Savannah Sunday Reminds us to Show Up
- Moose Nicholson
- Sep 17
- 5 min read
Savannah Sunday
This week was hard. I didn’t even really want to do this. I thought about just posting the gallery, typing “the band did a good job,” and calling it a day. Not out of duty. Not for any noble purpose. Just out of exhaustion.
It’s been an onslaught since before Savannah Sunday even showed up to load in. First the pundits I probably watch too much. Then the self-anointed pundits, who I probably read too much. And last week was different.
It was the anniversary of 9/11. The day when our country came together, flew the flag on every car, hugged each other, revered first responders, rallied behind Bush, and joined the military. It was before Facebook. It was the only time I ever donated blood — in the clinically sterile environment of the old gym at Aiken High. Looking back, it's shocking I survived that.
This day was different.
The anxiety was the same — which is weird if you think about it, or maybe not if you really think about it. Back then, most of us weren’t bankers, financiers, international traders. We couldn’t claim to be targets. It didn't matter, we were all Americans. But today, nearly all of us live like pundits with a keyboard. Quick to post, quick to react, with the false confidence of an Etch A Sketch when it’s really more like Sharpie on a porta-potty wall. Forever there, forever crude. So even if only one person was killed, it felt like all of us were under attack.
But it didn’t bring us together the way 9/11 did. Which is a wild sentence to even type. I practically just said, “Remember when two thousand nine hundred and seventy-six innocent souls died, and that feels like the good old days?” That’s a f*<k!ng crazy thought for me to have — but also not untrue to how I felt. That’s why I didn’t want to write this week. It already felt like there had been enough writing.
Enough pontificating.
Enough finger wagging.
Enough name-calling.
Then came the vigil announcement. Downtown Aiken, Monday night, in front of SRP Bank. People shared it, invited others. And then there were the folks who had to make sure you knew they wouldn’t be there. Comment after comment: “You won’t catch me at that.” Ironic, really — announcing you won’t be seen at an event, just to make sure your comment is seen with the event. Noble protest, I guess.
If the KKK were holding a rally next week, you wouldn’t see me there, and I don't have to let you know you won't see me there. Same with Victoria’s Secret. I won’t be there either. No need to issue a challenge, as if I will suddenly don a beanie, striped sweater, and round glasses while I try to blend in with a rack of neglegees in hopes of lowering your chances of actually catching me there. I'm just not going to be there.
The sharing of the vigil didn’t feel lonely — it felt inviting. It felt like community. And spoiler alert: nobody caught me there. I wasn’t there. But I saw the photos. There were a ton of people. It looked like an Amp crowd. An Aiken crowd. Our crowd.
And that’s the line through all of this. You can say plenty of mean things with a keyboard. Easy to admonish. Easy to preach. I’ve read things last week from some of my sweetest friends I never imagined they’d say out loud amongst friends. But Savannah Sunday didn’t go there. Armed with a microphone and superior sound thanks to Kenny George, they took a moment of silence, made a dedication, and then gave the people exactly what they needed: not sermons, just fellowship.
The cure wasn’t another argument. It was community.
And community showed up. A tambourine that started on stage ended up in the crowd, bouncing from kids to Lisa, practically becoming the fifth member of the band. Neighbors shouted every chorus — Don’t Stop Believing, You Shook Me All Night Long, Freebird. Robb left the stage mid-song, weaving through the crowd shoulder to shoulder, singing like he belonged there as much as anyone.
Karen Bunney — our weekly muse — shared a moment with a toddler lucky enough not to have a newsfeed to drag her down, so she lived in the moment instead of the comments. Two people at opposite ends of life, both lit up by the same song — and eachother.
The originals were there too — Start from the Beginning, My Dog Rides Shotgun, Impressed. Crowd pleasers that blended seamlessly with the classics. Lisa Kozich summed it up later: “A fun dancing nite and tambourine kinda nite!!”
Savannah Sunday didn't deliver a polished studio set. They’re four great musicians who refuse to let the party die by getting caught up in the nuances of every little detail. And this week, that’s what we needed most. They brought a set that worked like a deep-tissue massage — releasing the anxiety, loosening the tension, reminding us how good it feels to be together.
The vigil. The Alley. Two expressions of the same truth: when we show up, we’re stronger, we're happier, more understanding, more connected, and more loving. Savannah Sunday gave us the good times that make the hard times bearable. And that’s why I wanted to write after all.
Invite everyone to come. Tell em you'll be there — so they can see you.
The Alley
Gut check, Aiken.
Downtown Hydration’s Core Restore Gut Reset has been the talk of the week — and for good reason. When your gut is balanced, everything else follows:
More energy + better mood
Clearer focus + fewer colds
Sustainable weight loss + hormone balance
It’s not just about what you eat — it’s about whole-body wellness.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to start, this is it. You have to show up for your health first.
Opa!
Electric Eats has spent the past few months reimagining their upstairs, and The Lounge has quickly become one of downtown’s freshest new hangouts.
Now they’re bringing the energy up another notch with My Big Fat Greek Weekend — September 19th & 20th. Expect bold flavors, fresh bites, Mediterranean flair, and plenty to raise a glass to.
The Lounge keeps proving itself week after week — but to really experience it? You have to show up.
The Bud Light Stage
New Hats!
🧢 New hats just dropped at True Aiken — and trust me, they’re sharp. The one in the photo? That’s my newest “new Aiken hat,” already in heavy rotation.
And if you caught me last week in the “Aiken: a drinking town with a horse problem” shirt — yep, that was True Aiken too. They just keep the hits coming.
📍 146 Laurens St SW, Downtown Aiken
🕐 Mon–Sat 10:30–5:30 | Open late Thursdays
Gear this good doesn’t stay on the shelves long. If you want yours, you have to show up.
Tell em Moose sent ya!
🔥 Rhumba Monthly Subscription 🔥
Each month, cigar aficionado Elier Alberto handpicks 5 extraordinary cigars from around the globe — curated to expand your palate and elevate your ritual.
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Because cigars are more than smoke — they’re a reason to slow down, connect, and share the moment. And to really experience it? You have to show up.
📍 Rhumba, 321 Richland Ave W
📞 803.226.0014 | 📧 rhumbaaiken@gmail.com
Tomorrow: County Road 49
Tomorrow night, the Bud Light Stage is where you need to be for County Road 49! Kenny is guaranteeing a great show - they'e got his stamp of approval! Here's a little promo video from the guys.
See you all tomorrow!
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