Three Accomplished local musicians create one great sound In Gaslight Street
By Miranda Steadman | Contributing Writer
Comprised of Campbell Brown on guitar, Whitt Algar on keys, and Stratton Moore on drums, Gaslight Street has acquired a captivating soulful sound. In addition to uncles, parents, and other musical mentors, the trio’s musical influences include Ray Charles, The Allman Brothers Band, Little Feat, Jimmy Cliff and The Black Keys.
Brown, a self-taught guitar player, moved to Charleston to study fine art and to play baseball for The College of Charleston. His mother plays ukulele and sings in a folk band in Chattanooga, Tenn., where Campbell grew up.
“I listened to the Blues, Motown, R&B growing up. I remember a party going on on the back of the mountain … everybody was playing guitars, listening to each other and bringing everybody in,” recalls Brown, who is grateful to have been surrounded by musicians he has learned from throughout his life.
“We are very fortunate to have such an extended family of talented friends and musicians down here,” says Brown, who hosts a singer/songwriter night every Monday at The Washout on Folly Beach.
Keyboardist Whitt Algar, who also plays with local bands Whits End, Funk You Folly, Sideshow Americans, and The Bushels, first met Brown while attending The College of Charleston. A native Charleston musician and composer, Algar keeps a positive outlook on life that has inspired his own style of good-for-the-soul rock ‘n’ roll.
Drummer Stratton Moore connected with Brown and Algar through the close local music community, and specifically at shows at The Pour House on James Island, where Brown still plays every Sunday on the deck with his side-project The C. Brown Band.
Originally from Hartsville, South Carolina, Moore was introduced to Brown and Algar by his cousin, guitarist Wallace Mullinax of local bands The Dead 27’s, Rodeo Clown and The Reckoning. You can catch Moore jamming with different musically-talented friends Thursday nights at The Drop-In Deli and Bar.
Gaslight Street plans on taking to the road for a tour this summer. But first plan on recording a new album this month at Fairweather Studios on Sol Legare, which is run by Bert’s owner Omar Colon.
One song they will record on the new album is entitled “Easy Papa,” which Brown wrote for his father who recently passed. Another song “Salvation” discusses the end of the world, but despite the dark topic, is still set to a good groove.
On June 8, Gaslight Street will play in Greenville,, followed by a show June 9 at Home Team BBQ on Sullivan’s Island. Gaslight Street plays a little closer to home on June 16 when they perform at The Charleston Pour House alongside Folly duo Sunflowers & Sin and Justin Burke of the band Pretty Heavy out of Richmond, Vir. On Folly, the three enjoy the old, warm sound and souroundings of Surf Bar on June 18.
Gaslight Street are scheduled to tour the Gulf Coast this summer, with shows in Mississippi, as well as down to New Orleans. Later in the summer, the band travels out to Colorado for performances in Denver, Telluride and Durango.
See Gaslight Street before they leave on their summer tour and you won’t want to wait to hear more of their superb musical stylings.
