CH2/CB2- Celebrate Bluffton & Beyond - October 2020

O C T O B E R 2 0 2 0

F

S A

A T

R A

T A Y &

E

C A

U

R

B

U

L O N

D

R I

I

N

R K

C

E

G

N E

S N

R A

, T E

30 7 MUSICIANS, 7 QUESTIONS, 49 ANSWERS We asked seven popular Lowcountry musicians to come up with seven questions for their musically- inclined peers.

WHAT’S INSIDE

24

A NOTE FROM OUR MAYORS

47

WOMEN WHO ROCK: THE LOWCOUNTRY’S GREATEST HITS

46

AN EYE FOR MUSIC: KNOWN FOR THEIR IMAGINATIVELY DAZZLING COMMERCIAL VIDEOS, HARDEN CREATIVE CUTS ITS TEETH ON MUSIC VIDEOS, AND THE BEAT GOES ON.

56

MIKE KAVANAUGH: FROM ‘NO COVER’ TO UNLIKE ANY OTHER

82

THE EVOLUTION OF AN ARTIST: PAM WHITE’S JOURNEY TO A CAREER THAT WAS MEANT TO BE

94

SO SANDRA: A LITTLE GOSSIP, A WHOLE LOT OF FUN

113

HOME IS WHERE THE SMART IS

117

WHAT'S COOKIN'? TRENDS IN KITCHEN DESIGN

128

THE NEW NORMAL AT BANNON LAW GROUP.

68 LET US ENTERTAIN YOU Maggie and Jevon Doin’ Lowcountry Stuff A new YouTube series featuring longtime locals Maggie Washo and Jevon Daly promise a lighthearted look at all there is to experience in the Lowcountry.

76 ZEN AND THE ART OF KNARLY GAV His tattoos adorn the likes of world-famous celebrities and local-famous islanders alike.

But don’t let the smiling cat with the watermelon mouth fool you. The art of Knarly Gav is far more than skin deep.

O N O U R C OV E R S O

CB2 CELEBRATE BLUFFTON AND BEYOND!

C T O B

CH2 CELEBRATE HILTON HEAD!

OCTOBER 2020

E R 2 0 2 0

FEATURING

A COLLECTION OF COLORFUL AND TALENTED LOCAL ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS INCLUDING:

(THE FUN STARTS ON PAGE 30)

Kyle Wareham, John Cranford, Frederick Capers, Jevon Daly, Martin Lesch, Reggie Deas, Maggie Evans, Cameron Tate, Whitley Deputy, Taylor Kent, Sara Burns, Candice Skingley, Greg Critchley, Julia Clark, Molly Ofgeography, Mike Kavanaugh, Gary Pratt, Chip Larkby, Juan Buzo, Jos Vicars, John Wilkins, Pam White, Erica Horton Sergio Raynal, Gavan Daly, Trevor Harden, Eddie Tucker, Sammy Passaloukas, Dallas Ackerman, Billy Martini, Derrick Ludaway, Brian Eason, Frank Weber

PLUS:

F

S A N

D

E

A T

R A

T A Y C A

C

U

R I

B

L O I

R E

S

N G

U

R

N

S

K

E

N

T

K

I

N

G

, & L

E

Y

OCTOBER 2020

OCTOBER 2020

THE ARTS + MUSIC ISSUE

A very special HOME SECTION featuring local artisans in the building industry

Kyle Wareham:

Women Who Rock:

Happy Days, Magical Sounds Photography by M.KAT

Sara Burns, Taylor Kent and Candice Rae Photography by Krisztian Lonyai

100

OUTSIDE IN For Don and Becky Kimble, it all started with a marsh view.

It ended with a Sea Pines home that exults in the extraordinary.

GENIUSES AT WORK Architect of Ideas Maggie Marie Washo

play

Technology Mastermind Carolyn Hunter Kostylo Financial Warden Marion Elizabeth Bowser Influencer-In-Residence Kim Conrad Crouch Culture Maven “Just Kandace” Wightman The Boomerang Morgan O'Banion In-house Jeweler on Retainer Kaila Jeffcoat

EDITOR'S NOTE - OCTOBER 2020

Intimacy Mentor Lucille Rosita Gonzalez Washo Celebrity Talk Show Host Jevon Daly The Gatekeepers Greta Von Bowser Vincent Von Bowser The Cut & Paste Crew Jeff Cline Catherine Colby Writing Specialists Cheryl Alexander Amy Bartlett Jesse Blanco Greg Critchley Linda S. Hopkins Barry Kaufman Taylor Kent John McCann Lisa Sulka Tim Wood Lighting Experts M. Kat Photography Krisztian Lonyai Find Us Here PO Box 22949 Hilton Head Island, SC 29925 843.689.2658 m.washo@celebratehiltonhead.com

I

A RTS

+

M USIC

remember listening to my Grandpa Ross sing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” at the Ross Madison House (a restaurant he owned with my grandma) in upstate New York when I was just a child. It’s strange that this particular memory is burned into my brain. But then, for me, anytime there’s music, there are memories. All of the men on my father’s side of the family were/are musicians. My uncle, David Ross, can be found tickling the ivories with Sterlin Colvin at Poseidon every week in a dueling piano show. My dad and mom (Ross2) entertained patrons several times a week at Bucci & Murray’s Pub in Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina pre-COVID. Music is in my blood.

Perhaps that is why I poured my heart and soul into this issue. We’ve always been very arts and entertainment focused at C2 magazine, and this month we attempted to thrust as many local musicians and artists into the limelight as possible in 156 pages. The issue kicks off with profiles of seven popular musicians answering questions from their colleagues. Reggie Deas tells us the first song he ever memorized all the lyrics to, and we learned that La Bodega’s Fred Capers finds musical inspiration in snoring.

Next up is a profile on three women whom you’ve probably seen gigging in your travels around Hilton Head Island: Candice Rae, Sara Burns & Taylor Kent. Of course, I had to do a little carpool karaoke with these three songbirds while I had them at the studio; be sure to follow us on Facebook and YouTube for that entertaining video.

Our newest contributor, former Bluffton Today editor Tim Wood, knocks it out of the park with a profile piece on Mike Kavanaugh, a.k.a. JoJo Squirrell. This local dynamo has a 750song catalog and has been playing every Saturday at the Tiki Hut with his “Home Pickles” for almost 20 years now, which is some incredible staying power in a very fickle industry. I mean … all that is great, but what I really love about Mike Kavanaugh

is that he sings “I Want it That Way,” by the Backstreet Boys, every Saturday afternoon. If you can’t make it to the Tiki Hut to hear it live, you can always catch it streaming from Jani St. James’ Facebook page. Like every pumpkin-spice latte lovin’ white girl, I really love that song.

We wanted to highlight different aspects of the music biz in this issue as well, so we interviewed music producer Kyle Wareham to get a peek into how a song becomes “prettier” in post-production. Wareham is doing some amazing things in his studio and pretty much every local musician loves working with him. Check out his feature on pg. 52.

Ever since MTV burst onto the scene in 1981, the most popular music has been accompanied by a video to show off the star’s dancing talents and tell a story through sound and visuals. It’s been a very effective way to get the music to hit even harder. So, in honor of our big Arts + Music issue, we decided to try our hand at making a few music videos too. The incredibly talented Trevor Harden and Eddie Tucker produced Jevon Daly’s “Sharks are our Homies” music video just for this issue, and we can’t wait to share the finished product, starring many local faces, sometime in October on all of our social media pages.

Follow along in print on page 46.

I honestly could write a love letter about every single article in this issue. Please don’t skip any of them. We had the honor of meeting so many talented people this month, and we’re proud to present our October issue.

As always, be sure to follow us on social media, because all the music we encountered during production is going to be released there daily starting October 1.

Love & Pixie Dust – Maggie Washo Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief

MAGGIE WASHO Publisher / Editor-in-Chief

Be sure to follow us on Social Media

Instagram - @ch2hhimag Facebook - facebook.com/ch2magazine TikTok - @ch2mag YouTube - youtube.com/celebratehiltonhead

M A Y O R

Hilton Head Island Mayor Photography by M.Kat

A Note from John McCann

YOUR TAXES ALREADY PAY FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, SO WHY THE EXTRA FEE?

A

s mayor, I want to bring you up to date about an ongoing situation between Beaufort County and the Town of Hilton Head Island regarding law enforcement services that you, our citizens, pay for as part of your annual property tax bills. It is a situation that we have been working on for quite some time to resolve and will continue to do so until we reach the right solution for you. Town Council recently voted to allow town staff to pursue action in the best interests of our residents to address this matter. Our goal is stop Beaufort County administration and leaders from implementing and collecting what they call a Beaufort County Law Enforcement Service Charge and Uniform User Fee. Thus, we have filed a lawsuit in the Beaufort County Court of Common Pleas, requesting that it issue an injunction prohibiting Beaufort County from adding this charge/fee to county property tax bills for Hilton Head Island.

We appreciate all the hard work that Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner and his deputies do to protect our community. Their scope of services includes responding to 911 calls, providing

< Bluffton Mayor

general patrol and beach patrol, handling security at some events, and taking care of other situations that require law enforcement intervention. We are not fighting against the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. What we are doing is making sure our property owners don’t have to pay more fees on top what they are already paying for law enforcement.

A Note from Lisa Sulka

M AY O R

GREETINGS FROM BLUFFTON!

T

he business of Bluffton continues unabated despite the pandemic.

Here’s a look at Bluffton’s trajectory into the remainder of 2020.

Despite this year’s economic fluctuations, new building construction remains robust. Bluffton’s economic development arm, The Don Ryan Center for Innovation, is providing free membership to any Bluffton business for a year. This is a part of the town’s plan to help local businesses navigate this year’s unique challenges. For more details, please visit donryancenter.com.

The Don Ryan Center for Innovation recently moved into its permanent 3,000-square-foot facility in Buckwalter Place Commerce Park. Next door is the Buckwalter Place Park, with its inclusive playground equipment as well as a quiet, reflective corner where the Bluffton Veterans Memorial resides. The Martin Family Park, located on Boundary Street, is an open space, decorated with outdoor, wood Adirondack chairs. This is a perfect place to settle in with a good book or a to enjoy a future community movie night. The Wright Family Park and Calhoun Street Regional Dock, is a spectator property, offering residents a beautiful view and public access to the May River. Additionally, the town continues to install sanitary sewer, sidewalks and lighting to areas outside of planned communities that did not have the benefit of pre-planned infrastructure. These projects provide connectivity for our neighborhoods, businesses and public spaces as well

Photography by Krisztian Lonyai

24

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

WHAT WE ARE DOING IS MAKING SURE OUR PROPERTY OWNERS DON’T HAVE TO PAY MORE FEES ON TOP WHAT THEY ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. We feel it is unfair to have Hilton Head Island property owners pay an additional fee, especially since we already pay for the services the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office provides with existing tax dollars. Of the taxes that Hilton Head property owners pay, over $14 million is used for the sheriff’s office operating budget. With the new fee, Beaufort County hopes to collect another $4.4 million in surplus revenue. In total, you, our property owners, may be paying more than $18 million annually for law enforcement.

Essentially, property owners on Hilton Head Island are being asked to pay twice for law enforcement. No other city or town in Beaufort County is being asked to shoulder this double taxation. This is unfair and unequitable.

Our property owners and residents value safety, but we should not have to pay more for services that are rightfully provided to us with taxes we already pay. While we pursue actions and find a reasonable solution to this situation, we’re asking that you, our residents and property owners, to join us to get this fee repealed. Call the Beaufort County administrator at (843) 255-2026 and Beaufort County Council at (843) 255-2180 to express your opposition.

On page 14 of this edition of CH2, you will find our advertorial for our “We Already Pay” informational campaign. This gives more insight into our argument against the county’s new fee. Property owners and residents can also find more information about this matter on our website at wealreadypay.org.

A Note from Lisa Sulka continued

as protection to our region’s natural resources.

Our 54-square-mile community has an estimated population of 24,000-27,000 residents. We are mostly a young, family-driven community, with the median age being 37. The median cost of a home in Bluffton is $266,200.

Together, our town council and staff members continue to strive to enhance our community’s high quality of life for all who live or work in or choose to visit Bluffton.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020 25

This & That

C2 Magazine • October 2020 Edition A Series of Fortunate Events, interesting news and a hodge-podge of other items.

You know…this and that! If you would like to submit something for this special section, please email hunter@celebratehiltonhead.com. If we have room and it’s appropriate for public consumption, we’ll be happy to oblige.

Common Thread

By Jesse Blanco

I

n the handful of years since they have been open in Old Town Bluffton, few would argue that FARM Bluffton has made a dramatic impact on the food scene in that town. The culinary options were already good for a town of its size, but FARM was a big shot in the arm for foodies in the area.

So, what do you do for an encore? Well, you move into the Savannah market, of course.

NEW ART STUDIO/GALLERY OPENS AT PALMETTO DUNES RESORT

Debby Bloom, a recent Alaska “escapee” and new artist-in-residence at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, has opened Debby Bloom Studio/Gallery at 5 Trent Jones Lane, next to the Robert Trent Jones golf course, near Big Jim’s restaurant. A painter, Bloom is pleased to add her creative talents to the vibrant arts community of Hilton Head Island.

Thrilled to be in warm and welcoming Hilton Head Island (and free of Alaska winters), Bloom invites all to her new studio/gallery to see her original acrylic and watercolor paintings or just to watch a painter in action.

A teacher as well, paint nights are offered so anyone can flex their own artistic muscles by jumping into a fun and supportive evening of painting with friends—or complete strangers.

Bloom’s representational style of painting includes subjects ranging from trees to coastal scenes, golf course landscapes to wild animals (bears!) and birds. Bloom also paints commissions, from pet portraits to favorite trees or land/beach-scapes.

After a long career in public relations/ communications in Alaska, Bloom began showing and selling her paintings about eight years ago in Anchorage. It went so well that she pitched her keyboard and desk and took up the brush full-time. Since then, she has traveled to shows and for commissions across what Alaskans call, the “Lower 48” states.

Over the years and as her subjects have expanded, a consistent comment from her clients is that her paintings make them happy.

They are bright and cheerful and especially in these uncertain times, joyful.

“It was always part of the original plan,” said partner and executive chef Brandon Carter of their new restaurant coming soon to Savannah. “We knew very early on that we’d eventually want to go into Savannah.”

The new restaurant is called Common Thread and is located in a Victorianstyle home in Savannah’s Thomas Square neighborhood, just over a mile away from the heart of the Historic District. It is being meticulously restored by JTVS Construction and Lominack Kolman Smith. The interior design is by KS McRorie.

It’s only 5,200 or so square feet—not massive, but certainly larger than the existing dining room at FARM. “I’m calling our shot now. This is going to be an amazing restaurant,” Carter said.

Working as co-executive chef with Carter will be John Benhase, a veteran chef who shares a vision regarding what they want to offer their guests. It would be easy to say, “Great, a restored Southern home doing local food” and think of Husk Savannah. The guys are quick to point out this is going to be different.

“The only thing Southern about Common Thread is where we get our food,” Carter said. “The influences come from all over the world.”

While it is certainly too soon to explore a menu, you can count on variety.

Some dishes may have an Asian lean, perhaps Italian, certainly Mediterranean.

What do they say when it comes to what they will put on your table?

Well, everything is on the table. “There has to be a Field of Dreams component to any new menu,” Benhase said.

If you have experienced dining at FARM, then you can understand that the menu will vary. The approach, of course, will be similar, but now they have more space. Now they will have a new market to entice. There is a healthy pressure they are putting on themselves to make all of their new guests as happy as they’ve made their loyal following in Bluffton.

“We have a following now. We have fans now,” Carter said. “There will absolutely be an expectation now that didn’t exist when we were an unknown in Bluffton.”

The new space will seat roughly 110 indoors with another 40 or so outside. With that kind of space, one would expect private events to be a regular occurrence as well.

Despite the shutdowns and obvious setbacks presented by the pandemic, Savannah’s food scene has continued to blossom, with anywhere from 7-10 new restaurants opening during 2020. Common Thread might be the last for the calendar year. Look for their doors to open late fall.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

27

This & That

C2 Magazine • October 2020 Edition A Series of Fortunate Events, interesting news and a hodge-podge of other items.

You know…this and that! If you would like to submit something for this special section, please email hunter@celebratehiltonhead.com. If we have room and it’s appropriate for public consumption, we’ll be happy to oblige.

ALL SPECTACULAR! A VIRTUAL CABARET

Following a very successful theatrical season was going to naturally pose a challenge for Hilton Head Prep’s performing arts director, Patti Maurer. Throw in a global pandemic, and now producing theatrical content becomes a daunting task for every performing arts educator across the board. The students made tremendous strides last year, so hitting the pause button was not an option. Instead, Maurer has chosen to embrace a brand-new format for creating and producing theatre! Taking her cues from the Broadway League and following the safety guidelines set forth by the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, Maurer plans on producing Hilton Head Prep’s Fall Spectacular! A Virtual Cabaret, with special Broadway guest stars.

Creating an asset model, Maurer reached out to her friends in the industry and has turned the unprecedented Broadway shutdown into an opportunity not only for her performing arts students, but hopefully for these professional artists, currently waiting for their theatres to re-open. The students cast in Hilton Head Prep’s Fall Spectacular all have the chance to sing and dance with Steve Blanchard (The Three Musketeers, Camelot, Beauty and the Beast, Newsies), Alexa de Barr (West Side Story), Hilton Head Prep alumna, Meredith Inglesby ’93 (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Newsies), Nic Thompson (Mary Poppins), and Stephanie Torns (Wicked, Waitress), all from the safety of their own homes.

Each of the five different Broadway guest stars will be leading three 90-minute master classes, teaching iconic choreography from their respective Broadway shows, while honing skills of lyric interpretation and song selection. Alexa De Barr will create a montage of signature dance movements from West Side Story, contrasting the original with the revival choreography. Nic Thompson will be putting the students through their paces with the challenging “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” letters from Mary Poppins. Meredith Inglesby will work with the middle and lower school girls, performing “When Will My Life Begin?”—a song from her most recent Disney production, Tangled, while her husband Steve Blanchard sings and explores the lyrics of “Seasons of Love” from Rent with the upper school students and how to convey the emotional intent in a digital format. Meanwhile, Stephanie Torns will individually work with the upper school students on song selection and then perform her starring role as Jenna in Waitress, as the students sing “Opening Up” along with her. These are truly once in a lifetime experiences, making Maurer wish that she was a student at Hilton Head Prep!

As has become tradition in Prep’s Fall Spectacular, included in the performance will be musical numbers by Prep’s orchestra under the direction of Catherine Klimoff, including students from all divisions—lower, middle and upper school. Prep’s band director Brandon Thompson will be leading middle and upper school students in a group called the “Main Street Construction Crew,” performing in a piece using tools and household objects as instruments. And last but not least, faculty member Peg Hamilton will be singing “What a Wonderful World,” accompanying a slide show of masterpieces created by lower, middle and upper school visual arts students. In total, over 75 Prep students will be showcasing their talents in this marquee event.

These are just a few of the highlights from Hilton Head Prep’s Fall Spectacular, Virtual Cabaret, which will be pre-recorded with a streaming event taking place during the last week in October to coincide with the Town of Hilton Head Island’s celebration of arts and culture, Crescendo! The streaming details will be released on the school’s website and social media pages, placing Hilton Head Preparatory School above the curve in this new digital world of theatre!

28

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

Dr. Jamie McWilliams has joined the Howard Family Dental team and will serve patients at both the Bluffton and Beaufort locations. McWilliams received both her undergraduate and dental degrees from the University of Kentucky and is a member of the American Association of Women Dentists.

Anderson Insurance Associates has been serving the insurance needs of coastal S.C. residents for the last 40 years. Based on an influx of requests from Beaufort, Bluffton and Hilton Head Island, Anderson Insurance has now expanded its footprint and is proud to have a new team living and working in the HHBB community.

The Greenery, Inc. recently promoted Stuart Grant to branch manager of its Palmetto Bluff operations. Grant has worked for The Greenery, Inc. since 2003 and holds degrees in horticulture and resource management.

This & That

C2 Magazine • October 2020 Edition A Series of Fortunate Events, interesting news and a hodge-podge of other items.

You know…this and that! If you would like to submit something for this special section, please email hunter@celebratehiltonhead.com. If we have room and it’s appropriate for public consumption, we’ll be happy to oblige.

Alexander’s Restaurant & Wine Bar is excited to host wine dinners in October, November and December! Be a part of these wonderful events that include spectacular food and lively conversation while social distancing guidelines are put into place. In addition to wine dinners, Executive Chef Sean Carroll is also excited to announce Alexander’s fall menu starting Monday, October 5th. Included on this menu will be Bronzed Black Grouper, Autumn Greens, Bronzed Jumbo Scallops, and more.

For wine dinner reservations, visit AlexandersRestaurant.com/ wine-dinner or call (855) 511-0999 daily after 12 noon.

Financial advisor Amy Covington of the financial services firm Edward Jones on Hilton Head Island has achieved the professional designation of Accredited Asset Management Specialist (SM).

Covington successfully completed the Accredited Asset Management Specialist, or AAMS®, Professional Education Program from the Denver-based College for Financial Planning.

Join Branches for their “new & improved” Holiday Open House, November 6-8—a new take on a favorite Branches holiday tradition.

Enjoy a unique holiday shopping experience with a one-hour reserved shopping appointment in a socially-distanced friendly atmosphere. Nov 6 & 7 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Nov 8 from 12 p.m.4 p.m. at Branches in the Village at Wexford. Tickets $10/person per time slot. Visit branchesdesigns. com to purchase tickets.

Libby Benedict and Vinita Mahajan have joined Horizon Rehabilitation. Benedict, who has a background in marketing, human resources management, fitness, and sales will serve as director of marketing. Mahajan is a licensed occupational therapist and certified hand therapist with 15+ years of experience working closely with hand, neuro, and plastic surgeons.

Attorney Jennie Cerrati has joined Zwerner Law on Hilton Head Island.

Cerrati’s practice areas include estate planning, wills, trusts, business succession planning, and estate and trust administration.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

29

MUSICIANS

QUESTIONS ANSWERS

We asked seven popular Lowcountry musicians to come up with seven questions for their musicallyinclined peers.

They opened up about everything from the importance of original songwriting and what songs make them cry to what local musicians they like to listen to and their least favorite part of the job.

P HOTOG R AP HY BY M.KAT | D ESIGN BY JEFF CLINE

7 7 49

John Cranford Where can we find you performing in the month of October?

I’ll be playing with Martin Lesch and Matt Robbins at Fish, Sea Pines Art Market, and at Alex Brown’s campaign event. But you can usually find me at Coligny Theatre running production for our local and original talent.

Do you ever get tired of performing?

There was certainly a time when I realized I was tired of touring. After seven years on the road with Cranford Hollow, we had performed over 1,200 shows. And although I loved being on stage making music with my friends, the monotony of the road and a grueling tour schedule put me in a pretty sour mood. I remember getting in the van a few weeks after I got back from my honeymoon en route to a show in D.C. and realizing, man I really hate this.

What or who is your musical influence?

I’m all over the board when it comes to who in particular is inspiring me this month or even this week, but I will say Paul Simon’s “Graceland” was a big turning point for me even at a young age. As a little dude in Northern Wisconsin hearing those sounds and vocal arrangements and rhythm basically blew my mind, and as I grew older, that production style heavily influenced my approach to making records. There’s a ton of depth and layering happening, and it almost seems like I hear something new every time I listen to it.

What is your favorite style of music?

This is another “all over the board” answer, but when I’m in my kitchen, I love New Orleans brass band and second line stuff like Rebirth and Treme Brass Band.

What’s your favorite recent pop song (last five years)?

I guess that depends on what you would categorize as pop. I don’t listen to the radio that much, but my bud Jared Templeton wrote this killer pop tune for the boys over in Pretty Darn called “Brothers” that I love and enjoy every time I hear them play it live.

Which local musician do you most admire and why?

Bar none, Martin Lesch is the hardest working musician both at his craft and bettering his community. He’s embedded at so many levels of our little scene and has really been paving a positive way forward for the future of Hilton Head.

How important do you think original songwriting is for an artist?

That’s the key word right there: artist.

There are tons of entertainers on this island, but the ratio to actual “artists” is about 10:1. This ties into what I said above, but if you’re calling yourself a “singersongwriter” write some f-ing songs. I’m obviously pretty stern and sometimes crass regarding this idea, but it’s something I’ve been striving to push in this community for 10 years. I don’t think the general public differentiates between the Jimmy Buffet cover musicians and those who are building their own songs. There’s no conception of what it really takes to record something original, let alone a whole record. I was super fortunate to be in a band with a co-writer (Phil Sirmans) and an excellent melodic musician (Eric Reid) that really wanted to craft something we could call our own, and I understand that not everyone has that opportunity. But I think writing, performing, and putting out your own stuff is the most important thing to do if you label yourself an artist. That doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with cover songs. I play cover songs, and I understand that necessity when you’re filling a 3- 4-hour gig; you need material. But play your stuff. Get it out there. Tell all these tourists what you wrote or what you recorded and be proud of it. Original music is HHI’s best export, and all these minivans traveling back to Ohio or wherever can listen to your stuff.

That’s cool, and that’s the power of technology right now.

Frederick Capers Where can we find you performing in the month of October?

10/7 10/8 10/9 10/16 10/17 10/21 10/22 10/23 10/24 10/28 10/30 10/31

Okatie Ale House Calhoun’s Captain Woody’s, HHI Fat Patties, Bluffton Calhoun’s Calhoun’s Calhoun’s Latitude at Margaritaville Cheap Seats Tavern 2 Calhoun’s Captain Woody’s, Bluffton Calhoun’s

What or who is your musical influence?

Everything. All sounds. From wheels creaking to James Brown’s riffs to gospel hymns to my girlfriend’s snoring to Bach to Sergio Mendes to Aretha Franklin to Engelbert Humperdinck to…

What is your favorite style of music?

No favorite style. I draw from all genres. Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Bossa Nova, Moonchild, and Anderson. Paak

What’s your favorite recent pop song (last five years)?

“Parking Lot,” by Anderson.Paak and “The Beginning,” by Quinb; they both make me smile and move. They’re on our morning playlist.

Which local musician do you most admire and why?

Sterlin Colvin Sr. His style of playing and performing feels familiar. He’s a great entertainer, and he reminds me of home.

How important do you think original songwriting is for an artist?

Originality is incredibly important to me. This year, we launched the #52weeksofheat campaign during which we are dropping an original song every week of 2020. That’s something no one else around here is doing. I’ve written hundreds of songs, so the traditional album release and production was stifling for me. There are songs that are personal to the artist yet seem to tell the inner workings of the universal soul as they touch the deepest parts of people. Those are the songs I want to write, and so I work at it every day! I write songs religiously, considering each as a lottery ticket that will give me the means to effect change in my community and the world. I want the name #LaBodegaMan to ring bells.

What was the first song to make you cry?

“My Help,” by Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, still makes me cry sometimes. I have a sensitive heart.

Martin Lesch Do you ever get tired of performing?

Nope!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE STYLE OF MUSIC? Jazz, then hip hop.

What’s your favorite recent pop song (last five years)?

“Back to You,” by Selena Gomez.

It’s an amazing piece of writing all the way around.

Which local musician do you most admire and why?

Lavon Stevens and Bob Masteller for their commitment to musical excellence and service to their community.

How important do you think original songwriting is for an artist?

Important, but originality can be expressed in a multitude of ways.

What is your least favorite part of being a professional musician?

The hours.

Did you choose your main instrument, or did it choose you?

A piano showed up one day at my house when I was four years old, and I’ve still never gotten bored with it.

Maggie Evans Where can we find you performing in the month of October?

Wednesdays at Redfish, Fridays and Saturdays at Rancho Alegre Cuban Restaurant in Savannah.

Do you ever get tired of performing?

No. Sometimes the prep and set up is exhausting, but once I am playing I always enjoy.

What is your favorite style of music?

Alternative Latin hip hop.

How important do you think original songwriting is for an artist?

It depends on the genre. In jazz, original songwriting isn’t as important as original interpretations or just having an original sound. I would say above all, originality is always the most important! If you write an “original” song that is highly derivative, is it really original?

What is the first album you ever purchased?

I think it was Jane’s Addiction, Ritual de lo Habitual. It was a big deal that it was parental advisory. I think my hack was ordering it through Columbia House rather than buying it in person.

What was the name of your first band?

Mudslide (it was a super edgy, politically outspoken grunge/punk power trio. I was fourteen).

What is your least favorite part of being a professional musician?

I don’t want this to come off as rude, but honestly, the social aspect is really exhausting for me. Sometimes I just don’t feel like talking to people on breaks. I just want to play and then hide at the bar with my bandmates. To be clear, I don’t feel like that every night, but overall I’m just not a natural extrovert, and it’s something I’ve had to work on.

Reggie Deas Do you ever get tired of performing?

No, especially when patrons let you know that the music you provided made them extremely happy.

What or who is your musical influence?

Nat King Cole, Brooke Benton, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye, and a few others. I simply love meaningful music.

What is your favorite style of music? Oldies, Motown, and rhythm and blues.

What is your least favorite part of being a professional musician?

The demand of trying to please everybody and play what everyone wants to hear.

This is a job, and it is hard work physically as well as mentally.

Did you choose your main instrument, or did it choose you?

It chose me. I’m a singer, and love to sing because it relaxes me.

What was the first song you learned all the lyrics to?

“Love and Happiness,” by Al Greene.

If you could have any power, what would it be?

To unite all cultures and make this world a peaceful place to live.

Whitley Deputy Where can we find you playing in October?

Every Tuesday at Ruby Lee’s and also the 10th, 17th and 31st; every Wednesday at Sea Salts from 4-6 p.m.; Calhoun Street Tavern on the 4th and 23rd; The Tiki Hut on the 15th and 29th, and a bunch of private parties that you can’t come to—I’m so sorry, guys.

How important do you think original songwriting is for an artist?

It’s a prerequisite. A musician who doesn’t write music isn’t an artist. Just a musician. Art is creating something new—making it your own. To all my musician friends out there, write your own music! It might suck at first, but that’s okay. We all sucked at first. Keep doing it, and you’ll come up with something awesome.

As a professional musician, what do you do differently now as opposed to when you first started gigging?

Back then, I was more free when I played. I didn’t care what anyone thought; I just went for it. I’m finally getting back to that, and things are getting really awesome.

What is your least favorite part of being a professional musician?

I love being a musician. I get to make people happy for a living. It’s such a blessing. No way am I going to focus on the negative aspects of what comes along with being a musician. I am grateful and blessed.

Did you choose your main instrument, or did it choose you?

Instruments don’t have the brains to make decisions. Ours was a mutual decision.

WHAT WAS THE FIRST SONG TO MAKE YOU CRY? Whitley Deputy doesn’t cry.

If you could have any power, what would it be?

I have all the power I need in Jesus.

Cameron Tate WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU PERFORMING IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER? Steamer Seafood, Big Bamboo Café, Tiki Hut, Crazy Crab.

What or who is your musical influence?

My musical influence is simply the power and gift of music—the many ways it can transform us and/or help us relate to one another.

Do you ever get tired of performing?

Negative, nor do I think I could.

What was the first song you learned all the lyrics to?

“My Girl,” The Temptations

As a professional musician, what do you do differently now as opposed to when you first started gigging?

I bring an extra guitar. The humidity here is not the best on guitar strings.

Which local musician do you most admire and why?

Derrick Ludaway. He’s one of the most honest performers here.

Is Rock & Roll dead?

Most definitely not.

“I honestly play a little bit of everything, depending on my mood.”

-Sara Burns “I’ve been able to meet and collaborate with so many talented people and avoid monotony.”

- Taylor Kent “I channel the energy of Sarah Vaughn, Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald when I perform.”

- Candice Skingley

A R T I C L E

B Y

P H O T O G R A P H Y D E S I G N

B Y

C H E R Y L B Y

A L E X A N D E R

K R I S Z T I A N

C A T H E R I N E

L O N YA I

C O L B Y

S P E C I A L T H A N K S TO R OX A N N E AT S H O P ! F O R S T Y L I N G O U R L A D I E S .

W O M E N

W H O

R O C K

T H E L O W C O U N T R Y â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S G R E A T E S T H I T S

T

he past few years have seen a surge of women worldwide making strides and breaking records in just about every industry imaginable.

Although trending hashtags are #girlpower and #bosslady, sadly, a Google search for famous women musicians from South Carolina offers scarce results. However, three lovely Lowcountry ladies are on a mission to change that statistic by making waves on both sides of the river.

W O M E N

C

A

N

D

I

C

E

R

A

E

Candice Rae is a Hilton Head Island transplant, originally from Buffalo, New York. Her favorite performance style is contemporary jazz, but her range spans from classic to pop and opera to rock. “I channel the energy of Sarah Vaughn, Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald when I perform,” she said.

Rae has been performing since childhood when she sang in musicals with her school chorus and played violin in the orchestra.

“In seventh grade,” Rae shared, “one teacher took a chance and gave me a solo.

When my other teachers tried to shush and soften me, Mrs. Weider encouraged me to embrace what made me different.”

During her freshman year in high school, on a field trip to the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, she saw La bohème, and it changed her life. Until then, Rae was not aware of how opera could move an individual even when one does not understand the words.

40

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

W H O

R O C K

“It awakened something in me that I didn’t even know was there,” Rae said.

Rae then began to study opera, and everything she thought she knew about music went a little sideways. She still enjoyed performing in musicals, but now she wanted to fully immerse in the culture of opera.

She attended Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania, where she studied vocal performance and dance. There, too, she studied with a variety of guest teachers from Carnegie Mellon and was invited to sing a solo on NPR for Fred Roger’s requiem mass.

After college, Rae returned to New York to audition for roles on Broadway and in the opera, where she sang with Maestro Giacomo Franci with the New York Chamber Orchestra.

However, she slowly began to realize that she was not cut out for Broadway.

“I got feedback that I was too tall, too Midwest-looking, had too many freckles, too young or that my voice wasn’t mature enough—all things that were beyond my control,” Rae said.

So, after three years, just when she was ready to give up, she had an audition with Casey Colgan, from the Art Center of Coastal Carolina.

“Casey pulled me out of a lineup and said, ‘There is something I like about you, and I think it’s your face,’” Rae said. “He invited me to Hilton Head to be in a show, and I’ve been here ever since.”

Rae eventually started her own band and has become a full-time musician, currently performing weekly at the Westin and at the Dunes House in Palmetto Dunes with A Welcome Distraction (with Jos Vickers) and Heart and Harmony (with her husband Liam Cronin). Both bands perform mostly covers, but Heart and Harmony songs are meaningful to Rae and Cronin as a couple and highlight their June-and-Johnny-Cash-esque dynamic.

With Vickers, the performances are more of an artistic expression and musical exploration of songs. The harmonies of Rae and Vickers are haunting, and many times when they sing, the audience is so spellbound you can hear a pin drop.

“We will sing our version of a song most people know,” Rae said, “and they will say, ‘Wow, I almost didn’t recognize that song.’”

Rae’s schedule includes a lot of upcoming jazz in October. Look for her at the Dunes House for a charity event performance for the Palmetto Dunes Foundation. She is also working with Mario Incorvaia of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra to do a “Live Stream Monday” special at SoundWaves.

Future plans include a new baby. “Liam and I are expecting and are overjoyed!” Rae said.

“We are so excited to raise a music baby. We love that our little nugget hears live concerts from his parents every week in the womb!”

Learn more at awelcomedistraction.com, broadwayworld.com, and hhso.org/soundwaves/.

T A Y

L O

R

K

E

N

T

Taylor Kent is only 23 years old, yet she has the musical chops of a seasoned folk/classic rocker. “My dream voice is a combination of Susan Tedeschi (because she is in a jam band with no set style and an impromptu vibe), Allison Krauss (because her voice is angelic), and Nora Jones (because she is so soothing to the ear and has such tone control),” Kent said.

Music has been the biggest part of this self-taught singer and guitarist’s identity for as long as she can remember. Kent sang the National Anthem at Virginia’s Radford University where her dad was a baseball coach when she was four years old. Her earliest gigs (before she hit double digits) were performing at church festivals and city parades. When Kent was 10, her family moved to Hilton Head, and by the time she was 14, she was getting paid to perform at Hilton Head’s Smokehouse and Big Bamboo.

Songwriting is also part of Kent’s musical experience, and she believes that musicians and songwriters see the world through a different lens than others that makes them more emotionally perceptive. Her songs tell stories about the things she is going through and what she witnesses in the lives of those around her. Kent’s favorite original song is “Henry Road,” a street she lived on in college.

She started her foray into higher-learning at Belmont University in Nashville with songwriting as her major. Finding Belmont an awkward fit, Kent transferred to Ferrum College in Virginia where she studied English, communication, and philosophy. Due to the remote locale of Ferrum, for the first time, she had a lot of time to reflect, breathe, and observe. As well, because of the limited venues in the area, Kent had to go deep into the mountain regions and reach for work, so she experienced C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

41

some unique places that she would not have otherwise.

She expresses gratitude for the doors her talent has opened to her.

“I’ve been able to meet and collaborate with so many talented people and avoid monotony,” she said. Her current favorite offering is a collaboration with Jevon Daly on a song he wrote titled “The Great Divide.”

Kent’s future includes taking things day by day, learning, growing, and writing more.

“I recently went through dry spell,” she shared, “and I’ve determined that while inspiration is important, I need to be really disciplined about writing. And I want to work with more musicians. My ideal collaboration would be with Susan Tedeschi or Maggie Rogers.”

You can currently find Kent at the Whiskey Room every Friday as well as at Fish, Big Bamboo and Frosty Frog on various dates.

Learn more at Taylor Kent on Facebook at Taylor Kent Music on Instagram @ taylorkent7 and on Twitter, and all music platforms with a simple name search.

S A

R

A

B

U

R

N

S

Sara Burns is a native Hilton Head Islander who grew up singing and writing songs. At age 13, she taught herself to play the guitar on her mom’s childhood six-string acoustic that her grandparents had stored in their basement.

“I remember feeling so frustrated at how bad it hurt my fingertips, pressing down on the strings,” Burns said. “Finally, when I had practiced enough and built up the strength, I developed those beautiful calluses that are required to effectively play guitar. They don’t look pretty, but I’m proud of what my hands have created and what they’ve allowed me to accomplish.”

Burns joined her church praise band at Providence Presbyterian where she got comfortable performing and where she met her producer Kevin Bruchert. During high school, she learned cover songs, developed about three hours of material, and began playing different island venues. Her first gig was on the patio at One Hot Mamas when they first opened.

With vocals that have been compared to Stevie Nicks, Bonnie

42

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

Raitt, Shania Twain and Patty Griffin, Burns’ self-proclaimed style is a sweet soulful, folky sound. “My big thing is variety,” she said. “I honestly play a little bit everything, depending on my mood.”

She plays mostly solo and accompanies herself on acoustic guitar. Her audiences will hear a little classic rock, a little country, a little ’90s alternative. Burns’ mood and her audience determine her set list when she plays a cover gig. With hundreds of songs in her repertoire, she prefers to let the playlist unfold as she sings by looking around the audience and tuning in to the people and the vibe. “That way,” she said, “somehow each song seems to resonate within someone.”

Burns still works with Bruchert and credits him with helping shape her style and introducing her to the experience of tracking and recording her original music. “The recording process is a lot more complicated than people think. Getting the timing and tempo right, layering the harmony on top of the main vocals … all are so time consuming,” she said.

Hearing her own songs come alive affirmed Burns’ confidence as a songwriter and gave her the acquired skill of envisioning the final piece. “It’s transformational to watch something I’ve created go from the raw version to the finished product,” she said.

“Gypsy” is Burns’ current favorite original song as it represents a big chapter change in herself and her songwriting. She found that she was able to express herself in a more poetic way than some of her other more commercial creations. “‘Gypsy’ is more authentic to who I am as an artist,” she said. “It reflects the spiritual awakening that we go through when we finally let go and let energy flow through us.”

When she is not performing, Burns takes time alone to recharge at home, where other creative activities include making jewelry and dream catchers, oil painting on wood, and repurposing furniture.

Learn more at Saraburnsmusic.com, Sara Burns Music on Facebook @ Sara Burns and on Twitter/Instagram. Her album is available on Spotify and iTunes (search “Gypsy” by Sara Burns). 

Follow us on YouTube and Facebook for behind-the-scenes clips of this photoshoot as well as Carpool Karaoke with these four.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

43

Article by Greg Critchley

NEWS FROM

‘THE SOUND’

Despite the limitations of Covid-19, and with necessity birthing some much-needed online software tools (thank you Zoom, Audio Movers and ListenTo!), the summer and fall of 2020 ushers in the release of some brand new music projects, all produced at my studio, The Sound, located right here on Hilton Head Island.

Besides my ongoing role as a composer for the Telepictures Network (Ellen, Extra, TMZ) and the Bell Media/CTV Network in Canada, I produced and recorded two singer/songwriter projects in 2020 that I think deserve special mention, specifically because of their almost immediate success and international attention right out of the starting gate.

“Molly Ofgeography” is singer/ songwriter Molly Seeley, a viral Tumblr blogger (with 24k followers) whose family resides on Hilton Head Island. A chance encounter and impromptu jam session with local pianist and singer John Brackett, who was a dinner guest at the family’s Spanish Wells home, led to Brackett’s suggestion of a meeting with me at my studio. As I listened to Seeley’s unassuming audition, I witnessed true musical artistry, even though Seeley was seemingly unaware of the depth of her innate talents. I found her to be slightly reminiscent of Alanis, or perhaps Jewel, with crafted, poetic lyrics that might have otherwise been penned

by Joni Mitchell. That combination of talents is rare, especially in a newcomer.

We immediately hatched a plan to get to work.

Seeley’s project was recorded (and is being released) in two segments. The first, an EP called Myths is a mashup of styles—

Americana, folk, pop—and includes a duet with local favorite, Kyle Wareham (Pretty Darn/Three Legged Fox). As of this writing, Myths is approaching 200,000 streams on Spotify and other streaming platforms.

Seeley’s second EP, Runaway Run, boasts a musical diversity that picks up right where Myths left off, including Seeley’s now seeming trend towards duets—this time a jazzy bossa nova sung with another local and national favorite, Sterlin “Stee” Colvin. The release date for Runaway Run was Sept 30, 2020.

Eighteen-year-old singer/songwriter Julia Clark started her musical journey as one half of Hilton Head duo “JXRose,” (with Emma Carrol), whose song and video, “Dumb,” was very well received, capturing the attention of Universal Records, who released the song internationally in 2018.

Rewinding for context, I first met Clark in 2015, when she was part of a group of three girls that were gifted a recording session at The Sound, where we recorded them singing Adele’s “Someone Like You,” karaoke style. I knew immediately that Clark had something very special, and it was from this meeting that JX Rose was formed. With JX Rose going on hiatus soon after, Clark continued to develop her talents, writing and singing her own new songs, and eventually bringing them to me to co-write and produce. The end result is Clark’s freshman EP, Are We in a Dream, which is an eight-song collection of radio-ready tracks reminiscent of Billie Eilish and Halsey. Clark’s silky voice and catchy songs elicited immediate interest

from BMG records in Germany, and her EP is expected to be released internationally early this month on the BMG label.

Find Molly Ofgeography on Spotify, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr.

Find Julia Clark on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok. Greg Critchley is a Canadian transplant, by way of Los Angeles, where he worked for almost 20 years.

A songwriter, composer, producer, and musician, he works out of The Sound, LLC, his recording studio on Hilton Head Island.

On some evenings and sunny Sunday afternoons, Critchley can also be found hitting hollowed out logs with animal skins stretched across them with The John Brackett Quartet, Soundboy, and Stee & Ear Candy. For more about Critchley and his storied music career or to contact him about recording, go to gregcritchley.com.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020 45

A n eye for music

Eddie Tucker & Trevor Harden.

Known for their imaginatively dazzling commercial videos, Harden Creative cuts its teeth on music videos, and the beat goes on.

Article

by

Barry

Kaufman

Design

by

|

PHOTOGRAPHY

Jeff

Cline

BY

M.KAT

Jevon Daly in a little over his head on day 364 of the “Sharks are our Homies” music video shoot.

I

t’s around 9 a.m. on a Monday, and musician Jevon Daly is submerged up to his shoulders in the briny waters of the May River. He’s attempting to go completely under the waves, but the floppy hood of his shark costume refuses to cooperate, jeopardizing the entire video shoot for his song, “Sharks are our Homies.”

From the high ground of dried oyster shells, dead spartina grass and various flotsam and jetsam, Trevor Harden and Eddie Tucker are shielding the monitor on their camera, discussing plan B. It’s just another day in paradise for Harden and Tucker, the two-man team behind Harden Creative. The pair operate as a seamless whole, each of their skills sets perfectly complementing one another. Harden is the planner, the guy who wears the producer and director hats, the one who lines up locations and actors and scripts and wrangles the countless little details that emerge on any shoot—like, for example, any unwieldly shark costumes.

Tucker is the Director of Photography and a cinematographer. It’s his keen eye that has lent the team’s videos their distinctive visual splendor, quickly launching them to the top of the heap among local video creatives.

“It’s really collaborative,” Tucker said.

Harden and Tucker get Jos Vicars in frame at the Tiki Hut at The Beach House Resort.

Trevor Harden, Eddie Tucker, Styles (Trevor’s son), and Jevon Daly on set at the Tiki Hut.

The music

Before there was Harden Creative, there was Trevor Harden, the musician. Perhaps best known as one half of Harden & Crenshaw, Harden also honed his skills as a solo singer songwriter at gigs and in his home studio for years, while pursuing a career as a graphic artist. When full-time employment with Marine Corps Community Services came to a close, he launched Harden Creative strictly as a graphics firm.

“Somewhere in there, people started asking me if I do video work. I’d always been interested in video, and it all started with music videos,” he said. Working with what Harden calls, “really crappy equipment,” he shot a variety of music videos from Spiritual Gangsters’ “Ride for the Island” to J x Rose’s “Dumb.”

It began as something to augment his burgeoning graphic design business while staying tuned to his musical roots, but the music videos wound up being a springboard to his next calling.

“I just fell back in love with shooting video,” he said. “But I knew I was going to need to get better equipment.”

Around the same time that Harden Creative was pivoting to video, Tucker noticed some of Harden’s work on social media.

He had recently launched Tucker Photo and Film, which focused on weddings, when he sent out feelers. Whereas the two might have viewed one another as competition, the potential for collaboration proved even greater.

“I just reached out saying, ‘Let’s shoot something together,’” Tucker said. “And he responded, ‘We’re shooting a Pretty Darn concert here; do you want to come out?’… We went from working project-to-project to working on everything together.”

Looks like another busy day of shark shooting ahead. Tucker and Harden line up the next shot while Daly snaps unsanctioned photos of CH2’s Washo to post all over social media.

Daly tosses Styles as Harden captures the action of a boy making frriends with a shark.

there was a gap and a thirst for high-quality local production for commercial videos. clients ranging from palmetto dunes to hilton head honda were soon hiring them to tell their story.

Putting the high-quality cinema camera to good use on a shoot for Culture HHI. Pictured left to right: Tucker, Harden, La Isla’s Eric Esquivel and Jennifer McEwen, Director of Cultural Affairs for the Town of Hilton Head

The vision

While the music videos give the pair a chance to stretch their creative muscles, it’s in their commercial work that they’ve been able to test themselves as videographers. “It felt like there was a little bit of a gap,” Harden said. “There are a lot of individual videographers, and most are doing weddings or real estate videos. We decided we were really going to focus on commercial. If a company around here wants a larger prod, they usually bring a company in from Charlotte or Atlanta. We’re trying to give them a local option.”

That feeling proved correct, as there was a gap and a thirst for high-quality local production for commercial videos. Clients ranging from Palmetto Dunes to Hilton Head Honda were soon hiring them to tell their story, relying on not only the crisp visuals and professional techniques that have become the company’s trademark, but also the deep well of creativity Harden and Tucker bring to the table.

There was the video for Montage Palmetto Bluff that essentially looked like a Hollywood action blockbuster, complete with a boat chase up the May River. The bottle-reveal videos for Burnt Church Distillery. The wildly irreverent KickFees commercial, which went viral. “That commercial racked up over a million views. It’s been wildly successful,” Harden said.

And behind that success is technology that far surpasses the “really crappy equipment” of the early days. “We’re shooting on a cinema camera,” Tucker said. “It was the right step, so we can now offer a level that no one around here can anymore.”

Jevon Daly craws out of the flotsam and jetsam during a shoot in the May River.

“We’re shooting on a cinema camera,” Tucker said. “It was the right step, so we can now offer a level that no one around here can anymore.”

Trevor gives direction to his stars as CH2’s Hunter Kostylo captures the moment for our behind-thescenes video.

Daly poses with Brittany and her daughter at the Tiki Hut. C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020 49

Kandace Wightman and Eric Kuhn pose for a photo in between takes on the “Sharks” music video,.

Harden gets Fred Capers mic’d up for Culture HHI’s Crescendo video.

50

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

The journey

While the music videos are no longer the main focus of the company, they still shoot quite a few of them, from the aforementioned Jevon Daly video to international recording artist Chuchi Diamond’s “Quitarnos las Ganas.”

And music still informs everything they do, whether it’s for a car commercial or a reggaeton club song. Harden’s first edits are done to music, giving their videos a lyrical tempo that translates into a sublime sensory experience. “All of my past experiences have allowed me to do what I’m doing,” he said. “There’s not much difference between building a song in a music editor and editing video. I edit to music and make a lot of cuts that way, so it flows with the song.”

And music even fuels their shoots. With the playback of “Sharks are our Homies” rolling at the shoot, everyone gets into a groove despite the early Monday hour. Daly’s floppy hood finally braves a dip in the water, and as the cameras roll, the musical and visual worlds of Harden Creative come together once again to create something special.

And music still informs everything they do, whether it’s for a car commercial or a reggaeton club song. Harden’s first edits are done to music, giving their videos a lyrical tempo that translates into a sublime sensory experience.

For more information, visit hardencreative.com or call (843) 415-3088

The crew poses for a quick snap at Local Pie in Old Town Bluffton.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020 51

KYLE WAREHAM: HAPPY DAYS, MAGICAL SOUNDS ARTICLE BY TIM WOOD PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT DESIGNED BY CAT COLBY

“

THE GUY, HE IS THE FONZ OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND. JEVON DALY

AKA MAJOR FAN GIRL

The CH2 crew photographed Kyle in his studio after a producing session with local musician, Jos Vicars.

I

”

n just a short time as part of the Lowcountry music scene, Kyle Wareham has become an icon among diehard fans and fellow musicians. He melts crowds with his piercing crooner vocals and lyrics as part of bands like Pretty Darn and Soundboy and has elevated the sounds of some of the island’s best singers as an increasingly trusted album producer—all in about six years on Hilton Head Island.

“The guy, he is The Fonz of Hilton Head Island,” said fan and frequent collaborator Jevon Daly. “He knows how to write songs, build a deck, work a computer, hardwire, fix his roof, build his studio at his house. Not too tall, not too short, looks good with a guitar.

And on the stage, forget it. He owns you the minute you hear the voice. He’s a romantic singer, just penetrates the crowd, makes you want to know all his lyrics.”

Oddly enough, the Lowcountry chapter of the 35-year-old’s musical journey was almost never written. Wareham and his thengirlfriend Nikki were one dinner away from punching a return ticket to Philadelphia.

“My band was starting to come to an end; my parents had moved here, and our lease was up in Philly, so we decided to follow them,” Wareham said. “I helped my dad, did some computer stuff for his biz and was kind of struggling to find my place here. Nikki and I had decided to head back North, but we went out for one last dinner and ended up at Aunt Chiladas.”

There, Wareham struck up a conversation with bartender Alan Dellers. Soon, Groove Town Assault front man Derrick Ludaway joined the chat, heard Wareham’s story and invited him to sit in on a gig at the Tiki Hut. “That night with Alan and Derrick, it just changed our whole outlook,” Wareham said. “I was having a hard time with the social aspect of finding the scene, and that ended that night.”

Soon, he was scoring regular solo acoustic gigs all across the island, including at Aunt Chiladas, where he first met his Pretty Darn partner, Nick Poulin.

“I was playing a random Christian song at one of my first gigs, and I hear a guy in the audience perfectly harmonizing this song no one knew. And I was like, ‘Whoever this is, I got to meet him’,” Wareham said.

“Come to find out, this had been his gig before he decided to head to Nashville. But he never left, came out to see me play, and it began an incredible kinship.”

Inspired timing with tenacious chancetaking is a recurring theme with Wareham,

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 020

53

Kyle Wareham works with Jos Vicars on the song“Bike Path”, out soon on iTunes.

KYLE WAREHAM

WAREHAM HAD HIS FIRST PAID GIG AT AGE 21, BEGAN TOURING NATIONWIDE WITH HIS PHILLYBASED BAND, THREE LEGGED FOX, AND QUICKLY POSITIONED THE BAND TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BEGINNINGS OF THE STREAMING ERA. who “can’t remember life before being interested in music.” His dad played guitar and drums, and his uncle had a measure of commercial musical success in the ’80s and ’90s, all musical seeds planted that blossomed into a career for Wareham after a failed college attempt.

“I flunked out of the University of Delaware after the first semester. My dad bought me an eight-track record and said, ‘Take this, go back to your apartment for the rest of the school year and learn how to use this.’ And I loved it—loved production from the minute I started learning.”

54

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

Wareham had his first paid gig at age 21, began touring nationwide with his Philly-based band, Three Legged Fox, and quickly positioned the band to take advantage of the beginnings of the streaming era.

“We had the Myspace page at first, and we were getting streams and plays, and when Pandora and Spotify started, we were right there

to take advantage of the opportunity,” he said. “I recorded the music myself, made five studio albums; we toured every corner of the country, opened for slightly bigger bands. And all the while, the streams were building.”

TLF songs have millions of streams, including “City of the Queen,” a song about his lovestruck first-time meeting Nikki, whom he married in October 2016 at a gig in Charlotte.

All the while, Wareham gained a reputation for knowing that the sound of his music is more important than the music itself.

“That sound, it’s your calling card, so I just really owned that part of the process and prioritized it right along with learning to be a confident songwriter and a showman,” he said.

Veteran frontman Jos Vicars said Wareham’s energy was intoxicating from the first time they met.

“He put a Facebook post out there saying, ‘Who wants to start a reggae band?’ And it’s something I was dying to do. It was bread and butter from the get-go, just an immediate click,” said Vicars, who went on to start the band Soundboy with Wareham and another island star, drummer Greg Critchley.

“Kyle has the best bubbling energy, and it just motivates you, makes you want to work harder. That’s easy to lose; playing all the gigs can become a job, and you forget to enjoy it as it’s happening.

That has never been an issue with Kyle, and that vibe—you just want to be around it.”

Both Vicars and Daly said that vibe and his attention to detail and ability to elevate the sound of their music make him a mustwork-with producer.

“Every musician should do one song with Kyle. You’ll learn something—you’ll be a better musician,” Daly said. “I gave myself over to him at the studio door. He makes songs prettier, more appealing to women, men, everyone. He has the chill vibe, but inside, I know that brain is always yelling, always working. That’s a magic combination to be around.”

Vicars said Wareham’s ability to connect feelings to lyrics is second to none. “Some musicians, like me, we have to conjure emotion. It’s right there oozing with Kyle, and he marries the emotion with the creativity to take songs to another level. I planned on making one album but just being around him inspired a whole new group of songs and a whole other album.”

This full package of skills led Critchley, a master in musical engineering himself, to recommend Wareham for licensing work with Universal.

“I didn’t know I’d enjoy that work as much as I have. They want a sound like a Taylor Swift but want something they can own and sell, so I deconstruct what makes the song so memorable and create a whole new sound,” Wareham said.

His first soon-to-be-released effort for Universal, “Here for It,” is inspired by Swift’s “Trouble.” He said he loves the licensing work and hopes to grow that end of the business along with his producing.

“But at the core, it’s the stage, the crowd, the energy. I love the island energy, I could never find this in Philly, it’s a magic all its own,” Wareham said. “Making that connection, that challenge to make that moment the best part of someone’s vacation, and for them to take that music back to all parts of the world, that’s special.”

“He’s becoming a better island musician every day,” Vicars said. “He’s taught me so much, and I’d like to think I’ve helped him lighten up, have fun with the crowd, take your time and make that connection. I see him getting better with that with every set. He’s always striving to improve and inspire.”

Wareham said he’s always open to the next moment to inspire new music and excited to embrace fatherhood with his threemonth-old son, River. “There will be a lot of songs for him and about him. He’s got me looking at my own life in a different way, and that change is a great catalyst for creativity,” Wareham said.

“He and I are going to be making music together for a long time, that much I know.”

Catch Kyle Wareham Mondays at The Sandbar, Wednesdays at Black Marlin and the Old Oyster Factory, Thursdays at Dunes House, Fridays at Fishcamp, Saturdays at Char Bar and every other Sunday with Soundboy at the Tiki Hut.  C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 020

55

MIKE Kavanaugh

_

His DNA can be found in most every successful working island musician in this century. His versatility is legendary, his 750-song catalog a marvel of musical diversity. But ask any artist about the 57-year-old dynamo, and the chorus

_

is always the same.

_ MIKE Kavanaugh:

ARTICLE BY TIM WOOD

.

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y M . K AT

.

D E S I G N E D B Y C AT C O L B Y

FROM ‘NO COVER’ TO UNLIKE ANY OTHER _ HE DOESN’T LOOK THE PART, BUT THAT’S BECOME A SECRET WEAPON. HE’S BALD WITH GLASSES AND GIVES OFF MORE OF A BOSS SCOWL VIBE THAN CHILL ROCKER AT FIRST GLANCE. HIS CLOSEST FRIENDS LAUGH ABOUT THE DICHOTOMY, THE GENIUS-LEVEL MUSICAL TALENT BEHIND THE KANSAS SCIENCE TEACHER EXTERIOR.

MIKE augh Kavan

TT

hat is the magic of Mike Kavanaugh, the architect of the island’s most beloved band, JoJo Squirrell and the Home Pickles.

He has played more than 6,000 shows in the Lowcountry and booked another 40,000 performances in the 25 years of his second stint on the island—our numbers, not Mike’s; his Buffalo-bred work ethic leaves little time for reflecting or selfpromoting.

His DNA can be found in most every successful working island musician in this century. His versatility is legendary, his 750-song catalog a marvel of musical diversity. But ask any artist about the 57-year-old dynamo, and the chorus is always the same: “He is as gifted a teacher as he is a musician. If you listen to Mike, learn from him, you will make it here.”

_ My friends would joke with me, call me ‘No Cover Kavanaugh.’ They’d book big names like Bonnie Raitt other nights, and then the posters would

_

read, ‘Thursday, Mike Kavanaugh, no cover.’

58

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

Kavanaugh first came to the Lowcountry in 1984, from western New York, with musical ambitions and worked for Lowcountry Adventures while trolling for gigs. He got his first chance at the Earl of Sandwich in Coligny. He met his soulmate, Donna, and got married here. A year later, in 1988, his daughter, Kaitlyn, was born. Though he was a very adult 25 with real-world responsibilities, he admits that musically, he wasn’t ready.

“I played the Tiki Hut, and I was singing through an old guitar amp and just not good. A GM told Tommy Beaumont, “That guy is awful; never have him back here again,’ and I earned that.

“I had folks like David Truly, a legend, telling me I was a diamond in the rough, one of the first guys to give me a break. But I took a lot of things for granted; I was too green back then,” he said. “I knew it. My whole family worked at the Marriott in Shipyard. I played there and the Old Post Office.

My friends would joke with me, call me ‘No Cover Kavanaugh.’

They’d book big names like Bonnie Raitt other nights, and then the posters would read, ‘Thursday, Mike Kavanaugh, no cover.’

“We headed back to Buffalo in 1990, but I kept playing, worked a lot of odd jobs and painting houses, but my plan was always to be a career musician.”

His sister, Carol, a popular radio DJ at the time, told Patsy Delello at the Tiki Hut of her brother’s guitar skills. That led to a couple years of working vacations, where Kavanaugh would play eight gigs in a week around the island and head back north.

“Patsy said I should make a full-time run at it, so we headed back here for good in 1995,” Kavanaugh said.

He played gigs like Mug Night at Big Dogs and soon got hired at the Tiki Hut again but got a little too sarcastic with the audience one night and was let go two months in by GM Wes Robison.

“I went on to work the rest of the season at Salty Dog, and one of my last shows, Wes is in the crowd. I apologized; told him I meant no disrespect. Next spring in ’96, he invited me back, asked me to play and book the entertainment at the Holiday Inn. And this time, I appreciated every moment of it, worked hand-in-hand with beverage manager Joanne Nash for 18 years and it was just pure joy.”

JoJo Squirrell was born in the late ’90s out of that joy.

The band began as a trio with good friends Todd Cowart and John Wilkins. The name came from a nickname earned from legendary rocker Kay Smith, who played percussion for Edwin McCain.

“He was a true rock and roller, play at night and show up at 7 a.m. to go fishing with a beer in his hand,” Kavanaugh said.

“He’d joke about how proper and put together I was, said I was always squirrelling away nuts for the winter, called me JoJo Squirrell.”

Cowart wanted to call the trio The Home Pickles, so they compromised. The band has had remarkably few changes through the last two decades. Gary Pratt joined in 2000, an addition Kavanaugh says was kismet.

“I am a task master. I am the boss. I have a way I want things done, and Gary is amazing at putting up with me,” he said of Pratt. “There’s not a human alive more prepared than Gary. He knows his cards inside and out. I’ve watched him evolve into an incredible musician.”

Pratt is equally in awe of Kavanaugh.

“He knew out of high school that music was going to be his thing. He found a place down here where he could do that in many forms,” Pratt said. “What he does is what he does. Some musicians, they always have an eye on something else. Mike’s laser focused on making this thing the absolute best it can C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

59

_ JoJo Squirrell and the Home Pickles: Chip Larkby, Gary Pratt, Jevon Daly and Mike Kavanaugh perform every Saturday

_

(all year long) at the Tiki Hut.

be; he treats it like a business, and he’s expanding the business opportunities for us all.

“But at the same time, he’s so adept at breaking down a song, learning it inside and out the right way,” Pratt said. “The longevity, it’s all about him putting in the work and inspiring us all to be better. He knows what people want to hear and he delivers.”

Pratt marvels at Kavanaugh’s ability to play everything from ’60s Motown to ’70s and ’80s country and classic rock to ’90s grunge to current hits, constantly expanding his play list while being a pioneer in expanding the entire community through booking 35 shows a week at Sea Pines, San Miguel’s and the Tiki Hut for much of the last 25 years.

Wilkins and Cowart moved on, John Bruner became the band’s first permanent drummer and played for five seasons, and Jevon Daly joined in 2009.

Kavanaugh counts Lowcountry icons like David Wingo, Larry Perigo, Bobby Ryder, the Simpson Brothers and Earl Williams as his early-career heroes but says in 30 years, he’s never seen anyone as popular as Daly.

“He is such a natural. He’s fearless and just never stops creating and growing. It’s stunning and glorious to watch,” he said of Daly.

The man behind Silicone Sister, Lowcountry Boil and Unicorn Meat says playing with Kavanaugh and JoJo Squirrell has transformed his career.

“His voice is a revelation. First look, he’s this dorky dude that’s more Bill Nye or Mr. Wizard than a musician. But then he plays this extravagant version of “Georgia on My Mind,” and your jaw is on the floor,” Daly said. “He knows his music, he knows his exercises, and he knows longevity.

“He doesn’t take breaks, he’ll put 40 hours into learning a song. We played three hours and 45 minutes straight once. But he takes care of his assets. He’s taught me to take care of

my voice. You think your head is on straight and then Mike, he’ll break you down.

He’s upfront, unforgiving, but he cares. And if you listen, if you get over yourself and you learn, he’ll make you a better version of yourself. Because above all, 105 degrees or pouring rain, he performs. No one knows more songs top to bottom than Mike. He knows that every moment is special for the audience, and he gives them what they want every single time.”

When Bruner got in a car accident and was unable to play with the band, Pratt and Daly convinced Kavanaugh to give real estate broker and relative musical neophyte drummer Chip Larkby a shot seven years ago.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

61

“I played with Jevon in Silicone Sister but Mike, JoJo Squirrell, the Tiki Hut, it’s the gold standard. Here are these musicians I admired, and they spoke so highly of Mike,” Larkby said. “I got a chance to sit in and I stunk, but Gary and Jevon, they told me, ‘This is a situation that could change your life if you don’t mess it up.’ And they were right.

“Mike is a hard boss but a good one, it’s very clear he’s in charge but he makes the rest of us better. It’s tough love.

He told me when I started I had a month to learn 300 songs.

I did it and he’s helped me every step of the way ever since.”

Kavanaugh used to travel the East Coast doing gigs but focuses on daily gigs and private functions. He credits folks like Cherie Perigo of Hilton Head Entertainment for helping him build his private-party business, and Doug Marshall at Stratus Entertainment for helping him expand to places like Latitudes and Palmetto Bluff across the bridge.

“The opportunities just keep expanding, it’s an amazing time to be a working musician here, pandemic and all,” Kavanaugh said.

Try to focus the conversation on his achievements, and rather than focus on his résumé, Kavanaugh just keeps naming all those who have helped him—first and foremost, Donna and Kaitlyn, now 32.

“They ground me; they are everything. Donna’s more entertaining than me. My family, my dogs, it’s what makes all the work worth it,” he said. “I don’t golf or play tennis. I fish a little, love it but don’t do it enough. Off stage, I’m incredibly shy. I have a very small circle of friends, the band and my family. They keep my fire burning as much as getting on the stage does.”

Both he and the scene have evolved plenty in three decades. Kavanaugh said he smoked four packs of cigarettes a day in his early 20s before quitting; while it was a hit to the industry, getting smoke out of clubs has given him the chance health-wise to play as many more years as he wants.

He will concede that moments like being awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary Club of the Lowcountry last year mean a lot. And he’ll concede that he has a talent for finding and booking guys like John O’Gorman and Scott Morlock before they were sought-after brands.

But above all, it all keeps coming back to family and relationships.

“I think the fact that any member of Silicone Sister, Lowcountry Boil and Cornbred can fill in and do a polished show if any Home Pickle isn’t available, that interchangeability makes me proud,” he said. “The fact that we’ve kept it going and growing, these guys are good husbands and fathers and that all past members are on good terms and keep filling in, it’s special for me.”

Pratt said that of all the plaudits he could throw Kavanaugh’s way, his humanity is his greatest strength.

“He’s hard on people, but he cares; he sees it through with people, and he’s grown, softened his edges,” Pratt said.

“He’s a true friend. When COVID hit this spring, he asked how I was doing; he asked if I knew any musicians who were hurting financially and wanted to help. That’s the core of who Mike is and what he means to us all.”

As for what’s next, Kavanaugh said it’s folks like current Tiki Hut GM Jeff Elseser and his understanding of music’s importance that keep him as focused on delivering as ever.

“We learn 10 new songs a year, go into boot camp in early spring, get the music absolutely right and then go out and deliver,” he said. “I know I’m not the name brand, but I’m proud to have made a career here. And week after week, folks come and go, but my mission is the same. I want to be the high point of their week, part of the reason they want to come back.”

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

63

{ weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re back }

ON A RAINY SUNDAY IN AUGUST, THE CH2 CREW DESCENDED UPON THE TIKI HUT TO PHOTOGRAPH THE SIX MEMBERS OF SOUNDBOY. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT; JUAN BUZO, JOHN WILKINS, GREG CRITCHLEY, MARTIN LESCH AND KYLE WAREHAM.

taking back soundboy sunday

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY M. KAT DESIGN BY JEFF CLINE

GREG CRITCHLEY, JOHN WILKINS, JUAN BUZO, MARTIN LESCH, KYLE WAREHAM, & JOS VICARS.

b

efore they were the Traveling Wilburys, they were just Jeff, Bob, Roy, George and Tom—five guys who had already changed the world of music. When they came together to form the legendary supergroup, it wasn’t because of each individual’s status in the pantheon of rock gods. It was because they just enjoyed hanging out with each other.

If any band can be called the Traveling Wilburys of Hilton Head Island, it’s Soundboy.

Individually, they are Jos Vicars, Greg Critchley, Kyle Wareham, John Wilkins, Martin Lesch and Juan Buzo.

You probably know each of them individually as “that guy from that band.” Like so many musicians within the island’s music scene, each of them has a deep pedigree playing with different groups in different configurations: The Storks. Pretty Darn. Trophy Wife. La Pachanga. Spare Parts.

“With the exception of maybe one of us, we’ve all played together in different bands,” said Critchley, who serves as the band’s drummer.

In coming together as Soundboy, they had the same criteria as the Wilburys. If you’re a part of this band, you’re

going to have to be fun to hang around with. That is, if six working musicians can ever find the time to just hang out.

“All the players are people I’ve really admired,” Lesch said. “I like them as people, and as musicians, I think they’re great. So, I get to play some reggae and hang out with some great people.”

“Everyone’s so good; we listen to each other, and we’re here for the same reason,” Wareham added, “to have fun.”

For six talented musicians, fun takes the form of a raucous improvisational free-for-all at the Tiki Hut every other Sunday. Quickly becoming a shared cultural event for the whole island, “Soundboy Sundays” let the guys play some of their own originals, mixed with reggae-flavored covers ranging from Pink Floyd to the Jonas Brothers. It may seem like a fairly typical setlist for a beach band, but in the hands of Soundboy, it becomes a free-flowing whirlwind of improvisation.

“There’s such an improvisational element to this band,” Critchley said. “There are cornerstones where we all meet, then we just go off and play.” Incidentally, if you ask who tends to take the song in the craziest direction, all fingers will point to Critchley.

“Sometimes the song just goes somewhere, and well, we try and hold on,” Wareham added.

To which Vicars responded, “We might go, ‘What the … what was that? But it’s usually, ‘that was great.’”

It probably helps that the guys all have a long history with one another on stage. “You get to know what guys are likely to do,” Wilkins said. “We trust each other not to try some stuff that you wouldn’t try with people you haven’t played with before. It’s tricky.”

The improvisational nature of a Soundboy show is partly due to the deep respect each musician has for one another built over countless performances. But it’s probably also due to the fact that trying to get six working musicians together to schedule a rehearsal is like herding cats.

FOR SIX TALENTED MUSICIANS, FUN TAKES THE FORM OF A RAUCOUS IMPROVISATIONAL FREEFOR-ALL AT THE TIKI HUT EVERY OTHER SUNDAY. “Cats would be easier, I think,” Vicars said. “We spent months one time just to line up a practice. Actually, it was just a meeting to discuss what the practice was going to be.”

Of course, if you’ve been following the news, you’ll probably know that as live musicians, they had about a fivemonth hole open up in their day planners earlier this year.

“We had our last meeting in February,” Wareham said.

“We made all these plans … we were like, ‘Yup we’re going to do it this year boys.’ And then the only place we play shut down.”

With mandatory lockdowns shuttering the Tiki Hut and ending live music for five months, Soundboy went online, recording in their homes and swapping files. The task at hand was recording more originals. “We got started on our process, but we haven’t been able to finish because of COVID,” Critchley said. “I have a studio; Kyle has a studio … actually I think everyone does. So, there are ways to do it remotely, but that’s not as fun.”

When lockdown ended, it ended abruptly, with Soundboy being asked to return to the stage after five months apart with just a few days’ notice.

“It was like falling off a log,” Vicars said.

And at last, the long months of lockdown are behind us, and the Tiki Hut can now welcome back throngs of live music fans, drawn by Soundboy Sunday.

66

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

CREW Y O B D UN THE SO UT A RAINY O HUT. WAITS I K I T E TH DAY AT

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

67

LET US ENTERRTAIN YOO U O

n a suprisingly cool June Sunday in the Lowcountry, C2 magazine publisher/editor-in-chief Maggie Washo hopped in a white Honda CR-V with colorful local musician/ entertainer Jevon Daly at the wheel. Armed with chicken necks, a net, a bucket, a tube of sunscreen and some water and snacks, the two headed towards a secret location to film a crabbing video for the magazine’s YouTube channel.

MAGGIE AND JEVON DOIN’ LOWCOUNTRY STUFF IT’S THE ODD COUPLE MEETS 2020. IT WORKS, BUT IT’S WEIRD. YOU’LL DEFINITELY LAUGH A LOT AND YOU’LL FOR SURE BE CONFUSED, BUT SO ARE WE. AT THE SAME TIME YOU’LL ALSO KINDA LOVE IT AND BE CRAVING MORE. ARE YOU SURE YOU’RE READY? ARTICLE BY LINDA S. HOPKINS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISZTIAN LONYAI

(One of our all-time favorite writers.)

(With an assist from Hunter Kostylo)

DESIGNED BY CATHERINE COLBY

(She is the designer, so of course her credit is the largest. What else did you expect?)

“SOMETIMES YOU JUST WANT TO SURPRISE YOURSELF.” - JEVON DALY (Or did Jerry Garcia say that? Who can say, really?)

KNARLY GAV

ยฅ

FREE PLUG FOR

(Check him out on page 76)

ยง MAGGIE WASHO AND JEVON DALY FIGHT OVER THE RADIO AND A BEDAZZLED CARPOOL KARAOKE MICROPHONE.

§ Maggie and Jevon Doin’ Lowcountry Stuff” is the beginning of what promises to be an exciting virtual journey for C2 followers in the months to come. Look for episodes exploring all Sea Pines has to offer including a trek to the top of the lighthouse.

On the way, the dynamic duo filmed themselves in the car, fighting over the radio. What was meant to be a 60-second montage to introduce a new series of Lowcountry adventure videos turned into a 10-minute carpool karaoke-style clip that got over 1,000 hits on YouTube, “which is insane, because YouTube is hard,” Washo said.

The ensuing crabbing video became the first official episode of “Maggie and Jevon Doin’ Lowcountry Stuff” and is only the beginning of what promises to be an exciting virtual journey for C2 followers in the months to come. Ironically, neither Washo nor Daly had ever been crabbing before (Maggie read a book), lending just the right mix of humor and veracity to what might otherwise be a ho-hum how-to. Find out how many crabs they caught (and where) on C2’s YouTube channel and/or on the new Maggie and Jevon Facebook page.

THE HAPPY ACCIDENT According to Washo, the initial idea for the video series was spawned by an article published in the magazine this past May (Building a Virtual World). “It’s ironic that the article you wrote about people moving online for COVID-19 was the catalyst,” she said. “There was no live entertainment going on, and Jevon began doing Facebook Live concerts that were getting a lot of traction.”

“I think a lot of people around here think I’m some kind of social media wizard,” Daly said. “I do like to try to stick out. I like to start new projects and do different things. Besides being entertaining and different, I pride myself on staying in touch with people, so I called Maggie out of the blue.”

“He asked if we had ever done a ‘Facebook Live’ at CH2, which turned into a conversation about our Facebook page. I had three times the followers and little engagement, whereas he was getting thousands of views with every post. He said, ‘Let’s just go Live, tonight,” Washo recalled. “And I said, ‘And do what?’” [laughs].

After a brainstorming session about what they could do that might be interesting to people, their first Facebook Live, a cointerview with Daly & Washo produced at the CH2 office, attracted 70

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

LET US ENTERTAIN YOU!

MAGGIE + JEVON’S FAVORITE LOCAL SONGS IN KEEPING WITH THE THEME OF CARPOOL KARAOKE, WE DECIDED TO PICK TEN LOCAL SONGS THAT WE LOVE AND WRITE A SHORT BLURB ON EACH. I remember seeing John Cranford’s Facebook post promoting Taylor Kent’s latest single, “Don’t Say that You Love Me” a month or so ago and immediately downloading it on iTunes. Besides the fact that Kent’s voice is absolutely spellbinding, I adore the chorus. The best part of listening to a new song is making up your own version of what it means, right? I have an overactive imagination, so I had fun with this one.

Sara Burns’ “Gypsy” is a song about gypsies dancing. I love to dance, so of course I connected with this song. JK. It’s not really about gypsies dancing. Follow us on Facebook and YouTube for a clip of Burns explaining the meaning behind these lyrics and just go ahead and download the song.

Her opening vocals are soothing and happy. I’ve heard her perform it live, and it’s even more amazing in person.

Cranford Hollow’s “She Gone” has been on my playlist for almost five years now—an oldie but a goodie. I love the way Cranford’s growly voice pairs with Ellowyn Kane’s light airy vocals on this tune. I think every man can relate to this song … why don’t they see the signs of their woman’s unhappiness until it’s too late and “she gone”?

“Lil Sumpin Sumpin” is a collab between Jevon Daly and Fred Capers, with production by the mighty talented Kyle Wareham. We’ve already talked about this … but I love to dance, and this song has a beat you can move to. The song was written by Daly after he saw Capers post a photo of shrimp & grits on social media with the caption, “I can do a little somethin’ in the kitchen.”

I just learned about Cameron Tate’s “We’re All the Same” from the songwriter himself when we photographed him for this issue at the Big Bamboo. The song’s message of solidarity resonated with me, especially given our current climate.

I especially love the line, “Some are right, and some are wrong; some want to just belong…” because I identify with being right all the time.

My first pick is “Kitty Kat,”

by Jos Vicars, my bandmate and spiritual advisor. This song has a lot of really cool elements, and it’s about his wifey Kat! The hook of a song is the big part that draws you in, and this hook is HUGE. Cool trombone and congas flesh out this meaty tune. Jos loves singing about the outdoors, and this tune really employs a lot of his greatest weapons, lyrically. Plus, the bass jams and the recording are superb.

The next tune I chose is the Pretty Darn banger, “Home Country,” written by Kyle and Nick. I have been to a few shows they have done and also performed the song with Kyle, and lemme tell you, most everyone in the crowd knew every word of this one. Kyle has a way with writing and really connecting with people. The vocals are soothing and romantic. There is a lot of drama here and, of course, another big hook. The recording is lush, too, which always helps.

“Can’t Wait” is a really groovy song sung by Derrick and Groove Town Assault, featuring Cory Brodsky rappin’(we miss you, bro).

The chorus is great, and Sammy is funky on the bass. This is one of the best songs to ever come out of the HHI music scene, in my opinion. I’ve stayed up past my bedtime a lot on HHI. This song kinda gives me those feels. Good job, guys; play this one next time I see you!

Zack Stiltner is our local diamond in the rough. The dude can write his tail off and continues putting stuff out every year. “Too Much Time to Kill” is classic Zack.

Verses are chockful of great lines about love and hangin’ out with that special person. He can just flat out write a song. Hit him up on Instagram. Hell, hit up everyone in this little article!

For my last song, I chose one by Andy Pitts, my friend.

“Powerlines” is a heavy song with words that cut pretty deep. Andy is an introspective writer with a soft voice and stark message. Musically, his songs deliver too, with different patterns than you usually hear in the country/folk circles. Andy’s music kinda flies under the radar locally and deserves a listen. So, get going; check out his songs by searching for Lowcountry Boil bluegrass band.

HORROR MOVIE

SPINOFF!

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

71

A MOVE AT

A future epsiode will highlight all of the fun activities available in the Palmetto Dunes/ Shelter Cove Marina area.

¥PARK PLAZA

THEATRE

over 1,000 views. The next one got 2,000 views and over 300 coments on Jevon’s Facebook page alone, according to Washo. “I guess we have chemistry, and people like this. It’s like anything that happens by accident—moments that become things.”

“A lot of times what happens with me is that the happy accident will trump the initial idea,” Daly said. “I go in there to go crabbing with Maggie and come up with this local carpool karaoke—although it wasn’t really karaoke.”

Carpool karaoke was the first video the two released, and it continues to be popular. “Jevon is a musician, so it makes sense,” Washo said. “We plan to do it every so often. It will be a way for

72

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

us to continue the music theme and a way to showcase local musicians who are writing and producing their own songs—artists who are actually trying to get new music out there.”

THE BUSINESS ADVANTAGE The COVID-19 pandemic has sent shockwaves through the world as we know it, changing just about every facet of how we live, from how we conduct business to how we entertain ourselves.

Rather than fear the shift, Washo has chosen to embrace a new and progressive style of doing business.

“The ultimate goal is to engage our audience in a different way and help promote local businesses creatively,” Washo said. In

Chip Michalove

Skull Creek Dockside

§ Upcoming adventures will include a day on Daufuskie Island, shark fishing with Chip Michalove of Outcast Fishing Charters, and what to do on a rainy day. (#ShelterCoverHarbourandMarina)

HHI Escape and Island Illusions

addition to the YouTube series with Daly, Washo has been busy producing Facebook and Instagram stories as well as some hilarious TikTok videos that are getting rave reviews.

“People want to do business with people they know and like,” Washo said. Between the two of us, we probably know everybody here on Hilton Head and in Bluffton. People want to watch people they know and like. That’s why when we share our Mompreneurs photo album on Facebook (MomPreneurs was a special section in the September issues of CH2 & CB2 magazine), it’s shown to over 10,000 people with over 1000 engagements (likes, posts & clicks). I’m amazed at the kind of social media engagement we’ve been getting lately. I love it.”

“I kind of feel like CH2 could rest on its laurels and just be a magazine,” Daly said, “but Maggie has surprised me. It’s edgy. What is the C2 brand? It can also be this.”

“He’s the fun one. Most of the stuff you see is his idea. Just turn on the camera and he goes. It’s not preplanned, it comes out hilarious. He’s an entertainer,” Washo said.

“Sometimes you want to surprise yourself,” Daly said. “What I am expert in is getting reactions.”

Currently published “Maggie and Jevon” videos include the crabbing episode, a loggerhead turtle tracking adventure, and the now-famous carpool karaoke clip, featuring Washo car dancing with Daly egging her on in his signature sarcastic manner (you don’t want to miss it).

In November, Washo and Daly will be kickin’ up their heels with the cast of Kinky Boots at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. Future plans include a day trip to Daufuskie, a two-wheel adventure in search of the eight best burgers you can bike to on the beach, and much more.

Washo is quick to point out that the printed magazine will always be the crown jewel. The most frequent emails she gets, she said, are from people who say they picked the latest issue up at a doctor’s office or the grocery store or a local business and how much they enjoyed reading about Lowcountry people, the community, and the array of businesses and services available here. Adding more digital content is simply a way to enhance that coverage and extend the reach @ ch2hhimag, @maggiewasho and @jevondaly on Instagram. “The magazine hits your mailbox once a month, but you can connect with the CH2 crew every day on social media,” she said.

“At the end of the day, what we want this to be is a resource for visitors and for locals on what to do in the Lowcountry,” Washo said. “New people are moving here every single day—especially now with COVID; people are moving here in droves. There is no better time to start introducing our new neighbors to all the amazing things there are to do here in the Lowcountry—whether it’s an oyster roast, or going crabbing, or the newest restaurant.

From two people who grew up here, let us show you around the Lowcountry.”  Follow Maggie and Jevon on your favorite social media apps. Follow CH2 for all the latest Lowcountry happenings and just for the fun of it!

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

73

A

C H 2 / C B 2

E X C L U S I V E

MUSINGS FROM A

WOMAN

IN THE MUSIC BIZ A R T I C L E

B Y

T A Y L O R

K E N T

T

he middle-aged man with the dri-fit polo and five o’clock shadow looks me up and down. “You sound great, if only you would just smile for us more.” I grimace and reluctantly glance in his direction. “Thanks for the tip,” I tell him, trying not to roll my eyes. He nods and sips his beer, not catching my sarcasm. It isn’t the first time I’ve gotten this comment, and nine out of 10 times, it’s come from a man.

At nearly every gig I play, I can count on some type of statement to be made about my physical appearance, usually from the mouth of—you guessed it—a man. No one has bad intentions, and most of the time, they’re nothing but harmless compliments. But as I hear for the umpteenth time how “nice it is to have something pretty to look at up there,” I can’t help but think how a male with the same career doesn’t typically deal with the same remarks. It shouldn’t matter how I look. It should matter how I sound. The two are unrelated, yet as a young woman, I’m constantly reminded that, whether or not it’s subconscious, many seem to consider them to be intertwined and equally important.

I don’t want to come off sounding vain or ungrateful.

However, I’m tired of carefully choosing my words just to ensure I’m not perceived as either too confident or too insecure. I’ve been called both by people who don’t even know me. Don’t get me wrong; this isn’t some radically feminist story claiming that all men are misogynistic. But I think there’s something to be said about the experiences that go along with being a female musician.

I started gigging around Hilton Head when I was 14 years old. Growing up tall, I always looked older than my age. As a teen, I found myself suddenly thrust into the bar scene several years before I could even order a drink. I quickly learned how alcohol can take away people’s vocal filter, especially when directed towards a young girl with a guitar. Even after years of playing out, to this day I’m still sometimes shocked by the inappropriateness of things that are said to me. Overall, I think I’m very lucky. Unlike many other women above me in the industry, I haven’t been sexually abused or physically harassed.

I have, though, felt unsafe on multiple occasions. This is something that a man in my position would never have to feel.

As a musician, you primarily want two things: to be heard and to be respected. As a woman artist, both are more difficult to earn, despite ability and talent. Statistically speaking, the

numbers are dismal as far as gender equality in the music industry. According to PRS for Music, only 13 percent of their 95,000 songwriters are currently female. Given this, it’s little surprise that songs written by women are not always taken seriously. Pop music is a $4 billion-a-year business in which men hold 67.8 percent of the jobs and the vast majority of positions of power. Led

by Dr. Stacy L. Smith, the “Inclusion in the Recording Studio” report marks an annual investigation into the music industry. To study the gender and race of the industry’s core professions, the researchers looked at the 700 top songs on Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 chart between 2012 and 2018. Across the three creative roles highlighted in the study, women make up 21.7 percent of artists, 12.3 percent of songwriters and 2.1 percent of producers. Only 10.4 percent of Grammy nominees between 2013 and 2019 were women.

“What the experiences of women reveal is that the biggest barrier they face is the way the music industry thinks about women,” Smith said in a press release. “The perception of women is highly stereotypical, sexualized, and without skill. Until those core beliefs are altered, women will continue to face a roadblock as they navigate their careers.” Female artists are often treated as no more than pretty cash cows, whose bodies and talents exist purely to be exploited for maximum commercial gain.

I often think about Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters, specifically his idea of building “The Wall” between the band and their fans. When I was a kid, I never understood the idea of the wall, but the older I become, the more I seem to get it. “The Wall” was a luxury that allowed for concerts to be entirely and solely about the music, without focusing on image or appearance. Sometimes I wish I could build my own wall. There are other ways to fight, too. Pop sensation Billie Eilish chooses each day to wear excessively baggy clothes in order to prevent being sexualized. “Cheap Thrills” singer Sia performs with a wig covering her face. Both artists are scrutinized for their choices, but personally, I understand and respect them.

I want to reiterate this: I don’t consider myself a victim. Most of the time, I love what I do. I enjoy being on stage and I love getting the chance to talk to people about music. I’m not looking for sympathy or any kind of special treatment but simply to bring to light what occurs for female musicians every day. I’m seeking to be heard, and to me, that’s worth writing about.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

75

A

R

T

d e s i g n e d

I b y

C

L

E

B Y

c a t h e r i n e

B

A

R

R

Y

K

A U

F

M

A

N

c o l b y

Z AT n E

and R the

of

HIS TATTOOS ADORN THE LIKES OF WORLD-FAMOUS CELEBRITIES AND LOCAL-FAMOUS ISLANDERS ALIKE.

BUT DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T LET THE SMILING CAT WITH THE WATERMELON MOUTH FOOL YOU. THE ART OF KNARLY GAV IS FAR MORE THAN SKIN DEEP.

K aRL N

A

Gv

y

Photography by Steven Diaz Gavan Daly tattoos a customer in Brooklyn, NY.

tT T

o speak with Gavan Daly is to leap feet-first into a whirlwind. Sometimes it’s all you can do to stay upright and fly with the wild swirl of the current. His is a cyclically churning train of thought on love, life, spirituality, veganism (he hasn’t touched red meat since 1992), winning the very public fitness challenge against his brother Jevon (“I beat him on stage presence”), and even the odd annoyances that manage to penetrate his tranquility (among them, smokers, pollution, and alcohol), while remaining

K aRL N

GAv

y

centered on a single constant. Like a whirlwind, there is an eye to the storm, and at its center, you’ll find the soul of the man they call Knarly Gav. And in that soul at the center of the whirlwind, you’ll find a love of expression and the unique ability it has to change lives. “That’s the magic of art. It reaches you on a spiritual level. But there’s always music. Music is what reaches people,” he said, while being interviewed over the phone in an abundance of COVID-related caution. “The person who taught me that is my mom. That’s what she was, and that’s what she instilled in me, and that’s where I’m coming from.”

If you look hard enough at the soul in the middle of that whirlwind, you’ll notice a sizable hole in the shape of his mom, Marilyn. Diagnosed with brain cancer in 1998, the matriarch of the family passed when Daly was in his early 20s.

Photography by Liam Mangino.

78

AUG. 2020

C2 MAGAZINE



“That’s the magic of art.

It reaches you on a spiritual level. But there’s always music.

MUSIC IS WHAT REACHES PEOPLE."

Photography by Liam Mangino

Photography by Michael Daly of Gavan & Marilyn Daly on the beach in St. Thomas.

K aRL N

GAv

y

“My mom was one of my biggest and is the biggest influence in my life … I miss her so much. She was a light, not only in my life, but on this island,” he said. “She would shine a light into people’s soul with her music. That affected me so deeply.”

At her performing peak, Marilyn was the heart and soul of the musical family, belting out tunes at venues all over the island with the entire family backing her up.

“We have a fun, musical family,” Daly said.

“But the thing she put in us—the music and the love and spirit, her singing—she was a mom of four, and it would reach people on such a deep level. She had that gift.”

In her final years, Daly was touring the country playing music with his brothers, and it was the only life he could see for himself. When she passed, the whole family was in the room. His brother Kieran was the first to pick up an instrument, a mandolin, to play her off. “Her spirit was leaving her body. It was obvious,” he said.

“I grabbed my instrument. We all grabbed instruments.”

Daly doesn’t remember what exactly they played as his mother passed. But he knew something had changed in that moment. “When she left, I still toured for a little while, but I just couldn’t deal with it.”

He may have stepped away from music, but all that would do was reveal the true art of Gavan Daly as he would begin the transformation into the world-famous tattoo artist known as Knarly Gav. Not that you would ever hear the modifier “worldfamous” come out of his mouth.

“I’m just a normal cat. I got into tattooing later in life and became very passionate about it,” he said. “It’s funny that you can have that kind of dream and it can become a reality. Now I tattoo celebrities and musicians.”

These days, you’ll find Knarly Gav’s trademark designs (e.g. the watermelon cat and the three-faced gypsy woman) on the skin of Instagram’s biggest influencers as well as celebrities like Awkwafina, whose Knarly Gav tattoo was front and center in her Vanity Fair shoot.

Daly’s second act was not something that happened overnight. Starting out with zero experience at Island Tattoo, he paid his dues handling grunt work and soaking up knowledge. “The first tattoo they sent me was a memorial, just RIP and some initials,” he said. “I didn’t know that much about tattoos, so I started putting on my 80

AUG. 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

show. I was a lot of smoke and mirrors, lot of acting, lot of posturing.”

Eventually, his wife Selina King beckoned him to follow her to New York City where she was launching her jewelry empire, and Knarly Gav opened his own shop in Brooklyn. “That’s how love is … it takes control of your whole trajectory,” Daly said. “I moved up there and I thought, I’m not gonna like this. I’m a country boy.”

Instead, he flourished, with his unique designs making their way onto the epidermises of the rich and famous. And while it’s nice to put some celebrities on the wall, that’s not at all why he does it.

“As far as the art, what I do, that’s great and I’m proud of it. But my thing is to help people reach their soul and remember that they have their soul,” he said. “I can reach them and say, ‘Put a little spirit in your life. Do you connect with your spirit?

Do you pray or meditate?’ People are scared if you talk about God or Jesus, but put them in touch with spirit—that’s where your dreams come from.”

That spiritual journey has come full circle, with Daly and King back on Hilton Head Island for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak in New York. He still has his shop in Brooklyn, but for now he’s happy to sling ink at Sugar Shack and refocus on his spirit.

“I really love this island because you can be whatever you want to be and immerse yourself in whatever you want,” he said. “There definitely is a certain magic here that exists under the surface.”

And under the surface is where Daly’s art truly resides. Not just in a physical sense etched into the skin of so many, but in a spiritual sense. Whether it’s playing with his family or laying down a fresh tattoo, it’s about the art and that art’s ability to change lives.

“People are interested in that feeling.

That’s where I’m coming from, and that’s what I’m going to continue to try to obtain,” he said. In fact, as the whirlwind of our conversation touched down on the subject of helping people, he asked that I share his email with readers. It’s knarlygav@ knarlygav.com, “if anyone wants to ask me how to get in touch with their creative side or if they just want to talk. Honestly, what are we if we’re not a community that has that kind of relationship with each other?

If you can’t reach out to people and help each other, that’s not a community.” 

Gavan holds a portrait of his grandmother in NYC.



 PORTRAIT OF GAVAN DALY AND WIFE SELINA KING Artwork by Alicia Adamerovich

“I'M JUST A NORMAL CAT. I got into tattooing later in life and became passionate about it.”

Gavan takes a photo of a completed tattoo on Sascha Unisex, a fellow tattoo artist.

Photography by Liam Mangino.

A R T I C L E BY L I N DA S . H O P K I N S P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y M . K AT

Pam White is photographed in her garage studio in Sea Pines.

The Evolution of an

ARTIST PA M W H I T E ’ S J O U R N E Y T O A C A R E E R T H AT WA S M E A N T T O B E

O

n a steamy August morning, artist Pam (PJ) White answers the door at her Sea Pines home, her sassy blond hair casually tousled to complement her “office” attire (shorts, T-shirt, sandals, and work apron). She disarms her security monitors (two suddenly vocal Bernese Mountain Dogs), whisking them to a back room and beckoning me to her garage/studio. The doors are rolled up, inviting in the day. This is where the magic happens.

Surrounded by an array of paintings that could easily be a collection of many artists’ work, White explained. “I’m always challenging myself. I love doing different things. Otherwise, I become a production person where I’m doing the same thing.

I don’t want to be that person.”

White said she is “deeply in love” with encaustic wax (her current obsession). She also enjoys commission work and custom beach paintings that incorporate secret elements that hold personal meaning to the owner.

She paints Lowcountry marshes and abstractions, utilizing acrylic, wax, ink, oil, and a variety of organic and inorganic chemicals to bind and separate color. She has painted a large series of ladies (about 60 in all) from the back—no faces or expressions—with the intention of depicting the simplicity of a woman’s beauty.

A few years ago, she became intrigued with rust and started adding it into her acrylic art. “It’s very unpredictable, and it’s fun,” she said, which is a pretty fair description of her overall outlook.

Today, White has been up and at it since 4 a.m. because the creative energy never stops. “I think sleep is overrated,” she said. “I go through a cyclical insomnia, often waking up at 3 a.m. with an idea I have to get out of me.”

ARTISTS OF SEA PINES Pam White currently serves as director of the Artists of Sea Pines, a group of over 40 local artists who reside in Sea Pines. The organization, founded in 2012, is dedicated to the advancement of membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; work, supporting the creativity of its members by hosting receptions and exhibitions throughout the year. Several members personally show and sell their work at the monthly First Thursday Art Market from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Shops at Sea Pines Center.

The Artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; gallery is located at the Shops at Sea Pines Center in the CSA Community Center Room and is currently open on Tuesday mornings from 10 a.m. until noon. Artwork may be purchased by calling the artist directly or Pam White at (864) 247-1194.

She paints Lowcountry marshes and abstractions, utilizing acrylic, wax, ink, oil, and a variety of organic and inorganic chemicals to bind and separate color.

A CIRCUITOUS ROUTE White never saw herself as an artist. Painting wasn’t even a sideline or a hobby until it morphed into a second career. “Growing up, I never, ever thought ‘I’ll be an artist,’” she said. “The only artistic thing I ever did was during art class. I climbed underneath the table because our teacher was talking really long; I took some tempera paint and painted the back of her shoe. I never got caught, and maybe that was the only bad thing I ever did.”

From secretly painting her teacher’s shoe to becoming a full-time working artist, needless to say, a lot happened in between.

Originally from Clarks Green, Pennsylvania, White graduated from East Stroudsburg University with plans to teach special education. But when the job didn’t materialize, she got into medical transcription sales and dictation. Recruited later by a transcription company in Cleveland, Ohio, she moved—not knowing a soul—transitioned into sales and went on to enjoy what she described as “an amazing career.”

84

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

Along the way, she met her husband John, gave birth to two sons and landed in Memphis, Tennessee. Life was full—busy, and White’s interest in art was merely simmering in the background. “I loved art. We were art collectors. I appreciated art, and I became more curious about art as time went on,” she said.

THE TURNING POINT And then came the twist in the road.

“I ended up with cervical cancer and had a radical hysterectomy and some other internal repairs. I was fortunate and did not have to have chemotherapy,” White said.

Nevertheless, the health crisis was enough to give pause.

Five months later came the second closeup with mortality when it was discovered that White had four pulmonary embolisms. “The cancer really scared me, but then when I was sick again … I shouldn’t be here,” she said, reflecting on the seriousness of her condition and the uncertain road to recovery.

“At this point, I needed something different in my life,” she continued. “I couldn’t do a lot. I couldn’t be out in public. I had to closely monitor everything. I became more introspective.”

That’s when John stepped in with the brilliant idea that would change her course: he hired an artist whose work they had collected to come to the house and teach his wife to paint.

After taking private lessons daily, White later took classes and worked with another instructor who taught at Memphis College

The Evolution of an

ARTIST of Art. “She was the most amazing person ever. Everything in her home studio was bizarre, and it made me curious,” she said.

Reckoning with her health and bargaining with God, both Pam and John made the decision to retire early, “because life is too short, and I had been sick, and you just never know what’s going to happen next, White said. “You reinvent yourself!

You ask, ‘How much is enough? Can we live smaller? What is our quality of life?’ We wanted to spend time with our boys.”

Subsequently, the couple bought a lot in upstate S.C. where they built a lake home that ultimately didn’t suit. “It was too desolate for our kids—it just wasn’t for us,” White said. So, they “re-retired,” moving to Hilton Head Island just over 10 years ago, when the boys were in middle school.

“Living here, looking at the sunrise every day, staring at the clouds, I was inspired. So, I started to paint. I did a little show at Coligny and sold out. I thought, this is what I want to do.”

Two years ago, White had another health encounter, falling backwards on the tennis court and breaking both arms. “After my recovery, I’m a lefty, but I started trying to paint with my right hand,” she said. She decided to go back to wax, a torch, and her carving tools, which inadvertently helped strengthen her arms. “I didn’t realize it, but I was doing my own PT every day for hours!”

Pam White’s current artistic expression is encaustic wax.

FINDING BEAUTY White credits her health challenges with fine-tuning her appreciation of nature.

Consequently, a seemingly ordinary scrap of wood salvaged on the beach became a treasured work of art. “I was training for the New York Marathon. I was running, and it was pouring rain when I found a piece of driftwood. I called John to come get it, and it took two years to dry. But I saw the beauty in it,” she said. “Normally, I would have run right by—it was a brown piece of wood. I waxed it with encaustic and torched it. It looked like a bon fire. It’s beautiful—hard and glossy like a giant piece of turquoise.” (It sold in less than 48 hours.)

“When you are sick, really sick, you see color differently,” White said. “I’ve lived in some beautiful places, but I don’t think I saw them the same way until after I was sick. It made me so energized to see more and do more—to pick leaves out of nature instead of from the florist. Just seeing nature and being in nature, I’m much more appreciative of what’s here on this earth.

“Art is a great healer, and there is a story behind every painting,” she continued. “I’m happy! Every day, what I do brings me joy! I am going to find the beauty here a long time.”  Pam White’s work can be seen at Camellia Art, SHOP! A Feminine Boutique, Art League of Hilton Head, Sea Pines Community Center, and Island Recreation Center of Hilton Head December 1 through February 1, 2020. For more information and to view her collections, visit pjwhiteart.com.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

85

A R T I C L E BY L I N DA S . H O P K I N S P H O T O G R A P H Y BY R O B E R T O L I G R E S T I D E S I G N E D BY CAT H E R I N E C O L BY

Where Hair Meets Art Local styl ist w it h a f la ir fo r ha ir en t ers th e i n du st ry â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s m ost p r est igious co m p et it io n

W

ho would imagine that a dog cone wrapped in hair could be a work of art? Local hairstylist Erica Horton would! She also found chicken wire and Styrofoam to be helpful props when creating her first collection of competition hair, designed to look like hats.

Horton is, once again, entering the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) competition, the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prestigious professional beauty competition in North America.

The 33-year-old Hardeeville, S.C. native strolls into Salon Karma in Bluffton, where she has worked as a stylist since January of 2013, rocking a pair of distressed bellbottom jeans (her favorites) with a Janice Joplin T-shirt.

But don’t be fooled. Behind her casual appearance and relaxed demeanor lives someone who thrives on stepping out of her comfort zone and giving her imagination a good stretch.

Horton is, once again, entering the North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) competition, the industry’s most prestigious professional beauty competition in North America. Some have called it the Oscars for hairstyling.

“I’ve done it the last three years. I enjoy it. I like being creative with hair and just showing people what I can do,” she said, stating that she is competitive in this realm but not so much in other areas of life.

Nevertheless, entering contests isn’t new to Horton, whose childhood experiences inspired her career choice. “Since I was out of the womb, I was in beauty pageants. I was always getting my hair and makeup done and traveling to different places to do pageants,” she explained. “I enjoyed getting my hair done, so I thought maybe I could do that for other people.”

While Horton describes herself as laidback—a posture that helps put her clients at ease—her eyes dance when she shows off her competitive work.

“Doing hair for a competition is different from everyday work. Competition hair is not street hair. If you have it on your head walking down the sidewalk, people will look at you funny,” she said. “It’s more like fantasy. It’s real but it’s not. It’s art, and the hair is my canvas.”

Because of current COVID-19 constraints, Horton will not be creating a new collection this year but will be reentering a previous set of images. “They changed the rules this year. If you have a collection that wasn’t nominated, you can reenter it,” she explained. “I’m sad that I didn’t get to do a [photo] shoot this year. I love them.” But it’s a chance to give her existing designs a new life.

She has chosen a series of hair art she created to resemble the Native American headdress—again, not something you will see strutting around Old Town Bluffton, but a perfect juxtaposition of hairstyling and fine art. “I’ve always entered in texture. I love curls, braids … any kind of texture fascinates me,” Horton said.

“Doing hair for a competition is different from everyday work.

Competition hair is not street hair.”

88

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

Erica Horton, photographed at the CH2 studio.

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY M . K AT

Along with the hair, the stylist must complete the look by making sure all other elements go along with the theme, which means engaging appropriate models and selecting all the right accoutrements (makeup, clothing, accessories). “What goes into it is a lot of preparation,” Horton said. “It’s really sitting here and trying to make things work—practicing on wigs and hairpieces. I make pieces and then take them to the shoot and attach them to the model’s head. It takes weeks to put everything together. It’s a long process, but it’s totally worth it at the end when you see the pictures.”

In her everyday salon work, Horton puts the same imagination to work but on a different scale (minus any dog cones, chicken wire, or Styrofoam)! “I love to cut hair,” she said. “It goes back to your hair being a canvas. Before you cut it, it’s a blank canvas.

You have to be able to stand back and look at someone’s hair and envision what they want it to look like. Then you interpret it in your head to know what you need to do.”

The joy of the job for Horton is found in client satisfaction— “just to see people’s faces when I’m done with their hair, making them feel good about themselves,” she said. “I compare it to being a doctor: I have their hair in my hands!”

Entering the NAHA contest is its own reward. It allows Horton to gain confidence, grow creatively, and expand her skills— something she’s continually striving to do. During the recent shutdown, instead of taking time off, she took it upon herself to enroll in numerous online courses, earning new certifications including BARBICIDE® (best practices for sanitizing), OLAPLEX® bond builder, Matrix Socolor, and Amika hair care. “I learned something new every day,” she said. And she also learns from her co-workers. “We help each other and do what we can to make sure that nobody’s struggling. Even some of the newer girls—I learn from them every day. You never stop learning.”

While she dreams of winning a national award, Horton is excited simply to have the opportunity to showcase her work. It’s not about money, because there is no monetary prize. It’s about pride and prestige. “If you do get nominated, you get recognition in the industry. That’s a big thing. And then you get this really cool trophy,” she said.

The thrill, Horton explained, is in the anticipation, waiting for the nominees to be announced, much like a beauty pageant when the finalists are named. But if her name isn’t called, she will simply continue dreaming up new hair creations. “There’s always next year,” she said.

NAHA entry closes November 18, 2020. Judges are internationally renowned stylists, photographers and top beauty editors from consumer and trade magazines. Multiple rounds of judging take place, and all judging is done anonymously and independently. Judges are unable to see the name or salon name of entrants and are not allowed to discuss any entries before, during or after the judging. The award ceremony takes place March 13, 2021 in Long Beach, California.

Best of luck, Erica!  C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

89

SERGIO RAYNAL:

A Life’s Second Act

Forged Against the Grain

ARTICLE BY TIM WOOD | DESIGN BY JEFF CLINE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT

O

pen the door to Sergio Raynal’s understated, runwayadjacent Hunter Road office park woodworking studio, and you immediately realize you’re in for an inspiring encounter. The bass guitar-shaped piece of rare Hawaiian Koa wood hung on the greeting room wall and the nine-foot-long family table forged from a once-in-a-lifetime timber find with a human silhouette in the grain clue you in to his craft (the latter a 10-year-old creation Raynal reacquired after his client moved and commissioned a replacement).

Enter the back of his shop and you’re greeted by Bessie.

The personally-rebuilt 1965 GMC Dually delivery truck with a flatbed made of African Padauk hardwood, nestled amidst his collection of unique slabs of soon-to-be-imagined wooden masterpieces, hints at the variety and depth of his pursuits.

The notched-out wreath hooks in a set of mahogany double entry doors sitting next to Bessie speak to his dogged determination to marry artisanry and old-school innovation that lead to personalized pieces for every client.

Art moderne transportation age dining table for ten in walnut with bronze mortise keys

“She loves Christmas and she shouldn’t have to put a nail in that to meet her needs. There’s always a way if you’re listening,” Raynal said. “I want every piece to be irreplaceable heirlooms that are an extension of their owner—tell their story.”

The tale of how this 58-year-old Venezuelan-born, Canadianbred son of a French furniture store owner found his life’s calling and his way to Hilton Head Island is as epic as the pieces he creates—a life filled with as many fearlessly improvised rifts as his favorite jazz compositions, full of the masterfully crafted yet polar-opposite acts found in his most beloved Broadway plays.

His parents moved to Canada when he was one. They later moved Sergio and his younger brother and sister to Florida, where Raynal became a college graduate—but not before a West Point nomination out of high school that was only rescinded when officials realized he was still a Canadian citizen.

The first two decades of his adult life were defined by a 15-year “starter marriage” and a corporate life of earned excess: luxury cars, $1,000 suits and regular travel to Korea, Japan and Europe—first as a high-end real estate consultant in Boca Raton for the legendary Landauer firm and later as a top recruit to industry leader KPMG, the only company executive at the time without an MBA. He was that good.

Note the fabulous figured grain of the finished table compared with the rough slab in finished views of the double live edge Claro walnut dining table with steel bracelets at legs.

“His work is perfection. A true craftsman.” “Impeccable quality and clean, understated lines,” reads another.

“He is of a sophistication, class and intellect that is rare, which define him as an artist,” another repeat client said.

He and his wife moved to Los Angeles, where he took home “high six figures” with stock options and mingled with the elites of Hollywood society. By the turn of the century, 20 years into a fast-lane, high-powered career, he was divorced, disillusioned and ready for an off ramp.

“I should have been fulfilled. By most folks’ accounts, I had it all. But I could never point to anything in my business and say, ‘I did that’,” Raynal said.

Good with his hands like his dad, he scratched that itch with woodworking, an antidote hobby to his pressure-cooker business environment.

During one fateful pre-Y2Kdinner party, Raynal found himself among a group of friends talking about home renovations and the struggles of finding the right craftsman. That led to his first “paid” work, a floor-to-ceiling, four-wall library buildout in a Beverly Hills condo.

“I had no portfolio, didn’t know what to charge, I ended up basically paying for my materials. It was a money pit in time invested, a disaster on so many levels. But I loved every minute of it,” Raynal said. “And thankfully, she was thoroughly pleased with the work.”

That led to more referrals and work done in his garage nights and weekends. Six months later, Raynal decided to “take a long walk off the short pier,” grow his hair shoulder length and empty out his savings and 401k to build a shop and hang his shingle.

“I think folks thought I was this semi-retired gentleman carpenter with a golden parachute at first, but I took an all-in risk and put in long hours to grow this passion,” he said.

“I have found that there is still a longing for things not so disposable, a need for long-lasting

craftsmanship in this high-tech disposable world. Those people aren’t always easy to find, but thankfully, we’ve found each other.”

After nearly two decades of fabricating everything from end tables to complete studs-gutting Belle Epoque-inspired wine cellar builds, Raynal has built a devoted following almost entirely by word of mouth, earning recommendations from top West Coast designers and repeat patronage from titans of industry, sports icons and larger-than-life celebrities.

He does little marketing and never repeats a design. His devotees’ online reviews laud his commitment to superior craftsmanship, combining traditional joinery—no nails, no screws— with Old World techniques such as marquetry and inlay: “His work is perfection. A true craftsman.”

“Impeccable quality and clean, understated lines,” reads another.

“He is of a sophistication, class and intellect that is rare, which define him as an artist,” another repeat client said.

While he appreciates the praise, he savors the collaboration with clients even more. “We sit down, figure out where the piece is going to live, how you will use it, where you will use it. By the end of our conversation, my clients feel it is as much their design as mine,” he said. “Clients become friends; I go to their weddings, travel with them, make lifelong connections, and I get visitation rights with my kids.”

Whether it’s as simple as a coffee table, or as elaborate as a two-person desk with diamond harlequin inlays and nine different wood grains to replicate the elevator doors of the Chrysler Building that he created for a West Coast music executive, the mantra behind the work is always the same.

“I don’t make museum pieces. I aim to create works you can truly live in. Custom doesn’t need to break banks either,” he said. “I find projects that interest me, and we find the budget that works for everyone.”

Raynal is a relative newcomer to Hilton Head Island, a move made in 2018 after a two-year courting of former New York ad agency executive and long-time islander Jane

Cutting leopardwood bowtie inlays to stabilize a surface crack

Zebrawood desk with live edge walnut top.

Walnut desk with zigzag flat file base.

92

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

“I don’t make museum pieces. I aim to create works you can truly live in. Custom doesn’t need to break banks either. I find projects that interest me, and we find the budget that works for everyone.”Sergio Raynal

Stouffer right out of a rom-com script: two strangers meet at a Christmastime 2015 Broadway play, fall in love after her New Year’s flight to Hilton Head is snowed in; a summer together in Paris and a bicoastal love affair leads to Raynal switching coasts en route to an October 2018 Moss Creek wedding.

Raynal lives with Jane in Sea Pines Resort with their two dogs, Charlie Parker and Billie Holiday, and officially set up his Hunter Road shop in 2019.

He is an admitted social media neophyte. “My Facebook

page still says I’m engaged, and my Instagram is still the starter page,” he said. But he’s slowly making inroads and friendships around the island with a particular focus on philanthropy and mentoring.

“This is a magical place. I’d never been to the Lowcountry before the first time I visited Jane,” he said. “It’s a place you love to leave just so you can come back, fly in over the marshes and inlets, put that kayak in the water again. It’s so inspiring, just where I was meant to be to live this next adventure.”

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

93

SPECIAL THANKS TO BARBARA, BETSEY, TERRY AND MARY ANN FOR THEIR SUPER-DUPER

S O SANDRA T H E LAT E ST FAS H IO NS .

A Little Gossip.

A Whole Lot of Fun.

MODELING SKILLLS. Photography by M.Kat Designed by Catherine Colby

ON SANDR A Jacket: $128, Pant: $86, Bag: $50

ON BAR BAR A Jacket: $88, Tank: $38, Pant: $128, Necklace: $68, Earrings: $28

ON B E TS E Y Top: $89, Pant: $84, Bag: $32

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

97

ON T E RRY Jacket: $128, Top: $88, Jeans: $89, Necklace: $38, Earrings: $28, Shoes: $99

98

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

ON M ARY ANN Top: $88, Pant: $88, Earrings: $18

Outside In

For Don and Becky Kimble, it all started with a marsh view.

It ended with a Sea Pines home that exults in the extraordinary.

8 Bunk beds flank this game room that was designed to entertain and serve as an added media room.

“We call it our marsh house,” Becky said.

“We fell in love with that little house and the views.”

I

f there is a single defining element to the elegant Sea Pines Resort home of Don and Becky Kimble, it’s the marsh. That nearly uninterrupted view across spartina grass and winding tidal creeks was what drew the couple to the lot in the first place. And when Hurricane Matthew claimed their first home, that view ultimately became the driving force behind their new home.

“We call it our marsh house,” Becky said. “We fell in love with that little house and the views.”

ARTICLE by BARRY KAUFMAN | PHOTOGRAPHY by JOHN MCMANUS | DESIGN by JEFF CLINE

“Terry gave us a view everywhere you look,” Becky said. Their first visit to the house with the full family in tow confirmed it. “I knew he did a great job when everyone thought they had the best view from their room.”

The use of stained cedar wrapped beams, stained cedar tongue and groove for the hallway and vertical board and batten create a truly custom space.

Custom climatized wine room with capacity for over 1,250 bottles accompanied by beige and tan blend pebble flooring.

Solid wood oak treads with walls cladded with vertical pine butt board and sprayed for a smooth finish.

When it came time to rebuild, the marsh took center stage.

“The Kimbles were looking to create a timeless Lowcountry home with an emphasis on every room having spectacular long-marsh views,” builder Rhett Jeffcoat of Randy Jeffcoat Builders said. “Terry Rosser did a fantastic job capturing that request for each room.”

As the pictures show, Rosser, whose architecture has defined homes in Sea Pines and beyond for 43 years, nailed it. The rear of the home boasts a multitude of frames for that scenery, whether it’s multi-depth bays of picture windows, the wide screened-in porch and elevated deck, or the sheltered patio, there’s barely a corner of the home that doesn’t soak in those views.

“Terry gave us a view everywhere you look,” Becky said.

A unique and creative custom concrete mantle was used to soften the space while faux finishing the wood work above to create a timeless look and feel.

Their first visit to the house with the full family in tow confirmed it. “I knew he did a great job when everyone thought they had the best view from their room.”

But then, with the Kimble house, Rosser found himself at a distinct advantage, as he lives on the same marsh. “I always look at a house or a property as if it would be my house,” he said. “I can see their porch from mine, and they can see my porch from theirs.”

Whether it’s an oceanfront view or a marsh front view, Rosser has made it his signature to draw that scenery in through his designs. That’s not to say the Kimble house was easy. “The property has a very small lot, so it was a bit of a challenge to get what they wanted,” he said.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

103

The use of a bold center island color opposite of the main cabinetry creates interest and pulling your eye to the “Blue Tides” granite that was leathered finished.

Inset cabinetry was used throughout the kitchen.

Part of that challenge came in raising the grade to meet the new standards set

by FEMA while satisfying the notoriously strict Sea Pines architectural standards.

Several designs for the front of the house were rejected for one reason or another, generally because it simply looked too tall.

“We had to squeeze a lot in, but there are several tricks to that,” said Rosser. “For example, instead of a straight vertical wall, you put in smaller elements, smaller roof forms, and changing elements that make it appear shorter.”

The result is the architecturally intriguing façade of the home, where varied roof lines and a blend of shingled and boardand-batten exteriors dazzle. It’s tall, but thanks to Rosser’s expertise it’s not imposing and still meets the famed Sea Pines mandate, established by Charles Fraser, that homes complement their surroundings.

It also boasts a pair of Eden Coast garage doors with gel stain finish, courtesy of Tyler Clark at Hilton Head Garage Doors.

“It’s the vision of both the homeowner and the architect that we work within, bringing those visions to a tangible creation,” Clark said. “A front-loaded garage door adds a lot of curb appeal and beauty to a home, and I think we achieved this perfectly here.

The marsh views not only dictated the design of the home, they also informed the rich color scheme. In much the same way as the tide changes a marsh’s character

Marvin Ultimate Impact windows with custom mullions offer expansive views out to the marsh LEFT Custom vanity with Calacata Cremo marble tops.

RIGHT Cape Cod Handcrafted Subway tiles surround a one of a kind 3’x6’ Magnolia Buds Marble Waterjet Mosaic on the rear feature wall.

106

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

throughout the day, these colors manifest themselves in a variety of ways throughout the home.

“Don and I love the color of the marsh.

When you look out, you see all those colors…. When we picked out the kitchen island, we tried to pull some of that outside in. Downstairs you see darker blues because I feel like you see those across the marsh.”

Taking a strong hand in the home’s marsh-inspired color scheme, Becky enlisted the help of Alison Fargione of Al & Harry’s Home Fashions to find furnishings and colors that fit the bill. With each project Fargione undertook, whether it was the painted TV cabinets in the living room or the powder room, each presented its own chance for artistic expression.

“She wanted the feel of a marsh,” Fargione said. “So, there are three or four colors layered in there: umber, blue green, light green … lots of layers” Becky and Fargione worked hand-inhand bringing these outside colors in, plus pulling inspiration from elements already in place. A rug from John Kilmer inspired the colors on the TV cabinet. The vanity in the powder room drew colors from the eyecatching tile work. “I worked really well with her,” Fargione said. I got a good feel for her, and I think she felt confident and knew I was on the same page. “ If you ask Becky, that partnership was

Super White Mezzo Marble flows seamlessly into the wet areas of this master bath with an inviting 4’x6’ Roosevelt Petite Waterjet Mosaic inlaid floor rug sits proud of the free standing tub encased with windows.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

107

For ultimate outdoor entertaining, this pool offers a built in 6â&#x20AC;? deep bali ledge for sunning as well as a raised spa for the cooler nights.

The use of cable railings helps increase sightlines with less visual interference.

108

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

This screen porch offers exposed ceiling rafters which were stained while housing a cupola in the center to allow for natural light to flood down and through.

“With the harsh elements we have to deal with in our Lowcountry environment, creating a healthy and energy-efficient home is how we help our clients create a sustainable home to last a lifetime.”

Try stacking your washer and dryer when space is limited. Or you can talk about the Brazilian Fossil Quartzite countertops.

definitely reciprocal. “She’s so talented,” Becky said. “She never pushed anything on me. We really worked together.”

In all aspects of the home, the ability to create partnership was essential, as the Kimbles were working on their new house remotely from their home in Ohio. “We’ve built seven homes, but this was the first time working remotely; working with Rhett Jeffcoat was the best experience we’ve ever had,” Don said.

“As with all of our homes, quality was of the utmost importance for all aspects of this build,” Jeffcoat said. That quality isn’t just about building a home that looks magnificent in photos (which this one, quite obviously, does).

It’s also about building a home that will stand the test of time while advancing the art of building healthy homes.

“Creating a healthy and energy efficient home was also paramount and why special steps were taken to have a fully spray-foam insulated home with high SEER rating HVAC units, make up air kits for fresh air, and dehumidifier systems to name a few,” Jeffcoat said. “With the harsh elements we have to deal with in our Lowcountry environment, creating a healthy and energyefficient home is how we help our clients create a sustainable home to last a lifetime.”

Keeping the worst part of the elements out, while inviting the best parts of the elements in, is a delicate balancing act. But it’s one that makes this Sea Pines home truly extraordinary.

SUPPLIERS Builder: Randy Jeffcoat Builders Architect: Terry Rosser Architect Cabinets: Advanced Kitchen Designs Carpet: KPM Flooring Custom Cabinetry: Al & Harry Furniture Design Tile: Savannah Surfaces Countertops: Distinctive Granite Appliances: Billy Wood Appliance Plumbing: Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery Paint & wood staining: Hilton Head Painting Co. HVAC: E.A.C. Heating and Air Stucco foundation: Euro Finish LLC Pool deck pavers: American Paving Design Gas/fireplaces: Palmetto Gas, a Blossman Company Bulkhead: Eastman Marine Construction Garage Doors: Hilton Head Garage Doors

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

109

HOME IS WHERE THE SMART IS WHAT’S YOUR HOME’S INTELLIGENCE LEVEL?

O

ur homes are our havens for security and comfort, so making our houses safer and more convenient is a high priority. Improving a home’s intelligence is a big market, and in a world where technology changes seemingly overnight, it can be hard to keep up. To help you navigate, we have compiled a short list of some top smart home technology that is available right now.

SMART KITCHENS These days, the advantages of a smart kitchen go far beyond simple home improvement. Consider that the newest smart refrigerators can quickly access their own contents and help you compile a grocery list. Some even offer web browsers and the ability to order groceries from home. Kitchen genies can act as your personal nutritional or diet coach by offering you the components of any food in your pantry including caloric values and fat content. Smart ovens offer multiple appliances rolled into a single powerful unit. Think air fryer/broiler/convection oven/dehydrator/slow cooker/toaster/

ARTICLE BY CHERYL ALEXANDER C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

113

are not under the faucet. There are even programmable features, such as a timed shower setting or a tooth-brushing option that run for an allotted time frame.

warmer all rolled into one. You can then choose from over 200 automatic recipes, including a guided video cookbook. You can even control this device through an app and check in on the progress of your meal using Alexa. Your phone will alert you when it is done. And the oven chamber is spacious.

SMART BATHROOMS Smart bathroom technologies are now more economical and ecological than ever. For example, some toilets do not require hands or paper. They have temperature-controlled water, spritzing wands, and automatic dryers (already in use and common in Asia). You can opt for seat warmers, LED lights, and motion sensors that raise and lower lids. Also, there are selfcleaning toilets with antimicrobial seats for the germaphobes in your family. Digital faucets, too, are a great way to conserve water and energy, offering reduced tap flow and digital temperature-control settings, which conserve money and water.

Consider, too, touchless technology or infrared tap technology that “reads” the user and turns off when it senses that hands

114

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

IMPROVED HOME SECURITY When it comes to your home’s security, many advances in technology are available. The 2020 Houzz & Home Report reports that “the frequency of outdoor security cameras has increased from 18 to 20 percent, with more than 4 in 5 of those purchases having smart technology.” This rise in usage of high-tech digital door locks, smart sensor cameras, motion sensors, and smart video doorbells emphasizes homeowners’ desires for systems that enable automation to start right from their home’s perimeters.

The advanced potential of Artificial Intelligence also provides a more robust and smart security system. As well, current trends to improve the virtual security of smart home users are on the rise.

The industry continues to vigilantly protect the networks that run smart homes to keep them safe from hackers and people with ill intent. Smart home security allows homeowners the confidence that that their family and belongings are safe on their property.

SMART LIGHTING In addition to adding convenience, smart lighting will save you money, and you can control these from your phone.

Programming your lights to shut down on a certain schedule can ensure that you never waste money on electricity. Smart lights can adjust as per individual patterns and circadian body rhythms with automated lighting solution functions for different times of the day, weather, and climate. For example, cool blue is perfect for a tough morning, and a warmer light is best for evening relaxation.

INTEGRATED WHOLE HOME SYSTEMS Completely integrated home control systems are the way of the future. As the technology progresses, users are turning

to platforms that can manage it all. Instead of a new system for each automation, now homeowners are turning to systems that control the entire home, from home theaters, to music, to appliances, and even outdoor patio shades.

SMART BUILDING MATERIALS Imagine getting notified when there was a change in the structural integrity of your home’s foundation or learning about a termite infestation before it spreads. Building materials are becoming more sophisticated, and soon smart building materials will be an essential and standard part of any new home, allowing homeowners to know about problems as soon as they happen rather than when it is too late.

MULTIFUNCTIONAL SWITCHES AND DISPLAYS With the increasing advancement in technology, annoying switches and displays on walls will be a thing of the past.

Smart switches and displays offer endless possibilities—from live video streaming to personalized room scenes. While touch panels monitor the energy consumption of a building or entire home, its voice-control feature automates the whole connected system with one voice command.

Furthermore, the artificial intelligence and auto-learning capabilities on these smart switches and displays provide a more secure and personalized home to homeowners, depending on their requirements.

VOICE CONTROL Imagine coming home after a long workday, plopping down on your couch and simply commanding Alexa to switch on the fan. Smart home technologies provide this kind of voice control, which can bring exciting possibilities to robotize every aspect of smart home automation.

AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) It is no secret that AR is making a huge mark on the tech industry. Some projections have the AR market reaching $149 billion by 2025. This industry will change the way we watch television, interact with cooking tutorials, and talk to family members who live far away.

At the end of the day, the best thing about introducing smart technology to your household lies in the fact that you do not have to do it all at once. You can choose and prioritize how and what you should do when it comes to these investments.

Also, it allows you to modernize your home gradually instead of having to face the bulk of investment expenses right away. Believe it or not, smart home technology will soon be pervasive, and everyone will have the opportunity to add comfort, convenience, and quality to their lives by enjoying intelligence at home. C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

115

ARTICLE BY CHERYL ALEXANDER

W

hile following most trends may feel like trivial pursuits, kitchen trends typically outlast their time in the spotlight, and the return they offer will make the investment worth both any time and money spent. From cabinetry to the kitchen sink, from backsplashes to countertops, from flooring to lighting, if you are planning a kitchen makeover, here is everything you need to know about what is hot right now.

WHAT’S COOKIN’?

TRENDS IN KITCHEN DESIGN

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

117

WHAT’S COOKIN’?

While kitchen remodels are always popular projects among homeowners, the amount of money people are spending on kitchen projects is on the rise, according to the 2020 Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, with median spend on major kitchen remodels completed in mid-2019 at $35,000, up 17 percent from a year ago. However, while many homeowners opt for complete kitchen overhauls, the breadth of kitchen renovations has been scaled back for the second year in a row. For example, upgrades to countertops and sinks are not as widespread (89 and 83 percent, respectively) compared with two years ago (94 and 90 percent). Similarly, most folks are not choosing structural upgrades, including opening the kitchen to other interior rooms, changing kitchen layout, or adding square footage.

“It is remarkable to see median spend on kitchen remodels grow by double digits for the third year in a row,” said Nino Sitchinava, Houzz principal economist. “Combined with a twoyear decline in the scope of kitchen remodels, spend increases confirm our findings of significant price inflation in the home remodeling industry due to changes in international trade policy. Homeowners are dealing with increasing product prices by substituting materials, as indicated by slower growth in the use of engineered quartz and a decline in the popularity of engineered flooring materials, highly impacted by tariffs on imported materials from China.”

The study from Houzz lists the 2020 kitchen island as the

118

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

Contrasting countertops throughout the kitchen are also popular updates, including white and medium wood. Quartz is quickly becoming an affordable and low-maintenance alternative to marble.

crown jewel. The survey of nearly 2,600 U.S. homeowners found that nearly two-thirds of renovated kitchens feature an island.

One third of homeowners add an island during renovations, while nearly a quarter upgrade an existing island. Islands are not only big in popularity, they are also sizable features, with a third measuring more than seven feet long and another 39 percent measuring six to seven feet long. In addition to their substantial physical presence, islands are a hub of activity from dining (58 percent) to entertaining (49 percent) to socializing (45 percent).

Appearance-wise, many homeowners select island finishes that stand out from the rest of the kitchen, opting for an island cabinet color that contrasts with their main cabinets.

Contrasting with gray comes in at the top, followed by blue and black. If you want a completely different material on your island countertop, butcher block is the trend at the top of the list. As well, nearly all new islands (98 percent) are featuring additional storage, and a little over half have built-in appliances including microwaves, dishwashers, garbage disposals, cooktops, and beverage refrigerators.

Contrasting countertops throughout the kitchen are also popular updates, including white and medium wood. Quartz is quickly becoming an affordable and low-maintenance alternative to marble.

While the all-white kitchen will probably never go out of style, natural elements are trending with some pops of color.

Blue in kitchen walls is an emerging trend, appearing in seven percent of upgraded kitchens (up from five percent last year).

And, if you have been wanting to layer in more natural elements, try “sustainable” and “eco-friendly” items. Many companies offer green solutions for cabinets and shelving, as well as handmade tiles in materials like terra-cotta and cement.

Style-wise, among the 85 percent of renovating homeowners who change their kitchen style, transitional, contemporary, and modern top the list, while the formerly famous farmhouse style is losing favor.

Farmhouse-style sinks, though, are still high on homeowners’ list of must-haves. And now that faucets and other hardware are available in a wide choice of colors and finishes, sinks are following suit. Sinks have risen on the scale of importance in kitchen design and to meet homeowners’ demands for both function and definitive style. Look for bold sinks in rich gold and brass finishes to gain popularity.

Bold backsplashes are in, with one of every 10 homeowners upgrading a backsplash by installing it all the way to the ceiling.

Another 63 percent install tile from their counter to upper cabinets or range hood. When it comes to color, white is the most popular, followed by multi-colored, and gray.

Shaker cabinet door styles are by far the most popular among upgraded cabinetry (61 percent), followed at a distance by flat-panel and raised-panel (21 and 18 percent, respectively).

The top two floor choices among those upgrading their flooring are stained or unstained hardwood and ceramic or porcelain tile. Vinyl flooring, the third overall choice in renovated kitchens, continues a three-year climb from 10 percent in 2018 and 12 percent in 2019 to 14 percent in 2020.

High-tech faucets and appliances are still wildly popular upgrades; however, their growth has slowed slightly. Half of upgraded faucets are high tech, boasting water efficiency, nofingerprint coating, or touch-free activation. Similarly, a quarter of new major appliances purchased feature high-tech features, with wireless controls leading the pack.

Recessed lights reign king among the light fixture upgrades, followed by under-cabinet and pendant lights. Not surprisingly, almost all homeowners who are upgrading their islands also choose new lighting above the island, with pendants, not surprisingly, as the most common option.

Also, not surprising is that more than four out of five homeowners are opting to hire the professionals to do their kitchen upgrades and remodels. General contractors top the list, followed by kitchen designers, interior designers, architects, and kitchen remodelers.

And finally, the Houzz study revealed that more than half of homeowners who were in the midst of a kitchen renovation or design project when the coronavirus pandemic was declared on March 11, 2020, were able to continue with their renovations (52 percent). Not a bad finish and one that will likely boost the statistics for any studies reflecting the number of couples who stay married in 2020. 

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

119

B T

H

E

E S

Y O U

R

N

D

F A C

E

HOW ROB CAVANO AND CHARLES ARRIOLA TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH, BUILDING COASTAL COUNTERTOPS AND TILE FROM THE GROUND UP.

3cm. Honed Calacatta Matarazzo Brazilian Quartzite with Full Height Backsplash and Farm Sink Cut-Out

Michaelangelo Brazilian Quartzite with 4” Mitered Returns

I

f there is a single moment that defines the American spirit, it’s the moment in which someone decides to start their own business, fearlessly putting all their chips on the table and betting everything on themselves. It’s a moment of pure courage, and one whose stakes get even higher based on how much time one has already invested in climbing the corporate ladder.

For Rob Cavano and Charles Arriola, those stakes were extraordinary.

Between the two of them, they represented 40 years in the stone and tile business. Over that time, they had established themselves as two of the most knowledgeable and trustworthy professionals in the Lowcountry.

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN - PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT DESIGNED BY CATHERINE COLBY

J Charles Arriola and and Rob Cavano of Coastal Countertops and Tile.

Going out on their own was a calculated gamble, but each of them had an ace up their sleeve: each other.

“I wouldn’t have done this with anyone else … Rob was the first person I thought of,” Arriola said. “It always amazes me to see how he can just put people at ease. I swear he’s part psychiatrist.”

“Charles just loves to meet people, help them out on a project, get involved and learn about people. That’s just who Charles is,” Cavano said. “He’s just passionate about people.”

After decades working together, the pair had established a comfortable rapport with one another and a wide fanbase. That fanbase proved crucial to the creation of Coastal Countertops

122

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

and Tile. Customers they’d come to know over the years were incredibly supportive, encouraging them at every turn to get out and start their own thing.

“If we didn’t hear that so many times, from so many influential people, it may not have come together,” Cavano said. “We had so many people invested in us.”

In hindsight, maybe it was never a gamble at all. When two talented people come together with trust, friendship and decades of expertise, and a whole community rises up to support them, that’s the definition of playing with a stacked deck.

“I don’t believe in luck,” Arriola said. “I believe in making things happen.”

MA K ING T HING S HA P PEN Starting out on their own meant reinventing the industry as they knew it.

Both had been taking notes for years, finding areas ripe for innovation and envisioning a better way to offer the utmost in service and products. With Coastal Countertops and Tile, they had an opportunity to put those notes into action.

“The last thing we wanted to be was good, but not as good,” Cavano said.

“Really what we did was look around and ask, ‘What are the best machines and who are the best people?’”

B T H

E

E Y O S U R

N

D

F A C

E

The technology was a huge driver, and something that the pair knew would be a huge differentiating factor for their budding business. Up first was a five-axis CNC saw, shipped from France and representative of the bleeding edge of technology in the stone industry.

We won’t attempt to do a deep dive into the technical aspects of it, but suffice to say the saw, combined with an incremental bit and the precise digital measurements of a Proliner, lets Coastal Countertops and Tile work incredible magic in your kitchen and bath.

“It’s a game-changer,” Cavano said. The technology allows for flawlessly precise cuts accurate to the last millimeter, resulting in beautiful countertops that fit perfectly with your space and hardware, plus letting clients see digitally how the end result will look. “If you show up with sticks and glue, this tells the client that everything is going to be rough cut and the installation will take more work. When we show up with the Proliner, they see that we have made that investment in doing it right.”

The second part of their magic equation for success, finding the right people, required the same dedication to getting it right.

“We recruited people who all have at least 20 years of experience in the industry and that includes templating with the Proliner,” Cavano said. But it wasn’t just experience they were seeking. It was also the right mindset. “Nothing gets done with efficiency unless you have the right attitude. I can’t say enough about that. We’re small, but everyone has the perfect attitude.”

3cm. Colonial White w/ Eased Edge

Attitude, as they say, is everything. “Work hard, do the right thing. That’s what we get really excited about,” Arriola said. “Rob and I like to make it fun. We just know there is a place for the good guys to succeed.”

If you ask any of their clients, or any of the legion of building professionals, homeowners and friends over the years who urged them to take the leap and bet on themselves, they’ll tell you the same thing. The good guys, in the form of Coastal Countertops and Tile, have plenty of room to succeed. With a foundation built on the fundamentals of the best technology and people, these guys are just getting started.

You can bet on it.  Coastal Countertops and Tile is located at 40 Persimmon St., Suite 101, in Bluffton. For more information, call (843) 707-6644.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

123

THE DIFFERENCE OF DESIGN KELLY CARON DESIGNS PUTS A PREMIUM ON PROFESSIONALISM AND EXPERIENCE. ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN

T

II

here’s a certain look to Lowcountry homes and businesses, one that is often emulated beyond the confines of the 843 area code, but never truly duplicated. It lies at the intersection of comfort and sophistication—where nickelgap shiplap accent walls and craftsman style millwork in crisp whites meet the rustic grain of reclaimed wood and the dull sheen of hammered copper.

This look has become synonymous with the casual sophistication of the Lowcountry, and at the heart of the region that birthed it you’ll find the firm that has perfected it: Kelly Caron Designs. One project at a time, they’ve rewritten the rulebook for Lowcountry luxe, changing how we look at our spaces. “We’re moving mountains every day,” principal designer Kelly Caron said.

Their new location exemplifies this mission to beautify the Lowcountry.

Perched on the corner at Guilford Place and May River Road in Bluffton, it anchors a section of Old Town currently in the midst of a gorgeous renaissance. Two stories of modern Lowcountry brilliance, the building serves as a free-standing showcase for a design philosophy that defines the new South.

“We’re bringing a little bit of a different feel to the historic district,” Caron said. “We wanted a clean look, very Lowcountry, but with modern flair to reflect our youthful energy.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSH GIBSON

Youthful energy may fuel the inimitable designs that have become Kelly Caron Design’s hallmark, but at the foundation of everything they do is a pursuit of the highest qualifications in the industry.

“We’re artists in our own right, and we’re born with that, but we bring in professionalism and training,” Caron said.

That means the highest credentials from ASID and NCIDQ as well as ceaseless professional development to stay on top of the industry. “I’m professionally licensed and my staff are all degreed; we all work together, and we have very high standards.”

That professional accreditation gives the staff at Kelly Caron Design the tools to look deeper into a design scheme. “We get very technical as designers. We’re not just operating at the surface level,” Caron said.

“We talk to the builder in their language because we’ve been trained to and we understand the process. We know vendors and colors and finishes and how they work together, but we also know the technical side of things.”

The result is a design that goes beyond simply pairing window treatments with area rugs. Theirs is a design reflecting the zenith of artistry and experience. “We take clients literally from start to finish. Whether it’s a renovation or new construction, we’re making selections, we’re working with the builder and the architect … we carry them all the way to the end,” Caron said.

It takes a little bit more to do it right. But look around at the way Kelly Caron Designs, ASID has reshaped the Lowcountry’s style, and the results speak for themselves. For more information, visit kellycarondesigns. com or call (843) 815-4737.

C2 C2MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2020

125

Article by Barry Kaufman

The Tale of Sir Grout MAY THE KINGDOM REJOICE! SCOTT ODOM IS HERE TO RESTORE YOUR COUNTERS AND FLOORS TO THEIR FORMER GLORY.

O

nce upon a time, in a home not that far away, your countertops and floors gleamed with the sparkling finish of new travertine, limestone and marble. It was a point of pride to welcome guests and entertain in your magnificent natural stone abode, knowing that your surfaces were the envy of the neighborhood.

But then, dark forces conspired to rob your natural stone of its luster. Dirt, grime, mold and mildew seeped across your surfaces and into your showers, burying themselves deep within each crack and crevice. With such despair in the kingdom, there was but one hero who could save the day: Sir Grout.

Okay, we’ll stop with the medieval silliness. Dirt, grim, mold and mildew may not constitute dark forces, but the fact is they are definitely doing a number on your stone surfaces, tile and grout. And no one restores them like Scott Odom, owner of Sir Grout of the Lowcountry.

“We don’t clean, we restore,” Odom said. That goes beyond just the grout in the name, with Odom and his team restoring more travertine and marble in the Lowcountry than any other company, first sanding it with a special process that eliminates dust, then rehoning and polishing your surfaces. When it comes to ceramic and porcelain tiles Sir Grout also has you covered. “First we clean, we then seal the grout with a color seal to whatever color you like. And this is not a Band-Aid solution. As long as it’s maintained, the customer will never have to reseal their grout again.”

Before

After

Before

After

“FIRST WE CLEAN, WE THEN SEAL THE GROUT WITH A COLOR SEAL TO WHATEVER COLOR YOU LIKE. AND THIS IS NOT A BAND-AID SOLUTION. AS LONG AS IT’S MAINTAINED, THE CUSTOMER WILL NEVER HAVE TO RESEAL THEIR GROUT AGAIN.” That’s due to several factors. The first being Sir Grout’s proprietary sealer that banishes mold and mildew to never return. The second being the extraordinary care with which each job is done. Odom has been in the business for 13 years, owning a Sir Grout franchise in Charlotte as well as 1st Floor Surface Care here. When he made the switch down here permanently, he raised the banner of Sir Grout of the Lowcountry.

Joining him in Sir Grout of the Lowcountry are the other members of his team, Jonathan Russell and Stephen McMann, both of whom have extensive experience and share Odom’s passion for doing the job right. For one, there’s a shared sense of honesty.

“If I go to a customer’s home and it already looks nice, we do nothing. We’re trying to take their floor as close to a 10 as we can. If you’re starting at an eight, this may not be the solution for you,” he said, adding that floors they work on usually start “at around a three or four” on that scale.

They also all share a dedication to your time and experience as their customer. That means taking care of all the little things: being on time, being courteous and giving each job 100 percent focus from start to finish.

But what truly brings this team together is a shared mission to beautify and protect. “People want their travertine, marble and limestone to look good,” Odom said. “It’s a privilege when they entrust us to handle their project.”

To find out more, visit sirgroutlowcountry.com or call (843) 640-5544.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

127

Meredith and Jim Bannon of Bannon Law Group.

The new normal at

J

bannon law group The husband-wife duo navigates the uncharted waters of COVID-19 to continue delivering exceptional legal representation.

f you take a large enough step back and look at the world of 2020, you’ll notice some unusual things happening. Air pollution around major cities plummeted while solar output around the country soared, spurred on by cleaner air from fewer commuters on the road. Fear of contamination from physical currency caused people to lean on the plastic more, leading to a national coin shortage. And we don’t even need to get into how hard it was to find toilet paper for a while.

All of these odd impacts have one thing in common: the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent shutdowns, shelter-in-place orders and assorted societal weirdness that goes with trying to avert a biological disaster.

And these impacts trickle further down.

Luxury purchases have increased, as summer vacation plans cratered and freed up some discretionary spending. Even something as seemingly constant as the law has felt the impact of 2020’s “new normal.”

I

Article by Barry Kaufman Photography by M.Kat

bannon law group The husband-and-wife duo forged their dual practice seven years ago, building its foundation on their respective strengths.

“Everyone’s had to audible,” Jim Bannon said.

“We’ve had to get creative,” Meredith Bannon added.

The husband-and-wife duo forged their dual practice seven years ago, building its foundation on their respective strengths.

Both long-time prosecutors, most recently with South Carolina’s Fourteenth Judicial Circuit, each went a separate path in the legal field when they pooled together as a law firm and a couple. Jim pivoted to criminal defense, utilizing his in-depth knowledge of the law to provide legal protection for an array of clients. Meredith moved toward HOA litigation and real estate closings, finding her unique savvy and magnetic personality perfectly suited for the often-nerve-wracking world of real estate.

130

OCT. 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

With COVID-19, they’re finding the impact on the respective natures of their dual practice to be as different as night and day.

“During quarantine, nobody was getting arrested,” deadpanned Jim. While that may have been a temporary lull in the number of people requiring representation, it nonetheless had far-reaching impacts.

“We haven’t had a jury trial in Beaufort Count in seven months,” he said. “With the courts closed, you would have a court date three months away, so there wasn’t any urgency to hire a lawyer.”

As lockdowns ease and the world begins to open up, Jim still faces the same social distancing and mask requirements we all do.

Only he faces his in the tight confines of a courthouse, in the case of Jasper County, or the even tighter confines of a jail. “It’s part of

the gig, I guess. But the train’s still moving down the track. It has to be done.”

The wheels of the law continue to turn, and on the real estate side of Bannon Law Group, those wheels are moving at 7,000 RPMs. “We were taking in twice the normal number of closings in July. We couldn’t keep up,” Meredith said. “My email would refresh, and there would be two to three more closings.”

Between people up north looking for a way to escape the clustered confines of cities and a flurry of refinancing from low interest rates, Meredith has been busier than every during the pandemic. And by all accounts, she’s only going to get busier.

“I think real estate is going to be even more crazy over the next few years,” she said.

Of the many question marks still lingering about the future under this pandemic, the question of liability continues to move to the forefront. For Meredith, it’s a question for which she’s already beginning to find answers.

“As far as HOA stuff, we’re getting some very interesting questions about liability,” she said—whether opening up common areas or simply conducting neighborhood businesses, homeowners associations could be on the hook for future outbreaks. “We’re getting a lot of questions, ‘If our annual meetings are coming up, what are we required to do?’ So, we’ve been working with them to draft waivers to allow business to continue as usual.”

Of course, the greatest protection against liability is caution. And at Bannon Law Group, they’re leaving nothing chance.

“We’ve had to limit people coming into the office, but it’s led to some interesting questions about how you can get documents notarized when you can’t get close to someone,” Meredith said. “We’ve had e-signing capabilities long before this, but it has been so clutch during all this.”

And if there’s a silver lining, it’s that these solutions have made the closing process easier. “It’s actually made it less stressful for clients because they can focus on moving in. We have much more flexibility in working with their schedule,” Meredith said.

When the Bannons built their law practice together, bringing together their dual talents for criminal defense and real estate law, they had no idea that one day this balance would help them weather a pandemic. But it has, and it has taught them a few new tricks that will make the firm even more capable in the future. Even if it’s just a renewed appreciation for their chosen profession.

“I can’t wait until all this is behind us,” Jim said. “I love going to court.”  For more, visit bannonlawgroup.com or call (843) 874-7419.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCT. 2020

131

A

R T

I

C P

L H

C

E

B Y

O T O

L

G

E

C R

A

A

H P

R

E H

R Y Y

L Y

L

A

B Y

T

L

E

X A

M

.

K A T

H

N

D

E

R

E

Best Dressed CAROLINA WINDOW DESIGNS UPGRADES ANY VIEW

D

raperies or shades can transform any room, adding warmth and style to a once drab space and enhancing views out any window.

The right window dressing will even create an illusion of more space in a room by exaggerating the appearance of ceiling height.

But how do you know which treatment is right? Is there room for draperies on either side of the French doors in your condo? How do you showcase the lovely Lowcountry view in your home, or gracefully cover a bay window? What is the best way to accessorize a room, dress a bed, or finish a nursery? Ask the experts at Carolina Window Designs. Collectively, they have 90+ years’ experience in the design industry and look forward to making your visions come to life with their expertise.

Jennifer Kirkland, ASID, and Robert Stella are the owners of Carolina Window Designs on Hilton Head Island. Kirkland has a degree in interior design from Parsons School of Design in New York City, and Stella, a finish carpenter, attended Phoenix School of Design for graphic design. The 15year Bluffton residents purchased Carolina Window Designs 11 years ago, which keeps them involved in a creative industry that interests them both.

Carolina Windows was initially a trade-only business, working exclusively with designers and builders, but has recently entered the retail market, responding to high demand for their expert services and products.

Part of what makes Carolina Window Designs different is their employees.

Each member is dedicated to producing the absolute best for every client.

“Reputation Counts” is the company tagline, and their mission to offer a high level of customer service and quality products backs up that motto.

132

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

The Carolina Window Designs Team (from left to right): Ana, Darren, Teresa, Sheri, Jennifer, Bob, Luisa

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

133

134

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

C

L

E

A R

L Y

T

H

E

Best Dressed “We are a small business in a community that we love,” Kirkland said. “We feel that our size works to our advantage and that our employees are truly what makes us stand out.”

Kirkland believes that the employees are Carolina Window Designs’ biggest asset.

Sheri Wammock is the business manager and helps with every aspect of the business, and Teresa Knoll oversees retail sales and is typically the first point of contact for the retail clients. Knoll relocated to Hilton Head a year ago from Chicago, where she had her own drapery workroom for 25 years. Now her focus is primarily fabric selection and design. She will meet clients in the showroom or at the client’s home. The business also includes a shop manager, expert installers and seamstresses with a plethora of experience, who are instrumental in expanding the focus on retail business, helping Lowcountry clients directly.

“Each person who works here enjoys their work, and they offer their very best because they want the business to succeed.

Plus, we are like a family. We enjoy close relationships with each other,” Kirkland said.

When clients visit the showroom at Carolina Window Designs, they will find a variety of fabrics for any taste and style in a range of prices to fit any budget. “We can custom design anything from valances and Roman shades to bedding, pillows, furniture cushions (including outdoor), upholstered headboards and bed surrounds for our clients.”

While the bedding and cushions can be as fabulous and stylish as the client desires, when it comes to window dressings, the trend here is simplicity.

“The current Lowcountry look is clean, uncomplicated treatments,” Kirkland said.

“We do a tremendous amount of simple, yet elegant work, as most people here want to pare down and streamline. Décor often plays second fiddle to nature, so many of our clients would rather look at their view than an ornate drapery.”

Drapery hardware is available from at least a dozen companies. These, too, range from simple and budget-friendly to elaborate, motorized (some are smart home ready), and with special finishes. One hot trend is soft golds, such as satin brass or gold leaf, and depending on the client’s price point, options can be very utilitarian and budget-friendly or tremendously elaborate.

Hard window treatments (blinds, shades and shutters ) from Hunter Douglas and Alta

are on display for viewing in the showroom.

The difference in the two is the price. Alta offers fewer fabrics and control options, but a great price point. The manufacturing is high quality for all products. “We are seeing an upward trend for motorized and smart home treatments, offered by both vendors,” Kirkland said.

For outdoor shades and screened porches, clients can shop Insolroll products, a company which is known for quality.

“Insolroll products are extremely well constructed,” Kirkland said. “They are very heavy duty; we use these exclusively for exteriors because we have never had issues with them.”

Carolina Window Designs also offers two lines of plantation shutters: an all-wood product made locally with many options including custom paint to match your window trim and multiple wood species that can be stained, and a polyresin product that provides style and affordability.

The showroom and workroom are at the same location, where all the work is custom and made-to-order. Two professional seamstresses and an apprentice, whose primary concerns are production quality and attention to detail are on premise.

“By making all the product in-house, we are able to enforce high standards of quality control,” Kirkland said. “Our clients won’t find mismatched patterns, shoddy workmanship or cheap materials.” And it is not just the face fabric (what is on the outside). At Carolina Window Designs, the high quality includes the lining, the thread, even hand-stitching where required. All these details go into the finished product.

No corners are cut.

Lastly, there is a carpentry shop inhouse, where the valances, cornices, headboards, and bed surrounds are custom built, and the installers are known for detailoriented, meticulous, conscientious work.

You can feel confident with Carolina Window Designs’ quality of craftsmanship.

From design through installation, they make sure your job is completed to your satisfaction. They have all the little details covered, even details of which you may not be aware.

“Reputation Counts!”  Carolina Window Designs is located at 9B Hunter Rd., on Hilton Head Island. For more information, visit carolinawindowdesigns.com or call (843) 342-6050.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

135

A R T I C LE BY T IM WO O D P H O T O G RAPHY BY M.KAT

15 DAYS TO TH E KI TC HEN A ND BAT H E X P ERIENC E YOU DESERVE

C

ontractor horror stories are so plentiful that they have become clichés. HGTV has launched shows all about cleaning up the mistakes of crooked handymen.

Internet recommendation services meant to solve the problem have instead created another layer of glossy smooth talk that makes a disappointing end result all the more soul crushing.

Jon Ward knew the reputation that his profession had “earned” when he launched his business, 15 Day Kitchen & Bath. The 47-year-old third-generation builder has seen firsthand why people feel like customer service is dead, but he has a memory of a different way etched in his brain.

“I remember going into a suit store before my first job interview out of college—didn’t have a clue what I needed—and the saleswoman spent half the day making sure I was dressed to the nines,” he said. “I’d seen my dad and granddad go above and beyond in every construction job, but to be the customer, to know that feeling of being respected and valued, I knew what I would deliver if I ever started my own business.”

Jon Ward knew the reputation that his profession had â&#x20AC;&#x153;earnedâ&#x20AC;? when he launched his business, 15 Day Kitchen & Bath. The 47-yearold third-generation builder has seen firsthand why people feel like customer service is dead, but he has a memory of a different way etched in his brain.

B

Photography

by Real Property Photo.

Ward has also been on the wrong end of calls and online chats over the past few months during his time in quarantine and has seen companies stray even further away from putting the customer first. He and his crew have used any down time to evolve processes and commit even stronger to a different path.

“Too many people out there are selling snake oil. I’m here to show folks that there are still craftsmen that believe in good ol’ customer-first service, committed to timelines, efficiency and excellence,” Ward said. “We’re going to overdeliver on every

138

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

Jon Ward and his crew have used any down time to evolve processes and commit even stronger to a different path.

job. We love what we do; we take on 1-2 jobs at a time, not 15.

We haven’t lost touch with what it means to be a customer, and that’s important.”

Ward and his expert crew have created a turnkey system of kitchen and bath transformation that fit the 15-businessday timeline. While shadier contractors refuse to commit to work windows only to never be heard from again, Ward makes the timeline his bond and pledge of devotion to fulfilling each customer’s dreams.

15

DAYS TO TH E KITCH EN AND BATH EXPERIENCE YOU DESERVE

More than the name, a scan of his work on 15daykitchenandbath. com and a series of glowing Google reviews speak to a pattern of excellence and integrity achieved through above-and-beyond communication.

“Some folks hear 15-day and they think cookie cutter, but we customize every job to each client’s needs and wish lists,” Ward said. Plenty of work can be done in that 120-hour window, from new paint to replaced cabinets, updated backsplashes to a new vanity or shower shell.

“We’re efficient and have a laser-focused system of ordering all the supplies and parts before we start the work,” Ward said. “We know which tools to have on site, which parts of the job will take longer, and we put a master plan together. It’s a commitment to maximize every minute on a jobsite and to value the investment of our customer’s time and money.”

Ward has a proven track record of gorgeous results achieved by a clear setting of expectations and his decades of experience in sourcing the best materials for the job. While other contractors have created even more waiting games with clients waiting on overseas products delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ward’s American-made suppliers have continued to deliver.

“You can have excellence, buy top-quality American products, and still deliver a timely result,” Ward said. “But the key to all of that is clear expectations and upfront communication.”

The company’s catchy name is meant to instill a commitment to timely work, but Ward’s team has the skills to take on largerscale projects that require more time. Ward sets a timeline with every customer, detailing the upgrades that he and his team can deliver with higher budgets, but also delivering high-end finishes with more challenged checkbooks.

“We’re clear on the numbers; we’re thorough in the upfront inspections, and we love the challenge of giving the absolute best finished product on any budget and any timeline. The customer is always going to be clear on what we’re delivering,” he said.

And just how far will Ward and his team go to deliver on a promise? “If a cabinet comes in damaged or not correct, we don’t just call work off until UPS comes back. I’ve driven to Atlanta to get that replacement cabinet, to keep the project on track,” Ward said.

Ward takes pride in having the crew to tackle every facet of even the toughest kitchen or bath project, from drywall to electrical and plumbing, flooring and tile work to design plans born from years of learning customer tastes. “Kitchens and baths will give you the best rental and resale value for your buck. You will get the highest return on whatever investment you put in, and we can handle even the most lavish and extensive remodels and complete rebuilds,” he said.

Ironically, some of Ward’s best work (and best online reviews) have come from the worst-case scenario projects, delivering excellence in the face of adversity. “We had one job in Palmetto Dunes where cabinets took longer to come in, the timeline was shot, and it was one obstacle after another. But we communicated clearly every step of the way, found solutions and the job came out beautiful and thrilled the client,” Ward said. “Doing this line of work, there are unexpected nightmares around every piece of the job. But we’re nimble; we adapt and find the way to deliver the best possible result.”

It all goes back to Ward buying that suit, and a passion for leading a renaissance in customer appreciation. “We will not leave, won’t stop until we achieve that wow result. That may back us up; it may keep me from other jobs, but I’m going to make sure every customer gets the utmost quality if we’re putting the 15-Day name on it.”  Check out 15daykitchenandbath.com or call (843) 505-6139 for details.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

139

Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls Call the Gutter Pro, Troy Dolin Article by Amy Bartlett

roy Dolin, Gutter Pro” is more than the name behind the owner-operated and locally invested business. The phrase represents a philosophy and promise to keep it simple and personal for a purpose: “From phone call to signoff,” Dolin assures, “you’re going to get me directly.” It’s a commitment to the firstperson handling of your project and an individualized attention to detail.

“It’s important that we offer a great product at a fair price, but also that it’s handled completely hands-on” he said.

“Which is why I’m committed to doing the work personally—no corporate runaround—and making sure the work has my personal seal of approval. Customer service has always been top priority. Not only do you want to know who’s at your house, but you can trust the quality of results as well as the process.”

What is Gutter Pro and its star attraction Gutterglove Gutter Guards?

According to Consumer Reports, Gutterglove is the number one Gutter Protection System producing “The Nation’s Most Trusted Gutter Guards.” What sets them apart is the stainless steel micromesh over an anodized aluminum frame that not only keeps out all major types of debris, but resists flexing, warping, and

“T

CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS ALWAYS BEEN TOP PRIORITY. NOT ONLY DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO’S AT YOUR HOUSE, BUT YOU CAN TRUST THE QUALITY OF RESULTS AS WELL AS THE PROCESS.“

GUTTER PRO OWNER, TROY DOLIN, WIFE JENNY, AND CHILDREN JANE AND TEDDY.

rust to avoid disintegration or “peeling out” like other gutter screens. The slanted design encourages natural removal of buildup through wind and rain and ensures years of durability. From standard protection to the Gutterglove Pro line, which comes with a 40-year replacement warranty, Gutter Pro offers a two-year workmanship warranty for anything installation-focused from adjustment to outfitting a new construction.

Beyond service and product is a level of architectural design appeal many may find surprising. Gutter Pro utilizes a range of aesthetic options from Senox, a brand that’s been the industry leader since 1972 and offers a 50-year product warranty for more than 30 custom color variations. Simplifying the process, Gutter Pro offers free consultations to explore “the complexities behind finding the right solution,” including rain chains to add charm and, as their website describes, “some serious curb appeal.”

Adding another layer of confidence through relational management and personal touch, Dolin said, “I’m as local as you can get.” He and high school sweetheart Jenny grew up in the Lowcountry, where their kids Teddy and Jane are now homegrown. They know the

community they service (from Charleston to Bluffton and Hilton Head Island) and every kind of leaf, seed pod, and moss you can pull out of a gutter. Open gutters that is, because Gutter Pro homes are protected for all five seasons (winter, spring, summer, fall, and hurricane). As they say on the SCGutterPro Facebook page, standard gutters simply “can’t handle the summer showers!” Five-inch gutters hold 1.2 gallons per linear foot, while Gutter Pro’s 6-inch gutters hold two gallons. Imagine what more than three quarters of a gallon per linear foot looks like when it overflows. Don’t go chasing waterfalls. Upgrade to go with the flow.

Like the ringing endorsement when a trusted source tells you, “I know a guy,” Dolin is committed to be your connection in the gutter biz. Whether your cup runneth over with recent summer rains or you just want to be prepared, “You’re not going to notice you have an issue until there’s an issue,” Dolin said. “Call me and let’s solve the problem before it happens.”

When you do call, you’ll get the Gutter Pro himself, hands-on from start to finish, guaranteed. For more information visit scgutterpro. com or call (843) 695-7331.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

141

A

R

T

I

C

L

E

B

Y

B

A

R R Y

K

A

U

F

M

A

N

Building the Village OSPREY VILLAGE READIES FOR A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND THE REVOLUTION IN CARING FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES THAT WILL FOLLOW.

W

hen William Dennington thinks about the future, he can almost taste the Dutch soup. “I love cooking, and Dutch soup is my specialty; it has potatoes, hamburger meat … oh, it’s great,” the 24-year-old said. Of course, creating his signature soup will require a kitchen. And that kitchen will require a house. And Dennington is counting the

days until his is ready—one of the many to be built at Osprey Village. Until then, the 12-time Special Olympics gold medalist lives at home and does what he can to support Osprey Village’s mission to build specialized housing for adults with developmental disabilities.

“I’ve been involved with them (Osprey Village) for a long time, and it’s really great because they’re building soon. And when they’re done, I’ll have my own place where I can cook, go to the park, go for a run…. I’m really excited,” he said.

( Yo u ar e h er e)

142

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

J FUTURE SITE OF OSPREY VILLAGE SPECIALIZED HOUSING FOR ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

143

Founded in 2008 and funded by private donations, fundraisers, grants and proceeds from their thrift stores on Hilton Head Island and in Okatie, Osprey Village has dedicated itself to enriching the lives of those with disabilities. Their programming runs the gamut from job coaching and placement to respite for caregivers and families, but the establishment of Osprey Village as a functioning neighborhood will take everything they do to the next level.

“The neighborhood is part of a larger program that we’ve undertaken to create a lifestyle and champion a new paradigm when it comes to how adults with developmental disabilities function in a community and how everyone can thrive,” said Channing Heiss, director of communications.

Plans currently call for 140 homes of varying size and design at build out, each representing newfound independence for a resident with a developmental disability. Beyond centralizing services, this integrated community at the East Argent development in Hardeeville allows Osprey Village to provide services in an environment where

144

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

each resident can live to their fullest. Everyone who calls Osprey Village home will have a choice to live with roommates or live on their own, part of a mission to truly make each property unique and customized.

“Ours is not a one-size-fits-all philosophy,” Heiss said. “It’s a personcentered approach where we accommodate individual needs rather than bringing them into a situation where we tell them how to live.”

It’s been a long road to this point. But the long and arduous process of securing land for a residential village, obtaining plans and permits, plus navigating state and national bureaucracy is nearing its end. And now the capital campaign can begin. Once it is complete, the tract of land off of 170 will fill with a ready-made village, designed from the ground up to give true independence and self-sufficiency to its an underserved part of the population.

“The thing that excites me most is that most people said we wouldn’t get here,” said Jerome Manuel, Osprey Village executive director. “We’re this close to groundbreaking, to building this

Building the Village And even when funding is secured, there will still be a critical need for help from the local community. A clearer picture of how much Osprey Village will still need should emerge sometime in October or November. And once the capital campaign begins in earnest, it will be up to the Lowcountry to help establish a home for these deserving residents.

village for folks and their families who have been waiting 10 years for this opportunity to be put in front of them.”

As far as Osprey Village has come, there is still the sizable effort now before them of securing the final capital to begin construction.

“We’re eyeballs deep in working with state and national housing trust funds to get capital support,” said Julie Kuhns, director of operations.

These trust funds established both by the federal government and the state of South Carolina were designed to create affordable housing.

Securing funding from them is critical to the next step for Osprey Village, which can be tricky in a pandemic.

“It certainly makes it difficult to do onsite work. Land development plans, soil surveys, water samples … that can be challenging when everything’s being done via Zoom,” Kuhns said. “We’re very fortunate they pushed deadlines back knowing everyone’s experiencing this.”

And even when funding is secured, there will still be a critical need for help from the local community. A clearer picture of how much Osprey Village will still need should emerge sometime in October or November.

And once the capital campaign begins in earnest, it will be up to the Lowcountry to help establish a home for these deserving residents.

“We know it’s an enormous undertaking, but we know we can do it,” Heiss said. “This is something that has gotten a lot of support from the community…. It’s no longer if it’s going to happen, it’s when it’s going to happen.”

And when it does happen, Osprey Village will not only provide a safe and supportive environment for those with developmental disabilities; it will serve as a model for others to follow. “This is a nationwide opportunity to have some kind of community for those with special needs—one that accepts them, protects them and makes them part of it,” Manuel said.

And it will give people like William Dennington a place to call their own, a chance to live independently and maybe invite a few friends over for delicious Dutch soup.  For more information, visit ospreyvillage.org.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

145

and Zoomed as well. In December, WAHHI will celebrate community by hosting a dine-about at Shelter Cove Towne Centre in support of local restaurants and retail merchants.

“We’re trying different things!” Avrit said. “We’re making an effort to meet our members wherever they are and in their own way. We need to be socially distanced, but we don’t need to be distant.”

Craving Connection?

WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND DISHING UP FRIENDSHIP, FUN, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE

W

Article by Linda S. Hopkins

e were not meant to be alone in this world. Neuroscience suggests that we are hardwired to interact and connect with one another. While COVID-19 may have caused a temporary power disruption, the Women’s Association of Hilton Head Island (WAHHI) is busy restoring the circuits, creating new pathways for connection in socially responsible ways.

According to Tamra Avrit, WAHHI’s current president, a key purpose of the organization is to connect women in meaningful ways—through social interaction, educational events, volunteerism, community service projects, and charitable giving. A recent pivot to “hybrid” programs—small group events with the option to participate in person or online—has been the ticket to their ongoing growth and success as they embrace technology and find new ways to continue working and playing together.

“Out of 550 women, some don’t want to leave their houses. Others are comfortable going out to a restaurant. You have to cover the waterfront with the programming,” Avrit said. In spite of current social distancing challenges, WAHHI, founded in February of 1961, now over 500 members strong, has been quick to shift gears without losing sight of their goals.

HONORING THE PAST, LOOKING TO THE FUTURE As WAHHI embarks upon its sixtieth year, the organization has partnered with the Heritage Library to digitize news clippings, photographs, and other literature to commemorate and preserve its history and legacy. Plans are in place for a celebration of history at the February meeting to be held at the Heritage Library, where this year’s Charitable Fund grants will be awarded.

April looks to the future with the fortieth Youth Community Service Awards being presented, followed by a style show featuring athleisure wear (a far cry from WAHHI’s first fashion show in 1967 highlighting pantyhose and furs). Limited in-person attendance will be offered with a virtual alternative.

If it’s connection you’re craving, WAHHI offers Lowcountry women a home for fun and friendship along with the satisfaction of serving others. “This is a way to enrich our lives—to cultivate new friends, to give back to the community we love, and to make the world a better place,” Avrit said. “Won’t you join us?”

WAHHI invites all women who live on Hilton Head Island, in the Town of Bluffton, on Daufuski Island and in those communities that lie south and east of the intersection of Hwy 170 and Highway 278, with direct access to Hwy 278 or access via feeder roads that lie within the boundaries of the Okatie and May Rivers to become members.

To learn more, please visit wahhi.org.

ZOOMING IN ON THE PRESENT Presenting an author series this past spring, WAHHI tested the virtual waters with Zoom, starting in May with NY Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe. “That was our proof of concept,” Avrit said. “Was Zoom going to work with our membership?”

The answer was clearly yes when over 100 women showed up for the first webinar.

WAHHI went on to book a series of authors and continues with a turnout of 80-plus remote attendees each month.

This fall’s chef series has been equally popular, offering both in-person and online options. “People just really want to be together,” Avrit said. “These events allow small groups (25 or so) to get together at a restaurant and to meet and greet each other in a socially distanced way.” Members who are uneasy attending in person have been enjoying the events via Zoom, with participating restaurants providing to-go boxes, she explained.

Now that the ladies are Zooming like pros, spring programming is aligned with some of the environmental and cultural parts of the organization’s mission, and interest groups are meeting online as well, Avrit said. “We’re all learning new skills this year.

Who would have thought we would have this capability?”

The organization’s four annual luncheons have also been reimagined. Typically held in hotel ballrooms and attracting hundreds of attendees, this year’s public gathering restrictions presented a challenge. The September meeting and sixtieth anniversary kickoff was held outdoors at Coastal Discovery Mary Ann Peeples Pavilion, picnic style, C2 MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2020

147

Comfort Food Crosses the Bridge HILTON HEAD ISLAND’S FAMED PLANTATION CAFÉ BRINGS ITS UNIQUE CHARMS TO BLUFFTON. A R T I C L E B Y B A R R Y K A U F M A N . P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y M . K AT

T

o call Plantation Café and Deli an island institution would be an understatement. Since 1974, it has existed as one of those places that simply is so vital to the fabric of the community that it’s hard to picture Hilton Head Island without it.

One of the keys to that legacy is Plantation Café’s menu of homestyle favorites made right. This isn’t just what mama used to make; it’s what mama would have made if she’d had the best ingredients to work with. Some would say it’s comfort food perfected. It’s such a mouthwatering take on approachable food, it’s hardly any wonder that people would come from miles around drawn by that craving.

“For 10 years, I’ve had people coming from Sun City and all over Bluffton, leaving notes at the restaurant asking, ‘When are you going to be in Bluffton?’” owner Vic Neeley said. “It was just a matter of finding the right location.”

The problem is, 10 years ago the right location didn’t exist yet. “It’s

amazing how much all of this has grown, even compared to a couple of years ago,” Neeley said, perched at a corner table in his restaurant’s gleaming new Buckwalter Place location. “This has really become the center of activity for a lot of people. It’s exciting.”

Neeley’s lengthy search for the perfect spot ended in 2018. As luck would have it, the developers at Buckwalter Place happen to be the landlords for a different restaurant

Neeley owns, Savannah’s Original Pancake House.

“I saw their sign, called them up, and they said, ‘We’d love to have you up front. It would be a great fit for us.’ Things worked out really well,” Neeley said.

Really well for Neeley, but even better for those hungry patrons who had spent years driving all the way onto the island whenever they needed their comfort food fix. Opening this past August, Plantation Café’s new Bluffton location already feels like it’s always been there, much like its sister locations. The crisp white walls and industrial furnishings give it that distinctive Lowcountry look but with an approachability that matches the casual menu.

That menu, by the way, offers the same favorites that you’ll find at either of the Hilton Head Island locations. This being Bluffton, they’re also serving mouthwatering bloody marys.

“We took pretty much what we had on the island, but we thought, ‘Out here let’s kick it up a notch,” Neeley said. “Just like our other restaurants, everything that we use is the highest quality we can find, whether it’s the applewood smoked bacon in the bloody mary or the ketchup on your table.”

Commanding a prime spot in one of Bluffton’s most exciting new developments, Plantation Café’s new location is set to be for Bluffton what its sister locations are for Hilton Head Island: something more than an institution. “This is one of those locations where it opened good, but in 5,10, 15 years it will be even better,” Neeley said.

Visit Plantation Café at 20 Discovery Drive, Bluffton, or call (843) 815-5550.

C2 MAGAZINE

OCTOBER 2020

149

I S C IANS MU in bathrooms BAND: GROOVE TOWN ASSAULT MUSICIANS: SAMMY LEE PASSALOUKAS, DALLAS ACKERMAN, BILLY MARTINI, DERRICK LUDAWAY, BRIAN EASON, FRANK WEBER

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE ISLAND REC CENTER FOR HOSTING OUR SHOOT IN THEIR LOCKER ROOM.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT

ICIANS MUSin bathrooms What’s your sign?

Sammy Lee Passaloukas: Virgo Dallas Ackerman: Taurus Billy Martini: Cancer Derrick Ludaway: Aquarius Brian Eason: Scorpio Frank Weber: Sagittarius Most underrated song that, in your opinion, should be a classic: SLP: “Asshole,” by Denis Leary DA: “History of Tenacious D” BM: Anything by Oliver Tree DL: “Romeo and Juliette,” by Radiohead BE: Too many to name here FW: I don’t know if it’s underrated as much as not that well known: Barbeque, ALO Biggest compliment you’ve ever gotten from a fan?

SLP: “I love your tone.”

DA: That I’m the best drummer they’ve ever seen, ever…

BM: “This is not the greatest song in the world.”

DL: “There is no sacred ground here; you all are equally epic!”

BE: “You should be DJing in Vegas; you’re too good for this little town.”

FW: How much better our band has become since I joined.

What is your favorite piece to perform?

SLP: “Like a Stone,” by Audioslave DA: “Rage Against the Machine,” anything heavy, honestly BM: System of a Down DL: “Killing in the Name,” RATM BE: Anything from Rage Against the Machine FW: “Killing in the Name,” RATM What do you sing in the shower?

SLP: “Bananas and Blow,” by Ween DA: Drum parts to songs BM: “All by Myself,” Green Day DL: “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over,” Jeff Buckley BE: “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” FW: Songs that I’m working on learning Favorite cereal?

SLP: Sugar Smacks DA: Fruity Pebbles BM: Anything but Fruit Loops DL: Reese’s Puffs BE: Don’t eat cereal FW: Coco Puffs, with the milk at the end being the best part At what venue do you most like to perform?

SLP: The Board Room 152

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

DA: Barrelhouse South, Tiki Hut BM: Barrelhouse South DL: The Tiki Hut, hands down—the view, the crowd, the staff—top notch.

BE: Barrelhouse South FW: Toss-up between Tiki Hut and Barrelhouse South in Savannah Most requested song at shows?

SLP: “Sail,” by Awolnation DA: “Santeria,” “Free Bird” BM: “Free Bird” DL: Anything Incubus BE: “Free Bird” FW: Still “Free Bird” First concert you attended?

SLP: The Exies at Monkey Business on Hilton Head DA: Lamb of God in Myrtle Beach at age 13 BM: Third Day DL: Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Kool and the Gang BE: Metallica FW: Weird Al Favorite artist?

SLP: Averaged Sevenfold DA: Enter Shikari BM: Jevon Daly DL: OutKast BE: Right now, Robot Pirate Monkey FW: Impossible to answer, but right now I’m digging on Theo Katzman.

Place you go to get away from it all?

SLP: The car DA: Just my room, with my dog BM: Anywhere I can go fishing DL: The beach BE: Fishing, anywhere FW: To the mountains Do you tweet, gram or book?

What’s your handle?

SLP: Facebook DA: Eh, not really … @hhhavoc BM: Insta and Facebook @ sleepycreekmusic DL: Dlocbot on the gram BE: Instagram @djbrianeason FW: You can find me on Facebook.

Who would star as you in the epic retelling of your life on film?

SLP: Jason Momoa DA: Me? Johnny Depp?

BM: Johnny Depp DL: Michael B. Jordan BE: Macaulay Culkin FW: The guy that played Fez in That ’70s Show, but without the accent

First instrument you learned to play?

SLP: Piano, guitar, bass DA: Drums BM: Guitar DL: Drums BE: Trumpet FW: Trumpet Song you were thrilled to finally master?

SLP: “Bohemian Rhapsody,” by Queen DA: “Self-Destruction,” by us, or “Stellar”

by Incubus BM: “G.O.A.T.,” by Polyphia, and I’m still trying to master it, lol.

DL: “The Warmth,” by Incubus BE: I’m a DJ, so maybe “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”

FW: Prelude No.1 by Villa Lobos from back in my classical guitar playing days What do you wish you knew more about?

SLP: Computers DA: Music theory BM: Time Travel DL: Fixing Cars BE: How to read music FW: Rock climbing What animal do you most identify with?

SLP: Tiger DA: Bear BM: Dragons DL: Giraffe BE: House cat FW: An indoor/outdoor house cat If you got super famous and had to change your name, what would your new name be?

SLP: Master Shredder DA: Havoc, the Octopus BM: Hugh G. Wrecktion DL: Wouldn’t ever change my name BE: Sammy Passaloukas FW: Franklin Towers What famous musician would you love to sing/play a duet with?

SLP: Ozzy Osborne DA: I don’t sing, but Rou Reynolds BM: Brittany Spears DL: Norah Jones BE: No musician in their right mind would want that.

FW: Paul Simon

GTA LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE! Tiki Hut October 2, 25, 31 (Costume Party!)

Brother Shuckers October 17 & 24 Wild Wings October 9

Peaceful Henry's October 23 Tio's Latin American Kitchen October 30 (Costume Party!)

OCTOBER 2020 1

2

From 3pm - 6:30 pm Join the Forsythe Jewelers team on Thursday, October 1, 3 - 6:30 pm during their Sethi Couture Debut Party to see this special collection. Enjoy a wine & cheese tasting by Hazel Dean’s while you sip and shop! RSVP to 843-671-7070 or Andrea@ForsytheJewelers.biz.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS WITH ALEX Squire Pope Community Park Every Friday In October 5-6pm

SETHI COUTURE DEBUT PARTY

3 OKTOBERFEST WITH ALEX Hilton Head Brewing Company 4-7pm A Fundraising Event For Alex Brown’s Town Council

137 Squire Pope Road

Local Launch and Cookbook Signing

4

EVERY TUESDAY!

MARSH TACKY HORSE AND BARN TOUR Coastal Discovery Museum at 2pm Reservations are required!

SEA PINES FARMERS MARKET

FARMERS MARKET AT HONEY HORN

Sea Pines Shopping Center 10am-2pm

Coastal Discovery 9am-1pm

When: Friday, Oct. 9 from 5-7 pm Where: FACES Lash Studio

9

Meet cookbook author Angela Rummans, TV personality, model and actor who is best known for being a contestant on season 20 of Big Brother.

ANGELA’S PLANT BASED KITCHEN BOOK SIGNING

$37 ticket includes admission to meet and greet, signed hardcopy of cookbook, door prizes and photo op.

Seating is limited. Tickets are available at https://bit.ly/FACESBookLaunch About the Cookbook:

Over 100 of your favorite comfort meals made entirely from plants.Written by the untrained chef, for the untrained chef.

FACES Day Spa 5-7pm Tickets- $37

“Maybe you’re vegan, maybe you’re just testing the waters of a plant -based lifestyle. One thing I can say without a doubt, there’s a whole new plant-based world out there waiting for you to discover it. “ Angela Angela’s easy-to-follow recipes unlock the creativity of all the plantbased possibilities with flavors from around the world. From NoChicken Pot Pie and Faux “Crab” Cakes, to Bang Bang Cauliflower and Ty’s Favorite Buffalo Chickpea Pizza, discover both new ingredients and a variety of flavors and foods. Bon appetit!

12

11

13

TO DO #1

Coligny Theatre 8pm Carpenter’s 1978 film that redefined the genre forever, Halloween.

CARVE A HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN!

18

19

22 14 WAYBACK WEDNESDAYS

26

TO DO #4

TO DO #5

DANCE AROUND TO “MONSTER MASH”

PUT YOUR FAVORITE FALL CANDLES EVERYWHERE

The Salty Dog 4-7pm Live music and waterfront fun! saltydog.com

Your Own Home or Office 6-7:30pm anitahillparty.com

ROBERTO COIN TRUNK SHOW AT FORSYTHE JEWELERS Friday: 10 am - 6 pm & Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm Explore the newly coined fall collections from Roberto Coin featuring Roman Barocco, Palazzo Ducale, Venetian Princess, Princess Flower, Pois Moi, Love In Verona, Royal Opera Collections and more during our two-day trunk show at Forsythe Jewelers. Bubbles + Lite Bites served RSVP to 843.671.7070

28

23 PUMPKIN PATCH *DRIVE THRU* Shelter Cove Town Centre 4-7pm All children will receive a special goody bag. islandreccenter.org

17 HUSHPUPPY FEST

23&24

TO DO #3

27

16

29TH ANNUAL “I BELIEVE ANITA HILL” CELEBRATION

20

DRINK A #PSL FROM YOUR LOCAL COFFEE SHOP!

25

15

10 25TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON KICK OFF Arts Center of Coastal Carolina Featuring American Idol Winner Candice Glover 3:30 – 5:30pm

30

24 GARDEN STATE GUYS: OH, WHAT A NIGHT! Arts Center of Coastal Carolina 7:30pm Single Tickets: $61 artshhi.com

31

EVENTS AND MORE COVID-19 INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS

154

OCTOBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE