originally published January 17, 2007

Ooh, boy. Lots of news this week. Most of it true, too. Just kidding. Seriously, that was a joke. You can trust me. Get your truth on below…

I Thought You Mailed That!: It’s that time of year again for any of you local musicians, singers, rappers and bands that want to be considered for the 2007 AthFest compilation CD, released every summer to coincide with the city's annual festival. Only submissions for Athens acts are considered for inclusion. The deadline is Jan. 31, and you’ll have to visit www.athfest.com and download the application. For more on the process behind the album, check out our talk with Russ Hallauer, the guy behind the comp, in this issue.

One More Thing to Remember: As generally happens around this time of year, the new edition of the Flagpole Athens Music Directory is currently under construction and coming together fast. To get your local band, label, store or music-related service listed - or to update your existing listing - just visit www.flagpole.com and click on the handy button that'll take you right to an easy-to-use form. This thing’s invaluable, and will help you book gigs, find equipment and work towards a more successful life. Among other features, bands can post MP3s and pictures.

Dodd’s Return: Dodd Ferrelle & The Tinfoil Stars will return to the Caledonia Lounge Saturday, Jan. 20 with Chapel Hill, NC group The Old Ceremony. Ferrelle is currently working with David Barbe over at Chase Park Transduction recording a new album tentatively titled Pretty Weeds. Ferrelle’s most recent full-length, The Murder Of Love, was released in early 2005. Featured musicians on the new recordings due out this year include Claire Campbell, Betsy Inglesby, Tim Adams, John Neff and Kyle Spence.

Sixth Time’s A Charm: Long-running jazz combo Squat, now split between both Atlanta and Athens, will release its sixth full-length CD at the Melting Point on Feb. 24. The album, titled simply Squat, was recorded in 2006 at guitarist Trey Wright's home studio in Decatur. This is the first proper album to feature the group’s current drummer Darren Stanley. Although the show is, like, way off in the future, you can purchase tickets in advance for $7 a pop or wait it out and pay $10 at the door. More info on this is forthcoming, so check this space again in the coming weeks. For more info immediately, you might try www.squatme.com.

Totally, Officially Famous: R.E.M. received word last week that the guys will indeed be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this year. Fellow inductees are The Ronettes, Van Halen, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five and Patti Smith. Although it’s not really a competition, it’s worth noting that the selection process seems fierce considering that The Stooges and The Dave Clark Five, each also nominated, weren't chosen for induction. The induction ceremony takes place Mar. 12 at New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. This is a well-deserved honor for R.E.M., and if I were wearing a hat, I’d tip it toward 'em.

Clarifications: In other R.E.M. news, there was a fury of heated speculation all along the Internet after this column reported late last year that the R.E.M. fan club Christmas single was to feature local band Tin Cup Prophette. Several very vocal fans apparently interpreted that to mean that Tin Cup Prophette would be the only act featured on the record. Considering that R.E.M. has previously featured other bands on its holiday records, I mistakenly assumed that longtime R.E.M. fans would intuitively discern that R.E.M. would also be featured on its own release. Well, that wasn’t the case at all. I apologize for any confusion and teeth-gnashing I may have caused you guys out there in cyberspace. For the record - pun intended! - this year's Christmas single consisted of four R.E.M. songs recorded at the 40 Watt's Finest Worksongs benefit show last year. They were: “Tongue” (by Tin Cup Prophette), “These Days” (by The/An Observatory), “So. Central Rain” (by R.E.M.) and “Begin The Begin” (by R.E.M.).

Find It!: Hard working Athens band Tishamingo, which I consider to be one of the freshest Southern rock bands around, will release its newest album The Point at the fabulous 40 Watt on Thursday, Jan. 25. The performance is a benefit show for Nuçi’s Space with one-third of all CD sales going to the local musicians' resource center. Legendary Athens band Strawberry Flats will open the show. The Point was produced by John Kurzweg (Creed, Jewel), and while that doesn’t necessarily flip my skirt up, it does mean that Tishamingo is the kind of band that can impress the kind of industry folks who can pick and choose their projects. Get more at www.tishamingo.com.

Getting All Political And Shit: Local reggae band Dubconscious is presenting a series of left-leaning political films at the Georgia Theatre, and the Dubconscious-related project AZ-IZ, which performed this week during a showing of former vice president Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, plans to perform every week. Still, the line-up of films is impressive and the events are cosponsored by Terrapin Beer, so that’s a bonus. Upcoming films include I Know I’m Not Alone (Tuesday, Jan. 23) and Why We Fight (Tuesday, Jan. 30). Check Movie Dope for film synopses. Tickets are $1 and more info can be found at www.georgiatheatre.com.

Oh, I Dunno: Two members of now-defunct Athens band The Workouts have split for Atlanta and formed a new project under the name Rare Birds. They are still looking to round out the band into a full-fledged unit and, to this end, are seeking a drummer and bass player and perhaps a keyboardist and vocalist. You know, try it out and see what works. The one song available by the new project sounds an awful lot like The Workouts to me, so I can’t tell if this is a new direction or a continuation or what. But, check 'em out and if you wanna play with these folks, get in touch over at www.myspace.com/rarebirdsmusic.

New To Town: Bands just keep moving here! What’s not to like, right? Well, the newest addition to Athens is Gainesville, FL, band Velveteen Pink. Plowing a party-atmosphere similar to The Time, Jesse Johnson’s Revue, The Revolution (all three directly related to Prince), Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder, the band’s major claim to fame is having won a mtvU’s “Best Band On Campus” competition. VP has previously done shows with The Whigs, Bling the Children Back Home and Hot Hot Heat. This may be your bag. Me? Not sure yet. There’s something very tongue-in-cheek sounding about this band and I just can’t put my finger on it. Either way, welcome to town, guys. See for yourself over at www.myspace.com/velveteenpink.

And that’s it for now. As always, I hope all of you keep your news coming in and always mention either Threats & Promises or my name in the subject line of all emails. Nobody better rain on my parade via email to music@flagpole.com, voicemail at 706-549-9523, ext. 203, or by post at P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603.

Gordon Lamb