Town August 2013

Eco Loco GREEN LIVING IS MORE THAN A LIFESTYLE: IT’S A WAY OF LIFE

Plate Up FARM-TO-TABLE RESTAURANTS FOR YOUR NEXT MEAL

Jam Session FOUR RENOWNED MUSICIANS GATHER ’ROUND AND OPEN UP

Wild

Ride

MOTORCYCLES ARE A WAY OF LIFE FOR THE OLD CRAP RIDERS

Note Worthy MUSIC CITY AND G -VEGAS EXCHANGE A LITTLE STARDUST A U G U S T 2 013 TOWNCAROLINA.COM

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Eric Brown Design NE W YORK

|

GREENVILLE

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CHARLESTON

1322 EAST WASHINGTON ST., GREENVILLE, SC

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NAPLES

864.233.4442

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“SUCCESSFUL INTERIORS TELL A STORY. THE KEY ELEMENTS ARE HISTORY AND IMAGINATION; THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN AND THINGS THAT COULD BE…” ERICBROWNDESIGN.BIZ

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AugustaRoad.com Realty LLC

511 Wren Way - Swansgate - $112,605

With The Right Listing Agent Your Fine Estate…………

100 Blue Ridge - Travelers Rest - $159,690

125 Cammer Ave - Augusta Rd Area - $219,605

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106 Moultrie - Augusta Road Area - $224,605 9 Setting Sun Ln -The Ridge at Sunset - $274,690 428 Longview Terrace - Augusta Rd Area - $299,605

119 Rockwood - Augusta Road Area - $304,605

212 Waccamaw - Augusta Rd Area - $345,605

12 Augusta Dr - Augusta Rd Area - $349,605

3 Riverside Drive - GCC Area - $374,605

213 Oregon St - Augusta Rd Area - $389,605

22 Hillandale Cir - Paris Mtn Area - $444,609

86 TOWN / towngreenville.com

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…………Could Be Featured Here In September!

Joan Herlong Owner, BIC • 864-325-2112

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323 Jones - Alta Vista/Augusta Rd Area - $499,605

35 Douglas Dr - GCC Area - $539,605

48 Forest Lane - Augusta Rd Area - $549,605

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122 Kellett Park - Parkins Mill Area - $559,607

16 Keowee Ave - Augusta Rd Area - $624,605

25 Fontaine Rd - Parkins Mill Area - $674,607

1 Rockingham Rd - Parkins Mill Area - $674,607 101 Country Club Drive - GCC Area - $799,605 102 Bruce Farms - Simpsonville Area - $989,681

Your home here next month!!

JANUARY 2011 / 11

Downtown - $1,199,601 www.PoinsettPenthouse.com 2-3.indd 3

28 Lawson Way - Chanticleer Section IX - $1,275,605

Joan@AugustaRoad.com AUGUST 2012 / 87

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1334 South Hwy 14, Simpsonville SC | 864.297.5585

7/18/13 6:17 PM

Incredible Opportunity!

482 E. Parkins Mill Road | Parkins Mill Area | MLS 1262796 | 4 BR, 3.5 BA | $1,169,000

Incredible 5600+ sq ft custom-built home perfectly situated close to Greenville’s amazing Downtown and also close to all that the Eastside has to offer. Everything about this gracious home speaks of elegance and comfort.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Ground Level Master Suite Steam Shower Master Bath 3 Bedrooms Upstairs Two Full Bathrooms Upstairs Large Bonus Room Upstairs Solid Hardwood 8’ Doors Downstairs 10’ Ceilings Downstairs 9’ Ceilings Upstairs Marble Floor Foyer Extensive Crown Molding Plantation Shutters Central Vac System Tons of Closet and Attic Storage Gas Logs in the Living Room and Den Office with a Wall of Built-ins off the Foyer Three Sets of French Doors in the Family Room 24’x13’ Covered Porch 13’ x 10’ Screened Porch Chef ’s Dream Kitchen Walk-in Pantry High-end Stainless Appliances Dacor Six Burner Gas Cooktop Granite Countertops Large Laundry Room with Folding Area Professionally Landscaped and Maintained Yard Full-yard Irrigation Large Workshop Exterior Lighting

TOM MARCHANT | 864.449.1658 86 TOWN / towngreenville.com

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99 Echo Drive | MLS 1263130 3 BR, 2.5 BA | $750,000 $150K REDUCTION!! Custom log home built in 2006 with amazing long distance views. Located in the historic Caesar’s Head community.

117 James Street | MLS 1259425 4 BR, 3 BA | $575,000 Grand home on one of Downtown Greenville’s most historic landmark streets.

Built in 1922 by renowned architect, Willie Ward.

160 Robertson Way | MLS 1262932 4 BR, 3.5 BA | $519,000 Relax and enjoy the peaceful country setting of this wonderful home located near the base of Paris Mountain.

Approximately six acres. pool, 2 car attached garage and additional 2 car detached garage with guest house.

623 N Main St #7 | MLS 1260401 3 BR, 3.5 BA | $569,000

4 Phillips Lane 4 BR, 3.5 BA | $594,000

Built in 2002. Carefree living downtown with great square footage, large rooms, two-car attached J Agarage, N U A R Y large 2 0 1 1 closets, / 11 huge storage room, private office space.

New construction. Ready FALL 2013.

Approx. 3800SF, 10’ ceilings down and 9’ ceilings up, Bonus Room, 2 car garage.

TomMarchant.com | CaesarsHeadShowcase.com AUGUST 2012 / 87

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CAROLINA 135 Mall Connector Rd. | Greenville, SC 29607 | 864.963.9536 | www.cfiupstate.com | Hours: Mon – Fri 9:30-5:30 | Sat 10-4 8.indd 4 Aug12 TOWN.indd 1 CaroFurn

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Visit your local branch to learn more about our special Home Equity Line of Credit offer for homeowners.

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Equal Housing Lender Š 2013 CertusHoldings, Inc. All rights reserved. CertusBank is a trademark of CertusHoldings, Inc.

7/18/13 1:00 6:20 PM 7/11/13

Contents

15 THE LIST

See, hear, read, react.

The month’s must-dos.

21 ON THE TOWN

Pics of the litter: Upcountry fêtes & festivities.

33 TOWNBUZZ

Easley rocker and piano tuner Rob Cassels, the Steep Canyon Rangers, painter Jared Emerson, teen guitar virtuoso Marcus King, and more.

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JAM SESSION Four of Greenville’s musical greats—Emile Pandolfi, Mac Arnold, Paul Riddle, and Angela Easterling—get together for food, drinks, and conversation.

// by Jac Chebatoris

45 PROFILE

Music City and G-Vegas share a little stardust. Plus, take on Nashville inthe-know.

51 PLACE HOLDER

Scott Gould recounts the rise of Rockin’ A Hard Place from the page to the small screen.

// photography by J. Aaron Greene

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59 STYLE CENTRAL

Age before beauty: vintage vinyl from local record shops and clutches to match your concert-going ensembles.

OCR/OCD Neither shiny nor new, but certainly full of character and swagger. Such is the essence of an Old Crap Rider.

64 MAN ABOUT TOWN

Inner renegade or endless youth?

The Man About TOWN contemplates a Triumph Bonneville.

// by Steven Tingle // photography by Paul Mehaffey

87

EAT & DRINK

Table 301’s new French-inspired bistro, and SIP mixes sangria tableside.

92 DINING GUIDE 98 TOWNSCENE

Got plans? You do now.

104

COVER: Photograph by Paul Mehaffey; 1963 BMW R60/2, courtesy of Troy McAfee. For more, see “OCR/OCD,” page 76.

THIS PAGE: Portrait of Mac Arnold by J. Aaron Greene. For more, see “Jam Session,” page 68.

SECOND GLANCE

John Acorn’s thoughtful examination into the ordinariness of American gun culture.

August

10 TOWN / towncarolina.com

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Carlt

Coming soon!

2014 CLA250

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EDITOR’S

Letter

Mark B. Johnston PUBLISHER mark@towncarolina.com Blair Knobel EDITOR-IN-CHIEF blair@towncarolina.com Paul Mehaffey ART DIRECTOR SENIOR EDITOR Jac Chebatoris

Music Seen

M

usic is everywhere. Weddings, funerals. Religious services. Service centers. At the café, in the bar. In the department store, even at the grocery store. At the dentist and sometimes the doctor. Music is about life and its attendant drama—mostly love and loss.

What I’ve come to notice especially about music is its indelible connection to time. Whether we realize it or not, we have soundtracks to our lives. Music is a powerful, guttural reminder of our past. It is a portal, an access point. We each have these intrinsic switches: we literally feel music, because—for whatever reason—it makes moments more meaningful, and, simultaneously, we attach more meaning to moments with music.

We glorify musicians—we prize and praise them like we should. How could we not for giving us something so intimate? Music moves us because it moves them.

They’re playing the notes of their lives.

In our Music Issue, we present a track of stories worthy of vintage collection. Rob Cassels takes his Southern jam from Easley to Europe and tunes pianos for the finest venues (“Music Lessons,” page 34). Marcus King lays his soul out on a blues guitar with such finesse and fire you’d think the man’s lived nine lives (“King Pin,” page 42). He is 17.

Also inside is a conversation—“Jam Session,” page 68—that took place especially for our issue. Four local musicians, each with national and international success, came together over dinner and drinks at American Grocery Restaurant. They didn’t cry into their beer, but they did share some gems of stories.

Our B-side? Motorcycles. Not all music lovers are bike aficionados, but I’d wager that every bike aficionado is a music lover. I’d also bet that most of us would be willing to ride with any passionate member of the Old Crap Riders. That’s right. OCR. Find their stories in “OCR/OCD,” page 76.

Riding is in their blood. They’d probably say that they live for it. Much like a musician lives for the craft. And much like we live to the beat of their talent, finding our rhythm by the songs of their lives.

ASSISTANT EDITOR Andrew Huang CONTRIBUTING EDITORS M. Linda Lee Steven Tingle CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Scott Gould Laura Linen Kathleen Nalley Holly Stephenson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Chelsey Ashford J. Aaron Greene Ken Osburn Gabrielle Grace Smith EDITORIAL INTERN Mary Cathryn Armstrong GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN Kate Guptill Holly Hardin PRODUCTION MANAGER GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Kristy Adair Michael Allen Whitney Fincannon MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES Lori Burney Mary Beth Culbertson Kristi Jennings Donna Johnston Pam Putman Kate Banner COMMUNIT Y SPONSORSHIPS & EVENTS MANAGER kate@towncarolina.com

Blair Knobel Editor-in-Chief

Ryan Johnston MARKETING MANAGER David Robinson CIRCUL ATION MANAGER Sue Priester PHIL ANTHROPIC ADVISOR

Follow us on Facebook & Twitter Be in-the-know online! Find the best of TOWN Magazine— events, stories, dining, & more!

We literally feel music, because—for whatever reason—it makes moments more meaningful, and, simultaneously, we attach more meaning to moments with music.

TOWN Magazine (Vol. 3, No. 8) is published monthly (12 times per year) by TOWN Greenville, LLC, 148 River Street, Suite 120, Greenville, SC 29601, (864) 679-1200. TOWN Magazine is a free publication. However, if you would like to have TOWN delivered to you each month, you may purchase an annual subscription (12 issues) for $65. For subscription information or where to find, please visit www.towncarolina. com. Postmaster: Send address changes to TOWN, 148 River Street, Suite 120, Greenville, SC 29601. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.

GCMA 13

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Greenville County Museum of Art Masterpieces of American Landscape from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston through September 15 Landscapes from the Southern Collection through September 8 Southbound through October 6 Wyeth vs. through September 22 David Drake: Potter and Poet of Edgefield District through January 19, 2014

gcma.org

now online 24/7

Greenville County Museum of Art

420 College Street Greenville, SC 29601 864.271.7570 admission free

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Dave and Peg Harvey

left Upstate New York in 2010 and moved to Greenville to begin a new chapter of their fully retired—but extremely active— lives. Golf at The Preserve, hiking, travel and long rides on the motorcycle would be on their daily to-do list, yard work and home maintenance would not.

- Read more of their story at verdae.com Hollingsworth Park offers a diversity of housing options priced from the $200s. The residential mix includes custom and estate homes to more modest single-family dwellings, townhomes and luxury apartments. Residents enjoy a 20-acre central park, pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, a neighborhood business district and being close to everything.

Verdae Development, Inc.

Photograph courtesy of Elise Testone

“The incredible view of the open greenspace from the front porch sparked our interest, but the fact that Shadwell Townes offers a maintenance-free lifestyle is what sold us.”

- Peg Harvey, resident

Sales Office Open Daily in Legacy Square • 3 Legacy Park Road, Suite A • Greenville, SC 29607 • (864) 329-8383 • verdae.com

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List z

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THE MONTH’S MUST- DOS

August 2013

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List

Photograph courtesy of Elise Testone

ELISE TESTONE

American Idol alum and rising star Elise Testone will perform at the opening night party of SHE, a celebration of everything woman. SHE invites women of any age to join in at this “ultimate girls’ weekend.” Indulge your inner shopper at the vendor marketplace, pick up tips on planning the perfect dinner event from Carolina Girl Cooks’ Jennifer Glover, get crafty at any one of the local artist workshops, and more.

TD Convention Center, 1 Exposition Dr, Greenville. Fri, Aug 23, 10am–8pm; the SHE Indulges Opening Night Party starts at 5:30pm, and Elise Testone will perform; Sat, Aug 24, 10am–6pm; Sun, Aug 25, 11am–5pm. Adults, $8; students, $5; juniors, $4. (864) 250-9713, shegville.com

AUGUST 2013 / 15

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LANDSCAPES FROM THE SOUTHERN COLLECTION

THE WAILERS

Nestled comfortably within the Blue Ridge Mountains, the lush setting of the Brevard Music Center is the ideal background to take in an array of musical entertainment from professionals and budding student musicians. The festival hosts numerous performances ranging from classical symphonies to full-scale operas at both the center and Brevard College campus.

Brevard Music Center, 349 Andante Ln; Brevard College, 1 Brevard College Dr, Brevard, NC. Thurs–Sun, Aug 1–4, times vary. $10-$35. (828) 862-2100, brevardmusic.org

Louis Remy Mignot (1831–1870), Mount Chimborazo, circa 1865; Photograph courtesy of the Greenville County Museum of Art

There are few things more visually stunning than the rolling greens and airy mountains of the South’s unique landscape. This exhibition brings these visions home to the Upstate, featuring the simplicity of the South and beyond as told by artists like John James Audubon and Louis Remy Mignot.

Greenville County Museum of Art, 420 College St, Greenville. Thru Sept 8; Wed–Sat, 10am–6pm; Sun, 1–5pm. Free. (864) 271-7570, gcma.org

Bob Marley may have passed away more than three decades ago, but the king of reggae’s legacy lives on in the reincarnation of his original band, The Wailers. Blending elements of the past in longtime bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett with the fresh addition of Jamaican vocal sensation Koolant Brown, this is sure to be a night filled with positive vibes and easy jammin’.

TD Stage, Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Thurs, Aug 8, 7:30pm. $20. (864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org

zWhat-Not-To-Miss / BREVARD MUSIC CENTER FESTIVAL

Photograph courtesy of Brevard College

THE

Because Everything Matters...

Expertise matters. But price does, too. So Mackey combines equal measures of compassion and professionalism with a cost-sensitive philosophy that ensures we’re accessible to families of all faiths, all incomes. You need never overspend to get the service you deserve. A funeral or cremation doesn’t have to be expensive to be done right – and that’s been our philosophy for more than 140 years.

Offering affordable, compassionate care to the Upstate since 1872. © 2013 STEI 1 6 Mackey T O WhlfH N TownJuly13 / t o w n crev.indd a r o l i n1 a . c o m

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311 Century Dr., 291 Bypass at I-385, Greenville | 864-232-6706 | MackeyMortuary.com 6/13/13 10:49 AM

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THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

GREENVILLE PICKENS SPEEDWAY

Smiley’s Acoustic Café has long been a stop for Upstate natives who treasure live music, tasty fare, and a free-spirited vibe more reminiscent of Asheville or Berkeley. Join local musicians on Wednesday nights for Blues Night, presented in association with the Palmetto Drum Company.

If you’ve ever wanted to sit through an entire evening of Shakespeare but can’t bear the headache of deciphering him, fear not! There is hope after all. This bawdy, tongue-in-cheek retelling of some of the Bard’s most famous works by a trio of Playhouse actors is more likely to leave you in stitches than scratching your head.

Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown, 125 S Main St, Hendersonville, NC. Aug 1–18. Thurs, Sat–Sun, 2pm; Wed–Sat, 8pm. Adults, $35; seniors, $33; students, $25.

(866) 732-8008, flatrockplayhouse.org

Maybe it’s the intoxicating rev of engines gliding around the track. Maybe it’s the beer.

But whether you’re a fan of stock cars, trucks, or Ricky Bobby, the speedway’s guaranteed to bring out your inner NASCAR fan. Camp out, meet your favorite drivers, and whoop it up in the only place where the entertainers are louder than the fans.

Greenville Pickens Speedway, 3800 Calhoun Memorial Hwy, Easley. Sat, Aug 3, 10, 17, 23, 8–10:30pm. $10.

(864) 269-0852, greenvillepickens.com

Photograph courtesy of Smiley’s Acoustic Café

Smiley’s Acoustic Café, 111 Augusta St, Greenville.

Wed, Aug 7, 14, 21, 28, 10pm. Free. (864) 282-8988, smileysacousticcafe.com

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Photograph courtesy of Flat Rock Playhouse

SMILEY’S ACOUSTIC BLUES NIGHT

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Quick HITS SARCOMA WARRIORS 3RD ANNUAL “FIGHTING CANCER NEVER SOUNDED SO GOOD” zWhat’s better than giving cancer a swift kick to the rear? Giving it a swift kick to the rear to some awesome music. Hosted by Hawk Harrison, one half of the comedic B93.7 Hawk n’ Tom duo, the event will feature shag-worthy music by Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues and the Jaywalkers, not to mention scrumptious eats and drinks. There’s no better cause this side of the Mississippi, so come on out and fight the good fight.

Zen, 924 S Main St, Greenville. Thurs, Aug 22, 6–9pm. $35. sarcomawarriors.org

COUNTRY CABARET AT PUMPKINTOWN MOUNTAIN OPRY

Photograph courtesy of the Peace Center

zThis ain’t your grandmother’s cabaret. On second thought, maybe it is. Swapping out sequins for straw hats, the Pumpkintown Mountain Opry serves up Southern-fried comedy with a steaming side of rip-roaring fun. And with a new comedy set each Saturday, you’ll never see the same show twice.

The Pumpkintown Opry Dinner Theater, 3414 Hwy 11, Pickens. Thru Oct 26. Sat, 7pm. $30. (864) 836-8141, pumpkintownopry.com

REALLY GOOD, REALLY BIG, REALLY CHEAP BOOK SALE zWhether you’re a fan of fiction, biography, or need to snap up a few stories for the kids, this Greenville Literacy Association fundraiser has got you covered.

Last year, 14,000 attendees bagged nearly 100,000 books at prices that can make even the chintzy George Costanza smile. New this year is Sunday’s Bag Full of Books Deal, where shoppers can load up all on their favorite reads for a mere $10 per sack. And if you’d like to beat Saturday’s crowds, $10 will get you in the door an hour early.

McAlister Square Shopping Center, 225 S Pleasantburg Dr, Greenville. Aug 17–18. Sat, 8:30am–4pm; Sun, 1–4pm. Free admission, book costs vary. (864) 467-3461, greenvilleliteracy.org

UPSTATE HARVEST MOON FESTIVAL zSimpsonville’s annual Labor Day Festival hasn’t disappeared, it’s just been replaced by its hip, modern cousin. This year’s event harnesses the spirit of the community by threading craft beers and homegrown, healthy grub into a hearty schedule already loaded with live music, local vendors, and activities.

Main St & Curtis St, Simpsonville. Sat, Aug 31–Sun, Sep 1, 3–11pm; Mon, Sep 2, 12–8pm. Free. (864) 963-3781, upstateharvestmoonfestival.com

Shemekia Copeland A good blues song wraps around you like soft velvet, its singer seducing you with tantalizing vocals. One such siren is Shemekia Copeland, whose sultry voice and dynamic passion has garnered her the title “Queen of the Blues.” Join her outside at the TD Stage for a night of sizzling jazz sure to match the summer heat.

TD Stage, Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville.

Fri, Aug 16, 7:30. $20.

(864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org

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Downtown Greenville . 123 College Street . JBLacher.com . 864.232.7385 . Since 1946 TOWN_AUG_The List.indd 19

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Town

ON THE

Cancer Survivors Park Grounds Blessing June 1, 2013 More than 150 guests joined Patients First, a local non-profit organization, for the unveiling of plans for a 3-acre Cancer Survivors Park situated along the Swamp Rabbit Trail. Representatives from the City of Greenville, REWA, Naturaland Trust, Upstate Forever, Greenville Health System, St. Francis Health System, Greenville High School, and JL Mann High School were in attendance. The park, which is slated to open in Fall 2013, is designed to provide meditative, healing spaces for anyone, and especially those whose lives have been touched by cancer.

George & Crissy Maynard with Becca & Ben Rook

Photography by Chelsey Ashford

Charlie Stone & Caroline Grigg

Michelle & Ted Hassold with Phil Ropper

Megan O’Neil, Derek Watson, Kevyn Watson & Kies Watson

Katrina & Phil Feisal with Sally & Art Seaver

Janet & Katie Keith

Rhonda Riley & Laura Lynn Luce with Tracie & Tim McConnell AUGUST 2013 / 21

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The Upstate’s Body Shop Alternative

Donald Gilbert & Peggy Conits

Bumper Repair • Scratch & Chip Repair 3M Paint Protection Film & Installation 1 Day Service • Free Estimates 700 Woodruff Road, Greenville (Near Beck Academy) Bob Scott, Chef Alan Scott & Wanda Scott

ExtremeColorsGreenville.com 864-283-0633

Julie Smart & Cheryl Smart Ashley & Tuan Trinh

Turner Fortner & Roy Hummers with Brian & Cindy Stromwall

22 TOWN / towncarolina.com

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ON THE

Town

Taste of the Upstate

MY

June 2, 2013 Some of Greenville’s most illustrious dining establishments joined Loaves & Fishes for its annual Taste of the Upstate fundraiser, presented by Duke Sandwich Company. About 300 people, including Kimberly Kelly, Jack Roper, Reggie “Action” Jackson, and Duke Sandwich Company CEO Andrew Smart, attended the event and were treated to samples from Café Verdae, Coal Fired Bistro, Irashai Sushi Pub, Roost, and nine other restaurants.

Loaves & Fishes raised more than $50,000 in support of its mission to feed Greenville County’s hungry.

Photography by Chelsey Ashford Cameron Smith & Sarah Dariano

Rick & Lise Amzelone

UPSTATE

CHOICE FOR

SEDATION DENTISTRY As a patient who has always been fearful of the dentist, IV Sedation and the wonderful staff helped to calm my fears during my dental procedure. The ability to relax and have no memory of my procedure was the best thing I could ask for. Thank you Pelham Links!

IV Sedation Patient,

Hayley Skelton

Oral and ___ I.V. Sedation Modern State of the Art Facilities ___ Dental___ Implants Cosmetic ___Crowns Veneers ___ Wisdom Tooth ___ Extraction “Spa Like” atmosphere with TV and Movies

Ivan & Janet Block with Kristi & Carlos Echeverri

PelhamLinks Family and Cosmetic Dentistry Our Doctors Create Beautiful Smiles Greenville 864.297.6365 | Duncan 864.661.6365 Simpsonville 864.757.1500

www.PelhamLinks.com

Chad & Kelly Lettew with Miller Mayes

Marge Lafferty & Marie Bindewald AUGUST 2013 / 23

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ON THE

Town

Cocktail Reception Media Announcement Business Meeting Rehearsal Dinner Business Social

Austin & Brantley Goforth

Charity Event

Michelin on Main:

Aimee & Dale King Steve & Liz Seaman

A unique venue for your next special event.

Michelin on Main is an award-winning facility that transforms to the perfect venue for your special event.

STOP IN OR CALL US TODAY: 864.241.4450

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Marilyn, Don, & Megan Reichert

7/16/13 9:55 AM

Brian & Leisa Todd with Carolyn & Jim Robinson

24 TOWN / towncarolina.com

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A Night of Courage July 14, 2013 About 200 friends of the Greenville Health System arrived at the Thornblade Club to lend their support at GHS Giving’s A Night of Courage.

Funds from the event directly support Camp Courage, a recreational summer camp for area children who have cancer or blood disorders. Along with silent and live auctions, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres, guests heard from Ashland Brown, whose son was able to attend Camp Courage.

Photography by Chelsey Ashford

Myrna Hardy, Frank Landgraff & Mary Kay Kelly

Keith & Aimee Lonergan

Scott & Barb Hocking, Tee Hooper, Jen Betts & Austin Reeves

Allison, Eliza & Alan Anderson

AUGUST 2013 / 25

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Refined.

Classic.

Inspired.

ON THE

Town

Flat Out Under Pressure June 8, 2013 For some, the saying “works best under pressure” justifies a degree of procrastination, but for the eight winners of Flat Out Under Pressure 2013, there’s definitely an element of truth. More than 200 people joined participating artists to view the results of a 24-hour bout of artistic frenzy.

Katie Walker, Diane Kilgore Condon, Janina Tukarski Ellis, Alice Ratterree, Mark Mulfinger, Kathy Moore, Kim Hassold, and Eric Benjamin were announced as the winners, and will have their works displayed on stainless-steel recycling bins on Main Street in Greenville.

Photography by Gabrielle Grace Smith

Jimmy Dooley, Missy Nichols & Debbie Bright

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Melissa Anderson & Suzanne Hagins

Alan Ethridge with Emelia & Jim Stephenson 26 TOWN / towncarolina.com

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Works by Garland Mattox Opening Reception June 27, 2013 About 150 artists, friends, sponsors, and art enthusiasts joined Garland Mattox for the opening reception of her exhibit Works by Garland Mattox.

Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and lively conversation. Board members from the Metropolitan Arts Council and Centre Stage were also in attendance. The exhibit, which features works from her Water series, will be on display at the Centre Stage Gallery until August 19.

14th Annual Pawleys Island Wine Gala

Friday, October 4 • 7:00 pm • $85, beginning Sept. 1 $100

Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr.

visit the hammock coast where arts, history and culture abound

Originally of The 5th Dimension Saturday, October 5 • 7:00 pm • $75 / $35 / $25

Seaside Palette – en Plein Air Saturday, October 5 • 10:00 am-4:00 pm

Teach My People Collaborative Fundraiser Featuring

Elise Testone

Sunday, October 6 • 6:00 pm • $40 / $25 Children 12 & under – Free

Emile Pandolfi

Photography by Chelsey Ashford

Wednesday, October 9 • 7:00 pm • $35 / $25

Vivace

Rudy & Sonya Ables

Thursday, October 10 • 7:00pm • $25 Children 18 & under – Free

Mac Arnold

Friday, October 11 7:00 pm • $50 / $35 / $25

Movin’ Out Band

The Tabled Event • Saturday, October 12 • 7:00pm • $35 / $25

Autumn along the Hammock Coast is irresistible with its fabulous temperatures, warm ocean days, great history and incredible cultural music and art festivals. Spend a weekend or two and share in our regional celebration of the arts during the 23rd Pawleys Island Festival of Music and Art held October 1-13, 2013.

Visit www.pawleysmusic.com for exceptional weekend rates offered during the Festival and to learn more about this cultural extravaganza.

To purchase tickets visit www.pawleysmusic.com or call 843-626-8911.

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Karen Joseph & Ellen Coia Jim & Beth Ellis

Kay & Lang Cheves with Ann & Gordon Sherard AUGUST 2013 / 27

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Weddings / by Andrew Huang

Nikki McCauley & Bennett Thompson June 15, 2013 Christening is a symbolic act that recognizes beginnings. Infants are baptized and named, and bottles of Champagne are broken across ships’ bows. When Bennett and Nikki moved to Charlotte for Bennett’s job, Bennett chose a unique way to celebrate the couple’s new life together in a new city. On the first night in their new house, Bennett proposed to Nikki. The couple was married at Chattooga Belle Farm in Long Creek, SC. The day’s breathtaking moments paired perfectly with stunning landscapes at the sunset reception. The couple resides in Charlotte, where the groom is a sales representative for Burndy, and the bride is an associate risk manager for OB Hospitalist Group.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEITH CARSON & CRYSTAL HEART // RED APPLE TREE PHOTOGRAPHY

Brittany Sweeney & Keaton Brockman December 22, 2012

Meghan Gasmovic & Jobe Ellis May 25, 2013 Jobe knew from the first date that he would marry Meghan. He had the proof in hand the night he proposed. The couple had just returned home from a dinner celebrating Jobe’s recent promotion. Knowing that Meghan had a habit of saving wine corks, Jobe asked to trade the one she brought home with one he was holding. He explained that it was from the first bottle of wine the two shared on their first date, which he knew was going to be the last first date he would ever go on. The two were married at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Simpsonville and now live in Charlotte.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEITH CARSON & CRYSTAL HEART // RED APPLE TREE PHOTOGRAPHY

Words written in beach sand are ephemeral.

They may be washed to sea, blown away, or scraped up and used in sand castles. But when Keaton wrote “Will you marry me?” into North Myrtle Beach, he received something much more lasting: a “yes” and a loving marriage to Brittany. The two met through family: Ricky, Keaton’s cousin, had married Brittany’s cousin a few years ago. In a chance encounter, Brittany ran into Ricky and asked if he knew anyone in Charlotte, as she had just moved to the area.

Numbers were exchanged, and a year-and-ahalf later, Brittany and Keaton were happily engaged. The couple now lives in Simpsonville.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RENDELL BROWN // RENDELL B PHOTOGRAPHY

Bethany Greene & Jarred Whitlock May 18, 2013 May is a busy month for college graduates. There are caps and gowns to order, exams to take, dorms to pack up, and jobs to find. Bethany and Jarred had another to-do, albeit an “I do”: their wedding. The timing, just two weeks after their graduation, was fitting for a couple whose relationship was so closely intertwined with their college experience. Bethany and Jarred met on freshman move-in day, began dating shortly after, and after about two-and-a-half years, became engaged at the same spot where the couple hung out during their freshman year. Bethany and Jarred were married in an intimate ceremony at Twigs Tempietto.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS CAMPBELL // GIVING WEDDINGS

HEARING WEDDING BELLS? TOWN Magazine wants to publish your wedding announcement. If you currently live or grew up in the area and were recently married, please write to us at TOWN Magazine, Attn: Andrew Huang, 148 River Street, Suite 120, Greenville, SC 29601, or e-mail ahuang@towncarolina.com. Due to space constraints, inclusion is not guaranteed.

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BY TEACHING, WE NEVER STOP LEARNING. AND LEARNING ALWAYS MAKES HEALTH CARE BETTER.

As an academic medical center, Greenville Health System (GHS) has a commitment to research and innovation that keeps us on the leading edge—both in finding cures and in finding ways to improve health care itself. Just ask Dr. Spence Taylor, Vice President of Academics, who led the effort to build not only a new medical school but also a whole new school of thought. The result will help our doctors—and tomorrow’s doctors—better meet the Upstate’s changing health care needs. Learn more at ghs.org/modelofchange.

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No home here is the same.

Because no dream is the same.

Perhaps you wish to wake up to 50-mile views in every direction. Or cook with friends in your gourmet kitchen. Or read a book on your back porch, overlooking a quiet lake cove below. Whatever your dream home, whatever joys you want to experience with friends and family, The Cliffs can help bring your ideas to life.

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Obtain the Property Report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. No federal or state agency has judged the merits or value (if any) of The Cliffs properties. This information is not intended for, and is not an offer to, residents of any state where prior registration is required. Void where prohibited by law.

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OUTSIDE THE BOX / JUST THE ANSWERS / PROFILE

Porch Rocker Photograph by Paul Mehaffey

of

TOWN

Record Setter: Cassels and his band have recorded five albums and played with countless artists including the Marshall Tucker Band, Blackfoot, and Steve Morse.

Pioneering Easley musician Rob Cassels has been sharing his music for 30 years AUGUST 2013 / 33

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Key Notes: Between touring, recording, and tuning pianos, Cassels found time to fully restore a broken grand piano thrown out

by Woodmont High School.

He wrote his first album on it.

Music Lessons Rob Cassels discovered rock and roll—and it found him / by Kathleen Nalley // photography by Paul Mehaf fey

E

asley musician and piano tuner Rob Cassels describes the first time he was ignited by music as “a glorious butterfly rumbling in my gut. I was sitting in a 1955 powder-blue station wagon.

Daddy was raking the yard and the radio was on. I heard this sound—‘you ain’t nothing but a hound dog’—I couldn’t get that radio loud enough,” he recalls.

Not long after, Cassels caught the Beatles bug, taught himself how to play an old Sears and Roebuck guitar, and took some traditional piano lessons. His musical style evolved, however, after he was handed a Leon Russell eight-track tape.

“That moment was the biggest twinge on my musical spirit,” says Cassels. “I didn’t know a piano could do that. I got convicted!”

Cassels describes his music as “Southern-rocking Jesus music with lots of piano and guitars.” Over his 30-year musical career, Cassels and his band—Sam Eakins on electric and acoustic guitars, Darrell Thompson on electric and acoustic bass, and Mark Childress

on drums and percussion—have toured North America from Arizona to Nova Scotia and recorded five albums.

Like Johnny Cash, the band even played the famous Cook County Prison.

Often lauded as pioneers, the band performed Christian rock before it was the norm. In the 1980s, the band recorded with members of the Marshall Tucker Band and Blackfoot and were booked at shows with Steppenwolf, Kerry Livgren of Kansas, Toy Caldwell of the Marshall Tucker Band, and many more. In fact, Steve Morse of Dixie Dregs and Deep Purple fame played on several of Cassels’ early albums.

The band’s most recent offering Thunder Fire includes eight new songs and three remakes, including Bob Dylan’s “Gotta Serve Somebody.” It’s the band’s first album after a long hiatus to raise children and pursue other goals.

For the past several years, Cassels has being touring Europe with his “off-shore” band—with performances in Sweden, Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy—for two- and three-week stints. He’s currently in Spain and plans to travel to Brazil in February.

One could say that sharing music has been Cassels’ gift.

However, another sort of gift inspired his mission.

“Woodmont High School was throwing out this old, beaten-down and broken grand piano,” Cassels recalls.

“I restored it piece by piece. That piano inspired me. I wrote my first record on that piano. I took the piano into a recording studio, where musicians from all around recorded on it. Just think . . . what was once seen as a piece of trash barely suiting a dump truck became the instrument behind notes heard by millions of people.”

The piano reminds Cassels of the story “The Master’s Touch,” in which an auctioneer could hardly give away a violin until just the right person played it. Then everyone heard its beauty and wanted it. “I guess you could say I’m into redemptive types of stuff.”

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Picks of the Bunch Steep Canyon Rangers deliver more than a jam with Steve Martin / by Jac Chebatoris

t’s a picture perfect evening in Greenville on May 30, and the Peace Center is packed with an audience practically pulsing. Soon, in a fire-engine red suit, Steven Martin strides onto the stage and stands before the group of five musicians already assembled. In their grips are a mandolin, fiddle, banjo, bass, and guitar— all the makings for some serious good fun.

Martin, who is many things: brilliant comedic actor, Hollywood superstar, and first-time father at 67-years-old, is also a really good—a really, really good—banjo player and is pretty much the (honorary) sixth Ranger in Asheville’s bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers, with whom Martin has played (featuring Edie Brickell, usually) a string of tours over the past four years. After the rousing two-hour performance—during which it is abundantly clear that the Steeps are not just a backing band to Mr. Martin, the after-show backstage cool-down includes a smiling Brickell who saunters breezily by, having changed into comfier off-stage attire just as her husband, Paul Simon emerges from Martin’s dressing room, and for a moment it’s easy to forget that these are Those People.

The Steep Canyon Rangers (Mike Guggino, Woody Platt, Nicky Sanders, Charles Humphrey III, and Graham Sharp), who know Martin as just one of the guys now, are seemingly poised to become stars in their own right as well, winning a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album in February for their seventh record, Nobody Knows You, and the momentum for their original blend of jaunty and spirited bluegrass is only gaining more momentum.

But forget thinking there is any celebrity bad behavior, like Martin not showing up on time to rehearsal. “He’s the first one to have the banjo out of the case,” says banjo player Sharp who formed the band with his fellow University of North Carolina friends 14 years ago. At one point, for about six months at Caesar’s Head, the Steeps all moved into what Sharp describes as a “cinder block bunker without any plumbing” and went to work— honing their chops with the goal of being able to play music festivals. In 2000, they entered the Rocky Grass Festival in Boulder, Colorado, and won the competition. By 2001, they’d moved to Asheville (though two members live in Brevard), and instead of deciding that a musicheavy town like Nashville had to be where they moved, they found that Asheville’s own music community was thriving. “We wanted to retain more of our own identity,” explains Sharp, “and felt like staying home, we could do that.”

As close as Asheville is to Greenville, it’s amazing this firecracker band of seriously talented musicians (the fiddle player, Berkleetrained Sanders practically had smoke coming off his bow after an explosive solo the night of the show) is just up the street. For a group of friends who met as students and honed their skills in the dives of Chapel Hill to winning Grammy Awards, and recording their latest album (the wonderful Tell the Ones I Love, out on Rounder, September 10) at the late Levon Helm’s studio in Woodstock, New York, life must seem like a wild and crazy ride— especially when it sometimes includes poker night at a particular wild and crazy guy’s house.

Photograph by Scott Simontacchi; courtesy of Lotus Nile

Well Steeped: The Steep Canyon Rangers began as college friends performing in Chapel Hill, NC, dive bars.

The band now has a Grammy Award to their name and another record on the way.

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1322 e washington st | greenville, sc | 864.255.5656 | www.studio7online.com

7/11/13 9:26 AM

Photograph by Scott Simontacchi; courtesy of Lotus Nile

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OUTSIDE THE

Box

Paint by Heart Jared Emerson feels his way to a finished piece

Action Traction: You can see Jared’s work on display at his gallery at 300 River Street, Suite 107, in the Art Crossing in downtown Greenville.

Or find him online at thejaredcollection.com

/ by Kathleen Nalley // photography by Paul Mehaf fey

L

ocal artist Jared Emerson relates his intense performance art to life: “Things don’t always turn out as exactly planned. Maybe something doesn’t land in the right spot.

Every splat, every stroke, every moment, though, is meant to be there; it serves a purpose,” he says.

But this wasn’t always his attitude. Jared admits that prior to being led to reinvent his art into a public performance, he didn’t let anyone see him paint. He was concerned about perfection, about ensuring that every line, every dabble, was technically accurate.

In fact, reinvention is a theme that permeates Jared’s life. After being sidelined from playing professional basketball due to an injury, he decided to make his other passion his life’s work. While Jared is most known for his performance art, in which he throws paint, by hand, onto a canvas while onlookers watch, he also does a variety of art—from realism to abstracts, landscapes to portraits— using a variety of media.

“There’s always a way to recreate the already existing and make it your own. Sure, others before me have done performance art. But every time I step to the canvas to create, it is a new and wonderful process,” he says.

Toward that end, his performances revolve around music. Music envelops and inspires him, entertains and captivates the audience, and informs the mood of the moment. “I try to choreograph my movements to the rhythm and beat, and in doing so, the music and art become one fully immersive experience. It projects that I am giving it all I’ve got,” he says.

A DJ friend puts together CDs to inspire Jared, each mix unique to each performance. An event honoring local cyclist and entrepreneur George Hincapie led Jared and the DJ to reinvent the

lyrics of the Gym Class Heroes song “Fighter” into one specifically about Hincapie. “We changed the words to the song to be more about ‘warrior,’” he says.

As a Christian artist who began performance at the request of his pastor, Jared describes what he does as a sort of “visual worship,” an act that can enlighten, reveal, and inspire creativity in others.

He paints to the music of Smokey Robinson, NewSong, Salvador, Don Felder, Javier Colon, Tenth Avenue North, and others, and has done paintings of Smokey Robinson, George Hincapie, Don Felder, Dabo Swinney, Jerry Rice, Javier Colon, Kevin Sorbo, DJ Unk, Lucas Glover, Bill Haas, Edwin McCain, Willie Mays, C.J. Spiller, and pianist Emile Pandolfi. Charitable organizations hire Jared to lend his services for fundraisers, in addition to brides.

As for his process, Jared admits that he doesn’t practice prior to a performance. “I study photos of a particular subject or person. I learn the details and commit them to memory,” he says. “And then when I throw paint onto a canvas, it’s usually for the first time.”

Jared now enjoys stretching his boundaries and not doing things precisely. “You’re no longer going for perfection,” he says. “You’re trying to express the meaning behind the art and inspire people to rediscover their own creativity. There’s no way I could have touched lives in the way I do now through basketball.”

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Answers

JUST THE

Idol Eyes

Stage Presence: See Elise at SHE—a celebration of everything woman— August 23–25 at the TD Convention Center, Greenville. For ticket information and times, check out shegville.com. Elise will perform on August 23 at the SHE Indulges Opening Night Party, which starts at 5:30pm.

Former American Idol contestant Elise Testone comes to Greenville / by Jac Chebatoris

> Since I was on the show, I can’t go to the grocery store without my makeup

> Eight times out of ten, “What was J Lo like?” is one of the first things

strengths. Along with Stevie Nicks, they told me that when I own a song on stage, that is when it is most believable. I will always remember that when I perform, as should any performer.

everybody asks me. For the record, J Lo is even more beautiful in person.

> The audition wasn’t too intimidating. I actually felt pretty confident, but I was lucky. I was asked to come in and audition and got to skip the line! I had three auditions before standing in front of the judges in Savannah.

> On the night I was voted off, it felt like a huge weight was lifted off my

shoulders. I acknowledged my success on the show and was excited to get back in the driver’s seat of my musical career.

> To stay focused during performances in front of the judges and millions of

eyes, I did my best to be in the moment of the story and feel of the song.

But I must admit, knowing I was being publicly judged definitely made it more challenging. My true potential and heart shines best in a loving and welcoming environment! I am excited to share with the world what I have been working on.

on! But more importantly, it is a very rewarding feeling to hear stories of how I made somebody’s day. Most of all, the door has opened to more relevant opportunities. For example, I was invited to sing the National Anthem for the Major League Soccer Cup in Los Angeles, and I opened for BB King! It is nice to feel a new level of respect after so many years of hard work.

> The best advice from Steven Tyler, J Lo, and Randy helped me focus on my

> It’s hard to pick a favorite judge, but I was first introduced to Steven Tyler as a kid and instantly admired him. It was thrilling to be in his presence for 5 months!

> My pre-performance ritual is that I always brush my teeth! > I have been in the studio five days a week or more working on a record.

At this very moment, the sound engineer and I are mixing a song that I wrote. It is a duet with Darius Rucker. It is incredible! There are 12 songs I have been working to perfect.

Photog r aph by R ick Smoak

J

ersey girl Elise Testone made it down to the wire during the 11th season of American Idol and was voted off in sixth place with 58 million votes. The powerhouse vocals of the Charleston, South Carolina, transplant are surely to shine in her new record In This Life, out this month, which includes a duet with Charleston’s own Darius Rucker. Here Testone, 30, gives us Just the Answers in advance of her appearance at the SHE Indulges Opening Night Party in Greenville on August 23.

40 TOWN / towncarolina.com

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It’s Chanel’s Birthday!

Don your little black dress and pearls and let’s celebrate the queen of style. Join us for our annual Chanel night.

A girls’ night out of fashion and fun!

Thursday, August 8th • 5 - 8 pm

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King Pin Guitarist Marcus King plays the blues like an old soul(man) / by Steven Tingle // photograph by Paul Mehaffey

T

here’s a two-year-old video on YouTube of Marcus King playing guitar with his band at a downtown Greenville club. At 15, he’s not old enough to be a customer, but he’s onstage, playing blues-inspired Southern rock with the confidence of a seasoned musician. His wavy hair is pulled back in a long ponytail, and his flannel shirt is untucked. His shape is what mothers in the ’70s used to refer to as “husky.” What’s amazing about this video is not just the raw talent of Marcus King but his casualness in displaying it. At one point following a blistering lead, he shrugs his shoulders and breaks into a smile, as if to say “no big deal.” But for 17-year-old King, playing guitar is a big deal, and he’s looking to make it even bigger.

I really started playing when I was about five,” says King, “but my first gig was with my dad’s band when I was eight.”

King’s father Marvin is a lifelong musician who’s played in a variety of bands over several decades, resulting in two separate record deals. He occasionally joins the Marcus King Band onstage and appears in the video mentioned above, grinning proudly at his teenage son as if watching him pitch a no-hitter.

King’s grandfather was also a musician and played country and bluegrass with a keen sense of timing.“My grandfather taught me a lot about meter and not being so busy,” says King.

“And also about keeping good pocket, you know, keeping that steady beat and not getting all over the place.” Despite being surrounded by musicians, King swears there was never any pressure to play.“They never pushed me into it,” he says.“You see, where I grew up, there weren’t many kids my age around, so I’d just hang out with my grandpa and my grandma and my dad and sit on the couch and play guitar all day.You could say most of my childhood was spent playing guitar.”

The years of “no pressure” playing have given King a natural confidence that will no doubt lead the Marcus King Band to much larger stages.“Right now we’re playing around Greenville,” he says,“but this fall we’re going to branch out and get out into some different cities and get out on the road.”

But even when discussing his future, Marcus’s thoughts are never far from his roots, and his father’s and grandfather’s influence. His most prized possession is his grandfather’s guitar, a 1958 Gibson ES345 that King handles with kid gloves.“My grandfather was a big part of why I got into music and that guitar symbolizes him,” says King.“It’s beautiful, but I don’t like to take it out, man—I would hate myself if anything happened to it.”

Field of Dreams: Marcus King (left) owes much of his interest and investment in music to his dad Marvin (right). Both Kings have enjoyed commercial success; young King, 17, leads the Marcus King Band and plays regularly throughout Greenville and beyond.

AUGUST 2013 / 43

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Profile

Strings Attached Greenville enjoys a close relationship with the Music City, thanks to a few key players

Photograph courtesy of Bob Farnsworth

/ by Holly Stephenson, M. Linda Lee, and Jac Chebatoris

A

bowl of granola cereal with a healthy squeeze of Hershey’s chocolate syrup—the kind of idea that makes you wonder, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

This is Bob Farnsworth’s afternoon snack. “I love chocolate,” Bob says with a prolonged, mischievous grin, and his ingenuity should come as little surprise.

While creating the audio branding for nationallybeloved ads such as the “Budweiser Frogs,” “Always Coca-Cola,” and Wrigley’s “Double Double Your Refreshment,” Bob is back and forth between his home and his music house, Hummingbird Productions—both situated, side-by-side, in the heart of Nashville’s Green Hills neighborhood. After graduating with a music degree from Furman University, Bob moved to Nashville, like so many others, to make it big in the music biz.

“We were supposed to be the next Simon and Garfunkel,” Bob says, quite matter-of-factly. But right after he and his band recorded their first full-length album under ABC Records, John Travolta’s Saturday Night Fever was released, and as Bob put it, “The whole world went disco.”

The year was 1974, and Bob had all but cashed in his dreams for a one-way ticket back to his hometown of Greenville before his landlord lent him a piece of unsolicited advice: “He put his arm around me, drunk,

All Together Now: Bob Farnsworth (center) and two close friends left Greenville for Nashville to “be the next Simon and Garfunkel,” he says. The band dissolved, but Farnsworth stayed in Nashville to start his hugely successful music house Hummingbird Productions.

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Profile and he said, ‘Bobby, let me tell you something. You’re going to go back to Greenville, South Carolina, and you’re gonna sell life insurance with your daddy and one day, in about three years later, you’re gonna wake up and think, “What the hell am I doing down here selling life insurance?” You’re gonna come back to Nashville and have to start all over,’” Bob tells in his best Tennessee drawl.

A year later Hummingbird Productions was born—the name Hummingbird, as Bob explains, “because it’s a little bird that can do a lot and change directions in mid flight. That would be me.”

Today, Hummingbird thrives by making the most of Nashville’s ever-widening pool of musical talent. “Especially when we are working on a big, national job, we might need 10 demos to make sure we’ve covered the bases. Because we are in Nashville, we can do that. And since we can do that, there’s a good chance that we’ll win a job,” Bob explains.

With numerous CLIO awards (the Grammy Awards of advertising), including a CLIO Hall of Fame spot, there’s no denying that part of Hummingbird’s success is due to a strategic placement in Nashville. There’s also no denying that the root of Hummingbird’s success is because of the creative, magnetic individual that is Bob Farnsworth—a man who savors life, family, and his relationships with business partners and employees just as much as the business itself.

Bob raised his children with a profound expression: love is the answer. Back then, it served as a tool to referee fights, but today it’s a business practice. Farnsworth emits kindness, and in an industry where toughness dominates, Hummingbird Productions keeps flying.—Holly Stephenson Flight Plan: Farnsworth named his company Hummingbird Productions, because “it’s a little bird that can do a lot and change directions in mid flight. That would be me,” he says.

BANK NOTES Danielle Bouharoun manages money for the glitterati of the music industry

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hink a banker’s job is boring? Not for Danielle Bouharoun, senior vice president and senior private banker for Wells Fargo Private Bank. Though based in Nashville for business, Bouharoun lives in Greenville with her five-year-old son Shay and her husband Peter, owner of Bouharoun’s Fine Wines & Spirits downtown. Her banking clients are luminaries in the music business, across genres including country, rock, pop, and alternative music. Most of her clients are so famous that she can’t reveal their names for confidentiality reasons.

She puts it this way: “If I’m listening to XM radio in the car, for about every third song I hear, I have a relationship with the artist.

Some of my past and present clients even have their own XM stations.” Celebrities don’t faze Bouharoun. She received ample exposure to professional athletes and other VIPs in her teens as a tournament tennis player in Florida.

Bouharoun, who once had visions of playing tennis professionally, has been in banking since she graduated with a major in political science and international relations from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. When she took her first bank job at North Carolina National Bank (later Bank of America) in commercial lending, her mother warned her it might be boring. Far from lackluster, that job evolved into a gig in private banking, where she relied on her tennis background to handle clients in professional sports. In 1994, she relocated to Nashville, with the task of building the entertainment side of the business for Bank of America.

As a private banker with Wells Fargo for the past four years, Bouharoun describes herself as “the quarterback of the client relationship.” This involves leading a team of specialists for

(This page, from far left) Photograph courtesy of Bob Farnsworth; photograph by Paul Mehaffey; (opposite) photograph courtesy of Kim Carnes

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each client in unique lending options (i.e., buying an airplane), investment management, trusts, insurance, and more. In her case, a client is someone who has $1,000,000 or more with Wells Fargo Private Bank. “What I love about my job is that every day is different,” Bouharoun says. “There’s always something new and exciting.”

Her wealth of contacts in the music industry—notably her friendship with Grammy Award–winning songwriter Tim Nichols and his wife Stacie Standifer, publisher of Nashville Lifestyles magazine—makes Bouharoun a natural to nail down the musical talent for the 2013 Euphoria festival, which takes place in Greenville September 26–29. In Bouharoun’s first year on Euphoria’s board, she has hit high notes by locking in guitarist and record producer Josh Leo and the Adam Craig Band to open for the Friday-night headliner: two-time Grammy winner Kim Carnes.

It’s difficult, she admits, not to sound like she’s bragging when she talks about her job. “It’s just part of what I do,” she says humbly. “I treat my famous clients like everybody else, and they appreciate it.” That’s talent you can take to the bank.

—M. Linda Lee

EYE OPENER

(This page, from far left) Photograph courtesy of Bob Farnsworth; photograph by Paul Mehaffey; (opposite) photograph courtesy of Kim Carnes

’80s icon Kim Carnes headlines Greenville’s Euphoria festival

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he might be famous for “Bette Davis Eyes,” but in Nashville, Tennessee, it’s singer-songwriter Kim Carnes’s turkey chili that is a big hit. Her youngest son Ry, who works on the show Nashville, was having some people over to her house the day we connected by phone, and she was making some for his guests.

Carnes, who was all over the radio in 1981 with her fragileas-a-butterfly-wing-yet-locomotive-strong vocals in “Bette Davis Eyes,” was a songwriter first. She actually didn’t write the Grammy-winning smash, but has had great success with her own songwriting career, including penning three number-one country songs: “The Heart Won’t Lie (Reba McEntire and Vince Gill), “Make No Mistake She’s Mine” (Kenny Rogers and Ronnie Milsap), and the duet she wrote and performed with Rogers, “Don’t Fall in Love with a Dreamer.”

The girl from Pasadena, California, knew early on (from age of 3, she says) that she was going to be a singer. “My goal was to get across the Hollywood freeway and get my first apartment and start hanging out with people who had the same dream that I had,” says Carnes. Those people were fledging singer-songwriters like Glenn Frey and Don Henley (who then became The Eagles), J.D. Souther (who wrote songs for the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt), and the man who became Carnes’s husband, Dave Ellingson.

That same feeling of a tight-knit musical community that Carnes found in Los Angeles in the late 1970s was what convinced her to make the move to Nashville with Ellingson and their two sons in 1996. It was culture shock at first, but now the Music City is as diverse in lifestyle as it is in music. As Carnes says, “Any kind of music you want is here now.”

Carnes’s respect for her fellow singer-songwriters that make up the fabric of Nashville is refreshing, and her greatest joys in writing and playing music still, now at 67, she says, is to be up on stage with those folks she’s in awe of. She’ll find herself among them at songwriter-in-the-round nights at Nashville landmarks such as the Bluebird Café with fellow songwriters such as Tim Nichols and Josh Leo—who, along with Carnes, will represent Nashville in Greenville (which is fast-becoming its own contender as a “music city”) at the Euphoria Festival in September.

If she’s not writing songs, or playing festivals in Europe or South America, where she travels to play about three times a year, she and her local musician friends will come together at her house, get out the guitars and play. Usually, right after a big vat of turkey chili.—Jac Chebatoris

This year’s Euphoria festival is bringing a little of Music City’s own flavor to the table with some of Nashville’s most elite songwriters. Along with Cali-girl-turnedTennessee-lady Kim Carnes, who will play her own show on September 27 at the Peace Center’s TD Stage, her fellow friends and songwriters Tim Nichols and Josh Leo are hosting what is the event du jour in Nashville: songwriter-in-the-round nights. Come check out the talents of these songsmiths, who wrote hits for artists including Tim McGraw, Reba McEntire, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bad Company, Martina McBride, and Alabama, at Euphoria’s Songwriter’s Recipe, where they’ll talk about the process of songwriting and strum and sing some, too. September 26 at the Warehouse Theatre, Greenville. For more, check out euphoriagreenville.com

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Profile HEAD FOR THE HILLS Take on the Music City like a native, a transplant, or just in-the-know EAT Arnold’s Country Kitchen This family-owned Nashville classic is exclusively open for cafeteria-style weekday lunch. Arrive just before noon to beat the business crowd, order the daily special, and—whatever you do—don’t pass on dessert.

Find Arnold’s on Facebook.

City House Chef Tandy Wilson serves up Italian-inspired Southern dishes like pizza with pork belly ham, and cornmeal-crusted catfish with mint and pepper vinegar. City House offers a rustic atmosphere and food to write home about. cityhousenashville.com Marché Artisan Foods Come for the coffee, but stay for the croissant French toast. This Europeanstyle cafe is widely known for the best brunch in town. Unless you happen to arrive early for a table, grab a house-made croissant and a blood orange mimosa for prime people watching. marcheartisanfoods.com DRINK Crema A coffee “brewtique,” Crema ethically sources, roasts, and samples every batch of beans it serves. Check Facebook and Twitter for slow-bar classes to learn the ins-and-outs of making extraordinary coffee. Locally owned and operated, the folks at Crema are just as fine as their brew. crema-coffee.com Holland House Bar and Refuge Ingredients like bourbon washed in Benton’s Bacon and local chocolatier Olive & Sinclair’s cacao nibs, farm eggs, and house-made coffeepecan bitters make every libation at Holland House worth each sip. hollandhousebarandrefuge.com Yazoo Brew Tour Nashville’s hottest brewery is responsible for local favorites like Dos Perros Ale, the Hop Project, and Yazoo Sue. The pint glass and generous (very generous) samples make this $7 tour pay for itself. yazoobrew.com PLAY

Robert’s Western World You can’t visit Nashville without taking a stroll down Broadway. Grab your cowboy boots and pop into Robert’s for a dance (and a drink or two) to experience Nashville’s traditional country music. Kids are welcome before 10 p.m. robertswesternworld.com STAY

Rise & Shine: (from top) The boutique-chic Hutton Hotel offers a prime spot to enjoy Music City; Downtown Nashville rises against the Cumberland River; Robert’s Western World plays honky tonk for boot-scootin’; Marché Artisan Foods serves local roaster Drew’s Brews Coffee and upscale comfort food.

Daisy Hill Bed & Breakfast This charming B&B hosts guests in the heart of Nashville’s Historic Hillsboro Village. A short walk to the village’s shops and restaurants and just a 10-minute ride to downtown make Daisy Hill the perfect spot for a city escape with a dose of peace and quiet. daisyhillbedandbreakfast.com Hutton Hotel Boutique-hotel charm, modern amenities, and world-class service make the Hutton a destination in itself. It’s West End location puts guests right between Downtown and Vanderbilt/Hillsboro Village, making it the ideal spot for easy access all over town. huttonhotel.com —HS

Photograph (coffee) by Blair Knobel; photograph courtesy of Robert’s Western World

Arrington Vineyards Pack a picnic and head south on I-65 toward this charming Tennessee vineyard. Admission, parking, and wine tastings are free, but plan to purchase a bottle of vino before camping out on the hilltop for views of the vineyard below. arringtonvineyards.com

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Photograph (coffee) by Blair Knobel; photograph courtesy of Robert’s Western World

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Boom Time

The story of a story’s rise from the page to the small screen / by Scot t Gould

Photography by Ken Osburn

L Music Scenes: An idea turned into enthusiasm, which turned into fever, which turned into action. In just four months, Hard Place Productions wrote, cast, shot, and premiered a TV pilot based on John Jeter’s book Rockin’ A Hard Place.

et’s just say the story starts this way: A guy walks in a bar.

At least, that’s the way it starts for me. I’m the guy. And the bar is The Handlebar. I’m there to have lunch with John Jeter. You know Jeter. He runs The Handlebar. Wears Hawaiian shirts most of the time. Uses the word boom a lot.

Over lunch, Jeter mentions that another of our mutual friends, John Oliver, has suggested that Jeter’s recent book Rockin’ A Hard Place would make a great television series. You know Oliver. Actor, voiceover guy. Big pipes. A voice that can rattle paint off walls. With too much burger in my mouth, I agree.

Rockin’ A Hard Place is a funny, honest, behind-thescenes book about running a music club. It’s filled with enough conflict and subplots for a half-dozen TV shows. The more I chew (and think about it), the more sense it makes.

Jeter begins to list the names of the other people involved in the project. There are a couple of guys who own a production company called KOOLFLIX, Clark Smith and Tim Angevine. Tim is going to shoot and direct the show. Clark is the detail guy, the sales guy, the energy guy. They’re all in, Jeter says. And

there’s a guy named Nick Shaheen, a stand-up comic with some television production experience. “He worked on that HBO show, Eastbound and Down,” Jeter tells me. Jeter won’t stop talking. He’s too excited. His latent P.T. Barnum kicks in. “This thing is happening,” he says. “It’s going to blow up. We’re going to feature a rock band each episode. We’re going to shoot a pilot and sell it to a network. Boom!

The only thing we need is a script.”

Then Jeter suggests I take a crack at a script and I feel my pessimism rise. I’ve been involved with good ideas before. Most of them evaporated for one reason or the other. I’ve written scripts for production companies that ran out of money. Or just closed their doors. I’ve had scripts disappear in the black hole called “the option,” never to be heard from again.

Jeter sees me balking. “Just come to our meeting next week,” he says.

ACT II It’s a weekday in late February, and I meet the other five guys. Jeter introduces me as someone who might be able to write the script. Before I can say hello, Clark creates a production company.

I’m suddenly a producer. Everyone else there is a producer. All God’s chillun are producers. We are suddenly Hard Place Productions, and we are going to make a television show. These guys bubble over with an infectious enthusiasm like kids on Christmas morning. And they’re starting to look at me because I’m going to write it. Jeter says it shouldn’t be a problem. No pressure, I think. I’ve got some time

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coming up over the next few months. I could probably have a script done by April or May. I mean, I know how slowly these things move. Television and movie projects are glaciers. They inch forward. They inch back.

Tim and Clark begin to talk about casting. Makes sense, I think. Gotta have a cast. Then they talk about casting next week, and I lose the feeling in my legs. Because you see, when you audition actors, they need a script. They can’t just read from the phonebook. Jeter sees the blood drain from my face. “Listen, we’ve already done character sketches and an outline. You can knock this out in a couple of hours. Boom!” he says.

Tim suggests I write some short monologues for the auditions.

I can have an entire couple of weeks to turn a script around.

Gee, thanks. So I write the monologues. The casting takes place. More than fifty people show up to read for parts, actors from Atlanta and Charlotte and the Upstate. They read the monologues I write when I’m supposed to be sleeping at night.

Our little production company chooses a cast. And the script? I finish a draft. Takes, um, a little more than the two hours Jeter predicted, but it gets done. Then the script goes through the rewrite sieve. We pick it apart and put it back together. And do it again. Nobody kills anybody. Nobody even gets mad. Nick makes sure the scenes flow. Tim already starts blocking shots in his imagination. We set a shooting schedule: four consecutive Sundays in April and early May. We have pushed the snowball off the mountain, and the damn thing is already getting bigger and bigger.

ACT III We behave like we know what we’re doing. For four spring Sundays, we pack The Handlebar with a crew of lighting people and sound techs, with wardrobe people and make-up people and prop people. Actors hang out in every corner of the bar, rehearsing lines, checking their outfits. Oliver carts in food each Sunday to feed the cast and crew. He’s the unofficial production company chef. Tim creates scenes out of the pages of the script—directing actors, adjusting lights. Clark puts out the fires, like ordering temporary tattoos. Nick and John and I stay out of the way, until we’re needed to rewrite a line of dialogue on the fly or explain a nuance in the script. (There aren’t many nuances.

The script is pretty bawdy, downright earthy.)

During the shooting, we make announcements about our Kickstarter campaign to keep the energy and enthusiasm flowing.

We’re trying to raise money through Kickstarter to eventually pay the cast and crew. Because did I mention? Everyone’s working for free at this point, working simply for the promise of what might happen. The indie spirit catches on. Suddenly we have a couple of local rock musicians writing us a theme song. The band, Hinder, gives us permission to use footage of them for our concert scenes. And Kickstarter is, well, kicking butt. We’re passing our goal of $10,000. We’re going to be able to give the actors and crew a few bucks.

Four spring Sundays. That’s when the script comes to life.

When people say the lines you write, you hope they sound better than you imagined. And that’s what happens. The script becomes a story of real people. Four spring Sundays. That’s what it took to shoot the footage. As Oliver says one day, “Heck, in Hollywood, they’d still be having lunches about this show. We went ahead and made it.” As Jeter says, “Boom.”

The cast disappears after those four Sundays. The crew evaporates. We six producers still meet every Tuesday to take care of business and plan a premiere party. Actually, it’s usually just five. Tim disappears into the abyss of the edit suite, where he cuts together the pilot episode, taking the hours of footage and jig-sawing a finished television show. Editing is a long, tedious, brain-numbing process filled with thousands of decisions and dozens of educated guesses. We see Tim one afternoon and he

Set Design: Hollywood-style offscreen drama, there wasn’t. The television pilot Rockin’ A Hard Place was shot on four consecutive Sundays in April and May at The Handlebar. No one got fired or had “creative differences.” In the end, it was just a bunch of people working hard and having fun.

looks like a cave-dweller who hasn’t seen the sun in a months.

But he’s smiling.

Epilogue The television show about a rock and roll club gets edited and boom! it exists. And we have a big rock and roll party at The Handlebar for the cast and crew and for all of our Kickstarter contributors. I can’t breathe during most of the party because I want the script to work. I want people to laugh in all the right spots. Some of us walk outside during the party and face west and thumb our noses at Hollywood.

We did something they couldn’t. We made a show in four months. We didn’t fire anybody. We didn’t have “creative differences.” We just worked hard and had a boatload of fun.

Now we have to sell Rockin’ A Hard Place to a network or cable outlet. We have to walk into a meeting with some welldressed stranger and make sure he catches the same fever we have. And if we aren’t contagious enough, hey, that’s okay, too. Somewhere out there is somebody who wants more from Hard Place Productions.

For now, we enjoy this night and not take ourselves too seriously. I mean, I know, it’s only rock and roll (television). But I like. Like it. Yes, I do.

Photograph by Ken Osburn

PLACE

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Cover Up: Records and musical paraphernalia are lovingly arranged on the shelves and racks at Cabin Floor Records, a veritable shrine to music.

Y

ou don’t have to be John Cusack from High Fidelity, Molly Ringwald from Pretty in Pink, a mustachioed hipster, or an insufferable music elitist to pass through the doors at your local record shop. However, it doesn’t hurt to have a little passion for music. If you’re finding the keystrokes and mouse clicks of your iTunes experience a bit hollow, the warm sound of vinyl and the lively repartee at these audiophile hangouts might just provide the musical fulfillment you’ve been searching for.

RARE BIRD: If a first pressing of Pink Floyd or a Japanese import of Black Sabbath tickles your fancy, Joe Shirley’s shop should be your first stop.

Rare or weird, flip through the racks for some gems and brand-new discoveries. Better yet, pick up a fully refurbished vintage turntable from the display case for an authentic listening experience.

Cabin Floor Records, 15 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville. (864) 992-9999, cabinfloorrecords.com

EARWORM: Formerly Manifest Discs and Tapes, Earshot now lays claim to the largest independent music store in South Carolina. The diverse catalog of music is complemented by a host of other merchandise to round out your listening experience: t-shirts, toys, posters, and more.

Earshot Greenville, 1417 Laurens Rd, Greenville.

(864) 232-1623, earshot.com CLASS ACT: Gene Berger has been a selfprofessed Mahler fanatic for nearly four decades, and it shows at his North Main institution. The selection is varied, but there’s special care given to the classical music section. The shop also connects to The Bohemian Café, perfect not only for a midbrowse bite, but live music in the evenings.

Horizon Records, 2A W Stone Ave, Greenville.

(864) 235-7922, horizonrecords.net

Photog r aph by Paul Meh a f fey

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60 TOWN / towncarolina.com

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WISH

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62 TOWN / towncarolina.com

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MAN

About TOWN

Each month, the Man About TOWN will share his Upstate rendezvous, which may or may not involve cocktails.

Image Consultation The Man About TOWN revs up his inner renegade

A

fter seeing the movie Star Wars at the impressionable age of eight, I immediately took on the persona of Han Solo. I wore a white shirt and black vest and along with the family Labrador/Wookie spent hours defeating the Galactic Empire from the cramped cockpit of the Millennium Falcon. Or, as my parents insisted on calling it, the pantry. A few years later, I wore a fedora and brandished a whip, all while rescuing priceless religious artifacts from the jungles and deserts of my backyard. And as a high school junior, I took to wearing a bomber jacket and driving my father’s station wagon as if it were an F-14, hoping someone would give me a cool nickname like Maverick or Ice Man. From the cowboys of the earliest silent films to the superheroes of today, emulating film characters is one of the joys of youth. But problems arise when one fails to outgrow this desire. For, as an adult, big-screen imitation is decidedly more complicated.

It was right after a recent viewing of the 1963 film The Great Escape that I decided I needed a motorcycle. In the film, Steve McQueen plays a WWII prisoner of war who risks a daring escape by jumping the German/Swiss border on a Triumph Trophy TR6. I wasn’t interested in jumping barbedwire fences, but I was interested in looking cool. Now it should be known that once a man reaches a certain age, voicing a desire to purchase a motorcycle is viewed with the same raised eyebrows as if he’d mentioned botox or hair plugs. But desperately holding on to youth is what we men do best. It’s why convertibles and combovers exist.

I started my search online and discovered that in 2012, Triumph released a limited run of Bonneville T100 Steve McQueen–edition bikes. These matte khaki-green beauties were designed to replicate the bike McQueen rode in The Great Escape. But they only have a single seat, which meant the beautiful blonde who inexplicably enjoys my company would have to stay at home while I look cool, completely defeating the purpose. Plus, with only 1,100 of these McQueen-edition Triumphs in existence, they are all but impossible to find.

The standard Triumph Bonneville is also a beautiful piece of machinery. I stared at it in the showroom as if viewing a masterpiece. I had never been on a motorcycle before and when I sat on the Bonneville, it was much heavier than I’d anticipated.

My mind immediately flashed to it toppling over as I cruised down Main Street, draining every ounce of coolness I’d built up.

I sat on other bikes in the showroom, as well, and always felt the same spasm of fear, imagining scenarios that ended with me in positions I would rather not adopt.

Occasionally the wisdom of age trumps the impetuousness of youth, and I left the showroom in my boring but safe German sedan. Stopped at a traffic light on my way home, a thunderously loud Harley pulled up next to me. The rider was a man about my age, clean cut with no visible tattoos. He looked like he could be a dentist or accountant. I thought about the small boy that still lives in all men and have to admit I was a little jealous.

But as he roared away when the light turned green, I couldn’t help but wonder who he was pretending to be.

64 TOWN / towncarolina.com

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68 TOWN / towncarolina.com

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ON JUNE 11, THE FIRST REALLY SWELTERING DAY THIS SPRING, TOWN MAGAZINE BROUGHT TOGETHER FOUR OF OUR LOCAL MUSICIANS, WHO HAVE ALL SHINED IN THE SPOTLIGHT, TO COOL THEIR HEELS AT AMERICAN GROCERY RESTAURANT FOR OUR INAUGURAL MUSICIANS ROUNDTABLE. OVER MINI LAMB TACOS, A BOWL FULL OF MUSSELS, AND OTHER FABULOUS FARE, THIS LIVELY GROUP TALKED ABOUT THE MANY LIVES THEY’VE LED AS PROFESSIONAL PERFORMERS, TRAVELING FAR AND WIDE (THREE OF THEM CALLED LOS ANGELES HOME AT SOME POINT BEFORE RETURNING TO THE UPSTATE). THEIR TALENTS ARE WHAT CONTINUE TO FORTIFY GREENVILLE AS A MUSIC TOWN CONTENDER. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK— OR, REALLY, LISTEN FOR IT. IT’S ALL RIGHT HERE.

By Jac Chebatoris Photography by J. Aaron Greene Location: American Grocery Restaurant, Greenville Date: June 11, 2013

AUGUST 2013 / 69

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AND WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IS BROOKLYNBORN, SOUTH CAROLINA–RAISED, CLASSICAL PIANIST EMILE PANDOLFI, WHO HAS SOLD MORE THAN 3 MILLION RECORDS AND PLAYED AT THE OPENING CEREMONIES OF THE 1984 OLYMPICS. AND WHILE BLUESMAN-TURNEDORGANIC-FARMER MAC ARNOLD WAS COMING UP IN THE CLUBS OF CHICAGO, WHERE HE MOVED FROM PELZER BACK IN THE DAY, HE PLAYED WITH LEGENDS LIKE MUDDY WATERS AND JOHN LEE HOOKER, NOT TO MENTION A WEEKLY GIG IN 1954 AT WHAT WAS ONCE THE BLUEBIRD CAFÉ ON SPRING STREET IN GREENVILLE WITH NONE OTHER THAN JAMES BROWN. HE IS NOW OPENING HIS OWN MAC ARNOLD’S PLATE FULL O’ BLUES RESTAURANT AND MUSIC VENUE IN WEST GREENVILLE NEXT MONTH. Of course there’s Paul Riddle who, in his early 20s, joined Spartanburg’s Marshall Tucker Band and performed from 1973 to 1985, scoring gold and platinum records and millions in album sales, and still pursues his love of jazz in Watson’s Riddle, when he’s not teaching drums at Christ Church Episcopal School. And up-and-comer, folk-rock singer-songwriter and new mom Angela Easterling, who may be from Greer, but says she didn’t listen to country music until she lived in Los Angeles for six years, where she played the famous Viper Room and even shared the stage with alt-country crooners like Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle.

She’s honed her own down-home folk-rock and released four albums, including one that received high praise from The Byrd’s Roger McGuinn who compared her Black Top Road CD to his group’s seminal album, Sweetheart of the Rodeo.

It was two hours of laughter and conversation that flowed like a symphony, the parts coming together in perfect time. Much like the arrival of the fried deviled eggs that didn’t last long once everyone settled in. An edited transcript follows:

Angela Easterling: Now you guys have to eat something because I don’t want to be the only one.

Emile Pandolfi: A friend of mine is a cocktail player and

people will want to sing anything, and he says when he plays he’ll say, ‘The next tune is a real familiar song that you’ll all probably know, so if any of you know the words . . . shut the hell up.’ [Laughter] Paul Riddle: Yeah, keep it to yourself. That’s great.

Mac Arnold: I like to tell stories when I’m entertaining, and we were at a place a couple weeks ago and there must have been 3,000 people there and the way the venue is set up, there was a long boardwalk behind the stage, and you could leave the boardwalk and come on up to the stage, and this lady was beside me and I started telling this story about my brother and working in the field and it leads up to the song that we do called “Backbone and Gristle.” I’m telling this story about my brother standing in the field and he didn’t want to work, and my father’s catching him, telling him he needs to get to work.

So this lady kept blaring and dancing and blaring and I got to the point in the story where my father kept telling my brother, ‘SHUT UP!’ [Mac indicates yelling over to the lady off to the side] [Laughter]

[A charcuterie and cheese tray arrives to the table, instantly lending an atmosphere akin to a family dinner rather than four strangers who have just sat down together.]

TOWN: What’s the food like backstage?

Arnold: I don’t eat.

Easterling: The only time I got into eating before shows was

when I was pregnant. I would just get to where I was playing and eat a huge steak. But, no, usually you don’t want to get up and sing and feel really full.

Pandolfi: I don’t eat all day long when I’m playing.

TOWN: Nothing?

Pandolfi: I don’t trust my body to be up there on stage.

Riddle: I’ll eat breakfast and lunch, but I can’t eat right before,

but as soon as I’m through, I’m starving. [Looking up from his

70 TOWN / towncarolina.com

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rosemary and watermelon lemonade and glancing around the table at his new friends, Riddle says, “This is very relaxed.”]

Arnold: Soul Train.

TOWN: Yes, just that little show, Soul Train. [Laughter]

TOWN: Even if it is 90-something degrees outside suddenly.

Arnold: So I did Soul Train from 1971 to 1975. I played in the Arnold: And my air conditioning quit last night.

and I had to drive to California . . .

band, and I was associate producer also. I played bass for the theme song on the Redd Foxx show [Sanford and Son]. I did a lot of work in Los Angeles, and worked here and there with Ray Charles.

TOWN: This is already a song . . . [Laughter]

Riddle: I met Ray one time. I was so nervous, I couldn’t hardly

Easterling: In August. And I had to drive through the desert in

talk. He actually played before us. Somehow it was Ray and us. I walked up to him and, I mean, what do you say to Ray? I was just drooling all over him. What do you say?

Easterling: My car air conditioning gave out one day in Vegas

California, and I thought, if I try to do this tomorrow, I’m going to die, so I left and drove all night and even with the windows rolled down, it was 100 degrees at 2 o’clock in the morning.

TOWN: Was he one of your ultimate people to meet?

Pandolfi: I saw this cartoon, and it was called Nerds in Hell,

Riddle: Oh, yeah, he was Top 5.

and they’re standing in line into hell and they’re like, ‘Is it hot in here or is it just me?’ [Laughter]

TOWN: Who were the other ones?

Arnold: So, Mac, you’re a musician but you’re skilled in the

Riddle: Of course, [jazz drummer] Buddy Rich, who I got to

kitchen, too?

become friends with and that was kind of overwhelming.

So I did Soul Train from 1971 to 1975.

I played in the band, and I was associate producer. I did a lot of work in Los Angeles, and worked here and there with Ray Charles.—Mac Arnold

Pandolfi: Some people thought Buddy Rich was a real jerk—

Hear & Now: Emile Pandolfi, Mac Arnold, Paul Riddle, and Angela Easterling are each Upstate residents and nationally renowned musicians.

Here, they share backstories with TOWN in an exclusive conversation.

was he actually a nice guy?

Riddle: I’m a real defender of all that.

Pandolfi: I mean everybody knows he was a genius . . .

Riddle: One of my favorite stories growing up—well, my

Arnold: Since I was about 17 years old, my mom made sure

that all of us learned how to cook. There was 15 of us in the family, and she wanted to make sure all of us knew how to cook because if certain people weren’t at home, we all wouldn’t starve to death!

TOWN: And you gave up music and retired to farm for a while?

Arnold: What happened was I ran myself wild in Chicago.

I had a group called the Soul Invaders there, and then I met [producer] Don Cornelius, and I found out he was going to do a dance show on television, so I started getting myself together, and I moved to Los Angeles.

TOWN: And that show would have been . . .

mother and father worked in Drayton Mill in Spartanburg, and they were Milliken’s longest employees. They were just the greatest people on the planet—my drums were in their bedroom, and they never complained. Daddy never took any time off, and there was this jazz festival in Charlotte at the Charlotte Coliseum with everybody from Nina Simone to Dave Brubeck to Buddy’s band, and Thelonious Monk, and my Daddy surprised me and took me to this festival for two days, and it was just crazy. And Monk was looking at me like, ‘why’s this little white boy want my picture for?’ and wouldn’t let me take his picture—I’d go around him, and go to the other side and he finally just surrendered, he just gave up. Those are great memories of Buddy because that’s when I first met him.

Then I got to know him the first time we [the Marshall Tucker Band] ever went to New York.

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Record Breaking: TOWN’s Jac Chebatoris takes a break from transcribing the conversation to relay a personal anecdote.

TOWN_AUG_F_Musicians.indd 73

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because it’s the very first time in my life that I’ve ever heard anything even remotely nice about Buddy Rich.

p.m. to 2 a.m., and I made $45. I said I can’t take this anymore more. So I came back to Greenville in 1984, and I started playing at a cocktail bar called Vince Perone’s, and I played there for about six years and then all of sudden my career took off. My wife took the initiative to look through Billboard magazine with all the distributors in America and who was distributing music of my type, and she found a distributor and sent a letter out to each of them. One of the eight answered within six months, and then that first year we sold something like 30,000 cassettes.

Riddle: I told the guys in the band, too, his whole thing was—

Arnold: Wow.

you play like he did every night, and he wanted everyone to play to that standard. He did not tolerate anything else. That was his thing.

Pandolfi: They sent them to gift shops and then the biggest year,

TOWN: You don’t get the genius and the creativity sometimes without the quirks, right?

TOWN: Mac, you retired from music to work on your organic farm in Pelzer, but came back to it.

Easterling: A lot of bands have both—the person that’s the

Arnold: Music has been in my family since I can remember. I

TOWN: Paul, weren’t you just a teenager then in those early Marshall Tucker Band days?

Riddle: I was in my early 20s, and I formed a really great

friendship with Buddy, and he was very generous and sweet and kind to me.

Pandolfi: That’s nice to hear. I’m really glad to hear that

business person and the person that’s like the musical genius.

TOWN: Like the Rolling Stones—Keith was the music and Mick was the business guy.

Easterling: Or the Beach Boys . . .

Arnold: Mac Arnold and Plate Full o’ Blues! [Laughter] TOWN: So what made you get into music?

Pandolfi: My earliest memories is Grandma saying ‘What

are you going to do when you grow up?’ and since I started lessons when I was five, it had to be before that because I hadn’t taken any lessons yet, and I said, ‘I’m going to play the piano.’ And my grandmother, who was from Sicily, said, ‘That’s not a profession.’ And boy was she right! [Laughter] But I already knew, and I hadn’t even touched a piano, but I just thought, playing piano was just what I wanted to do.

Easterling: That’s why I moved back here because I was living

in Los Angeles and I was playing the big, cool, hip places— like the Viper Room back then . . . but the things like that, you don’t make money doing that.

Pandolfi: When I was in Los Angeles, I worked in the Comedy

Store for about six years and was making $45 a night and even 30 years ago, that was ridiculous, and I played from 7:30

we sold 450,000 cassettes at the time. We couldn’t believe it.

was born in 1942, and I’m number seven in the family, so we didn’t have much money at all. And all the instruments that we played, we made them. That’s how these gasoline cans came about [the gas-can guitar that is Mac’s signature]. In 1946 my brother wanted a guitar, and that wasn’t happening. My father was very much a Southern Baptist, and one day while he was gone in Florida picking oranges, my brother decided he would take one of his gasoline cans and cut holes in it and make a guitar. He took the guitar to school and there was a competition for creating something, and so he created this instrument and won first place. By the time I was 10 years old, I was playing this gasoline can. I started coming to Greenville in 1953 or ’54, and there was a place on Spring Street called the Bluebird Café, and the owner met this guy from Atlanta, Georgia, named J. Floyd and he had a group called the Shamrocks. I joined that group and J. Floyd was very good friends with James Brown. James Brown used to ride the Greyhound Bus to McBee Avenue and walk up the street to Spring Street and play with us almost every weekend. In

I said, “I’m going to play the piano.” And my grandmother, who was from Sicily, said, “That’s not a profession.” And, boy, was she right!

[Laughter] But I already knew, and I hadn’t even touched a piano . . . —Emile Pandolfi

74 TOWN / towncarolina.com

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Riddle: First concert I ever saw!

away when I get to get up and play. I got into Buddy’s bigband records when I was 9, and I got that feeling . . . that feeling. I don’t know how to describe it or what I was, and I just knew I wanted to feel that feeling again.

TOWN: James Brown?

Pandolfi: I’ve played at places that sound good on the

1956, James did “Please, Please, Please,” and I ain’t seen James anymore for 40 years!

Riddle: [shaking his head yes] Memorial Auditorium!

Pandolfi: I never saw anything but a classical or semi-classical

concert until, gosh, I was maybe 40 years old!

TOWN: Angela, who was your first concert?

Easterling: Oh, this is so embarrassing! It was Frankie Avalon.

I was nine-years-old and we were on a vacation at Opryland, and at the time I was really into those old beach movies from the ’60s and they were having a Frankie Avalon concert and I said, ‘Oh, Mom, we have to go.’ And as soon as he came on stage I ran down to the front, and it was me and all these 50-year-old ladies. I remember after the show I told my mom, ‘I want to be a rock star just like Frankie Avalon.’

TOWN: Mac, did you ever talk to James Brown again after that?

Arnold: Here and there, but I never got a chance to catch his

show. I was always someplace else. He was wide open to the day he died. I even went to his funeral. It took all day. Some people stood there all day and didn’t even get in the door.

Pandolfi: Without knowing it, I grew up as a musical snob. If

you weren’t classical, you just didn’t count at all. [Laughter] Riddle: I was a jazz snob!

Pandolfi: My first concert was actually [classical piano great]

Arthur Rubenstein who played [in Greenville]. I was about nine-years-old and I remember being backstage, and I was into playing Chopin and Beethoven and I thought, oh my God, oh my God, and we went around the side and I shook his hand. I almost get tears in my eyes thinking of it.

TOWN: When you all look back at your careers, do you ever think I can’t believe I played at: the ’84 Olympics (Emile), or played with Muddy Waters (Mac) or played at Madison Square Garden (Paul with Marshall Tucker)?

Riddle: Never, ever . . . I still am still so humbled and blown

resumé—Feinstein’s in New York City—but honestly, if I play in Fountain Inn, which I also have, and I really play my heart out, there’s no difference when you really know that you’ve communicated with people.

Easterling: It’s about that connection.

Pandolfi: I wish I could win a Grammy because it looks good

on a resumé, but if I play my best in Powdersville, I come home saying, I just made those people feel something.

Easterling: For me, as a writer, if I have people come up

and say, ‘I played your song at my wedding,’ I can’t even put into words what that means to me. You enter into people’s lives that you’ve never met, that you never will meet, and you become an intimate part of their life. When they hear your song, they think about that’s when I was driving down the road in California and I was listening to that song . . . and you’re there. That just gives me chills to think about that, and it’s so much more important than fame.

Riddle: That connection to a place or a memory, yeah . . .

Easterling: 90 percent of my show is original music, and

when I decided I wanted to write songs, that was the idea that I had—that I was going to look out in the crowd and see someone singing something that I came up with on the floor of the bathroom at 2 o’clock in the morning. There’s nothing that comes close to that feeling.

[The sun sinks into the June evening, as these new friends collect on the sidewalk of South Main Street, exchanging CDs and promises to catch each other’s shows. Handshakes turn into hugs and the crescendo of a goodbye slows in time to the sound of footsteps receding, on the road again.]

Backstage Class: American Grocery Restaurant supplied a warm backdrop and tasty hors d’oeuvres to set the mood for a relaxed jam.

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Ocr OcD ANYONE CAN RIDE, BUT THERE’S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR AN OLD CRAP RIDER. NOT SLICK, BUT SPEEDY. BIKES NOT DREAMY, BUT DREAMS TO THEIR OWNERS. BEAUTIFUL IN THEIR OWN RIGHT. BIKES WITH STORIES, TRACK RECORDS, PIECES AND PARTS, DETAILS AND INTRICACIES, FROM HERE AND THERE. THEY’VE BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK. THESE ARE THE STORIES OF THE OLD CRAP RIDERS, NOT A GANG, BUT A BAND OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS COMMITTED—NEARLY OBSESSED—WITH FREEDOM, SPEED, AND THE OPEN ROAD . . . NOT TO MENTION THEIR GLORIOUSLY BEAT-UP, BUILT-UP BIKES.

By STEVEN TINGLE

Photography by PAUL MEHAFFEY

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Rubber Meets Road: Joey Subrizi, a founding member of Old Crap Riders, enjoys an afternoon on his custom-made bike.

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A

A MAN WITH A GRAY GOATEE TUCKS INTO A PLATE OF MEATLOAF, MASHED POTATOES, AND BANANA PUDDING AT THE PALMETTO RESTAURANT ON LAURENS ROAD.

He’s on his lunch break from Touring Sport BMW, which is not more than 30 seconds away on his 2004 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail. His hands are rough and there is grime under his fingernails, an occupational hazard for someone with the title BMW Certified Master Technician, or as he describes it “a guy in the back who fixes things.” It’s hard to pin down his age. The gray hair and crows feet belie the youthful glint in his eye, but, as they say, it’s not the years—it’s the mileage. His name is Barry, and, like Madonna or Bono, one name is enough. He shakes his styrofoam cup to settle the ice and then takes a long draw of sweet tea. When he finally speaks, his voice is deep and rough, as if drawn from the bottom of a rocky well. He’s curious to know why anyone would be interested in this story, but he’s willing to share it nevertheless. “I don’t know what the others told you,” he says, “but I’m going to give you my version.”

It is the civic duty of this magazine to warn its readers that there is a motorcycle gang in Greenville.

Okay, maybe gang gives the wrong impression, but it’s difficult to find a noun that fits. Group sounds too mundane, and club suggests something centrally organized. And this gang is neither. They meet under the name Old Crap Riders, and according to Barry, the idea sparked five years ago in the service center of Touring Sport BMW as he and two coworkers, a mechanic named Troy McAfee and the parts manager Joey Subrizi, all obviously motorcycle enthusiasts, were “bitching” about some of the “bike nights” they had attended around town. “We went to a few of these things,” says Barry, “but what we ride didn’t really fit in.” What they ride are mostly vintage bikes, “old,” which are sometimes in less-than-stellar condition—or “crap.” They found the local bike nights, like the ones held at Hooters or Quaker Steak and Lube, more for riders interested in shiny bikes with custom paint jobs and glistening chrome. “That’s all fine and dandy,” says Barry, “but it’s just not our kind of stuff.” The three were looking to put together a very loosely organized group that, as Troy puts it, “just wanted to ride, look at old bikes, and have fun.”

(Spoke)n For: (opposite) Troy McAfee’s 1963 BMW R60/2 is his two-wheeled love. McAfee, a founding member of Old Crap Riders, acquired the bike in the mid-’90s but has owned several over the years: BMWs, Moto Guzzis, Montesas, and Ossas, to name a few.

I

TROY MCAFEE

started riding when I was seven years old,” says Troy McAfee, who now works at Trophy Moto LLC. “That was the year I got a Yamaha JT260MS for Christmas.” A few years later Troy got into dirt bikes, which he and his father would ride together near their home in Northern California. “In those days that was really common,” he says, “that’s what dads and kids did.” It was upon moving to South Carolina that Troy got his first street bike, a Yamaha RD400. “Every teenage hooligan had one because they were cheap, fast, and you could wheelie them.”

Over the years Troy has owned what he calls “a litany of bikes,” including BMWs, Moto Guzzis, Montesas, and Ossas. “When I got married I had nine bikes,” he says, “but I’m down to just two now.” His current ride happens to be his favorite, a 1963 BMW R60/2 that he’s owned since the mid-’90s but just got into running condition three years ago. “I just like the lines of it,” says Troy. “I often just sit back and look at it. I don’t call my bikes “hes or shes” or any of that stuff, but I’m pretty much in love with this motorcycle.”

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JOEY REMEMBERS THAT ORIGINAL CONVERSATION. “I WAS STANDING IN THE BACK OF THE SHOP WHILE BARRY WAS WORKING ON A BIKE. I SAID, ‘WHAT ARE WE GOING TO CALL OURSELVES?’ AND HE YELLED ‘OLD CRAP RIDERS, OCR.’” We even came up with a hand symbol. You know how people will pass on motorcycles and throw out two fingers? We would do an “O.” We called it ‘throwing an O.’” Armed with a name, they now needed a location, preferably one with food and booze that would allow them to gather once a week. “We very tentatively approached the Handlebar and asked if they would have us,” says Troy. “Surprisingly the owner said, ‘Sure, come on down.’ We didn’t know if they were going to let us in because when you tell them it’s a bunch of motorcycles, most places don’t know what to think.” Barry, Troy, and Joey recruited other vintage-bike lovers they knew from motorcycle shops around town and started flagging down prospective members. “Every time we saw somebody on a cool old motorcycle, we’d tell them about it,” says Barry.

For the past five years, the Old Crap Riders have been meeting every Wednesday, promptly at “sixthirtyish,” at the Handlebar to eat, drink, and talk about bikes. They have no charter, by-laws, or membership requirements. They actually don’t even have members—if you love old motorcycles you’re more than welcome to join in. The number of attendees on a Wednesday can range from a “handful” to more than 40 and comprise men, women, and even a kid or two.

Even though the median age of the Old Crap Riders is up there (Troy guesses it to be over fifty), the “old” stands for the bikes, not the riders. Someone in the early days suggested creating a rule that the age of the rider and the age of the bike must total at least fifty years. But that rule would have proven redundant since this group is obsessed with vintage bikes. Ride by the Handlebar on any Wednesday evening and you’ll see up to thirty bikes parked out front, a display of old Triumphs, Ducatis, Moto Guzzis, Hondas, Kawasakis, and the occasionally Harley. “There are more old bikes than you think there are in Greenville,” says Troy. “Of this group, almost everybody has more than one bike.”

For the past five years, the Old Crap Riders have been meeting every Wednesday at the Handlebar to eat, drink, and talk bikes. Even though the median age of the Old Crap Riders is up there, the “old” stands for the bikes, not the riders.

Cool Customs: Barry’s (top; bike: centerleft and bottom-right) Shovelhead-powered Harley Davidson Super Glide has worn multiple paint schemes, including its current handpainted design by Barry’s wife.

BARRY

A

t first glance Barry might not look like an animal lover but just get him started talking about his pet Cockatoo. “He’s 16 years old and weighs about two pounds,” says Barry. “And he can exert 300 psi with his jaws, I mean he can mess you up.” Barry and his wife have had the cockatoo for about three years and says the bird took a while to warm up to him. “He’s a good guy now,” says Barry. “He comes out in the garage with me all the time.”

A lifelong rider and tinkerer, Barry started breaking down and rebuilding bikes at an early age.

Despite owning many motorcycles, among other toys—“always something with a motor”—Barry is now down to just three bikes: a 2004 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail, a 1984 Harley Davidson Super Glide with a shovelhead engine, which his wife rides, and a dual sport 1976 Yamaha XT500.

Barry’s love of bikes is obvious, but he becomes downright giddy when speaking about the few years he spent racing on the tracks around the Southeast. “Road racing a vintage BMW is the most fun I’ve ever had on a bike,” he says. “Me and Troy got into it together. We came upon an old BMW and took turns racing it. To go out where it’s safe and controlled and ride just as hard and as fast as you can . . . throwing a 40-year-old motorcycle into a corner at 80 miles an hour when it’s bouncing and shaking and rattling and there’s some other guy on one just like it right next to you and you’re almost elbow to elbow— man what a thrill.”

Troy McAfee’s (bottom; bike: top-left and center-right) BMW R60/2 only has 25HP available, but the smoothriding European machine is equally at home on the streets as it is on the twisting roads of Paris Mountain.

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Troy McAfee // 1963 BMW R60/2 Engine: 600cc “airhead” twin boxer 25HP Modifications:

European-style handlebars

and seat; Enduro saddle

bags; tail light from a Barry // 1984 Harley Davidson Super Glide Engine: 1340cc “shovelhead” twin-V 66HP Modifications:

Fender, front fork, and

windshield from a Harley

Davidson FLH; custom paint Joey Subrizi // 2002 Yamaha YZ426F Engine: 426cc single-cylinder 45HP Modifications:

Powder-coated frame; custom

subframe, tail, seat, and rear

swing-arm linkage; shortened

front fork; vent tubes replaced

with copper lines; hand pierced brass decals; cork

gas tank cap; carbon fiber Jennifer Subrizi // 1977 Yamaha XS360 Engine: 360cc parallel twin 27HP Modifications:

Kickstart only; handmade

exhaust; custom tail and rear

sections; Öhlins upside-down

front fork from a Kawasaki KX85

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EVERY THIRD WEDNESDAY IS “TROPHY NIGHT,” WHERE ATTENDEES WANDER AROUND THE BIKES AND PLACE A POST-IT NOTE ON THEIR FAVORITE. THE BIKE WITH THE MOST STICKERS AT THE END OF THE NIGHT WINS. “Sometimes it’s a really nice bike,” says Troy, “and

Double Love: (Opposite, middle and bottom left) The first bike that Joey built for his wife Jen Subrizi was a Vespa scooter. She’s since graduated to “Black Betty.”

(All others) Joey’s dirt-bike-turnedcafé-racer features plenty of his own handiwork, including a custom rear shock and hand-pierced brass decals.

JOEY AND JEN SUBRIZI

Even though he is an original member of the OCR, Joey Subrizi is one of the “kids” of the group. A former parts manager at Touring Sport BMW, Joey is now a salesman for Öhlins, a Swedish suspension company whose North American headquarters is located in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Unlike many in the OCR gang, who started riding as kids, Joey didn’t get his first bike until he was almost 20. “My parents said I couldn’t get a bike until I moved out,” he says. “So I moved out at 19, and the first thing I bought was an old 1970 Triumph Bonneville. My dad and I rebuilt it together.”

Over the next few years, Joey’s interest moved into sport bikes and road racing, but as he puts it he has “always dug old bikes”— rebuilding, retooling, and modifying them in his shop at home. “The last bike I rebuilt was Jen’s bike; it’s a Yamaha XS360,” says Joey. “I call her ‘Black Betty,’” adds Jennifer, who took up riding almost a decade ago, right after she and Joey began dating. The couple was married last November. “We only dated for ten years,” says Jennifer. “No rush.”

The first bike Joey rebuilt for Jennifer was a 1980 Vespa. “Even though it was a scooter, it still hauled ass,” says Joey. Then two years later, the couple purchased the Yamaha and according to Joey, “Jen’s been raising hell on that thing ever since.”

The couple rides together around Greenville and often up to the mountains of western North Carolina, Joey on his “project,” an old dirt bike he has rebuilt into a “café racer” and Jennifer on “Black Betty.” “When we ride our bikes together in a pair, we get a lot of attention for sure,” says Joey. “It’s pretty entertaining—it raises a lot of eyebrows.”

For the Subrizis, the adrenaline produced by riding vintage bikes is hard to replicate elsewhere. “It’s a totally different state than riding in a car,” says Joey. “When you’re riding down a road and you go through a dip and you feel the air change ten degrees or ride by a lake or pond or fresh cut grass and smell those things, your senses don’t pick up when you’re in a car. It’s like your own little happy world.”

sometimes it’s something that’s really trashed out that we all think is cool and are amazed that it even made it there.” Troy adds that if you own a bike that’s so nice you don’t want a sticky note on it “you’re probably in the wrong place.”

The prize itself is something of a showpiece, a revolving trophy that begins in January as a single part, like a sprocket or brake disk. “If you win, you take it home and add something to it and bring it back the next time,” says Troy. “And if there is something on there that you need for your bike, you can take it off and use it.” The trophy grows more interesting as each month’s winner adds a new part, although there is no rule that forbids adding non-motorcycle items.

One winner fused a Barbie head to the mash-up of parts. By the end of the year the trophy becomes a piece of “modern art” and can be quite cumbersome.

One December winner had to leave and return with her second bike, the one with a sidecar, in order to transport the trophy home safely.

Another OCR tradition takes riders across town to Berea to sample the specialties of the local food trucks.

“Somebody, usually either me or Troy, will call a ‘Taco Tour’ every two or three weeks,” says Barry. “We’ll meet at the Handlebar on a Friday or Saturday, get everybody lined up, and ride in a big group with a couple of old cars behind us to go have tacos. We hit one spot, then load up and go somewhere else.” Sometimes as many as thirty riders will make the “tour.” “There will be scooters, guys on mopeds, Harleys with drag pipes, I mean all kinds of stuff,” says Barry.

So, if you stick to Webster’s definition of gang: “a group of persons having informal and usually close social relations,” then the OCR is definitely a gang.

But, at its core, it is just a good group of people who love the look, feel, and adrenaline vintage bikes can provide. People who like talking about throttle cables and bore diameters over cheeseburgers and beers.

Friends who want to share a common interest and the occasional taco. As Barry says while finishing his banana pudding, “It’s a mellow group. I haven’t seen anything unruly in quite a while.

Another OCR tradition takes riders across town to Berea to sample the specialties of the local food trucks.

“Somebody will call a ‘Taco Tour’ every two or three weeks,” says Barry. “We’ll meet at the Handlebar on a Friday or Saturday, get everybody lined up, and ride in a big group with a couple of old cars behind us to go have tacos.”

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EAT&

Drink

SIDE DISH / OPEN BAR / DINING GUIDE

Filet Display: Parsley-garlic-crusted mountain trout with carrots, sweet peas, and chateau potatoes

Open Season Photograph by Paul Mehaffey

Passerelle Bistro bridges Greenville with the flavors of Europe

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SIDE

Dish La Vie en Rose:

(This page) The Rose cocktail, with French vermouth, cherry brandy, and raspberries; smoked salmon-potato croquettes with caper relish; summer cassoulet, with duck confit, sausage, pepper coulis, and wilted Swiss chard; (opposite) Mussels Passerelle, with saffron, tomatoes, and espelette pepper

CHEF TERYI RECOMMENDS SUMMER CASSOULET: The chef’s warm-weather take on this Languedoc staple lightens the duck confit and hearty sausage with local field peas and lots of other seasonal veggies.

BAKED GOAT CHEESE: “Salad meets cheese” is how Chef Teryi describes this dish, in which goat cheese is mixed with housemade, lavender-infused blueberry jam, wrapped in a phyllo-like crepe and baked. A tangle of arugula comes alongside.

MOUNTAIN TROUT: Simple preparation lets the fresh fish shine: trout is butterflied, seasoned with salt and pepper and stuffed with slices of lemon.

Persillade, fresh parsley chopped with raw garlic, tops the finished dish.

Passerelle Bistro is a bridge to European delights / by M. Linda Lee

T

ake a formerly bland space in an enviable location overlooking Falls Park, add accoutrements such as a black-and-white mosaic-tile floor, a granitetopped chef’s bar flanking the open kitchen, square tables, and wooden folding chairs. Face the front of the building in stone, add three sets of custom-built, arched, mahogany doors, hang a bright red awning out front for accent, et voilà: instant Parisian bistro.

This is the recipe for Passerelle Bistro, the newest venture by Carl Sobocinski’s Table 301 group. They have transformed the former Overlook Grill into a chic spot to savor not only views of Greenville’s signature park, but delightful French-inspired dishes by Chef de Cuisine Teryi Youngblood.

601 S Main St, Greenville (864) 509-0142, passerelleinthepark.com Lunch: Mon–Fri, 11am–3pm; Brunch: Sat & Sun, 11am–3pm; Small plates: daily, 3–4pm; Dinner: daily, 4–9pm

Photog r aph s by Paul Meh a f fey

French Connection

“The menu at Passerelle is inspired by my own travels in France,” says Youngblood, a former pastry chef with a penchant for French cuisine. While she is a purist with some things (an almond galette, for instance), in others, such as her version of ratatouille, she takes creative liberties. “After all,” she says, “there are as many different recipes for ratatouille as there are chefs in France.”

Though the menu speaks in a clear French accent, daily features will roam around Europe, Youngblood promises, peppering the bill of fare with specials like a jaeger schnitzel sandwich. The wine list, however, is French through and through, from a Loire Valley Chenin Blanc to a St. Émilion Grand Cru Bordeaux.

Settle on the stone patio—you can even bring your pooch—in fine weather and order a French 75 or a Kir as prelude to Chef Teryi’s spin on French classics such as a frisée Lyonnaise salad (topped with lardons and a poached egg), grilled hanger steak frites, and a croque monsieur (a ham and gruyère sandwich) slathered with Mornay sauce inside and out.

From the patio, the view of the park and the soaring, 355-foot span of Liberty Bridge is magnifique. And it all ties back in to the restaurant’s name, which is French for “footbridge.”

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OPEN

Bar

Tip Top SIP and its tableside sangria make for a sweet summer night or a Bodegas Avanthia Godello from Spain. Like it?

The machine can also dispense a 3-ounce pour and a 5-ounce glass.

The menu adds another 75 wines to the mix, including tableside sangria service. Designed for parties of two to six, pitchers of sweet sangria are stirred up à la minute with fresh fruit in white- or red-wine versions (with sauvignon blanc, rosé, or spicy rioja, serving as the base).

Since the sangria is mixed at your table, feel free to ask the server to customize the ingredients to your liking. A selection of cheese, charcuterie, raw veggies, breads, and spreads are available for noshing.

On SIP’s sprawling outdoor space, stylishly casual couches and chairs provide plenty of comfy places to lounge and sip while gazing out at leafy treetops and twinkling lights after dark. From this vantage point, you could be in the Napa Valley or on a rooftop in Paris. Click your ruby slippers together. Let the feeling transport you.

—M. Linda Lee

High, Not Dry: For tableside sangria, and a multitude of tasting options with a rooftop view— SIP, 103 N Main St, Ste 400, Greenville. (864) 552-1916

Photog r aph by Paul Meh a f fey

T

hese days, there are few things that Greenville doesn’t have in terms of restaurants and bars.

A rooftop wine bar was one of them until early April, when SIP opened its doors on Main Street.

Overlooking the newly landscaped Piazza Bergamo, this indoor-outdoor venue is one cool place to kick back.

Owner Jason Fletcher, an IT-consultant-turnedrestaurateur whose High Street Hospitality Group includes The Green Room, Ford’s Oyster House, and The Loft at Falls Park above Ford’s, envisions SIP as “a laid-back lounge where guests can have an accessible and unintimidating wine-tasting experience.” And it is.

Inside, high communal tables flank the bar, and a self-serve Wine Emotion machine allows guests to sample 40 fine wines from around the globe at by-the-glass prices ranging from $8 to $80. “Instead of having to buy a $300 bottle of wine, now you can try an affordable taste of it here,” explains Fletcher. Try a 1.5-ounce pour, perhaps a Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand

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DINING

Guide Taste of the South When it comes to creative Southern cuisine, Southern Culture delivers

SOUTHERN CULTURE

You’ll find Southern Culture Kitchen & Bar somewhere between the lyrics of an Avett Brothers album and the reclaimed timbers of a Restoration Hardware catalog.

Custom-made farm tables, Edison lighting, brick fireplaces, and exposed wood beams are unmistakably Appalachian chic—painstakingly curated and meticulously refined.

Co-owner and kitchen manager Chad Gangwer is at the core of this refinement and consistency. Taste, texture, and appearance are standardized in the kitchen. Even the chalkboard specials have been tested, tweaked, sampled, and tweaked again for weeks by the time they make it to diners’ tables.

But it doesn’t mean the spontaneous, organic, and authentic roots of the menu have been distilled out of the dining experience. Southern Culture is very much a “chef-driven restaurant,” as Gangwer notes, and his six sous chefs are constantly experimenting: “Every week, we’re tweaking ingredients and recipes.” PB&J, in the form of boiled peanut hummus and homemade seasonal jams, and Po Boy tacos with remoulade-tossed fried shrimp and Low Country slaw are just some of the results. Of course, Gangwer knows not to fix what’s not broken. The Mason jar banana pudding (featured in TOWN’s December 2012 issue) is a prime example: at the start, a few quarts of pudding were all that were necessary per week, but that amount has since grown into the gallons. With a hit on his hands, Gangwer has put a freeze on tweaking this particular recipe.

Personality doesn’t stop at the décor or the menu offerings either. Southern Culture has started serving Monday-night brunch, both as tribute to serviceindustry employees who work through the weekend and as a way to combat the post-weekend lull. A steady rotation of modern bluegrass and unplugged Americana also graces the restaurant’s stage—perhaps the final touch on a new experience that never forgets its folk inspiration.—Andrew Huang $$, L (Mon–Fri), D (Mon–Sat), SBR. 2537 N Pleasantburg Dr, Greenville. (864) 552-1998, southernculturekitchenandbar.com Photograph by Paul Mehaffey

LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT BLUES BOULEVARD JAZZ

Replete with all the nostalgia of an old underground jazz parlor, Blues Boulevard sits nestled in downtown Greenville, tantalizing visitors with the promise of a smooth cocktail— and even smoother jazz. Well-known instrumentalists and songstresses from around the country plan visits to Blues Boulevard, lighting up the dark-on-purpose atmosphere of the restaurant with a variety of

easy-listening tunes. And if you need something to munch or sip, the menu offers signature tapas and a summer lunch menu in addition to homemade cocktails. $$, L, D, SBR (Greenville). Closed Monday.

300 River St, Ste 203, Greenville.

(864) 242-2583; 99 S Church St, Spartanburg. (864) 573-9742, bluesboulevardjazz.com

THE BOHEMIAN CAFÉ

Serve your taste buds and ears at the Bohemian Café, an eclectic spot with international flair that serves up daily specials for curry and pasta.

For Sunday brunch, treat yourself

to the Bloody Mary bar, or indulge your sweet tooth with a slice of homemade rum cake. When you finish up your meal, head next door to the famous Horizon Records store to pick up some vintage vinyl or the latest CD release. Horizon also partners with the Bohemian for several live-music acts throughout the week, featuring the most unique artists in genres ranging from indie to funk and bluegrass. $$, L, D,

SBR. Closed Monday. 2 W Stone Ave, Greenville. (864) 233-0006, thebohemiancafe.com

CHICORA ALLEY

Chicora Alley’s Caribbean riff on traditional Mexican and Southern fare offers signature crab cakes or mountain-high nachos, shrimp and chicken burritos, quesadillas, and more. With a Falls Park view or patio seat, you won’t leave unsatisfied. When the weekend arrives, Chicora Alley plays host to some of South Carolina’s favorite names in rock; recent acts included Camden natives The Mobros and Greenville’s very own Four 14.

$-$$$, L, D. Closed Sunday. 608-B S Main St, Greenville. (864) 232-4100, chicoraalley.com

KEY : Average price of a dinner entrée (lunch if dinner isn’t served): Under $10 = $, $10-$15 = $$, $16-$25 = $$$, $25+ = $$$$ Breakfast = B Lunch = L Dinner = D Sunday Brunch = SBR 92 TOWN / towncarolina.com

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BARS, CAFÉS, & RESTAURANTS COFFEE UNDERGROUND

Coffee Underground boasts a wide selection of specialty coffees, hot chocolate, and adult libations. If you’re craving more substantial fare, choose from a splendid breakfast-anytime option, sandwiches, soups, salads, pastries, and desserts. And don’t miss Sunday brunch in the Red Room. The beanery is also the perfect setting for nightly live entertainment. In addition to open-mic poetry and local improv troupes, Underground Nights showcases local, undiscovered artists in an intimate setting. $-$$, B, L, D, SBR. 1 E Coffee St, Greenville. (864) 2980494, coffeeunderground.biz CRIBBS KITCHEN

Cribbs Kitchen fulfills the dream of chef/owner William Cribbs, who vowed to open his own restaurant before he turned 30. Sandwiches run from classics (Reuben; French dip; half-pound Black Angus burgers) to contemporary iterations like the North Spring Street, a ciabatta roll stuffed with roasted chicken, applewoodsmoked bacon, caramelized onions, pesto, and provolone. In the evening, the menu goes upscale, with tempting mains—pecan-smoked pork chops, cashew-crusted Atlantic salmon, and shrimp and spoonbread—taking center stage. Not to be outdone by the menu, Cribbs has also introduced Spartanburg’s very own “Downtown Wind Down” on the weekends with special happy-hour pricing set to the tune of local and national musicians.

There’s even a Saturday Sidewalk Series to kick the end-of-weekend blues. Expect everything from jazz to acoustic and rock to be on tap at Cribbs. $$$, L, D. Closed Monday.

226-B West Main St, Spartanburg.

(864) 699-9669, cribbsonmain.com

GRILLE 33 AT THE CHANNEL

The average burger get a makeover at Grille 33. Each burger (named after downtown Greenville districts) starts out with an Angus patty before getting a neat twist. Try the Stone, which is topped with cheddar and sandwiched between a glazed donut, or add a little breakfast flavor with the Southern Connector’s waffle, bacon, eggs, and syrup. This restaurant funds the Channel, an all-ages community space and music venue, where weekend patrons can take in a show featuring their favorite Christian rock or progressive heavy metal band. $-$$,

well. Meatloaf sandwiches, Handlewraps, specialty salads, and plenty of finger foods round out the menu.

Whether you’re present for a goredrenched Gwar show or an unplugged songwriter’s showcase, the intimate setting and tasty fare are sure to leave a memorable impression. $, L,

D. Closed Sunday & Monday. 304 E Stone Ave, Greenville. (864) 233-6173, handlebar-online.com JACK N’ DIANE’S

Holyfield vs. Tyson. Ali vs. Frazier.

Piano vs. Piano? Taking up residence in the former home of the Brown Street Club, the recently opened (and Greenville’s only) dueling entertainment bar pits two pianos against each other in a battle of the ivories. Combining song requests, sketch comedy, savory eats, and sharp musical performance, Jack n’ Diane’s provides dinner and a live show all on one bill. With a newly rolled out menu of original cocktails, you’re bound to ask the Piano Man to play one more song—all night long. $$, D. 115 N Brown St, Ste 100, Greenville.

(864) 509-6414, jackndianes.com LARKIN’S ON THE RIVER

Located fortuitously between the Peace Center and the Reedy River, Larkin’s seeks to balance upscale dining with comfort. Start with shecrab soup, then an entree from the day’s selections—or opt for an aged filet mignon with mashed potatoes and asparagus. Larkin’s Rhythm on the River summer series will host Carolina beach music favorites the Craig Woolard Band on August 29. $$$-$$$$, L, D, SBR. 318 S Main St, Greenville. (864) 467-9777, larkinsontheriver.com MAC’S SPEED SHOP

Across from Liberty Tap Room, Mac’s looks to be family friendly for both the Harley-set as well as the post-Drive baseball crowd with plenty of brisket, ribs, and beer-can chicken. “Start your engine” with a plate of Tabasco fried pickles, washed down (quickly no doubt) with one of the 50 craft beers on tap. With outdoor seating, you’ll likely want to lay some rubber on the road to grab your spot. Mac’s also features live music most weekend nights, providing a perfect soundtrack of country and funk rock to help ease the pain of those gut-busting Smokin’ Burn Out wings. $-$$$, L, D. 930 S

L (Sun–Mon), D (Mon–Sat). 221 N Main St, Greenville. (864) 552-1970, the channelonline.org/grille-33

Main St, Greenville. (864) 239-0286, macsspeedshop.com

THE HANDLEBAR

The Nose Dive is city bar meets corner bistro. A wide range of beer (local, domestic, international), wine, and an ambitious menu that hits nearly every continent make it hard not to dive in. Live performances by artists

Long known as the Upstate’s premiere venue for both Grammy Award– winning musicians and up-and-coming bands, The Handlebar serves up hot food for hungry concert-goers as

NOSE DIVE

like Rev Syd & the Homewreckers and the Swingin’ Richards are also available for a listen Thursday through Sunday. Whether you’re a member of the Sniffer Society Wine Club or just there to finally try the fish and chips everyone’s been raving about, Nose Dive has the perfect blend of atmosphere, entertainment, and cuisine. $-$$$, L, D. Closed Sunday.

116 S Main St, Greenville. (864) 3737300, thenosedive.com NU-WAY LOUNGE & RESTAURANT

The Nu-Way’s dive-bar atmosphere might not give the impression that it has gastro-pub quality and creativity in the kitchen, but Food Network Magazine named the bar home of South Carolina’s best burger in 2009.

The Redneck Cheeseburger is the star, with hand-patted beef topped with chili and pimiento cheese. In addition to the unique menu, Nu-Way also features near-daily music provided by mountain crooner Donovan Brooks or the funky lowdown music of the past courtesy of the Groovetown Trio. $, L,

D. Closed Sunday. 373 E Kennedy St, Spartanburg. (864) 582-9685 O-CHA TEA BAR

A trip to O-CHA will have you considering tea in an entirely new light. This sleek space, located right on the river in Falls Park, specializes in bubble tea (flavored teas with chewy tapioca pearls) but also offers a large assortment of looseleaf teas, cold drinks, and snacks.

This tea destination also hosts O-CHA Unplugged, a series featuring acoustic sets by local talent. $, L, D.

300 River St, Ste 122. (864) 283-6702, ochatearbaronline.com RHYTHM & BREWS

Food and music lovers waste no time getting down to business at this Greer watering hole. The stage features live acts such as Journey and Bon Jovi tribute bands, and the menu pays homage to music legends with items like Mozzarella Styx, Onion Ringos, and Bad to the Bone-less Wings. Bring your guitar in on Tuesday nights for the open blues jam session, get down with the Carolina Players, or take in a rock set featuring Zataban. The restaurant’s live music calendar runs every open day. $, D. Closed Sunday

in mind, technically engineered for the best sound and acoustic quality.

Additionally, many of the menu’s options are music to foodies’ ears.

Items range from casual appetizers like panko-battered Folly Beach Shrimp and Hot-yaki chicken wings (the recipe is secret, so don’t ask) to more upscale options like bourbonbrined stuffed pork chops served with grilled apple and onion relish or baked acorn squash with apricot-plum chutney. $$, D. Closed Sunday. 111

Augusta St, Greenville. (864) 282-8988, smileysacousticcafe.com

STOMPING GROUNDS

Lisa Suber’s café has an intimacy and warmth most coffee shops can only artificially recreate. Sure, the bare brick walls and local artwork help liven up the former furniture consignment shop, and the food (organic apple pie from Spurgeon Farms, coffee by West End Coffee Company, and Danishes from Greer’s Flour Haven) have their roots in the community, but when the staff greets you by name, it’s clear that this kind of neighborhood vibe can’t be impersonated. Going along with the comfy, relaxed feel of Stomping Grounds, the venue’s musical calendar offers performances by homegrown artists and local celebrities. One night may feature a few tunes strummed out on the guitar, while the next may spice things up with a trombone/ marimba duo. $, B, L, D. Closed

Sunday. 208 Trade St, Greer. (864) 8011555, stompinggroundsgreer.com THE VELO FELLOW

Cozy in a funky way, the Velo Fellow is a hip pub under the Mellow Mushroom. Burgers and sandwiches form the core of the menu, which includes fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, and—in a twist—tofu Marsala. In addition to the craft brews on tap, the Velo Fellow offers traditional absinthe service, complete with a silver-plated brouilleur. The quirky restaurant is also home to spinning by DJ Harold on the weekends in addition to a rotating weekly schedule of interesting instrumentals, punk rock, and virtuoso acts like Daniel Z. $-$$$, L, D, SBR.

1 Augusta St, Ste 126. (864) 242-9296, thevelofellow.com

& Monday. 213 Trade St, Greer.

(864) 877-1990, rhythmbrews.com SMILEY’S ACOUSTIC CAFÉ

When Mike and Chana Fletcher took over Smiley’s Acoustic Café in October 2012, they had only one goal in mind: keep the music on the forefront and the restaurant in the backseat. Fast-forward several months, and Smiley’s is still offering six nights of twice-daily live shows at no cost to the public. And true to its title, the café is built with the musical ear

TOWN Magazine accepts no compensation for Dining Guide reviews and selects entries by its editorial discretion. Reviews are conducted anonymously.

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Thru Aug 4 BREVARD MUSIC CENTER FESTIVAL

Nestled comfortably within the Blue Ridge Mountains, Brevard Music Center’s lush setting is the ideal background to take in an array of musical entertainment from professionals and budding student musicians. The festival hosts numerous performances ranging from classical symphonies to fullscale operas at both the center and Brevard College campus.

Brevard Music Center, 349 Andante Ln; Brevard College, 1 Brevard College Dr, Brevard, NC. Times vary. $10-$35. (828) 862-2100, brevardmusic.org

UPSTATE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL: THE COMEDY OF ERRORS A midsummer’s night dream in Falls Park? Well, it’s not that Shakespearean play, but it is summer.

Grab a seat on the grassy hills of Falls Park and enjoy one of the Bard’s plays, a farcical comedy rife with slapstick, mistaken identities, and puns.

Falls Park, Greenville. Thurs–Sun, 7:30pm. Free. (864) 235-6948, warehousetheatre.com/upstateshakespeare-festival

Thru Aug 11

THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE

Long before Johnny Depp jumpstarted the sales of rum and black eyeliner as Captain Jack Sparrow, Gilbert and Sullivan released their nautical, comical take on the classic opera. Directed by Jenna Tamisiea, the play follows young Frederic, whose pirate-centric life takes him and lady-love Mabel down a harrowing path of laughter, love, and new beginnings.

Centre Stage, 501 River St, Greenville. Wed–Sat, 8pm; Sat– Sun, 2pm. Adults, $30; juniors, $25.

(864) 233-6733, centrestage.org

Thru Aug 18

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) If you’ve ever wanted to sit through an entire evening of Shakespeare but can’t bear the headache of deciphering exactly what he’s saying, fear not! There is hope after all. This bawdy, tongue-in-cheek retelling of some of the Bard’s most famous works by a trio of Playhouse actors is more likely to leave you in stitches than scratching your head.

Flat Rock Playhouse Downtown, 125 S Main St, Hendersonville, NC. Thurs, Sat–Sun, 2pm; Wed– Sat, 8pm. Adults, $35; seniors, $33; students, $25. (866) 7328008, flatrockplayhouse.org

Thru Aug 18 LES MISÉRABLES

An all-star cast might have brought this popular musical to the movie

going masses, but there’s still no substitute for the emotion, the tension, and the timbre of a live performance. Join Jean Valjean as he seeks redemption amid the chaos of revolutionary France. The brandnew production features a cast of 30 performers and a new production design to bring the epic story to life.

Flat Rock Playhouse, 2661 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock, NC. Wed–Thurs, Sat–Sun, 2pm; Wed– Sat, 8pm. $40. (866) 732-8008, flatrockplayhouse.org

Thru Aug 18 STEEL MAGNOLIAS

There aren’t many things kept secret in a small town, and even less stays quiet between the ladies of Truvy’s beauty parlor. Through the comically intertwined lives of six tough-as-nails women in Louisiana, Steel Magnolias chronicles the tragedy of loss, triumph of love, and the power of friendship to overcome it all.

Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E Walnut St, Asheville, NC. Fri–Sat, 7:30pm; Sun, 2:30pm. Adults, $22; seniors, $19; juniors $12. (828) 254-1320, ashevilletheatre.org

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CAN’T-MISS CULTURE / EVENTS / ATTRACTIONS

Photograph by Ansel Adams; Image provided by the MFA, Boston, courtesy of the Greenville County Museum of Art

Thru Sept 8

Augusta St, Greenville. Thurs–Sat, 8pm; Sun, 3pm. $30. (864) 235-6948

LANDSCAPES FROM THE SOUTHERN COLLECTION

Thru Sept 15

There are few things more visually stunning than the rolling greens and airy mountains of the South’s unique landscape. This exhibition brings these visions home to the Upstate, featuring the simplicity of the South and beyond as told by artists like John James Audubon and Louis Remy Mignot.

Greenville County Museum of Art, 420 College St, Greenville. Wed– Sat, 10am–6pm; Sun, 1–5pm. Free.

(864) 271-7570, gcma.org

MASTERPIECES OF AMERICAN LANDSCAPE

Masterpieces of American landscape—60 in total—arrive in Greenville courtesy of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The dazzling array of works features pieces by Thomas Cole and his 19th century Hudson River School compatriots, as well as Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, and other modern photographers. The century-spanning exhibit can’t begin to capture the natural beauty of the United States —but it’s a great start. Greenville County Museum of Art, 420 College St, Greenville. Wed–Sat, 10am–6pm; Sun, 1–5pm. Free.

(864) 271-7570, gcma.org

Thru Sept 14 LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR

If you’re a fan of backstage shenanigans and obscenely diverse, kooky characters à la 30 Rock, don’t hesitate to check out this Kerrie Seymour–directed play. Shedding light on the struggles of television host Max Prince, the audience is privy to all the inner workings of a failing series: its shortcomings, its wacky writers, and, of course, its heart.

The Warehouse Theatre, 37

Thru Sept 22 WYETH VS.

Twentieth-century artist Andrew Wyeth left his impression on the art world through distinct paintings depicting the tranquility of rural life. Now, those same works are used as a tableau of comparison

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against other famed artists cultivating similar themes during Wyeth’s time. Gaze upon some of his best-known scenes and see if you can spot the differences.

Greenville County Museum of Art, 420 College St, Greenville. Wed– Sat, 10am–6pm; Sun, 1–5pm. Free.

(864) 271-7570, gcma.org

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Thru Oct 26 COUNTRY CABARET AT PUMPKINTOWN MOUNTAIN OPRY

This ain’t your grandmother’s cabaret. On second thought, maybe it is. Swapping out sequins for straw hats, the Pumpkintown Mountain Opry serves up Southern-fried comedy with a steaming side of rip-roaring fun. And with a new comedy set each Saturday, you’ll never see the same show twice.

The Pumpkintown Opry Dinner Theater, 3414 Hwy 11, Pickens.

Sat, 7pm. $30. (864) 836-8141, pumpkintownopry.com

Thru Nov 1

TRUSTWORTHY

It’s never too late to pick up an instrument and learn how to be one of the greats. But if you need a little encouragement this fall, Furman University is here to help. Debuting after Labor Day, the Learning for You program will offer a number of classes for beginners and the slightly more seasoned, all taught by the most renowned professionals in their field. Whistle a harmonica tune with members of the Mac Arnold Band, pick up the basics of guitar, or learn the piano in a few hours flat.

Locations vary. Sept 9–Nov 12, times vary. $29-$129. (864) 2942135, furman.edu/learningforyou

1-7, 16-22, 26-28 GREENVILLE DRIVE

Stars in the making, the crack of a bat, a group of friends, and a cold beer in hand—all the ingredients for an entertaining summer evening at Fluor Field. Make your way to the West End stadium and support your hometown Drive during its August home stands.

Fluor Field, 945 S Main St, Greenville.

Times vary. $7-$10. (864) 240-4528, greenvilledrive.com

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FIRST FRIDAY LUNCHEON

Each month, the Greer Greater Chamber of Commerce invites special guests to speak to the community on topics like success, values, and ways to improve the Upstate family.

Businessman Eric Schneider, whose Tree Care trucks you may have seen roaming the neighborhood, will speak on his successes and failures in an unpredictable economy.

Greer City Hall, 301 E Poinsett St, Greer. Fri, 11:30am–1pm.

Members, $10; nonmembers, $15. (864) 877-3131, greerchamber.com

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ZOO-B-QUE

They may hail from Switzerland, but brothers Jens and Uwe will have you thinking they were born under the stars and stripes with their downhome fusion of bluegrass and folk.

Along with American bass player Joel Landsberg, the pair has picked with the best of ’em, so break out your banjo and get ready for an evening of mountain music.

TD Stage, Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Fri, 7:30. $20.

(864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org

If you’ve ever wanted to dine with the toucans or knock a few back under the watchful eyes of an orangutan, look no further. Feast on delicious barbecue, enjoy live music, and become one with nature.

Just try to stay out of the cages.

Proceeds from the event will benefit renovations to the Lion’s Den exhibit.

Greenville Zoo, 150 Cleveland Park Dr, Greenville. Fri, 6–9pm. $25; designated drivers, $15.

(864) 467-4300, greenvillezoo.com

3, 10, 17, 23 GREENVILLE PICKENS SPEEDWAY

Maybe it’s the intoxicating rev of engines gliding around the track.

Maybe it’s the beer. But whether you’re a fan of stock cars, trucks, or Ricky Bobby, the speedway’s guaranteed to bring out your inner NASCAR fan. Camp out, meet your favorite drivers, and whoop it up in the only place where the entertainers are louder than the fans.

Greenville Pickens Speedway, 3800 Calhoun Memorial Hwy, Easley. 8–10:30pm. $10. (864) 2690852, greenvillepickens.com

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MUSIC LESSONS THROUGH FURMAN UNIVERSITY’S LEARNING FOR YOU

3, 10, 17, 24, 31

TRAVELERS REST COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKET

It doesn’t make sense to travel long distances just to get local produce.

For those who live a bit further north than Greenville, the Travelers Rest Farmers Market is the solution to that conundrum. Produce varies from week to week, but there are always fresh-baked goods, goat milk and goat cheese, jams, and jellies.

115 Wilhelm Winter St, Travelers Rest. 9am–Noon. Free. travelersrestfarmersmarket.com

And who better to close out this year’s series than Upstate favorites and blues aficionados, True Blues.

TD Stage, The Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Wed, 7–9pm. Free. (864) 467-5741, greenvillesc.gov

REDEFINED

7, 14, 21, 28 SMILEY’S ACOUSTIC BLUES NIGHT

Smiley’s Acoustic Cafe has long been a stop for Upstate natives who treasure live music, tasty fare, and a free-spirited vibe more reminiscent of Asheville or Berkeley. Join local musicians on

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PRIMA VOLTA INAUGURAL CONCERT

Photograph courtesy of the Peace Center

If do-gooding Mr. Holland’s Opus and Sister Act 2 tickle your fancy, then Prima Volta’s inaugural concert is probably where you want to be.

The Houston-based arts non-profit creates opportunities for young artists who dazzle on stage and toil behind the scenes. This concert will feature works written by Furman alumni Samuel Hunter (’11) and Katie Pollock (’12).

Daniel Recital Hall, Furman University, 3300 Poinsett Hwy, Greenville. 3pm. Free. facebook.com/primavoltadotorg

7, 14, 21, 28 REEDY RIVER CONCERT SERIES

The staple summer concert series wraps up this month, bringing a variety of local and national acts to the scenic outdoor TD Stage. Groove out with Mystic Vibrations, raise a little hell with The Soulfeathers, or dip into a jazz-rock fusion with The Bent Strings.

Wednesday nights for Blues Night, presented in association with the Palmetto Drum Company.

Smiley’s Acoustic Cafe, 111 Augusta St, Greenville. Wed, 10pm. Free. (864) 282-8988, smileysacousticcafe.com

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THE WAILERS

Bob Marley may have passed away more than three decades ago, but the king of reggae’s legacy lives on in the reincarnation of his original band, The Wailers. Blending elements of the past in longtime bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett with the fresh addition of Jamaican vocal sensation Koolant Brown, this is sure to be a night filled with positive vibes and easy jammin’.

TD Stage, Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Thurs, 7:30pm. $20.

(864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org

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9–11, 23–25 SWITCH-A-ROOS

CHILDREN’S CONSIGNMENT SALE

Baby Gap is cute, but it sure can get expensive. At the South’s largest consignment sale, there are thousands upon thousands of gently used items for infants and children—with price tags that keep your wallet happy. Buy, sell, and stock up for the school year.

TD Convention Center, 1 Exposition Dr, Greenville. Fri, 9am–7pm; Sat, 9am–6pm; Sun, 10am–5pm. Free. (864) 325-0713, switcharoosconsignment.com

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GREENVILLE CHAMBER SINGERS AUDITIONS

If you’ve got the voice of an angel, it sure would be a shame not to let the rest of the world hear it. Luckily for everyone, the Greenville Chamber Singers, a 4-part women’s chorus, is hosting auditions. The group has been a mainstay performing group since 1996 and have performed in places as varied as the Biltmore House and Fluor Field. If interested, please go to the Chamber Singers’ website and submit an audition form.

John Knox Presbyterian Church, 35 Shannon Dr, Greenville. Mon, 5:30–7pm. greenvillechambersingers.org

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SHEMEKIA COPELAND

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BACK TO SCHOOL WATER BLAST

A good blues song wraps around you like soft velvet, its singer seducing you with her touch and tantalizing vocals. One such siren is Shemekia Copeland, whose sultry voice and dynamic passion has garnered her the title “Queen of the Blues.” Join her outside at the TD Stage for a night of sizzling jazz sure to match the summer heat.

TD Stage, Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Fri, 7:30. $20. (864) 4673000, peacecenter.org

No one likes going back to school, but everyone likes a water slide. Plus, it hides those “I have to start packing lunches again” tears. Cool off in Old Market Square with a variety of water rides, a DJ, games, and best of all: food. Give the ol’ heave-ho to schoolday blues.

Old Market Square, W 1st Ave & S 1st St, Easley. Sat, Noon– 4pm. Free. (864) 423-4344, easleyevents.com

17

WHEN A WOMAN HATES ALL MEN

Many of us know the feeling. Throwing our hands up in frustration, we curse every member of the opposite sex and swear them off completely—at least for the next week. Enter Monica Fields, a product of wayward relationships and self-professed hater of all men.

But when she connects with charming ladykiller Brian Love, these two may have finally met their matches.

David Reid Theatre, Chapman Cultural Center, 200 E St John St, Spartanburg. Sat, 7:30pm. Adults, $25; seniors & students, $20. (864) 542-2787, chapmanculturalcenter.org

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WOODRUFF MAIN STREET PROGRAM KICKOFF

While downtown Woodruff may not be the first place you think of as an Upstate destination, this event is just the thing to change your mind. Joining the ranks of the South Carolina Main

Street Program, the city will kick off its era of revitalization with a good old-fashioned cookout, serving up barbecue, burgers, beverages, and live music. The Main Street area will be alive and thriving with activity, accompanied by the sounds of artists like Us ’n Gus, Slaughter & Fox, and rising country star Cody Webb. Local merchants will even be open to showcase just what it is that makes this community so special.

Main St, Woodruff. Sat, 1–10pm. Free. (864) 476-8154, cityofwoodruff.com

Photograph courtesy of the Peace Center

TOWN

BOUHAROUN’S WANTS TO WELCOME PASSERELLE BISTRO TO DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE

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17–18

REALLY GOOD, REALLY BIG, REALLY CHEAP BOOK SALE

Whether you’re a fan of fiction, biography, or need to snap up a few stories for the kids, this Greenville Literacy Association fundraiser has got you covered. Last year, 14,000 attendees bagged nearly 100,000 books at prices that can make even the chintzy George Costanza smile.

New this year is Sunday’s Bag Full of Books Deal, where shoppers can load up all on their favorite reads for a mere $10 per sack. And if you’d like to beat Saturday’s crowds, $10 will get you in the door an hour early.

McAlister Square Shopping Center, 225 S Pleasantburg Dr, Greenville. Sat, 8:30am–4pm; Sun, 1–4pm. Free admission, book costs vary. (864) 467-3461, greenvilleliteracy.org

Photograph courtesy of the Peace Center

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BODEANS

With all the fast-paced hassles of daily life, the end of summer is the perfect time to relax and dig deep into some gritty rock music. With the newly released American Made, BoDeans end-of-summer performance is sure to delve into some fresh cuts as well as the classic hits that put them on the music map. Rock on, boys.

TD Stage, Peace Center, 300 S Main St, Greenville. Thurs, 7:30pm. $20.

(864) 467-3000, peacecenter.org

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23–25

SARCOMA WARRIORS 3RD ANNUAL “FIGHTING CANCER NEVER SOUNDED SO GOOD”

LAKE LURE OLYMPIAD SPORTS FESTIVAL

Sept 20

THE ROSE BALL

What’s better than giving cancer a swift kick to the rear? Giving it a swift kick to the rear to some awesome music. Hosted

by Hawk Harrison, one half of the comedic B93.7 Hawk n’ Tom duo, the event will feature shag-worthy music by Mac Arnold & Plate Full O’ Blues and the Jaywalkers, not to mention scrumptious eats and drinks. There’s no better cause this side of the Mississippi, so come on out and fight the good fight.

Zen, 924 S Main St, Greenville. Thurs, 6–9pm. $35. sarcomawarriors.org

Didn’t make the cut for London last year? Don’t worry, you can still show off your athletic prowess right here in the Upstate. This three-day Olympiad welcomes competitors of all ages to participate in events like the 10k dam run, Lake Lure triathlon, and “race to the rock.” And for the more leisurely sportsperson, golf and pickleball will also be on the roster.

Rumbling Bald Resort & Chimney Rock State Park, Lake Lure, NC. Fri–Sun, times vary. $10-$100 registration. (828) 429-9011, lakelureolympiad.com

22–Sept 15

The longest-running charitable ball in Greenville will be lending its support to 14 local charities, including A Child’s Haven, Triune Mercy Center, and the Bon Secours St. Francis Health System.

Themed as the “Art of the Rose,” this year’s ball will feature 25 artists and their work. Live entertainment will be provided by the band Right to Party.

There will also be an art reception held prior to the ball at The Lazy Goat.

Poinsett Club, 807 E Washington St, Greenville. Fri, 7:30pm. $400 per couple; additional sponsorship opportunities available. theroseball.org

23–25

Sept 26–29

DEATHTRAP

A struggling playwright professor with dreams of seeing his name in lights on the marquis (again) strikes a deal to hawk his student’s script as his own. A classic story, right? Maybe not, but with all the thrills, humor, and intrigue this Ira Levin piece has to offer, Deathtrap is one mystery you won’t want to break out of.

Flat Rock Playhouse, 2661 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock, NC. Wed–Thurs, Sat–Sun, 2pm; Wed– Sat, 8pm. Adults, $35; seniors, $33; students, $25. (866) 732-8008, flatrockplayhouse.org

SHE

A celebration of all things fabulous, SHE Greenville invites women of any age to join in the fun at this “ultimate girls’ weekend.” Indulge your inner shopper at the vendor marketplace, pick up tips on planning the perfect dinner event from Carolina Girl Cooks’ Jennifer Glover, or get crafty at any one of the local artist workshops.

TD Convention Center, 1 Exposition Dr, Greenville. Fri, 10am–8pm; Sat, 10am–6pm; Sun, 11am–5pm. Adults, $8; students, $5; juniors, $4. (864) 250-9713, shegville.com

EUPHORIA

Rich, robust wines seem to taste their best when complemented by the Upstate’s most delectable cuisines.

Add a little live music to the cocktail, and you’ve got Euphoria. This annual celebration features events like the Swine and Dine whole-hog roast, cooking demonstrations, Sunday Supper, and nationally-renowned guest chefs spicing things up at some of your favorite eateries. Expand your palate and greet the fall season at one of the Upstate’s most unique and flavorful events. Downtown Greenville.

Thurs–Sun, times vary. $35-$795. euphoriagreenville.com

- presents -

Calories don’t count at euphoria.

Taste of the

South

and Featured Guest Chefs ts an ur sta Re t es Fin ’s te sta Some of the Up Bacon Bros. Public House Coal Fired Bistro Devereaux’s Larkin’s on the River Nose Dive Rick Erwin’s Nantucket Seafood Grill

Roost

Soby’s Stella’s Southern Bistro The Green Room The Lazy Goat The Westin Poinsett

VIP Space provided by

Craig Deihl Cypress

Fred Neuville Fat Hen Jeremiah Bacon The Macintosh Joseph Jacobson The Oak Table

Drinks provided by

Kevin Johnson The Grocery Mike Davis Terra

Tupelo Honey Cafe

Rick Erwin’s West End Grille

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SECOND

Glance

Under Fire

John Acorn is fascinated by America’s fascination with firearms, and the numbers don’t lie. For every 10 American citizens, there are just over 9 privately-owned firearms. A surprising revelation, perhaps because most gun owners do not brandish their weapons publicly, or perhaps because firearms are so closely linked with our national psyche.

Acorn gives new visibility to the pervasiveness of American gun culture. Hundreds of wooden, pistol-shaped cutouts are interwoven with All-American icons: Sunday school angels, handmade quilts, the letter “P” as it would appear in an alphabet book. They are symbols of a nurturing, wholesome life, inextricably bound and supported by deadly instruments. Yet this juxtaposition is not jarring. Acorn blends these elements seamlessly, until his assemblages are almost kitsch in their innocuousness. Ubiquitous, but for the most part invisible—American gun culture in a nutshell.

—Andrew Huang John Acorn: Project Pistols will be on display through August 30 at the Riverworks Gallery, located at 300 River St, Suite 202 in Greenville. The gallery is open Tues–Sat, 1–5pm.

John Acorn, Quilt; photograph by Hunter Clarkson; image courtesy of Riverworks Gallery

John Acorn delves into the American obsession with firearms

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