KNife releases new album “Iconoclast” — now streaming and available for free download

Another new release from the Dope Sandwich Label — here’s KNife‘s Iconoclast, which is currently available for free download if you click on through to Bandcamp:

KNife will be performing with Ambrose, Miggs, and The Green Seed on Friday, July 11 at Hang Fire in Savannah.

Larry Jack’s Magical Music Tour 7/3/14 – 7/8/14

Hey guys,
Another weekend is in the books. I saw some really good music out this past week, I hope you caught some too.

I enjoyed Omingnome and Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band @ Barrelhouse South, caught a few girl punk bands (Sharkmuffin @ Hang Fire and Coathangers @ Jinx), and even jumped in the mosh pit for a few minutes at the Coathangers show. There are lots of good shows coming up in the next few days.

I am especially looking forward to another installment in the Thursday Night Opry at Trinity Church. Thursday’s show features many of my favorite bands, City Hotel, American Hologram, and the Cusses (note the Oxford comma Bill). If you have not caught one of the previous Opry shows, I would really make an effort to catch this one. It is a family-friendly event, has an early start time (7:30p), and is reasonably priced ($10, goes to the Church Fund). And you can tell your mom you went to church this week!

There are also lots of early shows on Friday, I tried to list all of them, even though I probably won’t be able to make all of them. Many of them are at all-ages venues (Starland show, River Street, Foxy Loxy Cafe, and Blowin’ Smoke) and most are free, although a dollar or two in the tip bucket (if they have one) would be appreciated. The River Street Independence Day Celebration this weekend features several bands, including the Hypnotics on Friday night. I always enjoy seeing their garage rock covers and originals. I find that they are a band who appeals to young and old alike. Saturday’s show at Congress Street Social Club (Ultraviolet Hippopotamus) promises to be another highlight of the weekend. As always, I would recommend to get out to a show or two (or 13) this weekend. It’s good for your soul.

Thursday 7/3/14
City Hotel, American Hologram, CussesTrinity Church (7:30, $10)
Eric Culberson (blues) – Bayou Cafe
TimeCop vs DangerSnake – Molly MacPherson’s

Friday 7/4/14
Jason Bible (of the Train Wrecks) – Jinx Happy Hour (6-8p)
Xuluprophet, Shapes & Their Names, KidSycStarland Art March (6-9p)
Those Cats (R&B) – River Street (6p)
Waits & Co. (americana) – Foxy Loxy (7-10p)
RosiesBlowin’ Smoke (7p)
HypnoticsRiver Street (8p)
Bottles & Cans (blues) – Forsyth Mansion (9p)
Zac Deputy (looped guitars) – Barrelhouse South
Sunshine & Bullets (hard rock from Tampa) – Wormhole

Saturday 7/5/14
Train WrecksRail Pub (3-6p)
Clouds & SatellitesBlowin’ Smoke (7p)
Drivin & Cryin, Thomas Claxton & The MythCoachs Corner ($20, 7pm)
Radio Birds (Atlanta rock) – River Street (8p)
Ambrose (R&B), American Hologram (americana) – Barrelhouse South
Ultraviolet HippopotamusCongress Street Social Club
Savagist (Athens metal), Heathen Bastard (sludge from Florence) – Jinx
Chiffon (R&B), Abudu Ali (rap) – Hang Fire

Sunday 7/6/14
Charlie Fog (music of the Grateful Dead) – Moon River (4-7p)
Steppin’ Stones (classic rock) – Wild Wing Courtyard (5:30 – 9:00)
Bottles & CansBlowin’ Smoke

Monday 7/7/14
White Gold, DIP, FairyteethGraveface Records (5:30!!!)

Tuesday 7/8/14
CancersGraveface Records
Jeremy RiddleFoxy Loxy Cafe (8-11p)

Agalloch, Vex + Blackrune at The Jinx – photos

Savannah has spawned some big names in the metal scene and has a reputation as a metal town, but sometimes if a touring metal band doesn’t have a high enough profile, or it’s a weeknight, or the weather is sketchy, or the moon is in the wrong phase, or whatever, turnout can be lackluster. Sure, High on Fire on a Saturday is going to sell out, but Agalloch on a potentially rainy Thursday? Hmmm.

When I saw that the long running (formed 1995) Pacific Northwest outfit Agalloch was playing The Jinx, I was excited, but wasn’t sure who else was. Savannah likes it’s sludge, doom, stoner and thrash metal. Agalloch doesn’t fit neatly into any of those genres. Encyclopaedia Metallum categorizes Agalloch as Post-rock, Atmospheric Folk/Doom Metal. I’ve seen them called progressive metal, post metal, black metal, ambient metal and who knows what else.

So when Agalloch took the stage Thursday night to play their hard to define, influential, well-regarded music (Music! Yeah! Let’s just call it music!) I was happy to see a good many people, including a lot of unfamiliar faces, there to witness what turned out to be quite a spectacle.

But once the incense was lit, the smoke machine engaged, and the guitars started buzzing, I mostly forgot about everyone else and just enjoyed an amazing night of heavy rock that also happened to look very, very cool. And, on that note……here are pictures, lots and lots of pictures. Bill and I were both there, as you can see.

Oh yeah! Vex, out of Austin and Savannah’s own Blackrune also played great sets, that I really enjoyed, but the night for me was definitely all about Agalloch.

A few of Agalloch, with lots more after the jump:

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Monday night: Dave Dondero & Nightingale News (Coy Campbell) at Ampersand

Monday truly is the new Thursday in Savannah. Tonight, extend your weekend with an unmissable performance from critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Dave Dondero and the debut of Coy Campbell’s solo project Nightingale News.

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Named one of the 10 Best Living Songwriters by NPR in 2006, Dondero joined the ranks of Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Bruce Springsteen, PJ Harvey, and other timeless legends whose faces one often finds plastered on the walls of college dorms. Neat thing about Dondero is, he’s an incredible talent that’s still accessible and affordable to see live.


 

Coy Campbell has been playing double bass in Waits & Co. since he returned to his hometown of Savannah; tonight’s performance (under the moniker Nightingale News) serves as an introduction to his own carefully crafted, eerily ruminating folk ballads. Campbell has been working on an LP, Bell Rope, with Athens producer/musician/all-around-talented-guy Suny Lyons (he recorded Thugs & China Dolls by Savannah’s Dare Dukes and performs in hope for agolden summer); a 4-song EP with some of the results will be available exclusively at tonight’s show.


 

Tonight’s show will also be a great opportunity to experience Ampersand’s venue space. In addition to individual tickets ($10), those interested can spend $50 for a private table, two tickets, and complimentary bottle of wine.

Dave Dondero, Nightingale News
Monday, June 30 – 8PM
Ampersand

1st Annual TOMMY Strong Music Festival for Brain Cancer Awareness – photos

The TOMMY Strong benefit in Forsyth Park was a full day and evening of local & regional bands performing for a good cause.

Seen here are images of just a few of the acts that played at the event. Featured: event organizers Paige & Zach, Jon Lee and the Apparitions, Rye House, Waits & Co., and Zan. A few here and more after the jump:

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COEDS, The Sawyer Family, and The Coathangers at The Jinx – photos

After nearly two years since their last show in Savannah, The Coathangers returned to The Jinx last night along with local favorites COEDS as well as Oregon’s The Sawyer Family to a more than receptive Savannah crowd. The Atlanta-based trio have gone from starting out as a group of friends who formed a band with the mere intention of having some fun to a full-fledged touring machine that’s gained national regard for their raucous garage punk sound.

As a former Atlanta local, I remember the days just a few years back when there was seldom a weekend in East Atlanta when The Coathangers weren’t playing and their hard work has definitely paid off. It’s always awesome to witness a group of locals explode on the national scene, and there aren’t many bands that deserve it more than these ladies. Check out a few shots below and be sure to hit the for the full set!

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Little Tybee + Triathalon at Hang Fire – photos

Little Tybee will be touring all over the U.S. over the next month — and we were lucky that tour kicked off last night in Savannah.

The Atlanta-based band has deep roots here on the coast, so they always draw a good crowd — and it was shoulder to shoulder in the narrow confines of Hang Fire on Whitaker Street. I’ve probably seen Little Tybee 10 times — maybe a dozen? — and I thought they sounded better than ever last night. And the band seemed looser too — maybe that had to do with tightness of the stage and the proximity of so many old friends in the crowd. Or maybe after years of playing such technically demanding songs, they are finding a little more time to breathe.

It was a beautiful set.

I missed the opening act Giant Giants last night, but I did stick around for Triathalon, who also sounded fantastic.

It was a late night, the bar was packed, and the lighting can be tough at Hang Fire. So this is what I got. First a few of Little Tybee (at least the three members out front) and then a handful of Triathalon (actually, just lead singer Adam Intrator).

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Bragg Jam schedule announced – and please join us for road trip from Savannah to Macon for the 7/26 festival

What a lineup for Bragg Jam in Macon on 7/26. From late afternoon until early the next morning, some spectacular live acts will be playing all over downtown.

As we noted previously, hissing lawns is co-hosting and “covering” a trip on a “tricked out” coach from Savannah to Macon, and back. We’ll be leaving Ellis Square sometime before noon, probably, and returning late at night. The excursion has been arranged by Kayne Lanahan and the rest of the folks with MusicFile Productions, Savannah Stopover, and Revival Fest. (The Revival Fest stage at Bragg Jam is the smaller of the two at the 567 Center for Renewal.)

The $50 ticket includes Bragg Jam Concert Crawl ticket, transportation, food from The 5 Spot, plus free beer, wine, and soda on the bus. And there’s a gift bag too. We’ll be on a 36-passenger bus from Spanish Moss Charters and Tours.

Go to this page to purchase a ticket. Click the image below for a bigger version:

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I certainly don’t know all the acts in this impressive lineup, but there are going to be really tough choices at every time slot. Congrats to the festival organizers on a stellar lineup.

check out Meklit’s new video for “Slow”

Joyous music and good advice — what more could you want?

Here’s “Slow” from Meklit‘s fantastic album We Are Alive:

One of hissing lawns’ photos of Meklit from her show at Dollhouse Productions earlier this year (click here for more of that gallery) is on the cover of the album:

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2 new Black Tusk songs streaming now

Heads up! Remember the 7″ record Black Tusk mentioned they had hoped was ready for the last Savannah show, but wasn’t, so they gave out the cool cardstock prints instead? Well, I’m guessing that Vulture’s Eye and Screaming Inside Myself streaming now at Metalsucks are on the aforementioned vinyl (and download available now on iTunes). Oh, and both songs TOTALLY RIP. The recording is exceptionally good and the John Dyer Baizley cover art is, well, exactly what you would expect.

Click here to check out the stream.

And here’s the most recent post on the Black Tusk Facebook page. Looks like the guys are doing ok in Europe.

Larry Jack’s Magical Music Tour – 6/25/14 – 7/1/14

Hey guys,
As you probably guessed, I am looking forward to lots of good shows this week. There are several of note this week, I hope to catch many of them. And I hope I see some of you at a couple them.  ow is a good time to catch some music, school is out and it’s not quite as crowded as it will be in the fall. As usual, there are too many good shows this week for me to see them all, it kinda depends on my mood as to where I will end up. I feel pretty certain that you will enjoy any of these listed shows that you happen to catch.

Remember, the best way to support live music is to actually go see live music.

Wednesday 6/25
Jon Lee & The ApparitionsWarehouse
Badfish (Sublime tribute band)Barrelhouse South
Eric CulbersonBoomy’s

Thursday 6/26
Shark Muffin, Crazy Bag Lady, Dead Stars, Beneath TreesHang Fire (garage punk night)
Ted Bowne (Passafire guitarist, looped guitars) – Molly MacPherson’s
Silver Screen Orchestra, Sunglow, Shapes & Their Names, Culture VultureWormhole

Friday 6/27
Culture Vulture, Time Hitler & The Assholes From Space – Graveface (7p)
Danielle Hicks & The 8 Ohm Band – Boomy’s
Jon Lee & Apparitions – Molly MacPherson’s
Little Tybee, Triathalon, Giant GiantsHang Fire
Shack BandCongress Street Social Club
Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band, OmingnomeBarrelhouse South
XuluprophetPour Larry’s
Johnny OctaneWorld Of Beer (rockabilly)

Saturday 6/28
Joe Nelson & Co. (old time music) – Blowin’ Smoke
Missionary BluesBub-Ba-Q (6-10p)
Knife Album Release Party (rap) – Graveface Records (7p)
AccomplicesCongress Street Social Club
Coathangers, Sawyer Family, COEDSJinx ($10)
HitmanMolly MacPherson’s

Sunday 6/29
2014 TOMMY Strong Music Festival Lineup (Forsyth Park):
11am – Wassaw Sound
12pm – 2 Tone Fish
1 pm – 3rd Class Citizens
2 pm – Jon Lee and the Apparitions
3 pm – Rye House
4 pm – Waits & Co.
5 pm – Zan
6 pm – The Immaculate Fix
7 pm – Outlaw Gypsy
8 pm – The Andrew Gill Band
9 pm – The Blurry Aftermath
Paving GravyWiley’s BBQ (4p)
Steppin’ StonesWild Wing Cafe 
XuluprophetBarrelhouse South

Monday 6/30
David Dondero, Nightingale NewsAmpersand ($10/12)

Tuesday 7/1
Danielle Hicks & 8 Ohm BandFoxy Loxy

EYEHATEGOD, Ringworm, Enabler, Holly Hunt, Shroud Eater and more at The Dollhouse – photos

Yes, THAT show. We’ve already written about the ever evolving weirdness/controversy/fallout from Saturday night’s show, but that’s not why those of us that were there showed up. We were at the Dollhouse for the music, and that’s what I’m going to focus on here.

Nine bands is, in my opinion, too many for a Saturday night metal show. Not that I wouldn’t have wanted to not see any one of the bands(EYEHATEGOD, Enabler, Ringworm, Holly Hunt, Iron Man, Shroud Eater, Day of the Beast, Coastlines and Pridemeat) that played (seriously), but it makes it an endurance contest. The other option, of course, is to show up later in the night for the headliners, but miss a good bit of the undercard. That’s not really how I roll, and I have seen some amazing and legendary acts open for other bands early in their careers.

Anyway, there was pretty much music from 5:45pm to around 2:30am. There was a surprisingly decent number of people early (of course, just band members, crew, volunteers, security, etc., adds up pretty quickly) and ummm, a disappointing number by the end of the night, although the rumors floating around that EYEHATEGOD wasn’t going to play surely sent some people packing early.

There wasn’t a bad set over the course of the night, which is kind of amazing for a 9 band bill. Of course, favorite sets are based on preferences and mood, but for my money (sore subject?) Shroud Eater, Ringworm, and EYEHATEGOD played the sets of the night. All the bands expressed appreciation for each other and the crowd, even when things turned sour toward the end of the night. EYEHATEGOD in particular made it very apparent that they were playing solely in appreciation of those in attendance, mentioning that a number of people had traveled “crazy” distances to be there. I heard “Athens!”, “Atlanta!”, “Miami!”, and “Jacksonville!” shouted in response. I was truly astounded that they played a full set nearing 2 hours long! If you disregard the controversy, it really was an amazing afternoon/evening/night/early morning of music.

Here are the pictures. Lighting was so lousy that I resorted to using the flash a few times, which I have never done at a show before. It’s a shame, as The Dollhouse appears to have the capacity to provide some pretty darn good light. Maybe it was a “dark room for dark music thing” but….well, whatever, you just want to see the pictures, not read my bitching about shooting them.

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