Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011

21 Down plays its hand

Late last year when it became apparent to veteran local drummer Jason Hearn that his gig with cover band Black Label might be coming to end, he and soundman Roddy McCarson took the proactive step of finding new work with a new band. The pair met with guitar whiz "Kid" Drew Voivedich, and 19-year-old bassist Daniel Simons, to create 21 Down. With a few gigs under its belt and two more this weekend, the new three-piece act, with McCarson at the soundboard, is already scoring high marks from fans of guitar wizardry, a punchy rhythm section, three-part harmony vocals, and a danceable set list.

"We put this together about two or three months ago," said Voivedich, who still performs with The Riot, a band he formed several years ago with drummer Greg Ford and bassist Rob Rotando. "Our first [21 Down] gig was at Blarney Stone's. We've done a gig in Charleston, and played the Beaver Bar [in Murrells Inlet] - that's about it so far." 21 Down will perform Friday at The Islander Bar & Grill in Pawleys Island and Saturday at Pawleys Island Tavern. The band is also scheduled for Feb. 18 at Blarney Stone's Pub & Cigar Bar at Broadway at the Beach.

Voivedich, who is well known in the area as a guitar player's guitar player, seems to be enjoying the new act - one that's unafraid of rehearsals and playing creative covers of highly produced Top 40 hits. "It's one of those bands that we wanted everything to be tight and right before we played out," said Voivedich. "It's very refreshing for me. Every band I've been a part of before was like 'Hey let's put three guys together - no rehearsals - if you guys know the songs let's get together and play them.' We didn't do that this time. Roddy is our sound guy and is always out with us - we don't do gigs without each other."

"With this band we're actually working out harmony parts," he continued. "We've had vocal practice, everybody sings, everybody's learning the songs, and we're keeping it fresh. We're learning three songs a week." The band has decided to take on area deejays, who Voivedich says have been stealing gigs from bands throughout Charleston and here on the Grand Strand. Hearn, who was with Black Label for two years, and is a former member of Echo 7, Psych Ward and The Frownies, likes to see the dance floor full. "We're mostly doing very danceable Top 40," said Hearn. "Outkast, Ke$ha, Jackson 5. We joked that we wanted to put deejays out of business. We pull it off really well, and it helps to have a guitar player who knows more than a couple of power chords. If Drew told me tomorrow we were doing a Justin Bieber song, and that people would dance to it, I'd do it."

Voivedich understands there's a place for flexibility within the musical community. "We all have side projects, which is cool," he said. "21 Down came about because [The Riot] was doing a bunch of traveling, which I wasn't too cool with, at least for the money that was [offered]. I don't want to spend that much time out of town. So I told Greg and Rob that I didn't want to do the out of town gigs any more, unless they were going to pay really well. They [Ford and Rotando] got Matt Parker (Psych Ward) to fill in on the out of town gigs. It's worked itself out and been a cool, smooth transition."

Ten Toes Up gives it away

South Strand rootsy rock act Ten Toes Up is seeking support for a new live recording scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday at Suck, Bang, Blow 4 Corners (11980 U.S. 17 Bypass, Murrells Inlet). The event will include the live recording of a new Ten Toes Up project. All in attendance will receive a free copy of the CD when it's released sometime this spring. Additionally a photo contest encourages all in attendance to take and submit their best shots of the band. The winning pic will be featured as the album cover, with full credit given to the photographer in the liner notes. Skitch will open the no-cover show, and Graham Worley will perform as well. There is no cover charge.

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