In Service of Sound, Killing Grace, and Saving Abel

I constantly hear complaints about no one going out there to support the local music scene. Either it has now gotten through to everyone, or there are two words to get people out on a weeknight: Saving Abel.  How packed was it?  The best way I can describe it is, in all of the times I have been at Open Chord, I had never seen that big of a crowd.

To open up for Saving Abel was In Service of Sound.  A very talented female-fronted band, I was automatically hooked on their music and stage presence.  One of the things I have retained from learning about stage performance is, to move around, to not stand still, when the music is playing. That Ashley did, and without hindrances, as if she were enjoying herself.  This was the largest crowd this band had every played in front of.  They killed it! Now, bring on an even bigger crowd for them.

Killing Grace loves them some Knoxville!  Just a few weeks prior, they had rocked Open Chord at HARC.  They jumped at the chance to open up for this show...in the middle of a super-busy tour for their recent release of Speak With a Fist.  Those who missed the HARC show got a great taste of songs from both albums, including "17 Scars" and "Live Like a Suicide."

How has Killing Grace greatly impacted the bands in Knoxville?  Bass player Eric Taylor wore a Killing Grace t-shirt while on stage.

Photo credit:  NVK Photography

That's just scraping the surface of how they aim to please.  They are great crowd pleasers. Lead singer Scott Austin kept the audience engaged in the best way, including a great shout out to the military, and to someone in the audience making a video of one of their songs.