Grantski Records to host Halloween show this weekend
By Makenzy Veldboom | Staff writer
Grantski Records is celebrating spooky season with a Halloween show with performances by local bands Estimated Principles and Tempest and Atlanta-based band, Babbler this weekend.
Grantski Records will host a Halloween show on Oct. 27, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at their store located at 1151 Broad St. in Augusta.
Store owner Evan Grantski said he hosted music for just over a year and has had many artists come through the door such as The Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio (soul-jazz group), The Weird Sisters (space disco duo) and Bongzilla (stoner metal group).
When moving to their current location, Grantski dreamt of hosting live music. The idea of having live music inside a record store seemed like a fun idea and through an abundance of support, the live stage was born.
The three groups performing at the Halloween show will all bring different feels to their shows.
Estimated Principles is a local alternative rock band consisting of five members: Cody Widener (vocalist/frontman), Andrew Renner (bassist), Ethan Schomacker (guitarist), Clay Waddell (drummer) and Olivia "OE" Waddell (guitar/keys).
“Our music can be a little tricky to get an exact pin-point on at times, but I personally would say we fit under the general umbrella of alternative rock”, said Clay Waddell.
“Sometimes we go heavier, sometimes we go softer, but we try not to hold ourselves within any certain box,” Waddell added, “We're always trying new things to put into our music and specifically our live shows.”
Waddell said Estimated Principles are constantly trying to put new things into their live shows.
“The main takeaway we want from our live shows is excitement, community, fun and curiosity,” said Waddell. “We want to draw people in with something they haven't heard before. Enough elements so that the music is familiar enough to latch onto, but enough variation on the overdone to explore new sonic territories.”
Waddell’s favorite song to play live is "Degrade," which is an original song from the group. Their vocalist/frontman, Cody, created the original outline and lyrics and the group came together and helped add their own flair.
“It's now ended up a six minute piano-driven power ballad with metal elements and a super catchy outro guitar riff, really just everything we do best all wrapped up into one and the people tend to really enjoy that one,” Waddell said.
Estimated Principles group photo. (Photo from Instagram.com/estimatedprinciples)
Tempest, a modern progressive metal band, will also play the Halloween show. Formed from close middle and high school friends with some meeting in a music club, Tempest consists of Ian Pletcher (lead singer/guitarist), Mikel Leonard and Levi Davis (guitarists), Emil Bajit (drummer), Adam Massa (bassist) and the newest member Indy James (keys and production).
“What made us start music was mainly a passion for the craft and the love of performance,” said Massa. “Our music would mostly be described as a modern progressive metal band. We love mixing in the genres that we all have loved, and ones that we discover as we go. We love people to feel a sense of relatability and feel like the stuff they’re listening to can bring energy, emotions and hype to them as they’re hearing it.”
Tempest’s favorite song to perform is “Shallow Pools,” which is from their upcoming album. Massa said are looking forward to playing their new cover of “Just Pretend” by Bad Omens.
Tempest performing. (Photo from Instagram.com/tempesttheband)
Babbler is a three-piece hardcore grunge jazz band based out of Atlanta. They began three years ago after their singer/guitar player, Keaton Jacobs, brought them together. Their rhythm section includes Addison Whitney on bass and Andrea Palese on drums.
“We would describe ourselves as a jazz band heavily influenced by grunge and Midwest emo songwriting tactics, as well as avant-garde black metal and math rock,” said Palese. “We like to keep the meanings of our songs unknown. We really want people to take whatever they want from our music. It has meaning to us but we hope people form their own interpretations of our songs.”
Babbler’s favorite song currently is “Deep Trough” which is set to be released as an upcoming single.
Babbler performing | Photo from Instagram.com/babblerinc
Since opening in 2016, Grantski Records has brought many together for a shared love of music and continues to do so with their live shows.
“I want people to come out and have a lot of fun!” Grantski said, “The support from our community has been amazing and we owe it all to them. We are still working on improving our stage in the hope of providing an amazing and unique space for people to catch a show.”
For tickets and more information visit here.
Contact Makenzy Veldboom at kveldboom@augusta.edu.
