Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009
Taking Myrtlestock
First Woodstock, then Woodstock II, then Waynestock, and then came last year's inaugural Myrtlestock.
Back for round two, the second annual music festival, billed as Myrtlestock 2009, is a multistage, multi-venue, multi-day event (Friday and Saturday) featuring 37 acts including bands, soloists, duos and a few nationally touring acts including two bands that were a part of the Vans Warped Tour - Shut up and Deal ("Taking My Chances"), and Sparks Will Fly.
Also included: a semi-rare performance by local legend Sqwearl, a Myrtle Beach debut from Lorissa Chapa (featured in last week's Music Notes column), a set from former Silenced frontman Jeremy Dunham's new band Bullfrog, and a debut from a newly-formed Myrtle Beach act, OCD. Both Drink! and Crazy J's/The Basement, across the street from each other in downtown Myrtle Beach, will host the event, which was organized by OCD guitarist and vocalist, and Myrtlestock founder Nick Cheri of Cieri Entertainment.
I caught up with Cheri earlier this week as he was headed home from practice with OCD, a progressive rock/ambient trance band he formed recently with drummer Joe Milo, bassist Justin Lipscomb, and keyboardist Travis Pinnick. Cheri said he had a ton of logistical work still ahead as preparations were being made for the event he started last year. He said he looks forward to playing with his band as much as seeing the event succeed.
"I started this as way to showcase some of the original talent here at the beach," he said. Last year's Myrtlestock was held at The Clubhouse Myrtle Beach (now closed) so Cheri moved the event to the new home of local original music - 5 Points (alternately known as the Superblock). "We might be able to contribute a little money to Street Reach again, but this year we're donating to the Original Musicians of Myrtle Beach Foundation...you know I'm kidding? I'm being a smartass."
Cheri really wasn't kidding - he hopes to split the proceeds from the door among the acts, and concedes it may not be much. Cheri laments the fact that cover bands get all the work and make all the money while acts performing original material struggle to find gigs of any kind, let alone those that pay. So Myrtlestock 2009's charity of choice will be the many hardworking original acts, which often don't even make gas money. "I really want the bands to get a little bit of money this time," he said.
"We're hoping for big numbers," said Cheri, who rallied two clubs to join in partnership, which will not be their first joint venture. Drink! and Crazy J's / The Basement threw a Halloween Block Party last month with multiple bands and one admission covering back and forth attendance all night. While both clubs are official Myrtlestock 2009 venues, each will require its own admission each night. "We're charging $10 at the door," said Cheri, "which is only like $1 per band. It's a great deal." A $15 admission will be charged to those younger than 21. Drink!'s age policy is 18 and older, The Basement, as always, is all ages.
While Drink! will host a wide variety of acts including solo acoustic guitarists, party rock, punk and pop acts, The Basement will offer metal-heads their favorite skull-crunching music including Pyrates and Elyon, two particularly noteworthy metal bands. As of press time the acts' finalized order of appearance was not available, though the venue and band list was "firm," according to Cheri, and is as follows:
(Doors open for both venues at 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday with the first act starting around 6 each night. The following listings do not reflect the order of appearance.)
FRIDAY
Drink!, 503 Eighth Ave. N., Myrtle Beach:
Lunar Fizz, Sqwearl, Hey Dude, Hand Grenade, OCD, SAVAS, Sparks will Fly, Shut up and Deal, Brian Roessler, Sleeping Policeman, DECM, Soma.
Crazy J's/The Basement, 819 Main Street, Myrtle Beach:
Pyrates, Awake In Khaos, Right Wing Conspiracy, Foretold Prophecy, Finger Painted Death, Call This Tragedy, Decrepitance.
SATURDAY
Drink!:
Lorissa Chapa, Reigning Parade, Drew Jacobs, Attalaya, Wicked Gift, Bullfrog, Below the Bassline, The IZM, So Close to Victory, Angie Capone, Jayne Trudell
Crazy J's/The Basement:
In the Midst, Collapse the Sky, Eat Your Children, Elyon, End of Story, I am a Cat.
Have a thought, comment or newsworthy item for Weekly Surge Music Notes? Send an e-mail to pgrimshaw@sc.rr.com.
