Starting today things are getting a little crazy in Columbia. The biggest thing is obviously Indie Grits. It’s going to be a massive festival full of film, food, and music. There are a huge number of events as part of this festival but I’m going to focus on the concerts, as they’re looking to be pretty incredible. Along with Indie Grits, we also have some great shows at New Brookland (not part of Indie Grits) featuring local South Carolina bands as well as nationally touring acts.
Thursday, April 19
Indie Grits Festival Kickoff Bash & 701 CCA Columbia Open Studios Preview Party
What a long name. Okay, I guess the only music at this event is going to be some pretty awesome DJs but I think it’s an event worth writing about. There is going to be live art, an interactive “Make A Scene” drawing rally, and a fancy grits bar. I don’t even know what a grits bar even is. I don’t even like grits but it still sounds like something that I am going to check out. SceneSC will be there partying their faces off, come join.
7pm   701 Whaley St. Columbia, SC  Tickets are $8 and will be available at the door
The Lovely Few Release Show
The newest addition to Charleston’s Hearts and Plugs record label, The Lovely Few re-release their last full length album The Perseids alongside a new EP titled The Orionids. Supporting The Lovely Few on this bill will be Clemson’s electronica outfit We Roll Like Madmen who put the energy back in electronic live shows.
8pm (doors at 7:30pm) $5
Friday, April 20
The Olivia Tremor Control w/ Coma Cinema
To tell you the truth, I do not know much about The Olivia Tremor Control other than the fact that they were a part of the Elephant Six collective with Neutral Milk Hotel and of Montreal, as well as other prestigious acts. From the bands that they are associated I am expecting something very weird but full of talent. We’ve also got Coma Cinema on the lineup, a band who are pretty popular here and are sure to put on an interesting show.
7pm  New Brookland Tavern   Tickets are $15 advanced/$18 day of show
Sunday, April 22
Young Mumbles w/ Post-Timey String Band
I think this is the show that I’m most excited for. I literally just got back from seeing Post-Timey String Band performing at WUSC’s Acoustic Night at Drip and it was something else. I cannot wait to see them again. Young Mumbles are also fantastic and adorable. They have some wonderful male and female vocals and will be sure to turn some heads.
10pm   The Whig
La Dispute w/ Balance and Composure & All Get Out
People love the hell out of All Get Out in Columbia. They’re a really great band who could easily headline a show at New Brookland and bring a huge number of people. Though this is just another stop on the national tour that they are on with La Dispute, it will be sure to be something special. La Dispute are a band from Grand Rapids, Michigan that I have heard a lot about and are meant to put on an excellent live show.
6pm   New Brookland Tavern  Tickets are $13
Monday, April 23
Ned Durrett & The Kindly Gents and Lost Wages
Both these bands are so excellent. They’re also playing with Side By Side and 10 Car Pile Up but I could not find much information about them. Ned Durrett is one of the nicest people I know and him and his Kindly Gents play music along the lines of The Black Keys, but a little softer. Lost Wages also just playing at WUSC’s acoustic night and they were something special. Their harmonies are pretty and their cover of The Felice Brothers’ “Whiskey In My Whiskey” is damn awesome.
7pm  New Brookland Tavern  $5 over 21/$8 under
Shrimp Records Showcase
This showcase features Joel T. Hamilton, Ray Kay and Friends, and The Royal Tinfoil. I’ve listening to Joel T. Hamilton and he is a wonderful singer-songwriter. My friend Clay said he is one of the nicest and most talented musicians he knows, and Clay knows music. I’m excited to check this out and see some new bands from South Carolina that I’ve never heard of before.
10pm   Hunter Gatherer
Ned Durrett & The Kindly Gents w/ The Mobros
Ned Durrett & The Kindly Gents are playing another show on Monday? They sure are. After their set at NBT they are going to run (well, drive) over to Bey’s to play another show with fantastic band The Mobros. This is an absolutely incredible lineup featuring two my favorite SC bands. I know there is already so much going on on Monday night, but this is absolutely a show to consider. Go crazy, it’s the last day of classes.
10pm   Bey’s  Â
Tuesday, April 24
Quintron & Miss Pussycat w/ Choir Quit and Modern Man
Quintron is from New Orleans and and supposedly he makes “genre-defying noise and Swamp-Tech dance music”. That sounds very interesting but what I’m most excited for is his collaborator, puppeteer Miss Pussycat. She sings, plays maracas, and does highly amusing Technicolor puppet shows. Yeah, that’s a real thing. Choir Quit played at WUSC’s Folkcycle Fest last Saturday and they were great and Modern Man were just featured in Paste Magazine. This show’s a big deal.
8pm  Five Points Pub   Tickets $8
Wednesday, April 25
Cinemovements
This looks awesome. Morihiko Nakahara, the esteemed South Carolina Philharmonic’s beloved, quirky conductor, will lead musicians from the SC Phil in a collection hand-picked compositions. Brand new silent films, commissioned by Indie Grits, will accompany the SC Philharmonic performance. So he’s going to be playing music for the silent films. That’s an amazing idea. I’m certain it will be something new and amazing and I would suggest you go to this if you think you like film and/or music.
8pm  Drayton Hall   Tickets $25 ($10 for students) – HERE
Thursday, April 26
Shuffle Magazine Showcase
These guys wrote a mean article about us one time but that’s okay because they’re putting on a pretty cool show. It’s going to feature The Ahleuchatistas, Andy The Doorbum, and The Unawares. It’s also going to feature music videos that have been submitted by artists. These videos have been picked by Shuffle especially for this show so they’re sure to be great.
8pm  Conundrum Music Hall  Tickets are $8
Friday, April 27
Fork & Spoon Records Showcase w/ Those Lavender Whales, Can’t Kids, Chemical Peel, and Southern Femisphere
Yes! Those Lavender Whales! I have wanted to see them for quite a while now and now’s my chance. They play some pretty charming folk-pop music and have many amazing songs, including Mountains which I especially like. Can’t Kids have a kind of creepy band picture but I like them and so do other people so you should watch them. I have never heard the rest of the bands but Fork & Spoon are great so I’m sure they are as well.
9pm   5 Points Pub  TicketsÂ
Be sure to check out at least one of these shows, if not all!
