PULSE

By T. Ballard Lesemann

MB ROAD TRIP!

Coming up at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach: Senses Fail hit the stage on Sun. Jan. 14; The Fray and Mute Math play to a full house at their sold-out show on Sat. Jan. 20; Incubus share the stage with Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. to another sold-out crowd on Thurs. Jan. 25; Southern rock band Blackfoot make like raggedy hobos on Fri. Jan. 26. Check the full schedule at www.hob.com.

Decency and Diamonds

A Decent Animal bassist Richard Weld has his beard in tangles in anticipation of an upcoming show on Sat. Jan. 27 at Cumberland's featuring Nashville blues/rock duo Black Diamond Heavies – organist/singer John Wesley Myers and drummer/singer Van Campbell. The duo leaves for a three-month tour from Nashville to London and back in support of a new album titled Every Damn Time (Alive). Weld's in the opening act, Lasso – a new, loosely-formed combo featuring guitarist Jonathan Nicholson and drummer George Baerreis (both of A Decent Animal), vocalist Lindsay Holler (on piano), and guitarist Nick Jenkins. See www.blackdiamondheavies.com and www.myspace.com/adecentanimal for more.

Ride On

Local party band Joy Ride (choice '70s and '80s covers and dance hits) has shuffled their lineup and booked a full season of shows at Henry's on the Boulevard (816 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. in Mt. Pleasant) and at the three Wild Wing locations. The band features members of Sold Out, Carolina Connection, and other acts. Three harmonious frontladies – Leslie Carter, Caitlin Cahill, and Stephanie Smith – are backed by keyboardist Miles Bryant, guitarist Marty "Lefty" Parker, and bassist Jeff Calafiore (all formerly of Sold Out), and drummer Adam Bradley (ex-Big Black Building). (Cahill also works as City Paper's web editor). Look for them at Henry's on Fri. Jan. 12 and at the downtown Wild Wing on Fri. Jan. 19.

More WAVE Shifts

Strange things are afoot at 96 Wave. Apparently there's been another big push in playlist format away from the semi-cool "classic alternative" and modern rock stuff that set the station apart from most homogenized modern rock stations toward the heavier "nü-rock," emo-metal, high-budget pop-punk, and warmed-over major label grunge that sounds so stale and familiar. Former morning show host The Critic announced on Fri. Jan. 5 that he'd be moving to the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. midday shift (a move he seems relieved about, seeing as he won't have to rise at 4 a.m. any more) and a new syndicated show out of Grand Rapids, Mich., called "Free Beer & Hot Wings" (www.freebeerandhotwings.com) started on Mon. Jan. 8. According to reports, longtime DJ, morning show co-host, and City Paper reader favorite "Stupid Mike" Vili has been let go or demoted, as has rookie traffic reporter Uncomfortable Don (a harmless morning character who somehow, maybe accidentally, made even the most gruesome traffic incidents sound cheerful). Stupid Mike spent two years on the air at 96 Wave with cohosts Kenny "Kenny Z" Zimlinghaus and Storm Zbel on the "Storm & Kenny Radio Show with Stupid Mike" before the station chucked it last spring. Mike will get to reconnect with his local fans soon, however, when he joins Kenny Z on stage during this month's Charleston Comedy Festival. Two "Kenny Z & Friends" stand-up comedy events are set for Wed. Jan. 17 and Fri. Jan. 19 at Cumberland's. Kenny's kept busy doing an internet radio show with cohost Greg Johnson, who will be on hand for the festival as well. Show times are 8:30 p.m. and tickets are $10. Check out more at www.myspace.com/stormandkenny and www.charlestoncomedyfestival.com.

CLASSIC CALI-PUNK

Orange County skate-punk/surf-rock trio Agent Orange – founding member and singer/guitarist Mike Palm, drummer Dusty Watson, and bassist Bruce Taylor (ex-J.F.A.) – are set to headline at Cumberland's on Thurs. Jan. 18 with support from local rock trio The Lowercase Thieves and veteran old-school punk band Hybrid Mutants. Tickets are available at the club for $10 (adv.) and $12 (day of show). Check www.agentorange.net for the latest.

Wood Ya

Wood Pile – a bluegrass/country/rock duo featuring guitarist/banjo player Walter Biffle and guitarist/mandolinist Hugh Price – played their last weekly show on Folly Beach at Taco Boy last Thurs. Jan. 4 ... at least until springtime. "Walter and I are going to be working this winter on our Christmas album for next year, while all the tunes are still fresh in our heads," reports Price.

Hey Manager

Charleston-based band manager and promoter Josh Terry – best known for his work with Motion City Soundtrack, Leslie, and booking agent for Owen Beverly and Ward Williams – accepted a job at A-Squared Management/Aware Records in Chicago (www.asquaredmgmt.com). Terry will continue to work with Leslie and Motion City Soundtrack as well as The Fray, Liz Phair, and Mat Kearney. –T. Ballard Lesemann