reCAP :: The Revivalists w/ Atlas Road Crew :: 2017.03.25
They may have been the opening act but that did not stop South Carolinas Atlas Road Crew from delivering an impressive performance, showcasing their Alternative Southern-Rock style. The band formed in 2011 while members were attending The University of South Carolina and they have been gaining momentum ever since. Prior to the set I reached out to a friend who had lived in Charleston for awhile to ask if he had heard of Atlas Road Crew, his response was pretty straight forward: “They crush. The lead guitar player shreds solos with Bud Light bottles”; he was not mistaken. Dave Beddingfield took the audience by storm about halfway through the show using his beer bottle as a slide, leading the band into a hard-core blues jam. It is obvious that the band has extreme cohesiveness that drives the tight hard-hitting sound, which can be showcased on their album Halfway to Hopkins. Lead vocalist Taylor Nicholson is somewhat reminiscent of Chris Robinson during his heyday with the Black Crowes on tracks like “Voices” & “Lose Control”. There is no doubt in my mind that Atlas Road Crew left New York this weekend with a slew of new fans, they will be back in NYC on April 26th where they will perform at The Brooklyn Bowl & you should definitely check them out.
After watching the Revivalists for the first time on Saturday night it is no surprise why it was a sold out show. Since forming in 2007 this multifaceted New Orleans band has been developing not only their sound but also their live performance. This seven-piece band has a little bit of everything, from Southern Rock to R&B to Funk. If you have been listening to music at all these days you have heard the song “I Wish I Knew You”. A crowd favorite, it releases this folksy southern R&B jam that you cannot help but sing along to; this past September it became the #1 song on the Alternative Songs chart. I was not sure what to expect when the lights came down and the band walked out to “Robot Rock” by electronic duo Daft Punk but was pleasantly surprised. Front man David Shaw acknowledged the beloved Capitol Theatre as one of the most historic venues in the country, which led to a deafening cheer from the fans. Shaw is super soulful and beyond engaging, he made it a point to jump off stage and get into the crowd quite a few times. He along with the rest of the band exudes a sort of honesty which plays out on stage; this is part of the reason why their latest album Men Amongst Mountains debuted at #2 on the Billboard Alternative Charts all the while gaining up close to 2 million plays on Spotify. The Revivalists played most of this album as well as paid tribute to Chuck Berry with their electrifying version of Johnny B Goode. The unpredictability of the Revivalists sound is what makes them likeable; whether it’s the horns busting out a mix of New Orleans reggae, or the bluesy licks on my personal favorite the pedal steel guitar, this band is certainly holding their own in the indie rock scene.
