- [Voiceover] Welcome to Peach Jam.

Recorded live in our GPB studios in Midtown Atlanta, featuring songs and stories from a sampling of the truly diverse and incredibly talented musicians who call the Peach State home.

(upbeat music) On this episode, we'll talk success with a hotel lounge singer from North Georgia.

♪ Only you can- ♪ - [Voiceover] The effects of gun violence with a rapper from the East side of Atlanta.

And we'll hear about Drivin' n' Cryin's influence in the South with front man Kevn Kinney.

First up, a man whose career has influenced some of the biggest names in music, Kevn Kinney.

♪ Well, the hobo's watch stopped at five o'clock ♪ ♪ The feel I'll never find him ♪ ♪ So Dear John, where are you ♪ ♪ I know you're out there somewhere ♪ ♪ Well, I got a hurricane in my pocket ♪ ♪ Though no one will believe me ♪ ♪ They poured a bucket of tar on top of a flower ♪ ♪ Somehow I knew they would try it ♪ ♪ To find it or defy it or to write it ♪ ♪ Or to write it or to buy it or to style it ♪ ♪ Or to steal it or to deal it ♪ ♪ So let's go dancing ♪ ♪ So let's go dancing ♪ - My name is Kevin Kenny and I play a quasi political (laughs) self-help of folk music and rock music as well.

I think so.

- And who's with you?

- This is my wife, Anna Jensen.

- And I'm a Atlanta born and bred painter, visual artist, and my work is psychologically complex landscapes and emotionally rich narratives.

- With really cool titles.

- Yes, the titles are important and everything's usually at once funny and sad like me.

(both chuckles) I pretty much just quoted my website blurb, I think.

♪ So let's go dancing ♪ ♪ Let's go dancing ♪ ♪ The firefly to the hurricane ♪ ♪ Said the pouring rain to the open plain ♪ ♪ How many times ♪ ♪ How many times ♪ ♪ Going on by ♪ ♪ Dance with me ♪ - So leading up to Kevn's 60th birthday, I tagged along with him when he went to record a song to honor Sylvain Sylvain of the New York Dolls.

Is that correct?

- Mm-hmm.

- And I just thought it was such a beautiful outpouring.

I mean, it was because he had passed and I thought, what a shame, you know, that we do these things for people after they've died.

And I knew that Kevn's birthday was coming up and then it became COVID times.

So it was just kind of perfect timing too.

It wasn't a huge ask to invite his friends to all cover one of his songs, and then I put it together into a video to surprise him.

And because it's so many people love Kevn and his music, it turned into over three hours of really incredible material.

- Can you tell me some of the names that are on this project?

- Patterson Hood and featuring Peter Buck of REM, Alejandro Escovedo, Wreckless Eric, Elf Power, Parker Gispert of the Wigs and Athens Band.

And they were neighbors of Kevn's, Aaron Ray, Pylon Reenactment Society, another Athens band, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.

So Sadler is on that one, and he played with driving and crying for a bit.

Gordon Gano of the Violent Femmes.

He's the founding member, the singer.

And Shovels and Rope.

And then Shelly Colvin featuring Dylan LeBlanc.

And Shelly has been very helpful in me putting this together.

♪ I was born in 1961 and all I knew was war ♪ ♪ What was it that we traded for ♪ ♪ The Kennedy's a King ♪ ♪ Aggression, depression, recessions, frustration ♪ ♪ For the truth we knew to be ♪ ♪ Did you really think you fooled me ♪ ♪ Storm the hatcher crown you king ♪ ♪ Through stormy weather, we come together ♪ ♪ And it's peace that we shall seek ♪ ♪ Rolling wonders ♪ ♪ Falling rivers ♪ - So when you hear names like this in this level of talent that's honoring you and the music that you've written, how does that feel to the guy who moved from Milwaukee to a trailer park in Kennesaw, Georgia in 1982?

- Yes, I still pinch myself because I, you know, even like Peter Buck, who's one of my best friends, you know, when I got worked at the sewage plant, I was living in Kennesaw and I was built in the Roswell sewage plant.

That was my first job here for five 15 an hour.

I had two cassettes, I had the Violent Femmes first record, and I had REM reckoning.

And I would sit there and had it on my seat of my 64 Belvedere driving to work.

And it's still, you know, weird to me to be, you know, having dinner with Peter Buck going, this guy was like, this is the guy from Reckoning.

This is the guy from, you know?

I'm very grateful, but I'm still a huge music fan.

You know, I love going to opening bands that open for us or old, you know, I'll go stand right just like old school punk rock.

I'll stand in the front row and I'll watch 'em.

♪ I'm a fish out of water who lives in his dreams ♪ ♪ If you wanna make a difference ♪ ♪ You've got to be different ♪ ♪ That's the deal ♪ ♪ I wonder ♪ ♪ I wonder ♪ ♪ If these are the things that I see ♪ ♪ These are the things that I see ♪ ♪ If these are the things that I see ♪ ♪ In your eyes, I wonder ♪ - [Voiceover] Coming up, we'll learn about Ringgold, Georgia with singer songwriter Ryan Oyer.

- Ringgold is a small little town, North Georgia.

Dolly Parton got married there.

- [Voiceover] But first, a rapper from Atlanta who's worked with Eminem.

♪ So I'm vexed ♪ ♪ Nonetheless here I am, though ♪ ♪ Now they shoved a rifle in my hands ♪ ♪ And threw me in some camo ♪ (bright music) - [Peter] GPB News has a daily podcast bringing you compelling stories in our in-depth reporting that you won't hear anywhere else.

Join me, Peter Biello for the Georgia Today podcast.

It's a quick and convenient way to get the best of GPB's extensive coverage of the topics from across the state that matter to you, delivered directly to your device every weekday afternoon.

Subscribe at gpb.org/podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

(bright music) ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ That boy eatin', why he don't hand us a plate ♪ ♪ How he sign a deal ♪ ♪ And ain't make sure his family straight ♪ ♪ How come he don't come around ♪ ♪ Why he don't pick up the phone ♪ ♪ How he gon' act like he did all of this on his own ♪ ♪ Why he don't let nobody visit his home ♪ ♪ Why he so distant ♪ ♪ How I knew the moment he blew ♪ ♪ He would switch up in an instant ♪ ♪ Why I ain't seen his daughters since they was infants ♪ ♪ How he not gon' give his mommanem a whip ♪ ♪ But spent a grip on a pendant ♪ ♪ They should be offended ♪ ♪ I knew he was selfish to begin with ♪ ♪ I'm long winded, so this how I'ma end it ♪ ♪ That's his money ♪ ♪ I ain't gon' tell that man how to spend it ♪ ♪ But give me back my two cents I'm lendin', family ♪ - My name is Grip.

I'm from the east side, Decatur Stone Mountain, and I rap.

- Is it that simple?

- It's pretty much that simple.

- [Jeremy] Yeah.

- I feel like rap is like a, I feel like people try to put it in the sub genres, but it's not really, it's not sub genres.

I feel like, you know, everybody's just telling their story, whatever it is they from, whatever their background.

So yeah, I just rap, you know what I'm saying?

Well, "hip-hop artists."

(both laughs) - I love that with the air quotes, hip-hop artists.

- Yeah.

- It seems like that you do tell a lot of stories in your music.

And today, I heard you mention Ruth and if she was here.

So tell me who Ruth is.

- So Ruth is my grandma.

So like first place I ever remember staying, like my first like recollection of memory, like I was living with my grandma.

Yeah, like Belvedere Plaza, which isn't what it used to be.

So it is very like gentrified now, which is not, you know, it's cool, but it was tough.

It was, you know, a rough little spot, but stayed with her and I just learned so much from her.

You know, my mom was having a rough time.

You know what I'm saying?

Like, so I stayed with my grandma until she got on her feet.

But up until then, like my grandma was my everything, bro.

We would sleep feet to face on the couch and I would just wake up in the middle of the night, like MASH might be on or something.

I'd just hear the music.

I was like, "Ah, I'm feeling turnover."

I go to sleep 'cause I don't wanna hear it.

I'm watching Good Times, 227, whatever.

All right, MASH might come on.

It's like I know when it's time to go sleep.

I ain't watching MASH.

But before I would go to sleep, I would like put my finger by her nose.

Like this is just make sure, just like that's your grandma.

You don't know no about her.

She went on a live like many, many years after that, but it's just like, that's how much she meant to me.

I would literally check her breathing before I went to sleep because I just knew that's my grandma.

(chuckles) You know what I'm saying?

Yeah, strongest woman I've ever known, bro.

Strongest woman I've ever known.

Period.

♪ Won't forget the lessons she taught me ♪ ♪ She'd smoke cigarettes and drink coffee ♪ ♪ Never be too extra, speak softly ♪ ♪ Even when you depressed, just think lofty ♪ ♪ Protect your neck when you in these streets ♪ ♪ 'Cause every step could be costly ♪ ♪ Make sure the Devil keep off me ♪ ♪ Take no regrets to your coffin ♪ ♪ Sometimes I sit at your grave ♪ ♪ And really don't know what to say ♪ ♪ So many thoughts inside my head I never show or convey ♪ ♪ So I end up talkin' 'bout some random ♪ ♪ That happen that day ♪ ♪ Just to tell myself, no, she can't hear you, no way ♪ ♪ I'm ashamed that I feel silly talkin' to grass ♪ ♪ So I put this beat on ♪ ♪ And lay down every thought I can grasp ♪ ♪ A walk through the past, lives lost in the crash ♪ ♪ And would they be here today ♪ ♪ If they chose to take an alternate path ♪ ♪ All the hearts that I broke, all the love that we made ♪ ♪ All the dirt I swept underneath the rug, just to save ♪ ♪ Their perception of me, my intentions was good ♪ ♪ Far too late to take it back, but I be wishin' I could ♪ ♪ Forever misunderstood, I ain't easy to love ♪ ♪ Was out of touch and out of reach ♪ ♪ When you just needed a hug ♪ ♪ I got mad at Smoove ♪ ♪ For droppin' some old that we made ♪ ♪ Got cold and disengaged ♪ ♪ Never got to tell him ♪ ♪ Thanks for the road that brother played ♪ - I wanna talk about the gun violence and why speaking out about gun violence in the community means so much to you.

- The first time that it really hit me was it's this store.

It's still there to this day on Columbia Drive called Buddy's.

It's a gas station.

And I was a kid and my grandma used to walk me to school and it was shade day one day.

And this lady, it was a Korean owned convenience store, and the owner or part owner, the owner's wife, you know what I mean, it was a lady and she gave me shades one day for free.

It was like, nah, shade day.

We just went before we walked to school, before my grandma walked me to school.

And, yeah, lady gave me shades.

Not that she remember later this lady getting killed at, you know what I mean, for like a attempted robbery, like just working behind the counter, you know what I'm saying?

Like on a petty ass crime.

It was not even getting away with it.

It wasn't worth it, you know?

It wasn't worth it, right?

So like, I just remember I might've been like seven, eight, maybe six even, you know what I mean?

Like I say about seven though.

But I just remember that thing and I was just like being like, oh man, like we didn't even go back to the store for a while, you know?

So then middle school and high school was just always something, you know?

I mean, I had buddies who died in high school.

Like, this is something- - So what's the message that you put forward?

- To me, it's just like, I always think about like this Outkast line where he said, he said something about just like he want to say something to make you think about it before you pull the trigger.

You know what I mean?

Where it's just like it's more than one or two lives that's like taken when you do this, you know what I mean?

Like, you got kids, you got futures, you know what I'm saying?

Even a person who pulled the trigger, like bro, you know what I mean?

You can potentially sit behind bars forever.

All of a sudden like, was it worth it, you know?

You know what I mean?

Just kinda like, just think twice before you do this.

Like that's kind of the measure for me.

Like that's all I can really give you.

You know what I'm saying?

Some people have their reasons, you know what I mean, whatever.

But just think twice before you do that.

♪ On TV with such and such ♪ ♪ So I'm the man when the fam need a couple bucks ♪ ♪ Truth is I got it, but I ain't got it ♪ ♪ But still they end up doing the solid ♪ ♪ Just 'cause I'm solid ♪ ♪ Shows, they selling out ♪ ♪ I probably won't even profit ♪ ♪ That's why when they say they proud of my progress ♪ ♪ I switch the topic ♪ ♪ I heard don't be so deep ♪ ♪ And it hit if it's more melodic ♪ ♪ But as fans will say that I saved they lives ♪ ♪ With stuff that I jotted ♪ ♪ It's a balance ♪ ♪ And since I would choose to pursue this talent ♪ ♪ Ultimately accepted the challenge ♪ ♪ So here's my ballot ♪ ♪ It's going for all the ones who going ride to the end ♪ ♪ I really appreciate the love signed by fans ♪ - Pandemic hit, everything slowed up.

And I guess the best thing that came out of it was, you know, Eminem came across the music, reached out and we talked and had a long conversation.

He was just kind of just like praising my skills.

You know, just like, it was like a full circle thing 'cause like I grew up on Eminem, so like, you know?

I'm listening to him talk like, like what?

He's saying my lyrics like, you know what I mean, like he this, this, that.

Like, it was cool.

So then, yeah man, when it was time, when we knew that we was gonna drop a project under Shady, I was like, "Yeah, nah, he gotta be on this.

He gotta be on the debut."

So yeah, send him a song, you know what I mean?

When I told him, we was actually in the studio when I played the song with just my verse on there and it was this empty verse, the second empty verse and he was like, he's like, "Oh yeah, nah, man that's hard."

And I was just like, "Yeah."

It's kind of thing you should get on the second verse, you know what I'm saying?

I just threw it on him and he was just like, "Yeah, I bet."

He jumped on the second verse and yeah, nah, it's one of my, to me, it's one of my like best moments that I've had in music period.

♪ My hunger to be regarded as the best ♪ ♪ Is what's starvin' me to death ♪ ♪ Partially depressed and harborin' regrets, ♪ ♪ Targetin' success, barterin' bars, bargainin' for checks ♪ ♪ Becoming a star seems startlin', so I'm vexed ♪ ♪ Nonetheless here I am, though ♪ ♪ Now they shoved a rifle in my hands ♪ ♪ And threw me in some camo ♪ ♪ And told me to go be Rambo ♪ ♪ Just 'cause you got a soul don't make you a soldier ♪ ♪ Every shoulder ain't equipped ♪ ♪ To bolster the weight of a boulder ♪ ♪ Used to couldn't wait to get older ♪ ♪ Over 30 now ♪ ♪ And jealous of Benjamin Button all of a sudden ♪ ♪ Reversin' roles to live in reverse ♪ ♪ Feel like more of a gift than a curse ♪ ♪ Jogging your memory, revisitin' birth ♪ ♪ And truly get a sense of what life is literally worth ♪ ♪ I suppose what I write ♪ ♪ Is like a zeitgeist for life's highs and lows ♪ ♪ From night lights and tyke bikes to oversized girbauds ♪ ♪ To the everyday fight ♪ ♪ Through the plight and providing flows ♪ ♪ That speak on it, these sonnets steeped in ebonics ♪ ♪ Be modest, how y'all sleep on it ♪ - [Voiceover] And now, Ringgold's own Ryan Oyer on Peach Jam.

♪ For a moment I believed in that magic again ♪ ♪ Didn't feel as though it was by slight of your hand ♪ ♪ Every hiccup disappears as our lips collide ♪ ♪ Yours tasted how it feels like to be alive ♪ ♪ Possibly and probably outside of my league ♪ ♪ It's been ages since I had myself a swim in the sea ♪ ♪ I could float on your waves, ride out the tide ♪ ♪ Sink into your depths and find a treasure inside ♪ ♪ Got a name that says that you're Worthy of Love ♪ - I'm singer songwriter Ryan Oyer from Ringgold, Georgia.

And I play Britt Pop and Americana influenced songwriter music.

- Tell me about Ringgold.

- Ringgold is a small little town, North Georgia.

Dolly Parton got married there.

They make a big deal of that.

There's a giant mural that they just painted.

Ringgold's like Mayberry.

There's like one town or one main road going through it, right?

There's an ice cream shop with Dolly painted on it now.

There's signs that say all that.

That's kind of their claim of fame.

Not much musically.

They do have like a couple things going on, but like for the most part, if you're in North Georgia, it's like you have to go to Chattanooga to go play.

♪ Heard you singing like an angel ♪ ♪ Dancing with the devil ♪ ♪ Honey, you've got me ♪ ♪ On another level ♪ ♪ You got the kinda love ♪ ♪ That brings a boy like me to his knees ♪ ♪ If I'm the one you want ♪ ♪ Well, you might just be what I need ♪ (instrumental music) - Is music your full-time job?

- No, it's not.

There has been points in my life where it was.

I work for a flooring company up there and that's full-time.

My dad.

Gigs are also part of my income, and then the records are like, it's what I do that gets me gigs that... That's my passion, is the recording.

Writing these songs, recording 'em and getting 'em to be like, this is a moment, this is a thing, this is a record, you know?

- I think that this is really cool though.

So Northwest Georgia is known for flooring manufacturing.

If you need carpet or flooring or something, it's coming outta Dalton.

- Right.

Which is where I work.

- You're a part of that economy.

You're a part of that huge industry up there.

- Which is funny 'cause my dad, that's the reason that we moved here.

I grew up in Detroit until I was 13 and then we moved to North Georgia Ringgold.

And my dad worked in flooring all my life and always tried to like get me a job where he was working.

I ended up at the competitor.

(Jeremy laughing) ♪ What love should come with pleasure ♪ ♪ What love could come with pain ♪ ♪ Love grows in its own way ♪ (instrumental music) ♪ You've got it all inside you ♪ ♪ Only you can make yourself change ♪ ♪ If your candle's feeling burned out ♪ ♪ I know a fire that still remains ♪ ♪ Love grows in its own way ♪ - You have a ton of talent and we heard that here.

- Thank you.

- And you're the guy that's singing at the Hotel Indigo in Chattanooga.

You're the guy at the Westin.

Like, it's something that is forgettable for a lot of people.

It's people will just walk past it and not recognize that there's somebody with a ton of talent playing in that room and it's worth your time to stop and listen.

- Yeah.

You know, and I appreciate it when people do.

- What does success look like for you?

- Getting to do it.

That's a big part of it.

If I'm happy with the sounds that are coming through, the people that I'm getting to play with.

Sometimes Salter and I look at each other and we're just like, dude, this is like a dream.

Some of the things that we've done, or I say we've done, but it's like we got to do, you know, you just sit there and go, pinch me, you know?

I don't really have an answer other than that.

Like, there's not like a number, there's not a...

I'm gonna keep doing this until I can't, you know?

So the level of success is just based on, you know, are you happy with what you're doing?

Are you happy with the art you're making?

That's the biggest thing, is that kinda like switching you on basically, you know?

If that's happening, and even if people don't get it, but more than likely if you're getting it, somebody else is gonna get it too is what I figured out.

♪ And I see you ♪ ♪ You stand out in the crowd that your facing ♪ ♪ And I think, darling, you are simply amazing ♪ ♪ May you shine on like the sun ♪ ♪ So don't let the rivers get you carried away ♪ ♪ Know that everything comes back around anyway ♪ ♪ Keep your heart open wide ♪ ♪ A song upon your lips ♪ ♪ You are more than enough ♪ ♪ I can promise ♪ - [Voiceover] Do you wanna hear more songs and stories?

Check out our podcast at gpb.org/peachjam.

♪ Honey, you're more than enough ♪ ♪ I can promise this ♪ - [Voiceover] Thanks for watching Peach Jam.

Please go out and support live local music and independent record stores in your area.