Tyrone Cotton at El Rocko

by  • 

MusicFile Productions/Savannah Stopover have launched a new early evening Summer Series at El Rocko, and kicked it all off with Lousiville, KY R&B/Soul legend Tyrone Cotton.

Inspired by a wide variety of artists, Cotton developed a style of writing that blended soul, folk, blues, jazz, and rock n roll. He has become a staple in the Louisville music scene over the past 30 years, being well recognized for his stirring voice and lyrics. Cotton has toured throughout the United States and Japan, with plans to continue performing in the US this year. He is currently working on a new album with producer Josh Kaufman. Kaufman is best known for his work with The National, Bob Weir, and Josh Ritter.

The crowd loved his finger-pickin’ and crooning, swaying in the humid Savannah heat. Although for some people an early show wasn’t the right fit (*cough cough* Tom *cough cough*), I predict that hanging at El Rocko for a Friday show after work will be on everyone’s calendar for the rest of the summer.

See you at the show in the El Rocko Summer Series on Friday, July 13 with the Willie Jackson Blues Band, and check out more photos after the jump!

Read more →

New Music Monday – 7/2/18

by  • 

Enjoy our weekly roundup of new music, including Savannah based Black Tusk, Florence + The Machine, Tuffi, and X49 CLEANER.

Florence + The Machine
London, England
“Big God” off High as Hope

Florence + The Machine’s latest album High as Hope came out on Friday, and I’ve been listening to it all weekend in-between World Cup Games, which has resulted in a weird dichotomy of moods (RIP Spain.)

Still retaining Welch’s signature trilling vocals and lyricism, this new album offers a more toned down production that focuses around heartache, personal growth, family and loneliness. Get some good speakers, put on “Big God” and allow the sound to build around you.

Also of note, I think this would make the perfect soundtrack to a yoga class so if someone could get on that it would be great. – Caila

Black Tusk
Savannah, GA
“Burn the Stars”

Savannah’s own Black Tusk released another track from their upcoming album titled “Burn the Stars”. Thrashy and hard, the track features alternating vocals from Andrew Fidler and James May that feels exactly like the blast of sound that traditionally accompanies opening the door of The Jinx during a metal show.

Black Tusk’s next album “TCBT” (Taking Care of Black Tusk) will drop August 17. Locally produced at The Garage Savannah and mixed by engineer and new member Chris “Scary” Adams, “TCBT” is already promising to be at the top of everyone’s list. – Caila

X49 CLEANER
Chicago, IL
“Freeway” (demo)

It’s hard to keep up with the musical output of ex Savannah scene fixture Daniel Brady Lynch, it seems like songs just drip out of his head constantly and are released under a multitude of names and lineups. This one sounds like a scuzzy super early Devo recording, and that’s coming from a guy who mail ordered Hardcore Devo (Volumes 1 and 2, thank you very much) before downloads were even an option. What I’m trying to say is that I dig this.
tom

Tuffi
Chicago, IL
R.I.P. Tuffi (demo) e.p.
Here’s another rad project Daniel Brady Lynch is involved with, teaming up with two members of Savannah’s (too) short lived Trophy Wives, Emma Ledgerwood and Rachael Boswell. Like Trophy Wives, this sounds to me like modern take on the sound of many of the bands associated with the Riot Grrrl movement. Hell yeah.
tom

Larry Jack’s Magical Music Tour – 6/28/18 – 7/4/18

by  • 

Thursday 6/28
Dope KNife, C. Shreve – El-Rocko
Futurebirds, Mostly Goodspell, Connellis – B&D Burgers (6p, $30)
Dope KNife, Basik Lee, Soco the Kahn, Akil da Beat – Jinx

Friday – 6/29
City Hotel – Service Brewing (5:30)
Jason Bible – Bow Tie BBQ
Underhill Rose – Tybee Post Theater (8p, $18)
Bottles & Cans – Jazz’d
Voodoo Soup – Prohibition
The Titos, Xuluprophet – El-Rocko
David Harbuck, Jon Lee & The Hextones – Bayou Cafe
Wild Root, The Ellameno Beat – Barrelhouse South
Just Ford – Molly MacPherson’s
Train Wrecks – Congress Street Social Club
Crawl, Toro – Jinx

Saturday – 6/30
Damon & The Shitkickers – Jinx Happy Hour
Willie Jackson & The Tybee Blues Band – B&D Burgers (7p)
Little Roy Lewis & Lizzy Long – Randy Wood Guitars (8p, $28)
Lies in Stone, Eskizo, Hotplate – Sulfur Studios (8p)
The Mercers – Jazz’d (8p)
Bero Bero, Fat Sun, Bands w/ Melody, Skippy Spiral – El-Rocko
AFTM, Kenny George Band – Barrelhouse South
Whiskey & Wine – Molly MacPherson’s
Me Clifford – Congress Street Social Club
Mr. Savannah Pageant – Jinx

Sunday – 7/1
Voodoo Soup – Congress Street Social Club

Monday – 7/2
Open Mic – Abe’s On Lincoln

Tuesday – 7/3
Payne Bridges – Foxy Loxy Cafe (7p)
Ben Keiser Band – Bay Street Blues
Eric Culberson Open Jam – Bayou Cafe
Open Mic – Molly MacPherson’s

Wednesday – 7/4
3 Doors Down – Ft Stewart
Ben Keiser Band – Boomy’s

DEZORAH at El-Rocko Lounge

by  • 

The summer heat wave has officially started in Savannah but luckily it looks like that won’t be a deterrence to the slew of awesome bands looking to make their way through the marshes. Case in point: McAllen, Texas’ DEZORAH. The post-progressive rockers put on a phenomenal show as vocalist Danica commanded the stage with an impressive ebb and flow of delicate and aggressive melodies along with her high energy stage presence. Not to be outdone, the rest of the band showed some awesome chemistry as they all transitioned seamlessly from gloomy, driving guitar riffs to much more melodic harmonies with ease (Check out their latest EP, Creando Azul, and give “To Be” a listen to get the full effect). Check out a few shots below and hit the jump for the full gallery!

Read more →

Larry Jack’s Magical Music Tour – 6/21/18 – 6/28/18

by  • 

Hey everybody,
There are a few good shows that I would like to single out this week. I hope to be seeing (the poorly named, but very good) Black Pussy at the Jinx tonight (Thursday), probably after catching a bit of Machine Dreamz at El-Rocko. Friday brings a couple of good early shows, Tyrone Cotton at El-Rocko and City Hotel at Service Brewing. The Mitski show at El-Rocko on Saturday looks like another one that you don’t want to miss. Rev. Horton Heat returns to the Jinx on Tuesday. And JJ Gray & Mofro will be playing the Stage on Bay on Wednesday. And if you are out and about, be sure to catch Dope Knife at El-Rocko on Thursday. With all of these choices, I really expect to see you around somewhere this week.

Thursday 6/21
Gypsy Jazz – Rancho Allegre (7p)
Eric Culberson Band – Bayou Cafe
Machine Dreamz – El-Rocko
Black Pussy, Silver Tongue Devils – Jinx ($10)

Friday 6/22
City Hotel – Service Brewing (5:30)
Tyrone Cotton – El-Rocko (6-8p, $5)
Danielle Hicks & The Resistance – Rail Pub (7p)
Fauvely, Laikin Crawford – El-Rocko
FreeSpirits – Prohibition
BBXF, Mango Strange – Barrelhouse South
Prime Real Estate – Molly MacPherson’s

Saturday 6/23
Damon & The Shitkickers – Jinx Happy Hour
Charlie Fog Band – Coach’s Corner (7p)
Conversations, Fauvely – Sentient Bean (8p)
Keller Williams – Stage On Bay (9p, $19)
Mitski, Katie Von Schleicher, She Returns from War – El-Rocko ($15)
JGBCB – Barrelhouse South
Bonnie Blue – Congress Street Social Club
Hitman – Molly MacPherson’s

Sunday 6/24
Voodoo Soup – Congress Street Social Club

Monday 6/25
Open Mic – Abe’s On Lincoln
Tiger Castle, Mr. Wait, Wave Slaves – El-Rocko

Tuesday 6/26
Clouds & Satellites – Foxy Loxy Cafe (7p)
Ben Keiser Band – Bay Street Blues
Eric Culberson Open Jam – Bayou Cafe
Open Mic – Molly MacPherson’s
Orca – El-Rocko
Reverend Horton Heat, Big Sandy – Jinx

Wednesday 6/27
Ben Keiser Band – Boomy’s
JJ Grey & Mofro – Stage On Bay (7p)
Lunacy – El-Rocko
VuDu Shakedown – Barrelhouse South

Thursday 6/28
Dope Knife, C. Shreve – El-Rocko

Soccer Mommy and Grace Joyner at El-Rocko Lounge – photos

by  • 

If last week’s show is any indication, it’s looking like it’s going to be a pretty busy summer at El-Rocko Lounge. The golden clad bar was host to one of its first big shows of the season which saw Nashville local by way of Switzerland, Soccer Mommy, take the stage with Charleston native, Grace Joyner.

Soccer Mommy has been taking the music scene by storm with their dream pop/indie rock style which was perfectly complemented by Grace Joyner’s indie pop melodies. Check out a few shots below, hit the jump for the full set, and be sure to keep an eye on El-Rocko’s Show Calendar for some of the other stellar acts they’ve got coming through this summer.

Read more →

New Music Monday – 6/18/18

by  • 

This week we have new work from LVL UP, Skeletonwitch, and The Eels. Enjoy.

LVL UP
Purchase, NY
“Orchard” a final stand alone single on Sub Pop.

Have you ever discovered a great band at the very end of their run? Finding out about a band after they break up sucks, but at least you’re not expecting more music from them. Return to Love, LVL UP’s 2016 release, was one of my favorites that year and I expected a long relationship with them. Nope. Here’s the final single from a great indie…hell, just a great rock band that felt like they had a lot more in them. Sigh.
tom

Skeletonwitch
Athens, OH
“When Paradise Fades” from Devouring Radiant Light out July 20.

Skeletonwitch heads a little deeper into black metal territory with the single from their upcoming Kurt Ballou produced album. While I’m not really a black metal vocal guy, these are pretty rad and the instrumentation is no joke. I’ll be there the next time they play The Jinx.
tom

The Eels
Los Feliz, CA
“Rusty Pipes” from The Deconstruction, out now.

Remember when music videos made you feel things? Feelings, maybe? No? Well, the good ones did at one point, believe it or not. The Eels still make pretty solid videos to go along with their stellar (if a bit on the “dad” side of” indie rock compositions. The Deconstruction is highly recommended if you’re into mature, really well done rock.
tom

Larry Jack’s Magical Music Tour – 6/15/18 – 6/21/18

by  • 

Friday 6/15
City Hotel – Service Brewing (5:30)
Marshall Tucker Band – Stage On Bay (8p)
Glass Mansions – Sentient Bean (8p)
Hans Wenzel and the 86ers – Congress Street Social Club
Quiet Hollers, Ember City – Barrelhouse South
Doctor Ocular Band – Molly MacPherson’s
Scaryoke – Jinx

Saturday 6/16
Damon & The Shitkickers – Jinx Happy Hour
Bottles & Cans – B&D Burgers Southside (7-10p)
Phantom Wingo – B&D Burgers Congress St (7-10p)
Jackson and Maggie Evans – Prohibition
General Patton and the Heads of State – Congress Street Social Club
4th Ward Afro Klezmer Orchestra – El-Rocko
Xulu Prophet – Molly MacPherson’s
Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers, Whitley Deputy Band – Barrelhouse South
Urban Pioneers – Jinx

Sunday 6/17
Tequila’s Town (Sandfly) – Velvet Caravan (7p)
Voodoo Soup – Congress Street Social Club

Monday 6/18
Open Mic – Abe’s On Lincoln

Tuesday 6/19
Ben Keiser Band – Bay Street Blues
Eric Culberson Open Jam – Bayou Cafe
Open Mic – Molly MacPherson’s

Wednesday 6/20
Ben Keiser Band – Boomy’s
DEZORAH – El-Rocko

Thursday 6/21
Eric Culberson Band – Bayou Cafe
Machine Dreamz – El-Rocko
Black Pussy/ Silver Tounge Devils – Jinx

New Music Monday – 6/11/18

by  • 

This week we have new work from The Rock*A*Teens, Interpol, YOB, KEN Mode, and Car Seat Headrest — also stuff all the way around.

The Rock*A*Teens
Cabbagetown, GA
“Turn and Smile” from the album Sixth House, out June 29, 2018 on Merge Records.

Do you remember when “alternative” rock was called “college” rock? Or do you just like well constructed mid tempo indie rock? Well then, I’m talking to you…check out The Rock*A*Teens, they’re back and have a new album on the way, too. Merge Records/The Rock*A*Teens, sorta feels like 1997 all over again.
tom

Interpol
NY, NY
“The Rover” from Marauder, out August 24th on Matador Records.

The new Interpol song sounds like, well, Interpol to be honest, and there’s not a damn thing wrong with that. Solid rock and roll, Paul Banks vocals, a great hook…yep, it’s Interpol, and to be honest, that’s a little comforting.
tom

YOB
Eugene, OR
Our Raw Heart, full album stream/visualizer.

Doom metal seems to be on the rise of late, with a new Sleep album and this one from YOB. Slow, sludgy, and somehow kind of beautiful, if you like Black Sabbath, but think they’re a little too fast at times, check this out.
tom

KEN Mode
Winnipeg, Manitoba
“Doesn’t Feel Pain Like He Should” from Loved, out Aug 31, 2018

KEN Mode takes its name from a phrase in Henry Rollins’ book about his insane time with Black Flag…”Kill Everything Now Mode”. It certainly fits the noise rock they deliver with no mercy. Pummelling, aggressive, punishing, you can probably already guess whether you’re going to like this or not.
tom

Car Seat Headrest
now Seattle
Live in the KEXP studio

Where to begin? It’s a newly expanded Car Seat Headrest with members of Naked Giants. Will Toledo has set aside his guitar. A fresh version of the band’s yes-it-will-be-a-classic-one-day “Fill in the Blank”. New songs. A cover of Devo and a snippet of Neil Young. Plus a little conversation focusing on the re-recorded Twin Fantasy. – bill

Larry Jack’s Magical Music Tour – 6/7/18 – 6/13/18

by  • 

Hey everybody,
There are several good shows this week, almost every night. Perpetual Groove is playing a rare show at Barrelhouse Thursday. There are several shows worth checking out on Friday. There is a Led Zeppelin tribute show on Friday at the Stage On Bay. I am looking forward to catching Lulu The Giant at the Jinx that night also, as well as dropping by Molly’s for a bit of Matt Eckstine and friends. Another good show will be the Perpetual Groove show at El Rocko. It’s been a while since I have seen them, and I am hoping they are just as good as they were the last time I saw them. Saturday should be good as well. If you make it out early enough, you can catch Damon & The Shitkickers regular gig at the Jinx Happy Hour, but be sure to walk down to B&D to see Jubal Kane for a while. I’m not sure where to head next, but I do hope to see the Melody Trucks Band at Barrelhouse, yes she is the daughter of Butch Trucks of the Allman Brothers. Be sure to try to see some of the shows at the beginning of the week at El Rocko, if you are able to make it out.  And don’t forget the Anthrax show on Wednesday at Stage On Bay. I hope to see some of you around this week.

Thursday 6/7
Andrew Grimm, ellen cherry – Sentient Bean (7p)
Gypsy Jazz – Rancho Allegre (7p)
Eric Culberson Band – Bayou Cafe
See Water, BOGO – El-Rocko
Perpetual Groove – Barrelhouse South

Friday 6/8
City Hotel – Service Brewing (5:30)
Get The Led Out – Stage On Bay (8p, $29)
Youth Model, Perpetual Care – El-Rocko
Little Stranger, Travers Brothership – Barrelhouse South
Lulu The Giant – Jinx
Voodoo Soup – Prohibition
Matt Eckstine & Friends – Molly MacPherson’s

Saturday 6/9
Damon & The Shitkickers – Jinx Happy Hour
Jubal Kane – B&D Burgers (7-10p)
Abe Patridge, Train Wrecks – Tybee Post Theater ($15)
John Bias, Rude Dude, Pageant Wave – El-Rocko
Melody Trucks Band, Ginger Beard Man – Barrelhouse South
Squash – Molly MacPherson’s
Charlie Fog Band – Congress Street Social
The Well, John Denver Death Plane – Jinx

Sunday 6/10
Voodoo Soup – Congress Street Social Club

Monday 6/11
Open Mic – Abe’s On Lincoln

Tuesday 6/12
Shane Secor – Foxy Loxy Cafe (7p)
Ben Keiser Band – Bay Street Blues
Eric Culberson Open Jam – Bayou Cafe
Open Mic – Molly MacPherson’s
Haybaby, Bethlehem Steel, Ember City – El-Rocko

Wednesday 6/13
Anthrax, Testament – Stage On Bay (7:15, $35)
Soccer Mommy, Grace Joyner – El-Rocko ($10)
Ben Keiser Band – Boomy’s

Punk Mess 3 announces lineup

by  • 

Hey, guys, it’s a little way off, but summer will fly by and before you know it Punk Mess 3 will be upon us…3 days, 4 venues, uncountable beers, and 30+ bands, the bulk of which have been announced in 2 recent lineup drops.

Here’s what we know so far….The dates: October 11-13 (Perfect weather for jeans and black tee shirts), the venues: The Jinx on Friday 10/12, all ages at Starland Dairy/Sulfur Studios on Saturday 10/13, Thursday 10/11 TBA, and bands, a lot of bands, with still more to be announced.

As for the bands, they range from old school punk to gnarly d-beat, with some proto-Devo experimental, classic hardcore, synth punk, noise, garage, and lo-fi thrown in for good measure. Click on any of the bands to check out their music, or just show up with an open mind, some earplugs and some youthful energy and have a good time. We had a blast at Punk Mess 1 and Punk Mess 2, and plan on more of the same at 3.

Lifters, Durham, North Carolina, featuring members of Bass Drum of Death.

The Shitdels, Nashville, TN, featuring members of Cheap Time.

Paint Fumes, Charlotte, NC

Wild Rose, Charlottesville, VA

Gumming, Richmond, VA

Eskizo, Macon, GA

Zaat, Greensboro, NC

Burning Stare, Orlando, FL

Skull Cult, Bloomington, IN

Poor Excuse, Asheville, NC

Adderall, Asheville, NC

Tight Genes, Orlando, FL

Curleys, Gainesville, FL

Cabo Boing, Tampa, FL

Apparition, Athens, GA

US Gas, Savannah, GA (Josh Sterno’s new project)

New Music Monday – 6/4/18

by  • 

For this week, we bring you new music from White Woods, Mallrat, Gorillaz, and T. Hardy Morris, whose upcoming album we’re incredibly stoked about.

White Woods
Atlanta, GA
“Big Talking” off of the EP Big Talking out now on Suicide Squeeze Records

While White Woods is a far cry away from The Coathangers, one can immediately recognize Julia Kugel’s, aka Crook Kid Coathanger’s, distinct whispy vocals. Instead of the usual garage rock riffs one would expect with the Coathangers, however, White Woods features a much more delicate instrumentation and some rad vocal harmonies. ~ Petey

Mallrat
Brisbane, Australia
In The Sky, out now on Dew Process Records

With her second EP, Grace Shaw, the artist behind Mallrat, has show some major expansion of her sound. Blending a bit of bedroom pop, hip hop, and electro-pop, In The Sky is a perfect album for hitting the beach or riding around town with the window’s down on sunny day. It’s the perfect companion as the weather starts to warm up a bit. ~ Petey

Gorillaz
Essex, England
“Humility” off of THE NOW NOW.

I’ll give pretty much any Damon Albarn tune a chance, based solely on his sometimes (but not always) brilliant previous output. Song 2 and Feel Good Inc. come to mind immediately. This one is funky, features George Benson, and probably won’t burrow as deep into my brain as the aforementioned gems. But, hey, maybe it will for you, because, you know, that’s how music works. – tom

T. Hardy Morris
Athens, Ga.
“Stage Names” from Dude, the Obscure, due out June 22.

T. Hardy Morris is a under-appreciated national treasure and I will continue to push his new music (and back catalog, for that matter) on you until he becomes an appropriately appreciated national treasure. What I’m trying to say is you should listen to T. Hardy Morris, modern Southern rock doesn’t get better than this, the third excellent single from the upcoming Dude, the Obscure.
tom