Memphis soul singer Devin Crutcher (@devincrutch901) first came to prominence when he was featured on the third season of P. Diddy’s reality show Making The Band.
Crutcher is a gifted singer, with a repertoire that includes many Memphis favorites from artists like Bobby Womack and Johnnie Taylor, as well as more contemporary songs, and he keeps a first-rate band to back him up on stage. Follow Devin at https://twitter.com/devincrutch901 for show dates and more.
When the jazz in Acoustix Restaurant upstairs had come to an end, I walked downstairs into the Alley Bar, where an incredible young soul/funk band was backing up several singers. I was especially impressed with the drummer, whose sense of “pocket” and chops kept the band tight. The headliner proved to be a soul singer named Phillippia (@stayaddicted10), who apparently has a certain degree of fame in the Atlanta market. Originally from Miami, she skillfully blends neo-soul, traditional soul and R & B covers, reggae, and the occasional hip-hop/hardcore reference, as in her single “Addicted to My Grind.” She has a great stage persona and a decent voice, and with such a first-rate band backing her, the night was truly amazing. You can hear some of Phillippia’s music at http://www.reverbnation.com/phillippia, or follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/stayaddicted10.
Acoustix Jazz Restaurant and Lounge is a fairly-upscale spot on Marietta Street in Atlanta, west of downtown. It features a restaurant with live jazz of a more traditional sort until 11 PM on weekends, and a downstairs basement lounge called the Alley which features more neo-soul, funk and contemporary jazz and which stays open slightly later. Parking can be hard to come by, and seats can fill up quickly, so it’s good to make reservations, or at least arrive early. You can keep up with the live music schedule at http://www.acoustixjazz.com/, or like them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/acoustixjazz.
Café 290 advertises itself as a jazz bar, but it’s actually more of a place for R & B and soul. Still, the musicianship is good, the place has a friendly vibe, and it’s usually packed to the rafters. On the Friday night after Thanksgiving, I came through to catch the end of William Green’s set. Keep up with the live music schedule at Café 290 by visiting http://www.cafe290atlanta.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cafe-290/173901131974?sk=info.
For years I somehow missed @DecaturCD. I thought of it as an indie rock store, and I wasn’t wrong, but I was wrong. They have a great selection of indie rock, but that’s only the beginning. Add to that the best selection of jazz discs in Atlanta, and decent sections for soul, blues, Louisiana music, folk and reggae. Then imagine a decent selection of vinyl. Fans of the super-cool reissue label Numero will be pleased to find a complete stock of Numero releases in a special section in the store. Of course if you don’t live in Atlanta or get there frequently, you may feel disappointed, but don’t, because Decatur CD cheerfully accepts orders over the phone, and ships anywhere in the world. This is truthfully one of the best record stores in the South, if not the whole country. Visit them at http://decaturcd.blogspot.com/, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Decatur-CD/210532542327753 or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/decaturcd.
At the Neosoulville stage at the River Arts Festival (at River Arts Festival)
Arkansas Record Exchange in North Little Rock is a great place to find that rare vinyl 45 single or LP, but they also sell a decent selection of new compact discs as well, particularly in the soul, blues and jazz genres. It’s definitely worth a visit the next time you’re in Little Rock.
Arkansas Record Exchange in North Little Rock is a great place to find that rare vinyl 45 single or LP, but they also sell a decent selection of new compact discs as well, particularly in the soul, blues and jazz genres. It’s definitely worth a visit the next time you’re in Little Rock.
Atlanta soul-rock ensemble @GURUFISH performs at the Chop Shop during the NoDa Music Festival in Charlotte 10/06/12 @MidatlMusic
Greenville, South Carolina soul-rockers the Kelly Jo Connect (@KellyJoConnect) take over the outdoor stage at the Chop Shop during the NoDa Music Festival and Midatlantic Music Conference (@MidatlMusic) in Charlotte, 10/05/12
