Athena
With a wild, untamed look and a strong theatrical bent, Athena Reich’s approach seems to be all about pushing the envelope of audience expectations. She combines elements of folk, punk and comedy to create a confrontational type of cabaret that is not for everyone (many may find her artistic vision to be self-important and half-baked), but some will find her 4-octave vocal range, keyboard and guitar arrangements and empowered woman shtick to be just the ticket. Thurs., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean.
Alex Bach
This female rocker of French-Tunisian heritage is making a full court press for fame and fortune. Her stock in trade is a sexy, cooing voice which can shift to a full-throttle metal yell. She also knows her way around an electric guitar. While not particularly well-known in the states, her band is racking up big-time equipment endorsements and she recently traveled to the Middle East to entertain American and Coalition troops. Plus, two of her indie songs have already hit #1 on Billboard’s Top 40 “download charts,” and her work is starting to crop up in the background of MTV programs. These developments point to someone dumping a ton of money behind her very soon. Fri., 10 pm, Club Oz (formerly Equinox).
The Back River Ramblers
Local acoustic trio featuring Daryl Wise, “Georgia” Kyle Shiver and Dobie Simmons mixing up country, bluegrass and R & B into something they call “Marsh Grass” music. Thurs., 7 pm, Fannie’s On The Beach (Tybee).
John Banks
Jazz-influenced electric guitar from a key member of area favorites The Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love, and one of the more versatile and seasoned players around. Fri., 9 pm, Jazz’d Tapas Bar.
The Jeff Beasley Band
Local trio led by a member of blues duo Two Blue, that plays a mix of rocked-up blues standards and Cajun-flavored originals. Thurs., JJ Cagney’s + Fri., 12 midnight, Malone’s.
Leslie Berry
This “progressive pop” singer/songwriter from South Carolina has released three indie CDs which showcase her quirky blend of modern pop and contemporary folk music – held together with copious amounts of classical piano chops. Southeast Performer Magazine described her self-titled debut as “Paula Cole in a polite catfight with Tori Amos,” but that’s a bit misleading. There is less edginess to her efforts than those of either Amos or Cole. She has appeared at many major Southeastern showcase clubs, including The Handlebar in Greenville and Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta, and she was a featured artist on Oprah Winfrey’s Oxygen Network Tank Tour. Sat., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean.
Bluesonics
Versatile and well-liked local group offering spirited takes on Texas blues (think SRV), Chicago shuffles and Southeastern swamp music. Fri., Savannah Blues + Sat.,10 pm, Jazz’d Tapas Bar.
The Doug Carn Quintet
This internationally-known keyboardist was one of the shining lights of the highly-collectable Black Jazz label of the 1970s. Since then, his profile has dimmed slightly, but he continues to gig in New York, Florida, Los Angeles and – more recently – Africa. He now returns to Savannah after an extended absence with a standing Sunday night gig at this N’awlin’s-style soul food restaurant with a new quintet that includes flutist Salah Abdul-Wahid. Sun., 7 pm, Creole Red.
Sterling Colvin & Improv
Slick and soulful Hilton Head party band who many Savannahians may remember for backing up Kim Polote when she opened for Al Green last year at Trustees Theatre. They shift well from jazz to pop and back again. Fri., Fusion/The Monkey Bar.
Comedy Night at The Bean
See Connect Recommends. Fri., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean.
Chris Cook’s “Boogie Nights”
Raunchy them party based on the Paul Thomas Anderson film of the same name, which centered around the Southern California adult film industry of the 1970s. Expect plenty of skin and lots of dirty dancing. Sat., 10 pm, Velouria.
Jacey Falk
Native Savannah jazz vocalist who achieved a modicum of success in the NYC scene before returning to town, and forming a facile combo that can follow his lead and work around his frequent flights of campy improvisational fancy. Fri., 10 pm, Mercury Lounge.
Kodac Harrison
Atlanta-based author and acoustic guitarist whose bruised ballads and smokey lamentations are often compared to the work of fellow poet-singers Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen for their no-frills approach to raw imagery and gut emotion. Fri., 10 pm, Loggerheads.
Hip-hop Freestyle Night
The Jinx’s twist on Open Mics, with DJ’s D-Frost and Selvis spinning tracks while allowing amateur rappers to show their stuff... Tues., The Jinx.
Steve G. Jones
This board certified “Clinical Hypnotherapist To The Stars” recently relocated to our area from Beverly Hills, and while cynics may get a chuckle from some of his entertainment-industry clientele’s testimonials (like Quiet Riot’s bass player’s claim that Jones gave him “the motivation to accelerate my career into a whole new level”), this will likely make for another evening of unusual info-tainment at this funky venue. Tues., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean.
Lauren Lapointe
Local solo artist singing direct, emotional originals and popular covers accompanied by acoustic guitar. Thurs., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean.
Liquid Ginger
This female-fronted local act straddles the line between hard-hitting modern commercial rock and mainstream pop. They pad their sets with crowd-pleasing covers, but have two solid indie albums worth of catchy originals to draw from as well. Fri., 10 pm, Club Oz (formerly Equinox).
Mandible
See Connect Recommends. Fri., The Jinx.
The Marshall Brothers
Acoustic sibling act featuring Stewart Marshall, of “y’allternative” band Stewart & Winfield. Expect Americana covers and original material that feeds off their brittle vocal harmonies and brotherly vibe. Fri., O’Connell’s Irish Pub.
Eddie Mercer
Local songwriter mixing originals with ballads and dance tunes (R & B, shag, blues and rock) from the ‘50s to the present. Fri., 8 pm, Steamers (Georgetown) + Sat. - Sun., The Flying Pig Fair (Pooler).
Kristy Mitchell
Solo acoustic guitarist, back after an extended absence. Covers and originals. Thurs., O’Connell’s Irish Pub.
Eric Moore & Brock Butler
See Connect Recommends. Wed., Fiddler’s Crab House.
Old-Time Music Jam Session
Led by musicologist and picker Joe Nelson, this jam allows newbies to learn the ropes of mountain string music from the ‘20s and ‘30s. Mon., 7:30 pm, The Sentient Bean.
Perception
Up-and-coming regional cover band offering Southern and modern hard rock, plus a few like-minded originals as well. Thurs., 9:30 pm, Malone’s.
Pocket Change
Local party band playing popular, dance-oriented covers of R & B, funk and soul hits from the ‘60s to the present day. Sat., Fusion/The Monkey Bar.
Proof
Sonically ambitious post-punk which aims for inventive, shifting soundscapes that retain the capacity to rawk. Ideal for fans of Don Cabellero and Girls vs. Boys. Sat., The Jinx.
The Bobby Ryder Quartet
Big band-style jazz and swing from a vocalist with a Sinatra fixation. Fri. - Sat., 7 pm, The Jazz Corner (Hilton Head).
The 2004 Savannah Folk Music Festival
See Music Feature. Fri., 7 pm, City Market Courtyard + Sat., 8 pm, Notre Dame Academy Gymnasium (1709 Bull St.) + Sun., 1 pm, The Roundhouse (corner of Harris St. and MLK, Jr. Blvd.)
Charlie Sherrill
Beloved area fixture, playing a mixture of smooth jazz, lite reggae and R & B he terms “Tybee Music.” He has entertained our area with his own material and tried-and-true covers for over a decade. Wed. - Sun., Doc’s Bar (Tybee).
Soundmen
This Atlanta jam act is actually one of the finest jazz-funk fusion combos touring the Southeast. Fri., JJ Cagney’s.
Amy Steinberg
Orlando-based singer/songwriter known for a sassy outlook and unpredictable nature that draws heavily from interaction with her audience. She clearly comes from the Ani DiFranco school of angsty female troubadours, but retains a good humor that is too often lacking from that icon’s overly preachy work. Sat., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean.
Sweatin’ Bullets
High-energy classic rock and roll covers from Jacksonville. Fri. - Sat., 9:30 pm, The Oyster Bar (Wilmington Island).
Gail Thurmond
Downtown fixture at this cozy, basement bar, playing torch songs and jazz standards on piano. Gail has just released her second album, and despite her relatively low profile, she is one of Savannah’s musical treasures. Wed.- Mon., Planter’s Tavern (beneath The Olde Pink House Restaurant).
With a wild, untamed look and a strong theatrical bent, Athena Reich’s approach seems to be all about pushing the envelope of audience expectations. She combines elements of folk, punk and comedy to create a confrontational type of cabaret that is not for everyone (many may find her artistic vision to be self-important and half-baked), but some will find her 4-octave vocal range, keyboard and guitar arrangements and empowered woman shtick to be just the ticket. Thurs., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean.
Alex Bach
This female rocker of French-Tunisian heritage is making a full court press for fame and fortune. Her stock in trade is a sexy, cooing voice which can shift to a full-throttle metal yell. She also knows her way around an electric guitar. While not particularly well-known in the states, her band is racking up big-time equipment endorsements and she recently traveled to the Middle East to entertain American and Coalition troops. Plus, two of her indie songs have already hit #1 on Billboard’s Top 40 “download charts,” and her work is starting to crop up in the background of MTV programs. These developments point to someone dumping a ton of money behind her very soon. Fri., 10 pm, Club Oz (formerly Equinox).
The Back River Ramblers
Local acoustic trio featuring Daryl Wise, “Georgia” Kyle Shiver and Dobie Simmons mixing up country, bluegrass and R & B into something they call “Marsh Grass” music. Thurs., 7 pm, Fannie’s On The Beach (Tybee).
John Banks
Jazz-influenced electric guitar from a key member of area favorites The Sapphire Bullets of Pure Love, and one of the more versatile and seasoned players around. Fri., 9 pm, Jazz’d Tapas Bar.
The Jeff Beasley Band
Local trio led by a member of blues duo Two Blue, that plays a mix of rocked-up blues standards and Cajun-flavored originals. Thurs., JJ Cagney’s + Fri., 12 midnight, Malone’s.
Leslie Berry
This “progressive pop” singer/songwriter from South Carolina has released three indie CDs which showcase her quirky blend of modern pop and contemporary folk music – held together with copious amounts of classical piano chops. Southeast Performer Magazine described her self-titled debut as “Paula Cole in a polite catfight with Tori Amos,” but that’s a bit misleading. There is less edginess to her efforts than those of either Amos or Cole. She has appeared at many major Southeastern showcase clubs, including The Handlebar in Greenville and Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta, and she was a featured artist on Oprah Winfrey’s Oxygen Network Tank Tour. Sat., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean.
Bluesonics
Versatile and well-liked local group offering spirited takes on Texas blues (think SRV), Chicago shuffles and Southeastern swamp music. Fri., Savannah Blues + Sat.,10 pm, Jazz’d Tapas Bar.
The Doug Carn Quintet
This internationally-known keyboardist was one of the shining lights of the highly-collectable Black Jazz label of the 1970s. Since then, his profile has dimmed slightly, but he continues to gig in New York, Florida, Los Angeles and – more recently – Africa. He now returns to Savannah after an extended absence with a standing Sunday night gig at this N’awlin’s-style soul food restaurant with a new quintet that includes flutist Salah Abdul-Wahid. Sun., 7 pm, Creole Red.
Sterling Colvin & Improv
Slick and soulful Hilton Head party band who many Savannahians may remember for backing up Kim Polote when she opened for Al Green last year at Trustees Theatre. They shift well from jazz to pop and back again. Fri., Fusion/The Monkey Bar.
Comedy Night at The Bean
See Connect Recommends. Fri., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean.
Chris Cook’s “Boogie Nights”
Raunchy them party based on the Paul Thomas Anderson film of the same name, which centered around the Southern California adult film industry of the 1970s. Expect plenty of skin and lots of dirty dancing. Sat., 10 pm, Velouria.
Jacey Falk
Native Savannah jazz vocalist who achieved a modicum of success in the NYC scene before returning to town, and forming a facile combo that can follow his lead and work around his frequent flights of campy improvisational fancy. Fri., 10 pm, Mercury Lounge.
Kodac Harrison
Atlanta-based author and acoustic guitarist whose bruised ballads and smokey lamentations are often compared to the work of fellow poet-singers Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen for their no-frills approach to raw imagery and gut emotion. Fri., 10 pm, Loggerheads.
Hip-hop Freestyle Night
The Jinx’s twist on Open Mics, with DJ’s D-Frost and Selvis spinning tracks while allowing amateur rappers to show their stuff... Tues., The Jinx.
Steve G. Jones
This board certified “Clinical Hypnotherapist To The Stars” recently relocated to our area from Beverly Hills, and while cynics may get a chuckle from some of his entertainment-industry clientele’s testimonials (like Quiet Riot’s bass player’s claim that Jones gave him “the motivation to accelerate my career into a whole new level”), this will likely make for another evening of unusual info-tainment at this funky venue. Tues., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean.
Lauren Lapointe
Local solo artist singing direct, emotional originals and popular covers accompanied by acoustic guitar. Thurs., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean.
Liquid Ginger
This female-fronted local act straddles the line between hard-hitting modern commercial rock and mainstream pop. They pad their sets with crowd-pleasing covers, but have two solid indie albums worth of catchy originals to draw from as well. Fri., 10 pm, Club Oz (formerly Equinox).
Mandible
See Connect Recommends. Fri., The Jinx.
The Marshall Brothers
Acoustic sibling act featuring Stewart Marshall, of “y’allternative” band Stewart & Winfield. Expect Americana covers and original material that feeds off their brittle vocal harmonies and brotherly vibe. Fri., O’Connell’s Irish Pub.
Eddie Mercer
Local songwriter mixing originals with ballads and dance tunes (R & B, shag, blues and rock) from the ‘50s to the present. Fri., 8 pm, Steamers (Georgetown) + Sat. - Sun., The Flying Pig Fair (Pooler).
Kristy Mitchell
Solo acoustic guitarist, back after an extended absence. Covers and originals. Thurs., O’Connell’s Irish Pub.
Eric Moore & Brock Butler
See Connect Recommends. Wed., Fiddler’s Crab House.
Old-Time Music Jam Session
Led by musicologist and picker Joe Nelson, this jam allows newbies to learn the ropes of mountain string music from the ‘20s and ‘30s. Mon., 7:30 pm, The Sentient Bean.
Perception
Up-and-coming regional cover band offering Southern and modern hard rock, plus a few like-minded originals as well. Thurs., 9:30 pm, Malone’s.
Pocket Change
Local party band playing popular, dance-oriented covers of R & B, funk and soul hits from the ‘60s to the present day. Sat., Fusion/The Monkey Bar.
Proof
Sonically ambitious post-punk which aims for inventive, shifting soundscapes that retain the capacity to rawk. Ideal for fans of Don Cabellero and Girls vs. Boys. Sat., The Jinx.
The Bobby Ryder Quartet
Big band-style jazz and swing from a vocalist with a Sinatra fixation. Fri. - Sat., 7 pm, The Jazz Corner (Hilton Head).
The 2004 Savannah Folk Music Festival
See Music Feature. Fri., 7 pm, City Market Courtyard + Sat., 8 pm, Notre Dame Academy Gymnasium (1709 Bull St.) + Sun., 1 pm, The Roundhouse (corner of Harris St. and MLK, Jr. Blvd.)
Charlie Sherrill
Beloved area fixture, playing a mixture of smooth jazz, lite reggae and R & B he terms “Tybee Music.” He has entertained our area with his own material and tried-and-true covers for over a decade. Wed. - Sun., Doc’s Bar (Tybee).
Soundmen
This Atlanta jam act is actually one of the finest jazz-funk fusion combos touring the Southeast. Fri., JJ Cagney’s.
Amy Steinberg
Orlando-based singer/songwriter known for a sassy outlook and unpredictable nature that draws heavily from interaction with her audience. She clearly comes from the Ani DiFranco school of angsty female troubadours, but retains a good humor that is too often lacking from that icon’s overly preachy work. Sat., 8 pm, The Sentient Bean.
Sweatin’ Bullets
High-energy classic rock and roll covers from Jacksonville. Fri. - Sat., 9:30 pm, The Oyster Bar (Wilmington Island).
Gail Thurmond
Downtown fixture at this cozy, basement bar, playing torch songs and jazz standards on piano. Gail has just released her second album, and despite her relatively low profile, she is one of Savannah’s musical treasures. Wed.- Mon., Planter’s Tavern (beneath The Olde Pink House Restaurant).
