Goshen NYE Show Features Local Faves
It’ll be a New Year’s Eve bash to remember. Ignition Music, a record shop and music venue in downtown Goshen, will welcome Andru Bemis, Von Strantz and Shiny Shiny Black for a 7:30 p.m. show on Tuesday, Dec. 31.
Since 2001, Bemis, has wandered the ends, edges and in-betweens of North America more times than he can count, touring hundreds of thousands of miles by foot, thumb, and public transportation.
Attired in his Sunday best (suit and tie, hand-tailored shirt, and a derby hat), Bemis carries his well-worn instruments on his back: banjo, guitar, fiddle, banjo-ukulele. Some call him a “folk” musician; and wherever he goes, Bemis plays music for folks — simple as that. His unmistakable voice, lightning-fast banjo and expressive finger-picked guitar styles, quirky humor, engaging stage presence, and exquisitely crafted tunes of travel, love, and longing have earned Bemis a dedicated following throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada and beyond.
Bemis’ songs are spiritually descended from an era when music was made and played to express one’s deepest emotions while entertaining the neighbors.The Birmingham Weekly calls Bemis a “modern-folk, Midwestern miracle of music…. with a voice that is pretty and ravaged, sounding as though 50 Appalachian winters have run him ragged.”
Von Strantz is a community of storytellers, an ebb and flow of different musicians, exploring the intricacies of relationship, reliance on each other, and being human. Utilizing a variety of instruments such as the guitar, mandolin, and cello, Von Strantz blends harmonies together and completes them with commanding and soulful lyrics.
Jess Strantz, founder of the band and multi-instrumentalist, has a knack of attracting other musically creative people to her. Von Strantz, comprised of as little as one person to more than seven people, is constantly evolving. Kelsey (vocals/mandolin/violin/viola/bass), Nicolas (bass/upright), Josiah (mandolin/lead guitar/vocals), Kristen (violin/vocals), Isaiah (cello), Alyssa (violin/vocals) are a few who participate in the performing community of Von Strantz.
Shiny Shiny Black is a growing regional band with the determination to become a must-see act. From the onset the band has taken aim at classic guitar tones (Brian Setzer, Luke Doucet, Tom Petty) and indie rock sensibilities (Wilco, The Spring Standards).
Fronting the band is Nathan Butler, a charismatic leader who carries the vision and the songwriting torch for Shiny Shiny Black. This veteran musician spent many seasons backing great songwriters like Jonathan Reuel (JRL) and Trent Wagler (The Steel Wheels) from the drum set before grabbing a guitar and stepping up to the microphone. The lessons learned from working with these great artists (among many others) have helped shape his melodic sense, lyrical qualities and arrangement chops.
Speedy (Anna) Pasquarello handles the second guitar and backing vocal duties, and hails originally from the Keystone State of Pennsylvania. She is also an accomplished flutist and audio engineer.
Ably handling the low-end duties is Bryan Chris — who has done work with regional groups such as Four and Twenty Elders, and Lovetruck. Bryan also handles the bands graphic design needs and is an incredible photographer.
Tickets are $12 and are available at http://www.ignitionmusic.net.