Columbia to host diverse trio of performances on eve of 2014
The lineup for Columbia’s third Famously Hot New Year celebration was announced Tuesday night, and it doesn’t matter if you’ll be making your 20th or 80th resolution: The three live performers, Kool & The Gang, ZZ Ward and Weaving The Fate, will entertain attendees of all ages.
There will also be festive food, drink and, of course, an incredible fireworks display to ring in the new year. So dig up your parents’ old Gang albums, and look up the two up-and-coming acts today; the show sets off on Columbia’s Main Street between Gervais and Lady streets in only 97 days.
Kool & The Gang
The longest-running R&B group in history has been fronted by Robert “Kool” Bell on bass, his brother Ronald Khalis Bell on tenor sax, Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas on alto sax and George “Funky” Brown on drums for over 40 years. Since forming back in 1964, the group has rocketed to 25 top-10 R&B chart appearances and nine top-10 pop chart appearances and has been awarded 31 gold and platinum albums. Even if you’ve (somehow) never heard smash hits like “Celebration,” “Jungle Boogie” or “Get Down on It” directly, you’ve probably heard the band’s smooth, traditional jazz tunes layered beneath modern rap; Kool & The Gang are the second-most sampled artists in history, topped only by James Brown. Bring the parents and the grandparents, and pay your respects.
Weaving The Fate
Columbia’s own Weaving The Fate is an eclectic mix of metal, soul, jazz, reggae, hip hop and even gospel, a wild combination that backs up the band’s initials: WTF. Somehow, lead singer and guitarist Brian Conner, bassist Bobby Dredd, deejay Able One and drummer Jeremy “Finesse” Roberson manage to pull off the eclectic blend of genres. WTF is sure to entertain, whether you dig the nu-metal shouts of P.O.D. or the pop-rock croons of Maroon 5. Download their hard-rock cover of Tyga’s “Rack City” immediately — it’s freaking awesome.
ZZ Ward
This up-and-coming blues babe has already been called “chill-inducing” by the Rolling Stone and projected as “going to be a star” by NPR. Since debuting in her father’s band at 12, the now full-grown Zsuzsanna Eva Ward has made appearances all over the place, from Good Morning America to The Tonight Show. She sounds like an upbeat Amy Winehouse, less tortured but with all the soul intact. Put down the Miley Cyrus, and check out ZZ Ward’s video for “Put The Gun Down.” Take notes, Milers. You don’t need to get naked and straddle a wrecking ball to tear the walls down.