DAMNED TO EARTH + WYNDRIDER + DOOF @ EL ROCKO LOUNGE
FRI SEPT 22 | 9 PM
Sludge metal is a Southern thing, and an argument can be made that if NOLA is Mecca, Savannah is Medina. Baroness, Kylesa, and Black Tusk are the local prophets who put our little coastal burgh on the sludge map when it was first drawn up. Each band does it differently, and current keepers of the sludge flame Damned to Earth (pictured) have their spin. You might not expect an outlaw country influence to work with any style of metal, but they slip it in like a hot knife through a poser. Juuuust riiiiight. WyndRider swoops down from the mountains of east Tennessee like a mudslide of stoner doom, overwhelming your everything with tons of riffs lightened only by Chloe Gould’s vocals. Doof is heavy, they play heavy, and they’re trying to make “heavy metal doom rock” even heavier. Support their cause, won’t you? And don’t let them find out if you don’t.
HONEYCOMB @ ELAN SAVANNAH
SAT SEPT 23 | 10 PM
The instrumental sounds the human voice can make are remarkable. Doug E. Fresh and Biz Markie pioneered hip-hop human beatbox skills, blurring the lines between organic and digital. Bobby McFerrin did a smash hit pop album with ALL the instruments from his voice. In the EDM universe, the current beatbox king is Honeycomb, fusing his dubstep and bass with astounding vocal tricks. He hosts a Twitch show that T-Pain “raided” and then sat in amazement for 30 minutes of Honeycomb freestyling beats. He’s toured with heavyweights 12th Planet, Moon Hooch, and Space Jesus, and his live shows are known for spontaneity and the ever-present possibility he’ll show off his guitar and/or drumming skills.
CAPRA + STAY LOST + PALMETTO SLUG + RAIL @ EL ROCKO LOUNGE
TUES SEPT 26 | 9 PM
Hailing from Lafayette, Louisiana, Capra has learned lessons in patience. The metallic hardcore band took influences from their personal struggles and their previous bands to create the debut album, which took four years to finish. Then the pandemic hit, and everything was on hold. When things settled down, the album “In Transmission” was released last spring, and they’ve been touring relentlessly to promote it. Their brand of hardcore mayhem, highlighted by Locust Crow’s prodigious vocal delivery, is controlled chaos that does a fantastic job of updating the genre. Along for the ride are Birmingham, Alabama’s Stay Lost, a metalcore quintet. The Holy Ghost Tabernacle Choir drummer Tanner Hamilton’s side project (one of them, anyway) Palmetto Slug is a multi-metal duo with the volume turned to 11. Openers Rail is a local hardcore outfit that pays homage to the original style with newish blast beats and old-school breakdowns.
JOHN PENMAN + BASIK LEE + DOPE KNIFE @ THE WORMHOLE
FRI SEPT 22 | 9 PM
Rap with a live band sounds great, but it’s difficult to pull off. More than 30 years ago, LL Cool J leveled the special edition of Yo! Unplugged Raps with a legendary rendition of “Mama Said Knock You Out” backed by Pops Cool Love, a relatively unknown jam band that was perfect for the job. On the same night, Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul also performed, but a shirtless Uncle L was absolutely devastating. Shortly after, he tried it again on some lame awards show with a different band and it was just awful. Since then, few attempts have stood out. Brand New Heavies “Heavy Rhyme Experience” worked it out stupendously. Currently, The Roots are kings of this realm. So what does Michigan native John Penman bring to the table? His unique selling point is his ability to play the instruments himself (piano and drums), and his soulful singing that complements his legitimate mic skills. Speaking of, the two best local hip-hop artists will display theirs first.
SAVANNAH JAZZ FESTIVAL @ FORSYTH PARK
FRI SEPT 22 | 5 PM + SAT SEPT 23 1:45 PM
A packed music performance at Forsyth Park is when Savannah really shines. The town lives up to its good-time, stress-free, drink-and-a-laugh reputation we’ve earned when everyone — local and visitors — grooves together with a good buzz and great vibes. This weekend, the Savannah Jazz Festival sets up for two huge, FREE shows. Friday kicks off with a pair of military bands warming up the crowd before flugelhorn and trumpet star Milena Casado (pictured) takes the stage. The primetime acts are jazz combo Eric Wyatt & Jeff Tain Watts, followed by the Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Latin Band. Festival Saturday runs all day long, with openers Demetrius Doctor Trio & the Wives hitting the stage at 1:45. Swamp boogie legends Buckwheat Zydeco play at 5 pm, with Nicholas Beard and the Savannah Jazz Orchestra closing the show. In between, enjoy The Martin Lesch Band, Frank Catalano, and Jane Bunnett and Maqueque. See the full schedule for details.
This article appears in Connect Savannah | September, 2023.
