THE 502s @ VICTORY NORTH
THU JUL 6 | 8 PM
The 2011 Big Easy Express tour, featuring Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, and Old Crow Medicine Show was a landmark event for indie folk, inspiring legions of musicians including the guys that started The 502s. The genre is broad enough to encompass the gospel-like revues of Sharpe and his vast, uplifting stage shows, to Ani DiFranco’s intimate solo-acoustic protest songs. The 502s earned their leg up early, winning a contest to play the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival with Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers, and Kendrick Lamar. Striking when hot, they quickly dropped a self-titled EP in 2016 that hit, winning them airplay and a showcase invitation in NYC. Touring began in earnest, including stops with Jason Isbell and a slew of Americana festivals. Full-length LPs followed in 2018, 2021 and 2022. As per usual, the live performance makes the recorded material exponentially better, and The 502s put on an energetic show with original takes that feature piano, banjo and horns. Their Fresh Squeezed Happiness Tour runs domestically until September, plus more than 25 dates squeezing joy into the ears of Europe to close out the year.
THE TALBOTT BROTHERS @ DISTRICT LIVE
FRI JUL 7 | 8 PM
Siblings Nick and Ty have a compelling story of personal sacrifice that informs their compelling music, and we’ll get to that. But going on the press photo, if this was a blurb for an OG Ibiza Rave revivalist DJ set on a Friday night at Elan, it would make more sense. Regardless, whether tan, rested and ready for a 21st century Roxy Music album cover, or the scruffy cowboys from rural Nebraska, it obviously doesn’t matter at all. One listen to their 2022 album Letters reveals a ton of substance and soul in a stirring exhibit of aural art. Their 2017 single earned enough notice for them to tour the country econo. Two LPs gained national attention, so they did what anyone else would do. They lived in an Airstream in the woods near a studio outside of Portland, Oregon. The fruit of that labor is Letters, where the Bros stretch out from indie folk to modern indie pop with stunning success. The haunting harmonies and unexpected rhythms are icing on the cake. An efficient 12 tracks in 38 minutes, there’s no filler. Just steak after steak after steak after steak after steak.
CHMURA @ ELAN SAVANNAH
SAT JUL 8 | 10 PM
One of a new generation of bass producers creating a sparse, somewhat darker, moodier sound that demands patience of the listener, but greater rewards. Denver’s Chmura works in heavy and melodic dubstep, with a gritty production that takes chances, but doesn’t push the density envelope. Or anything else extreme. Here, space is allowed for the chill vibes to last. Live, you can expect to get them longer. On Eternal, a recent collaboration with labelmates (or whatever the current equivalent is) Daggz and Ooga, the slower, constrained wubs drop down another gear to the glittering, dreamy end. Other tracks lean into the cinematics, but it’s all unusually understated. Chmura’s side gig worth noting is at the University of Colorado teaching electronic music production classes. The music program allows students to choose EDM as their primary instrument if their studies are in music business, music performance, or recording arts. EDM in academia…another win for everyone.
FLORIDA WOMAN + GRAVITY EFFECT @ THE WORMHOLE
SAT JUL 8 | 10 PM
Florida Woman (pictured), Savannah’s self-proclaimed “doom pop duo,” crank out a complex and layered indie sound. The lo-fi studio vibe results in a sort of punk rock Pinback, more specifically, an evil and scary version, with harder, muddier plodding and stomping. The kind of thing that would make a cowering, insecure Florida man run for cover, just as soon as he finishes throwing a baby alligator into a Burger King drive-through window. It’s the law, after all. Unencumbered, Florida Woman gives it to you thick and raw, with moments of digital smoothness and deep psychedelic dives into audacious soundscapes. Strong harmonies and occasional goth passages fill out the impressive menu. More direct are Jacksonville’s Gravity Effect, who rock classic alternative and grunge in the vein of STP, Everclear and Pearl Jam. A rich guitar tone and soulful vocals drive the riff-driven style, and they’ve got lots of big DUVAL!!!!-sized riffs. Jax singer-songwriter Rambler Kane specializes in a sweet concoction of country, blues, folk and soul.
LIGHTHEARTED + WALTER SLIDE + HOT GOSS @ EL ROCKO
WED JUL 12 | 9 PM
Lighthearted (pictured) is fronted by twin sisters Gracie Huffman and Eliza Lemmon, along with their gorgeous harmonies that swell and wane like the waves of a calm sea. Whether heard over well-textured acoustic guitars, or the full five-piece band that rounds out the alt/indie folk, the Athens band makes very pretty music. Chattanooga’s Walter Slide Band plays the jangly, early alternative that hopped a generation from The Byrds to REM. Kudos to the chuggy basslines. Savannah duo Hot Goss became besties and had to make some music. They worked out a strong set of songs with a list of influences from post punk to new wave to pop, all worked out DIY-style with their custom dose of the sads.
This article appears in Jun 1-30, 2023.
