AltWeeklies Wire
Kings of Leon Fine Tunes the Vibes and Takes Risksnew
Over the course of recording their latest album, the Kings of Leon worked from a new blueprint. And the end result allowed them to transcend the indie-rock underground to the top of the rock charts with great success -- and they did it on their own artistic terms.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
05-06-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Apex's Classic Soul 1390 Is Dy-No-Mitenew
There's a great new station on the local airwaves. It's not a high-powered super-watt FM station with a flashy name. It's an unassuming, low-power AM station devoid of superfluous crap and lame radio biz distractions.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
03-25-2009 |
Media
The Georgia Blues of Mudcat's Music Go Deepnew
Singer, guitarist, and bandleader Danny "Mudcat" Dudeck is revered for his raw and edgy guitar playing and singing in his hometown of Atlanta. He's a man comfortable with playing complicated slide guitar and belting out a few rhymes about bad love, booze, and life's hard experiences.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
12-10-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Duncan Sheik Jumps from Rock to Broadway and Backnew
Sheik is touring on the heels of winning a Grammy and two Tony Awards for writing the musical score for the recent hit Broadway musical Spring Awakening. He collaborated with lyricist Steven Sater and composed the original score.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
11-05-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Mississippi's Colour Revolt is the Sound of the New Southnew
"We get a lot of crap sometimes from people for being from the South," says Jimmy Cajoleas, one of Colour Revolt's three guitarists. "It's always people outside of the South who seem to be upset that we aren't more redneck. It's weird.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
07-09-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Bluegrass Royalty Dan Tyminski Steps into a (Slightly) New Rolenew
Known for his work alongside Alison Krauss and his rendition of "Man of Constant Sorrow," singer/guitarist Dan Tyminski leads a new band.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
06-18-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Explorers Club Pulls from Early British Invasion and 60s California Popnew
Freedom Wind is a remarkably confident and original first-time effort, with great minor-key melodies, organ work, vocal harmonies, and urgent, almost neurotic lead vocals.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
05-28-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Freedom Wind, The Explorers Club
Myrtle Beach's Rock 'n' Roll Theme Park Opensnew
The "sound check" preview of the Hard Rock Park last week impressed. The 140-acre park's handsome layout stretches around a central lake from the reggae-themed beach party area and the imposing Led Zeppelin: The Ride roller coaster, through the British Invasion, Born in the U.S.A., and Cool Country spots.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
05-14-2008 |
Music
Mark Olson Goes from Lost to Triumphantnew
The former Jayhawk is on a fresh new musical journey.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
05-07-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Cracker's David Lowery Motors Aheadnew
The singer-guitarist has joyfully explored different pop and rock music sounds with his band Cracker since 1991 -- just a year after Lowery's California-based college radio rascals Camper Van Beethoven called it a day.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
04-30-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Hell-Raiser Joe Buck is a Howling One-Man Actnew
Born Jim Finkley, Buck rocks with a stripped-down, raw, no-nonsense style. Armed with a basic kick drum, a small stack of amps, and a large-sized hollow-body vintage guitar, Buck's been doing his solo thing increasingly more often in recent years.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
04-23-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Joe Buck Yourself
R.E.M.'s 'Accelerate' Shows Signs of Lifenew
A return to form? A departure from a mellow style to something heavy and hard? Old-school fans are quite glad to hear that it's a bit of both.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
04-23-2008 |
Reviews
Tags: Accelerate, r.e.m.
April 19 is Record Store Daynew
It's a wide-reaching event during which hundreds of like-minded indie record shops across the U.S. "simultaneously link and act as one."
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
04-16-2008 |
Music
A Worldwide Hops Shortage is Bad News for Brewersnew
Brewers across the U.S. are simultaneously facing several seriously grave issues: an unprecedented worldwide shortage of hops, an unusually short supply of malted barley, an enormous increase in transport expenses due to the rise in fuel prices, and a severely devalued dollar.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
04-09-2008 |
Food+Drink
Anything is Possible for Sol Driven Trainnew
Charleston's unorthodox Sol Driven Train dedicate themselves to an unusually healthy and consistent do-it-yourself work ethic -- on the stage and in the studio.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
04-02-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Lighthouse, Sol Driven Train
