When I first arrived at the Locos Deli and Pub on Harris St. in Athens GA, my immediate impression was that I loved the venue. A cozy (but definitely not small) grass covered little garden cove, complete with plenty of seating, a full stage, tons of candles and a full bar. It seemed as if somebody had shrunk down the HiFi Buys Amphitheatre to "local band" size. The weather was near perfect. Anita and David Fletcher of Ourathens.com were the consummate hosts. Our comfort and enjoyment were their first concern and after getting lost on the way to the show and suppressing my road rage… this was a very warm welcome, indeed. Not a bad start for the day. I was already enjoying myself, and I had yet to hear the bands. It was, after all, the first ever, first annual Ourathens.com showcase, as well as a good warm-up to this years Athfest.
 

First up was a rock quartet called Jackpot City. The first thing that I noticed (being a guy and all) was that all four members were women. Usually this gets me a bit skeptical. I find that girl bands get a lot of press and gigs based solely on the fact that they are female. Well fellas….This isn't your mommy's Go-Go's. Their sound was pure rock and roll. Images of the Stones floated through my head but were rejected because they were full of men. I let my mind become an open slate and just listened. These women can PLAY. A solid backbeat drove along  songs  about  love  and  life.

All of the girls sang, except Alice Grayson, the drummer. She was too busy keeping perfect time. The others traded lead vocal and harmony duties throughout the set. All of them sang and played with energy and true professionalism. This is probably what draws members of REM, Sugar, Widespread Panic, and others to write/record/produce with them. I highly recommend this band. Look for upcoming shows, and definitely check these ladies out. Contact sites are at mp3.com/jackpotcity and ourathens.com.

Next up was an acoustic set by Athen's own troubadour, Nathan Sheppard. If you've never seen Nathan, you should. He is the antidote to everything that is wrong with today's music. Armed only with his voice, harp, and acoustic

guitar, Nathan proceeded to play hit after hit. His sound brings images of a Cat Stevens, or a Vic Chesnutt, but is original enough to dodge those comparisons. His material ranges from life, to relationships, to poetry. I truly enjoyed this man's music. He played between each of the other bands sets and I looked forward to each 20 minutes like a kid waiting for the summer bell. Nathan will be appearing at this year's Athfest and I suggest that you see him. If I were and A&R rep…and I should be….I'd sign him immediately. A true singer/songwriter and in the truest sense of the word.
 

The next full band to take the stage was the Rock Star Wallabies. This five piece earthy rock band is brand new to the scene. Making Athens their home and marking March 2002 as their birthday, the Wallabies are on the verge of something great. This was one of their first live shows and they performed like seasoned professionals. With Heidi and Jason sharing the duties of "frontman", the rest of the band set the groove and handled all the harmonies. Jason's rough, powerful voice mixed well in contrast with Heidi's airy haunting melodies. With a super solid bass driven by David Fletcher and a solid rhythm section in Sam and Shawn  (congas and drums respectively)  the  band  put

together a great set. They need a little bit of work with image and stage presence, but these five know what music is all about. One of the highlights was when Joe from Flood City Shootout joined Heidi for a beautiful duet. Watch out for these guys.
More info at ourathens.com/rsw/

After another short, but perfect set by Nathan Sheppard, eden took the stage. Being from Atlanta, I HAD of course heard of eden, but had never seen them or heard their music. This was the only band playing that came from outside Athens. When I asked our happy hosts why they brought in an "outsider" for an Athens festival, they simply replied that eden was one of the best bands they had ever seen and that it was the first band they thought about inviting to play the showcase. After the first song, I understood. eden is something special. They rose above the rest of the day with an originality and presence like I've never felt on the local scene. Frontman, Garrett Freireich, put such energy and emotion into his performance that it was near impossible to take your eyes off of him, but when you did…wow. Bassist Stephen Brink, guitarist Sean Lay, and drummer Dennis Pavluk (pretty boys all…for you ladies that care about that kind of thing) were all more than pros. This band really feels what they are playing and it come across. More than that, the show really flowed well. The songs were all well-crafted, catchy numbers without any of the trappings or formulas that make up most of today's rock bands.

Garrett's vocals are great. A tremendous power and range, but with a true original flavor all his own. I've never heard anybody that sounds like him and I've heard a lot. Stephen put the harmonies on top with precision. They truly have an original sound and it is ALL eden. I understand that they are in the process of recording some new material (some of which they tried out on this audience) and I really look forward to getting my copy of that. The songs were some of the strongest that I've heard from a local band in many years. I felt that their newest song, Rayne, was the best of the night. Eden will be a part of this year's Atlantis Music Conference. They are set for 8/2 at the Hard Rock Café and I recommend that you don't miss it. This band will be signed!
More info at edenatlanta.com, or mp3.com/edenatlanta.
 

After another great set by Mr. Sheppard, the Flood City Shootout took the stage. Fronted by the powerful voice of Joe Guerzo, FCS put on a great show. Songs that reflect all facets of life flowed from the stage with passion. Sadly, I only got to catch a few songs before heading back to the ATL to write this, but I liked what I

heard. They will be performing on the mainstage at Athfest, and I plan on catching the rest of the show then. More info at floodcityshootout.com.

All in all….a very successful first annual Ourathens.com showcase. Great location, great setup and GREAT talent. Check all these bands out! Look for more local reviews on this site soon.


MUSIK MAN
If you would like a review of a live show, please contact Musik Man via email.
 

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