Atlantas Delta Moon will open for Railroad Earth at their hometown Variety Playhouse this Friday night. Lap steel ace Tom Grey has taken over vocal duties for the group, and he and guitarist (and other core member) Mark Johnson will be joined for the first time by a complete version of the rock solid rhythm section of King Johnson which includes Greg Baba (drums/percussion), Chris Long (bass/vocals) and Chris Uhler (percussion). Uhler will be making his Delta debut.

Grey was a vocalist in the now-defunct Georgia band The Brains, known for their lively shows and for being the band that headlined REMs first paying gig. Earlier this summer, Grey joined the Swimming Pool Qs to sing and play on a version of The Brains Money Changes Everything at a benefit for the 20th Anniversary of the legendary record store Wax and Facts (the Grey-penned song was also recorded by Cyndi Lauper).

The King Johnson rhythm section will rejoin frontman Oliver Wood for a performance at Atlanta’s Fuzzy’s on October 6.Report by Rob Turner