Metronome Charleston Presents the 2nd Anniversary Show
It’s hard to believe that it’s been already two years (to the day!) since Jessica Mickey and I launched Metronome Charleston as a Charleston-centric music blog. I can remember pressing the button on my MacBook pro with a slice from Andolini’s and a Westbrook pale ale on the side.
My longtime newspaper colleague Joshua Curry (currently based in northern California as a freelance photographer and web developer) had provided us with technical support and advice on how to post and manage the features, images, and listings.
During our first week online, we covered a rowdy Supersuckers show at the Pour House, documented local funk band SuperDeluxe at the Brick House Kitchen, interviewed Summerville-bred guitarist Sadler Vaden during a Drivin’ N’ Cryin’s studio session at Ocean Industries, and touched on the Circular Church Sound Series presented by Awendaw Green. We were up and rolling — and learning how to do what we needed to do along the way.
Since those early days in the fall of 2012, Metronome Charleston has aimed for the same goal: to provide an independent online resource providing coverage of Charleston’s vibrant music scene. We’ve covered and critiqued a pretty wild mix of bands (local and visiting) at a variety of venues with full-length features, interviews, “Ticker” news posts, gig listings, and photo galleries. We’ve even posted some amusingly shaky and distorted video clips from time to time.
Over the last two years, much of our focus has been on music coming out of and coming to the Charleston area, but we’ve enjoyed covering comedy in the local scene, too — especially at venues like Theatre 99, the Charleston Music Hall, the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, the Tin Roof, and the Jail Break events at the Old City Jail.
And we’re still learning as we go — about managing the site, connecting with venues and musicians, keeping an ear out for new releases, and balancing our schedules.
My own work and band schedule went crazy earlier this year shortly after my old bandmates from the Rock*A*Teens, an Atlanta-based quintet with whom I played drums from 1998 to 2002, invited me to reunite with them for a series of shows shows tied into the N.C. indie label Merge Records’ 25th anniversary. After a few months of rehearsals and sessions in Atlanta, we played our first shows in 12 years right here in Charleston in May at the Royal American and the Tin Roof. They were fun, sloppy, essential warm-up gigs for shows at the EARL in East Atlanta in June, at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, at the Merge festival in Carrboro in July, and a week-long tour up north in August.
Sexbruise at the Pour House (provided)
The Rock*A*Teens’ activities pulled me away from town and away from my usual weekly routine with Metronome Charleston, creating a sort of summer vacation mode that ran through the end of August. As far as the blog goes, summer vacation is over, and the local scene’s busy fall season for album releases, concerts, and special events is kickin’. I look forward to watching and listening to as much of it as I can.
On Sat. Sept. 13, Metronome Charleston will celebrate its second year with a four-band show on at he Tin Roof, one of Charleston’s top independent music venues. It’ll be an anniversary party showcasing some of best, independently produced, original music the Lowcountry music scene has to offer.
Last year, we booked singer/songwriter Jordan Igoe (of Double Trash), Doug “Street D” Walters (of Torture Town), late Columbia-based power trio the Unawares, Charleston-based indie-rock combo Elim Bolt (of local label Hearts & Plugs), and garage/rock combo Boring Portals for the first anniversary event. This time around, Lindsay Holler’s Western Polaroids, Scott Dence, the Danielle Howle Band, Sexbruise, and spary event. This time around, ecial guests will hit the stage.
Lindsay Holler (photo by Ballard Lesemann)
The anniversary party will kick off at 6:30 p.m. with a free Rock ‘n’ Roll Team Trivia game (hosted by your truly). Prizes will include passes to upcoming concerts at the Charleston Music Hall (Shannon Whitworth with the Chatham County Line, Nick Carter with Jordan Knight, and more) and the North Charleston Performing Arts Center (Widespread Panic, Lt. Dan Band, North Charleston POPs) as well as Tin Roof “bar cash.”
Here’s the official schedule for Sat. Sept. 13:
Rock ‘n’ Roll Trivia — 6:30 p.m.
Lindsay Holler’s Western Polaroids — 9:30 p.m.
Scott Dence — 10:15 p.m.
Danielle Howle Band — 11 p.m.
Sexbruise — 11:45 p.m.
This year, Holler will return with the latest version of her twangy and eclectic Western Polaroids, featuring drummer Stuart White, guitarist Conor Donohue, and special guests.
One-man band Scott Dence (photo by Ballard Lesemann)
Singer/guitarist/drummer Scott Dence (of Dumb Doctors, Boring Portals) will perform his raucous one-man band set.
Veteran Carolina songstress Danielle Howle (the artist-in-residence at Awendaw Green) will perform with the backing of drummer Josh Dean (of Finnegan Bell), bassist Sean Kelly (of A Fragile Tomorrow), and guitarist Zach Bodtorf (of Firework Show).
Singer/guitarist Julie Slonecki’s electro-funk project Sexbruise will close the night. She formed the group with drummer Stratton Moore and two former members of soul-rock band Old You, drummer John Pope and guitarist Caleb Bodtorf (Zach’s brother).
Admission for the Metronome Charleston Anniversary Show on Sat. Sept. 13 at the Tin Roof will be $5 at the door.
Proceeds will benefit the bands, Metronome‘s website expenses, and Camp Happy Days, a great organization providing programs and support for families with children who are battling cancer.
Cheers!
Danielle Howle and Zach Bodtorf at the Tin Roof (Jessica Mickey)
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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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