Shaking up the Atlanta music scene, this Kennesaw band is taking stages by storm with their garage-rock style and contemporary lyrics.
Shake Awake, an up-and-coming indie band from Kennesaw, sat down with the Sentinel to share how their friendship and the growth of their music has taken the underground music scene in Atlanta by storm.
Bandmates Joseph Hawkins, Alejo Guerra and Tiernen Callahan showed up bright and eager to share the magic of their music with me. As we began to discuss everything from Micheal Jackson to Joseph spilling a shot all over himself while on stage, their chemistry and passion for music became almost tangible.
Hawkins, bass and vocals, and Guerra, drums, first met by playing at the annual Music and Entertainment Business Undergraduate Studies program mixer at Madlife Stage & Studios. Afterward, Guerra met Callahan, guitar, in class one day. Drawn together by their love of alternative rock, they joined forces to create Shake Awake. They describe their collective sound as a “mix between Radiohead and Car Seat Headrest.” The complexity of their lyrics takes inspiration from these well-known bands while being amplified by a refreshing garage-rock style.
The band is part of a large alternative rock scene emerging in Atlanta and cited the growth of community in this genre to be an important part of their personal growth as well. Callahan, who spent his high school years prowling around shows in Atlanta has built quite the network.
“You just start following people on Instagram and then your reach goes wider and you start going to shows and meeting people.” He went on to talk about how he landed Shake Awake’s first ‘gig’ while he was playing for the band Bummer Hill, which was looking for another band to open for them. Another KSU-based band, Strumbrush, helped them find their footing and booked Shake Awake their first shows.
They have been building their reputation by playing at some of Atlanta’s venues that are the gateway for up-and-coming bands. One of them was Smith’s Olde Bar, where they recounted a story of their most memorable gig. They were disappointed at the beginning of their set as the crowd dwindled, but the band drew energy from this adversity and played their best show. Feeling as if there was nothing to lose, they let go of all inhibitions and just “had fun.” The people loved it, and within a few songs, the enthusiastic crowd doubled.
Another one of their favorite shows was Market Hugs, which is a DIY art festival in Decatur. It’s quaintly hosted in someone’s backyard but for Shake Awake, this kind of intimate atmosphere allows them to connect more with their audience and vice versa. Most notably, however, they played The Masquerade on Sept. 26. Their energy in the widely acclaimed venue energized the crowd as they oscillated around the stage without missing a beat.
To keep up with their latest shows and releases, follow the band on Instagram at @shakeawakeband and listen to their music on all streaming platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music.
