Special guest Carlene Carter of country royalty the Carter Family opened the show with a lively solo set of old-time gospel and country tunes, many of which tied in with the music of her late mother, June Carter Cash, and grandmother, Mother Maybelle.

Mellencamp and his bandmates — violinist Miriam Sturm, accordionist Troye Kinnett, electric guitarist Andy York, bassist John E. Gee, and drummer Dane Clark — followed Carter with a slightly formal set of new tracks from his recently released album Plain Spoken (Republic Records) and classic hits like “Small Town,” “Check it Out,” and a stripped-down version of “Jack & Diane.”

Charleston-based musician and longtime Mellencamp fan Bruce Szego touched base with Metronome CHarleston this week about his experience at the concert. “The show was very good,” he said. “I thought Carlene Cater was an excellent choice for the opening act. Her set was interesting as far as her choice of songs. She surprised me as an accomplished pianist, and her voice was strong, and on pitch all evening. She is a great entertainer.”

“Mellencamp and company were great,” he added. “The audio mix was superb. I thought the players were very tasteful, as far as the two guitarist all night. The drummer was solid, like a metronome. The only negative criticism I have is the keyboards could have been a little stronger threw the sound system. The stage setup was kind of old-school, simple — and that is a good thing. Mellencamp’s vocals were still strong, and his stage performance fine. I liked his newer material as well. I enjoyed the selection of songs all night. It was an enjoyable evening for sure! I would sum up the evening in three words: Mellencamp still rocks.”

For more than five years, the club’s Charleston-centric T.R.O.M. (Tin Roof Open Mic Comedy) series has provided a great opportunity for established and up-and-coming local stand-ups to try out new material and showcase some of their strongest stuff on stage. Designed as a monthly open mic night (with free pizza from Little Caesar’s), T.R.O.M. is usually hosted by local stand-up/improv/sketch veteran Jason Groce.

Jason Groce at the Tin Roof (photo by Ballard Lesemann)

Last week, on Sun. March 22, busy Charleston comedian Jeremy McClellan (pictured above) filled in as host to welcome 10 performers to stage. Fresh off his recent assignment as Charleston Fashion Week correspondent for CharlestonGrit.com, McClellan looked and sounded particularly sharp.

Sunday’s official roster featured McClellan as the emcee and opening act followed by Joseph Coker, Hunter Gardner, Lily Slay, Andy Rider, Peter Schwartz, J.T. Hooper, Michael Clayton, Bill Davis, Hagan Chase Ragland, and Metronome Charleston’s own Jessica Mickey. Each comedian delivered solid stuff and earned more than a big laughs. Several rookie performers tried out a few things after the show on the still-open mic.

The monthly T.R.O.M. series continues in April with a show set for Sun. April 12 at 8 p.m. Admission is always free. Visit charlestontinroof.com and the venue’s Facebook page for more.

Photos by Ballard Lesemann.

The evening kicked off with a lively and challenging comedy team trivia hosted by Lesemann as the crowd trickled in for the big show. By the time the performances started, the room was packed full of enthusiastic comedy fans and supporters.

It’s difficult to pick out any stand-out moments of the night, as there were so many, but Peter Schwartz as Mitch Hedburg (his vocal mannerisms and delivery was impeccable), Moey Conway as Judy Tenuta (she nailed Tenuta’s brash, loud, and manic style), Henry Riggs as Steve Martin (complete with a banjo and an arrow through his head), and Tim Hoeckel as Jeff Dunham (seriously, if you missed his take on Dunham and his racist puppets, kick yourself) were particularly memorable.

The show served as a reminder about the incredible amount of comedic talent here in the Lowcountry, as well as why many participants started doing comedy in the first place—to have fun and make people laugh. Here at Metronome Charleston, we can’t thank everyone who attended or participated enough. We’re already looking forward to next year!

“The second annual BamBOOZEled!: The Greatest Comedic Acts of All Time Under One (Tin) Roof” included (in no particular order):

Ballard Lesemann as host Rodney Dangerfield

Andy Livengood as Andy Kaufman

Andy Rider as Julian McCullough

Jessica Mickey as Andrew “Dice” Clay and Neil Hamburger

Ryan Firster as Doug Benson

Hunter Gardner as Brooks Whealon

Jason Groce as Dave Attell

Dan Hanf as Chris Gethard

Henry Riggs as Steve Martin

Mike Brocki as Henny Youngman

Drew Howard as Bill Hicks

Brett Nash & Jason Groce as Craig T. Nelson & Barry Levinson

Kristen Spinney as Weird Al Yankovic

Peter Schwartz as Mitch Hedberg

Jeremy McLellan as Brian Regan

Marge Marshall as Chelsea Peretti

Tim Hoeckel as Jeff Dunham

Michael Clayton as Sam Kinison

Lain Healey as John Mulaney

David Corley as Larry the Cable Guy

Moey Conway as Judy Tenuta

Donald “Soup” Lindemann as George Carlin

Photos by Ballard Lesemann.

Acoustic singer/songwriter Stephanie Santana returned to Charleston from her new digs in Columbia to kick things off. Synth/turntable project Mr. Jenkins (Nick Jenkins on keys and vocals and DJ Lanatron on the table and mixers) performed early in the evening. Songsmith/multi-instrumentalist Jack Burg’s Punks&Snakes cranked up next (with a Metronome Charleston fill-in on drums), followed by a three-piece version of local garage-rock act Dumb Doctors and a duo version of Columbia indie pop group Those Lavender Whales.

Amusingly smart-ass San Francisco rock trio Couches played a loud, distorted, shoegazer set, followed by guitarist Lee Barbour’s dynamic instrumental trio Post Cobra. Hamilton’s Mechanical River spirit pervaded the whole thing.

Photos by Jessica Mickey and Ballard Lesemann.

Upon arrival, singer/tambourinist Manfred Jones, guitarist Jeff Walls, drummer Dan “Electro” Hall, and bassist Patrick “Buzz” Hagstrom weren’t so sure they’d fit on the cozy bar-side stage, but they squeezed together and did their twist ‘n’ jive rock show with no problem. They even pulled off many of their choreographed moves and high-kicks without knockin’ each other over.

Jones and company rendered plenty of material from  their latest studio collection The Big Beat (Wicked Cool), and delighted a few old-school fans with classics from their early-’90s 45s and LPs as well.

Local rock duo the Frizz — singer/guitarist Rob Kampert and drummer Neil Thomas — hammered through a fuzzed-up set of originals early in the night, following Nashville-based openers Matt Butcher and the Schoolyard Band, who provided some impressively tight power-pop with vintage tones and youthful vigor.

Visit thewoggles.com and theroyalamerican.com for more.

Photos by Ballard Lesemann and Bryant Stowe.

Metronome Charleston celebrated year number two with a fun bash at the Tin Roof on Sept. 13. Six teams signed on for the pre-show Rock ‘n’ Roll Trivia game (the team “Darius Fucker” won concert tickets and Tin Roof bar cash).

Lindsay Holler and the Western Polaroids kicked things off with a dynamic set (and me filling in on bass guitar). One-man band Scott Dence (of Dumb Doctors, Boring Portals) rocked a bass drum, high-hat, and six-string through a loud and rowdy set of originals. The Danielle Howle Band — led by veteran songsmith Danille Howle — wowed the crowd with some soulful new tunes. Sexbruise plugged in their synths, drum machines, and guitars for a late-evening rap-dance party (the Coolio nod and “middle school dance” jam went over quite well).

Proceeds benefitted the bands, Metronome’s website expenses, and Camp Happy Days. Visit facebook.com/MetronomeCharleston for more.

Photos by Ballard Lesemann and Jessica Mickey.

Vocalist Jenna Ave Lallemant rendered “Beat on the Brat” with an ethereal flair. Multi-instrumentalist Jack Burg’s Punks & Snakes rocked four deep cuts and hits. The versatile quartet Glowgoyle looked and sounded cool with singer Dan Hanf in full Joey Ramone-meets-Freddy Mercury gear.

Puke’s own band, the Space Fags, played a punk set late in the evening followed by trad-punkers First World Problem and garage-rock quartet Bully Pulpit. (They even let yours truly take a stab at three songs on guitar with Jack Burg sitting in on drums).

More than $500 was raised from the proceeds to benefit Tin Roof pal Blowfly’s in his struggle to pay off debts and save his house (see facebook.com/BlowflyOfficial for more). Gabba gabba hey!

(photos by Ballard Lesemann and Jessica Mickey)

Ray LaMontagne at the PAC (photo by Ballard Lesemann)

Led by sister/brother team Barbara Gruska (drums/vocals) and Ethan Gruska (guitar/vocals), the melodic, harmony-driven Belle Brigade (from California) hopped through a very brief opening set between 7:30-8 p.m. Some in the audience seemed indifferent and uninterested, but the band’s upbeat and cheerful performance, which consisted mostly of songs from their new album Just Because, won several new fans over.

The willowy Jenny Lewis (formerly of Rilo Kiley) showcased her new album The Voyager (her first solo album in six years) with a solid set of soulful pop songs. The California-based songwriter sang beautifully and instantly charmed many of the LaMontagne fans who were new to her guitar-driven pop ditties and melancholic piano ballads. The band’s a cappella version of Lewis’s “Acid Tongue” at the end of the set was a highlight.

LaMontagne’s massive summer tour is still rolling across the country in support of his latest album, Supernova, released in April via the RCA label. On the new collection, the intense, soul-tinged, raspy-voiced songwriter veered away from the folk-rock and soul of his previous releases (including the brassy and romantic hit “You Are the Best Thing”) and aimed for a more tripped-out, psychedelic pop-rock style.

Some fans in the crowd seemed uncomfortable with the new grooves and vibes, but LaMontagne’s tight band (which included Belle Brigade’s Barbara Gruska on the kit) were rock-solid, and he sang with the soulful, beaten-but-not-defeated style that drove much of his music through his early years.

Photos by Ballard Lesemann.

The R*A*Ts are doing a handful of “reunion” shows tied into the indie label Merge Records’ (Carrboro, N.C.) 25th anniversary festival this summer. Our first shows in 12 years were “warm-up gigs” here in town on May 16 at the Royal American and on May 17 the Tin Roof. We had main songwriter Chris Lopez on guitar, keys, and lead vocals; Justin Hughes on guitar and vocals; Will Joiner on bass and vocals, and guest/pal Michelle DuBois on keys, vocals, and extra percussion.

The Rock*A*Teens formed in the Cabbagetown neighborhood of Atlanta in 1994 as a twangy pop/rock band with a vintage sound. I joined in 1998, replacing original drummer Chris Verene.

The band released a handful of reverb-drenched collections on the Daemon and Merge labels in the late ’90s and early 2000s.

The band has a string of spring and summer shows booked in support of Merge’s re-release of the 2000 double-album Sweet Bird of Youth (due on vinyl on June 3).

Here a few snapshots from the first two shows (thanks to Jessica Mickey and Devin Grant!). Check out the band’s Facebook page for more.

Bully Pulpit bassist Thomas Concannon’s other local band Fiasco opened the show early in the evening followed by songsmith Scott Dence’s hard-hitting quartet Dumb Doctors and dynamic Savannah trio CUSSES, fronted by flamboyant vocalist Angel Bond.

Guitarists Rex Stickel and Tyler Davis stood on either side of rowdy lead singer Danny Kavanaugh during Bully Pulpit’s loud, late-night set. Drummer David Bair was battling a high fever, but his timing and fills never suffered. Concannon stood mid-stage with his Fender, long curls hanging low. Singer Lily Slay (of the Royal Tinfoil) stepped on stage to sing backups on a song toward the end of the night. A rendition of Sam the Sham’s “Woolly Bully” helped close the event. It all rocked well.