Audie Blaylock and Redline ***
Nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Emerging Artist of the Year in both 2005 and 2006, this ace group features mandolin, bass, banjo and fiddle, and is led by a former band mate of both Rhonda Vincent & The Rage and the great Jimmy Martin. The El Paso, Tx.-born Blaylock’s also an award-winning, in-demand session guitarist who’s worked with everyone from Red Allen to J.D. Crowe, and who was nominated four times as the IBMA’s Guitar Player of The Year.
--------------------------- Here's a fan-shot clip of Audie & Redline at a recent bluegrass fest: --------------------------- Redline’s just released a brand-new album that critics are calling one of the best of Blaylock’s career. Now’s your chance to catch the group in a small, family-friendly room. $20 adv. tix at randywoodguitars.com or 748-1930. Listen & Learn: audieblaylock.com. Fri., 8 pm, Randy Wood’s Concert Hall (1304 E. Hwy 80, Bloomingdale) - ALL-AGES.Eymarel ***
Here’s a unique show at a Broughton St. venue that’s slowly branching out into hosting more established touring acts. This classically trained duo of Mary Frances (vocals, keys and bass — often simultaneously) and Lee Allen (drums and electronics) has really taken off of late, touring the East Coast and opening for the likes of The Spam Allstars, The Jerry Garcia Band feat. Melvin Seals, Boombox, Dubconscious and The Atlanta Rhythm Section.
--------------------------- Here's a fan-shot clip of Eymarel playing Michael Jackson's "Thriller" about a year ago at a gig in Florida: --------------------------- Mixing dance-oriented grooves, organ-based fusion improv and a melodic, pop sensibility, they’re part of a growing wave of live acts connecting with listeners hungry for genre-bridging music that appeals to both jam-band and psychedelic rock fans as well as folks who dig neo-soul and trip-hop. $5 at the door. Listen & Learn: eymarel.com. Fri., 10 pm, Tantra Lounge.The Jinx’s 5th Anniversary
Hard to believe it’s been half a decade since this live music venue opened in the same location (and with the same general vibe) of the defunct Velvet Elvis Lounge. Initially viewed as more of a continuation of that long-running club than anything else, over time, the Jinx has carved out its own identity — while not straying too awfully far from the formula that came to define the Velvet. Emphasis is placed on local, regional and (occasionally) national acts primarily in the genres of punk, metal, hardcore variants, alt.country, rockabilly and indie-rock. Tuesday nights find the room used as a showcase for underground hip-hop, and the club also boasts regular, weekly events such as “Rock & Roll Bingo” and the eclectic garage/soul/psych/dub/pop playlists of DJ KZL.
This two-night blowout features a couple of bands that have played the room many times over the last few years and grown strong local followings. Friday, Columbia, S.C.’s American Gun (who recently inked a deal with an upstart indie label to release their latest CD) offer their accomplished brand of twangy, heartland-style roots-rock — a la Steve Earle & The Dukes, The Hold Steady or Will Hoge. It’s the rock & roll equivalent of comfort food.
Saturday, Atlanta’s boisterous and imminently entertaining punk-edged pub-rockers All Night Drug Prowling Wolves (feat. former members of the legendary Rent Boys) celebrate the release of their new CD by headlining a bill that includes opening act The Weight, an up-and-coming, Brooklyn-based (with ATL ties) group whose latest full-length —their first in five years— oozes as much with old-school Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers guitar grit and Hammond strut as it echoes the white knuckle Americana of Bobby Bare, Jr. or Izzy Stradlin & The Ju-Ju Hounds.
--------------------------- Here's a pro-shot clip of All Night Drug Prowling Wolves from Atlanta's Drunken Unicorn: --------------------------- Listen & Learn: myspace.com/americangun, myspace.com/allnightdrugprowlingwolves, theweightaremen.com. Fri. & Sat., 11 pm, The Jinx.Junkyard Angel
This gritty, “Cosmic American” roots-rock sextet boasts a fairly distinguished Savannah/Athens pedigree (they feature members of Stewart & Winfield, The Park Bench Trio and more). Trading in the best kind of wine-soaked No Depression clichés, those who appreciate the woozy, pedal steel-glazed ennui of vintage Jayhawks or Gram Parsons records will find this group’s well-chosen covers and bittersweet pastiches of classic rock and roadhouse country satiating. Listen & Learn: myspace.com/1junkyardangel. Fri., 11 pm, Locos (downtown).
Oh No, Roc ‘C’, Dope Sandwich ***
This week’s Underground Hip-Hop Night finds local funk and rap collective Dope Sandwich’s DJ Frost and DJ Valis (along with MCs Knife, Righteous and Basik Lee) welcoming two rising stars on the highly influential Stones Throw record label. Ca.-bred Oh No comes from a musical family (his dad’s soul crooner Otis Jackson, his brother’s hip-hop guru Madlib and his uncle’s jazz horn man Jon Faddis).
--------------------------- Here's the promo video for Oh No's track "Chump": --------------------------- His recent way-cool project (he created an entire album out of nothing but approved samples from rare HAIR composer Galt MacDermot LPs) speaks to his inventiveness and envelope-pushing spirit. He’s joined on this tour by Roc ‘C’, another of Oxnard’s new breed of alternative rappers. As always, late-night Freestyle and Breakdance Battles round out the show. Listen & Learn: stonesthrow.com/ohno, stonesthrow.com/roc. Tues., 10 pm, The Jinx.Silver Lining ***
Back on the scene after an extended leave of absence (their bassist and vocalist was out of state), this well-liked local jazz trio picks up where they left off with a full schedule of live dates. The husband and wife duo of guitarist Jackson and bassist Maggie Evans —abetted ably by classically-trained drummer Mark Cordray— released their debut album some time ago, and their live sets draw on the original material featured on that impressive independently marketed disc, as well as a broad range of uniquely arranged standards.
There’s plenty of chances to catch this captivating combo, but these particular shows are especially noteworthy. The first finds them playing a free outdoor set in the courtyard of this increasingly popular upscale BBQ joint. Located on a stretch of MLK that for some time now has lacked a stable, anchor business with wide-ranging appeal, it’s one of the few places whose business model allows for people under 21 to enjoy live music in a laid-back, nightlife environment. It’s a great place to grab a meal or have a beer after work and enjoy some of the better local musicians in the open air. The second finds them in more of a stereotypical bar/restaurant setup, but this downtown eatery just around the corner from Outback Steakhouse is said to be cultivating a regular weekend crowd, and the fact that they offer live music on most Fridays and Saturdays must certainly help. Fri., 5 pm, Blowin’ Smoke BBQ (MLK, Jr. Blvd.) - ALL-AGES + Fri., 9 pm, Isaac’s on Drayton. *****
Tybee’s Pirate Fest ***
This massive, free event is quickly becoming one of the most eagerly anticipated outdoor festivals in the greater Savannah area. In past years, headliners have included Mother’s Finest (who hit the ground running and basically stomped the crowd into submission with their bone-crushing funk-rock). This time around, that slot is reserved for the latest incarnation of Spartanburg, S.C.’s southern rock stalwarts The Marshall Tucker Band — still goin’ strong after 30 years of radio hits and solid show attendance. Musical highlights this year include (on Fri.): hard-charging roots-a-billy quartet The Train Wrecks (6 pm), popular, female-fronted modern rockers Liquid Ginger (7:30 pm) and Cajun dance band Dikki Du & the Zydeco Krewe (9 pm). Saturday evening opens with eclectic rock/country/soul cover band The 8-Tracks (5 pm), followed by up-and-coming regional C&W stars The Bryan Clees Band (7 pm), and ends with Marshall Tucker at 9 pm. Full schedule of contests, entertainment and more at tybeepiratefest.com. Fri. - Sat., South Beach Parking Lot (Tybee) - ALL-AGES.
Johnny Winter & The Edgar Winter Band ***
Few people can say they’ve hit #1 on the U.S. charts with a Rock Instrumental, but Edgar Winter is one of them. His 1973 smash “Frankenstein” (from the same LP that gave us the glorious Dan Hartman-voiced classic “Free Ride”) is indeed a monster of Bitches Brew-style jazz/rock fusion, blended with proto-metal bombast (think Deep Purple or Uriah Heep). If you haven’t ever seen the live-in-the-studio performance of that tune from BBC-TV’s Old Grey Whistle Test, you have no idea how cool guitar synthesizer can be.
--------------------------- What do you know? Here's that mind-blowing performance (check out the hilarious comment by the show's host at the very end!): --------------------------- An avowed Scientologist, the musically pioneering and philosophically headstrong Edgar (who this year once more joined the ranks of Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band) and his current backing group will open for his older brother Johnny — a Grammy-winning blues guitar icon who, after years of floundering through poor health and drug addiction is now clean and riding a comeback wave that found him drawing thousands to last year’s Roundhouse Blues & BBQ Fest. This should be a powerhouse evening of rock, soul, Delta blues and swampy R&B, and with any luck these old hands will share the stage at some point during the evening... $25 adv. (shorelineballroom.com)/$30 at door. Listen & Learn: johnnywinter.net, edgarwinter.com. Fri., 9 pm, Shoreline Ballroom (Hilton Head).
