|
South
Regional Report
|
||
|
Edited by Mike Jones and
Chip Schramm
|
||
|
[Site editor's note: As many of you probably know, Chip Schramm
has relocated both literally and editorship-wise to the Southeast.
If you would be interested in joining us and helping Mike with the
South region please send us an email- jambands@jambands.com] by Mike Jones A special treat for the lucky ones that packed Hal & Mal's on this night... an all acoustic show by Edwin, Kevin, and Gibb. These three lined the stage from left to right and starting with Kevin in the middle, took turns playing songs of their choice, their own originals or perhaps a cover or two. This was a group of singer/songwriters just getting together to have fun but from where I was, it was a pure display of talent. Both Kevin and Edwin I would rate up there as some of the top singer/songwriters of my generation and Gibb is one of the finest guitar players and far underrated in my book. Song highlights include: Kevin - Honeysuckle Blue, Straight To Hell; Edwin - Romeo and Juliet, Beautiful Life, an untitled song that was great, it was aptly dubbed The VH1 Song. It's a definite must hear. A playfully written song with VH1's Behind The Music series as the backdrop. Edwin's cover of Dire Strait's Romeo and Juliet is one of the finest songs that he plays live and even though he had blown his voice out a few nights before, Edwin still put on a vocal display. It made for some nice changes from album versions of songs because he had to change the notes he held or the way different phrases were sung due to his voice. Overall, it was a great night to go hear some of the best talent to come out of the south or southeast in a long time. Also, Edwin and his band will have a new album out in the next month or two, titled Far From Over...be sure to check that out and definitely catch a live show as Edwin is out on the road this spring/summer.
Pat McGee Band by Toni Rhodes The Pat McGee Band played to a packed house at the 5 Points South
Music Hall in Birmingham, Alabama, Tuesday night. With no band
opening, PMB started the show around 9pm with "Lost" and a few other
tunes from their most recent album "Shine," including "Runaway,"
"Anybody," "Drivin'," "Minute," and the title track "Shine." Pat
gave the rest of the band a break by doing a solo "Gibby." Some
of the old favorites - "Fine," "Who Stole Her From Heaven," "Pride,"
"On Your Way Out Of Here," "Could Have Been A Song," and "Haven't
Seen For A While" - surrounded two outstanding jam sessions with
new guitarist Brian Fechino. They ended the nearly two hour set
with "Hero" and returned for a much requested encore with "Rebecca"
along with a little of Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry" in the mix
- the crowd singing along with every word.
by "Southeastern Shannon" Jump, Little Children took the stage on a beautiful southern spring afternoon on USC's historic Horseshoe as part of a year long celebration of the University's 200th Anniversary. A grassy mall with red brick paths, lined with resplendent examples of Regency architecture, the Horseshoe provided a beautiful setting for Jump's first full length show since recording their album "Vertigo", due for release on May 8. The title song "Vertigo" launched a set which featured 10 new songs: "Made It Fine", "The Yearling", "Overkill", "Words of Wisdom", "Angel Dust", "Hold Your Tongue", "The Singer", "House Our Father Knew", and "Too High". The crowd got on its feet and rushed to the stage during the third song, the still unrecorded "Pink Lemonade", and never sat back down. Jump filled out the set with "Violent Dreams", "Habit", "Say Goodnight", "Cathedrals" and "Body Parts" from their third album, "Magazine". The band bowed to the demand for an encore with the perennial favorite "Dancing Virginia", then answered calls for "more rock" with "Not Today". In a bit of extra celebration, ribbons and sparkles shot from the stage as the band and the crowd serenaded the University of South Carolina with "Happy Birthday". Though the fireworks deployed by the university were part of the bicentennial celebration, as far as the crowd was concerned, it was an appropriate finale for Jump, Little Children's return to the stage. Matt Bivins thanked the crowd for letting them "work out" the newly recorded songs, but the work seems to have been done. The new material, while fresh and enthusiastically performed, is very full and polished. Many on the lawn were singing along to every song, apparently thanks to Napster and a very liberal live recording policy. "Vertigo" is much anticipated by Jump's fans, and this show fanned the flames.
|
||