The RFC MINI SHOW # 7

The RFC MINI SHOW: “MARY A Rock Opera”

November 25, 2013 by rudy panucci

Rowan Maher as “MARY”

This week we are devoting the RFC MINI SHOW to “MARY A Rock Opera,” Dan Kehde and Mark Scarpelli’s musical which has become a Charleston holiday institution. We bring you three songs from the show (our sixth year of covering “MARY”) just in time to whet your appetite for opening night, Friday, November 29.

Contemporary Youth Arts Company presents the 17th annual production of Charleston’s holiday classic. MARY tells the story of the nine months leading to the birth of Jesus, as seen through the eyes of the young girl who will become his mother. This show has become a beloved part of the holiday season by a generation of theater-goers.

The RFC crew recorded these three songs, “Spin and Grow,” “Hear Us O Lord,” and “Child, My Child” last week, before the set was finished or the full orchestra was available. It’s still a stunning work and we are happy to share it with you. Show dates and times can be found after the jump…

Episode 193 of RFC

RFC 193 Visits Third Eye Cabaret

November 18, 2013 by rudy panucci

This edition of Radio Free Charleston, “Snowshoe Shirt” comes to us from Third Eye Cabaret, a cool weekly night of label-defying performers who bring a daring Bohemian spirit to Charleston every Thursday night at The Cellar, 8 Capitol Street. Our music this week is by The BrotherSisters, Jamie Skeen, Louis Argento and Snakebox, and we kick things off with animation by Jacob Fertig.

The RFC MINI SHOW # 6

The RFC MINI SHOW: Snakebox

November 14, 2013 by rudy panucci

This week’s RFC MINI SHOW takes us back to August, when we recorded Snakebox at The Empty Glass. We brought you two of those songs on episodes 189 and 190 of Radio Free Charleston, and from that same night, we’re bringing you two more in this week’s RFC MINI SHOW.

You can see Snakebox as part of Third Eye Cabaret at The Cellar on Capitol Street Thursday night, and we will update you here in PopCult when Snakebox has their next shows. These guys are extremely creative and loads of fun. As is explained in the show, their line up changes, but we caught them as a four-piece. We hope to have them back on the show with their expanded line up soon.

As their PR says, “Snakebox, from Charleston, WV, is an ever evolving nest of undulating sounds. Original songs and music tangle around guitarist and lead vocalist Kevin Crump, fiddle player and vocalist Beth Summers, bass player Thom Walker and drummer Dave Roberts. This orchestral orgy is often heard with violist Alasha Al-Qudwah, keyboardist Christopher Harris, trombone player Logan Umlor, and other fine specimens from the local music scene. Stick your hand in the box and be surprised!”

Our host segment was shot in Rudy Panucci’s living room because it was just too windy to do it outside. Not with that hat, anyway.

The RFC MINI SHOW # 5

The RFC MINI SHOW: HarraH

November 4, 2013 by rudy panucci

The fifth RFC MINI SHOW also marks the fifth week that we bring you music recorded at Shocka-Con in September. Our music this week comes from HarraH, one of the top metal bands in Charleston.

HarraH performs “Bloodmoon” and “Sawney Beane,” live from the stage on Beauregard Street outside the Haunted Barn. The correct title of the second song is “Sawney Beane,” the tale of a Scottish patriarch of a cannibal family. It’s misspelled on screen in the show. If you read PopCult regularly, you will be kept up to date on HarraH’s upcoming shows.