Emory Village’s Vibrant Music Scene

Athens is well-known for turning out popular music acts like REM and the B-52s, but many people today don’t know that Emory Village once had its own vibrant music scene. 

It was centered around the Dugout, a bar and restaurant owned by the Landau family in the late 1980s. That property now houses Chase Bank, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Chipotle. (Older folks will remember when the same spot was the popular five-and-dime Horton’s.)

A number of nationally known Atlanta acts got their start or played at the Dugout, including Michelle Malone, who performed free with her band Canyonland on April 22 as part of the Coca-Cola Clean Up the Creek event. Malone has toured Europe and America, and shared the stage in her hometown with Gregg Allman, Chuck Leavell, Randall Bramblett, the Atlanta Symphony and Atlanta Pops Orchestras, Drivin' n' Cryin', Indigo Girls, and Kristian Bush. 

The Indigo Girls played the Dugout weekly when Emily Saliers and Amy Ray were students at Emory University. The duo is best known for folk-rock songs such as “Closer to Fine” and “Galileo.”

Then known as Mr. Crowe’s Garden, the Black Crowe’s were a regular presence. They later went on to have rock hits like “Hard to Handle” and “She Talks to Angels.”

Drivin’ n’ Cryin’ was another rock act performing at the Dugout, and sometimes lead singer Kevin Kinney played on his own. They are best remembered for “Fly Me Courageous” and “Honeysuckle Blue.”

Internationally known rhythm and blues guitarist Tinsley Ellis also played the Dugout with his previous band, the Heartfixers, which featured Chicago Bob Nelson on vocals and harmonica.

Other Village music connections

After Horton’s and before becoming the Dugout, Doodah’s Records and Tapes briefly occupied the same space. A young Peter Buck worked there before leaving for Athens and forming REM. The original Doodah’s stood near Domino’s Pizza before burning down.

Emory Village is also home to RailroadEarth, a recording studio and art venue run by Neil Fried. Michelle Malone recorded there in 2000 with her then-lead guitarist John Mayer, who went on to fame and has had multiple hits. The Indigo Girls also recorded at RailRoadEarth with folk singer Gerald McGugh, as did classical musician Andrew Bird. Internationally known electronic music composer and performer Pauline Oliveros worked on several projects with Neil Fried at RailroadEarth.