I honestly can't think of any new southern rock bands...though undoubtedly they exist.

ION, Jack pleads guilty and gets anger management classes.

I've been using my iTunes as a magic 8 ball for the last hour - hitting shuffle and trying to interpret whether the song is telling me I should quit my job now or wait to see if I survive the layoffs that are coming this Friday (If I quit now I may save someone else from getting laid off). It's not giving me a clear answer. Stoopid hard-to-interpret lyrics.

Can somebody give me a quick couple of southern rock bands, newish if that's ok?

Do you mean Southern Rock like the genre of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Allman Brothers and Molly Hatchet or just bands from down south? Because as a genre, all that's basically been absorbed into new country. For just southernness...I don't know. Maybe Neutral Milk Hotel still counts though Jeff Mangum could be anywhere, though they're mostly out of Ruston, LA, and have been sort of based out of Athens for a while.

I should quit my job now or wait to see if I survive the layoffs that are coming this Friday

As someone who's been laid off twice, I'd say wait until the layoffs because you might get a big severance package that you could use on time off or buying music.

Usually, layoff=severance; quitting=nothing. Not the case with you, tina?

t edit: x-post!

I too am drawing a blank on the Southern Rock.

We were told this morning that we had a week to "ask to be laid off" - I would get 4 wks of pay, 2 mnths of paid medical plus my vacation if I "ask to be laid off" today or Friday morning. No diff.

Friday they will cut 15 employees from our staff of 40. It's gonna be huge. I have NO IDEA if I will be laid off or not - I am a bit of pessimist so I lean towards thinking I would.I hate the work I do and love the atmosphere and people I do it with. I am overqualified and bored. But - dude - seriously shitty job market out there.

But - if they aren't going to lay me off and I ask to be let go - I could save someone elses job who is happy here. I am really struggling with this - I am terrified of change but I know I can do more than this (what that is - I don't know - but a well trained poodle could do my job). Sorry - this has absolutelty nothing to do with music.

I hate the work I do and love the atmosphere and people I do it with.

One thing to consider: Will you still love the atmosphere when the staff is halved?

Will you still love the atmosphere when the staff is halved?

Yeah - assuming I am left here - it's gonna be nightmare 15 hour days and LOTS OF PRESSSURE. And it will feel weird. And I will feel like I missed my chance to get out.

I totally should get out of this job. I'm just a glutton for the easyness of it. I work in a hip office with funny cool people. Downtown. I get paid just enought to spend a crap load of money on music and never save anything.

I guess I have to figure out what I am more scared of - sitting her next week knowing I missed my chance to get out with decent severance and unemployment or sitting at home next week realizing I can't buy ANYTHING and I have to find a new job.

Stoopid being a grown up.

Southern rock, sorta newish:

Gov't Mule
Drive-By Truckers

Drive by Truckers is a good call since they're reviving that whole thang and got a lot of press with their last concept album.

I heard a busker on the Union Square N/R subway platform doing a solo (just drums & vocals, no lie) "Freebird". Didn't hold a candle performancewise to ASH in "A New Man", but conceptually it was hard to beat. It was new and it was Southern Rock (that's a genre upper case), but it's not really "new Southern rock" nor "new Southern Rock." But I enjoyed it a whole lot & I hope you enjoyed my little anecdote even if it wasn't much help. Now back to our regularly scheduled program.

Edit: Giles sang "Freebird" in "The Yoko Factor" not "A New Man". And "Behind Blue Eyes" in "Where The Wild Things Are". No singing in "A New Man". Oh well, I liked it anyway. Go, Jane! Go, ASH! Yay, Ethan Rayne!