Local Music Listings

originally published June 6, 2007

Deadline to be listed in the next issue: Monday 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.

Wednesday, June 6
BIG CITY SUNRISE
(Georgia Theatre) This six-piece calls Sautee, GA, home, but has frequently brought Athens a blend of folk-rock with mountain influences, making a name for itself around town. Think Allman Brothers, Dylan and a little bluegrass. Daybreak is the newest album.
THE DEBASERS
(Caledonia) Pixies cover band.
THE DIAMOND CENTER
(Flicker) This new band features former members of Sleepy Horses and Brown Frown. "We are going for a kind of psychedelic/ garage with a tinge of country sound," says guitarist/vocalist Brandi Goodson. With an album in the works, this will be the band's "second to last show in town for quite some time." 8:30 p.m.
DJ SIZZLE
(Loft) Spinning the dance numbers every Wednesday.
ELECTRIC EELS
(The Library) No information available.
TINO GARRIDO
(Casa Mia) The main vocalist for Orquesta Grogus focuses on classical guitar music from Venezuela, playing waltz and joropo music but also Cuban son and flamenco. Every Wednesday at 8 p.m.
NEVA GEOFFREY
(Tasty World) Poetic Kentucky gal Neva Geoffrey writes uncomplicated and heavily melodic tunes on piano and guitar. Geoffrey's debut album The Days are Rolling would match well with Cat Power or Norah Jones. See Box.
JAY GONZALEZ
(Kingpins) Nutria keyboardist-vocalist Jay Gonzalez has a gig in town as a "lounge singer" and piano player. "I'll be doing a bunch of '50s and '60s crooner and rock-and-roll stuff, British invasion favorites, '70s AM radio hits, bubblegum classics, some ‘yacht rock’ for the Caledonia crowd and maybe some Sinatra or Bing Crosby.” Every Wednesday from 8 to 11 p.m.
KIP JONES
(Wild Wing Café) The local acoustic singer-songwriter is known for his wide-reaching repertoire and regular-guy songwriting, and many of Jones’ own tunes sound split between the reflective acoustic territory of Harvest-era Neil Young and the country-infused rock of ‘80s-era Steve Earle. His new album is called Downright.
“KARAOKE”
(Foxz) Every Wednesday.
“KARAOKE”
(Mell’s) Every Wednesday.
LEVI LOWREY & THE COMMUNITY HOUSE BAND
(The Library) Whiskey-soaked Dacula-dweller Levi Lowrey and his band churn out blues-inflected electric stomps, harmonica-wailing sad-sack ballads, and fiddle-bouncing campfire country in roughly equal parts highlighted by honeysuckle sweet harmonies, Lowrey's accomplished fiddling and occasional haunting lap steel lines. 8 p.m.
NICK LIGHT
(Tasty World) Local performer Nick Light plays with an acoustic guitar and his heart on his sleeve, going for a soulful, emo-lite sound that draws on aspects of Damien Rice, Bright Eyes and Dashboard Confessional. In early 2006, he released his debut album The Absent Parade, and has been at work on new material for a release this fall.
LIKE TOTALLY!!!
(Caledonia) Local ladies Jenny and Whitney perform songs for children of all ages, singing about unicorns, cookies and such. They're joined by talking dog travel guides, ornery pirates, dangerous bears, and more.
THE MARQUEE BLUES
(Eastwood Pub) Formerly known as Disraeli Gears, The Marquee Blues features members of the Michael Guthrie Band and The 60s playing classic British blues-influenced rock like that of Clapton and Cream. Every Wednesday from 9 p.m. to midnight.
MATIAS
(Tasty World) The new local duo of Nicole Matias and Seth Alan Bolton combine acoustic and electric guitar with Matias' airy vocals. It's pretty, it's delicate and it's a little reminiscent of Azure Ray; if you're missing that band's presence in town, Matias might scratch that subtle itch.
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.
SLOBBERDAWN
(Caledonia) Former staple of the house-show circuit Slobberdawn has recently begun taking their brand of circular, multi-vocal, vaguely menacing folk to the clubs.
SOME ANIMAL
(Tasty World) Through a handful of line-up changes, local musician and bandleader Roy Coughlin forges on with Some Animal, the vehicle for his morose yet optimistic pop songs. Tonight's show will be a duo guitar performance with Gabe Vodicka (Long Legged Woman, ex-American Erutrevo).
TWIN POWERS
(Go Bar) Danceable New Wave and Britpop tunes. 10 p.m., every Wednesday.
“UNCORKED & UNPLUGGED”
(Melting Point) Every week, this series focuses on local and national artists proficient in the craft of songwriting, with a rotating crew taking the stage each time around. Hosted by Jay Markwalter, this week's show features Sam Shaber, David Childers, Heidi Hensley and Randy Saxon. Every Wednesday, 8 p.m.
VANITY
(Flicker) No information available. 8:30 p.m.
BOBBY WALLACE
(The Library) No information available.
WILX
(Georgia Theatre) Bred in Oxford, MS, the five-piece Wilx, formed in mid-2005, recently relocated to Athens. The crew plays bluesy classic rock highlighted by a good amount of boogie-based piano. Debut album out now.
Thursday, June 7
THE BASTARD SUNS
(Tasty World) Drawing some influence from punk bands like Bouncing Souls with a slight Celtic influence, Atlanta's Bastard Suns go for straightahead rock with '90s "alternative"-styled vocals.
DJ REBB
(Detour) Atlanta's DJ Rebb plays Top 40, hip-hop, progressive house and other electronic sounds prime for dancing. Every Thursday.
DJ RIX
(Loft) Championing dance favorites every Thursday, Atlanta's DJ Rix favors breakbeat and hip-hop mixes. He recently collaborated with Louisiana's Trace on a mix called The Decade: Trace & Rix.
ECHO CANYON
(Mercury Lounge) Other-worldly, delicate, untraditional pop and rock, evolving and shifting into instrumental metal power. After a lengthy hiatus, the local trio of Jim Wilson, Chuck Bradburn and Craig Lieske plays music that’s experimental and playful, dangerous and demanding.
ELEMENTAL HARMONICS
(Georgia Theatre) This groovey, spaced-out Georgia trio creates electronic manipulations inspired by dub, reggae, trip-hop and breakbeats.
TINO GARRIDO
(Farm 255) The frontman for Orquesta Grogus focuses on classical guitar music from Venezuela and traditional songs from Cuba and Venezuela (for guitar and voice). Playing a dinner set, 8–10:30 p.m. every Thursday.
GIANT PANDA GUERILLA DUB SQUAD
(Georgia Theatre) Rochester, NY, seven-piece Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad plays heavy-vibin' modern reggae, drawing on Afrobeat and dub influences.
NIC GOODSON
(Mercury Lounge) Sleepy Horses frontman Nic Goodson, who also plays in Last Picture Show, performs a solo set of his dusty, shoegazey country rock numbers.
GROOVE STAIN
(Tasty World) This alternative rock septet out of the ATL plays frenzied, groove-filled, hard-rockin’ originals incorporating blasts of brass.
PATRICK HARGON
(Flicker) Patrick Hargon, guitarist for Don Chambers' band GOAT, performs a rare solo set of his own refined folk rock. He's moving out of town soon, and this will be his final solo performance as an Athens local. "Expect celebrity guests such as Don Chambers and possibly international American storytelling singer-songwriter Jim White," says Hargon. 8:30 p.m.
RYAN HETRICK
(Mercury Lounge) Singer-songwriter Ryan Hetrick plays melodic, soulful troubadour tunes about, as he puts it, "lost love and the day of American society."
IMMUZIKATION
(Mercury Lounge) Alfredo Lapuz handles electronics and backing vocals for the local party funk band Velveteen Pink, but he also deejays as Immuzikation, featuring his own grooving remixes for tonight's post-band dance party. 11 p.m.
“INDIE ROCK KARAOKE”
(Go Bar) Every Thursday.
JIBBER JONES & DOOHICKEY
(Wild Wing Café) No Information Available.
THE JUDIES
(Caledonia) Glam-inflected dance-pop band from Atlanta. Its website says the band features, "four of the most unique individuals on the planet." Dang, big words.
“KARAOKE”
(Eastwood Pub) Every Thursday.
CHIP McKENZIE
(Mercury Lounge) Chip McKenzie, familiar as the frontman for Still, Small Voice & the Joyful Noise, celebrates the release of his solo album Car Crash on Yr Couch, culled from seven years of recordings. Featuring collaborations with Elf Power's Andrew Rieger, Ian Morris and producer Rorshak, among others, the album runs the gamut from a wistful cover of the Mountain Goats track "I Remember Lima" to strident, strutting power-pop.
MICHELLE MALONE BAND
(Melting Point) The strong-voiced singer-songwriter and Daemon Records artist out of Atlanta is coming through town again, this time to deliver solo renditions of her emotive, confident songs that veer close to the riffy soulfulness of the best Southern rock. Her latest release is Sugarfoot, her ninth, and it's an acoustic-leaning album loaded with bottleneck slide and blues harmonica.
PEYTON
(Melting Point) No information available.
RASTA BLANCA
(Tasty World) Reggae covers and originals. Upstairs.
THE SELMANAIRES
(Caledonia) The Selmanaires hail from Atlanta, where they've been kicking around the scene for several years, making their name as purveyors of intriguing, psychedelicized acoustica. The addition of multi-instrumentalist Mathis Hunter earlier this year has reportedly moved the band into a dancier, expansive sound.
JEFF SHELTON
(Flicker) Formerly of San Francisco power-pop gem Spinning Jennies, Jeff Shelton now performs under the name The Well Wishers. Pop haven NotLame Records released 2004's Twenty-Four Seven and 2005's Under the Arrows. His shimmery songs should appeal to fans of the Beatles, the Posies and Teenage Fanclub. 8:30 p.m.
SOVUS RADIO
(Caledonia) Psychedelic Atlanta four-piece Sovus Radio can weave airy, multi-tracked vocal lines through enchanting instruments, or the group can rock it out with dissonant yowls and fiery guitars.
VOODOO MAGOO
(Tasty World) Formerly known as Sassafras Drifters, Voodoo Magoo is a trio from Atlanta playing bluesy funk-rock.
JIM WILSON
(Mercury Lounge) Wilson - best known as a member of Echo Canyon, Don Chambers' band, Mother Jackson and Sleepy Horses - performs a solo set under his own name tonight.
THE WINTER SOUNDS
(Little Kings) Land of No Output is last year's album from this impressive, non-stop local band. The five-piece creates a strong mix of deft, rhythmic indie rock with vocal flourishes that occasionally touch on emo, maintaining a coherent identity while exploring a variety of song structures. New full-length Porcelain Empire out this month.
Friday, June 8
BILLY BATTS ELECTRIC TRIO
(Mercury Lounge) Changing up the cast of musicians in the Goodfellas-thug named jazz group yet again, the Billy Batts Trio will feature Seth Hendershot on the Drums, AJ Adams on Bass and Neil Fountain on the guitar. The trio will perform a pair of sets stocked with what they call "lonesome country jazz." 8 p.m.
BIRD FLU
(Little Kings) Burning up the house show circuit and now sticking its head into the downtown clubs is Bird Flu, a fairly new local thrashy assault crew.
BRANDON BOWER & FRIENDS
(Wild Wing Café) Acoustic covers and originals.
THE BROTHERS GORE
(Tasty World) Newly local trio, batting out rough and upbeat power-pop songs. The band has been recording a new album recently.
"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.
5:30–7:30 p.m. every Friday.
THE CORDUROY ROAD
(DT's) Recently transplanted from Kentucky to Athens, this small acoustic outfit uses bluegrass instruments - banjo, guitar, harmonica - but departs for a less traditional sound. New album coming soon.
THE COUNTRY RIVER BAND
(Foxz) No information available.
DEAF JUDGES
(Little Kings) Relatively new collaborative project features Athens' non-traditional hip-hop talents Old White Women, Rorshak and Produce Man, trading verses and spitting provocative, kinetic rhymes.
DJ BLAZE
(The Library) DJ Blaze, who has held down the wheels of steel at The Annex and last 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 - whom you may recognize from Atlanta's 95.5 The Beat or South Carolina's Hot 98.1 FM - lays down the new dance sounds, heavy on the hip-hop every Friday night.
DJ MARK BELL
(8e’s) Starting at 11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday, local deejay Mark Bell focuses on the dancier sounds of 20 years ago.
DJ REBB
(Detour) Atlanta's DJ Rebb plays Top 40, hip-hop, progressive house and other electronic sounds prime for dancing. Every Thursday.
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.
DUST COLLECTOR
(Little Kings) Mountain View, CA-based hip-hop group Dust Collector lays crackling jazz and classical samples and understated beats behind literate, laid-back rhymes.
BRANTLEY GILBERT
(Georgia Theatre) This Jefferson country-rock songwriter plays the kind of rags-to-riches, small-town-dreamin' songs that aggressively go for the heartstrings. His debut album The Modern Day Prodigal Son was released last year, and he's been performing both solo acoustic gigs and full-band sets.
GUS D.
(Little Kings) Local teen rapper Gus Darnell performs tracks off his debut CD The Search, released late last year with instrumental help from local songwriter Nate Nelson. A precise, confident flow bodes well for Gus D.'s future output.
THE HELP
(Caledonia) Local guys Jamie Coulter (ex-Red Leader), Dan Orchik (Cooler Heads, ex-Deacon Brody), Jay Tootle (Cooler Heads) and Richard Worthington (Big Gray, ex-Red Leader) sling out greasy, twangy country-influenced rock.
HONI DEATON & DREAM
(Melting Point) Chasin' Dreams is the album from Honi Deaton & Dream, a bluegrass band based out of Suwanee, GA. Deaton and her four-piece backing group play sweetly melodic, spirited acoustic tunes.
HTMEL VS. KOKO ONO
(Go Bar) Probably a DJ battle. No information available.
“IT’S FRIDAY”
(WUGA, 91.7 FM) Every Friday at 4 p.m. Today’s performance: Modern Skirts.
“KARAOKE”
(Mell’s) Every Friday.
LORD FYRE
(Caledonia) Seth Mahern, the vocalist for Bloomington, IN, band John Wilkes Booze, moonlights under the name Lord Fyre, creating experimental, electrified and manipulated sonics of atonal cacophony and dusty squiggles. Destruction at 2013 is the vinyl LP recently released by Emperor Jones Records. He should have a good amount of homemade releases with him.
MADELINE
(Caledonia) Bell-voiced local songwriter Madeline Adams performs a set of tunes off her rustic new full-length album called The Slow Bang, out now on Orange Twin, as well as a number of older - and newer! - numbers. Back from a brief tour up the East Coast. "I'm joining the solo theme of the evening by playing an acoustic folk set, perhaps with a few friends helping me out," she says.
NORMANOAK
(Caledonia) Impossible Shapes frontman Chris Barth performs deconstructed folk-rock solo under the name Normanoak; his new vinyl-only release A Double Gift of Tongues comes across like a mescaline-drench late night on a hazy front porch. See Record Reviews on p. 26.
OVEN MITTS
(Little Kings) Portland, Oregon's Oven Mitts, AKA Chevelle Wiseman, could easily make the finals in cutest-sounding rap of all times (song titles like "Baking Competition" and "Dachshunds 'n' Foxtails" prove that first impressions can sometimes be right on the money).
PF FLYERS
(Tasty World) Oxford, MS band PF Flyers takes its name from a New Balance shoe, and plays upbeat, frenetic indie rock on its debut full-length Sort Out the Mischief. See Record Reviews on p. 26.
PUSH!
(40 Watt) Drawing comparisons to acts like the Pretenders, Echo & the Bunnymen and Siouxsie & the Banshees, Athens' Push! straddles atmospheric, shoegazy rock and classic '80s pop. Debut album expected soon.
RED LEGS
(Tasty World) Athens trio Red Legs - Aaron Burns, Jesse Thompson and Andrew Houston - formed last August, aiming to play music that combined "vintage pop sounds drawing from the early Beatles, Zombies, and Kinks with a swingy, youthful rock and roll energy," according to Thompson.
RUSTWOOD
(Eastwood Pub) This local trio performs a set of its rootsy, catchy folk-rock and country tunes, usually mixing both acoustic and electric performances.
BRANDON SCOTT SELLNER
(Georgia Theatre) In the mood for some soulful blues fused with fiery rock? Wisconsin guy Brandon Scott Sellner may be for you, with his husky voice and blistering style reminiscent of pros like Stevie Ray Vaughan. An album's in the works for later this year. See Box.
SLEEPY HORSES
(Arch Bar) Nic Goodson's band Sleepy Horses specializes in West Texas, alt-country rockers and feedback- and loop-laced shoegazey soundscapes. Last year's full-length album Somewhere Out West, Lonesome For You caught some ears, but the band's been reworked with a new lineup: Coy King on upright bass, Dave Forker on drums. This longish set will start out with gentler, acoustic numbers and finish in a blaze of rock glory.
SONS OF RALPH
(Melting Point) Primarily a bluegrass band - though dipping into country, Cajun and folk-rock - Sons of Ralph features Ralph Lewis (mandolin, guitar, vocals), who started out playing mountain music in the 1940s. He's backed by sons Don and Marty, as well as musicians Gary Wiley and Richard Foulk.
TACOS! TACOS! TACOS! TACOS!
(Little Kings) Thrashy death metal isn't generally known to have much of a sense of humor, but Athens-based "six-piece Scandinavian avante-chamber-metal band," as a recent email dubbed "TACOS! x 4" declared, certainly does.
THEE MORE SHALLOWS
(40 Watt) San Francisco trio Thee More Shallows creates forward-looking yet dark indie pop/ rock, incorporating subtle hip-hop sounds. Book of Bad Breaks is the band's release from earlier this spring; it's out on Anticon Records, and is a more raucous and meandering affair than past releases, loaded with intriguing arrangements and a smattering of samples.
Saturday, June 9
THE ATHENS GUITAR TRIO
(Melting Point) Award-winning and heavily traveled, the local classical guitar trio comprises Dusty Woodruff, Rylan Smith and Matt Anderson. The guys are vets of the Christopher Parkening school of guitar, and are well versed in music theory, drawing on classical and contemporary pieces while playing custom-built guitars.
BEN SPROUSE BAND
(Wild Wing Café) No information available.
THE BENJY DAVIS PROJECT
(Tasty World) Baton Rouge, LA, provides a homebase for the Benjy Davis Project, the rootsy acoustic folk-pop band traveling similar catchy paths as early-'90s stalwarts Blues Traveler, Hootie & the Blowfish and Spin Doctors.
BRANDON CLARK
(Hot Corner Coffee) Brandon Clark makes smooth jazz and organ-tinged R&B with his acoustic guitar and soulful vocals at the center.
COSMIC CHARLIE
(Georgia Theatre) Cosmic Charlie performs “interpretations” of the Grateful Dead’s vast catalogue; tonight, however, the band is delivering its "Dark Side of the Dead" performance, giving Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon a live rendition.
DJ BLAZE
(The Library) DJ Blaze, who has held down the wheels of steel at The Annex and last 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 11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday, local deejay Mark Bell focuses on the dancier sounds of 20 years ago.
DJ SCORPION, PhD.
(Detour) Local deejay spins a set of industrial and electronic music.
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.
DJRX
(Rumor) Local deejay Brian Gonzalez, AKA DJRX, plays party tracks, mainly current pop with old school and country accents, many of which are his own remixes
DON CHAMBERS + GOAT
(Caledonia) Chambers’ whiskey-soaked bootstomps have the closing-time chic of Tom Waits, sure, but there’s a lyrical undercurrent of salvation that’s more in line with Johnny Cash or Sparklehorse’s Mark Linkous. The full-band action finds a raucous gang of friends delivering unrivaled Southern Gothic rock; this is also the last show with guitarist Patrick Hargon and bassist Lisa Hargon, as they're soon leaving town.
DRUID CITY
(Caledonia) Druid City plays "original compositions blending consumer-grade electronic keyboards, guitar and saxophone." Featuring Julien DeRocher (guitar, banjo), Larry Tucker (sax) and Aaron Wegelin (drums), DeRocher's songs are pastoral, emotional and sincerely moving folk-leaning works decorated with electronic flourishes.
ERIC HANSEN
(Melting Point) Drawing on smooth jazz and world music, Floridian classical guitarist Eric Hansen has refined what he calls a "nuevo flamenco" style, delving into the sounds of Spanish and Middle Eastern exoticism. His fifth and latest album is 360 Blue, experimenting with a contemporary jazz style and backing band.
HEIDI HENSLEY & HOLLY BELLE
(Detour) Local singer-songwriters Heidi Hensley and Holly Belle tend toward the folk side of things in solo shows, but together with their full-band Sunday Service they transform into a choice '80s cover machine playing everything from Prince and Michael Jackson to Kris Kross, Journey and more.
KAITLIN JONES
(Mercury Lounge) Local folk guitarist-vocalist Kaitlin Jones (Fine Line, Porch to the People) performs a set of Americana-tinged tunes.
“KARAOKE”
(Eastwood Pub) Every Saturday.
“KARAOKE”
(Mell’s) Every Saturday.
KEN WILL MORTON & THE WHOLLY GHOSTS
(Little Kings) Local guitarist-vocalist Ken Will Morton - frontman for the Wholly Ghosts, which includes ex-Winter Sounds drummer Jeremy Cole and bassist Kyle Tuttle, and former host of the Melting Point's weekly songwriter showcase "Uncorked & Unplugged" - specializes in alt-country rock songs that resemble an early Ryan Adams and borrow from Elvis, Dylan and Springsteen as well as the Replacements. His newest album is called King of Coming Around, and another's in the works.
“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.
ANDREW MILLER
(Hot Corner Coffee) Soulful, R&B-inflected acoustic pop in the vein of solo Ben Harper or Jason Mraz.
NIGHT MOVES
(40 Watt) Adrian Finch (ex-Masters of the Hemisphere, Elf Power) heads up this new Atlanta-based five-piece, bringing his atmospheric, head-trip rock to a mellower place, taking a soulful cue from Hall & Oates and the Doobie Brothers.
PARASITE SHOES
(Little Kings) With former members of Dirty Sanchez & the Pancho Villas, Col. Knowledge and the Winter Sounds, among others, this new five-piece band toys with a dark mixture of melodies.
JOHN PRINGLE
(Tasty World) Solo countryish, folkish singer-songwriter out of Atlanta. His 2005 album Strange Points of View calls to mind dudes like M. Ward and Ryan Adams.
“SALSA NIGHT”
(Tasty World Upstairs) Latin dancing hosted by local promoters Chamo Events. Every Saturday, 9 p.m.
SHOPPING
(Repent) No information available.
696
(Repent) This Athens four-piece band - David, Bryan, Kevin and Brad - plays with old-school California punk sounds in mind, "like a bat coming straight out of hell."
SUMMER HYMNS
(40 Watt) Zachary Gresham, Philip Brown, Chris Riser and Bryan Nuse play psychedelic-tinged Neil Young-y pop-rock that hinges more on simple chord progressions and vocal melodies, and if you’re a fan of the Flaming Lips, you’ll find much to like about ’em as well. The killer new album is called Backward Masks.
SAM THACKER
(Tasty World) Songs like "Hello, Hello" and "Not the Only One" have given this Atlanta songwriter a strong following of fans eager for more soulful acoustica, similar in tone and passion to Marc Broussard and Edwin McCain types. Above the Underneath is his debut album.
THEE CRUCIALS
(Repent) Atlanta/ Milledgeville fivesome Thee Crucials perform a set of '60s-style R&B and farfisa-infused garage rock that sounds as if it is amped on a probably dangerous mix of amphetamines. Their latest release is the EP Instant Party.
Sunday, June 10
THE HOWARD SISTERS
(Morton Theatre) Together as the Howard Sisters, Lizzie Howard Thompson, Catherine Howard Sharp, Ruby Howard Tiller, Mamie Howard, Edna Howard Flint and Rosie Howard Williams have been performing soulful gospel tunes together for quite a while now - tonight's show celebrates 50 years of performances! The theme for this golden anniversary show is "This Is Our Life." 5 p.m.
MADAGASCAR
(Hot Corner Coffee) Baltimore's Madagascar make often wordless Eastern European-style folk dirges that sounds an awful lot like the Decemberists at their most theatrical. Think accordion and theremins. Their latest album is Goodbye East, Goodbye West, out this year.
NOBLE LAKE
(Hot Corner Coffee) Noble Lake starts of with fairly straight-forward old-time and folk music in the finger-picking/ claw-hammer banjo vein with lyrics about sea-faring men and religion, but adds bowed bass, slippery three-part harmonies, and harmonium for depth and color.
FRED WILLIAMS
(Big City Café) Fred Williams plays a bit of jazz piano on the patio. Every Sunday.
Monday, June 11
"40 WATT 20TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW"
(40 Watt) Barrie Buck's 20th anniversary as boss at the 40 Watt is cause enough to call out the big guns. Jack Logan will play a set of his sometimes-earthy, sometimes-esoterically haunting and well-crafted folk compositions. Master-wordsmith, local music icon and sly-smiled chronicler of Southern sorrow Vic Chesnutt plays his first set in several months. David Barbe, legendary local producer (R.E.M., Son Volt, Truckers, etc.) and priceless contributor to numerous albums, does his thing with backing band Quick Hooks. Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven lead singer David Lowery joins his former lead guitarist Johnny Hickman as the Cracker Duo. Drive-by Trucker Patterson Hood serves up his country-fried songcraft. Proceeds will go to benefit Nuçi's Space.
AUSTRE GILTRAP
(Caledonia) Gwinnett County rock four-piece, with interesting, reverb-y guitar curls juxtaposed against more predictable chanted/ yelled punk-type vocals.
DIAZERO
(Caledonia) Formed in 2002, but undergoing a lineup change this past spring, Atlanta's DiaZero, now a four-piece, delivers pummeling hard rock like Disturbed, Incubus or Godsmack. Vocals are in Spanish, and the band has been building a crowd on Atlanta's underground Latino rock circuit.
"THE HOOT" ATHFEST SAMPLER
(Melting Point Patio) Featuring a selection of artists who'll play around town in the AthFest upcoming festival, this installment of the long-running monthly buffet of prime local folk put on by the Athens Folk Music and Dance Society will serve as the 10th annual "Athfest Sample." Singer-songwriter Jack Logan performs his well-crafted folk compositions backed by John Neff and William Tonks; birds&wire spin out three-part-harmonized alt-country; Allison Weiss delivers a set of catchy acoustic powerpop; duo Short Road Home jigs and reels on Irish fiddle, whistle and accordion; and the Wampus Cat Scanners do their energetic swingy bluegrass and country thing. Host by Susan Staley. All ages. 8 p.m.
IN MEMORY OF
(Tasty World) No information available.
JENA PARADIES
(Go Bar) Jena Paradies delivers mixes of the freshest in Berliner techno, electro-house and subsonic soul. 10:30 p.m., Mondays.
“KARAOKE”
(Repent) Every Monday.
“OPEN MIC NIGHT”
(Eastwood Pub) Every Monday.
“OPEN MIC NIGHT”
(Walker's) Every Monday.
SOUTHERN HOSTILITY
(Tasty World) Formerly known as Slightly Amped, this Atlanta-based heavy Southern metal four-piece - now with new drummer Brian Elder between the rumbling Marshalls - features members of the band Recoil.
STYGIAN APOTHEGM
(Tasty World) Local four-piece Stygian Apothegm creates heavy-ass stoner-metal in leather pants, drawing on bands like Pantera and Opeth for ideas. The guys should have copies of their recently-recorded demo available.
Tuesday, June 12
MR. BROWN
(Mercury Lounge) Spinning classic hip-hop on the turntables and working into more party-oriented sounds as the night progresses.
THE DROVERS OLD-TIME MEDICINE SHOW
(Melting Point Patio) South Carolina bluegrass band The Drovers Old-Time Medicine Show performs as part of the weekly bluegrass series - every Tuesday at 7 p.m.
KIP JONES
(WOW Wingery) The local acoustic singer-songwriter is known for his wide-reaching repertoire and regular-guy songwriting, and many of Jones’ own tunes sound split between the reflective acoustic territory of Harvest-era Neil Young and the country-infused rock of ‘80s-era Steve Earle. His new album is called Downright.
“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.
MODERN SKIRTS
(State Botanical Garden) This piano-driven local pop group’s firm grasp of melody is its strongest suit, and the four guys in the Skirts have gone a long way to charm Athens. The debut full-length is Catalogue of Generous Men, a harmony-soaked collection of pop numbers that bridges the Beatles and Ben Folds. Part of this year's Sunflower concert series; see Box.
NATE NELSON
(State Botanical Garden) Local singer-songwriter Nate Nelson delivers tunes that are crowd-pleasing, easily accessible and loaded with emotion. Last year's EP is called A Sing-Song Fashion, and he's been at work on a follow-up for while. Part of this year's Sunflower concert series; see Box.
“OPEN MIC NIGHT”
(DT’s) Every Tuesday.
PARASITE SHOES
(Tasty World) With former members of Dirty Sanchez & the Pancho Villas, Col. Knowledge and the Winter Sounds, among others, this new five-piece band toys with a dark mixture of melodies.
"TASTY TUESDAY"
(Tasty World) This monthly event starts out as a social mixer with relaxed beats and the sounds of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, and hip-hop in the background with DJ Atlas providing the mix. At around 11 p.m., the mic will open up to any who've signed up with a dance party afterwards. Upstairs.
“TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ”
(Farm 255) Every Tuesday, 7–10 p.m., the downtown restaurant features jazz from a revolving cast of regulars.
Wednesday, June 13
APOLLO SUNSHINE
(40 Watt) This Massachusetts pop band wraps shiny, unbridled '60s rock around forays into feedback. The band released its second album Apollo Sunshine in 2005, and it was one of that year's under-heard gems.
THE AWKWARD ROMANCE
(Tasty World) To Breathe Is To Compromise is last year's album from this Conyers-based pop-punk/ emo quartet.
COYOTE GRACE
(Farm 255) Seattle-based, California-born singer-songwriter Joe Stevens and upright bassist-vocalist Ingrid Eyen play a retooled, Americana-fueled mixture of folk, rock, and blues as Coyote Grace. They released their studio debut, Boxes and Bags, last year. 8 p.m.
DJ SIZZLE
(Loft) Spinning the dance numbers every Wednesday.
DR. DOG
(40 Watt) This Philadelphia five-piece plays ragged, shaggy Americana that's catchy, harmony-laden and all-around strong. The scruffily romantic 2004 full-length is Easy Beat. The compelling new disc is called We All Belong, and it continues the trend of drawing on '60, Beatles-y pop and '70s rock.
THE EMPTIES
(40 Watt) The local pop-rockers in The Empties combine melancholy vocals with surprisingly harmonized choruses, in an interesting combination of rhythmic mope-rock and more driving hard rock. The 2006 debut EP is called Dorothy.
TINO GARRIDO
(Casa Mia) The main vocalist for Orquesta Grogus focuses on classical guitar music from Venezuela, playing waltz and joropo music but also Cuban son and flamenco. Every Wednesday at 8 p.m.
JAY GONZALEZ
(Kingpins) Nutria keyboardist-vocalist Jay Gonzalez has a gig in town as a "lounge singer" and piano player. "I'll be doing a bunch of '50s and '60s crooner and rock-and-roll stuff, British invasion favorites, '70s AM radio hits, bubblegum classics, some ‘yacht rock’ for the Caledonia crowd and maybe some Sinatra or Bing Crosby.” Every Wednesday from 8 to 11 p.m.
JOHNNY ACTION FIGURE
(Tasty World) The appealingly boyish tunes of Pennsylvania's Johnny Action Figure rely heavily on upbeat, swishy acoustic tunes and vocal harmonies. Asks the Room to Please Stop Spinning is the band's latest release, the kind of disc that could win over local fans keen on Athens' own Modern Skirts.
“KARAOKE”
(Foxz) Every Wednesday.
“KARAOKE”
(Mell’s) Every Wednesday.
KEBERT XELA
(Little Kings) Chris Howe and Doug Saylor make up the recently formed local duo Kebert Xela. The group utilizes looped sonics, shimmering atmospherics, guitar, piano, electronic and acoustic drums, cello, vocoders, occasional vocals, and plenty else besides on its recently self-released debut EP.
THE MARQUEE BLUES
(Eastwood Pub) Formerly known as Disraeli Gears, The Marquee Blues features members of the Michael Guthrie Band and The 60s playing classic British blues-influenced rock like that of Clapton and Cream. Every Wednesday from 9 p.m. to midnight.
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 a loosely organized set, delivering collaborative songs drawn from their individual bands and solo repertoires and performed in the round. 8:30 p.m.
COURTNEY ROBBINS
(Farm 255) Tuscon-based songstress Courtney Robbins makes her first trip through the Deep South with her rollicking folk-rock hybrid sounds and blistering fretwork. 8 p.m.
SACRED HOLLOW
(Tasty World Upstairs) This new band features local guys Brett Clanton, Dustin Veal, Skip Pettigrew, Ben Fitzpatrick and Travis Cole; normal “rock” singing with some occasional screamy intensity tops off early-’90s melodic rock that incorporates some proggy metal influences.
TWIN POWERS
(Go Bar) Danceable New Wave and Britpop tunes. 10 p.m., every Wednesday.
“UNCORKED & UNPLUGGED”
(Melting Point) Every week, local singer-songwriter Jay Markwalter opens and hosts this series which aims to focus on artists proficient in the craft of songwriting. This week, a special national songwriter spotlight: Marty Winkler & Michael Steel, Tim Easton and Carrie Rodriguez [see feature on p. 28]. 8 p.m.
Upcoming:
BAIN MATTOX & SHOT FROM GUNS / DREAM GIRLS / THE PLAGUE (Caledonia) 6/14
DIEGO CATALAN / PETE ERCHICK (Flicker) 6/14
E.G. KIGHT (Melting Point) 6/14
LONA / CAROLINA SHIT KICKERS (40 Watt) 6/14
TWO GALLANTS (Tasty World) 6/14
WHO’S BAD? (Georgia Theatre) 6/14
BEARFOOT HOOKERS / BETSY FRANCK & THE BARE KNUCKLE BAND / TY MANNING & MARK DURFIELD (Melting Point) 6/15
THE CLEANERS (Tasty World Upstairs) 6/15
THE EVERGREEN EXPRESS / THE RIBS / CARLA LeFEVER & THE RAYS (Tasty World) 6/15
MASERATI / A.ARMADA / SUMMERBIRDS IN THE CELLAR (40 Watt) 6/15
PRODUCTO (Georgia Theatre) 6/15
FREEBALL (Caledonia) 6/16
THE HONOR ROLL / ALLISON WEISS & THE BANDITS / GUFF / PILOT COAT / FIVE SECONDS FROM FALLING (Tasty World) 6/16
KHIA / BIG "A" / CERTIFIED G'S / CERTIFIED THUGS (Georgia Theatre) 6/16
KRUSH GIRLS (40 Watt) 6/16
RACK OF SPAM (Melting Point) 6/16
THE STANDARD 8 (Little Kings) 6/16
UNAVOX / VALENTINE WOLFE / STAAT VON KREIG / THE ANGELIC PROCESS (Tasty World) 6/16
EREN CANNATA / KALEN NASH (Tasty World) 6/18
GROGUS (Ashford Manor) 6/18
THE SLIP / BOBBY BARE, JR. (40 Watt) 6/18
A SOFT PERVERSION / STEPH HAYES / CHRIS SCHULZ (Tasty World) 6/19
JOHNNY ROQUEMORE & THE APOSTLES OF BLUEGRASS (Melting Point Patio) 6/19
"ATHFEST" (Downtown Athens) 6/20–6/24
BRENNAN JOHNSON / DAVIN McCOY (Georgia Theatre) 6/20
LEVI LOWRY & THE COMMUNITY HOUSE BAND (Tasty World) 6/20
63 CRAYONS (40 Watt) 6/20
AMERICAN MUTTS / BIRD FLU / IDOLOTAR / 696 / AEGIS OF ATHENS (Repent) 6/21
BROCK BUTLER & FRIENDS (Georgia Theatre) 6/21
THE JULIA DREAM / CHRIS McKAY & THE CRITICAL DARLINGS / BLUE FLASHING LIGHT (Tasty World) 6/21
"FLAGPOLE ATHENS MUSIC AWARDS" (Morton Theatre) 6/21
LIONZ (Roadhouse) 6/21
THE WAYBACKS (Melting Point) 6/21
"ATHENS 441" w/ VENICE IS SINKING (Morton Theatre) 6/22
KITE TO THE MOON / BLING THE CHILDREN / DICTATORTOTS (Georgia Theatre) 6/22
WILLY T EXPRESS / DODD FERRELLE / DON CHAMBERS (Georgia Theatre) 6/23
BOY HITS CAR / TO WHOM / DEAR ENEMY / SOUNDS OF SILENCE (Tasty World) 6/25
CASIOTONE FOR THE PAINFULLY ALONE (Caledonia) 6/25
TRANS-FATTY PLAYBOYS (Melting Point Patio) 6/26
WEEDEATER / MUSIC HATES YOU (Tasty World) 6/26
KYSHONA ARMSTONG (Georgia Museum of Art) 6/27
ALAN MORPHEW, REBECCA PRONSKY & ADAM KLEIN (Melting Point) 6/27
BO BEDINGFIELD (Flicker) 6/27
NEIL HAMBURGER / DR. EL SUAVO / PETE McBRAYER (Tasty World) 6/27
THE MOVEMENT (Georgia Theatre) 6/27
AEGIS OF ATHENA / OF LEGEND / FIRST MASTER / EMPIRACY (Caledonia) 6/28
TIMBER (Flicker) 6/28
UNKNOWN HINSON / ALL GOD'S CHILDREN (Tasty World) 6/28
XAMINE (Tasty World Upstairs) 6/28
"BATTLE @ THE LOUNGE" (Caledonia) 6/29
DJs STRAWBERRY JULIUS, FRIZZLY ROOSTER & BABY PANDAS (Go Bar) 6/29
MIC HARRISON & THE HIGH SCORE / THOMAS KAY & THE OLD SCRAPES / THE HELP (Tasty World) 6/29
MAN MAN (40 Watt) 6/29
LUKE BRYAN (Georgia Theatre) 6/30
KING OF PRUSSIA / MY TEENAGE STRIDE / A SUNNY DAY IN GLASGOW (Caledonia) 6/30
KITE TO THE MOON (40 Watt) 6/30
RUN DAN RUN (Little Kings) 6/30
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY / WICKED JONES (Repent) 6/30
STILL, SMALL VOICE & THE JOYFUL NOISE / COMMANDER CHAMELEON / THE SHUT-UPS / STILL SMALL VOICE / THE JOYFUL NOISE (Tasty World) 6/30
STRAWBERRY FLATS (Melting Point) 6/30
KEN VANDERMARK & TIM DAISY DUO (Flicker) 7/2
MORNING STATE / SOVUS RADIO (Caledonia) 7/2
PACKWAY HANDLE BAND (Ashford Manor) 7/2
PEOPLE NOISE (Tasty World) 7/3
STRING THEORY (Melting Point Patio) 7/3
KEBERT XELA / MODERN SOCIETY / LORIEN / JOY IN TOMORROW (Tasty World) 7/5
McRAD / SMILES PROJECT / FONTSIDE 5 (Repent) 7/5
TITANS OF FILTH / CHRISTOPHER'S LIVER / EZRA FURMAN & THE HARPOONS (Caledonia) 7/6
JESSE MALIN / THE WILDBIRDS (Melting Point) 7/6
MOTHER'S FINEST (Georgia Theatre) 7/6
FOLKLORE / HAM 1 / NIGHT MOVES / BIG GRAY (Caledonia) 7/7
JASON ISBELL & THE 400 UNIT / JUSTIN TOWNES EARL (40 Watt) 7/9
THE BIG LAZY (Caledonia) 7/10
LEVIATHAN'S MANDIBLE / SEA OF BONES / SUBRIG DESTROYER (Repent) 7/10
TOWN MOUNTAIN (Melting Point Patio) 7/10
JOE LEONE, ERIC SALES & JACK LOGAN (Melting Point) 7/10
PERPETUAL GROOVE (Georgia Theatre) 7/11–7/12
JONATHAN BYRD (Melting Point) 7/13
MICHAEL (Caledonia) 7/13
TOMMY CRAIN & THE CROSSTOWN ALLSTARS (Eastwood Pub) 7/13
ZAC BROWN BAND (Georgia Theatre) 7/13
PARADE / AND FRIENDS / CANADA (Caledonia) 7/14
SICK SICK SICK / WHISKEY DICK (Repent) 7/14
ZYDEFUNK (Ashford Manor) 7/16
DJ LE SPAM & THE SPAM ALLSTARS (Georgia Theatre) 7/17
DON CHAMBERS / KIMBERLY MORGAN (State Botanical Garden) 7/17
THE TWO HIGH STRING BAND (Melting Point Patio) 7/17
UNION / THE COLIN DEREK BAND / THE DELTA DRIFT / THE CORDUROY ROAD (Tasty World) 7/17
JOAL RUSH, SAM THACKER & PATRICK HOYDAR (Melting Point) 7/18
OSO CLOSO (Farm 255) 7/18
BOOMBOX (Georgia Theatre) 7/19
ERIC HARRIS GROUP / THE THORN BROTHERS / RESIDENT PATIENT (Caledonia) 7/19
THE SKYLARKS / KALEN NASH / RADIOLUCENT (Tasty World) 7/20
JE SUIS FRANCE / BRASS CASTLE / NIGHT MOVES (Caledonia) 7/21
LARRY KEEL / THE PACKWAY HANDLE BAND (Georgia Theatre) 7/21
OLD SCHOOL FREIGHT TRAIN (Melting Point Patio) 7/24
MEGHAN COFFEE & KYSHONA ARMSTRONG (Melting Point) 7/25
VALENTINE WOLFE / THE ANGELIC PROCESS (Tasty World Upstairs) 7/25
ALLISON WEISS / MATIAS / MAKES PRETEND / DYLAN GILBERT (Tasty World) 7/25
ARMAZILLA / BACKWOODS PAYBACK / SUBRIG DESTROYER (Repent) 7/26
"BATTLE @ THE LOUNGE" (Caledonia) 7/27
THE MOVEMENT / PASSAFIRE (Georgia Theatre) 7/27
KITE TO THE MOON / BIRDS&WIRE (Caledonia) 7/28
MUSIC HATES YOU / ZOROASTER / CHRISTINE / BETTER PEOPLE (Tasty World) 7/30
THE SUGGINS BROTHERS (Melting Point Patio) 7/31
ABBEY ROAD LIVE! (Ashford Manor) 8/6
JEFF & VIDA BAND (Melting Point Patio) 8/7
"ATHENS POPFEST 2007" (Downtown Athens) 8/8–8/11
DAVID BLACKMON & FRIENDS (Melting Point Patio) 8/14
SIERRA LEONE'S REFUGEE ALL STARS (Georgia Theatre) 8/16
DEL McCOURY BAND (Georgia Theatre) 8/17
REHAB (Georgia Theatre) 8/18
ANDY CARLSON BAND (Ashford Manor) 8/20
CORDUROY ROAD (Melting Point Patio) 8/21
RED LEGS / THE NOBILITY (Tasty World) 8/23
PUSH! / PARADE (Caledonia) 8/25
GREEN MOUNTAIN GRASS (Melting Point Patio) 8/28
GROGUS (State Botanical Garden) 8/28
COMMON PEOPLE BAND (Ashford Manor) 9/3
THE PEA RIDGE RAMBLERS (Melting Point Patio) 9/4
NATTY BOH DUO (Melting Point Patio) 9/11
JESSICA URICK (Tailgate Station) 9/15
ARTIE BALL SWING BAND (Ashford Manor) 9/17
JENNIFER DANIELS (State Botanical Garden) 9/18
JIMMY DRIFTWOOD & HIS LEGENDARY SIDEMEN (Melting Point Patio) 9/18
ENTROPY / LAURA REED & THE DEEP POCKET (Georgia Theatre) 9/21
MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC CO. (40 Watt) 9/22
THE MUDFLAPJACKS (Melting Point Patio) 9/25
MODERN SKIRTS (Ashford Manor) 10/1
THE WILDCATS (Ashford Manor) 10/15
THE OAK RIDGE BOYS (Classic Center Theater) 10/19
LEO KOTTKE & THE TURTLE ISLAND STRING QUARTET (UGA) 12/7
LONESTAR (Classic Center) 1/8

Chris Hassiotis & Brandon Waddell

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