Threats & Promises

Music News And Gossip

originally published February 8, 2006

Now that the new year is in full swing, we’ve all gotten used to putting in, and then pulling out, each of our legs. So, since y’all know what this hokey-pokey is all about, the stuff down below should seem completely natural…

The Right Thing To Do: Just letting you all know once again that Nuçi’s Space hosts the music portion of the 16th Mental Health Benefit. Five Eight has played the music portion of the fundraising/awareness-raising event every year. This year is no different, as that band will play along with other local artists Hope For Agoldensummer, Some Animal and Heros Severum. The show takes place Thursday, Feb. 9; doors open at 9 p.m., and tickets cost $7, with all proceeds going to benefit Nuçi’s Space. Please take the time to support this worthy cause. See www.fightthestigma.com for more info.

Heartbroke Ambition: Local rapper, songwriter and scene guy Tommy Valentine, who’s managed a number of local acts, collaborated with Ishues and put together the popular hip hop event “Elementary School,” is launching an interesting new project on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Valentine is releasing his new album The Long Ride Home. This CD is the first chapter of the LoveLetters series, a 14-part project (!!!), with each additional chapter to feature songs written by Valentine and performed by different local bands, to be released monthly at the Georgia Theatre. Valentine’s hour-long performance will feature freestyles, rap songs, spoken word pieces, two sung compositions, songs from his In the Red CD, and a live performance of the recent “SNL” Internet fad “The Narnia Rap,” to be performed with Valentine’s 17-year-old brother. The night’s instrumental hip hop backdrops will be created by new Athens transplant, producer John Vereen, AKA VereenCorp. Should be cool to see how this LoveLetters thing turns out.

Broken Hearts No More: Then again, you could always catch local poet Jeff Fallis performing music selection duties that same night over at Little Kings, when he hosts an all-night dance party as DJ Strawberry Julius, playing music from the ’50s and ’60s - lots of girl-group stuff, lots of early rock and roll, early soul and R&B, British Invasion and psychedelia thrown in for good measure. Polaroids of you and your sweetie will be available for $1 each.

Paradise By The Foundry Light: Those in the mood for a Valentine’s Night in-town getaway might be interested in driving a couple of miles or less over to the Melting Point, located at the Foundry Park Inn. For $189, two people can enjoy dinner accompanied by the gentle sounds of Peggy Bailey playing the harp, see the Billie Holiday tribute show featuring Leslie Helpert accompanied by Kevin Hyde on piano, Marlon Patton on drums, Chris Enghauser on upright bass and Bassam Mussad on trumpet, and then retire, presumably with one another, to one of the guest rooms on the site. For couples that don’t wish to spend the night, the cost is only $99 and for couples that don’t care to see the show either, dinner is only $40. And for couples that don’t want to leave the house, I’ll be more than happy to whip up some guacamole and tacos and serenade you both with acoustic versions of Thin Lizzy hits in the comfort of your own home for only $10. For more information, please see www.meltingpointathens.com.

Massively Exciting: Elf Power has confirmed that the band will play the second weekend of this years All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in Camber Sands, England. The festival’s shows, referred to collectively this year as The United Sounds of ATP, continues with the tradition of each night being curated by different artists. The day Elf Power will perform - Saturday, May 21 - is curated by the Shins and will feature Elf Power alongside New Pornographers, Big Business, The Decemberists, Clinic, Destroyer and Triangle. And the Shins. Athens folks can catch Elf Power at the Georgia Theatre on Saturday, Apr. 1. Dudes, I salute you.

Perhaps You’ll Win A Prize: The Athens transplants in Burn the Dying City have been a welcome addition to our town’s heavy music scene since they landed here two years ago from Washington, DC. Well, they’ve got another show happening over at Tasty World on Friday, Feb. 10 with A Bitter Fight Against Nothing, Misfortune 500 and the absolutely grand Music Hates You. Word is that Terrapin Beer is sponsoring the show and that there’ll be a raffle sponsored by Best Buy. How anyone managed to get corporate sponsorship for a normal-sized local show is beyond me, but somehow they did it, so if this blows your skirt up, head over there.

The Living End: Sometimes I think I’ve seen it all and then something completely sideswipes me. Such is the case with the new charity organization called Friends in Hope. The entire purpose of this group is to get people to donate money to local band Hope For Agoldensummer. Why? According to Friends In Hope, it’s because no one plays more benefit shows than that band, thus the members don’t earn as much money as they would normally, and the band really needs the money for a van and recording. I really have no idea what to say about this other than it’s about the grubbiest thing I’ve seen in a while. The organization’s MySpace page touts this as an “investment club,” but the only imaginable return on one’s “investment” is more HFAGS recorded material. I suppose that’s the point, but this still rubs me the wrong way. However, if you’re interested, then make a donation over at friendsinhope.blogspot.com or www.myspace.com/friendsinhope.

Movin’ To The Westside: Popular Southern rock band Tishamingo is making its first ever appearance at the fabulous 40 Watt on Saturday, Feb. 18. Long known for packing the Georgia Theatre, it’s a sure bet the band will sound fabulous through the massive 40 Watt sound system. In other news, bandmember Jess Franklin has been spending a little more time behind the Fender Rhodes organ, perhaps signaling a new direction in the band’s sound. Also, Tishamingo has written tons of new material since its last album Wear N’ Tear, and is in talks with different producers concerning the group’s next release.

Ask And Receive: In a move that clearly recognizes his fans’ need to know even more stuff about his band, Atlanta-based artist Bain Mattox has set up a section of his website called “Ask Bain.” If anyone has a question for the band and wants a publicly displayed answer, all they have to do is email their inquiry to askbain@bainmattox.com. I’m assuming that this is for band-related questions, but once the ball gets rolling, I’m sure these guys will want to thrill fans with their insights on geopolitics and cooking as well, so ask them anything you want. Anything! Fans can view the answers on the journal page of the group’s website. Additionally, if by chance you have a photo of yourself and the guys and would like the world to see it, send it to fanpics@bainmattox.com. As if it weren’t obvious already, the band’s website is www.bainmattox.com.

How About “Stairway To Heaven”? Local pop group Casper & the Cookies is finishing up The Optimist’s Club, its latest release for Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records, and needs some help. Apparently, Casper and co. just couldn’t stretch their imagination wide enough to name one of the songs, so fans should head over to www.myspace.com/casperthecookies and click on “Help us name this song”. Then visit casperfandango.proboards46.com and post your idea for the title. (Or go yell at them at the Caledonia Lounge on Thursday, Feb. 9. They’re playing then.) If yours is chosen, then you get a thank you in the liner notes of the new record, due to be released in April, and free band stuff. And free is always good.

Still Lots Of Opportunity: Although the deadline for CD submissions has passed, there are still a bunch of ways to participate in the 2006 AthFest. If you’re an artist looking to play one of the outdoor stages, you have until Apr. 1 to apply. Also, the artist’s market will be accepting submissions for consideration until Mar. 22. Additionally, if you’re looking to set up a vending site, please contact Alicia Nickles at ads@flagpole.com. All spaces for food vending are long gone, but other spaces are available. If you’re particularly well-heeled and want to sponsor AthFest, well, they could use that also. For information on all this please see www.athfest.com.

So that’s all for this week. Keep your news coming in and always mention either my name or Threats & Promises in the subject line of all emails. Why can’t I turn off the radio 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