The Red and Black

Issue date: 8/28/08 Section: Out & About

Media Credit: COURTESY ISIS ARIAS Rehab welcomes an old band member back on stage for their performance at Georgia Theatre Friday night. [Click to enlarge]

It is a rehab many can enter sober and leave in a different state.

Gracing the stage of Georgia Theatre Friday night is a band with a name that sends chills when muttered in a court room.

"Everyone has had a friend who has been [to rehab]," said lead singer Danny "Boone" Alexander about Amy Winehouse's worst fear. "So I guess that makes it a pretty easy name to remember."

Rehab, which was originally a trio until 2000, now consists of five members fooling with styles that range from rhythmic guitar to "dirty" Southern rap.

After signing on to Universal Records earlier this year, the band re-released its 2005 album "Graffiti the World" to make all the songs sound "more epic," Alexander said.

The new "Graffiti the World" contains the hit "Bartender Song [aka Sittin' at a Bar]" as well as three new songs: "1980," "Lawn Chair High" and "Let 'Em Know."

"When we did it independent[ly], we did it on a smaller budget, so we were never completely satisfied with it," Alexander said. "We've had a lot of creative juices since we've been traveling so long. We've been trapped in one vehicle, passing a lot of gas."

A native Georgian and a Bulldog fan at heart, Alexander considers Athens a place where it's both cool to party and to just hang out.

"It's got good vibes, and I hate saying 'vibes' because it sounds like I'm trying to be a hippie," he said. "Georgia is ranked number one [in football] and we get to come in and put on a Rehab show the night before the Dawgs are gonna go out and spank [Georgia Southern]."

Tomorrow's show at Georgia Theatre is stirring a lot of hype amongst University students, many who have seen the band before and some who are new to the live, sweet sounds.

"I really like the crazy mix of genres they put together," Luke Patterson, a sophomore from Atlanta, said.

Lindsey Gardner, a freshman from Wilmington, North Carolina, seconds that statement.

"They're a little of country, rap and rock put together," she said. "I really like that 'loochie loochie' song ['Drinking Problem'] because it has a good beat and reminds me of the beach and back home."

Many fans can anticipate a unprecedented Rehab experience.

"'Steak Knife' will be with us this time. He's one of the original members of Rehab. He wasn't with us for a long time, but we brought him back around," Alexander said.

Friday will be the band's eighth show at Georgia Theatre, but that definitely doesn't mean the boys will rock out any less.

"We'll throw in some extra surprises, maybe some funny hats and crazy shoes ... Maybe some leg warmers and spandex." Alexander said.

"Why even play music at that point when you can just have that on and rock?" he said.

Playlist

The top five songs
to listen to in rehab, according to Rehab's Danny "Boone" Alexander:

1. "The Man Comes Around" - Johnny Cash
2. "Fire and Rain" - James Taylor
3. "Sound of Silence" - Simon and Garfunkel
4. "Big Shot" - Billy Joel
5. "Darling Nikki" - Prince

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