Nelo

originally published August 23, 2006

Welcome to Spotlight, a new biweekly feature looking at younger or emerging local bands. From rock to pop to blues to more, Athens is rife with new artists eager to make their mark and with experienced players working in new configurations. Some of the artists you may read about in Spotlight have developed an audience, some may barely draw a handful, but all are worth a closer look.

Flagpole this week shines its Spotlight where Milledge meets the Loop and the boys from Nelo meet to construct and rehearse their unashamedly Dave Matthews Band-inspired, jazz-influenced rock. This talented band of minstrels moved to Athens from Texas last year after deciding that it held more promise amongst the strongly Greek student community than the more edgy indie scene in Austin.

The six-piece’s dominant feature is its tightly melodic jammy arrangements, featuring Stephen Goodson on electric guitar, Matt Ragland on acoustic guitar, David Long on saxophone, Michael St. Clair on bass, Chris Hill on drums and Reid Umstattd providing the unrelenting vocals. Nelo has a few recorded tracks available online, which they put down in Denton, TX with guitarist Stephen Goodson’s roommate, who is a recently qualified audio engineer developing a home studio.

Since moving to Georgia in ‘05 though, Nelo (pronounced like "mellow") has been recording its first EP at Atlanta's Tree Sound Studios (whose stellar client list includes Elton John, Aerosmith, Grogus and Outkast) where, through good contacts, the band says it has been given a scholarship rate and hopes that the EP will act as a catalyst to attract good management, the right gig, and eventually the right label.

Flagpole visited the Nelo house to ask songwriter-guitarist Ragland and the boys some probing questions. While asking whether the band preferred OAR to Widespread Panic boiled down to dissent and confusion, on the whole the band pretty much spoke with one voice.

Flagpole

From your experiences in towns like Athens and Austin, which feed the indie side of the industry, do you have any qualms in courting the college crowd and being pigeonholed as jammy college rock?

Matt Ragland

I don’t know that I worry about it hurting us. If you like it, you like it, if you don’t, you don’t. As a band I don’t think any of us like that label “the jammy sound.” I mean, we can’t get away from it, this is how we play, this is the music we make. I don’t think one of us likes being called a “jam band” because we’re serious about the songs.

Flagpole

Okay, it’s time for the big question. The Beatles or the Stones?

Matt Ragland

Oh, man… I shouldn’t answer that question. I’m going to say the Beatles. I’ve never been a big fan of either but I’m going to say the Beatles.

Stephen Goodson

I’ve seen the Stones three times.

Flagpole

All right, Dave Matthews or Dave Matthews Band?

Matt Ragland

Dave Matthews Band for me… my heroes.

Flagpole

Jack Johnson or Ben Harper?

In unison

Ben Harper.

Matt Ragland

There are times when I like hearing Jack Johnson, but I could listen to Ben Harper for the rest of my life.

Flagpole

This one’s for Mr. St. Clair. Miles Davis or John Coltrane?

Michael St. Clair

Oh god …they both did so much. I like Miles as a bandleader and Coltrane as a player.

Ben Gerrard Nelo, just back in town this week from a brief Texas tour, is playing at the Georgia Theatre on Wednesday, Aug. 23 with Wesley Cook. Next time in the Spotlight: Mad Whiskey Grin.

Ben Gerrard

Nelo, just back in town this week from a brief Texas tour, is playing at the Georgia Theatre on Wednesday, Aug. 23 with Wesley Cook. Next time in the Spotlight: Mad Whiskey Grin.