- [Announcer] Welcome to Peach Jam, Recorded live in our GPB studios in Midtown Atlanta, featuring songs and stories from a sampling of the diverse and talented musicians who call the peach state home.

On this episode, a singer-songwriter looking to influence the next generation, a musician from Macon whose alarm clock went off.

- I think I turned 44, and I was like, "I mean, it's now or never.

You just gotta do it."

- [Announcer] And a band that regularly plays at Dollywood, - ♪ I've got my rose glasses on ♪ First up, it's Run Katie Run on Peach Jam.

♪ Here we go here we go again ♪ ♪ Here we go here we go again ♪ ♪ Here we go here we go again ♪ ♪ Here we go here we go again ♪ ♪ Here we go here we go ♪ ♪ Here we go here we go here we go come on ♪ ♪ Here we go here it goes again my baby's on his knees ♪ ♪ I don't know what it's about ♪ ♪ But I guess we'll wait and see ♪ ♪ Sometimes us holding on is hard to believe but ♪ ♪ We stay if we want to leave if we please ♪ (upbeat rock music) ♪ So what'd you do did you steal did you lie ♪ ♪ Did you run around on me ♪ ♪ Just spit it out 'cause I can work with honesty ♪ ♪ And you and I could work it out but you know the policy ♪ ♪ Stay if you want to leave if you please ♪ ♪ Maybe there won't be a next time ♪ ♪ Maybe our clock has run up ♪ ♪ But there's two options you can choose from ♪ ♪ You remain or you go yeah you leap for the door ♪ ♪ Or stay darlin' if you please ♪ - Hi, I'm Stephen Quinn.

- Hey man, I'm Adam Pendlington.

- I'm Ian Pendlington.

- I'm Corey.

Not Pendlington, Coleman.

- I'm Katie Coleman, and we're Run Katie Run, and we are from Atlanta, Georgia, and we are a roots rock band.

- What does roots rock mean?

- Well, I'll let Corey explain, 'cause you said it so perfectly.

- Roots rock, So, we tell people, like, if the Grateful Dead and the Dixie Chicks got together kind of thing, so it's, Americana is sort of a well-used term, so I think it's sort of anything American, though not exclusively, but a lot of American music.

Bluegrass, and rock, and pop, and country, and all that sort of stuff.

- Our friend Roger from Dollywood, he calls us Ameri-kinda.

- [Corey] There you go.

- Ameri-kinda?

- [Katie] I told him, you need to trademark that, because that is like, you need to make T-shirts, and Ameri-kinda.

♪ Well here we go here he goes again.

♪ ♪ My baby's on his knees ♪ ♪ I don't know what it's about ♪ ♪ But I guess we'll wait and see ♪ ♪ Sometimes us holding on is hard to believe but ♪ ♪ We stay if we want to leave if we please ♪ ♪ Maybe there won't be a next time ♪ ♪ Maybe our clock has run up ♪ ♪ But there's two options you can choose from ♪ ♪ You remain or you go yeah you leap for the door ♪ ♪ Or stay darlin' if you please ♪ - [Jeremy] Let's talk about it.

- [Katie] Okay.

- You play at Dollywood on the regular.

How does that work, and how long has it been happening?

- So, Corey and I, just the two of us, played there for the first time in like, May of 2021, and then, - And we thought it was a joke when they contacted, because it came on our website.

You know, like, the contact form, and we thought it was just like, you know, some - Spam or something.

- So for a month, we didn't even call back.

(chuckles) - That's not true.

- Oh, that's not true.

- I called them like, that day.

- Oh, okay.

Well, I didn't.

- That's some Corey stuff right there.

- [Corey] That's some Corey stuff.

- But no, I called, and it was legitimate.

We played there once and he said, "So I heard you have a band too," and I'm like, "You know about us?

You know about our band?"

And then he hired us for that fall festival, their Harvest Festival in October.

- Oh wow.

- [Katie] It's so fun.

- [Corey] It's great.

- Wow.

How big's the stage there?

- So, they have several indoor theaters, and then several outdoor.

We play like, probably the biggest outdoor theater, - 600-ish, about, cap.

- And I think about 500 is like, what they can seat, but then like, - Seven?

- Yeah, something like that.

- It'll quickly become - Eight!

- U2, "Where the Streets Have No Name" kinda vibe.

- Yeah.

- People gathering around.

- Yeah.

- [Jeremy] Okay.

You're like The Beatles on the roof.

- Oh, spitting image.

- Exactly like the Beatles.

- That's exactly right.

- No, I totally get that.

Yes.

Alright, well, then, obvious question.

Tell me a Dolly story.

- Well, I can think of like, at least three times when she was at the park, and then Corey and I or the full band was there literally days later.

We just keep missing her.

- We've never met her.

- Really?

- Yeah.

Like, we've never met her yet.

- But you work at Dollywood?

- [Corey] I know.

- [Katie] I know.

- And you haven't met Dolly yet?

- I know.

It seems strange.

- Contrary to popular belief, she does not live at the Cinnamon Bread Factory.

And so, she's not always there.

- That would be adorable.

That'd be so on-brand for her.

- I really hope that she knows who you are.

- I wouldn't be surprised if that's true.

I'm not sure.

- I'm not sure, I feel like we are small potatoes compared to the people she know.

(laughs) - Yeah, I don't think she follows us, but she might know who we are.

- Well, she might also be the chicken lady that's there.

Oh, that's true!

- Oh!

- [Adam] Magic Chicken lady!

- There's a lady that seems like she might be Dolly in a black wig sometimes.

- Is it Miss Lilith?

- Oh.

That makes sense.

- Ms. Lillian.

- Ms. Lillian.

- The chicken lady.

Hi!

If you're watching.

- Hi, Ms. Lillian.

- You're so sweet.

We love you.

- I don't know which camera I'm playing to, but hi.

- She cast a spell on me on my birthday.

- She did!

(all laugh) - Yeah!

- It's true!

- It was a whole dance and a fountain.

- She called it a chicken blessing.

- Chicken blessing.

- With a rubber chicken.

- Yep.

- And now he's invincible.

- That's right.

- Just try.

- He hasn't had a cold in two years.

- Just try.

(all laughing) - He can jump so high.

It's amazing.

- Let's just start it, let's start the internet rumor that Dolly Parton is the chicken lady at Dollywood, and that she has blessed you and blessed the band.

- Okay.

- I'm down for that.

- There's a more than 0% chance that that's true.

- Yes!

(all laughing) - ♪ I'd rather die from looking up ♪ ♪ Than stay alive by looking down ♪ ♪ Down down ♪ ♪ Every dark cloud has a blue sky above it ♪ ♪ Once you get around ♪ ♪ Round round round ♪ ♪ When ive got my rose glasses on ♪ ♪ Shes got it rose glasses ♪ ♪ I've got my rose glasses on ♪ ♪ She's got it rose glasses ♪ ♪ I've got my rose glasses ♪ ♪ I've got my rose glasses ♪ ♪ I've got my rose glasses on ♪ ♪ She's got it rose glasses ♪ ♪ She's got it ♪ ♪ Rose glasses ♪ - You said you're small potatoes, but you're not, because, when you Google Run Katie Run, I've noticed that you're almost like the official band of a city festival at some points, in the sense that I saw you play in Cumming, and in Sandy Springs, and in like, Forsyth or something.

Like, you had all of these dates for all of these towns all around Georgia.

How does that work?

Who does that hustling?

- All of it.

- Yeah.

- Do you know Matildas in Milton?

- Yeah!

- [Katie] Okay.

So I had like, in late 2021, we had played at Dollywood and we played at Matildas, but I kind of had this realization of like, you know what makes Dollywood and Matildas so great is they have curated their audience.

Like, there's just an audience sitting there waiting to be entertained.

And I was like, "I wonder how we can do more of that, or if that's possible."

So then I thought, why not do like, concert series and stuff, like municipal things, or anything where a crowd is gonna be there.

We just have to entertain 'em and like, win 'em over.

♪ I've been called worse by a whole lot better ♪ ♪ No you can't turn up your nose at me ♪ ♪ I guess your girl doesn't know any better ♪ ♪ 'Cause it takes a lot of money to look this cheap ♪ ♪ I paint in on thick I tease it up high ♪ ♪ Wear cowboy boots with fishnet tights ♪ ♪ Say what you want call me whatever ♪ ♪ I've been called worse ♪ ♪ I've been called worse ♪ ♪ I've been called worse ♪ ♪ I've been called worse by a whole lot better ♪ ♪ No you can't turn up your nose at me ♪ ♪ I guess your girl doesn't know any better ♪ ♪ 'Cause it takes a lot of money to look this cheap ♪ ♪ I paint in on thick I tease it up high ♪ ♪ Wear cowboy boots with fishnet tights ♪ ♪ Say what you want call me whatever ♪ ♪ I've been called worse by a whole lot better ♪ ♪ Oh yes I have ♪ ♪ Say what you want and call me whatever ♪ ♪ I've been called worse by a whole lot better.

♪ - [Jeremy] Are you famous?

- Yes.

Yes.

- Adam's Famous.

Adam's infamous.

- Yeah.

That's more like it.

- Famous, no.

Depends on who you ask.

My mom?

Yes.

- Our grandma.

- Yeah.

- Your grandma thinks I'm very famous.

- Yes.

- Oh, yes.

- It's easy to believe.

- Their grandma gets starstruck anytime she's around Kate for real.

- [Jeremy] Really?

- Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

- [Jeremy] Tell me about it.

- I kinda do, too.

(chuckles) - Well, she's the perfect little British grandmother.

You could just, whatever you visualize, that's probably correct.

And yeah, we all played a show together, and I don't think we were a band yet, but after she came up to us, she goes, (in British accent) "I got to meet Kate Coleman!

Oh!"

(Corey laughs) And yeah, it was a little cuter than that, but I mean.

- It was pretty cute.

- Yeah.

- You're good at impressions, though.

- She was thrilled.

And so, yeah.

To some people.

- She at your wedding, too, and she was like, (in British accent) "Are you Kate Coleman?"

And I was like, "Yes, I love you!

Who are you?"

Yeah, she's the sweetest.

- Yeah, cute.

- Yep.

Kids and grandmothers think we're very famous, typically.

And then everybody else, they're sort of like, "Yeah, you guys are pretty good."

(all chuckle) - [Announcer] Coming up, a singer-songwriter with a passion for the guitar.

But first, an artist from Macon who seeks to inspire good with his music.

- I'm David Zelski, host and producer of "A Fork in the Road" on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Join me as we explore Georgia's farmers, producers, makers, and bakers, and you can tune into our podcast where we take a deep dive to learn more about these fascinating and inspiring Georgians.

You can find all of that at GPB.org/forkintheroad.

- [Announcer] And now, Mike Kinnebrew is on "Peach Jam".

- ♪ For the first time in a long time ♪ ♪ I've got nothing bad to say ♪ ♪ It's too early to tell ♪ ♪ But I think I feel a change ♪ ♪ I didn't wake up to the soundtrack of mistakes ♪ ♪ That I have made ♪ ♪ For the first time in a long time ♪ ♪ I believe ♪ ♪ I'll be okay ♪ ♪ I just might be okay ♪ ♪ I stopped running from my past ♪ ♪ So I can finally begin ♪ ♪ To pick up on the melody of the moment that I'm in ♪ ♪ There's a song in every sunset ♪ ♪ There's a lyric in the wind ♪ ♪ For the first time in a long time ♪ ♪ I can hear it again ♪ Hey, I'm Mike Kinnebrew, and I'm a singer-songwriter from Macon, Georgia.

And I guess my music is somewhere between like, folk Americana and rock.

- I wanna talk about "Good Day", because "Good Day" sounds like it was written from a bad place.

- Yeah.

- What happened?

- I remember it well.

I was in the car, and it was a pretty day, and I just realized that I was in a good mood, and I realized that that was actually notable (chuckles) because I had not been in a good mood in a long time.

I wrestle with, I guess, depression, kind of a darkness that comes over me, and so, and I can go into it for weeks or for months, and there's no trigger, nothing that causes it necessarily.

It's just like a cloud that settles on me, and so, it had lifted, and I realized, that's the first line of the song, for the first time in a long time, I've got nothing bad to say.

And I thought, "Wow, maybe I'm turning a corner.

Maybe I'm finally coming out of this," and so, I got home, and before I knew it, I had written most of the song about today just might be a good day.

And I just thought, I mean, I was really excited writing it, just thinking about maybe some other people would hear it who are on the cusp of turning a corner, who are hoping that this could be a good day for them, you know, after weeks or maybe a bad season of a year or two years, but they just waiting to come out of it.

So, that's that's where it came from.

- Have you had anybody walk up to you and tell you that?

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Even just this last, we played in Highlands, North Carolina last Thursday, and had someone who had, she didn't come up to me, her friend came up and just said, because she had been crying on the front row, and he said she lost her husband suddenly, and she's out, this is her first time out with her friends in months, and when you sang about might finally have a good day, that she feels like this could be it for her, you know?

And so, that's all the reason I need to keep writing songs and taking my guitar around and singing them.

♪ And finally ♪ ♪ After all that I've been through ♪ ♪ I believe it's safe to say that I'm due ♪ ♪ Hallelujah na na hey hey hey ♪ ♪ I believe that today ♪ ♪ Just might be a good day ♪ ♪ Just might be a good day ♪ (uplifting soft rock music) (music closes out softly) So, my wife is a pediatrician and she went to medical school at Mercer, and we moved to Macon so she could do medical school, and the idea was I'll work at this church, and do like, little gigs on the side to support us while you're in medical school, and then once you get out and you start practicing, then I'll leave and I'll go do music full-time, you know?

And that was about 14 years ago, and she's been practicing in Macon for 10 years.

And so, we've been there for about 14 years, but this is the first year that I've really tried to pursue music.

♪ I guess you've got more grace than most ♪ ♪ At least that's what I'm told ♪ ♪ You're bringing beauty from the ashes ♪ ♪ Take the broken make 'em whole ♪ ♪ If lost is what you're looking for ♪ ♪ I swear I fit the bill ♪ ♪ Though I ain't got much to offer you ♪ ♪ Just an emptiness to fill ♪ ♪ So Lord have mercy on a tired heart like mine ♪ ♪ I never meant to be this way it just happened over time ♪ ♪ So let me dive into the river ♪ ♪ Let the water wash me clean ♪ ♪ And I'm coming out so you can have what's left of me ♪ ♪ Oh I'm coming out ♪ ♪ And you can have what's left of me ♪ - A few minutes ago, you said you were really making a run.

So, am I understanding you that, at 40-ish years old, you're like deciding, "Hey, I'm gonna try."

- The alarm clock went off.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

Yeah, it was always a part of the plan that, when Lindsay started practicing, I would, you know, make a run at music and see what I could do, and it's just really easy.

I don't know if you know this, it's just really easy not to do things.

(chuckles) - Yeah.

No, I get it.

Yeah.

- Especially things of value.

Especially things if you don't know if they will succeed or not, you know?

To take a swing at something and not know if you'll hit it.

So, just kind of kept putting it on the back burner, and then I think I turned 44, and I was like, I mean, it's now or never.

You just gotta do it.

♪ I've been the stone ♪ ♪ I've been the leaf ♪ ♪ I found the door but I dropped the key ♪ ♪ And I dunno where and ♪ ♪ I don't know when ♪ ♪ This life I'm living comes to an end ♪ ♪ But I wanna live before I die ♪ ♪ What can I ♪ ♪ Call this ache inside ♪ ♪ I guess you call it life ♪ ♪ Call it life ♪ (whistling melodically) (song softly fades) - [Announcer] And now, an artist that's hoping to inspire the next generation of musicians.

Kyla Simone is on "Peach Jam".

- ♪ Yeah ♪ I need you guys to take a little walk with me.

Ready?

♪ Let's take a stroll outside just you and I ♪ ♪ Two distant souls in need of some us time ♪ ♪ Even with these boundaries let's think outside the lines ♪ ♪ No touch is sweeter than minds intertwine ♪ ♪ Whoa ooh ♪ ♪ Somehow bein' with you ♪ ♪ Right here right now ♪ ♪ You ♪ I'm Kyla Simone.

I am originally from Silver Spring, Maryland, and I now reside in Conyers, Georgia, and I am a singer-songwriter, and I play guitar, and I refer to my music as acoustic soul.

I do R&B.

- Why is it different to see a woman of color with an acoustic guitar doing singer-songwriter type stuff?

- You know, that's so interesting.

It's something I've noticed as well.

I think it's just upbringing.

I think women of color at large are not necessarily raised with, you know, those types of instruments around as prevalent.

So just exposure, I think.

You ready to vibe with us?

(upbeat, soft acoustic music) So you can keep up that.

♪ Kyla Simone ♪ ♪ Music ♪ ♪ Kyla Simone ♪ ♪ Music ♪ ♪ Kyla Simone ♪ ♪ Music ♪ ♪ Here's what I need you to do ♪ ♪ Follow me follow me follow me ♪ ♪ Ah Kyla Simone ♪ ♪ Music ♪ ♪ Kyla Simone ♪ ♪ Music ♪ ♪ Kyla Simone ♪ ♪ Music ♪ ♪ Follow me follow me follow me ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Follow me follow me follow me ♪ So, Girls and Guitars started in 2016.

It was really honestly just my curiosity.

As a artist in Maryland, I was actually singing around a lot of hip hop artists and stuff like that, so I didn't honestly have an exposure to other artists that looked like me and that did what I did, and I just had a curiosity to try to find some artists that played and sings.

You know, other girls of color that played and sing.

(soft upbeat acoustic music) (upbeat music continues) ♪ I just want a man who sees me ♪ ♪ And loves me for who I am ♪ ♪ Mm ♪ ♪ He has no desire to change me ♪ ♪ I am a treasure in his hands ♪ ♪ Mm ♪ ♪ He lifts me up won't tear me down ♪ ♪ My life gets lighter when he's around ♪ ♪ He'll kiss my tears pull up my smile ♪ ♪ Pursue my heart and go the extra mile ♪ ♪ I swear I love you I'm ready ♪ ♪ I swear I love you I'm ready ♪ - And what's the attraction?

Why is this specifically for ladies and young girls?

What are they missing?

- I feel like my bend towards that comes kind of from maybe my own experiences, and growing up, at times, you know, to be honest, feeling a little lost in some areas, you know.

Coming from a single parent home was not easy.

There was a lot of independence there that I had to learn at a young age, and I just wanna see girls thrive.

I wanna see them be able to push past their circumstances and not use it as an excuse.

You know, I can only relate to women.

I can't relate to guys in that sense, so it's just a passion of mine for girls to feel, you know, cared for, to know that they can do it.

Like, they can do whatever it is they put their mind to.

The only thing that can really hold them back is themselves.

I feel like music has been a huge outlet for me.

I started out actually doing inspirational music.

- [Jeremy] Okay.

- And it's been a huge outlet for me to just really express some of, you know, the inner workings, (chuckles) what I'm going through, and kind of work out, you know, some of my thoughts and feelings, and that's one of the powerful things about music is that it's therapy.

It really is.

(chuckles) My guitar is my therapy right there.

Not to say you shouldn't go to therapy, 'cause you should.

(laughs) ♪ Oh yes ♪ ♪ Love me ♪ ♪ Love ♪ ♪ Oh my wide open ♪ ♪ Baby where have you been all of my life ♪ ♪ Nervous oh yeah but let's give it a try ♪ ♪ What's up let's make it happen ♪ ♪ Let's build this into lasting yeah ♪ ♪ I'm seeing colors ♪ ♪ It's a kaleidoscope oh yeah ♪ ♪ I want us ♪ ♪ Said you're keeping my smile up over ♪ ♪ Going under ♪ ♪ Hope you just wanna love me ♪ ♪ The magic between us is all I need oh yeah ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Love me ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Love ♪ ♪ Love me ♪ ♪ Love ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ It's your style it's your vibe it's your energy ♪ ♪ I could tell you'd go for miles to be near to me ♪ ♪ It's your eyes it's your smile ♪ ♪ It's so bright ♪ ♪ This is wild I'm like wow I'm so surprised ♪ ♪ Oh love me ♪ ♪ Love me love me baby ♪ ♪ Love me ♪ ♪ Love ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Oh yes ♪ ♪ Love me ♪ ♪ Love ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Oh love me ♪ ♪ Love ♪ ♪ oh ♪ - [Announcer] Do you wanna hear more songs and stories?

Check out our podcast at GPB.org/peachjam.

- ♪ Oh ♪ - [Announcer] Thanks for watching.

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