The Ultimate Bar Band: Savannah’s The Intracoastal Playboys make their debut at Over Yonder

Hotdogs and fireworks are the traditional method of celebrating Independence Day, but there is also something to be said for tacos, tequila, and country music.

If that sounds more like your jam, Dog Days Presents is presenting Fortaleza’s Fun Time Freedom Bash at Over Yonder on July 4, featuring performances by Isaac Smith, Little Gracie and the debut of The Intracoastal Playboys.

Savannah’s The Intracoastal Playboys take the idea of a “bar band” to its most literal meaning. Formed by Ryan Schimmenti (vocals, acoustic guitar), Thomas Worley (vocals, drums), Andrew Ripley (vocals, bass), Matt Garapola (vocals, rhythm electric guitar) and Kevin Rose (lead guitar), Intracoastal Playboys are a country supergroup of sorts comprised of (with the exception of Rose) owners and bartenders of local bars including Sea Wolf Tybee, Lone Wolf Lounge, and The Original Pinkie Masters.

Kevin Rose: Musicians reflect on Elevated Basement closing after 30 years of defining Savannah sound

Drink Savannah: Lone Wolf Lounge and Sea Wolf Tybee are 'here for locals'

Other Dog Day events: Celebrate the Dog Days of Summer by the pool with a Magic Hour at the Thompson Savannah

“We’re all involved in business together, so we’re all colleagues and friends,” said Worley. “Savannah is a small town and everybody supports each other, otherwise nothing gets done.”

Kevin Rose, who best known for his legendary band Superhorse, and Elevated Basement Studio, may not be a bar owner, but he provided architectural services for his bandmates’s bars. Until recently, Schimmenti was living in New York, but it took the lure of playing country music with close friends to bring him down South.

“I’m a life long New Yorker and I used to come down and visit about four times a year,” said Schimmenti. “I was sitting there one day with Andy and Tom, and our friend Jared Hall who is going to join us at some point, and we were listening to country music one day at the bar. I said, ‘If I ever move here, please, let us start a classic country cover band.’ Really paying attention to the period of 1950ish to 1980ish. There will be things that are outside that, but that was really it because we love that stuff so much. We had loosely talked about it for quite some time and I finally, after Andy pestered me for years and years to move here, I finally pulled the trigger during COVID, and here we are.”

“It only took five years, but we did it,” added Ripley. When not playing in a country band or running a bar, Ripley also plays clarinet in the Savannah Philharmonic.

Marc L. Roark: Kudos to the Savannah Philharmonic for bringing music to the people with new concert season

Other venue closures: The Jinx, Savannah’s CBGB, to close doors on historic building; in search of a new home

The Intracoastal will play songs by Louvin Brothers, Johnny Paycheck, Doug Sahm, Waylon Jennings, Slim Whitman, Don Gibson, and others.

Although the core band is a five-piece, The Intracoastal Playboys plan to be joined by local friends in subsequent shows, including Jared Hall, Isaac Smith, Igor Fiksman, and Mariel Zayas-Bazan, who can provide a woman’s voice for Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn covers. “We were joking about calling it the Intracoastal Playboys and the Lowcountry All-Stars,” said Schimmenti.

With the loss of many familiar venues like The Jinx and Bayou Café, The Intracoastal Playboys appreciate new bars like Moodrights for picking up the pieces and becoming new homes for Savannah music veterans.

“The biggest issue in Savannah is that a lot of our venues are gone now,” said Worley. “The folks that used to play are finally coming back on the scene.”

Although its members are busy guys, The Intracoastal Playboys plan to play at least one show a month, with another gig at Over Yonder in August featuring a nine-piece line-up, and a gig in September at The Rail Pub.

“One gig a month is just enough to hang out with everybody, rehearse, and play the gig,” said Schimmenti. “It’s the perfect amount.”

Other local acts: Synth-based rock band Pink Peugeot stands out with Chew at Lodge of Sorrows

More local music: Savannah-raised country singer Natalie Goodman is bringing the hits weekly to Plant Riverside

“It’s really great to have this one outlet where everyone has to turn off their work phones and play music” added Worley. “It really adds a lot to the general quality of life.”

Singer-songwriter Isaac Smith and his band will kick off the Fun Time Freedom bash, before Smith joins The Intracoastal Playboys on fiddle for their set.

Closing out the bash are Savannah southern rockers Little Gracie. Named after a statue in Bonaventure Cemetery, Little Gracie are known for their ripping blues riffs and Grateful Dead inspired jams.

Fortaleza are sponsoring the event and specially priced drinks will be available. “It’s a badass tequila and hardly anybody has an inventory of it, so it’s pretty cool that they’re coming and bringing us some good tequila and celebrating,” said Ripley.

Story of Little Gracie: Little Gracie Watson is a small figure with a big story in Bonaventure Cemetery

Sea Wolf is also teaming up with Moodrights to make tacos for the occasion. It promises to be a real “neighborhood get down.” “I think Mexican food might be the most American thing,” said Ripley with a laugh.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah GA events: Intercoastal Playboys debut at Over Yonder