Athfest 2012: Emily Hearn and the Greys kick things off

Saturday, June 23rd, 2012

The Greys & Emily Hearn

Saturday, I woke up jazzed for another day at Athfest.  After an uphill trek to the festival in the blistering heat, I settled into a seat near the Hull Street Stage to catch some tunes from the Monsignor Donovan Ram Jam winning band The Greys.  Watching their set, it was no surprise to me that they had won that aforementioned battle of the bands. These guys owned the stage with their pop rock sound, and some of their songs had a bit of a tropical feel which set them apart from the rest.  It's always nice to start your day with a quality show!

Then it was time for some beautiful melodies from Emily Hearn over on the Pulaski Street Stage.  Having heard a few of her recordings before, I thought I was prepared for the incredible sweetness of her voice, but the moment she opened her mouth, I knew I was wrong.  There was a striking purity in her vocals that resonated through me as she sang and immediately captivated the audience. What a voice!  Apparently she only started writing music and singing onstage three years ago, but without a doubt, she was born to do this.  She and her awesome backing band added a few covers to her set including amazing renditions of Best of You by Foo Fighters and a song from Garden State.  My absolute favorites, though, just had to be her original songs, especially Love Charade, the song I managed to get a (shaky) video of, and her hit Rooftop.  Word on the street is, actor Bill Murray loved that song so much,  he took part in her music video.  How cool is that!  Then, much too soon, she was announcing her final song. As her set wound a close, Emily encouraged the crowd to sing along, and many people joined in most joyfully.  It was indeed a touching end to her show. There's no doubt about it, I absolutely MUST see her perform again sometime soon!

  For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, check out our show footage and Athfest vlogs up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well!