An Ode to Garage Rock (In Appreciation of the Woggles) by Kevin Oliver

(Photo: Steven W. Terrell)

Rock ‘n’ roll is old enough to have a Hall of Fame and a museum, and enough subgenres to confuse even the most dedicated music fan. One of the constants, however, has been “garage rock,” a subgenre of rock that’s indebted to raw, unfiltered sounds coming from a basic guitar/bass/drums band from the 1960s. Think Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs, The Kingsmen (of “Louie Louie” fame), The Standells (“Dirty Water”), The Troggs (“Wild Thing”) and many more. It’s an energetic, danceable style, something that has probably fueled its enduring popularity over the years, to the point where there are now “Garage Rock Revival” acts keeping the original style alive in various ways. 

One of the latter is the long-running Atlanta band The Woggles, which has been around in some form or another for over 30 years, so to call them “revivalists” may not be entirely accurate–they probably influenced many of the newer bands themselves.  

Featuring a two-guitar lineup, classic bass and drums rhythm section, and the irrepressible frontman “The Professor” Mighty Manfred, The Woggles have taken the garage rock blueprint and built their own sound on that foundation. 60s British Invasion, R&B and soul music classics and more form the border-less abandon of a Woggles show, with Manfred holding court up front as a slightly lunatic ringmaster of his own rock ‘n’ roll circus. It’s like a “Nuggets” compilation manifested in human form on whatever stage they appear on. 

The problem with writing about a band like The Woggles is that there’s no real substitute for actually hearing them or seeing them live. So, in preparation for this Friday night’s Art Bar show, here’s a quick primer on some of the best Woggles tunes:

“My Baby Likes To Boogaloo” 

From their 1992 debut LP “Teen Dance Party,” this is a cover of an obscure 60’s tune from Don Gardner; it’s typical of the dance numbers they would make their name on. 

“Sweet Tea”

From 1998’s “Wailin’ With The Woggles,” this one shows off their mostly instrumental surf rock tendencies, a fun side of the band. 

“Zombie Stomp”

A must-have for your Halloween playlists, this one from 1996’s “Get Tough!” is another surf-rock style number but with spooky sounds added.  

“Take it To The People”

A veritable mission statement for the ever-touring Woggles, this one’s a great showcase of the slightly unhinged vocals of Manfred. From the 2012 album “The Big Beat.”  

“Collector of Broken Hearts”

While not quite a ballad, this one proves that The Woggles can slow down a bit and throw out some great melodic pop tunes when they want to. Great harmonica solo here, too.  

“I Got a Line On You”

A terrific cover of the Spirit classic that takes the dizzying speed of the original and fuzzes everything up even more. From the 2005 collection of singles, “Soul Sizzling 7” Meltdown.” 

The Woggles with the Capital City Playboys:

Art Bar

Friday, May 19th 

9:30 PM

Facebook event: 

ELVIS TRIBUTE by BERNIE LOVE & THE MEMPHIS THREE (aka Columbia's Favorite Playboys & Friend) - July 2nd at the Art Bar

JULY 2ND, 2022!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A few words from Marty Fort, founder and director of the Columbia Arts Academy and longtime member of the Capital City Playboys, who encourages music lovers to mark their calendars for July 2nd.

“So everyone's excited for the new [Warner Brothers} ELVIS movie coming, out...But I want to HIGHLY encourage you to come to Art Bar on July 2nd to see Columbia's full blown and brand NEW Elvis Tribute set Bernie Love featuring the Capital City Playboys with Patrick Baxley bringing the heat as Elvis.” 

“[We’re] so excited to rock this set of Elvis tunes, many of which we performed at the Guest House at Graceland in April. So come out for this EARLY show 8:30 p.m. Who knows if we'll ever do it again?” 

Bernie Love will be followed by a rocking set by the Capital City Playboys as well as Jared Petteys and the Headliners. There may even be more surprises in store.

The Art Bar is located at 1211 Park Street in Columbia’s historic Congaree Vista.

Special Friends Free Concert Series Comes to Bourbon's Courtyard Saturday Night with Cap City Playboys

Free Concerts from the Chillest Place to Sip on Main Street?

Yes, Please

Capital City Playboys featuring l-r Kevin Brewer, Jay Matheson, Marty Fort

In keeping with his perpetual support of the city, restauranteur and hockey beauty Kristian Niemi is giving yet another gift to Columbia in the form of a free concert series in the swanky, yet comfy, courtyard of one of his prize restaurants and bar, Bourbon.

Located at 1214 Main Street, Bourbon is a whiskey bar with a menu that focuses on Cajun and Creole delights. Over the course of the pandemic, the intimate drinking restaurant expanded into its larger neighboring space, creating an adjacent bar and lounge with a partially covered multi-level courtyard, perfect for the city’s beloved shoulder seasons when breezes beckon us to sit outside and sip on something artisanal and, often, locally designed and created.

Last week, Brandy and the Butcher gathered a crowd and, this week, the Capital City Playboys will be performing one set only starting at 9 pm.

Kristian Niemi - photo by Richard Best

“I’ve always tried to support local arts, whether musical or in any of the other disciplines, so this was just a natural progression,” Niemi says. “We’ve been doing live music at Black Rooster all year; it was time to do it at Bourbon, also. This series should honestly be called ‘Kristian’s Friends’ Bands’ series since nearly every band has members that are close friends of mine, and I love to see them perform. I chose bands that are all very upbeat, rocking bands for this series. We’ll do more with other genres in the future, but this first series is definitely rocking.” 

The series, sponsored by Jack Daniels distillery, runs through November 13th, and will include, among other Midlands-based groups, Glamcocks, Grand Republic, and will close out the series with Niemi’s self-claimed “best friend” and band, Tom Hall and the Plowboys. Niemi says that while he’ll start up a new concert series in the spring, he will continue to have live music on the patio, but it just won’t be concerts, per se. 

“I want it to be a concert, not background music,” Niemi says. “I really want the crowd to get into it; to get in front of the stage and dance and sing along. I really want a concert vibe. These artists have spent a lot of time writing original material and I want it appreciated as a concert.” 

Jay Matheson of the Capital City Playboys is excited about their show on Saturday night. “I know Kristian loves music and I’ll bet he would like to do more things like this just to be able to hang out himself and enjoy the show with friends,” Matheson says. “It’s a great space for a music show and the first one last week with Brandy and the Butcher was a really good time. Best fun I’ve had at a show in a while.”

“Jack Daniels distillery has signed on as our sponsor for this series, and as a part of that are giving away some cool stuff. In addition to us creating some special cocktails for the bands, Jack Daniels is giving away some swag and some bigger prizes that we’ll announce at the end of the series” Niemi says.  “They’ll include bottles of their Single Barrel selections, some high-end swag, and even an exclusive VIP tour of the distillery followed by dinner.” 

Columbia Representing at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame with Capital City Playboys, Hot Lava Monster & Students of the Columbia Arts Academy

When Marty Fort does something, he does it big and he does it right., as evidenced by the more than 1700 families who have enrolled their students in the Columbia Arts Academy, Fort’s multi-instrument arts education facility founded in 2003.

This weekend, Fort is doing what seems to come naturally to the artist/entrepreneur. He, his school, and a couple of his favorite SC bands are taking over the Foster Theatre at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. And while the most obvious audience of fans, friends, and family may not all be able to be there to cheer them on, (it should be noted that Jasper Project board president Wade Sellers will be on site, in a working capacity, of course), the rest of us can still watch the performance via a live stream either at home or a one of Fort’s three music schools in Columbia, Irmo, or Lexington where live stream parties will be held.

Shane Manning

Fort is super proud of his students, including one young man, 17-year-old guitarist Shane Manning, son of Shannon and Shawn Manning, who Fort identifies as “an amazing player” who is “on his way to great things if he keeps it up.” There are a total of eight kids taking this once-in-a-lifetime adventure with Fort and they will be performing with their instructors as well as each other.

Hot Lava Monster

In addition to the kids, Fort is taking along favorite local bands Hot Lava Monster—Patrick Baxley, Wes Pellerin, Jon Hawkins, Mike Schaming—and Capital City Playboys, with whom he plays himself, and they will also be performing

Capital City Playboys -

Capital City Playboys, whose membership also includes Kevin Brewer and Jay Matheson, recently opened for Cowboy Mouth at the Main Course on Main Street in Columbia and will be performing at the Art Bar on Saturday August 14th along with Greenville’s Silver Tongue Devils and Deaf Web’s Blues Intrusion.

Saturday August 7th

11am - 4pm

https://www.columbiaartsacademy.com/

Show Alert: Capital City Playboys CD Release This Saturday, September 26th at Art Bar

On Saturday, September 26, local lounge-rock trio the Capital City Playboys will release their first full-length LP, Bad Bad Man. The album’s lead single and title track is a kinetic burst of ominous, surf and blues-influenced rock and roll based around clean guitar lines and tight, unflashy rhythms. With guitarist Mary Fort’s deep-bellied croon leading the charge, one is almost reminded of Glenn Danzig and his early work with fuzzy doom-punkers the Misfits. The unrelenting gloom in his voice makes for an interesting contrast with the waves you can almost hear crashing somewhere in the background. This song belongs over the opening credits of a Tarantino flick. Don’t believe me? Just listen here. -Music Editor Michael Spawn

Garage/Rockabilly Band Capital City Playboys Are Throwing a Party This Saturday!

By: Casey White, Jasper Intern

The Capital City Playboys have been around since 2009, but its members have been playing in bands around Columbia for a number of years previously.  Marty Fort (guitar and vocals), Jay Matheson (bass and vocals), and Kevin Brewer (drums and vocals) are veterans of the Columbia music scene, and with CCP they hope not only to bring new music to the capital city, but also some of that classic rockabilly vibe . The group will be bringing their classic rock and roll party energy to the Art Bar this Saturday night, along with Buck Stanley, Dixie Dynamite, and Beach Day.

Although the band formed in Columbia, Brewer has since moved to Georgia, due to his obligations to the U.S. Army. Brewer joined in 2004, becoming an official Army musician in 2006. Although serving has forced him to relocate, he says that being an Army musician is the greatest day job he’s ever had.

“Keeping CCP going does take a lot of work and, for me, a bunch of driving,” Brewer says. Although it takes a great deal of effort, and is a 308-mile trip each way, Brewer knows that playing shows with Fort and Matheson is the thing he loves to do most.

Although he doesn’t mind driving to play shows with his band mates, Brewer says that the distance does making writing new material more difficult. The group sends ideas for songs to each other when they get them, fleshing them out when the band can get together, i.e.  when they all have the time. It is often difficult to find that time, because they all stay busy with their respective careers - Brewer in the military, Fort working for the Columbia Arts Academy, and Matheson working at the Jam Room.

Despite the distance, the Capital City Playboys plan to host a show that the people of Columbia will remember.  Brewer also sees the performance as a reunion with the friends and family he had to leave when he moved to Georgia.

“I'm really excited about the show Saturday,” said Brewer. “Not only will it be an epic line-up, but for my wife Gina and I, it will be a bit of a family reunion. Many of our closest friends will be under the same roof for the night. You can expect a stellar performance from every band.”

Buck Stanley is a band fronted by another veteran of the Columbia music scene, Stan Gardner, and features CCP bassist Jay Matheson as well.  The group plays what they describe as stripped down Americana, with pedal steel and fiddle players laying down healthy doses of twang-filled licks. Female-fronted Beach Day (hailing from Hollywood, Florida) will be performing their own compelling mixture of surf and garage rock, while Columbia’s Dixie Dynamite will be starting the night off with some old school country sounds.

The four acts make for a great bill, and promise a fabulous night of great music. Come on out to the Art Bar this Saturday, July 28^th, and experience it!