Paving the way: R&B band Loose Change plays at City Grill in downtown Florence

Michael Black, lead and rhythm guitar as well as lead and background vocalist for Florence R&B group Loose Change, said he remembers when downtown Florence was kicking.

Yet, Black said, for the past 20 years, it’s been a ghost of its former self.

Loose Change’s weekly performances at City Grill, he said, are just part of what he sees as the return of downtown Florence.

“I grew up in Florence during the ’70s, and downtown used to be a hub. With the building of the Performing Arts Center, I think Florence is finally coming back alive,” he said.

Switching It Up

Loose Change is a fitting name for the music group, Black said, as they can easily slip in and out of musical genres.

“We come from various backgrounds. We’re a mixture of gospel, rock and R&B. The name Loose Change came because all we were getting paid was loose change,” he said.

A typical performance moves fluidly between jazz, R&B and classical pop hits, he said. The variety of experience among the band members, who range in age from late-20s to early 60s, provides the group with a wide range of musical interests.

A typical night, Black said, will move from bebop to hip-hop, although he credits keyboardist Zuri Lowery (the youngest of the musicians) with hip-hop.
Switching it up, he said, helps keep the group fresh and the audience interested.

“People say to us, ‘I didn’t know you sound like that,’” he said. “We always try to add our own little spin to the songs we cover.”

Looking for their niche

The group consists of Black and Peter Grant on guitars and lead vocals, Skip Myers on bass and vocals, Cecil Ellison on drums and Lowery on keys. They have been together for five months, playing at Elk clubs and private engagements along with their weekly gig at City Grill.

“We’re still looking for our niche. Right now, whatever you want us to be, we’ll be that,” he said.

Most of the members of Loose Change are known throughout the community for music, he said. “Most of the guys have played at the Pecan Festival. We all grew up in the Florence area, and all of us are like family. We just enjoy playing.”

Music revival

Black said each member has recorded music through some project independent or prior to Loose Change, but he said he hopes they can have something recorded by the end of the summer.

“There’s a lot of energy from a live performance. It’s a good feeling to hear live music,” he said.

He said Loose Change’s weekly gig at City Grill and the Florence After Five concert series is a good start for reviving the music scene in downtown.

“We’d like to get on board to play at Florence After Five,” he said.

For right now, he said, the group is perfectly fine with playing at City Grill each week.

“It’s a nice place,” he said. “We just enjoy playing there. It’s a good atmosphere.”

Details
WHAT: Loose Change in concert
WHEN: 9 p.m. June 13
WHERE: City Grill & Sports Bar, located at 147 W. Evans St., in Florence
ADMISSION: Free
INFO: (843) 662-8100