Threats & Promises

Music News and Gossip

originally published March 17, 2004

Even though I'm technically on "Spring Break" while writing this, I figured I'd take some time away from my schedule of Mai Tai's and bikini inspection to bring y'all the news. See, the big wheel keeps on turnin' all year long and since the news don't stop neither do I. Cowabunga, dudes!

Zummthing Old, Zummthing New: In a very cool meeting, Athens scene elders Elf Power will be taking the fairly-new Zumm Zumm, who are also loosely related to Elf Power by virtue of their association with Orange Twin Records, on the road for a long U.S. tour.

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This will not only enable Zumm Zumm to play in front of audiences that would have probably never heard the band, but also allow these youngsters to play in venues that, in all honesty, would have probably never booked them. The tour kicks off in early April and notable dates include a Friday night at New York's Mercury Lounge. All told, Zumm Zumm and Elf Power will be hanging out/making out with more rock stars and models than you or I could ever hope for. For more information, visit www.elfpower.com.

Getting A Tan And Getting A Record In The Can: R.E.M. is currently in the Bahamas finishing up the mixing process for the newest album. Before you go get all excited, though, remember that this thing won't get released until fall of this year - we still have a little ways to go. Good signs are that the band is again enlisting the talents of producer Pat McCarthy. "Extra" R.E.M. members Scott McCaughey, Ken Stringfellow and Bill Rieflin will be present on the record also. It will be good to hear an album of all new material by R.E.M.. While the band has certainly ebbed and flowed over the years, each album, especially since the early 1990s, has had it's own distinct flavor. It hasn't always made for easy listening, but has always made for edifying listening. Word on the street is that a massive tour will follow the release of the as-yet-unnamed album and that's enough to make me want to buy tickets right now.

Hell, Right Now I'd Hope for A Golden Spring!: On Friday, March 19, Nuçi's Space will host the party for I Bought A Heart Made Of Art In The Deep, Deep South, the "first official CD release" by Hope For Agoldensummer. The way this info was put to me made it sound as if people were bootlegging band leader Claire Campbell's music all over the place, but maybe I'm just being picky. Probably so. At any rate, the entire lineup that night is stellar: Audition with Max Reinhardt and Calliope Fair are fleshing out the bill. If you're inclined toward mood-based, romantic (and somewhat melancholy) songwriting you will want to be there. For more information, please see www.nuci.org or www.hopeforagoldensummer.com.

Party Over Here! Party Over There!: On Tuesday, March 23, release parties will take place nationwide to celebrate the birth of Night Of Joy. The album is a live disc of performances of Widespread Panic with The Dirty Dozen Brass Band that were recorded last year at The House Of Blues in Myrtle Beach, SC. Locally, the event will take place at The Georgia Theatre and feature a Panic memorabilia giveaway. As in free. Also, if you are one of the first 100 people to show up with at least five cans of food for "Panic Fans For Food" you will be privy to a private meet-and-greet with the guys from The Dirty Dozen Brass Band who will also perform that night. Widespread will not be playing that night so don't go starting any rumors. For more information, check out www.jomoentertainment.com or www.widespreadpanic.com.

Buy This Garbage: If you haven't heard yet, the first official release of improvised tunes by Athens area mind-dazzlers Garbage Island is available. Yes, all tracks are improvised performances and the thing simply rocks. Don't be sucked under by the cynical notion that improvisation always means no-talent, no-structure crap. Sometimes it does, but not in this case. At any rate, the album is called Who Is Waterface? and is available locally at the usual record shops and on-line at www.athensmusic.net. In Island-related news, Desk Pussy is the new improv/ drone group featuring Tony Evans on guitar and electronics, Craig Lieske on guitar and Marshall Marrotte on radio electronics and guitar.

Get Yr Compilation On: AthFest has released the full lineup of the 2004 AthFest Compilation CD, and it looks to be a killer. Produced by Russ Hallauer and mastered by Jeff Capurso, the album will see the light of day in mid-May at Tasty World release party. As is tradition, a number of tracks are previously unreleased. Featured bands: The Wee Turtles, Ceiling Fan, Elf Power, Bain Mattox, Audition With Max Reinhardt, Ishues, Dubconscious, Overflo, Heidi Hensley, Annaray, Monday Night Recorders, Murder Beach, Let's Surf, Bugs Eat Books, The Artie Ball Swing Band, Kenosha Kid, Stories Below, hey, revolution!, Another Broken Vehicle and Five-Eight. Flagpole will take a closer look at the album upon its release, but already this looks to be one of the strongest AthFest comps yet. Congrats to Ghostmeat Records for putting it together. [Chris Hassiotis]

Til Tuesday: What's with Tuesday, March 23 being so great for live music? In one day you've got a number of incredible shows here and in Atlanta. In the ATL we've got Azure Ray, The Elected and Okkervil River at the EARL, Broken Social Scene

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and Preston School of Industry at the Echo Lounge, The Constantines and Pretty Girls Make Graves at the Masquerade and Kelis (though she's opening for Britney Spears) at Philips Arena. Then up here in Athens we've got The Walkmen, French Kicks and The National at the 40 Watt, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band at the Georgia Theatre and We Versus The Shark and Marshmallow Coast playing separate shows at Tasty World. That's enough music for weeks, and it's all on one day?! C'mon, spread it out! [CH]

Final Notes: The B-52's, Randall Bramblett, Drive-By Truckers, I Am The World Trade Center, Ishues, Now It's Overhead, Paper Lions, Phosphorescent, and Summer Hymns are all heading out to South By Southwest this week, so luck to all those Athens (and Athens-ish) bands; hopefully something productive will come of the shmoozing and boozing; the 2004 Flagpole Athens Music Directory is out now and ready for your perusal. Published every year, it's the best resource you'll find for the ins and outs of our scene - band contact info, club booking contacts, studios, screen printers, CD manufacturing, and more. Pick one up at a number of downtown locations, the Flagpole office or visit www.flagpole.com. [CH]

And that's all for this week, folks. As always get your news in to me as soon as you know what's going on with yourself and be sure to always reference either me or Threats & Promises in the subject lines of all emails. Don't even bang unless you plan to hit something via email at music@flagpole.com, voicemail at 549-2360; or by post at P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603.

Gordon Lamb