Redefining the Local Music Scene One Venue at a Time
Her Pilots
For better or worse, the music scene for a city the size of Greenville is often graded on the basis of its most notable venue. For years it was The Handlebar which was followed by a malaise of “We used to have the Handlebar” complaining. More recently, there have been weeks where every one of the notable shows that I was inclined to write about were happening at The Radio Room. All of this is to say when I look at my calendar and see quality shows at at least five completely different Greenville venues this weekend, I cannot help but smile and think the local scene just keeps getting better all the time.
First up, while I do not normally heap much praise on government entities, I have to say that the City of Greenville does a phenomenal job with their events and support of live music. Tonight, they do so as they welcome one of my favorite local indie rock bands, The Excons, to Downtown Alive on Main Street in front of The Hyatt. These are always well organized and attended events and I just love that The Excons get to share their sound with such an audience this evening.
Tejon Street Corner Thieves; p/c: F4D Studio
Over at the aforementioned Radio Room, Colorado Springs’ Tejon Street Corner Thieves guarantees to be an absolute blast with their whiskey fueled brand of “outlaw alt-folk”. While I am not entirely sure exactly what that description means, I do know that I fell in love this band immediately upon listening to them. Dark but clever with a rasp at times reminiscent of Tom Waits checks all the boxes of what I want out of my music and these guys do it all oh so well. Even better is that fact that a motivated concert goer can make both The Excons and Tejon Street Corner Thieves for a bizarrely eclectic and amazing evening of music.
Friday night, the newest kid on the block – Inchoate Art Gallery – is hosting Her Pilots, The Styrofoam Turtles, and The By Gods. I can only attest to familiarity with Her Pilots but I can definitively say that they are the perfect headliner for this quirky art gallery/bar/music venue in The Village of West Greenville. This is as close to a DIY show without it being hosted in your friend’s basement or some warehouse down a side street nobody knows about and I love everything about it. Still new to the scene, Inchoate Art Gallery is showing a commitment to local art and musicians on par with anyone else in town.
Saturday night brings us back to The Radio Room for possibly the best named band ever – Michael Cera Palin. I was in love with them before I even listened to them so, thankfully, their brand of emo/indie punk held up when I actually gave them a listen. Seriously, when your band’s name is Michael Cera Palin, it is legally and metaphysically impossible to suck.
Aaron Berg
