Twenty years ago, the Atlanta Rhythm Section lit up the Chautauqua Festival in Wytheville in what was promised to be one of the most exciting performances our hometown summer tradition had ever seen. By all accounts, it was. Unfortunately, I missed it—my father was undergoing open-heart surgery in Cleveland, and I was staying with a relative who couldn’t take me to the show.
Two decades later, I finally had another chance to see this legendary rock ’n’ roll group in my hometown. This time, it was in the beautifully restored Millwald Theatre, playing to a sold-out crowd of more-than-enthusiastic fans—many of whom had waited as long as I had, and some even longer.
I had the added career highlight of interviewing the band’s original lead singer, Rodney Justo, before the event. He assured me I would not be let down. That turned out to be a serious understatement. The Atlanta Rhythm Section delivered a non-stop, 90-minute set of pure rock and roll. They started at 7:30 on the dot on Saturday, August 9, and didn’t let up until the last note rang through the Millwald.
“We’re not a band who jumps around the stage or does a lot of gimmicking,” Justo told the crowd. “We play and sing songs—that’s our job. We come on stage, we do our job, and that’s it. We have a good time doing it, and we want to make sure the audience has a good time as well.”
As my Aunt Hazel would say, a good time was had by all.
The Atlanta Rhythm Section has been steadfast for 56 years, and their fans have been equally loyal. One woman sitting behind me—barred from sneaking backstage—waited after the show to tell Justo, “I fell in love with you all when I was 12 years old. I’m 61 now, and I’m still in love.”
Every one of the dozen-plus songs blended high-energy rock with the soul and blues edges that make ARS impossible to pigeonhole into a single genre.
“Some people like to say we’re a Southern rock band,” Justo said. “But we don’t sing about trailer hitches and Jack Daniels. We like to sing songs with a clear message from beginning to end—musically and lyrically.”
Opening with “Homesick” and “Champagne Jam,” the band treated the crowd to “Spooky”—a nod to the Classics IV, the band from which ARS was formed.
“Half of us came from the Classics IV,” Justo explained. “The other half came from Roy Orbison’s backing band, The Candymen.”
The set rolled on with “Doraville,” their tribute to hometown Georgia, followed by rousing dance numbers “Large Time” and “Boogie Smoogie.”
“I’m Not Going to Let It Bother Me Tonight” was paired with a medley of “Do It” and “Angel.” Then came “Crazy,” and finally, their 1977 Top 10 hit, “So Into You,” which featured a blistering five- or six-minute guitar solo from Steve Stone that brought the crowd of 500 to its feet.
From my front-row seat, I had a direct view of guitarist David Anderson, whose shimmering gold electric guitar matched his flawless playing. Drummer Rodger Stephan drove the evening forward with riveting licks, while bassist Justin Senker kept the funk alive and keyboardist Lee Shealy added the bluesy textures.
Before launching into another of their biggest hits, Justo grinned and said, “The Atlanta Rhythm Section is the only band in history who can predict the future. Everybody wants a selfie with us these days—we were writing about selfies decades ago. Back then, we just called it ‘Imaginary Lover.’”
That tune sent the band offstage to a roaring ovation before they returned for one last electrifying number: “Back Up Against the Wall”—the perfect closer for Wytheville’s rock ’n’ roll party.
I’m grateful to my friend Jeremy Miller for getting me to the show, and to Donnie Bales, Lydia Showalter, and Mastin Paisley at the Millwald Theatre for ensuring this night was a career highlight—from the concert to my interview with Rodney Justo.
Meeting all the current members of ARS was an honor. Justo, still holding his own at 80, and the rest of the band—none under 50—played non-stop jams for the entire set. They may not be household names like some who’ve passed through ARS’s ranks, but these men have spent decades—three, four, even five—keeping the band’s legacy alive with the highest class and talent.
Here’s hoping they make good on their word and return to Wytheville. If they do, it will be our reward.
