The Ponder Project to Rock the ‘Car’certs at the Cole on Friday

September 28, 2020 – The parking lot at the Cole Auditorium will be rocking and rolling on Friday night with local rock band The Ponder Project, which will hit the stage at 6 p.m. The second show of the “Car”certs at the Cole series, this eclectic group delivers a variety of songs that span from the 1970s until more recent hits.

“We are excited to have entertainment back at the Cole, and I’m happy to say the first week’s ‘Car’certs show with jazz band A New Creation was a huge success,” Cole Director Joey Bennett said. “We’re looking forward to showcasing local talent over these next few weeks in this new format that meets the guidelines of the local health department.”

The Ponder Project is made up of a unique group of musicians who have had their hands, head and hearts in some sort of musical background for many years. Members include Anakin White on drums, John Baker on guitar, Jason Singleton on bass, Kevin Butler on vocals, Billie Adeimy on vocals and keyboard, and Bobby Pearce on sound, vocals and keyboard.

Playing in venues all over North and South Carolina, the band has been around for more than 25 years in some form of “Ponder,” originally starting as Ponder Blue. The Ponder Project formed three years ago when two founding members, Joe Harris and Tommy Adeimy, died within a year of one another. The surviving founding members, Shot Allen and Bobby Pearce, made the decision that “the show must go on.”

Butler and Billie Adeimy were both past members of Ponder and accepted the opportunity to continue with a new line-up. They brought on Singleton on bass and Baker on guitar. Allen recently retired, and White has taken his place on drums.

The band plays tunes by the likes of Stone Temple Pilots, Heart, Meat Puppets, Kings X, AC/DC, Steely Dan, The Donnas, Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Incubus, Led Zeppelin, just to name a few.

"It's not just music, The Ponder Project is a state of mind. We are family, and that includes our fans,” said Adeimy, who is also an instructor of Electronics Engineering Technology at Richmond Community College. “We are so appreciative of the support we are continuously shown from our community and music family. We are looking forward to the ‘Car’cert at the Cole and sharing this time with all who will be attending. So everyone get ready to join the Ponder family this Friday night!” 

“Car”certs is an outdoor concert held in the parking lot of the Cole Auditorium. People “drive in” for the show and remain in their cars while watching the performers on a stage set up in front of the Cole. At the gate, vehicle owners are provided with the FM station to tune in on their car radios to hear the band, but the parking lot is designed so everyone can see the band and the action.  

Mobile food vendors What’s For Lunch and Sunset Slush will be selling refreshments during the concert on Friday. Social distancing while standing in line for the food trucks will be enforced. 

Cost for The Ponder Project concert is $20 per vehicle. Half of the proceeds will go to the artists. Cash will be the only accepted payment type.

Other concerts in the series include Americana band Whiskey Brown with Rockingham native Rodney Ingle on Thursday, Oct. 8; contemporary gospel group 2nd Chance Ministries on Thursday, Oct. 15; bluegrass band The Axe Handlers on Friday, Oct. 23; and 80s throwback band Cassette Rewind (with Richmond County native Brandon Kirkley) on Friday, Oct. 30. There will be different food vendors at each “Car”cert performance. 

The Cole Auditorium is located at 1042 W. Hamlet Ave., Hamlet. Parking lot attendants will be directing cars to appropriate parking spots. No alcohol is permitted. 

For information, call the Cole Auditorium Box Office at (910) 410-1691 or visit "Car"certs at the Cole.