– Click here to view a music-video of the performance above, including photos from Kuwait and Iraq, and an interview with Jeff Ellis.
– Click here to read lyrics to the song “In Harm’s Way.”
– Click here to read Nick Harrah’s review of the new Jeff Ellis CD “A Front Seat for the End of the World.”
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We were finally able to catch up with Jeff Ellis, thanks to Ron Sowell and his Unity open stage that he hosts once a month in North Charleston. Ellis is seen here introducing and performing his first-person account of the Iraq war, “In Harm’s Way” off his new CD “A Front Seat for the End of the World.”

Ellis is getting a lot of coverage and his music deserves it. Hear him tonight solo at the Empty Glass and then on Friday at Huntington’s V Club, where he and his band are featured in a CD release party for the new recording.

Faithful fan(s) of the Gatecrasher will know that we’ve promoted some Rose City shows in the past. Well, we’d like to talk to you about a serious subject: Rose City shows this weekend.

“Team Ramrod” (as they’re known) will play the Blue Parrot this Friday with the Knots and The Stone Cutters, then they’ll likely rock hungover style at Sam’s Uptown Cafe Saturday night. And we can go ahead and confirm that there will be a thing in Thursday’s print Gazz about the band.

So to get your face killed click here.

American Minor’s loss is our gain. Bud Carroll and the Southern Souls come to the Empty Glass this Saturday night with Kentucky’s own Genuine Junk Band. Carroll’s neo-soul outfit is worth checking out if you’re out around Charleston this weekend, or even if you have to drive a distance. And Genuine Junk Band is a better jam band than their name may imply.

Show starts at 10 p.m., call 345-9893 for cover.

One of the venues that has been making waves in West Virginia rock is Yesterday’s Draught House and Stage in Wheeling. Since opening a little over a year ago, the club has booked a lot of cool hardcore bands.

Now, if you grew up around Charleston, Wheeling could be in Ohio or Pennsylvania for all you care. Well, if you like “the hardcore” then it’s time you start caring.

The club recently celebrated their one year anniversary. Yesterday’s has done a lot of free all-ages and benefit shows up there, and they book a lot of nationally known hardcore bands.

The club recently underwent some construction, as the neighboring establishment was demolished and Yesterday’s expanded their territory.

One band that has played there several times is Wilderkin. They’re seen below rocking the united stage at Yesterday’s.

Andrew from Wilderkin had nice things to say about Yesterday’s, calling it “a veritable mecca for underground/non-mainstream music and a hub for counterculture in the upper Ohio Valley.”

He said it’s no surprise the club has done well. “Every band that plays there, be it a local or touring act, falls in love with the club” and that Yesterday’s has an “innate compassion for diverse music and a deep understanding of what an ecclectic demographic wants to see and hear.”

“There is no place like Yesterday’s, and we hope to see it stay alive for a long time!”

Photos: (top to bottom) — Dark Syde Designs (crowd), Weaver (Wilderkin)

Yesterday’s in Wheeling is going into its second year of putting on hardcore shows with killer local and national talent. To find out more about the club, we talked to co-owner Charles “Chuck” Fithen. The 27-year old Moundsville native not only books the bands, but has been in bands (Lady Binn Hill) himself, so it’s no wonder so many bands have been coming through the Northern panhandle. Here’s what he said…

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GAZZ: When was the first show at Yesterday’s?
CF: The first show was July 15th 2006 with Iscariot, Holden Caulfield, 11th Plague and Hank Jones.

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GAZZ: What motivated you to start the club?
CF: There was nowhere for rock/metal/hardcore bands to play in the Northern Panhandle of the state. West Virginia was getting passed over a lot when it came to routing tours. Most agents I deal with tell me horror stories about shady West Virginia shows where bands get ripped off or poor turnout. That was why they stayed away from the state. The only exception to this in most of their eyes were shows at the HYAMP and some in St Albans.

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GAZZ: You’ve called Yesterday’s “West Virginia’s only true music venue.” What do you mean by that?
CF: We are not a hall or a building that is rented for shows. We are open six days a week and usually have live bands on three of those days. Our door is wide open to acts just passing through town or needing really last minute shows. We can usually scramble and pull off anything. I don’t know of anyone willing to do that much for the bands. There are too many people who focus on making money and don’t give a damn about the bands or customers. (more…)

Hank III and Assjack come to Huntington this Friday after swinging through Morgantown for a stop at 123 Pleasant Street Tuesday 9.18.

If you’re in Morgantown and you read this in time: good deal. It was for you. You others have fair warning for the Huntington show at the Monkeybar.

Longtime fans of our blogs will know that we love reggae music. How much? Enough to follow Rasta Rafiki as they traverse the state in three days for reunion shows in Morgantown, Huntington and Charleston?

We don’t love it that much, but we may try to catch them at the Empty Glass this Sunday the 23rd. They play 123 Pleasant St. in Morgantown 9.21 and the V Club in Huntington Saturday, which is??? The 22nd.

Check them out online and oh yeah check them out live if you think Jah rules!

We had never been to Blues BBQ Restaurant to eat but decided it was time last Friday. We came for the food, but we stayed to see Boone County’s Alan Griffith, with his new/old band Blue Million. We got there early to order and check out Navy @ Rutgers on the big TV right behind all their wonderful drinks.

Ohh, the beer list: don’t get me started on this global whirlwind of ales and lagers. Long story short: if your beer selection consists of Bud and/or Bud Light, come to Blues BBQ and go nuts.

Griffith brought plenty of friends and family, it seemed like, to hear him play for what he called the “after dinner crowd” at Blues BBQ. In the video, you’ll see him team up with old friend Andy Lewis on drums and Jay Hill on bass in Blue Million.

The cool thing was getting to hear him go through songs off his previous CDs with the Cheapbeats (Tom Kirk on drums; Jamie Adkins on guitar), 230 2nd Ave., and Now and Then, with a more bluesy, electric feel.

The crowd definitely seemed to dig the songs. Check out a couple below.

“Waiting for a Melody”

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“Will You Think of Me?”

– Camera: Jessica; Copy: Nick

Jeff Ellis plans a CD-release show for his new CD “A Front Seat For The End Of The World” on Sept. 7 at the Sound Factory in Charleston. Maybe we’ll catch him there. For now, listen to songs off the CD.

He’ll also be staying busy around Charleston, as he’ll be doing a string of Thursday night shows at the Empty Glass. That’s your best bet if you miss the CD release show.

He has been doing shows at River’s Edge in St. Albans, so maybe look for him to come back there. Regardless, you should check him out if you get a chance.

The songs below are just two off the 15-song effort. It’s one of, if not the best CD, I’ve been given in my time as local music guy.
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“Dark Skin Girl and a Blue Guitar” <>

“Living in the USA” <>.

jeffellismusic.com

myspace.com/jeffellismusic

Caustic Eye Productions

– Nick Harrah 

We got to see Threefold Theory open for Fuel Friday at the 2007 Sternwheel Regatta in Charleston this past weekend. They opened with a rocking version of “Hold On,” which you can see and hear on Gatecrasher.