Sons of Seuss

Brochure - Amory Advertiser

Belly Up to Chief's and Sons of Seuss
• By Michael Staton
• Posted July 16, 2009 at 10:23 a.m.
o http://www.independentmail.com/news/2009/jul/16/belly-chiefs-and-sons-seuss/

PHOTO BY COURTESY PHOTO
Sons of Seuss

PHOTO BY COURTESY PHOTO
Sons of Seuss
If you Belly Up
Who: Sons of Seuss
When: 9:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Chief’s Wings and Firewater, 160 Beltline Blvd., Anderson
Information: 864.642.9379
Cost: $5
The Sons of Seuss would not perform on a reef; they would not perform on a leaf. They would not perform with a thief; but they will, they will perform at Chief’s.
And although the band coming to the wing joint in Anderson enjoys the stories of their namesake, don’t expect any Seuss words set to music or nonsensical rhymes this Friday.
According to vocalist Dana Reece, the band had a hard time coming up with a name. Reece said salvation came when the band’s bassist, Kim, had a crazy dream and wrote a poem about it. The band name fell into place soon afterwards.
“It sounded just like a Dr. Seuss poem,” Reece said, “so we decided to go with that because we needed to stop wasting time on a name.”
The Sons of Seuss got their start in May 2008 when Reece returned from Florida to start a band with her cousins, the guitarist/sibling team Junebug and Mitchell Franks. The band spent the better part of the last year working out the kinks in their music to fully prepare for performing live.
They are now a mainstay act at Chief’s and plan on expanding their fan base and venturing to Greenville and Spartanburg for live shows. Reece describes the music as a mixture of several genres with influences ranging from Hank Williams to the Mars Volta.
“We’re constantly seeking new influences,” Reece said, “but overall it’s a motivating, high-energy sound.”
The band already has a great deal of originals because of contributions they made to past bands. According to Reece, “Like a Storm” is a high-energy rocker with a thunderous opening drum line. “How to Pray” is a duet Reece performs with Mitchell; she says the song is always a crowd favorite.
“The Best” is a song that is highly representative of most songs by the Sons of Seuss. Reece said it is about conquering the beasts of life found in complicated relationships and everyday problems. Reece said that while Kim, Junebug and Mitchell write the majority of the music, lyrical duties are left to her and Mitchell.
“Mitchell and I write about the same themes from different angles,” Reece said. “There is no mystery behind what I write, but the meanings behind Mitchell’s songs are a little less obvious.”
Reece said the band looks forward to playing Chief’s because they are booked there the rest of the year. The venue is like home to them but Reece feels any venue could be a potential home for the band.
“Because I’m playing with two of my cousins we could be comfortable anywhere,” Reece said. “It’s nice to have family around and I love spending time with them on stage or off

- The Upstate Be

Clemson plans daylong events for Earth Day, evening concert
• Independent Mail
• Posted April 19, 2010 at 3:03 p.m.
• CLEMSON UNIVERSITY — Clemson University will go green instead of its traditional orange on Thursday, the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
The university plans a festival on the lawn at Littlejohn Coliseum from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., followed by a concert at 7 p.m. by country music star Eric Church
with special guests Colt Ford and David Nail, according to a statement.
The concert will be held in Littlejohn Coliseum.
Creative Recycling will be at Littlejohn from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. to destroy and recycle electronic equipment, such as computers, printers, cell phones and DVD players. The company also will shred documents on site.
A number of organizations will be at the festival with exhibits and activities related to “green” initiatives to heighten ecological and environmental awareness.
Education booths will be staffed by Clemson ONE, the Outdoor Club and Central Spirit. Clemson Cyclery will offer free bicycle-safety checks.
Students for Environmental Awareness will promote the Healthy Campus initiative in conjunction with Redfern Health Center. The Sierra Student Club, part of Students for Environmental Awareness, will provide information on its Beyond Coal program.
A marketing class on sustainability and the future of business, taught by professor John Mittelstaedt, will provide materials relating to Earth Day and its relation to commerce.
ClemsonLiVE, Tigers 4 Tigers, the Wildlife Society, Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, the Outdoor Club and the Clemson Outdoor Recreation Education also will be represented at the event. The South Carolina Department of Agriculture will have information about roadside markets and will provide fresh strawberries.
Three bands will appear during the afternoon, vendors will offer refreshments and activities will include a rock-climbing wall, a bungee trampoline, jousting, tie-dying, Sumo and a Velcro wall.
Free music on the lawn will be provided by O Mellow Cello Tree, an acoustic duo, from 1:30 to 3 p.m.; The Soul Feathers, from 3:30 to 5 p.m.; and the Sons of Seuss, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Tickets to the Eric Church concert are $25 for floor and riser seats and $20 for lower and upper bowl seats. Tickets are available at the Hendrix Student Center information desk, at TicketMaster outlets or online at http://www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, visit http://www.clemsonmajorevents.com.

- Anderson Independent Mail

Best of Upstate Be Reader's Choice Awards winners announced
• By Jake Grove
• Posted October 21, 2011 at 9:56 a.m.
o http://www.independentmail.com/news/2011/oct/21/best-upstate-be-readers-choice-awards-winners-anno/
Five years ago, Upstate Be decided it was time to put together an annual dedication to the businesses that make the Upstate tick. The idea was to recognize the entertainment-based businesses that provide our residents with recreation, fun, jobs and a place to go or a place to be for a few hours out of our week.
The result was the Best of Upstate Be Reader’s Choice Awards, and it has been a grand experiment. Since 2007, Upstate Be has asked you, the readers, to vote for your favorite restaurants, bars and local businesses. Then, we recognize those winners in a special edition of Upstate Be.
This year, 30 businesses were voted as the best of the best in categories such as Best Restaurant, Best Burger, Best Pizza, Best Bar, Best Festival, Best Place to Watch a Game and so on. Here, we share the winners and runners up with you.
Best Local Band: Eric Scott Band
Runners up: Sons of Seuss (not bad to be second to a cover band), Peartree Music Company


- Anderson independent/ The Upstate Be

Ralph Hayes Toyota Block Party welcomes Sons of Seuss
• By Michael Staton
• Posted May 6, 2010 at 10:35 a.m.
o
PHOTO BY COURTESY PHOTO
Sons of Seuss
If You Go
Who: Sons of Seuss
What: Ralph Hayes Toyota Block Party presented by Carolina Beer Co.
When: 6 to 9 p.m.
Where: Main Street from Earle to Whitner Street in downtown Anderson
Admission: $5 suggested donation
Mitch Franks, rhythm guitarist of Sons of Seuss, is looking forward to reaching even more potential fans in downtown Anderson at tonight’s Ralph Hayes Toyota Block Party. The band has benefited in the last year from numerous shows downtown in venues such as the Uptown Lounge and Tavern 101 while also venturing out to play festivals as far away as Mississippi.
The band combines covers and original music and prides itself on a high-energy, fun show that depends on a connection to the audience. Because each member has a full time job outside of the band, they have a hard time getting together to work up new material, but they are slowly introducing new songs.
“We have to bring in songs on our own and present them to the band whenever we have a chance,” Franks said. “We want to bring variety and please more than one set of ears.”
Because of outdoor festivals such as the Railroad Festival in Mississippi, the band is accustomed to performing outdoors. Although outdoor shows can throw some curve balls at a performance, Franks thinks the band is more than ready to tackle the Block Party.
“You have to get used to the sound not bouncing back at you and I think we finally got used to that at an outdoor show we played in Clemson recently,” Franks said. “Right now we’re doing something right.”
- The Upstate Be

A chili night in downtown Anderson
o

PHOTO BY NATHAN GRAY
Kathryn Crenshaw, left, of Creekside BBQ serves samples of chili at the Anderson Downtown Chili Cook Off Tuesday evening.
ANDERSON — Tuesday night was chili in downtown Anderson, but there were more spoons than coats on Main Street. Temperatures lingered in the 70s, but fans of the cold-weather comfort food didn’t seem to need cold to enjoy their steaming samples.
The city of Anderson’s 13th chili cook-off drew around 500 tasters to choose their favorite chili from six restaurants. Creekside Bar-be-que, Churchill’s Pub, Sullivan’s Metropolitan Grill, Main Street Deli, The Fox and Uptown Lounge all competed for the People’s Choice win.
Uptown Lounge won the People’s Choice category and first place in the Judge’s category. The pub, which placed second last year, was awarded $100 and a traveling trophy. Main Street Deli placed second in the Judge’s category and Sullivan’s placed third.
Lynn Christian of Anderson said she prefers traditional meaty chili.

PHOTO BY NATHAN GRAY
Ray Fretwell of Churchill's Pub serves samples of chili at the Anderson Downtown Chili Cook Off Tuesday evening.
The Fox was her running favorite “because it’s the only one that tastes like chili,” she said. “The others taste like Brunswick stew.”
Each restaurant served about 2 ounces of chili with a twist in each sample. Creekside and Sullivan’s used chicken instead of beef, and The Fox adorned its beef chili with a single cheese cracker. Uptown Lounge included finely diced carrot in its recipe.
New this year were the hot pepper-inspired dessert and salsa categories that received one entry and one winner each. Holly’s Cakes served Chocolate Chili Expresso Cupcakes with a swirl of chocolate frosting on top and Creekside presented its Traditional Salsa with thin tortilla chips.
The band Sons of Seuss covered songs by Adele and Lynyrd Skynyrd as people stood in long lines.
Ray Fretwell, owner of Churchill’s, said chili is part of the pub diet, along with french fries and buffalo chicken wings.
He refused to hint at any secret ingredients, except one.

PHOTO BY NATHAN GRAY
Rick and Kristi Bejarano sit on a curb to eat samples of chili during the Anderson Downtown Chili Cook Off Tuesday evening.
“It’s that loving touch,” he said.
Tiffany Thrasher preferred Creekside’s chili with a kick.
“It was spicy, and I like the sliced chicken,” she said. “It was not too dry, but had chunks.”
The cupcake outdid the main course, though. Thrasher finished hers in three bites.
She grinned and looked at the ground.
“I ate mine really fast,” she said.
Last year nine restaurants competed in the cook-off including Matty’s Downtown and McGee’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, which were absent this year. Victoria Tea Room also participated but closed in April. Money raised from $4-tasting ballots will be divided equally among participating restaurants, said Arlene Young, Anderson’s downtown development director.
She was pleased with the community’s interest evident early in the evening.
“There’s a great turnout,” she said. “It’s only 6:25 p.m. and there were lines at 5:30.”
The cook-off lacked only one thing, Christian said.
She opened her windbreaker to reveal an orange stain on her shirt.
“They need stain sticks,” she said.
- The Upstate Be