A Special Graduation

The Remedy Band had the pleasure of performing with the graduating students of Peachtree City’s ‘Guitars not Guns’ organization on Sunday, August 30th at the Bridge Community Center in Peachtree City, GA.

Surrounded by family and friends, the graduating class of nine students began the ceremony by demonstrating their basic knowledge of chords before moving on to play full songs with the band. The first song, ‘Bad Moon Rising’ by Creedence Clearwater Revival, was a song the students worked on for weeks leading up to the event with their teacher and mentor, Robby Jackson. It was clearly evident to all in attendance the students had been putting in some practice time because they performed wonderfully on the song, traversing the chord progressions like seasoned veterans. The band played two more songs with the students, finishing up with ‘Can’t You See’ by Marshall Tucker and ‘Born On The Bayou,’ another Creedence Clearwater Revival tune. The students had very little experience with these songs but truly showed their skills with chord changes, moving up and down the fret board as Tim Briscoe (lead guitar) called out the chords. Smiles could be seen throughout the entire room as they played the last note of the final song and walked off amidst cheers and applause.

Established in 2000 by local Peachtree City resident Ray Nelson, Guitars not Guns provides underprivileged youth in the community with guitars and lessons, in an effort to help them discover the positive influence of music and the impact it can have on their lives. In addition to teaching kids how to play guitar, instructors emphasize ancillary life skills such as discipline, hard work, perseverance, and dedication. Consequently, it provides them with an enjoyable hobby and keeps them constructively occupied, instead of potentially falling prey to destructive influences like drugs, gangs or alcohol. The ceremony was the culmination of an eight-week program that taught the students the basics of playing guitar, in addition to hopefully building a strong foundation for love of both music and the instrument.

Ray, his wife Louise, teacher Robby Jackson and event organizer Vicki Blair all had words of congratulations for the students and were beaming with pride watching them play. Lunch was provided for the students, along with gift bags, cake, graduation certificates and, most notably, a guitar that the students were able to take home following the ceremony.

The band had a tremendous time playing with the students and hope to collaborate further with the organization in the future. The kids were nothing short of fantastic and it was thrilling to see how far they had progressed in such a short period of time with hard work and dedication. The confidence they gained by the experience was extremely apparent, which will undoubtedly carry over to other areas of life, leaving the students with more than just guitar lessons during the eight week program, but a few life lessons as well.

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Guitars not Guns

One of life’s lessons I’m routinely reminded of is the importance of consistently putting forth my best effort, regardless of the activity. As a child I remember mundanely raking leaves and hearing my mom say, “Do your best, you never know who’s watching.” It’s a character trait we possess as a band and a quality that has helped us become successful in other areas of our lives as well.

Remedy recently had the opportunity to play at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City, GA on July 10th, as the opening act for the World Classic Rockers at the venue. Unbeknownst to us, among the many spectators watching that evening were Ray and Louise Nelson, founders of the Guitars not Guns Foundation, and GnG’s Marketing Director, Victoria Blair. Following the performance, the band received an incredibly kind e-mail from Ray, complimenting our performance and thanking us for being a part of an evening he truly enjoyed. Contained within the signature of his e-mail was a reference to a website entitled www.guitarsnotguns.org.

Ever curious, I promptly clicked the link and began trolling through the various pages on the website. What I discovered was truly inspiring. Established in 2000, Guitars not Guns provides underprivileged youth in the community with guitars and lessons, in an effort to help them discover the positive influence of music and the impact it can have on their lives. In addition to teaching kids how to play guitar, instructors emphasize ancillary life skills such as discipline, hard work, perseverance, and dedication. Consequently, it provides them with an enjoyable hobby and keeps them constructively occupied, instead of potentially falling prey to destructive influences like drugs, gangs or alcohol.

It was a great surprise then, when we received a second e-mail from Victoria Blair, GnG’s Marketing Director, asking us if we would like to participate in the upcoming graduation ceremony for GnG’s current students. After learning more about the organization and how GnG serves the community, each member of the band agreed to participate without hesitation. Originally asked to perform a few songs and speak to the students about our experiences with music, we’re hoping to have enough time before the event to practice a few songs with the kids so they can play with us at the ceremony.

As it turns out, all that practice, effort and hard work leading up to the concert at the Fred was beneficial on a number of levels. And if there’s one message I’ll be trying to advocate while speaking with the students, it will be for them to always put forth their best effort, regardless of the activity.

You never know who’s watching!

Remedy Returns to the Fred

The Remedy Band made their triumphant return to the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater on Friday, July 10th in front of what turned out to be a nearly sold out crowd for the World Classic Rockers concert event. The band performed for nearly forty minutes, managing to squeeze in nine songs during the short but eventful set.

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Despite being very warm throughout most of the day with temperatures peaking in the high 80’s, the sun was beginning its descent as the band took the stage, leaving much of the venue shaded and cooling as Remedy began to heat up. Although the band estimated having more than 100 friends and family in the crowd, it was fairly evident that the majority in attendance had not heard of Remedy and were likely unsure of what to expect as the set got underway.

We quickly grabbed their attention with the Stones classic ‘Start Me Up’ and moved right into ‘Hard to Handle’ by the Black Crowes which had people both singing and dancing. ‘Life in the Fast Lane’ turned out to be a great choice as many in attendance applauded after the very first few notes of the song and sang along with the chorus as well, providing some backup vocals to the band as we played. As the set continued with ‘Leave My Little Girl Alone,’ ‘Pride and Joy,’ ‘Johnny B. Goode,’ and ‘House is a Rockin,’ it quickly became evident to all in attendance the band had showed up with the intention of leaving a lasting impression and left no doubt by finishing the audience off with Led Zeppelin’s ‘Heartbreaker’ and the Allman Brothers’ classic, ‘Whipping Post.’

Tim left mouths agape with Jimmy Page’s solo in Heartbreaker, garnering wild applause following the song, while Danny’s piano solo in Johnny B. Goode had them movin’ and shakin’ in the isles. Andy B. and Jon Weakley were in perfect sync throughout the evening and Andy R. provided powerful vocals that complemented the outstanding instrumentals all night long.

As the last notes we played on ‘Whipping Post’ the crowd rose to their feet and rewarded the band’s efforts with a standing ovation. Several regulars of the Fred’s concert series commented that they’d not seen such a reception for an opening band before and that we had clearly exceeded their expectations with the performance. We left feeling incredibly satisfied with our effort and extremely confident that we’d gained a lot more fans than we had showed up with. As evidenced by the patrons who stopped and congratulated each one of us on our performance as we tried to make our way to our seats for the World Classic Rocker’s portion of the concert, the night turned out to be a memorable one for more than just the band.

To view photos from the event, be sure to visit the Remedy photo gallery.

Concert Event of the Summer

The Remedy Band returns to the Frederick Brown Amphitheater on July 10, 2009 as the opening act for the World Classic Rockers in what is shaping up to be the biggest concert event of the summer. Well, at least to us! We’re not expecting to be able to compete for your concert dollar with the likes of U2 or Sir Paul McCartney, but we’re hoping to be a slightly more desirable choice than the Flock of Seagulls reunion tour.

I mean seriously, could they create a commercial this compelling anyway?

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Remedy originally performed at the Fred back on May 9th, 2009, beating out 16 other performers for the opportunity to return as an opening act for the World Classic Rockers. As part of the rules for the contest, the band was only allowed a twelve minute set which turned out to be three songs. As a reward for winning the contest, Remedy will be featured on the evening’s program and be allowed to play a full forty minute set to help fire up the crowd.

The Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater is a tremendous venue, seating up to 2,500 and set among the trees in the beautiful landscape of Peachtree City’s McIntosh Trail. Equipped with state of the art, professional sound equipment, a full crew of audio engineers and a wide variety of guest amenities including tasty food, beverages, a friendly wait staff and a family friendly picnic area that can be reserved for an additional fee.

The job of the opening act is to get the crowd warmed up and we intend to set the stage on fire with lots on energy, enthusiasm, and a tight set filled with music everyone will love and enjoy. And be sure to stick around for the World Classic Rockers following Remedy’s performance. If you like the kind of music we play, you’ll be sure to appreciate the WCR experience as we share a similar love for southern rock, blues and classic rock. You can check out their promotional video on their website.

Look forward to seeing you there and thanks for your continued support!

Date: Friday, July 10th @ 7:30 PM
Location: The Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater
Address: 201 McIntosh Trail; Peachtree City, GA 30269
Telephone: (770) 631-0630
Cost: $25 Reserved Seating, $15 Lawn Seating

Peachtree City, GA – 07/10/09 – The Fred

The Remedy Band returns to the Frederick Brown Amphitheater on July 10, 2009 as the opening act for the World Classic Rockers. Remedy originally performed at the Fred back on May 9th, 2009, beating out 16 other performers for the opportunity to return as an opening act for a future concert. As part of the rules for the contest, the band was only allowed a twelve minute set which turned out to be three songs. As a reward for winning the contest, Remedy will be featured on the evening’s program and be allowed to play a full 30-45 minute set for the crowd.

The Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater is a tremendous venue, seating up to 2,500 and set among the trees in the beautiful landscape of Peachtree City’s McIntosh Trail. Equipped with state of the art, professional sound equipment, a full crew of audio engineers and a wide variety of guest amenities including tasty food, beverages, a friendly wait staff and a family friendly picnic area that can be reserved for an additional fee.

The job of the opening act is to get the crowd warmed up and we intend to set the stage on fire with lots on energy, enthusiasm, and a tight set filled with music everyone will love and enjoy. And be sure to stick around for the World Classic Rockers following Remedy’s performance. If you like the kind of music we play, you’ll be sure to appreciate the WCR experience as we share a similar love for southern rock, blues and classic rock. You can check out their promotional video on their website.

Look forward to seeing you there and thanks for your continued support!

Date: Friday, July 10th @ 7:30 PM
Location: The Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater
Address: 201 McIntosh Trail; Peachtree City, GA 30269
Telephone: (770) 631-0630
Cost: $25 Reserved Seating, $15 Lawn Seating

Remedy Takes 1st at the Fred

Remedy had the pleasure of performing at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City, GA as part of an ‘Open Mic Night’ contest held by venue. The band was selected from a pool of about 40 applicants to come and compete in a battle of the bands type format, with the winner being awarded the opportunity to return to the stage as the opening act for one of the headliners in the Fred’s summer concert series lineup.

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Gates opened around 6:30 and family, friends, and fans of the 17 scheduled performers poured into the amphitheater on what turned out to be a very pleasant May evening. Despite a rainy forecast, the only thunder heard was from the stage, where guitars, drums and amps ripped through the night air and from the crowd, who roared in support of their favorite performers. Each band was given twelve minutes to play, while solo performers were allotted six minutes to make an impression on three judges who sat stage right observing every note and guitar lick throughout the mini sets. Most bands were able to squeeze in about three songs and benefited greatly from the Fred’s outstanding acoustics and professional sound engineers that were on hand to assist with technical requirements.

Remedy performed sixteenth on a list of seventeen total acts, performing to a crowd that had perhaps grown a bit restless in waiting for the contest to finish so that a winner could be announced. Whatever reservations we had about their remaining enthusiasm quickly melted away however, after our opening tune, Hard to Handle by the Black Crowes, set the tone for our three song set by getting the audience on their feet and singing along with the familiar lyrics of the tune. Our second offering, Pride and Joy by Stevie Ray Vaughn, showcased Tim’s incredible guitar skills and kept the venue buzzing as Jon led us into our third and last song of the set, Whipping Post by the Allman Brothers Band.

It was a bit hard to see the crowd while under the stage lights but we’re told we were given a standing ovation after the set and heard a tremendous amount of applause as we exited the stage. With only one act remaining we didn’t have very long to hear the result of evening’s contest.

The judges narrowed down the field from seventeen acts to only three, calling each of the finalists up on stage for the final announcement…

3rd Place – Paige McCauley

2nd Place – Krysta Nick and Gopher Broke

1st Place - Remedy

As second place was announced, a roar went up from the crowd and we quickly turned toward each other to celebrate the moment.

Having entered the competition with no expectation of being selected to perform, let alone win, it was quite a shock at the end of the evening walking out of the amphitheater as the group selected to perform at the summer concert series. We couldn’t have been more thrilled with the result and had an incredible time playing on the Fred’s stage under the lights and stars for a fantastic audience that made us feel welcome and appreciated.

Many thanks to the Fred, Nancy Price (the event organizer), and all of our friends and family who came out to support us. It was an incredible moment for us, made better only by the joy of being able to share it with all of you.

See you back at the Fred this summer when we open for the “World Class Rockers,” featuring an all-star line-up of members from Steppenwolf, Journey, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Santana, and Toto on July 10th, 2009!

Peachtree City, GA – 05/09/09 – The Fred

Remedy proudly accepts an invitation to play at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City on May 9th at 6:30 PM as part of the venue’s Open Mic Night search for talent. The winner of the event will be awarded the opportunity to perform as the opening act for one of the headliners during the Fred’s summer concert series.

For more information, be sure to read about the event in the recent news section.

Date: Saturday, May 9th @ 6:30 PM
Location: The Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater
Address: 201 McIntosh Trail ; Peachtree City, GA 30269
Telephone: (770) 631-0630
Cost: $5 in advance – $10 day of show

Remedy at the Fred

Remedy proudly accepts an invitation to play at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City on May 9th at 6:30 PM.

The band was selected from a large number of applicants to play at an open mic audition for a special panel of judges, with the winner being awarded the opportunity to perform as the opening act for one of the headliners during the Fred’s summer concert series.

Seating nearly 2,500 people, the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City will be the band’s largest venue to date and our goal is to fill as many seats as possible with friends, family and fans to ensure the maximum amount of support for our audition. Moreover, we’re really looking forward to having those that enjoy the band see us in that type of an environment, which we’re counting on being incredibly special for all of us.

All acts performing auditions for the Open Mic Night are encouraged to recruit supporters to attend and the winner will be selected based on the following criteria: stage presence, musical ability, vocal ability and overall crowd appeal.

Gates open at 6:30 PM and we intend to light up the stage and the evening with a smokin’ set filled with energy, enthusiasm and tons of fun.

Hope to see you all there!