Sean Kagalis

"Today I went to The Lemonrock Cafe to hear a performer I had not heard before and he was running late......I got to hear Strum Diesel [Sean] improvise holding down the fort. I was completely blown away by Strum [Sean] and have every intention of watching for him more often." - Still Braveheart

"There is a strength to be found in Sean's words... for he is ready to stand along with us all as we make it through the tests that are on our path." - Howard Stump

Florida-bred folk singer Sean Kagalis has been writing songs for the greater part of his life. Though he has a whole slew of self-released live demos and home recordings in his catalog, Connect is his most accomplished release to date, and we'll call it his debut.

The live disc, recorded at Eddie's Attic in Kagalis's hometown of Atlanta, GA, contains eighteen tracks pulled from the artist's vast catalog of music. Some songs date back ten years ("Barefoot," "...and I failed social studies that year."), while others have never been previously put to disc ("connect," "the falling song"). What stands out on these, and every other song offered up, is the naked sense of autobiography in the lyrics combined with a sense of silver-lining optimism. Whether he's singing about growing up next to the grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, surviving Hurricane Katrina, or getting beat up as a kid for not having a dad, there's always a sense of hope behind even the most heartbreaking words.

Like a male Ani Difranco, Sean Kagalis strips himself bare for the sake of the song.

Why go "live" for his Rate Records debut? "Live is good in that you capture that loop of energy that runs through the audience and the performer... just recently I've found the studio allows one to explore the smallest details of a song and create something quite different from what happens in a live setting. I enjoy both -- but so far I think my listeners prefer the live recordings," Kagalis tells me.

For the first time, Kagalis and his guitar are joined by multi-instrumentalist Brennan Bray, who plays the electric cello on most of this album.

Jen Cray - Ink 19

I spent a large portion of my teenage and college years in coffeehouses. Sipping lattes- before Starbucks brought that wonderful creation to the world at large and doubled the price- scribbling in my ever present journal, and watching my folk musician friends perform. This was my life, night after night.

At some point, over the years, I traded in the hot coffee for a cold beer, the cafes for bars and clubs, and the folk music for that with a harder edge. But when an old friend comes to town, and books a gig at the coffeehouse down the street from my house, I forget that it's not 1997 and that folk music bores me and I race down to Austin's Coffee to relive those simpler times.

Sean Kagalis cannot really be called a folk musician, for that stifling term does not do the man justice. Having spent his adolescence devouring KISS records, and then discovering the glory of punk rock in his teenage years, it wasn't until he stumbled upon Not A Pretty Girl by Ani Difranco that he truly found his "voice." Leaving the power chords behind, his guitar became an entire band as he learned to pick and beat the deepest of emotions out of it. When coupled with his effortlessly commanding vocals (Kagalis is not a quiet folkster by any stretch of the imagination!), he had pieced together a brand of music that, while rooted heavily in the sounds of the Righteous Babe (Difranco), was all his own.

His hourlong set, on this humid September night, wooed the clattering coffehouse crowd into submission. The formerly bustling room sat down and listened as he sped through impossibly good songs- songs so good that it's maddening that the wider world have probably never heard them. Most notably, "Water," a firsthand account of being trapped in a hotel in New Orleans during Katrina, is a song so moving that I find myself staring at the stage as if the song were a film I didn't want to end.

In between every song Kagalis alters his guitar's sound because each song has got its own custom-made tuning, and when a musician in the audience asks what tuning he is using, he goes through them string by string, revealing his secrets.

At the set's close I watch a crowd of newly coverted fans rush over to the side of the stage to shower the man with compliments, and shell out cash for his latest independently released disc of music. I have seen this scenario time and time again over the past 12 years of watching Sean Kagalis play. I have yet to see him not win over a room. Tonight he just may have reawakened my love of folk music. - Ink 19 - by Jen Cray

Red Light Cafe opened its doors to a very special Boys' Night Out on Saturday, and I'm glad I didn't miss it. I was a fly on the wall among men - the kind who sip merlot, have manners and sing some damned good songs. Mike Rickard, Wayne Fishell, Sean Kagalis, Lucas Miré and special guest Richard Solomon performed original music that was entertaining, often humorous and at all times from the heart.... ....Sean Kagalis was without a doubt the most intense boy on stage. The energy instantly shifted into high gear when this very talented singer/songwriter/musician took his turn, and I understood why he had to write a song about "why I play music." I heard "trying to connect all the time" in a frenzy of lyrics and extreme guitar. Wow! I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if he made the "connection." Quite possibly he would disappear into another world, because he is certainly standing at the door. I had actually seen him perform "Highway 61" at the 500 Songs for Kids event and had the same reaction. Simply put, his talent will blow you away. Be sure to listen for his latest recording, "The Falling Song," on Eagle 106.7. - gophertunes.com

Packed with energy and passion, Connect is the perfect live record. Sean Kagalis has worked hard carving a place in Atlanta’s local scene for years, and the fruits of his efforts are paying off nicely. Eighteen songs grace this performance at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, Ga., recorded in August of last year.

“Somethin’ Secret” is a beautifully written piece full of flair and wit, complete with a darker story and setting. Kagalis possesses the strong talent of presenting everyday life issues in his music, without losing the power of the melody and the impact of his guitar work.

Kagalis is a pure-bred acoustic guitarist extraordinaire, who can really rock with great emotion on his heavier songs. His guitar is sound and pure, the strings ring pristine, melodies drenched like honey and gold mixed together. Brennan Bray’s cello accompaniment captivates the audience further, fluid and glistening. The overall sound is thick and full, the recording done at Eddie’s clear as possible.
Kagalis sings, “I did my best, life is no contest” for the struggles of a human race that can truly believe and keep the faith to succeed in life and this ever-changing world. “I just get up and go, why would I regret, something I ain’t done yet,“ spills another of Kagalis’s many messages of wisdom.

The guitar work is flawless on most of the record. Kagalis edited and mastered this live recording after the performance with the help of Glenn Schick, taking out a broken string, cell phones and chitter-chatter.

Much of the mastery and genius of this work is due to the charm and personality of both Kagalis and Bray, whose soulful spirits truly shine with great fervor. (Self-released)

Shawn M. Haney

- Southeast Performer

Local Male Musician

Readers’ Choice: Sean Kagalis
Editors’ Choice: Wayne Fishell and Mike Rickard

A decade of touring coffee houses and rock clubs hasn’t dimmed the passion behind indie-rocker Sean Kagalis’ eyes. Readers who aren’t too taken in by Kagalis’ edgy looks love his thoughtful, acoustic tunes. Fellow indie troubadours Wayne Fishell and Guyton Maurice fill out the bill.
- Southern Voice

Best Male Musician
Readers’ Choice: Wayne Fishell
Editors’ Choice: Mike Rickard
Second place went to Sean Kagalis, and third place to Chuck Brittain
- Southern Voice

Published 05.20.04

CL gives the season's upcoming shows some summer lovin'

Blake Guthrie's list of local singer/songwriters you've never heard of who are actually worth heated discussion as well as chilling out to:

Sean Kagalis: If Ani DiFranco were a man and still liked women, she'd be Sean Kagalis: a brilliant, passionate, pissed-off folkie with a lot on his mind and a keen wit to boot. Playing in the Eddie's Attic "Shootout" Sat., June 5.

Daniel Lee: He won the Eddie's Attic Open Mic Shootout a couple of years ago and then disappeared off the scene. Now he's back with a new CD, which bears the long-winded moniker Missage Is A Mirror Hold Your Breath, but don't let that discourage you. Also, he probably gets laid way more than you do, because he's so sensitive.

Clay Cook: He's the guy who co-wrote the songs that made John Mayer famous. He's got a great new CD -- Smoke and Mirrors -- and he's a guitar virtuoso. The CD release party is at Smith's Olde Bar Wed., June 2.

The Brilliant Inventions: They're an acoustic-pop duo. Before you get done rolling your eyes, keep in mind that they just might have a record deal before your band does -- and they've only been together for five months. They're competing in the Eddie's Attic Shootout June 5, and playing at Java Monkey in Decatur Thurs., June 17.

Edie Carey: She's not really local, but she dates a guy who is, which means she shows up in town enough to make the list. Angelic voice, great songs and one of the best smiles in show business. Playing with the Brilliant Inventions (see above).

Joe Rathbone: Recently relocated from New Jersey, Rathbone's 2004 DIY release, I Can Hear the Windows of Your Heart Breaking, should land him a record deal any day now. Maybe he'll have some luck when he plays the 10 High Sat., July 24, as part of the Atlantis Music Conference.

- Creative Loafing

Local singer records concert CD and plans in-the-round show
AUG. 3, 2007

Local folk artist Sean Kagalis plans to record his first CD live at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur on Aug. 5. Kagalis describes the free, all-ages show as “kind of a thesis” for his career in Atlanta.

“I’m very excited and a little nervous,” he says. “I’ve been in this town nine years, and I’ve had my ups and downs in the scene. What I’m hoping for for this afternoon is sort of a gathering from all the folks who’ve been there along the way to celebrate the fact that I’ve got all this music.”

The concert is set to be recorded for a CD for release in the fall.

In addition to the recording of his first live CD, Kagalis also looks forward to his upcoming show at Wordsmiths Books with fellow folksters Julia Carroll and Amy Lashley on Aug. 10.

He says fans can look forward to a similar “singers in the round” feel of their first show earlier this summer. Performers take turns performing their songs.
“We did kind of musical songwriters,” Kagalis jokes.

— Rob Beck

- Southern Voice

Red Light Cafe opened its doors to a very special Boys' Night Out on Saturday, and I'm glad I didn't miss it. I was a fly on the wall among men - the kind who sip merlot, have manners and sing some damned good songs. Mike Rickard, Wayne Fishell, Sean Kagalis, Lucas Miré and special guest Richard Solomon performed original music that was entertaining, often humorous and at all times from the heart.... ....Sean Kagalis was without a doubt the most intense boy on stage. The energy instantly shifted into high gear when this very talented singer/songwriter/musician took his turn, and I understood why he had to write a song about "why I play music." I heard "trying to connect all the time" in a frenzy of lyrics and extreme guitar. Wow! I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if he made the "connection." Quite possibly he would disappear into another world, because he is certainly standing at the door. I had actually seen him perform "Highway 61" at the 500 Songs for Kids event and had the same reaction. Simply put, his talent will blow you away. Be sure to listen for his latest recording, "The Falling Song," on Eagle 106.7. - gophertunes.com

Gay acoustic trio takes the stage at Decatur coffee shop

Kagalis describes the show as an “in the round” performance with each performer onstage at the same time, taking turns performing.

“I really like that, because you keep everybody’s audience the whole time,” Kagalis says. “Sometimes, one person will play a song, and it will remind you of something you wrote that is about that or that looks at it a different way.”

Carroll sees it as an opportunity to collaborate with two musicians she enjoys working with.

“Amy and I sort of organized it, and I’ve known Sean before,” Carroll says. “So we thought it would be a fun collaboration.”

Kagalis tells audiences to look for a relaxed atmosphere with quality songs.

“Expect a good, solid acoustic showcase of writers who are definitely writing for the folk,” he says. “It’s just honest, just our stories and trying to connect.” - Southern Voice

Gay acoustic trio takes the stage at Decatur coffee shop

Kagalis describes the show as an “in the round” performance with each performer onstage at the same time, taking turns performing.

“I really like that, because you keep everybody’s audience the whole time,” Kagalis says. “Sometimes, one person will play a song, and it will remind you of something you wrote that is about that or that looks at it a different way.”

Carroll sees it as an opportunity to collaborate with two musicians she enjoys working with.

“Amy and I sort of organized it, and I’ve known Sean before,” Carroll says. “So we thought it would be a fun collaboration.”

Kagalis tells audiences to look for a relaxed atmosphere with quality songs.

“Expect a good, solid acoustic showcase of writers who are definitely writing for the folk,” he says. “It’s just honest, just our stories and trying to connect.” - Southern Voice