Jacoozy Hits Athens on the 'Still Afloat' Tour

Born out of the house show scene in Boone, North Carolina, Jacoozy has quickly become one of the Southeast's most exciting up-and-coming jam bands. The five-piece made up of Killian Wright (guitar/vocals), Will Fentress (guitar/vocals), Isaac McMurray (keys/vocals), Ramon Garcia (bass), and Pauly Scott (drums/vocals), blends Southern rock, funk, indie, and improvisational jams into a sound that's both familiar and refreshingly original.

I caught Jacoozy on the 13th stop of their Still Afloat Tour during an intimate show at a small college bar in Downtown Athens. Despite the venue's size, the room was absolutely packed, creating the kind of atmosphere every jam band hopes for. Shoulder-to-shoulder frat guys and their dates, no shortage of energy, and a crowd that for the most part knew most of the words. It felt less like a concert and more like a gathering of friends, making it the perfect setting to experience one of the scene's fastest-rising bands.

Here's a look back at the night:

Date: November 6th, 2025

Location: Athens, GA

Venue: Nowhere Bar

Tour: Still Afloat Tour

Song of the Night: Cold Hearted

Honorable Mention: Blinds

Attendance: 150 (Approximately)

Jacoozy performing live at the Milk Parlor in Blacksburg, October 23rd, 2025 (Credit: Todd Martin Photography)

Jacoozy - Still Afloat Tour - 11/6/25

Some concerts are planned months in advance. Others seem to sneak up on you. This one was somewhere in between.

After wrapping up Club Spikeball practice, I raced home to change before heading downtown with my brother-in-law, Cameron, on a brisk fall Thursday night. We were making our way to one of Athens' small college bars to finally see Jacoozy, a band I'd been waiting nearly two years to catch.

To understand why this show meant so much to me, a little backstory is needed. During the winter of 2024, my sophomore year of college, I was working through a breakup. Whenever I needed to get out of my own head, I'd head over to my good friend Tommy's apartment. One afternoon, while Tommy and his roommates were deep into a game of Catan, I heard the opening chords of "Cold Hearted" quietly playing in the background. I asked him to turn it up, and from that moment on, I was hooked.

What started as one song quickly turned into hours of listening. Jacoozy became the one band I knew I absolutely had to see live someday. Almost two years later, they were playing in my own college town. What a treat. Within those two years, the band had also released a new album that quickly found its way into my regular rotation. By the time show day arrived, I felt like I already knew exactly what songs I wanted to hear.

Before Jacoozy took the stage, Tomorrow's Problem warmed up the crowd with a fun opening set. They were a solid up-and-coming band that even surprised everyone with what I believe was a Creed cover, a choice I certainly wasn't expecting but happily welcomed. Not long after, the lights dimmed and Jacoozy walked onstage, opening with "Don't Leave Nothin' Behind," the first track from their newest album. As someone who has always loved spending time in the Carolinas, I immediately appreciated the lyrical nods to cities throughout the region. It was the perfect introduction to the band's sound... energetic, adventurous, and unmistakably Southern.

From there, I completely locked into the show. I found myself eagerly waiting for favorites like "Early" and "Burn," both of which absolutely delivered. The band effortlessly bounced between tight songwriting and extended improvisation, never forcing a jam just for the sake of it. The biggest improvisational highlight of the night came during "Blinds." The song stretched far beyond its studio version, drifting into deep, exploratory territory before finding its way back home. It was the kind of jam that reminds you why seeing bands like Jacoozy live is such a different experience than simply listening through headphones.

Ironically, my biggest surprise wasn't one of the songs I came to hear. It was "Spilling." Led by the band's keyboardist, the tune had somehow flown under my radar before this show. Live, though, it completely clicked. It was playful, infectious, and quickly became one of my favorite moments of the entire set. Sometimes concerts have a funny way of introducing you to songs you should've appreciated all along.

As the night began winding down, there was still one song missing. I kept hoping to hear "Cold Hearted," the very song that introduced me to Jacoozy back in Tommy's apartment nearly two years earlier. With each passing song, I wondered if maybe they weren't going to play it. Then the opening chords rang out. Saving "Cold Hearted" for the encore felt like the perfect decision. Hearing the song that started my journey with the band, now surrounded by a packed room of fans singing every word, was a full-circle moment I won't forget anytime soon.

After the show, I had the chance to chat with guitarist Killian Wright for a few minutes and tell him how much the band's music had meant to me over the past couple of years. He couldn't have been more genuine or appreciative, making an already memorable night even better.

As Cameron and I walked back through downtown Athens, I couldn't help but smile. College has given me plenty of unforgettable memories, but this was one I'd been anticipating since the winter of 2024. Sometimes your favorite band finally comes to your hometown. Sometimes they exceed every expectation. And sometimes you leave a venue realizing you've just crossed a major item off your college bucket list. This was one of those nights.

Want to Get in the Groove?

Here are some tracks to get you started with Jacoozy: