Threats & Promises

Music News And Gossip

originally published April 5, 2006

While springtime in Athens is just beginning and temps are rising, the news around here is already pretty darn hot. Someone, anyone, give me an award for the cheesiest introduction ever…

Stay Bruised: The sad news flew quickly around the Internet last week announcing the untimely passing of a good friend to the Athens music scene. Nikki Sudden, who made Athens his home for several months in 1990 and most recently performed at last year's AthFest, died after playing a show at New York’s Knitting Factory on Sunday, Mar. 26. Sudden, founding member of the legendary Swell Maps, was a consummate rock-and-roller who shifted seamlessly between playing with members of R.E.M. and the Rolling Stones to jamming with a pick-up band in Athens and in Atlanta with members of Deerhunter. He had recently completed his newest album, The Truth Doesn’t Matter, and was very close to finishing his autobiography The Last Bandit. In addition to his voluminous recorded output and insatiable creative impulses, Sudden was also one of the most personally engaging and thoroughly honest people I have ever had the chance to interview and hang out with. No cause of death has been announced as of press time. For more information, please see www.nikkisudden.com.

Gonna Buy 10 Copies For My Mother: Athens sensation The Whigs have made Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of “10 Bands To Watch” for this year. This news was printed in the Mar. 24 issue of the famous biweekly publication. So, um, watch ‘em!

Atlanta Meets Athens Again: The folks in Venice is Sinking have put together a sort of “Athens in Atlanta Fest” for Saturday, Apr. 8. The show takes place at Atlanta venue Lenny’s and features Venice is Sinking, The Ginger Envelope, Geoff Reacher, Summer Hymns and Engineering. Venice is Sinking will release its newest album, Sorry About the Flowers, Friday, Apr. 14 at the fabulous 40 Watt when the group performs with DJ Mahogany and The Ginger Envelope.

All-Seeing Studio: Local engineers Chris Riser and Zachary Gresham (both of Summer Hymns) have officially set up shop with their recording studio Illuminati Audio. Located down Highway 78 East out of Athens in Lexington, the site is reportedly a gorgeous one with 12-foot ceilings, lots of vintage gear, plenty of parking and a full kitchen. While I recognize the convenience of this last item, any band that wants to blow precious studio time and money whipping up some ramen noodles simply has too much money. At any rate, Summer Hymns has been furiously wrapping up its latest full-length at the facility, so it’s definitely a case where the cooks are eating what they serve. I have no doubt at all about the quality these guys will be able to offer bands that hire them. Please visit www.illuminatiaudio.com for more info.

Live And Free: WUOG 90.5 FM is set to release its third, and long-awaited, compilation of performances from its live local music show, “Live in the Lobby.” The disc features live performances from Psychic Hearts, We Versus the Shark, Visitations, Coulier, Don Chambers + GOAT, Ceiling Fan and many more. To celebrate the release, Col. Knowledge & the Lickity-Splits and Telenovela, two local bands that feature current and former WUOG staffers, will play a show at Little Kings on Thursday, Apr. 20. All those attending will receive a free copy of the disc, and those who miss it will still be able to find the disc for free at area record stores. That’s so damn cool.

Hangin’ With the Folks: Danielsville, GA will host the sixth annual Folklife in Georgia Festival on Saturday, Apr. 8 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. just south of the town square. The festival is organized each year to celebrate the traditional music, dance and handiwork of rural Georgia. The music portion of the festival will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and features The Solstice Sisters, The Madison County Choir, the Gabriel Kelley Band, Dale & Noel, Marion Montgomery and Banish Misfortune. Other features of the festival include a pie-baking contest, basket making, blacksmithing and all kinds of rural arts. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the festival will host an old-time barn dance in the old Danielsville gym with Pat Shields & Friends providing the music. The festival is free, but the dance costs $5 for adults, $3 for children from six to 16, and kids under six get in free. Organizers request a donation for the Madison County Food Bank. Please call 706-795-3223 for more info.

On The Road: The recently taped Drive-By Truckers performance for Turner South program "Music Road" will air on Thursday, Apr. 13 at 10 p.m. and will repeat on Wednesday, Apr. 26 at 1:50 a.m. Described as an “up-close and personal” performance by the band, the program also promises some backstage extras.

Early Means More: Although Widespread Panic’s newest album Earth to America won't be released until June 13, fans who pre-order the album will be privy to a veritable horde of bonus material. It also doesn’t matter when you pre-order; any orders up until the album's release date will qualify for the free stuff. The first of six monthly “bundles” of stuff is available on-line now. These bundles include home video from recording sessions, exclusive band interviews, unreleased concert footage and more. For more info, please see www.widespreadpanic.com.

It Ain't All Good: So the Southern rock band Allgood is "reuniting" at the Georgia Theatre this week [see feature on p. 30], but with only three of the five original members. Rumor was that the two other members were going to play a "protest show" the same night right across the street at the Georgia Bar backed by fellow Waycross natives from the Bearfoot Hookers, but if that whole fiasco was ever even was going to happen, it's not anymore. Oh well.

Low Down And Gone: Local record store aficionados will have one less retail establishment to hang out at with the closing of the popular Low Yo Yo Stuff. The store, which had been located in front of the 40 Watt for several years, was quite popular with collectors and fans of hard-to-find contemporary releases. The store had also been quite active in the promotion of local experimental and free jazz performances. While no specifics were available at press time, what is known is that owner Todd Ploharski has packed up the stock remaining in the Athens location and is currently working on opening a retail location in Atlanta. Check this page in the coming weeks for more details as they become available.

The New Newness: Word is that the brutal local band Music Hates You, which you can catch over at Tasty World on Monday, Apr. 10, has wrapped recording of its new album Send More Paramedics, and it looks like the band is shooting for a late-May release date.

This Business Of Music: UGA's Terry College of Business earlier this semester added an Interdisciplinary Music Business Certificate program to their academic offerings. The course of study is designed specifically for rising juniors and seniors who are serious about pursuing work in the music business. Admission to the program is competitive and limited to 35 students. Students are also required to take courses in accounting and finance. Program director Bruce Burch is more than happy to speak with anyone interested in this program and applications started being accepted a couple of weeks ago for the upcoming term, but will cease to be accepted once registration for fall semester is over, which is in the next several weeks. So if you're a UGA student, jump on it, honcho. Please contact Burch via bburch@terry.uga.edu or 706-542-7668.

Showcase Delight: The same program requires students to create their own student-run record labels and find a local artist to work with. On Thursday, Apr. 6 at 5 p.m., the Melting Point will host a showcase featuring all these artists each performing a brief set. The performers are Octavious Robot, Hey, Revolution!, Brantley Jones, Maggie Smith and The Josh Taylor Band, and the event is free and open to the public.

Pack Your Bags: Iron Hero heads out this weekend for its first substantial tour, taking a week to hit up the Carolinas, go up through DC and Pennsylvania and do the New York thing as well, before swinging home for a show at the 40 Watt on Apr. 27. If you see the guys out, wish 'em luck.

Well, sis-boom-bah. Be sure to keep your news coming in and always mention either Threats & Promises or my name in the subject line of all emails. Clapton is god via email to music@flagpole.com, voicemail at 706-549-9523, ext. 203, or by post at P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603.

Gordon Lamb

Gordon Lamb