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SPECIAL
SUNDAY SHOWCASE
Sunday,
February 20th at Mojo's featuring
HEATH
HAYNES, SIN CITY REVIVAL, THE ATKINSONS & FABLED AUTOMATIC
MOJO'S
- 733 W. Cary Street
Here's
a little bit about the acts that are playing the February SPECIAL
SUNDAY SHOWCASE...
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HEATH HAYNES AND THE CRYING SHAMES
HEATH
HAYNES
Heath Haynes,
of Heath Haynes and the Crying Shames, gives fans a catchy shot of rock and roll
fired across the bow of image-conscious, processed pop. The music is passionate, original,
and infectious. The group's debut album was named
Spring Release. The mid-tempo soul
of "Carry You Home" showcases Heath's down-to-earth singing, while the
jangle hook of "Shot My Heart" offers percussive punch and perfectly
placed harmony vocals. The impossibly catchy "Complicated Girl" is an
ode to that girl who "brings everybody down/when she comes around" and
draws inspiration from the best of 60s pop. The raucous "Get You Off"
proves why it's become a live favorite, providing a frenetic counterpoint to the
witty barroom country of "12 Steps Away."
After only a few years, the band had already shared a stage with the Supersuckers, Scott Miller & The
Commonwealth, The Silos, Jonathan Richman, Dragstrip Syndicate and Supagroup.
Think of a modern version of The Replacements or the V-Roys, with influences
including The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Cheap Trick, The Sonics
and early Who. Put simply, everything that is fun about rock
and roll.
With stellar songwriting skills and a tight sound, Heath's music provides a melodic, power pop alternative to the cookie-cutter sounds
currently in overabundance on the radio. Heath's next CD is in the works...look
out for it!
Website:
www.heathhaynes.com
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SIN CITY REVIVAL
 SIN
CITY REVIVAL
In a world where it has become increasingly difficult to differentiate one band from the next, where manufactured sounds dominate the radio landscape and originality is sacrificed for marketability, the time has come for a revival.
And there is no better place for that rebirth than Richmond, Virginia, a city steeped in revolution. Sin City Revival’s brand of southern rock is a breath of fresh air in a stagnant musical environment.
SCR is the newest addition to the proud heritage of rock ‘n roll. Like any good southerners, SCR knows its musical history. The band’s unique sound is rooted in some of music’s finest traditions, paying homage to such luminaries as Taj Mahal, Albert Collins and Duane Allman, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zepplin.
The band consists of Brian Fones (guitar/vocals), Ryan Underhill (bass/vocals), Brian Sperberg (keys), Dean Berry (guitar), Dave Smith (drums), Jill Blankenburg (backing vocals) and Michelle Ford (backing vocals). The songwriting is handled by Fones and Underhill who achieve the unique trick of writing lyrics that draw from personal experience yet elicit an almost universal sense of empathy. The band’s sound is unmistakably evocative of the south, eliciting its unique mixture of sultry passion and slow summer heat.
The band’s self-titled debut album is proof that SCR is much more than a three-chord, one act wonder. The songs range from the hard-driving “Loaded” to the achingly soulful “Hungry”. Fones and Underhill are masterful story tellers, using their voices to lend an identifiably personal side to every song. They are perfectly complimented by the soulful and sententious voices of Blankenburg and Ford.
Sperberg lends an electronic flair to the group’s sound. Berry and Fones play some of the finest guitar this side of the Mississippi, ripping solos that leave the listener simultaneously smiling and shaking his head in amazement. Underhill and Smith provide the band’s backbone, making for a lethal bass and drum combination that will leave you nodding your head and tapping your foot.
The sum of the parts results in a sound that is instantly addicting, subtly coaxing everyone who hears it to kick back and enjoy the moment. The band’s live performances are second-to-none, they clearly love playing music and that love is infectious. So give yourself a break from the all-substance pop acts, it is high time for a revival.
Let the Sin City family remind you why you fell in love with rock n roll.
Website:
www.sincityrevival.com
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THE ATKINSONS
 THE
ATKINSONS
The Atkinsons formed in the fall of 2003 in
Richmond, VA. Their main focus was to write and perform their own brand of
original music, as well as incorporating select cover songs that complement
their Americana style. Rooted in rock, touched by country, and rich in
harmonies, The Atkinsons merge their signature sound with bittersweet tales of
woe and heartbreak. Their originals are written with a hardcore honesty that
chronicles Americas lost and lonely souls and their life struggles and turmoil.
Influences range from Whiskeytown, Old 97s and Son Volt - to Old Crow Medicine
Show, The Avett Brothers and Scott Miller - to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers,
The Rolling Stones and Nirvana. The soulful lyrics and whiskey-stained vocals of
Dickie Wood are complemented with three-part harmonies offered up by Jamie Wood
and Kris Krull. Kris also gives the band a new edge on drums working with Ricky
Breland on bass to create a pounding rhythm section. Combine Mike Ferry's fiddle
with Jeff Williams mandolin, and you got a potent mix of rock and country
creating one kickass rockin' Americana band.
"American
Gothic” (self-released): "Dickie Wood has a lot of words floating
around in his head. That’s the thought that comes to mind listening to the
new release from this ubiquitous Richmond group. Serving the role as lead
singer and guitarist, Wood is accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Jeff
Williams, bassist Ricky Breland, fiddler Mike Ferry, drummer Kris Krull and
percussionist/ vocalist Jamie Wood. Throughout 10 tracks (and a bonus track),
they weave stories of loneliness, desertion, romance, boozing, traveling . . .
very much a cross-section of the American experience. Songs are written
more in the form of rhyming prose than as couplets, which helps bolster the
storytelling. Sonically, the group resembles alt-rock pioneers Uncle Tupelo or early
Ryan Adams. The idea behind the music is well-communicated, and the songs
are executed with precision. The Atkinsons have been performing on Richmond
stages for more than four years, and the time and experience are reflected in
the maturity of this recording."
- Style
Weekly, Local Bin by Josh Bearman June 2007
Website: www.theatkinsons.us
www.myspace.com/theatkinsons
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THE TATERS
 FABLED
AUTOMATIC
Some say a sound of any kind is music to someone. Maybe so, but let’s be honest. It’s the hook that creates the song that we can’t let go of.
Formed in early 2004 under the name “M-Unit,” their debut fell nothing short of solid. Show after show, fans left with something that they hadn’t necessarily planned on taking home with them…a hook. In a world where melody is slowly being covered by a blanket of musical carbon copies, it was thrilling to see people’s reactions when a catchy tune was thrown their way. With their powerful vocals, and sharp musicianship M-Unit was making waves, but the consensus was this: the music can stay, but the name simply must go.
Fabled Automatic. What do they sound like? They sound honest. They sound like they’re writing music that they like to listen to. They sound like they love what they do, and if it makes someone else feel good in the process, then they have succeeded. They’ve been compared to The Police, Prince, U2, Joe Jackson, Live, etc. but they aren’t looking to recreate the past. They’re looking to highlight some of the richest aspects of their many influences to help produce music they love to perform.
Website:
www.myspace.com/fabledautomatic
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