Columbia-based Photographer Sean Rayford Releases New Publication Documenting the Final Days of the Old New Brookland Tavern

“When we leave this plane of existence, what do we leave behind? Do I make things of enough importance that future generations get to see what life was like during these times, through my eyes?…”

No one has documented the happenings of the Columbia area more than Sean Rayford. Rayford is a photojournalist and documentary photographer. His unmistakable images of his immersion into major national events have been seen by hundreds of millions of people worldwide who viewed the covers of the largest newspapers, print and online editions, around the world. And yet, it seems to those who don’t know him personally, a lot of his free time is spent documenting the range of day-to-day activities in Columbia and the surrounding area. 

On Saturday, April 27th, Rayford is releasing a new photo zine titled For the Record. The zine documents the last three months of the local club New Brookland Tavern, through Rayford’s lens, as it prepared to close after decades of live music at its West Columbia location. “When I learned about the building’s sale in West Columbia, I immediately began this project, knowing the days at the location in West Columbia might be limited. I had been procrastinating a personal photo project about NBT for about a year and I understand the role of photography and the passage of time,” says Rayford.

The more you look at Rayford’s photography the more you understand his burned-in ability to capture the most interesting moment between two mundane seconds of time. This imagery exists on his Soda Citizen Instagram page, and through photo books independently released by him. Part of this is that his point of view is in his DNA, the other part may be his dozen years or so spent behind the bar at the original New Brookland Tavern, watching the night unfold in front of him. Rayford explains “I went to my first show there (New Brookland Tavern) in the fall of 1998 when my suite mate’s band played. I think I was hired by my college radio co-host, Jonathan Dunagin, who was a booking agent at NBT. It’s where I’ve spent most of my adult Thanksgiving holidays.” 

Rayford has published compilations of his photography before, but a zine is a different approach for him and closer to his heart. “I look at zines as physical/analog publications that embrace a D.I.Y. mentality. It’s indie publishing without boundaries. They can be what you want them to be,” he explains. “I have more resources, knowledge, skills - but much higher expectations than when I tackled my previous self-publishing efforts. I’d always been on much smaller budgets — without viewing the project as a personal long-term investment in myself as a creator.” 

The final show at the West Columbia of location of New Brookland Tavern was December 29th, 2023, and the first show at its new Five Points location was the next day. Rayford documented both. 

“I’ve also obviously been a contributor to the smallest and biggest newspapers and magazines in the world. There’s something about challenging yourself, sharing, and delivering creative work. It’s fulfilling - and there is a grasp at immortality going on here,” he continues.

“When we leave this plane of existence, what do we leave behind? Do I make things of enough importance that future generations get to see what life was like during these times, through my eyes? What an immense privilege on multiple levels.”

The release party for For the Record will take place at the New Brookland Tavern in Five Points this Saturday, April 27th. Copies of For the Record will be available for purchase. 

Editor’s note: Rayford has previously been featured and been hired on assignment for Jasper Magazine.

-Wade Sellers

For the Record

60 pages / Color / 4.9 inches x 6.7 inches

Say Brother’s Tripp LaFrance: Wiser, Older, Sober — And Still Fun as Hell

“big bands are only big because other people support you, your show only sells out because people care enough to spend money to come see you. be grateful an humbled by that. cause if you fall off an youve jus been attached to this image of yourself, youre gonna fall fuckin hard.” — Tripp LaFrance

Self-labeled as country folks—and referred to in the press as young guys playing old music—Say Brother has danced, hollered and jangled in the Columbia music scene since 2010. In that time, they've toured the East Coast and as far West as Texas, but thankfully, they still call Columbia home. We talked with lead vocalist and guitarist, Tripp LaFrance, about how things are going and what has and hasn’t changed in the last 12 years. 

JASPER: What the heck have y'all been up to?

LAFRANCE: well like erbody, the pandemic kicked our asses musically. it was great for some much needed self reflection an improvement though. i feel like erbody in the band came out the other end a lil more put together. were finally gettin our new stuff down an pickin up where we left off. feels good to be back at it.

JASPER: Has the pandemic had any impact on your music, creativity or process?

LAFRANCE: oh absolutely. like i mentioned, it obviously brought musicians to a standstill. not bein able to play live an get them wiggles out was frustratin to say the least. it has shown me not to take it for granted though. im throwin all i got at it now, instead of bein a perfectionist who releases a new song once every two years haha.

JASPER: What does life look like now vs. 2019 when you were playing Hopscotch and the Fair?

LAFRANCE: life looks...more organized an completely confusin at the same time. i sobered up an thats been great, but my trajectory is all over the fuckin place now. its near impossible to say where or what ill be in a year.

JASPER: You guys have been a band now for over 10 years – woah! How has the band changed in that time? How has Columbia and the music scene changed?

LAFRANCE: the band has had a pretty revolvin door lineup. some people left and came back, left again, came back haha. but we have what i think is the perfect squad now. weve lost people along the way, but its never felt better. 

an yeah i feel the music scene has changed. its hard to put my finger on exactly how though. could also be a result of the lockdown an erbody comin back out as changed people. who knows. im in my lane.

JASPER: In these last 10 years what’s your favorite show you've played?

LAFRANCE: tanglefest 2021! that was the first real show we came back out an played. jus felt like community an love. lydia worked her ass off to put that festival together, an is doin it again this september on her farm. i seriously cannot fuckin wait. its jus a sloppy, happy, beautiful local fest full of awesome food, people, campin, an good times.

JASPER: What makes you want to play music?
LAFRANCE: its jus such a release. i swear, an i feel like most musicians would say this, the only time i feel at peace an my mind shuts the fuck up is when were on stage. everything else melts away an i am 100% in the moment soon as the first beat drops. honestly its more necessity than desire. 

JASPER: What does your writing process look like? 

LAFRANCE: there isnt much to it. i grab the guitar when the mood strikes, an usually run through a couple of chords an sing jibberish tryna find a melody i like. if one clicks ill record it an start to layer the rest of the instruments over it in garageband that are ever changin as the song progresses. its prolly not much different than most peoples, but damn man theres no better feelin than when you know you have somethin sick an youre jus listenin to it on repeat tweakin lil things here an there. thats a high like no other.

JASPER: Do you have a favorite lyric or song you've written, and if so, what is it? 

LAFRANCE: damn thats tough. i think “comfort me” might be my favorite? i wrote it in a total hurry under pressure cause we had a video shoot booked for it before it was even written, an i kinda thrive under that pressure. theres not much time to overthink anything, an i think that jus leads to more honest writin. i tend to pick apart everything i write to the point that i hate it. which is also why weve released only a handful of songs, an ive written hundreds. its a quality of mine im always tryin to get rid of. its incredibly fuckin frustratin.

JASPER: How do you know when something is done? 

LAFRANCE: i dont haha. when the rest of the band tells me so i guess. i tend to wanna go back an rework shit, but its only cause ive heard it a thousand times. once we all get together an play it at practice, we can tell if we got a banger or not pretty immediately. im blessed to have a group of brothers at my side who all have a similar ear an direction. theyre also all creative an write their own music separately so that really helps when you present somethin.

JASPER: What are you listening to these days? Are there any newer musicians local or otherwise you are into?

LAFRANCE: currently as i write these answers im listenin to sarah shook and the disarmers, theyre a sick sorta country rock an roll band thats gainin crazy traction right now. ive found myself listenin to a lot of instrumental beats these days. like the low fi almost hiphop shit that is jus raw an relaxin.

JASPER: Have you or anyone else in the band ever ridden a horse?

LAFRANCE: i did when i was younger, i think thats prolly the truth for the rest of the band as well. haha i can imagine now that experience would be painful bruh. we in our 30s if i bend down to pet my cat wrong it takes me 17 seconds to stand back up all the way straight.

JASPER: Having been playing for a while, what freaks you out most about the younger generation or encourages you and why?

LAFRANCE: the musicians arrogance. thats not jus attached to the younger generation of course, but maybe attached to the younger age we all go through. our generation remembers life before instagram an shit. but everybody is a celebrity now. there seems to be this feelin of self importance that in my opinion has no place in music. big bands are only big because other people support you, your show only sells out because people care enough to spend money to come see you. be grateful an humbled by that. cause if you fall off an youve jus been attached to this image of yourself, youre gonna fall fuckin hard. an it happens. im a human, ive struggled wit the ego bullshit of course, i was a lil shit for a while, so im definitely not hatin on anybody. jus gotta work to keep yourself in check.

but i am encouraged by how open these kids are. destroyin stigmas around mental health, bein themselves without holdin back, fightin for what they believe in. theres a lot to like when i get a glimpse into their narrative. 

You can see Say Brother with The Josephines at New Brookland Tavern on August 13th and hear their music on Bandcamp.

The Beat: Concert Review: Maddie Turner, Lola Grace, Kat Gandy, and Death Ray Robin New Brookland Tavern, July 14th

“Sad girl indie” has been bubbling under on the indie charts the past few years, with major artists such as Lucy Dacus and Soccer Mommy surfacing as stars in the subgenre. On Thursday, July 14th at the New Brookland Tavern in West Columbia, Columbia’s version of the “sad girl” scene took the stage in a show that featured Maddie Turner, Lola Grace, Kat Gandy, and Death Ray Robin.

Maddie Turner’s set put the spotlight on her calming voice, evoking Phoebe Bridgers in ways besides covering songs of hers such as “Scott Street”. While newer to the music scene of Columbia, Maddie possesses the stage presence of a much more seasoned performer. Her personality surfaced best between songs, as she kept the audience laughing and reacting to what she had to say. 

Lola Grace, of Stardust Motel, has a powerful voice reminiscent of Florence Welch (Florence + The Machine). Her set included songs that drew from her own life experiences such as finding true love; the one that you know will be there for you, and expressing those feelings in ways only young lovers can. The show came ahead of the release of her new single, “Reconsider”, and as a special treat for the audience, she not only included songs written as a solo artist but solo renditions of music from Stardust Motel’s discography such as “Starcrossed Lovers”. 

Kat Gandy is usually seen in Outerego or as part of Paisley and the Birdwalkers; the airiness of her voice gives her songs a layered, organic feel even in the world of impersonal stage amplification. Starting out with a cover of the iconic “Running Up That Hill”, recently made relevant and popular again via its inclusion in the show “Stranger Things,” Kat followed that opening statement with a set of her original music created as a solo artist and also from her other musical endeavors. Her skill with the various pieces of musical technology on stage created the illusion that there were three copies of Kat harmonizing along in the background, lending her set an intricately arranged, ethereal quality.

Death Ray Robin has a personality and stage presence that commands attention all on its own. While often backed by a full band, this show was all about Desirée herself as she took the stage with only her voice and her keyboard. Her vocals leave room for plenty of vulnerability and passion to shine through on songs such as, “Boss Babe (You Can Have It)”. 

The ambiance of New Brookland Tavern helped bolster the effects of these performers on the audience as well, with monochromatic lighting moving over the singers and listeners, connecting them in a single ray of light as if they were the one person being sung to directly. 

Regardless of what you call it, and whether it’s truly sad or just emotionally raw and open, the kind of indie appeal that even local artists like these have is apparent in the rapt audience attention and their own passionate delivery of their original material. 

Hoechella: Rock against the patriarchy by Ony Ratsimbaharison

Next month a festival to raise awareness on body-positivity, called Hoechella, will run August 26-27 at New Brookland Tavern. The festival, organized by local musician and stage actor/director, Kari Lebby, was created to combat “slut shaming, rape culture, and unjust legislation that affects people's bodily autonomy.” This event will be completely free, thanks to Girls Rock Columbia and Girls Rock Charleston, who procured funding for the event, Lebby says.

The decision to throw this event came from a desire to subvert the idea that expressing ones sexuality should be shamed and made to be a bad thing. “It isn’t a bad thing,” Lebby says. “What is a bad thing, however, is the marginalization of women, people of color, and queer people.” By holding this event, they wish to bring artists and leaders from these communities together for visibility and to encourage everyone to be comfortable with who they are, and to be informed about issues that affect us all.

The festival will feature local and regional acts, almost all of them including at least one member who is queer, a woman, or a person of color, according to Lebby. Debbie and the Skanks, Cyberbae, MyBrother MySister, Glittoris, and Can’t Kids will be performing, just to name a few. They cover a wide range of genres, which was another important factor in booking. This is to showcase diverse acts and to hopefully bridge some of the gaps in our ranging music scene.

Hoechella became a fully-realized festival in what seemed like no time at all, but that was not without the help from people and organizations in our community. “I just have crazy ideas, but it takes a ton of people to make it happen!” Lebby says about seeing Hoechella come to fruition. People from the organizations Girls Rock Columbia and Girls Rock Charleston, along with the staff at New Brookland Tavern helped to solidify their plan, while others helped with things like the organizing and designing of the logo.

Lebby hopes this event will encourage people to start speaking out against rape culture, body shaming, slut shaming, and unjust legislation. It will hopefully add a new spin on the typical shows we see here in Columbia, with added awareness and encouragement to be comfortable with one’s self and their personal choices.

For more information, check out Hoechella.org.

Full list of performers

Can't Kids, Say Brother, Debbie & the Skanks, MyBrother MySister, She Returns from War, Glittoris, Sandcastles, Paisley Marie, Del Sur, Cyberbae, BRBN, and Sugar St. Germain.

Jake Margle Offers a Run-Down on Artsy Halloween Events

As Halloween approaches the Capitol City, venues and various stomping grounds are rolling out their festive best. From Columbia’s modest holes-in-the-wall to our more grandiose institutions, here are just a few of the smattering of events taking place on this Hallo-weekend.

The Tapp’s Center prides itself on tasteful, informing events, and their Halloween special is no different. On Friday they will be hosting Hell’s Belle’s, an event that will combine art–both visual and performing–and discussion. The evening starts at 7 and will be dedicated to exploring and showcasing the history of witchcraft, with the discussion centered around, “exploring feminine identity.” Columbia’s own Ritual Abjects will be conducting a sigil workshop and performance piece. There will be tarot and palm readings as well. Costumes are not mandatory, but encouraged. All donations from the evening will go towards the Tapp’s Nonprofit Programming and Auntie Bellum magazine, SC’s women’s magazine.

Toast Improv is putting on a special Halloween show, Friday at the Benson Theater. Doors open at 8:30 to a $5 cover. The show starts at 9, and according to Toast’s Facebook page, will be very “spoopy”–a term meaning comedic and spooky. Concessions will be provided, and if you know anything about Toast, so will the talent and laughs. Those weary of a cover charge will be pleased to know that all proceeds will be donated to aid the flood relief efforts in Columbia.

On Saturday the State Museum will again be hosting its annual Tricks and Treats gathering. If you’re looking for a more kid-friendly offering, look no further. All day the museum will be hosting a scavenger hunt, potions lab, crafts, balloon art, and a performance of “Hansel and Gretel” by the Columbia Marionette Theatre. Costumes are encouraged as well, with any child under 12 and in costume receiving $1 off admission.

2015 marks the fourth year of Sid & Nancy’s Halloween Explosion. A dance-filled evening starting at 8:30 on Saturday at New Brookland Tavern is sure to put anyone in a festive mood. Music will be provided by local DJ’s Alejandro Florez, Christian Barker, and QT Kapowski. Fort Psych, Columbia’s event and media gurus will supplementing the music with light displays as well. There will be a photo booth set up, so bring your costume game. The two most creative costumes will receive gift certificates to Indigo Rose Tattoo Studio, with first place winning a $100 credit, second place receiving a $60 credit. Those fearful of standing need not worry, as the “most basic” will receive a $10 gift card to Starbucks, and a $20 gift card to Target. There will be a $5 cover for those 21 and up, $10 for under 21. All proceeds will benefit Girls Rock Columbia.

The Whig is hosting the aptly and creatively named Whigoween Saturday at 9. Columbia’s favorite hidden gem is keeping tight-lipped on the details, but costumes are most definitely encouraged.

And there's always the Columbia City Ballet's performance of Dracula, previewed earlier this week by Alivia Seely.

-- Jake Margle

Why You Should Go To Shows Vol. 3: Valley Maker CD Release @ New Brookland Tavern 8/10/13

1) Valley Maker himself (itself?), of course. VM is the recent songwriting nom de plume of Austin Crane, who released a few quite-excellent records under his own name and the Valley Maker moniker before departing for graduate school in 2010. Crane only plays a few gigs a year, and all of them mostly here in Columbia on his brief returns. His last record (and first under the VM name) came out in 2010, and is still one of the most-downloaded South Carolina records on Bandcamp to date. All of which is to say that each show he performs becomes a near must-see. Plus, his new full-length Yes I Know I’ve Loved This World is pretty killer.

2) Opener Amy Godwin, who provides the haunting, mood-setting background vocals on Valley Maker records, started the show off my using extensive vocal loops to harmonize with herself on her traditional folk-meets-dream pop sound that is absolutely enchanting.

3) Let’s Go Coyote! frontman Pat Wall (Free Times music editor and Those Lavender Whales guitarslinger Pat Wall) takes a visceral joy in playing the electric guitar as oddly and brashly as he wants, and in the process demonstrates exactly what rock and roll played live should be about.

4) The stage banter bromance of Wall and drummer Aaron Graves, who fronts Those Lavender Whales, also gave LGC an appeal which really only comes through on stage.

5) Those Lavender Whales were co-headliners, and hearing them shoot through songs on their new EP, entitled Parts & Pieces/Goose and Geeses, was worth the ticket price alone. I called their last record my favorite local release of last year, and I’m pretty sure some of these songs are even better.

6) The gang vocals on Valley Maker’s final song (the new record's closing number, “Goodness”). While perhaps not strictly necessary, it was a striking reminder of how the camaraderie of local musicians and their uninhibited affection for each other’s songs is what makes a music scene in the first place. And, of course, just how good of a songwriter Crane is. Musical moments that combine the warm-and-fuzzy with goosebumps are rare, but they happen, as this loveable moment proved.

-K. Petersen

Why You Should Go to Shows is a projected blog series that describes the specific joys of certain live performances rather than providing a strict review of the show in question or speaking of the joy of patronage in the abstract. Kind of.

Highlighting Indie Music in the Summer Music Festival Season

So we are officially in the midst of the summer festival season, and dedicated local music lovers have probably caught various local acts populating the stages at Rosewood Crawfish Festival (which had an excellent line-up of local acts this year), Stereofly’s Rootsy Memorial Day Festival at Art Bar, the Back To Rockafella’s celebration, or West Fest. The more cultured have also stopped in on the Southeastern Piano Festival, a week of world-class piano performances which is as of this writing mostly sold-out (we recommend checking out the Arthur Fraser International Concerto Competition, where young contestants duke it out in dazzling style from morning to night. It's this Friday, June 14, at the School of Music recital hall, and it's free).  More festivals are on the horizon, including the wince-inducing resuscitation of the Three Rivers Festival on July 6 and 13. Jasper loves a diversity of musical experiences, but in particular loves when Columbia gets a bit more cutting-edge. Two festivals this summer offer some of that edginess where others play it safe.

The first is Recess Fest, which is happening this Friday, June 14th, at a variety of venues across Columbia. An off-shoot of the Charlotte festival, which is celebrating its sixth anniversary this year, the festival derives its name from the carefree spirit of school recess, and champions a community-centered approach while introducing local acts from across the state. Spearheaded by people person bandleader and Can’t Kids drummer/singer Jessica Oliver, the night offers a reasonable festival-style cost for a rambunctious line-up. Here are the details:

New Brookland Tavern Modern Man - Charleston Elim Bolt - Charleston Octopus Jones - Raleigh (formerly Columbia) One Another - Charlotte Red Door Tavern Great Architect - Charlotte Magnetic Flowers - Columbia Dear Blanca - Columbia Luciferian Agenda - Charlotte State Street Pub Blossoms - Charlotte Dumb Doctors - Charleston Let’s Go, Coyote! - Columbia Jordan Igoe - Charleston Silent Spring Ensemble - Columbia Conundrum Music Hall Roomdance - Columbia Happiness Bomb - Columbia Sandcastles - Columbia Late Bloomer - Charlotte Hunter Gatherer Brewery Bo White & su Orchesta Fat Rat da Czar with Grand Royal

All of the shows except for the Hunter-Gatherer one start at 7 and finish around 11, with festival-goers convening at the brewpub for an after-party with Bo White and Fat Rat (which Jasper thinks was a thoroughly excellent planning decision). The line-up demonstrates an excellent mix of bands who play the town frequently with some lesser-knowns from from the Charlotte area.

Here's a video from Charleston favorite Elim Bolt, recorded as part of our own Fork & Spoon's Casual Friday series, who will be playing the New Brookland stage:

http://vimeo.com/64837746

The second festival we want to highlight is Spit Fest (“SP”ace “I”dea “T”apes Fest) , an annual DIY music festival on July 4th dedicated to celebrating “outsider art and culture centering around Columbia, SC.” Organized by the Space Idea Tapes record label, which does casette-only releases of bands throughout the tri-state area, the festival features off-kilter and oddball acts seldom-seen on any other big festival bill in Columbia--and fast-moving, 15 minute sets that allow for a rather expansive line-up on one stage in a single night. Now in its third year, the festival wants to be a bit more above-ground and move away from its house show origins--this  year, Conundrum Music Hall is hosting, and the festival has an Indie GoGo fundraiser which finishes up at midnight tomorrow. Check out the fundraiser site here--note the nice incentives, as well as the other logistics needs Space Idea Tapes still has. The festival will also feature a BBQ potluck and regional visual artists showcasing their work. Check out the line-up below.

We'll leave you with a tune from the Spit Fest-featured elvis depressedly's lastest ep, holo pleasures, which was reviewed in the current issue of Jasper (pick one up, if you haven't already!).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJSoec3r-EI