Ticker: News Bits from Charleston’s Music Scene
More Partyin’ at the Point
The Party at the Point concert series continues on Fri. May 31 at the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina in Patriots Point with performances by Charleston-based acts the Occasional Milkshake and Southwood. Occasional Milkshake is comprised of bassist/guitarist Hank Futch (of the Blue Dogs), guitarist Mark Bryan (of Hootie and the Blowfish), percussionist Gary Greene (also of Hootie and the Blowfish), and guests. Local roots-rock band Southwood opens the show on the main stage at 6 p.m.
Mark Bryan (provided)
Party at the Point is presented by Ear for Music, Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina, the Bridge 105.5, 98 Rock, and the Modern Connection. Next week’s installment will feature Lowcountry groove/pop bands Stop Light Observations and Fowlers Mustache, both of whom co-headlined last week’s big NAC Wins benefit and showcase at Awendaw Green. The weekly shows continue through June 28 with Dub Island and the Dubplates, Ben Fagan and the Holy City Hooligans, Sol Driven Train, the Tarlatans, and a season finale with Elise Testone and guests. Visit charlestonpartyatthepoint.com for more.
JAC’s Jazz Series Swings Forward
The sixth annual, two-week JAC Jazz Series is nearly at the halfway point. Attendance has been strong for the first five nights at the Father Figaro Hall, an upstairs listening room at 493 King Street (between Radcliffe and Morris streets).
Trumpeter Cameron Handel (pictured above) and her backing quartet will present “The Happy Horns of Clark Terry” on Thurs. May 30 in celebration of the legendary trumpet and flügelhorn master’s original works and popular renditions. On Sat. June 1, electric guitarist Jamie Slater and his backing trio (featuring sax player John Cobb) will perform “Jazz Moods,” a boppin’ program featuring new compositions from Slater.
The Charlton Singleton Quintet, fronted my Charleston Jazz Orchestra conductor Charlton Singleton, will branch into modern-era jazz, funk, and fusion with “Contemporary Flow” on Sun. June 2. The JAC Jazz Series concludes with performances by Mark Sterbank and Robert Lewis (with accompaniment) on Tues. June 4, the Charleston Latin Jazz Collective on Wed. June 5, Rudy Waltz’s Vintage Voices on Thurs. June 6, Asheville, N.C.’s sophisticatedly funky Michael Bellar and the AS-IS Ensemble on Fri. June 7.
Each Jazz Series night will feature two separate shows at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Wine and craft beer from local micros COAST and Westbrook will be available for purchase. Tickets are available for $20 for each show. Visit jazzartistsofcharleston.org for more.
Sister Hazel (provided)
Hazelnut Hangin’ on the IOP
Over the last eight summers, veteran Gainesville, Fla.-based alt-pop band Sister Hazel has made the Pavilion at the Isle of Palms its home-away-from home, crashing out on the sand, rubbing elbows with local fans, sipping beer, and performing various stints at the Windjammer.
This week, the band hosts another version of what they call the “Hazelnut Hang” on the IOP with two full-set shows on Fri. May 31, Sat. June 1, and an extra midday acoustic show on Sun. June 2. The weekend includes door prizes, “hang competitions,” jams sessions, guest performers, and VIP packages. Visit sisterhzael.com and the-windjammer.com for more.
Spoleto’s Wells Fargo Jazz and Special Concerts
The annual Spoleto Festival USA is in full swing this week. Once again, the festival’s popular and elegantly produced Wells Fargo Jazz Series features a worldly mix of traditional and modern jazz, roots music, gospel, and exotic world music.
New York-based vocalist Gregory Porter and Israeli saxophonist Eli Degribri kicked things off at the Cistern (on the CofC campus) last week. Bluegrass/Americana quintet Punch Brothers headlined the TD Arena on May 27. This week, Finnish jazz/classical pianist Iiro Rantala will perform a series of recitals at the Simons Center’s intimate Recital Hall through May 30. Brazilian pianist André Mehmari and his combo return to Spoleto for a concert at the Cistern on June 1.
André Mehmari (provided)
The series closes with three recitals by Brazilian guitarist Alessandro Penezzi and clarinetist Alexandre Ribeiro at the Simons Center on June 6, 7, and 8.
Spoleto’s special events also include African vocalist Angelique Kidjo at the TD Arena (a block south of Calhoun Street) on Thurs. May 30, roots/folk duo Johnnyswim at the Cistern on Fri. May 31, country/folk singer/songwriter Rosanne Cash at the TD Arena on Sun. June 2, and Oklahoma songsmith J.D. McPherson and his band at the Cistern from June 7-8. The Red Stick Ramblers will headline the finale at Middleton Place late in the evening on Sun. June 9.
Call (843) 579-3100 for info and check out spoletousa.org for ticket and event information.
Reggae Nights at the James Island Co. Park
Presented by the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission, the monthly, summertime Reggae Nights series kicks off on Sat. June 1 with a special performance from the funky reggae/rock trio Selah Dubb, comprised of Mark Evangelist (guitar, vocals), Baby Beats (keys, vocals), and Reuban Rosado (drums). Local cuisine, beer, wine, artwork, and crafts will be on hand. The gates open at 8 p.m. and the music starts at 8:30 p.m.
Selah Dubb (provided)
Upcoming musical events include the Dubplates on June 22, De Lions of Jah on July 13, and Mystic Vibrations on August 3. Admission is $8 Visit ccprc.com and selahdubb.net for more.
The Steep Canyon Rangers Return
If you missed North Carolina bluegrass/Americana troupe the Steep Canyon Rangers when they performed at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center on Memorial Day with Steve Martin and Edie Brickell (click here for scenes from the lively show), you’ll be able to catch them again in town agin soon. The Charleston Music Hall recently announced the band’s return.
Roots singer/songwriter Shannon Whitworth (formerly of the Biscuit Birners) and her band will join her husband Woody Platt (the SCR’s guitarist) and the Rangers on stage on Thurs. Aug. 22 at 8 p.m. Tickets for reserved seats went on sale this week for $25, $20, and $15 at the Charleston Music Hall Box Office (37 John Street), by phone at (800) 514-3849, or online at charlestonmusichall.com. Check out steepcanyon.com and shannonwhitworth.net for more.
Summer SOULstice Celebration at Brick House
The Brick House Kitchen at 1575 Folly Road on James Island will host the annual Summer SOULstice Celebration on Sat. June 15 from noon to midnight.
“There are few things that rival summertime in Charleston,” says co-organizer and musician Tyler Boone. “People flock from all over the world to feel the warm embrace of our cobblestone streets and our even warmer Southern sun. Let’s take one day to celebrate every day of this awesome time of year in the place we love to call home.”
Co-sponsored by local station the Bridge 105.5 and BobCatMusic, the all-day music and visual art festival event will feature live music from Boone and guests, Tidal Jive, Jordan Igoe, the Folly Beach Reggae All-Star, and Lionz of Zion. Additional bands will be announced soon. Jump castles, rock climbing walls, water slides, and cornhole games (provided by Charleston Tailgate) will be on hand as well. Advance tickets are available for $20. See brickhousecharleston.com for more.
Loners Society (provided)
Loners Society Won’t Play Dubstep on the Road
Charleston-based singer/songwriter and indie label exec Matt Megrue is gearing up to lead his pop/rock band Loners Society through the “Death to Dubstep Tour” in July. Megrue helps run the newly established King City Records, which is home for Loners Society, Tyler Boone’s pop/rock band, and Americana/folk act Wrenwood. King City has full-length releases by all three acts in production this year.
Armed with new drummer Josh Beasley, the Loners Society will play a tour warm-up gig at the Mill in Park Circle on Wed. June 12. The band will embark on an 11-date tour through the Carolinas and Georgia on July 25 with a show at the Rockin’ Hard Saloon in Murrells Inlet.
“This tour is all about being on the road and playing those sweaty, intimate, four-piece rock ‘n’ roll shows,” Megrue says. “We wanted the opportunity to try out some new material before we hit the studio, and we’re so excited to be visiting some places and towns we haven’t played before along with some old, familiar haunts.”
Visit kingcityrecords.com and facebook.com/kingcityrecords for more.
The Dubious Deeds of Cunningham, Bonner, and Mechem
Performing under the moniker the Dubious Battles, the local singer/songwriter powerhouse trio of Luke Cunningham, Ryan Bonner, and Tyler Mechem are solid for a gig at the Home Team BBQ joint on Sullivan’s Island on Fri. June 8 at 10 p.m. The trio initially formed during a “How The Other Half Gives” charity tour in 2011. They reunited in April for Jail Break V arts fest at the Old City Jail. According to manager Joel Frank (of Brand Frankus), all three musicians wanted to do at least one full headlining show before the members of the band focused their attentions back to their main projects.
Dubious Battles at Jail Break 5 (photo by Jessica Mickey)
Metronome Charleston was skeptical about the supposedly dubious nature of the collaboration, so we pressed Frank for more:
Metronome Charleston: What kind of battles are these guys fighting?
Joel Frank: Usually, the battles are over who pays the bar tab.
Metronome Charleston: What’s so dubious about the battles or them men fighting them?
Joel Frank: They circle around each other for hours snapping their fingers, pretending their capos are switchblades, and breaking out into songs from West Side Story. Tyler starts singing “When You are a Crow, You are a Crow for Life,” and for some reason, Ryan just starts screaming ‘Warriors, come out to Play!” All the while, Luke gets distracted by squirrels playing in the trees.
Metronome Charleston: In a rock ‘n’ roll cage match between Tyler, Ryan, and Luke, who’d be left standing?
Joel Frank: Imagine an old-school WCW Starcade on the beach with Emperor Palpatine (Bonner) versus Bane (Luke) versus General Thade (Tyler).
Metronome Charleston: How do these guys maintain such civility while battling each other?
Joel Frank: They all learned coping mechanisms from their time in Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.
Metronome Charleston: Or are these guys battling forces simple audience member can’t see or recognize?
Joel Frank: All audience members are given 5-D glasses upon arrival of a Dubious Battles show, along with a special chemically based Fruit Roll-Ups in order to see the mystical forces being battled and conquered in the course of it.
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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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