Welcome to Peach Jam, recorded live in our 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 and on this episode, we'll talk to a married couple from Savannah who travel and record together as working musicians.

Carrie Fisher Give us a group from Northwest Georgia who are a part of the next generation of Southern Rock.

Got a long time left.

Living things you can't take back.

And we'll meet the Atlanta based collective that can give us an insight on the music scene in the city.

Any given night of the week, you can go out to a jam session.

You can play with all of these people who are going out and playing with major art.

First up, it's Lucy's forecast, a jam band that says vibes are just as important as musical talent.

Left this side of your body.

We can be better to get the mood if we change our questions, let loose and be light as a the good you've got to see.

That is disgusting.

I want you to stop these lies and you will burn your paintings out.

That should be big.

So please stop.

Of gas.

John Officials forecast from Atlanta, Georgia, where Jam band we play funk music.

Folk music, rock, everything in-between.

That's kind of like the understatement of the day.

Is everything in between that your music is very hard to nail down.

So if somebody never heard it, yeah, how do you describe it?

I'll use one of those three words and then hopefully they go and listen and hopefully they like it.

Yeah, it's definitely hard to put into a category, but with jam bands in particular, it's you can kind of tell that something's a jam band if they'll do like long improvised sections, which is definitely what attracted me to the genre.

It's because you're not pigeonholed into doing one specific kind of thing and the audiences are pretty welcoming of that.

So you get to go up there and and make it up sometimes, Yeah, like half the time, like more than half, Yeah.

We said, Okay, you got it.

We can't be better to get your It will change act every last offense you're you got to see that this is about what you tell yourself these your brain doing this journey thing so please stop digging John when we were talking earlier, I asked you, I said, you guys are from Atlanta, but what part?

And you said, No, I'm from Atlanta.

I grew up in Buckhead.

And my first thought was nobody grows up in Buckhead, like who grows up in Buckhead?

And then the fact that you're from Bucket, I think makes you interesting and unique just in that fact, because that's not usually somebody's hometown.

Yeah.

I mean, my my experience in Boca was definitely interesting.

You know, there's the whole, like, Buckhead bubble, if you've heard of that.

And it's it can be like a very insular community.

And so I found I had one view of the city for the majority of my childhood.

And then as I started branching out and started meeting people from different parts of the city, I really started to understand everything that the city had to offer.

And so a lot of people that I grew up with ended up moving elsewhere.

And to I can't help but think like you've missed out on this major part of the city, like this art community and this togetherness that is really it's really something cool and special, I think.

I don't think you give up that vibe either.

Like, I've never heard somebody be like, Oh, Johns for Buckhead, you know, like they they're just like, Oh, John's cool.

And they're like, Oh, he's from Buckhead.

Like, that's crazy because, like, you don't give off like that.

VIBE Yeah.

So people are like, yeah, you know, Yeah, I've definitely had people be surprised by it.

I was surprised by it, Yeah.

I want to hold your head.

I hope you'll stay by my side.

Will you say that you found another man?

I'll close my eyes.

We'll be together again.

And that's okay.

If you want to be a part.

I saw you today.

So start my time.

Spent days in my life.

So many days.

I don't know why, but you feel like.

Oh, my ass in your bed.

I'm on my.

I was, let's see, probably in high school I was listening to a lot.

I started getting really into like Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin.

I went through a huge seventies phase seventies, like blues, rock phase.

Then that kind of turned into a funk phase.

I got really into the meters, I guess, as far as like modern bands.

I started getting into Snarky Puppy, Ghost Note, a little Fela Kuti, Nigerian funk artist and yeah, like really anything that just like, makes me want to move is kind of what I'm looking for.

But that might be the most random answer.

Somebody's ever given me.

The fact I'm telling you, it's a very it's a funk artist.

I'm going to write that down.

He's down.

Oh, my God.

Fela Kuti is like, Yeah, the bass groove.

Okay, that's awesome.

And then so you're bringing that to what you're doing here with this kind of Southern funk fusion thing?

Yeah.

Like the first song to garden, I would say.

Yeah, Well, without understanding.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's good.

I didn't mean to put a label on it, but, you know, we found one.

Thank you.

Yeah, but yeah.

So you're bringing all of these random, seemingly random influences in and just blending them all together?

Yeah, I'm actually really into Zakir Hussain if you want random.

I started playing Tabla Indian hand drum.

Okay.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I take your word for it.

Yeah.

If you want to have more, you really want to.

For the reason I'm inside, just sit with you.

So you see a lot of stuff.

Oh, no.

Feeling good?

Oh, yeah, but changing like you should.

Don't just my friend.

It's just.

I said it's easy when it's just coming up, We'll talk to the country band whose wedding was postponed by a hurricane.

Here's a little pause.

But first, the Georgia Thunderbolts, who went from playing for pennies on Broad Street in Rome, Georgia, to playing sold out theaters in Paris, France, and over.

You like watching a fork in the road on TV?

Be sure to check out our podcast.

We take a little more of a deep dive into all the farmers, chefs and artisans that are involved in bringing all these great Georgia products into your home.

It's a can't miss day.

Go take a guess and I'm heading down the road.

No money in my pocket Destinations nation's I know my head the heart of the Gulf of Mexico Oh where ever in the world I'm headed I'm taking slow Hey, I'm Riley Bristol, t.j.

I'm warning that we are the Georgia Thunderbolts and we play Southern rock and roll.

Southern rock and roll, like 1970s Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker.

Yes.

With a modern twist and with a modern twist.

What is that?

Modern twist?

Just the way of life today.

It's just how we grew up.

It's way different from back then.

So it's just kind of.

Yeah, exactly.

It's a little heavier.

Same the same standards, but a little, little heavier.

A little younger arms, a little little younger instruments.

So I don't know about the newer instruments.

Yeah.

Where are you guys from?

Based out of Rome, Georgia.

I love that.

So I'm from Rome, just so people know.

Full disclosure, I'm from Rome.

You're a good man, but I don't know about that.

But I'm actually from a suburb of Rome.

I'm from Glendale, and you guys are based out of Rome.

But you're from suburbs of Rome.

You're from, Ah, Mirchi in Taylorsville.

Yeah, Like we're talking small towns.

Oh, yes, yes.

And now you're, like, traveling the world, playing rock n roll.

It's wild.

Yeah.

Then got a job to my pay.

You might be it.

I'm missing work.

That's fine with me.

I'm just like, I love nowhere else around the world.

I'm.

I'm a take it slow.

Yeah, yeah I'm a taking it slow.

Tell me about going to Europe.

Oh, God.

Exhausting.

Yeah.

Entertaining.

Drank too much.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

No, it was incredible.

It was a great experience because not a lot of people our age or even around our age get to do that kind of stuff.

And we were very fortunate to go with people who had a great fan base over there, Blackstone Cherry And it was incredible.

They treated us great and we get to play in front of a bunch of people every night.

And it was wild.

It really was.

Where did you go?

Oh, where did we go?

Switzerland, Europe, Germany, France, 12 countries, I think.

Copenhagen, Austria.

So many countries.

Austria, Denmark.

Yeah, yeah.

Paris was Paris on there.

Oh yeah, it was.

Yeah, that was the last one we played.

Yep.

And so you're from Rome, Georgia, and you're in Paris playing in front of, like, a sold out show.

Yes.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yes.

Very much in the theater that Gustaf feel built to.

That was really incredible.

Well, I can see what they mean when they say that you gave up giving by to put you down.

The one thing you tell your friend, you're not the only one.

They never, ever let them go ahead.

You feel them.

Keep your head down.

Real estate has gone down.

But what you're doing now started in high school.

This?

Yeah.

How old were you all?

Were you seniors in high school?

Like, take me back to that day.

Tell me how old you were, what you were doing, and how it turned out.

He was a junior.

I was a freshman, and we started playing like Metallica and things like that in the garage, just goofing off, you know?

And then, you know, we had a thing going on for maybe, maybe a year and we started playing in these little Mexican restaurants and things like that.

And I'm sorry, I'm thinking I don't even know if I'm 15 at the time.

16 And after that, I we started like looking shows like somebody said, like Schroeder's and things like that.

And, um, Zach came along with us.

Yeah, I was doing that.

So he was a junior.

So that's only to got to jump in because I know Schroeder.

She say it like we booked shows a Schroeder Schroeder's is where you get you know fried potato skins and roll like that are amazing but they threw a few at us.

No I don't care.

It's a little deck on the back of a small restaurant on Broad Street Grove.

But it's it's for you.

It was like, Oh, we booked a show.

Schroeder Schroeder's did.

You should have seen this piled up in front of the door at the Mexican restaurant.

You should have seen us sitting on the sidewalk of Broad Street playing with our guitar cases open, waiting for a little, little penny to hop in there.

We used to go it every gas station and our merch and just walk in there and ask if we can play out front there.

Every one of them get some hot dog, even though, you know, we could went home and hey, now we want to work for this.

We play and get a hot dog from the gas station.

Yeah, I like to ask people, what would you say to a 15 year old?

You?

But that's not terribly long for you guys.

Don't do it.

But what would you what would you say to parents of high school kids who are doing what you guys were doing and what do you say to for them to encourage more growth like this?

Just let them be free.

Leave them alone.

Yes.

Therefore, they don't ever.

That's like that song by AC DC.

It's like he's talking about his parents want him to be a doctor or a lawyer man, but he ended up being a rock and roll star.

But the thing is like, you need to support them because you don't ever know what's going to happen with it.

I mean, something like our situation, our parents could have all been like, No, you need to go to school to be a doctor.

I made Logan drop out of college.

Yeah, but yeah, I would definitely say encourage your kids to do whatever they they are going to do in their life, because it could a dream come true any day.

I mean, especially if the kids, they had sold into it like we was.

I mean, just let them live and learn.

I mean, if they like it, they'll do it.

And if they love it, they'll live forever.

You know, I think it's impressive any time we can get deep philosophical lessons from AC DC Yeah.

Oh, that's good.

It is a long way to the top of your life.

That's true.

Yes.

It's a long way.

It is.

It was.

It was.

It really felt like it, you know, looking for an old friend that I love.

Come to find out.

I've been gone for so long.

She made me and is a guy too far from the train, never no friend.

And now from the little big city town of Savannah, it's Linn Avenue on Peach Jam.

From the K to the rings, a pretty wide dress and a spot by the tree.

The way we were dancing, the band was going to play, but nobody plans for a hurricane.

The power is gone out now it's dark and is raining or cube's up in the house with all this beer, so.

Well, what the hell?

We've got nowhere to be.

Let's make the most of this tragedy.

I'm Stacey.

I'm Patrick, and we're Lynn Avenue, and we are from Savannah, Georgia.

And we play country music.

Tell me the story about the hurricane and what happened.

Wedding like what hurricane was.

It was the full story.

Okay.

Okay.

It was September 2017.

It was Hurricane Irma.

We were supposed to be getting married on September the ninth.

We had this big outdoor wedding planned under a big oak tree.

It was going to be beautiful.

Guyton, Georgia, in Guyton, Georgia, out in the middle of nowhere.

Again, it was at Woodlawn Plantation that places amazing if you ever get a chance to check it out.

We were providing all of our own beer and decorations because that's just kind of the thing that you do is kind of a do it yourself kind of thing.

And the day before the wedding, it was looking like Hurricane Irma was just going to hit us.

So we had to postpone the wedding for three weeks.

And so the night of the wedding, I'm just sitting at home at my parents house in the dark, and I'm all sad.

She was a little because because we obviously weren't getting married that day.

So I just pulled out my guitar and I was trying to just I guess I just wanted to hear myself.

I was like, you know what?

What would happen with all this stuff?

You know, if we didn't get married?

We have all just it was stacked up to the ceiling, all these decorations and just cases and cases of beer and wine for champagne.

Yeah, all that stuff.

It's like, Well, I guess we deserve a big party in the house.

Like.

Like a hurricane party, because that's what you do in this house.

You know, some people.

Some people we do.

I don't know.

Some, you know, blow all the balloons until we pass out.

We count the times.

People say hunker down.

Let's get the table is now flooding down the hall, drinking way.

The hurricane.

We've got our from noon sunshine we pull out moonshine ever came hard even to inside.

We almost had a wake but that's all right.

I guess I'm working, right?

I guess our cake right?

When I first started playing music, I could not get a gig anywhere in town.

I was it was like 215, 16 and there's several artists Chuck Courtney, Andrew, Gil, great, great guys.

And they would just like, let me sit in on their breaks and just play some songs until finally, you know, they were the restaurant or bar or whatever.

They'd start to hire me.

And then we just kind of slowly grew from there.

Chuck Courtney, he's a very well known country artist from Savannah, and he did a lot of things.

And when we were way under age for her playing in these bars, he would have us open for his band and we would only do five songs or something, but like meant so much to us because it was like we have a real gig.

So how long have you guys been together?

We've been playing together for about 14 years.

Yeah.

So since we were two?

Yeah.

I take it you're not from around here.

You're not too sure on where you go, but if you're planning on staying, I'm like, Well, there's a few things you need to know.

Nothing is farther than a few miles away.

We all know everybody, so be careful what you say.

Never know who you're seeing.

Line at the grocery store.

See you better just smile and sure, we don't have skyscrapers, stadiums, the subway trains.

We've got lots of things.

We've got great vision and big front porch.

Big is where like your best friend only lives two doors down.

We we smile.

We usually laugh sometimes Lakers.

But that's what it's like when you live in a little big city town.

You get pretty crazy playing some of these bars.

And so many times people just getting drunk and falling over and knocking the mike in my face or filling stuff in your lip or whatever.

It has gotten so wild.

We've seen a lot.

Yeah.

With country music, you end up playing kind of roadhouse in places sometimes, but you all seem pretty laid back and then you're getting these rowdy crowds.

Yes.

Yeah.

I mean, our shows get fun.

They get fun.

Yeah, we intentionally we'll play what they have these venues that they call listening rooms where the intention of the room is they pack like 75, 100 people into a room.

And they they usually make an announcement before the band plays.

Hey, no talking B be still and watch the music and absorb what's happening.

We intentionally trying we try to like break all the rules and get everybody as loud as possible.

Oh yeah, that's like our intention always.

I wouldn't have really gathered that from you guys.

You seem so nice and laid back.

And you're rule breakers.

Yes.

That's trying to rile people up.

Absolutely.

Because that's what we're used to.

I mean, that's like, Yeah, you know, or whether you're playing like a college bar in Statesboro for the Georgia Southern feel like it kind of comes from also playing in Savannah which it's such a tourist town.

And there's the rule where you can walk around and have a drink.

And so music is different than it is like in Charleston, where they have or you're not allowed to leave in, you know.

So we're trying to as musicians in all the bars we have to capture their attention like and.

GRAVEL Yeah.

You know, And so you have to be kind of bold and kind of, you know, if someone comes into the bar or the club and they buy a beer, in most places, they're stuck there until they finish their break.

But in Savannah, they buy their beer and say, This is my birthday by I'm out.

Yeah.

So you have to really kind of like amp it up to kind of keep people's attention.

You got to.

Yeah.

Your rowdy definitely makes me strong.

Whiskey muscles makes bring time travel and that as long to make it a double for me next year on the rocks straighter double shot around the bottle is fine by me in a flask Grandma can score a glass in my hand Just don't kill me.

After three some one is entirely bourbon.

Do you want to hear more songs and stories?

Check out our podcast at GPB Dawgs Peach Dance, Fever, Bourbon.

I'll settle for some fancy shine.

Oh one Kentucky Bourbon.

No, there's some foul line and I can't listen and ever.

I'll settle for the Tennessee side.

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