Bamboo Room - The Atlanta Rhythm Section
Friday, October 18, 2013
FRI. 10.18.2013 · 09:00PM · $38, $33
The Atlanta Rhythm Section... ARS... In the
annals of rock and roll, where do they fit? They put out 15 albums of
excellent original material, and consistently put on entertaining live
shows-both of which helped establish a broad if not huge fan base. They
had some big hits and have been a major player in the Southern Rock
scene. But is that the whole story? In some circles, maybe. But for
those who've really gotten to know their music over the years, there's a
lot more to the story.
ARS was paired with contemporaries Lynyrd Skynyrd as the successors to
the Allman Brothers - carrying the mantle of "Southern Rock" in the late
70s. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it may have made sense at the time. But
performing songs that were more musically diverse and having hits that
had a softer, pop sound, the "Southern Rock" label was a mixed blessing
and many of their unique musical accomplishments became lost in a genre
that has lived on to this day-but never really fit ARS.
Here's some other ways to look at ARS. They weren't out to be rock and
roll stars-they were accomplished studio musicians working as a group.
They were said to be more influenced by music coming out of England than
other music in the South. They shared musical stylings with the Eagles
and Fleetwood Mac-both in the quality of songwriting and recorded
performances. They were excellent musicians who tried to stretch
themselves-think Steely Dan or Little Feat. In many ways, these
associations make as much or more sense than any grouping with their
Southern Rock kindred.
But the music of ARS only reached a mass audience on a couple of
occasions. The result: an outstanding song catalog and the talented men
responsible for it have been largely overlooked. When those songs are
heard, and those talents recognized, the case can be made that ARS are
the epitome of all the good things that the phrase "classic rock"
implies.