originally published December 20, 2006

Deadline to be listed in the next issue: EARLY DEADLINE DUE TO THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS: Friday, Dec. 22, by 10 p.m. Contact the music department: (706) 549-9523, ext. 203; fax to (706) 548-8981; email at abc@flagpole.com; send post to P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603.

Tuesday, Dec. 19

AN EPIC AT BEST

(40 Watt) Fronted by Robert Gunn and his powerful piano and augmented by drummer James McGaw, bassist Natalie Roberts and guitarist Roy Coughlin, An Epic At Best leans towards an empathetic second-generation emo rock of the mid-to-late ’90s, but expands past cliché and presumption to something more authentic.

BREATHLANES

(Mercury Lounge) Instrumental, atmospheric jazz-fusion: John Miley, Darrin Cook and Jamie DeRevere structure their improvised work around old Breathlanes tunes and themes, as well as perform new pieces. 8 p.m.

HAM 1

(40 Watt) Guitarist Jim Willingham handles the frontman stuff, while Eric Harris, Jacob Morris, Chris Sugiuchi and others join in. Exuberant, quirky and jolly, Willingham is a well of creativity and his folk-pop eccentricities always surprise.

HORRIBLE IDEA

(Repent) Atlanta/Athens four-piece band playing an enthusiastically suburban mix of pop-punk and metal, occasionally blending in some upbeat ska influence.

“KARAOKE”

(Eastwood Pub) Every Tuesday, 9 p.m. Includes a competitive element!

“KARAOKE”

(Walker’s Pub) Every Tuesday, 10 p.m.

“KARAOKE”

(Wild Wing Café) Every Tuesday, 10 p.m.

PISTOLERO

(Repent) Atlanta five-piece reportedly drawing on British Invasion pop sounds and earlier '50s rock.

BROOKE WAGGONER

(40 Watt) Nashville keyboardist-vocalist Brooke Waggoner has a new self-titled CD out, and it features eight songs of lilting, delicate and comfy folk pop reminiscent of a warm mug of tea on a cold night.

THE WINTER SOUNDS

(40 Watt) The five-piece creates an strong mix of deft, rhythmic indie rock with vocal flourishes that touch on emo, maintaining a coherent identity while exploring a variety of song structures. The band's been touring on and off for the past month, so welcome 'em home.

Wednesday, Dec. 20

ALEX ORANGE

(Wild Wing Café) Native Savannahan and acoustic guitarist-harmonicist Nathan Sheppard has long been a fixture on the regional folksy singer-songwriter scene; Alex Orange, named after a song on Sheppard's 2001 album Traveling On, is the new full band.

JESSICA FORE

(Mercury Lounge) Athens performer Jessica Fore dropped her first disc Roads Diverge four years ago, and after leaving town for a while, she's back with the new album Remedy for the Madness. Her combination of acoustic rock and pop isn't too far off from that of Natalie Merchant. 9 p.m.

“KARAOKE”

(Foxz) Every Wednesday.

“KARAOKE”

(Mell’s) Every Wednesday.

“KARAOKE”

(Stan’s Bar & Grill) Every Wednesday.

LUNA HALO

(Tasty World) This Nashville four-piece is currently on the road offering a preview of its self-titled debut album, out in January on American Recordings. The band claims influences like Nirvana, the Clash and Muse.

PRIME TIME JAZZ

(Porterhouse) Drummer Tony McCutchen, bassist Chris Enghauser and pianist Jim McKillip perform jazz standards for the dinner-and-a-drink set every Wednesday.

"RHINO 5 SHOWCASE"

(Flicker) Friends, collaborators and musical roustabouts Claire Campbell (Hope For Agoldensummer), Count Kellam (Count, Monster Zero) and Leslie "Serpentfly" Helpert perform loosely organized, collaborative in-the-round songs. 8:30 p.m. See Box.

TWIN POWERS

(Go Bar) Danceable New Wave and Britpop tunes. 10 p.m., every Wednesday.

"UNCORKED & UNPLUGGED"

(Melting Point) Every week local singer-songwriter Ken Will Morton opens and hosts this new series, which aims to focus on artists proficient in the craft of songwriting. This week: local songwriters Sean Arington and Jason Harwell and acoustic duo Moore & Williamson. Tonight's show is a benefit for the Northeast Georgia Food Bank; bring three canned goods for free admission. 8 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 21

"CHRISTMAS WITH THE KING"

(Classic Center) A special holiday tribute to Elvis Presley performed by impersonator Chris Shupe; tickets for the 7 p.m. show include light dinner and dessert buffet.

DJ INSANE

(Wild Wing Café) The downtown restaurant hosts a night of salsa dancing with music courtesy of DJ Insane.

DYLAN BLUES PROJECT

(DT's) Avery Gibbs recently moved to Athens from Virginia, recruited two backing buddies and set out to deliver Texas-style blues and Southern rockin' blues, playing covers and Stevie Ray-styled originals.

JAY RING BAND

(Foxz) Covers and originals performed by the Jay Ring Band during the Homewood Village tavern's Christmas party.

“KARAOKE”

(Eastwood Pub) Every Thursday.

“KARAOKE”

(Stan’s Bar & Grill) Every Thursday.

MICHAEL MANN

(Tasty World) Singer-songwriter of the band Flint plays soulful acoustic rock originals.

NOTHING FANCY

(Tasty World) Athens-born and Athens-raised, singer-songwriter Kenny Powers pulls out the acoustic jams with a precise style of guitar playing and James Taylor-ish vocals, and he’s got a couple of Dave Matthews and Sublime covers to offer as well. He debuted this new band back in July.

RAND LINES TRIO

(Amici) Jazz standards and originals from this trio led by Rand Lines, who also plays in local pop group Freeze Tag. He's backed by bassist Jason Cheek and drummer Dennis Baraw. Every other Thursday.

BEN SHIRLEY

(Tasty World) Solo acoustic guitarist.

Friday, Dec. 22

THE BALDNESS

(Little Kings) Solo dude from South Carolina playing old country and folk tunes on an acoustic guitar. Recently recorded an album tentatively called Lonesome & Driftin'.

BLOODKIN

(40 Watt) The long-running Athens rock and roll quartet plays a bluesy style of roots-rock music with big guitars and sharply written lyrics. Daniel Hutchens and Eric Carter are the songwriting backbone, slinging out darkly countrified barroom rock. Last Night Out is 2005’s new album; Hutchens earlier this year wrapped an acoustic tour of the Northwest with Eric Martinez and has a great new acoustic album out called Love Songs For Losers.

"COMMITTEE OF VIGILANCE"

(Little Kings) "Committee of Vigilance" is a musical happening put on by local songwriters Christopher Henderson, Jason Beckham and Spencer Frye. A weekly event for folks to stop by after work, have a drink and listen to these songwriters in the round with occasional special guests, like this week's Jason Marcum from Charlotte, NC. 5:30–7:30 p.m. every Friday.

“DISCO NIGHT”

(Stan’s Bar & Grill) Tight Riders Disco is in charge of bringing you R&B dance numbers, with a healthy dose of old-school disco.

DISTASTER

(Little Kings) Jon Lester (ex-Refuse Factory, Radio:Tahiti) showcases his solo project Distaster, and has in the past recruited some buddies for musical accompaniment. Think a pop-oriented Gary Numan, or harder-edged Kraftwerk with slightly Bowie-styled vocals.

DJ BLAZE

(The Library) DJ Blaze, who has held down the wheels of steel at The Annex and this past summer's "Classic City Hip-Hop," hosts tonight's dance party, mixing contemporary hip hop with older favorites and some unexpected forays into other genres.

DJ MARK BELL

(8e's) Starting at midnight every Friday and Saturday, local deejay Mark Bell focuses on the dancier sounds of 20 years ago.

DJRX

(Rumor) New bar above Village Idiot features deejay Brian Gonzalez, AKA DJRX. Many of the party tracks are his own remixes, and dance selections will be mainly current (Fergie, Gwen Stefani, etc.).

FLOOD CITY SHOOTOUT

(Tasty World) This local roots-rock quartet still delivers a capable mix of Americana styles, incorporating ‘60s rock and power-pop into a wholesome Athenian blend. The band’s been on an extended hiatus, popping up here and there or having members do solo gigs, but not much heard from ‘em since the fall of ’04. Tasty World is billing this show as a "farewell performance."

JON GUTHRIE

(Tasty World) Jon Guthrie (Dirty Sanchez & the Pancho Villas, Michael Guthrie Band) plays a set of '60s-influenced "psychedelic folk."

HOLMAN AUTRY BAND

(DT’s) These six guys from Danielsville play flavorful country and Southern rock, nodding towards Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Dave Matthews Band and Marshall Tucker Band. Covers and originals.

“IT’S FRIDAY”

(WUGA, 91.7 FM) Every Friday at 4 p.m. Today’s performance: The Solstice Sisters.

“KARAOKE”

(Mell’s) Every Friday.

MIKEY DWYER & THE STARTER KITS

(Little Kings) Now with the backing of drummer Ben Keller (Timber) and bassist Jamie Coulter (The Help), Mikey Dwyer (Lona, Scalded Dogs, Sateen Duraluxe) plays brash and handy rock and roll, and has a new recording project Backsliding Baby in the works.

MOTHER JACKSON

(Little Kings) The guys have a raw rock edge, and the blues-influenced, ‘70s-rock label still wholly applies. The 2004 album Suck on This found the local four-piece rolling over some heavy Zep and Sonics material. Expect to hear tracks off the upcoming release Loud and Proud: The Soundtrack to Damnation.

THE NICE MACHINE

(Little Kings) This instrumental guitar-drums rock duo from Greenwood, SC, is buddies with the Athens folks in the Emerald City Ruins crew (Still, Small Voice, etc.).

JENA PARADIES

(Go Bar) Jena Paradies delivers mixes of fresh Berliner techno, electro-house and subsonic soul. 10:30 p.m.

LEE PAUL

(Eastwood Pub) Athens native Lee Paul performs the country rock ballads off his debut album After Closing Time, recorded in Nashville.

JEFF REILLY TRIO

(Farm 255) Local drummer Jeff Reilly (Kenosha Kid, Dromedary, Megaphone Man) leads his group through jazz standards and original compositions.

THE SOLSTICE SISTERS

(Borders) Singing together for more than a decade, Maggie Hunter, Susan Staley and Anna Durden blend three-part harmonies, singing traditional and original songs as well as songs from their Christmas album Holiday Music From Around the World. 6:30 p.m.

STILL, SMALL VOICE & THE JOYFUL NOISE

(Little Kings) A loving family of friends and local all-stars from Lona, Baby Black and the Nice Machine assemble for a fiery treatment of Chip McKenzie’s garagey rock spirituals. The swell debut EP is With Love for Our Enemies.

THE TIKI BARFLYS

(Wild Wing Café) No information available.

VERSATILIANS

(DT’s) Versatilians hail from Monroe and bring a scattershot collection of original songs ranging from the acoustic folk-rock to dirty blues-rock and working in covers from folks like the Stones, Pink Floyd and Tom Petty (and even Jennifer Nettles).

Saturday, Dec. 23

WESLEY COOK

(Wild Wing Café) From folk-flavored theological wrestling matches to Latin-flavored love songs, solo guitarist Cook has an effortless approach to his music. About a year ago Cook released his full-length album We’ve Been Here Before.

“DISCO NIGHT”

(Stan’s Bar & Grill) Tight Riders Disco is in charge of bringing you R&B dance numbers, with a healthy dose of old-school disco.

DJ BLAZE

(The Library) DJ Blaze, who has held down the wheels of steel at The Annex and this past summer's "Classic City Hip-Hop," hosts tonight's dance party, mixing contemporary hip hop with older favorites and some unexpected forays into other genres.

DJ MARK BELL

(8e's) Starting at midnight every Friday and Saturday, local deejay Mark Bell focuses on the dancier sounds of 20 years ago.

“FIESTA LATINA”

(Tasty World) This Latin dance party focusing on salsa is hosted by local promoters Chamo Events, and features instruction from Deangelo from 9 to 10 p.m., then dancing. Upstairs, every Saturday night.

“KARAOKE”

(Eastwood Pub) Every Saturday.

“KARAOKE”

(Mell’s) Every Saturday.

“LATE NITE DISCO”

(Go Bar) The house deejay spins a cool mix of disco, New Wave and modern dance tunes for a sweaty and energetic crowd. Every Saturday, 10 p.m.

LAVEAUX

(Tasty World) The new band from Heidi Holton (formerly of Heist) operates as a trio and looks to tap into the same dramatic and goth-leaning garage rock as her previous project. This is the band's final performance locally before packing up and moving to Atlanta.

"OPEN MIC NIGHT"

(DT’s) It's an open mic night and a Christmas party tonight for the downtown club.

REDNECK GREECE DELUX

(Eastwood Pub) Greg Reece (AKA Redneck GReece) performs a set of his honky-tonkin’ tunes that always seem to put a smile on the faces of everyone in the crowd, whether scene vet or GReece virgin. Today's show is an early one in celebration of Christmas, 4–8 p.m.

ERIC SKELTON

(Farm 255) South Carolina songwriter playing airy acoustic pop in vein a similar to David Gray or Damien Rice.

Sunday, Dec. 24

“DISCO NIGHT”

(Stan’s Bar & Grill) Tight Riders Disco is in charge of bringing you R&B dance numbers, with a healthy dose of old-school disco.

Monday, Dec. 25

“KARAOKE”

(Stan’s Bar & Grill) Every Monday.

Tuesday, Dec. 26

“KARAOKE”

(Eastwood Pub) Every Tuesday, 9 p.m.

“KARAOKE”

(Walker’s Pub) Every Tuesday, 10 p.m.

“KARAOKE”

(Wild Wing Café) Every Tuesday, 10 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 27

“KARAOKE”

(Foxz) Every Wednesday.

“KARAOKE”

(Mell’s) Every Wednesday.

“KARAOKE”

(Stan’s Bar & Grill) Every Wednesday.

TWIN POWERS

(Go Bar) Danceable New Wave and Britpop tunes. 10 p.m., every Wednesday.

Upcoming:

CACHAÇA (Amici) 12/28

LESLIE HELPERT / ADAM ARCURAGI (Little Kings) 12/28

LITTLE COUNTRY GIANTS / JUSTIN EVANS' CHINATOWN DIARY (Melting Point) 12/28

CLAY ROSS & KRYSTAL WARREN (Farm 255) 12/29

DJ PEACH SALSA (Mercury Lounge) 12/29

GARBAGE ISLAND / MOTHER JACKSON / SEX DRONE (40 Watt) 12/29

LIQUID SUNDROP (No Where Bar) 12/29

PERPETUAL GROOVE (Georgia Theatre) 12/29

POWERLOAD / HEAVY PETTY (Caledonia) 12/29

RANDOM ACTS (Eastwood Pub) 12/29

STRAWBERRY FLATS (Melting Point) 12/29

SEAN ARINGTON (Farm 255) 12/30

"BATTLE @ THE LOUNGE" (Caledonia) 12/30

BOX OFFICE ROCKSTAR (Wild Wing Café) 12/30

DJ OTHER VOICES, OTHER ROOMS (Little Kings) 12/30

DJ PEACH SALSA (Mercury Lounge) 12/30

KRUSH GIRLS / TWIN POWERS / DJ MAHOGANY (40 Watt) 12/30

PERPETUAL GROOVE (Georgia Theatre) 12/30

DJ WOLFIE & THE PACK (Farm 255) 12/31

MOTHER’S FINEST / CARLA LeFEVER & THE RAYS (Melting Point) 12/31

ROCKINWOOD (Locos Harris St.) 12/31

LONG LEGGED WOMAN / CATHODE TERROR SECRETION / YELLOW TEARS (Caledonia) 1/3

MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA / THE NEW FRONTIERS (Tasty World) 1/3

DJ MAHOGANY (Mercury Lounge) 1/4

RAND LINES TRIO (Amici) 1/4

ULTRADRIVE / SACRED HOLLOW (40 Watt) 1/4

CARLA LeFEVER & THE RAYS (Eastwood Pub) 1/5

GABRIEL KELLEY BAND (Mercury Lounge) 1/5

ONE LESS REASON / SOUNDS OF SILENCE (40 Watt) 1/5

CURTIS ELLER’S AMERICAN CIRCUS (Flicker) 1/6

AQUALOVE / SLOW MOTION CRASH / TIME TOY (40 Watt) 1/7

"THE HOOT" (Little Kings) 1/8

JUCIFER (Georgia Theatre) 1/8

THE DUMPS / BLACKTUSK / SKELETON WITCH (Tasty World) 1/9

ZOSO (Georgia Theatre) 1/9

THE DEACON BRANDON REEVES (Farm 255) 1/10

THE SCOURGE OF THE SEA / PETTICOAT, PETTICOAT / KILROY (Tasty World) 1/10

"UNCORKED & UNPLUGGED" w/ PAUL REEVES / GARY PFAFF (Melting Point) 1/10

CACHAÇA (Amici) 1/11

TINO GARRIDO (Farm 255) 1/11

HAMELIN / NATE NELSON & CORTRIGHT / VINYL STRANGERS (Georgia Theatre) 1/11

ADAMS TOWNSHIP (Farm 255) 1/12

VIC CHESNUTT / COUNT KELLAM / LESLIE HELPERT (40 Watt) 1/12

ALLISON CORNELL (Mercury Lounge) 1/12

JAZZTRONIC (Amici) 1/12

MUSIC HATES YOU / 63 CRAYONS / BELLYACHE (Caledonia) 1/12

RHYTHM TOKEN / MAMA'S LOVE (Georgia Theatre) 1/12

CARS CAN BE BLUE / RUSSIAN SPY CAMERA / THE VELCRO STARS (Caledonia) 1/13

E.G. KIGHT (Melting Point) 1/13

THE LAST WALTZ TRIBUTE ENSEMBLE (Georgia Theatre) 1/13

LAURA REED & THE DEEP POCKET (Farm 255) 1/13

MODERN SKIRTS (40 Watt) 1/13

THE SUEX EFFECT (Amici) 1/13

JEFF SOILEAU (Farm 255) 1/17

"UNCORKED & UNPLUGGED" w/ AMANDA KAPOUSOUZ / KYLER ENGLAND / SAM SHABER (Melting Point) 1/17

THE HELP (40 Watt) 1/18

TINO GARRIDO (Farm 255) 1/18

RAND LINES TRIO (Amici) 1/18

CAMERA OBSCURA (40 Watt) 1/19

DROMEDARY ACOUSTIC QUARTET (Melting Point) 1/19

KINCHAFOONEE COWBOYS (Georgia Theatre) 1/19

TRES CHICAS (Morton Theatre) 1/19

DEERHUNTER / THE SELMANAIRES / PSYCHIC HEARTS (40 Watt) 1/20

MOONSHINE STILL / THE BRIDGE / PNUMA TRIO (Georgia Theatre) 1/20

ROYAL BLUE & THE STONE GRIFTERS (Tasty World) 1/23

CACHAÇA (Farm 255) 1/24

GRAND CONTAINER / THE MELLAFLO / THE SHREDDERS (40 Watt) 1/24

"UNCORKED & UNPLUGGED" w/ SANDRA McCRACKEN / SCOTT MILLER (Melting Point) 1/24

BOB HAY & THE JOLLY BEGGARS (Melting Point) 1/25

CACHAÇA (Amici) 1/25

TINO GARRIDO (Farm 255) 1/25

TISHAMINGO (40 Watt) 1/25

WHO'S BAD? (Georgia Theatre) 1/25

DEAD CONFEDERATE / WALCOTT / TRIAL BY FIRE (Tasty World) 1/26

ELITE THA SHOWSTOPPA / BIG JOHN BURBON / C-FRE$H / STATIC Y MIZZA / DJ KILLACUT (Safari Athens) 1/26

KRUSH GIRLS (40 Watt) 1/26

WE VERSUS THE SHARK / VENICE IS SINKING / CONTRABAND / MOUSER (Georgia Theatre) 1/26

ABBEY ROAD LIVE! (Georgia Theatre) 1/27

BEAR (Caledonia) 1/27

CALEB GRIMES (Amici) 1/27

THE LEMONHEADS (40 Watt) 1/27

COREY SMITH (Classic Center) 1/27

THE SUEX EFFECT / MR. GRASSFOOT (Tasty World) 1/27

TRESOR HUGO (Ritz) 1/27

THE BOTTLE ROCKETS (Tasty World) 1/29

MASTODON / CONVERGE / PRIESTESS (40 Watt) 1/31

POOLSTICK / SUN DOMINGO (The Library) 1/31

"UNCORKED & UNPLUGGED" (Melting Point) 1/31

STEEP CANYON RANGERS / FINE LINE (Georgia Theatre) 2/1

THE DEXATEENS / DEAD CONFEDERATE / WHEELS ON FIRE (40 Watt) 2/2

JAZZTRONIC (Amici) 2/2

MOUNTAIN HEART (Melting Point) 2/2

THE GOURDS / DAVID CHILDERS & THE MODERN DON JUANS (Melting Point) 2/3

LOTUS / COOLIO CRACKA (Georgia Theatre) 2/3

VASHTI BUNYAN / VETIVER (40 Watt) 2/6

HACKENSAW BOYS (40 Watt) 2/9

YO MAMA'S BIG FAT BOOTY BAND (Georgia Theatre) 2/9

PERPETUAL GROOVE (Georgia Theatre) 2/10

THE SUEX EFFECT (Amici) 2/10

LIQUID JUNGLE (Georgia Theatre) 2/14

JOE BONAMASSA (Melting Point) 2/15

JONATHAN RICHMAN (40 Watt) 2/16

RISING APPALACHIA / MOIRA SMILEY & VOCO (Melting Point) 2/16

KRUSH GIRLS (40 Watt) 2/17

DARK STAR ORCHESTRA (Georgia Theatre) 2/21

DEERHOOF / BUSDRIVER / HARLEM SHAKES (40 Watt) 2/21

C-FRE$H / BEAR / BIG JOHN BURBON & HIS ENTOURAGE / NOBODY FAMOUS (Tasty World Upstairs) 2/23

DAVE MATTHEWS COVER BAND (Georgia Theatre) 2/23

DR. DOG (40 Watt) 2/23

BLACK LIPS / DARK MEAT (40 Watt) 2/24

UMPHREY'S McGEE (Georgia Theatre) 2/28

COMMANDER CHAMELEON (Roadhouse) 3/1

THE WHIGS (40 Watt) 3/2

MARVIN HAMLISCH (Classic Center) 3/3

MODERN SKIRTS (40 Watt) 3/3

ISIS / JESU / TORCHE (40 Watt) 3/8

THE AVETT BROTHERS / WILL KIMBROUGH (Georgia Theatre) 3/23

CARTEL / COBRA STARSHIP / BOYS LIKE GIRLS (40 Watt) 3/23

JORMA KAUKONEN / BARRY MITTERHOFF (Melting Point) 3/24

OF MONTREAL / LONELY, DEAR (40 Watt) 3/24

TV ON THE RADIO (40 Watt) 4/12

HOPE FOR AGOLDENSUMMER (40 Watt) 4/13

LEO KOTTKE & THE TURTLE ISLAND STRING QUARTET (UGA) 12/7