Scott Tady: No 'Ssssh’ing' at Ambridge library concerts; Jimmie Ross releases CD and PALM stays put

Music Mondays begin May 1 at Laughlin Memorial Library in Ambridge.

From 5-6 p.m., the library hosts free, live outdoor performances by local musicians.

The schedule:

May 1: Meg Smith as Quintessential Acoustic covering Paul Simon, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jason Isbell, Bonnie Raitt and more.

May 8: Holly Mathias, singer-songwriter and leader of the Irish music/sea chanty jams at Aunt Bridget's Tea Room in Ambridge.

May 15 James Tobin & The Dewey Decimators, classic-rock/Americana.

May 22 Amy Lynn from jazz-rock band Hot Metal Horns.

"It’s a pleasure to play on the library's historic front porch while folks from the neighborhood stroll past with pets and babies, often stopping to do a little dance," Tobin said. "We often get honks of support from passing motorists as well. Our band, The Dewey Decimators, was formed during this event, as we discovered we enjoyed playing music together. I never thought we could be so loud at a library without getting 'ssssh’d,' but that’s what happens when the drummer is a librarian."

The Dewey Decimators' percussionist, Julie Mulcahy, is director at Laughlin Memorial Library, and regularly organizes community events.

"We are happy to be a part of it," Tobin said.

The PALM stays put in Ambridge

The Performing Arts Legends Museum (PALM) will remain in Ambridge.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, and 1-4 p.m. Sundays, visitors can pop into the PALM, at 1426 Merchant St., to see artifacts from regional music luminaries like Jimmie Ross & The Jaggerz, the Skyliners, The Vogues, Bobby Vinton, Perry Como, Granati Brothers, Lou Christie, B.E. Taylor, The Marcels, Henry Mancini, Norm Nardini, Etta Cox and Donnie Iris.

Opened in early 2021, founder Elbie Yaworsky closed the museum earlier this year when selling the building.

There were tentative plans to move the museum's collection to a display space inside the Beaver Valley Mall.

But the new owner of the original red-brick location, in Ambridge's Historic District, is now leasing the space to the PALM, enabling it to stay put, Yaworsky said.

More: Corinne Bailey Rae, KT Tunstall,Taj Mahal among headliners for 3 Rivers Arts Festival

Seeing a correlation between local music lovers and craft beer drinkers, "(I'm) Looking to partner with Fermata and Altered Genius (breweries) to increase our visitors," Yaworsky said.

Jimmie Ross keeps rolling

Jimmie Ross soulfully sinks his velvety voice into a variety of pop, R&B, and show tune classics on his new CD.

The 15-song collection, "The Best of Jimmie Ross," ranges from his horns-fueled take on the century-old folk standard "Stagger Lee" to a faithful reworking of "Gotta Find My Way Back Home" from his chart-topping Beaver Valley band The Jaggerz.

Ross namechecks the Allegheny, Ohio and Monongahela in the jaunty "Move Across the River," by Bill Pinkney & The Original Drifters, and croons a line from the Young Rascals' "Groovin'" to embellish the ending of "Never Found Me a Girl." Both those Ross album tracks brim with piano and keyboard twinkling from his Jaggerz bandmate Hermie Granati.

The unmistakable pretty voice of Beaver County's Donna Groom graces "It's Gonna Take a Miracle" paired with Little Anthony's "I'm on The Outside (Looking In)." Ross and Groom did that duet last weekend at a packed Palace Theatre in Greensburg.

Ross smoothly musters the emotional feels to The Manhattans' "Kiss and Say Goodbye," and injects a little extra clap back on a cover of The Jaggerz' rendition of Mayer Hawthorne's "The Walk."

The album ends with his touching version of "The Impossible Dream" dedicated to his late mother.

The tracks on the album "are some of my favorite songs that I've recorded over the years with The Jaggerz and by myself," the Center Township resident said. "Almost all my dreams in the music business have come true. I've played The Copa in New York, Madison Square Garden, Las Vegas and Atlantic City, sang the National Anthem for the Pirates and Steelers, been on numerous television shows including "American Bandstand," received the Pittsburgh Legends award and was awarded keys to the city. Also an award from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and a Gold record for 'The Rapper." I even sang in Pompeii, Italy. I've recently become a grandfather for the first time. I guess my aspirations now would be to win the lottery and be nominated for a Grammy."

He might settle for selling a big batch of "The Best of Jimmie Ross" CDs, which cost $21.50 including postage and handling. Send checks or money orders to The Best of Jimmie Ross, PO Box 1311, Aliquippa 15001.

Hopewell-featured film gets release date

Partially filmed in Hopewell Township, Oscar-winner director Ethan Coen's road trip comedy "Drive Away Dolls" was given a Sept. 22 release date.

The tagline: "Jamie regrets his breakup with his girlfriend while Marian needs to relax. In search of a fresh start, they embark on an unexpected road trip to Tallahassee, but things quickly go awry when they cross paths with a group of inept criminals."

Filmed throughout the Pittsburgh area, "Drive Away Dolls" stars Pedro Pascal (HBO's "The Last of Us"), Matt Damon and Margaret Qually ("Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.")

Hard Rock show

Promising alternative/hard-rock band Victoria Fire, with drummer Dean Burlon Jr. of Beaver, performs May 3 at the Hard Rock Cafe-Pittsburgh.

They're joined by Pittsburgh rock quartet SuperMonkey, which has worked with producer Dave Hillis (engineer on Pearl Jam's "Ten"), has albums on shelves in record stores nationwide, and 2023 tour dates throughout the East Coast.

As if those bands aren't enough, the Hard Rock's headliners that night are The Rumours, from Waterloo, Iowa. No, not a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, The Rumours are a hard-driving trio with "the hooks, the looks and the loud guitars that will have your heart hurting and begging for more," according to their label's website.

Tickets are $10 in advance at hardrockcafe.com, or $12 at the door. Music starts at 8 p.m.

Free coconuts at Monty Python screening

And now for something completely different.

On May 6, the legendary "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" screens at The Rangos Giant Cinema in Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh.

Upon entry, each ticketed guest for the 5:30 p.m. screening will receive two coconut shells.

The low-budget 1975 film famously and funnily banged together coconut shells to replicate the sound of horses, which the cast mimicked riding.

Tickets for the 89-minute PG-13 comedy cost $12 at CarnegieScienceCenter.org."Come quote and sing along to the film, or just clack your coconuts together," the science center says. "Costumes are strongly encouraged."

More: Cowboy Junkies lyricist talks tour, new songs & alt-country/folk band's legacy

Scott Tady can be reached at stady@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Tady: Ambridge library hosts concerts; Jimmie Ross releases; PALM stays put