It’ll be Big: Lulu the Giant’s CD Release, Trinity United Methodist

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Savannah native Rachel Shaner — aka Lulu the Giant — releases her debut CD Kingdoms Fall Thursday, February 2nd at Trinity United Methodist Church.

Shaner, a 2009 Savannah Arts Academy graduate, is known for her upright bass prowess, and has shared stages with a range of talent-heavy locals including Nightingale News and Waits & Co. She’s also an in-demand songstress/guitar-slinger, a staple solo act in a number of venues on River Street. With the release of her debut CD, soon Shaner will also be known as an innovative writer and producer.

“It’s like I’ve always been known as the bassist in the back,” muses Shaner, “but I was always writing my own words and working my ideas.”

An English major and music minor in college, she easily felt how poetry, voice and music flowed naturally together. Over time she found, “I had these songs, and I knew I wanted to record. I wanted to produce them the way I heard them,” she pauses, “with the bass as focal point.”

For two years Shaner hustled. She took any paying gig that came her way. “I didn’t want to do a Kickstarter and all the time consuming details that go with that,” says Shaner, “I didn’t want to owe anyone and I knew I had to pay for it, so I busted my ass.” She’s done it all herself, from website design, CD artwork and layout, and project branding — Shaner did it all and continues to.

“It speaks to the climate of the music business these days,” continues Shaner, “you pretty much have to do it all yourself, you have to be your own greatest strength.”

Shaner presented drafts of her songs, barebones recordings of just her voice and bass to Suny Lyons of Popheart Productions, a studio outside of Athens. The creative connection between Shaner and Lyons was instant and they worked together to bring out the vivid sound and song-scape living in Shaner’s head.

“I didn’t have a band to record with, but I believed in these songs,” emphasizes Shaner. “I knew once they were recorded the way I wanted them, the right people would find me.” Lyons and Shaner then added Daniel Malone on drums, interestingly after most of the project had been tracked, and Slade Adams on strings. Shaner, of course, sang, played guitar and bass. Lyons added guitar, bells, and keys.

It was a field of dreams approach — if you build it they will come — that worked for the recording as well as for the debut performance. On Thursday, Malone again joins on drums. Alex Bazemore plays guitar and Igor Fiksman joins on pedal steel with lead guitarist Anders Thomsen rounding out the roster. These, some of Savannah’s most talented, heaviest-hitting players.

“When you have a sense of voice and inner expression that you know you must share, you just have to follow that through and see where it takes you.”

Indeed, Rachel Shaner—Lulu the Giant—her own greatest strength.

The Vitals
What: Lulu The Giant debut album release party
When: 7 p.m. Feb. 2
Where: Trinity United Methodist Church, 225 W. President St.
Cost: $10
Know More: luluthegiant.com

Rachel Shaner aka Lulu the Giant
photo Josephine Johnson

 

New Music Monday – 1/30/17

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And we’re back with another New Music Monday, featuring work from:

*Father John Misty
*The New Pornographers
*White Reaper
*Part Chimp
*Blood on the Harp
*Born of Osiris
*Mastodon
*Foxing

Enjoy!

Father John Misty
Los Angeles, CA
“Pure Comedy”, lead single from upcoming album of the same name, out April 7 on Sub Pop Records.

Six and a half minutes of beautiful Josh Tillman slow build and release, beginning with simple piano and voice, eventually adding horns, drums and anger to create one hell of a teaser for the upcoming album. Preach, dude, preach. – Tom

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The New Pornographers
Vancouver, Canada
“High Ticket Attractions” from Whiteout Conditions, out April 7 on the band’s own label, Dine Alone Records

Look, you can pretty much count on high quality indie rock every couple years from Canadian supergroup The New Pornographers, and looks like it’s that time again. Trademark back and forth vocals between AC Newman and Neko Case over a hooky synth driven track just feels right, you know? Neko Case backing vocals almost seem like cheating at this point, they seem to improve any song. – Tom

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White Reaper
Louisville, KY
“Judy French” from April 7 Polyvinyl release The World’s Best American Band

Rad Savannah Stopover veterans White Reaper give us a throwback snotty rocker off their upcoming album that is either hilariously titled or super confidently titled. Maybe both. This is how power pop should sound, if you ask me. – Tom

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Part Chimp
South London, UK
“Namekuji” from iV out April 14 on Rock Action

Noise rock titans Part Chimp return from a 5 year hiatus with a song built around a typical (for them) MASSIVE riff, squealing feedback and damaged vocals. Sounds loud even with the volume down, you know? Welcome back, boys. – Tom

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Blood on the Harp
Atlanta, Georgia
“Build Momma a Coffin”

Hailing from the Atlanta Americana/Bluegrass/Folk scene, Blood on the Harp has previously served up a ‘healthy’ hotshot of murderbilly & darkness. While the subject matter may fall into similar territory on their new single, the production & songwriting showcase a more commercially viable sound that even the masses will find palatable; recorded at Unity Studios. That’s not a bad thing…just honest growth & experience that still delivers the goods. – Jon

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Mastodon
Atlanta, Georgia
“Sultan’s Curse”

Spoiler alert, the new Mastodon sounds like Mastodon. Which is perfectly fine, since there are so few metal bands that have reached their apex of riff writing, that is so perfectly, and dare I say, eloquently, accented by soaring melodic vocal structures. The Atlanta band, who has strong ties to Savannah, released this single ahead of their 7th studio album “Emperor of Sand,” due out on March 31. The world might be on the fast-track to apocalypse, but at least we’ll get one more Mastodon album. It’s the little things. Also, the pre-order comes with a color-in your own vinyl jacket with an “Exclusive Box of Mastodon Colored Pencils.” Coloring is metal as fuck. — Joshua

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Born Of Osiris
Palatine, Illinois
“Empires Erased”

The latest single from the Chicago area deathcore band is a stellar followup to arguably their best album to date, 2015’s “Soul Sphere.” Released on the badass Sumerian Records (a label just stacked with some of the best deathcore and progressive metal bands out there) this single is the first release from “The Eternal Reign,” due out on Feb. 24. This is not new music, but rather a re-recording of the band’s 2007 EP “The New Reign.” During that time, the band had several different members and a slightly different sound. I suppose they wanted to revisit the EP with the more successful sound the current members have solidified over the last decade. They were pretty bad ass in 2007 though, so this is kind of like getting the same song in different form, which is fucking cool for nerds like me. — Joshua

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Foxing
St. Louis, Missouri
“Two”

Holy emotional catharsis batman! This “single,” which is really a two-track release (apt title), is packed with powerful cadences. One thing I’ve always enjoyed about this band — and I consider it to be their strongest attribute — is the juxtaposition of emotive, primal vocals over chill, indie rock riffs. Indica Two, the first track, does not disappoint here. Equally, Redwood, brings it. I certainly hope a follow up to 2015’s “Dealer” is in the works. — Joshua

Mothership and Gunpowder Gray at The Jinx – photos

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Text by Joshua Peacock, photos by Tom Cartmel

If you are endeared to double-stack power, head banging, solo-blistering, loud-ass anthem rock, Mothership, out of Dallas, Texas, is your joint. It’s mine for sure. So I was up and front for most all of this show.

While their recorded stuff has tendencies towards the psychedelic, the live show is a nonstop gauntlet of ripping riffs, squealing solos, and just fantastic breakdowns.
Mothership played their first show in Savannah with Atlanta’s Gunpowder Grey opening. Gunpowder Gray is 70s anthem rock, but done pretty well. I did think they were not taking full advantage of their double stacks. Turn it up to 11 boys!

Personally, I am beginning to think that regardless of genre or style, if a band is musically tight, I can in the very least appreciate it, and usually get into it. The show started at the usual Jinx-thirty for a pleasant mix of unfamiliar faces with the usual suspects sprinkled throughout. This was a super fun show. You know you’re at the coolest happening when all-around badass Burke is up front for the entire show.

Also, I really love it when the opening band or headliners check out the other band while playing. There’s a lot of times where touring bands will not even be present for the openers. It’s just fun to see everyone dig the bands they are playing with. This was especially true for this show.

The cats in Gunpowder Gray were at the front of the stage for the entire show, head banging away. Mothership had some rad things to say about them too, which is always nice to see.

Another kick-ass rock show at the Jinx in the books.

Here’s the indomitable Tom Cartmel with some pictorial evidence for your viewing pleasure.

Read more →

“NineteenEightyFour” from Dope KNife “is perfectly timed to reflect a world of growing instability and turmoil” – review

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Review by Garrett Deming:

Set to a sparse musical dystopia, Dope KNife‘s NineteenEightyFour is equally imbued with autobiography, social commentary, Scorsese-esque noir, dark humor, and bombastic hip-hop authority. Dope KNife displays his signature style of savage wordplay over self-produced tracks composed of original live music and takes the listener on a dense tour through 21st century life.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I appear as a musician on this album. Some time last year I got a call from Dope KNife one random afternoon, asking me if I was free to come by the house and record some tracks. After spending a few hours improvising over rough drum beats, he explained his musical approach to the album. Rather than trolling music libraries for new samples, he’d decided to tap the local Savannah music scene for musicians. The musical result, after two years of work, is a record that sounds like a live band is backing up the vocals.

While the music itself has a unique character, it simply serves as the setting for the story of NineteenEightyFour. Just as the reader of Orwell’s novel feels the oppression of Winston Smith’s world, the listener of Dope KNife’s album can feel the grey walls, the decaying structures and souls of a confused world trying to express thought and feeling in a stifled and hostile environment. And, just like the book, the character in the forefront goes through mental and logistical gymnastics to seek freedom. At times KNife himself is the protagonist, as in the opener “Nothing To Lose,” where he documents his journey to find himself through different ages. Other times he serves as a twisted Master of Ceremonies — “They Live” has him introducing the ills of modern life as if he were the announcer of a macabre carnival show, and group tracks like “Your Tombstone” and “#SQUADHARD” see him sitting back and handing the mic over to others. Character pieces, like “Thought Crimes” and “Name Up,” put the vocalist in the roles of a regretful one night stand and an ego-maniacal fame junky, respectively, and show Dope KNife’s range both in delivery and in creative elbow-room.

There is, undoubtedly, a vaguely unsettling quality to the album as whole. A sense of paranoia runs as a constant thread, as does a certain chilliness. Quieter moments in “Memory Hole” and “Unperson” leave room for almost whispered confessions, as though the speaker understands the threats of speaking out. Like Winston and Julia in the novel, Dope KNife’s more candid verses communicate a complicit dissatisfaction, but unlike those characters KNife’s words display an understanding of the threats to his freedom. It is not until they are captured that the novel’s characters truly start to understand the inner workings of their state-based adversary. Conversely, Dope KNife jokes satirically about Citizens United, corrupt media structures, law enforcement abuses, and social pressure to conform. This sets Dope KNife’s NineteenEightyFour starkly apart from its namesake, and serves to show that this is not simply a musicalized version of the novel. Considering that NineteenEightyFour is the rapper’s birth year, there are evidently more layers to the choice of title.

Dope KNife’s NineteenEightyFour is perfectly timed to reflect a world of growing instability and turmoil. It seems the arts have but few choices in these days — the artists must either cater to the corporately-sponsored narratives and formulas, or else buck vehemently against them. While this album is certainly no political treatise, it vibrates fierce resistance and an appreciation for knowledge, honesty, and a backbone. As Dope KNife’s first release on the StrangeFamous label, NineteenEightyFour shows the vibrant possibilities of individual artists with full creative control as they pair with other independent media outlets. It also shows that hip hop is as vital as ever, as are all other genre of music underneath the surface of Big Brother’s sugar-coated media offerings.

Click here to purchase the album via Strange Famous Records. The album release show is on Friday, Jan. 27 at El-Rocko Lounge.

Larry Jack’s Magical Music Tour – 1/26/17 – 1/31/17

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Hey guys,
There are plenty of good choices this weekend. Both of the shows listed on Thursday should be good. On Friday, I hope to make it to the Train Wrecks at the Rail Pub, a great place to watch a band. I also plan to make it by the Wormhole that night, I really enjoyed Ancient Cities at the Stopover.  And I am always glad when I get to catch a show from Isaac Smith. But you can’t go wrong with the Chili Cook-off/COEDS show at the Jinx that night. Be sure to grab some of Tony Beasley’s chili, it is some of the best I have tasted. There are several fine choices on Saturday also. I will probably bounce around, but I will be sure to make it by El Rocko for both Dead Oak and AM Rodriguez. It has been a while since I have seen Star Period Star, so I hope to make it by the Jinx also. Wherever you go this weekend, dress warm, it’s supposed to get down into the 30’s this weekend.

Thursday – 1/26
The Van Allen Belt, Clouds & Satellites, Nightingale News – El-Rocko
Big Something – Barrelhouse South

Friday – 1/27
Train Wrecks – Rail Pub (6-10p)
Charlie Fog Band – Tubby’s Thunderbolt Fundraising Benefit for HUGS (6p)
Malcolm Holcombe – Sentient Bean (8p)
Demarco – Savannah’s Music City Bar and Grill
Ancient Cities, Young Mister, Isaac Smith – Wormhole
LITZ, Fletcher’s Grove – Barrelhouse South
COEDS – Jinx’s Second Annual Chili Cook-Off
General Patton & The Heads Of State – Molly MacPherson’s

Saturday – 1/28
Damon & The Shitkickers – Jinx Happy Hour
Travis Tritt – Lucas Theater (8p)
Slick Nickel – Savannah’s Music City Bar and Grill
Chew, Star Period Star, KYLE – Jinx
A.M. Rodriguez and His Damn Fine Band, Dead Oak – El-Rocko
Jess Goggans Band – Congress Street Social Club
NAKD – Pour Larry’s
Voodoo Fix, Cha Wa – Barrelhouse South
The Sound Experiment – Molly MacPherson’s

Sunday – 1/29
Tedeschi Trucks Band – Trustees Theater
Voodoo Soup – Congress Street Social Club

Monday – 1/30
Craig Tanner & Mr Williams Open Mic – Abe’s on Lincoln
Open Fields, Street Clothes, Rude Dudes – El-Rocko

Tuesday – 1/31
Ben Keiser Band – Bay Street Blues
Eric Culberson Open Jam – Bayou Cafe

premiere: 3 songs from Walter Harris

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Walter Harris passed away last week. He was a staple of the Savannah scene, but not because of his regular club gigs or recorded efforts. Here a snippet from Larry Jack’s recent reflections about Walter:

Many of you knew Walter, even if not by name. He played on River Street, across from the Bayou, for many years. He later moved a little further east, closer to Spanky’s. He was the consummate street musician. He played on River Street for over 25 years. He could tell you anything about the history of River Street (and much of downtown Savannah too)… Mostly he went to work every day on River Street. I have seen Walter barely able to get out of the car, then play on River Street for several hours, often for only a few dollars. He was one of the friendliest people I know, always greeting everyone with “how you doing?” If he thought you were a tourist, it would be quickly followed by “where you from?” No matter where your home city was, Walter had a song “just for you.” …

River Street will never be the same without him and Savannah has lost a great ambassador. I guess that whenever I go down to the Riverfront, I will always look over to the River side to see if Walter is playing there today. His loss will leave an empty place in my heart, as it does so many people.

Click here to read a 2007 Savannah Morning News article about Walter and his collaborators Marion May and Brian Gilliam.

Harris’ obituary noted that he was a lead guitarist for many church choirs over the years and that he “has been the welcoming face and voice of Savannah’s River Street for over 30 years as self-employed guitarist with a captivating baritone voice.”

On Saturday night, I talked to Jason Bible before and after his set at The Wormhole. Jason has been inspired by Walter, and he spoke movingly of the beauty of the funeral service for Harris earlier in the day. Jason told me that he had been working with Walter on some recordings, and we’re honored present three tracks here. “Everything Must Change” seems especially powerful at this moment. Turn it up.

“Everything Must Change” – Walter Harris:

“Love Melody” – Walter Harris:

“Place in the Sun” – Walter Harris:

During his set at The Wormhole, Jason sang the new song that he also performed during Walter’s funeral: “Sing On.” Here it is:

Singer-Songwriters at the Thursday Night Opry – photos

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Trinity Sanctuary Concerts kicked off its 2017 performance season with the annual singer-songwriter showcase Thursday, January 19. Reverend Hylton, Blake Rainey and Jason Waller brought their magic from Atlanta. Local faves Dare Dukes, Coy Campbell, Kurtis Schumm, Sarah Poole and Rachel Shaner charmed, enchanted and entertained. Here’s a bit of that holy rollin’ Thursday Night Opry afterglow.

Jason Waller

Jason Waller

Coy Campbell

Coy Campbell

 

Coy Campbell

Coy Campbell

Sarah Poole

Sarah Poole

Sarah Poole

Sarah Poole
photo Josephine Johnson

Blake Rainey

Blake Rainey
photo Josephine Johnson

Dare Dukes

Dare Dukes

Reverend Hylton

Reverend Hylton

Rachel Shaner

Rachel Shaner

Rachel Shaner

Rachel Shaner

Kurtis Schumm

Kurtis Schumm

Kurtis Schumm

Kurtis Schumm

 

New Music Monday – 1/23/17

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This week’s New Music Monday features songs from:

  • Spoon
  • Elliott Smith
  • The Orwells
  • Hurray for the Riff Raff
  • Emma Ruth Rundle
  • San Soma

If you’d like to share what you’re listening to this week, please join us on Facebook.

Spoon
Austin, TX
“Hot Thoughts” title track from album due March 17 on Matador Records

Britt Daniel and company never leave me disappointed. Another album of catchy, slightly off (in the best way possible) indie rock goodness is on the way, and that makes me very happy. – Tom

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Elliott Smith
Los Angeles, CA
“I Figured You Out” from the 20th anniversary expanded edition of Either/Or out March 10 on Kill Rock Stars

It can be a bit sad when record labels/family start reaching a little too deep into a deceased artist’s archives, but so far that hasn’t been the case for Elliott Smith. Yeah, they’re cashing in on the anniversary of Smith’s massively (and deservedly) beloved album Either/Or, but pretty much any “new” Elliott Smith is more than welcome on my headphones. This one was apparently a demo Smith recorded that he thought sounded “like the fucking Eagles” and gave the song to Mary Lou Lord to record. I assure you it does not sound like “the fucking Eagles”, it is a classic, minimal, and beautiful Elliott Smith song that would not have sounded out of place on almost any of his releases. Recommended for fans of things that do not suck. – Tom

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The Orwells
Chicago, IL
“Black Francis” from Terrible Human Beings out Feb. 17

Written as a thank you to Pixies frontman Charles Thompson/Frank Black/Black Francis for his musical output which has influenced The Orwells more than a little. There are worse bands to try to rip off than the Pixies. – Tom

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Hurray for the Riff Raff
New Orleans
“Hungry Ghost” off The Navigator, due March 10 on ATO Records

Alynda Segarra opens up her vocals in this searingly confident video that, according to the band’s Facebook page, “captures the beauty of safe and queer diy venues and parties.” – bill

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Emma Ruth Rundle
Los Angeles, California
“Forever, as the Setting Son”

This heartbreaking track was originally recorded in Los Angeles several years ago. Rundle has garnered a lot of attention with her latest album, Marked For Death — which you should definitely check out. She reissued this single as a charity promotion for Planned Parenthood with all proceeds going to an action fund. In a statement she said, “I find myself filled with grief these days, similar to that expressed in the song, over many of the issues we as humans, as tenants of the Earth, will face in the coming era.” I agree. I am buying it. — Joshua

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San Soma
Savannah, Ga.
“Desaturation”

I was not privy to this Savannah via Chicago band until the 2017 Savannah Stopover lineup dropped last week. I’ve personally never seen them on a local bill. (I probably just missed it. I suck like that.) After coursing through “Desaturation,” which dropped about a month ago, I am pretty stoked about seeing them live. — Joshua

Larry Jack’s Magical Music Tour – 1/19/17 – 1/24/17

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Hey guys,

It looks like another good weekend coming up. There are several good choices on Thursday, including the Trinity show, The Attack at the Jinx, and the eclectic Comeback Alice at the Barrelhouse. I don’t even know where I would end up on Friday, there are so many choices. Assuming we are all still around on Saturday night (after all, Trump will have already been in office for 24 hours), I would strongly recommend the Paleface show at the Wormhole on Saturday and the band at the Social Club looks interesting, an accordian and a brass section. See you guys around soon.

Thursday 1/19
Justin Hylton, Dare Dukes, Jason Waller, Rachael Shaner, Blake Rainey, Kurtis Schumacher, Coy Campbell, Sarah Poole – Trinity Church’s Thursday Night Opry (7p, $10)
Birdperson, Twisty Cats, Machine Dreams – El-Rocko
The Lark and the Loon – Wormhole
Come Back Alice – Barrelhouse South
Koffin Kats, The Attack – Jinx

Friday 1/20
Damon and the Shitkickers – Tubby’s Thunderbolt (6p)
You Will Hear Us, The Lipschitz, Twisty Cats, Greta O and the Toxic Shock – Sulfur Studios (7p, $5)
Joi Ryder, Rude Dude and the Creek Freaks, Pointless Honey – Sentient Bean (8p)
Charlie Fog Band – Dub’s Upstairs (8p)
Monroe Crossing – Randy Wood Guitars (8p, $23)
Cory Chambers Jazz Band – Jazz’d (9p)
C2 and the Brothers Reed, Bonnie Blue – Barrelhouse South
Lara Hope and the Ark-Tones – Jinx
The Mercers – Molly MacPherson’s
Ben Keiser Band – Bayou Cafe

Saturday 1/21
Damon and the Shitkickers – Jinx Happy Hour
Hotplate, Dead Hand, The Death Hour – Jinx
Paleface, Jason Bible – Wormhole
David Harbuck, Jon Lee and the Canebreaks – Bayou Cafe
Say Brother, The Minks, Movers & Shakers, Debbie and the Skanks – El-Rocko
Bella’s Bartok – Congress Street Social Club
Jonnie Morgan Band, PMA – Barrelhouse South
Wood & Steel – Molly MacPherson’s

Sunday 1/22
Voodoo Soup – Congress Street Social Club

Monday 1/23
Craig Tanner & Mr. Williams Open Mic – Abe’s On Lincoln

Tuesday 1/24
Clouds and Satellites – Foxy Loxy Cafe (7p)
Ben Keiser Band – Bay Street Blues
Eric Culberson Open Jam – Bayou Cafe

R.I.P. Walter Harris

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Hey guys,

We don’t really talk about street musicians over here at hissing lawns. Let’s be honest, a lot of people don’t consider them “real musicians”. I can say that I have seen many people playing on the streets of Savannah and, just like in the bars of Savannah, some of them are not so good and some of them are quite good. I think that anyone who can bring any type of music to our streets for everyone to hear is a valuable commodity to any city. There are few musicians who are able to play on the streets and earn a living. I was lucky enough to have the acquaintance of one of Savannah’s finest, Walter Harris.

Many of you knew Walter, even if not by name. He played on River Street, across from the Bayou, for many years. He later moved a little further east, closer to Spanky’s. He was the consummate street musician. He played on River Street for over 25 years. He could tell you anything about the history of River Street (and much of downtown Savannah too). He told me once that he played on a Chevy commercial. He also said he was in a John Mellencamp video. He had an occasional gig to play, usually a private party. There is a DO article about him online. But mostly, he went to work every day on River Street. I have seen Walter barely able to get out of the car, then play on River Street for several hours, often for only a few dollars. He was one of the friendliest people I know, always greeting everyone with “how you doing?” If he thought you were a tourist, it would be quickly followed by “where you from”. No matter where your home city was, Walter had a song “just for you”. Walter passed away on Sunday night, he died peacefully in his sleep.

River Street will never be the same without him and Savannah has lost a great ambassador. I guess that whenever I go down to the Riverfront, I will always look over to the River side to see if Walter is playing there today. His loss will leave an empty place in my heart, as it does so many people.
RIP brother.

Larry Jack Sammons

Savannah Stopover announces full lineup for March 9-11

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Earlier today, Savannah Stopover confirmed 80+ bands for the 7th annual fest, which takes place in venues throughout the northwest quadrant of the Historic District from March 9th to 11th.

It’s one of the best weekends of the year for Savannah’s live music lovers, especially those who want to experience up-and-coming artists.

Here’s an alphabetical list of confirmed touring acts, followed by a list of Savannah-based bands, plus the current lineup poster. Please remember that there could be changes to the lineup, as one should expect from a sprawling festival like this one.

Confirmed Touring Acts:
A Tribe Called Red- Ottawa, ON
AJ Dávila – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Alanna Royale – Nashville, TN
Alex Cameron – Sydney, Australia
Allison Crutchfield & The Fizz – Philadelphia, PA
Becca Mancari – Lynchburg, VA
Best Behavior, Brooklyn, NY
Big Mama Shakes – Richmond, VA
Caveman – Brooklyn, NY
Chain of Flowers – Cardiff, Wales
Charly Bliss – New York, NY
Christopher Paul Stelling – Brooklyn, NY
Cicada Rhythm – Athens, GA
Communist Daughter – Saint Paul, MN
Country Mice – Brooklyn, NY
Crocodiles – San Diego, CA
Daddy Issues – Nashville, TN
Deantoni Parks – Newnan, GA
Dirty Dishes – New York, NY
DTCV – Joshua Tree, CA
ESS SEE – Brooklyn, NY
Ezra Furman – Chicago , IL
Floco Torres – Macon, GA
Frances Cone – Brooklyn, NY
Gibbz – Bohemia, NY
GGOOLLDD – Milwaukee, WI
Gracie and Rachel – Brooklyn, NY
Half Waif – Brooklyn, NY
High Waisted – New York, NY
Hockey Dad – Windang, New South Wales, Australia
Hoops – Bloomington, IN
Ian Sweet – New York, NY
JEFF The Brotherhood – Nashville, TN
Julien Baker – Memphis, TN
Kane Strang – Dunedin, New Zealand
Kelsey Waldon – Nashville, TN
Kishi Bashi – Athens, GA
Lawrence – New York, NY
Lee Fields & The Expressions – Brooklyn, NY
Lewis Del Mar – Rockaway Beach, NY
Major and the Monbacks – Norfolk, VA
Molly Burch – Austin, TX
Muddy Magnolias – Nashville, TN
Nellie Pearl – Louisville, KY
pronoun – Brooklyn, NY
*repeat repeat – East Nashville, TN
River Whyless – Asheville, NC
Ron Gallo – Philadelphia, PA
Ruby Amanfu – Nashville, TN
Saw Black – Richmond, VA
Say Brother – Columbia, SC
Splashh – Hackney, London
Tall Heights – Boston, MA
Tall Tall Trees – New York, NY
The Belle Game – Vancouver, BC
The Bones of J.R. Jones – Rosendale, NY
The Britanys – New York, NY
The Dig – New York, NY
The Paperhead – Nashville, TN
The Undercover Dream Lovers – Brooklyn, NY
Tim Darcy – Montreal, QC
Upright Man – New York, NY
Vagabon – Cameroon/New York
Valley Queen – Los Angeles, CA
Vita and the Woolf – Philadelphia, PA
Walker Lukens – Austin, TX
Weaves – Toronto, ON
Wolkoff – Brooklyn, NY
Wreckless Eric – Newhaven, England
Yoke Lore – Brooklyn, NY

Confirmed Savannah Acts:
Ambrose
Clouds & Satellites
Damon and the Shitkickers
Garden Giant
Isaac Smith
Lulu the Giant
Lyn Avenue
McLeod
Miggs
Rude Dude & The Creek Freaks
San Soma

As previously announced, Kishi Bashi will headline opening night of the festival in the North Garden of the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum — a great venue that will host some of the higher-profile acts all three days — and then the festival will fan out from there. Lee Fields & The Expressions will headline at Ships of the Sea on Friday night.

Among the bigger names that were announced for the first time today are Julien Baker, A Tribe Called Red, Lewis Del Mar, Caveman, Weaves, and Tim Darcy.

Click here for tickets. Single day passes are $34, weekend passes are $59, three-day passes are $79, and VIP passes (worth it, in our opinion) are $149.

We’ll be back with a lot more in the coming weeks, but for now I’ll end with this wonderful video from the duo Lewis Del Mar — you might not have heard of them, but they’re a great example of Stopover catching a band on the rise:

New Music Monday – 1/16/17

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It’s another week and another New Music Monday. This week, Tom and I are listening to:

  • Pile
  • Pissed Jeans
  • Chavez
  • Dope KNife
  • Rhiannon Giddens

Pile
Boston, MA
“Texas” from A Hairshirt Of Purpose, out March 31 via Exploding In Sound.

Oh, man, am I excited for new Pile output. Tangled melodies, strange vocal delivery, intertwining guitars, it’s all there, classic mathy, complex Pile elements. It will take some repeated listening, but I honestly can’t imagine that this won’t dig deep into my brain this year. There’s not too many current rock bands writing stuff this challenging and rewarding. – Tom

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Pissed Jeans
Philadelphia
“Ignorecam” off of the upcoming Why Love Now, available February 24th on Sub Pop

Do you like your rock safe, and want it to leave you with a fuzzy feeling? Umm, I’d pass on this if I were you. Grimy and nasty ala the late era Black Flag variety, Pissed Jeans is both confrontational and absurd, in the best possible way. – Tom

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Chavez
New York
“The Bully Boys” from the Cockfighters 12″ e.p. out now on Matador

Chavez was underrated, even in their mid 90’s heyday. They never really broke up, but the members went on to success in other bands and fields, reuniting occasionally for a show or two and then flickering out again. Well the embers have been stoked again, resulting in a 3 song e.p. of classic alt guitar rock. They’re not breaking new ground here, but it still sounds pretty damn good to me. – Tom

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Dope KNife
Savannah
“Nothing To Lose” off NineteenEightyFour, due Jan. 27 on Strange Famous Records

There’s a lot to love in this new track from Savannah’s Dope KNife — the confident but sometimes subdued vocals, the heavy bass juxtaposed with keys, the references to his own complex childhood. We’ll have more about the record soon. – bill

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Rhiannon Giddens
Greensboro, N.C.
“At the Purchaser’s Option” from the forthcoming Freedom Highway

Well this seems like the right artist, the right album, and the right time. Giddens has a stellar reputation among critics and fans already, but the forthcoming Freedom Highway seems likely to vault her to the next level (whatever that is exactly). Giddens based this penetrating song on a line from an 1830s ad announcing the sale of a young woman: “She has with her a 9-month old baby, who is at the purchaser’s option.” – bill