The simple truth of the matter is that Jay Clifford and Steven Fiore are two of South Carolina’s best songwriters. It is also true that Jay Clifford is an obvious influence on a lot of the local bands that we write about here on Scene SC. It still beats me how Jump, Little Children didn’t make it a level or two above what they did, but to many kids growing up with them in SC, they were huge role models. Listen to a couple of Jump songs and then listen to some music by The Restoration or Erich Skelton and you’ll know what I’m talking about.
But a lot has changed for Jay Clifford since the days of Jump, Little Children. He doesn’t play quite as many shows as he used to, but he stays busy in the music scene not only with his solo project, but also with his recording studio. Clifford and Josh Kaler of Slow Runner, are currently working on the new William Fitzsimmons record in the Hello, Telescope recording studio in Charleston. This would explain the multiple Fitzsimmons sightings we’ve received word of in the past couple of weeks. The multi-talented Kaler is also touring with Clifford as his sideman on pedal steel and electric guitar.
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Since moving back from Boston, Steven Fiore has shown his face on stage in Columbia a fair amount. Most recently at the Cherry Case CD Release party, but before that at the occasional house show and at the tavern. Point being, it’s a lot better to have him playing shows here than hundreds of miles up the east coast.
If you’re in the mood for a handful of acoustic gems, come out to The White Mule Saturday night.