Local band Current Blue is helping to re-shape Charleston’s live music scene
by Lorne Chambers | Editor
When it comes to the local music scene, trying to identify what exactly Charleston’s “sound” is has always been a moving target. From the ’90s post-grunge pop explosion ushered in by Hootie & The Blowfish, Edwin McCain, and Jump, Little Children to the harder-hitting rock resurgence years later by bands like Quench, Leslie, and Wormbelly, followed by the twangy underground country sound of bands like Shovels and Rope and She Returns from War, it’s really hard to define Charleston’s scene.
In recent years things have trended more toward underground hip-hop and electronic. Local musician and producer Stephan Loony (a.k.a. STEPHAN) from Current Blue says these newer influences that have emerged have certainly had an influence on him and his band.
“Artists we’ve played with in Charleston are so talented, with so many unique sounds. Going to a couple house shows always leads to finding gems in the scene. The sound is varied but if I had to say, there’s a mix of underground hip-hop, eclectic indie, and electronic that have definitely shaped our sound.”
When asked to describe that sound, STEPHAN admits that it’s not so simple. “This is always a hard question, but in a nutshell, we’re bedroom pop at our core, with a dash of indie and alternative R&B.”
Current Blue’s moody blend of electric indie, surf rock, and R&B melds together into a cohesive and original sound that you can’t help but bob your head to. The brainchild of STEPHAN (guitar/vocals), Austin Klintworth (bass), and Yuki Tillis (drums), the longtime friends have been playing together since they were kids. But didn’t officially form Current Blue until in 2019 when they played their first real gig at Tin Roof in West Ashley. Earlier this year, Current Blue added solo artist JD MOON (synthesizer) to flesh out the band’s sound.
Current Blue returns to the Tin Roof stage on Saturday, Sept. 23 for what STEPHAN calls a “homecoming show.” While their studio music leans toward clean and chill grooves, seeing Current Blue live is a slightly different experience, both for the band and for the fans.
“Current Blue has a higher energy live. It’s always a fun time and we don’t take ourselves too seriously,” says STEPHAN. “We all enjoy the studio as well as performing, but they’re different things for sure. Being able to connect with fans and make new friends is our favorite part of the band, so for that we’d say live performance for sure.”
Recently, Current Blue went on their first national tour with popular band Triathlon, whom STEPHAN says they’ve been fans of since high school. Considering there was a worldwide pandemic that basically halted live music for the better part of two years, it’s been a pretty rapid rise for Current Blue, from the house party circuit to national tours.
“There’s been a lot of great moments. Honestly, we’re just really lucky to be where we are,” says STEPHAN. “The release and reception of ‘Daytrip’ was the first big moment for us. Playing Baby’s All Right in New York and exploring the city together was a dream.”
Current Blue plays Saturday, Sept. 23 at Tin Roof, located at 1117 Magnolia Road. For more information and tickets, visit www.charlestontinroof.com.
