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 2010-02-19 Union Barrel Works Reamstown, PA www.unionbarrelworks.com at 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM 2010-02-20 Fireside Tavern 1500 Historic Drive Strasburg, PA 17579 717.687.7979 at 8:00 to 11:00 PM 2010-03-06 Quips Pub 457 New Holland Avenue Lancaster, PA 17602-2158 (717) 397-3903 www.quipspub.com 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM 2010-03-13 Art and Soul Cafe' Mountville, PA 7:00 PM 2010-03-17 Union Barrel Works Reamstown, PA www.unionbarrelworks.com at 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM 2010-03-20 Fireside Tavern 1500 Historic Drive Strasburg, PA 17579 717.687.7979 at 8:00 to 11:00 PM 2010-04-16 Union Barrel Works 6 North Reamstown Road Reamstown, PA www.unionbarrelworks.com at 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM 2010-04-17 Fireside Tavern 1500 Historic Drive Strasburg, PA 17579 717.687.7979 at 8:30 to 11:30 PM 2010-05-29 The Great PA FlavorFest Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair www.parenfaire.com times: TBA Also appearing: Slimfit 2010-06-20 Quentin Tavern 81 West Main Street Quentin, PA 17083 Phone: (717) 272-4700 Summer deck on Sundays 5 to 8 pm |
Old Albums (2009) Steven Courtney and His Band of Friends Steven Courtney is well-known in central/southeastern Pennsylvania for his long-running and acclaimed career making music for kids and families. His strength has long been making music that appealed to his younger audience without boring their parents. Now he has made an album that is geared specifically for those parents. The past few years has found Courtney gradually pursuing a rootsier, acoustic sound with his talented group (the aforementioned “Band of Friends”), and on his new disk, “Old Albums,” he stays with that sound. One of the things that I love about acoustic music is that it for me it puts the focus right where it should be—on the songs. Although a great performer, Steven’s ability as a songwriter has always been central to his success and that doesn’t change here. The title song, which kicks off the disk, sets the mood by not only recalling the great music much of us grew up listening to, but also the way we listened to that music: on vinyl. Courtney’s consistently strong originals are mixed with some well chosen covers, such as Elton John’s “Ballad of a Well-Known Gun” (from the rootsy “Tumbleweed Connection”) and the Chuck Berry standard “Johnny B. Goode.” He also includes a couple of traditional tunes, such as the instrumental “Drowsy Maggie” and the rollicking “Mary Mac,” although it sounds as if Steven may have added a few lyrics of his own to the latter. I also need to mention the rest of the band: Aldon Hoke (fiddle, melodica, banjo), Frank Portaro (bass, mandolin), Doug Walton (guitar, mandolin) and Mike McElravy (dobro, guitar). These guys support and add to the work of their leader without getting in the way. Nobody overplays, stepping out when it is their time to shine and moving back into the ensemble when the spotlight moves to someone else. Even without percussion the sound is strong and rhythmic, pushing the up tempo songs and giving the ballads a good foundation. This is an excellent record by an excellent band. It leaves the listener with fond memories of the music they have loved and looking forward to new music from this veteran artist who obviously still has the spark to create new memories for his audience. BR~ Folktowne.com Review by Warren Truit |
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The band includes Mike McElravy on dobro, acoustic, and steel guitar; Frank Portaro on upright bass, electric bass, and trumpet; Alden Hoke on banjo, fiddle, and electric piano; Doug Walton on acoustic guitar, 6-string banjo, and mandolin; and Steven himself on guitar, percussion, lead vocals, and lots of other stuff, with the whole band lending a hand on backup vocals.
© Steven Courtney and His Band of Friends. All Rights Reserved.
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