AltWeeklies Wire
Newly Independent, Lyle Lovett Grabs the Reinsnew
When it comes to Lyle Lovett, it may be a case of, "When you come to a fork in the road, take it." If so, that fork's been a long time coming. After a 25-year long recording career, Lovett has parted company with Curb Records and become a free agent.
Charleston City Paper |
Jon Santiago |
03-13-2012 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Lyle Lovett
Everyday Sunshine looks at Fishbone's wild ridenew
Fishbone was wildly popular in the alternative rock scene 20 years ago. A new doc tells the tale.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
02-07-2012 |
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
Elise Testone's American Idol Debutnew
Charleston singer Elise Testone's first appearance on American Idol was nearly a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment. But she delivered a performance which wowed the judges even if it didn't wow the editors.
Charleston City Paper |
Chris Haire |
01-19-2012 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: American Idol, Elise Testone
Flannel Church creates Hampton-ized gospel-funknew
There's a buzz about Flannel Church, a newly formed power-trio featuring drummer Duane Trucks, bassist Kevin Scott, and blues guitarist Gregory "Wolf" Hodges. All three bandmates have connections via Col. Bruce Hampton.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
01-09-2012 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Flannel Church, Shane Pruitt
How to Get Into Shows for Freenew
As a veteran musician, promoter, and door man, Johnny Puke knows about the ins and outs of gigs.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
01-02-2012 |
Music
How to Be a Busker (Legally)new
Gone are the halcyon days when a minstrel could gambol into town, set his hat on a sidewalk, and employ lute and lyric to earn his daily bread. Today, if you're interested in busking, or playing music in a public space for tips, you're going to need to deal with some red tape first.
Charleston City Paper |
Paul Bowers |
12-29-2011 |
Music
Tags: Busking, Street Music
James Brown adds a touch of heart and soul to the holidaysnew
On James Brown's Funky Christmas, the big standout is "Let's Make Christmas Mean Something This Year," a slow-burning ballad powered by bold, Supremes-like backing vocals. Most of it is driven by Brown's nostalgic storytelling.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
12-22-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Funky Education of Stereo Reformnew
Greenville-based trio Stereo Reform calls their music "dance-a-funk-a-rock-a-tronic," a mix that falls closer to the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Average White Band than today's teeny-bopper divas.
Charleston City Paper |
Stratton Lawrence |
12-20-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Stereo Reform, dance-a-funk
The Greyhounds are a Dynamic Duonew
The Greyhounds recently released an EP titled Spring Training. Compared to some of their funky material from the 2000s, the new stuff is more spare and sparse, but the element of soul remains intact.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
12-15-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Sadler Vaden Lands Gig with Drivin' N Cryin'new
One year ago, Sadler Vaden was super busy with his longtime rock trio Leslie. These days, when the guitarist and songwriter talks about his band, he's referring to veteran rock group Drivin' N Cryin'.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
12-15-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Explorers Club issue a rave-up series of suitesnew
If today's youngsters are infected with irony, an evening with the Explorers Club might just be the antidote. With a sound lifted straight from pop radio hits of the '60s and '70s, the Charleston band crafts its songs as if punk never broke.
Charleston City Paper |
Paul Bowers |
12-07-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Explorers Club
Danielle Howle has a woodsy state of mindnew
Danielle Howle's melodic and spirited folk-rock has always had a raw and earthy flavor, but it was never what fans or critics would describe as "swampy." .
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
11-29-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Danielle Howle
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
Run Dan Run are Mad Pop Scientistsnew
Run Dan Run's Normal is a dynamic, moody collection with a solid full-band sound. Songwriter Dan McCurry and his troupe reach far beyond their initial efforts in the early days.
Charleston City Paper |
T. Ballard Lesemann |
11-17-2011 |
Profiles & Interviews
