hissing lawns

Dad Joke 10, Monday Night Mixup at Sulfur Studios – photos

by Tom Cartmel • December 21, 2015

I’m not going to lie, both Dad Joke Productions and Sulfur Studios have been killing it lately. Case in point, Dad Joke #10, a showcase of musicians, artists, and comedians that made a Monday night waaay more fun and interesting than usual. Comedians between sets from Hawaiian Boi, Miquel Moure, Portland, OR’s Pychomagic, and Crazy Bag Lady (this is a really, really great idea) while artists worked their various mediums in the periphery.

I always enjoy the tunes, but I enjoyed watching the artists’ process more than I expected, and apparently we have some pretty damn funny local comedians, too. Killer concept, well executed in a cool and flexible space. Man, we really have some super talented and hardworking people in this city.

I didn’t catch every minute of every act, but caught a fair bit, check it out.

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Larry Jack’s Magical Music Tour – 12/17/15 – 12/22/15

by Larry Jack Sammons • December 17, 2015

Hey guys,
It looks like we’ve got another big weekend ahead. Thursday starts with a show at the Jinx from T. Hardy Morris and his band, they are aways rocking. Friday has one of my favorite holiday events, the Homegrown Holiday Hoedown at the American Legion. There are plenty of good bands and it is always a fun time. If you don’t have a ticket to that sold-out show, be sure to head down to the Barrelhouse or the Social Club, both venues have good shows on Friday. It looks like there are plenty of shows to choose from on Saturday, I have listed several recommendations. Be sure to take note that there are several shows continuing into the week, after all, it is Christmas.

Thursday – 17th
Hardy & The Hardknocks – Jinx
Dark Water Rising – Barrelhouse South

Friday – 18th
Accomplices, Train Wrecks, City Hotel, Waits & Co – Holiday Hoedown at the American Legion (SOLD OUT)
Hypnotics – Congress Street Social Club
Waits & Co, Bradford Lee Folk & The Bluegrass Playboys – Barrelhouse South
Charile Morrill (BulletBoys, Black Knight, Hawk), Nowhere Child, Bad Justice – Wormhole

Saturday – 19th
Payne Bridges, Junkyard Angel, Isaac Smith Band – Tybee City Limits at the Tybee Post Theater (7:30, $10)
Train Wrecks, Bottles & Cans, Joe Nelson – Jinx
John Murphy, High Divers – Barrelhouse South
Reckless Abandon – Congress Street Social Club
American Hologram – Molly MacPherson’s
Pelican Johnny, AM Rodriguez – Sentient Bean
Star Wars Christmas Party – Wormhole ($5)

Sunday – 20th
Nana Grizol, Toby Foster, Curbdogs, Garden Giant – Sulfur Studios (all ages, $8/ $11)

Monday – 21st
Babes In Toyland, Wave Slaves – Jinx

Tuesday – 22nd
Clouds & Satellites – Foxy Loxy Cafe (7p, all ages)
Danielle Hicks Duo – Jazz’d

preview: Hardy & The Hardknocks, Breakers, & Justin Osborne on 12/17 at The Jinx

by bill • December 16, 2015

As 2015 winds down, it seems fitting that The Jinx and MusicFile Productions (parent company of Savannah Stopover and Revival Fest) should be teaming up for one more great show before year’s end.

Hardy & The Hardknocks, Breakers, and Justin Osborne of SUSTO will be at The Jinx on Thursday, 12/7. Click here for the Facebook invite.

Hardy & The Hardknocks is the latest project of T. Hardy Morris, who also performs with Dead Confederate (DC played AthFest in 2015 but is largely inactive) and Diamond Rugs.

Hardy & The Hardknocks are diving deep into southern grunge, and their Drownin on a Mountaintop is right up there with my favorite albums of 2015. I wrote more about the sound in a review of the band’s set at Grant’s Lounge at Bragg Jam.

Anna Chandler interviewed Morris for this week’s Connect, and Jim Reed wrote glowingly of Morris and Dead Confederate in this week’s Do. From Jim:

There’s still plenty of rage and friction and despair and willful disobedience in T. Hardy’s loud, distorted laments and singalong songs, but these days, and with this particular band, there’s a whole lot more melancholy on display, as well as a recognizable amount of (relatively) straightforward Americana-tinged hopefulness.

It’s a bit like somebody opened up the drapes in a room painted entirely black. It’s still a black room, but it’s a little bit brighter shade of black. You know what I mean?

Here’s the video for “My Me”:

Breakers has played only a handful of shows — maybe three? — and I’ve been lucky enough to be at two of them. There have only been a couple of other times in recent years when I’ve seen a new band and thought immediately that they could blow up big.

Here’s a live take of “Tasha” recorded at Dollhouse Productions:

<a href="http://breakersgonnabreak.bandcamp.com/track/tasha-live-take">"TASHA" Live Take by BREAKERS</a>

I caught only a little of SUSTO at Bragg Jam in Macon this year, not enough to get a fair dose of the band, but friends at the festival couldn’t stop raving about an afternoon solo set by Justin Osborne. So I’m excited to see him, and I hope to see the full band at Savannah Stopover 2016. Check out this great tune — I mean, really great:

And why not a few photos?

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Niche, Caustic Casanova, and Wax Ligature at The Jinx – photos

by bill • December 16, 2015

We’ve raved here before about Niche‘s new album Heading East (click here to stream it at Echoes And Dust), and in recent days, the record made a top 10 of 2015 list at Invisible Oranges, got a great review from Bloody Good Music, and earned an honorable mention in a top 15 of 2015 list at Metal Injection.

Heading East marks another achievement for Retro Futurist Records, which was founded by core members of Kylesa.

Caustic Casanova from Washington, D.C. is also in the Retro Futurist stable, and I can’t say enough good things about the trio’s mix of post punk, psych rock, and generally awesome rock and roll.

Since Wax Ligature is essentially a new band, I was unprepared for the trio’s tight, heavy set. I hope we’ll be hearing a lot more of Wax Ligature soon.

Here’s one shot of each act, with more after the jump:

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Baroness + Earthling at The Jinx – more photos

by bill • December 16, 2015

Tom has already shared some thoughts and a super photo gallery from the big Baroness show on Saturday night at The Jinx, so I’ll keep this short.

Baroness had not played a show in Savannah in five years — the last gig here was at the grand opening of Civvies in 2010 — and a lot has happened in the intervening years. Now based in Philadelphia, Baroness has picked up a new drummer and bassist. They suffered through and recovered from a terrible bus accident in England. In the past year, Athon of Black Tusk and Civvies founder Robyn Reeder passed away.

And Baroness has kept on creating some powerful music.

On Saturday afternoon, Baroness made it clear just how important it was to be returning to The Jinx:

We are beyond excited to finally play again @thejinx912 , after far too many years away. If it weren't for this venue, its staff and patrons, there simply would be no Baroness.

Posted by Baroness on Saturday, December 12, 2015

We took a lot of photos (it’s what we do). Click on through for more photos of Baroness and the excellent opener Earthling from both Petee and me:

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Baroness and Earthling at The Jinx – photos

by Tom Cartmel • December 16, 2015

I was wrong. I’d been annoyed and sometimes even correcting people who referred to Baroness as a Savannah band. None of the members have lived in Savannah for several years. Was the band associated with the city? Absolutely. But to call them a Savannah band when they lived, wrote, and recorded in Philadelphia or, well, pretty much anywhere other than here seemed a slight disservice to our thriving music scene and the many amazing bands in it.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Baroness. The Blue album release was one of the first shows that really got me interested in the scene again. And when a couple dozen of us made the drive to Charleston’s Music Farm for a show supporting Yellow and Green, the band put us all on “The List”. It really doesn’t get cooler than that. John and Pete talked to us at length after the show, too. Again, super cool, but I see the guys from Black Tusk at The Jinx. Savannah band. Members of Kylesa checking out a new band at Hang Fire. Savannah band. Wet Socks or Crazy Bag Lady or Niche or….well, you get the idea. Savannah bands.

But in the back of my mind, some doubts. John Baizley at the memorial for Athon. “If I Forget Thee, Lowcountry” from the Green album. Prints of Baizley’s amazing art for auction at Statts Fest.

After Saturday night’s blazing show at The Jinx, there is not even the slightest doubt in my mind that Baroness is a Savannah band. The love of both the venue and the city was palpable in the blistering performance and the praise spoken from the stage. And then the announcement that all the proceeds from the show would benefit Jake Trout, a local battling stage 4 cancer. Ughh, I could not have been more wrong. Baroness is not only a Savannah band, they may be the embodiment of Savannah, weathering tragedy and hardship with both grace and beauty.

Oh, the show? AMAZING. The rhythm section is now fully integrated, the crushing parts of the songs are just that, and the slower passages are flat out beautiful. The set was drawn almost exclusively from Blue, Yellow, Green, and the forthcoming Purple, the lone exception being “ISAK” from Red. The only bummer of the night? That Purple wasn’t available yet at the merch table, as it comes out this Friday on the band’s own Abraxan record label. I, for one, can’t wait.

Earthling opened with some really great, old school thrash that would be a super strong headliner on any other night. Definitely worth checking out.

I pushed the shutter button on my camera a lot over the course of the night. Here’s the results, with tons more after the jump. (Click here for another post with photos by Petee and Bill.)

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the latest from Shaky Knees (and the new Shaky Beats)

by bill • December 15, 2015

Several hissing lawns contributors had an amazing time at Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta last May (check out a whole bunch of posts), and I expect some of us will head that way again in 2016.

Interesting news that Shaky Knees is moving from Central Park to Centennial Park. In the festival’s relatively short life, it hasn’t ever repeated a venue.

Early bird 3-day tickets are on sale for just $154. If the lineup is even remotely close to last year’s (Tame Impala, The Avett Brothers, The Strokes, Interpol, Ride, Neutral Milk Hotel, and on and on), then that early price is an amazing deal.

Last year, Shaky Knees spun off a separate festival — Shaky Boots, which programmed a strong country lineup. For 2016, Shaky Knees has also launched Shaky Beats Festival, so if your tastes tend toward dance and electronica, you should definitely study the lineup:

Click on through for some of our shots from the 2015 fest:

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Bomb Shelter Records — one of Savannah’s newest labels — releases 2016 compilation

by bill • December 12, 2015

The Bomb Shelter came into being as one of Savannah’s most vital DIY spaces, especially for the 18-20 year olds who are barred from most Savannah venues. The house shows might have come to an end, but Bomb Shelter Records seems poised for a big 2016.

The new(ish) label has released this 6-song compilation by artists on their roster. We’ve already raved about Generation Pill’s Out-pāShənt. Among the other acts in the compilation is Nightingale News, who joined the Bomb Shelter roster in recent weeks. Check it out, via the label’s YouTube account:

Track list:

Generation Pill, “Soggy Biscut” * 0:00
Nightingale News, “Emerald Tsunami” 5:22
Grimsel, “7th Cent Art” 8:44
Culture Vulture, “House of Stone” 10:45
KYLE, “Boost Power” * 16:39
Valore, “Cigarette Burns” 20:29

Ramsay Midwood, String Magnolia and the Georgia Mountain Stringband at the Thursday Night Opry – photos

by cailab • December 11, 2015

On Nov. 19 at 7pm the doors of Trinity Sanctuary Concerts opened for the Fall Edition of their quarterly Thursday Night Opry. String Magnolia kicked off the night with a fantastic first performance as an ensemble, singing originals about first love, meadows and office romances.

Named for the “Georgia Mountain” (a.k.a. hill) in Decatur, the Georgia Mountain Stringband serenaded the lively crowd with some hilarious originals mixed in with solid covers. Rounding out the evening was singer-songwriter Ramsay Midwood out of Austin, Texas — and left the crowd clamoring for more when the entire ensemble wrapped up with “I Saw the Light” by Hank Williams.

Can’t wait for what 2016 has in store!

Check out a few photos below, and click through for the entire album.

Ramsay Midwood

String Magnolia

String Magnolia

Georgia Mountain Stringband

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Larry Jack’s Magical Musical Tour – 12/10/15 – 12/14/15

by Larry Jack Sammons • December 10, 2015

Hey guys,
It looks like things are picking up this weekend. There a couple of shows to choose from on both Thursday and Friday. Saturday is kind of overwhelmed by the much anticipated Baroness show at the Jinx, but there are a few choices or there for those of us that didn’t buy tickets before they sold out. I hope to see some of you out this weekend.

Thursday 10th
Dirty Dan’s Dirty Money Band – Barrelhouse South
Fuck The Facts, Toxic Shock, Jeff X Goldblum – Jinx ($7)
Jason Bible – Molly MacPherson’s
Eric Culberson – Bayou Cafe

Friday 11th
Wave Slaves, Hypnotics – Sentient Bean (8p, $5 donation)
Jon Lee & Apparitions – Dub’s Pub
BBFX – Molly MacPherson’s
Charlie Fog Trio – Barrelhouse South
Niche, Caustic Casanova, Wax Ligature – Jinx
Train Wrecks – Congress Street Social Club

Saturday 12th
Damon & The Shitkickers – Jinx (3p)
Waits & Co – World of Beer
Baroness, Earthling – Jinx (SOLD OUT)
Charlie Fog Band – Molly MacPherson’s
Rosies, Jessie Smith Project – Barrelhouse South

Monday 14th
Craig Tanner & Mr Williams Open Mic – Abe’s On Lincoln

Jeff Two-Names and The Born Agains, Between Symmetries, Sunglow and The Toxic Shock at Hang Fire – photos

by Tom Cartmel • December 8, 2015

For being known as a metal town, The Hostess City sure has a thriving punk scene. It was on full display Friday night with the free 3 band bill at Hang Fire covering a lot of ground in the genre.

First up was a band I’d really been looking forward to seeing, the grungy/punky/melodic rock outfit Between Symmetries. Their new e.p. Movetur is garnering some pretty good press and the live show definitely backs it up. High energy, good presence and the ever important having-a-good-time-on-stage. Cool.

Speaking of cool, Greta O and The Toxic Shock were cool as always, with Greta belting it out in the pit at times. The guys in the band seem kinda familiar, too, but with the bags on their heads, I just can’t quite put my finger on where I know them from. Crazy.

How could the night possibly get any better? Why with Savannah’s (the world’s?) best snotty Dad punk band named Jeff Two-Names and The Born Agains, of course. Truly there is no greater band with that name. It was the CD release of #DADBAND, and they played all the (begin air quotes here) hits (end air quotes). What more could you ask for? One note, one fret solo, you say? Done. Nameless bass player? They’ve got one of those. The city’s best stage banter? Duh. Hilarious self referencing lyrics? Yep, you know it. I was grinning like an idiot the whole time.

I missed out on the electro goodness that is Sunglow, but the crowd was in a dancing mood, and I can only assume that’s exactly what they did.

Lots o’ pics after the jump.

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Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Twisty Cats and The Lipschitz at The Dollhouse – photos

by Tom Cartmel • December 6, 2015

“Nothing like a rainy Wednesday to bring people out.” Have we still not figured out an internet way to indicate sarcasm? Because we really, really need it. One of the first conversations I had at Dollhouse Productions Wednesday night contained this gem, dripping with verbal irony.

Fortunately, what threatened to be a really slow, dreary night turned out to be a fun evening with a pretty good mid-week turnout. People didn’t show up early by any means, but by the time Miss Pussycat put on her puppet show (Some weirdness involving a house hunting princess. There may have been some allegory involved.(Again, we really need a sarcasm thingie.)) there was a pretty good crowd ready to dance to Quintron and Miss Pussycat‘s swampy, fun, funky, groove laden, singular jams. Hell, even I almost danced. Almost.

Savannah’s own Twisty Cats and The Lipschitz opened the night, making all 3 acts of the night male/female duos. Both acts are great additions to the Savannah scene and really worth checking out.

I took some pictures with a new setup, figuring it out on the fly. Here’s what I got.

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