Music Crawl heats up Columbia

Saturday, Oct. 4 could easily be considered the one night a year that Columbia's music scene is on fire. The Free Times Music Crawl brought 30 bands to six stages in the Vista from Fred Durst wannabes from Charleston Blindsyght, to the show-stopper Venice is Sinking from Athens, Ga. The real jewels of the evening were the talented acts from Columbia though. Spanning the musical genre spectrum, these are the best bets in local music.

Daniel Machado & the Guitar Show Band

Rock/Powerpop/Lounge

4 of 5 stars

Leader Daniel Machado carries an intensely powerful and contagious voice. Machado's performance of a new solo acoustic guitar and banjo project, "Constance," is a unique selection that conveyed masterful and epic storytelling. His lyrical debut can be heard on the band's 16-song rock opera "Themes In American Friction."

Next Columbia Show: New Brookland Tavern, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.

Hot Lava Monster

Rock/Alternative

5 of 5

Complete with wailing guitars, flashing lights and enough distortion pedals to keep even the most diehard rock fans satisfied, Hot Lava Monster has long been regarded as top tier in Columbia. Comprised of a guitarist, bassist, drummer and singer, HLM could be straight from a rock band commercial, fitting all wonderful stereotypical qualities. Between the lead singer Patrick Baxley's mullet and the shredding guitar solos, this group is archetypical rock 'n' roll. Of all the bands at the crawl, they truly performed. Hot Lava Monster tours all over the Southeast, and has just released their first album, "The Belly of the Whale," filled with anthemic rock and hidden meanings.

Next Columbia Show: Five Points Pub, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m.

Magnetic Flowers

Indie/Folk/Pop

4 of 5 Stars

A local favorite of many college and middle-aged people, Magnetic Flowers with lead singer Adam Cullum are off the beaten path. An element of their shows that make them stand out from other bands is their incorporation of the keyboard into several of their songs. Their first album, "Presents Pasts and Futures," which features catchy "literary pop" as well as rock sounds. The album can be purchased at all of their shows.

Art Bar, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m.

Marry a Thief

Pop/Indie/Alternative

4 of 5 Stars

Members Erich Skelton, Brandon Kean, Patrick Davis and Colin Brown attract a large crowd for their energetic live performances. The band's Imogen Heap-inspired hit "Honestly Bored" and track "For What I Did"" are worthy listens on its free three-song EP available at http://www.absolutepunk.net.

Next Columbia Show: Headliners, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m.

Nick Pagliari

Folk Rock/ Americana

4 of 5 Stars

This soulful crooner moved to Columbia from Tennessee five months ago and is laying the groundwork for a long and successful solo career. With sweetly melodic songs about falling in love in the South mixed with more difficult life experiences (drug references), Nick Pagliari songs such as "Safe and Sound," which was featured in the film "P.S. I Love You," and "Slow Down," demand that audiences do just that. Find Pagliari's acoustic pop and alternative country flavored songs on iTunes.

Next Columbia Show: Currently on Southeastern tour. Nearest show in Atlanta, Oct. 12 @ 8 p.m. More Columbia shows are in the works for the spring.

The Papa String Band

Grunge-grass/Jam Rock

5 of 5

The resident jam band of the region, this eight person conglomeration energetically blends bluegrass, jam, psychedelic and funk to seamlessly form a sound that feels like Southern-fried Grateful Dead. With talented, bouncy keyboard, solid drums, unique banjo and the nice accent of harmonica in conjunction with compelling vocals by mandolinist David LaBruyere the results are irresistible. Audiences cannot help but move to the jamming improvisations of The Papa String Band.

Next Columbia Show: The Saloon, Oct. 11 at 8 p.m.

The Private Life of David Reed

Alternative/Acoustic

3 of 5

Unfortunately it is not that often that a truly pure and beautiful voice comes around. David Reed is one such voice. His quality, range and impressive falsetto is reminiscent of David Gray or singer Andrew McMahon of Jack's Mannequin. With a sound that is a little more Top 40 acceptable the acoustic sounds of David Reed's solo act is slightly angsty, but only in the best way.

Next Columbia Show: Currently on Southeastern tour. Closest to Columbia: Fountain City, Columbus, Ga., Oct. 28 at 8 p.m.

This Machine Is Me

Rock/Electro/Soul

With their electro-rock sound and high-energy performance, it is no wonder that they have such a large fanbase in Columbia. Lead singer Jayna Doyle tells the crowds to start dancing, and they obey. With the addition of two new members to the line-up, their performance has not been compromised. You can still expect this band to "bring-it" to every performance and to get the crowd pumped and up on their feet in the process. A crowd favorite, "Models and Bottles" really establishes a Paramore-type sound.

Next Columbia Show: Headliners, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m., CD Release Party

-Compiled by Haley Dreis, Shelby Sachs, Greg Hidlay, Ellen Meder