hissing lawns

Valient Thorr, Crazy Bag Lady at The Jinx – photos

by Tom Cartmel • August 27, 2015

To the uninitiated, Valient Thorr may seem to be a joke band, with its very metal logo, backstory about having crash landed their spaceship from Venus, Ramonesesque names (Storm Thorr, Sadat Thorr, Bjorn Thorr, etc.), wrestling boots and denim vests, but a couple songs into their set it becomes very clear that this is no joke, this is rock and roll, man. An energetic and loose (dare I say groovy?) rhythm section, dueling Les Pauls, and one of the most engaging front men in rock, Valient Himself, who WILL overwhelm you with his positive energy, unexpected stamina, unconventional charisma and flat out ability to actually sing. Metalsucks named Valient Himself the #2 modern metal vocalist, hell, even the ever cranky, oh so hip, Pitchfork likes Valient Thorr.

What does all this mean? It means this show was a lot of fun and you should definitely catch them on one of their neverending tours.

What can I say about Crazy Bag Lady that we haven’t said before? Great songs, overflowing energy, super tight set. I can’t remember the last time I saw a sub par Crazy Bag Lady show, and I see them more than a little. Perfect opener for Valient Thorr, who gave Crazy Bag Lady one of the most sincere opening band shout outs that I’ve seen. Really cool stuff all around at The Jinx.

Oh, and bonus points for multiple Athon shout outs and the Van Damme masterpiece Bloodsport playing on the screen during the show. Lots more photos after the jump:

Read more →

Music Vault near Savannah announces Insane Clown Posse, P.O.D., more

by bill • August 24, 2015

Well this is exciting.

The Music Vault in Hardeeville, just a 10 minute drive from downtown Savannah, has announced a 10/10 gig featuring Insane Clown Posse, P.O.D., Stitches, Young Wicked, and Dope D.O.D.

****CONCERT ANNOUNCEMENT****Insane Clown PosseP.O.D.StitchesYoung WickedDope D.O.D.Saturday October 10th 2015 $30 advance $35 day of show Tickets on sale this Friday August 28th @ 10am on etix.com

Posted by Music Vault on Monday, August 24, 2015

Click here to see all the dates on the Marvelous Missing Link Tour.

The Music Vault is still a relatively new venue that has so far specialized in various country acts. Maybe if this show does well — and how could it not do well? — we’ll see the venue expand its programming.

Revival Fest preview: Robert Lee Coleman & The Night Owls

by bill • August 23, 2015

Revival Fest is coming up on September 12th here in Savannah, and we are pretty darn impressed with the lineup. The 14 impressive bands will perform all afternoon and evening on the festival stages inside and outside the old paint shops at the Georgia State Railroad Museum — it’s a spectacular venue for music and for just hanging out with friends. We’ll have a more general preview soon with details about the bands, food, drink, and other logistics.

A few contributors to this blog were lucky to hear Robert Lee Coleman & The Night Owls at Bragg Jam in Macon last month in an excellent gig at historic Grant’s Lounge. There were great moments when Coleman — who has performed with the likes of Percy Sledge and James Brown — and Benjamin Cummings were improvising through bluesy jams and when Coleman settled in at the mic. Jason Griffin on bass and Jarvis Arline on drums and vocals round out the tight, cohesive band.

You can find more photos after the jump:

Read more →

The Seaboard Stompers, Black Water Choir, and Pretend Sweethearts at the Thursday Night Opry – photos

by JWaits • August 23, 2015

Another great evening of music & entertainment was had at last week’s Thursday Night Opry with The Seaboard Stompers, Black Water Choir, and Pretend Sweehearts. This quarter’s show tied for second as the most well attended, and had an incredibly enthusiastic & eclectic crowd. The surprise hit this time around were The Seaboard Stompers, with a much more old-school, traditional performance of their mainly instrumental, string music. Black Water Choir followed up and delivered a solid set of the fantastic harmonies that we’ve come to expect from them. Pretend Sweethearts closed out the evening with Drew de Man’s veteran stage-presence leading the way and complementing Brianna Blackbird’s youthful heart & soul. Having PS now basing their camp in Atlanta will hopefully mean more Savannah shows in the future, and both TSSs and BWC are finding their figurative feet in this town, so we can surely expect more out of both of them as well. The next Opry is scheduled for November 19th, and the lineup will be announced in the next few months.

Here are a few highlight photos with more after the jump.

Thursday Night Opry

The Seaboard Stompers

Black Water Choir

Pretend Sweethearts

Click on through for more photos:

Read more →

Larry Jack’s Magical Music Tour – 8/21/15 – 8/26/15

by Larry Jack Sammons • August 21, 2015

Friday 21st – Looks like there are a few choices tonight. I always enjoy starting the night off with an early set at the Bean. Later, there are choices of weird pseudo-sexy shows, reggae, Americana, and more.
Joe Cat (Athens Americana) – Sentient Bean
20 Penny Circus w/ Savannah Sweet Tease – Jinx
Candyland Presents Satan’s Apocalyptic Scenario – Hang Fire
Kota Mundi (Sav’h rock-reggae) – Molly MacPherson’s
Greg Williams Band (Sav’h blues-rock) – Bayou Cafe
Maradeen (Nashville rock) – Congress Street Social Club
Sowflo, Beaugard – Barrelhouse South

Saturday 22nd – I’m not sure what I will be in the mood for on this night. I will probably bounce around and try to catch a few shows.
Ballroom, Sunglow, Street Clothes – Wormhole
Cape Fear – Hang Fire
City Hotel (Sav’h bluegrass) – Molly MacPherson’s
Nightingale News (Sav’h folk-rock), Houston In The Blind (TX psych-prog rock) – Jinx ($7)
Rachael Shaner, Trea Landon – Barrelhouse South
Versatile (Sav’h soul funk) – Congress Street Social Club

Monday 24th – This is the beginning of the countdown week until Hang Fire closes (for relocation, we are all counting on), so who cares what bands are playing? If you are out, be sure to stop by Hang Fire for one last Scorpion Tea before they convert the space to a Starbucks or something.
Heavy Boots, Sea Life, Den-Mate – Hang Fire

Tuesday 25th – I hope to make it to Foxy for a little while on this night to catch some rock from these guys.
Clouds & Satellites (Sav’h indie rawk) – Foxy Loxy Cafe

Wednesday 26th – Not the best place to see music, but I haven’t gotten my Accomplices fix for a few weeks, so I will go to where they are playing. Note the early time. And wings are only $0.50.
Accomplices – Kayak Kafe Midtown (7p)

tonight at Hang Fire: Brave Baby + *repeat repeat + Carpet Coats

by bill • August 19, 2015

Hang Fire is closing at 37 Whitaker St. on 8/29, and hopefully reopening somewhere else soon, but the bar seems to have one great show after another lined up for the next 10 days. (Click here for info about the last hurrah on 8/29; click here for more background on the reasons for closing.)

Tonight — Wednesday, August 19th — Hang Fire has an especially exciting lineup of Brave Baby from Charleston, *repeat repeat from Nashville, and Carpet Coats from here in Savannah. Click here for the Facebook event.

Brave Baby just released their new album Electric Friends a week ago. Check it out:

<a href="http://bravebabymusic.bandcamp.com/album/electric-friends">Electric Friends by Brave Baby</a>

Brave Baby has played Savannah before, and I’m really excited to see how their nuanced, sort-of-new-wave-y sound has developed.

*repeat repeat will be hitting Savannah for the first time with their great sounding surf-influenced rock:

In a recent review, No Country for New Nashville, a music site we like very much, said that *repeat repeat “displayed a showcase of groovy guitar and powerful drums that got the entire crowd moving back and forth from the first beat to the last.”

<a href="http://repeatrepeat.bandcamp.com/track/mostly">mostly by *repeat repeat</a>

I haven’t seen Carpet Coats yet, but friends have been raving about the new band.

Hang Fire announces 11 acts for 8/29, final day on Whitaker

by bill • August 19, 2015

Surely you all know that Hang Fire’s lease is expiring at the end of the month? If not, read our previous post for some background.

Hang Fire’s Heather Flagle emailed info about the grand plans — all free — for the final day in business at 37 Whitaker Street. It’s an 11-act lineup with an early set of shows, capped by Superhorse who christened the space almost a decade ago, and a night set.

Day Set 5-8:30

Curbdogs
Carpet Coats
Lovely Locks
Superhorse

Night Set 10 to closing

Red Sea
Blonde Mom
Triathslon
Crazy Bag Lady
White Treasure
House of Gunt
Wax Tan Body (formerly Cheedoh Du$t)

Here’s what Heather had to say about the lineup and the plans for the day:

Yes it’s jam packed with our favorite locals from over the years. We were so excited to get Superhorse on the bill. They were the first to ever perform at Hangfire. They played our grand opening party in 2006. It’s wonderfully fitting to have them also close this chapter.

And all of those who are now our regulars on stage, Crazy Bag Lady, House of Gunt and Triathalon. These are the guys who have been around and really been along side of us, (helping us grow, while we are growing together) since we started having shows again a few years back and who are now bringing in tons of good touring bands from all over the country.

And then we have a couple rare gems on there too, Lovely Locks are coming together for the first time in quite a while. White Treasure only emerges from the shadows when the stars align. Curbdogs and Carpet Coats are 2 of our new faves. Red Sea is from Atlanta, but our sound engineer, Andrew Olson, plays with them and was able to get them down here. Blonde Mom is a brand new local solo. This is a FREE event on Saturday August 29th. This is set to be our last day of business at 37 Whitaker St. As you may know, there is nothing I love more than a good surprise. I have a few things planned for everyone 😉

Hope to see you all there!

The Dickies + Jeff Two-Names and the Born Agains at The Wormhole – photos

by bill • August 18, 2015

The Dickies blew through Savannah last week with their upbeat, take-no-prisoners punk rock. A solid crowd turned out at The Wormhole for the blazing set that was punctuated by wonderfully absurd props, just enough technical problems to keep it real, and blazing energy.

I’m also assuming that there was at least one Savannah first: I bet no other frontman has called his audience a bunch of “fried chickenin’, weeping willowin’, Georgia peach eatin’ motherfuckers.” Or something like that. Leonard Graves Phillips has been lead singer of The Dickies since their founding in 1977, and he’s still got the magic. He’s a brilliant showman, and the rest of the tight, tight band seemed to be having as much fun as Phillips was.

Savannah-based Jeff Two-Names and the Born Agains proved a brilliant choice to open — and not only because hissing lawns’ Petee Worrell plays bass in the #dadband. The punk quartet had just the right amount of explosiveness and irony to loosen up the crowd for The Dickies’ onslaught.

Lots more shots of both bands after the jump:

Read more →

Thursday Night Opry at Trinity Sanctuary Concerts – preview

by JWaits • August 17, 2015

This week brings about the Summer Edition of Trinity Sanctuary Concerts‘ Thursday Night Opry. The quarterly concert features multiple acts performing stripped down, if not entirely acoustic, music. In the past the ‘listening room’ has hosted a variety of musicians such as Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash, Walter Parks, and Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Iron, as well as hosting Savannah Stopover and the Savannah Music Festival.

Thursday Night Opry | Summer Edition 2015

The Opry has become a special event that performers will attest to being one of the best in Savannah. Quite often we’re used to live music going on around us, but perhaps not fully paying attention to the performances. TSCs is a rarity here in that it’s very much about the music and musicians, not the drink specials. That being said, plenty of attendees stop by their favorite downtown watering holes prior to, and after the show. The Telfair Square location, and earlier show time make it easy to incorporate the concert into a full evening out on the town.

Trinity Sanctuary Concerts

The doors at Trinity United Methodist Church will open at 7pm, with live music beginning promptly at 7:30pm; cost $10.00. The Facebook event invite can be found by clicking here: Thursday Night Opry | Summer Edition 2015

This time ’round there will be Pretend Sweethearts from Atlanta via Bolivia and Portland, Oregon, Black Water Choir from Savannah, and The Seaboard Stompers, also from Savannah.

Black Water Choir

The Seaboard Stompers

Pretend Sweethearts

check out Basik Lee’s new album “Crazy Shit” on the Dope Sandwich label

by bill • August 14, 2015

Basik Lee — well known around Savannah as a versatile musician, a DJ, and one of the core members of Dope Sandwich — has just released his new record Crazy Shit. Give it a listen and download here:

Now that the record is out, this is a good time for a repost of the official video for Basik Lee’s “Time of Grace”:

Dope Sandwich is also gearing up for a huge 10th anniversary party in September at The Jinx:

Go on and Check out this line up for the Dope Sandwich Records & Tapes 10th birthday party Jinx Savannah. live sets from…

Posted by Dope Sandwich Records & Tapes on Thursday, August 13, 2015

Larry Jack’s Magical Musical Tour – 8/12/15 – 8/17/15

by Larry Jack Sammons • August 12, 2015

Hey guys,
It looks like it’s going to be a long weekend coming up. I have been looking forward to tonight’s show at the Wormhole with the Dickies for a while. They are an L.A. punk band that have been around since 1977. There are a couple of interesting shows on Thursday, with Crazy Bag Lady’s first show in a while at the Jinx and one of my favorite new bands, Carpet Coats, playing at Barrelhouse. There are plenty of choices on Friday, with blues, reggae, punk, or more, just pick your poison. The weekend continues into Saturday, another night with plenty of choices. I will probably be bouncing around most of the night. There are still plenty of choices for the first half of next week too, so be sure to save a little energy (and cash) for some of those shows. I hope to see some of you out and about this week.

Wednesday 12th
Dickies (L.A. punk legends), Jeff Two-Names & The Born Agains (Sav’h punk) – Wormhole

Thursday 13th
Valient Thorr (NC rock & roll) Crazy Bag Lady (Sav’h punk) – Jinx ($10)
Leaping Gnome Experiment, Fides (MS post-Dad rock), Carpet Coats (Sav’h freak-folk) – Barrelhouse South

Friday 14th
Hopeless Jack (Portland rock & roll), A.M. Rodriguez (Sav’h country punk) – Jinx
Accomplices (Sav’h lowcountry string band) – Congress Street Social Club
Bottles & Cans (Sav’h blues) – Molly MacPherson’s
Kota Mundi (Sav’h reggae-rock), Dale & The Z-Dub’s (Maryland rock-reggae) – Barrelhouse South
EZLVR (Sav’h 80’s covers) – Ampersand

Saturday 15th
The Attack (Orlando punk), Teen Ager (Orlando punk) – Jinx
Ben Lewis, Wood and Steel (Sav’h rock), Kota Mundi (Sav’h reggae-rock) – Barrelhouse South
Bottles & Cans (Sav’h blues) – Wild Wing Cafe
Gen. Patton (Sav’h rock) – Molly MacPherson’s
Kota Mundi (Sav’h reggae-rock) – Congress Street Social Club

Sunday 16th
Apathy Wizards (Indiana gypsy folk-punk) – Sentient Bean
Lost Boy, Brent Collins – The Foundery
Ray Lundy (frontman for Bottles & Cans) – Jazz’d

Monday 17th
Not Toy, Curb Dogs (Sav’h dog rock), Twisty Cats – Hang Fire

Tuesday 17th
Jason Bible (frontman for Train Wrecks) – Jazz’d
Ben Keiser Band (Sav’h blues) – Bay St Blues
Eric Culberson Open Jam – Bayou Cafe

punk legends The Dickies at The Wormhole in Savannah tonight

by bill • August 12, 2015

We don’t throw the word “legends” around casually here. Here’s The Dickies from 1979:

The Dickies headline The Wormhole tonight (Wednesday, 8/12). Click here for Facebook event. Jeff Two-Names and the Born Agains will open, apparently after-9-ish.

So what are The Dickies up to in 2015? Check out this fan shot video from January:

See you tonight.