When I was 12 I responded to a flyer I saw at the music store Rody’s and the skating rink on victory for teenagers wanting to start a band - influences listed were MxPx, Blink 182, Pennywise, and Squad Five-0. I ripped off the piece of paper with the number on it and called as soon as I got home. A couple days later I was in my room “jamming” for the first time ever with anyone other than playing drums in church and by myself. That was the first moment I remember feeling connected to people and like I’d found my place in the world. Justin Boykin and Brenden Robertson had become my new best friends. I found my sense of purpose and self worth in playing music and particularly playing music with Justin. By the time we got outta high school we had already toured all over and been playing with all of our favorite bands, playing bars late at night and being hungover at school the next day. In the following years we became 1/2 of nearly every working band in town at one point or another, and wrote and recorded great songs with a lot of folks. Some that even saw a bit of major success. We got into a lot of stuff real fast and real young and we learned a lot of lessons the hard way. I’ve never known how to tell our story, or how to share with people who don’t know him how influential he was to me and so many other people - musicians, friends, etc. In his absence some of my biggest accomplishments felt hollow without him by my side. We worked so hard and sacrificed a lot to dedicate ourselves to music the way we did, and some of those decisions altered the course of our lives in ways that we could never have imagined. Now that he has left the physical form and left us all with so many questions, regrets, and broken hearts all I want to do is share my best memories of him, tell his story, and keep his memory alive - not for his mistakes but for the amazing person he was and all he taught all of us. Jeremiah Stuard put together an amazing tribute video to the song Flood with compiled footage and photos all given to me since he passed away by fans, friends, and family. My hope is it comforts anyone who misses him and inspires us to be grateful for who/what we got while we have them.
Aaron Paul Zimmer - Tiny Desk Contest 2019
Aaron Paul Zimmer - Saints and Heretics
Aaron Paul Zimmer - Saints and Heretics
Produced, Recorded, Bass, Drums & Percussion by Aphelion @ The Garage Savannah
Mixed by Seth Earnest
Mastered by Ben Kesler
B-bender Telecaster & Dobro - Stu Harmening
Guitars - Anders Thomsen
Pedal Steel - Igor Fiksman
Keys - Jared Hall
Mandolin - Evan Rose
Byron Hatcher - Solo EP
Byron Hatcher - Wish It Wasn’t Over / Love You Better EP
Co-Written, Produced, Recorded, Bass, Drums, Rhythm Guitar & Percussion by Aphelion @ The Garage Savannah
Mixed by Seth Earnest
Mastered by Ben Kesler
Matt Eckstine - Solo EP
Matt Eckstine - This Heaven & Two Fools EP
Produced, engineered, drums, bass & percussion by Aphelion at The Garage Savannah
Mixed by Seth Earnest
Mastered by Ben Kesler
Isaac Smith - Young or Old
Engineered, Co-produced & Bass by Aphelion at The Garage Savannah
Mixed by Seth Earnest
Mastered by Ben Kesler
Gitty T - NO LIE (Prod. By Aphelion)
Gitty T - No Lie (Prod. by Aphelion)
Produced, Recorded & Mixed by Aphelion at The Garage Savannah
Mastered by Ian Vargo
"Run"
Clay James - Dat Bull Shxt
Clay James released the video for his single "Dat Bull Shxt" produced, recorded & co-mixed by Aphelion @ The Garage Savannah. Video shot by our good friend and all around talented dude, Brian Lambert.
What Would Athon Do?
A voice you'll never forget, a bass tone that rumbled stages all over the world, a work ethic and heart of service that inspired and helped all those around him, and heart so big that anyone who ever met him felt bonded to him for life... Three years have passed now, that I know for so many have been a little less full without his presence. I know Savannah, as a whole, and particularly the music community has felt very different since his passing, but I also know how many people still carry his memory around every day and everywhere they go in many forms. I'm never sure what to say about people when they pass because it seems like everyone is all of a sudden thick as thieves with the departed, and I've never seen that so much as with Athon....however...it makes perfect sense if you know him - and what you realize is that while not everyone was Athon's best friend - Athon was everyone's best friend. Love to everyone out there who's life he touched in some way. - Matt
RIP Athon.
If you'd like to help Athon Keep Helping People click the email address below to find out how to get involved with causes he was passionate about. AthonFund@gmail.com
