Yesterday, a small contingency from the City Paper office made is way up Hwy. 17 for a special “sound check” preview of the band-new Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach (211 George Bishop Parkway). We were impressed with the handsome layout, which stretched around a central lake from the reggae-themed beach party area and the massive and gnarly “Led Zeppelin: The Ride” roller coaster through the “British Invasion” and “Born in the U.S.A.” areas through the “Kids Rock” games sections to the “Cool Country” spot.
The intense Zep ride stood at 15 stories high, kicked off with a 65 m.p.h. drop, and looped around through six inversions — all to the tune of “Whole Lotta Love.” It was one the biggest attractions and it will surely become the most popular ride and a must-ride for thrill-seekers.
At a more peaceful pace, “Nights in White Satin: The Trip” was a slow-rolling, psychedelic, indoor ride set to the music of the Moody Blues, replete with 3-D glasses. The black-light, fluorescent painted, laser/strobe special effects were cool … it was Disneyworld’s “Haunted House”-meets-Willie Wonka-meets LSD. “Eagles: Life in the Fast Lane” was a more kids-friendly, medium-sized roller coaster, set a barn-like structure (some pyrotechnic effects were in use, although they didn’t quite relate to the song or the band).
There were plenty of amusing diversions, game rooms, and mini parks aimed at kids: a “punk pit” inflatable bounce room, a splashy Reggae River Falls jungle gym, a laid-back Shake Rattle ’n’ Roller coaster ride, a musical ice skating show called “Country on the Rocks,” and various playgrounds and arcades. Three wide-eyed mascots called the “Bear Metal Family” waved to kids along the pathways.
At 9 p.m., the “Bohemian Rhapsody Fireworks Show” dazzled the entire park from the middle of the lake with a choreographed display set to the classic Queen anthem.
Be aware: the food is surprisingly good — especially the smoked chicken, mac ’n’ cheese, and the pulled pork barbecue at the Rockabilly BBQ and the desserts at the Amp’d coffee house by the main entrance.
Beware: the beer is terribly over-priced, unless you invest in a huge, plastic Hard Rock Park thermos (with which refills are cheaper). I paid $7.50 for a 16-ounce plastic cup of Bass Ale at the Whammy Bar at the end of the night while Murrells Inlet rock band Ten Toes Up jammed on the patio.
Be ready: the shops and merch huts are fully stocked with funky souvenirs, T-shirts, hats, mugs, and brac-a-brac — some of which are hilarious.
Hard Rock Park opend to the public on Fri. May9, but their official, two-day Grand Opening Event features performances by The Eagles on Mon. June 2 and The Moody Blues on Tues. June 3. These will be separate ticketed events. Tickets are on sale online at www.hardrockpark.com and at the All Access Entry Plaza.
hHere’s the venue’s spring and summer concert line up:
Tues. May 13 — Kid Rock
Fri. May 16 —The Charlie Daniels Band’s “Volunteer Jam,” with Shooter Jennings and .38 Special
Sun. May 18, Mon. May 19, Tues. May 20 — Rockie Lynne
Fri. May 23 — George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic
Mon. June 2 — The Eagles
Tues. June 3 — The Moody Blues
Fri. July 4 — Sister Hazel
For more information, visit www.hardrockpark.com or call the office at (843) 236-ROCK (7625).
Local musician and Windjammer staffer Karl Shuman recently announces the kick-off of a summer-long, weekly “Open Mic Night” series at the Windjammer every Tuesday evening. “I started this at the Windjammer several years ago and it has taken off over the past couple years with some incredible talent,” says the host.
Shuman, a Boston native who got his start in music while in college in Morgantown, W. Va., acts as sound guy, emcee, and referee — and things go quite smoothly for such a busy session. A sign up sheet goes up at 9 p.m. and the music begins at 10 p.m. Extra seating is available. Performers must bring their own instruments (no full drum kits, but hand percussion is fine). All styles are welcome.
“Normally, I start the night off with a few tunes, work the crowd a bit, and explain what the night entails. Normally everyone gets to play three to five songs. If the crowd is into a particular act, I try to give them a few more. I usually have time for about 10 acts. There’s a lot of great talent out there and it’s a great way for newcomers to get over the normal fears of performing on a stage and dealing with stage fright.”
The folks at Piccolo Spoleto recently adjusted their Piccolo Fringe schedule to include a three-night performance from singer/songwriter Jay Clifford — a longtime local favorite, formerly of Charleston pop/rock band Jump (a.k.a. Jump, Little Children).
Billed as “An Evening with Jay Clifford,” there’ll be solo performances in-a-row, June 5-7 at the American Theater (446 King St., 843-722-3456). He’ll do acoustic versions of many of the songs on his recent solo album, Driving Blind, as well as classics from the Jump and Rosebud catalogs.
After two years of musical adventure, the band is splitting amicably. City Paper tagged them as the scene’s “Most Indefatigable Band” in the recent Best of Charleston edition — mainly for Holler’s powerful and beautiful mix of jazz, classical, roots-rock, and deep folk styles. Bassist Ben Wells, percussionist Nick Jenkins, vibes player Michael Hanf, and guitarist Dave Linaburg will aim for new adventures in and outside of Charleston this summer and fall.
“We bid a tremendous farewell to some of our own, as they make their way on to other places and bigger things,” Holler stated in a recent press release. “I hold this unique group of people very close to my heart and am honored to have spent these past two years making music with them. I know I am a better person and a better musician for it!”
The frontlady says they’ll pull out all sorts of tricks at the Pour House as “one hell of a send-off.” The Hollerettes and LASSO might even show up. Chapel Hill singer/guitarist Noah Smith’s band The Never and Asheville/Knoxville-based singer/guitarist Jeff Zetner (of garage/blues trio Creech Holler) are on the bill as well.
Country superstar Kenny Chesney’s “2008 Poets and Pirates Tour” finally came to Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia on Sat. April 26, with over 44,000 fans in attendance. Unfortunately, during the first songs of his set, a malfunction with the stage risers led to a bizarre mishap.
City Paper writer Greg Hambrick was there! He filed this report on Monday morning:
“God bless Brooks and Dunn, but people didn’t pay more than $100 a ticket (some really close seats were auctioned for nearly $500) to see those two walk around the stage singing about honky tonk women.
That was likely what was going through Kenny Chesney’s mind as, just seconds after his band started playing, he got his foot caught in the platform as he was rising in the middle of the field. The jumbo screens showed Chesney pulling at the strap on his foot while the band kept playing ‘Live Those Songs Again.’ While some fans wondered if he’d be able to perform at all, Chesney picked up with the last verse of the song and struggled through the nearly two-hour set, hobbling from one end of the large stage to the other. Around the fifth song, stagehands brought out a stool, but it served as a table for Chesney’s cocktail for most of the night. He may have been suffering through it for the fans — but it was pretty painful to watch.
Injury aside, everybody put on their best party hats (mostly of the cowboy and trucker variety) and went along with all the sure-fire crowd pleasers. ‘Beer in Mexico,’ ‘Young,’ ‘Back Where I Came From,’ and ‘She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy,’ gave the tiki bar feel the crowd had been expecting. Chesney had said earlier in the week that the set would be high-energy. It was, but his injury left the fans in a lot of ways on their own.
A set with Uncle Craker was a bit too much of a throw back to Chesney’s tours three or four years ago, with Cracker’s hits ‘Follow Me’ and ‘Drift Away’ (originally by Dobie Gray) and a nearly inaudible version of Kid Rock’s “Cowboy.” An impromptu version of ‘You Never Even Call Me By My Name’ was a highlight, with Cracker and the night’s opening acts (Luke Bryan and Greg Allen) pitching in to provide the kind of good-times sing-a-long you’d imagine around the juke box at the last bar before you get too deep in the holler.
While Chesney’s set may have been pained, Brooks & Dunn got around the stage just fine. A Brooks & Dunn hot air ballon flew overtop the stage as the pair started their set (take that indoor arenas!). ‘Neon Moon’ was a slow number that still kept the crowd on their feet. ‘Only In America’ had the crowd bursting with patriotism as four military service members marched on stage, with red white, and blue streamers bursting into the air. And, though it’d been years since we’d done the dance, just a few bars into the chorus of ‘Boot Scootin’ Boogie’ and our feet were going ‘heel to toe.’
Leanne Rimes gave a few new singles, but mainly stuck with the older hits the crowd could sing along with. An added bonus: her modern-pop reworking of Cheap Trick’s ‘I Want You To Want Me.’ But what the crowd couldn’t stop talking about was Rimes outfit (no, really). She had a short dress that looked like a University fo South Carolina jersey. A group of college students heading out of the stadium were talking about how to make the outfit for themselves.
Allen and Bryan gave good opening acts, but played to a smaller crowd as the audience continued partying outside and milling around inside. Those who missed Bryan lost out on a terrific set, including his hit ‘All My Friends Say.’ He may not have the singles Chesney does, but he had the perpetual performer’s stage presence down pat.
Chesney couldn’t put on his best show. But the four solid acts in front of him meant the crowd didn’t feel jipped. That said, they were likely were glad he suffered through.”
Now-Again/Stone’s Throw Records will host a special album release “listening party” in celebration of their groovy new CD compilation Carolina Funk: First in Funk 1968-1977 at 10 p.m. on Fri. May 2 at the Tin Roof in West Ashley (1117 Magnolia Rd., 843-571-0775).
The disc features 22 rare and unreleased funk singles recorded between the late ’60s and mid ’70s by funk and soul acts based in North and South Carolina. Lowcountry acts include Carleen & The Groovers, Soul Drifters, and Primitive.
Carolina Funk was originally released on Jazzman Records in London last November. The production quality varies from sounding like loose, lo-fi demo sessions to a more professionally polished style. Grenville-based singer Dynamite Singletary’s “Super Good” (a reworking of James Brown’s “Super Bad”) is tops.
“We have already thrown release parties in Chapel Hill, Columbia, Asheville, and Charlotte,” says organizer Jason Perlmutter, a Chapel Hill-based DJ from WXYC and an avid record collector who helped compile the collection. “My friends Chris Wenner from Columbia and Harley Lyles from Greensboro and I will all be spinning funk and soul throughout the night. I’d like to reach out to people who might have made records like these that I don’t know.” Perlmutter’s extensive liner notes are worth as much as the funky tracks themselves. Here’s the list of tunes:
Grab the cheap sunglasses — ZZ Top is solid for a concert on Sun. June 8 at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill, and drummer Frank Beard are the original threesome that formed the band in Houston in 1970.
Tickets go on sale for $76 (plus applicable services fees) on sale Fri. May 2 at 10 a.m. via the civic center box office, Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at (843) 554-6060, or online.
Eagle Rock Entertainment will release ZZ Top’s first ever live concert ZZ Top: Live From Texas on DVD on June 24.
Shrimp City Slim is at it again. The fourth annual Blues by the Sea event is set to boogie on Sat. May 10 with performances by local blues-rock champs Rev. Dr. Johnny Mac & The Booty Ranch, (pictured at left) Gruenling & Guyger (doing a tribute to blues harmonica great “Little Walter” Jacobs), Texas swamp blues act Randy McAllister, and Chicago-based blues combo Eddie Shaw & The Wolf Gang (they tore it up in town during the recent Lowcountry Blues Bash, pictured at right).
Presented by the Town of Kiawah Accommodations Tax Committee, Bill & Marilyn Blizard (of Kiawah Friends of the Blues), and the Lowcountry Blues Bash, the event takes place at the bucolic Mingo Point, located just outside the main gates of Kiawah Island (45 minutes southeast of downtown) from 2-8 p.m. Free admission.
Shrimp says, “No coolers please; food and drink are for sale. Please bring your own lawnchairs. Rain or shine.” Call (843) 762-9125 for more info.
South Carolina State University in Orangeburg hosted a Hip-Hop Symposium of “knowledge, lectures, and a panel discussion,” with an open mic sponsored by Whittaker Library on April 15-16. “We are endeavoring to study the body of literature and knowledge of Hip-Hop culture as a means to providing information literacy to our students,” stated Sherman Pyatt, coordinator of collection development at the Whittaker Library. For more information visit the website at www.scsu.edu.
Last summer, country/pop singer Lee Greenwood headlined North Charleston’s annual July 4th festivities at Riverfront Park, along with a massive fireworks show over the Cooper River. This year, it looks like Spartanburg’s very own Marshall Tucker Band are set to headline in the early evening, with support from vintage rock/soul act The Drifters and other acts to be added to the bill. The Post and Courier reported the city’s announcement this weekend.
Replete with flute, multiple guitar solos, and dense vocal harmonies, the Marshall Tucker Band are considered to be a pioneering jam band. Their biggest hits included “Heard It In A Love Song,” “Fire On The Mountain,” and “Can’t You See.” Shout Factory recently released a three-disc DVD/CD live set titled Carolina Dreams Tour ‘77.
Set on the banks of the Cooper River, Riverfront Park (1001 Everglades Dr.) and its pavilion are located near the historic homes once occupied by the Naval Base Admiral and officers, bordered by Noisette Creek.
Elegantly slobby Charlestonian, recently back after 16 years in Athens, Georgia. I remember the Killer Whales, the old Sonny Goldberg ads on TV, the "Happy Rain" kids show, and the Slip-Slidin' waterslide in Mt. P. I find high-quality beer, obscure rock records, and strong coffee irresistible. I edit and write for the City Paper's music section and play drums and make noise for fun.
Yesterday, a small contingency from the City Paper office made is way up Hwy. 17 for a special “sound check” preview of the band-new Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach (211 George Bishop Parkway). We were impressed with the handsome layout, which stretched around a central lake from the reggae-themed beach party area 
and the massive and gnarly “Led Zeppelin: The Ride” roller coaster through the “British Invasion” and “Born in the U.S.A.” areas through the “Kids Rock” games sections to the “Cool Country” spot.
The intense Zep ride stood at 15 stories high, kicked off with a 65 m.p.h. drop, and looped around through six inversions — all to the tune of “Whole Lotta Love.” It was one the biggest attractions and it will surely become the most popular ride and a must-ride for thrill-seekers.
The black-light, fluorescent painted, laser/strobe special effects were cool … it was Disneyworld’s “Haunted House”-meets-Willie Wonka-meets LSD. “Eagles: Life in the Fast Lane” was a more kids-friendly, medium-sized roller coaster, set a barn-like structure (some pyrotechnic effects were in use, although they didn’t quite relate to the song or the band).
There were plenty of amusing diversions, game rooms, and mini parks aimed at kids: a “punk pit” inflatable bounce room, a splashy Reggae River Falls jungle gym, a laid-back Shake Rattle ’n’ Roller coaster ride, a musical ice skating show called “Country on the Rocks,” and various playgrounds and arcades. Three wide-eyed mascots called the “Bear Metal Family” waved to kids along the pathways.
