Rad local show that you should attend alert!

A number of incredible local musicians, including guitar wizard Trevor Gordon Hall and the Carolynn Cott Band are all slated to perform at Chaplins The Music Cafe in Spring City this Thursday.

Click the link for details.

Local guitar wizard, Trevor Gordon Hall, is wheeling out wheelbarrows of rad news about his new record label, his upcoming album, and his Christmas show this Saturday at Chaplins. How could he not be the most stoked person in the area right now? Check the comments for a letter from the guitar hero himself. And don't miss the show either!

I have been meaning to write something kind about Mason Porter here for a while now, but kept getting swept up into a bevy of other in-the-way things.

But I don't think you should have to suffer for my too-busy-to-blog-right-now-ness, so get to Chaplins TONIGHT if you're reading this TODAY.

If you got a fancy for folk music, or REAL country music (as opposed to the polished, over-produced, hokey junk that gets passed off as country nowadays) go to Chaplins RIGHT NOW to catch their show tonight. The West Chester band is opening for Old School Freight Train. Show starts at 7:30. Admission is $12. And the music is good. You can't lose!

And then, after you go and get swept up in their joyful show, come back here and read a review of their new self-titled EP, because I'm gonna do it. I swear!

Chaplins Music Cafe in Spring City doesn't want me there on Thursdays anymore. But if you're under 21, they totally want you.

Starting tomorrow night, for $6 cover, it's gonna be the new Thursday hangout for youngsters. Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month will turn Chaplins into "The Under 21 Club." The cool thing is they let the teensters make the fun. From an all-request DJ to karaoke to dancing to watching someone sing to hip hop dance lessons and jam sessions. They even announced something about having magicians on hand. They also say you can expect future theme nights. Plus, they do boast some awesome food. Screw the high school dances!

But if you want to hang out with me. I'll be at a bar, putting coins in the jukebox and writing bad anecdotes on napkins, and continuing my debate on whether Daryl Hall could take Neil Diamond in a steel cage match or not.

Poppin into Chaplins last night totally paid off. Shame on you if you missed it. The final act to go on, Mat Burke, totally wowed me. He was sharp, witty, and loaded with great tunes. His stage presense was on fire. He was the only artist to look comfortable up there, while the others stood in place plowing through their songs.

He explained each song and talked about traveling all over the country and breaking up with long-time girlfriends between songs like we were some of his best friends. He seemed a bit off his hinges and frantic, but at the same time like someone who has full confidence in his songs and what he does, and rightfully so. It was as if he had walked right out of the pages of Kerouc's "On The Road" and climbed up on stage in Spring City with a guitar and started playing some folk songs. Kicks, man. Kicks.

And while his songs were pure folky tale tunes, he ran up on stage with an undeniable rock n' roll force. He woke everyone up in the crowd by igniting the stage with his immediate energy.

"This is MY angry woman song," he said, referring to the previous act who introduced one of her piano-laden tunes as her "angry woman song." He then proceeded to sound-check with Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive." I'm telling you, the guy was a hit before he even finished SOUND CHECK!

And there was a sure-fire Bob Dylan swagger in his step through the whole set. Each song read like a story, and he was so smooth and comfortable with the guitar. Plus he whizzed across his harmonica harp easier than some people can walk. I bet my marbles this guy treasures Dylan records the way Dylan treasured Woodie Guthrie.

"I don't consider myself much of a singer. I just tell stories," he said before opening his set with the scathing "Jack And Jill, parts 2 and 3."

But I won't call him "the next Dylan." That's like a curse or something in the music business. Instead, I'll just say he's a must-hear. He's from Scranton, living in Philly now. Seriously, check him out. Click the link for some tunes. I look forward to hearing much more about him. Lets get this guy a ton of more shows in the area people!

I don't know about all of you, but I'm headed to Chaplins Music Cafe tonight after work for their new Thursday "Talent Search" feature.

I like the possibility of showing up at a sweet place not knowing who's gonna take the stage. It's like Spring City's own little indie American Idol. And if we need a Simon Cowell to complete the comparison, I'll gladly fill that role. I'll be the little heckler in the crowd.

If you've never checked Chaplins out, tonight's a good excuse to. See ya there, folks.