Athens' Southern Bitch have been throwing up a tornado of grit for three years -- though you may not have noticed their funnel cloud until recently. But with an energetic new album, Thunderbolt, and profile-building gigs with the Drive-By Truckers, Southern Bitch just might be blowin' up while they're blowin' by.
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Adam Musick moved to Athens in 1996 -- though he and his wife, guitarist/vocalist Wendy Musick, actually met at recording school in Phoenix. The punchy roots rock of the Musicks, along with bassist Chuck Bradburn and drummer Patrick Ferguson, was recently committed to tape with the help of David Barbe at Chase Park Transduction. "He's the punch-in master," says Adam. "He can do punches with his feet while he plays a lick. We played a lot of wiffleball, too."

With Thunderbolt, Southern Bitch set out to create the kind of universal record Adam grew up loving.

"There are certain albums you can put on and listen to from beginning to end. Blood Sugar Sex Magik -- that's one, not that we sound like that. Pearl Jam's 10. Neil Young's Harvest. Pretty much any AC/DC or Rolling Stones."

With a sound akin to the Truckers, Jason and the Scorchers and Blue Rodeo's less psychedelic moments, Southern Bitch's Thunderbolt is more electrifying than mere flash and sizzle. -- TONY WARE

Southern Bitch plays Smith's Olde Bar Sat., Aug. 10.