Tuesday Night Just Got Better

My quest to find good local music has been something I hold to the highest regard, which makes it really easy for me to not take much else in my life very seriously. I decided to start very local, actually right down the street from my tea shop in Downtown Lawrenceville at a gastro-pub named Local Republic.

A quaint spot with garage doors that lead out into a patio facing the street has really made its mark in Downtown Lawrenceville. It really is hard to believe that this establishment is big enough to be a venue for great food, wine, beer and music but I'm here to say it gets done at Local Republic. As soon as you walk in you'll notice that it's almost difficult to see where the band stops and the hungry patrons start. With a small sea of heads grooving to a tune and the smell of the kitchen calling my belly...I couldn't wait to sit down. I knew that this particular Tuesday night there was a trio called The Jon Cole Band who I had heard the Tuesday before and who left me musically smitten by the end of the night.

At this point, raise your hand if you're skeptical? Don't worry, I was too at first. I didn't expect much out of a local jazz band. To my surprise The Jon Cole Band doesn't make any promises....they just make really good music, almost innocently and in an unintentional way. One might get the feeling that this band may have not been together for 20 years struggling in the smokey streets of the big city looking to make it "big". That's because the group itself is comprised of musicians from all walks of life that pulled their talent together to perform at Local Republic for their Tuesday Jazz Nights. 

Playing everything from Eric Clapton to Us3 (oh yea that's right 1993 just popped into your head...it's okay...relish in it for a moment, I'll wait), The Jon Cole Band can make anything work. I watched their audience- the couple in the corner exchanging what I can only imagine pleasantries every so often but allowing each song to consume them while eating their dinner. The lone gentleman having his beer singing along under his breath. I even saw some of the kitchen staff dancing along to a song or two. If you appreciate the rawness of a small band in a busy pub then you'd definitely enjoy this. There's nothing to critique when it comes to people doing what they love and when it shows through in their performance. At the end of the night, The Jon Cole Band is the kind of group that will play with just as much honesty whether it is to an empty room or packed house, although in this situation, I'd venture to say Local Republic on a Tuesday night will most likely be the latter especially with a gem like The Jon Cole Band.

I hope you take some time out to follow my blogs as I'll be writing about local music and music venues in Gwinnett and beyond. If you know of a band or venue I should check then out shoot me an email. Music is alive in every single one of us...we just lose sight of it every once in awhile.

If you are heading into the city this weekend I'd recommend these great shows:

Friday October 28

Rich Robinson 

Smith Olde Bar

Sunday October 30

Stephen Stills

Variety Playhouse

The Jon Cole Band will perform at Local Republic next Tuesday starting at 7:30pm

Local Republic

225 West Crogan Street

Lawrenceville, GA 30046

678.205.4782

www.thelocalrepublic.com