Review of Connor Christian & Southern Gothic’s 2.19.10 Performance
~Kris Melton
Location of Show: Smith’s Olde Bar, Atlanta, GA
Band’s Location: Atlanta, GA
Sound: Americana / Southern Rock / Country
Sample if you like: Fleetwood Mac, Counting Crows, G Love & Special Sauce
Long before Rock Fist discovered Connor Christian and Southern Gothic, the band was already making moves in both the local and national music scene. With their music video for “Sunday Suit” ranking in the top ten on CMT’s Pure Country 12-Pack Countdown and their latest album “90 Proof Lullabies” produced by Jeff Tomei (Matchbox 20, Jerry Cantrell) and mixed by Shawn Grove (Collective Soul, Sevendust), success seems only eminent for this talented group of musicians. Their sound is soulful and rustic, pulling from influences in both the rock and country genres for an Americana sound that’s catchy and spirited. It’s apparent that each member takes their position seriously, and the tight sound they create is one only achieved by hours of practicing and natural born ability. This night was a special show for the group, as they were also filming footage to be used in their next music video for “3 Times”. Rhett Thompson headed up the film crew, and with cameras scattered throughout the venue, which was brimming with fans from wall to wall, an evening of unforgettable artists began.
Back Row Baptists warmed up the crowd with a vigorous performance. Their new album “Broken Hearts and Bad Decisions” comes out next month on Vintage Earth and was co-produced by Connor Christian and James Barber (Ryan Adams, Hole). Connor Christian and Southern Gothic went back and forth sharing the stage with Sundown for several songs. With both bands on stage they opened the sets with “Road Goes on Forever”, in the process inducing foot tapping and a full body sound. “When My Lover Comes” had a southern gospel sound, and despite it’s 8 band members filling the stage, no weak link could be found.
Connor Christian and Southern Gothic opened their own set with “Midnight Moon”, which was embraced by the crowd. This song of southern soul had a twang of heartache and really flaunted Connor’s vocals. “South Texas Sun” is a slow, solemn song showing off the skilled violin and the invitingly deep bass. ”16 Bars” is a catchy song with more of a generic feel and a slight reggae style bridge mixed with their own country/ southern rock flare. “My Salvation” is another new song that was both smooth and rustic. “Waiting for Princess” featured an amazing violin solo by Elena Martin. The crowd couldn’t help but dance and sing along to “Sunday Suit”, their song which has been featured on CMT. This was followed by a cover of Guns N Roses’ “November Rain”. It is no simple feat to take on an Axl Rose song, but Connor truly delivered and wowed his crowd. With cameras rolling they went into “Three Times” with a fierce violin, pounding drums, and intense energy. Their performance was beyond a local level, and paired with the crowd’s involvement should make for excellent footage for the song’s future music video.
The band closed with two covers that inspired dancing, squealing, and resounding appreciation. “Devil Went Down To Georgia” was performed with fervor and an attention grabbing force. Elena’s incredible talent is undeniable throughout their entire set, but this song truly shows off her skills giving her a taste of the spotlight. “Folsom Prison” brought the evening to an end with the crowd chanting along lyrics and smiling ear to ear. This may have been a big night for Connor Christian and Southern Gothic, but rest assured this talented group can deliver every time. An added bonus to going to a Connor Christian & Southern Gothic show: free drink coozies.
RFR Rating:
Both Rock Fists Up
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Connor Christian & Southern Gothic is:
Vocals/ Piano/ Guitar- Connor Christian
Bass/ Vocals- Joe Abramson
Fiddle/ Mandolin/ Piano/ Vocals- Elena Martin
Drums- Shawn Thacker
Below are pictures from the show taken by Ange Alex. Click on the picture to view it larger:
Connor Christian & Southern Gothic’s video “Sunday Suit” was in the top ten videos for CMT’s Pure Country 12-pack Countdown. View the video here:
http://www.cmt.com/videos/connor-christian/470119/sunday-suit.jhtml
See Connor Christian & Southern Gothic at their next show! Check below for a show near you:
Mar 19 2010 10:00P
Chills
Thomaston, Georgia
Mar 20 2010 10:00P
Dixie Tavern
Marietta, Georgia
Mar 26 2010 9:00P
Montreux
Summerville
Mar 27 2010 9:30P
Wet Willie’s
Charleston, South Carolina
Mar 31 2010 8:00P
Rusty Buzzard
Thomaston, Georgia
Apr 2 2010 10:00P
SoHo
Columbus, Georgia
Apr 3 2010 10:00P
Hummingbird
Macon, Georgia
Apr 10 2010 7:00P
Living Room Show!!
Ft Myers, Florida
Apr 11 2010 3:00P
Living Room Show!!
Punta Gorda, Florida
May 14 2010 8:00P
Summit City Lounge
Whitesburg, Kentucky
Jun 12 2010 9:30P
The Loft
Columbus, Georgia
Website: www.ConnorChristian.com
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/waitingforprincess
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Connor-Christian/22792502258?ref=sgm
Twitter: www.twitter.com/connorchristian











“Live For The Now” uses a transition from slow instrumentals and somber vocals to a zealous change in tempo paired with positive lyrics. “Into Reality” and “Run Away” utilize more alternative influences in comparison to other tracks. “Work In Progress” closes the album with a slow melodious song born from personal reflection. A personal favorite off the album is “Given The Chance”, which has a fun and easy to sing along to chorus inspired by lady love. Driven is available for purchase now, and you can find information on the album and upcoming show dates on the Legend Has It’s website.


















