Monday night, Atlanta hometown star Butch Walker invited friends and select fans to Avatar Studios for a rehearsal before he and his band hit the road for the second leg of their tour. Walker creatively organized the secret rehearsal show by sending an encrypted email to his fan club members for them to purchase tickets to a "Bradley Glenn Beck Hanson Show;" Bradley Glenn is actually the singer's original first and middle name.
The last time Walker performed in Atlanta, it was before a sold out crowd at Variety Playhouse in March. Although the crowd gathered for this laid-back show was not as packed, Walker joked that is was “the same f*cking show as Variety.” Even if the playlist remained consistent, it was good to see that Walker and his band displayed all the energy they would normally display for a much bigger venue.
The intimate setting also allowed Walker to casually interact with the audience between songs. Walker played many of his live show staples, such as “Uncomfortably Numb,” “The Weight of Her,” and “Maybe It’s Just Me.” He also included several new favorites: “Here Come The…” and “Ponce de Leon Ave.” The latter song had special meaning to the crowd considering that the famed street was only one block away and many gathered were locals.
Walker thanked the crowd many times for giving him and the band the opportunity to rehearse before them. He stressed how important this rehearsal was to them, but it was equally important for the fans. If more artists genuinely appreciated their hometown fans the way Walker has through out the years, they would also be experiencing his same level of success and larger venue audience draw. -Kim Burdges
Check out some photos from the show here.
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