Tijuana Hercules, Pierce Edens, and Waits & Co. at Hang Fire – preview

This Thursday evening (3-12), as both the official St. Pat’s weekend looms and SCAD wraps up another quarter, the City of Savannah is in for a special treat. Post-punk, Atlanta noise rock legend John Forbes (Phantom 309, Dirt, Mt. Shasta) will be bringing his latest creation, Tijuana Hercules, to town. Having relocated to Chicago, this band has a different sound than John’s projects of the past, combining boogie-woogie, blues, country, and biting brass-bass-drum rhythms. It’s hard to define what these guys are up to with everyday descriptions, but they pump out a long, hot groove that’s guaranteed to get your hips swaying, and put a devilish smile on your face. I was privileged to play on a bill with Tijuana Hercules, Catpower, and many other notable Atlanta characters last year, and finally had the chance to meet John after many years of being a fan from afar.

Pierce Edens, from Asheville, N.C., will be opening the show with some of the lowest, meanest, down & dirty blues based tunes that you’ve ever heard. His jam tends to be one of a fallen man seeking redemption, and playing in a mash-up of open tunings as well as using an amplified, homemade stomp-box for the back beat is yet another nod to the dark side of life. Pierce recently came through Savannah and performed at The Jinx with The Train Wrecks to much applause and a packed house. The following day I spent a few hours with him and his sidekick (Kevin), and shot a series of new press & promo images.

Waits & Co. will be hosting this show and is thrilled to be performing again as a five-piece band, with the assistance of Stu Harmening on dobro, and Jeremy Hammons on drums, of The Train Wrecks. The band’s lineup has changed in the last few month’s with the addition of John Pizzichemi on both stand-up, and electric bass. John comes to Waits & Co. from the NYC punk and louder rock scene. We’re looking forward to playing this show, but more than anything we’re looking forward to listening to these great out-of-town, touring artists as they do their thing!