Rock making loud return to club in Aiken

Web posted February 18, 2000

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By John Bankston
Staff Writer

After months of Young Life meetings and singing in rounds, the Fermata Club in Aiken is once again a rock 'n' roll venue.

Local band Figure Four, one of the acts in tonight's rock show at the Fermata Club in Aiken, has recorded an album. It is untitled and awaiting release. SPECIAL

Figure Four, the Riff Raff Kings, Biting Midge and Fractions will ignite a cacophony of punk, rock and funk at 8 tonight at the club, 841 Whiskey Road in Aiken.

``We quit hosting hard-rock shows for the young kids because they just abused the facilities,'' club manager Susan Hay said. ``It wasn't the bands -- they were fine. Some of the kids in the crowd, though, were doing drugs and vandalizing the place. So we just shut it down to that group.''

But not for long. Local promoter Steve Wilson organized tonight's show and persuaded Ms. Hay to provide the club as a venue.

To hear Figure Four, call Infoline at 442-4444 and dial 8101. You'll hear part of the song Figure Four, from the self-titled demo.

``Steve assured me it would be all right, so we'll see,'' Ms. Hay said. ``I've no reason to disbelieve him.''

Figure Four is coming off three months in a Columbia studio where it recorded its first full-length album, which is not yet titled.

``Those sessions went very well,'' Figure Four vocalist Daddy Turnbuckle said. ``We all felt good about the way it sounds, and it got a little airplay. It's like a hard-core rap, hip hop sound -- like rock and rap mixed together. It's very guitar driven but has a distinctive rap style.''

``We just turn it up to 10 and kick it,'' guitarist Captain Indestructo said. ``Our biggest problem is trying to categorize our music. We've played in hip hop showcases, some rock showcases -- people don't know where to put us.''

Biting Midge is the only featured band that doesn't have a definite rap influence. The Riff Raff Kings and Fractions, as well as Figure Four, will blend rock and hip hop into a frothy substance that is raw, unrefined and, above all, loud.

Reach John Bankston at (706) 823-3217 or jbanks15@hotmail.com.