Hundreds of bands, rappers, artists and drag queens took the stage at New Brookland Tavern's West Columbia location during its three-plus decades on State Street. 

The last-ever show played at the iconic bar and venue was Dec. 29, one day before the new location opened in Five Points. Sequoyah Prep School, a Florence band that dominated the state's music scene during the mid-2000s before breaking up, closed out NBT's time in West Columbia with an energetic, sold-out show. 

The band, a five-member collection of childhood friends, spent much of their youths at NBT, which hosts all-ages shows of any and all musical genres. 

Justin Osborne, lead singer of Sequoyah Prep School and the frontman of Susto, told a story about how local photographer Sean Rayford showed him an old calendar of shows from several years ago. 

"It was just insane," Osborne said. "In a three-week span, all these iconic band names that, like, played there." 

Ahead of their Dec. 30 show in Five Points, Free Times took a stroll down memory lane with the band to discuss the NBT performances that stuck with them, from Bloodrunner to Battle of the Bands. 

NBT SPS REPLACEMENT
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New Brookland Tavern's new Five Points location opened to a sold-out crowd for the Sequoyah Prep School show on Dec. 30, 2023. Perry McLeod/Special to The Post and Courier

Love Drug and Pedro the Lion, 2006ish

Love Drug is an indie rock band from Ohio. The five-piece outfit played New Brookland Tavern in the mid-aughts. 

Pedro the Lion was an indie rock band from Seattle that played between 1995 and 2006. The founder of the band, David Bazan, resumed playing under the moniker a few years ago for his solo work. 

Winning Battle of the Bands (and an Andrew W.K. sighting) 

justin osborne interview NBR
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Justin Osborne of Susto talks about his days playing New Brookland Tavern with Sequoyah Prep School, the five-piece band of Florence musicians, ahead of their opening-night show at New Brookland Tavern's new Five Points location. Perry McLeod/Special to The Post and Courier 

After Sequoyah Prep School won Battle of the Bands in the early 2000s, the musicians had to travel home to Florence. It was a school night, and lead singer Justin Osborne's mom was their ride home. 

As they left, Osborne remembers seeing instrumentalist and singer Andrew W.K. leaving his tour bus and walking into New Brookland. 

Osborne said opening for W.K. — even though he didn't get to see the rocker's set — helped him realize a path forward to having a full-time music career. 

Paramore, 'right before they popped'

One of the most successful emo-pop/rock groups of all time, Paramore opened a show at NBT in December 2006. Seven months later, the ban released "RIOT!" and found mainstream success with the megahit, "Misery Business." 

Members of Sequoyah Prep School remembers seeing the show, and the raw talent displayed on NBT's cramped stage. 

Zoe is the managing editor of the Free Times. Reach her at znicholson@free-times.com or on Twitter @zoenicholson_

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