Fronted by songwriter and acoustic guitarist Cecilia “Cc” Witt, the Savannah born and raised, pop/country quartet is set to release their first studio album, “The Other Side.”
To kick off the album release in style, Lyn Avenue, with the help of some big-name sponsors, will have an official CD release party April 5 at Dub’s Pub on River Street.
The eight-track, all original album is a follow-up to a 2011 self-titled EP and will be available on all digital platforms and in CD format.
“Some of the songs are little bit older in our timeline of writing,” Witt said.
“Some of them are more new. The newest song we wrote was called ‘The Other Side,’ which had a little more of a corky, or folksy sound. We really like that, so that’s what we decided to call our album, and it seemed to fit.”
Witt, a student at Armstrong Atlantic State University, has been performing on her own for years.
Roughly five years ago, she met guitarist Patrick Ellington, and the duo started kicking off tunes with a mutual drummer friend.
When the trio lost their drummer, they found Randy Cuba as a replacement. Jance Renteria found the band on Facebook to round out the current lineup. Witt continues her solo act every Wednesday at Molly McGuire’s, but enjoys having a full band behind her.
“I am a whole different person (with the band),” Witt said. “When I am sitting acoustic, I am relaxed and more calm kind of background music. I just like to play. I am not trying to get in your face. With the band, it’s more loud and I can have more fun with it. I can jump around and be more of an entertainer.”
Witt and Ellington share songwriting duties for the band and pull from influences like Miranda Lambert and Sugarland. Lyn Avenue harnesses the country feel through Witt’s vocals, while the band keeps a steady rock/pop feel to the music.
Admittedly, the band hasn’t left Savannah often.
The farthest they’ve toured is the Bluffton and Hilton Head areas.
Despite a lack of road savvy, they are planning a trip to Nashville, Tenn., to put their cowboy hats in the mix.
“The Other Side” was a DIY project for the young band. An Indiegogo project raised more than $2,000 that helped cover the cost of the album. A friend of the band, Justin Murray, produced and recorded the album. “We recorded at a home studio in Springfield,” Witt said. “It was literally a log cabin in the woods. It was really cool though, very country. (Murray) would walk around with a drum and headphones on to find just the right sound. It was kind of indie.”
Lyn Avenue will be joined, for the first time, by Reckless Mercy, a Christian folk band, and The Rosies, an acoustic duo, for their release party. Savannah Tire, Carey Hillard’s and Godfather’s Pizza are sponsoring the release party.
By: Joshua Peacock
Do Savannah
