Black Dawg: Built on Classics, Played in the Present
- Moose Nicholson
- 6 hours ago
- 6 min read
Black Dawg
What even counts as “classic” anymore? The other day I heard Green Day on a classic rock station, and it felt like catching a glimpse of your own reflection in a shop window — familiar but older than you remembered. Somewhere along the way, “classic” stopped being a genre and became a moving target. Maybe it’s not about the decade at all. Maybe “classic” just means it still hits. And Black Dawg hit hard — they might’ve been playing the classics, but there wasn’t a single thing dated about it.
When we call something classic, what are we really saying? The Parthenon is classic. So is Dickens. So is Chaucer. And while we’re at it—so is the ’69 Dodge Charger, a good slice of pizza, and last night’s spaghetti. Some things just endure because they deserve to. They’ve outlasted trends, bad weather, and the loud opinions of every generation that followed. Classic isn’t about perfection; it’s about endurance. It’s the things that refuse to fade, even when the paint cracks and the language sounds strange. And maybe, like spaghetti or cold pizza, the best ones get better once they’ve been reheated — bands like Black Dawg make sure of it.
Reheated or not, these guys were on fire. Black Dawg doesn’t just play Zeppelin; they inhabit it. John Kelly didn’t just hint at Robert Plant — he went after those notes most singers wouldn’t dare chase and landed them clean. It wasn’t imitation; it was reverence with teeth. That voice — sharp, stretched, and soulful — hit the back wall of The Alley and came back swinging. And if his little brothers built their careers on polished pop hooks and Hollywood soundtracks, they might owe their ear for it to John. The foundation started here.
Beside him, Deke Wiggins was a study in duality — one minute coaxing elegance out of a Les Paul, the next ripping lightning from a Flying V. He played like a man fluent in feedback, moving from restraint to chaos with the kind of control that only comes from years of worshipping tone. Downstage, Cam Ball — the same lovable, high-voltage bassist from King Size — was pure electricity, his snapping bass strings cutting through the air in time with the grins from the crowd.
And the crowd felt it. Comments rolled in the next morning like applause that refused to quit — “They got no quit in them,” “Black Dawg brings it,” “John Kelly can really mimic the ‘Zep.’” When the band tore into Custard Pie, The Rover, Over the Hills and Far Away, and Whole Lotta Love, the lines between past and present blurred to dust. Even their originals — Train Wreck, Dirt, and Without You — fit so cleanly into the set that you had to check twice to see which decade they belonged to. By the end of the night, the Bud Lights had worked their predictable magic, coaxing a crowd of dancers into a blur of movement that outlasted the final chord.
It’s funny how often Aiken finds itself wrestling with the same question Black Dawg answered from the stage: what do you hold onto, and what do you rebuild? The Hotel Aiken gets most of the headlines, but it’s not the only story. The old hospital on Richland still looms over memory and debate. The Hitchcock Stables have been a hot topic all year — preservation, progress, and everything in between. The Livery, by contrast, has already found new life, now echoing with music instead of hoofbeats. And just down the block, the Bank of America building on Laurens is gearing up for a second act — a boutique hotel and restaurant that’ll breathe life into a cornerstone that had gone quiet.
Everyone seems to have an opinion about what should stay and what should change, and honestly, that’s a good thing. The argument itself means people care. Aiken’s progress created a place that, in a snapshot, made someone say, That’s where I want to live. I like it just the way it is — without realizing how much growth it took to make it look that way.
Imagine it: a hotel at the old bank, the Hotel Aiken revitalized, visitors filling those rooms for a weekend downtown. They wander The Alley on a Thursday night, stumble across Amp the Alley, and fall in love with it the way we all did — the sound, the people, the pulse. Maybe they come back. Maybe they stay. But Amp wasn’t always here, and it wasn’t always this big. It’s grown into what it is, and hopefully, it’ll keep growing — just like the town around it.
Zeppelin became legendary after the amps went silent, but the fire kept burning because bands like Black Dawg kept lighting it again. Cities are no different. The Parthenon may be a ruin, but it’s the life that happened around it that made it classic. Aiken’s heartbeat is the same — classic because it endures, not because it’s untouched.
Maybe that’s the secret — classics don’t just endure; they adapt. Songs get louder, buildings get facelifts, and crowds shift under new lights, but the feeling stays the same. Every Thursday night proves it. While the debates rage online, local businesses roll up their sleeves, pour the drinks, flip the lights, and keep the music free. They don’t wait for permission to make downtown better — they just do it. Last week, Black Dawg reminded us that you can honor the past without living in it. Aiken’s been doing the same all along. And if this is what the classics sound like when they’re still alive and kicking, then I’ll take a couple reheated slices from Mellow Mushroom, please.
The Alley
Downtown Hydration is Starting a Podcast
If you’ve ever chatted with Tasha Davis, you already know she’s got that mix of science, soul, and straight talk that makes you feel better just being around her. Now she’s taking that same energy to the mic. Her new podcast, “Not Your Mama’s Midlife,” is all about flipping the script on what it means to hit that next chapter — not a crisis, an awakening. Expect real conversations that empower, educate, and maybe even make you laugh at the chaos a little. Coming soon on Spotify — and you know we’ll be tuning in.
Tap Into the Fun at The Alley Downtown Taproom
Tuesdays are for taking the mic — or at least cheering for the brave souls who do. Open Mic Night kicks off at 6:30, hosted by RedFoxWood and fueled by 47 self-serve taps of craft beer, wine, and cider. Whether you’ve got a song, a story, or just the guts to get up there, this is your stage. And if you’d rather keep your courage in a pint glass, that’s fine too — the crowd’s as friendly as the pours.
Then on Wednesdays, the guitars trade places with trivia sheets for Trivia Night with Mike Sleeper. Bring your sharpest friends (or the ones who just talk like they know things) and compete for glory, discounts, and eternal bragging rights. It’s the kind of midweek fun that reminds you why The Alley is downtown’s living room.
The Bud Light Stage
The Lounge at Electric Eats
If you haven’t made your way upstairs to The Lounge at Electric Eats, you’re missing one of downtown’s best-kept secrets. The lights are low, the cocktails are clever, and the small plates are built for sharing — or not, we don’t judge. It’s the kind of spot where Fridays stretch into Saturdays without anyone minding the time. Grab a few friends, order a round, and see what Chef’s been experimenting with this week. Upstairs is where the weekend really starts.
Rhumba Rum Bar & Cigar Lounge — Margaritas Done Right
Some drinks just know how to set the mood, and Rhumba’s margaritas are exactly that. Whether you like them classic, spicy, or flirting with sweet, these glasses come rimmed with just enough kick to make your Tuesday feel like a vacation. Pair it with a few tacos and some good company, and suddenly the week doesn’t feel so long. $10 every Taco Tuesday at Rhumba Rum Bar & Cigar Lounge, 321 Richland Ave W — the place where the salt, lime, and laughter always meet.
📞 803.226.0014 | 📧 rhumbaaiken@gmail.com
Tomorrow: Ryan Abel and Friends
Ryan Abel is back on the Bud Light Stage, and he's bringing friends. He has a lot of friends, so we aren't even sure who, exactly. We do know, however, that his friends are all wildly talented, so this is a show you won't want to miss. It was Ryan and his friends who started the $100 Freebird trend at Amp the Alley years ago — never would have thought that would be a trend to catch on.
Ryan has also been putting together monster acts at the Miller Theater. Check out this video of Ryan and a whole slew of friends at the Miller.