In his Brand New Bag piece published July 22 in The Augusta Press, Steven Uhles shared about a series of upcoming concerts benefiting the creation of a new all-ages music venue within the walls of Broad Street’s Grantski Records. As a fan of Evan Grantski and his record store, I knew that Dean and I had to go check this out. Each night’s performance was centered on a specific genre. The first concert was electronic, the second metal, and the third jazz. The performers scheduled for jazz night included Moxie and the Sophisticats, The BrownsTown Gritty, and the SoulTown Horns. As fans of jazz music hungry to hear live performances, Dean and I chose the jazz night for our date night on the town.
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We got to the store early and found it filling up with attendees. A stage was set up along the back wall with ample space for people to stand and mill about. As we waited for the music to begin, I flipped through the albums in the bargain bins and smiled at what I found. Among the treasures there I came across albums by the Osmonds and Leo Sayer. These were albums I owned when I was a child.
Digging through old records is such a fun way to reminisce, and I love that Grantski has a great selection of the latest releases as well as a plethora of used records, CDs and cassettes. It’s a music lover’s dream.
The show kicked off at 8:30 p.m. with a band I follow on social media but had yet to experience in a live setting. It was Moxie and the Sophisticats, a quintet that performed an assortment of jazz standards and various other tunes. Their first song sent me into orbit. “Blue Skies” raised the roof. What a fabulous band. With an upright bass, drums, keys, trumpet, and a powerful vocalist, this five-piece band delivers. Their version of “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If You Ain’t Got That Swing) by Duke Ellington was off the charts. They launched into a song from the movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” “Why Don’t You Do Right” was a fun jaunt. Next on the list was “Big Spender” by Peggy Lee. It lit the place on fire.
While the band played and the crowd swayed to the music, it felt for a minute as if I was back in Atlanta at one of the smoky jazz clubs I frequented in the 1990s. The diverse audience was a beautiful thing to see. It was, to me, a representation of what makes Augusta so special. Seeing so many folks coming together to support Evan Grantski’s vision made my heart smile.
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Next up on stage, the BrownsTown Gritty threw down their brand of jazz and drove the evening into a funky groove. The three-piece unit featured our friend Travis Shaw on bass, Christian Thornton on drums, and T.J. Barnes on keys. The BrownsTown Gritty is known for their funky punch and that night they delivered a heady sound that kept the vibe hot and tight. During their set, they performed an extended play version of their original song “Brinner” that went into a cosmic direction and reminded me of a jam session a la the Chris Robinson Brotherhood. It was brilliant. Other songs they played included “Ruth’s,” “Breakfast Before Beats,” and “Butterfly,” a grooving track from the Herbie Hancock album “Thrust.”
Once they finished their first set, they brought the SoulTown Horns on stage to join them for a second set of funky tunes. Rob Foster on saxophone, Fabio Mann on trumpet and Steve Pruitt on trombone added the brass to a steady grooving mood. The three horn players were a member of the Ed Turner & Number 9 band for a number of years, and it was so good to see them play together again. The songs they performed with The BrownsTown Gritty included “Tough Talk,” “Painted Paradise,” and a Rob Foster original, “Brother Doug.”
Catch up with Moxie and the Sophisticats at their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076378114467.
Groove with The BrownsTown Gritty here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077005825324.
Grantski Records has proven itself to be a fabulous venue for live music. The CSRA needs a place where anyone of any age can come out and enjoy a night of entertainment. Please support this venture if you enjoy live, local music that is accessible to all ages.
Haven’t made it out for a Grantski concert but want to support a local business and enjoy local music for a good cause? You’ve got one more chance to see a show! On Friday, head to Grantski Records for Rock Night featuring Bodega Cat, Easily Amused and The Acosta Brothers. Show starts at 8:30 p.m. and tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Order your tickets here: www.eventbrite.com/e/grantski-stage-fund-concert-series-rock-night-2-tickets-388981894317.
Other live music offerings this weekend include Unchained who bring their rocking show to the stage at Chevy’s Friday at 9 p.m. On Saturday night, check out Blue Lava and enjoy his classic rock at Stay. Social Tap & Table. Show starts at 7 p.m. Songstress Josephine Johnson performs on Sunday at Cantina Locale for brunch. Her show begins at noon
Francie Klopotic is an author, artist and music aficionado living in Augusta. She writes The Night Beat column the first and third Fridays of each month.
