Sugarland Tonight!

Tonight, Sugarland kicks off their next tour here in Atlanta. Due to the kindness of our dear friends Jenn and Mark, Meg and I are going to be in attendance. You see, Jenn and Mark are related to part of the hottest country duo in the world; Kristian Bush is their brother-in-law. Sugarland is still riding high after taking home the trophy for the Academy of Country Music's Duo of the Year last weekend and recently took home numerous Grammys. They just got back from a tour through Europe and tonight they will be at the Gwinnet Arena kicking of their next North American tour.

In case you don’t know, I love music. I listen to all kinds of music and I need to have music on all of the time or I feel like something is missing or something is wrong. My taste varies from rock and jam to blues, jazz and pop with most everything in between. But country music never really spoke to me. I guess that is not a complete accurate statement since I do love bluegrass and folk, which would fall under the country umbrella, but I am talking about country music that is played on country radio stations. That was until I heard Sugarland when they first were getting started years ago. I am not going to say that I am now a huge country music fan, but certainly find some of it entertaining and have a new appreciation for all country music.

I think one of the reasons that I like Sugarland’s music is that I grew up in the same Atlanta music scene as they did. I saw both of them in the early nineties play in their respective bands. I loved seeing Billy Pilgrim (Kristian’s band) and Soul Miners Daughter or The Jennifer Nettles Band (Jennifer’s bands) playing at the old Cotton Club, Chameleon Club, or Eddie’s Attic. But I would also see them out while seeing other bands at the different bars and clubs in Athens and Atlanta. We all had similar favorites and influences growing up in the Atlanta music scene. REM, Drivin N Cryin, Indigo Girls, Dash Rip Rock, The Urban Shake Dancers, Follow for Now and even Jupiter Coyote just to name a few. Now I hear bits and pieces of these bands in Sugarland’s music. I am not talking about a Coldplay/Joe Satriani type of influence, but the way songs are written and performed. Both Kristian and Jennifer are phenomenal songwriters who also are incredible performers. That is something else that is rare in country music. Most bands don’t write their own songs where as Sugarland writes and performs their own music. This is another reason why I dig these guys.

We are looking forward to the show and to getting a chance to talk to Kristian and Jennifer again. I know the show will be another powerful and exciting one; they pride themselves in giving their fans a very memorable show and experience. I am also looking forward to hearing some new songs. I know they have been writing for the next album and I am sure they will bust out one or two new ones.

Rock n Roll yall!