AltWeeklies Wire
Octopus Jones' Phantasmagoriais terrifyingly twisted, toked-up, and top-notchnew
Like a gymnast sprinting down the mat toward the pommel horse, Octopus Jones built up a lot of momentum before they hit the springboard for their full-length debut, Phantasmagoria.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Parker |
01-29-2014 |
Music
Afroman and the dangers of puff-puff paranoianew
He kept staring out the curtains, certain the cops were watching him. Of course, this shouldn't surprise anyone. After all, one of the known side effects of getting high is paranoia.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Parker |
02-20-2013 |
Profiles & Interviews
Daryl Hall is suddenly cool again thanks to online seriesnew
Daryl Hall and John Oates were two of the biggest pop stars in the world during the early days of MTV, thanks in part to a string of R&B-flavored hits including "Your Kiss Is On My List," "Private Eyes," and "Maneater."
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Parker |
12-12-2012 |
Profiles & Interviews
Flogging Molly finds hope in the darkest placesnew
Flogging Molly frontman Dave King is an Irish Springsteen. He writes songs that celebrate working-class values and the everyman's indomitable spirit. Not surprisingly, the songs are occasionally dark, especially when King recounts his impoverished Irish upbringing ("Life in a Tenement Square," "Screaming at the Wailing Wall"), but even these tunes are hoisted by the vitality and hope at their center.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Parker |
11-28-2012 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Flogging Molly
Juicy J finds a second life rapping about the herbnew
Some music rains down on us from above in Bieber and Rihanna-sized droplets. Other sounds bubble up from the streets. That's where Three 6 Mafia's Juicy J got his start. Juicy J, a.k.a. Jordan Houston, worked his way up with his buddy DJ Paul (Paul Beauregard) the old-school way, beginning in the early '90s.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Parker |
11-21-2012 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Juicy J
Donna the Buffalo gears up for a wagon trainnew
Tara Nevins sounds exhausted over the phone. She and her Donna the Buffalo bandmates are burning the midnight oil, firing up their ninth studio album. They put in 12 hours a day for almost two weeks straight before kicking off their current spring tour.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Parker |
03-31-2012 |
Profiles & Interviews
Southern Culture on the Skids keeps leaving their marknew
Southern Culture on the Skids guitarist Rick Miller is on his front porch, relaxing in the unseasonably warm weather when we reach him. It's tempting to ask if he's got his straw cap on and a cold can of Bud between his legs.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Parker |
03-31-2012 |
Profiles & Interviews
Sleepy Vikings make their Southern fuzz-pop trippynew
Florida band Sleepy Vikings' gothic, neo-psych music received its first widespread airing with They Will Find You There, a nine-track album they released last May. The disc is a keenly textured but propulsive set.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Parker |
02-01-2012 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Sleepy Vikings
Dropping out with the Chocolate Dropsnew
It's been an eventful year for the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Around the same time the neo-traditional string band learned of their Grammy Award nomination, co-founder Justin Robinson announced his departure from the band. His decision shadowed nearly everything that happened this year.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Parker |
11-28-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Carolina Chocolate Drops
Surfer Blood Moves Forward with a Lively Soundnew
The future is now for Surfer Blood. The band has already collected 10 new songs for its Warner Bros. debut. They open for the Pixies this week.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Parker |
11-10-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Wandas Rediscover the Simple Beauty of Great Rocknew
One of the more exciting indie bands to emerge in the last couple years, the Wandas are inspired by British Invasion rock and the catchy power-pop of Big Star.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Parker |
10-31-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Wandas
TV on the Radio Fine-Tunes the Receptionnew
TV on the Radio's latest, Nine Types of Light, seems to mine deeper into their funky substratum. It feels crisp and direct with a strong backbeat. Kyp Malone, however, doesn't see it like points on a trajectory.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Parker |
10-25-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: TV on the Radio
Futurebirds Go for Big Country-Rocknew
Athens-based sextet Futurebirds employ traditional country instrumentation of banjo, mandolin, and pedal steel along with loud guitars. Their latest is titled Hampton's Lullaby.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Parker |
10-11-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Futurebirds, Country-Rock
Martin Sexton Keeps It Simplenew
If music's a tonic for our daily drudgery and everyday frustrations, then Martin Sexton's the vermouth.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Parker |
09-28-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Martin Sexton
Austin Lucas Goes From Rebellion to Reflectionnew
Eight years ago, Austin Lucas was a punk unleashing a grinding hardcore cacophony. Now, his lonesome tenor wavers like a cool-night breeze showcasing his new guise as an old-fashioned country adherent.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Parker |
08-24-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Austin Lucas
