The Charming Beards

ou might say that when Northeastern Pa. band Ashes For Trees came to an end, singer and guitarist Katie Kelly, well, rose from the ashes. With Katie Kelly and the Charming Beards, she has merged the folky nature of AFT with some other musical flavors.

“Well, this project started out when I was doing a lot of solo gigs, and then I started playing in a rock band and met a couple different people,” Kelly, of Wilkes-Bare, said recently. “It started as my solo work and inviting people to play with me. I think the sound has changed from more pure, folky stuff to more experimental and alternative influences.”

Kelly recorded and released the solo album “Three Dark Days” in the fall of 2012.

katie kelly cover“That took a really long time to do,” she shared. “I believe it was over a year and a half. I started just going into the studio, acoustic guitar in hand, and singing. The progression of my own music kind of changed. I feel it’s kind of apparent through the making of that album. When the album starts, it’s very definitely folk instrumentation – mandolin, banjo, fiddle – but the last track there’s electric guitars and synthesizers. I think the year and a half that I was making it, I grew as an artist.”

Kelly and the Charming Beards – Ray Novitski (guitar/vocals), Theresa Lazarri (drums) and Aaron McCurdy (bass, mandolin, vocals) – will perform at The Rattler in Pittston on Wednesday, Nov. 27, opening for Kaleigh Baker and Nate Anderson. You can check out a rough demo of a new Kelly song “Pissing In The Kitchen” below.

Kelly’s father had a strong interest in folk music and booked folk performers at a bar he owned, Bojangles. “I can remember as far back as three or four years old, and my favorite band was Peter Paul and Mary,” she recalled.

Her current influences are in a similar but expanded vein.

“I love Paul Simon’s finger picking style, I love Ani DiFranco’s percussive style,” said Kelly. “As far as electric players go, I really like David Gilmour and Justin Mazer of Leroy Justice. (Mazer) is on my album. He would show me a couple things, and that heavily influenced my playing, which is cool because he’s local, but he’s dramatically changed my playing style.”
- Highway81Revisited.com

Wilkes-Barre singer-songwriter Katie Kelly plays well with others.

The soloist's fondness for collaboration helped her find the perfect lineup for her current band, the Charming Beards. Guitarist Ray Novitski of Plymouth, drummer Theresa Lazzari of Wilkes-Barre and mandolin and bass player Aaron McCurdy of Mountain Top form a group that is exactly what Kelly is looking for in a band - a stable mix of the right people.

"If you can have a good time with them and they're your friends, you're golden," she said.

Kelly and Novitski previously played together "in a really loud psychedelic rock band" called the Love Crimes. McCurdy played in her former band Ashes for Trees, and Lazzari is a friend of Kelly's brother, who Kelly once invited to a jam session.

The group works because members share common work schedules and work ethic, and just plain get along, she added. She doesn't consider the group a backing band, recognizing the individual talent each member brings to the stage. McCurdy can show her how to play any song, and Novitski and Lazzari help her broaden her approach to writing, making tunes less formulaic.

"I don't want four of me on stage," she said.
Kelly performed as a soloist for a while after splitting with writing partner Conrad Miller, with whom she formed band Ashes for Trees. Miller and Kelly met in 2005 during karaoke at an Applebee's restaurant. They played together in a band, stayed together when that band split up, and released their first CD in 2010. Their music was folk with a country feel, and both members contributed lyrics. Miller left the group to go back to school.

Kelly released her debut solo album, "Three Dark Days," in 2012. She wasn't completely alone when she produced the album - Novitski, along with local musicians Betty Harlot, Terry Childers and Ryan Post, performed live in-studio with her. She put together a band for her album release party, too, and enjoyed the experience enough to want to work with a steady group again.

Kelly started playing guitar as a teen after making a deal with her parents to take piano lessons first. She worked in social work for six years, but her schedule made it difficult to play gigs. She now gives private guitar lessons, and works at Guitar Center in Moosic, where it's easier - and even encouraged - to work around gigs, she said.

She enjoys the job because it allows her to work alongside music people, former touring musicians and people involved in the record business. She didn't go to school for music and doesn't plan to - she prefers to learn in a more casual setting.

"I have a ton to learn, but I'd rather learn it outside the rigors of college," she said.

Eager to learn

Kelly added she learns best from human interaction, rather than studying or trying things out on her own. She's looking forward to performing with Justin Mazer of Leroy Justice during his residency at the Rattler in Pittston on Wednesdays during September. The Shavertown guitarist performed on her solo album.

"I think it's going to be a major learning experience for me. I'm really excited about it."

Kelly performs locally, and also plays out-of-town shows in Binghamton, Harrisburg and Gettysburg. She tried playing in Brooklyn, but didn't like the scene. The Philadelphia and New York City markets have been difficult to break into. She said she would love to take her music on the road, and see the country, and maybe the world, while touring.

Earning money from live gigs is difficult, she said. Currently she's looking into music publishing as a way to earn a living wage. Avenues include writing songs for other artists, or selling songs for use in commercials and films.

She looks up to artists who are able to sustain themselves on a career in music. It's something she aspires to - not fame or fortune, but a practical income.

Katie Kelly and the Charming Beards

Founded: September 2012

Genre: Folk, alternative folk

Members: Katie Kelly, guitar and vocals; Ray Novitski, guitar; Aaron McCurdy, mandolin, bass and vocals; Theresa Lazzari, drums

For fans of: Of Monsters and Men, Alex Culbreth and the Dead Country Stars, PJ Harvey

Online: www.facebook.com/KatieKellyMusic, www.reverbnation.com/katiekellymusic

Up next: Sept. 27, Irish Wolf Pub, Scranton - Citizens Voice Jumpstart Magazine

Katie Kelly has worked hard to put out her first solo album, and she has certainly delivered with “Three Dark Days,” a compilation of tracks that weave a tale of tougher times backed by a bevy of talented local musicians who give the album a robust sound centered on folk that trips into other genres along the way.

It’s obvious the 27-year-old Wilkes-Barre musician’s stint in local rock band The Love Crimes has filtered into her traditional folk sound. Banjo, drums, and guitar are present throughout, but complimented by synth and guitar of the electric persuasion at points.

“Stay, Simply Stay” is a stark contrast to the melancholy of the beginning tracks, providing upbeat percussion reminiscent of a 1960s pop song with Betty Harlot lending vocals to complete the romantic melody.

Ray Novitski’s vocals gently underscore Kelly’s for “Some Kind of Lover,” and “Never Rested Well” is a song that comes in quietly and finishes strong, bringing with it a plethora of locals, including Ryan Post on guitar, Aaron McCurdy on vocals, and Matthew Gabriel on upright bass.

“Jakob,” a song that Kelly has spoken about as one she treasures most, is a somber cap to the album, a lullaby all its own.

Though it’s apparent Kelly has drawn from a dark place to produce “Three Dark Days,” she should find comfort in the light that is an entrancing, solid album for her first time out.

Katie Kelly ‘Three Dark Days’ Rating: W W W W
- Weekender Magazine

Singer/songwriter Katie Kelly is best known for her work with Wilkes-Barre based folk-rock act Ashes for Trees. Kelly steps out into the spotlight and is set to release her first solo record, Three Dark Days, on Saturday, Oct. 20 with a release party at The Rattler, 37 North Main St., Pittston. The album will be available at her shows and at the Gallery of Sound, Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com, iTunes and Spotify shortly thereafter.
Citing influences like Chris Pureka, The Lumineers, Bon Iver, and Mumford and Sons, Kelly says her music started taking a turn outside the folk genre when she began playing with eclectic songwriters Terry Childers and Ray Novitski. She also found herself with a large support staff of musicians, family and friends while in the studio.
“Something I like to emphasize when discussing my album it that although I wrote all the material, it in no way was a completely ‘solo’ effort,” Kelly said. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with two amazing engineers, Joe Loftus and Jay Preston of J.L. Studios. I was also very fortunate to have quite a few talented local musicians join me in the studio.”
The extensive list of collaborators includes Childers, Justin Mazar and Matthew Gabriel (MiZ), Aaron McCurdy, Conrad Miller, Betty Harlot, Ray Novitski, Ryan Post and Kurt Baumer.
“Initially, I just wanted to create a 4 song EP that was a bare bones production to hand out at gigs,” Kelly said. “As the process carried on, I found old tracks that had been unfinished at Joe’s studio and also hit a creative streak and wrote quite a few new songs. At first, I was very concerned, and wanted the album to be a very minimal production of folk tunes, but as the months went by I gained influence from playing with The Love Crimes and discovering new music. I was very hesitant to add synth sounds or electric guitar, but Joe Loftus put it best, ‘Record the songs how you like to hear them’.”
Kelly looks at Three Dark Days ultimately as a journey. As she reflects upon personal losses in her life throughout the record’s 12 tracks, the music seems to wrap its arms around her voice and help carry her out of the darkness.
“Although some of the songs were written years ago, 2012 was an especially difficult year,” Kelly said. “The most important thing in my life is my loved ones, and the year saw the death of three different people; a woman I’ve loved like a mother since the day I was born; the loss of a lifelong friend; and the loss of my lifelong love. In essence the dark ‘lonely hours’ were settling in. But the entire year wasn’t bleak, and I think that’s reflected in the record. If there’s not light at the end of the tunnel, then at least there’s a resolution. An ending is absolute, which provides some comfort, or forces a return to comfort over time.”

— tom graham

Katie Kelly celebrates the arrival of her first record, Three Dark Days, with a release party at The Rattler 37 North Main Street Pittston. The show will also feature The Giants of Leisure. For more information, visit www.katiekelly.com, www.facebook.com/katiekellymusic and katiekelly.bandcamp.com. - Electric City/Diamond City Magazine

Folk singer Katie Kelly will celebrate her newly released full-length “Three Dark Days” tomorrow night at The Rattler in Pittston, with special guest Giants of Leisure. The 27-year-old Wilkes-Barre resident likened the recording process to “taking the SATs for 13 hours straight, with such a high level of focus.”

Q: You sing and play guitar, but did you use anyone else for the instruments on the album?

A: I was able to borrow a lot of people, which I was really happy about because I didn’t want it to sound generic. I wanted it to have some diversity. It was really cool to have people add ideas I would have never thought of.

Q: How would you describe the sound of the album?

A: At first I was trying to make a very bare folk album, maybe bass, guitar, drums and a banjo or something. Then I started playing in a rock band, The Love Crimes, and it was a group with a wide range of influences. … I was trying stuff I had never tried before. It has its roots in folk, but I think it’s a little experimental. I do love that hardcore folk, but I think the folk purists would kind of scoff because it has electric guitar, and it’s full of synth.

Q: Do any tracks hold special meaning?

A: The final song, “Jacob.” I’ve played it live like twice because it’s extremely personal, and it’s a universal theme. When doing it live people are affected by it.

Q: Who is “Jacob?”

A: I randomly picked the name. I was playing guitar, and Jacob Dylan was on the cover of a guitar magazine I was reading. I wanted a generic name so people could put their own situation into it. Many people have suffered watching their loved ones die. It’s not just about one person. People have heard the song and told me there’s a Jacob in their life, someone they tried to save and they’re feeling this regret because they couldn’t.

Q: The album is titled “Three Dark Days.” Any meaning?

A: One of the songs I’d been playing out, “Bless Me Father,” has a line in it that says “Three dark days since my last confession.” I picked a random lyric because I wanted the title to recall a song from the album. Then I got to thinking about it and, according to the Zodiac, the “three dark days” in December is a time when the sun is perceived as being non-existent, then after the third day it seemingly rises again. I liked that metaphor, of things getting better, a light at the end of the tunnel. - Times Leader

Wilkes-Barre folk musician Katie Kelly is used to collaborating with artists to bring musical ideas to fruition.

She debuted on the local music scene as a member of Ashes for Trees, a band she formed with her writing partner of seven years, Conrad Miller. When Miller left the group, Kelly decided to go it alone, putting together her debut solo album "Three Dark Days," which she releases this week.

Although her new album is a solo work, it was by no means a solo effort. She received help from Matt Gabriel and Justin Mazer of MiZ and Kurt Baumer, a Texas-based fiddler.

She also performs live and in the studio with a core group of musicians she calls her backbone: Betty Harlot, Terry Childers, Ryan Post and Ray Novitski.

"We all have a nice, close-knit relationship, even through we're involved in different projects," she said. "We have a great musical connection, but we're also great friends. They're always kind of behind me, urging me along."

Kelly wrote 11 of the album's 12 tracks, making an effort to move beyond writing about her own life into telling stories. Though some of the songs are vaguely autobiographical, she added a bit of fiction to make the album more palatable to the public.

"It's hard to sing about things I can't relate to," she said." I secretly hide a little bit of myself in an unknown story. It's not always on purpose, but it happens."

Literary and religious allusions also influenced tracks like "Bless Me Father." The album title itself references astrology-based biblical theory signifying the light at the end of the tunnel after a dark period.

"Writing (the songs), I always tried to have some sort of upward, towards the light," she said. "There's a definite resolution at the end of them. I think the album ends a bit sadder than I would have wanted it to. It's about battling and reaching the end of the suffering."

Kelly's album release party takes place Saturday at 9 p.m. at the Rattler on North Main Street in Pittston. Giants of Leisure will also perform. The album is also available on iTunes and Amazon.com, or at Gallery of Sound stores and Barnes and Noble.

On the web: www.facebook.com/katiekellymusic, www.sonicbids.com/katiekelly
- Citizens Voice

“The Wilkes-Barre EP,” a new release by local band Ashes for Trees, pays tribute to the place the band members call home.

Singer and songwriter Kathleen Kelly sings about family, friends and familiar surroundings in the title track “Wilkes-Barre,” a folksy ballad about how the good things about the area far outweigh the bad. Kelly and bassist Vince Insalaco were both born and raised in Wilkes-Barre, she said.

“The area is economically depressed, but when it comes down to it, it’s not a bad area to live in,” she said.

The band will release “The Wilkes-Barre EP” on Saturday during a show at Bart & Urby’s on Main Street in Wilkes-Barre. The show starts at 9 p.m. and features supporting acts Charles Havira Band and Chuck Silsby of The Way. They will also play a music showcase tonight at River Street Jazz Cafe with Ol’ Cabbage and Hometown Heros. Doors open at 8 p.m. and admission is $5.

Ashes for Trees started as a collaboration between Kelly and drummer Conrad Miller. The group released its debut EP in August 2010. Insalaco, a professor at Wilkes University and Kelly’s guitar instructor, started playing with the band after sitting in on bass during live shows.

Miller left the band to focus on work and school, but not before contributing to “The Wilkes-Barre EP.” He co-wrote two songs on the album and also played drums. Releasing an EP featuring Miller’s work provided a sense of closure, Kelly said. She plans to move forward as a solo artist and continue work on a full-length album due in the spring.

“I don’t really want to rush it,” she said. “It’s kind of a lot to take on.

The band tried for a more organic sound on their second EP, avoiding heavily overdubbed vocals and electric guitars, Kelly said. They dabbled in different instrumentation, incorporating banjo, mandolin and melodica with acoustic guitar, bass and drums. Kelly also recognized a Celtic influence on an instrumental song “Beagan Agus A Ra Go Maith (Say Little But Say It Well),” named for an Irish proverb.

Kelly enjoys performing live, even when she’s performing alone. The solo shows have helped her overcome stage fright, she said.

“There’s nothing to hide behind. When you play solo, all eyes are on you.”

One of the most thrilling stage experiences she has had recently was playing a show with MiZ during the “Listen Local” concert series hosted by Electric City at the Scranton Cultural Center.

Singer and guitarist Mike Mizwinski and keyboardist Freeman White joined the band for Grateful Dead cover “I Know You Rider.”

“There was a not a single element of that night that was not amazing,” Kelly said.

A live recording of the performance is available online at ashesfortrees.bandcamp.com, along with the band’s first EP and other live recordings. The site will also stream the new EP after its release, Kelly said.
- Citizen's Voice

Live Video from PA Live
http://pahomepage.com/palive-details?nxd_id=273082 - WBRE News

SARA POKORNY
Jul 20

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Folk/punk singer Betty Harlot will take part in a singer/songwriter night at Nak’s by the Traks tomorrow.

Folk/punk singer Betty Harlot will take part in a singer/songwriter night at Nak’s by the Traks tomorrow.

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Folk/punk singer Betty Harlot will take part in a singer/songwriter night at Nak’s by the Traks tomorrow.
Katie Kelly is the organizer of various singer/songwriter nights throughout the valley, the latest taking place at Nak’s by the Traks in Exeter tomorrow.

Select images available for purchase in the
Times Leader Photo Store

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

What: Singer/songwriter night with Betty Harlot, Katie Kelly, Ryan Post, Stephen Q. Flannery, and Michael Kaminski.

When: 10 p.m. tomorrow.

Where: Nak’s by the Traks, 136 Penn Ave., Exeter

Cost: No cover

What: Sound for Scoliosis

• Thursday, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Irish Wolf Pub, 503 Linden St., Scranton

• July 27, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Heil’s Place, 1002 Wheeler Ave., Scranton

• July 28, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Genetti Manor, 1505 Main St., Dickson City

• July 29, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Heil’s Place

Tickets are $7 per day or $15 for a VIP pass for all four days. Email soundforscoliosis@gmail.com or call 570-558-9247.

What: The Temptations

When: Sunday. Gates open at 2 p.m., Festival Stage starts at 3 p.m., opening act at 4 p.m., Temptations at 5 p.m.

Where: Mount Laurel Performing Arts Center, 1 Tamiment Road, Tamiment

Tickets: $32.50 to $62.50 at mountlaurelpac.com.

What: Benefit Concert for Jayden and Rocky with performers KelC, Substitute and Gone Crazy.

When: 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Ole Tyme Charley’s, 31 S. River St., Plains Township

Tickets: $10

Article appeared on page 10A of the Times Leader



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Artists who deal in original music will gather for a Songwriters Night at Nak’s by the Traks in Exeter at 10 p.m. tomorrow. Headliners include folk/punk singer Betty Harlot and Katie Kelly of local band The Love Crimes. Also playing will be Ryan Post, Stephen Q. Flannery and Michael Kaminski of local band 3 to Breathe.

Read More http://www.timesleader.com/stories/Artists-who-deal-in-original-music-will-gather-for-a-Songwriters-Night-at-Nak8217s-by-the-Traks-in-Exeter-at-10-pm-tomorrow-Head?category_id=460&town_id=1&sub_type=stories#ixzz21bTBXVDG
- The Times Leader

There is an undeniable truth that the written word is important. Whether it’s bound in a book or sung out to a crowd, words usually have a way of affecting people. That is why instead of writing a book review, or sharing what new novel is coming out this week, your dear Scranton Book Examiner wants to bring your attention to an event happening right in our city. This Friday, January 27th, New Visions Studio and Gallery in Scranton will be showcasing the second in a series of shows of singer/songwriters from all over NEPA.

What’s different about this show is that it focuses more on what the song is saying instead of how loud, or popular the music is. These songs are being taken down to a minimum with an acoustic guitar, and vocals, so the artist can fully hear and most importantly feel the words of a song, and hopefully take something away from it.
“The showcase features people not only from the typical Americana and Folk Genre but also from Progressive Metal and Indie Rock,” says songwriter Katie Kelly from the Wilkes-Barre band Ashes for Tress. “When the Pixies were asked to shed their electric guitars for acoustic instruments at the Newport Folk Festival, people were a little confused, however, the songs themselves were so strong they could stand on the own --- stripped down, bare...” Ms. Kelly worked in conjunction with gallery owner Adam Weitzenkorn, to bring about this wonderful night of music, that emphasizes the fact that music is not just about the melody, but how powerful and important lyrics are to create the perfect song.

This showcase will feature multiple artists including: Charles Havira, Maria Dubiel, Ed Randazzo, Rafael Pimentel (of the band Silhouette Lies), Chuck Silsby (of the band TheWay), Donnie Kirchner, and Ms. Kelly as well.

There is a $5 dollar cover charge, and the doors open at 6pm, and the show starts at 7pm.
Charles Havira Maria Dubiel, Ed Randazzo, Rafael Pimentel (of the band Silhouette Lies), Chuck Silsby (of the band TheWay), Donnie Kirchner, and Katie Kelly (of the band Ashes for Trees)
Charles Havira Maria Dubiel, Ed Randazzo, Rafael Pimentel (of the band Silhouette Lies), Chuck Silsby (of the band TheWay), Donnie Kirchner, and Katie Kelly (of the band Ashes for Trees)
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Katie Kelly of Wilkes-Barre band Ashes for Trees

Musician Katie Kelly is putting original songs front and center at a singer/ songwriter showcase on Friday.

The Wilkes-Barre songwriter worked with Adam Weitzenkorn, owner of Scranton art gallery New Visions Studio, to produce a night of original music away from the bustling local bar scene. Her goal was to create a friendly environment for musicians to play their original songs uninhibited by noisy, inattentive crowds.

Kelly drew inspiration for the event from a poetry night hosted by Scranton's Vintage Theater. She was particularly impressed by the rapt attention the audience paid to poets and performers.

"I really thought that would be awesome to do for singer songwriters," she said.

She said she also hopes the event will help create a stronger network between local musicians, providing a source of feedback, admiration and respect.

"We're really hoping it will catch on and be a haven for singers and songwriters to go," she said.

Performers at the all ages acoustic show include Kelly, Charles Havira, Maria Dubiel, Ed Randazzo, Rafael Pimentel of Silhouette Lies, Chuck Silsby of The Way and Donnie Kirchner. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7. There is a $5 cover.

Read more: http://citizensvoice.com/arts-living/showcase-puts-local-music-center-stage-1.1262473#ixzz1kbcRtuaC
- Citizen's Voice

SONG PREMIERE: Wilkes-Barre folk rockers Charming Beards mourn ‘Jakob’ and celebrate new EP
SONG PREMIERE: Wilkes-Barre folk rockers Charming Beards mourn ‘Jakob’ and celebrate new EP
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As we look back at 2017 and remember those we’ve lost, The Charming Beards have the perfect mournful, but beautiful song to memorialize those who have passed on.

Before the Wilkes-Barre folk rock band plays their EP release party at The Keys in downtown Scranton and makes a special radio appearance this Friday, Jan. 5, they’re premiering the song “Jakob” from that new album, “Out of the Valley,” exclusively on NEPA Scene.

Describing their sound with their own term, “outerfolk,” the singer/songwriter tunes of vocalist and guitarist Katie Kelly weave in and out of the folk genre as she and bassist/vocalist Lisa Dietterich and guitarist/vocalist Jordan Hine blend blues, pop rock, and alternative instrumentation to create something that doesn’t fit easily into set labels, and the music is better for it.

“It’s been particularly difficult to nail down a genre to label the band; the overall sound has definitely not been static. The band formed after the release of my solo album, but all the songs have taken shape because of the variety of backgrounds the members come from,” Kelly told NEPA Scene.

“It’s a highly collaborative effort. Lisa and Jordan have truly brought the songs to life. Lisa comes from a diverse background, from metalcore to progressive rock, and Jordan is a beast at blues guitar. Both have such a great intuition as to where to take the songs.”

“Jakob” isn’t named after anyone Kelly knew personally, instead representing anyone who has died and is missed by loved ones left behind.

“‘Jakob’ is a very mournful song that acts as the narrator’s catharsis over the death of a loved one,” she explained.

“The narrator is left in the aftermath of a tragic death, painfully ruminating over the fact that she stands alone, here, questioning whether there was more she could have done to save her loved one. Naturally, the question remains unanswered, and the song ends with her left simply hollow.”



The band started work on the EP in April at JL Studios in Olyphant, working with Joe Loftus, Jay Preston, and drummer Dante Ceccarelli to slowly sculpt its four tracks throughout the year. They have nine songs partially completed for a full-length release but, for now, they wanted to make something that captured their live sound.

Forming The Charming Beards in 2012 and changing members over the years, Kelly has released four EPs and one full-length album during her career, becoming a staple in the Northeastern Pennsylvania music scene while collaborating with various local artists, including Mark Wohl of Mind Choir, recording an as-yet-unreleased synth-heavy EP with him.

“I’m looking forward to the new year and sharing new music. As with any new material, I can’t wait to hear what Jordan and Lisa will do with it,” she said.

“In September, we released our first single, ‘Out of the Valley,’ and named this EP after that song. It’s very divergent from the rest of the tracks but carries a message we’d truly like to emphasize. The opioid epidemic in our Valley has affected each of us personally and unfortunately affected many others. We wanted to let people know to reach out and help or reach out for help.

“The title track is dedicated to Marla Hunter, one of the most beautiful people I ever had the pleasure of knowing.”

NEPA Scene and 1120 Studios photographer Keith Perks designed the cover art for the album, which will be released on Jan. 5 on iTunes, Amazon, and Bandcamp, with a limited number of physical copies available at shows and on Bandcamp. The Charming Beards will celebrate that night with a free live performance at the Alt 92.1 Radio Theater (149 Penn Ave., Scranton) from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. during the First Friday art walk, followed by an EP release show at The Keys (244 Penn Ave., Scranton) just up the street with Zayre Mountain and E57. Doors open at 8 p.m., and the cover is $3.

“We absolutely love The Keys and are so happy to celebrate there,” Kelly enthused. “We are very grateful for everyone we had the opportunity to work with [on this EP].”

“Jakob,” she said, embodies the vibe of “Out of the Valley” and showcases how well the current lineup works together, which will be on full display this Friday.

“The chemistry between Jordan, Lisa, and I is very present on this track,” Kelly noted.

“Dante Ceccarelli’s drum tracks are very expressive and massive. Lisa’s melodic bass lines and Jordan’s raw, emotive guitar are key elements on the EP.” - NEPA Scene