Savannah musician Logan Thomas leads Ketel One Brunch Music Series at Rocks on the River

The Ketel One Brunch Music Series at Rocks on the River showcases live performances by talented local musicians every Saturday and Sunday at the popular street-level restaurant that anchors the Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront.

Local singer, songwriter and guitarist Logan Thomas is the featured musician for September, delighting audiences with pop-inspired performances that blend original songs with favorite hits. Often described as “a young John Mayer,” Thomas says he’s on a mission to spread hope to the hopeless and enjoys using music to tell stories about overcoming challenges in life.

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Originally from Richmond Hill, Thomas has performed in venues from New York City to Colorado, singing catchy melodies with conviction and playing soulful guitar. He recently spoke with the Savannah Morning News about the power of live music, the thrill of performing at Red Rocks and the allure of the Hostess City’s music scene.

What first attracted you to singing and songwriting?

"I grew up playing in all sorts of bands as a guitarist. I did everything from indie rock to metal to worship music, and I experienced the full spectrum of musicality as a guitarist. When I was around 20-years-old and decided that I wanted to pursue music as a career path, I realized that I valued a great song more than I cared about playing a particular genre of music.

"I truly believe that a good song speaks for itself, regardless of genre, and that led me to focus on the craft of songwriting. That naturally led to honing my skills as a singer as well, and that’s when things clicked for me. When I wrote my first song and sang it in front of a crowd, the connection I felt with the audience and the reaction they had to my art solidified in my mind that this is my life’s calling."

What do you love most about performing live and why?

"My favorite thing about performing live is seeing my music lift someone’s mood. Whenever a couple dances along to the music, whenever someone gets excited about me playing their favorite song and sings along, whenever a child is mesmerized by the performance, those moments are what remind me why I fell in love with music.

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"There is a tangible shift in the energy when someone is performing live, and I try to not take that for granted by giving my audience the best possible performance. My goal is for people to lose themselves in the moment and enjoy the present moment fully. That’s the power and the beauty of live music."

How has your approach to music evolved over the years?

"As a teenager, music is closely tied to your identity. You connect with certain types of bands and certain sounds based on how the culture behind the music fits in with your lifestyle. I used to be much more focused on fitting in with a particular musical subculture, and over the years I have stopped caring about that.

"Rather than music being something that defines me as an individual, I now view it as something that connects me with other people. I genuinely enjoy a wide range of different music, and every new song or new artist is an opportunity for me to connect with new people. I would consider myself a pop artist, but that is a broad term. I simply want to write songs that resonate with as many people as possible rather than writing songs that impress a small subset of music fans who are into a particular genre."

What has been the proudest moment in your career so far?

"If I had to pick one moment, it would be performing at Red Rocks. I lived in Colorado from 2018 to 2020, and I had the opportunity to play at one of the most iconic venues in the world while living there. Red Rocks hosts local artists during the off-season, and I was fortunate enough to be selected as one of their artists for the 2020 season. It was certainly a bucket list moment as well as a career milestone, and I am proud of that accomplishment."

What kind of music do you perform at Rocks on the Roof for the Ketel One Brunch Music Series?

"While I perform a wide variety of music, my specialty is pop music. I’m most often compared to artists like John Mayer and Ed Sheeran, and if you see me perform, I will certainly be playing songs by those artists. I also sprinkle in some classic rock, country, blues and whatever other music feels good in the moment.

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"I would say my defining characteristic is the guitar work I do, since I play an electric guitar and add in lots of soulful lead guitar work in most of the songs that I play."

What are you grateful for?

"I’m blessed to be a part of the Savannah music scene. I truly believe that we have some of the most talented musicians in the country, if not the entire world. I’m constantly amazed by my musician friends and their proficiency with the craft. I wouldn’t trade this life for anything, and I hope to be around making music in Savannah for many years to come."

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah concerts: Logan Thomas at Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront