Threats & Promises

Music News And Gossip

originally published April 7, 2004

Oh, man I gotta tell you guys that all I have on my mind right now is the image of a bunch of sad bastards falling for the April Fool's idea from last week's paper that Tom Waits was going to be playing at a farm in Athens. I also feel for the folks over here at Flagpole who had to field all the phone calls regarding this "event." Well, I promise everything this week - on this page at least - is true to the best of my knowledge...

Get A Psychic Heart On: New-ish Athens band Psychic Hearts simply rocked The Caledonia Lounge a couple of weeks back. Apparently the band has been knockin' on doors all over town but The Caledonia was the only one that would give them the time of day. Things should get easier for them now considering that they not only played a great show, but also packed the place. The band is comprised of guitarist Matthew Rain (formerly of Athens band Yugami), Nico Cashin on bass and Carr Chadwick on drums. Musically the band delivers fuzzy-guitar driven pop not unlike a less angst-ridden Pixies or a more-sober Jesus And Mary Chain. Currently the band is in the process of recording, sifting through 25(!) songs with local knob-twiddler Asa Leffer and is planning on whittling it all down to five for a slated 7" record release. The band formed after Rain let Cashin in on some new songs he was recording and after she gave him a swift kick in the pants to get the project going. The band found a drummer through a classified ad in Flagpole (they really do work!). So now that you want to see them, please try to make your way to the Tate Student Center Plaza on Friday, April 9. The band will be playing at 12:30 p.m., so ditch that lunch date and go get rocked. For more info please contact psychicheartsbooking@yahoo.com.

Not Broken and Not Breaking: Contrary to rumors flying around like flies on sherbet, local melody strip-miners Maserati are not broken up. Nor are they planning on breaking up. Although the line-up has changed with the exit of founding member and drummer Phil Horan (now playing with Who Is Myrtle Malloy?), the band will now find its tunes seated in the more-than capable beat of Jerry Fuchs. Fuchs is well known among Athens drummers. Hell, he's well-known among Athens musicians in general. A quick history: Fuchs did time in the Athens-based Martians, played studio sessions and live shows with the late Nuçi Phillips (after whom Nuçi's Space is named) and most recently carried the beat for Chicago's Turing Machine. Maserati plans to begin working on its next album this summer.

Things That Make You Go Hmmm: It had to happen. In the early-to-mid-1990s, people started losing their shit over "1980s Disco." Then "heavy metal karaoke" started packing 'em in. Hell, Athens even has speed dating now. So what does a town that has already done everything else do when it's bored on Sunday night?

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It sings along to techno songs and hangs out with a robot that serves as host. Seriously. Dave Weiglein of local band The Eskimos is now hosting "Techno Karaoke" every Sunday night at Tasty World. Weiglein puts on a robot suit and encourages the crowd to get up and try their Eurotrash best. So, if your parents or loved ones are in town some Sunday why not take 'em over. Remember how mom used to love Front 242's "Headhunter"? Relive the memories.

World's Wackiest Charity Event: Paul Thomas, owner of the X-Ray Café and longtime Athens artist and personality, has announced a "Book Drive" to benefit, not kids, not the poor, but the X-Ray Café itself, similar to what Flicker did a couple years back when raising funds for renovations. Proceeds from the sale will be put toward funding more artistic endeavors from the X-Ray gang. Books, records, CDs, DVDs, etc. can be donated to the X-Ray during regular business hours. I can't decide if this whole thing has the scent of incredibly bad form or incredibly great chutzpah. And I shouldn't have to decide, anyway. I make all the decisions in this relationship, already. Can't you decide something for once?

Keep Hushing: The new issue of Hush Hush, Athens gossip and scenester-spotting magazine, is out now. Pick it for free in all the usual places where free publications gather. You know, around doorways, in chairs, blowing in the street, etc. This time around it keeps the laughs coming with its own hilarious brand of humor. True, all the jokes seem to be awfully insider-oriented. But that's the joke, see? This new issue features The Capricorns' Heather Lynn and scenester Katie Thigpen on the cover; that's reason enough to pick it up.

The Best There Is At What He Does: To those looking forward to Jack Logan's upcoming performance at Tasty World, quit lookin'. What was planned as a "Jack Logan & Friends" show for the all-too-infrequently performing songwriter has been canceled; Logan's about to pack things up and move to Rochester, NY, for a couple of years. He passed along the word, though, that he and his wife aren't even selling their local home, so expect occasional visits. Keep warm, Jack! [Chris Hassiotis]

All True, No Foolin': It seems the folks over at NASA (National Aeronautics And Space Administration) have been playing "wake up" music for the Mars rover

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Opportunity and have thrown a couple of well-known Athens bands into the mix. On Tuesday, March 30, the rover was treated to R.E.M.'s "Stand" and back on Wednesday, March 17, the wake-up tune was The B-52's "Rock Lobster." I don't even know if The B-52's could even be considered an "Athens band" anymore. But I'm pretty sure they don't care. At any rate, thought you guys would get a kick out of this one.

And that's all for this week folks. Keep it coming to me all week every week and be sure to always use my name it the subject line of all emails or reference Threats & Promises. But a simple "yo!" or something ain't gonna cut it. Roll with the homies via email at music@flagpole.com, voicemail at 549-2360; or by post at P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603.

Gordon Lamb