Right before Night Beats launch their tour with Black Lips in Charlotte NC, they’ll be stopping by Chattanooga via JJ’s BohemiaTuesday, July 26th!!! And once you hear just one song from this psychedelic 3-piece from Seatlle, you’ll see why this is a HUGE score for Chattanooga. They’ll be on tour the next couple months in support of their self-titled full-length which was recently released via Trouble In Mind Records. Download a few tracks from that release below and get to know this highly addictive band… Due to the short time frame in booking, JJ’s is currently looking for bands to open. Contact them HERE if you’re interested in opening for this can’t miss show!
This week’s video of the week: Night Beats ‘Shadows In The Night’... Also, bands Nonscone Prophets and Bastard Kind will be opening. See you Tuesday!!!
We are eager to attend Chattanooga’s free concert series, Nightfall, on July 22nd. Free Energy will be headlining, with Chattanooga’s own Machines Are People Too kicking off the night.
Years ago, the Wells brothers and Sprangers formed a truly hypnotizing indie-rock band, Hockey Night. We were devotees of their parboiled sound, and STILL cannot break away from the album ‘Keep Guessin.’ Hockey Night is now behind us, and no more… but, not to mourn and wine… because with their demise there has been an advancement of reverberation, Free Energy. Instead of going into a lengthy review of their sound, their name explains it all. Former Hockey Night fans, we have transformed into rejuvenated Free Energy enthusiasts.
Chattanooga’s Machines Are People Too are an electro-dance band who have secured a reputable home-town following. Not only will they be the openers for Free Energy at Nightfall on July 22nd, but will be playing 2 additional shows in Chattanooga. All within 1 block from each other on MLK: 7PM Nightfall (Miller Plaza), 10PM Market Street Tavern, Late Night-JJs Bohemia. Click here for details
And take a blast to the mid-2000s past with some Hockey Night:
Big Kitty is a local Chattanooga band, who have been up to BIG things this summer. Earlier this year, the band released a limited pressing 7″ via Chattanooga’s own Young Monster Records featuring the single Waterfall of Love (b/w The Carp Song) and now are prepping for their debut full-length LP, Florence, which is out via Recess Records next month!
The release party for the record isn’t until August 12 at JJ’s Bohemia, but here is just a sampling of what Big Kitty’s Florence has to offer. Check out the track ‘Reincarnival’ below:
And if you haven’t yet, pick up a copy of the Young Monster silk-screened, limited edition single for ‘Waterfall of Love,’pick one up HERE! Their stuff is selling out fast!… And also stream the 2 tracks from that record below along with live performances of the 2 songs recorded from the 7-inch’s record release party at The Office (shot by Mule Magazine):
Jonny Corndawg is dropping by Chattanooga for this Friday’s Hell Yeah Fest (July 15th) at JJ’s Bohemia along side Shovels and Rope (featuring Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent), Roger Alan Wade, Joel Hamilton (of The Working Title), Matt and Marty Bohannon (of The Bohannons)… and we had the honor of interviewing Mr. Corndawg himself!!! Get to know one of The South Rail’s favorite artists and get ready for his new LP coming out this August:
The first time The South Rail got a taste of the Corndawg was in Atlanta at The Drunken Unicorn a few years back, with DeerTick as your backing band. What’s your connection with John McCalley and the DT crew?
“That show was a nightmare for me. I remember it, but barely. It took place during the climax of my 14 day swine-flu. I remember praying for death that night but I don’t remember it ever answering my prayer.
I’ve know John for about 8 years or so. I met him through this guy he was touring with named Viking Moses. He and I fell out of touch for about 3 years and then I looked him up around the time that Myspace was worth looking at. I was thinking “I wonder what quiet little John McCauley is up to…” — so I got back in touch and finagled my way onto a tour with them and just stayed there. He’s one of my best friends. We have buddy tattoos in memoriam of a person who doesn’t exist.”
Photo by The South Rail: Jonny Corndawg w/ Deertick at Drunken Unicorn (Atlanta)
Do you have anything special up your sleeve for this week’s Hell Yeah Fest at JJ’s Bohemia?
“When up next to Cary Ann Hearst and Roger Alan Wade, how on earth will my double name ever match their triples?”
We love how you’ve documented your career on Flickr, showing your journey and influences throughout the past few years. Especially your air brush and leather work. What got you into these 2 mediums and how much extra cash do we need to bring to purchase these Corndawg originals?
“Some people are “say-ers” and other people are “do-ers”. I’ve always loved those two mediums but never knew anything about them. One day I just got tired of not knowing and I taught myself. Same goes for guitar but for all three, I really do wish I had someone show me a few things because I really don’t know what I’m doing up there.”
Back in Febuary, you had the short documentary, ‘Stray Dawg,’ made about you as you prepared to run the Surf City USA marathon at Huntington Beach, California. You also have a song titled ‘Keep Your Body Happy Through Exercise’ from your last LP “I’m Not Ready to Be a Daddy.” Have you always been an avid runner? And what were your main influences to run in that marathon?
“My dad is my main influence. This applies to the previous question as well. He’s a nurse by trade but he also is a blacksmith, a tailor, bike mechanic, marathon runner, bike road racer, he’s been a farmer, and he’s an amazing cook. Oh, did I mention that he builds banjos and has made 5 guitars and just got into making ukeleles as well? He’s the coolest dude ever and he taught me everything I know about figuring stuff out on my own. I just put it in a song recently. The song is about some people who were endlessly discouraging me, in NYC (about how I’d never get a record released because my music was too weird – it’s called Wrong Crowd) – the line goes ‘My daddy taught me to choose to be/ whoever I wanted to and he/ always encouraged me/ to be whoever the hell that it is that I am!'”
Your upcoming album ‘Down On The Bikini Line’ drops August 30th and in celebration, you are giving away the song ‘Chevy Beretta’ which features Caitlin Rose (see below). Are there any other guest appearances on the album? And is there anything specific you’d like your fans to know about the new record?
“Hell yeah! This is a star studded record. Chock full of incredible pickers and singers. John McCauley plays a pretty farty solo, Taylor Goldsmith harmonizes on Night Rider, Caitlin’s on almost every song, Tristen’s on a track, and the band was compiled of my favorite players in Nashville – it took me two years to get the band together for the record. Joshua Hedeley plays fiddle and sings backup (like a damn angel), Jordan Caress on bass, Ben Martin on drums and Rich Gilbert on lead guitar and pedal steel. I couldn’t be much more excited about this release.
Going back to what I was saying before about the wrong crowd – I can’t tell you how good it feels to have started my own label and gotten so many incredible people behind me on this. It’s a great big middle finger up to all the folks who told me it wouldn’t happen and it just feels so good.”
Prussia is a band we can’t get enough of lately. Back in April, we had the pleasure of catching this Detroit 5-piece at JJ’s with opening acts Child Bite and Chattanooga’s own Black Painter. And all we gotta say is… GO SEE THIS BAND LIVE! Check them out performing the song ‘What Am I Going To Tell Your Mom’ at Audiotree Live and and you’ll hear why you’ll be hearing a lot more from these guys:
This song comes from the 4 song EP ‘Four For Attention,’ which was available digitally at the band’s bandcamp site until recently. We believe it got pulled because Prussia is in the final-stretch of wrapping up their debut LP ‘Poor English’ which they promised would be out later on this year. More details to come.
Since it’s no longer available, stream the 4 tracks from the EP below:
And also check out the FULL Audiotree Live Prussia performance:
Jessica Lea Mayfield is no stranger to Chattanooga. Her and her brother, David Mayfield, graced their presence to JJ’s Bohemia last fall testing new material from Jessica’s sophomore LP ‘Tell Me,’ which is also her second album to be produced by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach.
Jessica performed 4 songs today from that new album on NPR’s World Cafe, which can be streamed here:
She also has a new t-shirt and live 10″ vinyl which is available today directly from her webstore HERE… And download the first single from ‘Tell Me’ below (for the simple cost of an email address):
A couple months ago, we were catching a show at our favorite Chattanooga venue, JJ’s Bohemia. A good friend of ours came up to us and said “Did you hear about Harlem? They broke-up today.” We didn’t want to believe it. And ever since, have heard nothing else about it. So we just disregarded it as just a bad rumor.
This weekend, while doing a little on-line vinyl shopping, we cruised on over to Matador Records and were shocked to see Harlem was removed from their Active Roster and were now considered Matador Alumni.
This instantly recalled that rumor we previously heard, so we decided to to ask the band & label directly via twitter. We posted the question below and Harlem posted the following just moments later:
Could this twitter post be directed to ours? Could this be the end of Harlem? We truly hope not! As we said, Hippies is a classic. Free Drugs killed it. It would be disappointing to know this is the end to one of our favorite bands.
This Saturday night (Feb 26th) at JJ’s Bohemia is a show that CAN NOT be missed!
SECRET CITIES, one of our favorite bands from 2010, will be in Chattanooga on their current tour where they’ll be giving us a taste of BRAND NEW material from their upcoming release ‘Strange Hearts,’ coming out 3/29 via Western Vinyl… 2 albums in less than a year? Pretty impressive if you ask us. Check out and download the first single from the new album called ‘Love Crimes’ below and if you’re unfamiliar with the band, also catch a few tracks from the album rated #2 on our Top 15 of 2010:
Also playing with Secret Cites:
Nashville’s Taxicab Racers — websitevideo
Nashville’s The Bridges — website
Chattanooga’s Concerning Lions — websitevideo
Right before Night Beats launch their tour with Black Lips in Charlotte NC, they’ll be stopping by Chattanooga via JJ’s Bohemia Tuesday, July 26th!!! And once you hear just one song from this psychedelic 3-piece from Seatlle, you’ll see why this is a HUGE score for Chattanooga. They’ll be on tour the next couple months in support of their self-titled full-length which was recently released via Trouble In Mind Records. Download a few tracks from that release below and get to know this highly addictive band… Due to the short time frame in booking, JJ’s is currently looking for bands to open. Contact them HERE if you’re interested in opening for this can’t miss show!
