You can almost feel summer in the air, and with it comes a warm blast of musical excitement on area stages. May brings outdoor festivals -- Philly's Jam on the River among them -- and interesting sonic pairings (former Doors members link up with Fuel's ex-singer for one). Some of the big names coming through town include: Velvet Revolver, Evanescence and Fuel at the Tweeter Center on May 20; Gwen Stefani at the Tweeter on May 24; and Steely Dan giving two sold-out performances at the Tower Theatre May 24 and 25.
Some of the acts set to appear at Jam on the River May 26 and 27 include the Disco Biscuits, Sound Tribe Sector 9, John Butler Trio, The Wailers and the Dark Star Orchestra. Visit for the full schedule. It's also a busy time for singer-songwriters to make the rounds.
Two of New York City's finest -- Jesse Harris and Jonatha Brooke -- make stops in Philly, with Harris doing a residency with several other performers at the Tin Angel on Wednesday and May 16 and Brooke performing at the Keswick Theatre tonight with her four-member band. It's going to be a big year for Harris, who wrote five songs on Norah Jones' mega-selling debut album, including the breakout single, "Don't Know Why." Harris, 37, has also written songs for Madeleine Peyroux, Lizz Wright and scored Ethan Hawke's upcoming film "The Hottest State.
" "I'm pretty excited," Harris said from his New York home. "Working on the movie is really great. I wrote the score and several great singers -- Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and Cat Power, among them -- interpret songs I've written for the soundtrack.
I also sing three songs in the movie and have a small part, playing a singer." All are guaranteed to ramp up Harris' visibility, despite his unassuming and unaffected nature. Harris is especially pleased with his upcoming solo album, "Feel," his seventh record, and one he says is "focused on rhythms.
It's got more drums and is more upbeat that my last album. "It's really fun for me to sing my own stuff right now and I'm planning to cover most of the new record (onstage)," Harris said. Three other songwriters -- Chris Pureka, Ryan Scott and Krystle Warren -- also on the Velour Music label, will join Harris.
Each singer will do his or her own set. "It should be a great night -- just some intimate and hopefully memorable performances," Harris said. Silken-voiced Jonatha Brooke -- who has been touring and recording since the early 1990s -- just released her ninth album, "Careful What You Wish For.
" It features 11 new tracks, many co-written by longtime friend, and Philly's own Hooter, Eric Bazilian. There are also collaborations with J.C.
Chasez (N'Sync) and Nick Lachey (98 Degrees), the latter of whom recorded her song "Because I Told You So" on his post-Jessica Simpson solo album. The new CD, Brooke says, touches on everything from interpersonal relationships to the American obsession with celebrity. "I lived in Los Angeles for five years before returning East, so I saw plenty of the "15-minutes of fame' celebrity culture," she said.
"I think the songs on the record come from a place of honesty. And I think there's a progression in my music. It's very important to me to not do the same thing time and time again.
I want to grow, and I think this album reflects that.
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