About Scene SC
Want to be a kind person and help us out at Scene SC? Donate a dollar or two. It goes a long way to keep us going.
Our Mission
Our goal at Scene SC is to bring light and life to the entire music scene is South Carolina.
First and foremost the creators of Scene SC are fans of music. We are creating this site because we believe that the current talent level in SC is incredible and we are trying to do our part in spreading the word.
Scene SC currently focuses on Current Events/Show Previews/New Music/Show Reviews/CD Reviews/Photography/Live Videos
Scene SC will also release 1 South Carolina Music Sampler CD per year along with bi-weekly newsletters to supplement the website.
STAFF
Founder
David Stringer- Born and raised in Northern Greenville County in the heart of God’s Country, David Stringer has always had music running through his veins. At the age of 4 David was already singing along with light rock classic’s such as “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You” by Michael Bolton and “One More Night” by Phil Collins. From that point forward everyone that met David knew deep down that he was going to be a music genius. Growing old enough to make music decisions for himself David started listening to cassette tapes of R.E.M.’s “Automatic for the People” and Weezer’s “The Blue Album.” From 1993-1999 David layed down the framework of his music tastes. He learned how to play guitar and bought hundreds of used CD’s. From 1999-2002 the evolution became rapid. David spent his free time lounging around Winthrop party houses and hanging out with his cousins and the guys that would go on to form Emery. This is where he was introduced to how bands function, the recording process, a more thorough knowledge of equipment and most importantly the music of Pedro the Lion and Sunny Day Real Estate.
David attended the University of South Carolina majoring in Public Relations with a minor in Sports and Entertainment Management. In addition to running Scene SC, David currently manages a Direct Mail/Print Business.
What Bands has David Played with?
Iron Kid-1999-2003 Vocals/Guitar
On The Front Porch-2001-2002
The Farewell Note-2004
All Good Citizens-2004-2006
Cats and Cobras-2008
The Bourbon Brothers-2009
Sweet Vans-20TEN
Stephen Russ
Russ, drummer and manager of regional act The Fire Tonight, has fond memories of watching 80’s music videos on Beta tapes when he was 4 years old. He theorizes that his father made them watch them on tape so that he could fast forward through the naughty parts of Dire Straits’ “Money for Nothing” and Madonna videos. Edited or not, the smooth sounds of Huey Lewis and the News, Talking Heads, and “We are the World” had a lasting impact on the young lad.
Now 24, Russ has performed in many acts spanning several genres, produced a number of musical projects, and with The Fire Tonight began managing a band for the first time. This has led to an increased involvement with the South Carolina music scene, and a desire to help other bands be successful as well. Russ is also currently pursuing a Masters degree at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC, and also does production work at 88.5 WFDD, an NPR affiliate. Despite not currently living the state, Russ stays connected through the band and this very website.
Favorite artists: The Mars Volta, Outkast, Ben Folds, Queensryche, Matthew Good
Bakari Lebby- Bakari Lebby was birthed one day in the sleepy town of Columbia and grew up in the Pinehurst area. He attended Heathwood Hall Episcopal School. Bakari’s influence over the general shenanigans and music scene of Heathwood during his years of attendance there cannot be understated. His passion for ridiculousness and great music of all genres (except country and “dumb pop” in Bakari’s opinion) has left an impact on the scene of Heathwood Hall and the many friends he left behind. Since picking up the guitar at the age of six, Bakari has developed a distinct style, developing not only his talent, but also his reputation as a talented, caring and yet outrageous youth. From his years in musical theater (beginning in 2003) and singing (beginning in 2005) he further developed his talent in the areas of vocals, dance and acting. In the fall of 2008 he began his first semester at the University of South Carolina where he not only he quickly assimilated into the music scene of Columbia, but also became a contributing and prominent figure as a WUSC 90.5 FM DJ, the cofounder of Srsly? Records. He writes reviews and reports on public events in the South Carolina music scene for this publication. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marketing.
(written by Katya Leigh McInnis)
CONTACT INFORMATION
David Stringer-Founder David@scenesc.com
Meredith Stringer -The Brains Meredith@scenesc.com
Ashleigh Lancaster-New Music Cooridnator Ashleigh@scenesc.com
Stephen Russ-Reviews Stephen@scenesc.com
Bakari Lebby-Reviews, News, Promotion Bakari@scenesc.com
Sarah Kobos-Photographer Sarah@scenesc.com
Racheal Hekking-Creative Director Racheal@scenesc.com
You can mail your Demos to
David Stringer
701 Gervais St
Suite 150-293
Columbia, SC 29201
EMAIL: SCscene@yahoo.com
PRESS
The Free Times
BY PATRICK WALL
The Blogger
David Stringer, scenesc.com
Clad in a loose-fitting long-sleeved shirt and a ragged Detroit Tigers baseball cap, David Stringer looks like your average USC student. But unlike the average Gamecock undergrad, Stringer’s got his finger on the pulse of the Columbia music scene; in addition to slinging the guitar, Stringer curates scenesc.com, a blog dedicated to music made and played in South Carolina, particularly in the Capital City. Stringer says he started the site in July because he felt that, well, someone should do it.
“I’m trying to do my part in the music scene,” Stringer says. “There weren’t any other web sites out there … for bands to get in front of a lot of people.”
Since launching the site, Stringer’s become a fast favorite in the local music scene, and scenesc.com offers what Stringer calls a “one-stop shop for local music lovers.
“They can read about shows, they can watch videos,” Stringer says. “If they’re out of town, they can catch up on what they missed.”
The reaction from bands, Stringer says, has been “awesome.”
“They love it,” Stringer says. “I started out taking pictures; I wasn’t even going to do videos. But no one was doing video of local shows. And now anyone can come and find videos of local bands.”
As for the future of the site, Stringer’s goals are modest: He’d like to continue to add more video to the site; he’d like for the site to become more interactive; and, ultimately, he’d like for the site to be self-sustaining. But Stringer also knows that for as much of a labor of love his web site is, he doesn’t want to be running it forever.
“I want to pass it on,” Stringer says. “I never want it to become stale. Maybe there’ll be a 19-year-old kid who really loves it as much as I do. And if they come along, they can have it. Just so it stays alive and kicking.”
The Art Bar isn’t the only local entity celebrating its anniversary this week. (What? You hadn’t heard? March right back to this week’s cover story this instant, mister.)
Local music blog SceneSC.com celebrates one full year of existence Thursday at the New Brookland Tavern. Mazel tov, boys and girls.
David Stringer — profiled, you’ll remember, in the “Behind the Music” Free Times cover story — started scenesc.com in July of 2008, mostly because he felt that someone should do it. And though SceneSC.com has become a much-bookmarked link for the local music scene, though Stringer wasn’t sure it’d even be around for very long.
“I didn’t really know what I was getting into,” Stringer says. “There was a point when I felt like giving it up because of the amount of time that it took up in my life and I didn’t know if it was even making a difference.”
Indeed, Stringer and a ragtag group of supporters have turned the site into a much-needed Internet gathering point for local music fans, offering tour updates from some of its favorite artists, show reviews (replete with pictures and, often, video) and commentary for local music buffs. But the site’s biggest fans are musicians, and Stringer and crew have done a yeoman’s job promoting local music and musicians.
As for the future of the site, Stringer’s goals are modest: He’d like for the site to become self-sustaining, financially (he estimates he’s plunked down $3,000 on the site); there are plans to release a compilation on Aug. 21 at the New Brookland Tavern; and he’d like, ultimately, to pass it on to the next generation of local music lovers. Because whatever doubts he had about the site are now gone.
“I don’t really see this web site ever going away now,” Stringer says. “We are trying to make something constant in a South Carolina music scene that is always changing.”
Site favorites The Restoration, The Fire Tonight (whose Stephen Russ contributes to the web site), Allison Weiss and Y/our Sparkle Heart will perform. Doors open at 7 p.m.; admission is $5 for the over-21 crowd and $7 for the under-21 crowd. Call 791-4413 or visit newbrooklandtavern.com for more information.
The Daily Gamecock
SceneSC aids music artists, fans
USC grad’s Web site to connect Columbia acts, listeners
Shelby Sachs
Music-promoting Web site SceneSC not only promotes bands and supports the Columbia music scene, but it also connects fans with the musicians through show and album reviews and live videos.
SceneSC was created over the summer by David Russell Stringer, a USC alumnus, and is the first Web site of its kind in South Carolina.
“I started [SceneSC] July 1, and created it to help do my part in the music scene in South Carolina. There weren’t any Web sites out there for bands and fans to go and connect with other people and find out about new music,” Stringer said. “There used to be a Web site called SC Music, but there hasn’t been one in the past five years.”
The local music community has struggled over the past couple of years with being recognized as a great music source, but also with getting locals to actually attend shows and lend grassroots support to the musicians.
“I think there are a lot of good artists in Columbia but [locals] don’t know about them yet because there is no way for them to find out,” Stringer said. “We [at SceneSC], are trying to create more of a community to bring everyone together so that people will know there are other good artists out there and will be able to connect with them.”
Five bands shared a stage Thursday night at New Brookland Tavern. Columbia natives, Marry A Thief, This Machine Is Me, The Decade and Ghosts of the Great Highway played alongside Maryland-based Amen, The Animal, formerly of Columbia.
“For the kick-off party, we were trying to get as many big bands as possible,” Stringer said. “For future shows, we are trying to get two successful bands and then a few bands that we feel are ‘up and coming.’ We are going to try to do four SceneSC sponsored shows a year.”
Along with the five bands that performed Thursday night, several more will be featured on a SceneSC compilation CD that will include a lot of B-Sides from bigger bands in South Carolina which will be used to promote the bands and raise money for the site.
“I came up with the idea because we were trying to think of a fundraiser that would help bands and help us raise money to keep the Web site going,” Stinger said. “We decided to do the compilation and bands were really excited about it because it helps get their name out there.”
Stringer and many others involved in SceneSC would like to carry on the foundation work that they have already created. Along with continuing the Web site, they intend to create several more promotional items for the site to help the bands.
“We are going to start to do more professional videos next year [along with] a compilation CD that is coming out in January [and] a South Carolina bands DVD,” Stringer said. “We think we might [also] go more regional with the Web site, but not anytime soon.”
The State
July 3, 2009
Scene SC birthday party adds to local scene, OTIS TAYLOR’S ON THE SCENE
You can get listings anywhere, but you’ll only get the story here. SCENE AND HEARD: David Stringer, who runs the music Web site SceneSC.com, wanted to help. “I had a couple of friends’ band that I thought didn’t get the promotion they deserved,” said Stringer, who used the site to start promoting bands. “I had been thinking of something to do to help out with the music scene.” Scene SC is a year…
