Battle of the Bands, the Giving Back Awards, and ChazzFest
Last Wednesday (September 19), Trident United Way made several white-collar professionals’ rock-n-roll dreams come true with their annual Battle of the Bands at the Gaillard Exhibition Hall. Comprised of bankers, attorneys, and the like, the bands played a melange of musical styles including rock and bluegrass. The exhibition hall was dimly lit save for the stage, which was outfitted with concert-worthy lights that changed color and brightened in intensity during every rafter-shaking power drum solo. Okay, so the ghost of John Bonham didn’t appear and some of the guitar riffs were squeaky, but all in all these people rocked. I fully expected to witness funky garage bands akin to Harry and the Potters, but the musically inclined folks had clearly been practicing. The audience continued to gather throughout the evening, and the presence of corporate name tags suggested that most arrived straight from work.
Thursday ushered in Charleston magazine’s annual Giving Back Awards celebration at the Hibernian. Decorated with a palette of chic verdant shades (a great lead-in to the October “Green” issue), the decor’s zen aura played a perfect pitch to the scores of attendees in swank party attire who turned out in support of the five award recipients: Priscilla McLeod Robinson (Benevolent Spirit), Gil Shuler (Creative Spirit), Dixon Hughes (Philanthropic Spirit), Junior League of Charleston (Community Spirit), and Chef Brett McKee (Reader’s Choice).
This was one cool party. Caterer James Burns provided ample haute hors d’oeuvres and the signature drink was a special mojito. Editor-in-chief Darcy Shankland introduced media clips featuring the winners, which were projected onto a giant scrim, and she presented awards as the recipients joined her onstage. The last recipient to take the stage was Chef McKee who is an ubiquitous tour-de-force on the local charity gala scene. Several of my favorite people joined him at Oak after the party, and I’m sorry to have missed such a fun time, especially since I hear there were so many entertaining divas in the restaurant that night. Alas, my nightlife has been curtailed in recent weeks thanks to my participation in an early-morning Marine Corps boot camp program (check Living on the Edge in the January issue of Charleston to read all about this intense experience).
Saturday’s Chazz Fest was a musical marathon that started early in the day with a shrimp-n-grits contest and wound up in full Celebration mode. Although an early afternoon thunderstorm drenched the Family Circle Tennis Center, the music played on (albeit with one additional rain delay mid afternoon), but it sure was steamy. The marketing folks at Digital Lifestyle Outfitters are geniuses; the passed out vibrant blue paper fans emblazoned with their logo, and the fans really helped combat the humid air.
This year’s lineup offered something for everyone: I watched J.J. Grey & Mofro with some friends; caught the kazoo band with an eight-year-old; danced to The Embers with a couple colleagues; and rocked out to Kool and the Gang with my mother and stepfather. Whew! I hear Jay Reagan wound up on stage with the Chairmen of the Board, and I’m sorry that I missed what was no doubt a memorable spectacle!
Best,
Ida
