Kenny George Band
Early this year on January 29, Atlanta came to a complete stand still when two inches of snow fell and paralyzed the city with icy and dangerous conditions. All across Atlanta, interstates were crippled with abandoned vehicles while Rapture-esque doomsday looking conditions filled the airwaves.
As Atlanta wrestled its own personal Snowmageddon, the ripple effects of the apocalyptic aftermath made it appear hell unleashed its fury on the area. Atlanta was left stranded and snowed out.
A few miles down the road at Zac Brown’s Southern Ground Studios Atlanta, an Alternative Country/Folk Rock band, Kenny George Band, was standing on solid ground, enjoying a warm reception and taking delight in sweet southern hospitality, nestled in at three-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist Zac Brown’s place.
As champions of Southern Ground Social Club's Open Mic Showdown in November, 2013, Aiken’s own Kenny George Band earned two days of recording time at Southern Ground Studios Atlanta along with an opening gig at Social Ground Social Club in Senoia, GA.
KGB found themselves snowed in during their Southern Ground recording session and survived Atlanta Snowpocalypse 2014 in style, complete with overnight accommodations at Zac’s place.
Zac Brown’s Social Ground Social Club is a restaurant and live music venue that features performers from Zac Brown’s record label but opens its doors to all one a week by hosting an Open Mic Night contest allowing everyone a shot at the elevated, loft-style stage at SGSC.
Contestants in Open Mic Night compete for a chance to win a guitar signed by Zac Brown Band, two days of recording time at Southern Ground Studios Atlanta and a gig at Social Ground Social Club.
KGB, Guitarist, Michael Vincent Baideme, learned about Zac Brown’s SGSC from fellow musician, Will McCranie. Baideme was the one to suggest the band make the drive down to Senoia to see if they “could get their foot in the door.”
Vocalist, Guitarist and namesake, Kenny George, recalled, “We went down and ended up winning our round the first night so we went back and we made it to the finals. After the finals, we found out we were actually “co-winners” because the girl we were competing against had a record deal that prevented her from working with other producers so we ended up winning the two day recording session by default.”
Whether by default or design, on January 29, KGB was off the grid, powered up and wired for sound when Atlanta got slammed. George explained, “It started snowing the weekend they set for us to record. The first two nights we stayed at a hotel six miles from the studio but when the snow got bad, we sent our “go in first guy” Guitarist and Vocalist, Scott Rankin, to see if we were going to make it out. He came back saying there was no way we were going to get to our hotel. It was very intense.”
George continued, “The coolest part of the whole experience was Engineer, Tyler Walker. He was amazingly nice and took us in. We didn’t want to impose but we really had no choice. We all just crashed where we could.” Southern Ground Studios Atlanta offers multiple leisure spaces and amenities for their artists such as a pool, hot tub, full kitchen with a dual kegonater, custom furniture, and a vintage Coke machine serving up Coke for ten cents a bottle.
“I like Zac’s music and I respect what he does but the hospitality that was extended to us was simply amazing,” Baideme added. “Basically, the next day the Producer came downstairs and said you guys don’t have anything to do today so let’s keep recording and just like that we got another day of free recording out of the deal,” George recalled.
With another stroke of fortune and favor, KGB was afforded the luxury of spending not two but three days recording in the first house that Zac Brown ever bought. George says, “There is a big red barn out back where Zac has all his guitar cases, gear and light boards from their first record. It was really neat to see and in the actual studio there is a custom echo chamber with all of Zac’s retired road guitars on the walls too.” In addition to the one-of-a kind echo chamber, there is also a live room, custom built for artists to play in together as a full band and an isolation booth where band members can play separately in a booth designed for optimal sound when separating instruments.
KGB was finishing up with their CD, “Gunshy” (produced by “digital god,” Shawn Guess, of Aiken) while competing in the SGSC Open Mic contest. George explained, “The songs on “Gunshy” are my babies. We put two years and a lot of effort into it and we really focused on the seven songs that had a feel and captured our sound the best.”
“We will have the recordings from Zac’s out by the Fall, but at this point I want to sit on the recordings and focus on pushing our CD “Gunshy.” We will be playing the songs we recorded at Zac’s at all of our upcoming shows.”
As part of SGSC’s Open Mic Contest, KGB also earned an opening slot at SGSC. George recounted, “We were scheduled to play SGSC shortly after our recording session and we got down there and ice began to form on the ground. Everyone became timid as they were just recovering from the previous fiasco so they said here’s your money and we went home.”
The gig was rescheduled to May 5, and George remembers, “We had a phenomenal show with an awesome crowd and a really great sound guy. They took really good care of us. We do get a little jaded going out and playing places because you don’t get so lucky every time.”
On May 9, KGB hit Sky City in Augusta, GA on Mother’s Day weekend for their “Gunshy” CD release performance with openers Phil Lee and Kelly Jo and Buffaloe. Keeping in tune with all that KGB admires about Zac Brown Band, KGB brought their own sense of heartwarming brotherhood and hospitality to the venue.
Kenny George’s Mother, Johnetta George, who supports her son’s love of music and credited for buying George his first album, The Allman Brothers Band, “Eat a Peach,” was in attendance. KGB has strong family connections as Guitarist, Michael Vincent Baideme, and Bassist, Brooks Andrews, are brothers and it was Vocalist/Guitarist, Scott Rankin’s, Mother, who taught Kenny George how to play guitar in church many years ago.
Rankin explained, “It is an interesting dynamic. I am ten years older than Kenny and I knew him but years later we went out on a limb and played our first gig together. We ended up doing a three hour gig and started singing harmonies on each other’s stuff and it was just too easy.”
Along with George’s crafty songwriting and the perfectly paired vocal harmonies of Rankin, KGB pumps out some fierce guitar playing with Baideme on lead and Center M. Ely adding his soulful presence with the pedal steel guitar. Sharing the stage is Jim Hampton on Piano, “Seasoned Vet” Bucky Brown on Drums and Brooks Andrews on Bass creating the perfect storm.
With a grueling road schedule, KGB seldom make appearances in Augusta but will be playing Friday, June 20 at Stillwater Taproom and Saturday, July 21 at Jessye Norman Amphitheater as part of Augusta’s summer concert series. The band will also open for American Aquarium on Thursday, July 24 at Sky City and for Montgomery Gentry on Friday, September 19 at Lady A Amphitheater.
