Line-up

Headliner
Atlanta Rhythm Section Last time in Akron: 6 months ago

Venue

Lock 3 Live

200 S. Main St., 44308, Akron, OH, US

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Additional details

Doors open: 19:00

Concert in your area for Pop, Country, and Rock.

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Atlanta Rhythm Section biography

Despite being in the shadow of fellow southern rock acts, Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers, Atlanta Rhythm Section (ARS) have managed to forge a successful career of over four decades, releasing countless albums in the process.

Formed in the rural town of Doraville, Georgia, US, the band first surfaced in 1970, out of the remnants of the groups, the Candymen and the Classics Four. After a local recording studio opened, Bobby Bule, head of the facility, began arranging the session band, inviting Rodney Justo (vocals), Barry Bailey (guitars), Paul Goddard (bass), Dean Daughtry (keyboards) and Robert Nix (drums) to take the position. Having appeared on records for other artists, the session band decided to forge their own career, becoming the Atlanta Rhythm Section.

With Bule acting as manager and producer, they began to record their own original material, achieving a more radio-friendly sound to Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers. Their first releases, "Back Up Against The Wall" (1973), "Third Annual Pipe Dream" (1974), "Dog's Days" (1975) failed to make much of an impact. However, with the new addition of Ronnie Hammond, replacing Justo, the band found a winning formula, gaining significant airplay on radio stations in the South. On their 1976 album, "A Rock and Roll Alternative," they managed to score a Top Ten hit with the single "So Into You," breaking into the national market.

Atlanta Rhythm Section continued to find commercial success with their next releases, finding a Top Ten album with "Champagne Jam" in 1978, featuring two hit singles, "I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight" and "Imaginary Lover." The band then embarked on several extensive tours, becoming one of the hardest working bands in the business. However, their commercial success was not set to continue, with their subsequent albums failing to make any hits, instead only decreasing album sales.

The band decided to split following 1981's "Quinella," reuniting intermittently for live performances and tours. In 1999, a new studio album appeared, "Eufaula," helping to continue the band's legacy to a new legion of fans. Since the releae, the band continued to tour and perform at festivals, finding their music often the topic of cover versions by country artists, such as Travis Tritt, Wynonna Judd and Charlie Daniels.

Live reviews

Southern rock band, Atlanta Rhythm Section along with visionary Lynyrd Skynyrd helped to popularise the genre by bringing it into the mainstream. Formed in 1971 having previously been in different local Georgian bands, ARS went on to recording an astonishing thirteen studio albums featuring some of their greatest hits: ‘So In To You’, ‘Imaginary Lover’ and ‘Spooky’ which helped launch them to the forefront. During their career, the band played extensively across the country spreading their inspired southern rock to a wide spectrum of audiences and ultimately winning them over. Having built their reputation largely through their live performances, ARS have perfected the art of delivering exceptional shows. There’s an infectious energy that the band possess which seems to work its way into any crowd. Even if you aren’t familiar to any of the material, you can’t help but find yourself having a little boogie along. Dean Daughtry’s vocals eloquently intertwines with the wavering electric guitars, singing with passion and heart playing songs like ‘Angel’, ‘Do It Or Die’ and ‘I’m Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight’. With emphatic and mesmerising guitar solos, the crowd watch it adoration as the intricate jazz infused melodies fill their ears. Atlanta Rhythm Section have a timeless and enchanting sound which really comes to life in their performances.

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