Music News & Gossip

Threats & Promises

Music News And Gossip

originally published October 26, 2005


Another week goes by and, of course, a whole lot of stuff has happened. Here's what we learned this week…

The Roof Is On Fire: Keeping with the nature of this column, that being gossip and whatnot, here's a sweet bit of incomplete information for you. I have it on very good authority that the Athens Music Museum has begun negotiations with a national specialty cable network that wants to do a feature story on its series of rooftop concerts. While it can't be revealed yet exactly with whom they're talking, it's not MTV or CNN, but I guarantee you that this station comes into your homes (if you have cable, that is). Look here for more news as it becomes available.

Klaus Nomi

Calling All Terror Couples: Monday, Oct. 31 at the Go Bar will be a night to remember for anyone who happens by. Local musicians Winston Parker (U.S.S.R., ex-Erutrevo), Tom Salmon (The High Caliber), Brian Smith (The Curl, ex-Boulevard) and Jim Payne have formed the only known tribute to classic band Bauhaus in Athens music history and will perform this night. Additionally, Parker will take the stage - or floor, really - first and channel the late Klaus Nomi. Promising full kabuki makeup and careful song selection, Parker will also close the show with two more numbers by Nomi. Since no one can be rightfully expected to hit the same operatic high notes that the German singer was known for, Parker will perform the underground hits lip-sync style. The Bauhaus material, however, will be performed live as you like it.

The Loneliest Number: Tasty World hosts a benefit concert on Wednesday, Nov. 2 to raise funds for the One Campaign. According to www.one.org, the campaign "is a new effort by Americans to rally Americans — one by one — to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty." Local acts Electa Villain, Newspeak and Stereo Campbell perform.

And A Happy New Year: Great news comes this way from local band An Epic At Best. Although over the past year, the band hasn't played nearly as many shows as you might expect, it has nevertheless been busy composing and recording tracks for a debut album to be released by Atlanta label Two Sheds Music. An Epic At Best creates a compelling mixture of gorgeous piano melodies punctuated by searing guitar lines and heartfelt lyricism. Titled There Will be Rain, the album still has to undergo the usual rigmarole of mastering and having the artwork completed, but if you save some of those holiday bucks, you can grab one in early January, 2006, or maybe even sooner.

Wesley Cook

Just Like Jon Bon Jovi: Local singer-songwriter Wesley Cook has let it be known that the trailer for Proud, Mary, a movie he performed in, is available over at www.sandramiller.net/proudmary.html. Cook was able to use his original music in the film, and he also reports that his debut album is "almost finished in its entirety." Well, Wes my boy, that's what "finished" means, doesn't it? Oh, don't get all pouty-faced. I'm just kidding with you.

What? No Helloween?: Local band and community activists The Shut-Ups have dedicated their Halloween show to raising awareness of death. Yes, you read that right. Taking place Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Caledonia Lounge, this show will see the band performing with folks conjuring such living and dead spirits as Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Money, Joan Jett, Johnny Rotten, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Ric Ocasek and Jeff Lynne. Kevin Lane (ex-Possibilities) opens the show with his dream Halloween tribute band Throwing Stars, which is dedicated to 1990s pop band Zumpano. It's too late for anyone to actually see Zumpano, but I trust very much that Throwing Stars will come as close as possible.

Farmer's Tan: Downtown restaurant Farm 255 continues to cultivate a unique relationship with the Athens music scene, perhaps more so than any other food-type establishment in recent memory. Halloween weekend looks to be no different, as two shows are worth mentioning: on Saturday, Oct. 29, Sursie plays a "special Halloween show with fun covers, stilt-walkers and other tricks." And only a few of the 300 tickets remain available for Monday, Oct. 31's masquerade ball, put on by the restaurant and local music promotion company SLO Productions, which features Scott Leon-O'Day Quartet and Greensky Bluegrass trading sets. All proceeds benefit international disaster relief funds.

Real Gone: Any rumors you may have heard about the future destruction of the buildings surrounding and including Kultur Lounge are true. In the next few months, groundbreaking will start on this historic Athens music site where mammoth-sized, luxury condominiums will be built. Although originally housing a church, the building near the corner of Hancock and Thomas streets which Kultur now occupies was also the home of the legendary Rockfish Palace, The Shirley Hemphill Memorial Ballroom, Boneshakers and, when unoccupied, the site of many raucous after-hours parties over the years. Although I find myself torn between the good and bad aspects of current Athens development, one thing is clear: the music scene needs to start buying and stop renting.

Labor Bears Fruits, Eventually: After lots and lots and lots of talking about releasing an album, The Whigs are finally doing it! The local rock trio makes its recorded debut with the full-length album Give 'Em All a Big Fat Lip, and celebrates with a performance at the 40 Watt Club on Friday, Nov. 11. Modern Skirts and Slow Runner open.

Back In The Saddle: Fans can hang on to their hats as the previously canceled Ralph Stanley show at The Melting Point has been rescheduled. Originally nixed due to the bluegrass godfather's health concerns, the show is now slated to happen on Friday, Nov. 25 with tickets on sale now. Although I don't think Stanley's fans are the sort to wait in line all night, this is helpful information nonetheless. Tickets are available over at www.meltingpointathens.com.

Deee-lay: The five-band bill at Tasty World on Friday, Oct. 28 was originally planned as the launch for Dirty Sanchez & the Pancho Villas' long-overdue debut album (recorded with an older lineup of the local stoner-rock band), but circumstances have delayed the CD's readiness. Consequently, the band plans to have a free six-song sampler on hand, featuring three songs from the forthcoming debut album and three freshly remastered versions of newer material created by the new lineup. The self-titled full album should be out soon, though.

Bye for now. Keep your news coming in and all that. Remember to always mention my name or Threats & Promises in the subject line of all emails. I'm trapped in the closet via email to music@flagpole.com, voicemail at 549-9523, ext. 203, or by post at P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603.
Gordon Lamb

Gordon Lamb

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