Conversations with Sandra Cochrane

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Cochrane.

Hi Sandra, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I remember connecting strongly with music from a very early age. In 5th grade, I started corralling friends and choreographing dance routines to pop songs to perform at our school’s talent shows. At 11, I started playing acoustic guitar. At 13, I went to my first concert at the Omni in Atlanta. Alice Cooper was the headliner and the opening act was Suzie Quatro. She came out in a tight leather jumpsuit with a huge bass and tore up the stage all by herself. That was powerful stuff for a young girl and it was at that moment that I said, “That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to play bass.”

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Booking gigs is always a challenge because there’s so much competition. There are lots of great bands in Atlanta for venues to choose from!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
It’s amazing the number of great people in my life that I wouldn’t have ever met if it wasn’t for music. The people I’ve met and the friendships I’ve formed have been invaluable and I’ve truly learned something from each and every musician with which I’ve played.

My first band in high school was “PowerGlide”. Mike Boaz and Guy Lenz named the band after the car shifter and we practiced in Mike’s garage, which his parents generously gave up for us! We played at all the local high school parties, covering Van Halen, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Pat Benatar, and AC/DC.

My next band right out of high school was “Vixen”, an original power pop project in the vein of Blondie, The Producers, and The Go-Gos. Rick Murphy and Paul Allison, the late owner of The Music Trader in Tucker, wrote the tunes while I penned the lyrics, sang lead, and played bass. We played the iconic 688 on Spring Street, Green’s on Peachtree Industrial, “The Strand” in Marietta, and clubs in Athens and Nashville.

For the next 20 years, I took a break from music while I worked on my IT career and started a family.
After my kids grew up it was time to get back to what I love, so I started the band GRAVY, a classic rock cover band out of Johns Creek with Frak Nuaimy. For several years we played at various Atlanta venues including Joe’s, Rosati’s, Dancing Skulls, Will Henry’s, and Suwanee Fest.

Last fall I performed for 8 weeks with NIGHTSHADES LIVE, started by Mike Gio and Ashley Chasteen, at Six Flags Over Georgia’s FRIGHT FEST. This was a larger than life experience with extremely talented musicians, singers, and dancers. We played twelve shows each weekend to large crowds and it was amazing!

Currently, I am the lead singer/bassist for GRUNGE HOUSE, with Mike Unger on lead guitar and Johnny Pike on drums. We focus on ALT/GRUNGE ROCK hits from the 90s, covering artists such as Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, Smashing Pumpkins, The White Stripes, Hole, and Radiohead. We have played Madlife in Woodstock, The Dixie Tavern, The Alpharetta Town Square, 37 MAIN, Napoleon’s, and Canton Icehouse.

You can catch GRUNGE HOUSE on the Alpharetta Town Green on Friday, August 28, at 7 pm. Bring a lawn chair and come hang out with us!

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I grew up in Atlanta and have lived here all my life. It’s in my blood and I would struggle to live anywhere else. I love the climate and heat and even the humidity. I don’t like cold so I guess I’m in the right place! I love that we have a large city with great restaurants and shopping, a hot jobs market, affordable housing, great climate, and the busiest airport in the world so that we can travel almost anywhere direct. We can also easily drive to the mountains or the beach. Atlanta is a great city and I love it!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandrahogancochrane
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandrahogan.cochrane