John - Bob Schneider - In a Room Full of Blood With a Sleeping Tiger - Don’t let the title throw you! Not many people outside of Texas know of Bob Schneider, but if you’re familiar with the Austin music scene, then you know. One of the most prolific singer/songwriters on the planet, Bob has been coming up with well-written, uniquely produced albums for the last 20 odd years. Once you discover him, you can certainly go down the rabbit hole. This one, from a couple of years ago, is a great starting point.

Chris - The Dear Hunter - Act I: The Lake South, The River North (Live from Seattle, WA) - I’ve long held that The Dear Hunter are the most underrated indie rock act on the scene today and this live reimagining of their first record only further solidifies that. The album balances carefully orchestrated pop melodies with progressive rock tendencies and begins a sprawling, emotional narrative that courses over five “Acts.”

Great Local Music?? You Bet!

Many of our customers ask us where to find good local music and I thought I might take this opportunity to give you all some good suggestions. Atlanta is full of talent and on any given night you can find something to scratch the live music itch. I’ll start with some of our staff and then give you some other acts around town.

Aaron Rizzo:  Many of you have come to know Aaron through the store, but many of you may not know how talented he is. Great singing and playing compliment his stellar songwriting. Aaron always has great players in his band who are rock solid. Straddling a line between singer/songwriter Americana and Rock, Aaron delivers. https://www.aaronrizzomusic.com

Charles Williams and the Bonaventure Quartet:  Charles is a mainstay in the Atlanta music scene. A thoughtful and compelling songwriter, who often keeps his tongue close to his cheek, he is also a veteran entertainer. The Bonaventure Quartet specializes in Gypsy Jazz and boasts some of the finest jazz players in town. You can expect a fun and energetic evening. https://www.thebonaventurequartet.com 

John Gill-Resch - John is one our excellent repairmen and a fantastic guitar player. You can find him playing guitar for the crazy and unique Tipsy Zone. It's an improv comedy troupe that creates completely improvised full-length episodes of the TV show, The Twilight Zone. It's on every first Friday of the month at the Red Light Cafe. Great big fun!  thetipsyzone.com

Smith and Calvert: Two founding members of Atlanta’s premiere bluegrass band, the Dappled Grays, Michael Smith and Leah Calvert are stellar musicians whose music travels way past their beginnings and into a modern indie realm. Great songwriting and innovative arrangements are their specialty. Not only are they incredible instrumentalists, they are both killer singers. https://www.smithandcalvert.com

Mark Miller:  A long time member of the Atlanta music scene, Mark is a fabulous singer, entertainer and a critically acclaimed songwriter. He brings history of the region to life with songs of his ancestors and life in Georgia. If he is not playing solo, he brings a tried and true group of great local acoustic musicians and some stellar players from Nashville with him. https://www.facebook.com/millersmillmusic

Surrender HIll, Robin Dean Salmon and Afton Seekins Salmon:  These two north Georgia musicians have made quite a name for themselves with compelling live performances and wonderful studio albums. Deeply rooted in Americana (by way of 90s Cow Punk) they drip with country soul. Both of these folks are killer singer/songwriters and the chemistry is unavoidable. https://surrenderhill.com/home

Blackfoot Daisy: Don Sechelski and Wendy Dumond are a unique blend of sardonic humor and thoughtful takes on the human condition in their songwriting. Wendy employs an eclectic percussion setup which includes everything from a kick drum to a washboard. Both talented singers and players, they bring out the best in each other. https://www.facebook.com/DonSechelski.Musician

Desmond Myers: Maybe one of the best kept secrets in Atlanta, Desmond is a force of nature. An incredibly soulful singer and writer, he can kill an Al Greene song or hold your attention with one of his own soul/pop songs. Desmond and Aaron Rizzo share a similar musical DNA, so if you like one of them, you’ll definitely like the other. https://www.desmondmyers.com

Jordan.:  Aaron introduced me to her and I think she has a unique take on Indie Folk. Smooth vocals and lovely songs bring to mind Lauren Hill and Lizzy McAlpine. You can find Jordan at Maggie Monica’s The Company We Keep at ParkGrounds in East Atlanta on Sunday, November 12th.

Well, I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. There are tons of talented folks here in Atlanta. This is obviously a small sample, but these are some of our favorites. I know I have left out more than I can count and to those, I apologize.

We will continue to highlight local events in the newsletter and let you know
what’s up.

John Cable, 2023