- T. Ballard Lesemann
Music Editor
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.
Category Archives: music
The Map Room closes its doors
May 13, 2008 – 2:06 pm
Some sad news hit the office this week: West Ashley music venue and bar The Map Room is halting operations and shutting its doors this Friday, May 16.
Located in the Village Square Shopping Center at 1650 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. in West Ashley, the venue has mixed it up with a wild variety of live rock, […]
Hard Rock Park gets a Thumbs-Up
May 8, 2008 – 12:55 pm
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 […]
Karl Shuman kicks of Open Mic series at Jammer
May 6, 2008 – 12:01 pm
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 […]
Jay Clifford to perform Piccolo Fringe series
May 6, 2008 – 11:33 am
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., […]
The Dirty Kids, farewell show on 5/17
May 6, 2008 – 11:24 am
Acclaimed Charleston orch-rock ensemble Lindsay Holler & The Dirty Kids just announced that their “last show” is set for Sat. May 17 at the Pour House.
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 […]
Chesney Injures Foot, Show Goes On
April 28, 2008 – 9:57 am
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 […]
Carolina Funk Listening Party at Tin Roof, 5/2
April 25, 2008 – 3:20 pm
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 […]
ZZ Top to boogie at Performing Arts Center, 6/8
April 25, 2008 – 3:06 pm
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 […]
‘Blues by the Sea’ IV at Mingo Point, 5/10
April 21, 2008 – 10:14 am
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 […]
S.C State gets academic with Hip-Hop
April 21, 2008 – 9:37 am
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, […]
