Threats & Promises

Music News And Gossip

originally published March 8, 2006

All right, let’s just forego our little fireside chat this week. You know, sometimes we just need to get right to the news at hand. After all this explaining, it looks like we didn’t really forego anything at all. On with it…

Shoot ‘Em Up: Athens rocker Carla LeFever and her backing band will shoot their first video at the fabulous 40 Watt on Wednesday, Mar. 8 at 11 p.m., and the whole town is invited to take part. LeFever, one of the hardest working people in Athens show business, is making the video at the request of an MTV talent scout. Brand-spanking-new band With The Sun will open the show. “If you like hard raunch and roll, please come be in our video,” says LeFever. Dude, I’m so there.

Save it, Stubby: Any of you folks who want to keep the party going after you go see Wilco over at The Classic Center on Thursday, Mar. 9 should hold onto your tickets stubs. Why? Because they’ll get you into the fabulous 40 Watt for free later that night, and you can sing and sway to the sounds of Boulevard (which is in the midst of recording its next album, and anticipating a May 1 release date), The Capes, The Talk and Elevator Action. Think of it as rock-and-roll recycling.

Once More, With Feeling: On that same tip, anyone showing up at Tasty World on Friday, Mar. 10 with a ticket from the Silver Jews’ 40 Watt show that night gets in to see The Savoir Faire, Murder Beach, Kilroy and Can Joann for free. Or if you sign on to any of the band’s www.MySpace.com pages in the next week, you’ll be eligible to get a coupon for $2 off at the door.

Nuçi’s Nuze: Saturday, Mar. 11 is a big day for Nuçi’s Space. In the afternoon, Kane Stanley will teach another one of his popular hand drumming workshops and anyone that wants to attend and needs a drum provided needs to pre-register with Nuçi’s Space. The cost is $12 and considering that Kane has trained at the Berklee College of Music and in Haiti, this price seems like a steal. For more information, folks can email kane@nuci.org.

More @ Nuçi’s: That same evening, Nuçi’s Space will host “Skoolyard Brawl 3” featuring musical acts Overdrive, More Than Conquers, Blackmale, T-Nebula Productions and Black Ghost Entertainment Presents. All of these groups are based out of area high schools. After the bands play, the stage will be given over to a freestyle rap battle between Cedar Shoals High School and Clarke Central High School, culminating in champs from each school battling each other. It all begins at 8 p.m. and costs $5. Proceeds benefit Nuçi’s Space.

Maybe Worth A Try?: Local band Timber will play Transmetropolitan on Tuesday, Mar. 14. The band, comprised of Daniel Aaron (guitar, voice), Ben Keller (guitar), Eric Johnson (banjo, pedal steel), Brandon Reynolds (bass) and Bo Bedingfield (drums), describes its sound as being somewhat akin to Neil Young, Blue Mountain and Will Oldham and the guys are currently hard at work on their new album Dark Heart, Lucky Hand. All in all, it sounds like a decent reason to get sloshed on a Tuesday.

Stipe On The Mic: R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe will headline the “Bring ‘Em Home Now!” concert at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom on Monday, Mar. 20. Co-headlining the bill is super-activist Cindy Sheehan, who has stirred more than a little controversy on both the right and the left. While it is presumed that Stipe will sing, it is unclear as to what exactly Sheehan will do. Talk, I suppose. Also on the bill are Rufus Wainwright, Bright Eyes, Chuck D, Fischerspooner, Steve Earle, Peaches and Devendra Banhart. The concert, which precedes a 15-city speaking tour of the same name, will urge the U.S. government to immediately withdraw troops from Iraq.

Psych Out: Psychic Hearts haven’t disappeared, but they have been out of sight for a while. What they’ve done is radically rework their sound during a time of woodshedding and recording with producer Doug Easley (Sonic Youth, White Stripes, Iggy Pop) in Mississippi. The result is the local trio’s new single “Police” and its B-side “Delicious.” The single, which was recorded using entirely live tracks, is to be released via CD and 7” vinyl and should land in stores toward the end of this month. The band will play a release show on Friday, Mar. 31 at the Caledonia Lounge. The Hearts have also teamed up with new-ish, local-ish promotion company Harlot PR, which also works with local band Boulevard. Hopefully this relationship will lead to great things for the band. Fingers crossed.

Putting Out The Call: UGA’s University Union is once again hosting its springtime concerts on the Tate Student Center plaza. Every Friday afternoon in April will see a local band performing in this spot. This is a non-paying gig, but should provide at least some exposure for the lucky bands chosen. Although the Union has generally provided technical support for bands in the past, this year bands will need to provide their own P.A. system. I have some experience dealing with the University Union and can tell you right now that the louder your band is the less likely you are to be booked for one of these slots. So just keep that in mind. Otherwise, knock yourself out. Interested bands should contact Kim Daniel at kimd@uga.edu.

Early Notice: The Athens-Oconee CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is hosting its Battle of the Bands at UGA’s Hodgson Hall on Apr. 27. Any bands that would like to compete should submit MP3s over at www.athensoconeecasa.org by Apr. 1. Whoever comes out on top in this competition will receive free entry to the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and a recording done on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. CASA is a program that assigns special court advocates for children. CASA volunteers are responsible for making recommendations to the court as to the best interests of their specific assigned child whose life has been upset as a result of neglect or abuse. Any band that wants to be involved in this should really make the effort to do so. Also, how many times will your grungy band be asked to play in a place as swank as Hodgson Hall? Exactly. For more information, please write to info@athensoconeecasa.org.

Back in Black: This week, Polyvinyl Records reissues several out-of-print Of Montreal discs. Thanks to that local band’s recent surge in international popularity, 1997’s The Bird Who Continues to Eat the Rabbit’s Flower, 1998’s The Bedside Drama: a Petite Tragedy, and 2001’s The Early Four Track Recordings all will have their renaissance and are in stores this week. And on Mar. 21, the Suicide Squeeze label will press 2,000 7” records with the new Of Montreal tracks “Voltaic Crusher” and “Undrum To Muted Da.” Get ’em while you can. More info at www.polyvinylrecords.com or www.suicidesqueeze.net.

Wings Gone Wild: Downtown restaurant/ venue Wild Wing Café, recently closed for renovations, is back in business. The new owners have relocated the upstairs stage (previously situated awkwardly between a stairwell and windows) to a much more logical location (closer to the bar, too). There’s also a solid new sound system in place. Booking inquiries should be directed to Troy Aubrey at nomadartists@msn.com.

Tea Time: Paul Thomas of X-Ray Café always has something going on. His latest endeavor is “X-Ray Tea Time” which will occur Monday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Fresh coffee from Jittery Joe’s, soft drinks and, of course, tea will be available. Conceived as something of an artists’ (defined as loosely as imaginable) salon, Thomas says folks should bring “pads, pencils, paper, laptops, paint, music, etc., and come and share ideas.” I quite like this idea, and certainly hope people take advantage of this. It has already started and will run until further notice.

And This: So, Heist went and broke up.

And we’re outta here. Be sure to keep your news coming in and always mention either Threats & Promises or me in the subject line of all emails. C’mon, c’mon, c’mon now touch me, babe, 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