Examiner

Georgia has a ton of local musicians out there and folks need to stand up and take notice. From all walks of the music universe they toil in relative obscurity because many residents would prefer to shell out big bucks for national acts in hopes they get the generic shout out to their community then a few meager shekels to support the singers and songwriters that live among them. Almost any night of the week you can find a local band jamming original tunes at one of the many local venues just waiting for listeners to come partake in some tasty tunes and ice cold beverages. With that all being said, here is a bonus Chris’ Pick Six that focuses on local music. Check out these records and go see them live whenever the chance arises.

SEX BBQ – Sex Noir City

Sometimes you have to invest a boat load of time to get into new music and other times a record is fun right from the beginning, Sex Noir City from the Atlanta band SEX BBQ is one of the latter. A conglomeration of talented Atlanta musicians, SEX BBQ has delivered a batch of tunes that takes listeners on a wild romp through a crazy world of musical goodness. Layers of sounds swirl around the boisterous vocals of Kate Jan creating a record that is equal parts surf guitar, punk, garage rock, lounge and power pop. The songs have a whimsical feel with a hidden dark side as Jan sings about sex, dysfunctional relationships, weed and a wealth of everyday life shit. Sex Noir City is a record that just keeps getting better with each listen as new layers reveal themselves. Blistering guitars, booming percussion, creepy toy piano and a mix of various sounds & effects are meticulously brought together melding into one cohesive sound while avoiding falling into chaos and unlistenable noise. As the haunting beginning of the opening track explodes into a surf guitar mix it is almost impossible not delve further into the record. From start to finish there are no weak spots but don’t take my word go give it a listen. READ MORE…

This Atlanta trio has been at the game a while, now. Brothers Mike and Jack Shaw, along with high school friend Jacob Morrell have toured and recorded since they formed back in 2007. Not long after, The Head released their debut Puckered, a terrific, power-pop punch. Since that first release, Morrell’s guitar prowess has lived a thousand lives, Jack has created a fluidity on the drums that is the heartbeat of the band and while Mike is an excellent bassist, it’s his voice that reaches new heights with each new release. After evolving and maturing, the band has arrived in the fall of 2015 with their new self-produced EP, Millipedes.

The fantastic opening track “Jesus” sounds like it would be right at home on R.E.M.’s Monster, with grunge guitar, off-kilter shifts and thought-provoking lyrics. The rocking “It Ain’t Easy” tells the story of Newtown gunman Adam Lanza and his disjointed and strained relationship with his parents (“I’ve never heard of a son whose never played with a gun”). A potentially controversial move on the band’s part turns out to be a winner.

The dreamy guitar work on “Raincoats” may let a little of the Ocean Blue’s “Between Something and Nothing” slip into your subconscious, while “Unspoken” is a speeding roller coaster ride. “Pebbles on the Ground” is a wonderful closer with the trio creating the perfect storm. An instantly hummable tune that is a guaranteed dance floor filler. READ MORE…

Ian Saint Pé spent ten years of his music career playing guitar for the Black Lips. After traveling the world together and making several albums, he decided it was time to move on to something different and said goodbye to the band. Now, he’s back with a new project called Saint Pé a new EP, and a different outlook. Before they play Chicago’s Double Door with Bobby Bare Jr, who he met at a Lou Reed tribute show at SXSW, Ian talks about the new band Saint Pé, what fuels his music, and the importance of grasping time while you still can. READ MORE…

Here you go music fans, the next album on the 31 Days of Music: Best of 2013 at Number 20 is (drum roll please) Tedo Stone, Good Go Bad. A mighty fine record from a talented individual. Don’t forget to listen to all this great music on the AME’s 31 Days of Music: Best of 2013 Spotify playlist.

When Tedo Stone released his debut EP – Happy – I couldn’t get enough of it. The Atlanta/Athens musician perfectly blended spacey guitars, psychedelic fuzz and Byrds era country rock into one unique sound. Employing a dogged work ethic Stone built up quite a following through live shows, the internet and word of mouth. Once you heard the EP you had to see a live show and once you heard Tedo live it made the EP that much better. The past year has seen him team up with This Is American Music which has been a big part of his explosion in popularity, well that and the fact his music is so damn good. READ MORE…