Thursday, Aug. 06, 2009
Pre-Owned's Hiatus Show
Charles Grace can often be counted among the sweaty, angst-filled youth who throw down at the all-ages rock spot, The Basement (819 Main Street, Myrtle Beach). In November his former high school band, Chicken Day, broke up, according to Grace, due to creative differences with lyricist and lead vocalist Dexter Butler. The three remaining Chicken Day-ers eventually regrouped into Pre-Owned, an experimental rock trio, which features Grace (vocals, bass, guitar, and keyboards - presumably not all at once), Mitch Thompkins (bass, guitar, vocals), and Jake Andrews (drums). Pre-Owned, while still just in its early stages, will throw its last show - at least for a while - at 8 p.m. Saturday at The Basement, on a bill also featuring Camazotz End and Wicked Gift.
“This is our hiatus show,” said Grace, who will be entering Coastal Carolina University in the fall as a freshman. Dedicated to rock ‘n’ roll, he plans to major in music. “We’re kind of mad because we’re [Pre-Owned] picking up all this momentum and people seemed to be interested in what the guys from Chicken Day were doing – but unfortunately we’ve got to put this on hold for while.” By fall, the three Pre-Owned players will all be in different locales; Grace here in Myrtle Beach, Thompkins at the University of South Carolina in Columbia and Andrews shipped around the country at the government’s expense and whim as a new inductee to the U.S. Air Force.
Chicken Day, a name that originally came from Grace’s favorite middle school lunch special (Thursday’s were always Chicken Day), played steadily for the past four years at the likely rock clubs that allowed the under-18 crowd; the former Sound Garden, Fresh Brewed Coffee House and others. Pre-Owned has allowed Grace to move beyond his Chicken Day days, to expand his performance skills. “It’s a completely different band with familiar faces,” he said. “We’re more rock-blues-funk, but like Chicken Day we’re experimental – we’re very different from song to song. This is the first band that I sing in regularly – I kind of front this band.”
free coffee, music, popcorn and jesus
The Vine Coffee House, an offshoot of the Seacoast Vineyard Church, gets a pretty nice crowd on the first Friday of every month. Beside free coffee, free popcorn and free music, the venue hosts pop, rock and acoustic acts, most from a Christian world-view, and serves as a meeting place for those looking for Friday night alternatives. The Vine Coffeehouse will sponsor another in its long-running gatherings featuring rock band Entrusted along with Mary & Vinny, Danial Zitro, Jeremy Alexander and duo Journey 35. All ages, alcohol/smoke-free, no cover. The next event is scheduled for 7 p.m., Friday. The Vine Coffee House is located in the Magnolia Towne Center, 9714 North Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach.
americana in little river
Not usually known for booking nationally touring indie bands, Pat & Mike’s Irish Pub in Little River will break from its typical line-up and host The Lost River Cavemen, a four-year-old Americana group, on Friday. From its native Bowling Green, Ky. home, the band is out on a small tour of the Carolinas. Its four members play original “rock ‘n’ roll on bluegrass instruments,” according to its bio, and will perform a few sets at the popular North Strand eatery starting at 9 p.m. Friday. Drums, fiddle, stand-up bass, guitar and vocals round out this unique outfit in true Americana music fashion.
Pat and Mike’s is at 1359 U.S. 17, Little River. Call 249-7145 or visit www.patandmikesirishpub.com. No cover for Saturday’s performance.
Have a thought, comment or newsworthy item for Weekly Surge Music Notes? Send an email to pgrimshaw@sc.rr.com.
Click here for previous Music Notes stories