Wednesday, April 9, 2025 ~ New Bern, NC ~ We met some solo acts and duets impacting our local music scene last time. Today, we fill the bill with bands rocking around our region. Be sure to give them all a like and follow their journey as they entertain us. In this blog edition, we meet bands from Greenville, Kinston, the Triangle, Wilmington, and even New Bern, NC.
Straightwire Band
Straightwire Band comes to the scene via an open jam experience that worked well about three years ago or so. The Greenville-based rock trio includes Jimmy Sullivan on drums and vocals, Charles Humbles on guitars and vocals, and Chris Puckett on bass guitar and vocals. The three have been jamming for about three years and are booking dates for 2025. When I contacted the band via Facebook, Sullivan replied that they have been playing together for about three years. These guys met at open mic night and through other musicians. This rock trio offers many heavy guitar-driven favorites, with Humbles‘ drive and determination on the six string setting things in motion. You can expect some Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, SRV, and more. They play all around Eastern North Carolina and are available for festivals, street fairs, private parties, and more. For fans looking to rock, catch up with them at BellaGreen Latin Sports Bar & Grill this Friday, April 11, 2025. Sullivan is the primary contact for band information. Call him to learn about the band’s availability and rates. 252 341 1931 is the number to call to bring them to a nearby venue.
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Dubtown Cosmonauts
I met this next band in 2017 when they jammed at Off the Hook one hot Summer night.
When I heard The Dubtown Cosmonauts eight years ago, they turned me on my ear, and they did it again a couple of weeks ago when they played another energetic show at The Brown Pelican in New Bern, NC. This band draws in the crowd every time they jam.
When searching for facts about the band, I found their BandsInTown page, which explained, “Dubtown Cosmonauts are a band of musicians whose hearts and souls rest in the beaches of Wilmington, North Carolina. Their high-energy, audience-captivating sets will bring you everything you could want in a live show: funky, upbeat originals, mind-bending solos coming at you from all angles, and an impressive and eclectic catalog of carefully selected covers that keep the audience wondering which musical direction the band will take them next. It’s safe to say that when Dubtown comes to town, no one in the room doesn’t have a good time.”
When I reached out to drummer Justin Heter Pan about the band, he explained, “The Dubtown Cosmonauts are a jam band formed as a supergroup 15 years ago; as a side project from my original band Sci-Fi, and then turning into a full-on touring band with original music and a long history of throwing fun, themed events and parties. We have changed members many times, but no matter who’s in the band, you’re guaranteed to get a high energy psychedelic rock show with some original music and tons of covers from classic jambands and new age music… from The Grateful Dead, Phish, Talking Heads, The Disco Biscuits, Tame Impala, The Rolling Stones, String Cheese Incident, Widespread Panic and more!”
He explained, “The band started as a fun project to play cover music of songs we love, but then we started writing and recording originals, and now we have tons of original material. Most of it is available online on music streaming services, featuring many musicians and artists. We use local artists to make our logo designs and our merchandise. Our tagline is ‘We’re all Dubtown. It’s not just The Cosmonauts, whether you know it or not, together we’ll not be stopped.’ A line that we have worked into two different songs of ours.”
The current lineup includes one original member: Justin Heter Pan, who plays drums and vocals. Nate Rimes, guitar and vocals, joins him; Riley Kearns, bass and vocals; Wolf Lampke, keyboards; and Chris “Dr. Bongo” Buzzelli, percussion. The best way to keep up with us is on our Facebook page or by following our Instagram @dubtowncosmonauts. If clubs, venues, and event planners are looking for a high-energy, fun band that draws people in with their jams, please email them at dubtowncosmonauts@gmail.com
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Give Me My Hot Buttered Grits!
Whenever I mention jam bands and New Bern in the same sentence, it is hard not to think about a serving of Hot Buttered Grits. These guys are this town’s original jam band. 2025 is a big year for the band, marking 20 years of jamming memories. They started as a quartet in 2005, with Zach Meadows on drums and vocals, Chris Buttitta on bass, Seth Smith on guitar, vocals, mandolin, and harmonies. Jon Jondrow, who plays electric guitar and offers supporting vocals, came into the band last in 2008, when original jammer Howard Longo stepped away. After a few years away, Longo considered returning, so they extended the stage front and added two more mics to welcome him back, one for his acoustic guitar and one for his vocals. Whether you get a small serving of Grits with a quartet or a whole serving with five toppings, it’s a fun experience. It is hard not to dance to their beats, whether they offer original jams (my favorite) or popular songs, fans and followers always have a good time.
They perform around most of New Bern. I met them at a private party a decade ago. Since then, I have enjoyed them at Pinky’s Pub last week as a quartet but caught them last month and enjoyed the whole band at Harry’s BBQ. They perform at The Flying Fox and The Brown Pelican and are more than likely available for your fun Summer party. Email dsethsmith@yahoo.com or call (252) 626-4208 to learn more about their availability and rates. Fans and friends of the band should follow them on Facebook to keep up with their live music schedule. Hot Buttered Grits performs more now than they did when we met. I am always glad to see them on any stage around town. They are a staple to our music scene, like hot buttered grits are in southern cooking. Smother yourself in their jams the next time they visit a venue near you. For any promoter looking for an original jam band to add to your Summer event, please consider this band. Hot Buttered Grits will offer fans a solid set of fun original jams. For fans and friends looking for their grooves they will next bring their good times to The Flying Fox on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Music starts at 8 PM.
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Shay’s Rebellion
When you’re ready for a solid rock show, check out this next band. I first saw Shay’s Rebellion in 2018 when they were fairly new. I only caught a few tunes when I did, but I remembered they were rocking!
When I saw them at The Proof in Kinston two weeks ago, they validated and rocked my waning memory. It was great to hear from them again. These guys are based in Kinston and offer a full-on hard rock show with original music. And there is my favorite feature. This girl loves the original beats best!
I messaged Steve Hawkins, the guitarist, to learn more about the band. He told me he has been banding with singer Billy Stallings and bassman Mike Usher for about 8 years. He said, “For different reasons, the drummer position has changed a few times. But now we have Robert John Barnett back there, and it is so much fun! We hope this is the beginning of a great thing. Barnett joined us in December, but we didn’t start practicing together until mid-January because of holidays, sicknesses, and vacations. His hard-hitting style and happy-go-lucky attitude make him such a nice fit.”
As for songwriting, Hawkins told me, “Most of the time, I present the guys with a riff or tune I have been working on, and we all just kind of take it from there. Everyone adds their input to it, and we finish it together.” As for finding the band, he wants everyone to know, “You can find our music almost all over the internet, from Spotify to Apple Music to YouTube. We also have a Linktree that shows all of our stuff.
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Skavinjir
I finally caught the rock outfit Skavinjir at The Proof a couple of weeks ago. They shared the bill with Shays Rebellion and did a great job of rocking the crowd.
I sent a message to their band page to learn more about the band. Of course, I always start off asking about the band’s history. Curly Baker replied. “As far as history, it’s long, but I can shorten it. Originated in 2018-2019, the premise is that classic hard rock/metal cover bands and songs are well-known but not radio-type, overplayed by others. ‘Enter Sandman,’ ‘Man in the Box,’ and ‘Breaking the Law’ type songs. We do songs like ‘Victim of Changes’ (Judas Priest) and ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ (Metallica), and we also do songs like it. We have changed many players over the last 5-6 years but have kept the same driving, hard-hitting music. Members now include Curly Baker, vocals, Scott Davis, bass, Chris Tufts, guitar, Steve Stanford, drums, Jeff Young, guitar. I do all the bookings. I find the venues (some now find us).”
Baker said the band would like to branch out and bring their rock show to more venues. He explained, “We are trying to expand our shows to other towns so as not to soak up the area—High Point, NC, Burlington, VA, Kinston, NC, and wherever.”
Promoters and venues looking for a solid heavy rock cover act, consider these guys today. “We are mainly on Facebook but on Instagram, YouTube, and rarely on TikTok. ” On performing, Baker said, “It’s the thrill of people coming to the shows, having a blast, singing with us, or just knowing the songs. And saying, ‘Damn I haven’t heard that in 20-30 years, or I can’t believe they do that one!’ To impress new venues and fans is the biggest thrill. When the owner says what openings we have or fans say where we’re playing next, it tells us we’re doing something right.”
For fans interested in going the extra mile to show the band some love and support, Baker wanted everyone to know,”We also have merch ( hats, shirts, buttons, Koozies) for sale, which has been going well lately. Our schedule is nearly full for 2025. Coming up in the weeks ahead, you can catch them at Plan B on Sunday, April 20, at 3 PM, Locked and Loaded on April 26, Clayton Rocks on May 3, Jamestock (outdoor multiple bands) on May 17, Stumbling Pig, Mebane on June 7, and Saints & Scholars. Facebook is the best way to see what’s next. We also use Bands and Clubs of the Triangle. LT & TL Tibbetts are great!
That is a great place to hit the pause button this week as I walk you out and tell you more about that couple and their pages and site.
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A Note From The Creator:
I always seek productive ways to create more coverage for bands and clubs with my “work” on the scene. That being said, I did a thing last weekend while visiting a couple of clubs in the Triangle. I took some time to sit down and meet, face to face, with my Facebook friends, the creator of Bands and Clubs of the Triangle, Lawrence Tibbetts, and his wife, Tracy Tibbetts. These two have been together since 2017 and have been dedicated to LT’s dream of supporting live local music. He started this project 15 years ago and has grown leaps and bounds since joining forces with his wife. The duo now has 20 volunteers helping them spread the word and message for bands and clubs around their area.
Given their ambition to do much the same thing as I hope to, we figured a meeting of like minds was in order. So, on Saturday, April 5, the Tibbetts had me at their home, where we had a nice little pow-pow and got to know each other. After that meeting, we decided to join forces. Since they have the Triangle covered well, and I have a pretty good hold on the Coastal Plains area, and we both want to provide coverage for the state, it might help if we teamed up on calendar apps and Facebook pages. So that is what we did. They have made me an admin for Bands and Clubs of the Triangle and Bands and Clubs of Eastern NC. In return, I have given their website a presence so that when readers travel, they can find music in whatever direction they wander.
The next time we meet, I will write more about my other adventures while cruising around the Piedmont region of our beautiful state. Until then, be sure to like and follow the pages of the bands and clubs that you love most. They all appreciate your support, as do I. Thank you for reading and sharing. I look forward to seeing you there dancing.