Plenty of Opportunity for Upstate Shows This Weekend

Clem Snide

My favorite part about looking at the Upstate music calendar each week is both discovering new bands and reconnecting with older ones. Such is the case this weekend as I am taking the deep dive into Spotify app listening to one new artist and a couple of established ones that are playing the Upstate this weekend. It is an eclectic assortment of talent and all more than worthy of your musical appreciation, all for very different reasons. 

The New (to me, anyways) – Clem Snide @ The Radio Room, Sunday

Clem Snide

At this time yesterday, Clem Snide was just a name in my notes for this weekend’s shows but holy hell he is now so much more than that. This is exactly the kind of smart, witty, singer songwriter stuff that I could listen to for the rest of my days on a desert island and my only regret is that I did not listen to him sooner. The alter-ego persona of artist Eef Barzelay, Clem Snide is named for a recurring character in several William S. Burroughs works which is an appropriate homage to another wildly creative and intelligent storyteller. 

Clem Snide’s most recent album, 2020’s Forever Just Beyond, was produced by Scott Avett and exhibits all of the polish and perfection you might expect from a collaboration with one half of the Avett Brothers. The album is arguably a pinnacle moment in his career but, also, one that suggests that the best is even yet to come. I cannot think of a better way to spend a Sunday evening and am looking forward to this one more than any show in recent memory.

Back in Town – Daddy’s Beemer @ The Radio Room, Saturday

Daddy’s Beemer'; p/c Dietrich Joaquin

I feel like Daddy’s Beemer was a regular performer at The Radio Room when they were based in Clemson but, now that they call Charleston home, their Greenville visits seem more like something we absolutely should not miss. Their upbeat and just a-damn-good-time brand of indie rock is infectious enough as recorded material but, live, they make for a simply unforgettable experience. Just to sweeten the deal, while Daddy’s Beemer is all of the reason you ever need to get yourself to a show, Nashville’s Nordista Freeze and Atlanta’s Forrest Isn’t Dead are on hand to make sure this is an epic evening of music from start to finish.

Skunk Alumni – Lake Street Dive @ The Peace Center, Sunday

Lake Street Drive

Just seeing this name on the calendar takes me back six or seven years ago when Lake Street Dive took the stage at the Albino Skunk Music Festival. I was unfamiliar with them at the time – as were many in attendance, I believe – but that is just how Skunk Fest tends to go with Glynn Zeigler at the helm. The collective unfamiliarity was irrelevant mere moments after their set began as they brought an electricity that captivated the entire audience for their entire set. A calculated fusion of rock, jazz, country, soul, and to many other influences to name, it is no wonder that Lake Street Dive has grown from a name on the lineup at Skunk Fest to a headliner at The Peace Center in Downtown Greenville. Good for them for their success and acclaim as they deserve every bit of it. 

In Conclusion…

These are but three of the shows going down this weekend but there are always plenty more to choose from, especially when you consider how many other music venues, breweries, taprooms, and other establishments are supporting local talent all over the Upstate. Get out and see a show and support these folks any chance you get as they need us as much as we need them. As always, be safe and enjoy the show.