The One With The Concert

After a string of unusually warm days, last Saturday night, South Carolina debuted its infamous wet, cold, and dreary December weather. I shuffled under bright string lights and through the quaint entrance of The Spinning Jenny Music Hall and Leisure Center in Greer, South Carolina. The outside appearance was certainly deceiving because the interior of the lobby revealed charming wood-paneled walls lined with alluring merch tables on one side, and on the other, a small piano perched next to a large, cozy couch.

I was greeted at the door by the owner, Sharon Murry, who I gave my $17 to for general admission. I then made my way over to Karen (her first night on the job, yay!), so she could take my ticket stub, and I walked into the music hall where the show would be. The lobby opened up to to a sizable space big enough for a dance floor and seating towards the front. After asking some questions, I found out that the capacity of the hall is around 300 (600 after they get another door).

The Spinning Jenny has actually had a rather interesting lifespan. The music hall has been everything from a grocery store, to a feed and seed, a roller skating rink, a wrestling rink, a heavy metal music room, and an Opry house. You could almost feel the history.

I sat down near the front, bringing the bitter cold from outside with me. However, as soon as the opening act, Forlorn Strangers started playing, the entire hall filled with warmth, and I was transported back to the wooded area behind my childhood house in Forest, Mississippi, honeysuckle and all. The Nashville based band consists of sisters Abigail Dempsey and Hannah Leigh Lusk, Chris Banke, Benjamin Lusk, and Jesse Thompson. With soaring, harmony heavy vocals and a smattering of instruments that included guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, upright bass, and a kick drum, the group produces a rich Americana/folk sound, bordering on bluegrass at times. Sparks and incredible onstage chemistry flew among all five of them as they swapped instruments with each other throughout their set. It was, without a doubt, the most raw and seamless performance I had seen in a while.

The main act, The Black Lillies came out with a bang. The six member band is made up of lead singer and lyricist Cruz Contreras, Trisha Gene Brady, Bowman Townsend, Sam Quinn, Mike Seal, and Jonathan Keeney. In contrast to Forlorn Strangers, they have more of a honky-tonk country, blues sound. Although I liked Forlorn Strangers a little better, there was no question about the Blue Lillies’ talent. They most certainly knew how to get the crowd dancing and singing along. My favorite song they played was the title track of their new album “Hard to Please,” since it featured powerhouse vocals from Trisha Gene Brady.

My first experience at The Spinning Jenny was definitely a success. I left with two new bands to listen to, Forlorn Strangers’ new album, and even one of their t-shirts. Once I walked out the door, the cold and rain hit me, thrusting me back into reality. I smiled at the realization because a good show should always be able to transport you to another time and place, and it achieved just that.