Leah & the Aviators rise above expectations at Sidebar

Although Brad Paisley was playing a free show on Langford Green last Thursday, many Tallahassee music lovers chose to wander into the green hue emerging from the Sidebar to enjoy the material being played by local artists. With a diverse lineup featuring performances by Leah & the Aviators, Pleasant Peasant and In Between, those who managed to resist the temptation of seeing the country music star witnessed a lively demonstration of variety and skill by musicians from the Tallahassee community.

The level of energy and support provided by those in attendance confirms that the music scene in Tallahassee is not only dependent on the talented artists that create such original material, but also on the loyal fans who choose to come out and watch those local artists perform.

Pleasant Peasant opened up the event with their entertaining combination of funk, soul and blues. Being veterans of the local music scene, the group put on a great show that was comprised of funky rhythms and electrifying guitar solos. In Between followed with a powerful performance that mixed elements of hard rock with experimental music. Intricate guitar melodies played over complex rhythms worked to energize the crowd and prepare them for the unique showcase of music that was in store for the night.

Leah & The Aviators, the main act of the event, were greeted with cheers and applause erupting from the crowd as the musicians stepped onto the stage. Several members of the audience could be found wearing blue and red shirts with the band’s name printed boldly on the shirt along with a small white biplane flying around the letters.

As soon as the group launched into their first song, it became evident that the level of support coming from the crowd was justified. By effectively blending their folk, alternative rock, funk and jazz influences together, the group’s material sounded unique and incredibly polished for a band that is only several years old. This impressive combination of genres is also unexpected considering that all of the members came here from Key Largo, Florida.

“I grew up in a small town.” Leah Sutter, the band’s vocalist and acoustic guitarist, says. “It is an amazing feeling to be welcomed by my peers up here.”

Throughout the performance, the crowd remained active and responsive. During the group’s energetic cover of “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, one could find several of the attendees swing dancing near the front of the stage. Overall, the event exemplified the Tallahassee community’s ability to not only accept, but to outright support musicianship that spans across a dazzling array of genres. Whether the music is derived from blues, hard rock or folk, the venues and fans that support the local music community have proven that they do not discriminate against talented artists creating original material.

“I’ve been to a bunch of venues here and they all support a lot of genres.” The band’s lead guitarist, Nyan Feder says. “If you get into contact with them, they are willing to work with you.”

If you are interested in listening to Leah & The Aviators, they have an EP titled, Air Ride that is currently available on iTunes and Spotify. The band is also playing at Garages On Gaines for this year’s Gaines Street Fest on November 7 at 9:20 p.m.

Pleasant Peasant will also be performing material from their EP titled, Kickback at Gaines Street Fest. They are currently scheduled to play Garages On Gaines at 11:50 p.m.