It's one of those "combined two-fer" weeks since I will be out of the area next week, so here goes.
I saw a recent post from one of my hometown (Roselle Park, NJ) friends a couple of days ago. It was a picture of an evening concert with rows of people, and faintly in the background, there was a band playing up on the stage. That was all good until I noticed.....
..At the top of the stage, the sign read "NORTH MYRTLE BEACH".
 |
| Marlisa Kay Small (R) performs with Jerry West (L) and the Cat 5 Band at North Myrtle Beach's "Music on Main" concert on July 18. |
Well, if you have been a reader of this blog, you will know that the seaside town of North Myrtle Beach is pretty much to Carolina Beach Music as Nashville is to Country music.
This friend, who moved from New Jersey a few months ago to the Grand Strand area, was invited by a couple of her friends to this evening concert, probably not familiar with the band that was playing. Well, I was curious myself, since this had to be a beach music act. Under the "North Myrtle Sign" said, and I could barely make it out, "Music on Main".
Well, it was time to Google it, and sure enough, "Music on Main" is an ongoing summer evening concert series taking place at the beach, with the audience seated at the end of the town's Main Street.
Oh, and the band that was playing? CAT 5.
That's, right, the CAT 5 band, which includes, among other members, lead singer Tim Clark, Jerry West on lead guitar and vocals, and Tim Sidden who handles keyboards (and is a leading producer of beach acts such as Deb Browning and Marlisa Kay Small), played the concert on Thursday July 18. While I wasn't there, I saw enough posts to get a feel for the scene there. And it appeared that Marlisa got up on stage and sang with Jerry West, presumably their #1 blog hit of last year, "Love Really Hurts Without You".
My hometown friend said she had a good time. When I told her that I knew about the band, she seemed surprised. But I told her, that thanks to my blog, I made Facebook friends with many performers, deejays and producers involved in this beach scene.
Incidentally, Music on Main, which started back on June 6, with the outfit Too Much Sylvia, runs weekly until September 26. Bands familiar to Scenes 'n' Soundwave that have yet to play this summer include The Main Event Band (hopefully with Sharon Woodruff on lead vocals) on August 8, Gary Lowder and Smokin' Hot on August 22, The Pink Slips on September 19, and finally concluding with Jim Quick and Coastline on September 26th.
For me, concerts like this (or at parks and festivals) are the best way to check out an artist. The intimacy of the scene is vital is getting to know their music. Acts that have scored on my blog at such venues include The Outcrops, Shannon Marsyada, Colorjoy, Charlotte Sessions, Elise Farnsworth, and many others.
I also recently read an article that the huge stadium and arena tours have been taking a hit lately. I mentioned a few weeks back that The Black Keys, after a successful world tour, canceled the North American part of their tour, and overall, with a few exceptions, several acts have fallen on hard times; Jennifer Lopez is another who has had problems selling out concerts. While acts like Taylor Swift, whose Eras tour of last year was a blockbuster, still packed 'em in at the huge venues, many have struggled.
While I have gone to my share of big concerts over my lifetime, I usually shy away from them. Aside from battling the crowds, the prices are enormous. I remember paying, in 2009 $250 per ticket to see Paul McCartney in Landover MD. There was controversy with a recent Bruce Springsteen concert, where some tickets were approaching one thousand dollars. It's come a long way from hitting a venue where you can get away with $10 or even $25 to get in. But I would gladly pay a cover charge at a local venue, (such as, in New Jersey), a place like The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, or Crossroads in Garwood. And down in the Carolinas, key beach music acts can be found in many intimate settings along the Grand Strand, very similar to aspiring artists playing their craft in Nashville bars that I was able to catch this past spring.
Listening to an up-and-coming artist or indie band is, for me the way to go.
TAKE ME TO.... He had hit #1 a couple months back on the Hot 100, held that last week on the Triple-A chart before falling this week, and still heads the Hot AC and Alternative charts, and now he can add the SNS 100 to his accomplishments. Hozier advances to the top spot with "Too Sweet".
The song becomes his third blog topper. The artist first hit my chart in 2014 with "Take Me To Church" which peaked at #2 both here and on Billboard (his only big hit there until "Too Sweet"). But it was "Someone New" that advanced to the top of SNS the following year. It took eight more years before he had his second blog number one, "Francesca", but just less than a year later, he has his third.
It is also the second song this year to top both Billboard and Scenes 'n' Soundwaves charts; the first being "Lose Control" by Teddy Swims. This week, the song hangs tough at #8 on the Hot 100, drops to #3 on Triple-A, and holds at #28 on John Hook's Beach Music Top 40 list, in addition to heading the Hot AC and Alternative charts.
Last week's #1, "Good Love Don't Come Easy" slips a notch to #2, while Deb Browning and Marlisa Kay Small's "Sunshine and Summertime", a former #1, is at #3. Any of these three could be at the top at the next blog release; you could also include Lissie's "Nigh Moves" as a contender as well. The Mac Daddy's Band's "Flip Flops and Margaritas" maintains its #5 position. C. Lynne Smith's "Follow It Down" inches 11-10 becoming the Cape May-based singer-songwriter's second top ten.
The second ten has a lot more movement as indie band Shang Hi-Los' "Op-Operator" moves 15-11; Royal Otis' "Foam" goes 19-12; Teddy Swims' "The Door", 18-13, and Billie Eilish's "Lunch" advances 20-16. Positions 17-20 are new to that area of the chart; Orbis Max and Lindsay Murray's "Fields" gets Impact honors (21-17), beach singer Lesa Hudson goes 22-18 with "Groovalicious"; Beebadoobee's "Take a Bite", and Travis' "Gaslight" take big moves into the 19 and 20 spots, respectively.
Gainers outside of the top 20 include another Hudson---Kate---with "Gonna Find Out" (35-24); The Holiday Band's "Got It Bad For You" (36-27), and The Tonez' "I Hear You Knocking" (38-30). The Mover of the Week goes to The Heavy Heavy's "Happiness" moving from 84 to 59.
DEBUTS: There are eight new songs on SNS this week, led by the third song off of Anna Lavigne's fine Guillemot Days set. "Falling" is a somewhat of a departure for her, as this has a reggae-style beat, but her always awesome voice still shines through. When the sax kicks in, it is one big party, and can sometimes mistake it for a contemporary beach music song.... the beat bounces around, I could see this played on Carolina stations if they only knew her talents. Should make it three in a row off her fine third album.
Sabrina Carpenter, with two hits on the list, debuts with a third, "Please Please Please". Unlike "Espresso" and "Feather" (which incidentally moves to #2 on John Hook's beach list), "Please..." has already been #1 on the Hot 100. A little different from the two prior songs, but still definitely in the pop vein, although it has come country overtones. For me, not as immediate as the prior two songs (well, given its chart-topping success on the big chart, it's just me), but with a few listens, it should do well here.
Iceland is no stranger to making music; one only needs to listen to Bjork or KALEO to know this. However, the latest import from that country, Laufey, enters with "Bored". She performed this a month or so ago on The Kelly Clarkson Show. This is a dreamy, lounge-oriented song, and might remind me of, perhaps, a Corinne Bailey Rae. Soulful as well, this singer, born Laufey Lin Bing Jonsdottir, should definitely make waves here.
Two indie bands based in the South Jersey/Philadelphia area who had big blog chart presence in 2022, return, Joy Again, and Isn't It Always?. Joy Again, the Philly-area quintet, placed three songs on SNS in 2022, spearheaded by the Top 10 "Looking Out for You", enter with "Angel". This one has sort of a "New York Groove"-type beat, that is rather metallic in nature, a bit high tech, but the vocals are there and apparent. The song keeps chugging along. Meanwhile, Atlantic City-based Isn't It Always? (not to be confused with Alvvays), hit #12 that year with "Rock Star", debuts with "Dream Again". This one is squarely in the alternative rock lane, maybe a dash of emo, a little shoegaze but definitely rocks. Actually, it reminds me a bit of the Queens/Long Island-based band Offguard.
311 was one of the first ska-oriented bands to grace alternative music in the 1990's, and they are still around. They return with "You're Gonna Get It". Sort of a rap/hip-hop slanted beat to their usual heavy take on rock. The band has hit the lower regions of the SNS 100 in the past, with their best in the blog era being 2011's "Sunset in July".
Next is yet another Orbis Max tune, "Learning to Love". The Internet-based band seems to shine the best when they collaborate with other artists; this one has sort of a 60's vibe and featured Jim Richey of the Texas power-pop band The Pozers. Great harmonies, with a little bit of folk-rock mixed in. Would be cool to play this one back-to-back with the current Heavy Heavy song.
Meanwhile, Coldplay is still around and debuts with "Feels Like I'm Falling in Love" (the title is actually lowercase with no spaces in between the words). A rather laid-back approach with a steady beat is on some charts and could click.
Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist
July 14 - 21, 2024
|
This Week |
Last Week |
ARTIST-Title |
Weeks on List |
|
1 |
3 |
NUMBER ONE:  Album: Unheard (EP) |
14 |
|
2 |
1 |
15 |
|
|
3 |
2 |
Deb Browning and Marlisa Kay
Small -Sunshine and Summertime● |
14 |
|
4 |
4 |
9 |
|
|
5 |
5 |
13 |
|
|
6 |
8 |
7 |
|
|
7 |
6 |
8 |
|
|
8 |
7 |
10 |
|
|
9 |
9 |
9 |
|
|
10 |
11 |
10 |
|
|
11 |
15 |
12 |
|
|
12 |
19 |
5 |
|
|
13 |
18 |
7 |
|
|
14 |
14 |
9 |
|
|
15 |
17 |
34 |
|
|
16 |
20 |
6 |
|
|
17 |
21 |
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:  "Fields" (Single Release) |
9 |
|
18 |
22 |
9 |
|
|
19 |
28 |
5 |
|
|
20 |
27 |
8 |
|
|
21 |
16 |
11 |
|
|
22 |
13 |
10 |
|
|
23 |
10 |
19 |
|
|
24 |
35 |
5 |
|
|
25 |
12 |
12 |
|
|
26 |
32 |
7 |
|
|
27 |
36 |
5 |
|
|
28 |
23 |
16 |
|
|
29 |
34 |
6 |
|
|
30 |
38 |
5 |
|
|
31 |
24 |
17 |
|
|
32 |
37 |
8 |
|
|
33 |
25 |
13 |
|
|
34 |
30 |
17 |
|
|
35 |
41 |
7 |
|
|
36 |
43 |
4 |
|
|
37 |
40 |
10 |
|
|
38 |
29 |
17 |
|
|
39 |
46 |
4 |
|
|
40 |
26 |
12 |
|
|
41 |
31 |
10 |
|
|
42 |
45 |
6 |
|
|
43 |
50 |
4 |
|
|
44 |
33 |
12 |
|
|
45 |
47 |
7 |
|
|
46 |
44 |
8 |
|
|
47 |
49 |
6 |
|
|
48 |
39 |
13 |
|
|
49 |
51 |
4 |
|
|
50 |
61 |
3 |
|
|
51 |
55 |
Whiskey-Chitto Ramblers - Radio On |
5 |
|
52 |
62 |
3 |
|
|
53 |
60 |
5 |
|
|
54 |
57 |
4 |
|
|
55 |
52 |
5 |
|
|
56 |
56 |
4 |
|
|
57 |
42 |
21 |
|
|
58 |
48 |
7 |
|
|
59 |
84 |
MOVER OF THE WEEK:  (Single Release) |
2 |
|
60 |
54 |
23 |
|
|
61 |
63 |
8 |
|
|
62 |
64 |
5 |
|
|
63 |
66 |
4 |
|
|
64 |
72 |
3 |
|
|
65 |
53 |
11 |
|
|
66 |
73 |
3 |
|
|
67 |
65 |
4 |
|
|
68 |
76 |
2 |
|
|
69 |
81 |
2 |
|
|
70 |
70 |
7 |
|
|
71 |
83 |
3 |
|
|
72 |
74 |
3 |
|
|
73 |
90 |
2 |
|
|
74 |
--- |
TOP DEBUT:  "Falling" Album: Guillemot Days |
1 |
|
75 |
59 |
7 |
|
|
76 |
92 |
2 |
|
|
77 |
69 |
6 |
|
|
78 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
79 |
58 |
20 |
|
|
80 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
81 |
94 |
2 |
|
|
82 |
68 |
28 |
|
|
83 |
78 |
27 |
|
|
84 |
82 |
6 |
|
|
85 |
89 |
3 |
|
|
86 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
87 |
80 |
5 |
|
|
88 |
86 |
3 |
|
|
89 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
90 |
67 |
13 |
|
|
91 |
97 |
2 |
|
|
92 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
93 |
95 |
2 |
|
|
94 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
95 |
--- |
1 |
|
|
96 |
71 |
15 |
|
|
97 |
79 |
6 |
|
|
98 |
75 |
18 |
|
|
99 |
85 |
19 |
|
|
100 |
91 |
21 |
Murmurs:
Wilco - Annhilation
Post Malone ft. Blake Shelton - Pour Me Another Drink
Cage the Elephant - Rainbow
Coldplay - Feels Like Falling In Love
Jason Aldean - Let Your Boys
Shaboozey - A Bar Song (Tipsy)
Marsha Morgan - Knockin' Down Doors
Sir Prize and the Twomorrow Knightz - Glitter Balls
Faye Webster - But Not Kiss
Cassandra Lewis - So Bad
Late Night Drive Home - Stress Relief
Muted Admiration Society - Heavy Music
Orbis Max - The Light From Outer Space/Take That Ride
Lenny Kravitz - Honey
Murmurs:
Songs which are in the queue for future adds onto the Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100
Playlist.
|
|
Songs
with the greatest increase in favorite points over the prior week
▲Song
garnered most plays on Spotify, for the
month, with a superscript following the symbol if most played for multiple
months; or if a song was among the top 5 most plays for two months. ● Song
among top 5 most plays on Spotify.
Awards given during the last blog of each month. To qualify, the song must be currently or
have peaked in the top 40.
Songs
on the SNS 100 are included on the following public Spotify playlists
Scenes
‘n’ Soundwaves Top 40: Contains songs in positions 1-40 on the SNS
100
Scenes
Up and Coming: Songs below #40 that are moving up the chart.
Scenes
Recurrents: Songs which have
dropped below the top 40 but are still on the SNS 100
