Weekend Buzz: Myrtle Beach's best entertainment bets for March 13-15, 2015

I'm not going to quote Loverboy, but it's that time everybody's been working for - the weekend.
And once again, there's an overload of events to choose from to keep yourself entertained this weekend along the Grand Strand.
Here are some recommendations:

TONIGHT

Myrtle Beach rock act The Izm squares off against two country artists - Rock Hill's Matt Tucker and Fayetteville, N.C.'s Erik Smallwood - in the finals of the Myrtle Beach round of the annual Hard Rock Calling Battle of the Bands tonight at Hard Rock Cafe at (and not near, as another local media outlet reported) Broadway at the Beach.

The action gets started at 8 tonight. There is no cover charge.

If you're a fan of The Izm and or/local original music, then grab your posse and head to the competition, because audience reaction is a portion of the judging criterion. Make some noise!
The winner will pocket $1,000 and advance to the next round of the battle, and continue the fight for the ultimate prize of performing at the Hard Rock Calling Festival in Barcelona, Spain.
Hard Rock Café is at 1322 Celebrity Circle, Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach. Call 946-0007 or visit www.hardrock.com.

TONIGHT

Over at the Boathouse, the venue's Friday night country showcase continues with country duo Love & Theft, known for the No. 1 single "Angel Eyes." Of particular interest to locals: former Eason guitarist Travis Newman, who had been a member of Craig Morgan's band, will be shredding his ax with Love & Theft tonight. The show starts at 9 tonight. There is no cover charge.

The Boathouse Waterway Bar and Grill is at 201 Fantasy Harbour Blvd., Myrtle Beach. Call 903-2628 or visit www.boathousemb.com.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

St. Patrick's Day is actually Tuesday (March 17), but once again Myrtle Beach is getting a leg up on the Irish celebration as dueling St. Patrick's Day festivals go head-to-head.

• At the Market Common, it's the 6th annual Irish Fest set for Saturday at Valor Park from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, featuring live music, Irish food and beer, vendors and kids activities. These 16-ounce drafts will be on tap: Brooklyn Irish Stout ($5), Highland Gaelic ($5), Highland Devils Britches Red IPA ($5), New South White Ale ($5). There is no admission charge. Valor Park is off of Farrow Parkway at The Market Common, on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, between U.S. 17 Bypass and U.S. 17 Business, south of Myrtle Beach International Airport. Call 839-3500 or visit www.MarketCommonEvents.com.
• Meanwhile, down on the oceanfront and boardwalk, Ocean Boulevard's St. Patrick's Day Celebration has expanded to a two-day event, incorporating a battle of the bands set for Sunday. It gets kicked off on Saturday with a street festival featuring live music, a beer garden, a kids carnival, vendors, games and plenty of drunks. Admission is free, and the event is roughly from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday. The event's headlining act is self-described "Voodoo Rock 'n' Roll" band The Delta Saints, expected to go on stage 8 p.m. The festival site is on Ocean Boulevard between 8th Avenue N. and Mr. Joe White Ave. The event will resume Sunday with an inaugural Battle of the Bands from noon to 9 p.m. on the oceanfront stage on Ocean Boulevard, between 8th Avenue N. and 9th Avenue N. There is no admission charge either day. For more info, go to http://myrtlebeachdowntown.com.

SATURDAY

And further on up the Strand, the 27th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival starts earlier than the others, slated to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday. Centered on Main Street, the event features the parade (starting at 9 a.m.), three stages of live entertainment, kids activities and approximately 150 vendors. The festival is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Admission and parking is free.
For more info, go to http://parks.nmb.us/Page.aspx?id=14.

TUESDAY

As mentioned, Tuesday is actually St. Patrick's Day, so we're going to handle those events in a separate, upcoming blog post.

Styx will be rockin' the Paradise, er, the House of Blues, tonight in North Myrtle Beach

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that classic rock act Styx is town again for a gig tonight at the House of Blues.
And I'd also be remiss if I didn't point out that one of the band's main songwriters and voices isn't in the fold.
Estranged singer-songwriter-keyboardist Dennis DeYoung, who sang many of the band's poppier and softer hits such as "Mr. Roboto," "Come Sail Away," "Lady" and "Babe" is still estranged.
Yet, in his absence, the band has forged on a with a harder edged rock sound, led by dueling singers/guitar slingers Tommy Shaw and James "JY" Young.
Shaw is the voice of many of Styx's other radio tracks including "Too Much Time on My Hands," "Renegade," "Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)" and "Blue Collar Man."
And JY seems to rock even harder, taking baritone lead vocals on a handful of rockers, including "Half Penny/Two Penny," "Heavy Metal Poisoning," "Miss America" and "Snowblind."
Meanwhile, DeYoung's replacement, Lawrence Gowan, who already had a successful solo career in Canada, has been a member of Styx since 1999, with more actual service time in the band than DeYoung.
I've seen this version of Styx before - at the defunct Carolina Amphitheater in Marion - and it's definitely a rock 'n' roll show and Shaw and Young have some serious chops.
Tonight's concert is billed as "An Evening with Styx," which is industry standard for "no opening act."
Doors open at 7:30 tonight, the show starts at 8:30.
Tickets are $42.50.
House of Blues is at 4640 U.S. 17 S., Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle Beach.  Call 272-3000 or visit www.houseofblues.com/myrtlebeach.

What's in a logo?

So my lovely and talented wife whipped up a new logo for my Best Bets feature here on the blog I'm calling the Weekend Buzz (that's it below).

What do you think?
Is it a winner?
I think so.

Chants to Dance: Coastal Carolina University's men's hoops squad heading back to NCAA tourney

In case you missed it yesterday, the Myrtle Beach-area's largest institution of higher learning, Coastal Carolina University, punched its return ticket to the men's NCAA basketball tournament - aka March Madness - knocking off Big South rival Winthrop.
The Chants spanked the Eagles 81-70 in the Big South Conference Championship finals at the HTC Center, capturing the conference's crown and the automatic berth to the Big Dance.
This is the second year in a row that Coach Cliff Ellis' squad has earned an NCAA tourney berth after a two-decade dry spell.
What's next for the Chants?
Well, they have to wait around a little bit for the power conferences, such as the ACC, SEC and Big 10, to host their respective conference tourneys this week and weekend, before they find out who will be CCU's first-round opponent.
The official NCAA Selection Committee reveals the match-ups on a CBS televised special at 6 p.m. Sunday. That's WBTW News Channel 13 for you Myrtle Beach-area local yokels.

Stage is set for finals of Myrtle Beach battle of the bands

The stage is set for the March 13 finals of the Hard Rock Calling Battle of the Bands at Hard Rock Cafe in Myrtle Beach and it has a decidedly country bent.
Two country acts - Rock Hill's Matt Tucker Band and Fayetteville, N.C.'s Erik Smallwood - will square off against Myrtle Beach hard rock act The Izm to move into the national phase of the competition, with the winners having a chance to perform at the Hard Rock Calling Festival in Barcelona, Spain.
The action kicks off at 8 p.m. next Friday, March 13 - yes, Friday the 13th will be lucky for somebody.
Hard Rock Café is at 1322 Celebrity Circle, Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach. Call 946-0007 or visit www.hardrock.com.

Myrtle Beach's Weekend Buzz for March 6-8, 2015

Thank the heavens it’s the weekend again, so it’s time to unwind for many of us along the Grand Strand.

And despite the quick return of Old Man Winter, don’t use that as an excuse to remain a hermit.

I’ve rustled up some groovy happenings for the Myrtle Beach-area this weekend (March 6-8), so get out there and live a little bit.

TONIGHT (FRIDAY)

Myrtle Beach’s hard-rocking The Izm and country-singer-songwriter Erik Smallwood  from Fayetteville, N.C. have secured slots in the Hard Rock Calling Battle of the Bands finals slated for March 13 at Hard Rock Cafe in Myrtle Beach, and tonight they’ll find out who their third competitor will be.

Join me tonight as I get judgmental on performers IBC, Rock Hill-based Matt Tucker Band, Jenius Beats and Myrtle Beach indie rock outfit Oceans Orange, starting at 8 p.m. There is no cover charge.

As I stated earlier in the week when the competition kicked off, audience reaction is part of the judging criterion, so if you know any of these acts, or like their music, you should show up and make some noise.

The regional champ crowned on March 13 advances  to the international competition for a chance to perform at the Hard Rock Rising 2015 festival in Barcelona, Spain.

Hard Rock Café is at 1322 Celebrity Circle, Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach. Call 946-0007 or visit www.hardrock.com.

If you’re not into competition and just want to check out some live rock ‘n’ roll tonight, here are a few more recommended options:

• “Gwen Stefani’s husband,” aka Gavin Rossdale leads his ‘90s alt-rock juggernaut Bush - “Come Down,” “Glycerine,” “Machine Head,” “Everything Zen,” “Little Things,” “The Chemicals Between Us,” “Greedy Fly,” “Swallowed,” “Letting the Cables Sleep,” and “The Sound of Winter” -  back to the House of Blues tonight in support of new album “Man on the Run.”
  
  Nickelback protege Theory of a Deadman (“Bad Girlfriend,” “Hate My Life”) and Stars in Stereo are also on the bill. Doors open at 7 p.m. the show starts at 8. Tickets are are $51.50.  House of Blues is at 4640 U.S. 17 S., Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle Beach.  Call 272-3000 or visit www.houseofblues.com/myrtlebeach.
• If ‘60s avant garde rock is more your thing then check out Loaded, a local tribute to the music (and visuals) of the Velvet Underground and Lou Reed, tonight at the PIT (Pawleys Island Tavern). The show starts at 9 p.m. and there is no cover charge. Pawleys Island Tavern is at 10635 Ocean Highway (U.S. 17), Pawleys Island. Call 237-8465 or visit www.pawleysislandtavern.com.
• Meanwhile, on the north end of Myrtle Beach proper, soul-inflected up-and-coming Charleston band The Dead 27s hold court at Bourbon Street. Show time is 10 p.m. Bourbon Street Bar & Grill is at 5307 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach. Call 712-1083. Sample the video below to find out what the fuss is all about.

SATURDAY

If you know that barbecue is not a grill or a picnic - or grilled chicken with red sauce slapped on it - then you’ll want to head to Surfside Drive on Saturday for the Surfside Beach BBQ Festival featuring a cook-off competition, kids activities, and performances by local progressive bluegrass pickers Sawgrass (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and local country act The Josh Brannon Band (2-4 p.m.). Admission is free, but bring your wallet because the vittles ain’t.

For more information, call 650-9548 or go to www.surfsidebeach.org.

SUNDAY

And if you tie one on Saturday night, remember you’re going to lose an hour of partying if you stay out late. That’s right, it’s time to spring forward as Daylight Saving Time goes into effect at 2 a.m. Sunday. That means you’ll need to set your clock back an hour when you awaken from a haze Sunday morning - or risk being very early everywhere you go.

CD Review | "9 Lions" | Matt Parker and The Deacons

I've been familiar with Myrtle Beach-area guitarist-singer-songwriter Matt Parker for roughly a decade, back to the days of his hard-rocking power trio Psychward, and wee morning hour renditions of him playing "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" standing on a high-top, and slinging his ax behind his back, and picking it with his teeth ala Hendrix.
While Parker and his newer cohorts (The Deacons, aka bassist Rob Rotondo and drummer James Poindexter) are still a trio, the band is little bit mellower and more restrained on their spanking new independently released "9 Lions" consisting of seven original tracks composed by Parker.
But that doesn't mean that "9 Lions" doesn't rock - it does - but it allows ample time to catch your breath.

The disc jumps off in a power-pop direction with opening track "Alone With You," a rock solid number that bounces along with a catchy chorus and some rapid-fire lyrics that I still can't quite decipher despite repeated listening. But I gather it's about feeling alone in a relationship, and not the bliss of finally getting some one-on-one time with the object of affection. Yet it's catchy, and a funky musical break leading into Parker's tasty solo recalls the Psychward glory days. Bonus points for working the word "semantics" into the lyrics - how's that for literate rock 'n' roll? (Check out the video for "Alone With You" below.)

I hate to keep waxing retro, but Parker and bandmates have explored various musical terrain since the Psychward moniker, including acoustic performances, and the last time I caught them live at Wahoo's Fish House in Murrells Inlet, it was a pop cover-heavy set including a take on Pharrell Williams' "Happy."
I mention this because despite that diversity, I still wasn't prepared for "9 Lions'" second track, "By Me" when it started with a beach music-like vocal intro of falsetto "oohs" and a fast walking shuffle guitar and bass riff.
I listened to "9 Lions" three different ways while preparing for this review: on my truck's factory stereo (Delco, nothing special), on my laptop and then through my old-school Sansui home speakers. And it was during this latter listening that "By Me" clicked my Like-O-Meter and I found myself singing the chorus of "Lay it on down 'til you've got no more worry/Lay it down 'til you've got no more pain." It has considerably more muscle when you listen via quality audio vs. tinny computer speakers.
The next two songs, "Subsided" and the mellow groove "In the Middle" (not to be confused with the Jimmy Eat World song with a similar name), at first blush seemed to  be linked, perhaps consciously or perhaps unintentional, with a lyrical coupling that rhymes "dangerous"  and "us" - in fact, I had to listen repeatedly to make sure "In the Middle" wasn't a slowed down, ballad version of "Subsided." It's not, but it's the superior track of the two and is a welcome change of pace.
The record finishes off with "Nightmare," an uptempo rocker that at times recalls Fuel's "Shimmer," the hard-edged "Your Ways" sporting an "Achilles Last Stand"-like galloping riff, and raucous instrumental "Love Jam" that allows the band to show off its tremendous chops - and funky side.
Recorded at Slinky Finger Studios in Charlotte, N.C., the production of "9 Lions" is crisp and clear without sounding over-produced.
In sum, "9 Lions" showcases the tight musicianship of Parker, Rotondo and Poindexter (sounds like a law firm?) and is definitely worthy of listening/downloading/purchasing if you're a supporter of local music and appreciate original melodic rock with some pop and soul touches.
"9 Lions" is available for download on iTunes or you can buy physical copies at the band's next local gig tonight (Friday) at Bubba's Love Shak in Murrells Inlet.
For more info, go to www.MattParkerandtheDeacons.com.

It's full steam ahead for Myrtle Beach-area tech start-up connecting kids with charitable giving

Have you struggled with planning yet another of your kiddo’s birthday parties, trying to top the previous year’s extravaganza without blowing the budget and also hoping to find something meaningful to focus on?

And are you tired of sifting through the mounds of cheap, made-in-China plastic toy gifts that your tyke plays with for two minutes then leaves in the middle of the floor for you to step on in the dark of night?

Are you trying to instill a sense of community and activism into your offspring and help your young ones develop empathy for others?

What if your kid’s birthday could help change the world?

Pay attention, because there’s a new Myrtle Beach/Pawleys Island-based tech start-up pairing children’s birthday parties with charities and it’s becoming more than a “Shark Tank”-type pipe dream.

KidsCanGiveToo.com has been in operation for 20 months but is now considered fully funded and ready to scale, hiring its first two full-time employees, the first such start-up venture associated with tech incubator Startup.SC to achieve this status.

"I'm very excited to hear that StartUp.SC is seeing success and momentum with their first entrepreneurial company, KidsCanGiveToo.com,” said Morgan Dendy, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation. “Tech incubators like StartUp SC and the (Conway-based) 5th T Innovation Group are such a fantastic addition to our community.  These types of organizations are fueling innovation and providing a thriving environment for local entrepreneurs and smaller tech-based companies, which ultimately contributes to the diversification of our local economy."

The project raised $325,000 from angel investors and plans to soon hire a full-time Web developer as well, while stating the goal of hosting 1,000 birthday parties per month and raising $1 million for charities within the first year.

(Pictured) KidsCanGiveToo.com Founder and CEO, Barb Royal. Courtesy photo.

“I am thrilled about closing this first round of investment, so KidsCanGiveToo can finally have the resources to become what I always knew it could be. Together, with the support of these talented investors, we are ready for huge growth," Barb Royal, KidsCanGiveToo Founder, said in a press release.

Royal, a former classroom teacher-turned-entrepreneur who dreamed up the idea for KidsCanGiveToo with her sister, was appointed CEO. 

And a familiar face to many folks in the Grand Strand's marketing, public relations, media and advertising circles, Anne Marie Bailey (pictured at left), is the company's new Marketing and Strategic Partnerships director. Bailey was the long-time Marketing and Promotions Manager at the House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach, and she also was a Community Builder for Cowork MYR and most recently Social Media Coordinator for the Brandon Agency in Myrtle Beach.

"Startup.SC is really excited to see KidsCanGiveToo.com get funded and create jobs in our area. While startup incubators are raising millions of dollars and creating thousands of jobs around the country, the Grand Strand is just getting started.  Our success with KidsCanGiveToo.com demonstrates we can do this with other companies and there is no reason the next big Internet startup can't come from the Grand Strand," said Ryan Smith, Executive Director of Startup.SC, a non-profit 501c(6) offshoot of the Grand Strand Technology Council (GSTC) founded in 2014.

John Sanders, Chairman of GSTC, said the Myrtle Beach area, despite misperceptions that we lag behind, is ripe for Internet and technology-based entrepreneurship.

Sanders said with the amount of computer education in local schools - from public elementary to institutions of higher learning - and infrastructure, the only missing ingredient has been venture capital.

But KidsCanGiveToo's success at attracting investors shows that it can be done.

"It lets you know we can do it all," said John Sanders. "We have the opportunity to build an enormous (tech sector) region."

HOW IT WORKS

So, how does KidsCanGiveToo.com work?

Here’s the simple version: You host a birthday party, the birthday boy or girl selects a charity, their guests donate to that charity instead of buying a gift, and the birthday honoree gets a VISA gift card to buy their own present.

Can’t you just do this on your own without utilizing a Web site?

Yes, but KidsCanGiveToo is a onestop shop and has already done the legwork, aligning itself with a slew of charities, from local outfits such as All 4 Paws, a Pawleys Island animal rescue shelter, to the nationally recognized Special Olympics. A few local montessori schools, academies and PTOs/PTAs are registered recipients on the site, too.

After you’ve signed up to host your party and sent out invitations (either electronically or old school printed invites), you can track your donations on the Web site as your guests RSVP.

The donations are split among the birthday child (40 percent), the chosen charity (50 percent) and KidsCanGiveToo.com (10 percent).

Why 10 percent for KidsCanGiveToo.com? Because it’s a for-profit business and has operating costs and, as we detailed, has full-time employees to pay.

According to the site’s FAQ page: “We considered many different business models when developing KidCanGiveToo. Our current model allows us to cover administrative costs and make it FREE for charities to participate.   By charging just 10% of the total amount collected, parents have the option of choosing the basic plan that has zero up-front costs, so anyone can afford to host a KidsCanGiveToo birthday party for their child. Most importantly, this model enables us to never have to charge our charities and schools to be on our site.”

ANGEL WINGS

Securing $325,000 from angel investors isn’t exactly chump change for a start-up, and will allow KidsCanGiveToo and Royal to spread their wings and tap the far-reaching market afforded by the Internet.

“It will allow her to be more aggressive in getting users,” said Sanders.

So who are these angel investors who were impressed enough by KidsCanGiveToo to plunk down their money?

According to a press release, the investors include three local business men and a Virginia Tech professor.

They are:

• Steve Sisney, Founder and CEO of Sisney Capital in Pawleys Island

• Larry Mercado, Founder and CIO of Mercom Corporation of  Pawleys Island
• Lee Hewitt, Owner/Broker In Charge, Garden City Realty, Inc. in Garden City Beach

• Dr. Janet Osborne, Associate Professor at Virginia Tech’s Carillon School of Medicine and Research Institute and Section Chief of Gynecologic Oncology in Roanoke, Va.

"What initially attracted me to KidsCanGiveToo.com was the aspect that it was created to raise money for charities in an untraditional way,” said Hewitt via e-mail.

Myrtle Beach is Myrtle Beach's largest employer?

Don't ask me why I stumbled across this report but...
According to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce's Community Profile of Horry County, which was updated Jan. 28, sitting atop the list of the Republic of Horry's largest employers is its largest city, Myrtle Beach.

Or so I thought by glancing at the DEW's Top 20 largest employers list for Horry County, without noticing that they were in alphabetical order and not ranked by size - i.e. who has the most people on payroll.
Doh! That's what I get for looking at reports at 2 a.m. and not double-checking.
But I've since been corrected (thankfully) by a former newspaper colleague now plying her trade within the DEW.
Why are they in alphabetical order and not ranked by size?
"The list of 20 largest employers provided for each county is listed alphabetically because of privacy policies of the surveys used to collect data from companies and our agency and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic,"  Mary-Kathryn Craft, Office of Public Information, South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, said via e-mail.
Thank goodness this is an easily corrected blog format and not a print publication...
However, the reason this list piqued my interest in the first place is because I was surprised that it appeared the crown jewel of the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach, is also the county's economic driver when it comes to the workforce - and not Walmart or the Board of Education.
Also surprising to me is the absence of homegrown developers Burroughs & Chapin, Co., Inc., responsible for Broadway at the Beach, Coastal Grand Mall and Grande Dunes.
Despite it being in alphabetical order and not ranked by size, I think the SCDEW's Top 20 list of Horry County's largest employers is quite interesting, so maybe you will too.
A few notes before we get gander at the list:

• I have no idea why Walmart is listed twice.
• When it says "Horry County Council" I'm pretty sure it means the county government as a whole.
• I'm sure the KMart numbers will take a nosedive in the next report with the discount chain's Murrells Inlet and Myrtle Beach stores closing.
• OS Restaurant Services Inc. does not have a Web site, but I connected the dots and believe that it is the company that owns Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill and Bonefish Grill.
• Also, I couldn't find a Website for Southeast Restaurants Corporation, but I found several "D/B/As (doing business as) Pizza Hut."

Without further ado, here is the list:

HORRY COUNTY'S 20 LARGEST EMPLOYERS

• CITY OF MYRTLE BEACH 
• CITY OF NORTH MYRTLE BEACH 
• COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY 
• CONWAY HOSPITAL INC. 
• ELLIOTT REALTY INC 
• FOOD LION LLC 
• GRAND STRAND REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
• HILTON WORLDWIDE INC 
• HORRY COUNTY COUNCIL
• HORRY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
• HORRY TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE INC 
• K MART CORPORATION 
• LORIS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL DISTRICT 
• LOWES FOODS LLC 
• LOWES HOME CENTERS INC 
• OS RESTAURANT SERVICES INC 
• SOUTHEAST RESTAURANTS CORPORATION 
• WAL-MART ASSOCIATES INC 
• WAL-MART ASSOCIATES INC. 
• WYNDHAM VACATION OWNERSHIP INC.

Two for Tuesday in Myrtle Beach

OK, more blah weather at the beach today, but that doesn't mean you have to be a shut-in.
If you're a live music-lover, I've rustled up a couple of local events that should be of interest tonight (Tuesday, March 3).

THE BATTLE OF EVERMORE

The first round of the annual Hard Rock Rising Battle of the Bands kicks off tonight at the pyramid-shaped Hard Rock Cafe at Broadway at the Beach.

Tonight's competitors are: local pop/rock singer-songwriter Jimmy Mowery, North Carolina-based country-soul singer-songwriter Erik Smallwood, Carrboro, N.C.'s electro-rock outfit LightWorks and the act with the best name: Society's Lust of Propaganda (SLOP), a headbanging ensemble from Fayettenam, I mean Fayetteville, N.C.
The action begins at 8 tonight and there is no cover charge. Audience reaction is part of the judging criterion, so if you know any of these acts, or like their music, you should show up and make some noise.
It's right back into the fray on Wednesday as the battle continues with performances by The Izm, Deep Sky, 21st Century Goliath and The Day of Night. This round kicks off at 8 p.m. and there is no cover.
On Friday, yours truly is one of the judges, and I'll be going all Simon Cowell on performers IBC, Matt Tucker, Jenius Beats and Oceans Orange, also at 8 p.m., and of course there's no cover.
The winners of each round will advance to the finals on March 13 at Hard Rock Cafe, with the regional champ advancing to the international competition for a chance to perform at the Hard Rock Rising 2015 festival in Barcelona, Spain.
Hard Rock Café is at 1322 Celebrity Circle, Broadway at the Beach, Myrtle Beach. Call 946-0007 or visit www.hardrock.com.

BUDDY BLUES

Grand Strand prodigal son Todd Roth, aka My Buddy Todd, a roots blues musician who uprooted and followed his muse to Austin, Texas a few years ago, returns to the beach for a handful of gigs including hosting My Buddy Todd Blues Night tonight at Island Bar and Grill near Surfside Beach.
Roth will be joined by his buddy/drummer Ian Dunning Brown.
The show is set to start at 8:25 tonight, after the bar's regular trivia event.
There is no cover charge.
If you get there early, the Island Bar is also serving a steak dinner starting at 5 p.m. - featuring  ribeye, loaded mashed potatoes, salad and dinner roll for $12.99 - and also on tap (pun intended) is the tapping of New Belgium's Slow Ride Session IPA (queue up the Foghat).
Island Bar and Grill is at 2272 Glenns Bay Road, Surfside Beach. Call 650-3157 or visit www.islandbarandgrill.com.
Check out his tunes at www.reverbnation.com/mybuddytodd.

At-home Movie Buzz

Over the weekend we ordered "Big Hero 6" from HTC's Video on Demand (VOD) service, and my household watched it at least six times - maybe more.
I was skeptical of the whole Disney takeover of Marvel, but this particular flick really works and is fantastically entertaining and safe for the whole family - although there is cartoonish violence (hey, it's a cartoon!) you should be aware of.

What movies have other folks in the Myrtle Beach area been watching in the privacy of their own homes (besides porn)?
Well, the following is a snapshot from brick-and-mortar flick peddler Movie Shack, which has locations in Surfside Beach and Socastee.

MOVIE SHACK TOP 10

Here are the Top 10 rentals from Movie Shack, 1702 U.S. 17 N., Surfside Beach for the week ending Feb. 28.

1. "Horrible Bosses 2"

2. "Dumb And Dumber To"

3. "Birdman"

4. "John Wick"

5. "The Interview"

6. "St. Vincent"

7. "Big Hero 6"

8. "Whiplash"

9. "Fury"

10. "Nightcrawler"

Have you seen any on this list?

I definitely want to watch "Birdman" and "St. Vincent" and will probably check out "Dumb and Dumber To" because I can't resist.

You can find Movie Shack on Facbeook at: www.facebook.com/www.MovieShack

The Weekend Buzz for Feb. 27-March 1, 2015

Old habits are hard to break...

So, people often ask me, "what's going on this weekend along the Grand Strand?"

Lucky for you, your personal entertainment concierge (that's me) is here to oblige with my new best bets feature, highlighting some cool and hot things to do in and around our li'l sunny (most of the time) seaside hamlet this weekend (Feb. 27-March 1).

Hopefully this will help you plan your Weekend Buzz as we might be heading out of the recent deep freeze and surely you have cabin fever by now.

FRIDAY

When she's not stirring up shit on various reality shows such as "Love and Hip-Hop," R&B singer-songwriter K. Michelle is pumping out some critically-acclaimed girl-power soul - “Rebellious Soul” (2013) and “Anybody Want to Buy a Heart?” (2014) both debuted in the Top 5 on Billboard's album charts - and she returns to the House of Blues for sold-out show tonight. According to the HOB Web site, "this concert is 'An Evening with K. Michelle'" which translates as "no opening act." Doors open at 7:30 tonight. Show time is 8:30 p.m. Tickets - as the venue advises, may become available as show time approaches - and are $34-$86.50. House of Blues is at 4640 U.S. 17 S., Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle Beach. Call 272-3000 or visit www.houseofblues.com/myrtlebeach.

SATURDAY

Shuck yeah! Another weekend, another oyster roast. This time Quigley's Pint and Plate in the Litchfield/Pawleys Island area is getting in on the celebration of those mouthwatering mollusks. Set for Saturday, Quigley's Oyster Roast will be held outside the brewpub with piles of steamed oysters, brewskis, kids activities, and live music lineup featuring local acts Randy McQuay, The Austin Mowery Band and Bullfrog. The event is from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday. There is no admission charge, but you have to purchase tickets to jam as many oysters down your gullet that you can handle. Bring your own oyster knife and gloves if you want to save a few bucks, otherwise you'll need to purchase 'em on site. Blankets and lawn chairs are a good idea, too. I'm not going to tell you if other types of food will be available, because this is an oyster roast, mothershucker! Quigley's Pint & Plate is at 257 Willbrook Blvd. in the Mingo development, Litchfield/Pawleys Island. Call 237-7010.

SATURDAY

Showcasing their brand spanking new disc, "9 Lions," local funk-rock-soul act Matt Parker & The Deacons  - you may remember 'em as Psychward - take to the stage at Hot Fish Club on Saturday for a mix of originals (my favorite is still "Drama Queen") and eclectic and crowd-pleasing covers. Show time is 9 p.m. Saturday and the band is expected to play until 1 a.m. There is no cover charge. You can sample some of the new (and old) tracks at the band's Reverb Nation page: 

www.reverbnation.com/mattparkerandthedeacons. 

While writing this report, a copy of "9 Lions" arrived in my mail box, so check back on this blog for a review in the coming days. Hot Fish Club is at 4911 U.S. 17 Business, Murrells Inlet. Call 357-9175 or visit www.hotfishclub.com. 

SUNDAY

What to do with those stinky, hole-y socks that even Goodwill won't take? Well, you can put them to good use in the name of the Vernal Equinox as the South Carolina Maritime Museum hosts the 4th annual Burning of the Socks on Sunday. Yeah, I know, some of mine could spontaneously combust. But anyhow, bring your rancorous stockings and pitch them in the blaze in support of the S.C. Maritime Museum which is honoring this sea-faring rite of spring meant to signify the coming of the Vernal Equinox (which isn't quite here, by the way), and the occasion will also commemorate the 150th anniversary of the sinking of the Harvest Moon, a Civil War gunboat, whose smokestack you can see still sticking out of the waters of Winyah Bay, if you know where to look.  As with any event worth its salt around here, the Burning of the Socks shindig also features an oyster roast, pilau (aka bog) and a performance by local progressive bluegrass outfit Sawgrass. 

Tickets are $20 for museum members, $25 for non-members, available online at http://scmaritimemuseum.org/march-event-tickets.

The event is from 2-6 p.m. Sunday.

The S.C. Maritime Museum is at 729 Front Street, Georgetown. Call 520-0111.

FEEDBACK

Let me know how you like (or dislike) this report so I can improve it. Also, if you have upcoming events you'd like featured, send me an e-mail to: kentavo1970@gmail.com.

So, my former personal blog page isn't active anymore, so here's to a relaunch - just testing the waters right now, more to come later...