USC student sings between Nashville, accounting classes
By Chloe Gould | April 23, 2013She’s a third-year student at the University of South Carolina, walking the line between the beginnings of a career on MusicRow and an accounting curriculum.
She’s a third-year student at the University of South Carolina, walking the line between the beginnings of a career on MusicRow and an accounting curriculum.
It started with hot pink, spiked and studded knuckle gloves and black mesh. She was dripping chains and a deep purple, front-cropped gown dragged on the ground behind towering stilettos.
It’s one of those bands that posted on a MySpace music page about a featured spot on PureVolume. The music is infectious, a high-pitched pop punk with lyrics to match, and the melodies make for the perfect opening spot to a semi-big-time headliner. Lead singer Brian Dales has played with the gel-sculpted faux-hawk and a popped jean jacket collar, and the whole act gets a big dose of cool points for their female drummer, Jess Bowen. But still, in six official years in the mix, The Summer Set hasn’t broken through the undiscovered bubble — they’ve had some small-time success, but no paparazzi. Bowen and the boys are putting the power in the name now, though, and switching things up in a new full-length: “Legendary,” released Tuesday. The Summer Set has long released EPs and albums on Razor & Tie, a label out of New York that represents an eclectic list of artists: Madina Lake, Saves the Day and The Wiggles, just to name a few. In its latest release, however, the band has switched to Fearless Records, a much more fitting group of names.
Scroll over to the community section and down two rows to the musicians. A band built in the Craigslist classifieds section doesn’t sound like the makeup for musical success, but Broken Compass Society has come together in the most unconventional, online way. Kevin Harrison graduated from USC in 2009, and after a brief stint at a desk job, he moved to Charlotte and began playing as a solo artist.
He ran out from behind the Carolina Coliseum stage like it was the corner of Williams-Brice, his cowboy boots to the concrete and a garnet and black Connor Shaw jersey on his back. The crowd was divided down the middle, the right yelling, “Save Water” and the left screaming back, “Drink Beer” — a makeshift “Game! Cocks!” chant — midway through the country crooner’s opening song.
He takes the stage with a black cowboy hat and his baritone love ballads — the perfect songs for a good country concert sway. Chris Young, most famous for his single “Tomorrow,” is a Southern boy from just outside of Nashville, Tenn.
They fly under the radar. Their music pulses through the industry, marked by song-writing credits and singles that hold power long after release.
A combat plane swoops across the National Mall, clips the side of the Washington Monument and lands in front of the White House.
His dreadlocks fall just below the top of his low-hanging skinny jeans, looped with keys and handkerchiefs.
Pop star plays to sold-out crowd Saturday night