Charleston-based SUSTO returned to Atlanta behind their just released third studio album, Ever Since I Lost My Mind (released February 22nd via Rounder Records) on Thursday, March 7th. While the band has consistently toured nationally and some internationally, Atlanta has become a frequent stop and almost a second home for the band. The city showed it’s appreciation for SUSTO by packing out Terminal West to celebrate the new album.
Charleston-based Mel Washington opened up the show. Washington was an absolute revelation. The singer-songwriter was a commanding presence, alone on stage. The guy has 200 times the Soul of your average chart topping country music singer. And that’s a place the Americana artist could easily find himself. While it’s been since 2013 that Mel Washington has released an album, he is working on releasing his new album Feast or Famine soon and expected to drop a new single any day. Evidently, the new album has included some work with SUSTO’s Justin Osborne, who even joined Washington on stage for “Dirty Hands”, the upcoming new single the two collaborated on.
Next up before SUSTO took the stage was rising indie pop / folk band Frances Cone. The band was first formed as a solo project in Brooklyn back in 2012 by vocalist and songwriter Christina Cone, releasing the debut album in 2013. While looking for band members, Cone met drummer turned bassist Andrew Doherty, who turned into her musical and life partner. The pair moved to Nashville in 2017, eventually releasing the Frances Cone sophomore album, Late Riser, on January 18th. Their breakout single from the album, “Arizona”, has already garnered almost 12 million Spotify plays itself. It showed throughout the Atlanta audience as people sang along to their dreamy and emotional pop. Most of the audience was enamored with the band as if they were the headliner. Of course, there was a connection to both the opener and headliner; Christina Cone was actually born in Charleston herself, making for a sort of all Charleston lineup; all friends and artists who support each other and an audience right there with them all.
After two stellar openers, SUSTO finally took the Terminal West stage to a crowd that was ready for what was to come. Just a few shorts weeks before, SUSTO was in Atlanta playing in-store and signing records at Criminal Records the Sunday after Ever Since I Lost My Mind was released. The record store was packed full of fans that would soon return to see them at Terminal West. Usually those in-store performances are only about 5 songs, but SUSTO played almost an hour set including the whole new album and a couple of old hits. While that performance was with the full band, the volume was turned down a few notches from the Terminal West show for a paired down performance. One thing that stands out in this setting is Justin Osborne’s songwriting. Osborne’s lyrics are real and relatable. They tell stories of Justin’s experiences that can resonate with almost anyone. And that’s certainly prevalent throughout the new album, as has been the case across SUSTO’s three albums.
The amazing thing about SUSTO is that the project started out gaining steam in the alt-country scene with fan favorites like “County Line” and “Friends, Lovers, Ex-Lovers: Whatever”, two songs they played at Terminal West, and yes, the audience knew and sang every word. But they are so much more. Over the last two albums, including 2017’s & I’m Fine Today, we’ve seen the evolution of SUSTO as they’ve continued to incorporate different influences from the history of rock ‘n’ roll. Songs like “Last Century” and “Homeboy” off of ESILMM are a perfect blend of modern alt-rock that is a huge addition to their live set. On “Last Century”, the band even brought out Mel Washington to join them on stage at Terminal West. The new album also has a track sung entirely in Spanish by Osborne, who spent a lot of time in Cuba. “Esta Bien” was gorgeous live as Osborne (with his signature raspy vocals) and the band does plenty of justice to Latin American music. There is also the more atmospheric stunner of “Weather Balloons” that had the audience floating along with the band. Of course, SUSTO hasn’t abandoned their roots. Songs like “If I Was” and “Ever Since I Lost My Mind” are still steeped in Americana and Folk that so many fans have come to know and love.
That’s what makes SUSTO so great. The albums and live shows are diverse with a range of the high energy songs and slower, more paired down, lyric driven songs. But led by Justin Osborne’s lyrics and vocals, these are all still SUSTO songs, consistent in their greatness, but diverse in their approach, making for well rounded sets that brings a little bit of everything. The songs from Ever Since I Lost My Mind only added to SUSTO’s Terminal West set mixed in nicely with some of the old fan favorites. SUSTO has a way of completely engulfing audiences into their songs like no other. It’s a beautiful thing to experience, and everyone in that audience on Thursday night experienced it together for an unforgettable night. This is one of the best live bands around, and Atlanta sure showed their appreciation for the band.
I know this was a show that I personally needed, and I’ll be right back in the audience the next time SUSTO comes through our city, just like so many others I saw at both Criminal Records and Terminal West.
Check out photos from the show at Terminal West by Mike Gerry:
Mel Washington
Frances Cone
SUSTO
SUSTO Online:
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Upcoming SUSTO Tour Dates:
| March 12-14 | SXSW | Austin, TX |
| March 15 | Deep Ellum Art Co. | Dallas, TX |
| March 20 | Valley Bar | Phoenix, AZ |
| March 22 | Troubadour | Los Angeles, CA |
| March 23 | Catalyst Atrium | Santa Cruz, CA |
| March 24 | Harlow’s | Sacramento, CA |
| March 25 | The Independent | San Francisco, CA |
| March 27 | Mississippi Studios | Portland, OR |
| March 28 | Chop Suey | Seattle, WA |
| March 30 | The Bartlett | Spokane, WA |
| March 31 | Neurolux | Boise, ID |
| April 4 | Kilby Court | Salt Lake City, UT |
| April 7 | Fox Theatre | Boulder, CO |
| April 9 | Rose Music Hall | Columbia, SC |
| April 10 | Blueberry Hill | St. Louis, MO |
| April 11 | Zanzabar | Louisville, KY |
| April 12 | Basement East | Nashville, TN |
| April 14 | Club Cafe | Pittsburgh, PA |
| April 15 | Bowery Ballroom | New York, NY |
| April 17 | Great Scott | Allston, MA |
| April 19 | MilkBoy | Philadelphia, PA |
| April 20 | Rock n Roll Hotel | Washington, DC |
| April 26 | Der Aa-Theater | Groningen, Netherlands |
| April 27 | Burgerweeshuis | Deventer, Netherlands |
| April 28 | Buchholz Saloon | Altlandsberg, Germany |
| April 29 | Posten Live | Odense, Denmark |
| April 30 | Folk a Rock | Gamla Staden, Sweden |
| May 1 | Tryckhallen | Falkenberg, Sweden |
| May 2 | Nalen Klubb | Norrmalm, Sweden |
| May 4-5 | Kilkenny Roots Festival | Kilkenny, Ireland |
| May 8 | King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut | Glasgow, UK |
| May 9 | The Deaf Institute | Manchester, UK |
| May 10 | 02 Institute3 | Birmingham, UK |
| May 11 | The Garage | London, UK |
