originally published December 13, 2006

Well, Athens has had its annual Christmas parade and a bunch of holiday parties are in the works, but we're not exactly snug in our beds yet. So with that in mind, let's get down to what's going on around town. Begin below…

You Like Music?: Flagpole readers! We're giving you one last chance to tell us about your past year in music! Drop by www.flagpole.com/Survey to vote on your favorite local albums and tell us about the shows you saw this year. Your thoughts and responses will be featured in our year-end double issue! You've got until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13, so hop to it!

Deadline To Be Listed In The Next Issue: Bands, clubs and promoters, if you want to be sure your shows are listed in Flagpole’s ABC music listings section, please note our deadline this week is early due to the upcoming holidays. Send in your info by Sunday, Dec. 17 by 9 p.m. Contact the music department at 706-549-9523 or email at abc@flagpole.com.

As Good A Reason As Any: Violinist and backing vocalist Stephanie Davis will not play with local band Ice Cream Socialists in the upcoming year due to her upcoming employment at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL, where she's to play the character Belle from Beauty & The Beast. So while the pop band is making fans around the clock with tales as old as time, songs as old as rhyme, Davis will wind up with her portrait in untold thousands of family photo albums. In other news, current drummer Jonathan Pride is heading to France for a semester of schooling and will yield his stool (heh-heh) to original Ice Cream Socialists drummer Payton Bradford.

This Friday!: This is so good I have to mention it again. This Friday, Dec. 15, will see the almighty Roosevelt reunite and return to Athens. Let's try some context: In the early 1990s, Roosevelt wasn't as heavy as Harvey Milk, not as metal as Magneto, not as Zeppelinny as Hayride and not as fashion-conscious as a bunch of other bands. Roosevelt was a heavily tuneful band influenced as much by 1970s hard rock as 1980s, SST Records-style indie. The group was beloved and now has returned to us. The show is at the fabulous 40 Watt and included on the bill are the eternally witty and talented Shut-Ups and Down With The Woo, the new band to feature former Heros Severum members Mandy Branch and Eric Friar. See ABC. Be there.

A Great Gift: If you're looking to help make a difference with your holiday purchases and also get in on the underground Athens hip hop scene, this is the thing for you: Son 1, a member of local hip hop group Renegadez, has just released his solo EP The American Hero, and all proceeds from album sales go to benefit disabled veterans. The record is thoughtful, thought-provoking and has set the bar higher for local hip hop. Please visit www.myspace.com/theamericanhero2007 for more information.

Big And Getting Bigger: The underground rock scene generally prides itself on being in the know and super supportive of its artists. That may be true, but it compares in no way to the overwhelming support and rabid audiences that acoustic singer-songwriters can develop. Case in point: local guy Corey Smith. The increasingly popular Smith just performed a free show for teens at the Oconee County Library, complete with an interactive songwriting discussion and Q&A session. This is a man that routinely sells out shows at more than $20 a ticket, and he still did this for free for the kids. (Are we sure he's not a Drive-By Trucker?) At any rate, Smith will perform again locally on Jan. 27 at the Classic Center in a benefit for the Children's Miracle Network. I gotta give props to anyone with this type of dedication.

Goof: A few weeks back, I mentioned that the local folks in An Epic At Best had no Athens shows scheduled any time soon. Well, at the time it seemed like they didn't, but the band actually has a show scheduled on Tuesday, Dec. 19, at the 40 Watt Club with The Winter Sounds. A scheduled performance this month at Atlanta venue Lenny's was cancelled apparently because of something to do with hip hop legend KRS-1. That's all I know, and it doesn't make any sense to me, either. The band will enter the Downtown Athens Recording Company in February to begin work on a new EP.

So, Maybe Goodbye Doesn't Mean Forever: The local glam-pop superstars and male models of Boulevard played their final Athens show last Saturday night at Go Bar. The main guys behind Boulevard - Benji Barton and Stephen James - have taken the Liza Minelli route and headed to New York. Word has it that if they can make it there, they can, you know, make it anywhere. Always an impressive live act, I'm sure these guys will do just fine anywhere. Besides, Barton made mention a couple of weeks back that he's sure Athens will provide a home to the band again in the future. Good luck, guys!

I Have No Idea How Long They'll Last: Local label Superfluous Umlaut has made good on its promise to release a split 7” between Hayride and Harvey Milk. Apparently done in an edition of only 300 copies, the record, titled F*#k You Guys, has already sold out on at least one website and is quickly leaving local stores. If you don't want to fight with Japanese collectors on eBay later this month, head to a local shop and pick one up now. There is possibly more information over at www.superfluousumlaut.com.

And now, like a mama bear, I remind you to keep your news coming in and always mention either Threats & Promises or my name in the subject line of all emails. War is over if you want it 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