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.