Search - The Constellations :: Southern Gothic

Dubbed an Atlanta supergroup by locals, The Constellations officially formed when vocalist Elijah Jones teamed up with Grammy-winning producer Ben H. Allen (Animal Collective, Gnarls Barkley) to create Southern Gothic. Jones and Allen tossed ideas around for two years before finally recording. Now the band and its ever-changing line-up of Atlanta musicians is playing sold out shows around the Southeast s most popular venues. Recorded at Maze Studios, Southern Gothic (2008) is a meandering tour of the underbelly of Atlanta, lead by Jones gruff delivery and parabolic lyrics. Lush production invokes the muscular rhythms of 70s Fela Kuti, the propelling pop sensibility of the Gorillaz and the vocals of a modern-day Tom Waits. Cee Lo of Gnarls Barkley and newly signed SRC artist Asher Roth ( I Love College single) are featured on the album, with a revision of Tom Waits Step Right Up as a centerpiece. Also on the album are Atlanta musicians Brad Hagen (Trances Arc) and Julian Dorio (The Whigs). The Constellations live show consists of a five-man band backing Jones trademark vocals and persona: James Arnold, Ryan Davis, Jamie Gordon, Wes Hoffman (Second Shift), and Chandler Rentz (Snowden, Ocha la Rocha). A crowd-pleasing, all-girl Clap Squad covers back-up vocals and completes the spectacle.