originally published December 27, 2006

Deadline to be listed in the next issue: Monday, January 8 by 11 a.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. 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.

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.

TWIN POWERS

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

Thursday, Dec. 28

ADAM ARCURAGI

(Little Kings) Formerly of the Philadelphia band Audible, Adam Arcuragi set out on his own a while back and now has the self-titled debut album to show for himself. It's a moving collection of poetic and sparse songs that will tweak your ears if you yearn for a common thread between Kozelek, Jurado, Drake and a stripped-down Springsteen. Full band show tonight.

CACHAÇA

(Amici) Playing Brazilian-styled music, this new band features Jake Mowrer (nylon-stringed guitar) and Jim Coley (upright bass) of Hot Club of Athens and Kane Stanley and Ryan Wendel of Grogus, among other groups, on percussion. Every other Thursday.

DJ RIX

(Loft) Championing dance favorites every Thursday.

DYLAN BLUES PROJECT

(DT’s) Guitarist-vocalist Avery Gibbs recently moved to Athens from Virginia, recruited bassist Joe Hammond and drummer Brian Crum and set out to deliver Texas-style blues and Southern rockin’ blues, playing covers and Stevie Ray-styled originals.

LESLIE HELPERT

(Little Kings) Local singer-songwriter Leslie Helpert has kept quiet as of late, but when she does pop up she inhabits each and every one of her songs to the fullest. Helpert’s most recent album is Radishes & Cupcakes, and tonight she performs on electric guitar backed by Neal Fountain and Jeff Reilly.

JUSTIN EVANS’ CHINATOWN DIARY

(Melting Point) Playing classic-sounding road songs with true whiskey-flavored country style, Athens musician and photographer Justin Evans' full band includes AJ Adams on multiple guitars, Carlton Owens on drums and Betsy Franck and Julia Schoenning on backing vocals.

KANYE TWITTY VS. BIT MEDDLER

(Go Bar) Your deejay for the night's dancing submitted this description: "Pop garbage, happy hardcore, beardo disco, Brazilian baile funk, French house, Baltimore club, Miami bass, Italodisco, krautrock, Egyptian shumba, post-punk nonsense, jock jams… pop. Bert and Ernie on acid, in sequins. Mirth."

“KARAOKE”

(Eastwood Pub) Every Thursday.

“KARAOKE”

(Stan’s Bar & Grill) Every Thursday.

LITTLE COUNTRY GIANTS

(Melting Point) Stellar old-time folk, country and blues from Rome; the sophomore album Breaking Hearts & Living Free is a diverse but connected collection of songs about love and heartbreak, ranging from old-style murder ballads to jukebox country about highways and honky-tonks.

Friday, Dec. 29

BREATHLANES

(Little Kings) Instrumental, atmospheric jazz-fusion: John Miley (guitar), Darrin Cook (bass) and Jamie DeRevere (drums) structure their improvised work around Breathlanes tunes and themes both old and new.

CLAY ROSS & KRYSTAL WARREN

(Farm 255) Acoustic duo.

DADDY GRACE

(Wild Wing Café) The acoustic duo of Daddy Grace features two musicians from Augusta playing guitar and singing, covering everything from Jimmy Buffett to Willie Nelson.

“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 BOBBY C

(Loft) Local deejay Bobby Casille drops tonight’s dance tunes for your feet and your ass.

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.

DJ PEACH SALSA

(Mercury Lounge) John Fernandes of Dark Meat, Circulatory System, The Instruments, Elf Power, Mouser, The New Sound of Numbers, Olivia Tremor Control, etc., etc., etc., spins a wide variety of music all night long, including a lot of heavy funk, Brazilian music, and more in an early New Year’s celebration.

DJRX

(Rumor) Deejay Brian Gonzalez, AKA DJRX, delivers many of his own remixes, and dance selections will be mainly current (Fergie, Gorillaz, Gwen Stefani, etc.).

DJ TOMMY SALMON

(Repent) Local bassist Tommy Salmon (The High Caliber, ex-Trinket) takes over the bar's speakers as he selects the evening’s music. Every Friday and Saturday.

GARBAGE ISLAND

(40 Watt) The challenging, interesting Athens improvisational group soldiers on without founding member Mark Kaczmarek, who earlier this year split town for future opportunities. Loud, metallic and edgy, the band dips into krautrock and progressive thought, earning it the “experimental” tag.

HEAVY PETTY

(Caledonia) The musicians who spend their time working at the Caledonia’s bar and soundboard take to its stage in a repeat of this past Halloween’s show in which they rocked through the back catalog of Tom Petty.

JUST SEX DRONE

(40 Watt) J.S. Dillard of the band Honey performs solo.

“KARAOKE”

(Mell’s) Every Friday.

LIQUID SUNDROP

(No Where Bar) The local four-piece - bassist Nathan Jones, guitarists AJ Purcell and Coe Allen and drummer Phillip Pelot - takes a cue from the improvisational jazz-influenced funky rock of bands like Phish, but has lately been focusing more on songwriting. The band’s been at it for several years now but tonight says farewell to Jones, who’s moving out of town. The guys report that what that means for 2007 is up in the air, but that tonight should be a throwdown starting at 9 p.m. and heading into the wee hours.

MOTHER JACKSON

(40 Watt) 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.

MP3J VINAL

(Go Bar) Richard Vinal (of local hip hop/ funk fusion act Bling the Children Back Home) hosts the late-night eclectic dance party that’ll draw on classic favorites as well as the new Internet hotness.

PERPETUAL GROOVE

(Georgia Theatre) This formerly Savannahian group’s been stirring crowds into a frenzy around the Southeast with its high-energy jams and spirited cover tunes. But they liked Athens so much they picked up and moved here earlier this year! All This Everything and Sweet Oblivious Antidote are the most recent albums, and there’s another one coming up next year. The first night of a two-night New Year’s celebration.

POWERLOAD

(Caledonia) AC/DC covers from this group of veteran local musicians skilled in the ways of guitarism.

RANDOM ACTS

(Eastwood Pub) Country-rock covers and originals.

STRAWBERRY FLATS

(Melting Point) Veteran Athens musicians Wade Hester, Deane Quinter, John Keane, Scott Sanders and Tim White deliver a heavy dose of psychedelic classics from the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.

VERSATILIANS

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

Saturday, Dec. 30

ALTERED

(Tasty World) Atlanta-based rock band.

SEAN ARINGTON

(Farm 255) Rip-your-heart-out acoustic pop from Athenian singer-songwriter Sean Arington, formerly of bands Big Atomic and One Big Eye.

"BATTLE @ THE LOUNGE"

(Caledonia) Tonight's hip hop event features emcee battling from Athens' finest. Registration for rappers starts at 9 p.m., while the music gets going around 10 p.m. Already on the bill are Travis Williams, C. Drapa, KingHill, C-Fre$h and Big Baz. The night's featured performance will be from Athens emcee Young Hooks, who celebrates his new album Don't Wanna Go Back, released locally earlier this year. DJ Bulldog Purp works the turntables and provides the night's sounds while 2 tha Mathmatikal Radikal hosts.

“DISCO NIGHT”

(Stan’s Bar & Grill) DJ Curtis 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 JOHNNY D

(Loft) One of The Loft Lounge’s rotating crew of house deejays, Johnny D lays down the new dance sounds.

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.

DJ MAHOGANY

(40 Watt) The man also known as Mark T. Weathersby spins a lot of music from the ’60s, ’70s and early ’80s, spanning soul, funk, blue-eyed soul, Northern soul and a little soulful disco. For tonight’s three-deejay New Year’s celebration, Mahogany hints he may work in a good amount of nasty ’80s rap.

DJ OTHER VOICES, OTHER ROOMS

(Little Kings) Before midnight, a look back at the sounds of 2006 with music from Belle & Sebastian, Yo La Tengo, Harvey Milk, Califone and Cat Power, among others. After midnight, expect some hard funk, rap, afrobeat, house, soul and dub.

DJ TOMMY SALMON

(Repent) Local bassist Tommy Salmon (The High Caliber, ex-Trinket) takes over the bar's speakers as he selects the evening’s music. Every Friday and Saturday.

“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., with dancing afterwards. Upstairs, every Saturday night.

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.

JAZZ ENIGMA

(Mercury Lounge) Virgin Islands native and Athens resident Melvin Mathurin (alto-sax) completes the jazz tripod with the bass/ drum combo of Carl Lindberg (double bass) and Louis Romanos (drums/percussion). The band starts up at 8 p.m., and then a guest deejay hosts the late night New Year's Eve (Eve) dance party.

JIM PERKINS BAND

(Wild Wing Café) Augusta's Jim Perkins, of the acoustic duo Perkins & Prouty, comes back through town with his full band to offer a set of country and rock covers and originals.

“KARAOKE”

(Eastwood Pub) Every Saturday.

“KARAOKE”

(Mell’s) Every Saturday.

KRUSH GIRLS

(40 Watt) Dance numbers of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s - and today - so shake it, shake it at the three-deejay New Year’s dance party hosted by your ultra-popular deejay Chris Bilheimer.

“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.

LITHIUM

(Tasty World) The Florida pop-punk five-piece Lithium - not the Kentucky metal band Lithium - plays an early show (6 p.m.) today, with songs tinged slightly by late-'90s ska-influenced punk.

LIVING DAYLIGHTS

(DT’s) The new local quartet - vocalist-guitarist Josh Jordan, guitarist Cameron John, bassist Billy Lewis and drummer David Burtnett - says it's a "progressive rock band."

MARTIANS SEE RED

(Tasty World) Helmet and the Misfits play a strong role in the rapid-fire hard rock of this Atlanta trio, but the vocals come across as a lot more polished, at times even suggesting a bit of David Bowie. It’s a strange combination; album out soon.

MILLHILL

(Tasty World) This Hartwell, GA, quartet -Phil Duncan (vocals, guitar), Cain Harper (drums), Simon Peek (guitar) and Christopher Floyd (bass/vocals) - has studied up on Van Halen-, Aerosmith- and Mötley Crüe-type hard rock.

PERPETUAL GROOVE

(Georgia Theatre) This formerly Savannahian group’s been stirring crowds into a frenzy around the Southeast with its high-energy jams and spirited cover tunes. But they liked Athens so much they picked up and moved here earlier this year! All This Everything and Sweet Oblivious Antidote are the most recent albums, and there’s another one coming up next year. The second night of a two-night New Year’s celebration.

TWIN POWERS

(40 Watt) Dan Geller spins danceable New Wave and Britpop tunes for tonight’s three-deejay New Year’s dance party.

ALLISON WEISS

(Tasty World) In August of last year, Allison Weiss set up shop in Athens and dove into the open-mic scene, delivering catchy, emotion-driven acoustic guitar songs. Debut album out in January. Early show, 6 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 31

BLUE COTTON

(Wild Wing Café) No information available.

CARLA LeFEVER & THE RAYS

(Melting Point) Local rocker Carla LeFever and her band play a stripped-down set of hard-rocking tunes to open for Mother’s Finest, with LeFever on vocals, Josiah Baker on guitar and Doug White on backing vocals.

“DISCO NIGHT”

(Stan’s Bar & Grill) DJ Curtis is in charge of bringing you R&B dance numbers, with a healthy dose of old-school disco for tonight’s New Year’s Eve throwdown.

DJ WOLFIE & THE PACK

(Farm 255) Your hostess for the evening is Lily Wolfe, formerly of the band Parker & Lily. Tonight she deejays Farm’s New Year’s Eve party, which is rumored to feature some go-go dancers performing throughout the evening.

MOTHER’S FINEST

(Melting Point) Falling somewhere between Sly & the Family Stone and Led Zeppelin, the regional funk-rock band Mother’s Finest made a minor national splash in the late 1970s with its self-titled debut and the follow-up album Another Mother Further. Consciously testing boundaries (any band with a track called “Niggazz Can’t Sing Rock & Roll” or an excellent album called Black Radio Won’t Play This Record would), Mother’s Finest never relented, continuing to blend blues-rock and deep soul funk, lacing male and female vocals all the way up to Right Here, Right Now, the recent double-disc live album.

ROCKINWOOD

(Loco’s Harris St.) Vocalist Owen Hunt, guitarist Mike “Wally” Walliser (both also of The Leavers), and drummer Nick Lacis, bassist Whit Hawkins and guitarist Danny Coulter are Rockinwood, a new Athens band playing blues-tinged Southern rock about drinking and girls.

Monday, Jan. 1

“KARAOKE”

(Repent) Every Monday.

“KARAOKE”

(Stan’s Bar & Grill) Every Monday.

“OPEN MIC NIGHT”

(Eastwood Pub) Every Monday.

JENA PARADIES

(Go Bar) Jena Paradies delivers exquisite mixes of the freshest in Berliner techno, electro-house and subsonic soul laced with hooks so sharp they could draw blood. 10:30 p.m., Mondays.

Tuesday, Jan. 2

APOCALYPTIC VISION

(Repent) Death-metal four-piece from Atlanta keen on genre gimmickry like pentagrams, demons, evil, etc.

ISHUES

(Tasty World) In early 2004, the versatile and progressive-minded local emcee Ishues released Reality Flow; the impressive record features powerful, off-the-cuff rhyming and a hard-edged lyrical style reminiscent of Talib Kweli. Ish is currently at work on some new studio material, and also recently dropped the mixtape Urban Warfare.

“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.

LIL TRILL

(Tasty World) Although Internet searches turn up a Kansas emcee of the same name, Lil Trill is a young South Georgia rapper finding his footing in the Dirty South scene. Earlier this year, he collaborated with Da Deal on a 20-song mixtape.

“OPEN MIC NIGHT”

(DT’s) Every Tuesday.

PHYRST BORN

(Tasty World) Atlanta's Jamal Lowery, AKA Phyrst Born, has, for more than a decade, refined his smooth b-boy style, combining hustler stances with smoother, jazz- and funk-influenced sounds. His debut album out now is called The Session.

Wednesday, Jan. 3

THE CATHODE TERROR SECRETION

(Caledonia) Experimental electronic duo out of Port Washington, NY.

DJ SIZZLE

(Loft) Spinning the dance numbers every Wednesday.

“KARAOKE”

(Foxz) Every Wednesday.

“KARAOKE”

(Mell’s) Every Wednesday.

“KARAOKE”

(Stan’s Bar & Grill) Every Wednesday.

LONG LEGGED WOMAN

(Caledonia) Vaguely drony and mostly noisy, the duo of Gabe Vodicka and Justin Flowers plays music that's half improvised, half composed, and recently put out an EP called 1.

MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA

(Tasty World) The Atlanta band’s debut EP You Brainstorm, I Brainstorm, But Brilliance Needs a Good Editor is full of straightforward, hooky and poppy indie-rock in the vein of Death Cab For Cutie and Pedro the Lion. The multi-member group of musicians is fronted by Andy Hull and Jonathan Corley. See p. 29.

THE NEW FRONTIERS

(Tasty World) Until very recently known as Stellamaris, The New Frontiers hail from Texas and play a friendly yet intricate, harmony-heavy type of emotional pop-rock that may appeal to fans of Coldplay and Snow Patrol.

“OPEN JAM”

(DT’s) Just bring your instrument and join in. For more information, call 706-208-1474.

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.

TWIN POWERS

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

YELLOW TEARS

(Caledonia) Abrasive and at times violent guitar noises are the specialty of this New York four-piece.

Thursday, Jan. 4

BLANK FACES

(Repent) Vocalist-guitarist Steven Chambliss, bassist Len Dean and drummer Tim Terilli make up this local power-pop trio.

DJ MAHOGANY

(Mercury Lounge) The man also known as Mark T. Weathersby spins a lot of music from the ’60s, ’70s and possibly early ’80s spanning soul, funk, blue-eyed soul, Northern soul and a little soulful disco.

DJ RIX

(Loft) Championing dance favorites every Thursday.

FERVOR

(40 Watt) With the annoyingly written name FERVoR, this Atlanta trio plays the mainstream, vaguely technical lite-metal rock associated with bands like Dredg and Sevendust. Separation Tide is the newest album.

“KARAOKE”

(Eastwood Pub) Every Thursday.

“KARAOKE”

(Stan’s Bar & Grill) Every Thursday.

OCTOBER FREQUENCY

(40 Watt) These five local guys - Richie, Adam, Anthony, Carlton and Mike - produce heavy, distorted metal layered with the kind of speak-sung vocals typical of nü-metal/ new-rock bands like the Deftones.

PRIVATE CONVERSATION

(Repent) No information available.

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.

SACRED HOLLOW

(40 Watt) This new band features local guys Brett, Dustin, Skip, Ben and Ryan; normal “rock” singing with some occasional screamy intensity tops off early-’90s melodic rock that incorporates some proggy metal influences.

TWP

(Diverse Universe) Jazz combo playing every other Thursday at 7 p.m.

ULTRADRIVE

(40 Watt) Atlanta hard-rock four-piece with an album coming out at some point in 2007. For fans of mid-’90s rock like Stone Temple Pilots and Filter.

Friday, Jan. 5

CARLA LeFEVER & THE RAYS

(Eastwood Pub) Local rocker Carla LeFever’s has a new band together with songwriting partner Josiah Baker (Ultra Delux, XXX Hardrive), Marv Cobb and Kenny Brawner (Common People Band). She promises some covers of AC/DC, Dio and some of her more “hard-grooving” and dancey originals in the same vein.

CHARLIE GARRETT BAND

(Wild Wing Café) Watkinsville guys Charlie Garrett (vocals, guitar), Jay Rodgers (bass) and Andrew Hammer (drums) play countryish Southern rock. Matt “Pistol” Stoessel of Lake City and Sleepy Horses sits in on pedal steel tonight.

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 BOBBY C

(Loft) Local deejay Bobby Casille drop tonight’s dance tunes for your feet and your ass.

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) Deejay Brian Gonzalez, AKA DJRX, delivers many of his own remixes, and dance selections will be mainly current (Fergie, Gorillaz, Gwen Stefani, etc.).

DJ TOMMY SALMON

(Repent) Local bassist Tommy Salmon (The High Caliber, ex-Trinket) takes over the bar's speakers as he selects the evening’s music. Every Friday and Saturday.

THE FRZZZLY MUFF

(Go Bar) Says an email about tonight's deejay team-up, "The Frzzzly Muff will host a night of hip hop, bootyshake and total sex jams. DJs Muff and Frzzzly Rooster gonna do that shit."

GABRIEL KELLEY BAND

(Mercury Lounge) Gabriel Kelley Zorbanos (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica), formerly of Gabriel Young and currently fronting his own band, plays “roots-folk with tinges of alt-country and pop mixed in there.”

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.

HOT BOX KINGS

(Tasty World) Athens-based rootsy jam band.

“KARAOKE”

(Mell’s) Every Friday.

MILLHILL

(40 Watt) Hartwell, GA, quartet Phil Duncan (vocals, guitar), Cain Harper (drums), Simon Peek (guitar) and Christopher Floyd (bass, vocals) have studied up on Van Halen-, Aerosmith- and Mötley Crüe-type hard rock.

ONE LESS REASON

(40 Watt) Intensely adrenalized hard rock from this Tennessee/ Florida group. The band’s newest EP Getting Back Your Self Esteem is a follow-up to the debut full-length Everydaylife.

SASSAFRAS DRIFTERS

(Tasty World) Druggy jam band sounds from this new Alpharetta four-piece fusing funky, grooving rock.

SOUNDS OF SILENCE

(40 Watt) This local four-piece started out on the local scene by turning out capable Green Day, Collective Soul, Nickelback and Hoobastank covers, but since its start a few years back has evolved into performing its own modern-rock tunes along the same late-’90s lines.

VERSATILIANS

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

Saturday, Jan. 6

AQUALOVE

(40 Watt) Local space oddity Timi Conley brings out his flagship band, resurrected with a new lineup. “It’s a fresh lineup of players and a new, more wise-assey, testosterone-ish sound for us,” says Conley. “The band now features myself plus Robert Caruthers (Boulevard) on guitar, Jay Rogers (Parafinale) on bass and Andrew Hanmer (Abbey Road Live, Charlie Mars) on drums.” Expect old Aqualove songs, new Aqualove songs and songs from Conley’s other projects: Trubblegum and Fuzzy Sprouts.

CURTIS ELLER’S AMERICAN CIRCUS

(Flicker) “Curtis Eller is New York City’s angriest yodeling banjo player. He sings about pigeon racing, performing elephants and Jesus, all of which he has seen with his own eyes.” Taking Up Serpents Again is the recent 10-song album, Eller’s third. Tonight's show sees Eller accompanied by special guests Al Duvall and Singing Sadie. 8:30 p.m.

DICTATORTOTS

(Tasty World) Seemingly outrageously crude, the long-running Athenian chaos cultivators stomp about and trash the night with their beery post-grunge sounds. The latest album is called Dung Shui.

“DISCO NIGHT”

(Stan’s Bar & Grill) The house deejay 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 JOHNNY D

(Loft) One of The Loft Lounge’s rotating crew of house deejays, Johnny D lays down the new dance sounds.

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.

DJ TOMMY SALMON

(Repent) Local bassist Tommy Salmon (The High Caliber, ex-Trinket) takes over the bar's speakers as he selects the evening’s music. Every Friday and Saturday.

“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., with dancing afterwards. 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.

THE MR. MOVE

(Tasty World) “Sweaty, drunken, high-energy rage fests.” That’s how Reggie C., AKA The Mr. Move, describes his performance parties, a combination of slick electro, thumping booty bass and semi-ironic punk-influenced rapping.

SLOW MOTION CRASH

(40 Watt) Five-piece Atlanta indie-rock band influenced by spacious, punkish groups like Sonic Youth and Blonde Redhead while meshing dramatic goth sounds in as well. Seven-song EP Vast and Danger out last year. Formerly known as Creve Coeur, the band went through a brief lineup juggle and adopted a new moniker back in August.

TIME TOY

(40 Watt) From 1984 to 1989, singer Bryan Cook, guitarist Paul Hammond, bassist Danny Cottar and drummer Robby McMahon created odd and quirky dance-rock centered around driving rhythms and Cook’s idiosyncratic vocal delivery. One reunion show in 1998 followed, albeit with Juan Molina, who joined up after McMahon retired in 1987. The band put out its album Fly Swatter / Ice Water, recorded with John Keane in the ’80s but never released until this past summer.

VERSATILIANS

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

THE WAZ

(DT's) A heavy-metal band from Texas and an acid-jazz group from New York share this name, but there was no information available as to which, if either, is playing in Athens.

Sunday, Jan. 7

“DISCO NIGHT”

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

Monday, Jan. 8

“THE HOOT”

(Little Kings) Nestled into its wintertime location at Little Kings, the monthly folk showcase is taken over this month by local folk-country singer-songwriter Gabriel Kelley, who will perform with his backing band and act as host for the night. Also on the bill tonight is Lera Lynn, who fronts new local country-leaning act Birds & Wire; Neal Fountain accompanies. Soulful singer Heidi Hensley performs, too, playing retro-sounding rock and folk songs. 8 p.m.

IDIOT SLOW DOWN

(Tasty World) Jammy four-piece from Texas influenced by classic rock.

JUCIFER

(Georgia Theatre) After non-stop touring of North America in support of two nationally-acclaimed releases on Velocette, sludge-metal volume producers drummer Ed Livengood and guitarist-vocalist Amber Valentine set up Noise HQ at the Theatre. The metal rumble is overpowering, piercing, throbbing, alluring and L-O-U-D. Cum feel the noize for real. If Thine Enemy Hunger is the band’s new release.

“KARAOKE”

(Repent) Every Monday.

“KARAOKE”

(Stan’s Bar & Grill) Every Monday.

“OPEN MIC NIGHT”

(Eastwood Pub) Every Monday.

JENA PARADIES

(Go Bar) Jena Paradies delivers exquisite mixes of the freshest in Berliner techno, electro-house and subsonic soul laced with hooks so sharp they could draw blood. 10:30 p.m., Mondays.

PRODUCTO

(Georgia Theatre) Athens’ Producto centers around the magnetic stage presence of vocalist Ané Diaz and the guitar work of Frank MacDonell. Creston Spiers holds down the drum kit, and Philip McArdle is the new bassist. The band plays an entrancing, dramatic blend of intense rock meshed with heartbroken siren songs. Currently at work on a third album.

3-RING CIRCUS

(Tasty World) The Atlanta trio of Dominic DeSantis (guitar, vocals), Rick Austin (drums) and Gary Ward (bass) plays “high-flying, hard-rocking acrobatics for your amusement.”

Tuesday, Jan. 9

BLACKTUSK

(Tasty World) This Savannah trio’s debut EP When Kingdoms Fall, produced by Kylesa’s Philip Cope, offers a concise blast of thrashy, riff-packed metal. See Box.

CRAIG LIESKE & PABLO D. WILDER

(Flicker) Local improv guitarist Craig Lieske (Garbage Island, Desk Pussy) teams up with Austin, TX guitarist Pablo D. Wilder of the band Hotel, Hotel. "We've discovered our mutual love of off-beat textures," says Lieske, "and we'll be inventing a few of those on the spot at the Flicker show." Expect dense dissonance, open ambience, creative drone and more. 8:30 p.m.

THE DUMPS

(Tasty World) With Daniel Ray (Let’s Surf, Exit 86) on guitar/ vocals, Jeff Rapier (Donkey Punch) on bass/ vocals, Andy Hollingsworth (Choptop) on guitar and Jason Richardson (Donkey Punch, Exit 86) on drums, The Dumps deliver angular metal licks with lots of dual screaming over slow heavy grooves.

“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.

“LIVE IN THE LOBBY”

(WUOG, 90.5 FM) Every Thursday at 8 p.m. Tonight’s local-band performance: Allison Weiss.

“OPEN MIC NIGHT”

(DT’s) Every Tuesday.

RASTA BLANCA

(J.R.'s Baitshack) Reggae covers and originals.

SKELETONWITCH

(Tasty World) Retro-sounding in the heaviest of ways, Ohio’s Skeletonwitch plays tattooed and hairy ’80s metal that calls to mind bands like Overkill and Mercyful Fate, with even a bit of Sabbath or Testament.

“TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ”

(Farm 255) Every Tuesday, 7–10 p.m., the downtown restaurant features jazz from a revolving cast of regulars.

JASON “LEFTY” WILLIAMS

(Georgia Bar) One-armed Atlanta guitarist Jason “Lefty” Williams at age 11 fashioned a pick to fit on what his website likes to call “his nubb,” and since he’s been turning out electrified rock, delving into funk, country and jazz covers and originals, either solo or with a backing band. Big Plans is the debut album out now.

ZOSO

(Georgia Theatre) Expect typical Led Zeppelin covers as well as a trip into relative Zep obscurity during the California band’s two sets.

Wednesday, Jan. 10

THE DEACON BRANDON REEVES

(Farm 255) It’s acoustic folk, blues and soulful singer-songwritery stuff from this Gainesville, GA, musician. The Deacon’s new album on online-only label Lost Cat Records is One of These Days.

DEAD STICK LANDING

(Georgia Theatre) Formerly known as the Fall Line Trio, this local funk-rock band has changed bassists and changed names. John Parrott (guitar, vocals), Todd Headley (drums, vocals) and new guy Greg Surratt (bass, vocals) have been recording recently, and claim influences like Frank Zappa, 311, Soundgarden, Umphrey's McGee and Ween.

DJ SIZZLE

(Loft) Spinning the dance numbers every Wednesday.

GROOVE STAIN

(Georgia Theatre) This alternative rock septet out of the ATL plays frenzied, groove-filled, hard rockin’ originals incorporating blasts of brass.

“KARAOKE”

(Foxz) Every Wednesday.

“KARAOKE”

(Mell’s) Every Wednesday.

“KARAOKE”

(Stan’s Bar & Grill) Every Wednesday.

KILROY

(Tasty World) Vocalist-guitarist Mike Perkins, vocalist-guitarist Keven Gilbert, bassist Shannon Rupp and drummer Brent Grimes started out drawing influences from countryish folk-rock groups like The Band and early Wilco, but have recently delved into louder garagey sounds on the album The Violent Jolt of the Capitol.

LIQUID JUNGLE

(Georgia Theatre) Twin brothers Josh (bass, lead vocals) and Graham Yoder (lead guitar, backing vocals) joined up with Scott Keener (drums) and Andres Miller (guitar, backing vocals) to get their funky jam thing going, drawing on Zappa, P-Funk and the Chili Peppers.

“OPEN JAM”

(DT’s) Bring your instrument and join in. For more information, call 706-208-1474.

PETTICOAT, PETTICOAT

(Tasty World) The core of Petticoat, Petticoat is the duo of Dickie Haydon (guitar, harmonica, keys, vocals) and Kristin Messina (vocals, harmonica), and on the new album Every Mother's Child they deliver a shimmery, melodic and to-the-point type of indie-pop that at times recalls the mood, if not always the sounds, of '60s folk.

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.

THE SCOURGE OF THE SEA

(Tasty World) Make Me Armored is the new disc from Kentucky's The Scourge of the Sea. Hook-heavy and melody-driven, the pop songs are polished, refreshing and charming, sounding a little like The Softies. The live shows reportedly feature a nice amount of vocal harmonizing, too.

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: Atlanta's acoustic pop songwriter Paul Reeves sings tracks off the recently released album Invitation; Gary Pfaff, who fronts Atlanta rock band Obsession Day and has his solo debut album White Stars out this week, delivers a set; respected West Texas musician and longtime Jerry Jeff Walker collaborator Bob Livingston performs. Every Wednesday, 8 p.m.

Upcoming:

AEGIS OF ATHENA / KILLICK (Repent) 1/11

CACHAÇA (Amici) 1/11

DUELING PIANO GUYS (The Library) 1/11

TINO GARRIDO (Farm 255) 1/11

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

MELVIN MATHURIN JAZZ TRIO (Diverse Universe) 1/11

ADAMS TOWNSHIP (Farm 255) 1/12

BEYOND TOMORROW / CRUMBLING ARCHES / HILLSIDE MANOR / MILLHOUSE (Tasty World) 1/12

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

ALLISON CORNELL (Mercury Lounge) 1/12

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

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

ROLLIN' HOME (Eastwood Pub) 1/12

SOVUS RADIO / KILL GORDON / ALL THE SAINTS (Go Bar) 1/12

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 / DEAR AND GLORIOUS PHYSICIAN / BEAR MARINO (40 Watt) 1/13

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

THE SUEX EFFECT (Amici) 1/13

BOB HAY & THE JOLLY BEGGARS (ACC Library) 1/14

DYLAN BLUES PROJECT / NAUTILUS / SPEED OF LIFE (Tasty World) 1/15

BRETT DENNEN (Melting Point) 1/16

ALLISON WEISS (Tasty World) 1/16

KINGRAT / MOTHER EARTH & SUN / RED WORLD, GREEN WORLD (Tasty World) 1/17

JEFF SOILEAU (Farm 255) 1/17

AMANDA KAPOUSOUZ / KYLER ENGLAND / SAM SHABER (Melting Point) 1/17

THE HELP (40 Watt) 1/18

TINO GARRIDO (Farm 255) 1/18

DON CHAMBERS + GOAT / PACKWAY HANDLE BAND (Georgia Theatre) 1/18

PAUL McHUGH (Flicker) 1/18

POLEMIC / AMERICAN MUTT / SUBRIG DESTROYER (Repent) 1/18

RAND LINES TRIO (Amici) 1/18

TWP (Diverse Universe) 1/18

“ATHENS 441” W/ TRES CHICAS / KING OF PRUSSIA (Morton Theatre) 1/19

CAMERA OBSCURA (40 Watt) 1/19

DROMEDARY ACOUSTIC QUARTET (Melting Point) 1/19

KINCHAFOONEE COWBOYS (Georgia Theatre) 1/19

WAMPUS CAT SCAMMERS (Eastwood Pub) 1/19

AMERICAN CHEESEBURGER / BIRD FLU / THE SCUDS (Repent) 1/20

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

DODD FERRELLE & THE TINFOIL STARS / THE OLD CEREMONY (Caledonia) 1/20

THE ERIC DODD BAND (Tasty World) 1/20

FIVE EIGHT (Melting Point) 1/20

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

WRINKLE NECK MULES (Flicker) 1/20

WHY MAKE CLOCKS / COY KING / ADAM KLEIN (Tasty World) 1/22

ROYAL BLUE & THE STONE GRIFTERS / SPRING CIRCUS / HASKERS KASH (Tasty World) 1/23

CACHAÇA (Farm 255) 1/24

CHICAGO AFROBEAT PROJECT (Georgia Theatre) 1/24

GRANDCONTAINER & THE MELLAFLO / THE SHREDDERS (40 Watt) 1/24

SANDRA McCRACKEN / SCOTT MILLER (Melting Point) 1/24

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

CACHAÇA (Amici) 1/25

COYOTE MUSICA (Repent) 1/25

DAVID FAIRBAIRN / WILLIAM TONKS (Flicker) 1/25

TINO GARRIDO (Farm 255) 1/25

MELVIN MATHURIN JAZZ TRIO (Diverse Universe) 1/25

TISHAMINGO (40 Watt) 1/25

WHO’S BAD? (Georgia Theatre) 1/25

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

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

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

KRUSH GIRLS (40 Watt) 1/26

SOUTHERN SOUL (Eastwood Pub) 1/26

ABBEY ROAD LIVE! (Georgia Theatre) 1/27

BEAR (Caledonia) 1/27

COL. BRUCE HAMPTON & THE QUARK ALLIANCE (Melting Point) 1/27

CALEB GRIMES (Amici) 1/27

THE LEMONHEADS (40 Watt) 1/27

ROCKINWOOD / GRASSFOOT / THE SUEX EFFECT (Tasty World) 1/27

COREY SMITH (Classic Center) 1/27

TRESOR HUGO (Ritz) 1/27

THE BOTTLE ROCKETS (Tasty World) 1/29

COMANCHE / SIR PRIZE FIGHTER (Tasty World) 1/30

ENDLESS MIKE & THE BEAGLE CLUB / IN THE LURCH / RAT BABIES (Repent) 1/30

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

POOLSTICK / SUN DOMINGO (The Library) 1/31

RICK BRANTLEY / RENEGADE SOUND SYSTEM / FRANCISCO VIDAL (Tasty World) 2/1

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

“ATHENS 441” w/SCOURGE OF THE SEA (Morton Theatre) 2/2

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

JAZZTRONIC (Amici) 2/2

MOUNTAIN HEART (Melting Point) 2/2

SOULIVE (Georgia Theatre) 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

BARONESS (Max Canada) 2/8

MIEKA PAULEY / CHAD PERRONE / THE BENJI DAVIS PROJECT (Tasty World) 2/8

PHIL VASSAR (Georgia Theatre) 2/8

HACKENSAW BOYS (40 Watt) 2/9

DUBCONCIOUS (Georgia Theatre) 2/9

PERPETUAL GROOVE (Georgia Theatre) 2/10

THE SUEX EFFECT (Amici) 2/10

LIQUID JUNGLE (Georgia Theatre) 2/14

JASON “LEFTY” WILLIAMS (Amici) 2/14

JOE BONAMASSA (Melting Point) 2/15

VERTIGO JONES (Georgia Theatre) 2/15

“ATHENS 441” w/ PAPERCRANES (Morton Theatre) 2/16

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 / NELO / SAM THACKER (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

SPARTA / ALOHA / MEWITHOUTYOU (40 Watt) 3/5

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

JASON “LEFTY” WILLIAMS (Amici) 3/21

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