Absylom Rising
Jam band incorporating bluegrass, funk, old-time country, delta blues, and rock & roll into their high-energy shows. Sat. – Sun. + Tues., Fiddlers Crab House.
Arcasia Red
See Connect Recommends. Wed., 8 pm, Teasers Café (ALL AGES) + Sat., The Jinx.
Argyle
Local act whose tight originals blur the line between rock, punk, reggae and jam-band music. Fri., Savannah Blues.
The Jeff Beasley Band
Local electric blues/rock trio. Sun., Mercury Lounge. David Berkeley
This recent recipient of ASCAPs Johnny Mercer Songwriting Award of late has played alongside Led Zeps John Paul Jones and Nickel Creek on NPRs Mountain Stage, as well as opened for John Hiatt, Rufus Wainwright, Ben Folds and Dido. He’s regarded as an artist on the rise by Rolling Stone Magazine, and has been likened to the late Nick Drake for his hauntingly sparse vocal melodies and subdued, acoustic guitarwork. His first visit here was quite well received. Sat., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean.
Bluesonics
Tight R & B (swampy, Southern blues-rock to Texas swing and upbeat Chicago shuffles). Fri. – Sat., Mercury Lounge.
Mark Carter
Local acoustic guitarist/songwriter playing originals and popular covers. Sat., 5 pm, City Market Courtyard.
Circle Takes The Square
See Connect Recommends. Wed., 8 pm, Teasers Café (ALL AGES) + Sat., The Jinx.
Thomas Claxton
Acoustic guitarist/vocalist (AKA The Music Daddy) offering impassioned takes on classic and modern rock hits. Thurs., 9 pm, B & D Burgers (Southside on Abercorn) + Mon., 7 pm, The Sea Grill (Hwy 21 @ I-95).
Sterling Colvin & Improv
Popular Hilton Head show band known for slick arrangements and danceable party sets. Fri., Fusion/The Monkey Bar.
Jason Courtenay & Tim Burke
Acoustic guitar duo playing modern and classic pop and country hits. Wed., 8 pm, The Oyster Bar (Wilmington island).
Cream Abdul Babar
Vaguely legendary Florida noise band (and pals of locals Damad and Kylesa) thats touring behind a new 2-disc comp of their early, OOP material. Imagine Helmet or Unsane with some bloodcurdling vocal shredding and a trombone way back in the mix. Tues., The Jinx.
CrÜxshadows
See Connect Recommends. Tues., 9:30 pm, Armstrong Atlantic Universitys Fine Arts Auditorium.
Darkest Hour
See Connect Recommends. Wed., 8 pm, Teasers Café – ALL AGES.
The Les DeMerle Orchestra featuring Bonnie Eisle
The house group at Amelia Island, Floridas Ritz-Carlton, theyve also played Caesars in Atlantic City, the Westin in Singapore and the Breakers in Palm Beach, as well as co-headlined the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. Fri. – Sat., 7:30 pm, The Jazz Corner (Hilton Head).
Eldorado Deluxe
Electric blues band from the Augusta area. Sat., Savannah Blues. ****
First Friday For Folk Music
See Connect Recommends. Fri., 7:30 pm, Wesleyan United Methodist Church (429 Abercorn St.).
Flowers In The Attic
Female-fronted Baltimore punk throwbacks likened to Born Against, Spitboy and Page 99. Tues., The Jinx.
Gods Among Men
Vanguard Seattle crustpunk trio (guitar, drums, cello) playing heavy, multi-textured music (aided by loops and samples) thats been likened to both Neurosis and Mr. Bungle. Fri., The Jinx.
Trae Gurley’s Sinatra
Local thespian putting his own live spin on Franks big band classics. Thurs., Jazzd Tapas Bar + Fri., 6 pm, Go Fish. Leslie Helpert
This respected singer/songwriter has lived in Athens, Georgia, Boston, and Colorado. Now she lives on Skidaway Island, although shes on the road most of the time. She has released two indie CDs which reek of the sort of jazzy, acoustic guitar and snare drum breeze that made Rickie Lee Jones a semi-star. Thurs., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean.
Don Henley
See Connect Recommends. Sun., Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn Plantation (Hilton Head).
High Velocity
Fiery Southern rock hits and originals featuring former members of local faves Bounty Hunter. Fri. – Sat., 9 pm, Silver Dollar Bar & Grill (Hwy 204). The Hitmen
Local electric blues outfit playing standards and a few originals. Wed., Savannah Blues + Sat., 10 pm, Mercury Lounge.
The Billy Hoffman Quartet
Local jazz act led by one of the best trap drummers around. Thurs., Fusion/The Monkey Bar + Fri., 10 pm, Mercury Lounge.
In My Trunk
Distorted, atmospheric indie-rock from Columbia, South Carolina, thats hookier than most. Sat., The Jinx.
Keith & Ross
Acoustic act playing jam-inspired versions of popular country and rock tunes. Thurs., Fiddlers Crab House.
Lauren Lapointe
Local singer/guitarist/songwriter known for emotional, first-person ballads. Thurs., OConnells Irish Pub.
Liquid Ginger
This female-fronted pop-rock act mixes like-minded covers (Meredith Brooks, No Doubt) into their original sets. Fri. – Sat., 9:30 pm, Scandals (Tybee).
Mamar Kassey
See Music Feature. Sun., 3 pm, Jewish Education Alliance (5111 Abercorn St.).
Maurice & Doubleday
Danceable hits from the past few decades. Wed., 7 pm, Go Fish.
Old-Time Music Jam Session
Organized by scenester Joe Nelson, this free traditional Americana picking party is open to anyone with an acoustic stringed instrument. Mon., 7:30 pm, The Sentient Bean.
G. E. Perry
A seasoned blues guitarist who has a solid local rep as a flashy, intense player. Sat., 9 pm, Jazzd Tapas Bar.
The Denny Phillips Band
Popular, good-time party band known for a wide setlist of covers, and a killer tribute to Neil Diamond. Fri. – Sat., 9 pm, The Oyster Bar (Wilmington Island).
phoenix/Nebulin
See Connect Recommends. Tues., 9:30 pm, Armstrong Atlantic Universitys Fine Arts Auditorium.
Ras Bonghi Reggae Allstars
Popular groove and dance-oriented touring act from Charleston, led by the veteran Ohio frontman Ras Bonghi. Sat., JJ Cagneys.
Yonrico Scott & Friends
Youre only two degrees away from The Allman Brothers Band with this top-notch Atlanta-based groove and jam project (Scott is Derek Trucks drummer, and Derek also plays slide with The Allmans). Fri., JJ Cagneys.
Allison Tartalia
Singer/guitarist with a strong, high voice, and a staccato, jazzy delivery that owes much to Ani Difranco and Tori Amos. Shes considered an artist on the rise and is touring nationally. Thurs., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean.
Tracy & The Plastics
An electronic art/new media punk band that consists of lesbian performance artist Wynne Greenwood (playing the role of Tracy) rocking out with her band (which consists of projected video images of herself dressed as the other members). Both the music and the editing/synchronization/presentation are crude and confrontational, yet shes recently played both NYCs Knitting Factory and The Whitney Museum of American Art. This will likely either be amazing, or so shitty its unbelievable. Tues., The Jinx.
The Ben Tucker Trio
Straight-ahead jazz from a local celebrity (and respected session bassist and composer from the 60s and 70s). Fri., 9 pm, Jazzd Tapas Bar.
Two Blue
Unique old-school blues act featuring a standout harpist/vocalist, and a guitarist who doubles on percussion. Sat., 10 pm, OConnells Irish Pub.
The Veraflames
See Connect Recommends. Sat., 9 pm, 912 (formerly Aprés – above Il Pasticcio) .
The Greg Williams Band
Edgy blues and classic rock-inspired jams from one of the the areas finest contemporary pop songwriters. Sat, 8 pm, City Market Courtyard.
Williams Eve
Indie-core quintet from near Philly balancing screams, grinding guitars, vocal harmony and well-placed dissonance. Sat., The Jinx.
The Jimmy Wolling Band
Local quartet (featuring banjo ace Wolling) playing traditional bluegrass and jam-inspired hellgrass. Fri., OConnells Irish Pub.
This article appears in Sep 1-8, 2004.