Myrtle Beach Message Board

I moved here two years ago and have not been able to find a place that has hard rock or heavy metal type music. I've been all over the country and everyplace I've been had them but not here? If anyone knows of a couple or even one, please let me know, thanks.

Hi, Rapture. Since you've lived here two years and been on the lookout for hard rock or heavy metal, there may not be any around. Have you checked the KICKS section that comes in The Sun News every Friday?

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Thanks. Yes I have looked in Kicks magazine but didn't see anything. Sometimes those types of bars don't advertise much or are just small local bars, so even though I have been here two years I could easily not find it unless someone told me about it. I don't really go out much or know that many people here, so I'm trying to find something online.

Hi Rapture!

Hubby and I have been here almost a year and are disappointed not to have found a real "rock club" yet. We'll have to keep each other posted on this!

PS-Saliva is @ HOB on 2/14!

I'm obviously not up the rock scene, because my first reaction to this statement was "ewwww, yuck!!!" LOL!!

Have you guys tried checking out ads in the THE SURGE - a free publication that is offered at most gas stations, post offices and Walmart. I have seen ads for hard rock bands that are playing in the area but cannot recall where. Check it out...let us know!
Colleen

I'll let you know if you let me know! I'm not going to Saliva but I am going to Disturbed with my husband in Feb. He's more into classic rock but I can get him to go to a hard rock show once in awhile. If you two are going to Disturbed, let me know.

Yes, thanks. I pick it up almost every week but never see anything in there.

Ah, the good ol' days of Castaways/Danger Zone, Rockburger, etc... Gone but not forgotten, I'm afraid...

Many years ago, I'd nearly moved to MB in part on the promise of the great music scene I'd encountered. I'd also had serious interest as a staff writer for The Sun News and interviewed with the editor and publisher as I recall. Still have the letter asking me to come down somewhere...

Anyway, time was once when it was fairly well thriving, but things changed and as ex-Firehouse bassist and Conway native Perry Richardson explained to me a few years ago, his Rockburger club apparently didn't figure into the grand scheme of things. As I mention in the Gone But Not Forgotten thread he was eventually forced to close. He'd told to us that the PD would show up constantly with dB meters and park themselves outside. Reportedly, hard rock clubs didn't figure into the image the Powers That Be want to project for the Grand Strand. So what we all got in its place is one of those Eagles or Wings tourist T-shirt places... Never can have too many of those, right? Anyhow, that's what I heard.

In the late '90s, there was also Easyriders Café, also gone but not forgotten. Given the decor, no doubt they sunk a fortune into that place. Don't know why it went under. Maybe they just never got a good enough return on their investment...

I'm told by a bassist that relocated from my old hometown in the early '90s that perhaps Rockburger is reopening? And that perhaps there is another small venue that is opening or under discussion? I can't quite recall. I'll be speaking to him sometime in the next few weeks, so I'll post back with what I find out.

Thanks. I've only been here two years, so I'm not familiar those places. It's funny because I hear that it's "too conservative" here or like you said not what they want the Grand Strand to portray. Meanwhile there are tons of gogo bars and lots of places that play rap music? I have nothing against either but it just doesn't make any sense. I think it's a lack of knowledge about music and I guess a lack of musicians that play that type of music in this area.

Well, I didn't want to go there, but c'mon, just open the Yellow Pages and the entries for *ahem* "entertainment" and "escorts" would make for a small town phone book in its own right. Out of sight, out of mind, I suppose... I believe too that the strip clubs, they are out of the MB city limits. Is that correct?

So yeah, there seems to be something of a disconnect there, but I believe it's fair to say that by the mid-'90s the Hard Rock/Heavy Metal club was going by the wayside. Places were closing everywhere and not just in MB. It seemed like overnight in my old hometown, the venues just vanished. Even the crowds just disappeared. A band I tried out for in the late '90s, they used to pack clubs. When I went to see them prior to the audition, they had exactly five people in the bar, not counting staff.

But again, I'll let you know what I find out.

Spoke to my bassist friend in MB about a week ago and he told me that the reopened Rockburger came and went in the blink of an eye. IIRC, he said they opened and closed within a month or two. Also, I believe he said the club was located on Business 17 and not in its prior location.

Asked him if he was playing with anyone and he said something like, "The music scene here is terrible. I'm not doing anything at all and haven't in a very long time."

I was surprised to hear that as he was a respected veteran bassist in my old hometown and worked constantly. He was one of those very sober-minded workaholic types that laid out specific plans and timetables, kept to them and made his own luck. You know the type...

I mentioned that he might think of moving out here to the Nashville area, but he has a very good job in MB, so he stays.

Definitely things have changed since the early '90s for live music clubs in MB.

Even music stores have closed up shop such as that store that was in NMB on the main drag, but that's happening nationwide as well. The big box Guitar Centers and mail order behemoth Musicians' Friend are annihilating the small local music store.

Thanks for the update. I recently drove to Charleston for a show and I'm going up north for another. I guess I just have to get use to traveling for decent music.