The Hed Shop Boys at Arts Bar

I caught a bit of a rockin’ set last night from veteran Charleston bar-rock band the Hed Shop Boys, and I learned that they recently shuffled the lineup a bit.

This month, frontman Frank Royster and longtime bassist Julian Volpe have been jamming on Thursday nights at Art’s (413 Coleman Blvd.) with guitarist Jeff Bateman, who normally hosts the weekly Musicians Night jam sessions at the venue. According to Royster, Bateman has officially joined the band as the lead guitarist, replacing Robert Siekawitch.

The band is also in a transitional phase with the drummer spot. Tommy Hamer — a timekeeper who spent several years gigging with the band — will be step back in over the next few months, replacing Tommy Capo.

All four of this year’s Hed Shop Boys go way back together. “It feels like it sounds great,” says Royster. “Having played together with Bateman, Hamer, and Volpe off-and-on for over 25 years, it’s like slipping into an old pair of shoes.”

The band plays (with Capo on drums) at Montreux Bar and Grill in Summerville (127 W. Richardson Ave.) on Fri. Jan. 14. Hamer sits in at Wings Neighborhood Bar & Grill in North Charleston (2110 Greenridge Ave.) on Fri. Jan. 28.

Check hedshopboys.com for more.

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