Brett Barest
Some weeks I look at the iOnGreenville music calendar and pick one or two shows that jump out at me as standout performances. Other weeks I am torn between a handful of shows over the weekend that I think are worthy of our attention. This week, I am completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of live, original music that is popping up all over town and I dare say it feels like things are as back to normal as we might ever be. Allow me to offer more than a few suggestions on where you might spend your time over the days ahead…
Wednesday
Okay, so admittedly the show of the week is well past sold out but, still, I cannot ignore the fact that Charleston’s Susto is performing a live acoustic show at The Radio Room this evening. Upstate Susto shows are always a big deal and too many of us missed out on tickets to this one. The rest of us can find solace, however, in the fact that Quest Brewing Company is hosting Reggae on the Green with The Destinators and Big Yen for the perfect mid-week Hump Day treat. On a related note, Quest’s weekly “Trivia by ‘Me’” shenanigans will be postponed for live concerts both this week and next.
Thursday
The Radio Room does have a show you can see on Thursday with a great southern rock/Americana experience courtesy of The Vegabonds and special guest Womz of the Futurebirds. This is the biggest name show of the week that you can still find tickets for and it promises to be one heck of a treat. For our favorite local artists on the scene, guitar virtuoso Jacob Johnson takes the early stage at Smiley’s while the all star jam collective Quasi Quasar holds things down back at Quest.
Friday
On Friday the choice of music broadens even more with a host of shows to consider. Emo, indie, and pop-punk have your ear? Check out Quality Time’s album release show with Versor and Radagascar at The Radio Room. Maybe you prefer things dialed up to 11 with loud, heavy, nu-metal that will leave your ears ringing all weekend long? Asheville’s Amnesis at Gottrocksshould do the trick. What about a nice, relaxing, southern singer/songwriter to pair with a cold craft beer as you ease into the weekend? Pistol Hill at the Growler Haus in the Village of West Greenville just might be what the doctor ordered.
Saturday
Downtown’s Fireforge Crafted Beer has live music all weekend long to celebrate their 3rd Anniversary and you definitely want to check out their full lineup. That said, BellaNova Strings is a female electric strings duo that is sure to be a standout on the weekend’s music scene as a whole. Even better, it is a 2pm performance which leaves you time to check out the jam band Aurigami at Quest that evening or any number of other shows across the Upstate that evening.
Honorary Mention…
I know this is iOnGreenville, not iOnGastonia, but I do have to give a shout out to The Menders who are celebrating their 10thanniversary at Freeman’s Pub somewhere between here and Charlotte – that is where Gastonia is, right? Seriously though, The Menders are one of the first bands that I truly fell in love with when I first started writing about music back in 2014 and I have followed their growth (and kept them in my current listening rotation) ever since. I might not be at their anniversary party in person but I will darn sure be there in spirit. Now, just get your butts back to the Upstate soon, Boys.
These are only ten of the 70-80 shows happening around town in the week ahead which means we have plenty of options, friends. As I like to say, if you cannot find something you like on the iOnGreenville music calendar, well, you probably have not read this far into my ramblings anyway. Get out and enjoy a show and support the local music scene any way you can. Have fun and be safe out there.
