ROCK ‘N’ ROLL | Blackfoot Gypsies
w/ Scarred but Smarter (featuring Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ members Kevn Kinney, Tim Nielsen, & Paul Lenz) and the Mackie Boles Band
Fri. June 12
9 p.m.
$10
Royal American
Nashville’s Blackfoot Gypsies are a low-down-and-dirty rock ’n’ roll band — no frills necessary. After miles of touring and four albums under their belt, what began as a Nashville-two-piece is now a quartet delivering down-home rock grooves. “There’s no substitute for having a full band, I don’t care how many amps you play through at once,” says lead singer and guitarist Matthew Paige. “The audience dances a lot more with bass and harmonica in the ears. It helps that these guys are full of soul, and they pour it out, right alongside of us, every show.” A unique aspect of the Gypsies are the fits of slide guitar that tear through Paige’s amp. “It’s just such a different sound than strumming the guitar,” says Paige. “I’ve been hooked since day one, and I’m still getting inspired, from old Muddy Waters to Reignwolf. Everyone’s sound is their own with the slide. I’m just working on mine.” Blackfoot Gypsies’ overdriven amps and banging drums are there for you when you just want to forget the troubling times and sway to the sounds of feel-good rock ‘n’ roll. “Music has a power,” says Paige. “We’re just trying to use it so we don’t lay down and die in the overwhelming unknown of the universe.” —J. Chapa FRIDAY
BLUES ROCK | Gary Clark Jr.
Mon. June 15
9 p.m.
$25
Music Farm
By the time Gary Clark Jr. was 17, he was already used to smoky rooms and comparisons to Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix, a feat which was even more impressive given the fact that he had only picked up a guitar two years before. The Texan went on to make three studio albums, with 2012’s Blak and Blu showcasing Clark’s ability to take blues influences and coalesce them with classic rock and neo-soul. After it was released, Clark found himself playing on stage with the Rolling Stones (he also opened for them a couple of weeks ago in San Diego) and snagging a slew of festival slots, like Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival, where Clark played alongside the late great B.B. King. Last year’s self-titled live release is a raw demonstration of the musician’s range of soft and slow ballads, dirty blues, and edgy tracks that bring you back to ’70s rock. Blending distorted guitar fuzz with silky smooth vocals, this energetic Austin-based artist knows how to croon, rock, and keep a crowd on its feet and feelin’ fine. —Kalyn Oyer MONDAY
SINGER-SONGWRITER | Jordan Igoe
w/ Sol Driven Train
Party at the Point
Fri. June 12
5:30 p.m.
$7
Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina
When we talked to Jordan Igoe recently, she was in the middle of performing at the bi-annual Eddie Owens Presents Open Mic Songwriters’ Shootout in Georgia, which boasts previous winners like John Mayer and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland fame. “Right now we’re at Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta playing a competition for some industry connections and hopefully some cash,” Igoe says. “Atlanta has been so good to me.” Since being featured on the cover of our Bandswap music issue last fall, Jordan Igoe and her band have been busy racking up miles on the tour van. “We’ve been doing some shows with Drivin’ N’ Cryin’, which has been cool,” says Igoe. “The last time we played with them was actually at The Windjammer.” Bandswap not only gave Jordan Igoe and her band the chance to play in Colorado, but they also gained connections with Austin’s SXSW and met their now-manager, Tim Nielsen of Drivin’ N’ Cryin’. Doors have been opening left and right for Igoe, and the future looks extremely promising for the talented singer-songwriter. Igoe was recently introduced to Nashville producer Paul Eversole, and they hope to collaborate soon. “Paul and I were introduced by my manager, and he was really impressed with the band,” says Igoe. “I’m gonna be working with him in the studio a bit, which is really exciting.” Until then, Igoe continues to be a soulful rock ‘n’ roll gem Charleston should enjoy while we’ve still got her. —J. Chapa FRIDAY
ELECTRO FOLK | Avi Jacob
w/ Cicada Rhythm and Great Yankee
Sat. June 13
8:30 p.m.
$6/adv., $8/door
Pour House
Vegan folkster Avi Jacob has been taking hip-hop dance lessons at Dancefx, which in part has inspired his new electric sound. “I want to make people feel free to dance, and to do that, you have to be the first one to dance,” says Jacob. The singer-songwriter’s love for grooving to good music began with taking the gold at a middle school talent show while impersonating Michael Jackson. You can check out his recent moves in his music video for “Cannonball,” a single you can find on SceneSC’s latest CD sampler alongside songs from other local faves like She Returns From War, Brave Baby, and ET Anderson. The new groove includes catchy rhythms, trumpet riffs, and electric finger picking. The theme, however, is not much different from his last disc, So Hard to Reach You. “The new stuff is more of the same personal songs, just with more of a rhythm. I got tired of just playing sad, slow songs the whole time,” says Jacob, who does most of his songwriting in the morning. “I dream every night. I’m trying to face everything in my life, but I find myself waking up with tears in my eyes,” he says. “I always thought you had to write late at night when you’re crazy, but I write in the morning.” Preferring to create lyrics with a clear mind, Jacob admits he quit smoking pot shortly after he forgot the lyrics to a Johnny Cash song while stoned in Boston. These days, Jacob spends time at his second home in Northhampton, Mass. when he’s not on tour or in Charleston, where he has most of his music connections. Later this summer, Jacob plans to record his next album with local producer and musician Wolfgang Zimmerman. Jacob will get to perform at his first music fest, Bragg Jam in Macon, Ga., in July. —Kalyn Oyer SATURDAY
Stay cool. Support City Paper.
City Paper has been bringing the best news, food, arts, music and event coverage to the Holy City since 1997. Support our continued efforts to highlight the best of Charleston with a one-time donation or become a member of the City Paper Club.