Darwin’s was crowded Friday night. Some people there to celebrate music lover Ellen Hamby’s birthday, others to see Peter Karp, and many for both. A few were not really familiar with Karp, but before he finished his first song, “Gee Chee Gee Chee Wa Wa” everybody was tuned in and with him. Karp is a skilled […]
Do you know why the Jeff Jensen Band is my favorite blues band of all? Let’s face it, there are a lot of really great bands out there. When you go to see a band at a club like Darwin’s, the odds are they will be good. What makes one of them stand out from […]
On Saturday, August 25th, a mighty noise of guitars filled the air at Darwin’s, additionally spiced by drums, harmonicas, keyboards, and voices. It was the 3rd Annual Guitarama, hosted by Danny Vinson. Vinson has for years been part of The Cazanovas, and he and his bandmates Pete Maier (drums), Harold Patillo (bass), and Valerie Waters […]
Sunday afternoon, we decided to go check out the Gospel Lunch with Mandi Strachota at Darwin’s Burgers and Blues in Sandy Springs. I had been curious about these lunches for some time. I know Mandi has a great voice. The Facebook page promised a wide range of spiritual songs from everyone from Taj Mahal to […]
So many people were packed into Darwin’s in Sandy Springs, GA Saturday night. Most of us knew each other, so there was lots of hugging and .chattering. All of us were there for the incredible night of music, and it was all to honor Sean Costello. Sean was a fantastic bluesman, and songwriter who died at the age […]
The Rainmen were something new and different for us at Darwin’s Saturday night. ! This band plays rock ‘n roll from the 60;s and early 70’s, not blues but there was a lot of great music in that era, and The Rainmen capture the feel-good mood perfectly. The capacity crowd certainly thought so, with a lot of dancing […]
by Rhetta Akamatsu Originally published in Rhetta’s Rambles When my husband and I walked into Darwin’s about an hour early Saturday night, Mick Kolassa was sitting at the bar. He stood up when he saw us and greeted me with a hug. “Your husband will have to excuse us for hugging like this,” laughed Mick, reaching […]
Victor Wainwright and The Train came to Darwin’s in Sandy Springs Friday night. He is a man of many titles, like “The Piano from Savannah,” and “the Ayatollah of Rock”n Rolla.”. Add to that the awards he has earned. He has been the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year three times, including in 2017, […]
Some performers are just mesmerizing to ‘watch. JP Soars is one of those. He’s not a particularly tall man, or physically imposing. He isn’t flamboyant in his movements or his speech. But on stage, with his excellent drummer (Chris Peet) and bassist (Fredrick Cleveland), he consumes your attention. Playing that red guitar or one of […]
Darwins Blues on the Block Festival got off to a great start on Friday with Poverty Level, The Way Back Band, and The Markey Blue Ric Latina Project. We missed Poverty Level because of work but thoroughly enjoyed The Way Back Band’s interpretations of hits from the past, announced in fabulous DJ style by drummer […]
By Rhetta Akamatsu Photos courtesy of Takesi Akamatsu Eliza Neals looked every inch the star on Darwin’s stage Saturday night. She is still her same sweet self though, and before the show, we hugged and had a few minutes to catch up. The band recently got back from the UK, which she tells me was great. […]
Seeing Bobby Messano at Darwin’s is like seeing an old friend. In fact, my husband and I are old friends of Bobby’s so I am far from unbiased. But I think everyone who sees him feels that warmth and connection and walks away feeling they have seen a very talented friend. Part of it is […]
JP Soars and the Red Hots played Darwin’s in Sandy Springs Saturday night. What an amazing musician that man is! Who else do we know who mixes original tunes in with not only blues but gypsy jazz and Latin music? He moves easily from his own songs to Django Reinhardt, Johnny Guitar Watson, and Muddy […]
Editors Note: Darwins Burgers and Blues, because of circumstances beyond their control, has been forced to close their doors at their current location. I had the opportunity to speak to Lindsey Wine one of the owners of this legendary Atlanta Blues Venue about what has transpired and what they plan for the future. So listen […]
By Rhetta Akamatsu It was not a packed house Saturday night, May 7, at Darwin’s for The Red Dirt Revelators – many of the regulars were still recuperating from a trip to Memphis to see the BMAs Friday night and others were at the Blind Willie McTell Festival – but ti surely was a happy […]
You can feel the excitement whenever Jeff Jensen and his band comes to Darwin’s, and you can be sure that the fans will be out in full force! Jeff and his band are favorites in the Atlanta area, and they always come to Darwin’s, where they know they are going to have a good time […]
Eliza Neals is like a small dynamo on the stage. Looking at the photos we took Saturday night, most of them show only a mass of blond hair and a slightly blurred body.. Since the stage at Darwin’s in not huge, this means that guitarist Howard Glaser and bassist Daryl Lee did not have a […]
Truett Lolllis looked delighted a he surveyed the crowded room at Darwin’s Friday night, March 25. “I am so happy to be home,” he told me, “and so glad to be back at Darwin’s.” Truett spent every Monday playing at Darwin’s for several years, beginning as a teenager too young to drink and ending this […]
Saturday night at Darwin’s Ted Drozdowski was performing with his Scissormen, Sean Szwick and Pete Pulkrabek. Our friends George and Betty were sitting at the table next to us. About an hour into the show, Betty came and leaned into to me between songs. “I’ve been looking at you off and on but you were […]
Biggest Little Indie Blues Club in Atlanta! An Exclusive Interview with Jonathan Aiken from Darwins Burgers and Blues! Like them on Facebook! An Interview with Aiken from Darwins Burgers and Blues by Richard Lhommedieu on Mixcloud In a small ramshackle house nestled between a couple of Car Dealers on Roswell Rd in Marietta Georgia is […]