Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The Occasional Milkshake featuring Danielle Howle
Live at The Freedom Center
215 East Main Street
Downtown Rock Hill
Doors – 7:30PM
Show – 8:00PM
Tickets - $15 in advance/$18 day of show
The Occasional Milkshake is what happens when Hootie and the Blowfish, The Blue Dogs, and Cravin' Melon all take a break. Hootie lead gutarist Mark Bryan, Blue Dogs stand-up bass slapper Hank Futch, and Gary Greene, who plays drums for Cravin' Melon, and percussion for the Blowfish, began jamming together for fun in the early aughts, when their respective bands were on hiatus.
The Milkshake appear on most of Mark Bryan's new solo CD - END OF THE FRONT (March 11, 2008), and all of Doug Jones' (lead singer for Cravin' Melon) new solo effort - DOUG JONES EVERYBODY, DOUG JONES. The three-piece has also been known to back up singer/songwriter Danielle Howle, who appears on END OF THE FRONT, in a duet with Mark for the song, "A Fork in the Road". That song will be featured as the title track in the upcoming Jim Kouf (Rush Hour, National Treasure) film of the same name.
The Occasional Milkshake's motives are pure - have fun playing music. The guys like to switch instruments and open for themselves. Hank is actually a fine acoustic guitar picker, and he likes to sing old songs while Mark works the mandolin, and Gary sometimes tries his hand at banjo. Once they plug in, it's a rock show, with originals and covers that fall all over the map; from bluegrass to punkabilly, and anything in between. Laughter is a key ingredient, and there is plenty of it. It's a spontaneous affair, with a loose setlist - the way music is supposed to be.
Buy tickets HERE
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Monday, April 28, 2008
Tony
Rice Unit
Live at The Freedom Center
215 East Main Street
Downtown Rock Hill
Doors – 7:30PM
Show – 8:00PM
Tickets - $15 in advance/$18 day of show
Tony Rice spans the range of acoustic music, from straight-ahead bluegrass to jazz-influenced new acoustic music, to songwriter-oriented folk. He is perhaps the greatest innovator in acoustic flatpicked guitar since Clarence White. Over the course of his career, he has played alongside J.D. Crowe and the New South, David Grisman (during the formation of “Dawg Music”), led his own groups, collaborated with fellow picker Norman Blake and recorded with his brothers.
Rice was born in Danville, Virginia but grew up in California, where he was introduced to bluegrass by his father. He and his brothers learned a lot from hot L.A. pickers like the Kentucky Colonels, led by Roland and Clarence White. Crossing paths with fellow enthusiasts like Ry Cooder, Herb Pederson and Chris Hillman reinforced the strength of the music he had learned from his father.
In 1970, Rice had moved back to Kentucky where he played with the Bluegrass Alliance, and shortly thereafter, J.D. Crowe’s New South. The New South was known as one of the best and most progressive bluegrass groups - even adding drums and electric instruments. But when Ricky Skaggs joined up in 1974, the band recorded J.D. Crowe & the New South, an acoustic album that became Rounder’s top-seller up to that time. With Rice on guitar and vocals, Crowe on banjo and vocals, Jerry Douglas on Dobro, Skaggs on fiddle and mandolin and Bobby Slone on bass, the band’s energy, as well as their instrumental and vocal drive have rarely been matched.
Tony’s solo career hit its stride with Cold on the Shoulder, a collection of bluegrass vocals. With this album, Native American and Me & My Guitar, Rice arrived at a formula that incorporated his disparate influences, combining bluegrass, the songwriting of folk artists like Ian Tyson, Joni Mitchell, Phil Ochs and especially Gordon Lightfoot, with nimble, jazz-inflected guitar work. Simultaneously, he pursued his jazz and experimental “spacegrass” with the Tony Rice Unit on Mar West, Still Inside and Backwaters.
Tony Rice remains one of bluegrass’ top instrumentalists and singers, bringing originality and vitality to everything he plays.
Buy tickets HERE
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Thursday, May 22, 2008
Futureman
& the Black Mozart Ensemble
Live at The Freedom Center
215 East Main Street
Downtown Rock Hill
Doors – 7:30PM
Show – 8:00PM
Tickets - $15 in advance/$18 day of show
Roy “Futureman” Wooten is an artist known for bridging the gap between the past, the present and the future. Deriving from a rich musical background, Futureman is an inventor, scientist, musician, composer and four-time Grammy award winning performer with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. The Flecktones are highly regarded for their outstanding virtuosity in live performances.
Futureman has embarked upon a new creative journey with The Black Mozart Ensemble. This project celebrates the life and music of the Black Mozart; Joseph Boulogne de Saint Georges. Monsieur Saint Georges was a revolutionary musician who dedicated his life to the rise from the ashes of a world steeped in the slave trade. This great musician had many talents and amazing abilities that forever changed the world of sword fighting, violin playing, classical music forms, and the racial status quos.
The Black Mozart Ensemble is composed of young virtuoso violinists and cellists under the direction of Futureman. The music is complemented by the addition of hip hop artists, and actors/narrators. The music of Black Mozart has a message for the ears, eyes and moves of today’s modern world. Futureman states that this composition, The Black Mozart is a personal statement of New American Classical Roots and Dance Music with social aspirations that embraces all races of humanity.
Buy tickets HERE
