Tony Allen, Savannah native and front man for the punk rock band Dead Stays Alive, comes with all the accoutrements of a rock star: blue hair, studded and outrageous jewelry, tats, an entourage, and a killer voice that shakes whatever space, no matter the size, in which he wields a microphone. However, Google his name and more photos of Lindsay Lohan pop up than mention of his music, which, despite not being Jack Johnson catchy, has a decent fan base and, more importantly, is constantly evolving and improving.

If you take a walk down River Street today, you may spot a celebrity or two. The American Idol team arrived in Savannah yesterday morning to film auditions for the next season of the popular television show.

Savannah’s music scene is heating up, and these are the musicians that are fueling the fire. Today, beats and chords mingle down Savannah streets alongside tourists’ carriages and warm summer currents. A city once rife with musical goings-on, Savannah is again working overtime to appease a populace demanding, with revitalized enthusiasm, the fever and authenticity of the live show.
The Hostess City’s recommitment to being a live music destination and to cultivating a rich local music scene comes as the result of a collective push by area venues, promoters, musicians, and concertgoers. But it is, perhaps, the local musicians who carry the weight of the load—playing night after night to crowds or empty rooms, even after a full day of work or class—reminding the rest of us that Savannah’s got talent.

Kidsyc

Hometown to notable hip-hop artists Big Boi (OutKast) and DJ Lord (Public Enemy), Savannah has long held its place in the world of hip-hop. But this year, Savannah’s hip-hop face got a makeover, compliments of Lloyd “KidSyc” Harold.

KidSyc is known around town for his affability, passion for music, and commitment to youth and education. With signature red cap and his unique merger of hip-hop with a live band, KidSyc was barely a year into playing together with KidSyc@Brandywine when they decidedly upstaged the overhyped national-touring Das Racist on opening night of the 2011 Savannah Stopover Music Festival. Having won the Georgia Lottery All-Access Music Search competition in early 2011 with his band KidSyc@Brandywine, he is now known far beyond Savannah for his talent as a songwriter, rapper, and front man.

KidSyc’s inaugural music video, “Fire,” was recently released to great fanfare. “The ‘Fire’ video is taking off quite nicely,” says Harold. “We’ve gotten almost 2000 views (between Vimeo and YouTube) since it was posted a month ago.” “Fire” is off of The Kid, produced by Alex Goose. The video was created by Savannah Film Company Production and Meddin Studios. But the best, it seems, is yet to come. “Next up is the KidSyc@Brandywine EP release with the tracks recorded at Capitol Records,” says Harold, “and a music video by Savannah Film Company for the crowd favorite ‘Forever.’” facebook.com/kidsycmusic

Images by Josh Branstetter
Read more on our August/September Issue now!

The SCAD Alumni Concert in Forsyth Park has been making waves since its inception. It has evolved over the years featuring acts such as the funk legends George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelics to last year’s headliners, G. Love and Special Sauce. This free concert has become a tradition not only for recent graduates of SCAD but also for Savannahnians as a whole. This year’s headlining act, the Cold War Kids, are an indie rock band hailing from Long Beach, California. Their sound is raw and emotional and goes back to times and messages for which they got their name. For those who are unfamiliar with the Cold War Kids, check out one of their most popular and well known singles, Hang Me Up to Dry off the album Robbers & Cowards. This years concert will be on June 3rd in Forsyth Park with the show beginning at 7 p.m and as always, it’s free.

The music scene in Savannah is constantly changing with one exception, peoples’ passion for good, melodic tunes. Two local students have recognized this passion and developed a plan to bring that to the Savannah community with assistance and ease in buying your favorite music. Some people may see record stores as relic of the past with almost every song in the world accessible at your fingertips with just one click of the mouse; but Emily Chao and Tyler Duddy would disagree with you. Their vision for music, Together with Records, will not only serve as a place to buy music but will also help the community in several other ways. They want their business model to include blogging as well as supporting and promoting local bands.

As a Jane of all trades, the Savannah-born Haviland Stillwell just came out with her debut CD, but that didn’t stop her from finding time to land a guest spot on CSI: NY, lend her voice to a national children’s program, or live out her dream of performing on Broadway. She says she’s doing whatever it takes to make it big, but we think she already has.

Jazz musician Ellis Hall already had a very successful career when he met Ray Charles in 2001 and soon after became his protege. The Savannah-born legend is now helping keep his mentor’s greatness alive.

Now regularly playing for Lowcountry Jazz Lovers, Savannah resident Bob James got his break by writing music for a little show called Taxi.

For country music singer Billy Currington, being a true Southerner has nothing to do with coordinates or state lines. Quickly dismissing mega-cities like Atlanta and even Nashville, the home of country music, he says the soul of the South lies in a certain spirit—and the distance you have to drive to dip your toes into the water.

No Dreadlocks, no political agenda: This is the new reggae music-and it resides in Savannah

Among the myriad of popular music styles that have emerged over the past century, only a handful claim to have inspired-or at least to have come to represent-an entire way of life. Blues, jazz, rockabilly, and punk immediately come to mind as niche genres that boat loyal die-hard fans worldwide, but immerse global popularity of reggae dwarfs them all. From it’s humble beginnings in late-60’s Jamaica as laid-back dance fodder to it’s current status as the preeminent form of grooveoriented protest music, reggae is, simply put, one of the most beloved forms of music in existence today.

The basis of reggae’s appeal is its insistent, mesmerizing rhythmic foundation. Essentially a hybrid of America soul, R & B and traditional African and Caribbean folk, it’s been closely aligned with the Rastafari ideological movement since the late superstar songwriter (Rasta icon) Bob Marley used his own brand of “roots reggae” to spread that universal message of human rights and equality. Marley also promoted the overriding philosophy that all people should strive to attain “irrie,” a sense of well-being and harmony oneself one’s surroundings.

Yet along the way, reggae has diversified and grown. Offshoots such as dancehall, dub, reggaeton and reggae fusion now update the genre, incorporating outside elements forum other forms of pop music. As one of the hottest rising acts on the modern U.S. reggae scene, Savannah’s own Passafire continues that forward evolution. Over the past seven years, they’ve striven to create a unique sound by infusing reggae with their own alternative rock and psychedelic-tinged, trip-hop sensibilities. Known as much for their devoted work ethic and keen business senese as for their knakc of crafting memorable crowd pleasing tune, the group- made up of singing guitarist Ted Bowne, singing keyboardist Adam Willis, drummer Nick Kubley and his brother, singing bassist Will Kubley- is currently riding a growing wave of success.