Nathan Willett is one of the most soulful white rock ‘n' roll singers in America (that's not an oxymoron). His voice adds the perfect grace note to the music of his band Cold War Kids, an indie quartet out of Long Beach, California that's perfected a kind of anthemic but stripped-down rock.
Cold War Kids will headline the annual SCAD graduation concert June 3 in Forsyth Park. The 7 p.m. event - its official name is the "New Alumni Concert" will start at 7 p.m.
In recent years, Willett's songs have moved away from vaguely evangelical narratives, which led more than once critic to label Cold War Kids an overtly Christian band, into more universal territory. The group's most recent record, Mine is Yours, was produced by Jacquire King, who put his mark on albums by Modest Mouse, Tom Waits, Kings of Leon and Norah Jones, among others.
Call me Corey
Georgia singer/songwriter Corey Smith performs June 14 in the Johnny Mercer Theatre. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show are on sale now at etix.com.
Wrote John Jeter of South Carolina's The Handlebar: "Corey is what might happen if you threw Jimmy Buffett, Robert Earl Keen, Donkey (from Shrek), Bob Schneider and a few shots of whiskey into a blender, poured it into one of those 64-oz. traveling mugs that might last long enough to get you to the state line on the most insane road trip of your life."
And now this
@ After months of global touring in support of the acclaimed Spiral Shadow album, Kylesa returns to the good old U.S.A. next week for a string of shows that will but include gigs at Bonnaroo (June 10) and the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago (July 17). Savannah's metal monsters are also due to play the Maryland Death Fest on May 27. Hope we see the guys (and Laura) back onstage here in town soon.
@ On Friday, May 27 the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra closes out the season with a Lucas Theatre concert featuring Mendelssohn's "Hebrides Overture," as well as Brahms' Violin Concerto (with soloist Heather Cottrell) and Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony. See savannahphilharmonic.org for tickets and additional details.
