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10 Georgia Artists To Watch In 2008
Georgia music has had a record year in 2007. R.E.M was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, Athfest celebrated its 10th anniversary, and many
independent artists continued to benefit from the myspace revolution.
As the year ends, and we prepare for 2008, we wanted to give you our take on 10 Georgia artists to watch in 2008. We tried to list a diversity of artists, some you may have heard of, others you may not have.
Either way, if you follow local-music we think you'll know all of these guys by the end of the year.
Blackberry Smoke
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An appearance with Slash, a featured spot on the coveted Nascar08 soundtrack ("Up In Smoke"), a tour with ZZ Top, this Atlanta Based band has taken the "Southern Rock" banner from the likes of Black Crowes and Drivin N' Cryin and hit the ground running. Blackberry Smoke makes no bones about being a Southern band. "We don’t pull any punches about calling this Southern rock because that’s what it is,” says Blackberry Smoke front man Charlie Starr. “It’s what we think new Southern rock should sound like.”
2008 Outlook for Blackberry Smoke
How Could 2008 be better for Blackberry Smoke? The exposure they're getting touring with ZZTop will continue to gain this band more fans. A Summer 2008 release, produced by Dan Huff will be eagerly awaited by fans. 2008 could indeed be the year for Blackberry Smoke.
Buy Blackberry Smoke Music at CD Baby .
Zac Brown Band
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The Zac Brown Band is the epitome of Southern College music. "Chicken Fried", "Toes", and "Free" are essentials on long trips, and on the lake. "We like to call our music ‘lake music’", says Zac Brown, “It’s the perfect music to listen to out on the lake with your friends and a cooler full of your favorite beer. What Jimmy Buffet is to the ocean, the Zac Brown Band is to the lake.”
This Cumming Georgia native has appeared on The Rick and Bubba show on several occasions, and sells out shows on a consistent basis.
2008 Outlook For Zac Brown Band
With an early 2007 release (The Foundation), a 2008 CD will be greatly anticipated, and will cement the foundation The Zac Brown ban is building in the Southern Music Scene.
Buy Zac Brown Band music @ CD Baby, Amazon
Nutria
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Nutria, an Athens Georgia based band is a product of a previous Athens Heavy-hitter The Possibilities. Front man Bob Spires has penned songs for The Minus Five (Featuring R.E.M.s Peter Buck) who played "You Don't Mean It" live on The Conan O'Brian. Spires former band opened for R.E.M.Nutria was a featured act at Athfest 2007, and also appeared on the CD. Their power-pop sound is infectious.
2008 Outlook for Nutria
There are actually rumors of a split in the band. We hope that's not the case. But either way, watch for Bob Spires to continue to make music either with Nutria or not. And we'll play it either way.
Buy Nutria Music at Amazon
Corey Smith
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Corey Smith is one of the top independent artists in the country. He sells out everywhere is goes, and gains fans with every leg of his ever-expanding tour.Many people first heard of Corey because of "I'm Not Gonna Cry" a graduation anthem that has become a favorite with High Schools all over the South, and nationwide. But this is no one-hit-wonder. Corey uses his experiences of growing-up, messing-up and trying to fix it, and life in general to hone his craft, and it is paying off. The crowds always sing-along to "Twenty-One", "If I Could Do It Again" and a certain song about the Jefferson Police department, but its songs like "Single-Wide Home", "First Dance", and "Together" that really showcase this artists writing skills, and show you why Corey Smith will be a force to be reckoned with for a long time.
As Corey's fan base grows, so does his music and "Hard Headed Fool", the 2007 release, featured more instruments, better production, and a more professional sound.
2008 Outlook for Corey Smith
The Sky's The Limit. Corey's been building a following since the early 90's and unless myspace melts down, 2008 should be a banner year for the Jefferson Georgia native.
Buy Corey Smith Music at Amazon, CD Baby or download it from iTunes.
Download Corey Smith Ringtones
Paris Luna
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If you ask anyone in the know who the best new female talent is in the Atlanta area, most of them will tell you Paris Luna, a young powerhouse of a singer. Pop/Jazz/Country undertones highlight the diversity of music The Paris Luna Band performs. Bob Lange, with Glide Magazine said of Paris: "she has the ability to sing to you and not just at you. She has the ability to cross gender barriers and touch everyone. She makes her songs personal, not just to her, but to her audience as well."
"I have already had a socially excepted career before I started my adventure in music and I was hard pressed on extreme goals and all the time I spent clawing for those goals" says Paris. "I closed my eyes to the beauty of the journey of life...Now if you want to say my goal in my music career is to have happiness in something I love to do ..and to share that with others when I play my music....oh yeah and to try and not go broke in the process!!.
To appreciate Paris, you have to see her live: "here is nothing like letting your soul out on stage I truly think its the best high you can have! Don't get me wrong we've been in some wonderful Studios in Nashville like Quad and Blackbird and others..Great people and rooms but just like putting a bird in a cage..they are not truly happy without spreading their wings..and neither are we!"
2008 Outlook for Paris Luna
Paris told us her plans for 2008: "We are going to release City Lights our new record through Universal, we just signed with an awesome manager that has worked with Ben Harper, Lenny Kravitz and others, so we are hoping that that now our path will have focus and will not have in ventures in vain, and we are just gonna put as much elbow grease into 08 as we did in 07 maybe more".
We know that the future is bright for Paris Luna. 2008 may be the year of Paris.
Download Paris Luna Music at iTunes
Brantley Gilbert
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Jefferson's Brantley Gilbert may be the biggest country music star you've never heard of. He's a growing success on myspace, with friends from all over the world hearing this Georgian's blend of country and rock music on the social network. This guy gets searched as much as these other artists on google (we have our ways) and he's got the looks that will drive Nashville record producers "and women everywhere" wild.
This guy's the real deal. He writes his own songs, and their good. He sings the kind of music you'd expect to hear from Kenny Chesney, but he's real.
2008 Outlook for Brantley Gilbert
This son of a preacher will only continue to grow in 2008. He may not sign the big recording contract this year, but he will continue to build a fan base, sell CDs and entertain people in North Georgia.
Visit Brantley's Website to buy his music
The Honor Roll
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The Honor Roll are the newest member of the Enexia Records family, and this North Georgia rock band may well be on the verge of leading the next wave of Athens style music to hit the national scene.2007 brought change to the young band, and the year proved to be a challenge for the band (Band challenges, and car trouble "coming back from FL during our summer tour our trailer started to fall apart, and on the way to a show in Dalton GA our trailer tire blew out and we were stranded for two hours."
But it seems all the hard work paid off, because the deal with Forever Winter came at the end of December, right before Christmas. The Bands Guitarist, Ben Cramer says that "it feels great to know that someone believes enough in us to invest time and money into our band, and also that they take pride in us being on their team."
2008 Outlook For The Honor Roll
We asked Bassist Eric Horvath their plans: "promotion, promotion and more promotion, we hope to reach new audiences and make new friends, also to tour nationally."
We think The Honor Roll should invest in some good luggage. The road may be a hard one, but they may be on their way.
Buy music on The Honor Roll's website
Drive By Truckers
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If you've been anywhere near the Athens music scene in the last decade, you've no doubt heard about this muscle-shoals (Patterson Hood, founder of the band is originally from Muscle Shoals, Alabama) sound that is finally starting to take the nation, and Nashville to task for pre-packaged, commercialized music that infiltrated country radio in the last 20 years. The Drive By Truckers make you feel like you're hearing a mixture of Waylon Jennings and David Allan Coe in 1972, before they made it big. They are one of the top bands on the national alt-country scene, and have built a nationwide following that can only be described as fervent.
2008 Outlook for Drive By Truckers
With the departure of Lead Singer Jason Isbell
You never know when commercial radio is going to wake up. This band could be the shot it will take to get things started.
Buy Drive By Truckers Music at Amazon
Buy Drive By Truckers Ringtones
Ishues
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Athens based Ishues is the only hip-hop artist on our list of Georgia Artists to watch for 2008, and theres a good reason for that. Most hip-hop coming out of Georgia is the D-south or Crunk variety, and The Georgia Jukebox, to be honest isn't a huge fan of these sub-genres. A feature with KRS1 on the Hip-Hop legend's 2006 CD is one of the young community activists many accomplishments to date.What Ishues does is more reminiscent of East Cost hip-hop, but there's even more to it than that. There's a message in the melodic, intelligent lyrics that's missing in mainstream hip-hop. Ishues talks about the issues, and he gives perspective not seen in other Georgia Hip-hop.
2008 Outlook For Issues
This guy's got the gift, and his music will take care of itself. Here's something much more important that Ishues has planned for 2008, posted on his myspace blog: "As 2008 approaches, we have to begin to challenge those negative vices that are destroying our communities. We have to create the balance for our children and re-introduce the concept of the village. Why are we waiting for others to fix and handle our problems? Here is a challenge for anyone that's frustrated and tired of the current destruction taking place in their community. Locally, we have organized a massive monthly community clean up. One day out of a month is our challenge to the world. On this day, we organize teams from various "Hoods" to do a massive clean up. By this, we are encouraging the community to stand up and become responsible for what goes on there, and stop surrendering their/our power to the Police department and all of these other agencies that profits off of the community's destruction. After the massive clean up, we organize a community meeting and encourage all the members of all the differnt Hoods to begin dialogue and discussing solutions for change."
Buy Ishues music from his website
Georgia (The Band)
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Of the 10 artists we’re featuring on this blog, Georgia, a Canton Georgia based band is the only act that has signed a major label contract (Atlantic Records). Since then, they’ve been touring the East Coast.
The Band is tuned for the end of January’s “Rock Boat” where they will share stage time with other Georgia Jukebox artists, like The Zac Brown Band. They’ve also opened for Jason Aldean recently: “It seems like country fans are gonna be loyal to us since we’re crossover between Rock & Country” says Jon Mitchell, guitarist for the band.
Georgia is a laid back group of guys. "Our hope is that our music continues to connect with people and things could get to the point where I never have to get a “Real Job.” Build up a big enough following and make our mark in this industry. Possibly help bring harmonies back in music. People just aren’t doing it anymore.” says Jon.
2008 Outlook for Georgia
A 2008 release date does not appear to have been set, but the guys are eagerly awaiting finishing up the album and writing new songs. They hope to expand their East Cost tour and build their base.
