Coach’s Corner on Thunderbolt Island has been hosting a steady run of of excellent tribute bands lately, but sometimes it’s nice to hear a group play original music, too.
Atlanta rockers The Bitteroots may have started out as a cover band when they formed in 2008, but they have released six albums of original material in the intervening years, and are bringing their unique sound and catalogue of great songs to Coach’s Corner’s Soundgarden Stage.
The Bitteroots have drawn comparison to the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Melissa Etheridge and Janis Joplin, and for good reason. Singer Laura Dee carries the tunes with powerful, classic-rock pipes.
“She’s actually the fourth singer we had, but the first three each only did three shows,” said Bill Taylor, bassist and co-founder of The Bitteroots, when talking about how the band lucked out in recruiting Dee.
Another addition to the band that solidified their sound was saxophonist Darren Nuhfer, who joined in 2014.
“He’s sort of our secret weapon,” explained Taylor. “Before Darren joined, we were a straight ahead guitar band. Darren approaches sax in a little bit unique way in that he plays sax with a full effects pedal. Sometimes he plays like a lead guitar, and other times he plays like what you would normally equate with a keyboard player. He adds all these textures and it’s a really interesting sound. In a lot of ways it’s become somewhat of the Bitterroots’ unique sound. Without Darren we’re a driving rock band, but he brings this element of additional textures that you wouldn’t expect just looking at a sax.”
With drummer and co-founder Mike Davis, and guitarist PJ Poellnitz, as well, the Bitteroots have evolved over the last fourteen years and thus wanted their latest album, “Try Me Again,” released last April, to be a reflection of their current iteration.
“It is actually re-recorded recordings of some of our favorite songs from previous albums,” said Taylor.
“Try Me Again” came about when The Bitteroots were stuck at home during the COVID pandemic. Taylor and his bandmates realized that the band had changed so much over the years that their early recordings didn’t sound like them anymore, nor did they have the production quality that the band had become accustomed to.
So, The Bitteroots picked thirteen of their favorite songs and revisited them.
“Actually, if you come see a Bitteroots show, those songs on the new album sound like the Bitteroots now. That was one of our biggest challenges is that people would come to our shows, then they’d listen to our music on Spotify or buy a CD and those records were recorded with different instrumentation, different personnel, and we just wanted something a little tighter, a little more modern and polished.”
The Bitteroots have become regulars on festival stages like Atlanta Dogwood Festival, the Sweetwater 420 Festival, the Summer Shade Festival, the Inman Park Festival, Stone Mountain Park’s Yellow Daisy Festival, and The Amplify Decatur Music Festival.
They have also shared the stage big artists like Kool & The Gang, Mavis Staples, Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Everclear, Drivin’ N Cryin’, and the Freddy Jones Band. With years of touring and festival experience, the Bitterroots have honed themselves into a formidable live band.
“We do long shows,” promised Taylor. “Prior to COVID it was common for us to do three hour shows.”
“In all honesty, we’re a little out of practice for doing three hours,” Taylor added with a chuckle. “Maybe we’ll do 2 one and a half hour sets. We hope we have a huge crowd there, with people who want to have a good time, dance, and have some cocktails. We’re looking forward to seeing a few smiles.”
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: The Bitteroots are bringing their new, old sound and album to Coach's Corner in Thunderbolt
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