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Thursday – We’ve had such great acts at Darwin’s lately I’ve just been hanging around and soaking it up! Thursday was Darwin’s Blues Jam, and what a night… So many great musicians came out, we had 4 female singers come in this week and they ALL sounded amazing!

The Cazanovas @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Truett Lollis: We love Truett, and he will be opening for Little G at our Grand Opening on October 29th at 8pm! He was nice enough to come by the jam and play a few songs before he was whisked away to another gig at 11.

Truett Lollis @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

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Marshall Ruffin – Several weeks ago I met Tiffany Leigh of the band Waller who gave me a free pass to see her band at Park Tavern. It just so happens Marshall Ruffin was opening for them! Marshall was suggested to me by a few other folks and he put on a great two-piece set!

Marshall Ruffin @ Park Tavern

Marshall Ruffin @ Park Tavern

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Little G Weevil – Little G put on a great set as always and we had a great crowd come out! Maurice Nazzaro of the Cazanovas came and backed G up on the “Chicago Saxophone” as G called it. G will be headlining Darwin’s Grand Opening on Saturday the 29th backed by John McKnight on drums!

Little G Weevil @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Little G Weevil @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

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Rod Hamdallah – Rod filled in for Jim Ransone Monday and put on a great set! Rod is heavily influenced by other great 2-piece sets like The Black Keys and White Stripes. I can’t wait to see his two-piece set play this Saturday at Darwin’s!

Rod Hamdallah @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Rod Hamdallah @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

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Opposing Suns – I should’ve known, BeAtlanta’s shows have NEVER started on time. I thought it might be different this time now that they actually put up a band schedule on the flyer, website, Facebook page… Nope, they started 1.5 hours later than scheduled.

I got there at 8 and hung out with Waking the Bates and Novakord for a couple hours until the music started.

Johnny Cunningham of Novakord

Wes Daniel of Novakord

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Darwin’s Burgers and Blues: My evening started out at Darwin’s where I devoured 2 HMS Beagles while checking out The Rosedale AllStars. These guys were phenomenal!

Rosedale All Stars @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Rosedale All Stars @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

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Jim Ransone – I wanted a relaxing night last night. It was drizzling all night and I really didn’t want to drive anywhere. Good thing Darwin’s is right near my house! I went and hung out with the regulars, had some dinner, and watched Jim Ransone and Tamara Nicolai jam out on stage. It was pretty much the perfect way to wind down a Monday.

Jim Ransone Every Monday @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Jim Ransone Every Monday @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Tamara Nicolai Every Monday @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

The Last Menu Item – I’ve tried everything on the menu thus far except for one thing: The Bleu Buffalo. I’m quite an avid hater of Bleu Cheese. I can’t stand the stuff. Several people have told me it’s the best burger on the menu, even if you don’t like Bleu Cheese…so I caved. Wow, I was damn surprised! Chef Akin puts only a dallop of Bleu Cheese to give it a creamy texture, not so much flavor. The Wing Sauce does most of the talking as far as flavor…WOW! I ate a Bleu Cheese burger and I LOVED it!

Bleu Buffalo Burger @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

I took a promo shot last night during Jim’s set. Everyone kept asking, “Ooo, do we get to eat those when you’re done?” ABSOLUTELY! Within 60 seconds of announcing I was done shooting, all the wings were gone…and they were DELICIOUS!

$10 Wing Special Every Tuesday @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

What a night Saturday! So much great music, I ended up taking over 800 shots that night and spent the whole weekend going through them!

Rhythm Raiders- After Friday night’s set, Mike Watson invited me out to Montana’s to come shoot an evening of Country Rhythm and Blues at Montana’s Bar and Grille. What a night, the evening started off with The Rhythm Raiders followed by Von Grey, Mike Watson, and Nadirah Shakoor.

Rhythm Raiders @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Rhythm Raiders @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Rhythm Raiders @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Rhythm Raiders @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Rhythm Raiders @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Rhythm Raiders @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Rhythm Raiders @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Rhythm Raiders @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Rhythm Raiders @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey – these four classically trained sisters blew the stage up! They almost made me ashamed to call myself a musician. Ranging in age from 10-16, each one of them is a trained master of several instruments! I was amazed at the quality of music these girls were producing LIVE!

Von Grey’s wall of instruments @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Von Grey @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Mike Watson –Mike Watson put on a great set again, I brought my flash this time and was able to catch some great shots of Mike and his band!

Mike Watson Band @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Mike Watson Band @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Mike Watson Band @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Mike Watson Band @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Mike Watson Band @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Mike Watson Band @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Mike Watson Band @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Mike Watson Band @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Mike Watson Band @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Mike Watson Band @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Mike Watson Band @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Mike Watson ft. Kipper Jones @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Mike Watson ft. Kipper Jones @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Mike Watson ft. Kipper Jones @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Nadirah Shakoor and Outside Art – At this point in the night, I still needed to get back to Darwin’s to shoot Uncle Sugar. I stuck around to get a few shots of Nadirah Shakoor and jetted out to make the drive back to Darwin’s.

Nadirah Shakoor and Outside Art @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Nadirah Shakoor and Outside Art @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Nadirah Shakoor and Outside Art @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Nadirah Shakoor and Outside Art @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Nadirah Shakoor and Outside Art @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Nadirah Shakoor and Outside Art @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Nadirah Shakoor and Outside Art @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Nadirah Shakoor and Outside Art @ Montana’s Bar and Grill

Uncle Sugar – I made it back just in time for Uncle Sugar’s last set, and what a set! I loved seeing Eddie Tignor on the keyboards, and Ross Pead puts on a helluva show when he’s backed by his band!

Uncle Sugar @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Uncle Sugar @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Uncle Sugar @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Uncle Sugar @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Uncle Sugar @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Uncle Sugar @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Uncle Sugar @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Darwin’s Burgers and Blues – Mike Watson Band put on a great set last night! My night started out at Darwin’s where I got to meet Mike Watson before he blew the doors off the place with his guitar work! He played the most rockin version of Bill Withers “Ain’t no Sunshine” I’ve ever heard! I ended up sticking around much longer than I had planned, I wanted to shoot some more musicians!

Mike Watson Band @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Mike Watson Band @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Mike Watson @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Paul Arredondo @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Mike Watson @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Ken Tolleson @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Mike Watson @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Mike Watson @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Mike Watson @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Paul Arredondo @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Paul Arredondo @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Sideline’s – I was told Motor City Josh was performing right down the street and I should go check it out, so off I went! First person I run into is none other than Truett Lollis hanging out with Jonathon Norwood. I love getting the chance to see who other musicians are listening to. If Truett is there to see this band, then I know I’m in for a treat! I didn’t get to stay too long unfortunately, my goal was to get back to Darwin’s to catch Mike Watson’s third set and I still wanted to go check out Barry Richman. Frontman Josh Ford was a phenomenon on guitar as well as Alex Lyon on bass and Adam Savage on drums!

Motor City Josh @ Sideline’s

Josh Ford @ Sideline’s

Alex Lyon @ Sideline’s

Josh Ford @ Sideline’s

Adam Savage @ Sideline’s

Josh Ford @ Sideline’s

Nik’s Place – Barry Richman has been marked on my calendar for weeks! “The first Friday of every month at Nik’s Place” someone told me a while back. I get there at 11:30, giving me about 45 minutes to check listen to his set before I have to leave. “Thanks everyone, we’re going on break!” was the first thing I heard as I came through the door.

Doh!

I introduced myself to Barry briefly, grabbed myself a drink and ended up running into John Rose and his friends. We hung out on the patio for a while until Barry got back on stage. By then it was 12 and I only had 15 minutes left! I got as many shots as I could in the dimly-lit venue and took off back to Darwin’s. I got some decent shots, but probably could have done better with more time.

Barry Richman was ridiculous, and I mean that in every good possible way. He’s the FASTEST guitar played I’ve ever seen! At one point I had framed my shot up and was just letting the camera shoot out, I was just staring at his hands flying up and down the neck of the guitar! I immediately regretted not bringing my flash, I could have gotten some really cool motion-blur shots with him if I had. I’m going to have to see Barry again under better conditions.

Barry Richman @ Nik’s Place

Kari Savage @ Nik’s Place

Barry Richman Band @ Nik’s Place

Barry Richman Band @ Nik’s Place

Kari Savage @ Nik’s Place

Barry Richman @ Nik’s Place

Barry Richman @ Nik’s Place

Barry Richman @ Nik’s Place

Darwin’s Burgers and Blues – Mike’s set had turned into full jam session featuring Cody Matlock, Jim Nicoletta, and Joe Hussey! Plus I caught Akin before he closed the kitchen and got to eat another delicious Chicken Salad Sandwich as a late-night snack. Mmmm, so good!

Mike, Jim and Paul @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Mike and Cedric @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Darwin’s Blues Jam – What a night! Lots of amazing music was made last night, and I love seeing the interaction on stage with these musicians! I took so many pictures it was tough to pick which ones I thought were best so I’ll be posting a few more than usual today. We had a great time last night and would like to thank everyone for coming out and supporting your local blues scene!

The Cazanovas Every Thursday @ Darwin’s Burgers and Blues

Eric Pullen @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Maurice Nazzaro @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Danny Vinson @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Jacob Holliday @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Cody Matlock @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

@ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Tamara Nicolai @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Joe Hussey @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Mark Slyman @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Mark Slyman @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

John Rose @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

John Rose @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

@ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Jim Nicoletta @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Mike Greenwald @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

@ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Chuck Woods @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Sandra Senn @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Ana Howells @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

@ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Ana and Sandra @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Larry Griffith @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Christian Davidson @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Hobo Creed @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Larry Griffith @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

@ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Bob Coyle @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Mary Raindrop @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Mary Raindrop @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Mary and Kayla @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Cody Matlock @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Joe Castellanos @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Matthew Smart @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Tamara Nicolai @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Matthew Smart @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Stoney Brooks @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

Jacob Holliday @ Darwin’s Blues Jam

@ Darwin’s Blues Jam