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Atlanta, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina
This year will be the biggest and best so far as The Sundogs will be joined by their horn section, The Ace Notes, and the usual array of special guests including Mimi Thomas as Stevie Nicks. New friends, The Dirty Souls will be on hand to kick off the evening.
Tickets are $12 in advance (get em here or at Smith’s), $15 DOS
Review by Harry McNeil
I made my way to Smith’s Olde Bar on Saturday night eager to see what The Sundogs had in store for what they cleverly called ‘The Rock N’ Roll Circus,’ a nod to the weird, druggy, brilliant BBC special that the Rolling Stones filmed back in the late sixties. That’s obviously a tough comparison for any band but I think Mick and Keith would have been proud, as this was simply one of the best nights of rock n roll that I have seen this year.
The Sundogs entranced the large Smith’s crowd from the moment the curtain opened, relying heavily on their own Stones/Petty/Crowes-influenced material, played with such energy and passion that even those that didn’t know the songs were hooked by the time they got to each chorus.
There were so many highlights in the 110 minute show, from the reworked Gram Parsons classic “Ooh Las Vegas,” backed by a full horn section, to the infectious “I May Not Make it Into Heaven,” which the band released via download earlier in the week and dedicated on this night to JJ Cale, who died of a heart attack the previous night.
After closing their set with an explosive rendition of Tom Petty’s “Refugee”, The Sundogs encored in style, with a 10-minute, emotional, psychedelic version of “Knockin on Heaven’s Door” that sounded more like Neil Young and Crazy Horse than anything that Mr. Dylan first conceived. And after again evoking the memory of the fallen JJ Cale, the six-member Sundogs left the stage one by one, leaving only drummer Will Groth alone amongst the screaming feedback, pounding the beat into the night as the curtain closed. A perfect end. Magic, even.
For more information about the band, visit www.sundogs.net.
Poster Credit: The Sundogs
On Friday, December 9th, Atlanta rock and roll band The Sundogs, will perform The Tom Petty Show at Smith’s Olde Bar featuring all of the greatest hits and beloved b-sides from one of the greatest bands in American rock and roll history. The show features a little help from their friends including Jason Fuller on Benmont Tench keyboards, the sultry Mimi Holland as Stevie Nicks, along with Will Groth from the Last Waltz Ensemble on Steve Ferrone drums. Opening bands will include Moontower at 10 p.m. and A Thousand Horses at 9 p.m.
“We adore the music of Tom Petty, from the songwriting style to the playing by Tom with Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench and the rest of the Heartbreakers,” said Will Haraway of The Sundogs. “We’ve been covering them for years and the band is in such a good spot with our personnel and sound that we feel like the time is right to take on the master in a full show.”
In his 45 year career, Tom Petty has sold more than 60 million albums and he and the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
Will Haraway, Photo Credit: Robert Donovan, robertdonovanphotography.com
“You don’t have to get too cute with Tom Petty’s stuff, just play the hits and play them well,” said Haraway. “We’ve got some of the best players we know helping us out, including our very own Stevie Nicks.”
The Sundogs have released two well-received Americana/Southern Rock albums in the last six years, and played with bands including The Derek Trucks Band, Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit and Lucero. Their sound is often compared as a mix between The Band and Atlanta’s own The Black Crowes.
For more information on The Sundogs, please visit them online.
WHEN: Friday, December 9th
WHERE:
Smith’s Olde Bar
1578 Piedmont Ave
Atlanta, Georgia 30307
Ph. 875-1522
TICKETS: Advance tickets are $12 and available at Ticket Alternative.
