With October just around the corner as I write this while it rains for what feels like the 73rd day straight, it was a busy month for me outside of the music scene which unfortunately meant only a few shows…but they included some acts I haven’t seen in a while and one I’ve wanted to see for almost 30 years, so it was a pretty good month yet.
I started the month off with a trip down to Lovedraft’s Brewing Co in Mechanicsburg for Brenden Starr’s REimagined EP release show. Matt Tarka kicked the evening off with a solo acoustic set of originals. It’s been a few years since I’d gotten to see him play and I was really surprised at how he filled the room with his solid guitar work accompanied by his vocals. With a folk/americana sort of feel to him, he did a great job setting the pace for the evening. Next up was Jon Garcia belting out a solo acoustic pop-rock set of originals including “Dream”. Following Jon was an act that I’d seen once before, York-based alt-rock trio Benny Okay. These guys really cranked out their melodic original tunes that had a great vibe to them and really pumped the crowd up. Hitting the stage next was a group that I’ve heard quite a bit about but until now had yet to see: Pat Renny. Pat and the guys brought out their unique alt-pop sound with a mix of originals and covers and had a great sound to them topped by Pat’s smooth vocals. Next up was a group I’ve become familiar with over the last year or two: Heads Or Tails Experience. I could write a lot of words here about these guys to describe their set, but it really just boils down to this: I love this band. Their original rock tunes are catchy and they perform with an energy that is almost impossible to replicate or describe. Every time I see them, they’re even better than the last time and I really can’t wait to see how they continue to improve. Headlining the evening was my pal Brenden Starr. Debuting his REimagined EP, Brenden ripped a bunch of songs the crowd was familiar with & loves, as well as some new and reworked originals, ending the evening with my fav of his, Top Of The World. Congrats to Brenden on his EP release as well as his recently announced partnership with Full Circle Entertainment! Big things coming in 2025 for him, I’ve no doubt!
A few days later I headed down to Boiling Springs for a Labor Day party at my friend Frank’s farm. Frank had Mark Derose & The Dreadnoughts on stage for his guests playing with a smooth roots/blues/folk/jam sort of style. Playing a number of originals mixed with covers like In To The Mystic, Friend Of The Devil, The Shape I’m in, Midnight Rider and more; these guys had a great sound to them and did a great job of entertaining Frank’s guests for the evening. Thanks for the invite Frank!
The following week I finally made it back down to the Harrisburg Beach Club on City Island for a band that I hadn’t had the chance to see in a few years, but always brings the party: Smooth Like Clyde. I didn’t get a chance to meet Clyde (LOL), but the guys put on a smooth show for sure with tons of energy covering songs like Seperate Ways, Gettin Jiggy With It, UpTown Funk, Get Low, Jump Around, and a ton more of classic party hits. The guys had a great crowd with the dancing area in front of the stage filled with dancers from beginning to end which made for a really fun night.
Our final night of music for the night didn’t include a photo pass, but it was for a show that I’d bought tickets to about 2 years ago. After two reschedules due to health concerns, the night finally came at the beautiful Hershey Theater. Opening up the show was Lancaster based blues musician Benjamin Vo. I met Benjamin last year at a blues festival with his band and was excited to see him open this show as a solo acoustic act. He plays with an old-school blues style that defies his youthful appearance and did an impressive job of warming up the crowd with songs like World Keep On Turnin, Black Cloud Fallin Down, and ending his set with a beautiful instrumental called Grey and White. Benjamin Vo is definitely a name that local blues fans should keep an eye out for. Headlining the evening was an artist that I’ve listened to since her debut album Immortal was released: LA based Beth Hart. As much as I’ve loved listening to her music over the years; I wasn’t quite prepared for just how powerful, yet emotional, sexy and sultry her voice truly is when experienced live. Her performance absolutely exceeded any expectations I had going in to the evening opening up with I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know while entering the theater from the back and walking down through the crowd. With songs like Chocolate Jesus, As Good As It Gets, Your Heart Is As Black as Night…Beth actually changed her set list several times while apologizing to her band as she just felt some of the songs they played fit the mood of the evening better. I didn’t hear a single complaint as they went along, sharing life experiences with the crowd between songs that truly tugged at the heart strings. It took me 28 years to finally catch Beth’s performance, and I can truly say it was worth the wait.
So there it is, my month of music through my eyes and ears. I want to once again thank all the bands, venues, and everyone else involved in our incredible local music scene for everything they do. Just a reminder: if you’ve got a show coming up that I should see; make sure to send me an invite, shoot me an email or a message, let me know about it. Venues: please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as well. The majority of the shows that I go and shoot I find out about through invites from all of you or your friends. Hit me up on facebook: @chrisriderphotography or email: chrisriderphotography@gmail.com, stop me if you see me out and say hi. Until next month…go find some live music and give them and the venue your support, they truly need it more now than they ever did.
