Sandfly Songwriter Series

Josephine Johnson hosts a live Sandfly Songwriter Series episode at Driftaway Cafe in Sandfly - Savannah, Georgia, featuring local multi-instrumentalist Cory Chambers (City Hotel, Swamp Tooth) and audience Q&A.   Chambers discusses arriving in Savannah in 2011, his Atlanta-area roots, starting guitar at 18, and inspirations including John Prine. He performs songs about his grandfathers (“Ridin’ Next to Me” and the new “Concrete and Cabbagetown,” set in Depression-era Atlanta), plus Swamp Tooth material rooted in conspiracy themes (“Blue Beam,” “Reptiles on a Magazine”) and a warehouse-work anthem (“Made in China”) based on his job shipping automated cat litter boxes.   He also plays “Night Flight” about River Street’s Night Flight Cafe and debuts “Cupid Blue,” inspired by Laurel Grove Cemetery. Chambers plugs a Foxy Loxy solo gig and Swamp Tooth’s album Reptiles on a Magazine.   CONNECT WITH US: VISIT DRIFTAWAY CAFE MEET JOSEPHINE JOHNSON MEET CORY CHAMBERS LIVE MUSIC, SOUND & PRODUCTION TEAM DEE DANIELS MEDIA   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Series Welcome 00:47 Meet Cory Chambers 02:12 Dinner Plans and Questions 02:54 News and First Song 03:57 Ridin Next to Me 09:09 City Hotel vs Swamp Tooth 11:44 Origins and Early Music 15:25 Concrete and Cabbagetown 23:44 Family and Armstrong Story 26:31 Swamp Tooth Songwriting 28:11 Project Blue Beam Song 32:50 Vito Update and Bluegrass 33:20 Solo Gigs and Duo Setup 34:05 Dinner Break and Thanks 35:23 Reptiles on a Magazine 41:09 Warehouse Anthem Made in China 44:47 Cat Litter Box Day Job 46:11 Influences and Songwriting Pride 49:35 Superpower Talk and Night Flight 56:11 Closing Song Cupid Blue 01:00:16 Next Gig and Merch Plug 01:01:46 Series Outro and Credits  

Welcome to the first Sandfly Songwriter Series live music podcast episode with host Josephine Johnson, recorded for a live audience at Driftaway Café in history Sandfly, Savannah, Georgia.   Josephine introduces Savannah-based songwriter and performer Aaron Paul Zimmer, noting his work with the folk bluegrass trio City Hotel, solo gigs around town, and his background growing up near Cartersville, Georgia, attending UGA, and teaching eighth grade English. Zimmer performs “Cutting Teeth,” “Anything But Everything,” the City Hotel bluegrass murder ballad “Katie Brown,” and “Like They Used To,” which he co-wrote with his wife, who contributed old-movie details.   In conversation, he describes moving with his parents to an off-grid cabin at 12, reading, walking the woods, and developing his songwriting and guitar playing, which his father first taught him. Audience questions cover his favorite cereals, whether he writes lyrics or music first, musical inspirations, and how teaching gives him hope through his students’ peaceful diversity.   CONNECT WITH US: VISIT DRIFTAWAY CAFE MEET JOSEPHINE JOHNSON MEET AARON PAUL ZIMMER LIVE MUSIC, SOUND & PRODUCTION TEAM DEE DANIELS MEDIA   FIND A FAVORITE SPOT IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Meet Aaron Paul Zimmer 02:24 Housekeeping and Questions 03:39 First Songs Live 09:50 Roots in the Woods 13:30 Bluegrass Murder Ballad 19:05 Audience Q and A Fun 21:43 Writing Process Talk 23:35 Like They Used To 27:46 Teaching and Hope 29:36 Musical Inspirations 27:57 Closing Thanks  

Welcome to the Sandfly Songwriter Series, hosted by musician and artist Josephine Johnson and recorded live at Driftaway Café in historic Sandfly, Savannah, Georgia. Each episode features live local music, honest conversations, and the stories behind the songs. From intimate performances to behind-the-scenes moments with featured singer-songwriters, this series celebrates the heart of Savannah’s creative community. Subscribe now and join us for live music, storytelling, and authentic conversations from one of Savannah’s most unique listening rooms.