The diversity in the Atlanta music scene often overshadows the fact we are still in the South with a rich music culture built around the blues. However, local stalwarts the Ides of June keep reminding me of this truth as they continue their journey to bring the blues back to the spotlight. Nestled north of the city, the band speaks Southern rock fluently, chock full of twangs and grooves to make your mama blush. Frontman Dusty Huggins brings thunderous vocals that match blow-for-blow with his bass while his merry motley crew rounds out the melodies into some serious boot-scootin’ music. The Ides of June champion a long Southern musical legacy, following the path of legends like the Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gary Clark Jr., and the Black Keys.
Recently, the band has been working on a music video for their single “Tearing Seams,” a song that takes root in how Huggins became the man he is today. The lyrics come from a painful place of grief, death, and drugs, themes that are deeply entrenched in the blues as they give voice to truths spoken only behind closed doors. However, the chorus brings out a shimmer of hope that there can be redemption if you so choose it. For Huggins, the flicker of light was a saving grace, allowing him to escape a life of tragedy and despair.
“The song is a lick that [guitarist] Alex [Gannon] came up with and then I felt very strongly about writing the lyrics,” he explains. “Many of the lyrics speak about my childhood and having to depend heavily on my brother. [The] second verse is more about adolescence. I was in and out of a lot of trouble as a youth and was able to straighten my life out and not end up in prison or dead like many members of my family.”
Watch/listen above.
The Ides of June will perform on Sat., Jan. 7, 2023 at Star Bar alongside Antic Clay and Rare Birds. Doors open at 8 p.m. Admission is $10 in advance or $12 DOS. 21+ to enter.
More Info
Web: theidesofjune.com
Facebook: @theidesofjune33
Instagram: @theidesofjune