See how great we looked at our 38th birthday!

Thanks to AJC photographer, Johnny Crawford! 

Half Crazy, Will Travel

By Steve Blades

April 1981

Excerpt from the Inman Park Advocate

While our Festival has always been known for its assortment of strange and exotic sources of entertainment, even those of us who have become used to it over the last few years cannot help but to be surprised by the seldom-predictable appearance of the Kelly’s Seed & Feed Marching Abominable Band. Members of the band fondly referred to as “Abominables” – only to distinguish them from the ever present and equally as important “Abominettes’ and “Despicables” – appear to be a motley collection of loonies that not even an asylum would care to claim.

But, ah, what sweet music flows from this group – that is if you are a true connoisseur of Sousa marches and swing music, which I am. Of course, I am also a member and not a truly objective audience.

Our Festival is of particular importance to the Abominables, and vice versa, as the group’s first big-time debut was in the 1975 Festival parade. A lot of attention has come since then to both the band and the neighborhood. During the rest of the year, the band contributes to many other community events from Atlanta’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade (a natural for a group named Kelly’s) and the Piedmont Arts Festival to spontaneous Halloween ‘blitzes’ in neighborhoods throughout the city, and other free park concerts. In addition, in order to maintain some for of solvency (music, rent, etc. adds up) the Abominables have played for numerous conventions at most of the major hotels and conventions in Atlanta, and for Hawks and Braves games.

And now here is the big chance for all you other ‘crazies’, THE ABOMINABLES WANT YOU! As our founder, Kelly Morris, has often said, this band is for all those frustrated high school and college band musicians who never had as much fun as they should have. And there is also a place in this band for the non-playing musician as an Abominette or Despicable. Keep in mind that the band is half fun and half theatrics, and all fun. So, if you have an instrument in mothballs and have really been looking for an excuse to see if you can still make the big-time OR if you have a definite streak of crazy in you, give me a call. The band ‘rehearses’ at the Forest Avenue Consortium every Tuesday. If you let me know soon enough, you might just find yourself marching as a special event at this year’s festival.