MMS Trio at Southbound Smokehouse
- Moose Nicholson
- 11 minutes ago
- 7 min read
MMS Trio Rocks Southbound
Sometimes the most electric shows come in the most unexpected packages: a three-piece band in a barbecue joint during a thunderstorm.
Sometimes, the best way to support downtown isn’t by planning perfectly—it’s by adapting relentlessly.
Because at the end of the day, it's not about the weather—it’s about who’s willing to pivot, hustle, and make it happen anyway.
That’s what happened last Thursday when we moved Amp the Alley indoors to Southbound Smokehouse. The radar was flashing red at 4 and again at 6, and while the sky never opened up completely, it spit just enough to make us trust our gut—and trust our community to roll with it.
Southbound Stepped Up
Within minutes of the rain threat, Southbound said yes. No hesitation. Even with karaoke planned for later that night, they opened the doors, cleared the stage, and made room for Amp. Why? Because that’s what independent business owners do—they hustle, adapt, and show up, rain or shine.
It’s a kind of flexibility you don’t get from big box stores or corporate chains. You know the ones—closed registers, credit card systems “down,” empty shelves and zero accountability.
The opposite of community.
The people running these downtown businesses? They’re your neighbors. They’re looking out for their staff just like they’re looking out for you. Making sure nobody loses hours. Making sure the lights stay on. Making sure the music still plays.
And Thursday night, the music absolutely played.
Enter the MMS Trio
Let’s set the scene: three unassuming guys from Columbia walk into a BBQ joint… and proceed to absolutely level the place.
Meet MMS Trio:
Geoff Shackley – drums and lead vocals
Ben Moody – bass
Drew Medlin – guitar
Yes, you read that right—Geoff sings every song while holding down the drums. Not backup vocals. Not harmonies. The full set. Start to finish.
And this wasn’t some easygoing acoustic set either. We’re talking full-throttle rock vocals—while drumming—on songs like:
Molly Hatchet – “Flirting with Disaster”
Billy Idol – “Rebel Yell”
The Allman Brothers – “Midnight Rider” and “Whipping Post”
Tears for Fears – “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”
The Darkness – “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”
Peter Gabriel – “Sledgehammer”
Redbone – “Come and Get Your Love”
Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Free Bird”
… and yes, Deep Purple’s “Highway Star,” which is essentially a speed-metal opera.
Geoff hit every note. Loud. Clean. Unrelenting.
It was the kind of show where you keep turning to your friends mid-song and going: “Wait—is this actually happening?!”
A Little Bit of Everything, a Whole Lot of Fun
“Raise your hand if you had a 3-piece with a drummer singing lead vox covering Highway Star by Deep Purple on your Amp the Alley bingo card.” — Kenny George
“All the way BAD ASS… these muthas SMOKED! So glad I got off my ass and came to see ’em!” — Michael Aiken
“They kept surprising me with the set list, nearly every song!” — Kevin Hair
“Holy crap … that high note… that’s it .. I quit 🤪” — Tim Faulkner
This wasn’t just good. This was one of those shows that makes you remember how fun live music can be. Loud, loose, and full of surprise.
You can’t always control the weather.
You can’t always control the turnout.
But what you can control—what we’ve seen time and again from the businesses, the bands, and the people of downtown Aiken—is how you respond.
Southbound didn’t flinch.
The band didn’t miss a beat.
And you still showed up.
That’s what makes Amp the Alley more than a concert series—it’s a weekly reminder that downtown works because we all keep adapting. Business owners pivot. Staff hustle. Bands flex. Audiences follow the music wherever it goes.
And together, we make something uniquely local, wildly resilient, and worth celebrating.
🙌 Show Some Love
Want to keep this going? Support the folks who make it happen:
Order the drink.
Grab the BBQ.
Follow the Band's Social Media
Say thanks to the bartender, the sound guy, the cook, the band.
And tag a friend who missed it—so they don’t next time.
Share the blog. Tag the band. Support your downtown.
Downtown Hydration Changing Lives
I wanted to include this awesome post by Tiffany McGhee about Downtown Hydration! "🌟 Local Business Spotlight: Downtown Hydration 🌟 This place has truly changed my life—and I don’t say that lightly! Since starting IV therapy at Downtown Hydration, I’ve lost weight, my energy levels are through the roof, and I genuinely feel better every day. My medications are finally working the way they should—because I’m hydrated and nourished from the inside out. You’ll meet with Tasha, a knowledgeable and compassionate nurse practitioner who tailors every plan to fit your unique needs. One of my favorite treatments? Red light therapy—it helps me sleep like a baby and leaves me feeling calm and recharged. But the real game-changer for me? Glutathione + MICC + B12. It curbs cravings, boosts my energy, and gives me the best sleep. It’s my weekly must-have! Be warned… it’s addictively awesome. But in the best way. 😉 Go check it out—you’ll be so glad you did!"
Check out this beefy mower at Reft Equipment!
Here's your chance to return the favor! Vote for our partners!
Vote for the Ones Who Show Up – Every Thursday and Beyond
There’s a lot to love about Downtown Aiken—the charm, the music, the food, the people. But behind every Thursday night at Amp the Alley is a network of small, independent businesses that keep the lights on, keep the music playing, and keep showing up... even when things get messy.
Last week, it wasn’t the weather that threatened the show—it was the water. Brown. Murky. The kind of issue that would’ve been an easy excuse to shut it down and go home early. But instead of closing up shop, our sponsors made the call to stay open. Because you show up for them—and they wanted to return the favor.
That’s what makes these businesses different. They’re not just downtown to cash in. They give back. They support the culture, the music, the people, and the community spirit that makes Aiken feel like home.
And right now, we have a chance to show them how much that matters.
🗳️ Vote in the 2025 Aiken’s Choice Awards
Many of our sponsors are nominated in this year’s Aiken’s Choice—and we’d love to see them win. Not just for the bragging rights, but because it proves something bigger:
That giving back works.
That community investment matters.
That supporting local isn’t just trendy—it’s powerful.
If all of our Amp sponsors take home wins, it sends a message. To the rest of downtown. To new businesses. To sponsors considering getting involved next year. It shows that the businesses who pour into their community get noticed—and get supported right back.
Because when more businesses give back, downtown doesn’t just survive—it thrives.
And when Amp the Alley thrives, so does Aiken.
✅ How to Vote:
🗓️ You can vote once per day from now until July 18th
📝 You must complete at least 25% of the ballot for your votes to count
📱 One vote per device per day
🗳️ Vote here: postandcourier.com/aikenstandard/contests/aikenschoice/#
Greeting from “Pepin” the cigar gnome!
True Aiken: Local Mischief in Shirt Form
You’ve probably seen me at Amp in this shirt—and if not this one, then one of the many True Aiken hats or tees in my regular rotation. It’s more than just local merch. It’s part of the uniform for anyone who claims downtown Aiken as home base.
The Whiskey & Easy Street tee has officially been restocked, and yes, it’s just as sharp in person. Whether the stories about bootleggers blazing down Whiskey Road are fact or folklore, this shirt wears like a legend.
And while you’re grabbing one, do the neighborly thing: swing by on a Thursday night.
True Aiken keeps the lights on late for Amp the Alley—another example of a local business adjusting to support the community around it. That kind of effort deserves more than just a nod. It deserves a visit.
📍146 Laurens St SW, Downtown Aiken
🕥 Open Mon–Sat 10:30–5:30 | Open Late Thursdays
1st Taste of Aiken Live Cooking Show
What you see on stage at Amp the Alley every week is only half the story.
The other half? It’s being written behind the line at places like Whiskey Alley, where Chef Chad takes the same spirit that drives the music—energy, risk, instinct—and plates it.
Saturday night’s Taste of Aiken Cooking Show wasn’t just a showcase of culinary talent—it was a reminder of how far one chef’s imagination can reach when it’s backed by skill, discipline, and a deep love for this community.
Chad doesn’t just push boundaries—he redraws them. And as an Amp sponsor from day one, Whiskey Alley has helped fuel the heartbeat of downtown, both in the kitchen and in the Alley.
Here’s to the kind of creativity that connects it all.
Tomorrow: King Size
I don't even need to tell you that you don't want to miss King Size... becase you know you don't want to miss King Size. The Amp vets and crowd favorites are back to rock the Bud Light Stage.
🎉 Happy 40th to Kenny George! 🎉
From day one of Amp the Alley, Kenny George has been part of the sound—on stage, in the crowd, leading the charge as a performer long before he ever stepped behind the board.
This week, we celebrate more than just a birthday—we celebrate a whole new season of life. Kenny just turned 40, recently became a new dad, and (as if that wasn’t enough excitement) he and Aly from Aiken’s Barbershop—one of our incredible sponsors—are already expecting baby #2!
From songwriting to fatherhood, stage lights to diaper duty, Kenny brings the same passion, grit, and grounded joy into everything he does.
We’re lucky to know him. Aiken’s lucky to have him. And Amp wouldn’t be Amp without him.
Drop some love in the comments and raise a glass to 40 years of rhythm, roots, and rock & roll.
Happy Birthday, Kenny.
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