The Cringe

w/ AutoVaughn, Trances Arc

Thursday, August 7 @ 40 Watt Club

originally published August 6, 2008

The lineup came together in a most delicious way. "Rachael had a showcase at SXSW," recalls Cringe frontman John Cusimano, "and AutoVaughn was on the bill... We were totally blown away. Rachael thought they were awesome." Rachael, in case you don't recognize John's name from the tabloids, is John's celebrity wife chef Rachael Ray. A lawyer by trade, Cusimano helps manage his wife's empire: from the television shows to the books, cookware and more. Even as he spoke with Flagpole he was in the middle of filming scenes with Ray for her upcoming travel series, "Rachael's Vacation." The Cringe has started routing tours to overlap with Ray's travels so that Cusimano can rock at night and dine on a dime in the morning.

There's more to The Cringe than celebrity wives of course. This New York rock band also has one of the best drummers in the industry: Shawn Pelton. You can also catch Pelton on the small screen - he's the drummer for the "Saturday Night Live" band.

Even with all that star power, tonight The Cringe takes a backseat to local talent. Following Nashville's AutoVaughn, Georgia boys Trances Arc will headline. With a publishing deal under their belts, Trances Arc has been making a solid impact with the latest Slush Fund release XOXOX.

If you haven't heard Trances Arc in a while, it's time to reintroduce yourself as the band's sound continues to evolve. When bassist Daniel Silverstri joined the band, Trances Arc had just put out the Bona Fortuna EP. "It was a little dark and very moody," he recalls. "Since the time I joined it's gotten a little more upbeat - more uplifting and positive." Even if the mood is a little lighter, the songs are still heavy, with a full-on classic rock guitar sound that's both instantly familiar and memorable.

Michelle Gilzenrat

"Habitat's 20th Anniversary"

w/ Matt Stoessel, Paul McHugh, Diego Catalan, Page Campbell, Patrick Carey, Don Chambers

Friday, August 8 @ 40 Watt Club

originally published August 6, 2008

For the past 20 years, community outreach and hard work have been a tradition for the Athens Area Habitat for Humanity. Founded in 1988, the local Habitat organization has built more than 60 homes in Clarke, Oglethorpe and Oconee counties as part of its effort to combat poverty. Tonight's music-filled program celebrates the organization's anniversary while also offering more.

"The point is to get a bunch of people out to enjoy the show, celebrate our community and raise awareness for our organization," says Laura Dempsey, the public relations director for the local Habitat branch, "and hopefully a little money, too!"

A conglomeration of local songwriters more frequently seen in full-band settings takes the stage tonight. Local guitar pro Matt Stoessel (Lake City) opens the show, with Paul McHugh and Diego Catalan, both of Mother Jackson, following with solo sets. Page Campbell (Hope for Agoldensummer, Creepy) and Patrick Carey (The Ginger Envelope) follow up with their own tunes, and the night closes out with a set by West Washington Street fixture Don Chambers, who may play a few solo tunes off the upcoming album Zebulon, due out on Sept. 9.

Don't put a little collaboration past this crew, though, as the majority of the night's entertainers also currently play in, or have played together in, The Ginger Envelope, Mother Jackson or  Chambers' band GOAT. Doors open at 9 p.m., and the show starts shortly thereafter. Entrance costs $5, with all proceeds benefiting Habitat. Also, there will be cake. Cake!

Chris Hassiotis

PopFest Opening Night

w/ Fish Schticks, Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars, Allison Weiss, Titans of Filth

Tuesday, August 12 @ Ciné

originally published August 6, 2008

PopFest is coming! Next week Flagpole will take an in-depth look at this year's event, but before that paper hits the street, you might miss the opening night at Ciné - and what a shame that would be. Starting promptly at 8 p.m. are Athens' own riot grrrl rockers Fish Schticks. This music is rough around the edges in all the ways garage rock was meant to be. The guitars are loose and crunchy, the drums seem to splatter across the background, and the flat female vocals bite with droll sarcasm over the life of a homemaker and howl for feminism.

Garage punk not your thing? Well, Bob Hay and the Jolly Beggars are pretty much on the complete polar opposite end of the music spectrum, strumming gleefully through old-time folk and bluegrass inspired by 18th-century Scottish poet Robert Burns.

Allison Weiss is up next to lead us into more traditional pop territory with her bright, clean vocals and sweet, child-like charisma. Her confessional tales, although at times disarmingly tender, are carried by light-hearted, uplifting melodies.

The night will end with yet another change of gears as Titans of Filth bring their sometimes droll and lonely, sometimes quirky and bouncy, indie-folk tunes to the stage. Alternating vocalists take turns sharing tales of love's trials and tribulations... all the while keeping your toes a tappin'.

Can't wait until next week to learn more about PopFest? Well, you shouldn't! Although tonight's show is absolutely free, the other nights of PopFest are not. Advance tickets are on sale now at Wuxtry Records and Schoolkids Records downtown as well as online at www.athenspopfest.com/store.

Michelle Gilzenrat