The formerly solo Athens musician has plenty to feel excited about: He has a new band and a gig at the Georgia Theatre Saturday.

This show, the Wesley Cook Band’s second ever, comes almost exactly a year after their CD release party for the album “We’ve Been Here Before.”

“Second time out of the block, and we’re already playing the Theatre,” said Cook happily. “I can’t wait to get there and blow their socks off.”

Joining Cook’s vocals and guitar in the new Wesley Cook Band are bassist Alec Wooden and drummer Josh Couillard.

“I want them to leave their mark on this just as much as I do,” Cook said of his new band mates.

“There are plenty of times in the show when I am not the focus of the show. I want to get out of the way so that our instruments can talk to each other.”

Cook wrote his music from a solo artist’s standpoint, but said he enjoys how the songs sound with a band.

“I’m pretty sure we struck the perfect balance that doesn’t drown anything that the original is saying,” he said.

“It’s not noise for the sake of noise. I haven’t done anything to diminish the weight of the solo project – It’s just so full of life now. I mean, it was before, but now it just gets up and moves.”

Couillard, a senior from Chattanooga, Tenn., and the newest member of the trio, described the band’s sound as “pretty laid back.”

“Sitting back and playing in the pocket with Wesley is so much fun, because I haven’t had the chance to do that,” he said. “Everybody in this town calls themselves a musician, but it’s hard to find someone who you see that potential in.”

This will be Couillard’s first performance at the Theatre, but probably not the last if he has his way.

“We’re definitely looking forward to a long-standing career here in Georgia,” he said. 

“We’re definitely not in this for the short run.”

Cook said this show will be a promising start for the new band, and he can hardly contain his excitement.

“Out of everyone in the venue, I will probably be having the most fun,” Cook said.