1770 Records is College of Charleston’s student-run record label. It is the beating heart of the college scene here, performing its role of pumping new blood through the channels of the wider established scene. The audience attendance these shows bring are always incredible, exposing new ears to the college talent and giving students an entry point into the scene- from showgoers to showplanners & players. The club is overseen by Dr. Heather McDonald, an Instructor of Arts Management and the Director of the Music Industry Concentration at CofC.
And without further ado, a review of last week’s Spring Showcase (photography provided by 1770).
Maraluso
At the stroke of 8 o’clock, Maraluso kicked the night off with “Eye for an Eye”. Maralin Russell’s set showcased a stunning display of starpower through successfully scaling her bedroom-written songs up to a tightly woven seven piece band. Russell’s “Lusos” of David Green (lead guitar), Jeff Nissman (keys), Ellis Lybrand (bass), and Julius Cain (drums) were joined by two new faces- the first, Xandra Smith joining Mar on vocals- and the second, we’ll introduce as he was.
Onto the stage walked saxophonist Kevin Patton. Maralin joked, “Bigger applause- he’s a big deal” and the band struck up with a classic cover of Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know.”
She moved on to “Movin’ Out”, addressing her own reluctance towards change. The song floated along lazily, down a sweet river of melody as Mar sings in contemplation “layin’ in bed.” A signature element of Maralin’s songwriting is their honest and heart-moving nature, something she accomplishes through a nonstop dedication to the craft and a willingness for walking through her own vulnerabilities in front of a crowd full of people she may or may not know.
Before breaking into “Honest”, Mar quipped, “I believe my boyfriend is in the crowd tonight. This song’s about gay sex- hit it guys!” Another signature element of Mar’s songwriting is how vocal-forward these songs are – a la Amy Winehouse, intensely utilized at times by show-stopping belted highs.
The penultimate performance was that of her newest single, “Still in Luck”. Produced by Charleston’s Corey Campbell, the track bounces through colorful indie pop arrangements as Russell spills ink and blood over it. Stream it everywhere.
“Silver Skin”, a song about Russell’s first car, brought the set to a close. As always, Julius and Ellis kept the rhythms cool while melodies surged from Jeff, David, and Kevin’s instruments, all the while, the harmonies of Maralin and Xandra serenaded the farm. Chills rolled through the crowd as skyscraper screams flew over top of the ending jam.
Channel Bluff
Channel Bluff took up the torch next, flipping through every page in the indie rock playbook, citing it in their opening 2010’s throwback track, Dr. Dog’s “Where’d All The Time Go.” The band rippled and riffed through their set with a deft touch such as their own “11:58”, which features airy melodies from frontman Evan Grove, 2010’s Mac-tars from Bryson Grove, and jumpin’ rhythm section from Bobby Moss and Jack Thompson. As these rhythms pulsed throughout their set, seafoam sounds flooded the farm, carrying in charismatic vocals with every wave. The band wasn’t afraid to get a little jammy with it either, dreaming up some psychedelia in between the twinkling guitars.
Lilly Hartle
Lilly Hartle broke the silence from behind a keyboard, ushering in a mood ring of a set which revolved through ballads and bangers. Each tempo shift gave space for a new sound, from atmospheric piano-playing, attitude-ridden bass, and angst-ripping guitars, all the while, passionate vocals from Hartle rolled overhead. Kate Stribling joined on violin for “Alternate Reality”- a standout point for the set that gave us Grace Kreider spurring the crowd into waving their flashlights at the song’s close. They performed a couple covers including Mazzy Star’s ‘93 “Fade Into You” & Pat Benatar’s ‘80 “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”, reelin the crowd through the past as they prepared to close. The final song of the set was a debut of Lilly Hartle’s newest single, “Lost”- which went up that night on streaming.
Colors in Corduroy
Colors in Corduroy blitzed and burned through their closing set, resembling buckin’ wild horses as they headbanged through raucous and righteous rock tunes. In performing their single “Old Soul”, the boys proved they could dial it back in before letting it rip. Each song got crazier than the last as they tore up the stage, bolting back and forth. The final song of the night might just have been the peak, with Colors in Corduroy sparking up a cover of Blur’s “Song 2”- in a flash, the entire 1770 Records club broke on stage flash mob style.
1770 Records was so important to my experience at College of Charleston and I’m thrilled to see it thriving. 1770 taught me so much about what goes into pulling off a successful show- not to mention, it gave me so many friends that were going into the same industry. If you are at CofC, you love music, and you’re looking for a community- this is it. I remember the club coming out of the clutches of Covid and watching it grow into the grandeur of the boat show and numerous other fests and releases. The true strength of the club is how it grows with its student body, which allows for new voices to be heard behind a unified force. Dr. Heather McDonald does an amazing job equipping members with the foresight and connections necessary to create a music scene on campus and beyond.
