THE UMPHREY’S MCGEE HEADPHONES EXPERIENCE
When I returned the headset I wore to tune into an in-theater wireless soundboard feed during last week’s Umphrey’s McGee show at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre, the guy working behind UM’s mer...
Readmore
HUNTER’S INSPIRATION FLOWS AT KIRBY CENTER
Photo by Jesse Faatz WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – There’s a line about a storyteller in the Grateful Dead classic “Terrapin Station”: “His job is to shed light, not to master.” Robert Hunter, the writer...
Readmore
AN INTERVIEW WITH GRATEFUL DEAD LYRICIST ROBERT HUNTER, PART TWO
By Michael Lello There are musical partnerships that are so intertwined, you can’t consider one without the other. Lennon and McCartney. Simon and Garfunkel. Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Jer...
Readmore
AN INTERVIEW WITH GRATEFUL DEAD LYRICIST ROBERT HUNTER, PART ONE
By Michael Lello Photo by Maureen Hunter Robert Hunter’s words have left an indelible imprint on pop culture – “what a long strange trip it’s been” and “drivin’ that train, high on cocaine,” anyone?...
Readmore
GUITAR GODS DISPLAY SIX-STRING MASTERY AT KIRBY CENTER
HW81.GuitarGods (9 of 13) By Michael Lester and Chris Krepich WILKES-BARRE -- Flashily clad in tight black leather pants and a black leathe...
Readmore
YNGWIE MALMSTEEN: STILL A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH
By Michael Lello Subtlety is not one of Yngwie Malmsteen’s strong suits. Known for his lightning-fast, classically influenced guitar shredding, the Swedish virtuoso is larger than life, whether play...
Readmore
ESCOVEDO AND THE SENSITIVE BOYS DELIVER DARK BRILLIANCE
By Michael Lello WILKES-BARRE – When you hear certain songs, you can also hear the compositional process, the structure and the intent. Here’s the verse, there’s the hook, here’s the bridge and chor...
Readmore
JOAN OSBORNE’S SIMPLE AND DIRECT KIRBY CENTER OUTING
By Michael Lello Photos by Jesse Faatz WILKES-BARRE, Pa. -- Just a day after the release of her ninth album, “Love and Hate,” musical chameleon Joan Osborne continued the FM Kirby Center’s “Live f...
Readmore
KIRBY CENTER “LOBBYING” FOR INTIMATE SHOWS
IMG_0515 By Michael Lello Photos by Jesse Faatz What do you do if you’re in charge of booking an 1,800-seat theater, but you want to host ...
Readmore
KIRBY SERIES STARTS IN STYLE WITH AMY AT THE HELM
IMG_0551 By Michael Lello Photos by Jesse Faatz WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Introducing the song “Calvary” during Amy Helm and the Handsome Strang...
Readmore