Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010

Technicolor dream

When 19-year-old Pawleys Island native Will Misdom is asked where he sees his future, he says without hesitation; "My music." Misdom is part of the local electronica/hip-hop/pop outfit The Technicolor Void, which will perform Wednesday evening at Drink! in 5-Points (downtown Myrtle Beach) as part of a multi-act lineup.

The electro-hop group is fresh off a high profile gig opening for pop sensation Ke$ha at the House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach.

"I started doing this as a solo about a year ago," said Misdom. "We're a four-piece now." The act includes Sam Nichols (DJ), Jeff Whitener (keyboards/vocals), and Tyler Davidson (vocals). Misdom is the primary songwriter, though a few tracks were co-written with Whitener. Misdom is also the band's lead vocalist, front man, and recording engineer, preparing the multi-layered electronica, a sound and style that is certainly outside the usual locale live music fare.

"Most likely we're the only thing you'll find of its type around here," said Misdom. "We're compared to 30H!3 sometimes. We bring some of the hip-hop style into the dance music - so maybe we're the music of Ke$ha with the vocals of 3OH!3."

As mentioned, The Technicolor Void opened for Ke$ha on July 29 at the HOB - a big night for the boys. "That was our most fun gig yet," said Misdom. "We had been noticed by Mix 97.7. They heard our song 'Ice Cream,' which was just for fun, but people got addicted to it. They [Mix 97.7] played it once. They said they need a [professionally recorded CD] and they'd start playing it more. But they told the House of Blues that we were the closest thing they knew of for an opening act, and we got the gig."

So Misdom's hobby is getting a little more serious as the group attracts more attention.

"We're trying to go professional with this. We listen to the radio for the elements that mainstream artists use. There are certain things that radio won't play, and you have to realize that before you make a song. You have to attract a young crowd. That's what radio wants. Some people would call it selling out, but I don't, because we love what we do and we love the music."

You can listen to "Ice Cream" and other tracks at www.myspace.com/thetechnicolorvoid.

Also on Wednesday's bill: Science Factory, Saucy Yoda, Grrrlfriend, and Mythological Heroes.

Drink! is at 503 Eighth Avenue N., in downtown Myrtle Beach. Call 916-BARS.

Some of the Kids Are Not All Right

In the wake of The Basement at Crazy J's final blow-out bash on July 23 (before changing ownership), property damage by vandals has been confirmed. The property owner, Mike Hobeika, thinks those responsible were possibly unhappy with misperceptions regarding the venue's reasons for closing. "Sinks and toilets were destroyed, and sardines were stuffed into broken walls," he said. The Basement's former manager Michael Wood, and former owner Jim Erme, both said they were disappointed in the behavior from a small group of those in attendance at venue's last hurrah. "They did over $1,000 in damage," said Hobeika.

Erme confirmed that he has discontinued his efforts to re-open a bar/restaurant/live music venue in the 5-Points area citing difficulty in raising the substantial amount of funds necessary to "start from scratch." "I had fun, and met a lot of great people and bands, but I'm done with it," he said. "It's over." Even after the vandalism Hobeika says he feels "sorry for the kids. It didn't have to be like that," he said, "but I'm the one who makes the payments on the property and I am ultimately responsible."

The Basement was often an all-ages club, and occasionally a large percentage of minors were allowed to mingle downstairs with those of legal drinking age. Most went there to enjoy the many local, regional, and national acts that played the small cellar venue between April 2009 and July 2010. The Basement held two fundraising events earlier in the year to help pay fines levied after having been charged and convicted of serving alcohol to minors on two separate occasions.

Hobeika also stated that Erme's lease was not close to expiring as reported in the July 22 edition of this column - rather it went through 2012. "[Erme] was not evicted, he was not forced out, he chose to leave," he said.

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