the meat puppets rise up

anyone who had a pulse during the 90s listened to nirvana (on some level) and if you didn't listen to nirvana then you definitely watched mtv (back when they used to play videos). "mtv unplugged" was coming into its own and so when kurt cobain invited the kirkwood brothers to share the stage and perform some of their tunes, most of the world was introduced to the meat puppets. after lots of ups and downs and a bit of a hiatus since 2001, the puppets are back on the road in support of their new album, rise to your knees (featuring new drummer ted marcus) and will be rocking the windjammer (1008 ocean blvd., isle of palms) tonight sat. july 21. doors are at 9pm and supporting artist is charleston-based red handed.

friday's featured picks

great night for live music here in charleston. here's a few worthy shows to pick from:

• garaj mahal (eastern-flavored jazz/funk/jam) at the pour house (1977 maybank hwy.)
• o.a.r. (pop/rock/reggae) at the family circle cup (161 seven farms dr., daniel island)
• playlist (80s & 90s rock) at the windjammer (1008 ocean blvd., isle of palms)
• quentin baxter & friends (modern jazz) at the charleston grill (224 king st.)
• uncle mingo (funk/rock/party) at the charleston harbor resort "party at the point" (20 patriots point rd., mt. pleasant)

"what the world needs now...

...is a new kind of tension"

those were a few of the words of wit from david lowry's lead track on cracker's self-titled debut way back in 1992. not only do we have our fair share of tension in the new millenium, but cracker is back with more twangy rock jingles and social commentary on their latest release greenland. the band will be headlining two nights this week at the windjammer (1008 ocean blvd., isle of palms) on thursday the 12th and friday the 13th while out on tour in support of greenland, their first album of all new material since 2002. cracker co-founder and lead guitarist, johnny hickman, will open both nights and likely perform material from his latest solo release palmhenge.

"what the world needs now are some true words of wisdom like la la la la la la la la la."

jamie mclean band: the dirty quartet

most people will know jamie mclean from his stint as the guitar player in the dirty dozen brass band, but jamie's working on changing that reputation. fronting his own band this evening at the windjammer, jamie & co. [derek layes (bass), jon solo (organ, keys) and younger brother carter mclean (drums)] tore through a power-packed set of original material from this time around ("home movies", " innocence lost"), newer originals such as "cherry tree" that will appear on the band's yet-to-be released 2007 sophomore effort, and even a rod stewart cover to boot.

the jamie mclean band will be back tuesday june 20th at the charleston pour house performing an acoustic set as opener for the subdudes. in the meantime, click here to view jamie's cutting session with soulive at the higher ground (allow 90 seconds for quicktime video to load).