The Bad Popes
Based out of Greenville, SC, The Bad Popes are Charles Hedgepath (guitar, vocals, and mandolin), Mike Bagwell (steel guitars, dobro and vocals), Jef Chandler (guitar and vocals), Chris Garrett (bass), and Joe Cash (drums). Playing original material written by Chandler and Hedgepath as well choice covers ranging from Graham Parsons and Willie Nelson to The Beatles and The Ramones, the band members are all veterans of the South Carolina music scene with individual members having played or currently playing in numerous bands, including The Work, Big Brown Bowl, The Note Ropers, Aaron Berg and The Heavy Love, and True Blues, to name a few. As a group, they have been delivering their version of Americana to audiences in the southeast since 2002. In one evening of a Bad Popes performance, you may hear Texas Swing in the manner of Bob Wills, country like Merle Haggard, rock, folk, bluegrass and more. The Band released their eponymous debut CD in 2009, and are currently working on a new studio album due to be released in 2011.