Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK The Thomas Reed Band has decided to change its name to Closer to reflect its evolving musical style. Local band Closer to success By JENNIFER FREEMAN THE MIX EDITOR “We’re in it for the long haul,” Nathan Reed said in the Jan. 27, 2003, edition of The Gamecock. This statement, given after a crowd-pleasing performance at New Brookland Tavern, seems to be coming true. The Thomas Reed Band has been a local favorite for some time and shows no signs of stopping — just changing. The band — David Reed on vocals and guitar, Lee Summerville on guitar, David Baker on bass and Nathan Reed on drums — is changing its name to Closer. “Basically, we had a good run as Thomas Reed, but our music has outgrown our name. We wanted to start over as Closer,” David Reed said. “Thomas Reed has run its course.” Along with the new name comes a new sound. David Reed said audiences can expect a “heavier, edgier sound.” “We are using a heavier guitar sound, but vocally, we concentrate on our melodies,” David Reed said. David Reed said fans won’t be disappointed with the changes. “We have the same melodies. It’s our music, but it’s a different sound. But we are concentrating on our melodies so our fans won’t be disappointed with the new sound.” To help get the word out about the band’s new name -and CD, Closer will hold a CD release party tonight at Headliners. Dave Britt will open the show at 8:30 p.m. The Closer showcase will be held 9:30-10:15 p.m., and the CD listening party will begin immediately after. “Dave Britt is going to open up for us with an acoustic set, and then we’ll play songs from the new EP. That will be about half an hour,” David Reed said. “After that we’re putting in the disc and having a party and hopefully selling some CDs. It’s basically just going to be a celebration and a thank you for everybody who has helped us.” Back in 2003, the guys in the Thomas Reed Band seemed to be worried about their staying power. “It’s tough when bands like Hootie blew up and Edwin McCain and all that,” Baker said. “It’s had a domino effect on the whole music scene. The backlash hits you. Everybody’s going to turn their nose up at anything that’s radio friendly. All of the local music around here is real artsy or jammy. We just play rock songs, man.” Closer seems to be evidence the band doesn’t have that trouble anymore. For more information and to listen to Closer’s new self-titled EP, visit www.listentocloser.com. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc. edu IF YOU’RE GOING WHAT: Closer WHERE: Headlines WHEN: 8 p.m. Tonight COST: $2 PLAY REVIEW USC’s ‘Midsummer Night’ excels in production, acting A Midsummer Nignts uream ★★★★★ out of ☆☆☆☆☆ By BOBBY BROOKS FOR THE GAMECOCK USC Theatre’s Production of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is exactly what great theatre should be. This highly stylistic show does not have a very elaborate set, but it totally works for this play. The whole show is set in the interior of a room at forced perspective, with a few pieces being moved or flown in to create either portions of the palace or the wo.ods. For those who do not know, “Midsummer” is a comedy about two couples who venture out into the woods during a midsummer night and, through a few mishaps, the men (Lysander and Demetrius) are given potions to make them fall in love with one woman (Helena). Even Titania, the Queen of the Fairies, is drugged to fall in love with Bottom, a man who has been transformed into a donkey. The confusion, of course, is righted, and the lovers revel in a hysterical play, presented by a group of amateur actors who feel they are putting on one of the greatest plays ever staged. Debra Dumas, who was associate lighting designer for the Broadway mounting of “The Phantom of the Opera,” used an imaginative gel selection with cool colors like blue and lavender and many gobo patterns to create the world of “Midsummer.” She mainly used side-lighting and some front lighting to make the characters pop out from the set. Her talent is definitely noticeable in the sunrise of Act II, which rises slowly and covers the entire stage in the sun’s early-morning radiance. The costuming was another brilliant aspect of the show. Titania’s fairies use masks to create their personas, a la “The Lion King.” The fairies’ mythical world uses amazing wardrobes accented with mesh shirts and striking hues of blue and red. The cast could not have been more spectacular. Stephen Davis brings Puck more energy than one could possibly imagine. He commands the stage during dramatic scene changes without dialogue. When Puck controls the actions of the four lovers in ' Act II, the choreography is excellently executed to show he really is a mischievous little creature who loves to run amuck. His red hair is spiked up and accentuates Puck’s essence. The play-within-the-play is perhaps the showstopper. Never has an audience laughed so hard than during the shenanigans that ensue when the amateur actors tty to recreate the story of Thisbe and Pyramis’ doomed love affair. The cast fully wraps the audience in the comedy and does not let it go. This play should not be missed by anyone who has no decent excuse not to attend. It is perhaps the best production ever staged at USC. Tickets are $10 for USC students, $12 for seniors 60 and older, military and USC faculty and staff, and $14 for everyone else. Catch it now at Drayton Hall through April 24, before the theater goes dark and this wonderful show becomes just another ghost to roam this campus. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecockfeattires@gwm.sc.edu New Movie Amityv*^e Horror” Releases “House of D”