Ethan Stallings Group: Foundations and Fire
- Moose Nicholson
- Aug 6
- 6 min read
The Debut of the Ethan Stallings Group
It feels like some cruel joke as I've started writing this and it is 68° outside! I immediately mowed the lawn and started a bonfire, anticipating the rubberband snap of nature that seems to have us wondering every week if we will be victims of some solar revenge or a mythic flood the likes of which sunk Atlantis. Also, I'm in my office typing instead of being outside and enjoying it. It's probably a smart move so that I'm not too spoiled yet... but it's coming. Cool air, football, hunting season, falling leaves, oyster roasts, polo, Thanksgiving... hoodies... God I miss hoodies. I bet True Aiken will have some awesome hoodies... I digress.
On a sultry Thursday evening, Amp the Alley eased into the night slowly, the crowd drifting in with the leisurely pace characteristic of recent warm evenings. Yet, those who arrived early and stayed late witnessed an undeniable magic unfolding—the debut of The Ethan Stallings Group on the Bud Light Stage, four young musicians whose quiet, effortless presence belied their lack of banter and underscored their profound confidence in the music itself.
Ethan Stallings, wielding his guitar as naturally as breathing, melded vocals and riffs in an alchemical fusion reminiscent of Hendrix, Mayer, and Steely Dan—slick, soulful, and dazzlingly inventive. Zack Hannah laid down bass lines that slipped effortlessly into TJ Barnes' vibrant keys, creating a funk-infused tapestry. Andrew Fowler’s drumming was a lesson in subtle brilliance; his rhythm section precise yet expressive, echoing the nuanced style of Carter Beauford—punctuated by unpredictable yet perfectly timed flourishes. None of it was flashy; it was understated, like a hypnotist gently implanting suggestions unnoticed, drawing listeners deeper into their spell with a pull so smooth it escaped notice.
Their setlist was a sonic kaleidoscope—classics reimagined, transformed into moments of revelation. Elton John’s "Bennie and the Jets" found new swagger, Paul Simon's "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" shimmered with vibrant harmony, and Vanessa Carlton’s "A Thousand Miles" was reinvented into a guitar-driven odyssey, eliciting audible surprise and collective awe.
Keith Jenkins, former guitarist of The James Brown Band, recently lauded their original song "Who You Know": "Can’t not share this! Alright, I take back some of what I said about the young generation. Or at least it doesn’t apply to these exceptional young cats who are just doing it!" Jenkins' praise felt like a prophetic nod as the audience swayed, fully entranced by music that felt at once entirely fresh and deeply familiar.
Watching these musicians comfortably weaving together familiar notes into something completely novel, one couldn't help but sense an organic resonance with Aiken itself. The city quietly thrives on reinvention, gracefully blending horses, golf, and Southern charm into something uniquely vibrant yet comfortably recognizable.
Downtown's heartbeat mirrors this spirit daily—Whiskey Alley infuses bootlegging lore into the backdrop for Aiken’s best burger; Mellow Mushroom channels groovy 60’s influences into its artisanal pizzas, crafted with modern culinary flair. Aiken’s Barbershop revitalizes one of humanity’s oldest trades with fresh, trendy cuts, while Tasha at Downtown Hydration reawakens the town’s historical reputation as a healing destination through contemporary intravenous therapies. Rhumba rejuvenates classic Latin rhythms, cuisine, and cigar traditions, and REFT Equipment provides modern American-made technology to preserve and enhance local landscapes. Woodchuckers merges Viking and Native American traditions into an entertaining pastime; True Aiken curates modern trends infused with heartfelt nostalgia. Southbound Smokehouse blends iconic Southern cuisine with vibrant cocktails and live music, and Electric Eats breathes new life into a cherished downtown landmark. Aiken is built on and made unique by the blend of all of the things built on the familiar and made our own, working together in tandem and making something completely new - rooted in old.
As the final notes lingered and faded into the warm night air, the question wasn’t if they'd return but when. Ethan Stallings and his bandmates had quietly but powerfully reminded us: they were magicians conjuring melodies from the ether, showing us the true magic that lies where the known meets the unknown, firmly resting upon the foundations laid by the past. After all, would you keep tuning into the same radio station every day if all it played was the Bee Gees? They have their place, but greatness is continually made by building on the best of the past.
Brand New Man
Aiken has long been known as a place of retreat and renewal—once a haven for the Winter Colony elite in search of fresh air and healing springs. That legacy continues today, thanks in part to Downtown Hydration, where modern science meets timeless self-care.
If you’ve been feeling like your spark has dimmed—low energy, foggy focus, or that creeping sense that you’re just not operating at full capacity—Tasha and her team are offering more than just hydration. They’re helping men rediscover their edge. Through testosterone optimization and other wellness therapies, Downtown Hydration is quietly revitalizing the modern man, one drip at a time.
In a town that honors its past while charging boldly forward, it only makes sense that even our wellness scene carries echoes of history—reimagined and refined. This isn’t just self-care. It’s a return to form.
Some Weather Never Changes
Sweater weather may take its sweet time arriving in Aiken, but "Whiskey Weather"? That’s a forecast you can count on year-round. At True Aiken, they don’t just sell hats—they bottle up the city’s vibe and stitch it into something wearable.
The new "Whiskey Weather" trucker cap is more than just a cheeky nod to our collective fondness for bourbon and fall—it’s a declaration of local identity. Whether you're heading to brunch, to the barn, or just back porch sittin’, it’s a look that says you know exactly where you are and why that matters.
With sweaters on the way and shelves stocked with curated Southern goods, True Aiken isn’t just a shop—it’s a time capsule of the present. A place where trends meet roots, and where you’re always dressed for the season—even if the weather hasn’t caught up yet.
Looks like Moose is getting a new hat...
Ethan Stallings Group
Flights & Bites Dinner with High Wire Distilling
There are dinners, and then there are evenings like this. Whiskey Alley’s Flights & Bites isn’t just a meal—it’s a masterclass in pairing, where the culinary and the distilled become co-conspirators in a night of discovery.
This month’s edition features High Wire Distilling Co., a Charleston-based distillery known for its heirloom grains and small-batch commitment to craft. Paired with a coursed menu from Chef Chad—each plate meticulously designed to elevate the spirits poured beside it—the result is a sequence of moments that border on alchemy.
Expect more than just great food and drink. Expect conversation. Expect surprise. Expect that quiet moment where everything clicks—the bite, the sip, the story behind it all. That’s the Flights & Bites promise: not just an evening out, but a deeper appreciation for the art of intention.
There are a few tickets left for this limited seating event, get yours nows before they sell out!
Aug 20th @ 6pm
Dinners are $145 a seat, save your spot with a $20 deposit.
Burger & Brew Special!
Some lunches are just about grabbing a bite. Others—like the ones at Rhumba—are about stepping into a different rhythm entirely. Just a short walk from the music of The Alley, Rhumba offers a midday escape where the flavors are as bold and relaxed as the tunes drifting from its cigar lounge.
Their $15 lunch special, offered every Friday and Saturday from 11:30 to 4, isn’t just a good deal—it’s an invitation to reset. Surrounded by the scents of expertly spiced dishes and the soulful echoes of old-world Latin music, Rhumba transforms a simple lunch into a short-form siesta.
It’s a place where tradition meets a modern palette, where every plate comes with a side of ambiance, and where the only thing more satisfying than the flavor is the feeling that maybe, just maybe, this is what lunch was always supposed to be.
Tomorrow: Trae Pierce & The T-Stones
If last week’s performance was about groove and subtle mastery, this week promises something altogether more explosive.
Trae Pierce & The T-Stones roll into town carrying decades of showmanship and stage cred. A four-time Grammy winner and veteran of stages shared with James Brown, Peter Gabriel, and The Blind Boys of Alabama, Trae Pierce isn’t just a bassist—he’s a genre-bending force of nature. Expect slide bass, talkbox vocals, and more funk than The Alley might be ready for.
Trae’s resume reads like a Hall of Fame plaque, but his presence is anything but retrospective. His current project, The T-Stones, blends hip-hop, rock, funk, soul, and wild musical wizardry into a party you didn’t know your week was missing.
So bring your friends. Wear shoes you can move in. And maybe show up a little early this time. You don’t want to be the one who missed the moment the Bud Light Stage caught fire.
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