Gritty artists:

Grits, Hearts of Saints bring local connections to town

You already know the rap duo Grits, probably.

“We’re like the ‘Almost Famous’ type group,” said Stacy “Coffee” Jones, who shares the stage with Grits partner Teron “Bonafide” Carter.

“We’re the best known unknowns. A lot of people don’t even realize they’re singing our songs.”

How you might recognize the Nashville, Tenn., group when it takes a Paducah stage on Friday:

Just as expansive and strong as Grits’ musical roots teeming under the mainstream surface are the group’s connections to Paducah and Hopkinsville-based Hearts of Saints.

Jones and Carter, 15-year music veterans, launched their own record label, Revolution Art, in 2008. They signed the local pop-rock foursome a year ago.

“It’s like a celebration for us,” said Craig Felker, Hearts of Saints lead singer. “Once we signed with them we wanted to do something on a local level.” Felker represents the Paducah connection with band mates L.J. Granstaff (guitar), Jason Killebrew (drums) and Joel Purdy (bass) hailing from Hopkinsville.

The two acts — familiar with one another through touring in the last year — will co-headline Friday’s show, which will be busier than a Lady Gaga outfit.

Two opening sets — Live Fish and Hillary McBride — will start the night. Kids will be able to hurl themselves on inflatable rides set up close to Trinity United Methodist Church.

Volunteers will accept money and items (see box) to donate to the Purchase Area Sexual Assault and Child Advocacy Center.

Organizers, calling the night the Paducah Summer Impact Concert, expect 700 or more folks.

And don’t forget the elephant on stage: A rap group drawing hundreds in country and rock loving western Kentucky? A Christian rap group and rock foursome to boot?

“We get a lot of nonbelievers (to shows), newbies who come out who necessarily aren’t into rap or into us,” Jones said. “I think people are surprised at the full visual element, and the entertainment quality of the show.”

Since their days as dancers for dc Talk (think “Jesus Freak”) in the mid-1990s, Jones and Carter traipse the fine line between musical artist, Christians and a combination of both.

“We don’t want to be deadlocked into a certain type of setting, though it (rap) is a serious art form for us,” Jones said. “But, you know, at the end of the day it’s refreshing to have artists and acts like us not just coming from the spiritual destination stand point but (also) offering something livelier and positive and decent.”

The move to launch a record label marked a transition for Grits that will continue to play out Friday. The duo with two Grammy nominations and five Dove Awards switched from accomplished artists to gatekeepers.

“We thought, ‘Let’s usher in the next generation and maybe we can open some doors a little faster than they were opened for us,’” Jones said.

Which is what Felker saw and felt on the road in the last year, often playing dates alongside Grits.

“It’s amazing what that logo will do,” said Felker about the Sony and Revolution Art logos on the back of CD covers. Revolution Art is a division of Sony.

“It’s like people wouldn’t have given the music a listen until they saw the logo on the back, which is a shame. But what we’re realizing is that though record labels are fantastic in a lot of ways, you still have to work your butt off.”

Friday’s show begins a stint of 30 dates in two months for Hearts of Saints, its busiest two-month span to date.

“I feel like this whole show is a thank you,” Felker said. “For us to continue to get the support we get in this area is invaluable for us.”

And as far as how well rap, rock and locals will all intermingle this weekend, maybe the night will mirror how Jones feels about the Hearts of Saints guys.

“Man, it’s been great. Those guys are great,” Jones said. “You can’t go wrong with country boys.”

Contact Adam Shull, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.

What: Rap duo Grits and Hearts of Saints live with openers Live Fish and Hillary McBride. When: 6 p.m. Friday, music starts. 5 p.m. gates open. Where: Trinity United Methodist Church, 6125 Blandville Road.

Cost: Free when you bring donations for Purchase Area Sexual Assault and Child Advocacy Center. Donations can include money, canned soda, paper towels, toilet paper, soap, any cleaning product. More: visit heartsofsaints.com or call Felicia Cooper at Trinity United Methodist Church at 270-816-0446.