ROCK HILL — Memorable music meant to move listeners is the aim of the band Poor Man’s Fame — live Friday at Firewater 110 in Rock Hill.

That’s the motive. The means calls for dynamic melodies with evocative lyrics that just might stick with fans forever. High hopes loom large for this relatively new band based in the Rock Hill area that started out as an alternative metal/heavy rock cover band.

“We’ve been together for about two years,” said lead vocalist Tricia Kimbrell, who also works for The Herald. “At first we were doing covers by Soundgarden, Mudvayne, Tool, Evanescence and others, but for about six months we are an all-original band.”

Kimbrell also plays piano in Poor Man’s Fame, which features guitarist (and husband) Kirt Kimbrell; Chad Cope, bass/backing vocals; and “temporary fill-in” drummer Scott Shepherd. (Heads up percussionists: They are seeking the right drummer to fill this slot permanently.)

As for their music direction, “It’s a little challenging. We are alternative metal, but we do have a rock sound by mixing the new with the old,” said Kimbrell.

Some of that throwback style might have to do with their writing technique. “All our songs have a story,” she said. “When my husband writes music, I might hear something — a little melody that triggers emotion that ‘writes’ the song for me. Our songs are very emotional.”

It can be a bit more involved. “Sometimes I might be stumped on where a song should go and sound. It can be hard to make a transition in a song,” Kimbrell said. “A song tells a story, but it has to morph, to turn and find transition.” Never fear, inspiration wins out. “It always comes,” she said.

Such inspiration has also brought industry interest. Their first recorded demos caught the ear of a talent scout who sent the band to Atlanta to professionally record the original track “All or Nothing,” which in turn impressed indie label Medical Records enough to sign the band.

They just returned from the studio, recording two more to go with “All or Nothing.” They plan to finish recording in the next couple of months and release their first CD in 2013.

Obviously PMF has eagerly embraced growth and evolution. Plus, the band is determined to transform into what it is destined to be. You can hear that determination and the hopeful, great expectations in Kimbrell’s talented voice: “We’re still morphing ourselves — staying with our genre but still developing.”

That development includes the on-stage part of their act, where they are “working to be consistent live, to get the quality of the way we play with the bass, guitar, vocals always together and aimed at quality.”

Oh, and before it all seems too serious, be assured, “We’re going to have a good time and I hope the crowd does too,” Kimbrell said.

Jump on board with the fast moving Poor Man’s Fame Friday along with Forgive Me For Yesterday, The Jupiter Tide, and Absoulute Convixtion at Firewater 110, 110 South Cherry Road, Rock Hill. Call 329-2710 for show info. For more on the music check facebook.com/poormansfame; and reverbnation.com/poormansfame.

In the compendium of Southern rock there is only a relatively small number of names carved in historic stone. Most prominently that list includes the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Charlie Daniels Band, 38 Special and The Outlaws. Add to that, South Carolina’s own Marshall Tucker Band, live Saturday at The Neighborhood Theatre in Charlotte.

Hailing originally from Spartanburg, MTB is certified by RIAA as three times platinum and five times gold. Their biggest hits include “Heard It in a Love Song,” “Fire on the Mountain,” “24 Hours at a Time” plus “Can’t You See,” which CMT named the “No. 4 Greatest Southern Rock song of all time.”

Their self-titled debut album also reigns as Gibson Guitar’s No. 5 Great Southern Rock album of all time, as well Amazon’s pick for as the No. 5 Greatest Southern Rock album of all time.

But then, we already knew all that and more. The current MTB lineup features Doug Gray, lead vocals; Pat Elwood, bass guitar; Marcus James Henderson, keyboards/flute; B.B. Borden, drums; Chris Hicks, guitar/vocals; and Rick Willis, guitar/vocals.

Revel in the “40 years Band and still going strong” status of the Marshall Tucker Band Saturday at The Neighborhood Theatre, 511 East 36th St., Charlotte. For info, call 704-358-9298 or visit neighborhoodtheatre.com. Get the scoop on the music at marshalltucker.com.

Weather reports not withstanding, here’s our interpretation of a wintry mix — of live music, of course!

•  Friday: PJ Brunson at Amici Lovin Oven, Rock Hill; Matt Tucker Band at The Long Branch, Rock Hill; Square Roots at McHale’s On Main, Rock Hill; Chuck Johnson at The Kickin’ Pig, Rock Hill; The Oneppo Brothers Band at John’s Place, Fort Mill; Trial by Fire — Journey Tribute with The Breakfast Club-80’s Tribute at Amos’ Southend, Charlotte; Yacht Rock Revue at The Visulite Theater, Charlotte; Zoogma, Mochipet, Intermixture at Neighborhood Theater, Charlotte; Perfect Stranger Acoustic Goodness at The Lodge, Charlotte; Aside Oceans, Gulley at Evening Muse, Charlotte; Little Johnny Trailer Trash at Big Al’s Pub, Charlotte; and Knuckle Sandwich 80’s Hair Metal at Finz Raw Bar, Matthews.

•  Saturday: Matt Tucker Band at The Long Branch, Rock Hill; Chubby Knuckles at The Kickin’ Pig, Rock Hill; Heroes at Last at McHale’s on Main, Rock Hill; PJ Brunson and David Griffin at The Coal Yard, York; The Oneppo Brothers Band at Carolina Bistro, Fort Mill; Hair Nation at Amos’ Southend, Charlotte; Crowfield, Heyrocco at The Visulite Theater, Charlotte; Jamie and Steve with Don Dixon and Hannah Thomas at the Chop Shop-Noda, Charlotte; Bum’s Lie, Jay D. Clark, Treehouse at The Saloon, NC Music Factory, Charlotte; Cloud 9 at McKoy’s Smokehouse and Saloon, Charlotte; Shummn’ Crunchy at Snug Harbor, Charlotte; Shannon Whitworth at Evening Muse, Charlotte; RockStar Duo at Ed’s Tavern, Charlotte; and Metal Shop at Rockhouse, Gastonia.

•  Sunday: The Weeks at The Casbah-Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte.

•  Monday: Find Your Muse Open Mic at The Evening Muse, Charlotte.

•  Tuesday: Amy Ray, Heather McEntire, more at The Evening Muse, Charlotte.

•  Wednesday: Mike Musikanto at Evening Muse, Charlotte.

•  Thursday: Donnie Honeycutt at Mellow Mushroom-Ballantyne, Charlotte; Early Ray at Coyote Joe’s, Charlotte; Ugly Radio Rebellion-Zappa Tribute at Amos’ Southend, Charlotte; Shot Silk, Dr. Cirkustien at The Visulite Theater, Charlotte; An Evening with Big Head Todd and The Monsters at The Fillmore, Charlotte; Aerolyn, The Coming Dawn, S.L.Q., Brave the Pain at Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte; Jeff Mangum, Tall Firs at Neighborhood Theater, Charlotte; and Ancient Cities, Kendra Morris, more at Evening Muse, Charlotte.

“And that was all she wrote.”

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