The first time I visited 5147 Bluegrass Trail in Grovetown, the building housed a Wild Wing Cafe. I wrote a column about that restaurant several months ago, not knowing it was slated to undergo a major change.
Rechristened in summer of 2021 as Doc’s Porchside, the new restaurant’s motto of “Sippin’, Singin’, Front Porch Swingin’” promised hungry folks a comfortable Southern-style place to eat and relax.
A big screen concealed the stage behind the bar as the Cincinnati Bengals played against the Tennessee Titans. The football game stood tied 16-16 when we arrived. People huddled around the bar, sipping cold beers and watching the action.
But we weren’t there to watch the game. We were interested in the band that I’d found after glancing at the restaurant’s Facebook page — J and the Bootleggers.
I kept one eye on the TV screen behind Dean, hoping that the music would start soon. A field goal ended the game and the crowd erupted with applause. We could see action on the stage behind the big screen and knew the band was getting ready to play. A few minutes passed before the screen rose, revealing local three-piece band J and the Bootleggers. The group dominated the stage, kicking off the set with “Santa Monica” by Everclear. When I heard that familiar intro, I knew right then and there that this was going to be a killer show.
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The band’s set included rocking songs from the 90s and 2000s, including “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet, “Buddy Holly” by Weezer, “Are You Gonna Go My Way” by Lenny Kravitz, and “Vasoline” by Stone Temple Pilots. Other songs in their set were original tunes including “All Night” and “Fidget Spinner.”
With blistering guitar work for which he is known, Jeff Johnston carried each song with force backed by a tight and stellar rhythm section. Tim Arbisi’s growling Rickenbacker bass and Craig Adamski’s searing drum work took each song on the set list to a higher level, giving each tune an extra powerful punch. Dean, a bass player with a Rickenbacker in his personal arsenal, was thrilled to see Tim on his Ric. The snarl of that particular bass adds so much to the music J and the Bootleggers play.
The members of J and the Bootleggers are no strangers to the local music scene, with individual members holding impressive musical resumes that include such performing acts as Pretty Petty and Ed Turner & Number 9. The band brings years of experience to each performance. Their enthusiasm and love for the music they play is infectious. In addition to a wide variety of covers, they write and perform original music as well. The group’s first album “Don’t Feed the Hand That Bites” was released in 2021 and a second album is due out in the coming spring. The band tours all around the southeastern United States and completed 42 shows last year with stops in 15 cities through 4 states. Check them out at www.jandboot.com
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To find out more about Doc’s Porchside’s menu and band calendar, go to https://docsporchside.com
Live music action this weekend includes a show by flatpicker extraordinaire Matt Dahlheimer at 9 p.m. Friday at Stillwater Taproom. On Saturday, Chris Ndeti plays Doc’s Porchside Grovetown with an early show that starts at 5 p.m. Also on Saturday, catch DJ TJ at Soul Bar spinning tunes into the night. Music starts at 9 p.m.
