Hibbs Family Band | “Two Mules”
From the Carter Family to the Beach Boys to the Neville Brothers, family bands have a long and distinguished history of funneling real-life harmonies (and sometimes a bit of discord) into their music. Carrying on the best of that tradition is the Hibbs Family Band, an Athens-based bluegrass/folk/alt-rock quartet that glides together as seamlessly as fingers down a four-string fiddle. They are guitarist Rob and bassist Garrett Hibbs, two brothers from the Georgia Dish Boys, and their parents, Henry on strings and Judy on keys.
This video features highlights from three hours of found archival footage shot by “our Uncle Walter” to showcase the fun and fauna of life on the Hibbs ancestral farm. The cover of the band’s newest album, Two Mules, drops on August 28 and features a drawing by “our Aunt Clara” in honor of her 103rd birthday. It’s a follow-up to their 2020 release, Tears in Missouri.
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J.I.D. | “Dance Now”
Destin Choice Route, aka J.I.D., released his second studio album, DiCaprio 2, four years ago. So, understandably, the buildup to his impending August 26 release of meticulously crafted songs, The Forever Story, has reached a fever pitch this summer.
That is not to say that the 31-year-old graduate of DeKalb County’s Stephenson High School has been sitting around doing nothing between full-length albums. This past year, he landed a Grammy nomination for a collaboration with Doja Cat. He’s also a longstanding member of Spillage Village, the music collective launched by EarthGang in 2010. The collective released an ambitious opus in 2020, Spilligion, featuring guest appearances from Ari Lennox and Chance the Rapper and contributions from its regulars, including Mereba and 6lack.
Under the direction of Trey Lyons, the visual tapestry here runs the emotional gamut. It’s clever, absorbing, haunting, intense, dramatic and ominous. But beyond that, let’s give a slow clap for the winking nod to another prominent hometown hero, with the line: “Atlanta/Not Atlanta/We let Omeretta decide.”
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Esperanza Spalding with Algebra Blessett | “Black Gold”
Algebra Felicia Blessett emerged in the early aughts as a dynamic new voice on Atlanta’s R&B scene — a winning equation that led to a touring gig with Monica and the chance to record with then-also-ascending soulful chanteuse India.Arie, among others. She has also joined forces on numerous projects with Anthony David, including the R&B chart-topper and popular wedding song “4Evermore.”
In keeping with Blessett’s affinity towards sonic synergy, the multi-talented dancer, aerialist and musician appears in our Vintage Track of the Week. She croons alongside venerated bassist, composer and performer Esperanza Spalding. “Black Gold” is the first single off of Spalding’s 2012 Radio Music Society, which won a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
