Everyone I know has been depressed over the loss of the live show experience this year.  From mid-March till mid-May, gathering for a live show was banned in all of South Carolina. I understand there are places all around this country where there still is NO live music being played at this time.

Amid the ashes of cancelled and postponed tours rose the Charleston Pourhouse, reopening in May. They have a game plan where they were going to accommodate up to 150, give or take, on the outdoor back deck stage for live shows. Theirs is a no-nonsense plan which follows spacing guidelines and governmental mandates.

When you arrive at the Pourhouse, you are met by a friendly but direct, masked employee who scans your temperature and checks for your name and table number. In this fashion, there’s no ticket to exchange or barcode to scan. All are required to wear their masks while entering the PH and while going to your table, bar and restrooms.

I should mention that their ticket policy requires you to buy a table of 4, 6 or 8 seats. Therefore, you are around people you have selected to be with. Tables are at least 6 ft. apart. Dancing is limited to next to your table. Oh, yeah, and everyone gets a seat. This feature has its benefits! I have been going to the Pourhouse for ten years and recall only two shows I’ve been to inside where there were seats in the indoor room. That was before the PH brought back music to Charleston.

The beginning shows featured local bands, as one would expect. Like many of us, local artists are sitting around hoping for something to do and the Pourhouse is just a car ride away! They brought back many favorites such as Reckoning (Dead), Dallas Baker and friends (bluegrass), Runaway Gin (Phish), Doom Flamingo (Electronica), Robotrio and the Motown Throwdown.

The word must have gotten out as several regional bands such as Gino Castillo, Interstellar Echoes, Larry Keel Experience and Brock Butler(Perpetual Groove)have played the outdoor stage in the last month. The Acoustic Syndicate and Keller Williams will be here in October. It’s getting better every day!

Different bands do two 90 minute shows each Friday and Saturday night, with tickets generally $10 each seat. There’s no opening act so each night. The staff has clearly marked the necessary spots to stand at the bar and in the restrooms. They all wear masks and are keeping a good eye on people playing by the regs. I like that they are direct but reserved in letting you know the way things are at the PH. I have been there for more than a half dozen shows since the end of May and have watched the staff in action. We have been blessed with dry weather conditions for the nights that I have been there.

The bottom line is that people are looking for live music and the best seats are going quicker with most shows coming close to a sellout days before the shows. Patrons are having a good time and playing by the rules. For that, they get an outdoor live music experience with their friends. What else can you ask for? Kudos to Alex Harris and the staff, including Kim and the outdoor crew.

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