Thursday, Jul. 29, 2010

Band carries on Connor legacy

When guitarist and vocalist Brian "B.C." Connor of Columbia-based Villanova told me he met one of his band mates at group therapy, I thought the statement was honest, and forthcoming, if not a little insensitive to his friend's privacy. It turns out Group Therapy is a longstanding 5-Points Columbia nightspot and a hangout for local musicians. After Villanova formed in Columbia four years ago, it quickly gained a loyal regional following that includes many fans along the Grand Strand.

Villanova, fresh off of inking a major label record deal, will perform Friday as part of Market Common's Friday Night Live Concert Series at Valor Park. Part-time live collaborator, folk-hop singer/songwriter/rapper Jebb Mac, who recently released a CD "Alcohol & Agony," will also perform.

Connor, younger brother of the late Chris Connor of another popular Columbia-based act, Sourwood Honey, has been playing guitar since he was eight, and has a series of guitar tutorials on YouTube that prove his chops. Villanova is a four-piece act combining good songwriting with an innovative mix of instrumentation and styles, and has a sound and fan-base that caught the ears of one of the most influential record labels impacting the industry; Universal Republic.

"It's pretty cool," said Connor. "The [co-] president of the label, Avery Lipman, actually signed us. He flew us up to New York and we played five songs, acoustic, for the whole staff, and afterward everybody left except for us and Avery, and he told us how much he appreciated the songs, which was an honor when you consider who's on their label." The label's roster includes Amy Winehouse, Jack Johnson, India Arie, Colbie Caillat, 3 Doors Down, Owl City, Tori Amos and others.

Villanova includes Bobby "Dredd" Guider (bass), Eric "D.J. Able 1" Adams, and Jeremy "Finesse" Roberson (drums). "We're looking for the right producer and engineer," said Connor. "We're going to record the best of our songs from our first two [self produced] CDs. Hopefully it will be out around the first of the year."

The gift of music

Two multi-act fundraising events are scheduled for Sunday in the Myrtle Beach area, with hopes of garnering money and awareness for a variety of causes, from cancer to music education. The fledgling Myrtle Beach Musician's Network (MUNET) will host a two-stage, four-hour fundraising event 2-6 p.m. Sunday at Longbeard's Bar & Grill in Carolina Forest to raise money and collect new and used musical instruments for area school children.

"This is our first function," said Michael James, co-founder of MUNET, which meets monthly. "We have about 30 paying members ($35 annual dues)," said James, "and another 127 who've signed up on our Web site (www.musiciansnetworkus.com). It's a start." Sunday's event will feature two stages with solo acts and duos inside, and bands outside. MUNET is encouraging attendees to bring and donate instruments of any condition, which will be repaired, refurbished, and turned over to the Boy & Girls Clubs of the Grand Strand. A suggested $10 minimum donation for the BBQ will go toward a scholarship fund to help pay for music lessons for area children.

James' six-piece Dixieland band, The Dawgs of Dixie, plays each Friday 8-11 p.m. on the newly opened Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, moving en-masse between 9^th Avenue N. and 16^th Avenue N. The entire six-piece ensemble travels up and down the boardwalk during its three-hour set. In addition to The Dawgs of Dixie, 10 acts are slated to perform at Sunday's event. Longbeard's is at 5040 Carolina Forest Boulevard.

Meanwhile, Roddy McCarson, sound engineer for local act Black Label, has organized the Throwdown for Forbes to benefit, in part, longtime friend and well-known local drummer Chris Forbes, who is recovering from recent prostate cancer surgery. The Throwdown begins at 6 p.m. Sunday at Blarney Stone's Pub & Cigar Bar at Broadway at the Beach, in Myrtle Beach.

"It will be an open jam kind of thing," said McCarson, who is encouraging any and all local musicians and music fans to attend and bring cash for auctions and raffles. Some area musicians have already promised to perform: Russ Whitman (Eason, Craig Woolard Band), Ronnie Rogers (Black Glass), DJ Rich (Revolutions), Alex Austin (Gogglez Pizano), the Carnies, and others. Red Emotion Riot, the three-piece act fronted by "Kid Drew" Voivedich, will close the event later in the evening. "We've got tons of sponsors who are giving us stuff to auction off," said McCarson. "Guitars, gift certificates, all kinds of really cool stuff."

Forbes has played with local acts Gogglez Pizano and Psych Ward, and most recently with Jimmy Frech and Jeff Mosby in the Skeleton Crew. "The bigger picture is to raise awareness of this kind of cancer," said McCarson. "We're giving a portion of the proceeds to the American Cancer Society, and some to Chris to help him with his medical bills. Chris is only 47 years old, but it's the kind of cancer you usually hear about in men in their 50s and 60s. It proves how important it is [for men] to get checked at least once a year after you hit 40."

Have a thought, comment or newsworthy item for Weekly Surge Music Notes? Send an e-mail to pgrimshaw@sc.rr.com.