Like most young musicians, Denny Smith, the front man for Nashville alt-country rockers The Great Affairs, secured his passion for music at a young age listening to his family’s records and eventually writing his own on a guitar that was given to him at age 14. Today, Smith and The Great Affairs are stirring up the South with their own take on pop and country.

After years in the tough LA music scene, veteran rocker Denny Smith relocated to Nashville, where the current Great Affairs front man began playing with a few bands, touring the Southeast and looking for his sound. With a few years in Nashville under his belt, Smith gathered a few guys together and founded The Great Affairs. The group of dedicated music lovers now pour their love of music out into their songs which range from downright raucous to heartbreakingly honest.

As of late, the group has drawn comparisons to Tom Petty, Kings of Leon, Ryan Adams and groups like The Jayhawks, all of which show up in the group’s music from time to time.

The group’s first album is a very polished piece of Southern country rock with a decidedly pop twist. Smith, who penned many of the tunes on the album, has a soft whisper-like vocal style, which matches his witty, sometimes tongue-in-cheek lyrics. The 12 original tracks on this self-titled album are truly some of the freshest sounds to come out of a band touring the Southern bar circuit these days.

The Great Affairs will be performing at Eighth & Rail this Friday, April 2nd. Check out myspace.com/thegreataffairs for tunes and more info.