Nightsounds: Close out the year with some classic sounds

The time has come to wrap up 2015 with a big bow, then welcome 2016 with year-end music celebrations.

Break away from visiting flocks of family and endless loops of holiday tunes with an escape into eclectic sounds courtesy of Zach Fowler & The Essentials, live Saturday at McHale’s on Main in Rock Hill.

It’s a “Merry After-Christmas Party” full of pop, funk, reggae, hip-hop and DIY rock. Make a smooth move toward freestyle fun with Zach Fowler & The Essentials at McHale’s On Main, 122 E. Main St. Call 803-329-8580 or check mchalesirishpub.com for more info. Find ZF & The Essentials on Facebook.

Classic meets hard rock

Unleash that inner turmoil and turn it into a rocking uproar aided by Khaos Kings live, Saturday at Luke’s Sports Bar & Grill in Rock Hill. They have the answer to crazed daze of holidays in the form of classic rock meets hard rock with a slamming shot of ’80s arena rock thrown in for good measure.

Armed with updated additions to their song list, these Kings, led by lead vocalist Bryan Dover, promise to rule with rock music royalty.

Release your inner rebellious beast with Khaos Kings at Luke’s Sports Bar & Grill, 465 Herlong Ave. For info call 803-327-2701 or go to lukesbarrockhill.com. Also find more on venue and band on Facebook.

Ring in the New Year

Well Known Strangers are at the door of a blowout live Thursday for the second annual New Year’s Eve Bash at The Handle Bar in Catawba. Well Known Strangers’ identity crisis is over: Juggling genres helped the band of Mark Banks, drums; Stan Goodnow, vocals/guitar; and Pete Stronczek, bass/vocals, land in their true calling of classic rock.

WKS promises to play the favorites and all the fun songs “from Johnny Cash to The Grateful Dead and everything in between.” Get your song requests ready and your party outfit set, then go ring in 2016 with Well Known Strangers at The Handle Bar, 2610 S. Anderson Road, Catawba. Call 803-327-0074 for all the show scoop plus details about reservations on their Rock Hill area party bus. Find more on the band and music on Facebook.

Load up to transform old year into new with Shotgun Saints, live Thursday at Hambone’s in Great Falls. Choose the bluesy riot of an edgy, old school hard rocking band choosing classic power as their weapon of choice. Feel the burn from DZ Mauldwin, lead guitar/vocals; Chris Muss, drums; Randall Rhodes, vocals/bass/keyboards; Katherine Rhodes, vocals/keyboards; and Sandra Mauldwin, vocals.

Witness 2015 going out in a blaze of glory along with Shotgun Saints at Hambone’s, 209 Dearborn St., Great Falls. Call 803-482-9027 for show info. Check Facebook and shotgunsaintsrock.com for more on the music.

Prepare for a sermon of solid classic rock with Americana country flair and jam skills from Preacher Stone live Thursday at the Sylvia Theater in York.

Guitar-driven sass plus a lead vocalist with style and quick wit set this bunch apart. Their collective experience and down-home style draw audiences into their faithful musical mindset.

No wonder their fans call themselves “The Congregation.” Trust that Marty Hill, guitar; and Ronnie Riddle, lead vocals; along with Johnny Web, keyboards; Ben Robinson, guitar; Jim Bolt, bass; and Josh Wyatt, drums, are savvy enough to lead all to hard rock/rootsy Southern salvation.

See Preacher Stone Thursday at the Sylvia Theater, 27 N. Congress St., York. Call 803-684-5590 for details and visit slviatheater.com. For more on the band, go to preacherstone.com.

Elsewhere

Friday: Freebird Band plus Barry Webster at The Handlebar, Catawba.

Saturday: Brantley Rate Duo at Original Empire Pizza, Rock Hill; and Oneppo Brothers Band at John’s Place, Fort Mill.

Thursday: New Years’s Eve Party with Tantrum at Luke’s Sports Bar & Grill, Rock Hill; The Spongetones at Double Door, Charlotte.

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 12:57 PM with the headline "Nightsounds: Close out the year with some classic sounds."