POP/ROCK | David Mead
Fri. Sept. 8
Village Tavern
$8
Eclectic pop/rocker David Mead — formerly of the band Joe, Marc’s Brother — makes it back to town on Fri. Sept. 8 for an intimate gig at the Village Tavern in support of his latest, lavishly-produced album, Tangerine, the brilliant follow-up to last year’s critically-acclaimed Wherever You Are. Released in the spring on Tallulah Media, the Nashville-based songwriter described the new collection as “a combination of very high pop tempered with a sensibility that’s a lot more about being a solo artist than a singer-songwriter.” His last show in town was in May at T.J. & Tommy’s. For more information, go to www.davidmead.com. —T. Ballard Lesemann FRIDAY
BLUEGRASS/FOLK | Larry Keel & Natural Bridge
Fri. Sept. 8
Pour House
$10
Fast-picking guitarist Larry Keel is most likely a familiar face to Lowcountry-area bluegrass fans, courtesy of his numerous appearances in and around Charleston throughout the late ’90s and 2000s. Originally from Virginia, Keel is commonly referenced for his award-winning flatpicking guitar skills. He and various company have kept up an almost nonstop touring schedule. Larry and wife Jenny Keel, a veteran upright bassist and a steady constant in many of her husband’s collaborations, began touring in 2005 with a new band called Natural Bridge. The group recently adjusted its lineup by adding acclaimed banjoist and songwriter Jason Flournoy, of Colo. jamgrass band Shanti Groove. See www.larrykeel.com for more. —Michael Andrews FRIDAY
HARD ROCK | Artimus Pyledriver
w/ Scars Division, Monolith
Sat. Sept. 9
Oasis Bar & Grill
$5
Artimus Pyledriver have been sluggin’ the Southern-fried rock ‘n’ punk guitar riffs since forming under the clever moniker (borrowing from one of Skynyrd’s drummers) in Atlanta in 2001. Singer Dave Slocum, guitarists Jimmy Hall and Damon Goldsmith, bassist Michael Faulkner, and drummer Travis Owen recently signed to the DRT label and released a 10-song, self-titled album that’s sure-fire entertainment for fans of the ’90s-era stoner-rock phenomenon. “We live and breathe the South,” says Slocum. “Everything in our music’s genuine. It’s just kind of who we are. There is not a goddamn thing fake about what we do.” They headline an all-ages show this weekend with local openers Scar Division and Monolith. Check out www.artimuspyledriver.com for more. —TBL SATURDAY
INDIE ROCK | Them vs. Them
Sun. Sept. 10
Village Tavern
$5
Based in N.Y.C. (by way of Chicago and L.A.), spazzo dance-rock band Them vs. Them couldn’t care less about minding their manners. For these four, the name of the game is high-energy rock/punk chaos against a herky-jerky backbeat. They’re so determined they’re even up for documenting it all on disc. “This’ll be our last tour ’til well after our December recording with Chad Clark, who has produced albums for Dismemberment Plan, Fugazi, and Burning Airlines,” says organ player Ig, also of Oh My God. “We think this is perfect, given that Chad has shown a brilliant flair for blending punk with dancy, spazzy rock … and also tossing in the unforeseen.” Ig, lead singer Jaq, drummer Bish, guitarist Casey Kannenberg, and new guitarist Matt “Matt Lenny” Neuroth bring the weirdo funk jams this Sun. at 10 p.m. Check www.myspace.com/themvsthem for more. —TBL SUNDAY
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