Moses Andrews III and His Journey to Finding Black Identity and Confidence

“This album, while it talks about being human, it shows that I’m no longer afraid of being Black anymore. I’m no longer afraid of saying that I’m a Black man - not African American, but Black. This album is about empowerment and jumping over hurdles. This album is the start of me standing up for people with bodies like mine.”

Photo by Kati Baldwin

If you want to learn about who Moses Andrews III is, we highly recommend listening to his newest album Exodus Pt. II. The personal stories he tells and the range of emotions in the album paint a strong likeness. If you want to hear him expand on the album and the stories, keep on reading.

JASPER: You are one busy dude! What bands (or projects) are you currently working in/on?

ANDREWS: Well, I have quite a list of bands, artists, and projects I’m a part of. To name a few: Autocorrect, GFATS, Miles To Go, Passing Worth, The Runout, The Restoration, The Witness Marks, and a few others. Occasionally, I step in and play with Space Coke, Fat Rat Da Czar, John Callaway (based out of MD), Commandment 11 (Simpsonville), and some others here and there. I’m also a session musician at Jam Room so that gives me so many opportunities to branch out even more.

JASPER: You recently worked on the soundtrack for a Sundance submission—can you tell us more about that?

ANDREWS: The film is an Afro-centric film called Hero and every part of it was shot in Columbia, so this could be something really big for the town. Todd Mathis, a local musician, had given my name along to the Director and the Music Director for the film. I’d found later that Todd would be the engineer and I’d be joining Corey Harris (a Blues and Reggae musician from VA), Kyle “Red” Love (Music Director and Blues harmonica player), and a couple of other musicians from around the country. A lot of the selections were pieces that Corey had written, but we decided to put a new spin on them for the film. We’d also incorporated lots of African sounds into the soundtrack. I’m excited to see how everything fits together.

JASPER: Your newest album Exodus Pt. II came out last month and in the description for it you mention that it is made up of stories that you have held for decades. What do you want people to know about the album? 

ANDREWS: The main thing I want people to know about Exodus Pt. II is that it is an effort to be completely honest. People make mistakes. I even talk about my own mistakes on this album. I wanted to add more songs to this album, but it would’ve been too long, so I want to be even more honest with my music in the future.

Black people and other People of Color have navigated this world in so many ways. We’ve had to overcome. As soon as we walk out of our door, we walk into a world where we have to prove that our existence is more than just useful, but valid. We have to prove our feelings are valid. We have to prove that we’re more than just a shooting target. We have to lower ourselves to show that we aren’t a threat. This album, while it talks about being human, it shows that I’m no longer afraid of being Black anymore. I’m no longer afraid of saying that I’m a Black man - not African American, but Black. This album is about empowerment and jumping over hurdles. This album is the start of me standing up for people with bodies like mine.

The content of this album is not influenced by what I believe, but what I embody. The Faith that I come from was not just a belief, but was a fully embodied faith: even in bondage, singing songs of freedom. Even in toil and trouble, singing songs about how we overcome. In a world where I may not have much power to do anything, I still lend my voice in the off-chance that some hearts are changed and are motivated to change others.

JASPER: Was there a song that was really hard for you to write?

ANDREWS: One of the songs from Exodus Pt. II that was the hardest to write was “I Know Everything About Black People.” I had to reopen so many wounds to be able to write this one. This song is just a snapshot of what Black people experience in predominantly white spaces, especially churches that are very Conservative-leaning. About 95% of the lyrics were taken from conversations with white pastors who have made their places of worship into safe havens for racists and bigots. I look at Spotify and see that it’s the top song on this album, but I think it’s because of the name. It catches your eye and draws you in.

Our minds are drawn to things we think are wrong or things we feel like we can correct or make better. Some say that this has come with the age of social media, but I believe it’s always been around, but people just didn’t want to see it. I feel like there are so many people who will not listen to this album because of this song. I also feel that some people know that this song is written about them, or maybe they know who’s the main character.

JASPER: What is your favorite thing you've written and why?

ANDREWS: If I think about everything I’ve written, I think I’ll be spinning my wheels a bit. There are a few songs that stick out to me.

One of my favorite songs I’ve ever written is on my most recent album, and it has to be IOU. The feelings that I’d felt while writing it are still there. You can feel the pain of someone being asked to completely change who they are to please others in the workplace. I feel like a lot of people, especially Millennials, can identify with some of these feelings of just being there, making little money, not getting ahead, etc. While a lot of songs were honest, this one was like talking to my therapist.

JASPER: If you were to associate a condiment with each of your albums what would they be and why?

ANDREWS: Well, If we’re talking about my personal music, this is an easy one. Exodus Pt. I would be more like ketchup because when you’re growing up, your taste buds haven’t developed enough to appreciate more than ketchup. This album is easy listening compared to the next one.

Exodus Pt. II is like a hot sauce that I make called Sri-HOT-cha: you can feel the heat at the beginning, but then you get some garlic and fruitiness coming through until you reach the slow burn, ramping up and taking you on a roller coaster. Exodus Pt. II was like that for me, especially in the way it was laid out. Hot sauce is my favorite condiment and Exodus is my favorite album that I’ve ever recorded.

JASPER:  How has becoming a father impacted you and your music?

ANDREWS: Being a father has changed a lot for me! I used to have instruments set up everywhere in the house, but they’ve since become his play areas. Almost every one of my instruments is packed up and in the closet because there’s nowhere to put anything. This has also affected my practice time because I want to give Miles more attention. Family time is important. After he goes to bed, it gives me a chance to actually visualize what I need or want to play since I can’t just plug in and play out loud. It is very interesting to see how he reacts to different styles of music. I can’t wait to see what Miles does in the future.

JASPER: What is the biggest assumption people tend to make about you and your music?

ANDREWS: What a question! People assume a lot about me simply by the way I look. Being a big Black man in the South, I get a lot of interesting questions and looks. I’m a big guy so people look at me like I’m a Grizzly bear instead of a Teddy bear. I was releasing an album with Autocorrect one evening and someone asked me if I was playing and if I make the beats. I used to make beats when I was a teen and there’s nothing wrong with making beats, but you can’t just assume that since I’m a Black person that I just make beats and not play an actual instrument. When I was at Carolina, I’d be carrying an instrument in a case and they’d still ask if I was a DJ. Those are small examples.

There are many other ways people have made assumptions about me and my music, but it has also happened in the white church. Being in predominantly white spaces, people learn one thing about you and they assign that one thing to you. You change yourself to help people feel more comfortable so that you don’t risk being “too Black” or look like a threat. Over time, you strip yourself away and become this completely different person playing Contemporary Christian Music only to have people approach you and talk about Gospel music and how much they love Andrae Crouch. I’d spent so much time away from Gospel music that I’d forgotten what it felt like to play it and be challenged by it. They assumed I was still in Black American Christian culture when I was so far removed from it.

JASPER: What are some things you like or dislike about the Columbia music scene?

ANDREWS: Some of the things I love about the music scene in Columbia is that there are always new artists coming out with music. Just watching people like Lola Grace is so cool. Another thing I like is that we have places like New Brookland Tavern and Foxfield that welcome musicians no matter how many people they draw. This is where they can grow and become somebody.

One of the things I dislike about this Columbia music scene is that there is still so much division. There are still cliques and people only know each other passively. I wish I could see more people working together. I think it’s so common these days to see the Person of Color being the one building the bridge or going the distance to create harmony. We always have to be the person to make the move and invade these spaces to add more color. I can name a handful of people of color in a lot of these spaces. I can guarantee you that when they are in these spaces, they feel like they’re the only one at that particular time.

JASPER: What wisdom do you wish to impart on musicians just starting out? 

ANDREWS: 

• Make friends with everyone. Break down the barriers.

• Stop booking the same kinds of shows all the time.

• If other artists or bands are coming out to your shows/gigs and buying your music or “merch,” make sure you are returning the favor. So many people can’t get anywhere because we aren’t supporting our own musicians in our own towns.

• Learn how to play more music. If you learn more styles of music and get good, you may get called into the studio to do session work.

• Change your attitude. Be humble. There are musicians that I know who think they’re amazing, but they can’t play more than four chords. All they bring is an image, a vibe. The time has come to learn and grow. Take time to work on things and come with something new.

• Make space in the community for people who don’t look like you, and not just the tokens or the ones who make you comfortable.

You can see Andrews perform  Thursday, August 18 at 8pm at Uncle Festers with St. Jupiter, Deft Key & MC Beetnik and listen to his newest album on his bandcamp.

Say Brother’s Tripp LaFrance: Wiser, Older, Sober — And Still Fun as Hell

“big bands are only big because other people support you, your show only sells out because people care enough to spend money to come see you. be grateful an humbled by that. cause if you fall off an youve jus been attached to this image of yourself, youre gonna fall fuckin hard.” — Tripp LaFrance

Self-labeled as country folks—and referred to in the press as young guys playing old music—Say Brother has danced, hollered and jangled in the Columbia music scene since 2010. In that time, they've toured the East Coast and as far West as Texas, but thankfully, they still call Columbia home. We talked with lead vocalist and guitarist, Tripp LaFrance, about how things are going and what has and hasn’t changed in the last 12 years. 

JASPER: What the heck have y'all been up to?

LAFRANCE: well like erbody, the pandemic kicked our asses musically. it was great for some much needed self reflection an improvement though. i feel like erbody in the band came out the other end a lil more put together. were finally gettin our new stuff down an pickin up where we left off. feels good to be back at it.

JASPER: Has the pandemic had any impact on your music, creativity or process?

LAFRANCE: oh absolutely. like i mentioned, it obviously brought musicians to a standstill. not bein able to play live an get them wiggles out was frustratin to say the least. it has shown me not to take it for granted though. im throwin all i got at it now, instead of bein a perfectionist who releases a new song once every two years haha.

JASPER: What does life look like now vs. 2019 when you were playing Hopscotch and the Fair?

LAFRANCE: life looks...more organized an completely confusin at the same time. i sobered up an thats been great, but my trajectory is all over the fuckin place now. its near impossible to say where or what ill be in a year.

JASPER: You guys have been a band now for over 10 years – woah! How has the band changed in that time? How has Columbia and the music scene changed?

LAFRANCE: the band has had a pretty revolvin door lineup. some people left and came back, left again, came back haha. but we have what i think is the perfect squad now. weve lost people along the way, but its never felt better. 

an yeah i feel the music scene has changed. its hard to put my finger on exactly how though. could also be a result of the lockdown an erbody comin back out as changed people. who knows. im in my lane.

JASPER: In these last 10 years what’s your favorite show you've played?

LAFRANCE: tanglefest 2021! that was the first real show we came back out an played. jus felt like community an love. lydia worked her ass off to put that festival together, an is doin it again this september on her farm. i seriously cannot fuckin wait. its jus a sloppy, happy, beautiful local fest full of awesome food, people, campin, an good times.

JASPER: What makes you want to play music?
LAFRANCE: its jus such a release. i swear, an i feel like most musicians would say this, the only time i feel at peace an my mind shuts the fuck up is when were on stage. everything else melts away an i am 100% in the moment soon as the first beat drops. honestly its more necessity than desire. 

JASPER: What does your writing process look like? 

LAFRANCE: there isnt much to it. i grab the guitar when the mood strikes, an usually run through a couple of chords an sing jibberish tryna find a melody i like. if one clicks ill record it an start to layer the rest of the instruments over it in garageband that are ever changin as the song progresses. its prolly not much different than most peoples, but damn man theres no better feelin than when you know you have somethin sick an youre jus listenin to it on repeat tweakin lil things here an there. thats a high like no other.

JASPER: Do you have a favorite lyric or song you've written, and if so, what is it? 

LAFRANCE: damn thats tough. i think “comfort me” might be my favorite? i wrote it in a total hurry under pressure cause we had a video shoot booked for it before it was even written, an i kinda thrive under that pressure. theres not much time to overthink anything, an i think that jus leads to more honest writin. i tend to pick apart everything i write to the point that i hate it. which is also why weve released only a handful of songs, an ive written hundreds. its a quality of mine im always tryin to get rid of. its incredibly fuckin frustratin.

JASPER: How do you know when something is done? 

LAFRANCE: i dont haha. when the rest of the band tells me so i guess. i tend to wanna go back an rework shit, but its only cause ive heard it a thousand times. once we all get together an play it at practice, we can tell if we got a banger or not pretty immediately. im blessed to have a group of brothers at my side who all have a similar ear an direction. theyre also all creative an write their own music separately so that really helps when you present somethin.

JASPER: What are you listening to these days? Are there any newer musicians local or otherwise you are into?

LAFRANCE: currently as i write these answers im listenin to sarah shook and the disarmers, theyre a sick sorta country rock an roll band thats gainin crazy traction right now. ive found myself listenin to a lot of instrumental beats these days. like the low fi almost hiphop shit that is jus raw an relaxin.

JASPER: Have you or anyone else in the band ever ridden a horse?

LAFRANCE: i did when i was younger, i think thats prolly the truth for the rest of the band as well. haha i can imagine now that experience would be painful bruh. we in our 30s if i bend down to pet my cat wrong it takes me 17 seconds to stand back up all the way straight.

JASPER: Having been playing for a while, what freaks you out most about the younger generation or encourages you and why?

LAFRANCE: the musicians arrogance. thats not jus attached to the younger generation of course, but maybe attached to the younger age we all go through. our generation remembers life before instagram an shit. but everybody is a celebrity now. there seems to be this feelin of self importance that in my opinion has no place in music. big bands are only big because other people support you, your show only sells out because people care enough to spend money to come see you. be grateful an humbled by that. cause if you fall off an youve jus been attached to this image of yourself, youre gonna fall fuckin hard. an it happens. im a human, ive struggled wit the ego bullshit of course, i was a lil shit for a while, so im definitely not hatin on anybody. jus gotta work to keep yourself in check.

but i am encouraged by how open these kids are. destroyin stigmas around mental health, bein themselves without holdin back, fightin for what they believe in. theres a lot to like when i get a glimpse into their narrative. 

You can see Say Brother with The Josephines at New Brookland Tavern on August 13th and hear their music on Bandcamp.

The Beat: Concert Review: Maddie Turner, Lola Grace, Kat Gandy, and Death Ray Robin New Brookland Tavern, July 14th

“Sad girl indie” has been bubbling under on the indie charts the past few years, with major artists such as Lucy Dacus and Soccer Mommy surfacing as stars in the subgenre. On Thursday, July 14th at the New Brookland Tavern in West Columbia, Columbia’s version of the “sad girl” scene took the stage in a show that featured Maddie Turner, Lola Grace, Kat Gandy, and Death Ray Robin.

Maddie Turner’s set put the spotlight on her calming voice, evoking Phoebe Bridgers in ways besides covering songs of hers such as “Scott Street”. While newer to the music scene of Columbia, Maddie possesses the stage presence of a much more seasoned performer. Her personality surfaced best between songs, as she kept the audience laughing and reacting to what she had to say. 

Lola Grace, of Stardust Motel, has a powerful voice reminiscent of Florence Welch (Florence + The Machine). Her set included songs that drew from her own life experiences such as finding true love; the one that you know will be there for you, and expressing those feelings in ways only young lovers can. The show came ahead of the release of her new single, “Reconsider”, and as a special treat for the audience, she not only included songs written as a solo artist but solo renditions of music from Stardust Motel’s discography such as “Starcrossed Lovers”. 

Kat Gandy is usually seen in Outerego or as part of Paisley and the Birdwalkers; the airiness of her voice gives her songs a layered, organic feel even in the world of impersonal stage amplification. Starting out with a cover of the iconic “Running Up That Hill”, recently made relevant and popular again via its inclusion in the show “Stranger Things,” Kat followed that opening statement with a set of her original music created as a solo artist and also from her other musical endeavors. Her skill with the various pieces of musical technology on stage created the illusion that there were three copies of Kat harmonizing along in the background, lending her set an intricately arranged, ethereal quality.

Death Ray Robin has a personality and stage presence that commands attention all on its own. While often backed by a full band, this show was all about Desirée herself as she took the stage with only her voice and her keyboard. Her vocals leave room for plenty of vulnerability and passion to shine through on songs such as, “Boss Babe (You Can Have It)”. 

The ambiance of New Brookland Tavern helped bolster the effects of these performers on the audience as well, with monochromatic lighting moving over the singers and listeners, connecting them in a single ray of light as if they were the one person being sung to directly. 

Regardless of what you call it, and whether it’s truly sad or just emotionally raw and open, the kind of indie appeal that even local artists like these have is apparent in the rapt audience attention and their own passionate delivery of their original material. 

The Beat: Remembering Ruba Say

PC: Ruba Say’s Facebook

“We thought he’d outlive us all,” went one of the many comments online after news of the July 16th passing of Columbia musician and iconic personality Ruba Say at the age of 56 (From a chronic medical condition) broke. It was his larger-than-life persona that most locals remember, along with an easygoing attitude that meant he got along with everyone. In my nearly 30 years of writing about local music in Columbia, I can’t recall a time when Ruba wasn’t around, doing something, playing somewhere, sending me demos or sharing news of a new album or show. 

Ruba was his own best promoter, and before social media came along he was creative in his efforts to be heard. Former WUSC-FM student DJ Tug Baker recalls his first encounter with Ruba:

“The first interview I ever did at WUSC was with Ruba Say. During one of my first shows freshman year, he burst into the studio during my show and said he was scheduled for an interview about Ruba Say and the Cosmic Rays. No one had told me anything about it, and I was pretty sure he hadn’t asked or cleared it with anyone at the station. But I went ahead and rolled with it, interviewed him, played some of their songs, and we had a good time.”

Ruba also had a habit of turning up in places you’d least expect. Emily Strickland recalls one such night at the Hunter-Gatherer.

“We went to see Hick’ry Hawkins play, and Ruba was there. At some point late in the set Ruba started playing guitar with him, and next thing you know they’ve closed the front door to the pub, Ruba is wailing on guitar, and Hick’ry is standing on a table belting out AC/DC songs. It wasn’t a big crowd, but that’s part of what made it so special–it was just this intimate moment of high energy rock and roll that we all shared–Ruba brought that, and shared it with all of us.”

Naturally, however, it is his fellow musicians who have the best stories about Ruba. 

“I remember walking into Group Therapy about 30 years ago to a wall of rock,” says Soul Mites bassist Thom Harman. “There was Ruba, spinning on the floor and tearing up a guitar solo at the same time–that is rock and roll, and he embodied it like few people ever do.”

Artie Joyner of Stardog remembers one particular night out of many spent in Ruba’s company:

“Ruba was legally blind, so I drove him around a lot, and we’d take turns playing our favorite tunes on the car stereo. On the way back from Summerville once, he pulled a joint out of his shoe, we lit it up and jammed to Motley Crue’s “10 Seconds To Love” all the way home.” 

Jay Matheson, of the Jam Room recording studio and too many bands to list here, recalls an early 1990s night with Ruba:

“I decided to roll down to Charleston to play bass on a gig with Ruba and his drummer, Brian Kennedy–we were opening for some band at Cumberlands. When we walked on stage to play, 80 or so hippie kids were sitting cross-legged on the floor waiting on some chill, groovy music, so we were wondering what was going to happen. Ruba jumped to the microphone and started screaming out a rocking song with his trusty Crate amplifier cranked wide open. Brian and I looked at each other, shrugged, and started blasting along with him. The crowd was horrified, I don’t think they had any idea what was happening–I was well entertained and drove back to Columbia feeling like the trip was well worth it.”

Keith Woodward, owner of the legendary Columbia store Superior Feet Playhouse, met Ruba at the store one night, around Halloween of 1989.

“We were having a late night happy hour and this new face in town came through, he was a musician, knew all the music, and as everyone was putting on costumes, Ruba put on a Viking helmet, which went with his red hair so well I gifted it to him. He was part of an exodus of Florence musicians who came to Columbia in the 1990s, and he was always one of those who could turn a small thing into something bigger, just through all the people he knew–he was the original social network all on his own.”

Steve Gibson, original co-owner of the legendary Rockafellas, remembers Ruba fondly.

“Ruba was ubiquitous, always around, and always positive,” He says. “There are very few in Columbia who contributed so much, for so long, on the local scene.”

Back in 2017 I reviewed a self-titled Ruba Say and the Cosmic Rays album that had just been released, and this excerpt sums up my own feelings about Ruba and his music, and the loss that we’ve all felt this past week: 

“There is a legendary space in the Columbia music scene where Ruba Say exists as a sort of alternate reality rock god everyone knows and loves…Take the first KISS album, throw in some UFO, a little Stooges, and a lot of Alice Cooper, and you've pretty much got the meat of what Ruba does… The result positions the Cosmic Rays as a garage band of the finest order, content with blasting the roof off whatever dive bar they can find.”

Jasper Talks with Marshall Brown on Experiences New and Old Post 5th Album Release

“I’m a strong believer that if there’s just one person in a room that takes something in from a performance then you’ve done your job”

— - Marshall Brown

We talked with local musician and DIY recording master Marshall Brown about his music, process and upcoming projects. His 5th album, Ay Es Em Ar, released in May of last year, was Voted best SC Album of 2021 by Free-Times.

Photo by Shane Sanders

What beverage or meal pairs best with your music?
Hmmmm. I'd say “Changing Of The Garb” pairs with a smoothie of some sort, and with “Elephants Walking Lightly” maybe a smooth wheat beer and pop a melatonin. “Awakened On The Weekend” is definitely a Bourbon Soda, but it's a daytime Bourbon Soda to be enjoyed in the sunshine. 

What makes a song good? 
I like a song that gets stuck in my head. I also like production that has a lot to listen to and keeps you interested — where maybe there's something in the 2nd verse that wasn't in the 1st verse. Sometimes I do get tired of the everyday "Verse –chorus," but I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't say that sometimes it's just all you need, too.  

What’s your favorite thing you’ve ever recorded? 
I find that the more time I spend on a record, the more love I have for it — I guess for obvious reasons. The more I labor over and pour myself into a project, the more connected I feel to it. Every time I put a record out, I generally have put more into it than the one before, so I'd say my favorite is usually my latest. 

What is your process like when writing and or recording? Is there anything you wish you could do differently or that you don't like about it? 
Organization is key. I keep notes on my phone of random couplets or just titles that I may think are witty or interesting. Also, I have another folder that has song ideas that are maybe a little more developed. I have a folder with finished lyrics that I'm logging until music is recorded and online, and I have a folder for lists of songs such as ones that I'm planning to release on this project or that one. So I try to stay organized and make it a point to write stuff down when I have something cool or interesting cross my mind. Otherwise, I'd forget it easily, and that's a waste. 

How has the pandemic impacted your music and creative process? 
I was really on a lonely down spiral right before the pandemic so it wasn't an incredible change in lifestyle for me. I did, however, come out on the other side a more healthy person with the help of some close friends. Since the heart of the pandemic, I've been collaborating with other artists a lot more than I used to. I hardly ever really collaborated before. SHOWS is a project that has always been a real pleasure for me. We try and keep it loose and intentionally light and fun. We dress up in painter's uniforms when we play live. Zion is a project that I've been involved with more recently, and it's a darker more existential landscape that we're building. It's been a beautiful experience embracing that part of my personality as well. I have the sense that we're really creating something important. 

How do you know when something is done? 
Sometimes you just know. Sometimes things spill out and you just don't want to change them. You keep them in that visceral form they were born in, and you wouldn't dare corrupt the simple beauty of that. Other times, you have a little nugget that you're really crafting and crafting to shape like a gem. Those are the ones that can be tough to let go of and just let them live in the world. I had some on Ay Es Em Ar that I really got lost on, and I ended up sitting on that album for a long time because I just got lost at a certain point in time. When I came back to it later, I had more of a determination to make some deadlines for myself and get it done. It was definitely a situation where some deadlines and a sense of urgency really helped me get it done, and it ultimately made me a little more confident in my craft. 

If you had any advice for other musicians looking to get into DIY recording, what would it be? 
I like to spread the news that there aren't any rules. I realize that can sound naive as there certainly are some guidelines to try and 'color inside of' for a good quality recording, but I do feel like a lot of the rules that people will tell you CAN, in fact, be broken in some instances. If you're recording music, it's probably because you have an ear. If you have an ear, use it and trust it. The great thing about music is, if it SOUNDS good, it IS good. I've been in situations where I've been really strained to figure out why something is working because my knowledge of theory tells me it should be all wrong. Don't do that. If it sounds like it's working, then let it work. 

As far as equipment goes, just know that you can use a really cheap mic, but use good technique with a really fresh musical idea, and you've got gold. Some great records have been made with sub standard equipment. If you keep at it long enough, you'll get to a point where you'll drool over better equipment, but go as slow as you need to and just do the best with what you have. The average person won't even notice if you're good at your craft.  

What's your favorite or least favorite show you've ever played and why? 
I'm a strong believer that if there's just one person in a room that takes something in from a performance then you've done your job, but I did get sick and lost my voice right before a big music crawl event one year and was missing a whole section of my vocal register. I had to sing my songs completely differently than normal and really put a lot of thought into my endurance. That was a fairly dreadful experience. I also have had nightmares about being at a venue and not having one small piece of equipment that I need to make everything work.

What is the ideal way to listen to your music? 
Headphones for the win. I like music that has detail in it and often try to put things in there that you may not even notice without headphones. I like the way headphones give you the proper stereo field where you can hear things happening all around you. it's not just left and right because something that has a lot of reverb sounds like it's far away from you and something that's more dry sounds like it's closer. 

Did you have a favorite stuffed animal growing up, and if so, why haven't you written a song about it? Or have you? 
I had many. I remember them getting very ragged as they were loved. The 3 that come to mind are an orange Popple with green hair, a Papa Smurf, and a well known chipmunk named Alvin. Perhaps, I could do a Chipmunks Vocal style remix of a song in the future. I remember listening to Chipmunk's Christmas and Chipmunk's Sing The Beatles a bit when I was really young. 

What's next for you? Are you working on anything? 
Yes, definitely have some songs built up from the last few years that I'm looking forward to birthing into the world. I've been making lists and doing some organizing. I suspect I have a few EPs and a full length in me as of now. Might even have other secret collaborations in the mix too. Who knows? 

Tell us about your coming show.
I'm looking forward to this show with Elf Power on the 28th. I haven't had a chance to play the Ay Es Em Ar songs with a full band yet so that, in itself, is exciting. I've got some different guys called The New Garbs with me this time. It's certainly no slight to The Rare Birds, my most recent partners in crime. The Rare Birds are still The Rare Birds and can't be replaced. The New Garbs are just my attempt to branch out and have experiences with playing with different people. Looking forward to hearing Elf Power as well. Their new record sounds great, and, being a big Olivia Tremor Control fan, I've always been amused by the Elephant Six Collective that they're associated with. I admire the sense of community there in Athens during the 90s. 

See Marshall Brown & The New Garbs July 28th at New Brookland Tavern with Elf Power and ER Jurken.

Follow Marshall on Facebook and check out his albums on Bandcamp

THE BEAT: Isabelle's Gift Revisits American Idle by Kevin Oliver

One of the Columbia music scene’s most iconic hard rock acts, Isabelle’s Gift, will be celebrating two things this week with its show Friday night at New Brookland Tavern. 2022 marks 30 years since the band’s first live shows, and singer Chris Sutton will turn 50 this week. For those reasons, and more, the band felt it was appropriate to mark the occasion and it has chosen an interesting way to do it– with a set that promises a full performance of the 2006 album American Idle.  

“We hadn’t played much for the past few years, even going into covid,” Admits Sutton, in a recent conversation with him and bassist Jason Carrion in the space where it all began–the former Rockafella’s, now Jake’s Bar & Grill, at 2112 Devine Street. “Everyone was separating, splintered apart, with kids and jobs and other things going on. Also, who wants to see a bunch of dudes our age get up there and play rock and roll?”  

Carrion agreed and noted that the logistics alone were daunting–but when they did convene with the idea to do another show, things clicked naturally. 

“I was very uncertain about where things were going to go–we couldn’t jam, it was a long time to not work on music together,” He says. The turning point came when he and Sutton recruited former Gift member (and current Soda City Riot, Gruzer, and Firenest member Travis Nicholson) and former Throttlerod leader Matt Whitehead.  

“We’ve all been friends for decades,” Carrion notes. “We toured with Throttlerod, Travis was in the band before, Scott (Frey, the drummer for Isabelle’s Gift’s last several years) came from the punk scene with Bedlam Hour. There’s a lot of history there. Chris and I have been playing together longer than most people’s marriages.” 

The addition of Nicholson and Whitehead changed the dynamic in the room and expanded what was possible.
“It’s a room full of gunslingers,” Sutton says. “It was pretty nerve wracking the first time we all practiced together, actually, because it felt like everybody was on their game except me.”

Nicholson is a natural fit, having been in the band before. He and Sutton have remained close over the years, too. 

“He helped write some of the stuff that was on American Idle,” Chris recalls. “Our families are close; our kids have played together for years. With Matt, it has been a bucket list kind of thing for me to play with him ever since our bands toured together.”  

Whitehead has been a revelation of sorts during the process of rehearsing the songs for this show, Sutton admits. 

“Going back and revisiting these songs, I was still writing on guitar for some of them and I feel like I was poorly trying to do what Matt was doing really well right off the bat with Throttlerod. So now, it’s almost like he’s going back in time and fixing everything that I did.” 

It’s important to both Sutton and Carrion to note that although they are playing an entire album of older material, the songs and the band may not sound like fans remember from the recording–and that’s fine with them. 

“It’s a texture that he adds to a lot of the songs,” Carrion says. “He’ll put melodies in places they didn’t exist before.” 

“I told both Matt and Travis that I wanted to make sure the verses were the same, and we kept the hooks, but I wanted them to bring their own feel to everything else,” Sutton says. “There’s no question there will be a difference in the sound, it almost feels like I’m fronting Clutch at times. Plus, I have a bunch of backup vocalists in the band now, which is exciting.” 

Rehearsals have revealed one major problem, Sutton says, and it has to do with how equally excited the entire band seems to be with the proceedings. 

“I’m concerned about keeping our tempos slower,” He admits. “We’re playing these songs in practice like we’re trying to kill somebody with them.” 

Isabelle’s Gift has always been the angry red-faced stepchild of the local scene, railing against mediocrity, hypocrites, traditional society, and more in their music and motifs. American Idle, released through the Jimmy Franks label of the Bloodhound Gang, was a high-water mark for the group, combining the sludgy Soundgarden vibe of their bottom end grooves with a punk fury reminiscent of Charlotte legends Antiseen. Topically, many of the subjects broached are still relevant a decade and a half later, and Sutton says getting reacquainted with how his younger self felt back then was not just surreal, it was affirming of his own life journey. 

“I remember the things I said, and the way I sang, as something I was embarrassed about,” Sutton says. “I realized that not only was I proud of some of the songwriting that was on it, the music is great, and it told a much more intricate story than I remembered–it made me a little more proud of who I was, and I’d forgotten a lot of that.”  

It was the album’s unexpected current relevance that inspired the idea to just perform the whole thing, he says.  

“It was scary how topical it was, and with the exception of maybe one song title and a couple of lyrics it even fits into current events,” Sutton says. “Usually guys our age are going to run into problems about things we said in our past being politically incorrect now, or not in step with some of the things we are defending these days, but it all checked so many weird boxes.  

“Within minutes of me telling the other guys the idea at rehearsal, we were blasting through the album, and I got left in the dust because I didn’t remember as much of the songs as the rest of the band.” 

Ultimately, it all started coming back to him, and in the process of working through the songs again, Sutton says it was a cathartic experience for him. 

“I don’t like to come right out and say some of the things I’m saying in these songs, but it’s unbelievably fitting in today’s political climate,” He admits. “I’ve always dealt with a lot of trauma, I’m lucky to be alive, and I didn’t plan on living this long. Back then I was pretty suicidal and I’m not now. Those are feelings I’ll be working through my entire life. I’m a completely different person than I was back then, but the trauma might even be felt stronger.” 

At this point the biggest question might be how the band’s new chapter might be read by fans old and, possibly, new. Sutton and Carrion both admit they are unsure, but optimistic.

“I don’t how it fits into today’s environment, how people who used to like us may take where we are coming from,” He says. 

“The last time we played a live show was in February, three years ago,” Carrion says. “We played that Ramones tribute show earlier this year, and getting to know those people, and the excitement behind that and other local shows lately, I love seeing the support now.” 

As for American Idle, growing up, and looking back, Sutton has the last, encouraging words for himself–words that might apply to anyone taking stock of their list of accomplishments later in life. 

“It’s so fucking honest, all the way through. I felt like walking up to myself like I was one of my kids and saying, ‘Good for you, you did better than I thought you did…you were honest, and it feels real as shit.’” 

Isabelle’s Gift plays this Friday, July 22nd, at New Brookland Tavern. Shun and the Transonics open the show. Visit www.newbrooklandtavern.com for tickets and more information. 

JAM ROOM MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES LINEUP FOR OCTOBER 1ST

Jam Room Music Festival returns to Main Street to bring free live music to the streets of Columbia

——— OCTOBER 1 ———

The Jam Room Music Festival returns to Columbia, SC’s Main Street for the first time since 2019. This year’s festival is headlined by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Titus Andronicus, both of whom are celebrating new music releases. The festival will take place on October 1 and feature two stages, one on Main Street and one on Hampton Street in front of the Columbia Museum of Art. 

“It’s great to have the Jam Room Fest back and bringing live indie music to the heart of South Carolina,” says festival Executive Director and owner of the Jam Room Recording Studio Jay Matheson. “After two years off due to the pandemic, we’ve been looking forward to bringing the festival back, and we couldn’t be more excited about this year’s lineup. It’s hard to believe we’ve been doing the festival for nearly a decade, and we’re still looking forward to growing it for years to come.” 

Jay Matheson photo credit Ken Lucas

Now in its 9th year, the Jam Room Music Festival has brought acts such as Superchunk, Blonde Redhead, Justin Townes Earle, Son Volt, Waxahatchee, and Guided by Voices to its stages. 

In addition to venerable headliners CYHSY and Titus Andronicus, the festival will also host Titan to Tachyons, Shiner, Mourning [A] BLKstar, Bailey Road Band, The Explorer’s Club, and Columbia’s own local music champions Dear Blanca. In all, the festival will book up to 12 acts, with several more to be announced. 

THE BEAT: Sam and Illia The Duo of All Trades

By Emily Moffitt

Sam & Illia are not your average cover duo. Based out of Columbia, the two talented musicians met up through a mutual association with the local music instruction school Freeway Music and decided to form a performing duo with Sam playing bass or guitar and Illia on vocals. Both of them have been around music for most of their lives, with Sam picking up the guitar in college after playing piano as a child, and Illia participating in theater groups while taking voice lessons since the age of 4. Falling in love with the idea of musical performance was what set them on the track to pursue music as a career.            

There is no preferred genre of the duo; rather, they perform everything they love to hear from soul and jazz to punk rock. Both musicians developed their craft on their own at first; Sam learned to utilize one of the most powerful tools a musician can use: his own ears. “I love bands like Pink Floyd, and drew a lot of bass specific influence from Flea,” he says. “What was big for me in learning to play would be putting on some recordings of my favorite songs and just listening to the bass lines by ear, or I would just have to learn the song by ear entirely.”  

Illia herself grew up through an emo phase with the music she listened to, finding Paramore to be heavily influential. She eventually got into the R&B scene, citing Bruno Mars and Kehlani as two beacons of inspiration for forming her own lyrical style. Her secret weapon to developing her voice and deciding what style works for what song is repetition. “I try to get creative with runs when I’m singing, and repetition helps a lot with that. I try to do something different every time I record, so I can go back and pick out something I like, then try to repeat what I did that sounded the best.”  

Sam and Illia each have their own creative techniques when it comes to creating the duo's distinct sound. Sam’s own guitar playing is heavily influenced by guitarists like John Mayer, and the desire for the cleanest sound. Illia’s solo sound is rooted in a balance between punk or soul. For Illia, her goal is to be a true individual; “I don’t want to sound like anyone else,” she states. “I really want my voice to be my own.” Put them together, and the duo accomplishes beautiful covers of everything they touch, from jazz pieces to pop music.

 The duo appreciates how great the music scene of Columbia is for anyone wanting to kick off their career; “The scene in Greenville was extremely competitive, and in Columbia I’ve never had an easier time getting gigs for us than now,” Sam states. The two value the business side of the music scene highly, something that both musicians believe other musicians should take into consideration when they’re starting their own careers. “It matters a lot more than some realize,” Sam and Illia say. “Learning marketing and how to make the money work for your gigs is super important.”  

Illia’s biggest piece of advice for other musicians emphasizes both talent and persistence; “It really matters how much you pursue it. You could be the best musician ever but if you don’t put yourself forward, you’re not going to get to the place you want to get, which I’ve learned even more since we started working together.” 

Sam & Illia can be found on Instagram (@samandillia), Facebook (@samandillia), and their personal website (https://www.samandillia.com/). Upcoming performances include a show at Gardeners’ Outpost on Franklin Street on June 24, Lexington Farmer’s Market on June 25, Steel Hands Brewing on July 17, and more! 

ELVIS TRIBUTE by BERNIE LOVE & THE MEMPHIS THREE (aka Columbia's Favorite Playboys & Friend) - July 2nd at the Art Bar

JULY 2ND, 2022!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A few words from Marty Fort, founder and director of the Columbia Arts Academy and longtime member of the Capital City Playboys, who encourages music lovers to mark their calendars for July 2nd.

“So everyone's excited for the new [Warner Brothers} ELVIS movie coming, out...But I want to HIGHLY encourage you to come to Art Bar on July 2nd to see Columbia's full blown and brand NEW Elvis Tribute set Bernie Love featuring the Capital City Playboys with Patrick Baxley bringing the heat as Elvis.” 

“[We’re] so excited to rock this set of Elvis tunes, many of which we performed at the Guest House at Graceland in April. So come out for this EARLY show 8:30 p.m. Who knows if we'll ever do it again?” 

Bernie Love will be followed by a rocking set by the Capital City Playboys as well as Jared Petteys and the Headliners. There may even be more surprises in store.

The Art Bar is located at 1211 Park Street in Columbia’s historic Congaree Vista.

THE BEAT: Both Sides Now Lang Owen explores stories and sounds on his new album "She’s My Memory"

By Kevin Oliver

Columbia singer-songwriter Lang Owen’s new album She’s My Memory is a relationships album, but not in the classic boy-meets-girl pop music mold. Rather, the sixty-something Owen has collected what amounts to a lifetime of thoughts here on friendships of all kinds, from romantic partners new and old to co-workers and the people we see on TV screens and newspaper bylines. In putting the album together, he also relied on musical relationships built over the past five years since he emerged onto the local scene. 

Owen enlisted fellow songwriter and guitarist Todd Mathis as his producer, with a diverse cast of additional players on board and additional recording and mastering from Carl Burnitz. The result is a shimmering statement of purpose, a beautifully rendered collection of songs that tell stories in a way that captures the heart and the imagination. Musical touchstones from James Taylor to Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, Todd Rundgren, and more reveal themselves upon repeated listens, but Owen has firmly established his own sound and style with this new album.

There are stories both told and implied here, from the simple work ethic of “Man With A Broom,” to the internal evaluation of “Where Does The River Start?” Of the latter, Owen says, “On the surface the narrator is dealing with a breakup, but in my mind, he’s questioning himself–how did I get to this point, where am I going from here, and especially, how have I made some of the choices I did along the way?” 

Some of the choices Owen made in recording these songs included expanding his musical palette well beyond just himself, with the assistance of producer Todd Mathis. It was all in the preparation, Owen says.

“We sat down with scratch tracks of the songs I recorded on my own and brainstormed what kind of instrumentation would work with each,” He recalls. Guest musicians who ended up participating include drummer Mike Scarboro (The Runout), guitarist Zach Bingham, and backing vocals from Becca Smith of Admiral Radio. Bass duties were split between Chris Paget, Jeff Gregory (The Runout), Mathis’ former bandmate Kevin Kimbrell, and Mathis himself, who also filled multiple other instrumental roles. 

Being in a “band” situation isn’t exactly a new thing for Owen, though it had been a while, he admits.

“I played in bands in the 1980s, and I enjoyed playing with other people,” He says. “When I picked music back up in 2017(after decades as a teacher, visual artist, and social worker), I played by myself mostly because I just didn’t know any other musicians.” 

There are story songs here that those who have followed Owen’s solo acoustic shows the past few years will recognize as falling directly in his usual style, such as the topical “Last Gasp Of The News.” This time around there are also songs where the sound falls more toward the “band” side of things, with a particular vibe that a simple acoustic guitar arrangement wouldn’t be able to achieve as vividly.

“Collection Day” is one such tune, with an unhurried, yet rhythmic indie rock feel not too far from bands such as Yo La Tengo. “Smile From You” leans on Owen’s strummed guitar, but the other elements contribute to the song’s unsettled, foreboding atmosphere of an uncomfortable snapshot in time.

“We spent a lot of time on working out that one,” Owen says. “It went through a lot of different variations to get where it did–any time you work with great musicians, they’ll come up with great ideas.” 

Even with the expanded arrangements and feel of the recording sessions, Owen’s flair for narrative shines through. The title track “She’s My Memory” is a story song about telling stories, where a comment from a co-worker about remembering his life better than he does prompted a story of a person losing their memory who is still able to remember it through his wife’s anecdotes.

“I think that song sets the tone for the album,” Owen concludes, “which in part is about the importance of relationships to our well-being.” 

In “Everybody Here” the opening lines, in their own way, reach that same conclusion–we all help each other, whether we realize it or not: 

“Everybody here’s my therapist

I need all the help I can get

I look around, I’m losing my ground

I don’t like what I see one bit

I float by like a whisper, you hand me a megaphone

In our own little worlds somehow, we’re not alone

We’re not alone”

Lang Owen releases “She’s My Memory” officially on all platforms June 17th. The release show, featuring a full backing band of many of the players on the album, happens at Curiosity Coffee on Saturday, June 18th, from 5-8 p.m. $10 

Facebook Event with ticket link

THE BEAT: Former Voice contestant CammWess debuts new single, video for “Tired”

By Kyle Petersen

It’s been a few years since Columbia area native CammWess made somewhat of a splash on season 18 of NBC’s The Voice. The young, fresh-faced R&B singer got to work with one of his biggest inspirations and influences in John Legend at just 21 years old, and ultimately finished 4th on the show, just shy of the finals.

The reason he was on The Voice at all, of course, is his tremendous talent. Blessed with a deep, sultry voice capable of rattling the rafters as well as a crooning falsetto, CammWess also demonstrated some budding songwriting chops on the show and was allowed to premiere an original, “Save it for Tomorrow,” in addition to his covers of tunes The Weeknd’s “Earned It,” Prince’s “Purple Rain,” and “Say Something (I’m Giving Up On You),” A Great Big World song famously performed with Christina Aguilera.

While the peak of his fame on the show was unfortunately timed with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, CammWess has doubled down on his original material in recent years, including his most recent single “Tired.”

In addition to showcasing his consummate vocal talent and increasingly polished songcraft, the tune features fluttery background vocal processing that lends a contemporary edge and hints at a more adventurous production style in the artist’s future. But most compelling is the video from HoneyButter productions, a fully formed production that brings the song’s romantic heartbreak to life. View it below. CammWess is set to play the SolFest RollFest in Earlewood Park July 2.

THE BEAT: 48 Fables - Here Ya' Go

This is the sound of a band so sure of themselves that they are comfortable trying on all kinds of different sounds and styles from country and blues to Celtic and rock ‘n’ roll.  

48 Fables

Here Ya Go

Self-released 

After a few years of trying out different configurations and lineups, Columbia’s 48 Fables have settled into a three-piece arrangement; ironically resulting in the fullest, most complete sound the band has produced to date. 

The biggest change in the transition was adding lead vocals to drummer Kevin Brewer’s responsibilities, and he’s a natural–his slightly weathered, lived-in voice on songs such as the cautionary tale “Drink It Away,” is a raspier counterpart to bassist Kevin Pettit’s rousing shout on other tracks, such as the Cowboy Mouth-esque “The Fine Details.”  

A trio can be a tough musical vehicle to create a diverse sound within (Think the singular, monolithic sound of ZZ Top), but with the variety of Chris Howard’s guitar tones and styles, there’s no danger of such sameness. There’s even an almost-Irish tune, sung by Kevin Pettit (whose tenure in the local Celtic rock act Loch Ness Johnny means he’s well suited for this assignment) and featuring some seriously frenetic drumming by Brewer. This is the sound of a band so sure of themselves that they are comfortable trying on all kinds of different sounds and styles from country and blues to Celtic and rock ‘n’ roll.  

The other improvement may be the songwriting; there are plenty of bands that can produce a twangy hook, but to hang a decent lyric on it that tells a story is another thing entirely. “Girls Like Her,” lopes along like a lost John Prine tune with lines such as, “He met her on a Friday after the ball game, smoking a Spirit and laughing at hope / Found her a lighter, and sat down beside her, said I got something stronger if you’re not opposed.” By the end of the song, the titular girl is 80 years old, and the lyric, like her life, circles back around to the beginning lines. 

If this had come out in 1997, 48 Fables would have been playing shows with Whiskeytown, The Bottle Rockets, and 6 String Drag. Rather than feeling dated or tied down to the late-90s “Great Alt-Country Scare” that made critical darlings out of those and myriad other twang-leaning acts of the day, the passage of 25 years means that the high-octane Americana of 48 Fables sounds fresh, fun, and meaningful again, and it stretches the definition of what’s possible within the genre.

by Kevin Oliver

THE BEAT: Kevin Oliver Reviews Sean Thomson's Self-Released Jank Volta

Columbia musician Sean Thomson first came to local music fans attention as half of the indie folk duo Post-Timey String Band, and he’s played in The Restoration, Marshall Brown, and the Rare Birds, and more including the upcoming “Zion” project from Saul Seibert. Then there’s the simultaneous stream of lo-fi mostly instrumental albums full of odd instrumentation and sounds, including several where he managed to acquit himself quite well on sitar, even. On this new collection of instrumental compositions, Thomson incorporates traces of all of those prior endeavors while crafting something meditative, intricate, and inventive. 

Even the song titles are creative and fun–with no lyrics, one can presumably name a tune anything, and Thomson manages to come up with delightfully playful names for all eight compositions here, some of which even have at least a tangential relationship to how they sound. “Large Indian Beer,” for example, incorporates some heavy sitar into its stomp-and-drone, while “Never Take a Sitar to Maxwell Street” answers the question of what Jimi Hendrix might have sounded like playing sitar.  

Occasionally Thomson gets serious, as on his version of Blind Blake’s “Sweet Papa Lowdown,” or on a nasty, fuzzed out guitar, or the sunny, island-vibe gone Ventures surf rock of the title track (featuring Jeff Gregory of The Runout on manic congas). More often, he’s enjoying creating brief musical worlds that manage to collide wholly different eras of music in under a couple of minutes. “Fungus,” for example, vacillates between Beatlesque chording and some unsettling electronica.  

The closing track has both the silliest title and the funkiest, slinky feel. “Yanni (heart) NASCAR” doesn’t seem to have anything to do with either cultural phenomenon, but the funk bassline and disco gone wrong atmosphere are undeniably catchy. As the tune slowly grinds to a stop like it just ran out of gas, all I want is to take it back out on the dance floor for another lap or two, along with the rest of this thoroughly entertaining album.

A Midlands Gives Message from Cindi & Wade -- The Jasper Project's State of the Heart

Thank you!

As we approach Midlands Gives next week and you make your decisions on where to invest your gifts, we’d like to report back to you on how the Jasper Project has used the tokens of your kindness since last year.

First and foremost, we have published two 64-page issues of Jasper Magazine and we have another issue in design now that will be in your hands in a matter of weeks.  These issues have reviewed, previewed, examined, explained, memorialized, and celebrated more than 100 of our Midlands-based artists. The issue coming your way will look at the art of Lindsay Radford, Quincy Pugh, Rebecca Horne, Lucy Bailey, Tyrone Geter, Diko Pekdemir-Lewis, Mike Miller, Jane Zenger, Josetra Baxter, Tamara Finkbeiner, Terri McCord, Juan Cruz, Saul Seibert, Rex Darling, Tam the Viibe, Desiree, Katera, Lang Owen, Hillmouse, Space Force, Candy Coffins, Admiral Radio, Carleen Maur, the mission of SCAC ED David Platts, and the international efforts of Columbian-founded dance organization, Artists for Africa.

We have published a dual volume of Fall Lines – a literary convergence, celebrating the prose and poetry of 60 SC writers, awarding the Broad River Prizes for Prose to Randy Spencer and Kasie Whitener and the Saluda River Prizes for Poetry to Angelo Geter and Lisa Hammond, while at the same time celebrating the photography of Crush Rush. And we have issued a call for Fall Lines 2022.

We have conceptualized and implemented a competition for the publication of a chapbook for a SC BIPOC writer in honor of Lizelia Augusta Jenkins Moorer and the winner is being announced and celebrated as we speak. Board member Len Lawson brought us this beautiful idea and will edit the book which will be published this fall. 

We have implemented another issue of the Play Right Series, with new board member Jon Tuttle issuing a call for an original, unpublished one-act script, overseeing the adjudication, and selecting young playwright Colby Quick as the winner. Nine community producers have joined director Chad Henderson and his cast to learn more about the page to stage process for theatre arts, and we will invite you to join us for a staged reading of Moon Swallower in August. 

We have featured one artist per month in our virtual Tiny Gallery under the direction of board member Christina Xan, including artists whose work you know very well and artists whose work we think you’ll be happy to learn about including Gina Langston Brewer, Adam Corbett, Bohumila Augustinova, and more.

Because of the dedication of our amazing web maven and board member Bekah Rice, we have a website that is comprehensive, up-to-date, easy to maneuver, and quite lovely, if we do say so ourselves. Since last spring we have brought the good news of Columbia arts to you via more than 160 Online Jasper (previously blog) posts. And counting.

We threw a fabulous party to celebrate the 10th birthday of Jasper Magazine, and, with board member Laura Garner Hine’s incredible work, we welcomed more than 30 artists to demonstrate and celebrate their talents.

We have shown art for Columbia artists at Jasper Galleries that include Harbison Theatre, Motor Supply, also under the management of Laura Garner Hine, and our sidewalk gallery at the Meridian building conceptualized and realized by board member Bert Easter.

We have included the work of 25 (and counting) brilliant SC writers under the auspices of the Jasper Writes project, implemented in conjunction with Jasper poetry editor, Ed Madden. 

We have helped a new non-profit spread its wings by serving as the fiscal agent to Columbia (Summer) Repertory Dance Company, which is now its own entity. Bye bye little birdie! 

We have launched several new projects including:

• A new weekly music column by Kevin Oliver called THE BEAT;

• First Thursday featured artist exhibitions at Sound Bites Eatery – with artists including Marius Valdes, Ginny Merritt, and Quincy Pugh lined up for the next few months, and Alex Ruskell showing his work in May;

• The monthly Jasper Poetry Salon hosted by Al Black at the One Columbia Co-Op;

• Another monthly singer/songwriter happening called Front Porch Swing, also by Al Black, also at the One Columbia Co-Op.

• Last Thanksgiving, we launched a weekly newsletter called Sundays with Jasper that keeps the community up-to-date on Jasper news and arts happenings in general. You can sign up for Sundays with Jasper here.

Of course, none of this could have been done without the support of our community and your recognition of the vital role grassroots arts organizations play in the landscape of an arts community.

We continue to vow to you that every penny that comes the way of the Jasper Project will go directly back into the greater Midlands area arts community as we keep our overhead close to zero, save for insurance and rent (when we have a brick-and-mortar home.) None of your generous funding goes to payroll, taxes, or nice desks and chairs. We work from our homes and from our hearts.

It's worked this way for 10 ½ years. We’re keeping at it as long as you let us.

Thank you for your continued support.

Cindi Boiter, Wade Sellers, and the entire board of the Jasper Project and staff of Jasper Magazine

Jasper Welcomes the Multi-talented Alex Ruskell to First Thursdays (slightly) Off Main at Sound Bites Eatery

After a resounding success at Jasper’s first First Thursday featuring artist Michael Shepard in April, we are thrilled to be back at the new arts downtown dining den, Sound Bites Eatery, for First Thursday in May.

May brings us the bright and whimsical art of Alex Ruskell!

When Ruskell isn’t serving as the director of Academic Success at the UofSC Law School, he is a member of the equally bright and whimsical band, the Merry Chevaliers.

A champion of silliness and advocate of art in all its frivolity, Ruskell’s art offers a dose of something most of us have come to cherish of late — a reason to smile.

Joining Alex for this opening event will be Dick not Richard who will be laying down the groove and keeping our heads bopping and our hips swinging.

Come out for an evening of visual art, music, and fabulous food!

Free and open to the public — See You Thursday at First Thursday (slightly) off Main at Sound Bites Eatery - 1425 Sumter Street.

Columbia Baroque Presents “Catesby Comes to the Carolinas: A 300th Anniversary Celebration” May 10, 2022

Richard Stone

From our good friends at Columbia Baroque …

Columbia Baroque invites you to join us Tuesday, May 10 as we present ”Catesby Comes to the Carolinas: A 300th Anniversary Celebration” the final program of our concert series, “Around the Globe: Exploring Unfamiliar Territories.” Our concert is a collaboration with the Catesby 300 organization as they lead the celebration of the 300th anniversary of Mark Catesby in the Carolinas. We are delighted to welcome John Myers, historian, and guest artist Richard Stone, theorbo and lute, who joins our performers Brittnee Siemon, mezzo-soprano; Mary Hostetler Hoyt, baroque violin; Erika Cutler, baroque violin; Gail Ann Schroeder, viola da gamba; and William Douglas, harpsichord. 

The renowned English naturalist, Mark Catesby came to the Carolinas in 1722 to study flora and fauna, the results of which were included in his Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands. In addition, Catesby enjoyed singing and was especially fond of the music of Georg Frederic Handel.

Our concert will open with a delightful trio sonata by William McGibbon followed by English songs from the pub favored by Catesby as a participant. To connect with Catesby’s love of nature, we will include a section of music in imitation of birds followed by solo selections for each member of our ensemble. The program will conclude with music by Catesby’s favorite composer, Georg Frederic Handel.  

The Washington Post has described lutenist Richard Stone's playing as having "the energy of a rock solo and the craft of a classical cadenza." His recordings of the Fasch lute concerto and the complete Weiss lute concerti are available on Chandos. Other recording and broadcast credits include Deutsche Grammophon, Polygram, NPR, the BBC and Czech Radio. He has been guest soloist with Apollo's Fire, Handel and Haydn Society, Mark Morris Dance Group, the Boston Symphony and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Stone co-founded and co-directs Philadelphia baroque orchestra Tempesta di Mare and is professor of lute and theorbo at the Peabody Institute. 

A career teacher, John Myers began as an adult educator for unique groups in South Carolina: migrant and seasonal farmworkers and for state Native Americans, specifically the Catawba Nation. He retired from the South Carolina Department of Education in 2019 and is now employed as a historical interpreter at the Lexington County Museum. An avid birder, Myers is a member of the Audubon Society of Columbia and a team leader of the Catesby 300 planning committee, a group of SC state and national park administrators, statewide educators and museum administrators and historians. 

Columbia Baroque’s “Catesby Comes to the Carolinas: A 300th Anniversary Celebration” will be presented Tuesday evening, May 10 in the Recital Hall at the University of South Carolina School of Music, 813 Assembly St. in Columbia. Come early for “Concert Conversations,” hosted by scholar, Peter Hoyt beginning at 7 p.m. with the performance at 7:30 p.m.  

Tickets are $20. All students attend free. For ticket purchasing and information visit www.columbiabaroque.org. 

THE BEAT: Stardog - On the Ropes - Self-released

By Kevin Oliver

When the sudden news of Stardog guitarist Beau Long’s death spread through the local rock scene last year, it looked like a void had opened up that would be difficult to fill. Long’s proficiency in the kind of 70s/80s arena-ready rock swagger that Stardog excelled at is not something that’s all that common anymore. How would the band soldier on, or would they? 

Turns out that Long had one more fight left in him; his guitar parts for the band’s next album were completed prior to his passing. It is a fitting tribute to their late bandmate that the remaining band members chose to press on and finish what they’d started with Long. 

Four of the six tunes here are new compositions–Long’s last written and played with the rest of the band. There’s the boxing allegory, “The Left Hand,” which equates the sweet science to life lessons learned the hard way. “Lying” brings the Stardog sound into a more swinging 90’s alt-rock direction, more Soundgarden and Stone Temple Pilots than anything that might have worn spandex tights on stage. It’s also lead singer Artie Joyner’s peak performance, vocally, where he’s just soaring above the music on the chorus, yet emotive and restrained in the verses when he needs to be. 

 “All Time High,” with an insistent tempo driven by rock solid drummer Scott Mark King and a chorus that invites fist pumping and singing along, is typical of the band’s strengths–taking something that in lesser hands might be considered dated and cheesy and making it sound fresh and exciting all over again.  

The other thing that Stardog does well is create the kind of songs that make you think you’ve heard them before. “Nobody’s Sleeping” is one of two older songs included on this new release, It opens the proceedings with a not-so-subtle Van Halen style arrangement; stick around for the scorching Beau Long guitar solo–it’s worth the wait. “Lemonade Girl” is built on a riff and chord progression that’s naggingly familiar (I have my suspicions, but I’ll let you figure it out for yourself) before the full band kicks in for yet another great singalong chorus.

There is no pretense or artifice in the music Stardog plays, nor has there ever been. The band’s signature style is pure unadulterated over the top FM rock grandiosity, and here they deliver it like they are playing for the kids in the cheap nosebleed seats, lighters raised for an encore.

THE BEAT: Review - Henry Luther's Southern Cities

by Kyle Petersen

I’m coming a bit late to local singer/songwriter and raconteur, Henry Luther.

His latest studio record, Southern Cities, was released back in November 2020, but I honestly just came across it recently, after planning (and failing) to make it to a show he was playing at New Brookland Tavern.

Even having missed the show, I’m sure Luther is great live, mostly because he writes in that rowdy but whip-smart troubadour mode that’s built for clubs and honky tonks. “Jesus Christ Second Amendment Blues,” one of the standout tracks from the record, is a great example of this. Riding a dusty lead guitar lick and some simple strumming, Luther drawls out a fabulous yarn with the would-be savior shot down by a racist cop for arriving “Constitution and gun in hand.” It’s a hilarious bit, and one that might get a beer bottle thrown at him in front of the wrong crowd. 

And that blend of gallows humor and sardonic insights is rife throughout, whether he’s working in coded class commentary (“Lifestyles,” “Myrtle Beach Girl”) or tales of substance-based debauchery (“Southern Cities,” “I Love Liquor (But Liquor Don’t Love Me”). His ability to be both funny, direct and philosophical at the same time puts him firmly in the lineage of Jerry Jeff Walker, John Prine and Todd Snider. Not bad company.

But he’s not quite a straight shooter, guitar picker-type–musically, Luther is a hodgepodge of DIY Americana in the vein of early Avett Brothers or Old Crow Medicine Show, with a streak of Jeffrey Lewis-style anti-folk contrarianism and Dave Berman’s droll exasperation.  

For all of its charms, the record very much seems to be catching Luther in transition, torn between the solo troubadour mode and the possibilities of a more rocking alt-country guise. Regardless of which way he leans in the future, he’s clearly a songwriter that can’t help but engage and enrapture.  

New Poetry and Songwriter Events from Jasper and Al Black

Jasper Project board member and local poetry event guru, Al Black, is bringing two brand-new, unique events to the Midlands: a poetry salon and an outdoor music concert. Both events are starting this month: poetry month.

Jasper’s Poetry Salon

The mission of Jasper’s Poetry Salon is to give both new and established poets a safe, communal space in which to share their work and connect with other poets.

This is not a workshop, nor is it a simple reading. Everyone at the Salon will be able to share at least one poem, and conversation about the poems read will occur organically. Participants will be able to step into a relaxed environment with like-minded individuals—a space with no judgment where the goal is to hear, share, and appreciate language and story. This event allows any and all poets to enter a singular dwelling space and establish a sense of community with other Columbia-based poets who they may not meet otherwise. This is a wonderful opportunity for poets who feel isolated or who want casual feedback on their work. Whether one has been writing and publishing poetry for decades or has only just written their first poem, they will be welcomed with open arms and warm conversation.  

Occurring on the last Tuesday of every month, the event will hold its first gathering on April 26th at 7:00pm at 1013 Duke Avenue.

Front Porch Swing

The mission of Front Porch Swing is to provide a space for local musicians to showcase their work and for people to share in said work without distraction from what is important: the music.

On the last Sunday of each month, a singular music act will set up on the porch of the co-op on Duke Avenue and play for two hours. Anyone interested can come at their leisure, completely for free, and enjoy the performance. This come-one, come-all experience asks patrons to bring their own chairs, blankets, food, and drink—or whatever they might want to enjoy as they settle under the South Carolina sun with friends, new and old, to hear local music, new and old. Unlike some music-related events, here there is no dance floor, no bar, and no simultaneous events; for the duration of the performance, the focus is on the music itself. Whether a long-term Cola-music lover or brand new to the scene, this relaxed environment is the perfect space for anyone wanting to view local talent. 

The first Front Porch Swing will take place on April 24th at 2:00pm, featuring the band Jazz Dog, also at 1013 Duke Avenue.

 In the coming week, we will feature deep dives with Al Black on each event, so if you aren’t following Jasper’s online magazine, scroll down and enter your email to be updated when the articles come out!

WELCOME VALERIE LAMOTT to Jasper's TINY Gallery

At Jasper, we can’t get over the work Valerie Lamott has put together for our April Tiny Gallery show!

So many descriptors come to mind when writing about Lamott’s art — grounded in place, meaningful, sentimental, powerful, pristine, Cola-centric — but mostly, exquisite! The detail the artist brings to her jewelry, with each piece being hand-made, unique, and personally inspired, makes the opportunity we have to show and offer this work to Jasper readers a real honor.

Valerie Lamott is a Columbia, SC, based jewelry artisan, but can rarely be found there. She's more likely to be hiking or camping or kayaking in any one of America's state parks. She uses these places as inspiration for her artwork and hopes it inspires others to play outside too.

WE hope you enjoy seeing and perhaps purchasing Lamott’s work as much as we enjoy presenting it.

Visit Tiny Gallery for many more pieces.

Check out the whole lineup of Tiny Gallery Artists for 2022.

Do YOU Have your Birthday Party Tickets Yet?

We have limited the number of attendees to 150 including all the participating artists, so don’t sleep on locking your ticket down!

We have music from Post Timey String Band, pop up art performances from Columbia Reparatory Dance Company & others, live painting by Michael Krajewski & Lucas Sams, an art show featuring work from 20 Soda City - based artists, a raffle like you’ve never seen before, food from Chef Joe Turkaly, a VIP Champagne reception and so much more!