ABC Pick

The Mother Jackson Orchestra, Pete McBrayer

Thursday, June 22, Flicker Theatre & Bar

originally published June 21, 2006

Local band Mother Jackson traffics in heavy, dense Southern blues-rock, and so when the band announced an acoustic show at Flicker last December, it took some by surprise. The response was so positive, however, that the band is set to give it another go, and will likely perform some tracks off Loud and Proud: The Soundtrack to Damnation, Mother Jackson's upcoming album due to hit Athens by September.

"I, for one, was very nervous about what people would think about it, seeing as how normally we're loud and this was just a complete departure from our normal antics," says guitarist Richard Mikulka. "The first acoustic show was billed as a one-time thing, but afterwards the response was 'You guys have to do this again!'"

Tonight's show expands on the core lineup of Mikulka, singer-guitarist Paul McHugh, bassist Chuck Bradburn and drummer Jim Wilson; also contributing talent is an all-star ensemble including John Fernandes and Aaron Jollay (horns), Nic Goodson (pedal steel), Nate Nelson (piano) and Jacob Morris (cello). "For the most part everyone will be involved on all of the songs," says Mikulka, "but with the idea of this being an orchestra where not every part of the whole performance has to have everyone going all the time."

Local stand-up comedian Pete McBrayer also hosts tonight's show and will perform his extensive new set titled "100 Jokes." He'll also appear on Flicker's stage for the following two nights, emceeing the venue's AthFest showcases and providing brief sets between bands.

Tonight's show starts immediately following the 2006 Flagpole Athens Music Awards, making the 11 p.m. start time an atypically late one for Flicker. Though tonight's isn't an "official" AthFest show, Flicker is letting in anyone with an AthFest wristband or a ticket stub from the Music Awards show free of charge. It's $5 for the rest of you.

Chris Hassiotis

Chris Hassiotis