THE GEORGIA THUNDERBOLTS – AN INTERVIEW WITH BRISTOL PERRY

 

The Georgia Thunderbolts are here and these southern boys are on fire. With the release of their new self-titled E.P., the band decidedly brings a new spark to the classic Southern rock sound. Even though heavily influenced by such bands as Skynyrd, Allman Brothers and Molly Hatchet they have forged their own modern signature on the vintage genre.

The Georgia Thunderbolts hail from Rome and Taylorsville, Ga. The group consists of TJ Lyle (Vocals, Harp, Guitar, Piano), Riley Couzzourt (Lead Guitar),  Zach Everett (Bass, Keyboards, Vocals),  Bristol Perry (Drums) and Logan Tolbert (Guitar). The Georgia Thunderbolts was recorded at the iconic Barrick Recording Studio in Glasgow, KY. under the production of Richard Young (The Kentucky Headhunters). Besides their obvious Southern rock leanings, the band incorporates many different styles throughout the E.P. One can clearly hear delightful hints of gospel, blues and r&b.

Right off the bat we know we are in for something special. The E.P. opens with “Looking For An Old Friend” and immediately you are hit with an awesome classic Southern rock resonance. Lyle’s passionate vocals fits ideally with the mesmerizing slide guitar and strong back beat of Everett and Perry. The sublime acoustic guitar pushes the song in a radiant direction. Every note sits perfectly. With its positive message, The Georgia Thunderbolts keep the heat going on “So You Wanna Change The World”. Perry’s strong drumming and Couzzourt’s flaming guitar steal the day.

Next up is the audacious “Lend A Hand” with its electrifying rock groove. This is the song that is going to get you on your feet. Lyle’s voice is powerful and the whole song just cranks. The rhythm is killer and every instrument hits it stride. Everett’s bass just kicks ass. “Spirit Of A Workin’ Man” follows and the band’s tome to the industrious “blue collar” worker has a bluesy twist. Again Lyle’s vocals are intense and the guitars wail. The swirling keyboards give the tune an added lofty ambiance. I surely get a strong Black Crowes vibe.

The E.P. ends with “Set Me Free” , a down and dirty slow crawl. The song is probably my favorite with its sensual guitars, pulsating keys and Lyle’s gritty vocals. A fitting end to an incredible first offering. With this inaugural E.P., The Georgia Thunderbolts give notice. They are ready to conquer the world. One stunning song at a time.

The Georgia Thunderbolts‘ drummer, Bristol Perry, was kind enough to answer a few questions for AMP.

AMP: Give AMP a brief history of the band.

PERRY: Riley and I met in the football locker room in high school. He played guitar and I wanted to start a band. We played around at open mics and met Zach and he introduced us to TJ and we all hit it off. We wanted another guitar player and we brought Logan into the mix. The rest is history.

AMP: Your music is full of fire. Who are some of the artists who shaped your sound?

PERRY: Of course our influences are Southern rock bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd , Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet and bands along that line. But I’m also heavily influenced by Black Sabbath, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Soundgarden and many more. I listen to a lot of different stuff.

AMP: The production of the new E.P. is superb. Any great stories from the recording process?

PERRY: Thank you! We recorded it in Glasgow, Ky. at Barrick Recording Studio. Richard Young, our manager and producer,  and the recording engineer, David Barrick, really helped us through the recording process. There are too many studio stories to name but the one special moment for me was when Fred Young of the Kentucky Headhunters helped me with an intro that I couldn’t quite get right on one of our songs that will be on our 2021 upcoming album. To be able to collaborate with him was a dream come true. The Young brothers have been very good to us. Also John Fred Young let me borrow his special Black Stone Cherry snare for the session.

AMP: What’s next for The Georgia Thunderbolts?

PERRY: We are ready to get back out and see all the fans for sure! We have been eagerly awaiting everything to open back up so we can get on the road, tour and release our full length album in 2021. Till then we are working hard and writing as much new material as we can.

I would like to thank Perry for his time and energy. I am so looking forward to catching The Georgia Thunderbolts live and hearing their impending album. You should too.

 

 

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