one final (?) post about Savannah Stopover 2014

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In my City Talk column yesterday in the business section of the Savannah Morning News, I talked about some of the press that Savannah Stopover IV has gotten from bloggers and music writers who made the trip.

Since I wrote that column, another nice bit of out-of-town press has arrived in a blog post from Toronto-based designer Eric McBain. And we’ll see some more press and photos showing up in the coming days and weeks.

I thought it was important to write a newspaper column about the view of Stopover from outside for a variety of reasons, but especially because many of my readers wield some real influence around town and care passionately about the city. And most of those readers aren’t likely to attend Stopover shows, although I suspect almost all would find something to love if they tailored their experiences to suit their tastes.

The consensus here at hissing lawns is that the fourth installment represented a breakout year for Savannah Stopover, but before I say more about that, here’s a roundup of some of the responses from out-of-town observers, with some of our hissing lawns photos sprinkled in. (You can see bigger versions by clicking and see a ton more Stopover photos in our galleries on this blog and on our Facebook page.)

From SXSW’s Little Sister: Savannah Stopover Music Festival by Raymond E. Lee for PopMatters:

Now in its fourth year, Savannah Stopover was founded by diehard underdog music fan Kayne Lanahan. With an emphasis on indie, DIY and generally under recognized artists Stopover could be considered the little sister to SXSW. Younger and arguably more attractive, she is still modest but getting increasingly harder to overlook. […]

Better yet, Stopover isn’t ferreted away in the wastelands of an industrial sector or confined to a convention center and surrounding venues. Nor does the festival require a ferry ride to some state park or fairground far removed from downtown proper. Stopover is a whole city event whose foot traffic between pre-war venues offers a walking tour glimpse of the South’s best preserved gothic cityscape.

Future Islands at Club One

Future Islands at Club One

From How Savannah Stopover music fest Stole My Heart, pt. 1 by Kathleen McCafferty for the Asheville-based Ashvegas:

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Larry Jack’s Magical Music Tour 3/27/14 – 4/1/14

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Hey guys,
Every weekend, I am amazed at the amount of high quality live music that you can find in this great city of ours. You can walk for about six or seven blocks downtown and pass about 8-10 different places where you can hear live music being played. On most nights, you are able to see at least one band that will really get you excited. If you try hard, you can see two or three that will trip your trigger. And you can carry a to-go cup while you do it! Be sure to do that walk in the next few weeks and take advantage of the unique place that you have chosen to live. It won’t be long before we will be in the dog days of summer.

One last request, if you vote in the Connect Savannah Best Of Contest, and you vote for me for best blogger, I could go to the cool Best of Party.  Or at least cast a vote for my wife, Dr. Susan Sammons (Ga Southern) for best nurse and let her take me.

Enough of me soliciting, on to the musical picks. There are too many good shows this week to catch them all, but I will do my best.

Thursday 3/27/14
Smith Brothers – Molly MacPherson’s (10p) – One of Savannah’s better up and coming bands.
Fare The Gap, Ancient River (Reverb soaked noir-psychedelic), Shapes And Their Names (Old-fashioned Indie-Power-Pop Trio) – Hang Fire (9p) – The first of several good shows at Hang Fire this week.

Friday 3/28/14
Telfair Babies – Blick Art Supply (6-8p) The Savannah Rocks! Art Show closing.
Big Daddy Love (Appalachian Rock from NC) – Congress Street Social Club (10p)
Wave Slaves (instrumental surf rock), Hermits Of Suburbia (post-post-modern semi-melodic folk-ska-musical humor-core from Atlanta), Lovely Locks (Folk Girl Group Pop Rock) – Hang Fire Jinx(10p) – It’s a prom party.

Saturday 3/29/14
City Hotel (bluegrass), American Hologram (americana goth pop), Waits & Co. (Americana/Alt-Country) – Jinx (10p)
Deadfields (Steam-rollin Rock-icana, Stupidfun Folk-Rock) – Wild Wing Café – I have seen these guys a few times, they will be worth stopping by Wild Wing Café for a short time.
Forced Entry, Hotplate, Blackrune (dream drone), Crazy Bag Lady (fracas) – Hang Fire (10p) – I am sure this will be a wild show.  I have to stop by to get a Crazy Bag Lady t-shirt, fresh off the presses.
Whaleboat, Omingnome, CO, Tonto – Dollhouse Studios (9p, $5) – EP release party for Whaleboat

Sunday 3/30/14
Steppin’ Stones (classic rock covers) – Wild Wing Courtyard (5-8p)

Monday 3/31/14
Victoria Vox – Sentient Bean – Ukulele player from Maryland.

Tuesday 4/1/14
Danielle Hicks & The 8-Ohm Band – Foxy Loxy Cafe

kind of a review of Jason Isbell at the Savannah Music Festival

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I was surprised when getting ready to write this post to discover that Jason Isbell is only 35 years old. I thought he had to be at least, well, 42.

I mean this in the nicest possible way. Could a 35-year old really be writing lyrics of such penetrating wisdom? And of crafting the complex architecture of the songs that incorporate those lyrics so subtly and seamlessly?

And could a 35-year old be doing all of this was so little flash, with so much substance?

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit sold out their Savannah Music Festival show in the North Garden at the Ships of the Sea Museum on Sunday night — a near perfect venue for the band’s Southernish rock sound. (Isbell’s vocals were much sharper out in front of the stage than in the seats on the sides, I should note.) The audience seemed dominated by guys — many a few years older or a few years younger than Isbell, many that I know pretty well, many who are trying to find and create meaning in their own lives and in the world.

Despite some occasional pockets of chattiness in the crowd, I found myself swept along by the emotional arc of the night — an artist, a musician, a man in the process of constant self-evaluation and reinvention, allowing all of us to go along for the ride.

Isbell noted from the stage that he was singing mostly sad songs, but he invited the audience to imagine that he was singing about happy things if we wanted. I doubt anyone took him up on that.

Much of the long set — just shy of two hours — was devoted to songs from Isbell’s two recent albums, especially last year’s beautiful Southeastern. After Isbell played the soulful and intimate “Cover Me Up” deep into the show, most of the crowd rose in sustained applause — the show wasn’t over, but there was no other way to appreciate the deeply personal revelations of the song.

I could go on and on about various elements of the show, but there are already two other excellent local reviews out there: Bill DeYoung’s review for Connect Savannah and Chad Faries’ review for Do in the Savannah Morning News. Those are both well worth reading.

I’ll just finish with a mention of the restraint and quality of Isbell’s fellow musician. It was especially nice to see guitarist Sadler Vaden back in Savannah — I mentioned him numerous times when he was very young and played gigs at The Jinx fronting the Charleston-based band Leslie.

stream Johnny Cash’s “lost” album “Out Among the Stars”

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Check out the coverage at The Guardian’s music blog about Johnny Cash’s “lost” album from the 1980s, Out Among the Stars, which goes on sale next week. There’s commentary there by Cash’s son John Carter Cash about each track. Some real gems.


Larry Jack did take the stage, hearing is believing.

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Hey guys,
Due to popular demand, I have inserted the audio of my (thankfully brief) guitar solo at the Peelander-Z Savannah Stopover show. I guess they assumed that since I was an old guy at the show, I could hold a riff while they were goofing around. Boy were they surprised! My favorite part is when the band stops playing and I keep jamming. 

If you are able to make it through the guitar work (about :45 seconds), you will get a special surprise. It’s a brief audio clip of the infamous Train Wrecks-Larry Jack collaboration from last year at the Congress Street Social Club. Listen to me sing, it will make my guitar playing sound much better.

Don’t forget, I want to go to Connect Savannah’s Best of Party. If you can live with it, vote for me for best blogger (even though I am not). If you can’t live with gaming the system for me to go to the party, vote for my wife, Dr. Susan Sammons (Georgia Southern University Professor) for best nurse, which she really is. If she wins, I think she will take me with her.
Larry Jack Sammons

check out the brilliant new video for Jake Bugg’s “Messed Up Kids”

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I’ve been on a Jake Bugg jag, especially since hearing him and photographing him at Monster Music & Movies in Charleston last week.

Earlier today, Nowness premiered this pretty much brilliant music video for “Messed Up Kids” from the album Shangri La. That song will be on the upcoming 4-song EP, which will also include the ballad “Strange Creatures” that Bugg performed in Charleston.

Jake Bugg: Messed Up Kids on Nowness.com

I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an interesting use of super slo-mo (if that’s what it is), at least not in a music video. (Alan Rickman drinking tea would be hard to beat.) From Nowness:

Having sold 1.5m albums since the release of his eponymous debut in 2013, Bugg feels estranged from the surroundings that nurtured his songwriting: “I don’t really live anywhere at the moment as I’m always on the road,” says the Nottingham-born guitarist, whose latest release from Rick Rubin-produced second album Shangri La comes as he tours the US, before heading to South America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. “On the first record, I talked a lot about my hometown because I was still a big part of it. Now after everything that has happened, going back feels crazy: I’m somebody looking in from the outside.”

A curious situation, for sure, for a young singer-songwriter. Having grown up in a council estate (housing project), Bugg now finds himself wealthy and estranged from the life that provided the creative fodder for the prodigious body of music he has already crafted. (Click here for a New Yorker story with some interesting biographical background and a review of last fall’s soldout show at NYC’s Webster Hall.)

Savannah Soundtrack: Art Contest’s “Math Major”

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Savannah’s own DIY music collective, Pale Blue Dot, has been steadily making noise around town (literally and figuratively) by bringing a bit of well deserved attention to the underground music scene. House shows are always a bit of a tricky situation since you have to strike the perfect balance of just enough people to get exposure for bands, but if too many people show up, you run the risk of drawing some unwanted attention from neighbors. Luckily, last night’s house show featuring Art Contest, Quick Wizard, and Whiskey Wednesday went down with only a few initial glitches. I’ve had the chance to sit down with Art Contest’s latest album, and here are some thoughts on the band and the album.

Formed by 3 South Carolina natives, Art Contest isn’t your average math rock band, if such a thing exists to begin with. They’ve taken the technicality and infused it with influences from across several genres from punk and indie rock to power pop and even a bit of surfer influence. The result is their debut album, Math Major.

Math Major hits you with its complexity early on in the album and doesn’t let up throughout. The opening track, Banana Boat, starts off innocently enough, fairly tame and subdued. As the track builds though, the timing and rhythm become more and more complex in regards to both the guitar and drums. The end result is an intriguing experience that draws you in with its catchiness as well as what seems to be an abandonment of conventional harmony. Even the vocals and lyrics add to this effect by being both slightly nonsensical but also surprisingly effective in their ability to get you to sing along. That’s not to say that every track follows the same formula though. One of the standout tracks on the album, Bedtime, presents the same short, poignant, lyrical bursts that are a common theme on the album, but display a deep sense of introspection with lines like: ”… we’ve all forgotten, why we came here for this drink and now I’m weak…”. Besides its lyrical deviance, Bedtime’s slower tempo and mellow atmosphere is also a welcome reprieve after that help to keep the more lively tracks like Shish Kabob and Washing Machine from becoming overbearing throughout the listening experience. It seems like Art Contest made a specific effort to keep balance in mind with many aspects of the as no particular aspect of any track ever seems to overpower another even with the most tumultuous combinations of shouted vocals, crashing drums, and intrepid guitar riffs as seen on tracks like Tripp Pants and Sonic Level 4.

For a debut album, Math Major is a surprisingly tight and well put together effort. I’m certain that fans of bands like The World Is A Beautiful Place And I Am No Longer Afraid to Die or Kinsella projects like Joan Of Arc or Cap’n Jazz will keep the album in rotation for a good bit. While Art Contest certainly focuses more on instrumentation than those previously mentioned bands, the fusion of just a bit of emo with math rock certainly seems to be a theme that they’re running with and I’m excited to see what’s next. Hit the jump to catch some shots from the show. Also, make sure to check out Art Contest’s Facebook page for upcoming shows and check out their BandCamp page as well for a free download of Math Major.

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Larry Jack’s Magical Music Tour 3/21/14-3/25/14

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Hey guys,
Whew, this is the latest I have posted the blog, sorry if anyone was looking for it (although I seriously doubt that).  I am still running at half-speed from the last couple of weekends of the Stopover and St. Patrick’s Day.  I’ll try to be back on track next week.

If you happen to be a regular reader of this blog, I am going to make a request from you.  I want to go to the Connect Best Of Party and win a cool certificate.  Pretty obviously, I am not the best blogger.  Heck, I am not even the 4th best on hissing lawns blog.  But I figure that the only way I can go to the party is to win best blogger, unless I can talk Jim Morekis and company to add a category of Best Old Guy To Run Into While Watching Music (and Joe Nelson could steal that one from me).  So, if you don’t mind gaming the system, vote for me for best blogger and send me to the party.  I may ask one more time in a later blog as a reminder.  If you are against gaming the system, vote for my wife (Susan Sammons – Ga Southern) for best nurse, which she really is.  I will miss out on the certificate, but she would probably let me go with her.

Enough plugging, on to the brief picks this week.  I know a lot of people are heading to Savannah Music Festival shows, I don’t have any SMF shows scheduled this week.

Friday 3/21/14 – I’ll probably bounce around tonight
Cory Chambers – Blowin’ Smoke (7p) – A rare solo show from this City Hotel member
Epic Cycle – Warehouse (8p) – One of my favorite local groups. I heard Warehouse has a new ventilation system, I hope it helps, I have had ot leave them off my tour for the last few weeks
Jeremy Riddle – City Market (8p)
Danielle Hicks – Mata Hari (9p-2a)
Joe Buck, Savannah Sweet Tease Burlesque Review – Jinx (10p, $8) – Sweet Tease opens for Joe Buck

Saturday 3/22/14
Graveface Fest II – Dollhouse Studios (4p-2a, $15 early, $20 at door) – Kylesa, Cusses, Casket Girls, Stargazer Lillies, Blackrune, Crazy Bag Lady, Dreamend, Creepoid, mumbledust – This is an all ages show, I hope to catch a good bit of those bands, some of the best in town
Epic Cycle – Molly MacPherson’s (10p)
Passafire, Lullwater – Jinx (10p)

Sunday 3/23/14
Savannah Songwriter Series – Johnny Harris (6p) – Todd Murray (Sincerely, Iris) will be returning to Savannah to  play this show. Other performers are Arsena Schroeder, Robert Benton and Leo Dean

Tuesday 3/25/14 – Blues Tuesday, bounce from show-to-show
Jubal Kane – Bay Street Blues
Hitman – Warehouse
Eric Culberson Open Jam – Bayou Cafe

Jake Bugg photos + review of record store set in Charleston, S.C.

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Jake Bugg’s self-titled first album reached #1 on the UK charts. His second album Shangri La was produced by Rick Rubin.

The 20-year old singer-songwriter has been profiled in Rolling Stone, appeared just last week on The Tonight Show (for the 3rd time), has also turned up on Letterman and twice on Ellen DeGeneres, is playing at Bonnaroo 2014, has over 550,000 fans on Facebook and over 380,000 followers on Twitter, recently recorded an excellent live session with KEXP and a really good Tiny Desk Concert for NPR.

And on Thursday, he played an afternoon set for about 100 fans inside a record store — Monster Music & Movies — in a strip mall in Charleston, S.C.

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I ran into a couple of friends who had also made the drive from Savannah and chatted with a variety of other folks — a couple from Syracuse who were vacationing and had seen an ad in the paper, a few high school students who had “signed out early,” a young mother with her adorable infant who had heard about the gig on The Bridge 105.5

Despite his fame in the UK and through much of the worldwide music community, Jake Bugg is still a new quantity to many Americans, especially down here in the South. It’s a little bit of a puzzle, especially considering the beauty and even wisdom of his music. My friend Orlando Montoya, best known for his many years with Georgia Public Broadcasting, chose Bugg’s “Lightning Bolt” as his 2013 Song of the Year, but suggested that the singer’s East Midlands twang might limit his appeal to mainstream America. I don’t know about that, but I was sure thrilled to see Bugg in a free and intimate show, even if he played just five songs before greeting fans and signing records.

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a new video from The Silver Palms: “Superstar”

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We’ve been closely following the waxing fortunes of The Silver Palms, a really young and hugely promising band from the extreme southeast corner of Georgia. I shot some photos of a couple of recent gigs — in January at The Jinx and a few weeks ago at Savannah Stopover — and posted about their first video “Georgia Boy” (over 12,000 views and counting) and about their recent UK dates opening for The Orwells and Jake Bugg.

And now a new video has been released, “Superstar”:

On top of the obvious merits of the song itself, I love the bold, direct choices in the video — the black and white, the closeups, the contrast.

Big Ups at Savannah Stopover – photos

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By late on the second day of the recent Savannah Stopover, I had heard some great bands but I had definitely seen too many lead singers and guitarists gazing at some vague spot on the ground about five feet in front of the stage. No danger of that with Big Ups and lead singer Joe Galarraga snarling, twisting, stomping, and screaming wide-eyed across The Jinx stage.

Tom already wrote a great preview of Big Ups’ Stopover show and plugged the new album Eighteen Hours of Static. It’s an excellent record, but I’d say, based on what I saw, that Big Ups has something more audacious ahead of them.

Tom and I both took some photos. A few here (obviously you can click for bigger versions), with more after the jump:

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FTN Mini Metal Fest at the Dollhouse – photos

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Wednesday night, a.k.a. a school night, can be a tough night for a show, but judging from the Facebook “Attending” numbers I was hopeful there would be a good turnout at the Dollhouse for the “Fuck The Neighbors Mini Metal Fest” this past week. Unfortunately, of the nearly 200 people who claimed to coming out, considerably less than that showed. Fortunately that didn’t stop me from seeing the best set I’ve seen this year out of the 60 or so shows I’ve seen.

The mini festival featured locals Void/Icon (doom metal),Shadow of Creation (black/death metal,) Death of Kings (death/thrash metal) out of Atlanta, Lich King (thrash metal) out of Massachusetts, and finally, Exmortus (thrash metal) from California.

I enjoyed each of the first four sets, but after a long day at work (and four sets of fairly extreme metal), I was beat, and as it approached 1 a.m. I thought about heading home. I couldn’t bring myself to leave without seeing one song from the headliners, Exmortus.

Boy, am I glad I stayed. As soon as I heard/saw Exmortus’ first song, I knew I was in for the duration. The four Californians played their hearts out for about 25 metal fans who stuck it out. I hope my pictures begin to express the energy they put out on stage, but I know the images can’t convey how technically gifted the players were. INSANE. I had a smile on my face the entire set. This isn’t even a type of metal that I would profess to really enjoy, but it was jawdroppingly amazing. At one point they played Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata Movement 3 (really) and the twin lead guitars transformed it into something else entirely. GREAT. GREAT. GREAT. Set of the year for me, so far. I wish you were there. Those musicians deserve a crowd every night. I got to bed at 2:30. Totally worth it.

A bunch more pics after the jump, heavy on the Exmortus.

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