darwins burgers and blues

Peter Karp – Darwin’s, Sandy Springs GA Jan. 25 2018

Rhetta Akamatsu Atlanta entertainment, darwins burgers and blues, live blues, making a Scene, peter karp January 28, 2019

Darwin’s was crowded Friday night. Some people there to celebrate music lover Ellen Hamby’s birthday, others to see Peter Karp, and many for both. A few were not really familiar with Karp, but before he finished his first song, “Gee Chee Gee Chee Wa Wa” everybody was tuned in and with him. Karp is a skilled […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ On the Scene

The Jeff Jensen Band – Darwin’s Burgers and Blues, Nov. 17

Rhetta Akamatsu Atlanta blues, blues music, darwins burgers and blues, indie Blues, Jeff Jensen Band, making a Scene November 24, 2018

Do you know why the Jeff Jensen Band is my favorite blues band of all? Let’s face it, there are a lot of really great bands out there. When you go to see a band at a club like Darwin’s, the odds are they will be good. What makes one of them stand out from […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ On the Scene

The 3rd Annual Guitarama – Darwin’s Burgers and Blues, Sandy Springs August 25

Rhetta Akamatsu Atlanta music, blues guitar players, darwins burgers and blues, Guitarama, making a Scene, The Cazanovas August 31, 2018

On Saturday, August 25th, a mighty noise of guitars filled the air at Darwin’s, additionally spiced by drums, harmonicas, keyboards, and voices. It was the 3rd Annual Guitarama, hosted by Danny Vinson. Vinson has for years been part of The Cazanovas, and he and his bandmates Pete Maier (drums), Harold Patillo (bass), and Valerie Waters […]

Americana Scene/ On the Scene

Gospel Lunch with Mandi Strachota and Friends

Rhetta Akamatsu darwins burgers and blues, Gopel, Gospel lunch, making a Scene, Mandi Strachota July 31, 2018

Sunday afternoon, we decided to go check out the Gospel Lunch with Mandi Strachota at Darwin’s Burgers and Blues in Sandy Springs. I had been curious about these lunches for some time. I know Mandi has a great voice. The Facebook page promised a wide range of spiritual songs from everyone from Taj Mahal to […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ Music for Good/ On the Scene

The 10th Annual Celebration of Sean Costello – Darwin’s Blues Club, April 14

Rhetta Akamatsu Atlanta, Bipolar disorder, darwins burgers and blues, Sean Costello, Sean Costello benefit April 17, 2018

So many people were packed into Darwin’s in Sandy Springs, GA Saturday night. Most of us knew each other, so there was lots of hugging and .chattering. All of us were there for the incredible night of music, and it was all to honor Sean Costello. Sean was a fantastic bluesman, and songwriter who died at the age […]

Indie Rock Scene/ On the Scene

The Rainmen showered Darwin’s with music and memories Feb. 24.

Rhetta Akamatsu Atlanta nightlife, atlanta nights, darwins burgers and blues, live music atlanta, making a Scene, the rainmen February 28, 2018

The Rainmen were something new and different for us at Darwin’s Saturday night. ! This band plays rock ‘n roll from the 60;s and early 70’s, not blues but there was a lot of great music in that era, and The Rainmen capture the feel-good mood perfectly. The capacity crowd certainly thought so, with a lot of dancing […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ On the Scene

Mick Kolassa and The Taylor Made Blues Band at Darwin’s- Feb. 3, 2018

Rhetta Akamatsu Atlanta, Atlanta blues, Atlanta live music, darwins burgers and blues, indie Blues, making a Scene, mick kolassa, Taylor Made Blues Band February 5, 2018

by Rhetta Akamatsu Originally published in Rhetta’s Rambles When my husband and I walked into Darwin’s about an hour early Saturday night, Mick Kolassa was sitting at the bar. He stood up when he saw us and greeted me with a hug. “Your husband will have to excuse us for hugging like this,” laughed Mick, reaching […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ On the Scene

Victor Wainwright and The Train – Darwin’s, Sandy Springs, GA Dec. 15

Rhetta Akamatsu darwins burgers and blues, live blues, Victor Wainwright, Vuctor Wainwright and the Train December 19, 2017

Victor Wainwright and The Train came to Darwin’s in Sandy Springs Friday night. He is a man of many titles, like “The Piano from Savannah,” and “the Ayatollah of Rock”n Rolla.”. Add to that the awards he has earned. He has been the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year three times, including in 2017, […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ On the Scene

JP Soars and The Red Hots, Darwin’s in Sandy Springs, GA, Nov.18, 2017

Rhetta Akamatsu Atlanta blues, Atlanta live music, Atlanta music, Atlanta nightlife, atlanta nights, blues musicians, darwins burgers and blues, JP Soars, JP Soars and The Red Hots, live blues, making a Scene November 22, 2017

Some performers are just mesmerizing to ‘watch. JP Soars is one of those. He’s not a particularly tall man, or physically imposing. He isn’t flamboyant in his movements or his speech. But on stage, with his excellent drummer (Chris Peet) and bassist (Fredrick Cleveland), he consumes your attention. Playing that red guitar or one of […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ On the Scene

Blues on the Block Festival – Darwin’s Burgers and Blues, October 27-29, 2017

Rhetta Akamatsu Atlanta nightlife, blues, Blues on the Block festival, darwins burgers and blues, live blues, making a Scene, music festival November 4, 2017

Darwins Blues on the Block Festival got off to a great start on Friday with Poverty Level, The Way Back Band, and The Markey Blue Ric Latina Project. We missed Poverty Level because of work but thoroughly enjoyed The Way Back Band’s interpretations of hits from the past, announced in fabulous DJ style by drummer […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ On the Scene

Eliza Neals and The Narcotics at Darwin’s Burgers and Blues Oct. 21, 2017

Rhetta Akamatsu Atlanta entertainment, darwins burgers and blues, eliza neals, Eliza Neals and the Narcotics October 24, 2017

By Rhetta Akamatsu Photos courtesy of Takesi Akamatsu Eliza Neals looked every inch the star on Darwin’s stage Saturday night. She is still her same sweet self though, and before the show, we hugged and had a few minutes to catch up. The band recently got back from the UK, which she tells me was great. […]

INDIE Blues Scene

Bobby Messano at Darwin’s in Sandy Springs GA, August 11

Rhetta Akamatsu Atlanta blues, Atlanta live music, Atlanta nightlife, atlanta nights, Bobby Messano, Bobby Messano Darwin's Burgers Darwin's blues club blues music blues-rock, darwins burgers and blues, what to do atlanta August 14, 2017

Seeing Bobby Messano at Darwin’s is like seeing an old friend. In fact, my husband and I are old friends of Bobby’s so I am far from unbiased. But I think everyone who sees him feels that warmth and connection and walks away feeling they have seen a very talented friend. Part of it is […]

INDIE Blues Scene

JP Soars and The Red Hots at Darwin’ s Burgers and Blues in Sandy Springs, GA June 8

Rhetta Akamatsu Atlanta blues, Atlanta live music, Atlanta nightlife, atlanta nights, darwins burgers and blues, JP Soars and the Red Hots. Atlanta entertainment, JPSoars, live blues, what to do in atlanta July 11, 2017

JP Soars and the Red Hots played Darwin’s in Sandy Springs Saturday night. What an amazing musician that man is! Who else do we know who mixes original tunes in with not only blues but gypsy jazz and Latin music? He moves easily from his own songs to Django Reinhardt, Johnny Guitar Watson, and Muddy […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ Indie Rock Scene/ Jam Scene/ On the Scene

Darwin’s Burgers and Blues: Goodbye to the Little Old House

Rhetta Akamatsu Atlanta blues, Atlanta blues clubs, blues, blues venues, blues-rock, darwins burgers and blues, Geoegia blues clubs, indie Blues, making a Scene December 27, 2016

Editors Note: Darwins Burgers and Blues, because of circumstances beyond their control, has been forced to close their doors at their current location. I had the opportunity to speak to Lindsey Wine one of the owners of this legendary Atlanta Blues Venue about what has transpired and what they plan for the future. So listen […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ On the Scene

The Red Dirt Revelators electrify Darwin’s

Rhetta Akamatsu blues, blues music, darwins burgers and blues, live blues, The Red Dirt Revelators May 9, 2016

By Rhetta Akamatsu It was not a packed house Saturday night, May 7, at Darwin’s for The Red Dirt Revelators – many of the regulars were still recuperating from a trip to Memphis to see the BMAs Friday night and others were at the Blind Willie McTell Festival – but ti surely was a happy […]

INDIE Blues Scene

The Jeff Jensen Band spreads the love at Darwin’s in Marietta April 23

Rhetta Akamatsu Atlanta blues, Atlanta live lues, blues-rock, darwins burgers and blues, indie Blues, Jeff Jensen, live blues, new Blues, The Jeff Jensen Band April 25, 2016

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 […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ Indie Rock Scene

Concert review – Eliza Neals and The Narcotics at Darwin’s in Marietta, Ga April 9

Rhetta Akamatsu Atlanta blues, darwins burgers and blues, Eliza Neals and The Nacotics, ElizaNeals, live blues April 12, 2016

Eliza Neals is like a small dynamo on the stage. Looking at the photos we took Saturday night, most of them show only a mass of blond hair and a slightly blurred body.. Since the stage at Darwin’s in not huge, this means that guitarist Howard Glaser and bassist Daryl Lee did not have a […]

INDIE Blues Scene

Truett Lollis has a happy homecoming to Darwin’s

Rhetta Akamatsu Darwin's, darwins burgers and blues, indie Blues, live blues, Truett, Truett Lollis March 29, 2016

Truett Lolllis looked delighted a he surveyed the crowded room at Darwin’s Friday night, March 25. “I am so happy to be home,” he told me, “and so glad to be back at Darwin’s.” Truett spent every Monday playing at Darwin’s for several years, beginning as a teenager too young to drink and ending this […]

INDIE Blues Scene/ Indie Rock Scene/ On the Scene

Ted Drozdowski’s Scissormen were riveting at Darwin’s Saturday Feb. 13

Rhetta Akamatsu darwins burgers and blues, live atlanta blues, Ted Drozdowski, The Scissormen February 17, 2016

Saturday night at Darwin’s Ted Drozdowski was performing with his Scissormen, Sean Szwick and Pete Pulkrabek. Our friends George and Betty were sitting at the table next to us. About an hour into the show, Betty came and leaned into to me between songs. “I’ve been looking at you off and on but you were […]

INDIE Blues Scene

Darwins Burgers and Blues – The Biggest Little Indie Blues Club in Atlanta!

Richard L'Hommedieu Atlanta, blues, darwins burgers and blues, Indie B, indie Blues, JP Blues, JP Soars, jpblues, making a Scene June 8, 2015

Biggest Little Indie Blues Club in Atlanta! An Exclusive Interview with Jonathan Aiken from Darwins Burgers and Blues! Like them on Facebook! An Interview with Aiken from Darwins Burgers and Blues by Richard Lhommedieu on Mixcloud In a small ramshackle house nestled between a couple of Car Dealers on Roswell Rd in Marietta Georgia is […]