Photos and Review by Max Stewart
For live music fans, a vibrant local music scene is something to cherish. A city’s scene can change the trajectory of popular music, much like the jazz stemming from New Orleans or the country twang that came from Nashville. Even a small town with three local punk bands and a lot of heart can shape the identity of the community. The sense of pride that comes from a familial music scene ultimately becomes part of the cultural DNA of the city. In Georgia, so many iconic musicians found their footing in places such as Atlanta, Athens, Macon, or even in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
When the Fox Theatre announced their 2024 version of “Revival: Celebrating Georgia’s Historic Theatres,” it was easy to assume some southern musical sparks might fly in the enchanting hallowed ground of Atlanta’s fabulous Fox. The mission of the night is critical to those that see theatres as they are, sacred grounds for live music and other entertainment. Revival supports the Fox Gives in “fueling both the preservation of Georgia’s historic community theatres and educational and community partnerships to support the dreams of young artists and technicians”.
The lineup itself consisted of artists that are vital to the musical community in Atlanta (and even greater Georgia): Indigo Girls (who got their start in town in the Decatur area), Atlanta’s Charlie Starr and Benji Shanks of Blackberry Smoke, fantastic songwriter and ATLien Shawn Mullins, Atlanta’s own baritone-singing Puddles Pity Party, and Athens’ Matthew Sweet.
The night began with the ultimate champion for all things Atlanta and Georgia music, Drivin ‘N’ Cryin‘s Kevn Kinney. Throughout the night, Kinney would introduce the artists coming to the stage and keep the momentum of the night moving along. Kinney is a tentpole in the Atlanta music scene and a champion of great artists and causes like Revival, it was wonderful to see him perform alongside Shawn Mullins in performing “Straight to Hell”.
One thing that was immediately evident was that each artist was fully aware and appreciative of the hallowed ground of the Fox Theatre. Shawn Mullins mentioned that his grandparents met in the Egyptian Ballroom. “It is great to be part of such a beautiful cause… I have seen life-changing stuff at the Fox… My wife saw David Bowie, Prince here,” Charlie Starr noted. Starr also remembered his late friend and bandmate Brit Turner: “My brother Brit bought a shirt outside of the Rolling Stones show at the Fox in the 80s that said ‘I Missed the Stones’“. Indigo Girls’ Emily Saliers mentioned it “was so freaky to be singing up here”, and Amy Ray noted that the foundation directly supported a theatre in North Dahlonega where she lives.
The night was an revolving round of brilliant, acoustic-based music. Some of the many musical highlights of the night included:
- Indigo Girls fantastic vocal harmonies that still sound fantastic since forming in 1985, and their local fans were on their feet for the majority of the night
- Everyone returning to the stage to join Indigo Girls for “Closer to Free” to end the night, with the sweet harmonies echoing the walls
- Charlie Starr and Benji Shanks’ always-powerful musical chemistry, which really shined through in the song “Azalea” off Blackberry Smoke’s new album, Be Right Here
- Shawn Mullins’ “Lullaby” with the full crowd singing, alongside Kevn Kinney
- Matthew Sweet with some electric guitar sprinkles over the hit “Girlfriend”
- Puddles Pity Party’s cover of “Everybody Hurts” from another Georgia group (R.E.M.)
Before the Indigo Girls took the stage, Atlanta’s own Your Rocktioneer (Seth Weiner) came to the stage alongside the Fox Theatre’s Aly Grubb to lead the charge in raising money from the audience, with Regions Bank matching all donations. They beat the $5,000 goal in 5 minutes and donations are still trickling in (you can still donate!). We must preserve the soul of our music scene in the rooms where these types of unforgettable live events take place, and kudos to Revival for keeping that ethos financially supported with this concert.
