ROOTS-ROCK | The Blue Dogs
w/ Dangermüffin
Wed. July 4
The Windjammer
$12
For many local fans, it almost ain’t Independence Day without the Blue Dogs. The veteran Charleston act regularly headlines a holiday stint at the Windjammer with enough zeal and zest to make even the booziest beach bum stand up and salute. For well over a decade, the Dogs have been singin’ and strummin’ their way through the South and beyond with their decidedly Southern style of contemporary country-rock. Lead singer and acoustic guitarist Bobby Houck, upright/electric bassist Hank Futch, and drummer Greg Walker welcome a handful of special musical guests to the stage for two sets starting right after the IOP fireworks display. Listen for a slew of early hits and tons of stuff off their latest studio album, Halos & Good Buys. Check out www.bluedogs.com for more. —T. Ballard Lesemann WEDNESDAY
POP-ROCK | Sovus Radio
w/ Morning State
Wed. July 4
Cumberland’s
$6
Based out of Atlanta, indie rock/pop quartet Sovus Radio stand out as one of the more intriguing, up-and-coming bands to watch. Big, roomy guitar and drum sounds, melancholic pop melodies, dense vocal harmonies … it’s a blend of all the classic ’60s guitar-pop elements. Ty Thompson, Jay Royals, Chris Kaufmann, and Spencer Pope — multi-instrumentalists all — say Sovus Radio “play pop music, mainly, but it’s just good pop music … that’s why it may sound strange to you.” Currently on their fourth national tour, the Radio have been slugging through the Deep South since mid-June in anticipation of their official debut release on Bobby Daroll Records this summer. Atlanta quartet Morning State are back in town (they recently coheadlined the Atlanta Music Collective Benefit Showcase at the Music Farm), playing behind their new five-song EP, Retreat!!!. Visit www.myspace.com/sovusradio and www.myspace.com/morningstate for more. —TBL WEDNESDAY
TRIB-METAL | Degameth
w/ Joshua’s Whisper
Fri. July 6
Music Farm
$7
Degameth: it’s like Megadeth with the letters switched, get it? This burly trib band hope you do. Calling themselves “North America’s ultimate Megadeth tribute band,” singer/guitarist George “Mustaine” Hartwig, lead guitarist Jon “Poland” Protti, bassist Damian “Ellefson” Bonadono, and drummer T.O.M. hit the Farm stage this Friday with a set of classics pulled from such metallic fan faves as Killing is My Business … And Business is Good!, Peace Sells … But Who’s Buying, and Youthanasia. “If you want to hear exceptional musicianship, love metal, or just simply have the urge to bang your head, you can’t miss a single Degameth performance,” they proclaim. “The eclectic cast of Degameth’s talented lineup produces an electrifying and dynamic live performance that is nothing short of captivating.” Yeah, yeah, yeah … but can they pull off a Megadeth-style cover of “Anarchy in the UK?” Showtime is 9 p.m. All ages. See www.myspace.com/degamethtribute for more. —TBL FRIDAY
RAP/HIP-HOP/REGGAE | Afroman
w/ Dub Island Sound System
Fri. July 6
Barrier Island Surf & Supply
$7
Charleston’s own reggae/funk/electro science lab Dub Island Sound System share the stage with rapper and funnyman/MC Afroman at the funky party shack on the sound end of James Island (2013 Folly Road, 795-4545). Known best for his smooth-bouncin’ 2001 hit “Because I Got High” from the dank album The Good Times, Afroman (a.k.a. Joseph Foreman) recently headlined a fun show at the Music Farm. He returns behind a cool new collection called Waiting to Inhale (previously titled Party Times). Showtime is 9 p.m. See www.myspace.com/barrier_islands and www.afromanmusic.com for more. —TBL FRIDAY
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