Can Hootie and the Blowfish rocker’s show revive 5 Points’ once-thriving music scene?
Mark Bryan of Hootie and the Blowfish had one of the biggest thrills of his life in September — after 20 years of absence, the band returned home to Columbia for three back-to-back shows in Colonial Life Arena.
On Thursday, Bryan is working on another return — the resurgence of the once-thriving music scene in Five Points. He, two members of Hootie’s live band and other front line players will rock the new White Mule music club on Saluda Avenue.
But it’s more than just a rock show. Five Points leaders hope the club, along with the newly relocated Tapp’s Arts Center next door, will boost Five Points’ music and arts dynamic.
“He just got done playing arenas,” White Mule owner Trae Judy said of Bryan. “And he cares enough about the scene that he would take time to play a little bar in Five Points.”
Judy operated both the Music Farm in Charleston and Columbia (now The Senate) before transitioning to White Mule in October 2018. He also operates Rock Block, a music incubator in the old Bohemian space on Saluda Avenue, and is booking the lineup for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day festival in Five Points.
“It feels really good having Trae building on the music scene,” Bryan told The State. “It’s an if-you-build-it-they-will-come thing.”
In the 1990s, major bands like REM, Green Day and Red Hot Chili Peppers regularly played clubs like Rockafellas’, Greenstreets and the Elbow Room in Five Points — many before they were famous.
“It was amazing the number of shows we had each week,” said Mike Miller, who covered music for The State for nearly two decades. “You planned your social life around the clubs.”
In recent years, Five Points has been inundated with late-night bars catering to University of South Carolina students, many underage.
Today, the urban village is in a state of transition.
Neighboring residents, led by state Sen. Dick Harpootlian, along with USC and Columbia police, have been challenging the liquor license renewals of those bars, claiming they over-serve students and others with cheap booze. The students then spread out into the neighborhoods, causing general mayhem.
Five bars have already had their license renewals rejected or have closed voluntarily. More will likely follow.
As a result, more properties are becoming available. And Steve Cook, owner of Saluda’s restaurant and president of the Five Points Association, said that music and the arts can help fill them.
He noted that Tapp’s Arts Center — now called Tapp’s Outpost — was priced out of the Tapp’s building on Main Street. And other shops and businesses might find Five Points a good option as rents rise downtown and in the Vista.
“Cool local stuff that gets pushed out of Main Street and the Vista will always have a home in Five Points,” he said.
The migration will likely happen organically, Cook said, “and overall that’s a positive. Positive things are happening constantly in Five Points, and Trae’s place is one of the bright spots.”
Joining Bryan Thursday will be Peter Holsapple.
Holsapple formed the popular rock band the dBs in the 1980s and later wrote and toured with REM (he was known as the fifth member). For the past 20 years he has been a multi-instrument side man for Hootie and the Blowfish.
Bryan and Holsapple will front two three-piece combos.
Rounding out Bryan’s Occasional Milkshake combo will be Gary Greene, percussionist for Hootie, and Hank Futch, bass player for the Blue Dogs. Filling out the Peter Holsapple Combo will be Will Rigby (dBs, Steve Earle) and Glenn Jones.
“There will be lots of crossover,” Bryan said.
Holsapple’s combo is currently touring in support of its new live album Amplifier — Live at Q Division.
Doors open at 8 p.m. with showtime at 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance at whitemulemusic.com. Ticket are $15 the day of the show.
This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 5:30 AM.