Photo Credit: Raymond Goodman

Kenny Roby

While fronting North Carolina's 6 String Drag, the short-lived but highly influential Americana outfit (which also featured local guy Rob Keller, now of The Welfare Liners), Kenny Roby crafted literate, Southern gothic-inspired rock tunes with more than a hint of soul. Now, flying solo, he does much the same, though the volume is down a notch, replaced by Roby's meditative croon. Memories & Birds is his first solo record since 2007, and it is a stark and beautiful beast inspired by the darker corners of the soul. Talented South Carolina songwriter Tony Tidwell is preparing to release an album on Athens' Ghostmeat records. The two locals on Friday's bill—Mikey Dwyer's longstanding Starter Kits project and Vespolina's Dan Aaron—make pretty damn fine beer-drinking music, too.