TheState.com: Music

James Taylor coming to the Koger

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 07:31 EST

Singer/songwriter James Taylor is coming to the Koger Center for a show on March 23.

The show also will feature Ben Taylor, his son.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 10, at the Capitol Tickets website, capitoltickets.com or order by phone at (803) 251-2222.

Taylor, in his 2009 tour with Carole King, posted one of the most successful tours in the past few years. James Taylor has earned 40 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards and five Grammy Awards for a catalog running from 1970's “Sweet Baby James” to his Grammy Award-winning efforts “Hourglass” (1997) and “October Road” (2002).

Among his hit songs: "Fire and Rain," "Country Road," "Something in The Way She Moves," "Mexico," "Shower The People," "Your Smiling Face," "Carolina In My Mind," "Sweet Baby James," "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," "You Can Close Your Eyes," "Walking Man," "Never Die Young," "Shed A Little Light," "Copperline" and many more.

'Idol' winner to give Memorial Day show in Myrtle Beach

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 08:30 EDT

'American Idol' winner to give Memorial Day show in Myrtle Beach

An "American Idol" winner will perform in Myrtle Beach during Memorial Day weekend as part of a series of events to honor veterans.

Jordin Sparks, winner of the sixth season of "American Idol", will headline a May 29 concert that will also include Disney channel musicians Mitchel Musso, Jasmine Richards and Savannah Outen. The concerts will take place on the former site of Myrtle Square mall.

"If you're 13 years of age or younger, there's no place you'd rather be," Brant Branham, chairman of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce's board of directors, said when announcing the event Monday.

Related events for Memorial Day include a parade down Ocean Boulevard and fireworks. All events will be free.

May will be a country fans' delight

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:50 EST

The first weekend in May at the Colonial Life Arena is going to be a country fan's dream.

Taylor Swift will perform April 30; Martina McBride will be there May 2. And on May 1, Carrie Underwood will bring her "Play On Tour" to the venue, the arena announced Friday.

This will be Underwood's first headlining appearance at the Colonial Life Arena. She opened for Brad Paisley in 2006.

Since Swift is sold out, why not grab a seat to one of country music's other darlings.

Tickets, which cost $35 to $55, go on sale at 10 a.m. Dec. 18. Tickets can be purchased at the arena box office; at Play It Again Sports stores; at TWCtix.com; or by calling (877) 489-2849.

On the Scene: Waiting for Miley

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:36 EST

What was the rush?

They had hours to get where they needed to be, but they were still early.

At 4 p.m. Saturday, folks started lining up at the Colonial Life Arena to get into the soldout Miley Cyrus concert. The doors didn’t open until an hour later, and the concert didn’t start until 7 p.m.

A few people were on the arena plaza at 10 a.m.

“It’s not like Miley is going anywhere,” one dad said as his kids ran to get into line.

DJs may provide shakeup station needs

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:44 EDT

The radio broadcasting industry has been crippled by the sagging economy. So why is Chuck McKay, general manager of WWNU-FM New 92.1, grinning so much these days?

"I may be the only person in town rejoicing about the economy," he said Thursday during an interview in his office off Gervais Street.

"I'm doing my Cheshire Cat impersonation."

Here's why he smiling: Charlie James and Mackenzie Turner are the new DJs at New 92.

"Both were out of work because of downsizing at previous employers," McKay said. "What a lucky break for us?"

Harptallica rocks Hunter-Gatherer

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:48 EST

Harptallica, the grand pedal-harp duo of Ashley Toman and Patricia Kline, rendered Metallica's hard rock and metal overtures as majestic and peaceful songs.

Hunter-Gatherer has become a late-night stage for avant-garde music, such as The Rempis Percussion Quartet, which will release its live two-disc CD

"Hunter-Gatherers" tonight (see The Essentials, page 4), but I can't recall the last time a crowd surged to standing-room-only on the upstairs balcony.

"It was one of the best shows we've had," Kline said after the performance.

One audience member bowed in a "Wayne's World" we're-not-worthy pose that seemed a bit out of place. So were the devil horns held in the air like lighters. But then again, these were Metallica songs.

Harptallica pulls emotion to connect classical, metal music

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:31 EST

HERE'S A RIDDLE: What's the hardest music for two classically trained harpists to play? Hint: It's not Bach, Debussy or Mozart. Answer: Metallica. (Get it? The hardest music to play?)

That aside, Harptallica, the harp duo performing Saturday night at Hunter-Gatherer, has soothed Metallica's harsh, chugging tones into beautiful harp sonnets.

Harptallica was started early last year by Ashley Toman, then a student at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. She arranged "Fade to Black" for two harps. The second harpist was Patricia Kline, a friend and former classmate.

The result of their collaboration? A 10- song self-titled CD featuring memorable Metallica songs from albums such as "... And Justice For All," "Ride the Lightning," "Master of Puppets" and "Metallica." (The CD can be purchased at www.harptallica.com or at the show.)

Toman and Kline's grand pedal harps give Metallica's music a pristine incandescence.

Rossdale to perform at Colonial Life Arena tennis exhibition

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:05 EST

It’s no secret that the Rock-n-Racquets tennis exhibition at Colonial Life Arena already has some big names booked for the “racquets” portion of the event. And now, there’s a big name for the “rock” part too: Gavin Rossdale.

Rossdale shot to fame in the 1990s as lead singer of the rock band Bush. Now a solo artist, he recently released his first album, “Wanderlust,” which features the hit single, “Love Remains the Same.”

Music fans also know Rossdale as husband of No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani.

Rock-n-Racquets, a tennis and music showcase presented by Newberry College, will be held Dec. 13 at Colonial Life Arena. Doors will open at 6 p.m.

The event will feature U.S. Open champions Andy Roddick and Serena Williams as well as rising stars John Isner and Caroline Wozniacki.

NTSB: Tire blowout likely to blame

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:21 EST

Federal investigators said Sunday there is evidence indicating a Learjet that crashed late Friday at Columbia Metropolitan Airport, killing four and injuring two, had a tire blowout.

But National Transportation Safety Board spokeswoman Debbie Hersman would not say if that is what caused the wreck that killed the pilot and co-pilot and two friends and colleagues of drummer Travis Barker and DJ AM, both of whom suffered burns in the crash.

The plane was headed to California Friday after the duo had performed a free concert for thousands of area residents of all ages in Five Points.

A cockpit recording disclosed “a sound that was consistent with a tire blowing out,” Hersman said.

She said that officials in the control tower also told investigators that the cockpit notified them of the sound and said they could not stop the plane before it ran off the runway.

Charlamagne Tha God's Hip Hop Commandments (2005)

Thu, 22 May 2008 17:29 EDT

10. Thou must not promote all things ghetto Your lyrics should not celebrate the ghetto life by reminiscing about days in poverty, your mother on welfare and your father not being there. Instead of celebrating and embracing the poverty, crime and ignorance of the ghetto, we should be encouraging our people to move on up out of the ghetto like the Jeffersons.

9. Thou must advocate anything of social redeeming value Your lyrics should reflect that you are aware of the social, political and economic reality of your community. The consumer should assume that you read more than the Source or XXL.

8. Thou shall have a sense of history MC's should refer to historical events that may cause the listener to think about his or her relation to history. Your role is to entertain and educate. Instead of mentioning names like Jacob the Jeweler and Versace, mention names like W.E.B. Dubois and Louis Farrakhan.

7. Thou must not worship money and bling-bling You must not talk about money and bling-bling as if it were a living, breathing thing. Your lyrics should not put money and bling-bling over love, women or religion. (See next commandment.)

6. Thou must talk about God and spirituality MC's should not condone atheism and a false belief system that does not acknowledge the existence of a higher being. You should promote the spiritual beliefs that may have been instilled in you by family. Especially being that the first thing rappers say when they win an award is: "I want to thank God."

Review | R. Kelly leaves crowds wanting to hear more

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 15:36 EST

R. Kelly spoke eloquently when he said you can’t have R&B without the R. - or, as he pronounces it, Ar-ra.

Kelly, the singer who seems to take music seduction to a more deliciously deviant extreme with each song he releases, brought his “Double Up Tour” to the Colonial Center Saturday night. And though he’s far from a nostalgic act or a performer who is past his prime, Kelly’s show played like a greatest hits collection.

To do so, though, he had to perform medleys, thus he never engaged a song fully. And some were left out completely.

There were the hooks Kelly has made for others like Snoop Dogg’s “That’s That,” Fat Joe’s “We Thuggin’,” Cassidy’s “Hotel” and Twista’s “So Sexy.”

Dug from Kelly’s exhaustive 17-year career tomb included “Fiesta,” “Thoia Thong,” “Snake” and the club-appropriate “Feelin’ on Your Booty,” the latter of which inspired, let’s say, slow dancing not appropriate for a prom.

I Nine's almost to 10

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:48 EDT

I Nine’s homecoming last Saturday at Headliners was splendidly unrestrained, tense and riveting.

The band of Orangeburg natives has been working on its major-label debut for, if you’re a follower, what has seemed like a decade. In an interview with vocalist Carmen Keigans and guitarist/cellist Brian Gibson last week, I was told the album will be released early next year.

I was also told that Clive Davis, the chairman of the RCA Music Group, which owns I Nine’s label, J Records, is ecstatic about the band’s potential.

And why not? I Nine exudes confidence and lip-smacking incandescence. Keigans, who looked angelic in her long, flowing white dress, shoelessly twirled to the band’s romantic, swirling movements.

Keigans’ voice is angelic, as well, but what makes her voice remarkable is how forcibly large it can get. Emotion isn’t always conveyed in the quiet moments of songs, as witnessed by the Keigans’ on-pitch yells when the band was at its heaviest.

It’s not over...yet

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 09:44 EDT

Looking at the line of eager and faithful Daughtry fans snake through the Headliners parking lot and down Gervais Street two hours prior to Tuesday’s scheduled door opening, I had this thought: “Where were all of you people and your cell phones the night Chris Daughtry was voted off ‘American Idol?’

As the night wore on, however, it became clear to me that despite what happened on that fateful night in season 5, and perhaps because of it, this crowd was determined to show up in force.

Daughtry, the name of Chris’s band, was the main attraction at the sold out show on May 29, bringing together an eclectic mix of college students and 30-somethings. Headliners has all the makings of the quintessential rock club. This is the kind of venue that Daughtry fans envisioned him singing in the first time they heard his raspy, rock-fueled voice.

As the faithful filed in and staked their claim on the perfect viewing spot for the night, the excitement of the evening was palpable. Every few minutes or so, spontaneous calls of “Whoooooo!” and “Yeah baby!” would rise above the cacophony.

Make no mistake, we were there to rock and be rocked. Promptly at 9 p.m., the first of two opening acts took the stage - Dove Award-winning and Grammy-nominated Day of Fire. The guys completely decimate any preconceived notions of what a Christian rock band is supposed to sound like.

'Idol' Tracker | Sparks triumphs in final round

Wed, 23 May 2007 07:36 EDT

'Idol' Tracker | Variety night

Wed, 16 May 2007 07:45 EDT

Irish, if only for an evening

Fri, 11 May 2007 13:15 EDT

Few places in Columbia can promise the thrills of St. Patrick’s Day every day of the year. Delaney’s, however, is a collage of Irish novelty and decor that epitomizes the best of the famous holiday.

And on April 12, local band Sullivan’s Roof brought some great acoustic rhythm to the pub and eatery.

When you enter Delaney’s, you literally leave all sense of national identity at the door. It’s like an exodus into Ireland, and you either become Irish for an evening or hit the road.

With Sullivan’s Roof performing, it was easy to adopt the hip nuances of the Irish, as the band is 50 percent Irish.

Lead vocalist Tim Hollohan and brother Sean Hollohan, the band’s rhythm guitarist, provide the Irish element for a band that also includes Jason “Slim” Hudson on lead guitar and Robert Gunning on bass.

'Idol' tracker | My pick for the next American Idol

Thu, 10 May 2007 09:22 EDT

'Idol' Tracker | 'Idol' doesn't feel the groove

Wed, 09 May 2007 09:50 EDT

Lynn forgets a few words, but we didn't mind a bit

Mon, 07 May 2007 10:27 EDT

Loretta Lynn's Sunday night performance at the Koger Center resembled an all-request hour more than a typical concert.

And this made her show especially endearing, even if she had trouble re-membering the words to some of her songs. Several times she had to be keyed into songs by members of her band (and once by someone in the audience), but it never shook her confidence. She turned the memory lapses into a joke.

"Take it away boys, and I'll try to hang on," she said.

But, hey, she was taking requests, which gave the show an unrehearsed yet intimate sheen.

When Lynn did get the words right, she sang with power and intrigue, her voice a magnificent invitation into moments that most of us share only with our closest friends.

'Idol' Tracker | 'Idol' rocks out

Wed, 02 May 2007 07:53 EDT