- 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
Charleston Music Hall to host Al Green, Bryan Adams
June 18, 2008 – 4:50 pm
Two big shows for the Charleston Music Hall were announced this week.
Canadian-born veteran rocker Bryan Adams — the blonde heartthrob with the raspy voice best known for such hits as “Cuts Like a Knife,” “Run to You,” “Heaven,” and “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” — steers his special acoustic solo tour to […]
Live Review: Pearl Jam in Columbia, 6/16
June 18, 2008 – 3:00 pm
(from City Paper contributor Caitlin Baker):
Pearl Jam rocks The Colonial Center
“Well, it’s been over a decade since we’ve played in this state. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.” Vocalist Eddie Vedder has it right. The last time Pearl Jam played in our state’s capital was 1996. The show on Monday at the […]
Shakedown on the horizon, 6/21
June 18, 2008 – 2:30 pm
One of our homeboys has a busy weekend ahead of him, In addition to his weekly writing duties, longtime City Paper staff writer Stratton Lawrence (pictured at left with his band) will present a 13-band local music showcase called “Summer Shakedown at the Local Dive” at the Pour House on Sat. June 21. Last December, […]
I Want My Dollar Back
June 16, 2008 – 1:48 pm
I want my dollar back.
Hungry and in a slight hurry, I dropped by the East Bay Deli (334 E. Bay Street, 843-723-1234) today shortly after 1 p.m. for a late-lunch-rush take-out order of their New York Yankee — a triple decker pastrami and corned beef with swiss on rye. The place was pretty full, but […]
Live Review: Rilo Kiley @ Music Farm, 6/12
June 13, 2008 – 11:51 am
(from City Paper contributor Susan Cohen):
Rilo Kiley: Jenny, You’re Much More Than Barely Alive
I went through a Saddle Creek phase in high school and I still have a collection of t-shirts to prove it. When I was 15/16, the music and emotions of Bright Eyes, Desaparecidos, and Cursive satisfied my post-pubescent angst. Rilo Kiley was […]
ZZ Top at the PAC, Billy G’s still got it
June 9, 2008 – 11:59 am
Hot licks, great tone, heavy riffs, and those raspy and soulful vocals … guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill, and drummer Frank Beard of ZZ Top made it look easy last night (Sunday, June 8th) in front of loud packed-house at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Approaching their 40th year as a trio, they […]
Wachovia Jazz: Hemingway on meterings, stickings, and sounds
June 6, 2008 – 10:56 am
Gerry Hemingway — an inventive veteran of percussion — performs a solo program of original compositions and improvisation at the Simons Center at 6 p.m. this evening (Fri. June 6) as part of Spoleto’s Wachovia Jazz Series.
“When I came to jazz, my whole perspective shifted,” he told City Paper from his temporary digs at the […]
Bo Diddley dies at age 79
June 2, 2008 – 12:12 pm
Sad news today: guitar hero and hugely influential rock pioneer Bo Diddley died today (Mon. June 2) of heart failure at the age of 79. According to new reports, Diddley suffered a heart attack in August, three months after suffering a stroke. Since his earliest days recording side for the old Chess label, he never […]
A Piccolo highlight: Lovell Sisters at Music Hall (wow)
May 31, 2008 – 5:30 pm
Through two sets of original songs, various bluegrass and country standards, and reworkings of blues and pop songs, Georgia acoustic group The Lovell Sisters delighted a packed house at the early-afternoon gig (Sat. May 31) at the Charleston Music Hall (37 John St.). Presented by the venue and Bennett Hoffard Company, fiddler/singer Jessica Lovell, dobro […]
North E was intense, man
May 30, 2008 – 4:27 pm
Bandleader John Harrison — the bearded main dude, lead singer, guitarist, and synth player in Chapel Hill rock/fuzz-pop band North Elementary — really went to town with the noisy rockstuff last night (May 29) at the Village Tavern, sharing gear and band members with fellow N.C. indie rock band Schooner in front of a […]
