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Monday, February 25, 2008
Wilco Plays "SNL," Concert at NCPAC Postponed
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Just officially announced today: in order to zip up to New York for a last-minute booking on Saturday Night Live on Sat March 1, Wilco have postponed their concert scheduled for Fri. Feb. 29 at the N. Charleston Performing Arts Center. According to the show’s promoters, they’ll play a make-up show on Thurs. Aug. 7. All tickets previously purchased will be honored for the rescheduled date, or may be refunded at point-of-purchase. Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and the gang will share the episode spotlight with Academy Award nominee Ellen Page (Juno). Read more in this week's music section.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Old-School Hip-Hop Acts to play Black Expo 2008
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Sun, Feb 24, 2008 at 8:42 PM
The 9th Annual Black Expo — co-sponsored by the local paper Black Pages — kicks off a full weekend of seminars and presentation next weekend. One highlight is sure to be the Old-School Hip-Hop Concert scheduled for Fri. March 7 at 8 p.m. at the Gaillard Auditorium (77 Calhoun St.).
"The purpose of the Black Expo is to promote economic development through increased exposure for minority-owned businesses," say organizers. "African-American owned businesses have the opportunity to showcase their products and services to the public and procurement officers from major corporations and government entities. It is also an opportunity for major corporation and government entities to develop viable working relationships with minority-owned businesses while marketing their products and services to a growing consumer market. This event is a family-oriented event that exposes the community to business opportunities and cultural resources."
The impressive lineup of old-school rappers features Doug. E Fresh ("The Show," "La-Di-Da-Di," pictured at the left), MC Lyte ("Paper Thin," "Ruffneck"), Big Daddy Kane ("Raw," "I Get the Job Done," pictured at the right), and Whodini ("Five Minutes of Funk," "Haunted House of Funk"). Tickets are available for $40 and $30 (and $65 VIP) at the auditorium box office and through Ticketmaster.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
52.5 Records goes to Eleven
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Sat, Feb 23, 2008 at 6:45 PM
Whoa! We almost missed 52.5 Records’ 11th birthday! The local independent record shop opened its’ doors for the first time on February 21, 1997 at a very small room at 52 1/2 Wentworth Street. In 2000, the shop moved down the block to a location at 75 Wentworth St., just a block off of King Street. Proprietor Clay Scales reopened at his third location on Upper King (the old Peggy Dress Shop at 561 King St.) early last year.
Scales and his staff still stock a great selection hard-to-find punk, metal, indie, underground, vintage, jazz, soul, blues, etc. — and they host regular live “in-store” shows in the back of the shop under the old Peggy sign. Call Scales at the shop at 843-722-3525 and sing “Happy Birthday” sometime soon.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Biggest Show in Isle of Palms History?
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Local rock music aficionados and beach bar patrons have been buzzing for weeks in anticipation of the major announcement. Who might it be? Who could rock the Windammer on the Isle of Palms with a life-size, life-like rock show, featuring four gruesome creatures? Hailed as the one of the most unique shows ever at the 400-seat facility, the answer came to this morning.
Not to be shown-up by North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey, who recently announced the dates for life-size reptilian experience “Walking with Dinosaurs” (an event scheduled for April 9-13 at the North Charleston Coliseum), Isle of Palms Mayor F. Michael Sottile held a major press conference this morning on the beachfront near the IOP Pavillion to officially announce the “Biggest Show in Isle of Palms History.” *
“This is for adults of all ages,” Mayor Sottile said*. “North Charleston may have a huge, animatronic T. Rex, but when Playlist blasts into the version of T-Rex’s ‘Bang a Gong’ at the Windjammer on March 22, and roar and shake their heads, everyone is going to listen, look, and wonder.”
“It’s unlike anything that’s ever been in the beach club scene,” Windjammer manager Bobby Ross said. “It’s incredible.” It will take two-mini vans to deliver the amplifiers and drum gear and two hours to set up the production, he said.*
“We take the audience on a journey back in time and show how the headband-wearing rock stars might have actually looked and sounded in their prime — huge, sometimes frightening, sometimes comical monsters — that fought for survival every day of their lives,” said show director and Playlist bassist Chris McLernon (pictured with the band, on the far left). “Our musicians move exactly like they are real, with all the roars, snorts and excitement that go with it. The realism is mind-blowing.”
The longest guitar solo in the production is a 62-bar riff (from nose to tail) during the rendition of “Rebel Yell (a tune in 44/ time, originally by Billy Idol). Lead singer Jason Cooper will maneuver around the stage.
Sottile urged corporate sponsors to help get as many young adults and thirty-somethings as possible into the show*. “This is an opportunity to give an experience to some aging rock fans who might not have a chance ever again,” he said.
Proceeds from the Playlist concert at the Windjammer on Sat. March 22 benefit the Charleston Charitable Society’s “Make a Wish Foundation.” Tickets are $10 and available at the door the night of the show.
*these things may not have happened at all!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Pics from Blues Bash Finale
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Wed, Feb 20, 2008 at 3:50 PM
The Southern Comfort Lowcountry Blues Bash came to a rousing conclusion on Sunday, Feb. 17 with two big shows on either side of town. Out on Bowens Island, a much larger-than-expected crowd of locals of all ages, dogs and kids of all sizes, and a variety of visitors turned up for the “grand finale” jam session between 4-8 p.m. In the main music room by the waterway, a rotation of local singers and musicians took turns playing deep cuts and popular tunes for the packed room throughout the evening. Here are a few photos:
Juke Joint Johnny’s nasty harmonica solos on the bullet mic.
Guitarist Tommy Thunderfoot’s swingin’ set and dual guitar work with a talented adolescent named Jake (the Fender Strat looked almost oversized for the mop-topped pre-teen).
Vocalist/harp player Andy “Smoky” Weiner sang and blew tunes with
Tommy Thunderfoot and the band through some hot stuff. The rendition of “I’m a Hog for You, Baby” (originally by The Coasters) was tops.
Afterward, several groups of fans made the drive over Mt. Pleasant for the very last official Blues Bash gig — Savannah-based blues-rock
trio Hitman (led by singer/guitarist Brett “Hitman” Barnard, with bassist Maggie Evans and drummer Marc Corday) at A Dough Re Mi.
Members of the newly-established, A Dough Re Mi-based Lowcountry Blues Club
(including local singer/guitarist Skye Paige, pictured here with Hitman and friend) hollered out at every turn. It was a packed house and a smokin' music jam.
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