Charleston Rocks on the Fourth: Memories and Hits
With most folks celebrating Independence Day on Thursday, July 4 and on Friday, July 5, there’s no shortage of rock show celebration going down this week around the Lowcountry. Various local bands — some new and raw, and some well-seasoned and experienced — are booked for big nights at clubs, restaurants, and festival grounds. Metronome Charleston caught up with a few key players to find out what their plans of action might be.
Scott Sain (PlaneJane, vocals and guitar)
What’s your favorite Fourth of July rock ‘n’ roll memory?
“My family taking me to see Captain & Tenille at Carowinds when I was maybe four!”
If you could include the ultimate Fourth of July theme song in the set, which song would it be and why?
“‘Fireworks’ by Katy Perry. We rock that song!”
You’ll know you’ve successfully entertained a Fourth of July crowd when…
“When they are shooting Roman Candles at us.”
PlaneJane and the Blue Dogs will co-headline the 4th of July Festival in North Charleston at the Riverfront Park on Thurs. July 4 from 3-9 p.m.
Bobby Houck (The Blue Dogs, vocals and guitar)
What’s your favorite Fourth of July rock ‘n’ roll memory?
“This is not very rock ‘n’ roll, but it is one of my favorite July 4 memories. In the first two years of the Blue Dogs, we lived in Richmond, Virginia, so on one of those 4ths, we decided to wrangle together a big crew and go to the Mall in D.C. and do the whole picnic/drink/watch-the-Beach Boys thing, and we did it up. The thing I remember most is, all the way from there, walking back downtown and taking the subway, we were singing the national anthem and getting everyone around us to do the same. Over and over and over, like the inebriated patriotic fools that we were. Good times.”
If you could include the ultimate Fourth of July theme song in the set, which song would it be and why?
“Ray Charles’ ‘America the Beautiful.’ I don’t think I have to say why!”
You’ll know you’ve successfully entertained a Fourth of July crowd when…
“When the Windjammer’s ‘get-the-hell-out’ buzzer goes off and you’re still on stage!”
The Blue Dogs and PlaneJane will co-headline the 4th of July Festival in North Charleston at the Riverfront Park on Thurs. July 4 from 3-9 p.m. The Blue Dogs and special guests will also share the main stage on Fri. July 5 with support from Asheville-based band the Honeycutters.
JP Treadaway (BYOG, drums)
What’s your favorite Fourth of July rock ‘n’ roll memory?
“We honestly really haven’t known each other long enough to have had a particular Independence Day memory, so we’re hoping that this year will surely take the cake. Although Phish’s two-night run in Alpharetta in 2010 was pretty epic when the band opened with ‘Star Spangled Banner’ and later covered ‘Killing in the Name’ out of ‘Harpua’ during the second set.”
If you could include the ultimate Fourth of July theme song in the set, which song would it be and why?
“The first thing that comes to mind is probably ‘Fortunate Son’ by C.C.R. and/or ‘U.S. Blues’ by the Grateful Dead, which is kind of ironic because both are, in a way, mocking some of the underlying implications of Independence Day. But again, those were just the first two things that came to mind.”
You’ll know you’ve successfully entertained a Fourth of July crowd when…
“When people come up to us on the 5th and complain of soreness from dancing too much.”
Local jam-rockers BYOG will share the Pour House stage with singer/guitarist Brock Butler (of Savannah’s Perpetual Groove), and local rock combo Gaslight Street on Thurs. July 4 at 9 p.m.
Whitt Algar (Gaslight Street, keys and vocals)
What’s your favorite Forth of July rock ‘n’ roll memory?
“Putting on a show with Mofro and Live Oak at Bowen’s Island in 2005. We were playing Led Zeppelin’s ‘In My Time of Dying’ with lightning going off all around us. It was surreal, to say the least. We exceeded capacity out there by a couple of hundred. [Owner] Robert Barber was not too pleased with me.”
If you could include the ultimate Fourth of July theme song in the set, which song would it be and why?
“Ray Charles’ version of ‘America the Beautiful.’ It’s an American classic done in blues and jazz form, which are also American-born art forms.”
You’ll know you’ve successfully entertained a Fourth of July crowd when…
“When they’ve actually stayed through all the fireworks and 12 hours of drinking. We live for those hardcore fans.”
Rock/soul combo Gaslight Street will share the Pour House stage with singer/guitarist Brock Butler (of Savannah’s Perpetual Groove) and local jam-rockers BYOG on Thurs. July 4 at 9 p.m.
Blake Ohlson (Steel Petals, vocals and guitar)
What’s your favorite Fourth of July rock ‘n’ roll memory?
“Although it wasn’t the Fourth, playing ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ in front of a crowd in the octagon at the North Charleston Coliseum before an Ultimate Fighting Competition was pretty much a pinnacle moment. Only thing better would have been a Rex Kwan Do battle.”
If you could include the ultimate Fourth of July theme song in the set, which song would it be and why?
“I’ll take the Black Crowes’ Amorica on any given holiday. As for a song, Steel Petals’ ‘Bon Homme Richard.’ That song is about John Paul Jones, who is considered to be the father of the American Navy. Outsized and outnumbered, his defeat of the British vessel Serapis helped forge a major victory in the American Revolution. It also sent a message to the world that the new kid on the block was done taking orders.”
You’ll know you’ve successfully entertained a Fourth of July crowd when…
“Our guitars ring your ears louder than any cannon in Charleston.”
Blue-rock trio Steel Petals and guests will the stage at the Sullivan’s Island Home Team BBQ at 10 p.m. on Thurs. July 4.
Ben Dante (Dante’s Camaro, vocals)
What’s your favorite Fourth of July rock ‘n’ roll memory?
“The Fourth of July, 2007, at Folly Beach. There was fan retaliation. Someone slashed all four tires on the Dante’s ‘band van.’ Also, the Folly fans keyed side of the ‘band van.’ The thing was, we didn’t have a band van. We travel by limo and lear only. True story; ask Eric Rickert.”
If you could include the ultimate Fourth of July theme song in the set, which song would it be and why?
“‘Common Man Boogie’ — Dusty Rhodes’ theme song. Why? If you’re a common man, as Dusty Rhodes most assuredly is, dreams are all you will ever have. Why don’t you get a Mercedes Benz and be a real man?”
You’ll know you’ve successfully entertained a Fourth of July crowd when…
“We’re on the tarmac with a plane full of pretty ladies, counting the money from another sold-out show.”
Local hard-rock band Dante’s Camaro will take the Tin Roof stage at 10 p.m. on Thurs. July 4.
Donnie Polk (Weird Science, guitar and vocals)
What’s your favorite Fourth of July rock ‘n’ roll memory?
“My best Fourth of July memory is taping six bottle rockets together and launching it all from a trombone … once again, ‘freedom’ in the form of a dangerous pyrotechnic stunt.”
If you could include the ultimate Fourth of July theme song in the set, which song would it be and why?
“The ultimate July 4th song would be ‘Yankee Rose’ by David Lee Roth because it has a talking guitar — and nothing says freedom like a talking guitar.”
You’ll know you’ve successfully entertained a Fourth of July crowd when…
“When you puke from drinking a bunch of red, white, and blue shots, and it resembles the flag when it hits the ground. That’s alcoholic strategery right there.”
Party-rock band Weird Science will perform on the Windjammer’s the main stage at 10 p.m. on Thurs. July 4.
Patrick Blake (Whiskey Diablo, vocals and guitar)
What’s your favorite Fourth of July rock ‘n’ roll memory?
“We played outside right on the harbor in Baltimore on the Fourth of July one year. The temperature was in the 100s and very humid. The Average White Band was playing across the water at another outdoor venue that was a bit larger, so we had a little sound war. I’m pretty sure we lost that one.”
If you could include the ultimate Fourth of July theme song in the set, which song would it be and why?
“Well, Chicago’s ‘Saturday in the Park’ immediately comes to mind, but I’m going with C.C.R.’s ‘Fortunate Son.’ I’ve always enjoyed the forward momentum and almost cheery feel that the music has, and lyrically it questions the reasons and ideas of patriotism. There is a certain contradiction between the music and lyrics that I find interesting.”
You’ll know you’ve successfully entertained a Fourth of July crowd when…
“At least one person is running around naked or semi-naked with an American Flag screaming, ‘Happy Fourth of July!'”
Rock trio Whiskey Diablo will play on the creekside stage at Morgan Creek Grill on the Isle of Palms between 4:30-7:30 p.m. on Thurs. July 4.
Nathaniel Irvin (The 33’s, vocals)
What’s your favorite Fourth of July rock ‘n’ roll memory?
“One: Drinking Rainier beer on a high hill in the Marin Headlands watching the fireworks of Oakland, Marin, and San Francisco light up the foggy night while blasting Jimi Hendrix’s version of the national anthem.
Two: Another was spent in a bothy in the Highlands of Scotland, singing ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ with a Royal Marine Commando, a Scottish Para, an Irish Gurkha, a U.K. Polar Explorer, a mustachioed man from York, a Highlander, and a U.S. Army Ranger. Good day that was.
Three: Opening up for Lower Class Brats.”
If you could include the ultimate Fourth of July theme song in the set, which song would it be and why?
“We, the 33’s, are covering one of the most patriotic and historically accurate American theme songs ever written: ‘America (Fuck Yeah)’ from the original soundtrack to Team America: World Police [2004]. Because it’s fucking awesome, thats why.”
You’ll know you’ve successfully entertained a Fourth of July crowd when…
“Al Michaels is asking if we believe in miracles, the crowd is chanting, ‘U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A!,’ and Ivan Drago is sprawled unconscious across the canvas.”
The 33’s will headline a free Independence Day show with Greenseer at Big Gun Burger at 9 p.m. on Fri. July 5.
* Top photo: the late Buddy Miles on his stars ‘n’ stripes drum kit on the cover of his 1970 album Them Changes. Every patriotic drummer should own a copy.
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About the Author
Ballard Lesemann is a musician and writer. Born and raised in Charleston, S.C., he spent years playing in bands and working for Flagpole Magazine in the bustling music town of Athens, Ga. He returned to his hometown and served more than seven years as the Charleston City Paper's music editor. He's better at drumming than he is at playing guitar.
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