This weekend, there is no shortage of killer area rock shows to go to in Charleston and Huntington. The Weekend Watch series in the Gazz has it covered like a breakaway iceberg the size of Ireland, so let’s get right to it.

Friday, March 28:
We’ll start where we so often do, at the Empty Glass (410 Elizabeth St.) in Charleston. Friday night, Jeff Ellis brings Bud Carroll and his Southern Souls to town for a show with New Jersey rock outfit Chris Batten and the Woods. Ellis has been working with Carroll again in the studio on the follow-up to last year’s “A Front Seat For the End of the World,” and from what he told us, Carroll and his Souls take Ellis to “the next level” so definitely check this show out if yer in town. Any other week, this would be our “lock o’ the week,” but wait, there’s more…

Also Friday, let’s say you’re on Kanawha Boulevard and want to catch some cool bands. Well, swing by Julie J’s on the boulevard and check out Threefold Theory. The Huntington-based power-pop hard rockers play there every now and then, so swing by if you’re in town. 10 p.m., bring money.

In Huntington:

In Morgantown @ 123 Pleasant Street:

Saturday, March 29:
We may as well break the news: On Saturday, The Glass is holding their Top 100 party in celebration of being honored by Nightclub & Bar Magazine as one of the top bars in America. Starting at 7 p.m. and running all night, the show is a veritable who’s who of Charleston’s best bands: Comparsa, The Spurgie Hankins Band, Blue Million, Diablo Blue, and Buckstone warm the crowd up for the icing on the cake; the Pistol Whippers reunion around 1 a.m. A whirlwind evening of Latin, blues, honky tonk, and oh yeah — punk rock — it’s a show not to be missed. $8 gets you in the door, and you get a special edition Glass t-shirt with the cover.

Well, you’re in Huntington, and let’s say you’re in the market for a cool show down that way. If you’re reading this, sit down, take a deep breath, and read the following; The RedBloods (Huntington indie rock) and Attack Flamingo open for The Red Velvet (Huntington space rock) at Marley’s Doghouse.

The Red Velvet, if you don’t already know, is one of our favorite bands. And last time these acts got together, The RedBloods got a last minute call to open for The Red Velvet at the V Club. (Read about that at the Gatecrasher post below.)

Oh, so you don’t like things red? Try this on…

What else is up this weekend?

sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY!!!

Enjoy your scorching case of March Madness, and thanks for your support!

Gatecrasher had heard about The RedBloods getting a last-minute call a few weeks back to open for The Red Velvet at The V Club in Huntington March 7. It’s an interesting lil’ story, so we asked RedBloods frontman Seth Baker to tell it:

“You see, Saturday afternoon I was leaving the doctor’s office, having just been diagnosed with strep throat, shivering with fever and holding a prescription for antibiotics in my hand when my phone rings with the offer to open for The RV… in 3 hours.

I’ve been digging on their music for a while, and it sounded like a lot of fun. So, I gargled with this god-awful concoction of salt water, cayenne pepper and booze [ed. note: cheap whiskey], ate a bunch of antibiotics, and within an hour I was good to go.

We all had a great time and exposed ourselves to some new people (but not in a trench coat flasher kind of way. That was after the show). Both the RV and the V Club seemed pleased to have us fill in on such short notice, and we were happy to fill the slot.

Right now we’re looking forward to playing with The Red Velvet again March 29 at Marley’s Doghouse. Last Saturday, was kind of a warm-up, a nice break from the constant writing and recording.

I just hope I didn’t get anybody sick.”

So Spring has now officially sprung and with the warmer temperatures, readers of Weekend Watch can catch a cool band in Charleston, Huntington, and Morgantown. Maybe even wear shorts outside! The state’s number one newspaper is your number one source of rock show schedules — the Weekend Watch series clues groupies, posers and local gods alike into where the cool shows are. This weekend… (more…)

Ideally, the “Weekend Watch” series clues area rock fans into what’s going on in the bar scene. Nothing changes with this edition. However, it’s a special St. Patrick’s Day issue, as venues gear up to celebrate YOUR favorite drinking holiday. And we’re your number one source for which shows you want to go to to celebrate your Irish (see: drinking & partying) roots. (more…)

We came across some cool pics on Myspace of The Red Velvet and The RedBloods over the weekend at Huntington’s V Club.

The Red Velvet

Turns out The RedBloods got the call to open at the last minute and were pretty stoked about it.

Pics by Morgan LeMasters. There are more great photos on her Myspace page.

Hey we got footage of Bud Carroll and the Southern Souls from their show @ the Glass 2.15.

“Time Don’t Wait Round”

Do you like rock and/or roll? Yer in the right place. There are some rockin’ shows indeed this weekend. Charleston, Huntington, or Morgantown; we cover them all here at the “Weekend Watch” series for the Gazz…read on. (more…)