Tag Archive for 'Georgia'

PUNK ON THE ROCKS: THE BASTARD SUNS

Published by BethanyLeavey on September 18, 2009 in Artist Feature and Rock. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , .

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With nine Top 10 Channel Achievements since 2007 and a #1 Channel Prize, Atlanta’s The Bastard Suns are the kings of the OurStage Punk Channel. Their winning song, “My Pint,” is a great representation of the band’s sound, which they describe as “reggae-infused punk often mixed with Irish drinking music.”

The Bastard Suns
The Bastard Suns

By any measure, the Bastard Suns are a successful band: three independent full length albums—the latest of which they put out on their own record label (Something Done Right)— opening slots for Pennywise, Hot Water Music and Against Me!, features in Atlanta magazines and radio,  10,000 + MySpace friends (plus their own dedicated street team) and regular tour dates throughout the Southeastern United States. But the Bastard Suns want to be known as more than a great local band: they want to be known as a great band, period.

After so many years together as a band, they knew that it was time for a bold move— their first coast-to-coast tour. Kicking off September 25th, The Bastard Suns will spend three weeks crossing the southern US in support of their January 2009 release Here Come The Suns. Will their gamble pay off? Only time will tell. But if their performance at last year’s SOCO Music Fest in Atlanta is any indication of their ability to win over a crowd, it’s safe to say that The Bastard Suns have a bright future ahead of them.

Are The Bastard Suns coming to your town? Click here for tour dates.

Take a listen to some songs from The Bastard Suns’ newest record Here Come The Suns in the player below!

50 STATES IN 50 WEEKS… WEEK 10: GEORGIA

Published by BethanyLeavey on August 18, 2009 in Playlists. 4 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

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Home Of: James Brown, Ray Charles, Martin Luther King Jr., OutKast, Little Richard, Otis Redding, Jackie Robinson, Cat Power, T.I., Trisha Yearwood, Julia Roberts, The B-52s, R.E.M., Of Montreal, Elephant 6 Recording Company, TLC, Travis Tritt

Fun Facts: State flower; Cherokee rose, state song; “Georgia on My Mind,” state bird; brown thrasher.

The Venues: Athens, GA has been home to some of new wave and indie rock’s best known bands: from R.E.M and the B-52s to newer bands like Of Montreal and The Olivia Tremor Control. All of these bands have played at the legendary 40 Watt Club, aptly named from the single 40 watt bulb that hung in its original location. Athens is also home to the annual non-profit arts and music festival Athfest, which aims to educate locals and visitors about the Athens scene. The Black Lips and We vs. the Shark were among the performers at this year’s festival.

Named after influential bluesman Blind Willie McTell, Blind Willie’s is the place to go for live blues in Atlanta. In its 23 years of existance, the venue has played host to blues musicians from around the country and around the corner.

The Music:

arpseftpebqk-320x2401The Soulphonics & Ruby Velle – Some bands who label themselves “funk” are merely jam bands in disguise. Not so with The Soulphonics & Ruby Velle. This group brings both the James Brown funk and the Sam Cooke soul. Their song “Fever” is guarantees to get any party started, so put on your dancing shoes!

efpqjesomovd-520x520The Bastard Suns – The rough and rowdy sounds of The Bastard Suns have been dominating the OurStage Punk Channel since the early days of the site, earning them eight Top 10 finishes and a #1 Channel Prize. “My Pint” best encapsulates the band’s reggae-meets-irish-drinking song infused punk. Imagine the Dropkick Murphys after an extended holiday in Jamaica.

alvgqrojyvmh-320x240Rantings of Eva – Rantings of Eva blur the lines between alternative, indie rock and pop. Check out “Bright Side” to see why MTV chose them as one of the nominees for the MTV VMA Best Breakout Atlanta. If you like what you hear, be sure to catch Rantings of Eva opening for All Time Low and The White Tie Affair at the VMA concert at Six Flags Over Georgia on August 30th.

yxwfelqrqbcu-320x240Anchors – Anchors doesn’t care about how your most recent breakup makes you feel, unless it makes you feel awesome. The band was formed in 2006 with the intention of remedying what they felt was a severe lack of fun in popular music. “The Legendary Matt” is nothing if not fun, with a rocking piano and sweet harmony vocals.

Who are your favorite OurStage Georgians? Where do you like to see live music in Georgia? Let us know in the comments!

DOWNLOAD OF THE WEEK: ANCHORS

Published by Sam C. on June 22, 2009 in Download of the Week. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .


Unsigned Georgian indie rockers Anchors are pumping out the kind of catchy, piano-centric pop music that would lift the spirits of former Ben Folds Five fans. The band formed in 2006 under multi-instrumentalist member Seth Hecox’s personal mission to make, “music that should be made, but isn’t being made by many other acts today.” The group as a whole is heavy into making well crafted pop with multiple part harmony vocals. This week’s featured Download of the Week is an Anchors’ tune, “The Legendary Matt.” It’s the kind of song that instantly has your feet tapping, your hands clapping and your heads bopping from start to finish. I dare you to try to keep this track from getting stuck in your head all day. In fact, I double dog dare you. Currently, the band is gearing up for a tour starting July 1st with dates scheduled in Illinois, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama and Florida. If you dig “The Legendary Matt,” be sure to vote for it in the Indie Rock channel this month.