TST Interview: The Back Row Baptists

TST Caught up with The Back Row Baptists at Smiths Olde Bar and asked them about their sound, influences and their new release Broken Hearts and Bad Decisions.

When asked why Birmingham singer/songwriter Chris Porter assembled the back Row Baptists his reply is simple, and direct. “I wanted to make something real.” After years of consistent touring and recording with his alt-country bar burners, The Stolen Roses, Porter seems to have finally found his voice. “I’m sick of the lack of substance in country music! There has been so much heartache and turmoil to hit the Gulf Coast in the last decade its hard to believe that there hasn’t been an honest voice to rise from the rubble.”

The Back Row Baptists are a collection of reluctant troubadours straight from The Magic City, who’s musical roots are as deep as the iron buried in its soil. Sarah Green (The Sunday Lovers, The Good Neighbors, and formerly of the Contraband) holds down duties as vocalist, drummer, and band parole officer. Handling the task of providing the soul and wisdom that only he can, Heath Green’s duties include vocals, piano, harmonica, and bartender. Next comes the incomparable Jay Taylor on the upright bass guitar, Susan Nuckols (the contraband, Blue Galaxy, Wayne Newton, Neil Diamond, and God knows who else) on the fiddle, and the sonic insanity of Adam Guthrie (PAIN, The Wayne Mills Band and the Starmakers) and his Ukulele the Baptists have a sound and a show to be reckoned with.

Click here for more information on The Back Row Baptist.

TST Interview with The Back Row Baptists from The Silver Tongue on Vimeo.

The Back Row Baptists Live at Smith’s Olde Bar

Something Olde, Something New

There are plenty of good reasons for you to be at Smith’s Olde Bar this Thursday, July 1 around 9 p.m. Sweetwater 420 on draught, Fox Bros. barbecue, great service from friendly bartenders and great company from the saucy regulars of the bar. However, the most important reason for you to swing on by Smith’s on Thursday will be to hear some great live tunes from local artist Neil Cribbs.

Neil Cribbs, a transplant from Boone, N.C., has been delighting audiences around Atlanta with his dusky vocals and reflective lyrics for over two years. His songs are stories of the greatest American past times: love, loss, memory and hope, crafted together with solid, rhythmic guitar and bright bursts of harmonica.

Cribbs will be playing a mix of fervid originals from his new album “Marionette,” along with some familiar tunes he has restyled to fit perfectly in his portfolio. Ever heard Michael Jackson in the style of Americana? Well be prepared to do a sparkly-gloved crotch grab of enthusiasm because you will this Thursday.

Cribbs will also be playing the Strange Daze music festival this August.

Visit www.neilcribbs.com for more show dates, to purchase “Marionette,” or just to see photos of a great beard in action.

Connor Christian to Shoot New Video at Smith’s Olde Bar this Friday Night!

When Connor Christian & Southern Gothic (CCSG) released their sophomore album, “90 Proof Lullabies” last year on the Vintage Earth Music label, things just started rollin’…quickly.   Although a band never knows what’s going to happen when they go into the studio, and CCSG has some amazing talent collectively; they still sought out some of the best in the business to ensure that this was THE breakout cd for the band; and so far, it’s proving to be true.  The 14 songs were  produced by Jeff Tomei (Matchbox 20, Jerrry Cantrell), mixed by Shawn Grove (Collective Soul, Sevendust) and features Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke, Mark Van Allen of Blueground Undergrass and Bobby Emmett of the Shooter Jennings Band.  Hell, you just can’t go wrong with talent like that. Major spin on radio stations started happening, their shows started selling out, and CCSG ended the year with one of the most requested videos on CMT for their song, “Sunday Suit”, which has all led up to the upcoming live shoot of their second video for the song “3 Times” (free download at end of article) on Friday night at Smith’s Olde Bar (2/19/10).

Not too shabby for a 30 year old singer/songwriter/guitar/piano/harmonica playing rebel that left home at the age of 14 to travel the world, and supported himself playing music anywhere that he could.  When I talked to Connor Christian today, it was with quite a bit of inquisitiveness to how he came from a wandering traveler to making his directorial debut with the “3 Times” video.  “Well, I put myself through college at Georgia State, and got my Journalism degree.  I had to take all kinds of video production classes, so I feel pretty confident  in my ability to direct it, and am absolutely certain of the vision I have for the video.  It’s a fun song!  Not too complicated really…it’s simply about screwing three times in one night,” Christian said laughingly.   He added, “The storyboards are all worked out, and we’re just going to have fun with it.  Originally it was just going to be a “set” shoot, but then we decided that it would be so great to shoot live during a show and include our fans old and new.  It’s one of their favorite “sing-a-long songs” so that’s what we’ve set out to do..,let them sing along and be in our next video.”

The show starts at 8:30 with a great new Atlanta band, ‘Faithless Town’.  Up next will be Birmingham, Alabama’s The Back Row Baptists.  Connor recently produced their new record, which will be coming out on Vintage Earth Records this Spring.  Then, according to Christian, “CCSG’s gonna put on the craziest show ever with our good friends, Sundown.  Neither one of us is a “headliner” on this bill.  I got the idea from seeing a Counting Crows show at Red Rocks, where they shared the stage with Augustina off and on all night.  It was a pretty cool concept, and we’re gonna do the same thing on Friday.  Mix in a lot of crowd shots and we will have a set trailer in the back for fans to go and sing along to the song in groups of two and up.”

Get your FREE DOWNLOAD of “3 Times” here:  Connor Christian – “3 Times”

The lyrics to the song are here if you want to brush up before the show (or blush up…they’re pretty sexy words!)

Tickets are only $10.00 for all four bands!  You can purchase tickets online through Ticket Alternative here until  the cut-off at 2:00 p.m. on Friday.  If it’s not sold out by then, you can try your luck at the doors (which open at 8 p.m.).  I’ve already got mine and I strongly suggest that you do the same and come on down to Smith’s, be a part of music in the making, and support these great Georgia bands!

You can help further by voting  for CCSG’s video on CMT!  You do not have to register, and you can vote as often as you like, for up to 12 artists at a time.  While you’re in there, show some love for Connor’s  friends in Blackberry Smoke and vote for their video as well!   Click here to vote. (BBS is #11 on the voting ballot, and Conner’s a lil scroll down at #24).

Val King

Atlanta’s Tongue-Approved Shows for 1/12 – 1/18

Tuesday 1/12:
Smith’s Old Bar: The Rattlers , The Right Now ,The Nim Nims

Wednesday 1/13:
Star Bar: StoneRiders, Sodajerk and The Cogburns
Masquerade: Hell: Otium, Andy Someillan, Black Light Trio, Danny B!,Octopus Grin,
Smith’s Olde Bar: East Ponce Soul Faction

Thursday 1/14:
Masquerade: Heaven: Smile Empty Soul, Burn Halo, The Last Vegas
Vinyl: Sean McConnell
Star Bar: The Long Shadows, It’s Elephants & Street Violence
Andrew’s Upstairs: The Six Shot Revival, Green Eyed Stare
Smiths Olde Bar: Groove Stain

Friday 1/15
Masquerade:
Heaven: Sid Vicious Punk Fest-Sid Vicious Experience, Motor 76, The Unsatisfied, Super Hooligan Hell- Hellzapoppin Side Show & Revue with The Hot Rods
Drunken Unicorn: Whores, New Brutalism and Lectures on The Apocalypse
Star Bar: The Subsonics, Barracudas, Mermaids
Smith’s Olde Bar: Gypsy Sol / The Legendary JCs / Brother Jocephus
Andrew’s Upstairs: Yacht Rock
5 spot: Wayside Riders, Acoustic Ancient Harmony

Saturday 1/16:
H ighlander: Free show with Armazilla, South City Riot and Cry M e A Liver
Masquerade:Heaven: RJD2, The Constellations, Happy Chichester
Hell: The Roly-Bots, Swank Motel
Smith’s Olde Bar: The Lee Boys
Planet-X: Winter Rock Fest 4 stages – 75 bands w/10 years, Eternal Hour, Dangerous New Machines, Attila, Dead Rites, and Velveeta Brothers.
Smith’s Olde Bar: Conscious Artist Party
Smith’s Olde Bar: Elliot Yamin

Sunday 1/17:
The Earl: Movits!, Joe Pettis and The Falcon Lords

Monday 1/18:
Masquerade: Halcyon Way with Korpiklaani, TYR, SwashBuckle, White Wizards, & Brazen Angels

Atta-Boys Opening for The Swinging Richards December 26th at Smith’s Olde Bar

The Atta-Boys will opening for The Swinging Richards and will be performing a special acoustical set Saturday, December 26th at Smith’s Olde Bar.

Three of the four members of the popular 80′s band Prodigy, Charles Ivester, Jack Browning and Rob Cali, will be reunited for the first time since 1983.

Paul Bryant is accomplished in many ways and brings a pounding bass to what will most certainly be an experience to remember.

The event is almost sold out, so get your tickets today. Tickets are available in advance for  $12 at smithsoldebar.com or $15 at the door . Don’t forget to bring some canned goods to help feed those in need.

GoGirlsMusic.com Presents:The Monster Dog Circus, A Benefit for Melinda Kingsley 12.09.09

GoGirlsMusic.com, Smith’s Olde Bar and Dirty South TV have teamed up to bring you Monster Dog Circus, a benefit show for Melinda Kingsley.

Melinda Kingsley, a singer/songwriter, active member of the Atlanta chapter of GoGirlsMusic and a big supporter of the local music scene suffers from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and has been ill since August. Although Melinda is home recovering, her friends have put together this benefit show in order to help with her growing medical expenses.

The show will take place at Smith’s Olde Bar on Wednesday, December 9th and will include performances by  The Issues ,Green Bracelet, Grace Buford, Jo Anne Carlson, Tyler Reeves, Starfish & Coffee, Cell & Simple Machine, Dream Level 7 and many more.

There will be a silent auction from 6pm – 10:30 pm. Items auctioned have been donated by artist such as Cindy Wilson of The B52s ,Michelle Malone, Caroline Aiken , The Georgia Satellites, and many more. Special Guests include a really cool Belly Dancing Troupe and A Drum Circle headed by Melinda’s former drummer, Becca! There will be an all star jam with Surprise Special Guest at the end of the night.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. If you are unable to attend, for a $5 donation, made via Paypal, you can watch a live broadcast at www.dirtysouthtv.com.

All of the proceeds from the Monster Dog Circus will go towards Melinda’s medical fund.

Five Eight Prove Themselves Once Again

It’s a common occurrence: Regional band with respectful amount of success just misses hitting it big.  Disappears only to resurface several years later.  Is it an act of desperation or a legitimate run?  For the Athens, Georgia band Five Eight, it appeared to be legitimate at Smith’s Olde Bar in Atlanta Saturday night.  Twenty years after their formation, the band sounds as relevant and fresh as ever.  Singer/guitar shredder Mike Mantione seemed to channel Joe Cocker, Angus Young, and Frank Black simultaneously.  Longtime bassist Dan Horowitz and drummer Patrick “Tigger” Ferguson round out the band.  Both exceptional musicians in their own right (guitarist Sean Dunn was absent this night).
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ASCAP Showcase Review: Boo or Whew!

I arrived at Smith’s Olde Bar in Atlanta, Georgia and made my way upstairs to what I would deem the “quietest” place in the bar which is ironic since that’s where the live music is played. Upstairs is also where ASCAP showcases some of the best unsigned musicians on the first Thursday of each month, or the worst depending on who you ask.

Tonight’s players are:
JEREMY AGGERS
CONNER CHRISTRIAN & SOUTHERN GOTHIC
BLAIR CRIMMINS & THE HOOKERS
and
I’M CHINESE

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