Hard-wired

Hard-wired? What does it even mean?

Well in the context of this new blog, we're going to attempt to hard-wire ourselves into the fledgling music scene here in Greenville. There's a lot of new things going on the Upstate music front, and we might as well make Taylors.Patch.com your direct connection into all of that. New music venues opening up, or a new concert series or band to keep an eye out for? On it. A quick heads-up on some local or national bands that are tearin' through some of our favorite old joints, like The Handlebar or Gottrocks? Locked in. Or maybe from time to time, we'll digress into the weird ramblings and road stories from this sick-minded Caribbean journalist turned full-time songwriter and bandleader. I don't know. I'm definitely making this all up as we go along. That's what happens when you give someone like me that kind of free roam.

Now, the Greenville music scene's got its downsides. Like anything else. And folks love to put it down. Anyone can attest to that. A smokey, whiskey-stained tour through the seedy dive bars tucked just off the main drags of the Upstate is one of the most desolate and depressing things a genuine music lover can experience. These lazy, broken-down live versions of the "Southern staples" heard repeatedly on the classic rock stations by day will bring anyone to the brink of psychosis. But that's Anytown, U.S.A. Hell, even stroll down Bourbon Street in New Orleans and you'll have to grapple with that.

But we as music lovers and concertgoers can build up the very scene we all seem to love bashing so vehemently. We've just got to suck it up and support the artists and musicians out there hustlin.' They're out there, blowing away the crowds. Just got to know where to go. And more importantly, we've got to actually go there.

Here's an easy starting point for you. Platinum-selling singer-songwriter and Greenville native, Edwin McCain, has put together a new concert series, "Saturday Night Special at Saffron's Sidewalk Cafe" on the first Saturday of the month, May through October. The whole point of the concert series is what we're talking about here -- to garner exposure for up-and-coming bands. Why, according to McCain himself:

“The guys in the vans and trailers right now are not planning on being millionaire rock stars. They're doing it because they love it and they have something to say and they have a talent. That has a lot of weight with me. I think that has to be held up, and this is a really cost-effective way to provide a platform for up-and-coming acts. You couldn't do it if you had to lease a building.”

Great crowds have been pouring out to discover (or rediscover) regional and national touring acts on a brand spankin' new stage and a ridiculously oversized, "way too loud" (according to some) sound system out in the Saffron's Sidewalk Cafe parking lot in Greenville's historic West End.

On Saturday, August 6th Mac Leaphart and My Ragged Company (http://www.macleaphart.com) is coming to town from Charleston, SC. Special local guest: Archer Vs. Gunman. Doors open at 6 p.m. Show starts at 7 p.m. $10 cover charge.

On Saturday, Sept. 3 Jacob Johnson Group with special guest Michael Carnes.

On Saturday, Oct. 8 Blue Dogs with special guest Taylor Moore Band. (Plenty of other surprise guests, I'm sure)

Let's get hard-wired. Are you in?