Rockin’ Hard Saloon kicks open the door of new location with rockin’ shows
Live rock ‘n’ roll, especially hard rock, is sometimes scarce along the Grand Strand, especially in the bleak midwinter; live original hard rock ‘n’ roll, even more so.
While a handful of ever-faithful clubs do their best to regularly book live, original rock, they sometimes do so at their own peril. Low turnout and high overhead often spells the end for well-meaning establishments giving young bands their place in the spotlight.
Rockin’ Hard Saloon, in Murrells Inlet, is one of those places willing to give these bands and their young fans a platform. Why?
“I grew up going to concerts,” said Rockin’ Hard’s co-owner Kathy O’Hara. “I’m stuck in the ‘70s. We didn’t have iPhones and all that. We went to shows.”
On Feb. 7, O’Hara, along with partner Mark Amira, celebrated the grand opening of the Rockin’ Hard’s new location at the former site of the Tequila Mockingbird/Stand Up Carolina at 3140 U.S. 17 in Garden City. The former location next to the Beaver Bar in Murrells Inlet closed Jan 1.
“The old place wasn’t well suited for what we wanted,” said O’Hara, “and our lease was up, but when I visited the old Tequila Mockingbird and saw the comedy stage set up, I thought, ‘man this place has potential.’”
O’Hara has been on the Grand Strand for 20 years, and has owned or managed a number of clubs along the way. Rockin’ Hard in its new location has started with a bang, and hopes to become well-known for live music “without jacking up booze prices,” said O’Hara.
“We had a lot of work to do to open, and this place has just blown up. We’re exhausted.”
O’Hara leaves most the booking to bartender Brandon Collins, a longtime local and rock fan who loves his music loud and hard.
“Our Facebook page is blowing up with bands looking to play here,” said O’Hara. “Brandon puts the schedule together and Mark and I look it over and discuss it. Most of these bands I’ve never heard of, and I get surprised at how good they are. We do wide variety of music here, not just metal and hard rock. Our Monday night open jam is really getting popular, too.”
While a few pop, R&B, and acoustic acts sneak in from time to time, such as Paperwork and Fauxshow, “hard rock” is in its name and in its blood. The Rockin’ Hard Saloon will host “Heavy Metal Birthday” 7 p.m. Saturday with six bands on the bill; Daywrecker, 64 Megadrive, Break the Mare, Thieving Coyote, Sons of Atom, the IZM, and possibly other acts, plus “giveaways, raffles, games, and specials.”
“We’ve been way busier than we thought we’d be,” said O’Hara, “and that’s obviously a good thing.”
This story was originally published February 17, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Rockin’ Hard Saloon kicks open the door of new location with rockin’ shows."