Ticker: News Bits from Charleston’s Music Scene
SCScene.com Compiles 25 Carolina Indie Acts
Columbia-based music webzine SceneSC.com released a 25-song compilation of South Carolina-based acts online this week. Several Lowcountry acts are featured in the collection:
Elim Bolt with “Farm Kid
Heyrocco — “Elsewhere”
Slow Runner — “XXX”
Megan Jean and the KFB — “The Dead Show”
Matadero — “Grove Street”
A Fragile Tomorrow — “Three More Hours”
Brave Baby — “Get Out West”
Modern Man — ”No What’s Real”
The Scene SC 2013 Sampler was mastered by Kenny McWilliams at Archer Avenue Studio. The compilation is currently available for download at a “name your price” rate. Founded in 2008, SCScene.com covers indie-minded music in the state and across the Southeast. Visit sampler.scenesc.com for more.
Awareness Rocks #5
The fifth annual Awareness Rocks event scheduled for Fri. March 1 from 6-9 p.m. will benefit the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (MUSC), which connects patients, families, friends and caregivers for support and inspiration. Previously held at the Windjammer, the show will take place this time at Castaways Grille on James Island (1291 Folly Road).
The Outervention, 2013 (photo by Ballard Lesemann)
Local Americana band Moonlight Ale will open with an acoustic set, and Charleston singer/guitarist Ryan Bailey and his bandmates from Cumberland Belle will perform an entire set of Tom Petty tunes under the name “Century City.” Local quartet Bad Signs Deluxe (featuring members of the Fairy God Muthas, the Outervention, and Booty Call) will play a set of funk, soul, and classic rock with MUSC’s very own Dr. Paul O’Brien on stage as guest vocalist and colleague Alan Brisendine as featured saxophonist and keyboardist. Visit headandneck.org for more.
Outervention Readies Album Release
Speaking of Brisendine and Outervention, the local quartet has finished the mixing, mastering, and production on its debut album Mess Machine, and the band has an afternoon CD release show scheduled at the Pour House on Sat. March 30. Brisendine, singer/guitarist Jeff Kozelski, guitarist Ian Grimshaw, and bassist Tom Eden will perform two sets on the deck stage from 6-9 p.m. Check out theoutervention.com for more info.
Ukulele Great Jake Shimabukuro Headlines PAC
Hawaiian ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro returns to Charleston this weekend for a concert at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. on Fri. March 1. Shimabukuro’s first visit to Charleston came in 2009 when he performed a solo show as part of the Spoleto Festival USA’s jazz series.
Shimabukuro’s on the road this winter in support of his latest album Grand Ukulele, a lavishly orchestrated collaboration with legendary producer/engineer Alan Parsons. While some songs are simple, solo ukulele pieces, others include the backing of a 29-piece orchestra and/or the support of an expert rhythm section featuring drummer Simon Phillips, bassist Randy Tico, and guitarist Kip Winger.
“I love doing the solo things because it gives me the freedom to be spontaneous and go somewhere I’ve never gone before,” Shimabukuro told Metronome last week. “At the same time, I love collaborating with musicians because there’s a chemistry going on onstage. There’s a different kind of spontaneity because you’re playing off of each other, and it’s not all about me. You get so in tune with each other and cool things start happening. You change the groove and find new passageways. Those moments are great. I love being in these different situations. It helps me to grow as an artist.”
Tickets for the concert are available for $42.40-$22.50. Visit northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com and jakeshimabukuro.com for more.
Sol Driven Train Marches Around in the New Music Video for ‘Guest List’
Sol Driven Train performed a dynamic two-set CD release show at the Charleston Music Hall on Feb. 22 in celebration of a 10-song studio collection titled Underdog. Last week, the band also released a killer music video for the song “Guest List,” a lively tune involving a cheerful plea for a decent afterlife composed and sung by bassist Rusty Cole. Directed and produced by local videographer David Keller (of Charleston Video Service), the clip follows Cole and his band-uniformed bandmates — Joel Timmons, Russell Clarke, Ward Buckheister, and Wes Powers — as they stomp through street parades, cemetery marches, and Lowcountry scenery. Ukulele player Noodle McDoodle (of the V-Tones) makes a cameo as a fiery preacher, Bible and hanky in hand.
Keller did a damn fine job with the videography and editing. He’s done similar high-quality work for such local artists as Julie Slonecki, James Justin & Co., Mac Leaphart, and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.
Sol Driven Train will be on tour behind Underdog through the next month. They’ll return home to perform at the Spring Jam Music Fest in Charleston on Sun. March 24. See soldriventrain.com and charlestonvideoservice.com for more.
98 Rock Hosts a ‘Locals Rock the Roof’ Band Battle at the Tin Roof
Local station 98 Rock has teamed up with West Ashley venue the Tin Roof to present “Locals Rock the Roof,” a five week “battle of the bands” series that runs from March 4 through April 1. Three local bands will hit the Roof’s stage every Monday evening from 8-11 p.m. A panel of judges (including someone from Metronome Charleston) will score the bands on their performances and crowd reactions.
The winners from each round will compete in the finals on Mon. April 1. Prizes for the top winners included recording time and CD manufacturing at Charleston Sound, a $1,000 gift card at Encore Music, a live recording courtesy of Encore Music, airplay on 98 Rock, and a headlining gig at the Tin Roof.
Folks from 98 Rock will be giving away passes to this year’s 98 Rockfest, an outdoor concert set for Sun. April 28 at the Exchange Park Fairgrounds featuring Stone Sour, Bullet for My Valentine, Halestorm, In This Moment, Young Guns, Otherwise, Surrender the Fall, and Gemini Syndrome. Ben Arnold distribution company will be at the Tin Roof with various drink specials, too. Visit my98rock.com and facebook.com/My98Rock for more.
Brian Hannon of Company (photo by Ballard Lesemann)
Co. and Mechanical River head to Austin, Texas
Charleston singer/guitarist Brian Hannon and his band Company hit the road this week, playing a string of dates in North and South Carolina before trekking out to Austin, Texas, for an all-day showcase gig during the annual South by Southwest festival.
Drummer Shawn Krauss (of the Specs), guitarist Wil York (of Sleepy Eye Giant), and bassist Brett Nash (of Boring Portals, Southern Femisphere, the Specs, Sans Jose) will join Hannon on the tour.
While the Vulcan Army Showcase at the Wardenclyffe Gallery in Austin is not officially part of SXSW, it should draw plenty of fest-goers and media. The Chapel Hill/New Orleans-based booking agency Vulcan Army partnered with the Stereofly Collective, Post-Echo and HOT MESS MUSIC to present 21 bands on two stages in 12 hours. The roster includes Charleston own Mechanical River (Joel Hamilton and friends). Savannah-based punk band Cusses, Columbia-based instrumental quintet Pan, and Columbia-based indie bands People Person, Dear Blanca, and Cancellieri.
Visit exitstencil.org/company and vulcanarmybooking.com for more.
Edwin and Sam Hit the Music Hall with Charliewood Pictures on Hand
Greenville-based pop-rock songwriter Edwin McCain and Kentucky-based, Grammy-winning mandolin player Sam Bush will team up for a special concert at the Charleston Music Hall on Sat. March 30 at 8 p.m. The Chucktown Music Group (led by Mark Bryan), Charliewood Pictures, and the College of Charleston announced their joint venture to present McCain and Bush as a program titled “Live at the Charleston Music Hall.” The concert will be filmed as the debut episode of a forthcoming television series.
Edwin McCain (proided)
Charliewood Pictures is a local production and investment company that develops, supports, and promotes South Carolina-based feature films. “We believe that ‘Live at The Charleston Music Hall’ will bring additional attention to our beautiful city, helping to build Charleston as a nationally respected music town while enhancing the local economy by uniting businesses, education and the City of Charleston,” Denis Gallagher, Charliewood founder and CEO, states in a press release. “As a local film production company, we embraced this partnership with Mark and his team at Chucktown Music Group along with the College of Charleston hoping that this collaboration can benefit the College’s Arts Management and Marketing programs giving their students some real-world experience while taking part in this show.”
Local promotion companies Ear for Music and All-In Entertainment will help support the show. General admission tickets are now on sale for $30 at Etix.com, by phone at (800) 514-3849, or in person at Monster Music & Movies in West Ashley. Visit charliewoodpictures.com and charlestonmusichall.com for more.
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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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