whimsy. es in the thought-world of the Canta- The level of detail in the production, loupe Kingdom, where catchy, sensi- from the delicate handpan on “Starlily” tively arranged tunes are interwoven and layered finger snaps of “Breathe” with naturalistic to the wide- fairy-tale nar- screen vocal ratives. This en- This new effort offers not harmonies gaging conceit merely ear candy, but a permeating the album, is now fully re- whole ear-feast of baroque alized on record makes Beets with debut LP psychedelic sunshine pop. a true joy of Beets Began to a listening Rise. This new experience. effort offers not merely ear candy, but a Miss Cantaloupe has given us an al- whole ear-feast of baroque psychedelic bum that puts them in a class above sunshine pop. their peers in terms of record craft- ing, one of which they should be truly Opener “Flowers, Flowers” positively proud.

7 Discourse by Justin Mazer Artists like Yo La Tengo, Earth, and Self-released April 9, 2021 Explosions in the Sky serve as check- points in this stylistic territory, in On his new terms of mood or instrumentation, but r e l e a s e , the sound Mazer presents on Discourse Discourse, and companion album Controlled Philadel- Burn is his own. Melody and mood, phia’s Jus- not virtuosic instrumental pyrotech- tin Mazer nics, are central here. Not relying on deals in the sweeping, melodramatic dynamic expressive, builds of some instrumental rock con- guitar-cen- temporaries, the pieces here are struc- tric instru- tured like songs without words. It’s a mentals that display a gift for cinemat- rich compositional vein to be mined ic evocation of mood and place. and I’m excited to see what Mazer un- earths in the coming years. Recorded over the duration of our globally shared captivity and featur- Transcending ing overdubbed contributions from by Suburban Sensi percussionist David Butler, Discourse Self-released, sketches a coherent, singular voice despite the obstacles presented by the February 26, 2021 circumstances. Opener “No Man Is Throughout their decade-plus of ex- an Island” illustrates Mazer’s general istence, Suburban Sensi has built a approach, sound-painting with a wide following forged in late-night festival palette of guitar tones—some clear and sets, using their danceable blend of chiming, some spikily distorted, some psychedelic jam and Jamaican diaspo- awash in atmospherics—with subtle ra influences as their foundation. 2019 synthesized textures adding other- was a year of building momentum worldly detail. “For There, It Is Not,” for the band, as they held their own the record’s sole offering recorded at a curated festival. The inaugural Sensi studio with other musicians, ratchets Family Gathering must have brought up the urgency with an acoustic guitar a sense of arrival for a group so firmly riff redolent of late ’80s alt-rock in the enmeshed in the festival scene. Sensi vein of the Replacements or Dinosaur emerges from the externally imposed Jr. The ambient textures of album cen- break in that momentum with new al- terpiece suite “The Darien Gap” co- bum Transcending, just in time for our alesce into anthemic melody, dissolve collective reemergence. again, and burst into driving rhythm in the suite’s finale. Sensi tackles a wide variety of sounds on the new record. Opener “Tran- pandemic scending” comes on all Magical Mys- necessity. tery Tour psychedelic sunshine pop, In con- exuding the palpable joy of making a trast to record. “Wicked Design” brings the their 2019 dubbed out reggae vibes, which are self-titled Sensi’s stock-in-trade. “Puck” con- effort that jures a New Orleans groove, while “Pig featured a Pharma ‘’ is a classic “Babylon-dem- full-band thief-my-herb” narrative featuring texture, the hype background toasting from Philly’s group’s first self-described “duo al- Timi Tanzania. “Captain Crater ‘’ is a bum” is an entirely guitar-and-vocals wah-funk number that calls to mind affair. The music suffers not one bit for proximate influence Phish. ““Crater” the transition; the relative uniformity and “Helping Hand” both feature bass- of the texture lends coherence to the ist Anton Milioti’s tight, wide Bryan record’s sound without straying into Ferry vi- monotony. The wide-open uncluttered brato on palette allows for the full depth and vocals, with richness of tone inherent to its constit- the latter uent elements—layered acoustic and song bring- electric guitars and Chace’s resonant ing some singing—to shine through in the mix. dexterous Chace’s vocals bring together the full bass runs tone of Chan Marshall with the vibrato as part of a and ornamentation of a significantly climax that less agitated version of Fiona Apple. It brings thematic closure to the record. is a voice that is, at once, singular and Those attuned to the Sensi aesthetic or familiar, delicately wrapped in subtle that of any of their influences will find but evident plate reverb. Pheil’s guitar much to delight in on Transcending. parts are thoughtful and inventive, al- Low Key by Stable Shakers ways framing the lead vocals and clear- ly communicating the ideas behind his Self-released, songs. With Low Key, Stable Shakers December 11, 2020 have produced a beautiful album rich Stable Shakers’ new album Low Key in meaning and atmosphere that lives represents something of a departure up to its titular mandate while remain- for the group, pared down to its core ing thoroughly engaging. This band duo of composer/guitarist Spencer deserves a much larger audience; they Pheil and singer Brechyn Chace by are ready for prime time.

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Space Bacon Brooklyn NY Dropping in with me- ticulous improvisation and tasty, type two jam segways is New York’s Space Bacon. Pumping sets up with epic peaks and sonic passageways, there’s never a doubt that feet stay grooving. The group’s discipline is one to be sought after with a sound you’ll want to chase after again and again. You can find a plethora of live soundboards online, and Space Bacon’s debut full length album Cone is June 11th. Notable upcoming festival: Circus of Life, Bethel, NY. Serene Green Bethlehem, PA A home-grown shuffle, Serene Green continues to make their mark on the bluegrass scene in PA and beyond. The string quartet’s history is directly shown through their chemistry on stage, granting them a serious following. Landing gigs at DelFest, Susquehanna Breakdown, Peach Fest, and beyond, Serene Green proves each year to only be climb- ing only in one direction. Notable up- coming festi- vals: The Get Down, Blain, PA; Peach Fest, Scranton, PA.

11 Solar Circuit Philadelphia, PA A down-right dance party that orbits in the jamtronica atmosphere is Philadelphia’s Solar Circuit. Heavy on the synth, but in the most complimentary ways to their planet of experi- mental improvisational rock and trance. Shak- Photo by Andrew Hutchins ing dance floors for the last five years, Solar Circuit is always causing the best kinds of commotion. Catch them floating all around the tri-state area and be sure to check out their latest album, Pulling at the Source, which was released late-May this year. Notable upcoming festival: Karnival of the Arts, Lehighton, PA. Neighbor Boston, MA Where did these guys come from? Boston, but nevermind that realistic an- swer—what’s more important is that I haven’t stopped hearing about them since their late-night set at Some Kind of Jam this recent April. Groovy and soulful, Neighbor is laying down some classic, yet innovative jam rock. Although the group is young to the scene, they are making big waves, and it is a well earned reward for the music they’re laying down. Notable up- coming festival: Circus of Life, Bethel, NY. 13 A Q&A with Philadelphia’s es. I was able to sit down with Ben Ar- most musical senal in his studio, Elevate Sound, in Fishtown in order to learn more about humanitarian movement the band: by Benjamin Brooks Can you trace the roots for me? It was in 2019 that I saw Worldtown Ben: I got into music through drum- Soundsystem for the first time. Their ming. My stepbrother is a guitarist and music is a bombastic amalgamation he brought home an electric guitar of world music sounds and electronic when I was like 10 and I was just like, textures, and while one can spend time “What!?” You know, just this awesome pinpointing the various influences that sound. The first time you hear an elec- bring those sounds together, the lis- tric guitar is just, like, mind-blowing a tener will most likely get wrapped up little bit. I heard my brother play gui- in moving to the experience of it. Un- tar and just knew I had to play drums; fortunately, there are no words to de- that was how I got called scribe the kinetic energy of being there to music. I’d also listen when Worldtown is doing their thing. to my stepdad’s CDs. I was fascinated by It’s pretty cosmic. Vocalists Anessa the process of look- LaRae and Zeek Burse bring power- ing through music ful messages of celebration and unity and hearing dif- to the grooves laid down by drummer ferent things. Gary Dann and bassist Julian Hinson. All of a sud- The electronic element comes from den, there’s DJs (and founders) Oluwafemi and a collec- Ben Arsenal. On top of all this, saxo- tion—sort phonist Dan Keller provides additional of like how textures with an EWI, and master per- our two cussionist Pablo Batista adds a unique families came dynamism to each and every rhythm together. And that pulses through their performanc- it was just like “Woah, this is a lot of living out in West Philly and commu different stuff.” I was put onto north- ting to Temple. He started getting to ern Brazilian drumline music… when know my interests, making beats, play- I was 16 and was just like, “This.” ing some parties, you know. And even- tually, he was just like, “There’s this So you got into world music pretty guy Femi. I don’t know what’s gonna early on? happen when you meet him, but when Ben: My dad is actually an ethno- you guys link up, it’s going down.” So, I graphic art dealer, so he was dealing had this apartment in West Philly, and with Australian aboriginal art, African that Saturday, he came over and, all of art, then most recently Chinese and a sudden, it’s this little apartment with Japanese art. And just being exposed 40 people from all over the world— to the fact that there are many different Iraq, Palestine, South America, the places in the world with beautiful cul- islands, Nigeria, Togo, Europe—it was ture[s] and history, I guess you could just a natural magnet kind of energy. call that my starting point for curiosity. We’d actually get in trouble for things like bringing a drum kit and sound When did you meet Femi and the system on the roof, that sort of thing. rest of the band? Ben: Femi and I actually coincidental- After I went to Brazil through Tem- ly met through a friend from Jordan. ple… I had kept in touch with Femi We call him Tiny; he’s a huge Jordani- and, [when I came back], we started an dude. I met him back when I was these parties called “Rio Nights.” We

15 had a nice run of that, and then some We just find something that hits and friends separately started an event grooves, and I like to bring it to a cer- group called “Worldtown Entertain- tain point where it’s like, “Boom, bring ment,” and they wanted Femi and I to it to the band.” be the musical directors. Fast forward a couple years, and it’s this scrappy [We listen to songs in various stages grassroots thing, and the people who on his computer for around 20 min- started it, for one reason or another, utes. The music contains a myriad of had to step back from the project and percussive and melodic instruments told us to run with it. And it was this wrapped in electronic flavors.] special time where I had just graduat- Ben: It’s crazy, it’s stemming from all ed and was trying to figure out how to sorts of collaborations with vocal- make a living, and we just kept inching ists, our saxophonist and Pablo, our forward and inching forward… Then, percussionist, etc. We’re taking these eventually, we invited live musicians songs and working on them for a peri- into the fold, which sort of brought it od of time with the band until they’re back to day one. Then I opened this locked and ready to play live. studio up. Been here for like eight or nine years. It’s just this very natural Would you be able to explain what sort of ongoing experiment. Soon, I got Worldtown Citizens is? linked up at the boom room with Gary Ben: It all started when we were ask- Dann via the Worldtown one-year an- ing ourselves, “What’s our mission niversary party. Then I met Jules, the with this [in the] long term; what’s the bassist, and he was the one who ended purpose?” And you know, celebration up saying, “This is cool, let’s take this to is important, making people feel good the next level with Gary as our drum- is important… but what could we do mer.” Once the drums got locked in, that’s outside the club? So, we did some the whole band locked in, and eventu- volunteer workshops, I’d bring my set- ally, we got to where we are now. up and do a little beat-making work- shops, teaching kids Ableton. It’s awe- In terms of songwriting and your some. So yeah, we kind of stemmed performances, what’s the process from the original vibe and thought of of arrangement? celebration to do some community Ben: I’m not sure if 100 percent of service. the songs have started in this studio, but damn near 100 percent of the What community work have you songs have started in this room. I re- done through Worldtown Citizens? ally like to collaborate [and]work with We worked with Urban Creators to do key players, vocalists, percussionists. a cleanup in their lot. We worked with Global Citizens 365, [a]really awesome idea has always been to get ourselves es- organization that orchestrates Martin tablished and stable and then be able to Luther King Day service out of Girard use our influence to give back however College. We were sort of like uniting the we can. energetic uplifting vibe to the commu- nity-service sphere. Most recently, we’ve What is the greatest accomplishment teamed up with Julia Lehman, a photog- so far with the community? rapher and activist whose main focus is The one single act that we did that was water issues. She actually shot the “Free- the most impactful, I would say, was the dom” video. And kind of serendipitously, cleanup at Urban Creators. Because that we also teamed up with Charity Water. was like mobilizing 150 people just to rip It’s kind of this beautiful idea of chan- through their spring cleaning. We got neling energy and resources—our goal is so much done that day; it was awesome. to raise $30,000 to provide 1,000 people That was a major accomplishment. clean water access. Worldtown is set to release new music How did you marry the two and show dates this summer! Keep up Worldtown projects? with all the latest on their socials: Well, we started out as more of a com- munity thing more than a band thing anyway, so it’s almost like full circle. The @Worldtown

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by Veronica Daub It all started with dragons... sign, her “painting and coding went hand in hand.” Removing the pres- If you knew her as a child, you might’ve sure of combining her left brain and seen her with a dragon book at her side, right brain to become the successful doodling and writing stories for her professional artist her undergraduate “fantasy lizards,” as she calls them. “I courses were pushing her to be, she attribute the weird dragon obsession to was able to let her right brain flow my whole art... that’s what really got me into her creative abyss. And on the into wanting to create.” other hand, her programming ability wouldn’t be anything without her art Mystified by the mystical and captivated background. She turns data into vi- by color, Faith Evans seems to have an sualizations—laying out clunky info endless stream of fruitful ideas. Whether in a pleasing-to-the-eye and readable she’s painting vibrant scenes from dense way. “The art stuff seems a little sepa- swamps or snowy mountain tops, or de- rate from my from my programming signing a favorite jam band emblem into stuff, but they kind of mesh together patches with a wild mix of fabrics, the at the same time,” she said. girl just keeps it flowing.

From dragons, she got into portraits before eventually finding her way to the nature-filled content that covers her vending tables today (look out for her new sparkly pink banner declar- ing “Faith Evans Art - Rooted Flow”). Then, she went off to Kutztown Uni- versity to become a graphic designer— which she came to hate. She continued on at Kutztown and recently complet- ed her graduate program in program- ming and computer science.

One wouldn’t assume such a techni- cal, math-fueled area of study would interact with creative expression, but Evans found once she “finally chopped off [the idea of] being a professional artist,” leaving behind the graphic de- 19 INSTAGRAM: @FAITH EVANSART When Evans opened her shop, Root- Speaking of getting to work, for Evans, ed Flow, back in 2013, her main fo- that means being struck by color. “I cus was sustainable fashion: From the pick a color palette before I even start dying to the stitching, she literally did painting,” she said. “I’ll think, ‘Oh, it all—including making the patches that pink looks really good with that that remain a staple in her shop to- blue. I should do something about day. Making new clothing from 100 that.’” She then plays around with percent upcycled materials, however, vague ideas of what the subject might is a bit time-consuming. “I couldn’t be and sketches out a few rough ideas dedicate my life to doing that,” she before moving to the canvas. There decided. are no details before that point; all the details come in as she paints. From there, she spiraled out with those patches. With them, Evans has And she paints and paints and paints, “infinite possibilities.” Where that with a big focus on animals, nature, might be intimidating to some, a true and fantasy scenes. Recently, she’s artist like Evans embraces it—dives been turning her art into stickers, right the hell in. And there are so few making quite possibly the most ador- music fans who aren’t thrilled to see able sticker series ever: frogs with their favorite emblems in many dif- different hats. One’s a wizard, one’s ferent funky, psychedelic patterns to a fairy, and one wears a tulip on its choose from—we’re actually not sure head. The level of cute is something they exist. you oughta see for yourself.

In her pieces today, Evans still main- While she’s having a blast with making tains the goal of sustainability; she stickers, Evans is currently focused on rarely buys new fabric. “I’ll buy cloth- finding a bigger canvas—”like huge.” ing just to cut it up and use the fab- She’s searching for a place to plant ric,” she said. And her environmental a mural, and this reporter has little consideration goes beyond her sew- doubt one of the vibrant, fantasti- ing machine. Most of her canvases cal scenes—living somewhere in her are upcycled: factory-farmed art that brain, waiting for the right colors— has been printed thousands of times, will find that large home someday sometimes with the bonus of being soon. fixed onto ornate or funky frames. They might have been hung up and You can keep up with Faith Evans’s beloved in a household for decades, seemingly never-ending flow of cre- but eventually, they end up at her lo- ations at faithevansart on Instagram cal thrift store. Then she slaps white and www.etsy.com/shop/RootedFlow. Gesso on it and gets to work.

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23 Amh utilizes shutdown to renovate entire interior

by Sarah Gittleman

From musicians, to promoters, to fans, A decade past and one forced, year- we’re all guilty of getting folded over long pause later, just about the only into the great wave of the entertain- thing that remains the same (other ment industry. than of course Splintered Sunlight on the marquee), is the AMH building Tour dates roll out, tickets are gobbled shell itself. While having to close its up, flights get booked, hotels are re- doors over the course of the 2020 pan- served, paid time off is acquired, and demic, Ardmore took the opportunity the night is there and gone before the to transform the interior, quite literally last blink of the closing strobe lights. floorboard by floorboard, and reopen Luckily, similar plans are never too far with a fresh, space-conscious floor out of sight. We are always planning, plan. and we always have something to look forward to. In an industry that knows Earlier in April, patrons were invit- little sleep, how does o`ne find the mo- ed to an open house to check out the ment to pause, take a new digs. Thousands step back, and consid- of viewers got an even er, “What can we im- “This was a sneakier peak inside prove here?” light at the end when The Disco Bis- cuits’ keyboardist Aaron Without a doubt, Ar- of the tunnel.” Magner led a video tour dmore Music Hall during the set break of (AMH) has always the band’s two-night been heading in the right direction, stream. Side note: That weekend set of coming a long way since its original streams is the largest grossing AMH establishment as the 23 East Cabaret show to date, counting in-person on 23rd Lancaster Ave. in Ardmore, events and streams alike. I took the PA. That was back when the suburban ride down to Ardmore one Saturday Philadelphia venue was more of a col- afternoon to get the inside scoop from lege bar with a musical footprint that Sara Greco, general manager of AMH. went as far as pulling cover bands from Here’s what’s good: “down the shore” for weekend enter- tainment and bachelorette parties. New drinks and menu: Pop in the box office: AMH, like most other music-first es- The venue now has a traditional box tablishments, is more known for its va- office with windows facing the street. riety beers on tap rather than cocktails. You can purchase your tickets outside Put it this way, you might order a Jack and then check in at the front count- and ginger, but no one’s really coming er, which patrons will remember was up to the bar mid-second set to order previously used for both check-in and a Manhattan. AMH’s new partnership ticket sales. This will help speed up with neighboring restaurant Ripple- lines since everyone checking in will wood is shaking that up with both sin- already have tickets in-hand. Score gle-batch cocktails available at the bar tickets from the box office every Tues- and entrée items for patrons trying to day and Friday from 12 noon to 5 p.m. dine-in before the show starts. and avoid service fees (*wink*).

“Ripplewood has really elevated our Indoor renovations: food and cocktails. We have a couple Inside, AMH has all new flooring. The of signature cocktails that they batch, lower deck that’s used as the first-floor which we’ll do again once we reopen. It seating area has been cut back to give gives that quality aspect that we might grooving bodies about three more feet not have the time or bandwidth to do of dance floor. There’s also a satellite because we’re super high volume.” bar located up there now. You read

Fans Enjoy the new balcony views, photo by Karl McWherter25 Outside of AMH, photo by Karl McWherter correctly: There are now two bars on that construction did not take away the first floor. anything from the sound and sight lines; with the opportunities for place- Upstairs, the entire balcony is now ment of audio equipment, sound has open, allowing for many more tables. only improved. That lounge area is complete with TVs to view the show on, although the view “We had this planned pre-Covid, but is pretty spectacular on its own. Also it’s extremely hard to have 50 employ- upstairs is the refillable water bot- ees laid off and [decide to] dump a tle station, which took the Facebook bunch of money into here,” Greco said. group “Where it’s at: Philadelphia Jam- “But I think, for me and for a lot of the ily” by storm. people that work here, this was a light at the end of the tunnel. Chris [Parel- Stage, sound and artist perks: la, owner] would send updates all the Musicians and fans alike can rejoice: time on how things were looking, and The stage has been expanded and it felt like, ‘Okay, this is going to end, raised. “Your sight lines got a hell of a and we’re going to have a new home to lot better now,” Greco confirmed. And g o t o.’” for AMH artists, the venue has a total- ly new green room that comes with a The renovations weren’t the only zig shower. Ardmore’s sound team, also Ardmore skrrted to the pandemic zag. known as the Galactic Cats, made sure In fact, I would go as far as to say that Streams aside, AMH is ready to show AMH was one of the most revolution- off its sassy self with an entire slew of izing venues in the area in regards to in-person shows on schedule. Some keeping their lights on during such highlights include Ghost Note, Moon a dark period in the entertainment Hooch, Pink Talking Phish, Karl Den- industry. Working with Nugs.net, son’s Tiny Universe, and the Del Mc- Ardmore was able to open its doors Croy Band. to some acts that would normally be too large for the room, like The Dis- You can get the most up-to-date infor- co Biscuits and Pigeons Playing Ping mation by visiting ArdmoreMusicHall. Pong. They started small with live com and, of course, following the ven- streams, and eventually opened it up ue’s socials to a “Golden Ticket” raffle, where pa- trons paid for a chance to be a part @ardmoremusichall of an extremely intimate, 125-person crowd (with proven negative Covid test results). It’s all mostly credited to Parella.

“It was really Chris’s relationships with the artists that were comfort- able,” Greco said. “For instance, The Disco Biscuits. Like they are too big for us, but Magner and Brownie are super local. Chris just basically ap- proached them and asked if they were comfortable with a stream. And they were like, ‘Yeah, we’re ready to play. We want to play somewhere, and we don’t want to travel to do it because we don’t want to put our families at risk.’ [Parella’s] relationships with those artists and others really started the conversations of, ‘Are you guys comfortable if we do a very limited staff? Are you comfortable if we’re all tested before we’re in the room?’ And then from there, it just kind of snow- balled.”

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29 Tom Fuller on guitar photo by Karl McWherter YAM YAM The funk fusion playing together and, not long after, in- vited saxophonist Jason Mescia “over to that’s landing big-name jam one day, and he never left.” festivals this summer “Everyone knows Jason in Harrisburg… by Sarah Gittleman because he plays saxophone with every- If 2019 was a launchpad, YAM YAM one. He plays with a lot of different local used it like a trampoline in anti-gravity. bands; [we] even play in a few of them They opened up for jamtronica pow- [together],” Dempsy said. erhouse Lotus’s XL LIVE debut and The music took off immediately. They brought home the award for Best Blues/ began booking gigs as YAM YAM and, Funk Band/Artist in the Central PA only two years later, re- Music Awards. Although the 2020 pan- leased their first album. demic could have brought these guys The self-titled collec- back down to Earth, their 2021 sched- tion of songs balances ule is looking mighty high with some lyrical and instrumen- big-name festivals, such as Umphrey’s tal tracks. My person- McGee’s Summer Camp Music Festival al favorite would in Chillicothe, IL and the Peach Music have to be “Joop,” Festival in Scranton, PA. where at the YAM YAM has a sound that freshens up song’s climax, an old-school funk and soul foundation Dempsy with modern, feel-good pop tones. If holds down you vibe with bands like Vulfpeck, The the keys Motet, and Karl Denson, get ready to like he’s in add YAM YAM to your music library. a gospel’s Spoiler alert: There’s some fresh music mid- coming out to add to said library. p r a i s e while Hailing from the heart of Harrisburg, Mescia’s the five-piece funk fusion band formed saxo- back in 2015 when brothers Tom (gui- phone tar) and Tyler Fuller (drums) were scales drawn to the mysterious jams coming notes, from next door. Xander Moppin (bass) and Mike Dempsy (keys) were on the other side of that wall, laying down dirty, old-school funk. The four began

Tom Fuller on guitar photo by Karl McWherter 31 pulling movement from the tips of community. The first time I saw them as dancing toes and elevating them an opener for Rivers at Harrisburg Mid- through the ceiling. town Arts Center in 2017. They played their famous “woo” song (if you know “As YAM YAM, we are able to write to- the band, you’ll know exactly what song gether well. The sound happened very this is) and wrapped the night off with a naturally because we all have very simi- cover of “Boogie on Reggae Woman” by lar tastes, especially soul music. We had Stevie Wonder, which was probably the an idea, and that let everything else fall high point of my night. into place,” Dempsy explained. Back in the before-times, when I first “The thing about writing music [for got together with Tom Fuller and Dem- me] is, I always write for different vibes psy for this article, YAM YAM had a and for different reasons. With YAM stacked summer in and out of the stu- YAM, we finally have a band that it’s so dio: live and recorded albums, festival easy to write, so we really collaborate lineups, and shows galore crowded and mesh those ideas well.” their calendar. The band has retained To me, for a long time, these guys were most of that momentum and pushed it the face of Harrisburg’s local music into 2021, and, like many musicians I’ve

Dempsy on keys at Some Kind of Jam, photo by Karl McWherter YAM YAM rocking the River Street Jazz Cafe, photo by Matthew Schreffler talked to in the past months, they’ve overall, we’re stoked with what we’ve used 2020 wisely as a way to reassess been working on through it all. We’ve and refine in-process projects. written several new tunes that we’re ex- cited to try out on the road once we are On New Year’s Eve, the group hosted a able to.” live stream titled “The Yam Yam Tele- thon,” which turned into a live album “Double Dippin’” is the first of that ma- you can find on Spotify, Bandcamp, and terial and is set to release July 23. This Apple Music. will be YAM YAM’s second studio al- bum. Another record is on deck for “Two weeks before the shutdown, we spring of 2022. had gone into Stable Studios to record the next album. We ended up with When asked about the hopeful upswing about two albums worth of stuff,” Tom of our state’s capital music scene, Fuller Fuller recalled. had to say that, “Without a doubt, it’ll bounce back. I think it’ll bounce back “We’ve spent the last year recording fiercely. There are so many talented per- overdubs, and we are just finishing up formers and artists in this area that are the mixing process now. The whole so geared up and ready to rip it up— quarantine experience was different and appreciators alike. I think we’ll see for each of us. Some of us had more waves of new talent emerge as well… time on our hands, some had less. But

33 As long as people can safely support Make sure to experience this dance our local venues and keep them alive, party live. Because it is, in fact, a then we’ll see our arts scene continue to dance par-tay. Locally, you can catch g row.” YAM YAM at Opple Topple in Kemp- ton, PA. Not only is YAM YAM one of the headlining acts for Opple Topple, but they’ll be ushering fans into the weekend with a Thursday arrival party set.

More shows are popping up constantly, so be sure to lock into all the details by giving these funky fellows a follow on their socials. @YAMYAM

YAM YAM opens up Some Kind of Jam for the early arrivals, photo by Karl McWherter 35

GROOVESAFE: A NEW MOVEMENT A renewed feeling of want to [attend] concerts anymore was safety while groovin’ when I decided to do something to change the behavior instead of giving at your favorite events up my favorite pastime.” by Jessica Moore Originally, GrooveSafe began as an on- Imagine feeling completely care- line grassroots organization, working free at every live music event your heart to bring awareness to this issue and desires to attend: no fears of being put advocating the necessity for consent. in an uncomfortable situation,a world She created a team of people who are where everyone is respectful without dedicated to spreading this powerful fail. You can go to any show you want by message, all while inspiring and en- yourself or with a group couraging people to use their voices. of your gal pals and She admits, “It took me a little not think twice while to be bold enough to about feeling have the hard conver- vulnerable in sations,” but she had a crowd of hopes that people strangers. would know she This is the was on this journey environ- with them too. “I ment we was also very pas- all imagine sionate about this when we ex- being an inclusive citedly hit the movement, for all send button genders. Everyone de- and secure those serves respect,” Driscoll tickets to the show. explained.

The founder and president of Groove- GrooveSafe had planted booths at var- Safe, Ashley Driscoll, has been work- ious festivals and, in early 2020, moved ing tirelessly to make this a reality. She into venues as well. Venues labeled vowed to get involved in building a con- themselves as “Groovesafe Zones” to sent culture in the live music scene. Far show their patrons that sexual miscon- too often, people are forced to endure duct and unwanted touching were not unwarranted touching and unwanted tolerated there. Eighty-five bands and advances at live music and are expected counting have been teaming up, form- to brush it off. Driscoll had other plans, ing a mega group known as the Groove- declaring, “When I realized that I didn’t Safe Artist Ambassadors that all stand

37 behind the importance of consent. were halted and social distancing was in full effect, she moved her platform When GooveSafe first came to be, online and created a campaign called some people were learning of this issue “Quarantine Kindness” to remind for the first time. Many others sighed people to keep respecting others, no in relief at knowing that this difficult matter what. Since comfort levels of topic was finally being brought to light. crowds have drastically changed over Driscoll shared, “People were excited, the past year, boundaries have become albeit hesitant to even more im- talk about these portant than Since comfort levels of crowds issues that had ever before. previously been have drastically changed over hushed.” Start- the past year, boundaries have In 2021, ing these difficult become even more important GrooveSafe conversations than ever before. plans to serve as truly began to a stepping stone show others that from social dis- it is okay to say no and it is important tancing to help people ease back into to speak up. GrooveSafe is paving the the live music scene at their own pace, way to create safer environments where all while still promoting their original people can feel heard and respected at mission: respecting boundaries. festivals and shows. At your next summer fest or drive-in “The idea that we don’t have to put show, be sure to look for GrooveSafe up with these behaviors anymore was stickers; these markers can provide empowering,” Driscoll proclaimed. comfort, a promise to attendees that Folks who avoided shows and festivals they will be heard and respected. Pro- because of their discomfort from past viding peer support for a concert-go- experiences were able to reemerge into er to fall back on is a game-changer the music scene and enjoy a favorite in the music scene. Driscoll advised, pastime again. “Change in behavior absolutely started with awareness. All I want to do is help Driscoll confirmed, “Our greatest ac- people and not allow the live concert complishment would be that people are experience to erode due to those inap- listening. We were able to give people propriate advances.” a voice to stand up against sexual mis- conduct and respecting boundaries in Find out more about GrooveSafe’s general.” mission and how to get involved at GrooveSafe.com. As you imagined, 2020 caused a big pivot in the live music scene, but that didn’t stop Driscoll from slowing down. During quarantine, when shows 39

A look into Harrisburg’s freshest venue by Haley Levendusky

with additional seating and a second bar, which opens up again into a fenced-in area with fire pits and the centerpiece large tree that has be- come an icon of the venue. For as long as I can remember, Penn- sylvania’s capital has been home to a XL LIVE keeps ticket costs reason- passionate and dedicated base of live able and often offers special combo music fans. However, we were always ticket deals as a perk to fans who missing one thing: a venue that’s large want to hit more than one show in enough to bring national touring acts the same weekend or month; XL also and their crowds together. For some, offers a season pass for the fan who smaller venues work just fine, but like knows they will be attending many many others, I have always wanted shows that year. Season passes are more for Harrisburg. Cue the open- offered at a set cost and grant access ing of XL LIVE, tucked just outside to virtually ev- the downtown area of Harrisburg, ery show at XL in April of 2018. In just under two LIVE during VenueFast Facts: Opening date: years, XL LIVE has brought incredi- one year. Other April 13, 2018 ble shows, fun vibes, and more to our perks of being Capacity: 1,000+ capital. It seems like fans and artists a pass holder Building’s previ- alike are always raving about how include early ous use: 1940s-era amazing this venue truly is. Ample entry to shows, warehouse, most parking, a beautiful open space both discounted recently used inside and outside, national and lo- food at the for cutting and cal acts from a wide range of genres, snack bar be- fabricating stone VIP areas with second-floor balcony fore the show, for buildings. viewing, friendly staff, great drink and guaranteed The owner, Phil specials, and incredible sound are admission to Dobson, was in more than any fan could ask for. XL sold-out shows. LIVE also features large garage-style possession of the doors that open up into a second area XL LIVE has building for nearly eight years before it became XL LIVE. 41 brought acts of almost every genre burg University. I just so happened to Central Pennsylvania. Some of to run into Frank at a local restau- the most notable acts in our scene rant and ask him his thoughts on XL to grace their stage include Cab- LIVE and the future of live music in inet, Papadosio, Lotus, Dark Star Harrisburg. He said with a smile on Orchestra, Brandon “TAZ” Nieder- his face that XL LIVE is succeeding auer, Goose, Lettuce, Trampled by in reviving the music scene of Har- Turtles, George Clinton, and The risburg and that the best is yet to Werks. The venue also hosts themed come. dance parties, tribute nights, and a plethora of other concerts. When I asked Conduit how the re- lationship between Harrisburg Uni- I recently chatted with venue man- versity and XL LIVE formed, he ager, Chris Conduit, to get all of the credited the relationship between details on how XL LIVE has brought their talent buyers, John Harris and some of the best live acts to Harris- Frank Schofield. Their relationship burg in years and its seemingly rap- and the partnership between the idly growing success. two entities has expedited XL LIVE building their resume. “In Harris- Another special key player in the burg, when you’re just starting out success of XL LIVE is Frank Schof- as a live music venue, it’s so difficult ield, the director of Live Entertain- to book national acts. The num- ment and Media Services for Harris- ber one question you’re asked from agencies is, Who’s played your ven- whether the money to bring them ue?’ Until you have a solid roster of in will be worth the turnout. Fans acts under your belt, it’s very, very in smaller markets don’t turn out to difficult to get the ‘big dogs’ to pay midweek shows like they do in larg- any attention to you,” he said. er cities, but Harrisburg is seemingly coming around. Though many fans have been abso- lutely floored by the acts XL LIVE Conduit, like many others in the has booked, there are challenges in Harrisburg area, have high hopes those accomplishments. Conduit for the future of the Harrisburg explained that, since Harrisburg music scene, as well as goals for XL is considered a secondary market, LIVE itself. “I think the future of it’s hard to book the larger acts on Harrisburg’s music scene has tre- prime dates like Friday or Saturday. mendous potential but is also an Harrisburg is located between sev- extremely fragmented animal... If eral large markets like Philadelphia, you get caught up in the negativity, Baltimore, NYC, Pittsburgh, and the future can appear quite grim,” Boston, so on their way between he said. “We’re really conscious of larger cities, artists will often make trying to build an actual scene that a stop in a city like Harrisburg on a is more about fostering a communal Thursday, Sunday, or Monday. The love of all music—getting the city venue then faces the decision of and its surrounding areas to support

Papadosio taking over XL LIVE, photos by Matthew Schreffler 43 the idea of a live music community Central PA in general, a primary live regardless of genre. You don’t have music market.” to come to every show; definite- ly pick and choose what’s in your I did have to ask if there were any wheel-house. big secrets However, it’s so we can leak important to in this arti- recognize that Schofield said with a cle. Conduit having an ac- smile on his face that graciously answered tual scene, and XL LIVE is succeeding not just places with, “There to go, is the real in reviving the music is one major challenge. It scene of Harrisburg change com- needs to come ing to Har- and that the best is yet risburg/Cen- from multiple to come. venues, art- tral PA, and ists, and indi- if all goes as vidual people planned, XL supporting an LIVE will be overarching love and appreciation spearheading something that’s never of music—really, all the arts—and existed in this area, maybe anywhere spending a lot less time cutting each on the east coast. So, if we play our other down at the knees.” cards right and never ever become satisfied with where we are and When asked what goals he and what we’ve achieved, that ‘one major his team have set for the venue it- change’ I just spoke of might blow a self, he said they just want to keep few thousand minds.” growing and adding amenities for their customers. They are constantly And with that being said, I can hard- tweaking, adding, subtracting, and ly wait! building onto something. “After ev- XL LIVE is located at 801 S 10th ery event we have, we step back and Street Harrisburg, PA. Box Office reexamine what we’re doing.” Their hours are Monday through Friday, priority? “To not do what everyone 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.. Contact XL else is doing, to carve our own path, LIVE at 717-409-8975 or XLLIVE- and to maintain a healthy, happy, [email protected]. and safe, all-inclusive space for the customer, the artist, our staff, and Interested in joining their team of the community as a whole. Our big- brand ambassadors or live painting gest long-term goal is to be instru- at a show? Email or reach out on mental in making Harrisburg, and Facebook @XL LIVE. 45

Can you find all the items?The four suits: a club, a spade, a heart and a dia- mond, party hat, bag of wine, blue-spiked collar, little spider, Jake the dog, Finn the human, banana, snake, four-leaf clover, strawberry. Illustration by Faith Evans47

49 L A B S I N C Independent Sampling & Testing Laboratory

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SolidCoal Fuel and Biomass Analysis Materials Testing – Geo Technical Site Characterization: Spill Delineation-Discreet Soil Sampling-Shallow Ground Water Monitoring Wells Construction Field Inspection ACI Concrete-Field Density & Compaction 201 West Clay Avenue, Hazle Township PA 570-455-6011 www.hawkmtnlabs.com L A B S I N C Independent Sampling & Testing Laboratory

EnvironmentalWater & Soil Testing

SolidCoal Fuel and Biomass Analysis Materials Testing – Geo Technical Site Characterization: Spill Delineation-Discreet Soil Sampling-Shallow Ground Water Monitoring Wells Construction Field Inspection ACI Concrete-Field Density & Compaction 201 West Clay Avenue, Hazle Township PA 570-455-6011 www.hawkmtnlabs.com

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