Chain Lightning - Ain't Just Whistlin' Dixie (2000)

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Posts are few and far between these days, I realize that. And it's not likely to change soon. But for those still following Skydog's Elysium, the wait pays off regularly. Like today. Every once in a while I get a gem like this thrown into my lap. Chain Lightning is yet another band that produced only one album, but what an album it is. 'Ain't Just Whistlin' Dixie' starts off sounding very similar to The Outlaws, but at their very best. Gradually the album shifts into rocking gear, eventually reminding you of all the greats in Southern Rock, like Doc Holliday or even Brothers Brooks. Thanks to Tom, who contacted Chain Lightning's leader Greg Lee on the possibility of posting this album here (which he allowed), we now have one of the better Southern Rock albums of the 2000's. The band only released this album, and their original singer, Chuck Worden, died in 2004. Since then, Greg has kept the band going, though no new material has surfaced (yet). Read the full story on their website. As for now: grab this, turn it up, enjoy! It's About Time.

Raisin' Kane - It's About Time (1978)

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Well, this is a nice surprise. "It's About Time" is the only album released by Raisin' Kane, but what an album. This absolutely belongs to the cream of the crop of everything I have posted thus-far. It's got everything that's good about Southern Rock. And then some. Excellent songs, great harmonies and superb playing. Yes, it's superlatives time. And thank you Laurent for sharing this with all of us! If you dig The Outlaws, The Charlie Daniels Band or stuff posted here, like Oklahoma, you'll love this. Let's not waste another minute and grab this fast! It's About Time

Rodney Justo and Steve Stone (Atlanta Rhythm section) interviews for Bands Of Dixie (archive, 2013)

No, the original Atlanta Rhythm Section singer wasn't Ronnie Hammond, it was Rodney Justo!. Leaving after the first album, he is now back in the band and his showmanship and his dynamism have probably something to do with the quality of the current ARS version. The Rodney Justo's story goes beyond the Atlanta Rhythm Section but is rich of many bands and artists with whom he worked. This great storyteller talks about Roy Orbison, the Candymen, Beaverteeth, Roy Buchanan to name only the best known.

English version of Bands Of Dixie interview with Rodney Justo.


 If he joined the Atlanta Rhythm Section after its golden age, Steve Stone is now in the band for over a quarter of a century and is one of those who played the longest time in the band. This pillar of the Doraville band actually speaks about the Atlanta Rhythm Section history in the CD era. He also displays his admiration for Ronnie Hammond and Barry Bailey and reveals the rest of his career.


English version of Bands Of Dixie interview with Steve Stone.

Thunderhawks - Thunderhawks (2005)

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Ok, back to rock-and-rollin'. Thunderhawks features Eddy Shaver on guitar, and it's a fine piece of Southern fried boogie. Musically it's somewhere in between The Georgia Satellites and AC/DC (vocals do resemble Brian Johnson's at times), with a dash of Black Crows thrown in for good measure. Thunderhawks only released one album, a few months later Eddy Shaver would pass a way and that was that. Nice legacy, though. Spirit!

The Pearl Handle Band: Big G interview for Bands Of Dixie (archive, 2013)

The CD edition of the rare Pearl Handle Band’s LP and the lack of information intrigued us ; so Bands Of Dixie put its detectives on the case ; they tracked down Big G who tells us the story of his band and the amazing story of this album.

English version of Bands Of Dixie interview

Steve Grisham interview for Bands Of DIxie (archive, 2013)

Bands of Dixie closely follows Ghost Riders' career, one of the most talented contemporary Southern bands. We we've been waiting for their new album for quite a while... It's been entitled "V". We took the opportunity to talk once again with Steve Grisham.

A few days after this interview, we learned the return of Steve in the Outlaws... a few more questions were required.

English version of Bands Of Dixie interview

Something's come up..

☺ Got myself a Skypup..

Takin' a break, folks.

Bandit - Bandit (1975)

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Right, so this is not a Southern band. But when I started digging for Southern Rock in the late 80's, little information was to be found on Southern Rock at all, especially in Europe. No internet at the time, I gathered my initial knowledge from books (yes, books!). I learned about Bandit from 'The International Encyclopedia of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal' by Tony Jasper and Derek Oliver (of Kerrang! magazine). In the entry on Bandit hardly any info is given at all, besides the fact that, if anything, they had a slightly Southern style. More information I found on the wonderful blog 'Robots For Ronnie'. Well, it's true though, they do sound Southern at times. More so in the vein of acts like Oklahoma, Les Dudek or Duke Williams & The Extremes. They're rocking out alright, sometimes Funky, sometimes touching Power Pop. And nice vocals all over. It's a very good album and I just love the third track. It's called 'Woman' and should please fans of Cry Of Love. Also noteworthy is Bandit's rendition of 'Evil Woman', originally a Crow song, though probably better known done by Black Sabbath. C'mon y'all, keep on laughin'!