Taking after its namesake, Hilton Head Island-based Lowcountry Boil Bluegrass Band recently topped off a fiery debut year on the strength of its spicy mix of banjos, fiddles, mandolins, and guitars.
Formerly island rock'n'roll staple Daly Planet began opening its shows with a little bluegrass in 1997. The response was tremendous, said manager David Regan.
"They present a lot more energy (as Lowcountry Boil)," he said. "They put in five years as Daly Planet and barely made it off the island. In one year as Lowcountry Boil they've become one of the hottest acts in the Southeast."
During the past six months, the band has witnessed a growth that can only be described as phenomenal, said Jevon Daly. It has moved from entertaining a handful of patrons at island pubs to opening for such national acts as Col. Bruce Hampton & The Fiji Mariners, the Marshall tucker Band, Blueground Undergrass, and the Newcastle Boys.
"I can't say that we're surprised-we've been musicians for years-but we're pretty thrilled," Jevon said. "The funny thing to me is how the bluegrass has taken off. We've had luck all the way up to Newport, Pa."
Luck had nothing to do with the band recently taking home top honors at the 1999 KnotKnown Records Battle of the Bands in Statesboro, Ga. In addition to the prize money and a trophy, Lowcountry Boil walked away with a national recording contract. Although Regan said studio time has yet been booked, the group will record in Atlanta, and KnotKnown will distribute the disc to college radio stations around the country.
"The though of people out in Oregon hearing us is pretty exciting," Regan said.
But the bluegrass band hasn't pulled up its Carolina roots. It will record the first part of a live compact disc from 7-8:30 p.m. on March 24 at Barnes & Noble Booksellers; make a trip to Wilkesboro, NC to participate in MerleFest with Hilton Head's Rick Hubbard from April 29 to May 2; and record the second part of the live CD from 7-9 p.m. on May 7 at Dunnagan's Theater.
Tickets for the latter event will cost $10 for adults, $8 for children, and $for groups of 10 or more.
The band also plans to start an educational outreach program called Trainstopping, in which it will visit area schools, teach music history and, admittedly drum up publicity.
"We'll put on a one-hour performance and sort of prove that bluegrass, jazz, and gospel still exist in modern music;" Regan said.
"It's a way to live the whole American folk scene and put on a show for kids who have never heard bluegrass before," Jevon said. "We can do a show at a school and, hopefully, the kids will drag their parents to see us later that week."
During each Trainstopping finale, the band will give students free train whistles and invite them on stage to play the bluegrass staple, "Orange Blossom Special." The fact that one of the band members, Kieran Daly is 9 years old, "shows kids that they can play music too," Regan said.
Indeed, one of the strengths of bluegrass is that it can reach everyone, Jevon said.
"We can still get away with playing like maniacs, but now we can play to 80-year-olds or 10-year olds," he said. "Plus my brother Gavan and I are finally out in front playing together."
The family effect, as Jevon put it, holds a lot of power in bluegrass. Aside from brothers Gavan and Kieran, Lowcountry Boil also includes the boy's father Mike Daly.
"The chemistry is like half the band," Jevon said.
Of course, there is a downside to Lowcountry Boil's increasing popularity, he continued.
"There are so many people (at our shows), and it's such an attentive audience, it makes me nervous," Jevon said. "Someone told our bass player, 'We're following you now, so you'd better be on your best behavior'."
