(PHILADELPHIA, NJ) -- Chris Pinnella wants you to make it an extended Valentine's Day Weekend this year. His concert, Chris Pinnella: Live in Philly, A (Valentine's) Livestream Concert Event, will go live on Monday, February 15th at 8:00pm and will then be available on-demand. Reimagined versions of classics by The Beatles, The Righteous Brothers, Leonard Cohen, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, James Bay, Simon and Garfunkel, and many more will be part of a varied setlist comprising some of the most beautiful and uplifting songs of the last century.
“Each song is tailored to my vocal sound, so if the set list seems eclectic - I promise it’ll all make sense when you tune in,” says the singer with a laugh. “On the production end of things, we are pulling out all the stops with top tier sound design and lighting which will make it really feel like a concert — something that we’ve all been craving for some time.”
For this night, Pinnella will be bringing his 8-Piece Orchestra which will feature a small string section led by Violinist GINA CORSO, who has shared the stage with Josh Groban, Michael Buble, 2 Cellos, Lindsey Stirling, Cage the Elephant and Il Volo to name a few. Pinnella’s uncle MICHAEL PINNELLA of the internationally renowned prog-rock band Symphony X will be on Piano and last, but not least, powerhouse vocalist CHLOE LOWERY who has toured and recorded with Yanni, Chris Botti, Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Broadway’s Rocktopia has been tapped as Pinnella’s very special guest, collaborating on a number of songs for the evening.
The process is simple to access the show: Simply purchase your ticket online, then the day of the show you will be sent an email with a live stream link -- as early as 1 hour prior to showtime guests will be allowed into the 'virtual lobby' where they'll be able to view behind the scenes footage and some clips from soundcheck. For those that can't make the show at 8:00pm, you can still watch it On Demand for 48-hours after the initial performance concludes.
A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit NIVA (National Independent Venue Association) more commonly known as #saveourstages -- directly benefiting independent music venues around the country during the pandemic and its aftermath. Tickets are $25. Click here to purchase a ticket online. “It’s important to keep this out in the public eye that independent venues are struggling and some have even closed their doors for good. These venues are not only springboards for up and coming artists but creative labs and outlets for musicians to cultivate their sound and build up an audience and following. This particular concert is designed to bring people together, whether that’s family that’s across the country, loved ones, couples, or friends. I think what we’ve been missing this past year, really, has been that human connection and interaction. If we can make that happen through our music I think it will help ease people through what is still proving to be a difficult year for most.”
At this time of the year, Chris Pinnella is normally gearing up for multiple concert dates across the tri-state area. Pinnella, who has been compared to the likes of superstars Josh Groban and Michael Buble has, like most in the live entertainment industry, been changing gears over the last 365 days or so with inventive ideas to keep himself, his musicians and his production team working.
“We’ve done just about everything so far, from small in-person outdoor concerts to large outdoor drive-in concerts, backyard concerts, livestream concerts, pre-taped online concerts, to finally moving back indoors with very strict capacity limits at some clubs and theaters,” Pinnella said. Pinnella and company were the first act back inside the historic Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank this past December and also the first act back inside Algonquin Arts Theatre in Manasquan this past November. “We’ve been working very closely with local venues in the area to make sure that all is well and then rolling up our sleeves to see what we can (and can’t) do in terms of making something safely happen for people,” the singer says.
The livestream concert event billed as ‘LIVE FROM PHILLY’ is scheduled for Monday February 15th at 8:00pm est and will air via ticketing and streaming platform Stellar. The singer says he chose Stellar because it’s built for musicians and it's ridiculously easy to use and access. For example, ticket holders simply click the link, purchase their ticket, create a login, then when it’s the day of the show they are sent an email with their stream access link — click the link and you are granted access to the virtual lobby, which starts at 7:00pm and will be filled with behind the scenes footage, clips from soundcheck, and some special messages from the band. The concert will start promptly at 8:00pm. “The added feature that I love about this platform is that I’ll have a monitor downstage of me so I will be able to fully interact with the audience throughout the night. I’ll be able to see your comments and reactions to the show in real time,” Pinnella says.
The New Jersey native began his career professionally at the age of 16 after an audition for Maestro Fr. Alphonse Stephenson & the Orchestra of St. Peter performing with the orchestra on and off throughout his career. Chris went on to pursue music and received his degree from Marymount Manhattan College in NYC. Post college he worked off-Broadway and regional theatre and had the opportunity to portray the title role of Simeon in the New Musical 'Simeon's Gift' which was co-written by icon Julie Andrews and her daughter Emma Walton-Hamilton. Pinnella spent a month with Ms. Andrews and the 6-person cast at Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, NY working side by side until the shows premiere. Pinnella also worked alongside Emmy, Oscar winning arranger Ian Fraser and the Tony nominated John Bucchino and Tony nominated director Marcia Milgrom Dodge (B'Way's Ragtime) on the project.
