Concert features Stellate, Crowfield, State of Man and The Greater Vavoom
Music fans got a treat at the BMI Showcase at Vinyl. Tickets for the concert, which featured four bands, were only $5. The bill included Stellate, Crowfield, State of Man and The Greater Vavoom. Stellate, the Atlanta group fronted by lead singer Carly Kane, put on a top-notch show. Atlanta band The Greater Vavoom, which played the Lady Gaga after-party this spring,also played a well-liked set during the evening. Atlantans State of Man presented songs from their new album "In This Place," which is scheduled to hit stories at the end of June. Charleston-based Crowfield was also part of the showcase.
Four of the Southeast’s hottest up-and-coming rock outfits took the stage Thursday night during a BMI-hosted musical showcase. An appropriately raucous crowd was on hand at Vinyl in Atlanta to partake in free booze and door prizes, and, of course, hear phenomenal live music.
The first act to take the stage was the Atlanta-based Stellate and the early birds in the audience were treated to a captivating array of energetic and exciting pop-rock. With a powerful sound that combined shades of Paramore with dashes of Kelly Clarkson (if she actually rocked), the band paraded around the stage with the confidence and swagger of true rock stars.
Proving the evening was not to be without diversity, the next act offered something from the other side of the rock spectrum. Visiting from Charleston, S.C., Crowfield played a brand of soulful folk-rock that was shaped in the mold of Southern-fried legends The Black Crowes. They played with an honesty and spirit (often recalling Ray LaMontagne) that resonated strongly throughout the crowd. It would be of little surprise if these guys become very well known in the near future.
Following Crowfield was another local act, the dissident, yet alluring, State of Man. Combining elements from a myriad of styles, the band's sound was difficult to pin down and this was an obvious part of their appeal. With elements of funk, soul, jazz, and rock all in the fold, the band could have played for hours without becoming stale. Clearly, the band had something important to say as they played a unique protest song along with a cover of U2’s “In the Name of Love” to complete their set.
Not to be outdone by any means, the final band of the evening came on like a storm and refused to stop until every single rump in the place was groovin’ to the beat. The Greater Vavoom knew they had been a band on the buzz radar of many fans, and their swagger was downright dirty (Prince would have been totally jealous—and he is never jealous of anyone). They offered a sweaty, sultry brand of neo-funk soul that was nearly impossible to deny and even harder to resist.—Mike Vetter, Special to Metromix
