Blue Mountain front man Cary Hudson from Sumrall / Oxford, Mississippi, returns to Charleston to play the Surf Bar on Thursday, July 29, for his first show on Folly Beach.

Folly Beach attracts interesting characters from all corners of the world: authors, actors, artists, musicians, poets, athletes, politicians, diplomats, vagabonds and everything in between. This month, two highly-regarded singer-songwriters will make their first trips to the island – Cary Hudson of Blue Mountain and Bret Mosley.

“I played the Lowcountry for the first time in February of 2009, in Beaufort,” Mosley says. “Right after my set, a grinning six-and-a-half-foot tall Bubba in a tie-dye t-shirt walked up to me and said, ‘You in gee-tar country – WE LIKE YOU.’ I’ve been back every month or two since then. The soulfulness and the generosity of spirit in the south – that’s the thing about it that draws me, the audiences, the artists. Their hearts are available to one another. When I sing the words, ‘feel the Love, y’all’ down here, it lands and it sticks.”

Mosley hails from Brooklyn and plays a very original, hybrid brand of alternative rock, roots music and funk. Some critics refer to it as “Bluebilly Funkjam.” Touring tirelessly, he has shared the stage with Trombone Shorty, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, The Subdudes, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Garry Burnside, Jackie Greene, Outformation, Kaki King, Kelly Joe Phelps, Jerry Joseph and Stockholm Syndrome. Mosley has also drawn comparisons to Chris Whitley, Steve Earle, Van Morrison, Keller Williams, Ben Harper, Taj Mahal and Beck.

Cary Hudson comes from Sumrall, Mississippi, but has relocated a handful of times to Oxford, where he made his stand in the late 1980s as the frontman for the seminal blues-rock and alt-country act Blue Mountain (originally the Hilltops). The original lineup included Hudson and twin brother-sister duo John Stirratt (of Uncle Tupelo and Wilco) and Laurie Stirratt. After the divorce of Hudson and Laurie Stirratt, the band went on a decade-long hiatus, but has reformed in the past three years and toured nationally with a new energy, a couple of new albums and a rejuvenated fan base.

Hudson and Blue Mountain have been credited as being pioneers of the alt-country movement. The band graced the cover of the second issue of No Depression Magazine, and is perhaps most well-known for their hit songs “Soul Sister” and “Jimmy Carter.”

Follywood Productions strives to be the Lowcountry’s most complete event coordinating service, handling live entertainment and promotion for local and regional artists, venues, festivals, fundraisers, universities and special events. This is Follywood – This is The Edge.

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A palpable flow of positive energy surged through the lofts and rafters of the Music Farm on March 20 as our local boys, Dangermuffin, took to the stage following an opening set by James Justin and Company. “This is our town,” they proclaimed, and with nearly 600 drinkers, dancers, and a local roller derby crew in attendance for their CD release celebration, their message was obvious through the crowd’s ecstatic anticipation.

Dangermuffin has been setting the bar (no pun intended) for island roots rock/folk/Americana/reggae even before the release of their debut album, Beermuda, in 2007. Despite their obvious popularity, Dan, Steven, and Mike have retained their humble “playing for a bar tab” attitude. It is obvious at their shows – the Moonscape release party in particular – that they are having as much, if not more, fun than those of us lucky enough to be in attendance. Do not let this laid-back attitude mislead you, however, as these guys take their music very seriously. This is all made very clear in the content of their songs which are constructed through the musical chops of drummer/student-of-the-game Steven Sandifer, guitarist/banjo player Mike Sivilli, and songwriter Dan Lotti: oh yeah, they all sing very well, too.

Their knack for keeping very precise timing in their live sets is one of their driving forces. They can start a song at a bluegrass rhythm, transfer into reggae chords, then rock out if they want to, all while gettin’ funky and harmonizing without breaking stride. Their jams are not excessively played out as it is with most groups dubbed “jam-band.” During their acoustic sets as Ramblemuffins, Sandifer will often slide from his kit to the upright bass, Sivilli from his electric to slide guitar or banjo, and Lotti will hold strong on his acoustic. Sometimes they’ll play sets strictly in this manner, applying their multiple layers of musical talent to the crowd of melomaniacs.

If you have seen them live before, this is all well understood. Dangermuffin’s new album, Moonscapes, displays all of the guys’ musical abilities, simultaneously covering a lot of ground style-wise. “We started recording in February [2009] between Charleston and Nashville, Tennessee,” Lotti says. On this album, there are songs like “Walk Into the Wind,” “Mystery Repeating,” and “Lawman”, which display their bluegrass chops. “Lawman,” despite its ironically comical lyrics such as, “’Cause when we see you speeding the wrong way, you truly are stirring up some concern, it’s concerning,” is rowdy yet precisely timed. Though the term is redundant, there are “jam” songs like “Moonscapes,” and “Gutter Dance.” In these songs, Sandifer’s rhythms are a bit more elaborate, as well as Sivilli’s guitar licks. They also throw in some very mellow reggae tunes, as very well-written folk tunes. Folly local Shannon Whitworth joins the boys on “Coffin Island,” lending a little more depth to a great song about the island.

The path that Dangermuffin is heading on right now is definitely looking bright. This new album’s out and they are embarking on two national tours this summer, playing festivals in the Midwest, as well as dates all over Oregon and the Pacific Northwest throughout the summer. “We are really grateful to have met some good people over the years. They definitely have experience in the game, and are really steering us in the right direction,” says Lotti. The band has recently joined up with New Frontier Touring, a Nashville-based booking agency which represents the likes of The Avett Brothers, Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers, and The Bridge, where before, they were basically booking their own gigs. “In the big picture, we could keep trying to book things ourselves,” says Lotti. “What they do is ‘bring you up’; they have an extensively proven track record.” Dangermuffin is playing throughout all of Summercamp, a festival over the Memorial Day weekend in Illinois, then heading out Northwest and basically covering all of Oregon with 13 set dates in June. They are also going to be at the Jazz Aspen festival in Colorado, which they played in 2008. On the Fourth of July they are playing at the Floyd Fandango, a food and wine festival, and playing at Floydfest in Floyd, Virginia, afterwards.

“We’re just going to keep doing what we’ve always done, we’re ready for whatever,” says Lotti. Well, what they’ve been doing is working, so it only seems natural. If you get the chance go out and pick up this album, it’s very impressive.

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Still reeling from the tragic and untimely death of Mississippi Delta bluesman Lil’ Dave Thompson on Valentine’s Day, and reflecting on the success of this year’s Lowcountry Blues Bash, it’s as good a time as any for us to turn the spotlight on the Folly Beach blues scene.

As some of you may or may not know, Lil’ Dave Thompson was killed in an automobile accident on Feb. 14, after playing a gig at Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ on Sullivan’s Island as part of the Blues Bash. Although the club had arranged lodging for Thompson and his band for that night, he told venue employees that he was worn out from nearly two months on the road and was longing to get back to Mississippi.

“Dave was truly the most professional touring Bluesman and all around nice guy,” Home Team BBQ Talent Buyer and GM Tony McKie said in a conversation with the Follywood Insider this week. “I am lucky also to have called him a friend. Hosting what turned out to be his last show leaves me with mixed emotions. He will truly be missed by Blues fans everywhere.”

Thompson embodied everything that is the Mississippi Delta Blues. A throwback from the old days with a new generation swagger, Thompson was always on-time, friendly, courteous, grateful, and most importantly, he always brought his best to the stage.

Although none of the venues on Folly Beach were officially involved in this year’s Blues Bash, Follywood Productions and the Surf Bar hosted one “unofficial” event on Feb. 14, which ran simultaneously with Thompson’s last performance just an island inlet away, featuring The Eric Deaton Trio with special guest Davis Coen. Deaton is best known for having joined North Mississippi Hill Country Blues legend Junior Kimbrough’s back band as a bassist and sometimes guitarist when he was only 18. When Kimbrough passed in ’98, Deaton found an immediate opening as bassist for the Burnside Exploration with Garry Burnside, youngest son of Hill Country Blues legend R.L. Burnside, and his cousin Cedric Burnside. He parlayed that into lead guitar roles with both Afrissippi and Jimbo Mathus’ Knockdown South. He has since struck out on his own with his new trio featuring Nate Robbins of Rockett 88 and Charles Gage of Duwayne Burnside & Mississippi Mafia. Mathus’ new band, The Tri-State Coalition, was also a part of the Blues Bash playing the Pour House on Feb. 12.

The show at the Surf Bar, which followed the overwhelmingly successful Folly Gras Parade, was on-fire. Deaton & Co. kicked things off with a straight-forward electric mix of classic blues standards and his own originals. Coen also chimed in with some originals of his own, sharing the vocals with Deaton throughout the night. The Surf Bar staff was highly complimentary of the performance and said it was “exactly the right fit” for the bar’s post-parade party. Deaton and his band mates said they would spread the good word about both the bar and the island’s hospitality and good vibes from here to North Mississippi.

The Surf Bar kept with the Mississippi music theme the following Saturday night when they hosted local Alt-Country / Americana act Guilt Ridden Troubadour which features Mac Leaphart and his partner in crime Reid Stone, former Daybreakdown front man and Vicksburg, Mississippi, native. Stone’s musical roots and past touring and recording experience in Mississippi led him to both personal and professional relationships with each of the aforementioned artists, and the band’s set that night seemed to take on a tone that was just a little on the Bluesy side.

Considering that so many of those tightly-knit Mississippi Blues musicians were all in Charleston on the same weekend, and that it ended with such a tragic note, you can bet that there were many heavy hearts traveling that highway from here to the Crossroads. Please keep Lil’ Dave, his family and band mates in your prayers.

Ben Bounds is the owner of Follywood Productions on Folly Beach. Follywood Productions strives to be the islands’ most dedicated event coordinating service, handling live entertainment and promotion for local and regional artists, venues, festivals, fundraisers, universities and special events. For more information, call 408-6439 or email follywoodrocks@gmail.com

This is Follywood – This is The Edge.

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Singer/Songwriter Justin Burke has manned numerous musical projects before, namely Jupiter’s Garden, as well as several Rock/Funk bands consisting of close friends, but his new album harkens back to an old sound. Familiar originals are given new life after years of performance refinement, and new tunes invite fans back to the Folk/Blues roots which have helped identify Burke as an island icon.

While playing with Jupiter’s Garden and occasionally with local band Dangermuffin, Burke’s performances have ultimately led to funky renditions of Beatles tunes, as well as other classic covers. In his inaugural album “Southern Son, So Far,” Burke opens the floor to island friends and musicians, all of whom contribute to this grassroots album of folk lyrics, bluegrass breakdowns and organic mixture of Southern music.

Although it seems that the use of so many different instruments throughout the album would set the stage for more elaborate compositions, the songs are surprisingly concise and to the point. Whether it involves keys or trumpet, banjo or mandolin, electric guitar or acoustic, Burke and his plethora of musicians create an atmosphere that is very relaxed, specific, and indefinably local.

Dan Lotti and Mike Sivilli of Dangermuffin are audibly visible throughout the album, with Lotti singing backing vocals and Sivilli lending some electric guitar solos on tracks like “In the Garden,” “Free Love,” and “I Know You Will.” Band of Horses front-man Ben Bridwell also throws in his range of vocals in “The Rescue.”

The majority of the songs feature melodic instrument accompaniments in an almost Southern ballad-type structure, though the album is also peppered with several rock tunes with classic electric guitar feedback and bluegrass progressions.

The content of Burke’s album should be familiar to anyone who has lived on the island, its overall style reminiscent of a combination of the Avett Brothers, Robert Johnson, Bob Dylan and The Band album “Basement Tapes.” His live sets are always extremely positive, and this mindset definitely translates into these well recorded studio tracks.

The subject matters of Justin’s songs are always soulful and optimistic, mainly dealing with the joys of living set to clean, emotive arrangements. On songs like “I Know You Will,” and “Turn This Thing Around,” Burke unleashes this Dixieland sentiment: “Take me back to the good old days, when I was young, I know you will.”

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Follywood Productions Launch Party

To introduce Charleston’s newest musical “instrument”, Follywood Productions is hosting a public launch party on Sunday, January 24, at the Pour House with an oyster roast at 4pm and live music from 4:30pm to 1am. The Hawkes and Po’ Ridge will be featured on the Deck from 4:30-8:30pm. Guilt Ridden Troubadour and Lindsay Holler’s Western Polaroids will be on the main stage from 9pm-1:30am. Tickets are $5 for the Deck Show or $10 for All Day/Night.

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Local singer Elise Testone possesses a raw, natural talent that absolutely needs to be heard. Her voice is stirring, passionate and has the power to transform your mind.

If you are at a music club and a stirringly passionate voice belting out jazz, soul, and rock strikes your ears, then you have found Elise Testone. I suggest you stay for a while.
Elise delivers the goods with an amazingly soulful voice that cannot be learned; she was born with it.  This kind of expressive singing is on display anytime she takes the stage with one of her bands, which include her front band Elise and the Freeloaders, a young neo-soul funk act named Slanguage, and in her spare time she plays with Justin Smith and the Folk Hop Band in Columbia.
“Playing in different bands keeps life interesting,” Elise says. “Nothing ever gets stale”.
Her musical influences include Sam Cooke, Tori Amos, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Erykah Badu, and Led Zeppelin, all of which come through in her performances. And her is growing. She is now noticed in clubs and was even recognized trying on clothes in a store fitting room. Her most remarkable recognition came recently when Snoop Dogg called and asked her to open up four shows for him. How many people can say they toured the southeast and spent time in the Dogg house?
With a father who repairs and sells jukeboxes, Elise grew up with a music-filled basement which led her to her love of old soul and rock tunes. She visited Charleston often from her home in New Jersey and finally moved here three years ago. In between, she studied music at Coastal Carolina and was responsible for some of their largest concert crowds with as many as 400 people showing up to performances. She loves playing on Folly Beach and describes the scene as laid back and accepting. The people of Folly want to have a good time and be happy and that is what she wants everyone to do at her shows.
When she’s not singing, she teaches music classes at Music Unlimited in Mount Pleasant, a job which is emotionally fulfilling for her as she hears her students learn and improve. Listening to one of her students’ performances is a point of joy for the singer. She acts as a friend to kids who are going through the typical middle school and high school complications and enjoys every minute of teaching.
Elise admits that previous performances in her younger years were reserved, but she now possesses the confidence that allows her unique talent to strike the soul uncompromised. You can catch her November 4 at Blu with Tyler Ross and November 28 at the Chill and Grill with Slanguage. If you have never heard Elise Testone sing, you do not want to miss this opportunity to catch a such a rare talent. She belongs in the company of divas and for now, we have the opportunity to catch her intimate performances on Folly Beach.

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The Plainfield Project, voted best local band of 2009 by Charleston City Paper readers (whatever that’s worth), has the title track. Skye Paige & the Original Recipe puts in a great piece of old rock called (INSERT) that would have Joan Jett playing air guitar and Folly Beach favorite, The Graham Whorley Band, puts down their signature alt-rock style with UFO. That’s just the three of the first four songs. You still have to get through Dangermuffin, Milhouse, Part-Time Heroes and Mac Leaphart to name a few of the talented musicians you’ve probably seen around town.

The project is the brainchild of studio owner and chief engineer Jeff Hodges.

“It’s exciting because for many of these artists, this is the first radio-ready cut they have had the opportunity to record,” Hodges says. “The project has been really gratifying for us because of what it means to these musicians. They play their hearts out every night around Charleston and this was a great way to appreciate and support them.”

The CD is available online, through independent local retailers, and at Piggly Wiggly locations across the Lowcountry. Sales will benefit the artists and a portion of the proceeds will go to Lowcountry Local First, an advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening the local economy.

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ShineFest Music Festival held October 17th, 2009 at Joe Riley Stadium (Home of The Riverdogs)

By Paul Robinson

With the combined efforts of locals Christi Page, Brett McKee, and Mike Vitale, ShineFest – which will be held on October 17, 2009, at Joe Riley Stadium – will benefit the Charleston County School District and the Trip Page Education Initiative. The event will feature live music from Blues Traveler, The Original Wailers, Blue Dogs, Sol Driven Train, Dangermuffin, Gaslight Street, Jeff Sipe Trio, Number One Contender and others. The event will be a day-long music festival for all ages.

The money donated to the school district will help implement the program Positive Behavior Support (PBS) throughout area schools. PBS, established by the Office of Special Education Programs in the US Department of Education, trains teachers to use consistent, positive and intentional methods to influence student behavior while creating an environment where learning can thrive. In addition to PBS, proceeds will also be donated to Charleston Book Buddies to expand literacy programs in economically depressed regions of Charleston County.

The event producer of ShineFest 2009, Christi Page, manager of the local salon and spa Stella Nova, is dedicating the ShineFest to her late husband Roscoe Ashley “Trip” Page, III, who tragically lost his life in a car accident in June of 2007. “The reality of organizing and attempting to bring this music festival to Charleston has been an experience I will never forget,” says Page. “Donating 100% of the proceeds to local education is the uniqueness and power that ShineFest brings to Charleston. I’ve been blessed with the individuals who have helped me along this journey of losing my husband and I can only hope that festival goers will realize the positive impact they are making on the spectrum of Charleston’s education. We are thankful for everyone’s support and we hope to see you there!”

Local business owners Brett McKee of Oak Steakhouse and Mike Vitale of Torch Velvet Lounge are supporting Page with her initiative to raise money for local education. “It’s a great thing to be able to raise this money for education and to do what I can to help with the cause,” says Vitale. “Two years ago I lost my mother to breast cancer and I’ll do what I can to support ShineFest and its intentions. To be a part of something that will donate its proceeds to local schools and create an endowment fund for the Citadel is enlightening and empowering for everyone involved.”

Chef Brett McKee, who either donates or helps more than 140 charities each year, is equally enthusiastic about the enterprise. “In being a part of the Charleston community, I feel it is an honor to help ShineFest with their cause. Anything I can do to support education I stand by and will try my hardest to consistently be a part of it. ” Both Vitale and McKee, originally from New York, have stepped in and shown support by providing their establishments, food and service for pre-ShineFest promotions, functions and the festival itself.

The official ShineFest after party will be held at The Pour House, located at 1977 Maybank Highway, and will feature the bands Sol Driven Train, Dangermuffin, Gaslight Street, and members of Blue Dogs. The Pour House will also be participating in ShineFest’s education initiative and donating all door proceeds to the cause. Visit www.charlestonpourhouse.com for more information.

Additional information on ShineFest, Positive Behavior Support (PBS) and the Trip Page Education Initiative (TPEI) can be found at www.shinefestcharleston.com, www.pbis.org and www.citadel.edu/tcf/donors/profiles/page.shtml. Tickets for ShineFest can be purchased at the box office by calling 723-7241 or by visiting shinefestcharleston.org. Advance tickets are $40 and $45 the day of the show.

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Sam Bush Band at The Windjammer (Isle of Palms, SC)

By Paul Robinson

Music styles are constantly in transition. From early jazz to today’s pop rock, our music is constantly morphing and it’s usually in-tune with the social atmosphere of the time: but sometimes, it’s the life of the musicians themselves that sculpts the music of tomorrow. Two locally renown national musicians recently passed through Charleston, both with a story to tell about how their lives changed and how their music changed along with it. The Sam Bush Band performed at The Windjammer, Front Beach, Isle of Palms on August 28 and Acoustic Syndicate performed at The Pour House on James Island for two consecutive nights on September 4 and 5.

“We had a lot of fun playing at the Windjammer. I love to be by the beach and while setting up for the show and throughout the evening I just kept looking out over to the water. It’s inspirational and there was so much energy and excitement from the crowd,” Bush smiles. Young to old, “GQ” to counter-culture hippies, all of the social classes were represented at the show. Sam Bush’s progression and transitions from his days with the New Grass Revival to the Sam Bush Band show just how much he integrates his various musical styles, including Nashville twang and rock n’ roll, into a style known all too well as “jam grass”.

“I really enjoy the young audiences that come out to the shows. It brings on a new level of excitement and pushes the band and myself to step more and more outside of the box,” says Bush. “The world of bluegrass is so free flowing. It’s really healthy and offers so many styles to where you can hear the bluegrass influence while playing a Reggae style song.”

With the upcoming release of his new album Circles Around Me (release date: October 20, 2009), Sam Bush is still one of the hardest working musicians in the music business at the age of fifty-seven. “The new album features the song Circles Around Me and it is open to interpretation. For me it was about the transitions and the journey through this life and how I always came back to myself,” says Bush. “I mean, how did we get this far? How come we didn’t fall off the monkey bars and break our necks? I’m surrounded by so many people who I love and who love me. We can all come together and share this beautiful experience we call life.”

Steve McMurry of Acoustic Syndicate at The Pour House (Charleston, SC)

Steve McMurry of the Shelby, NC, progressive bluegrass band Acoustic Syndicate, shares common experiences and relates to this topic of transition. “In 2005, at the SmileFest Music Festival, we played our last show, so we thought. We needed a break,” says McMurry, pointing out that Fitz and Bryon McMurry, Steve’s cousins and also members of the band, needed a break more than anyone. “We were at a place in our lives where Fitz and Bryon were having children and with the relentless touring, there was no way we could support the continuation of the constant road travel and being away from our families,” explains McMurry.

When the band walked off the SmileFest stage in 2005, there were no tentative plans to get back together. They were happy to be going home and taking a break. “It was a godsend to be done with all the touring, late nights and stress, but the hardest thing is that we like playing together. It was more bittersweet than anything,” explains McMurry. “The music business is hard to crack. I’m forty-four years old and taking a break was the thing we needed to do at the time. We were not willing to step on anyone’s toes during our fifteen years of touring because we were not raised that way. Throughout those years, Acoustic Syndicate did not make enemies; we made friends.”

“After our last show at SmileFest 2005, I did not take my guitar out of the case for a year,” says McMurry. “I went to work on the family farm in Shelby and worked with the Department of Transportation. During the hiatus, my wife passed away. I needed this time to get through the transition of my loss. I see Fitz and Bryon every day and my family bond is one of the best things I have in my life.”

In 2007, Acoustic Syndicate came back to its fans, friends and family and performed at SmileFest 2007. “We left on the same stage we came back on and picked up right where we left off,” says McMurry. “We are touring part time now and we came back by popular demand. It’s much better now because we all have day jobs and when our agent still calls two years after our band broke up and tells us that clubs, festivals, bars and music halls are still trying to book us, we realized part-time touring may be just the place for us.”

Railroad Earth, an upcoming progressive style bluegrass band will be playing at the The Music Farm on September 27, 2009, in downtown Charleston. This is a great opportunity to see just how far bluegrass and its roots have transformed into one of the largest growing styles of music in the United States. Ticket Sales are $17 and $20 at the doors. Visit www.musicfarm.com for more information.

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By Vince Perna

I am amazed by every Jupiter’s Garden show I see, but the one on this past June 30 at the Pourhouse took the title of “Best I have ever seen”.  If you have not seen the band, do yourself a favor and check out one of their shows; you will not regret it. The sound is incredible, with broad strokes of jam after enjoyable melodies and tunes that make you dance. You can’t help but move out to the dance floor and shake your stuff while the band blows your mind with their incredible rhythms.
The night started well enough with the band playing a healthy dose of originals with a few covers mixed in. After a monumental jam, which usually signals the end of the first set, lead vocalist Justin Burke told everyone that they weren’t finished yet, and busted out a version of Michael Jackson’s “Don’t stop ‘til you get enough”. Nice vocals, Justin.  The whole dance floor was packed in a well deserved homage to the King of Pop.
The second set was even better with the jams flowing like wine. A few guests helped charge up the sounds. Jesse Prichard contributed a few blistering guitar solos, and Rusty Cole from Sol Driven Train came out from behind the bar to lend some soulful bass to the sound.  Rusty was having so much fun that bassist Andy Lassiter had to wrestle the bass out of his hands to continue the set. You could tell everyone was having a great time and the sounds proved it.  “We have so much more to play,” Burke had to tell Cole.  Thank God they did!  I can’t wait until next time.

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