Red Clay Live Concert Venue a Hit

Anyone whose concert experience has been limited to sitting in nosebleed seats, peering at a miniscule stage with tiny performers, and listening to music so loud it’s distorted is in for an up-close encounter with the acts at the Red Clay Theatre in Duluth where “Eddie Owen Presents” is staging concerts in an intimate 250-seat setting with pristine acoustics.

Owen, founder of Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, recently signed a contract with the city of Duluth to stage live music acts at the theatre. He presented his first two concerts by Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers Friday and Saturday (Dec. 2,3). In the debut concert Friday night, Red Clay was almost full.

Big banners posted outside the theatre proclaimed “The Red Clay Theatre Eddie Owen Presents” and “R,” “C,” “T” for Red Clay Theatre.

Hood’s performance attracted local folks and fans of his songs and the popular Athens-based band. He was accompanied by Drive-By Truckers band members Jay Gonzalas on keyboard and accordion and Brad Morgan on drums. They played without a break from 8:15 p.m. until past 10:30 p.m. Instead of one encore number, they did at least three more.

The opening night audience included Duluth Economic Development Manager Chris McGahee and new Duluth City Manager Tim Shearer. David Cossette and Shelly Howard, who attended a concert at Eddie’s Attic a while back and convinced Owen to take a look at the Red Clay Theatre, came with family and friends. Also in attendance and loving the concert was Bobbie Flowers, proprietor of Luv for Art, one of several new businesses that have opened on Main Street near the theatre.

Pure Taqueria sold beer and wine and soft drinks from a bar in the lobby to concert-goers who were allowed to carry their beverages into the theatre. Owen is in the process of obtaining his beer and wine license and should have it in a couple of weeks.

There were also two brand spanking new bathrooms in the lobby. In the theatre, the seating rows had been repositioned in time for the first two concerts so there was more leg room for the audience.

Owen’s wife Allena Owen and business partner David Mattingly showed their support by attending the opening. The Owen children, Clark, Eamon and Lucy Blair, ushered and performed other duties to help out. Music promotor Alex Cooley attended the Saturday night concert. Owen warmly welcomed the audience to his new venue and introduced Hood.

Fans came from all over the Atlanta metro area and from farther away. Several planned to attend both night’s concerts.

“I’m thrilled all of you came,” said Hood. “I’m excited about tomorrow night, too.”

Patrick McSpadden drove all the way from Valdosta, got a hotel room and intended to come back Saturday night. Sean Phillips of Dalton knew the titles of the songs Hood performed and the words to all of them, except a few new ones. He sang along quietly from his seat in the front row. Matt Smith of Roswell shared a wealth of information about Drive-By Truckers and Hood after the concert.

The concert was informal. Wearing jeans and a chambray shirt, Hood sat on a wooden chair, drank a couple of long neck beers and sipped on a glass partially filled with Maker’s Mark during his performance.

A singer and a songwiter, Hood introduced his songs with stories that inspired him to write the lyrics. He told about growing up at the family farm in Alabama, the antics of his catastrophe-prone friend Billy Ringo, coming to terms with becoming a father, his family’s sadness when he leaves to go on tour, and the recent death of his beloved Great-Uncle George who helped raise him.

He opened with “Bulldozers and Dirt” and proceeded to play his guitar and sing other songs including “Disappear,” “12:01,” “Heathens,” “The Opening Act,” “Better Than the Truth,” “Grandaddy,” “After the Scene Dies,” “Don’t Be in Love Around Me,” “Sinkhole,” ‘Six O’Clock Train,” Old-Timer’s Disease,” “Sandwiches for the Road,” “Sands of Iwo Jima,” “Leaving Time,” and “Mercy Buckets.” He also performed the title song from a new album “Heat Lightning Rumble in the Distance.”

After the concert, Hood sat on the floor at the edge of the stage signing autographs, album covers and CDs for fans.

Cumming couple Mark and Pam Stubbs experienced the concert from the front row. “I’m a big fan of Drive-By Truckers. I recently started listening to some of his [Hood’s] solo stuff, and I think he’s amazing,” Mark Stubbs said when the concert was over.

Gus and Mollie Callaway came to Duluth from LaGrange to catch Hood’s performance. “I think we’re coming back tomorrow night,” Gus said.

Owen has concerts booked at Red Clay Theatre into February. Go to the Eddie Owen Presents website to see the line-up of performers and to order tickets. Tickets range from $20 to $30.