GRC, Band with Lawrenceville Ties, Rocks Loganville Venue

Gwinnett County band Georgia Red Clay rocked at Loganville's Atmosphere on Saturday night. The newly formed band has been making waves on the local scene since it formed in February under the name Red Clay.

“We’re now Georgia Red Clay - GRC,” lead singer Brian Warner told Loganville-Grayson Patch. “We in the process of re-branding.”

Warner, 24, is joined by his younger brother, Eric, 18, on lead guitar, Austin Patton on bass guitar and backup vocals and Rick Gilbert on drums. Sometimes performing on his own, Warner brings his own sound to the blend of Southern Rock and Modern Country that is GRC.

The band members are all from around the local area, with Warner calling Lilburn home and the others hailing from Lawrenceville, Buford and Winder. They write and perform some of their own music as well as the usual favorites that get a crowd rocking. Saturday was the first time GRC has performed at Atmosphere.

According to the band’s Reverbnation website, they offer a “unique sound and style,” performing some originals as well as adding a unique twist to some favorite cover tunes.

So how did they get started? For Warner it was that age-old story – a woman.

“I had just come out of a really bad breakup and was moping around,” Warner said, adding that his part in the formation of the band was their wish to stop him from that "moping around." They figured they would give him something to take his mind off things, Warner said.

“I hadn’t performed in front of an audience before – ever,” Warner said – no singing in the church choir, no high school “Glee”-like performances – nothing.

“Of course, in the shower I performed to sell-out crowds,” he joked.

But things have quickly changed. His music career is now taking off and although he still holds down a full time job in Lawrenceville, the music scene is fast becoming Warner's first love.

If you want to hear GRC perform live, you don’t have long to wait. The band will perform in Atlanta on Nov. 20 and will be back in Gwinnett County at Wild Wing Café in Snellville on Nov. 23. You can also hear their first CD, “Nothing But Road,” on the Reverbnation website.

Listen closely, you might be able to tap into Warner’s story somewhere between the lines.