LIVE REVIEW & PHOTOS: Quiet Slang @ The EARL - Atlanta

It was a dreamy and tender night last Friday at The EARL when James Alex brought his Quiet Slang project to Atlanta, a subdued take on Beach Slang’s normal pop punk rowdiness. Opening for Quiet Slang was solo looping artist Abi Reimgold.

Philadelphia native Abi Reimold has been recording music since at least 2009. But her debut full-length album, Wriggling, was released in 2016. Abi is a pretty young lady with a soft but biting voice. Her stage presence is awkward at times but it gives her show genuineness. The lyrics of her songs are often deep and somewhat painful. Armed with her voice, guitar, and loop machine, Abi is a one-woman show that is not lacking musically without a back up band. Abi has just a couple of shows left on this tour that ends in her hometown of Philadelphia.

The first EP of Quiet Slang came out last fall and consisted of two Beach Slang songs, a Replacements cover, and a Big Star cover. Quiet Slang’s first full-length album, Everything Matters But No One is Listening, came out earlier this year and is made of 10 Beach Slang songs. Alex is out on tour promoting his new album with gal pal, Charlie Lowe.

The real question for the night was if the stripped down punk music might lose any of the fire and intensity. But to my surprise the show did not lack any energy. James Alex sang and performed with every inch of his body, feeling the lyrics and letting the emotion of the songs come through him.

James Alex’s best friend, Charlie, complimented him and the Quiet Slang show perfectly. He even mentioned during the show that they have a Sonny and Cher type dynamic going, which seemed an apt comparison. The two had witty banter throughout the show and then came together beautifully musically.

During the show, Alex mentioned how it was different to be on stage without a guitar, saying that he even researched Ozzy Osbourne for ideas on how to present on stage without a guitar.

Quiet Slang’s set included a mix of interesting covers and Beach Slang songs. It was not my favorite cover by the duo, but a pretty cool moment when Alex and Charlie sang Alan Jackson’s ‘Way Down Yonder on the Chattahoochee’. My favorite covers Alex performed were the Replacements cover, “Alex Chilton”, and Big Star cover, “Thirteen”. These are both such classics, great songs that were a joy to hear being reimagined and given the attention they deserve. The rest of the show consisted of the Beach Slang songs that were so tenderly reimagined. It was just beautiful. The crowd was involved also, singing along, and making for special moments. Quiet Slang only has a few stops left on this tour and I highly recommend catching this special show. ~ Christina Pradhan