Photos and Review by Max Stewart
Atlanta’s Improvement Movement are no doubt one of our favorite new artists of the last few years, and they should be yours too. Let me just start with saying that before anything, you need to see them live to fully appreciate how dynamic and musically rich this band is so make sure to look ahead to 2026 dates with Iron & Wine. In a time when so much music feels redundant or engineered to quietly slide into your algorithm, this four-piece has cracked a far rarer code: a sound that feels wholly unique yet instantly welcoming. Breaking down genre walls with ease, they stitch together prog, psychedelia, folk, jazz, jam, and more into a journey that is seamless and cohesive. Their music is full of surprise without ever being alienating, and seeing Improvement Movement live is something truly special and an experience that exists in a category all its own. That’s a rare thing these days.
Members Marshall Ruffin, Zach Pyles, Clark Hamilton (aka Klark Sound), and Tony Aparo all have ATL roots and distinct musical identities that coexist masterfully live. Each musician has a fantastic voice and the way in which the band harmonizes amongst the unique musical surprises and time signature adjustments is downright captivating.
When they announced a hometown show on December 20th alongside another ATL native, Adron, it had the makings of something special. The band kept teasing the announcement with some large paper-mached heads on their social media, so I figured something unique was in store. This proved true when the epic Maurice Ravel‘s “Boléro” blasted over the house speakers as the four heads ascended to the ceiling above the stage.
The night featured tunes from their latest full-length Slump (2024) and Don’t Delay, Join Today (2022), as well as a mix of new releases. Some of their music sits comfortably alongside analog-era touchstones like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Laurel Canyon’s golden-hour harmonies, while some reminds us of Can and far out psychedelic grooves. Their sound is truly all across the board in the most perfect way.
The four-piece in many ways reminds us of Vulfpeck, masterfully-skilled musicians that will stun you with an advanced performances all the while not taking themselves too seriously. They take the music seriously, no doubt, but they have fun with it and keep it light. The band’s show at Terminal West seemed like a large exclamation point on to cap off an ascending 2025 year for the band that saw them playing to larger rooms and even the headlining stage at Shaky Knees Music Festival. During the quirky and catchy “My Team”, folks wearing the giant heads ascended through the crowd with posters of a “Wanted” younger Hamilton. During the encore of “Too Far” the band actually performed in their giant heads, which was truly impressive and they did not skip a beat. The night ended with a cover of “What the World Needs Now is Love,” featuring Adron and her band. A hopeful and joyous way to end the evening of music.
I have likely annoyed my friend group with how much I have raved about this band over the past year. And it actually culminated in me bringing a crew of seven folks to this show who were not familiar with their music. All were blown away, including one friend who goes to dozens of concerts a year saying it was one of the best shows he has seen.
If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if ’70s harmony rock collided with a jazz-indie-psych sensibility, Improvement Movement is your answer. One moment you’re floating on lush vocal stacks, and next you’re pulled into exploratory grooves and mind-bending guitar passages. The music is infused with the restless curiosity of modern indie, punk, prog and so much more. Enough of me jabbering about it, to really experience the magic you must go see them live!
Improvement Movement will be supporting Iron & Wine on their Spring tour, do not miss the opportunity to catch them!
Setlist 12/20/25 – Terminal West – Atlanta, GA
Wide World
Strange Secrets Worth Knowing
Eat Me Alive
Better
Still Cold
Medicine
I’ll See You in the Morning
Kinda Paradise
L.O.S.
The Knife Intro
Carry On
Will You Be Well
How Long
21st Century
I Suppose
Ballad for Alex
Sun Will Rise Again
Open Door
Bill
An Enemy
Window
Jimmy
My Team
On the Bus
Encore:
Too Far
What the World Needs Now is Love (Jackie DeShannon cover)
