You can feel the excitement whenever Jeff Jensen and his band comes to Darwin’s, and you can be sure that the fans will be out in full force! Jeff and his band are favorites in the Atlanta area, and they always come to Darwin’s, where they know they are going to have a good time with a highly appreciative audience. This time around, they have a new full-time  drummer, David Green. But David is not new to any of us. He has long been one of the best and most prolific local drummers, or, as Jeff explains, “He used to be from Atlanta but now he lives in our van.”

So Jeff, bass player Bill Ruffino, and David Green are all well-known and well-loved and the audience is primed and ready to be entertained and to be enthusiastic participants in the show.

And the band delivers, as always.. This time they launch right into a high-energy set that conains many of the crowd favorites that are on the excellent new live album, “Live – The River City Sessions.” They are even more exciting here, seeing the band perform up close and personal in the intimite setting of Darwin’s and being able to interact with Jeff and each other. As Jeff says, “The  great thing about Darwin’s is that it’s a small place so we’re all family here .” And that is true. Lindasy Wine and Jonathan Aiken have provided a place that feels that welcoming and comfortable, and most of us know each other tonight. Together, the band and the audience create something really special.

To me, this band is simply the best there is. There’s not another guitar player I have seen, in any genre, who is better than Jeff Jensen. He and Ruffino work together seamlessly, both musically  and as they move on the  stage. Now that David has learned all the songs, he also fits in as though he has been playing with them forever The songs, which are mostly   original and written by Jensen, are fantastic. The few covers are,as well

Having the Jeff Jensen Band in town is about the most fun you can  have in the Atlanta music scene.  Jeff, Bill and David are all warm and friendly people, and Jeff is funny, too.  He says they love us and we believe him,  and we love them right back.

Next week, the band heads for Europe and the y are playing seven large festivals there. Those audiences will get exactly the same awesome entertainment we got at Darwin’s, and they are going to love them just like we do. As for me, I can’t wait until they come back to Darwin’s in the fall!