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Sunday, May 17, 2009
Wycliffe Gordon Quintet to perform with Quentin Baxter, CSO, and students
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Sun, May 17, 2009 at 2:03 PM
World-famous jazz trombonist and educator Wycliffe Gordon will be in town this weekend for two special, free-of-charge Piccolo Spoleto performances at the U.S. Custom House (200 East Bay St.) — a collaboration between his quartet and members of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra called Sunset Serenade at the Custom House on Fri. May 22 at 8 p.m., and an event called All That Jazz: A Battle of the Best High School Jazz Bands in the Lowcountry at the Custom House on Sat. May 23 from 7-10 p.m.
Gordon, a native of Waynesboro, Ga., was a veteran member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet and still plays with the renowned New York big band collective the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. He has a ton of experience gigging and writing with top-shelf musicians, and he’s spent years conducting workshops, seminars, and lessons with young up-and-comers in the States and around the world. His intense experience with Marsalis was especially pivotal in his musical development
As part of the Piccolo Spoleto’s children's events and the Blues/Jazz Series kickoff, this set of standards and originals at the steps of the Custom House features Ehud Asherie on piano, on Herman Burney on bass, and acclaimed Charleston musician Quentin Baxter on drums — a mentor, master percussionist, and longtime educator himself. Baxter will be busy next week preparing for a concert at the Gaillard Auditorium with vocalist René Marie’s combo (see Spoleto listings).
“I thought it was important to have Quentin on board,” Gordon told City Paper last week, speaking during a brief tour of Israel. “I could have brought the drummer down from New York, but we’re right there with one of the great, masterful drummers and skilled educators in the town. Thought it’d be a shame to invite him out to just watch the group, so I invited him play with us instead.”
Look for more on Wycliffe Gordon and these festival events in this week’s City Paper Spoleto coverage.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Kenny Chesney’s Sun City Carnival at Coliseum, 9/12
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Fri, May 15, 2009 at 10:27 AM
A Charleston date is solid for country music superstar Kenny Chesney: Sat. Sept. 12 at the North Charleston Coliseum. Vocalist (and Nashville Star veteran) Miranda Lambert will open the show.
Last spring Chesney’s “Poets and Pirates Tour” came to Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, where, during the first song of his set, a malfunction with the stage risers led to an unfortunate mishap — he got his foot caught in the platform as the stage was rising in the middle of the field. This year he leads the “Sun City Carnival” stadium and festival tour across the nation through the middle of September. 
“It seems like it’s time to get this thing started again,” Chesney stated in a press release this week. “By the time we’re done, I’m tired, but I’m never ready to be done. And after a few months off, all I can think of is when are we getting back out there. For me, I swear we have so many friends that we see when we look out every night... to be able to get out there and rock with them, well, it’s the reason me and the guys do this! I’m ready to move from the renderings to getting back into rehearsal, back into shape, back into making music and especially back to being out there with the fans.”
Tickets go on sale for $79.50, $49.50, and $29.50 on Fri. May 22 via the box office, Ticketmaster outlets, or by phone at (843) 554-6060. Visit coliseumpac.com for more info. Hopefully, he’ll make it through this S.C. portion free of further injury.
(second photo by Greg Hambrick)
Thursday, May 14, 2009
New Concert Series at Family Circle's Stadium and Veranda
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Thu, May 14, 2009 at 2:13 PM
The folks at Daniel Island’s Family Circle Magazine tennis center (161 Seven Farms Drive, 843-849-5300) and event organizer Carter McMillan recently announced an impressive concert series with a handful of national country, rock, funk, and hip-hop acts set to perform on the stadium stage and the newly-assembled Veranda area in the grand lawn area behind the Family Circle Tennis Center Clubhouse. 
The Veranda can accommodate 2,500 fans with general admission floor and bleacher seating. Located. Concert-goers can access the venue through the main gate in front of Family Circle Stadium. Food and beverages will be available at all events.
Grammy-winning country music super duo Sugarland are set to share the stage with Billy Currington at the Stadium on Thurs. May 21. Showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets are available for $60 and $45.
Upcoming events include two big shows at the Veranda Stage next week — reggae legends the Wailers and Carolina funk/metal band Villanova play on Fri. May 22 at 7 p.m., and acoustic rock songwriter Corey Smith with opener Shane Hines & The Trance perform on Sat. May 23 at 7 p.m.
On Sat. June 13, “Funk Fest” will showcase the grooves and rhymes of MAZE (featuring Frankie Beverly), Aaron Hall, Doug E. Fresh, Deborah Cox, and other performers at the Stadium Stage at 4 p.m. Groove-rock band O.A.R. headlines the Stadium with opener Matt Nathanson on Sat. Aug. 22.
Tickets may purchased online at ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Banana Cabana launches live music series
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Tue, May 12, 2009 at 2:13 PM
It’s getting pretty busy at the Pavilion area on the IOP these days. In addition to the live music events and commotion at the Windjammer, Coconut Joe’s, and the shops along Ocean Boulevard, the Banana Cabana (located downstairs from Huck’s at 1130 Ocean Blvd.) just kicked off it’s spring and summer music series. The casual beach club specializes in cold beer and frozen drinks, and they get hopping during tourist season.
Starting this week, they’ll feature live acoustic music on the patio just about every day during the spring and summer months. Such local acoustic singer/guitarists as Skip Sullins, Paul Jamison, Tyler Jones, Hunter Hill, Joel Fischer, and David Bethany will provide acoustic rock and beach tunes in the afternoons and evenings on weekends.
This week’s schedule just came in from the management’s fax machine:
Tues. May 12 — Doug Rucker, 6 p.m.
Wed. May 13 — Mark Shuler, 6 p.m.
Thurs. May 14 — Skip Sullins, 6 p.m.
Fri. May 15 —David Bethany, 7 p.m.
Sat. May 16 — Pete Ledbetter (noon) and David Bethany (7 p.m.)
Sun. May 17 — Mark Shuler (noon) and Lowcountry Jukebox (7 p.m.)
Mon. May 18 — Hugh Price, 6 p.m.
Tues. May 19 — Billy Kopel, 6 p.m.
Call 843-886-4361, and keep an eye on Music Board for more info.
(photo by T. Ballard Lesemann)
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The least appropriate Mother's Day tune
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Sun, May 10, 2009 at 12:41 PM
What’s the least appropriate song for a day like today? I vote for “Mother,” a song composed by guitarist Andy Summers. The fourth track on the Police’s final studio album Synchronicity (1983), “Mother” churns away in 7/8 time signature, accented with harshly metallic cymbal sounds, and droning, minor-key progressions. Summers’ guitar lines resembled the more sinister work of Robert Fripp during his band King Crimson’s early-’80s era. Exotic, disturbing, kinda psycho … it’s funny that it even made it into Synchronicity in the first place.
Summers also provides the vocals, which are more hollered and screeched than sung. The first verse goes like this: “Well, the telephone is ringing — is that my mother on the phone?/Telephone is ringing — is that my mother on the phone?/The telephone is screaming … won’t she leave me alone?”
This one is a far cry from the pleasant and darkly romantic Sting-pop of “Every Breath You Take,” “Wrapped Around Your Finger,” or “King of Pain.” It really sounds nothing like the Police (in that, it’s remarkably unique). Here's a sample of the song:
Don’t play this one any time near Mom during Mother’s Day.
McConaughey’s pal Mishka at the Music Farm in June
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Sun, May 10, 2009 at 1:55 AM
Bermuda-based soul/reggae singer/guitarist Mishka is due in town for a gig at the Music Farm on Mon. June 13. The fuzzy-faced songwriter is the first artist off of actor Matthew McConaughey’s new record label, j.k. livin.
Mishka has toured extensively throughout Europe, Japan, and North America, including an acoustic tour opening for Australian multi-instrumentalist Xavier Rudd.
“Mishka’s bare-bones approach to the performance of his music, coupled with his seductive positive energy, make him utterly captivating to see live,” claims his label. Mishka hits the road this spring in support of his third album Above the Bones — a collection produced by McConaughey and Atlanta producer/musician Daryl Thompson (known for his work with Sly & Robbie and Peter Tosh). The album debuted at number one on the Billboard reggae charts in February.
The songs “Coastline Journey” and “3rd Eye Vision” are featured in McConaughey’s latest film Surfer Dude.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Songwriter Competition at Muddy Waters, 5/13
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Sat, May 9, 2009 at 12:44 PM
The newly-established Palmetto Acoustic group will present the first of the monthly "Open Mic Challenge" at the West Ashley Muddy Waters on Wed, May 13. Over the last year, Palmetto Acoustic has presented free acoustic showcases every other week at this venue series, highlighting a mix of local and visiting singer/songwriters performing original music.
Modeled after open mic events held at some of the top listening rooms in Atlanta's Eddie's Attic and Boston's Lizard Lounge, each performer gets a 10-minute slot, and the top three will get an encore set at the end of the night to determine the winner. Guest judges will evaluate the sets with five criteria in mind: songwriting, vocal performance, playing ability, stage presence, and audience response. Local songwriter and guitarist Aaron Levy (of White Rhino) will host.
Advance sign-ups at palacoom@gmail.com. Players may only be signed up for one future Monday time slot at a time. Each act must be limited to three players per act. No guitar effects or amps are allowed. No full drum kits. Performers must check in for their slot 30 minutes prior to their scheduled playing time.
Monthly winners will receive a cash prize and a spot in the bi-annual winners circle event held in November. Start time is 7 p.m.
Friday, May 8, 2009
They were and still are Spinal Tap
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Fri, May 8, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Unplugged Tour and new album
The core members of semi-fictional British metal band Spinal Tap — “England’s loudest heavy metal band” — are currently touring the country. Michael McKean (a.k.a. singer/guitarist David St. Hubbins), Christopher Guest, (a.k.a. lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel), and Harry Shearer (a.k.a. bassist Derek Smalls) first rocked the world in the hilarious musical mockumentary This is Spinal Tap, released in 1984. Last month, they embarked on a 30-city “Unwigged and Unplugged” tour, doing stripped-down versions of their classics and fan faves (along with a few songs from later film efforts, like the folk-music spoof A Mighty Wind).
“When we were doing the Tap show, it was 90 minutes to 120 minutes of really, really hard work and running up and down the rafters, and we had big special effects, and we played electric instruments, and we had wigs, and we got very sweaty,” says McKean. “This is none of that.”
These are the closest dates to the Carolinas:
May 8 — St. Petersburg, Fla. (Mahaffey Theatre)
May 9 — Atlanta (Fox Theatre)
May 10 — Nashville (Ryman Auditorium)
May 12 — Baltimore (Lyric Opera House)
Fans can expect a new CD/DVD package titled Back from the Dead from the band this June as well (the current release date is June 16). The trio recorded studio versions of the Spinal Tap songs that appeared in live form on the film and original soundtrack — as well as six new additional songs, and an exclusive hour long accompanying DVD featuring a track-by-track video commentary by the band. Their first new album in almost two decades, Back from the Dead marks the 25th anniversary of This is Spinal Tap. The band’s last album was 1992’s Break Like The Wind.
“This album title says it all,” says McKean. “We’re back from the dead. But we weren’t dead. But we definitely are back.”
The new album includes the newly interpreted Tap classics “Hell Hole,” “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight,” “Heavy Duty,’” “Rock ‘n’ Roll Creation,” “America,” “Cups and Cakes,” “Big Bottom,” “Sex Farm,” “Stonehenge,” “Gimme Some Money,” and “(Listen to the) Flower People.”
“While the movie and soundtrack accurately represented our stage sound at the time, the studio versions of these songs on this album represent the cosmic maturation of the material, within a digital context,” says Shearer. “Also, they’re louder.”
Thursday, May 7, 2009
New Blues Bash footage at Library
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Thu, May 7, 2009 at 2:04 PM
Under the guidance of Kevin Crothers, media specialist and AV department head at the main branch of the Charleston County Public Library, a video compilation of live performances from the Lowcountry Blues Bash 2009 (held in February) is now available online.
Shot in the library’s acoustic-friendly auditorium, the Blues Bash 2009 Retrospective clips include sets from Andrew “Jr. Boy” Jones, Beverly “Guitar” Watkins, Cotton Blue, Jeff Norwood, Liz Mandeville, Michael Pickett, Nature Boy Nic, the Nouveaux Honkies, Paul Geremia, and Maurice John Vaughn and the BJ Emery Band with Donald Ray Johnson. The site also includes tons of footage from previous blues fest gigs and sets from their annual Local Blend Charleston music series.
Check out more at www.ccpl.org or call (843) 805-6842 for info.
An independent JAC disconnects from Piccolo
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Thu, May 7, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Back in March, it looked like the newly-etablished Jazz Artists of Charleston (JAC) were planning to present the second annual Upstairs at Mistral — a 13-night jazz series at the Market Street venue — and another spectacular Holy City Homecomin’ concert event in conjunction with Piccolo Spoleto. 
This month, JAC execs Leah Suárez and Jack McCray (pictured) confirmed that the JAC had amicably disconnected from Piccolo Spoleto and planned to independently present the series at Mistral and the Holy City Homecomin’ themselves. While Piccolo Spoleto’s Blues & Jazz schedule still includes a variety of jazz, world, blues, and soul acts in late May and early June, these JAC events are basically non-adjacent jazz gigs happening simultaneously.
The JAC is a non-profit organization that includes “local performing and visual artists, fans, advocates and creative people.” Governed by an eight-member board, they produce jazz events year round in the Charleston area.
Promoted by a handsome poster that features a painting of a “split double-bass” by local artist Nathan Durfee, Upstairs at Mistral kicks off on Fri. May 22 and continues almost nightly through Fri. June 5. Featured acts include a cool mix of local and visiting musicians: the Rudy Waltz, the Hedgepeth & Holstein Duo, Leah Suárez and her quartet, Caravan, Gradual Lean, the Charleston All-Stars, the Pulse Trio, Elise Testone, the Charlton Singleton Quintet, the Duda Lucena Quartet, the Tommy Gill Trio, Scandal in Bohemia, and Tenor Madness. These sets are for fans of undistracted improvisation, aggressive jazz, bebop, lounge, and Latin styles.
Scheduled for Tues. June 2 at 7 p.m. at the Charleston Music Hall (37 John St.) the Holy City Homecomin’ — is grand big-band performance and discussion session. Last year, the first Homecomin’ concert featured a mix of musicians and bands, with the Gradual Lean guys on hand throughout. This year it looks like a big-band thing with the Charleston Jazz Orchestra and guest conductor Bob Belden, a musician (mostly woodwinds), composer, and arranger. Originally from Goose Creek, Belden studied at the University of North Texas before working with Woody Herman’s Orchestra, Donald Byrd, the Mel Lewis Orchestra, and Red Rodney, among others in the 1980s and ’90s. He’s most celebrated for his knack for transforming non-jazz material into jazz. Hardcore jazz fans who are interested in hearing a grand execution of fresh musical ideas, learning bits of local jazz history, and witnessing high technique will get a kick out of this event.
See www.jazzartistsofcharleston.org for ticket prices and more info.
(top photo by T. Ballard Lesemann)
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Kings of Leon's bassist names bass heroes
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Wed, May 6, 2009 at 1:27 PM
Preparing a preview feature on the Kings of Leon’s concert this week (Sun. May 10 at the North Charleston Coliseum), I had a chance to speak by phone with bassist Jared Followill. It was a quick, 10-minute interview (the band’s publicist broke on the line as told us wrap it up — right on time at the 10:30 mark), during which we mostly spoke about the production of the bands new album, Only By The Night, and their recent world tours.
With only a few moments left in our tightly-timed chat, I managed one more question about bass playing. Followill managed to mention the tall guy who smashed his Fender Precision in the iconic photo on the cover of London Calling, and the bearded guy from Joy Division and New Order. Here’s how it went:
City Paper: As a young bassist, do you have kind of a bass hero that you privately emulate — someone you consider when things get difficult or rough — like, in your mind, do you ever wonder what would John Paul Jones, Mike Mills, or Adam Clayton might do in this situation?
Jared Followill: “On stage, definitely. Paul Simonon [at left] from the Clash — He’s somebody I think of when I’m on stage … he’s the kind of person I want to look like on stage. As far as writing and stuff like that, there are a lot. It’s guys like Peter Hook [below], who was in Joy Division and New Order…” 
City Paper: Both of those guys wore their bass guitars way down low.
Jared Followill: “Yep. There for a while, it was really hard for me to play like that I would get my guitar tech to move the strap just a half-inch lower, a little bit at a time, so that by the end of the tour it was down where Simonon played.”
Vibrators to buzz the Oasis, 5/12
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Wed, May 6, 2009 at 12:05 AM
The punk rock gig of the week: The Vibrators at the Oasis Bar & Grill on Tues. May 12.
One of the early payers London’s punk scene, the Vibrators still specialize the classic, gritty, four-chord, 4/4-time punk rock of the late 1970s. The first version of the Vibrators formed 33 years ago with vocalist/guitarist Ian “Knox” Carnochan, bassist Pat Collier, guitarist John Ellis, and drummer Eddie the Drummer; Knox and Eddie lead the way these days; their latest is a collection of early-era punk standards titled Punk: The Early Years.
“In their long career the Vibrators have toured with the likes of Iggy Pop, Ian Hunter, The Flamin’ Groovies, Die Toten Hosen, and have had their songs covered by The Exploited, U.K. Subs, G.B.H., R.E.M., and Die Toten Hosen, to name but a few," reads a recent press release. "The band celebrates 33 years of making records and touring heavily, approaching 120 gigs a year. Get ready for another 33 years of pure mania!”
Local agency Frantic Booking (the same who brought this week’s Supersuckers gig to town) calls this “the dirtiest show ever.” Doors are at 7 p.m. at the Oasis (788 Folly Road). Opening acts include Rob the Throb, The Wet Teens, and The Chop. Admission is $10
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Cinco de Mayo Playlist
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Tue, May 5, 2009 at 2:22 PM
City Paper Music Room's Cinco de Mayo Playlist
1. “Mexican Radio” — Wall of Voodoo
2. “I Felt Like a Gringo” — The Minutemen
3. “Tequila” — The Champs
4. “Cinco de May” — War
5. “This Land is Your Land” — Woody Guthrie
6. “Down in Mexico” — The Coasters
7. “Buenas Tardes Amigo” — Ween
8. “Mexico” — Shovels and Rope
9. “New Spanish Two Step” — Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
10. “Mexico” — Cake
Dig the dance sounds of Tex!
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Tue, May 5, 2009 at 1:42 PM
Roosters crow, cows moo, and keyboards pop along on a "corny" new track from a so-called "Iowa farmer" …
It was during a beer ’n’ burger lunch at A.C.’s Bar & Grill two weeks ago that we discovered Tex!, the electro-dance project of longtime Charleston musician Paolo Licciardi. Bartender Kevin Young and City Paper columnist/radio personality Jack Hunter were nearby, talking about Hunter’s band Dante’s Camaro’s upcoming show on Fri. May 8 at the Tin Roof and Licciardi’s spot on the bill as the opening act.
“Have you heard the new Tex! song?” askds Young. “I have it right here.” He pumped the original mix of “Back to the Farm” over the bar's stereo speakers, and we couldn’t believe our ears. This was the fresh, new single by the guy who used to play hardcore drum beats with ’90s metal band Children’s Choir? Wow.
We ran a review of the new single in last week’s issue, but we didn’t have a proper copy of it on hand to sample for the web page (most of our Jukebox local album reviews come with a 30 to 40 second audio sample on the page). Last week, Licciardi personally delivered a Discrevolt audio download card to the office for use to use online. He’ll have these available at the gig this week.
Take a listen here:
For more info, check out www.texfromiowa.com.
(photo by T. Ballard Lesemann)
Monday, May 4, 2009
DJ Logic makes sense, 5/8
Posted by T. Ballard Lesemann on Mon, May 4, 2009 at 3:48 AM
Acclaimed New York City based spinner and mixer DJ Logic will hit the Pour House on Fri. May 8 with a set of jazzy-funky tracks. The genre-crossing turntablist’s Southern spring tour brings him back to Charleston for the first time since his two-night stint at the Coliseum with Widespread Panic last October.
DJ Logic (a.k.a Jason Kibler) came up in the hip-hop scene of the Bronx during the 1980s and ’90s. He initially garnered attention for lending elements of vintage soul, funk, and jazz into hip-hop with his group Project Logic. Over the years, he collaborated in the studios and on the road with a wide variety of funky acts, including Panic, Medeski Martin & Wood, Vernon Reid, moe., the John Popper Project, the Roots, John Mayer, Bob Belden, Jack Johnson, and many others. His latest solo album is titled Zen of Logic (Ropeadope Records).
N.C. electro-groove duo Eymarel — keyboardist/singer Mary Frances and drummer Lee Allen — opens the show on Friday. Admission is $12 in advance (by way of www.etix.com) and $15 at the door.
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