G-City Rockers, Augusta, GA Website: G-City Rockers
While the first appearance of the G-City Rockers moniker first appeared during an impromptu gig in 2001, the band known as the G-City Rockers did not officially come to be until 2005.
Originally formed as a recording project by former Brotherhood/Vagabond Missionaries vocalist John "Stoney" Cannon, the G-City Rockers would initially include musicians from Cannon's past: former Family Jewels bandmate guitarist Fred McNeal, Vagabond Missionaries bassist Joe "Joco" Cowart, as well as guitarist Darryl Cliett and drummer Todd Fagan who spent time with Cannon in The Brotherhood in the mid-90's.
While McNeal performed with several bands in Atlanta, Cannon and his G-City bandmates rehearsed the songs that would make up the band's debut CD-"Kings, Queens" & Vagabond.", a CD filled with renditions of songs by artists who influenced Cannon including "Wasted Days & Wasted Nights" by Freddy Fender, "Rose Garden" by Lynn Anderson, "Dead Flowers" by the Rolling Stones, and a punked up version of Conway Twitty's "Only Make Believe". In late 2005 the band would record over several seperate sessions at Augusta's Sector 7G with future G-City bassist Nick Laws at the board.
Despite all five members not being in the same room until earlier in the day of their first show in February 2006, the G-City Rockers rocked out a rollicking mix of covers and originals. Over the next few months a few more sessions at Sector 7G would introduce the first two G-City originals to the world-"Haven", a rocking Rod Stewart & the Faces style tune, and tender retro style ballad "Say."
August 2006 brought the second G-City show as well as a new member with Poor as Fred guitarist, Dave Mercer replacing Cliett. The show was part of an album series at now defunct Augusta venue The Mission with the band performing songs from the Black Crowes first album "Shake Your Moneymaker" with fellow Augusta band Autorock featuring Nick Laws on bass.
The beginning of September the G-City Rockers and Autorock kicked off a mini-tour with a show at downtown Augusta venue the Soul Bar before heading off for a show the next night in Washington DC (the Red & the Black), New Jersey (the Brighton Bar), and New York (The Continental). Shortly after the two bands along with Poor as Fred would close out 2006 with a show at downtown Augusta bar The Playground.
Following a break to start 2007, health issues caused Fagan to leave the band to be followed shortly by Mercer in order to have time to work on other projects Already familiar with the bands music through engineering Laws was brought in to repleace Mercer before taking over for Cowart on bass while Joel Hodges, formerly of the Dirty Sons of Ireland, was brought in to handle the drums. The bands would play one more show in 2007, a short set at the arts in the Heart Festival in Augusta, Georgia.
2008 began with the band adding Janice "Martini" Olive on keyboards before appearing at the FCW "Big Damn Event" wrestling show in Grovetown, Georgia. The bands next task was preparing a demo to submit for the 2008 12 Bands of Christmas.
With shows upcoming at Greenjackets Stadium and Sky City for the First Annual Lexie's Legacy Concert on consecutive nights, it was announced that G-City Rockers Ramones meets Buddy Holly style take on the Christmas classic "Up on the House Top" would appear on the 12 Bands CD and the band would appear at the concert on December 21st, 2008.