Saturday night was another edition of Brightbell Music's Greenville Weekend Live Music series, and this time around I posted up at Piney Mountain Bike Lounge for what turned out to be the deepest bill of the night. Put on by our friends over at Darn Rascal Booking, four acts on one stage made for a long, full night. Sidestep Dog, Pterry, Leaving For Arizona, and Mothspeaker each brought their own flavor, and the lineup kept the energy moving from one set to the next without a dull stretch. If you were debating which show to catch this weekend, Piney Mountain was the move if you wanted the most music for your money.
This one had a little extra weight to it, too. It was Sidestep Dog's last show for a while, so the set carried that bittersweet energy you get when a band is about to step back. The room felt like it knew it was watching something that wouldn't be around again for a bit, and they left it all on stage.
Pterry and Mothspeaker are both acts we've worked with before, and it's always a good time watching them back on a bill. There's a comfort in seeing familiar faces load in and set up, and both sets reminded me why we keep working with them They know how to read a room and they know how to close.
Then there was Leaving For Arizona, who made the drive down from Charlotte, NC just for the show. Always appreciate a band willing to put in the miles for a Saturday night in Greenville, and their set made the trip worth it. New faces in the crowd got a proper introduction to a band that clearly doesn't phone it in just because they're away from home turf.
Please see below for select pictures from the show and social media handles.
Sidestep Dog (Greenville, SC) — Instagram @sidestepdog
pTerry (Greenville, SC) — Instagram @pterryband
Leaving For Arizona (Charlotte, NC) — Instagram @leavingforarizona
Mothspeaker (Greenville, SC) — Instagram @mothspeakergvl
Vol. XXIII: A Full House Across the Upstate
Vol. XXIII proved there was music worth catching in every corner of the Upstate. Greenville stayed busy with Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers headlining at Radio Room alongside Ike Reilly and Shane Reilly, a Reggae Block Party bringing island vibes to Poe Mill Music, and Izzy Escobar and Mira Housey taking the stage at Seratonic Venue and Lounge. Just down the road in Easley, Silos Brewing Co. hosted Passenger Princess, while Simpsonville held its own with David Kocke at 1885 Taproom and Tim Bolognone at Sweet Sippin'. With that much variety on tap, there really wasn't a wrong choice. No matter where you ended up, you were in for a good night.