Music Events

The Specs

Local quartet The Specs is one of those bands that makes you shake your head at radio charts and music award shows with disbelief and sheer disappointment that this band, and bands like The Specs, aren't there. There's a sense of the talented, fleshy underdog up against an army of manufactured machines at play when listening to The Specs.

There is equal parts heart and tenacity in the band's songs that resonates with the sensitive soul while also appealing to the technical listener. The Specs integrate complex song arrangements and the simple flairs that reveal not only understanding and range but also the ingenuity of mature songwriters. And while The Specs are what some may call a "musician's band" due to the subtle tweaks, strums, vocal layerings and such, the music is never over-thought or so gaudy and unnecessary that it becomes boring and arrogant. The Specs seem to have found that mythical middle ground between elitist "music artists" and those inventive yet approachable music dudes.

The music plays with a gentle illusory feel that often drifts from rough and nightmarish to soothing and utopian, giving the band acres of sonic landscapes to explore and build upon. The Specs' somber, psychedlic/pop style has likened the band to some distinguished comparisons ranging from The Byrds to The Smiths and latter-day The Beatles.

The Specs will perform at Tin Roof, 1117 Magnolia Road., Friday with Atlanta-based indie/punk band The Drownout and The Houston's. Tickets are available at the door. Call 571-0775 or visit myspace.com/westashleytinroof for more information on the show. Visit myspace.com/thespecs for more information on The Specs.

The Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt!

There is no accurate way to describe the chaos of Luaka Bop's The Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt!. Perhaps the band itself has the best description of both its musical style and roaming eccentricity.

"It's sorta dance-soul music, like synthed out Otis Redding covers on fast forward."

But even that doesn't really prepare you for the snarling, discordant, hilarious madness that awaits you at a Terror Pigeon show. There is likely to be hats made from disco balls, streamers, strobes, robots, aliens and "football players from the movie Mac n' Me on a TV dancing to the beat". The band also states that audience members shouldn't be surprised if they are handed a mic and told to "go for it".

The band will celebrate the release of its sophomore effort under the Luaka Bop flag when "I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU AND I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU! HAVE AN AWESOME DAY! HAVE THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE!!" (yes, really.) hits stores this May.

What Terror Pigeon lacks in superior musical talent, the band makes up for by making the best indie-esque music they can about real events, and there's something refreshing about that sort of honesty and bravery within a genre that has become so increasingly predictable and pompous.

The Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt! will perform at The Village Tavern, 1055 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, with The Shakes Friday. Tickets are $8 and are available at the door. Call 884-6311or visit myspace.com/villagetavern for more information on the show. Visit theterrorpigeondancerevolt.com for more information on the band.

The Packway Handle

The Packway Handle Band is unlike anything you are likely to have heard from the bluegrass circuit in quite sometime.

This Athens-bred quintet plays traditional bluegrass with barbershop harmonies and gospel inspired lyrics. PHB's music is full-hearted and fast-paced with flawless musicianship, harmonies that overlap with perfection and a wonderful, surrounding air that unleashes the whole room into a toe-tapping, hoot 'n' holler, fun-filled frenzy.

The Packway Handle will perform at The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy., with the Hackensaw Boys Friday. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or online at etix.com. Call 571-4343 or visit charlestonpourhouse.com. for more information. Visit thepackwayhandle.com for more information on The Packway Handle.