Ryan Abel Gets A Little Help From His Friends
- Moose Nicholson
- Oct 29
- 6 min read
Ryan Abel and Friends
Ryan Abel is always getting help from his friends — but that’s kind of his superpower. He’s the boisterous ring-leader of Augusta’s music scene, the guy who can rally a couple dozen pros from different projects and somehow make them sound like they’ve been touring together for years. Thursday night on the Bud Light Stage, he did it again. This time it was Michael Baideme on guitar, Brooks Andrews on bass, and Russell Jarad on drums — a lineup pulled from a web of bands that stretches across every bar and stage between here and Broad Street. The setlist felt like a scrapbook of all those connections: Nirvana and Pearl Jam from this year’s Build-a-Band with Kenny George, a nod to Black Dawg with some Zeppelin, and a run through the great American songbook of rock and soul. Ryan didn’t need to rehearse the chemistry — it was already there, baked into years of shared stages, side projects, and brotherhood. His voice cut through the night with that rare blend of polish and rawness only he can pull off — the theater kid who learned to feel the song instead of perform it, and the church singer who never forgot where soul comes from.
They said it was the loudest Amp yet — and they weren’t complaining. It wasn’t noise; it was clarity turned up to eleven. Every piece fed the next: Russell cracking the snare like a starter’s pistol, Brooks laying down a hypnotic, perfectly timed drone of bass that you could feel in your chest, and Baideme’s guitar cutting through it all — screaming, wailing, moaning, whistling — sometimes all in the same phrase. Ryan doesn’t use a monitor. He doesn’t need one. He listens to the band from within the storm — not above it, not outside it. Every front-man flourish doubles as a conductor’s cue, keeping the group perfectly in sync without a word.
The proof of a night like that doesn’t come from me — it’s written all over the comment threads the next morning. “Such a great night of music,” Lisa Kozich wrote, calling it a “powerful music night… thanks to the community of people who show up and help our sponsors.” Karen called them “voicealishous,” which feels about right. Oscar Meire said the vocals were “spot on & some of the best around,” while Laura Meers didn’t mince words — “The best of Amp the Alley.” Even new listeners were chiming in, calling themselves fans by the end of the night. That’s the cycle that keeps this whole thing spinning: the musicians play their hearts out, the sound is right, the crowd shows up, and by morning, everyone’s carrying a piece of it home with them.
At some point in the night, Ryan and Michael slipped into With a Little Help from My Friends, and the words landed like a quiet truth more than a singalong. It wasn’t heavy; it was grounding — a reminder of what holds this whole thing together. Around here, that line isn’t just a lyric. It’s the foundation. Philip Lee’s name still echoes through every show, not in sorrow, but in gratitude — for the friendships, the mentorships, and the music that keep carrying on. That spirit is the real engine of this town’s scene: the artists who show up when someone needs a fill-in, the ones who lend gear, share a stage, or build something new together just because they can.
I’ve felt it firsthand this year — my first season running the show. Every Thursday happens because of the help from my friends. Because Kenny keeps raising the bar on sound. Because of the Karens, Lisas, and Kathys who keep the word spreading. Because of the bartenders, managers, and owners who make space for it all to happen. Because of the photographers like Clint, Andy, and Steve who catch the moments that would otherwise slip by. It’s a pretty incredible group to be part of — a band that doesn’t need instruments to play in harmony.
We’re all in it together — every musician, sponsor, bartender, photographer, and fan who’s kept this thing alive week after week. Tomorrow, we close out the season with even more help from our friends — all of you and Radio Fade, the Amp-alum supergroup made up of members from the Kenny George Band, Radio Source, Zombo, and Whiskey Run. It’s a perfect finale: a band built entirely from the same spirit that’s powered every Thursday this year. So come early, stay late, and help us send it off right. Dress up for Halloween if you’re feeling festive — the louder, the better. Let’s close this season the same way we built it: together, with a little help from our friends.
The Alley
Listen to Tasha's First Podcast Episode!
It’s been something special watching Tasha build her corner of downtown from the ground up. She opened just over a year ago — September 3, 2024 — and in that short time, she’s gone from welcoming her first few customers to becoming one of Aiken’s Best. Along the way, she joined the Amp the Alley family, helping keep the music flowing every Thursday night.
Now she’s adding a new note to her repertoire — the launch of her brand-new podcast, where she dives into wellness, balance, and the stories behind the people who make this town tick.
If you’ve ever stopped in for a boost before a long day — or recovered from one after — you already know how much Downtown Hydration pours back into the community. Now it’s our turn. Follow her, stream the episode, share it around, and help lift up the folks who’ve helped keep seven months of free live music going strong in The Alley.
Rhumba's Third Cocktail Workshop
If you’ve ever wondered how Rhumba’s bartenders make magic in a glass, now’s your chance to learn straight from the source. Their Cocktail Workshop Series is back on November 12th at 6:30 PM, and this round features the Richland—a silky, spirit-forward showstopper that’s become one of the bar’s signatures.
Each guest gets a welcome cocktail, a hands-on lesson in properly building the Richland, an appetizer, and even a little participation gift to take home. Only 12 mixologists-in-training per session, so grab your seat before they’re gone.
Make it a date night, a night out with friends, or just a reason to treat yourself. Rhumba keeps raising the bar—literally and figuratively—for downtown’s cocktail scene.
The Bud Light Stage
True Aiken Spurs As Much Conversation As The Bands.
If you’ve ever spotted the camo hat with the palmetto patch floating around Amp, you already know the one — True Aiken. Their gear is practically part of the Thursday night uniform at this point. I can’t count how many times I’ve been stopped mid-photo or mid-conversation by someone asking where to snag one. Two doors down from Electric Eats on Laurens, they’ve been a loyal first-year sponsor and one of the few shops that keep their lights on late so Amp fans can grab local swag before or after the show. It’s the kind of Aiken pride you can literally wear on your sleeve — or your head.
Halloween Weekend Downtown
It’s Halloween weekend in Aiken, which means downtown’s about to get a little louder — and a lot weirder (in the best way).
Rhumba is going all-in Friday night with spooky cocktails, a costume contest, DJ Charlie spinning from 7:00 PM, and that signature mix of rum, rhythm, and rich flavors that keeps their crowd coming back. It’s the kind of party that makes even the ghosts want a reservation — so grab a table early if you can.
In The Alley, Southbound Smokehouse is stretching the celebration across the whole weekend — Thursday through Saturday. Karaoke with Kyla kicks off each night, and Friday’s late-night costume contest should be pure chaos in the best possible sense.
And let’s be real — every bar and restaurant downtown will be full of costumed regulars and good trouble. Come dressed up at Amp, stick around for the afterparties then again on Friday, and keep it rolling through Saturday. It’s Halloween, Aiken-style — which is to say, community, cocktails, and a little rock ‘n’ roll.
Tomorrow: Radio Fade
It's the last show of the 2025 season, and it features the both the debut and the return of Radio Fade! What in the hell does that even mean? It is Radio Fade's first appearance on the Bud Light Stage as a band, but every single member has been on this stage this season. This supergroup is made up of parts of Keny George Band, Zombo, Radio Source, and Whiskey Run. So it's not just bands from this past season, but all of your favorites and they are going to be playing all of your favorites!
It's the night before Halloween, so come out dressed up and let's make this the biggest night of the season!
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