Have you ever noticed how hard it is to get rid of junk? For most folks, junk is a collection of unwanted items and appliances just begging to be thrown out. But for whatever reason - work obligations, busy schedules, over-worked brains, or plain old procrastination - we're woefully content to let the junk sit. If you're sick and tired of all the old, junky items in your home and want more room to live and play, you need junk removal in Columbia, SC, today.
At Labor Bros, we mix the most comprehensive junk removal in town with the highest quality general labor services available. That makes Labor Bros your one-stop shop for all your junk hauling and labor needs, from house cleaning to power washing and just about everything in between. Our customers choose Labor Bros because we prioritize friendly, helpful customer service and good old-fashioned hard work. We take pride in our work, and you see evidence of that with each of our Labor Bros, who are anxious to work hard for you, no matter the size of the project. We're very proud of the fact that we're locally owned and operated. We know the local roads, grew up in these parts, and know the people. As such, we offer fair and competitive pricing for all our customers, whether they're new or returning.
Our goal is to make your life easy, so you can focus on the most important aspects of life while we handle the hard stuff. We understand that your life is busy, and you probably don't have the time or energy to haul away old junk or climb up on a ladder to trim your trees. Why risk a trip to the emergency room when you can call the Labor Bros to handle the heavy lifting? At the end of the day, we do the jobs that you can't or just don't want to do - and that makes us happy. Just click or call and consider it done!
Our fully trained Labor Bros have extensive experience, unmatched work ethic, and crazy cardio. This combo lets them tackle a wide variety of junk removal and labor service projects, including:
On average, the typical American creates more than four pounds of waste every day. That figure doesn't include the items in your home that need to be hauled away but remain for whatever reason. The reality is most South Carolina residents have tons of junk lying around that they don't need. Unfortunately, most of us don't have the time or patience to get rid of these items in an efficient, eco-friendly way. That's where Labor Bros junk removal swoops in to save the day.
If you have never used or even heard of junk removal, don't sweat it - we've got you covered. Junk removal is an on-call service that removes all of the old trash and junk from your home or business. It works like this:
You give our office a call or use our online contact form to set up an appointment. You let us know how much junk we'll be hauling in our junk removal trucks. You then choose a time and date for an appointment, and the Labor Bros will be there on time, ready to work.
Once you give us the green light, our team will get to work hauling all your old debris and junk items from your home or office. It's that simple!
We'll come to your location to get the full scope of the job we're completing for you. Once we do, you get a no-obligation, affordable quote.
Here at Labor Bros, we've hauled away an incredible amount of junk since we opened our doors. Whether it's the hundreds of unsightly, heavy mattresses or old, unusable TVs, our crew has hauled some serious junk over the years. For each truckload of junk that we remove from a home or business, we work hard to donate applicable items and recycle others, to give back to the community and keep it clean.
When it comes to junk removal in Columbia, SC, here are some of the most common items we remove:
Even the best mattresses will need to be replaced with enough time. Over the years, your mattress will begin to break down, causing you more pain than pleasure when your head hits the pillow. When your quality of sleep is affected, so too is your day-to-day life and wellbeing. To make matters worse, your old mattress is a haven for dead skin cells, hair, and even bugs. When it gets to this point, it's time to get rid of your mattress. Unfortunately, that can be easier said than done, especially if you're working 40 hours a week and must balance a family too. Luckily, the Labor Bros can remove your old mattress quicker than it takes you to snooze on a Sunday afternoon.
Labor Bros Pro Tip: Mattress parts like steel springs, wooden frames, and coils can often be donated or recycled. Our team is happy to handle this part of the junk removal process, so you don't have to!
If you plan on upgrading your kitchen, chances are you will need to update your old fridge too. Refrigerators are notorious for being big, clunky, hazardous appliances to remove. Most folks don't want to deal with the lengthy process of removing the appliance and disposing of it safely. That's where the Labor Bros come in! Whether you have a regular-sized fridge at your home or several large chest freezers at your business, the Labor Bros are here to haul them away today.
Labor Bros Pro Tip: Remember, many refrigerators and freezers have harmful chemicals that need to be disposed of properly. The Labor Bros always take these hazards into account, so you don't risk your health. Once these materials have been dealt with, our junk removal experts will either donate your unwanted fridge or haul it to the appropriate recycling facility.
With new technology and features debuting every other day, it's no surprise that we haul away old TVs every day. Whether you're moving to a new home or just want a new TV, we can remove your old flat screen quickly and safely. Our customers choose the Labor Bros for their TV removal not just because we're fast and effective, but because many modern TVs contain hazardous materials. Once our team removes your old TV from your home or business, we'll make sure your TV is disposed of in an eco-friendly manner.
In addition to our junk removal services, Labor Bros also offers the highest quality general labor services in South Carolina. In today's fast-paced world, many home and business owners don't have the time or staff to handle labor-intensive jobs like garage cleanouts and yard debris removal. There's no need to call in a favor with your best friend or father-in-law. Contact the Labor Bros for fast, efficient service for any of your general labor projects. We save you time, money, and the possibility of injuring yourself or your friends.
If you own a home, you probably know how frustrating it can be to keep up with odd jobs around the house. Sometimes, you need a little more than a helping hand - you need a team of experienced professionals to get the job done right. And that, in a nutshell, is why we founded Labor Bros - to give good people like you the chance to keep their homes looking great, inside and out. Here are just a few of the most common general labor jobs we complete for homeowners in South Carolina:
If you're anything like us, your garage space doubles as a storage unit. Over time, the items you store in your garage can pile up. Often, these items go unused for years, essentially becoming junk right before your eyes. At some point, you will need all that junk and debris cleaned out. When you want it done right, it's time to call the Labor Bros. Our team will not only remove the junk from your garage - we'll clean your garage afterward, so it looks and feels like it was brand new.
Cleaning up your yard debris can be a real pain in the butt. You need the right clothes to protect your legs and arms, gloves for your hands, possibly a back brace, and a lot of patience. After you're done, you're bound to need a shower and a long break. With all that in mind, it's no wonder why so many South Carolina residents call the Labor Bros for yard debris removal! Our general labor techs have cleaned up dozens if not hundreds of yards, and they can help you too. We make yard debris cleanup easy by taking everything: limbs, leaves, grass clippings, wood chips, and more. Simply click or call, and we'll haul it all!
If you just bought a new couch or desk but don't have the time to set it up yourself, call the Labor Bros for a fast solution. Whether you're moving into a new home and you need help mounting your TV, or you need a large piece of furniture assembled, we can do it all.
At Labor Bros, we don't just serve homeowners - we offer general labor and junk removal services for businesses too. All businesses generate junk in some form or fashion. Typically, entrepreneurs don't have the time to handle junk removal and odd jobs like window washing on their own. That's why business owners in South Carolina trust the Labor Bros - because we make their lives easier and more productive, at a reasonable rate. If you're sick of making complicated arrangements that don't fit your business needs, it's time to call our office. We can help with just about any general labor services you need, from removing old office furniture to transporting new equipment to your job site.
Here are some of our general labor specialties for local business owners:
Call or Text 815-931-3993 to receive a FREE QUOTE or to set up your
appointment Today!
At the Labor Bros, we do junk removal a little differently than our competition. We strive to provide the very best residential and commercial junk removal in Columbia, SC. To achieve that goal, we prioritize customer service, meaning our clients come first before anything. We know it can be hard to trust junk removal companies, which is why we offer transparent services and pricing. No small print. No sneaky fees. Just hard work at a cost-conscious rate.
As professionals, we treat your home or business like it was our own. Our Labor Bros will work as long as it takes to get the job done while respecting your space. At the same time, we're not your cable TV technician, so we won't be moping around your house all day. We'll show up on time and get the job done effectively, so you can get back to living life.
When you book an appointment for junk removal, you can feel good knowing we'll recycle as much of your used junk as possible - because Mother Earth needs a helping hand too. If you're looking for a hassle-free junk removal experience with fair, upfront pricing, look no further than the Labor Bros.
SCHEDULED GAME TIMESThe first game Saturday will begin at noon Central at Founders Park (8,242) in Columbia, S.C. The finale will begin one hour after the conclusion of the first game.RECORDSArkansas 33-5, 13-3 SECSouth Carolina 26-12, 8-8 SECSTREAKSArkansas won 3South Carolina lost 1LAST 10 GAMESArkansas 8-2South Carolina 5-5COACHES Arkansas: Dave Van Horn — 872-446 in...
SCHEDULED GAME TIMES
The first game Saturday will begin at noon Central at Founders Park (8,242) in Columbia, S.C. The finale will begin one hour after the conclusion of the first game.
RECORDS
Arkansas 33-5, 13-3 SEC
South Carolina 26-12, 8-8 SEC
STREAKS
Arkansas won 3
South Carolina lost 1
LAST 10 GAMES
Arkansas 8-2
South Carolina 5-5
COACHES
Arkansas: Dave Van Horn — 872-446 in 22nd season at Arkansas and 1,192-603 in 30th season overall in Division I.
South Carolina: Mark Kingston — 206-142 in seventh season at South Carolina and 479-322-1 in 15th season overall.
SERIES HISTORY
Arkansas leads 46-35
LAST MEETING
Arkansas defeated South Carolina 2-1 on Friday in Columbia, S.C.
TELEVISION
The game will be streamed on SEC Network+. It can be accessed on WatchESPN.com and via the ESPN app (carrier login required). Dave Weinstein (play-by-play) and Kip Bouknight (analyst) will be on the call.
RADIO
Phil Elson will call the game on the Razorback Sports Network, which can be accessed through local FM and AM affiliates, via the Arkansas Razorbacks Gameday app, via the Varsity Network app or on ArkansasRazorbacks.com. Blackouts may apply.
GAME 1 STARTING PITCHERS
Arkansas: LHP Mason Molina — 3-0, 3.32 ERA, 1.11 WHIP in 43 1/3 innings.
South Carolina: RHP Eli Jones — 2-1, 3.89 ERA, 1.30 WHIP in 39 1/3 innings.
GAME 2 STARTING PITCHERS
Arkansas: RHP Brady Tygart — 3-1, 2.59 ERA, 1.20 WHIP in 41 2/3 innings.
South Carolina: RHP Dylan Eskew — 2-2, 4.37 ERA, 1.17 WHIP in 35 innings.
TEAM COMPARISONS
Earned Run Avg.: Arkansas 2.77; South Carolina 4.44
Runs Per Game: Arkansas 6.84; South Carolina 7.50
Batting Avg.: Arkansas .271; South Carolina .266
Opp. Batting Avg.: Arkansas .198; South Carolina .231
Slugging Pct.: Arkansas .461; South Carolina .472
On-Base Pct.: Arkansas .395; South Carolina .418
Fielding Pct.: Arkansas .982; South Carolina .975
FORECAST
According to the National Weather Service, Saturday will be mostly sunny with a high of 84 degrees in Columbia, S.C. North winds will be calm.
WHAT TO KNOW
• Arkansas is ranked second and South Carolina is ranked 21st in the USA Today Baseball Coaches Poll.
• The Razorbacks were predicted to win the SEC and the Gamecocks predicted to finish fourth in the SEC East by league coaches.
• South Carolina is 18-5 at home and Arkansas is 4-3 on the road this season.
• The Gamecocks won two of three games last week at Florida and defeated The Citadel 4-3 on Tuesday in Charleston, S.C.
• Arkansas lost two of three games at No. 14 Alabama last weekend. The Razorbacks swept a two-game midweek series at home over Texas Tech.
• The Razorbacks have won three consecutive regular-season series against South Carolina and also won a super regional 2-1 over the Gamecocks in 2018.
• Arkansas third baseman Jared Sprague-Lott (back) was held out of Friday's game.
ReactionsLike167Fire5Celebrate3Wow1COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley and her national champion Gamecocks celebrated with a jam-packed downtown parade and rally at the statehouse a week after completing their undefeated season.Staley and her player...
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COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley and her national champion Gamecocks celebrated with a jam-packed downtown parade and rally at the statehouse a week after completing their undefeated season.
Staley and her players rode some seven blocks to the cheers of a crowd that Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann called the largest ever in the downtown area of the capital city. And then Staley teased a repeat celebration 12 months from now.
"I hope we can end our [next] season at the same time, in the same place on this beautiful day," Staley said. "Thank you so much for loving up on us. We truly appreciate it."
It would be difficult to bet against the Gamecocks, who were an inexperienced, untested group that lost seven seniors from the team that lost to Iowa Hawkeyes and Caitlin Clark in the 2023 Final Four.
Staley recalled to the crowd that, when asked about her young players and the new roles they would have to fill, she said to "expect the unexpected."
The Gamecocks exceeded almost everyone's expectations, finishing 38-0 to become the 10th undefeated national champion after beating the Hawkeyes 87-75 on April 7. It was Staley's third NCAA crown in the past seven tournaments.
University president Michael Amiridis said he loves talking up Staley and her program until the listeners tell him to stop.
"Some people call it a 'Dawn-asty,' some call it a 'dynasty.' I don't know the right word," he said. "But I know we're building an empire."
Staley singled out the lone player, as of now, not coming back in 6-foot-7 Final Four most outstanding player Kamilla Cardoso, who passed on a WNBA draft orientation session in New York City to take part in the parade.
"You all have made it a special time for here to take on to the next level," Staley said.
Cardoso, a key reserve on the 2022 national championship team, and Staley will both be at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on Monday, when Cardoso is expected to be among the top five selections.
Even without Cardoso, South Carolina should be a formidable team next season. Barring any surprise jumps into the transfer portal -- NC State star Saniya Rivers left the Gamecocks a few days after celebrating in the 2022 title parade -- players such as sophomores Ashlyn Watkins and Chloe Kitts and freshmen MiLaysia Fulwiley and Tessa Johnson should easily slide into larger roles.
The Gamecocks add the game's No. 2 college prospect in Joyce Edwards of Camden, South Carolina.
Staley is not afraid to bring in necessary players via the portal. One of the top 3-point shooters nationally this season in Te-Hina Paopao transferred in from Oregon last offseason.
Paopao, who will be back next year, used point guard Raven Johnson's words to set the bar high for 2025.
"It's time for the repeat tour," she said to wild cheers.
The first day of spring is just a week away and pending anymore out-of-season, late frost situations, we will all be spending more time outdoors.That means it’s the prime time for pollen, bees, and getting your garden started. If you don’t have a green thumb, then maybe you can get your front yard looking fresh, green, and and ready for spring with new plants.With the soil warming up, we figured now would be a good time to dig in, especially since the Capital City has a variety of locally owned shops to check...
The first day of spring is just a week away and pending anymore out-of-season, late frost situations, we will all be spending more time outdoors.
That means it’s the prime time for pollen, bees, and getting your garden started. If you don’t have a green thumb, then maybe you can get your front yard looking fresh, green, and and ready for spring with new plants.
With the soil warming up, we figured now would be a good time to dig in, especially since the Capital City has a variety of locally owned shops to check out and several plant-centric events on the horizon.
Columbia Garden Club Spring Plant Exchange | Saturday, March 16 | Held in the Talbot’s parking lot at 4809 Forest Dr., donations will be accepted 9:15 a.m.- 9:45 a.m., followed by the exchange beginning at 10 a.m. sharp.
Wingard Markets Spring Fling | Friday, March 15-16 | Enjoy discounts like 25% off all plants and more.
Garden Design with Bill Guess | Thursday, March 21 | Register to attend this event where the B.B. Barns garden coach presents several formulas for botanical combinations.
Boone Fox Farm BFF Spring Plant Sale | Saturday | 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. | City Roots, 1005 Airport Blvd., Columbia | Includes a farm tour at 10 a.m. and noon.
Lexington Herb Bunch Festival | Saturday, April 6 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Lexington County Museum, 231 Fox St., Lexington | Supports agricultural student scholarships.
Historic Columbia’s Spring Plant Sale | April 11, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (HC members only), April 12, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., April 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion, 1615 Blanding St., Columbia | One of two plant sales Historic Columbia holds every year, attendees can purchase plants propagated from the Living Collections across all of the historic sites.
Midlands Plant & Flower Festival | April 11-14 | Thursday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | SC State Farmers Market, 3483 Charleston Hwy., West Columbia | Offers a wide selection of plants and garden arts.
Midlands Spring Native Plant Sale | Saturday, April 13 | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | The plant sale focuses on blooming perennials, grasses, and our favorite smaller blooming shrubs and trees.
Richland County Master Gardeners Annual Plant Sale | Thursday, April 18 + Friday, April 19 | 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Master Gardeners will assist with garden and plant selections.
Riverbanks Zoo Spring Plant Sale (Members only) | Saturday, April 20 | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Riverbanks Growing Center, 1201 Seminole Dr., West Columbia | Features a variety of annuals, perennials, trees, and special collections.
More than 460,000 people (and thousands of businesses) contribute to the Columbia metro area’s $54 million economy. But have you ever wondered about the Capital City’s heaviest hitters?Consider this Columbia Business 101 — your guide to our region&r...
More than 460,000 people (and thousands of businesses) contribute to the Columbia metro area’s $54 million economy. But have you ever wondered about the Capital City’s heaviest hitters?
Consider this Columbia Business 101 — your guide to our region’s five key industries and major employers.
Note: When we say Columbia metro area, that refers to the Central SC Region that includes Calhoun, Clarendon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, and Richland counties.
Five key industries represent ~55% of the Columbia metro area’s economy, based on data from Central SC. We’ve listed them in order of employment numbers.
Fun fact: Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC offering insurance services, contact center, claims processing... etc. employs over 10,000 people alone and is the top private employer in the region.
Prisma Health Midlands + Lexington Medical Center together employ over 21,000 individuals. The services in these industries are delivered by trained professionals and include establishments providing medical care, health care, and social assistance.
Under that retail bracket of employers, Wal-mart came out on top, employing almost 6,000 people. Amazon followed, employing over 2,600, and Samsung + UPS, both employing 1200-1350 people.
Manufacturing in the Midlands comes in many different forms, but at the top of the list are Nephron Pharmaceuticals, Michelin, Trane, which makes metal products + machinery, and Samsung. Local players such as Kraft Heinz, and Westinghouse Electric Company, also carry a significant employment presence.
Fun fact: According to the latest tourism data from Experience Columbia, visitation increased from 15.1 million in 2021 to 15.8 million in 2022, and visitor spending increased 12% over the previous year to $1.7 billion.
Of the $1.7 billion spent in Columbia, food + beverage spending accounted for $487 million — that’s 29% of each visitor’s budget.
The economic impact of tourism on our region is substantial and the total economic impact in 2022 sustained over 22,300 jobs and generated $130 million in state and local tax revenues.
The top food and beverage employers in the Midlands region are Dak Americans LLC, a company that creates plastic materials and resins, Mark Anthony Brewing, a brewer and producer of hard seltzers, and Devro Inc., a company that creates edible casings for meat packaging.
The Public Administration sector consists of establishments of federal, state, and local government agencies that oversee and manage public programs. In total, the state of SC employs over 30,000 in the Midlands, the top two being the SC Department of Corrections and the SC Department of Social Services.
Now that we’ve established the major industries, we bet you’re curious about some specific names. Whether you’re job hunting (or just “casually prospecting”), here are five major employers — all that employ more than 5,000 workers on average.
32,085 employees | Public sector | Search jobs
With Cola being the capital of South Carolina, the city’s largest employer is the state — which helps drive tourism, the economy, business, and local government agencies.
15,000 employees | Healthcare | Search jobs
In 2017, Greenville Health + Palmetto Health merged to become Prisma — and became the second-largest employer in Richland County and one of the largest healthcare providers in the region.
10,998 employees | Insurance services | Search jobs
BCBSSC is the only SC-owned + operated health insurance carrier in the state and has a family of companies and affiliates also offering services to South Carolinians.
6,557 employees | Healthcare | Search jobs
The hospital in West Columbia delivers more than 4,000 babies each year and performs more than 25,000 surgeries. It was also named the No. 2 hospital in SC and is recognized as the No. 1 hospital in the Midlands, according to U.S. News and World Report.
6,456 employees | Educational services | Search jobs
The over 200-year-old university is the largest in South Carolina and has been ranked as the nation’s number one first-year student experience. The university also boasts the country’s number-one ranking for international business via the Darla Moore School of Business. With its campus spread throughout the city, USC is the heartbeat of Columbia.
2023 was a year of record achievements for economic growth in Richland County. The Richland County Economic Development Office (RCEDO) announced capital investments have surged to $2.35 billion, and with them, 4,532 new job opportunities have become available.
Scout Motors | Automotive |~4,000 jobs | Volkswagon is entering the electric off-road vehicle arena under the Scout Motors nameplate and building those cars at a new facility coming to Blythewood.
Cirba Solutions | Energy | ~300 jobs | Cirba Solutions — an electric vehicle battery materials facility — is investing $323 million to establish operations in Richland County. The new state-of-the-art, world-class lithium-ion battery recycling + materials facility will be ~400,000 sqft and located at Pineview Industrial Park, which is less than 1.5 miles from I-77 via Shop Road and home to Mark Anthony Brewing.
FN America, LLC | Manufacturing | ~100 jobs | The United States subsidiary of global firearms manufacturer, FN Herstal plans to expand its Richland County operations. The company’s $18 million investment will create approximately 102 new jobs.
Blanchard Machinery Company | Construction | ~30 jobs | The construction equipment supplier is opening new operations in Calhoun County. The company’s $46 million investment will create 30 new jobs and transfer 150 existing jobs from its Lexington County operations to the new facility.
Cooperative Electric Energy Utility Supply, Inc. | Utility, Energy | ~100 jobs | A consumer-owned electric materials supplier plans to expand operations in Lexington County, making a $52 Million investment.
Xerxes | Manufacturing | ~80 jobs | Xerxes is planning to establish its first SC Operations in Richland County by leasing a new production facility that will expand the company’s capability to deliver market-leading underground fuel and water storage tanks.
Mark Anthony Brewing | Fourth largest brewer in the US |~300 jobs | The Mark Anthony Brewing is a supply chain management company that invested $400 million in a new facility that created 300 new jobs to increase production of White Claw and Mike’s Hard Lemonade on Shop Road in Columbia.
This information is derived from the most recent data published by Central SC.
Now and again, a smattering of rather idealistic or sentimental posts flutter across my Instagram feed. They tend to ruminate on the joys and sorrows of participating in the DIY music scene of Columbia, its foibles, setbacks and horrors, the opportunistic trends of mid-size city creativity, yet they mostly focus on the triumphs of community and unity in its cyclical trance-like dance around the Art (capitalization intended).I’ve observed that these posts typically reflect on how “we” as participants in a subculture a...
Now and again, a smattering of rather idealistic or sentimental posts flutter across my Instagram feed. They tend to ruminate on the joys and sorrows of participating in the DIY music scene of Columbia, its foibles, setbacks and horrors, the opportunistic trends of mid-size city creativity, yet they mostly focus on the triumphs of community and unity in its cyclical trance-like dance around the Art (capitalization intended).
I’ve observed that these posts typically reflect on how “we” as participants in a subculture around the local music scene have poured blood/tears/gallons of sweat equity into work that has an inevitably short lifespan or even falls unrecognized to the wayside, disregarded by Columbia-at-large.
My growing affinity for this community of creative ponderers evolved over the past four years since returning to the city full time; despite bouncing around for the previous 15 years, I’ve always thought of Columbia as home.
The relationship I have with Columbia’s music scene started with a lot of enthusiasm and naïveté. Over time, I’ve come to understand it as a network of shape-shifting players who, despite false starts and the occasional fallings-out, serve to “push the envelope” of an underground world of possibility a little further.
With each new venue (DIY or otherwise) that pops up and fades away, I’ve seen another little wave of hope on the horizon — a hope that there is a legacy here and that we aren’t just working on all this for nothing …
It sounds silly to say, “I’ve always loved music.”
Although, there hasn’t been a day in my life when I didn’t hum or mumble a tune, didn’t listen to something new and vividly daydream music videos in my head or make up new lyrics to instrumentation I’m familiar with. I, of course, wrote my own melodies in fits and starts as a teenager, and I was always, always listening.
My parents ensured that I got bottle-fed by the 1994 albums “Swamp Ophelia” (Indigo Girls) and “Cracked Rear View” (Hootie and the Blowfish). I learned the merit of Southern songwriters and the impact they could make on the industry, long before Darius Rucker turned his gaze to solo country releases.
At the age of 4, I ended up at the Grand Ole Opry for a rather historic moment in country music history — Josh Turner’s Opry debut in 2001 where (according to my tiny kid-brain memory) there were multiple, minutes-long standing ovations after he performed “Long Black Train” at the end of his set and again as an encore.
I refused to sit still in church as a kid and could often be found breaking it down to “Amazing Grace” in the aisle, even if it wasn’t the peppier version my dad coined. I hated piano lessons and ended up teaching myself guitar because dad was terrible at teaching the things that felt natural to him — I have inherited that propensity.
I remember my first arena show and leaving halfway through to go have a panic attack in the hall; my friends couldn’t find me for an hour and were pretty upset — this was back when I had a flip phone (that sweet blue Samsung Intensity II), and of course it was on silent and I wasn’t checking it because I was HAVING A PANIC ATTACK …
When I lived in South Florida, I snuck into a music festival during finals week with my roommate and got to hear Macklemore perform “Thrift Shop,” of all things. I remember the exhilaration of breaking the rules and feeling the energy wash over me while dangling from a chain-link fence, barefoot and out of breath.
It wasn’t until after college and moving back to Columbia in December 2020 that music became really intimate for me. I think my first show after returning was a house show in August 2021 … at a house that has since been demolished on River Drive, near the first house I remember living in as a kid.
I don’t even remember who played that night, I just remember thinking “this is actually kind of cool” — I went to a handful of shows at Art Bar and New Brookland Tavern (State Street location) around that time too, and I recall being surprised that I was actually having a good time.
I got bit by a hyperfixation bug in early 2022 and got a new mirrorless camera. Photography has always been one of my preferred art forms, but in this instance it was a “right place, right time” situation, and I ended up taking it to NBT with me for a show, somewhat last-minute and somehow ended up taking some of my favorite photos I’ve ever produced. The band was a Belgian shoegaze act called Slow Crush. I don’t know how Carlin (Thompson) got them, but I’m so glad he did.
It was surreal — I felt like I’d stepped into another universe, lured in by the muse, by the art that was possessed and mastered by the people in front of me. A month or so after that, I remember emailing a few of the photos I took that night and my resume to David Clarey, the then-Free Times managing editor, and I started covering music as a freelancer.
My observations of Columbia compile over layers of deep affection for the space, for this home, coated and wadded up with some feelings of disdain for the avarice of more politically minded folks, as well as a possessive adoration of the possibilities that have a tendency to spring forth from the cracks between the bricks.
Another trend I’ve observed is that these efforts toward constructing a space for everyone to create and explore their art are never “for nothing.” Even at shows where literally every tiny thing that could go wrong does go wrong, somebody still walks away with a smile and a sense that they’re a part of something. To me, that’s what matters the most.
We are all here, making art, pushing each other, learning, piecing things together with duct tape and shoestrings, holding our teeth just right and hoping it works out this time. And somehow it does (mostly) work! And we do it again the next week, because it worked!
I am at all times balancing a sense of frustration with the limitations of being a Southerner and an artist in tandem with my intrinsic desire to repossess my home and orient it toward systemic self-improvement. My goal, now as contributing editor for arts & culture at the Free Times, is to continue documenting what works (and what doesn’t) in a way that sheds light on the vibrant impetus of it all: