Troy and Ken started this band about 3 years ago, Marilyn singing vocals, Rud on drums, Wayne on keys. They rehearsed in a space on Rhawn Street, and managed to bang out a few strong original songs in the process. After Marilyn came Hilary, then Kathlyn, after Rud came Darren, and after Wayne came Jim with a second guitar in place of keys. After Rhawn Street came Kenny’s basement and Scotty’s stadium-worthy PA complete with giant mixing board which only he can interpret correctly, a bunch more songs, and the name Almshouse–Kenny’s inspired replacement for Claymonsters (Troy’s lonely and much maligned idea). One exciting show at Puck Live in February 2014 was followed by another shakeup when Kathlyn left for another project.

And then, after Medea disbanded, I was fronting Almshouse. I was thrilled to be collaborating on new songs with Troy and Ken, and also to be interpreting the band’s earlier tunes. We did a bunch of fun shows in 2014, including a rainy performance at the Northern Liberties Fall Music Fest in September, a well-attended, great-sounding show at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia — where we got some good video — and then we closed out the year with a sold-out kick-ass Boxing Day party at Maxwell’s on Main in Doylestown. Somehow Troy and Ken got through that show sounding amazing, despite the fact that they were both half-dead from the flu. True pros those guys.

And now, it’s the three of us –Troy and Ken and I — getting ready to do an “unplugged” performance at Puck in May, opening for Bucks-based alternative rockers Thirty-Six Thirty. We’re excited about the experimental format, some great new material, and our plans to start a recording project in the coming months. This blog right here will tell that story, and some other stories too.

In the meantime, put May 9th @ Puck Live in the calendar so you can hear Almshouse as a trio for one night only, then fasten your seatbelts as we continue the ride…