Saving Abel will be at Shooter's Sports Bar this Friday and we have your chance to win tickets. 

Listen to the 'Power Morning Show' on Thursday during the 'What's Happening in T-Town ' at 8:30 AM during the local music segment for your chance to win. We have several chances for you to win a pair of tickets.

Since 2008, Saving Abel has embodied the definition of 'Southern Rock'. Even before their “Self Titled” debut LP, they were barnstorming the country making fans everywhere they went, just by being themselves. Simple, down home, charming, country-boys with immeasurable talent that was destined to take them straight to the top. The band was signed by A&R wizard Jason Flom to Capitol records and their first single, “Addicted” did just that, reaching number one on several charts and the follow-up singles “18 Days” and “Drowning” helped sell over 750,000 copies of their debut album.

The band toured heavily in support of this album, playing with Buckcherry and Avenged Sevenfold, and later on Nickelback, in arenas across North America. Night after night, the boys would go back to the bus with their ears ringing from 15,000 fans screaming their lyrics.

Knowing that they would need something great to follow up with, the boys set out to write their sophomore album on Capitol, “Miss America.” Topping the Active Rock and Hard Rock charts yet again with “Sex is Good” and “Stupid Girl” solidified Saving Abel’s place both on the radio and in on the stage. Setting out on their own tour this time, Saving Abel headlined theaters around the country for almost two years non-stop. The group toured with several artists and made a lot of friends along the way, but always kept their focus on the fans, and their eyes toward the future.

When Jason Flom left Capitol, the band did as well. The band signed to a new major label and the band didn’t want to fall into a rut of making the third album sound like the first two. So, Saving Abel returned to its Mississippi origin, adding a depth and soul that could only come from their country roots. Using banjos, mandolins, and a healthy helping of moonshine, Saving Abel went into the studio with a mission to stick with “what they know best,” and wrote an emotional, soulful record that was still rooted in rock-n-roll, but highlighted their classic country roots.

Listening to “Bringing Down The Giant” was as reminiscent of Hank Williams as it was of Elvis Presley. In hindsight, the album was probably a little self-indulgent and while songs like “Constantly” and “Pictures of Elvis” highlighted their softer side and amazing song writing ability, the label and band had creative differences over what to release as a first single and the label won, the result being a mildly successful roll out and the label all but abandoned the band, leaving them in the unusual predicament of not knowing what to do next.

The next steps were difficult and profound, but in the end proved liberating on numerous levels. First the band parted ways with their label and publishing company, those splits were followed by a split with their management, business management and booking agent. The band then hired former Creed, Sevendust, and Paramore manager and Silent Majority Group/ADA label president Jeff Hanson.

Hanson brought in new lead singer Scotty Austin and new drummer Steven Pulley, a new booking agent, fan relations manager, business manager, merch company, and radio promotion team and finally enlisted a new producer, former 12 Stones guitarist and songwriter Justin Rimer.

“Bringing in new faces wasn't done because we were unhappy with the previous team’s performance, I just felt like we should surround ourselves with people who wouldn't be disappointed if we didn't have a gold or platinum record. Those are benchmarks that are much more difficult to achieve than they were five years ago and are honestly unrealistic expectations for anyone," said Hanson.

Hanson next helped the band form its own label in order to move forward on its own terms. The new label was named Tennessippi Whiskey Records since all of the members of the band are from Tennessee and Mississippi and are known for their moderate, but very public, Jack Daniels consumption.

Ditching the tour bus and getting back in a van in order to afford the recording of a new record on off days from their perpetual tour, along with a renewed focus on their live performances and spending time in person and on the internet with their fans, the band saw a resurgence in fan attendance at shows and the number of people following the band on their social media sites.

With the addition of new members Scotty Austin and Steven Pulley to the existing core of Saving Abel, Jason Null, Scott Bartlett, and Eric Taylor, the result of this new lineup and independent attitude of the band has been amazing.

“There is so much excitement being generated on a nightly basis by the fans based on their love of Scotty Austin, it makes it seem like it is 2008 again and we are about to blow up again, and I can’t believe this level of excitement exists all over again” said founding member and guitarist Jason Null.

"Scotty has an autistic child, and seeing the sacrifices he makes every day to make a life for his son makes it a lot easier for me to get back in a van and play smaller venues without complaining after I spent years in arenas on a bus. Him being here really has changed the way all of us view what we do," Null continued.

Scotty Austin said he spent years playing cover gigs, singing four hours a night.

"This is literally a dream come true for me. Playing every night to fans that came to hear and sing along to songs that these guys and I wrote -- I could never get tired of it. It also gives me a small platform to try to draw awareness to autism. If nothing more comes of this than to make my son’s life just a tiny bit better, it will have been worth it. I can’t thank these guys enough for giving me this chance.”

Steven Pulley said he and Austin literally quit their day jobs on the very day they were called about being in the band.

"We were blown away that a nationally recognized band like Saving Abel, who could have gotten any players in America to replace their leaving members, would actually prefer to have a couple of guys like us mainly because we were guys from a small town.

via reverbnation.com

 

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