FLIPTURN + HOTEL FICTION @ VICTORY NORTH
THURSDAY, JULY 18 | 8 PM
Almost 10 years ago in a Fernandina Beach, Florida garage, three neighborhood high school friends formed a band. This same simple set of circumstances led to the creation of so many greats, from Creedence Clearwater Revival to The Ramones to Descendents to Slayer. It’s one of the great American stories. Flipturn would like their own chapter. They eventually evolved into a five-piece and have expanded far beyond home. They play energetic indie rock, from jangly REM/Byrds style to mellow acoustic grooves and a slew of surprises. Their debut, the EP “Heavy Colors,” came out in 2017, followed by two more extended plays before the album “Shadowglow” in 2022. Nashville duo Hotel Fiction was last seen in town on the Victory North stage supporting Nordista Freeze’s Space Prom. If you were there and saw their version of Heart's "Magic Man," you know enough to know they are worth the price of admission alone.
FRIDAY, JULY 19 | 8 PM
Metal might have the most subgenres, but hip-hop has its fair share. You rarely see the legitimate pioneer of anything, but MC Chris is one of two people who can claim the title of nerdcore inventor. MC Frontalot first coined the term in 2000. MC Chris dropped his debut “Life’s a B***h and I’m Her Pimp” in 2001. Nerdcore is a lyrical thing, but the beats and samples have an undisputably…nerdy quality to them, and MC Chris’ tough guy parts are intentionally unconvincing. Joining him on the “I Thought The Last Tour Was The Last Tour” Tour is the intriguing Crunk Witch. The Presque Island, Maine, duo creates a massive electro-disco sound with bass beats and a soaring vocal performance. Their nerd credentials were confirmed by providing the official song for the Nintendo Switch game Battlesloths. The utterly unpredictable Heyday Guru opens the show with his bad self.
ANDREW SOVINE & FRIENDS @ THE PARK AT EASTERN WHARF
THURSDAY, JULY 18 | 6:30 PM
The guitar maestro is the Nashville-bred son of a songwriter and a grandson of Grand Ole Opry member Red Sovine. Lucky for us, he’s made Savannah his home for the last six years. He’s worked extensively with Ashley McBryde, earning multiple Grammy nominations. Recent collaborations include Daphne Parker Powell’s stunning alt-folk album “The Starter Wife,” which brilliantly showcases her rich, strong voice and was named a Best Release by NPR. He also helped out Joseph Shipp on “Free For Awhile,” a bright and sunny acoustic folk and country album. His own trio plays folk and country, much like the country stars he supports. His solo music is largely ambient instrumental pieces, using guitar and piano to create soundscapes that are moody, pretty and sometimes bizarre. His most recent EP release is a single, 14-plus minute track that can mesmerize you. It’s an easy guess this isn’t what’s coming at The Park on Thursday during happy hour. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be any.
STATE OF ILLUSION + LILAKK @ THE WORMHOLE
FRIDAY, JULY 19 | 10 PM
The Greenville, South Carolina progressive rock quartet led by singer/songwriter/guitarist Jacob Porter finds it easy to fit in with a wide range of bands. The music is approachable, and the production is so slick you might think you heard them on the radio. They fit best with similar bands like Seether, Five Finger Death Punch, Fuel and Shinedown, right in that alt-hard-rock space. They’ve shared the bill with more mellow bands where they were the comparative grindcore act, and bands so unspeakably heavy you couldn’t make out the splattered logo to save your life. Porter’s impressive vocal work helps with the versatility in tone and emotion. Calli and Kirk Joiner lead Savannah grunge mainstays Lilakk, who righteously guarantee that 90s alt-rock will never die.
CRANKDAT @ ELAN SAVANNAH
SATURDAY, JULY 20 | 10 PM
Crankdat, née Cleveland native Christian Smith, turned down a hefty athletic scholarship to nearby Kent State to pursue music. Nine years later, EDM fans have much to celebrate. He’s been making music since high school, so his choice wasn’t some pie-in-the-sky crap he’d instantly regret. It was in his blood, and he went for it. In short order his remixes, including Fetty Wap’s “Trap Queen,” blew up and garnered millions of streams. This caught the attention of Skrillex, and he was off on a streak of EDM glory. With countless successful original tracks and remixes under his belt, he’s a relatively young veteran. Recently, he’s released Crankdat remixes of Steve Aoki and The Chainsmokers, and a killer collab with DJ Snake “4 Walls of Death.”
