I had the opportunity to listen to two great bands in the past week– South Street and Southwood. Talk about great music, these Charleston locals are relatively new to the scene, but both are on their way to becoming road trip staples across the East Coast.

South Street is quite familiar with Charleston’s bar scene and has been featured on Balcony TV and Eclectic Evenings through TMI. They are no stranger to throwing a stellar dance party, and everyone in their vicinity knows it. Last Friday, I found them at Boone’s Bar and Grill with the volume cranked up and the room filled with people loving the music. The 5 musicians played a few of their songs before taking a very short set break to rock out for another hour or so. It was easy to see the obvious passion they shared in music and made it hard to believe that this funk/alternative/ jam band started playing together after a fateful meeting in Pita Pit between lead singer Dexter Jenks and rhythm guitarist JR Spencer only a little over a year ago. With influences from Phish, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Who, and Sublime, South Street is unique due to the diverse backgrounds of the band members and the way they switch from performing at house parties to bars and larger venues with ease. It wasn’t my first time experiencing the sounds of South Street, but I always leave looking forward to another show with them on the stage. Check them out on Facebook and Reverbnation and head on out to their CD Release Party on September1, at Boone’s Bar and Grill on King Street.

Another band of the South, Southwood, hung out at one of the Arts Management classes at the College of Charleston on Monday. Mitch Wetherington and Henri Gates relayed valuable information to the class about their journey from being solo artists around Charleston to hearing about each other through a booking agency, playing together, and eventually forming the wonder that is now Southwood. Along with Craig South (drums and percussion), Christian Wood (bassist), and Patrick Dewitt (percussion, keys, and back-up vocal) these guys began performing in bars before moving to larger venues like Music Farm and The Windjammer/ Southwood is now in high-demand all over the Southeast. Their roots rock sounds does just that–takes you back to this generation’s roots of rock music: Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hootie & the Blowfish, and Tom Petty to name a few. Their lyrics mention love whether it be losing it or finding it, but they also tell a great story. Look up Gunnin’, a story about a guy who got in trouble with the law, planned revenge for the cop, and…well I don’t want to spoil it so you’ll have to look up the song. It reminds me a lot of Ol’ Red by Blake Shelton. The band is easy-going down to earth in person, yet their hard work and passion for what they do spurs a contagious enthusiasm for the music everywhere they perform. Find out more information about Southwood on Facebook and on their website.

So that’s it. Two great bands. Both from the South. Both with south in their name. I’m not sure what the trend is here, but I’m pretty sure it has to do with great music.