This year’s impressive Southern Comfort Lowcountry Blues Bash continues. A wild varity of blues-based events run through Sun. Feb. 18. Every Blues Bash show is listed in MusicBoard. For details and ticket information, visit www.bluesbash.com or call (843) 762-9125. Listed below are some of the highlights and City Paper‘s “picks of the week.”
Alberta Adams
“Motor City blues lady”
Detroit-based blues singer Alberta Adams, 87, has been doing her jump blues/Chicago boogie thing for over 60 years. Adams has recorded extensively with the likes of Louis Jordan, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, T-Bone Walker, and Duke Ellington. She performs two shows this Friday, backed by RJ’s Rhythm Rockers. —T. Ballard Lesemann
(Charleston Co. Public Library, Fri. Feb. 15, noon-1 p.m.; A Dough Re Mi, Fri. Feb. 15, 8 p.m.)
Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm
“Mississippi boogie duo”
Drummer/singer Cedric Burnside and guitarist/vocalist Lightin’ Malcolm specialize in low-down and dirty Mississippi-style blues and boogie. Burnside, the grandson of legendary Hill Country singer/guitarist R.L. Burnside, spent time keeping time with Kenny Brown and the North Mississippi Allstars before forming the Burnside Exploration (with cousin Garry) and kicking around with Malcolm. —TBL
(The Pour House, Thurs. Feb. 14., 9 p.m.)
Miss Wanda Johnson
“Cool Carolina soul and blues”
“Your Side of Town” from the album Hold What You Got
Audio File
There are throatier blues voices than Wanda Johnson’s; her sound — more of a soulful clarinet than saxophone — hovers at the airy end of the vocal spectrum. On “Girlfriend,” from her recently-released 14-song album Hold What You Got, her clear voice plays deftly off the gritty slide guitar. “Walkin’ Don’t Cost A Thing” is a perfect romp with Shrimp City Slim’s classy backing. Johnson and Slim’s band perform four sets this week. —Jon Santiago
(Mimi’s, Wed. Feb. 13, 6-9 p.m.; Charleston Co. Library, Thurs. Feb. 14, noon-1 p.m.; Mills House, Fri. Feb. 15, 1-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. and Sat. Feb. 16, 1-5 p.m.)
Creech Holler
“Gothic mountain blues with a twang and a bang”
Splitting their time between the hills of Tennessee and the Blue Ridge of N.C., raw and earthy blues/country/rock trio Creech Holler — Jeff Zentner (guitars, vocals), Joseph Campbell (bass, melodica, vocals) and Christian Brooks (drums, tambourine, vocals) — mix it all up in a Southern-Gothic, distorted, reverb-heavy stew. —TBL
(Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ, Fri. Feb. 15., 10 p.m.)
Teddy Midnite
“From blues to folk to swing”
With a dollop of Tom Waits’ growl and the playful keyboard swagger of Dr. John, local singer/songwriter Ted McKee (a.k.a. Teddy Midnite), offers up two evenings of home-cooked bluesy gumbo: music that sticks to your ribs. We hope to hear a few originals from his Teddy Midnite album as well as his usual repertoire of acoustic blues, Western swing, and Americana. Bring your appetite. —JS
(Sticky Fingers (Mt. Pleasant), Fri. Feb. 15, 6-9 p.m.; Sticky Fingers (N. Charleston), Sat. Feb. 16, 6-9 p.m.)
Johnny Rawls
“Crooner and cool guy”
Born and raised in Mississippi, singer Johnny Rawls acquired an early interest in music, gigging with ZZ Hill, Little Johnny Taylor, Joe Tex, and The Sweet Inspirations before going to work for O.V. Wright as a band director. He began touring as a solo artist in the 1980s and made his first solo recording under the Rainbow label. Expect some velvety-smooth soul and blues. —TBL
(The Mill, Sat. Feb. 16, 9 p.m.)
Davis Coen
“Slidin’ and jivin'”
“Busker’s Blues” from the album Ill Disposition
Audio File
Charleston singer/guitarist Davis Coen specializes in slide guitar and harmonica. His latest album, Ill Disposition, is a mix of traditional, acoustic-based country folk-blues and electric-driven original blues compositions. Coen performs this week with Joey Izzo on drums and brother Trevor Coen on electric bass. —TBL
(Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ, Thurs. Feb. 14, 9:30 p.m.; Blind Tiger, Fri. Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m.; The Mill, Sat. Feb. 16, 9 p.m.)
Smoky Weiner & The Hot Links
“The beach bum boogie boys”
“Gunfight on Folly Beach” from the self-titled demo
Audio File
Singer and harp player Andy “Smoky” Weiner and his band are a celebrated blues-rock staple who get down with an energetic mix of electric blues, vintage surf-rock, rockabilly, swing, and cleverly revised covers. He and the band perform a “Blues Relief Fund Benefit” show on Sunday evening at the rustic Bowens Island site alongside Shrimp City Slim and various local guests. —TBL(Bowens Island, Sun. Feb. 17, 4-8 p.m.)
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