The Back Row Baptists show Atlanta the light

by Chris Martin for The Examiner

August 22, 2010

This past Thursday night, 8/19/10, I checked out the Back Row Baptists (BRB) at Smith’s Olde Bar, and they did not disappoint.

For all of you who did not show up, shame on you. Those of us who did show up were treated to one sweet set of tunes that rocked the room atop Smith’s.

The BRB’s tore through songs from their album Broken Hearts and Bad Decisions as well as a few other gems.

Chris Porter is the main voice of the band, and on this night he delivered, growling out tunes such as “Wood & Steel”, “Me & The Devil” and “Pills & Kerosene” all while violently jamming his guitar, I am surprised no strings were damaged in the process.

Sarah Green was a double threat, her voice was incredible on “Alright By Me” and she never missed a beat pounding the kick drum and scraping the washboard hanging around her neck.

Heath Green and Jay Taylor supplied the final pieces of the show. Heath’s juke joint keyboards & harmonica and Jay plucking the stand up bass in all his barefooted glory provided the heart and soul to this southern revival.

The Baptists left it all on the stage, giving everything they had to the people who were there. They were captivating and gracious the way good southern folks are raised, but when the music started they got down and dirty, grabbing the audience and yanking them into their world of whiskey, pills, god, the devil and all sorts of other debauchery.

Once again I was not disappointed by the BRB’s, once again my expectations were met and once again I left wishing they could have played longer.

If you were not there you missed a great night, and you have no idea what you are missing. I suggest you pick up their album, play the hell out of it, and get ready for the next time they jam Atlanta.

http://www.examiner.com/live-music-in-atlanta/the-back-row-baptists-show-atlanta-the-light