MIKE JONES AND GROOVE CENTRIC @ GOODTIMES JAZZ BAR | FRI & SAT, JUN 9-10 | 8 PM
Groove Centric made their mark in Atlanta in the late ‘00s, artfully infusing R&B, soul, blues and funk into their brand of jazz music. In short order they were headlining regional festivals. When you can take an audience from a Miles Davis-style old school jazz number, straight to smoldering soul reminiscent of early Chaka Khan, and then drop a James Brown funk bomb on the joint, you’re going to get called back. Individually, band members have worked with Al Green(!!!), Jennifer Holliday, Monica, Musiq Soulchild, and former SCAD student India Arie. Together they are a music machine that mixes a broad range of styles with a sound that has an unmistakable foundation in jazz.
MELANIE KILLS @ THE WORMHOLE | SAT JUN 10 | 7:30 PM
For about six years, Melanie Goldey has been doing her part for The Hostess City’s comedy scene. She’s performed her hilarious and sometimes raunchy act, been roasted by other local comics, supports Savannah Comedy Underground, and has been a leading local champion for stand-up. On stage, she kills. But does that mean she’s a murderer? Probably not, and that’s not much of a spoiler. But a comedy murder mystery is what’s on tap to send her off. Yep, she’s moving from Savannah. Despite the void she’ll leave behind, this night just might fill it up until she comes back for a visit.
DRIVIN’ N CRYIN’ @ COACH’S CORNER | SAT JUN 10 | 7 PM
Those able to maintain a viable band for nearly 40 years deserve great allowance in their dabbling of different styles. DNC began as a Southern rock band with big, crunchy guitars and a hot and humid twang. About 10 years in, they dialed down the overdrive, added a keyboard player, and grooved into a more roots-rock Americana sound, with elements of folk and country. Hardly any different than a punk rock band learning to play better and “going metal.” Whether talent or intentional expansion led to the progression, DNC always had the ultimate secret weapon: songwriting chops. Bandleader Kevin Kinney knows how it’s done, and has done it successfully in a bunch of genres.
AURA FEST DAY 2 @ SOUTHBOUND BREWERY | SAT JUN 10 | 1 PM
If you missed — or survived — Day 1 of AURA Fest, there’s plenty more where that came from, tough guy. Assume the position for Day 2 and take it like a real metalhead. Savannah’s most brütal promotion closes their annual weekend killdozer parade with a lineup of superheavy shit from up and down the east coast. Mosh it up to Boston metalcore veterans Bury Your Dead (pictured), nu deathcore from Atlanta’s Left to Suffer, Melbourne, FL’s kinetic Bodysnatcher, Pittsburgh’s hardcore killers 156/Silence, Albany, Ga. Christian multi-metal act With Blood Comes Cleansing, hybrid thrash from Providence, RI’s Edict, and local amplification worshippers Dying Whale and Lobstrosity. Southbound Brewery is a great location for an all-day banger like this. Beer galore, food trucks, vendors, and other diversions. Pro tip: if you want to say “what?” 25x a day when you get a little older, DO NOT WEAR EARPLUGS.
ADAM EZRA GROUP @ DISTRICT LIVE | SUN JUN 11 | 7 PM
For two decades, the upbeat folk band from Boston have operated successfully, maintaining independence from the industry like few others. Playing hundreds of rollicking shows a year and sharing the stage with the likes of The Wallflowers, Train, and The Wailers, they’ve spread the positive vibes and artistic calls for social change in their music consistently. When the pandemic canceled their tour, they took it online and dubbed it The Gathering Series. With daily live streams since March 2020, the series has racked up 15 million views and raised funds to, among other things, house veterans. Good music matched with good deeds anyone can relate to seems like what we need on stages right now.
