The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 21, 1997, Page 4, Image 4
SITE OF THE DAY
Satan Inside
The So
their stu
JOHN LYONS Features Editor
Perseverance has paid off for the
Soul Mites.
The Columbia-based band, a
mainstay to the Midlands music
scene since early 1993, appears to
finally be where it wants to be.
With its debut CD due to hit stores
in March and its fan base growing ;
at a steady pace, this melting pot of
classic rock, funk and alternative
rock is bearing the fruits of its labor.
And in the eyes of percussionist
Kevin Scheyer, 21, the four-year
evolution of his band has produced
a well-oiled machine.
"We've matured as musicians and
as a family, we're not just getting up
on stage and playing our
instruments," Scheyer said. "It's a
business. We hook with each other
now."
The band's hard-earned musical
independence has lately produced
Uncle Walt Inc., a management
company which acts as a safety net
of sorts for the band.
"Uncle Walt allows us to promote,
sort of like Fishco (Hootie & The
Blowfish management)," Scheyer
said. "It's for our own security, like
in dealing with bar owners. We're
official. We can take out taxes, we
have our own lawyer?we're not a
bunch of kids anymore."
With the Soul Mites' growth have
Nada provi
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West Columbia
(across fromMcDonalds)
739-9100
MATT CHEVERTON Staff Writer
: i
If you're a government or business (
major, there's only one place you
want to live on campus. j
And if you're like me and doing ?
both, the advantages of rolling out j
of bed five minutes before class after 1
a heavy night on the ale prove living
anywhere else pales in comparison ?
to Nada.
Okay, so it offers American and t
international students the opportunity ^
to live together in harmony (most of c
the time!) and share in a unique
cultural experience (at least that's
what it says in the housing pamphlet). ?
Perhaps, most importantly it's
not Bates House, where I spent the ^
first few nights after my arrival from ^
England and was sorely tempted to j.
catch the next plane home. j.
9 Alumna: Holly Gi
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come sacrifices. While the band's
capability was once inhibited by
college and work schedules, lately
their vision has narrowed on their
goal to quit their day jobs and build
careers with their music.
Recently, the band replaced old
guitarist A1 Taylor with Chris
Portwood, formerly of local band
Sonar. With Portwood, Scheyer,
drummer Andy Dumiak, bassist
Thorn Harm an and Tim Davis, the
puzzle is now complete for the Soul
Mites.
And as Scheyer says, Portwood
fit in perfectly from Day One.
"He played two shows with us
just jamming around," Scheyer said.
"But the third show he played with
us, which was this past October, was
the biggest show we've ever done."
Scheyer was referring to Augusta's
South By Southeast Showcase, a
two-day music extravaganza which
featured the Hazies, Pine, Hazel
Virtue and Squeezebox.
Out of 250 bands that sought a
spot on the bill, only 12 were selected
to play the showcase. The Soul Mites
were one of them.
Playing in front of 2,400 people
at the event was a trial by fire for
Portwood, and, for that matter, the
rest of the band as well, for it was
the largest crowd to ever witness
them live.
After the Augusta show, Portwood
des USC sti
Certainly, Nada apartments are
ike Buckingham Palace by
comparison.
The apartments have a massive
iving room, an adjoining dining room
md a kitchen, complete with such
uxuries as a dishwasher, washing
nachine and tumble dryer.
Never mind that you can never
ictually get to the washing machine
is your hard-up friends will bring
heir wash over. Best of all, we even
[et free toilet paper delivered to our j
loor every week. <
Come to think of it, there are few 1
>laces I'd rather live on campus, i
ilthough I do sometimes think, when
ny roommate's alarm wakes me up ]
n the morning, or when I can't get
nto the bathroom because he is too 1
>usy applying his make-up, that <
Laving a single room would be rather 1
atling
i C Citizens for Life
bortion
Wayne Cockfield I
bilities
IADRO!
: YATERBED
\
> TAN
ONLY HIGH
dsINING BED!
m)ro is equal to
rVFMTTOMAT RFD
vNTEED
flrff fie teach/
806PavillionAve.
Five Points
(behind Group Therapy)
254-9100
?
IN MONDAY Get An Inside L<
tA
is show
weekend
became a full-time member of the
band. And judging by the March
release of their debut CD, more large
crowds could be in the band's future.
Preparing to hit the road in
support of their debut just months
after replacing their guitarist could
be a testament to the Soul Mites'
resolve.
The Soul Mites' resume is
extensive, as the they've played with
such bands as Hootie, Spider Monkey,
Danielle Howe, Treadmill Trackstar,
Root Doctors, Edwin McCain and A
Flock of Seagulls.
The Soul Mites have soli d ties in
the Southeast, having played in
Augusta, Asheville, Isle of Palms
and Murrell's Inlet. This spring they
hope to expand their market to venues
in rfinploatnn an/1 A+lanfa
The CD, which contains eight
songs, was recorded at The Jam
Room in Columbia and, as Scheyer
says, the band's growth is evidenced
in the new cuts.
"We're writing new songs and
developing old sound, but we're also
adding a new sound to our songs,"
Scheyer said. "In a way, I guess you
could say we're fusing the old with
the new."
When asked how to describe the
Soul Mites' music, Portwood offered
a clever if not artistic analysis, saying,
"It's a shot of funk, with a twist of
rock and a splash of soul."
udents inte
nice.
But seeing as almost everybody
living on USC campus has to share
as well, if s hard to count this against
Nada.
Other benefits of living in Nada
are that you are given the opportunity
to participate in all the fabulous
Nada events tirelessly organized
primarily by Heather, Rodney and
Amber.
I mean what could be nicer than
getting up at 7 am. the first Saturday
of the semester to go on a group
banding exercise on some ropes course
in the middle of nowhere.
Now that's what I call a good
hangover aire!
Unfortunately, these group
bonding exercises only take place
once a semester, but do not fear
because there are many other fun
I
Dok At The Nickelodeon Theatre
LU,
The Soul Mites, pictured above, will be playing their 1
Since joining the Soul Mites, well, it's not as i
Portwood's opinion of area bands' thought before I
personalities has changed. "Columbia is n
"Most of the bands around here as far as not nece
are really nice," Portwood said. "All a straight bar ban<
the different bands are around the open to music in!
same circles and they get along so just to sit around
rnational experi
filled events throughout the year, enjoyable and ne\
Recent examples include trips to Sure, everybod
the mountains and New Orleans minor detail of you
and events ranging from a Halloween the word privacy i
party to the Valentine's murder you will forget th<
mystery, where I even had the set against the feet
__1 ?* 1 1 1 il 11 i
pleasure ui staging a dramatic aeatn, ine opportunity u
and hurting my elbow in the process, friends with so ma
All this before I have 6ven diverse people of
mentioned the infamous Nada parties this seems like a s
that frequently take place in the Of course Nada
apartments. But a word of warning: if you're an interi
Ifyou do choose to live here, make then you suff
sure you not only register the party inconvenience of
but provide plentiful soft drinks and with a bloody Ami
limit alcohol intake to one drink an you natives out th
hour, or else you could be in trouble hugely from the ex
with the power-crazed RAs from knows, you may enearby
Columbia Hall, as I found of that elusive co
out to my cost last semester. way.
Putting aside this slight For those inter
inconvenience, life in Nada is certainly reading this, mud
(?Q5?
^Costa Real Hotel & S
^ ^ Continental Plaza Ca
fjk M Club Las Perlas*
L, m Marriott CasaMagm
'GEHIidLjiii
j| Costa Real Hotel & J
Jp Continental Plaza Ca
w^w*' Club Las Perlas*
+AII Inclusive (All meals,
JK ^wamotn|asan^agm
All packages are per person, triple or quad occupancy and include lowest rou
airport transfers, hotel accommodations, hotel tax and are for new bookings onl
Bp Fees, $6.50 US Customs Fees and Mexico departure tax of up to $13.37. Prograr
f subject to change, availability and cancellation charges. Certain blackout dates ma;
t
a
I try to focus on the people who
were one-hit wonders. The
people who didn't make
careers in the business.
Dr. Jimmy
WUSC specialty show host
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ft
g Wm
SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK
first show of the year tonight at the Elbow Room.
competitive as I The Soul Mites will play tonight
joined the band, at Elbow Room, their first show in
aore open-minded Columbia since December, 1996. The j
sssarily accepting opening act will be Dayroom of
i; it's become more Athens, Ga The band will also appear
stead of someone tonight on the WUSC-FM local music
and drink to." show at 7 p.m.
ence on campus
rerdull. have to admit that from my
y will know every experience, the Americans in Nada
r personal life and r,, JV , ,
* nw\ anmo at rnn fmoiahliaot nn/I ?v?An4
. 1 . ,i . CUC OU111C Wi U1C UlCllUUCOt CU1U 1111/9 v
is something that
2 meaning of, but welcoming people you are ever going
that you will have to meet.
a meet and make Mind you that still doesn't mean
w?nderful and ^ have the right to make us sell
all nationalities,
mall to pay. donuts outside the Russell House in |
policy means that the pouring rain (Nada Committee
lational student members please take note!).
er the slight gQ there you have it, the truly
having to share . ,
erican, but for all unique and eye-opening experience
ere, you'll benefit that is living in Nada apartments
perience and who for one year.
ven acquire some Qne thing's for sure, my time
olness along the A . , . , .
spent there has certainly been ^
national students eventful and I won't forget it in a
hi to my chagrin I hurry.
m Charleston w ,
3nts 5nts 7nts Based On
Suites $659 $765 $ 865 Quads
ncun 695 819 945 Triple
719 865 1005 Quads
All Drinks, All Tips Included]
i 749 909 1075 Quads
Suites 649 749 849 Quads
ncun 679 805 929 Triple I I ^
685 829 975 Quads I
All Drinks, All Tips Included)
i 735 895 1055 QuadsJ
ndtrip airfare on Delta and Aeromexico from Charleston or Greenville/Spartanburg, I
ly. Add $3.00 passenger facility charge (San Diego only), $7.45 Federal Inspection I
ns are valid February 16 thru March 31, 1997, and may vary by departure date, are
/ apply. Weekend, holiday and peak season surcharges may apply
1