After a hiatus from attending the live music scene, my long-awaited return came this past weekend when I got to check out Athens and Savannah locals Lullwater perform live at The Jinx. I'm a persistently loyal fan of the grunge scene, and Lullwater's modern blend of southern rock and classic grunge made them a favorite of mine since reviewing their self-titled album back in November. And after missing their show last December, I jumped at the opportunity to not only hear them live, but also do a pre-show interview.

 

A friend and I got a spot up front as the band set up instruments and tested their sound equipment; a small crowd drifted around the intimate space, drinks in hands, while increasingly loud rock music drowned out much of the conversations. Sometime between adjusting microphone volumes and dimming the lights, the small crowd had morphed into a sea of people, bodies pressed together, and it was time for a killer show.

 

After kicking off their set with a high-energy performance of "Oddline," the band switched gears, playing "Waste Yourself," a track that both Joe and Brett cited as favorites to play live. It's apparent that Joe's drumming breathes life into this heavy grunge song, and the entire band feeds off the energy as they power through it. Next up was one of my favorites, "New Design," a song with a different feel than what's been played thus far. It was awesome to see them switch styles so effortlessly, and it was about this time that I began to notice and appreciate the awesome chemistry the band members have with one another. As much as John exudes raw emotion and energy as he croons out the lyrics to each song, he frequently looks to Brett on lead guitar and Ray on bass respectively, ensuring that the band is focused and playing in the moment. Behind the drums, Joe keeps the beat and energizes the band while overseeing that everything is running smoothly; it's clear that these guys have found the right pieces to their puzzle with this line-up.

 

As the band plays through a few more songs including "Let Me Go" and "Drift Away," the crowd becomes energized, rocking out to the songs and interacting with the guys on stage - an older fan even gets an approving fist bump from the singer, as he commends the fan for having such a good night. When he's not rocking out with Ray or dropping to the ground, guitar in hand, John does a lot of interacting with the audience between songs, which added a personal touch to an otherwise hard rocking show.

 

I never got to hear my favorite song, "Walk On By," but the slow, heartfelt ballad probably wouldn't have fit in with the amped up energy that defined the night. I was excited near the end that the band busted out their single "Albatross," a song we got to talk about during the interview. Listening to this track on the CD doesn't do it justice, and Joe's drums lead the way; this was one of the best performances of the night because the guys let it all out. Energy, emotion and passion for the music they love all came through as they played this one, and it soon led into another band-favorite, "Broken Wings" to wrap up the show. The song was a solid performance for the band, but the standout was Brett's amazing guitar solo near the end. Before the rest of the band encouraged some applause for the guitarist's incredible skills, all we as an audience could do is watch and listen, appreciating his talent.

 

By the end of the performance, it was clear that Lullwater was a band with raw passion for making the music they love, and entertaining the fans who love their music. Recording the album in analog offered a glimpse into the band's energetic performance, but seeing the guys live is an experience fans do not want to miss. With plans of hitting 200 shows this year, check out the band's website for the latest tour dates, and go see these guys live as soon as you can!