“Come on, man. Pee is pee.”— One of two women who invaded the men’s room at the Music Hall last week before the Indigo Girls show
Traveling Man
Daddy Mack kicks out the soulful jams
A nice crowd of old and young blues fans showed up at the Pour House on Sun. Feb. 10 for the Memphis-based Daddy Mack Blues Band’s cool set. Within 20 minutes of the kick-off, lead singer and guitarist “Daddy Mack” Orr, clad in a dapper silver suit and tie and a large-brimmed white fedora hat, started wandering around the club with his vintage Peavey axe and wireless unit. “Turn up the house lights!” he shouted after a few initial moments. His backing trio (guitarist James Bonner, bassist Harold Bonner, ambidextrous drummer William Faulkner) kept the grooves as Mack soloed, smiled, and strolled slowly from table to table, picking and bending quick phrases with a sharply shrill tone. Back on the stage, he introduced a few numbers off of his two most recent albums — Slow Ride and Bluestones — and graciously greeted the crowd. “Do you like the blues?” he hollered before going into the soulful “It’s Going to Be a Good Day” and the swingin’ reworking of J.J. Cale’s “After Midnight.” Things got loose at a few turns, but every bit of it clicked. —T. Ballard Lesemann
I See Red People
CofC throws sex-ed bash
Free lubes, jellies, and condoms! What more needed to be said? Not much, to a group of hormonal coeds. That kind of announcement is less about safe sex and more about the possibility that someone (other than you) believes you may indeed get laid. Vindication baby! Hell yes, you need those free condoms and lube! You’re a hot blooded young American; sex could happen at any moment. At least that’s what I assume was going through the heads of half the folks at Thursday’s College of Charleston Radio Red event. Put together to promote safe sex, young bucks and broads danced to DJ Sonar’s beats, watched belly dancers and a hula hoop girl, and picked up freebies from the Chateau Exxxperience booth. At one point a brave girl donned a sperm costume. Her mama would be so proud. The red theme was taken to the inth degree as students pulled out red corsets, red tights, and of course, who can forget those tiny red briefs? – Kinsey Labberton
Flannel and Wet Seal
BOH show dampened, but redeemed
I rushed home early from a weekend in Florida to catch Band of Horses at the Music Farm, one of the last shows on their American tour. I arrived just in time for the beginning of Cass McCombs’ set and to nab a prime spot near the front. An hour and a half later, the Farm was overflowing with flannel, and when the Horses took the stage, they woke everyone up real quick with “Is There a Ghost,” the ethereal opener from Cease to Begin. Ben Bridwell’s voice was a little scratchy at times (understandable after so many weeks on the road), but still I couldn’t have been happier until a few songs in, when my neighbors and I were invaded by the Wet Seal mafia. Two girls in matchy outfits and plastic earrings shoved their way in front, stepping on me with their stilettos and choking me with their cheap perfume. As they constantly cheers-ed their beers and grinded on the surrounding guys, I forgot about my favorite band which was performing just a few feet away and wondered if it could get any worse. A flutter of text messages later, and one of the girl’s beefy boyfriend shoved his way behind me and started breathing/spitting on my neck as he yelled incoherently, his constant fist pumps coming threateningly close to my skull. More than a little irate, yet unable to move without losing my spot, I surrendered and headed upstairs, wondering what exactly the protocol is for dealing with douchebags bent on ruining my night. Is a little shove acceptable? What about accidental beer spillage? Would BOH mind if I started a catfight in the middle of their show? On the balcony, the view wasn’t as good, but there was room to dance, and there wasn’t a stiletto in sight. —Erica Jackson
Gram Parsons Lives!
Grievous angels gather at the Tin Roof
It’s been 35 years since Gram Parsons moved on to the cosmic beyond, nine years longer than he walked the terrestrial world himself, but his influence and historical stature seem to grow with every passing year. To celebrate his impact on both the music they love and the songs they perform, a collection of Charleston’s finest acoustic musicians gathered at West Ashley’s Tin Roof on Sunday for a rebel-rousing collection of mini-sets. Newly-formed duo Sleeperhold kicked things off with some fine mandolin-infused harmonies, followed by local songwriter Mac Leaphart. Joined by Doug Jones and Danielle Howle, they performed Parson’s “Drug Store Truck Drivin’ Man” to wild applause. Kentucky Shoes played a loose set of jangly Parsons’ tunes, just before Cary Ann Hearst’s new duo with Michael Trent, Shovels and Rope, took the stage. A Decent Animal’s Richard Weld teamed up with Lindsay Holler, before a set of her own that included Bill Carson on the musical saw and an ensemble encore of “In My Hour of Darkness.” Cheers to Parsons and a legacy that’s still blessing the Holy City with alt-country goodness. —Stratton Lawrence
Change Is Gonna Come
The Metamorphosis of Park Circle
Saturday, Phillip Hyman, in collaboration with the folks behind the new Mixon development, pulled off an awesome arts-heavy event, Metamorphosis, highlighting the booming Olde North Charleston strip in Park Circle. East Montague Avenue experienced more traffic than usual, with perhaps a good 300 people checking out the revitalized little neighborhood. There was plenty of art to see and wine to drink. Plus, folks got to see some great graffiti artists in action. Here’s hoping that things continue to change for the better in Park Circle. —Svetlana Minx
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