The Damned, Ace Frehley and Anne Hills
The top 3 Lehigh Valleyarea concerts this week are a little goth, a little glam, a little folk, and a whole lot of fun. First up is a punk band gone goth who have been on the scene since 1976 bringing their unique blend of punk, goth, and psyche to the neighborhood. Next is a legendary guitarist who formed one of the most influential glam bands of all time back in 1973, Kiss. Now touring solo, he brings the same brand of fire on the road with his award-winning guitar licks. And last, a singer-songwriter who is no stranger to awards herself, regularly performs at benefit concerts, and is committed to social justice, brings her musical prowess to the Godfrey Daniels stage.
The Damned
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Where: Sherman Theater, 524 Main St., Stroudsburg
How much: $37.50-$42
Tickets: shermantheater. com/ 570-420-2808
Musical style: Punk, postpunk, goth rock
Known for hits like: “Neat Neat Neat,” “New Rose,” “Smash it Up,” “Life Goes On,” and, “Alone Again Or.”
Honors: One of the most influential punk bands of the late ‘70s, The Damned were also the first UK punk band to release a single, album, and tour the US. Their fast punk style morphed into a poppier sound and eventually into a more goth rock sound throughout the years.
Through multiple lineup changes, breakups, and reunions the band still continues to tour and release music – their latest album, “Darkadelic” was released this past April.
Check them out if you like:
Buzzcocks, Dead Boys, Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers, MC5, Generation X, Sham 69,
The Rezillos
Ace Frehley
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sherman Theater, 524 Main St., Stroudsburg
How much: $28-$63
Tickets: shermantheater. com/ 570-420-2808
Musical style: Hard rock, heavy metal, glam rock
Known for hits like: “New York Groove,” “Rip it out,” “Do Ya,” “Rock Soldiers,” and “Hide Your Heart.” Also, w/Kiss “Rock and Roll All Night,” and “Detroit Rock City.”
Honors: He was the lead-guitarist and
cofounder of the band Kiss. He was ranked the 14th Greatest Metal Guitarist of All Time by Guitar World magazine. His first solo album went platinum with the song “New York Groove” hitting the Top 20 in the US. His autobiography, “No Regrets – A Rock ‘N’ Roll Memoir,” was number 10 on the New York Time’s Best Seller list at the time of its release.
Check him out if you like:
Kiss, AC/DC, Motley Crew, Skid Row, Van Halen, Thin Lizzy, Aerosmith, Queen, Alice Cooper
Anne Hills
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Godfrey Daniels, 7 E. 4th St., Bethlehem
How much: $20.50-$25.50
Tickets: godfreydaniels. org/ 610-867-2390
Musical style: Folk, singer-songwriter, traditional folk
Known for hits like: “First
Day of Autumn,” “Follow That Road,” “Wayfaring Stranger,” “Alexandra Leaving,” and “Witness.”
Honors: She was the recipient of the Kate Wolf Memorial Award by the World Folk Music Association in 2002, and has performed in several groups including Best of Friends (w/ Tom Paxton and Bob Gibson) and Fourtold. She’s currently celebrating the release of the single “Witness” (a song she wrote with Al Power) written for elders and their caregivers working through the Covid crisis — a follow up to her 2021 collection of songs about love and loss “Accidental August,” a project she and Power finished during the pandemic.
Check her out if you like:
Tom Paxton, Claudia Schmidt, Susan Werner, Linda Allen, John McCutcheon, Bob Gibson, Priscilla Herdman