Ticker: News Bits from Charleston’s Music Scene, Nov. 5
A Fragile Tomorrow Tease Studio Album Release with a New Clip
Charleston power-pop quartet A Fragile Tomorrow — Sean Kelly, Dominic Kelly, Shaun Rhoades, and Brendan Kelly — recently posted a funny music video a new song titled “Kernersville,” which os one of the tracks on their forthcoming 14-song studio album Be Nice Be Careful (due Jan. 8 on Piewillie Records). The song titled refers to the North Carolina town near Winston-Salem where they recorded with engineer Ted Comerford and acclaimed producer Mitch Easter (of Let’s Active). Extra footage includes cute clips and testimonials from Carolina musicians Mark Bryan, Danielle Howle, and Don Dixon. Members of the Bangles and Antigone Rising pop up, too. So does Charleston-based music writer Devin Grant.
The band shot much of the footage at the Pierpont Pub in West Ashley. The video was directed, filmed, and edited by Amanda Lowers and Jeff Janecek at Dreampop Media. Click below to see the new clip, and visit facebook.com/afragiletomorrow for more.
Georgia Bluegrass at the Lowcountry Hoedown
Bluebilly Grit
Fans of bluegrass and old-school mountain music might want to check out the inaugural Lowcountry Hoedown at the Charleston Visitor Center Bus Shed (375 Meeting St.) on Sat. Nov. 10. Organizers have assembled an array of Lowcountry and Southern fare, barbecue, craft beer, and Southern-style cocktails.
The musical roster features the Maysville, Ga.-based bluegrass combo Bluebilly Grit (winners of the 2012 Telluride Music Festival bluegrass competition) and Athens. Ga.-based roots-rock/Americana band the Corduroy Road. The Lowcountry Hoedown runs from 7-11 p.m. Admission is $50 in advance ($60 at the door), and it includes music, drinks, and grub. A portion of the proceeds benefits Lowcountry Local First. Visit lowcountryhoedown.com for more.
Deadhead Blues in McClellanville
McClellanville’s rustic Blue Pearl Farm recently announced the lineup for its monthly Lowcountry Blueberry Jam. Jig Wiggler’s One-Man Band, an Isle of Palms-based blues-rock act, will perform an early set on the Cypress Stage. Grateful Dead enthusiasts the Reckoning (featuring members of Sol Driven Train, the Hawks, and the Dead 27′s) headline with two full sets. The event is all-ages. Food, blueberry treats, wine, and beer will be available (no coolers or pets).
“There’s nothing like spending a November afternoon escaping the hustle bustle of everyday routines to kick back and enjoy an organic blueberry farm in a beautiful setting on the edge of the Francis Marion National Forest,” say the Blue Pearl folks. Visit bluepearlfarms.com for more.
Sol Driven Train on the Road
Sol Driven Train (provided)
Speaking of the veteran Charleston groove-rock ensemble Sol Driven Train, the quintet survived a full week in Key West, Florida during the Southernmost U.S. city’s Fantasy Fest, an annual, booze-soaked, debaucherous carnival that rivals Mardi Gras. The band performed a residency at the infamous dive bar the Green Parrot before touring through Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, where they played three sets at the 35th annual Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF).
“We’ve been traveling from festival to festival and meeting smiling faces at every stop,” lead singer/guitarist Joel Timmons stated in a recent note. “The food was delicious in Louisiana at the Voice of the Wetlands Festival. We had a wonderful time catching up with old friends at the Sautee Jamboree, Albino Skunk Festival, and Lake Eden Arts Festival closer to home. We spent the first part of the week teaching the students some of our children’s songs and a simplified version of our percussion piece.”
Guitarists Joel Timmons and Ward Buckheister and other members of Sol Driven Train will perfrom a “kids show” as Hit or Miss on the deck at the Pour House at 3 p.m. on Sat. Nov. 10.
Sol Driven Train’s next full-band Charleston show is on New Year’s Eve (Mon. Dec. 31) at the Pour House. Doors will open at 9 p.m. The group will play two full sets with various special guests. It’s an annual tradition at this point. Keep an eye out for their forthcoming studio album Underdog in early February. Visit soldriventrain.com for more.
Holiday Swing and More at the Music Hall
Charlton Singleton and the CJO (Priscilla Thomas, courtesy of JAC)
The swingin’ Charleston Jazz Orchestra has enjoyed a super-busy season, and they have two more bog shows to go before heading into the new year. Conductor, trumpeter, and dapper emcee Charlton Singleton will lead the 20-piece big band through two events at the Charleston Music Hall this month. The CJO will provide a variety of swing and jazz during the Giving Back Awards ceremony (the so-called “Oscars of Lowcountry Living”) on Fri. Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. The event is produced by Charleston Magazine and the Coastal Community Foundation. Tickets are available for between $45-$65.
On Wed. Nov. 21, the CJO and the Jazz Artists of Charleston will present their annual Holiday Swing program at 7 p.m. (one show only). Singleton and the orchestra will perform a “jazz version” of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite as it was re-written and arranged by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Tickets for the concerts are available for between $25-$40 at the Charleston Music Hall’s box office (37 John St.), by phone at (843) 641-0011, or online at jazzartistsofcharleston.org.
Check out the Ticker’s music news on Metronome every Monday.
Top photo by Ballard Lesemann.
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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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