HIGH FREQUENCIES: Blackfox — Out of the tar pits
Blackfox play the Atlanta Room, Stevie T is at the Elliott Street Pub
The members of Blackfox have been promising something special for their show in the Atlanta Room at Smith’s Olde Bar tonight. With it being the kick-off of Super Bowl LIII weekend here in the ATL, one can only wonder what that something might be. Only one way to find out of course, head over for the show. I’m still banking on the New Orleans Saints onstage with them, taking a group knee. Whatever happens, the band will include a nine-piece line-up onstage, performing songs from their two LPs and their as-yet-unfinished third album.
Drummer Mitchell Sosebee acknowledges the band does seem to take different forms for it’s performances. “We keep morphing our lineup, as we went from a three-piece with guests (on the first record), to an eight-piece on the second (La Brea). We are currently working on songs for the third album,” he continues, noting that it may take a step “in a slightly different direction, although the cast of players contributing are likely to be the same people, just slightly different roles.”
“Stacey (Cargall, the singer/guitarist in the band) writes great songs, and we’re always trying to find the best way to present them. We are lucky to have a core group of players (himself, Cargall and Ryan Taylor, guitars/synths) who are so much fun to play with, that our rehearsals are very much an outlet for everyone’s creativity. We refer to our rehearsals as ‘music therapy.’ It is a wonderful thing to have good friends and fellow musicians who enjoy each other’s talent, as well as each other’s company.”
Such camaraderie shows onstage, like it did when an extended line-up took the stage at last year’s Grant Park Summer Shade Festival. The nine musicians offered a full, rhythmic wave of music that altered between the ehthno sounds of Ginger Baker’s Air Force and the space explorations of Hawkwind, with a little glam thrown in for good measure, to more roots-inspired rock ’n’ R&B.
Of late, the core of Blackfox has been joined by Jim Combs, keyboards; Greg Wright, bass; Andy Gish; and Monica Arrington.
The International Pop Overthrow, a three night event celebrating pop music, takes place in Atlanta this weekend at the Red Light Cafe. While all three nights, Feb 1, 2, and 3, promise to please the most ardent of power pop music lovers, of special interest to many longtime Atlantans will be the appearance of The Raves. Known for their Beatlesque songs and harmonies, The Raves were mainstays on Atlanta stages … uh, the first, make that second, time pop music took over the world. Brothers John and Chuck Yoakum, with Kenneth Kennedy, are now joined by by Dale Hall keeping the beat.
Stevie T. Tombstone returns to Atlanta Thursday, Feb. 6, for an evening of “Tunes and Tales” at the Elliott Street Deli and Pub. Can’t think of a better place to hear him than downstairs in the the intimate confines of what surely is one of Atlanta’s oldest music rooms. History runs deep there, just like T’s roots, the singer/guitarist being the Georgia-born relation to the legendary fiddler Clayton McMichen.
Having spent more time on the road rather than hanging his hat in one place, Stevie T recently decided to call North Carolina home. One hopes that means the one-time Atlanta will return to the Elliott Street Pub sooner than later. Meanwhile, according to an email I received from him, he has “plans to record a stripped-down collection of tunes he’s been holding onto a while. … until he found until the proper setting. The working title is Cabin on the Hill. The inspiration of my new surroundings has helped me visualize the outcome although the songs do the work themselves.”
The Breeze Kings were happy to announce on their Facebook page that old friend Coy Bowles of the Zac Brown Band stopped in the Northside Tavern Thursday, Jan. 31, bringing with him a couple of friends, Laur Joamets (Little Joe) of Drivin N Cryin and Dave Grohl, who some of you may know from the Foo Fighters, the band in the ATL for a Super Saturday performance at a makeshift venue built at Atlantic Station. You never know who is going to show up at the Northside’s Thursday night blues parties.
The line-up for the Amplify Decatur Music Festival 2019 has been announced. Taking the Decatur Square stage April 13 will be Mavis Staples, Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Kevn Kinney (Drivin N Cryin), and the Bitteroots.