Music News & Gossip

Threats & Promises

Music News And Gossip

originally published December 8, 2004


Well, now I guess we begin the official countdown to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus, et al. Let's get it on…

And Just In Time For Winter, Too: Athens songwriter Joseph Plunket hasn't been around town very much lately and for good reason. A few weeks back, he decided, after visiting some folks up there, to make the move to Brooklyn, NY. According to Plunket, things have been going well so far and he was able to find a residence and a job within a week of being there. Also, he has begun to play music with some new folks, including his uncle and former Athens resident and musician Alex Cook. He is still performing under the name The Weight, which makes sense since he was the only permanent member. If you've got any questions for the man himself, then you can ask him this week when he returns to Athens to play a solo show on Monday, Dec. 13, at the fabulous 40 Watt.

Dromedary

That Means Four: Local bluegrass/ world folk (although the band's grass is clearly more folk than blue) band Dromedary has returned to the studio to record a series of "quartets" with some folks the duo has collaborated with over the years, including Viktor Uzur, Andrej Kurti, Neal Fountain, Jeff Reilly, Xiao Xiannan and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger. The tracking is underway with longtime Athens engineer Tom Lewis at his Third Ear Studio. The guys in Dromedary pretty much define the term "working musicians;" they're not very glamorous and certainly not the hot new thing in town but Andrew Reissiger and Rob McMaken are quite talented, supremely enjoyable and recognized far and wide. This keeps them extremely busy. This coming year will see the band making its mark not only in the States, but also Bolivia, Mexico and all over Europe. For MP3s, more information, etc., please see www.dromedarymusic.com.

Records Make The World Go 'Round: The local heartbreakers in An Epic At Best have been plugging away over at Downtown Athens Recording Company with engineer Eric Friar. So far the band has spent about two weeks laying down tracks and plans to spend a few more. All recording is intended for a full-length release which, if no label steps forward to save the day, the band is intent on releasing independently. The band recently performed with Brooklyn's Maplewood (which, after one forgave the members' early 1970s drifter apparel, was quite a nice listen) and local band Iron Hero. An Epic At Best has been laying somewhat lower the past few months, writing songs and woodshedding. Hopefully we'll be seeing a lot more of the band with this new album and in the new year. For more information, please see www.anepicatbest.com.

New Name, New Game: Atlanta/ Athens band Corsair has undergone a dramatic transformation in the past couple of months. The band has been dealt both personal tragedy (the unexpected death earlier this year of member Todd Tanner's sister) and lineup changes (the exit of member Paul Nunn). Corsair decided to forge ahead under a new name - and with new material - and shall be known henceforth as The American Drags. This new band will perform on Friday, Dec. 10, at one of their favorite haunts, Atlanta's 10 High Club. Will the band ever make its way back to Athens? Who knows? If you want Corsair to come here, drop 'em a line, but rumors are the band is moving to California. Check out the new band (with a new member, even) at the brand-spankin' new website, www.americandrags.com.

Hot Off the Barbie: Apologies go out to the Flicker Theatre & Bar; an information box in last week's Flagpole interview with Liz Durrett somewhat amusingly mislabeled the saffron-hued venue as the "Flicker Bar & Grill." Now, remember that there's a good reason for everything at Flagpole. Maybe all the thinking about Thanksgiving made us hungry. Maybe Flicker's Halloween transformation into a pirate ship confused us. Or maybe we're just, every once in a while, idiots. (Nah…) Anyway, despite the typo, the image of bartenders/scene fixtures Don Chambers and Jason Korn grilling some burgers - perhaps in some sort of cook-off with Polish sausage guru JB - is intriguing and definitely merits further consideration. [Chris Hassiotis]

Azure Ray

Just the Two of Us: The members of Athens expatriate band Azure Ray, individually known as Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor, are reportedly at work on solo albums. Fink was recently back in Athens at Chase Park Transduction Studios working with Andy LeMaster and David Barbe. What this bodes for the future of the ethereal, gauzy music of Azure Ray is anybody's guess (so here's mine). A source close to the band says Fink and Taylor are "50/50" as to whether they'll continue together, citing the fact that any time you spend years and years with a person, sometimes you need a break. Will the sound remain the same? The ladies have proven they can do the cascading shimmer thing well, but those who remember Little Red Rocket know that Maria and Taylor can craft some ridiculously catchy power-pop as well, so only time'll tell. No word on whether they'll stay with current label Saddle Creek, head off to Conor Oberst's offshoot Team Love Records or go in a new direction altogether. [CH]

Well, I Guess That Settles It: Did you know that R.E.M. - currently on an almost year-long world tour - has "officially" composed two of the best songs ever written? According to Rolling Stone, they have. Their recently published list of the 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time has ranked the R.E.M songs "Radio Free Europe" and "Losing My Religion" at No. 169 and No. 379, respectively. (The magazine's German edition features the band on the cover.) Of course, former Athenians The B-52's also made the list and topped R.E.M. not once, but twice - "Rock Lobster" listed at No. 146 and "Love Shack" at No. 243.

R.E.M.ainders: Details have also emerged on the upcoming re-issues of R.E.M.'s Warner catalog. Warner Brothers will reissue expanded editions of every R.E.M. album it's released, which means everything from 1988's Green up until this year's Around the Sun will get the special treatment. The double-disc editions will include remastered versions of the original albums and DVDs that'll include the same music remixed in 5.1 Dolby surround as well as documentaries and unreleased video footage. All the editions hit stores on February 15, so this'll be a perfect excuse to get your valentine that copy of New Adventures in Hi Fi that he (along with everyone else) overlooked in '96. [CH]

That's it for now. Please remember to send all your news quickly as we get really busy around here and want to level the playing field as much as possible. Always reference either my name or Threats & Promises in the subject line of all emails. I think I thought I saw you try via email at music@flagpole.com, voicemail at 549-9523, ext. 214; or by post at P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603.
Gordon Lamb

Gordon Lamb

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