(Courtesy of vergelive)- So far I can proudly say that I am still on top of all of my New Year’s resolutions. To be totally honest, I’m actually finding it pretty easy and to this point my biggest daily decision is whether or not to bring a jacket when I leave the house every morning. Some might complain about the wishy-washy weather but if that’s the toughest decision I have on to make every day…

On January 21st Augusta hip hop band Dredneck make their official debut at Sky City as they move to support popular single “Glitterbone”, a track that gained popularity as a track on the band’s previous incarnation Jemani. This has created extra talk for Dredneck who feature four members from Jemani’s final recording lineup. Could this be a final grasp to salvage what was left of Jemani’s popularity or the culmination of moving into a more hip hop direction? Either way what’s important is how Dredneck stands its own musical merits. Tune in January 21st to find out. Until then keep up with the band at DREDNECK.COM.

In this day and age, with music fans able to download not just entire albums but select cuts, it’s easier for a band to get their music out but harder to get fans to take in the vanished art of letting an entire album grow on you. These days music buyers can listen to clips and decide which tracks to purchase letting only the tracks make a quick impression and making decisions before really giving the tracks a chance. South Augusta native Carey Murdock has decided to make the supreme sacrifice to get fans to enjoy his most recent release “Baby Don’t Look Down” by offering the album free through his blog site THEMURDOCK.TUMBLR.COM. If Springsteen, Tom Waits, and just soulful rootsy rock and roll is your thing then here’s your chance to get 11 tracks by this up and coming singer-songwriter free.

As the world waits for a possible James Brown tribute album to come out of the Brown camp Tom Sanders, a 20-year music vet based out of Ripley, Tennessee has decided to release his own tribute. With two self-penned songs Sanders has taken advantage of the lack of effort by name artists to create musical tributes to the Godfather since his passing by releasing his own tribute through Portra Records. The tracks, “You Can’t Touch Him” and “I Got It-On the Good Foot” are available for download through 38 music companies including iTunes and Amazon and a video for “I Got It-On the Good Foot” is on Youtube to check out. Continued proof that the influence of James Brown continues to inspire over five years after his passing.

Speaking of influence, after two months of online voting the end of last year the nominees for the 2012 Lokal Loudness Choice Awards are now up and ready for you to vote on at LOKALLOUDNESS.COM. Once the dust has settled winners of all 17 awards will be announced at Sky City on February 10th, the official 20th anniversary of Lokal Loudness.
Well once again I’ve gone over my allowed space so please remember to check out the Daily Planner every month in print and online at www.vergelive.com for great live shows to get out and support and to get an earful of what’s happening in Augusta music stop by and listen to me rant with my good buddy Brian “Stak” Allen each on CONfederation of LOUDness which can be found ironically enough at www.confederationofloudness.com and of course as always…

Make it LOKAL, Keep it Loud,
Stoney