Ok, OK, I was working on this for a while....
Going around town, seeking music and good wholesome fun, I stopped a few nights ago at
Sparrow.
This popular small club with fancy painted murals of famous faces, is Unit D (around the corner) at 1078 E. Montague near Park Circle.
"Funky" comes to mind when thinking of music and entertainment I've seen there. This is one of my favorite "hole-in-the-wall" bars.
This evening the place was jam packed.
The
Resonant Rogues brought a variety of entertainment - and Vaudevillian dancer Evelyn DeVere
- ably backed by a first class band, headed by
Sparrow Pants.
Yes, I know,
"Sparrow" is her name, appearing at a club by that name.
Miss Pants, and her band, are from Asheville. She leads the quartet, plays the accordion, dances and sings.
Miss DeVere, the featured ecdysiast, does amazing thing with feather fans and can magically make her clothes disappear.
Last night, at the Pour House, we saw the last stop on the tour by the
Two Man Gentleman Band.
Well this "tour" included only the show here and a city in North Carolina the day before.
Because the "Councilman" Fuller Condon, on bass, lives in nearby Folly Beach, he sits in with several local bands.
His partner Andy Bean lives in Los Angeles, working on projects for Disney.
Some of the local band members were invited to join them onstage last night. A joyous sound was heard.
At the end of the evening - early this morning - all the instruments were unplugged and the entire expanded band stepped down to the floor to continue playing.
They held quite a jam session as we all crowded around, dancing and clapping our hands.
Talking with Andy, I mentioned we first saw them perform at Tin Roof and I still had the free kazoo they were handing out.
He recalled he was wearing
knickers (Plus-fours) and said they still fit. He added that would have been about 2009.
This night they wore "matching" red jumpsuits and, during an impromptu Q & A, an audience member shouted out
"Do you like the group DEVO?" Then I could imagine them with flower pot-like hats on their heads.
We had seen
Devo perform at a Mid-Town Music Festival in Atlanta many years ago.
A nice pattern is emerging: a flurry of musical activity (a Trifecta), followed by several days to sleep in and get my breath back.
Did I mention I just turned 76?
So I knew what an ecdysiast was.
And actually wore knickers as a kid.
Labels: Andy Bean, Devo, Ecdysiast, Evelyn DeVere, Musical Trifecta, Resonant Rogues, Sparrow Pant, The Councilman, The Sparrow, TMGB
In KC, it's the 114th annual American Royal ...
Many years ago, I lived and worked in Kansas City, Missouri.
That's home to the
American Royal, a gigantic 2-week long super fantastic Horse Show.
So pardon me if I stumble when talking about our local
Royal American on Morrison Drive.
I'm easily confused.
One features thoroughbreds and the other stages interesting musical groups passing through town, playing on an elevated stage in a carefully decorated "dive."
The ownership just was jostled for the local "joint" so not sure what - if any - changes to expect.
The sound man at "The Royal" also controls the lighting. I have to pay attention to his color shifts when taking photos.
He often goes through a
Blue Period.
This is the
Appleseed Collective who hail from Ann Arbor, Michigan.
They drew a good crowd a few weeks ago on a windy rainy night. I like bands that feature a mandolin AND washboard.
Do yourself a favor and click on the link to hear what I mean.
Just a few nights ago, I was back again to listen to a band that had started as a busking street jug and roots band out in Eugene, Oregon.
They now are based in Asheville and came to Charleston to bring us a fun evening of street corner-style stomping & swinging.
And lots of jump and jive.
Woody Pines is the leader of the band and lead singer, with Bram Riddlebarger on mandolin and a "suitcase" drum set
The upright bassist is Tim Peacock.
The group performed with a combination of vaudeville, Roaring 20s and fast-paced showmanship.
I was surprised more people didn't get up and dance to some of the swing numbers.
The kind of toe-tapping music that makes you glad to be alive and glad to be there.
Reminded me of quite a few evenings spent watching and enjoying the
Two Man Gentleman Band.
Especially Tim Peacock, the bass player and his antics.
Looking around the room, I saw I was not the only one following the action on stage.
Seated at the bar, and moving his foot to the beat, was Fuller Condon, aka
"The Councilman."
Mr. Condon, the bass-playing half of the TMGB (Two Man Gentleman Band), last year moved to Folly Beach.
So, spotting him at a local music venue - without his bass or his kazoo - probably is not that unusual.
I'm sure I'll see him again.
On stage and off.
(Please click on the photos for more details.)
Shows on a weekday seem to have a different pace.
Actually, they do. They end earlier in the evening.
It's a school night and work - for some - comes early the next day.
Being retired is good.
Labels: American Royal, Appleseed Collective, Bram, dive bars, Fuller Condon, KC Missouri, Madly Crazy Darlin', Riddlebarger, The Royal American, Tim Peacock, TMGB, Woody Pines
Two Man Gentleman Band + Plus Four
Wednesday night at the Pour House, I had a double treat.
I've enjoyed
Miss Tess and the Bon Ton Parade many, many times.
This time she shared the bill with another of my favorite groups, er, I mean, duo.
The TMGB (
Two Man Gentleman Band) last performed here about three months ago at Eye Level Art.
That was the last stop on the Gentlemen's tour and near the end of the Eye Level as well.
The music venue/art gallery later closed and the owner went back up to New York.
But Fuller Condon (a.k.a. The Councilman) on upright bass and Andy Bean, tenor guitar, are kicking off their new 2012 tour.
They have said if you yell out a theme, they can compose a song to match it. And they're darned good at it.
"The Rabbit Foot Stomp" features bunny meat and
"Fancy Beer" is when you're willing to spend a little more at the bar.
They just launched a full album CD called
"Two At A Time" and it captures their talent and zaniness.
I also have noticed that both groups draw the local
Swing Dance Association members.
They were out in force Wednesday.
They too enjoyed the double offering and literally danced the night away.
When the TMGB announced Miss Tess would join them at the close, it was the first-ever pairing onstage and the happy feet danced as the Swingers did their thing.
(Click on the images for more detail.)
It was early, early Thursday as we all started to depart the PoHo.
Drive carefully and be safe.
Play and dance in moderation.
Thanks for stopping by. I'm sleeping in for a while.
Labels: Andy Bean, Eye Level Art, Folly Beach resident, Fuller Condon, Miss Tess and The Bon Ton Parade, PoHo, Swing Dance Association, The Councilman, TMGB, Two At A Time, Two Man Gentlemen Band
