photos from day 2 of the 2017 Savannah Stopover

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I’m writing this about noon on the final day of the 2017 edition of Savannah Stopover, and, holy shit, the first music starts within the hour.

So I’m going to keep this post limited mainly to some highlight photos from day 2. Below you can see Lee Fields & The Expressions, Ruby Amanfu, A Tribe Called Red, and Floco Torres. Click on through for more photos of those acts and others.

I found day 2 dizzying but still immensely satisfying in its diversity of genres. I’ll have more to say about all these bands in a festival recap in a couple days, once I’ve survived day 3 …

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Sweet Guitar Grit: Jenny Tuite of Dirty Dishes

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Jenny Tuite of Dirty Dishes

Dirty Dishes creates an immaculate, well-calculated wall of layered alt rock – like Sonic Youth and Silversun Pickups teaming up with Hope Sandoval and sometimes Bjork to art it up. Wavering between ethereal-electronica to full-on in your face, guitar gut rock, the Dirty Dishes can and will knock you clean out.

Writer, singer, guitarist, pedal guru, and all-round tech queen, Jenny Tuite, fronts the trio and is the brainchild behind it. Based in Brooklyn, the band recently recorded in Los Angeles and released a new 7” single. Dirty Dishes play Savannah Stopover, Saturday, March 11, at the Jinx.  Hissinglawns caught up with Jenny to learn more about the band and what it’s like writing, touring, performing on both sides of the country.

How did you all meet? How long have you been playing together?

Dirty Dishes has been my music project for a while.  For live shows we play as a three piece with my bestie Liz on drums and our pal Skippy (Josh) on bass.  Liz and I have known each other forever, like 10 years or something.  Liz and Josh used to work at a studio called Tree Lady together.

I’m reading about you online, and you are Brooklyn-based, but you spent some time in LA. How did you like LA musically? Best parts? Worst parts? Biggest Take away?

The scene is vastly different in LA.  For recording it’s great, for live music it was really different than what I was used to being from the east coast.  Houses in southern California don’t have basements!  So there’s that.  Being from the east coast I was used to playing a lot of great house shows, I suppose we kind of take for granted having basements as a great place to congregate and throw shows.

There are some warehouse spaces in LA, there was one I really liked in Compton for a bit.  A lot of my favorite songs on our last album were tracked in LA, so I’d say for me west coast was ideal for recording, east coast has a great live music thing going on.  I enjoy both.

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Savannah Stopover Festival 2017 – a gallery of photos from day 1

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Savannah Stopover kicked off on Thursday on a gorgeous night at the Ships of the Sea’s north garden. By the time Kishi Bashi hit the stage at 8 p.m., the packed venue was buzzing with excitement about the 3-day festival.

I love the choose-your-own-adventure aspect of Stopover — with so many bands (about 85 this year) and so many venues, every attendee will have a unique experience.

This post is just a quick narrative and visual recap of where I wound up on night 1. Seriously, I’m thrilled with the choices I made, but I ended up missing any number of bands that I would love to see. There’s just no way, however, to be everywhere at once — and there’s no way to absorb so much talent in so short a time.

The shows that I saw last night ranged from the mesmerizing and intimate set by Ezra Furman at El-Rocko to the wildly energetic artistry of Kishi Bashi at Ships of the Sea, from the surprising (at least to me) power of Chain of Flowers at The Jinx to the charismatic Aussie Alex Cameron at El-Rocko and the secret show by Chief Scout, who just gets better and better and better …

Savannah’s Garden Giant — one of the best up-and-coming acts in the city — kicked the festival off and were followed by New York-based The Dig, who were so good that I’m anxious to listen to their new album Bloodshot Tokyo. Kishi Bashi was up next at Ships of the Sea, and then we all fanned out from there. I was extremely impressed by the latest iteration of Hunter Jayne’s Taze Daze at El-Rocko, but I didn’t get any publishable photos because of the lighting conditions.

And then I was off to Chief Scout (don’t miss this band when they play their regular festival set), and then Chain of Flowers. Nashville-based *repeat repeat brought their fun and almost subversive rock and roll to the stage on the second floor of Wild Wing, and then I headed back a few blocks to El-Rocko for Alex Cameron, who I hope to talk more about in a future post.

Then back to Wild Wing for another Australian act: Hockey Dad, who attracted a great audience even though the pair were making their first trip through the South. They play a brand of upbeat garage-y rock with surf influences that is really popular in Savannah. And then, wow, Ezra Furman, who seemed to embrace the odd tension of having a rapt audience up close amidst the din of loud chatter from the other side of the bar.

I made it back to The Jinx in time for the wild final few songs of JEFF The Brotherhood. The last time I saw JEFF The Brotherhood was during the day on an outdoor stage at Forecastle Festival, with hundreds of others in attendance — it’s really something special to see such a powerful band in the tight confines of a rock club like The Jinx.

I took many, many more photos than I’m publishing here. I’ll get to those soon enough. For now, I need to rest up a little more and get ready for what promises to be a great day 2 of Savannah Stopover, featuring Lee Field & The Expressions, Curtis Harding, A Tribe Called Red, CUSSES, Ruby Amanfu, Wreckless Eric, and lots more. Click here for the full schedule. Day passes start at just $34.

Click on through for the full gallery:

Garden Giant at Ships of the Sea:

The Dig at Ships of the Sea:

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Larry Jack’s Magical Music Tour – 3/9/17 – 3/15/17 (Stopover Edition)

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Hey guys,

Everyone else is posting a Stopover Survival Guide, I will start with mine.  I have listed a completely unrealistic listing for the Stopover.  I generally list several bands I would like to see, then go where the wind may carry me.  Sorry it’s so late, it’s a work in progress until the last minute.

First, the Larry Jack Survival Guide:

  1. Wake up, probably later than you thought
  2. Drink a lot and see lots of bands
  3. Eat (VERY IMPORTANT)
  4. Party with your friends like you are a young person
  5. Wake up and feel like hell, what did you expect, it’s Stopover?  At least you ate.
  6. Rinse and repeat

Now my listings.  I have listed a new band (sometimes two bands) every 30 minutes.  Experience has taught me to only shoot for a different band every 45 minutes.  You local bands know I lover you, but I don’t see many local bands during Stopover, even though there are lots of good ones playing.  The number in parenthesis is my personal ranking, “1” being the highest.  Disclaimer – I listened to almost everyone, but usually only one song.  I expect to see lots of y’all sometime this weekend.  Happy Stopover !!!!

Thursday 3/9/17
1800 – Garden Giant – Ships Of The Sea
1900 – The Dig – Ships Of The Sea
2000 – Kishi Bashi – Ships Of The Sea
2100 – Taze Daze – El Rocko
2130 – Kayne Strang – Wild Wing Cafe (2)
2130 – Secret Show – Stopover Headquarters
2200 – Chain Of Flowers – Jinx (1)
2230 – repeat repeat – Wild Wing Cafe (3)
2300 – Daddy Issues – Jinx (1)
2330 – Hockey Dad – Wild Wing (3)
2400 – Jeff The Brotherhood – Jinx (1)

Friday – 3/10/17
1700 – Tall Tall Trees – Jinx (3)
1730 – Becca Mancari – Trinity Church (2)
1800 – Wreckless Eric – Jinx
1830 – Lillie Mae Rische – Trinity (2)
1900 – The Paperhead – Congress Street Social Club (2)
1900 – Secret Show – Owens Thomas
1930 – Lawrence – Ships Of The Sea (2)
1930 – Gracie & Racheal – Trinity Church (2)
2030 – Alanna Royale – Ships Of The Sea (2)
2030 – Ruby Amanru – Trinity Church (2)
2100 – ESS SEE – El Rocko (2)
2130 – Lee Fields & The Expressions – Ships Of The Sea (1)
2130 – Miggs Son Daddy – Club One (2)
2200 – Hoops – Jinx (2)
2200 – High Waisted – Congress Street Social Club (2)
2300 – Cusses – Congress Street Social Club
2300 – Vita & The Wolf – El-Rocko (1)
2300 – Vagabon – Jinx (3)
2400 – DCTV – Congress Street Social Club (2)
2430 – A Tribe Called Red – Club One (1)
2430 – Curtis Harding – Wild Wing Cafe (2)

Saturday
1400 – Lyn Avenue – Congress Street Social Club
1500 – Best Behavior – El-Rocko (1)
1600 – The Bones Of JR Jones – Jinx (1)
1600 – Nellie Pearl – Congress Street Social Club (2)
1600 – The Britneys – El-Rocko (2)
EAT AROUND THIS TIME
1700 – Charly Bliss – El-Rocko (3)
1700 – River Whyless – Trinity Church (3)
1700 – Damon & The Shitkickers – Jinx
1800 – Tall Heights – Trinity Church (3)
1830 – Yoke Lore – Ships Of The Sea (4)
1900 – Christopher Paul Stelling – Trinity Church (1)
1900 – Secret Show – Emmaus House
1930 – Belle Game – Ships Of The Sea (2)
2000 – Big Mama Shakes – Congress Street Social Club (1)
2030 – Caveman – Ships of the Sea (3)
2100 – Say Brother – Congress Street Social Club (1)
2130 – Lewis Del Mar – Ships of the Sea (3)
2130 – Molly Burch – Wild Wing Cafe (3)
2200 – Country Mice – Congress Street Social Club (1)
2200 – Half Waif – Club One (2)
2200 – Dirty Dishes – Jinx (2)
2230 – Tim Darcy – Wild Wing Cafe (2)
2300 – Ron Gallo – El-Rocko (1)
2300 – AJ Davila – Jinx (3)
2330 – Splashh – Wild Wing Cafe (1)
2400 – Crocodiles – Jinx (1)
2400 – Weaves – El-Rocko (1)

the return of CUSSES

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After taking a break through much of 2016, CUSSES roared back to the forefront of the Savannah area music scene with a tremendous packed show recently at The Jinx.

And in a great bit of news, CUSSES were also a late addition to the Savannah Stopover lineup — you can catch them at Congress Street Social Club at 11 p.m. on Friday, March 10.

And then there’s this:

Tom and I shot some photos at CUSSES recent Jinx show, which was opened by the trippy, rollicking Hank & Cupcakes and Savannah’s own Twisty Cats. Click on through for more photos of all three bands.

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Savannah Stopover 2017 – Petee’s Picks

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March is a curious thing here in Savannah. For some, it means the height of the college basketball season. For others, it’s the time of year when the entire town is drenched in green in preparation for month long St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

And for some of us, it brings about one of the best music festivals in Savannah. Of course, I’m talking about Savannah Stopover, the now six year old festival that’s been bringing both big and up and coming acts to Savannah stages as they make their way to SxSW and other parts of the country. I’ve been giving you an in depth view of some of the acts that we’re excited for over the last week or so, but now it’s about time for the lightning round. With over 80 bands, trying to traverse the schedule can seem like a daunting task. Luckily, we’re here to give you a little bit of insight into who might be up your alley and who might be the sleeper hits of the festival.

Here’s a little run down, sorted by day, of the sets you’re more than likely to see me catching, with a few thumbnails from some bands from previous years.

Thursday, March 9th

Garden Giant – Local Savannah alterna-pop/indie rock.

The Dig – Psychadelic rock laden with synths and trippy riffs from NY.

Kishi Bashi – Multi-instrumentalist Kishi Bashi combines a love of modern electro-pop with his expertise of classic instrumentation.

Taze Daze – Surf meets synth with the newest project from Savannah’s own Hunter Jayne.

pronoun – Emotive and airy lyrics fused with lo-fi bedroom pop out of Boston.

*repeat repeat – Surf inspired rock and roll out of Nashville, TN.

Daddy Issues – Greensboro punk rock drawing influences out of everything from garage rock to a little bit of surf rock.

Hockey Dad – An Australian duo straddling the line between lo-fi pop and surf rock.

JEFF The Brotherhood – Slightly psych, slightly garagey rock from Nashville.

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30 odd Savannah Stopover memories

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The Savannah Stopover is here. Not only is it hard to believe it’s time for the festival, it’s amazing to me that it’s the 7th year already. I’ve attended all 7 years, missing only one night, mostly because I’m a music nerd, but also because it’s insanely fun.

Every year I try to talk as many people as I can into attending, even just for one night. The most common response is that “I don’t know many (any?) of those bands”. Allow me to be blunt: If you like music or fun, it doesn’t matter. At all. It’s about music discovery, hanging with your friends, finding cool new places in the city, and having a good time. In short, it’s about making memories.

On that note, here’s thirty odd (both literally and figuratively) Savannah Stopover memories. Everyone has their own experience, but maybe some of our memories overlap, or maybe it will give you an idea of the vibe of this crazy, interesting, and just plain old awesome weekend.

I remember…
1.) seeing the flyer for the first year on the door to The Jinx. I recognized a few artists, and didn’t know a lot more, but hey, it could be fun?

2.) driving to The Wormhole for the first time ever for opening night. As I was nearing my destination, I was starting to think the GPS was wrong. I didn’t know much a ton about Savannah at that point, and the neighborhood seemed kinda sketchy. The Starland District is one of my favorite places in the city now.

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Savannah Stopover 2017 Spotlight – JEFF The Brotherhood

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You’ve got to respect a band that takes a straight forward approach when it comes to their musical endeavors. Case in point: JEFF The Brotherhood. They’re brothers. They play rock and roll music. That’s it. Well, that’s not all I suppose, but at it’s core that’s what you’re getting.

Beyond the core, the two brothers are willing to push the boundaries of what you may think you consider rock and roll and delve into sometimes psychedelic riffs or even a bit of experimental rock at times. The duo, whose extensive touring history has seen them share the stage with the likes of The Kills, Best Coast, and Fucked Up, have been together, well, all of their lives, and they’ve been honing their rock and roll craft since the early 2000s. The depth of their skills is evident in every track they’ve released.

And don’t just think that because there’s only two members in the band that they put on anything less than a stellar live show whenever they take the stage. Their garage rock style can be laid back at times, but believe me when I say they’re no strangers to rowdy shows, be it in the basement of a music hall or a sold out music festival.

Catch JEFF The Brotherhood headlining Thursday night of the festival at the Jinx at midnight (Thursday night/early Friday morning). Be sure to keep an eye out here for more pre-festival coverage as well. The wait is almost over!

Savannah Stopover 2017 Spotlight – Alanna Royale

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Photo courtesy of Alanna Royale

If you don’t find yourself once an Alanna Royale track comes on, I’m afraid you’ve either lost all soul or you may possible be deaf. The Nashville based band combines influences from funk, pop, and a little old school rock and roll to create stellar live performances that have been captivating audiences since the band’s inception. And believe me, if you refuse to dance, Alanna herself will more than make up for it. In truth the only thing that could overshadow the bands killer rhythm section and Alanna’s boisterous, retro-soul voice is the energy that she herself exudes while onstage. When you come to see Alanna Royale, come prepared to have one hell of a good time because you can bet that the band sure will.

Alanna Royale will be returning to Stopover when they play at Ships of the Sea at 8:30pm on Friday evening. Stopover is coming up quickly but we’ve got all the info that you’ll need to make the most of the festival right here so stay tuned to Hissing Lawns for more previews!

Gracie and Rachel at Savannah Stopover

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Gracie and Rachel

Brooklyn-based duo, Gracie and Rachel, make their Stopover debut Friday, March 10th at Trinity United Methodist Church. Mixing classical elements with dark, edgy alt-pop sensibilities and fiercely tight vocal harmonies, these two are a musical force to be reckoned with. Ephemeral yet powerful. Nebulous yet precise.  Trinity Sanctuary doesn’t know what’s about to hit.

Recently, hissing lawns caught up with Gracie and Rachel to learn more about the duo, where they’re from, and where they’re headed.

You are both originally from the Bay Area–how/where did you meet? How long have you known each other?
G: We actually met in high school! We were placed in the same dance class junior year, and at the beginning of the semester the teacher asked who the musicians in the classroom were. Rachel being a violinist, and myself being a piano player, we both raised our hands and it was decided: we were to make the music for the dance performance. I remember being a little annoyed like, ‘Hey I wanted to dance in the dance class, not play music for it!’ But it resulted in Rachel and I rehearsing together at my house after school for this performance, ultimately realizing we really enjoyed playing together, and coming to explore our own voices as writers together. So I refer to our meeting as an arranged marriage that ended up feeling like we chose it ourselves. We were about 16 when we met so we’re coming on a about decade of knowing one another! I mean, just kidding… We are only 17, so it’s just really been a whirlwind of a year.
Can you share a little about how you began working together? What is your collaborative process like?

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Savannah Stopover 2017 Spotlight – Julien Baker

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It’s easy to get overwhelmed when it comes to the world of singer-songwriters. Many acts get lost in the shuffle because, as talented as they may be, they can’t seem to stand out from the crowd. This is most certainly not the case when you listen to Julien Baker. The Memphis raised artist may only be 21 years old, but her writing contains a depth and weight that one would expect from someone twice her age. To say that Baker’s music is an expression of her wearing her heart on her sleeve would be too demeaning of an analogy. Baker goes a step further and gives you the shirt off of her back while imploring you to put it on yourself. While she may only have one record under her belt right now, the Matador Records artist is sure to continue making major waves for years to come.

Julien Baker will be performing during Savannah Stopover at Trinity United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 11 at 8pm. Be sure to catch her set along with the other artists featured here on hissing lawns!

A Stopover first-time visitor shares her festival picks

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This is a guest post by Macon-based Molly McWilliams Wilkins. Be sure and check out her publication Southern Bon Vivant.

Savannah Stopover is one of those events I’ve been meaning to attend but just wasn’t quite able to, I would have work or personal conflicts each time. However this year I found out about one particular artist and made sure to clear out my calendar ahead of time. More on him later, but for now I’ll give y’all my schedule for Stopover as an out-of-towner heading in for my first visit to this event.

Thursday
I’m heading in after work Friday evening, which is kind of a bummer cause I bought VIP tickets and the band poster event sounds cool. Plus there’s some badass bands playing Thursday. IF I were in town, here’s who I would be sure to check out:

Kishi Bashi
The man can put on a show, and he even let a writer for my website basically manhandle him backstage a couple of years ago. If you’re into classical music fusion with modern sounds, this is your guy.

*repeat repeat
Alright, I’m legit pissed I’m going to miss this one cause they’re also playing in my Macon the next night. Which means I not only missed them during Bragg Jam in Macon last year, I’ll miss them during this event. And I’ve actually met them before. Not only do they have this amazing surfer rock meets Nashville sound, they’re legit good people. This is one you’ll want to catch before they’re selling out big arenas.

Major and the Monbacks
I’m not familiar with this group, but a YouTube video gives me some insight and their instant loud and fun sound has me drawn in. I’m a fan of music I can dance like a fool to, and they seem to do it.

Friday
I’m guessing after leaving Macon around 4:00 p.m. and checking into my Airbnb, I’ll be ready to hit the venues around 7:30 p.m. if I’m lucky. It appears my first band I can really catch will be around 8:30 p.m., which is fine cause it’ll give me time to rest and fuel up beforehand. If there’s nothing I’ve learned from other festivals, it’s honestly to hydrate and make sure I’ve eaten beforehand — cause I’m likely going to get super caught up in everything that’s happening and burn through all of my energy.

Alanna Royale
This is one I severely regretting missing at Bragg Jam cause all of my friends were bragging about her afterwards. I’m a huge fan of classic female soul voices like Etta James, Nina Simone, and Mavis Staples. If this sounds like anything you can identify with, then don’t be like last-year-me and miss Alanna Royale.

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