Wednesday night’s show was a bittersweet moment for one of Atlanta’s local bands, City Mouse. This will be the bands final act as a trio, as one of its founding members has decided to begin writing the next chapter of his life outside of City Mouse. Wednesday night brought out three rather passionate bands, with all of them chasing the same dream of becoming successful at the thing that brought them all together, music.
Frankie Boots
The San Fransico Bay area country-Americana Frankie Boots started the night off in the packed out Eddies Attic. The duo hit the stage with Frankie on the guitar and Josh on the upright bass; this band treated us to something that is honest and charismatic; Frankie’s songs are the romance of life on the road and the rich, honest truths of being a musician. It did not take long for the crowd to become immersed in the candor of their gritty live performance. Frankie Boots and the County Line currently have a self-titled release from 2013, and an upcoming release slated for sometime this April. Frankie’s raspy voice clings to the woes of which
Frankie Boots
his lyrics are defined by. These gentlemen are not afraid to give you everything they have and leave it all on the stage for you to take it all in. Frankie and Josh performed “Leave The Light On” from their upcoming album; It’s the plain truth about being a musician and the supportive loved ones with who surround them. We look forward to seeing what Frankie boots has in store for us with their next album.
As Frankie and Josh rushed off the stage with their
The Darnell Boys
equipment, it was equally as timely that The Darnell Boys had their stage completely set and ready to play.
Athens, Georgia’s very own The Darnell Boys have this Americana, Blues, Folk and soulful sound to them. There is heart and passion behind everything they are pumping out for all to hear. Brothers Austin, Caleb, and Gus joined by Elijah Neesmith on the upright bass and Patrick Weise on the “Junkyard” percussion kit, produce music that is filled with so much whiskey fueled blues, gospel and a touch of
The Darnell Boys
rock and roll. You find yourself wondering if you are within the right decade with the soul charged music you are witnessed to. The Darnell Boys have independently released 2013’s self-titled album and 2015 Workmans Will. The boys stick to their roots with 2015’s Workmans Will. It has the same bones as their previous release with a slightly cleaner tighter sound. As the boys perform to the packed out Eddies Attic, they are all pouring sweat as they fully want to give you everything they have performed for us. Like the preacher reciting his gospel to his parishioners, Austin belts out the chorus to his song over and over again, “Let’s make love like it is our last chance” with real conviction, which left us all gripped with the energy and heart The Darnell Boys bleed.
City Mouse at Eddiie’s Attic
It was that time of the evening people had been pouring into the SOLD OUT Eddie’s Attic for. There was an enormous amount of real energy in the room that didn’t feel as though it were remorseful or sad; it was upbeat, happy and full of people there to support their friend or family that was on stage.
Brian Revels of City Mouse
City Mouse is a collective of a Banjo, a guitar, a fiddle and a double-bass that has been running itself around Atlanta and a slew of other small towns around America since 2012. After meeting by chance at the Tin Roof Cantina to create this trio, Brian Revels, Michael Hudgins, and the lovely Miss Jenna Mobley set themselves out on the quest of creating Americana singer-songwriter music for people to enjoy and maybe even stomp their feet too. City Mouse has one EP out called Joy Of Life (Jan 2015), and releasing their recently recorded Sanguine Sessions to their devoted fans on Wednesday night’s show at Eddie’s Attic.
Michael Hudgins of City Mouse
Wednesday was not only to release their two newly recorded songs into the wild; it was also their way to give a final farewell to founding member Michael Hudgins. Michael has decided to part ways with the band to move on to a new chapter in his life. The amicable split prompted them to come together and have Michael’s departure end in a good way, with recording two songs, one written by Michael and the other by Brian. It was only appropriate that they can say their final farewell to Michael with a show and release of the recordings the same night. This is a way for the band to have the closure it needed and a tangible final product to hold on to.
Jenna Mobley of City Mouse
In the recordings of Sanguine Sessions, you can hear the band has matured their sound into something that matches their live set. Brian’s beautifully written “Blood Red Youth” is a story that reminds us of love affairs and the feelings that go along with it. The trio beautifully harmonizes and come together to help the lyrics of love and passion stand out amongst the cords of the guitar that helps tie everything together. Michael has written a somber and emotionally charged waltz called “Bloodshot Eyes”. His written lyric touches on quitting drinking or ending an addiction while meeting someone to help you move on from it. Jenna’s fiddle brings a sweetness to the somber plucking of Brian’s banjo and Michael’s guitar. The lyrics transcend from the bitterness of letting something go, but finding something more important to make up for it, by helping you move past it.
Josh from Frankie Boots joins City Mouse
As Brian, Jenna and Michael took to the stage opening with “I am Done”. All three had a large smile looking out into a room full of family, friends and fans; this was the shining moment for them. As one chapter is closing, another is opening for the trio turned duo. The band was eating up the energy of the evening and having fun by doing something they do so well, performing live! Their live performance is always filled with heart and passion that curates an intensified experience for everyone. City Mouse played their set beautifully and included everything people love hearing “Mary,” Thanksgiving,” Bloodshot Eyes,”Blood Red
City Mouse
Youth” and even including a cover of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It is Worth” into the set. Each song brought out what we love best about City Mouse; how hard they work to create an experience that resonates with people. City Mouse finished the final song of their set with the help of friends Robert Green on the double-bass and Josh from Frankie Boots on the trumpet, the growing band concluded their encore with covers of the Rollings Stones, Avett Brothers, and The Animals. Michael expressed his gratitude on stage for the band he roamed and shared some of his life with. As Michael told the crowd, if not for City Mouse he would never have been exposed, or met some of the people that have left an impression on something that has touched his life in so many ways. I am sure that Michael’s absence will be a hard transition for the remaining members, Brian, and Jenna, but time will reveal what City Mouse has in store for us, as it turns the page to its next chapter.
