Stu
Mojo
Teddy
Bigglesworth
Joel
Roberts
Meet Our Favorite Local Musicians
Neena
The Music Issue
Boyko
ingerprint
North End
Katelyn
Gun
Krapf
Nicos
Lost in
Nightlife
Asher Roth
VOICE OF THE BOROUGH NOVEMBER 2012
Paris
Schaffer
Mason Porter
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the wc press | voice of the borough
ive
coustic
ntertainment Every Friday & Saturday 10pm-2am
November Lineup Friday 11/2 11/9 11/16 11/23 11/30
John McNutt Hake & Jarema Jeff D Duo Foster Child The Whyos
Saturday
11/3 11/10 11/17 11/24
Check Minus Brian Bortnick Steve Liberace Duo Michael Greto
NO COVER
1227 W est C hester Pike 610-436-5222 november 2012 | thewcpress.com 5
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november 2012 | thewcpress.com
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the wc press | voice of the borough
The Press
Maybe someday your name will be in lights Publisher Dan Mathers Dan@thewcpress.com Advertising Manager Nick Vecchio Nick@thewcpress.com Staff Photographer Adam Jones Adam@thewcpress.com Copy Editor Kehan DeSousa kdesousa@thewcpress.com Published By The WC Press 13 South Church Street West Chester, PA 19382 610-344-3463
The Team... DJ ROMEO, also known by his alter ego Nick Vecchio, lives for music, so this issue was overwhelmingly exciting for him. He was pumped to sell ads, knew tons of bands to include, and was overflowing with design ideas. And, while I typically take his design sense with a grain of salt, he’s equally responsible for this awesome cover. adam jones has a new passion every month. Currently, that passion is old-school photography. From the decades-old Polaroid he’s purchased to the dark room he’s constructing in our office, he’s very into analog. The rest of us are pretty happy with the convenience of digital, so we hope he continues shooting with a DSLR, too. ALexis diGiovanni had another stellar month. What she lacks in technical ability she more than makes up for with hard work and an incessant desire to learn–she seems to be getting the hang of it. In fact, Lexi might just find herself in this space every month if she keeps striving...and if fellow intern Paul Imburgia remains on sick leave.
november 2012 | thewcpress.com
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the wc press | voice of the borough
From the Editor... Haters gon’ hate
This magazine seems to have divided readers into two camps: those who can’t believe what we achieve, and those who continually think we should have done better. The latter group comprises individuals who are certain that, if they had my job, there wouldn’t be a single typo in this publication. They think we should expand our coverage to embrace other media. They slip handwritten letters under our office door demanding apologies for misspelled or misattributed names in captions. Sure, we’d love to get it right. I’d love to expand. But this small company faces very real and limiting constraints. The first group understands those constraints. They think it’s fantastic that three guys with a tight budget publish an 80+ page magazine every month. Of course, credit also needs to be given to our freelance writers and photography interns. Those who find our work impressive should be thrilled with this issue. We’ve gathered 14 musicians and bands, all of whom have ties to West Chester, for 14 photos and 14 interviews–all accomplished in less than a month. Some of those artists are on tour but stopped by while in the area. Some now live elsewhere but managed to make time for us. The majority work full-time jobs outside of music yet finagled a free minute for their feature. They deserve to be thanked, as does staff photographer Adam Jones. He kept his nose to the grindstone and managed to churn out amazing photos for all those artists. Oh, and thanks to West Chester Music for letting us borrow an incredible guitar to create this cover. I hope everyone enjoys this magazine. I hope you’re reading this and finding yourself blown away that the whole dang magazine was put together by some dude with a PC. But, if you’re unimpressed, you’re welcome to leave this magazine right where you found it.
LastA newChair Standing way to dine in West Chester
To the Editor...
Our least favorite response this month
As a dedicated reader of your magazine, I would like to commend you on your impressive literary success. On the contrary, I have noticed more than a few grammatical errors in recent issues. For example, you spelled one of your own employee’s names wrong. After our conversation, I was somewhat surprised to find you also spelled my name wrong. To remind you once more, the “H” is silent. An apology would be greatly appreciated as well as a more unerring future. Again, I applaud you and look forward to reading the November issue. Best wishes to you and your team. You have a terrific crew beneath you. -Illegible Signature Sadly, I don’t remember you, nor our conversation, so forgive me for misspelling your name. However, encasing your insults and demands within compliments doesn’t make them any less abrasive. I’m aware that mistakes slip through, and I’m sorry that this one ruined your day. You’ll be happy to know we’ve enlisted a copy editor. -DM
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the wc press | voice of the borough
What’s your tie to the West Chester community? AR: West Chester is where I spent my time in college, and it ended up becoming my second home. I have made lifelong friends there, and it helped raise me; I had my first real job experience as a waiter at Kildare’s. Life takes you away sometimes, so you need to find a place that centers you, and West Chester is a very centering place for me. “I Love College” made you a star almost overnight. What was the transition like going from WCU to the cover of XXL? AR: It all happened so fast that there wasn’t really a transition. It felt like we went from house parties to playing House of Blues. We were literally just hanging out, then sud-
denly I was on the cover of a magazine. Me and the people around me had to figure out what we represented–bringing that suburbanlifestyle carelessness to hip hop and being unapologetic about it. Your first hit was a funny, fun-loving, upbeat party song, but since then you’ve recorded songs like “Dope Shit” that seem to rebel against that. Why? AR: I think that people have multiple sides to them–you don’t want to be a one-trick pony and say only one thing. I don’t want to lose the fun side, but I also have opinions. I don’t want to become a political rapper, but music for me is an outlet. You’re going to hear songs like “G.R.I.N.D.” and “Dope Shit”, but it’s always gonna be fun, accessible and digestible. Music is an outlet for speaking your mind–I don’t want to just use it to get rich. What’s the future hold for Asher Roth? AR: I don’t know, man. You’re gonna have to ask my mom about that, because she’s the fortune teller–she reads tarot cards. For me, it’s just about staying consistent and having fun. We want to perform live, so the Fall clASHic Tour goes through the month of November, and we’ll be at The Note on November 23. We also have a new album coming out at the top of the year. Really, I’m all about challenging myself while still enjoying the ride.
Asher Roth
(n.) hip hop asherothmusic.com november 2012 | thewcpress.com
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MR GREENGENES FAREWELL
Photos Paul Imburgia October 18 Mr Greengenes has been the area’s premier cover band for more than a decade, but this trip to Alibis would mark their last
Photo ADAM JONES
Jen Boris, Alyssa Walet
Ryan Hagerty, Kevin Conrad, Dan LaRosa, Mike Lupi, Chris Bell, John Barry Brady
Lisa, Brianne
Allison Eagle, Veronica Shockley
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the wc press | voice of the borough
Tara
Tiffany DiFelice, Sandy Golas
november 2012 | thewcpress.com
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MR GREENGENES FAREWELL
Photos Andrew Hutchins October 18 Mr Greengenes has been the area’s premier cover band for more than a decade, but this trip to Alibis would mark their last
Photo ADAM JONES
Courtney, Elise
Andy, Tara, Holy, Aaron
Photo ADAM JONES
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the wc press | voice of the borough
Jenna, Jen
Gennifer Whiston. Claudine Whiston
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november 2012 | thewcpress.com
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What’s your tie to the West Chester community? BB: We’re both students at WCU. We met in the dorms because we lived in the same hall freshman year. I graduated last year, but I’ve been sticking around here. Can you define your music? BB: Eveything we do has a strong acoustic element, so I guess it would be an eclectic blend of laid-back acoustic blues and southern rock, with hints of jazz. How long have you been playing together? BB: On and off for about four years, since freshman year. I heard him playing bass down the hall while I was strumming. BK: But we’ve only been playing consistently for like a year now. Where do you guys play? BB: We haven’t really been playing in public yet–we’ve just been recording. It seems like every week we have a new song. But we’ve got some covers, too, so we’re capable of playing out somewhere. BK: Just capable? We’re more than capable. What do you plan to do with your music? BB: We just want to build up
what we can and record either an EP or full-length record. BK: We’re not taking it too seriously right now, but we’re open to however far it wants to take us. Do you plan to head to a studio or continue self recording? BK: For now we’ll self record–the way we’re doing it has been working out really well–but our lack of expertise will only get us so far. BB: But the way we’re doing it now really reflects our personalities, and the sound of it shows where we are now. I love that whole improvised feel to music. BK: It’s just really organic right now. We’re not processing or editing. It’s relatively raw. What’s the process? BB: I’ll come in with a song and play it straight through for the guitar part. It might require multiple takes, but it’s only one cut. BK: Then I’ll hear it out, and I’ll come up with the bass, and we go from there, building in different percussion. BB: The percussion is just what’s laying around, whatever we can hit on to make a beat.
Ben Bell | guitar Bobby Killian | bass
fingerprint (n.) southern acoustic soundcloud.com/ben-bell-3
november 2012 | thewcpress.com
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the wc press | voice of the borough
Makeover
S
ure, indie rockers can get away with that dishevelled look, and folk bands aren’t known for being the trendiest groups around, but there comes a certain point when enough is enough. And, luckily, Emily MacDonald and Jack Shoudy of Darlington had reached that point just in time for our makeover of the month. For her part, Emily looked very pretty before Salon Chemistry got to work on her, but her hair needed some touching up. Jack, on the other hand, was in a state of disrepair, his beard overgrown, his hair overly straight. Emily was first up, and stylist Laura McCallin started off with some color blocking in her hair. The idea was to use lighter tones around Emily’s face because of her light skin color. According to Laura, “I then cut Emily’s hair to frame her face, using long layers to show movement. Combining the two techniques helped to emphasize Emily’s smile and show off her big, full lips.” Anthony Giunta’s first step to fixing up Jack was to wash the guitarist’s hair, which revealed that he was actually hiding a very nice, natural curl. “With curly hair, it’s all about cutting a shape into the hair,” said Anthony. “So, I shortened it up a bit and worked a shape into it that didn’t leave the hair puffing out at the bottom.” Anthony also discovered that, hidden beneath the scruff, Jack had a strong jawline, so Anthony trimmed his beard up and evened it out to play off those angles. He then finished the look off with Kevin Murphy products, and Argan Oil to give Kevin’s hair the texture it needed.
Photos Adam Jones
Salon Chemistry Transforms the Lovely Folk Duo Darlington
Check out Darlington’s tunes at facebook.com/darlingtonmusic
november 2012 | thewcpress.com
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the wc press | voice of the borough
What’s your tie to the West Chester community? Bangley: Born and raised. Boyder: High school, college, life. Lukey: My tie is these guys.
What’s the inspiration for your music? Boyder: How about the food court at local universities? What else do we always say? Lukey: The industrial revolution?
Can you describe your music? Boyder: It’s feel-good, warm-weather, make-my-day music. Like, if Will Smith had a baby with– Bangley: –Oprah– Lukey: –and that kid had a baby with Greg Brady– Boyder: –and they watched Gladiator. Bangley: It’s kinda like that.
What’s the plan? Boyder: Hmmm.... Can you write, “That’s a good one? Good joke.” Lukey: We want to do ride Pedego bikes to Key West while rocking Go-Pros to party with Jimmy Buffet. Boyder: We’re trying to throw parties and give people a reason to escape life and have fun.
What are you trying to do with your music? Boyder: We’re trying to make people’s days– Lukey: –in mass quantities. Boyder: We want to give people three minutes out of their day– Bangley: –to think about butts? Boyder: No. To escape from their boss–to do what they want to do with their life.
How about definite plans in the near future? Boyder: We’re releasing an EP called Hey with 10+ songs with our producer Jon Bonus. Lukey: That should be out mid to late November.
Brain Bangley Lukey the Bird Boyder
HAHA-YO (n.) fun HAHA-yo.com
november 2012 | thewcpress.com
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BREAKAWAYINK POP-UP SHOP Photos by Lexi DiGi
October 20 Artifact Boutique was kind enough to let BreakawayINK host a pop-up shop in their store over Homecoming Weekend
Justin Dahl, Kyle Rheiner
Seth Riegel, Sarah Jebitsch, Alexander Loubianoi
Morgan Monaghan
Bash the DJ
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the wc press | voice of the borough
november 2012 | thewcpress.com
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the wc press | voice of the borough
What’s your tie to the West Chester community? JR: I was living in King of Prussia and my parents split up, so my dad said, “You can have this place.” It was pretty much an abandoned house–no power or anything. But then I had a friend who dropped out of WCU and asked if I wanted to sublet his place. I’ve lived in West Chester since. Can you define your music? JR: I have no idea. I’d say it’s like folksy with like a little bit of country roots. I like the banjo a lot and I spent more money on my banjo than I did on my guitar, so I try to put it to good use. Well then, I guess the obivous question is, ‘What are your influences?’ JR: There’s this Morrissey lyric from “Sing Your Life” that I think is what really got me into songwriting. The lyrics say, “Sing your life; any fool can think of words that rhyme.” For a while I just kept a tight pen, because songs are like secrets that you’d rather sing. For a while I was afraid of what people would think, because it’s scary, but that song got me over it.
Do you play with anyone else? BB: I play guitar, banjo and drums when I’m recording, but my girlfriend, the lovely Alexandra March, also sings on tracks. Why don’t you tell our readers how you ended up getting into this issue. BB: I never really promote myself, but I was kind of eager because I had seen that Fig put out a music issue that was all just 40-year-old musicians. When I heard you guys were making a music issue, I wanted to be in it, so I just showed up in your office with my guitar and played. And you absolutely killed it.
What do you have coming up? JR: I’m getting ready to head back into the studio now to record a new album. I have all the songs, but I just need to pick and choose the ones I want to record. I probably have like 30 songs lined up. I need to get it done, because I don’t really have much out there that I’m really proud of; most of it’s older stuff, and I feel like I’m constantly writing newer and better music.
Joel roberts (n.) acoustic folk reverbnation.com/joelrobertsmusic
november 2012 | thewcpress.com
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20-Something Dating Kaela Mast is excited to share her newfound passion for love songs with the man who has inspired her
When I was told the November article was going to be about music I was immediately excited. First of all, who doesn’t love music? And second of all, my current relationship has had a major impact on my musical taste, and my predilections have changed dramatically since I started dating my boyfriend. For instance, I used to be terribly opposed to every love song on the radio. Now, I welcome amorous ballads by everyone from Bruno Mars to U2–if it has to do with being in love, you can guarantee I’m blasting the song and belting the lyrics while driving to work like I’m the next reject on American Idol. But my musical car rides came to a screeching hault this past week, because I’ve inherited my boyfriend’s mucusy cough, sore throat and raging headache. It could be the fault of all those kids who just cough into the open while I’m stuck in line behind their mothers waiting for my Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte with soy, but I am definitely putting the responsibility on my boyfriend. After all, he got it first. I think that being sick and being in a relationship–especially when you live with that person–is the ultimate test of your compatibility. I act like a petulant child when I’m sick, and while my boyfriend’s a bit better, I can tell that, deep down, he’d love to see his mom walk through the door with a bottle of ginger ale and a bucket of chicken noodle soup. Instead, he’s stuck here with me. I want my back tickled. I want to be spooned. I want my favorite Phillies fleece blanket wrapped around me tight while I tear through every season of One Tree Hill on DVD and indulge in chicken pot pie after chicken pot pie. Oh, and don’t forget that pint of Rocky Road... it’s for my sore throat. And yet, my boyfriend’s stuck with the reality that I have no appetite, anything on the TV is just background noise bothering me while I sleep, and if I’m touched or kissed or even spoken to, I get angry and irritable. And yet, despite what sounds like my boyfriend’s worst nightmare come to life, we’re doing alright, which is only partly to do with the fact that we’re both heavily medicated. It’s mostly because we understand one another and each other’s stupid little quirks, and we’ve learned to be sensitive to those eccentricities, especially when we’re sick. So we aren’t perfect, and we say stupid things because we feel like crap, but we are human. We say things we don’t mean. We act like idiots. And we are able to accept people for who they really are–even if that means cringing every time that person coughs into the covers instead of his elbow! So really, my change in musical taste has been one of the minor changes in my life since entering this new relationship. The biggest challenge I’ve had to overcome is sharing: sharing my Phillies blanket, sharing control of the remote, and–most importantly–sharing our germs. I just hope he doesn’t mind how much I’ve been sharing this amazing hipster-ish, love-song playlist I’ve compiled while laying around sick all day. kmast@thewcpress.com
november 2012 | thewcpress.com
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the wc press | voice of the borough
What’s your tie to the West Chester community? KK: I’m a student at West Chester University. I’m a junior, so this is my third year in West Chester, but I’m from the area– originally from Downingtown. So, even before I came to West Chester University, I used to go to Landmark and Teca all the time. Can you define your music? KK: I try to keep it old fashioned, but if I were to describe it according to other artists, it’s like Amy Winehouse, Christina Aguilera, that kind of strength. But there’s some Britney from her old days–it’s fun but not bubble gum. The age group that tends to be my
audience is like 13 up to mid 20s. We hear you recently won a singer/ songwriter competition? KK: I did. Take the Stage was a national competition where they listened to only original music from all across the US. They picked nine of us to fly to Detroit and do a show for Johnny Wright. Johnny is a big-time manager for people like Brittany Spears, Justin Timberlake, the Jonas Brothers, Akon–some of the biggest names in the industry. They put us through all these challenges each day to test us and to help us understand the music industry and what would come of a possible career. They tested our skills and how much we could keep our composure, but they were also looking for someone who, musically, they saw potential in. How’s it feel to win? KK: Oh my God, amazing–it completely changed my life, drastically. I’ve been working at this forever, but I went to West Chester University because I knew it was smart to have a backup as I pursued my dream. When I found out I won, I cried the whole night. It was the most unreal feeling. What’s the prize? BB: I’m signed with Johnny Wright. I’m going down to Orlando in November, and I’ll start getting dance choreography and training. He’ll be getting me ready to go out there. You’re leaving West Chester behind? BB: No. All my friends, fans and everyone who has supported me are in West Chester. They’re the reason I’m here today, and I’m so thankful for them because they believed in me.
Katelyn Krapf (n.) Pop Soul facebook.com/KatelynKrapfMusic november 2012 | thewcpress.com
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1347 Wilmington Pike, West Chester, PA 19382
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the wc press | voice of the borough
(610) 235-4200
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nviting a stranger into your home can be stressful. But hey, your kid wants piano lessons, and you’re no Ray Charles, so what are you supposed to do? Enter GreenSleeves Music. Ben Green (hence the name GreenSleeves) founded the in-home music lessons company back when he was a college student. Since then the company has grown leaps and bounds, and so has Ben’s family. That growth has seen him transition from daily lessons in other people’s homes, to scheduling lessons from his own home so he can spend more time with his wife Leigh and daughter Lily. We met Ben in his office/ studio/home on Nields Street to chat about life, love and the pursuit of music. How’d you get into playing music? I moved to West Chester from Massachusetts when I was 13; that was back in eighth grade. The first friend I made when I got here was given a guitar for Christmas, so the next day I went out and got drums. We were playing Nirvana by the end of the week. And how did you end up teaching lessons? I basically started teaching guitar and drums in college to supplement my income. I grew my list of clients up to the point where I was teaching piano, drums and guitar to 30 different people. When I graduated and got a full-time job I found a second teacher who could handle all my piano lessons, since piano wasn’t my primary instrument anyway. Has the business grown since then? I started it back in 2007 and now we’re up to about 100 clients each week, and 16 teachers doing lessons in-house. Are you still teaching lessons? For the most part I don’t anymore. The business has grown to the point that mostly I’m wrapped up in booking Do you miss the lessons? If it weren’t for the fact that I’m a music teacher, I would definitely miss giving the lessons. You’re a music teacher? My full-time job is as a music teacher at Greenwood Elementary and Bancroft Elementary in Kennett Consolidated School District. Where do you find the teachers who work for you? A lot of the teachers are West Chester University music students, and there’s a few grad students too, plus several of my peers.
While he’s a percussionist first and foremost, piano is just one of the insturments Ben Green has mastered and taught over the years. Photo ADAM JONES
Employee of the Month And how do the lessons work? People just call me and I find out what instrument their looking for, what their schedule looks like, and what they’re looking for in an instructor. Then, I pair them up with the teacher who best meets their needs. Have you managed to do anything else with those connections? Well, I started playing weddings awhile ago, and I realized that, within the connections I’d made over the years, I could put together a string quartet, I could put together a jazz band, I could put together all the musical pieces people wanted playing their weddings.
This may sound odd, considering how much you have going on, but what do you do with your freetime? I play in two different bands here in West Chester. I play drums in a band called KAPOW, and I play vibraphone in the band Good Vibes Inc. You play in a band with a vibraphone? What’s that like? We’re solely an instrumental band, but we play covers of Led Zeppelin and Michael Jackson, and while it ends up sounding a little bit jazzy because it’s instrumental, we make it so it’s not soft or light. WCP
November 2012 | thewcpress.com
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the wc press | voice of the borough
What’s your tie to the West Chester community? DD: I lived here for a good eight years of my life. RM: And I was born and raised here. What’s it take to be a successful cover band? ML: Be Greengenes. JG: The formula is pretty simple. Take a bunch of people who look like guys that the audience would want to party with, then have those guys play all the popular songs the audience wants to hear. And what’s it take to be able to play a huge variety of songs? JG: Musicianship. You need to have badass players.
ML: If you have these pre-written sets, how do you know how the crowd is going to react to the music? You have to react to the crowd. But I’m sure there’s a certain rhythm to a set. ML: Of course. You don’t want to play all the bangers when the crowd is still just coming in. JG: But if you’re going to play something intricate, something that you want the audience to appreciate the musicianship behind, like Muse or Rush, then play that early before everyone’s drunk.
But I imagine vocal range is important? Randy: Totally.
What seems to be the most successful genre of music to get the crowd really into it? ML: Chick pop. Pink, Carly Rae Jepsen, Rihanna, the list goes on. DD: And right now people seem to want to hear “The Motto”.
So I guess it helps that you have four guys who can sing? RM: The more everyone can sing, the better the performance can be. RM: The more people who can sing, the better the performance. JG: When everyone in the band has a different style, that allows you to cover a whole lot more than you could with just one guy.
What’s it take to have longevity in this business? ML: Be Greengenes. DD: Yoiu need to stay current. You need to keep listening to those Top 40 songs and learning new music. JG: And you need a reliable set of wheels.
Do you plan out your set going into a show? JG: We might pick out a few songs between sets that we want to do. DD: But for the most part you really have to read the crowd.
You playing in West Chester soon? DD: We’ll be playing at Alibis on Thanksgiving Eve. We did it last year, and it was huge, so we’re really looking forward to it this year.
Lost in Paris Josh Allen | Keys & Vocals Dave Doran | Drums Jeff G | Guitar & Vocals Mike Lytkowski | Bass & Vocals Randy Major | Vocals
(n.) cover band lostinparisband.com
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A Trainer’s Tips Christine Mooney is a certified fitness trainer and author of the health and wellness blog Beautiful-Strength.com The kettlebell swing is a lot like hot sauce: you can add it to anything, and it makes it better. With a low systemic load, the swing is both an exercise that you can perform daily and one that will afford an immense metabolic effect. (Read: fat loss and muscle sculpting, which is what we’re all after, right?) Typically, a kettlebell is a cast iron weight shaped like a cannon ball with a handle. It’s a versatile tool, as well as my personal favorite for use in both strength training and in metabolic conditioning complexes. A complex is simply the stringing together of several different compound exercises with little to no rest between each exercise. When it comes to training with kettlebells, the swing is the quintessential movement, and one that you will practice again and again. The swing and deadlift have much in common. They are both hinging movements, as opposed to squatting movements where the primary focus on using the posterior chain (hamstrings, glutes and lower back) to power the movements. There will be some bend in the knees, but that’s simply caused by your hips moving back and slightly down as though you’re reaching your butt out for a bench and your feet are glued to the ground. The most important component of both the swing and deadlift is to maintain a neutral spine, meaning you do not round your upper back, hyper-extend your lower back or overextend your neck at any point during the swing. Where the swing and deadlift differ is that instead of simply picking the kettlebell up off the ground as you would in a deadlift, in the swing, you will be…well…swinging the kettlebell. Each and every swing is initiated with a forceful hike motion (think football) to stretch the posterior chain and load the hips. The handle of the bell should never swing below your knees. Think of your posterior chain as a bow, and your arms and the kettlebell are the arrow. You want to load the bow with as much tension as possible, then explode with as much force as you can muster. Squeeze your glutes, push your heels hard into the ground, and drive your hips forward as quickly as possible, making sure to brace your abs at the top. The force is then projected outwards, not upward. This is why we do not swing higher than chest height. Once the bell has reached the top, throw the bell back down, speeding up as much as possible to reload the hips. Rinse and repeat. You should breathe out on the down swing, in on the up. If you’re just starting out with kettlebells, work on mastering the swing through frequent training. Have a kettlebell at home? Set it in the hallway and commit to doing a set of 10 swings each time you pass the bell. Or focus your warm-up, or even the bulk of your training session in the gym, on multiple sets of swings. At first, don’t do more than 10 swings in a given set. This will ensure proper form is maintained. Besides, if you’re doing swings correctly, 10 in a row will be plenty to get your heart pumping, just like a dash or two of a really spicy hot sauce. cmooney@thewcpress.com
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ROTARY CHILI COOKOFF Photos by Andrew Hutchins
October 14 The West Chester Rotary Club’s 10th Annual Chili Cookoff shut down Gay Street, offering more than 75 varieties of chili for charity
Roger and Cindy Collins
Alex, Morgan, Steph, Kevin
Cari Schenkel, Ryan Flaherty
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Dana McAllister, Jim McAllister
Matt, Tami, Chris, Melissa, Christopher
"My best accessory is a well-dressed man"
Pre-Holiday Sale
Entire Store Up To 40% Off Robert Graham, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Bugatchi
129 W Market St | 484-905-7098 | mainlinecustomclothiers.com november 2012 | thewcpress.com
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ROTARY CHILI COOKOFF Photos by Andrew Hutchins
October 14 The West Chester Rotary Club’s 10th Annual Chili Cookoff shut down Gay Street, offering more than 75 varieties of chili for charity
Bill Haskell, Lora Seddon
Lance and Tracey
Kelly and Chris Pelka
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Lindsay, Jenifer
Catherine, John
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ROTARY CHILI COOKOFF Photos by Andrew Hutchins
October 14 The West Chester Rotary Club’s 10th Annual Chili Cookoff shut down Gay Street, offering more than 75 varieties of chili for charity
Gabriel Smith, Ben Daniels
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The Parrot Troopers
Eliza, Anna
Katie, Sam, Wendy, Tom, Mike
Heather, Wes
the wc press | voice of the borough
November 2012 | thewcpress.com
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What’s your tie to the West Chester community? JD: Both of these guys went to school here and have been here since. I live in Phoenixville. TC: Actually, I’m the only one who lives here still, but we’ve all been in this town at one point in our lives.
JD: But the band depends on the setting. If we’re playing in a bigger, more upbeat venue then we might have a full band with like seven or eight pieces. PW: But if we’re playing something smaller, or playing like a bluegrass show where there are really no drums, it will just be the three of us.
Do you play here often? PW: We play a couple times every few months. We play at the Brickette Lounge every now and then; we’ve done a gig every once in a while at Sidebar. JD: We’ll play The Note. PW: …even The Social Lounge.
Do you just play shows, or do you record? JD: We have three albums, and we’re in the process of working on another. For now you can find our stuff on iTunes, and you might be able to find a record in The Mad Platter.
Can you describe the music? JD: Our music is really a combination of music with American roots–folk, bluegrass, blues, country. PW: It’s folk-ish, country-ish...the genre is “ish”. Are you three the whole band? PW: The three of us are the heart of the band; the three of us always play every show.
What is it about the music you connect to? JD: I think it comes from a time before the technological media machine, which makes the music seem so much more authentic. TC: It’s honest. It’s a style that’s about making music, not money. JD: And it’s familiar, which enables you to connect with the audience. You’ve been doing this for years, and yet you all have full-time jobs. What is it that drives you to keep going? JD: It’s just a love of the music. TC: Plus, it’s become sustainable. JD: And we’ve grown. Our band’s grown, our music’s grown, and we have a fan base that continues to grow.
Tim Celfo | Stand-up Bass Joe D’Amico | Mandolin Paul Wilkinson | Guitar
Mason Porter (n.) roots rock masonporter.com
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Is your Mac not quite what it used to be? An upgrade from West Chester Computer Doctors will accelerate your late model Macbook, iMac, or Mac Pro to a performance level you thought was only available from a new system. Stop in and ask us about it today.
West Chester Computer Doctors located in the middle of the block at 28 South High Street computerwc.com 610.431.0400 support@computerwc.com
Children In Tow
Jennifer Ozgur is a mother, wife and teacher who still finds time to get out and about with the family I’ve had a West Chester address for almost two decades, and I’ve seen many changes over the years. I can recall browsing through The County Seat Antiques where Fairman’s now stands, making bank deposits in retro teller booths instead of ordering a chai steamer on the corner of High and Gay, and I have the faintest memory of Woolworth’s on the opposite side of the street where Iron Hill’s stainless steel vats now reside. But one of my fondest memories is working at the old Brandywine Gourmet. I spent many a Saturday weighing and grinding coffee and recommending the perfect cheese for someone’s dessert tray. These were good times, especially during the crazy holiday season of gift baskets. I remember staying open during the Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade, up to my ears in willow baskets and shrink wrap. We kept the front door open to hear the marching bands strut by, and we’d offer mulled cider to our customers. Carolers dressed in Victorian cloaks and hats stopped by to sing a few songs, followed by a brass ensemble led by a (now retired) WCU jazz professor. After the last antique car passed and the last candy was tossed (a practice that has since been banned), we’d close up shop, and set out on the mission of spreading holiday cheer. I was single then and gravitated toward methods involving olives and limes. Now that I have a family, my focus has shifted. Instead of anticipating the events after the parade, I concentrate on seeing as much of it as possible before it gets past a certain person’s bedtime (and I’m not talking about my kids). Much more than just an ephemeral crowd on Gay Street, it’s now a weekend full of entertainment. For the athletic, there’s the Fourth Annual Jingle Elf 5K Run at 6:30pm. On-site registration begins an hour before and the route is the same as the parade, starting and finishing at Market and High. On that same corner is the tree lighting at 7:00pm, and the parade itself begins at 7:15pm. But, if you get a late start, not to worry–it loops around twice. If you want to broaden your little one’s horizons, consider exposing them to Gilbert and Sullivan. The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Chester County will be putting on “Trial by Jury” in the Chester County Justice Center on 11/30, 12/1 and 12/1. Downtown banks and businesses also have a broad range of entertainment. In the past there have been bell ringers and puppet shows, barber shop quartets and choral/instrumental ensembles… even a pancake breakfast. It’s impossible to experience it all. I suggest first highlighting what your entire family wants to do, and then divide and conquer to please everyone. It’s been a while since my days of cheese and coffee and nights of olives and limes. But it’s a comfort to know the Mars Drinks OldFashioned Christmas Parade weekend is one thing that still remains... even if the name has changed. jozgur@thewcpress.com
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for d a s i h tion t first tan! n e M your f $5 of
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132 N High Street 610.431.2739 penwickdesign.com
What’s your tie to the West Chester community? NB: I actually grew up in West Chester before moving to Downingtown as a teenager. And I went to Christ Community Church in West Chester, so I was there every Sunday. I definitely would say that I spent the bulk of my childhood there before leaving Pennsylvania and heading to the West Coast. So where are you now? NB: I moved to Irvine, California–it’s in the OC. I was praying about it a lot for a very long time, because I wanted to come to California to pursue music, but I could never seem to find a way to make it happen. Then, all of a sudden my mom got a job out here, and she was being relocat-
ed. I thought it was a perfect opportunity and decided to come with her. I understand you’ve had some achievements along the way? NB: I was in a couple of online competitions. In Alloy TV’s competition I made it pretty far. I was also in a band called Step by Faith, and we traveled and toured churches, which was a lot
of fun. Also, I came to Los Angeles when I was 18 and recorded two songs with Jeffrey Davis, which was a big accomplishment. I was also picked up by Monarch Music when I was 16. Can you describe your music? NB: It’s changing – it was more of a pop techno sound before, and while I’m trying to keep some of that, I am switching to a typical Christian contemporary. I’m trying my best to keep a Colbie Caillat sound to it. I really want to always keep the music lighthearted and fun, upbeat and positive.
Neena Boyko (n.) Christian Contemporary revernation.com/neenaboyko
JERRY STEPPKE GOLF OUTING Photos Lexi DiGiovanni October 1 Michael Steppke hosted a golf outing in his father’s memory to support FOP Lodge no. 19, and Barnaby’s hosted the after-party
Mike Yost, Chad Gilemi
Matt Flanders, David Rosenblatt, Kevin Trei, Brandan Paxson
Jim O’Brien, Dom Syracuse, Kerry Greco, Adam Wetzel
Sean Ryan, Doug Steimel
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Michael Steppke, Alice Steppke
Matt Walsh, T.R. Moser, Kurt Scheivert
’Tis The Season! Book Your Holiday Party! 15 South High Street 610-696-1400 barnabyswestchester.com
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JERRY STEPPKE GOLF OUTING Photos Lexi DiGiovanni October 1 Michael Steppke hosted a golf outing in his father’s memory to support FOP Lodge no. 19, and Barnaby’s hosted the after-party
Ryan Reyolds, Brian Estock, Dan Stauffer
Brian Newman, Pat Gallagher, Sean Coll
Dan Stauffer, Sean Estock
Patrick Kenworthy, Molly Jane Chawluk, Kurt Gurndwald
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What’s your tie to the West Chester community? MS: I own and operate Mr. Stuart’s Martial Arts and Regional Haganah Center on Hannum Ave, where I train clientele and teach varied subjects including fitness, full-contact fighting and counter-terrorism, to everyone from housewives to Homeland Security. But my real tie to this area is family. I’m raising my kids here; I met my wife at High Street Caffé, and got married at St Agnes. As a musician and as a martial arts educator I’ve travelled all over this country. There are some great places, but this area is truly a special part of the country–it’s always called me back. How did your music career begin? MS: I started a band called Mojo back in the mid80s, and we got signed to Blood Records in the early ’90s. We recorded one album with the label called “Not for Nothin.” Have you recorded since then? MS: I independently recorded three other albums. The most successful of those has been “Real House Blues.” That album got airtime on 88.5 WXPN during Helen Leicht’s show, Dave Matthews used it for
a TV special on VH1, even Britney Spears used it. It’s acoustic blues, so it’s friendly to the ears. It ended up doing so well I got a distribution deal for it a few years later. How do being a mixed martial arts instructor and playing blues fit together? MS: It’s only confusing from the outside looking in. From my perspective, I started playing music when I was four. I always played sports, but in high school I stopped growing. The classic sports didn’t make sense for me anymore, so I started training in martial arts in 1973 with a bunch of ex-service guys. I’ve continued doing both since. So you’re still playing gigs? BB: I’ve got a family now–I’ve got a wife and kids. So, I’ve stopped playing the bars and restaurants. Now I really just play bigger venues and festivals. The booking aspect is a full-time job in itself, so I’ve had to step away to be able to devote time to my business and my family.
Mojo Stu (n.) acoustic blues mojostu.com
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FREEDOM FASHION SHOW Photos Lexi DiGiovanni
October 7 Más Mexicali Cantina’s fashion show raised more than $2000 for the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County
Abby, Chloe, Lucia
Kimberly Weinstein, Ashley Dougherty, Laura Egee
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Chris Jones, Michael Pitts
Maddie, Sam, Michael, Devin, Karissa
Radiant. Luminous. Memorable.
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138 W Market St 610-344-7747 Kalonhair.com fb.com/KalonHairStudio no vemBER 2012 | thew cpres s.com
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c h n e a rita R a LMexican Taqueria 323 East Gay Street, West Chester, PA
610-918-6221
El Authentico Sabor Mexicano The Authentic Mexican Flavor
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What’s your tie to the West Chester community? NB: Me, Steve and Brosh are all from here. Then how did you all meet? NB: We all attended University of the Arts in Philadelphia And how did Nicos Gun get started? BL: We all lived together in a house in Philly, and we were all playing in different bands. BC: Nick and I were in a band called cortez! cortez!, and we toured a bit, but that eventually fizzled out. We ended up hanging around with producer Harry Zelnick, and recording songs. We wanted to make a new band to play the music we were writing.
NB: Initially it was me, Barney and two other guys, but we ended up firing the other two guys and bringing in Steve and Brosh later because they were better. Then we brought Mic in because he’s an amazing drummer. Can you describe your music? BC: It’s like funk-rock dance music, a combination of everything we’re into. There’s James Brown and classic funk, plus elements of everything from Hendrix to Andre 3000. It’s like beat-oriented dancey rock music. NB: It’s hard to describe. Really, you just have to come to a show to get an idea – it’s really high energy. Well, where can we see you? BC: We just finished up a small tour. We’ve played everywhere.
We have opened for Big Boy, we’ve played Camp Bisco, we’ve played at Red Rocks in Colorado. And what’s in store for the coming year? NB: We’re about to put out a new album. BC: It’s a live performance recording, like old school. Now they cheat and put all the pieces together, but we played it all at once. It was awesome to cut it live. NB: So obviously we’ll tour a lot to promote that; I want to have an awesome light show and just keep building. BC: Basically what we’ve been doing, but times ten. BL: Plus, there’ll be a lot more girls coming our way this year.
Nick Bockrath | guitar Barney Cortez | guitar/vocals Steve Lyons | bass Brosh Laven | keys not pictured... Mic Odie | drums
nicos gun (n.) dance rock nicosgun.com
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A Three-Letter Word Jill McDevitt is the proprietor of Feminique and holds a master’s degree in Human Sexuality
sexuality this year.
As a politically astute sexologist, I have my job cut out for me when it comes to being a watchdog for offensive and inaccurate quotes about sex from politicians. This election season has been particularly bad, so it was hard to narrow it down, but here are the top four worse statements made about
1. “You just have to close your eyes.” –Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, March 2012 Context: His thoughts on what women should do during a forced vaginal probing ultrasound if they don’t like it. Why it’s offensive: The bill requiring women to undergo vaginal probing before being able to access a legal medical procedure fits the federal definition of rape, which is offensive enough. The “close your eyes” remark is condescending and patronizing. 2. “Let’s affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick-Fil-A on Wednesday, August 1.” –Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, July 2012 Context: Chick-fil-A’s president admitted the company donated more than $2 million to organizations that work to repeal the rights of gay Americans, and Huckabee sought to support Chick-fil-A. Why it’s offensive: It’s awful and unethical enough as it is that there is not marriage equality and other legal protections for gay folks, but to celebrate that and rub it in everyone’s face by deliberately encouraging constituents to spend their money at Chickfil-A so they can further donate money to anti-gay groups is over the top. 3. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” –Missouri senate candidate Todd Akin, August 2012 Context: Discussing women who choose to terminate a pregnancy that resulted from rape. Why it’s offensive: The creating of hierarchies of different types of rape–implying some are more “legitimate” than others–devalues the experiences of millions of women. His pathetic understanding of basic biology flies in the face of tens of thousands of women every year who are violated by a rape and an ensuing pregnancy, and would be further violated by being forced to give birth to their rapist’s baby. 4. “You know, something may be going down tonight, but it ain’t going to be jobs, sweetheart.” –New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, January 2012 Context: Responding to female hecklers who chanted that the jobs rate has gone down while he was governor. Why it’s offensive: The oral sex insinuation is borderline sexual harassment. The “sweetheart” remark is sexist and was used to infantilize and belittle the women. jmcdevitt@thewcpress.com
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MIDNIGHT MADNESS Photos by Andrew Hutchins
October 14 West Chester University basketball and EatWC.com helped fans celebrate the start of the season
Brianna Antunes, Megan Silagyi
T heresa, Sean, Katie
Virginia, Caitlyn, Taryn
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Michelle, Jordyn, Laura, Kalyn, Bri
Matt, T im
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What’s your tie to the West Chester community? RD: Marcus and I met at West Chester University in 2006. I was a freshman, and he was a junior. MR: I would say that we really got our legs in West Chester from playing at The Note, Turks Head one year, and the Restaurant Festival. And we still live here, Russ and I. Can you describe your music? MR: I would say a good word to use is progressive, because we always start from one place and the song will always form into something by the end of it – it always changes. RD: We like to keep it interesting and upbeat without a vocalist – you need to keep the listener engaged without the vocals. How did the band get together? RD: I’ve known Kevin for about 11 years now. We grew up together in Reading. When I came to West Chester and met Marcus, the three of us played in a metal group. We realized pretty quickly that the genre wasn’t the right move for us. MR: Peter and I knew each other in high school, and he hit me up one day trying to start a music project. I invited him to play with me, Russ and Kevin and there was good chemistry. Do you all have other jobs? RD: We all have full-time jobs. I do sales training for AutoTrader.com, Kevin works at Godiva and Peter does IT for Vanguard. MR: I’m in the service department at Energy Management Systems. I oversee the guys who fix messed up meters, and I handle readings.
MR: We have a lot of time off, and I go in to work from 6:30am2:30pm, Monday through Friday. Tell me about the tour. RD: We went to southern California to tour out there. We played shows in Long Beach, San Diego and L.A. Why SoCal? RD: A few reasons: 1. We had a few people we knew out there through the band. 2. We made a conscious decision that, as much as this area has been good to us, we wanted to go far away. We wanted to throw it out there to see if we’d get a bite, and it all came together. You’re working on a new album. RD: Yeah, we already have three albums, and we’re working on a fourth. It took us up until “Atlantica,” our third album, to find our sound, and then we took all of our favorite parts from the first three albums and put them into this one. This is a culmination of three and a half years’ work. MR: Our older albums vary significantly in the moods and styles. RD: We’re really excited about this because we’re all very comfortable, and I feel like I’m having a lot of fun writing this album.
You guys just finished a small tour. How’d you find time? RD: Our jobs are flexible with our band’s schedule.
Marus Rodriguez | bass Russ Daniels | guitar not pictured... Kevin Burk | drums Peter Willis | guitar
North end
(n.) instrumental rock northendmusic.com no vemBER 2012 | thew cpres s.com
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The Makeshift Chef
Chelsea Durning is a cook by trade, and she knows how to scrap up a delicious meal with seasonal ingredients The inspiration music brings to people is endless. The same goes for food. There are a countless songs and bands named after food. While most of the time the songs aren’t food-centric, I like to think that the best songs are all about edibles...especially with Thanksgiving right around the corner. “Soggy Pretzel” Stuffing (Inspired by Neil Diamond) • 1 20-oz bag of pretzels (nugget sized would be best) ½ Spanish Onion, diced • • 3-4 stalks Celery, chopped 1 Apple, diced • • ¼ cup Dried Cranberries 2 tbsp. Bell’s Pepper poultry seasoning • 2-3 cups Chicken Broth • In a large bowl, mix the broth and seasoning. Soak the pretzels for a few minutes. Add remaining ingredients. Grease an 8x8” or 13x9” pan (depending on how thick you want it). Cover the mixture with parchment paper and aluminum foil. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until firm to the touch. “Cold Turkey” Sandwich (Inspired by John Lennon) • 3 slices Bread (Reader’s choice) ¼ cup Cranberry Sauce • ¼ “Soggy Pretzel” stuffing (recipe above) • 2 tbsp Mayonnaise • 4-6 slices Roasted Turkey • • ¼ Turkey Gravy Toast two slices of bread. Spread mayo on the toast. On one slice, layer half of the turkey, half of the stuffing and half of the cranberry sauce. Soak the non-toasted slice of bread in the gravy. Place the soaked bread slice over the layers. Repeat layering and top with the last piece of toast. “Peaches ‘N Cream” (Inspired by 112) 3-4 Peaches, sliced (Frozen will work) • 1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon • • 1 cup Brown Sugar Ginger Snap Cookies, crumbled • 10 egg yolks • 3 oz Peach Schnapps, divided (1 oz, 2 oz) • • ¼ cup Granulated Sugar 1 qt Heavy Cream • 1 cup 10x (Confectioner’s) Sugar • In a bowl over boiling water, whisk the egg yolks, 1 oz schnapps, and granulated sugar until it resembles ribbons and turns a very pale yellow. If it starts to smell like scrambled eggs, you cooked them too much. While egg mixture is cooling, whip heavy cream, remaining schnapps, and 10x sugar until stiff peaks form. Gently fold egg mixture into the whipped cream. Keep cool. Cook peaches, sugar and cinnamon until syrupy. In serving dishes, place peaches on the bottom. Spread on crumbled cookies and top with whipped cream. Garnish with leftover cookie crumbles. cdurning@thewcpress.com
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We are prou d to o ffer up a print version of everyone’s favorite bar game... and you won’t have to pay 50 cents. Actually, you can WIN money. Compare the two photos at right. They may look the same, but there are seven subtle differences between the two. Find those seven differences and identify the items that have been changed. Then send an email to contests@thewcpress.com listing those items. You’ll be entered to win a $25 gift card to a local business. Winners will be chosen at random, and their name will be posted to Facebook along with the solution at the end of the month. So make sure to like us and follow along if you want to play. Enjoy!
We changed this photo taken during Mr Greengene’s farewell performance at Alibis on R ed Solo Cup Thursday. Can you spot seven differences?
Facebook.com/thewcpress
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So, Schaffer’s been around for some time now, right? Jon Schaffer: This year we’re celebrating our 35-year anniversary. We’ve been around since September of 1977.
1983 he had a full-blown business even though he was only 20. I joined the company that year at the age of 13. We’ve grown since then, but we’re still a family business.
Who founded the company? Jon Schaffer: My older brother Ken started it at the age of 13 in my parents’ basement. He started out doing high school dances, YMCA parties and a lot of stuff like that.
What has it grown into today? Jon Schaffer: It’s grown into a 5,000 square foot building in the hub of Delaware County. We employ eight full-time employees, 20 contracted wedding entertainers and more than 50 bar and club DJs.
How did it grow from there? Jon Schaffer: It just grew through word of month. In the ’70s bands were dying because of the disco era, and everyone went from bands to DJs. At the time, there were only a handful of DJs available. By the early 80s Ken was handling weddings, and by
Are DJs the only service you offer? Jon Schaffer: No, we offer state-of-the-art uplighting, monogram lighting, dancefloor lighting, everything you need to make your wedding look beautiful. We also handle promotions, karaoke, pub quizzes, all kinds of great nightlife entertainment.
Nick Vecchio aka DJ Romeo
How’d you get your DJ name? Romeo was my nickname in college. It was my job to get females to our parties at Pi Kapp–I was good at it.
Angel o Mal gieri aka L .O. Music
What’s your strangest song request? A white woman, probably around 50 years old, asked me play 2Pac and Snoop Dogg’s “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted.” She rapped every single word to the song and danced her ass off.
shane mccann aka DJ cann
When you get your start DJing? I started off DJing parties at my frat, Beta, back in 2010. I’ve been spinning since then and have moved on to playing the bars around town.
wal t tayl or aka DJ DubT3
What’s the most requested song in West Chester right now? Unfortunately, it is “Gangnam Style” by Korean pop artist Psy.
Anthony Farol e aka DJ Twon OFY
What’s the most requested song of all time? Everywhere I go, it seems like people are requesting “Cupid Shuffle.”
Dan green aka DJ verde
What do you like most about DJing? It’s a great way to become involved in the social aspects of the community– a way to connect with business owners and other young professionals.
sebastien val encia aka Bash the DJ
Do you ever meet girls through DJing? A gentleman never tells... So, yes. Obviously.
tom boyd aka Boyder aka boyderdaggie aka DJ RED WINE
What’s a part of the job most people don’t think about? A lot of times girls come up to you and ask you to hold onto their purses. I like that they trust me and all, but I don’t know you.
jabair kahn aka DJ J-Bair
Why do you like DJing in West Chester? This is my hometown, so it’s cool to go on and already know the crowd, and to perform in front of friends.
Schaffer nightlife
(n.) DJs sspdj.com
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RYAN’S GOLF OUTING Photos Paul Imburgia
October 8 R yan’s Pub’s golf outing wasn’t just an excuse for a good time – it was a fundraiser for the ALS Association of Greater Philadelphia
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Brynn Kennedy, Doug Ferry, Sean Finn
Brent Snedecker, Pat Ryan, Rory McElroy
Mike Treston, Don Eadie, Adam Dzedzy
Paul Ryan, Sean Ryan, Paul Cornly
Bobby Muth, Kevin Murray, Patrick Mahoney
Matt Conaway, Rob Shrader, Ryan Cranston
the w c press | voice of the borough
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What’s your tie to the West Chester community? ML: James and I live here. For the rest of us it serves as a home base. RM: Yeah. I drink here. We all used to get blasted up at Vincent’s. Can you define your music? JM: I’d call us aggressive soul jazz, but it definitely trends towards the more aggressive. RM: If we’re in a jazz club, we sound like a rock band. If we’re in a rock club, we sound like a jazz band. DAJ: But really, we’re country at heart. What’s life like outside of music? JM: I’m a school teacher. Michael’s a teacher, too.
ML: I’m an adjunct professor of sociology at West Chester University, plus I teach at Temple and some at DCCC. DAJ: I’m a farmer. RM: And I run a trucking company that picks up used vegetable oil and transports it so it can be converted into bio-diesel fuel.
Your music has a sound to it that’s really dated. RM: It’s from a time when music was better.
How long have you been playing together? RM: Don and I have been playing together since, I guess, 1988. Right? Since ninth grade. JM: Michael and I have been in a variety of other bands, but the four of us have been playing together since 2005.
You guys released a new album? RM: The record was all recorded live. We played as a full band and recorded that. There’s no cutting, no auto-tune. We just play the music. JM: It’s called “Get In” and you can buy copies at our shows. It should also be available on iTunes by November 1.
And yet it still sounds relevant. ML: That’s the organ. It’s our secret weapon. People are really receptive to it, because it’s old, yet ageless.
Michael Lynch | drums Rob Mastrippolito | guitar James McLaughlin | keys Don Allaband Jr. | bass
The Sermon! (n.) aggressive soul jazz thesermon.net
WC OKTOBERFEST Photos by Paul Imburgia
Oktober 4 The WC Press ditched their monthly networking event in favor of an Oktoberfest party that R am’s Head kindly hosted
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Nick Vecchio, Adam Jones, Lexi DiGiovanni, Dan Mathers
Kaitlin Luczak, Sheila King, Amanda Hopkins
Lauren, Hutch, John
Sarah Rowe, Ben Weeny, Deanna O’Hanna
Tom, Michelle, Meghan
Adam Jones, Lara Corothers, Liz Elder, Nick Vecchio
the w c press | voice of the borough
484-631-0241 ramsheadbarandgrill.com
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WC OKTOBERFEST Photos by Paul Imburgia
Oktober 4 The WC Press ditched their monthly networking event in favor of an Oktoberfest party that R am’s Head kindly hosted
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Kyle Rheiner, Luke Kimball
John J. Gallagher III, Jess English, T im Zupko, Jessica Miller
Josh, Matt, T yler
Nick, Arleen, Angela, Dan, Adam
Joe Domino, Chris Harley, John Hannafin
James, Rich
the w c press | voice of the borough
Live Acoustic Music Every Friday Night 929 S High Street, West Chester, PA 19382 484-887-8771 | timothyswestchester.com
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the w c press | voice of the borough
Bartender of the Month C
ameron Taylor’s been behind the bars of West Chester for more than a decade. And, having worked at two of West Chester’s best music venues, he’s watched this town’s music scene more closely than most. So, we figured we’d find out a bit more about one of West Chester’s bestknown bearded men in honor of the music issue. How long have you been working at The Note? CT: I’ve been here since we opened, so let’s see…four years as of this past September. And what were you doing before? CT: I had a welding day job, and I was actually working for the same owner as The Note over at Rex’s for about seven years. It was a pretty sweet racket. What are the biggest changes you’ve seen? CT: Aside from drinking trends and the economy taking a dump, I’ve seen a lot of creative boozing and boozers. This industry is getting ridiculous in terms of the things coming out from behind the bar. How about in terms of the music in this town? CT: West Chester’s got a solid base in everything from the jazz and folky genres to local hip hop and punk rock. Even though the individual names may change, much stays the same, and in terms of progression, it’s pretty wild what’s come out of this town. It’s neat to see. What are some of the best acts to come through your bars? CT: I’m gonna say, hands down, number one would be Clutch, then De La Soul. Actually, before I started bartending, Run DMC was in West Chester. They played at 15 North the first time it was 15 North.
What’s your personal taste? CT: I’m all over the map, from sludge metal to hip hop, and – I guess you can print this–I’m a huge Depeche Mode fan. I really listen to a bit of it all. Have you worked at other bars? CT: I’ve worked at a couple places in Philly, like the Trocadero. Have you worked at places that aren’t music venues? CT: Everyone in this industry puts in time somewhere awful, and when I was young I worked at a Chi-Chi’s. Do you have a typical crowd at The Note? CT: No, I don’t. My crowd–which is perfect for me–varies. And, depending on the vein of music I’m dealing with that night, that’s the crowd I’m serving. It’s a new crowd every night. Which is neat, or is massively irritating, depending. Well, what’s the most irritating genre? CT: I’m not at liberty to say. That might put my job in jeopardy. Then, what’s the best genre to serve? CT: I guess, monetarily speaking, people who still have jobs but are working towards retirement. You know, people with dual savings accounts, like a nearly geriatric group. But you can’t necessarily say what genre that is because it varies with the crowd – they’re not necessarily a classic rock or a hippy crowd. Anything coming up that you’re looking forward to? CT: Right now, we have a bunch of awesome stuff in the works that isn’t solidified yet, like a possible end of the world party for December 21st. WCP
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the w c press | voice of the borough
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What’s your tie to the West Chester community? TB: Being born and raised–all my family is here. I was born here in 1987, and I haven’t left since. I’ve been around the world, but West Chester’s where I lay my head and call home. How did you become a hip hop artist? TB: Actually, my freshman year at West Chester University there was a kid on my floor named Brian Fitzgerald, who had been in the band Leaving Cash for years. We ended up clicking and doing work. Before I know it, he is booking me to open for his shows. Now he’s one of my good friends.
Where did you first perform? TB: My first performance was at West Chester University at the Camp Abilities benefit. It was for underprivileged kids. What are you doing with music now? TB: These days I’m working on my first album and a follow-up mixtape. The mixtape, Epic Knights 2, should be completed by December. Can you describe your music? TB: If I were to compare it the music that’s coming out now, it’s a lot more about telling life stories. I have an in-depth focus on lyricism and story telling, rather than my music being about partying. What’s your writing process like? TB: I can be anywhere, but usually I find myself writing while on the train commuting to Philly. I write a lot about reflecting on the things that have happened to me recently. Other times I draw inspiration from talking with friends and running with ideas. From there, once I get the ideas in my head, I know what kind of beat I need to support my message. For me, the lyrics come first, but I know a lot of other artists like to have the beat, then write to it. Where do the lyrics come from? TB: The lyrics come from everyday life, trying to show the world what it’s like to be from West Chester, what it’s like to grow up the way I did. Why do you feel compelled to share? TB: That can get deep. I come from a divorced family, so I’ve relocated, been to different schools, experienced so many things in my life that other people just don’t go through. People look at you like your life is just crazy if you try to tell them, so it’s easier for me to share my experience through lyrics, through my music.
Teddy Bigglesworth (n.) hip hop reverbnation.com/teddybigglesworth
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Who’s That?
Below are three minimalist block sketches of different, unrelated, fictional characters. Think you can figure out who’s who? Check our website for a hint, then tweet your answers @TheWCPress for a chance to win a gift card to a local business.
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The West Chester Mix DJ Romeo curates a playlist comprising tunes written by folks who are proud of their West Chester roots.
Artists utilize their medium to tell a story about who they are–to reveal the inner workings of their lives. And, there is little that shapes our lives more than the place that we call home. Try to imagine Nirvana without Seattle. Try to imagine “Buffalo Soldier” without Jamaica. The place we rest our heads shapes who we are, and it shapes the things we create with our lives. That’s why I find the following list of music to be so incredibly intriguing: all of these musicians are tied to West Chester in some way or another. Before I even hear the music, I know there will be something relatable in its sound, in its lyrics. Many of these musicians are featured in the pages of this magazine, but there are many more worthy of recognition. And,this music isn’t just something we can all relate to–it’s something we can be proud of.
Believe it or not, Matisyahu, the man behind “King Without a Crown” was born Matthew Miller right here in West Chester 1. HAHA-YO – “Sundress” 2. Asher Roth – “Lark On My Go-kart” 3. Nomad Clientele – “Release” 4. Matisyahu – “King Without a Crown” 5. Dr. Dog – “Heart It Races” 6. Lost in Paris – “My Existense” 7. Teddy Bigglesworth – “The Pressure” 8. Northend – “Atlantica” 9. Nico’s Gun – “We Could Die” 10. The Sermon – “Benny’s Tune (Cat’s Ass)” 11. John Grecia – “Art of Spring” 12. Neena Boyko – “Vegas” 13. Mason Porter – “Old Freight Train” 14. Organik Theory – “Track Rippin” 15. Houston Calls – “Exit Emergency” 16. CKY – “96 Quite Bitter Beings” 17. Katelyn Krapf – “Destiny” 18. Mojo Stu – “Hootchie Mama”
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