Two Thumbs Up, Ten Toes Up
Nashville, Austin, New York….Pawley’s Island? It might not be a music capitol just yet, but one band is working hard to put Charleston’s sleepy sister on the map. And they’re doing it with the secret weapon we all know well in the Holy City: tourists.
“We can play shows night after night to a completely new audience,” explains Ten Toes Up lead guitarist William “BJ” Craven. “Every person who hears our music takes it back home with them.” Through these enthusiastic vacationers, Ten Toes Up has managed to create fan-bases across the country without sacrificing their beach-lifestyle.
But that’s not to say that these boys are slackers. They average around 200 live shows a year, and that’s the way they like it. They pack into their moving van with the slogan “Ten Toes Up: Moving People Since 2004” on the side and hit the road. In fact, the concept behind their latest album, recorded just last week in Nashville, was capturing the energy and fervor of a live show.
The album, expected to drop later this year, is the band’s most rock and roll album to date. With two drummers and roots in church music, Ten Toes Up offers a unique take on southern rock that incorporates jazz, funk, and latin music.
While they’ve considered moving to a bigger city, TTU remains loyal to their hometown. It was their own community who made the album in Nashville a reality. The group ran a Kick Starter campaign this spring to raise funds for the recording, pulling in over $20,000. “It’s exciting when people get involved,” says BJ. “Then when the album comes out, everyone will feel like they were a part of it.
Catch Ten Toes Up in Charleston this Friday night at Jon’s Mixed Drinks in Mt Pleasant at 9:00pm.
Friday, June 8, 9pm at Jon’s Mixed Drinks
1055 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 / (843) 606-2935
tentoesup.com
Story by: Carter Worrell Dandridge
Photos by: Rockhouse Photography
