Connect Recommends

KISS ARMY (Tribute Band)

With little fanfare save for in-house advertising, this exotic dance club just across the bridge to South Carolina has been incorporating live music into their routine for well over a year now.

Unfortunately, here at Connect, we don’t often hear about these events until after we’ve gone to press, so we can’t pass word of them along to our readers. There was plenty of advance notice on this one, though.

The feverish devotion that ‘70s rock superstars KISS inspire in some of their most ardent fans is legendary. From decorating their skin with tattoos of the original bandmembers’ visages to taking bank account-draining overseas trips to catch the group’s seemingly neverending string of phoney-baloney “farewell” gigs, there’s little hardcore KISS-o-philes won’t do to get closer to their heroes.

That’s where tribute bands come in.

During the band’s dark period (when they wiped their faces clean and hung up their space suits) hundreds of club acts sprang up around the globe, doing their best to mimic the group’s salad days. From the minute details on their homemade costumes, to replicating the exact gear the band used, to memorizing dialogue from their official albums and bootlegs, these true believers kept the flame alive even while the band did their best to blow it out.

You’d think with the actual band back in costume, the demand for greasepainted KISS tribute bands would have dropped – but you’d be wrong.

Louisville, Kentucky’s KISS ARMY was formed by members of two prior tribute acts, Strutter and Hot As Hell, and they say they are committed to giving fans the most accurate representation of a classic 1970s live show by the band.

They’ve been around for a decade, played well over 1,000 shows, and are reputed to be one of the best in their field. In fact, former KISS manager Bill Aucoin (the man behind many of their trendsetting promotional efforts) recently gave them his stamp of approval.

It’s worth noting, however, that we at Connect have been unable to confirm this date with the band, so it’s best to call the venue ahead of time and make sure everything’s still a go before you make the drive. Thurs., 10 pm, The Gold Club (Hwy 17 near Hardeeville).

First Friday For Folk

For this month’s edition of The Savannah Folk Music Society’s family-oriented concert series, one performer had to drop out at the last minute – so, another artist will play an extended set.

That artist is Carla Ulbrich, a Clemson, South Carolina native who bills herself as a “professional smart aleck.” A witty and charming songwriter who accompanies herself on acoustic guitar, she’s drawn critical comparisons to an extremely wide variety of solo acts, including Christine Lavin, Chet Atkins, Ray Stevens and Jerry Seinfeld. She’s released four albums, and appeared at many of the most prestigious rooms on this side of the country – including The Bitter End, Eddie’s Attic and Nashville’s Bluebird Café.

The opening duo of Bob & Judy Williams have been familiar faces on our local folk scene for almost two decades. They helped form the SFMS, and their live shows feature both contemporary and traditional folk tunes, played on a number of different instruments.

As always, this smoke and alcohol-free show is free to ALL AGES, with a suggested donation to the society of $2. Soft drinks and home baked snacks are available. Fri., 7:30 pm, Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church (429 Abercorn St.).

 

"The" Mose Allison

Speaking of impersonators – it’s hard to find true innovators in today’s music industry. Scores of soundalike acts all compete for the same tiny slice of the pie, diluting their music accordingly to reach the masses.

However, in the case of Mose Allison, it usually takes all of a 10-second listen to know that it’s him.

That’s because Allison is truly one-of-a-kind. Over the course of a professional career that has spanned more than five decades, this 76 year-old pianist and songwriter from just outside Tippo, Mississippi has steadfastly marched to the beat of his own drum and in doing so, neatly sidestepped most every trend and fashion.

Beloved by musicians of all stripes for his homespun humor, hipster ethos and bad-ass demeanor, Allison is a supremely talented keyboardist who works in a grey area that belongs solely to him.

It’s a catch-all genre that incorporates country blues, jazz, boogie-woogie and beatnik poetry. It’s tough to categorize, and Mose isn’t about to help you.

“I have no idea what I’m doin’,” he’ll dodge with a smile. “I’ve never seen me.”

In lieu of a description, he’d rather play two nights at this swanky supper club.

Seeing as how Mose sells out bigger dates all over the world, it’s a heck of a booking for a tiny supper club that seats less than a hundred.

Trust me on this… artists like Mose simply aren’t made anymore. Get a reservation now and see him while you still can. Fri. - Sat., The Jazz Corner (Hilton Head).