originally published April 4, 2007

The other day, a friend of mine said, “Athens music fans can’t handle the truth.” I said y’all could. So, hunker down and get ready for this week's truth installation. Real facts begin below…Poverty Lineup Announced: The 2007 Battle Against Poverty concert, which happens Saturday, Apr. 7 at UGA's Legion Field, has announced the lineup of bands and here they are. In the high school battle, hosted by Mayor Heidi Davison, you’ll see Stab the Cook (3 p.m.), Connelly Crowe (3:30 p.m.) and Sub-Par (4 p.m.). In the adult band battle, hosted by Montu Miller, folks can watch Trial By Fire (4:30 p.m.), B-Side Revolution (5:10 p.m.), Mudra (5:50 p.m.), Gabriel Kelley (6:30 p.m.), Royal Blue & the Stone Grifters (7:10 p.m.) and Crumbling Arches (7:50 p.m.). The rap battle will happen at 8:30 p.m. and Ishues will host. Headlining the entire event is Bling the Children Back Home, which performs at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free for everyone, and more information can be had by checking out City Pages this week or going to www.myspace.com/battleagainstpoverty.

Good Folks: The 2007 Folklife in Georgia Festival takes place Saturday, Apr. 7 in downtown Danielsville, 1–9 p.m. Celebrating the music, handiwork and dance of rural Georgia, the festival is free until 5 p.m., with visual artist presentations and musical performances by Wampus Cat Scanners, The Madison County Community Choir, Gabriel Kelley, Marion Montgomery, Streetlight Food and the Gentleman Jack String Band. Starting at 6 p.m., there is an old-fashioned barn dance with String Theory providing the music and Susan Davis acting as caller. Dance admission is $5 for adults, $3 for those ages 6–16 and free for kids under six years. It’s been a long time since I was in a barn dance, but I can attest as to how much fun they are, and the curious among you should make your plans now. For more info, call 706-795-3223.

Good Stuff: WUOG 90.5 FM will host its annual prom-themed benefit for the American Cancer Society on Saturday, Apr. 7 over at Little Kings. Featured performers include M Coast, Nutria and The 63 Crayons. The donation for the show is a mere $5, and these three bands are well worth it. Each has a relatively new album out and each album is worth your time. What else can I say? When it comes to these three bands… I dig ‘em.

Like A Sport, But Not: Nuçi’s Space is currently sponsoring its first “Arch Madness” in coordination with the Nuçi’s Space Student Organization. The eight-band elimination tournament has already started and has more dates scheduled for Apr. 11, 16, 17 and 20, when the final competition is to be held at Nuçi’s Space with the winner getting to perform at this year's AthFest. Although it’s too late to get your band in on the action, you can find more details at www.nuci.org/archmadness/overview.asp.

Learning To Fly: The Downtown Athens Recording Company is now open for business in its new space on Finley Street, and sessions are booking as we speak. “We are happy to have a vastly improved work environment," says Eric Friar. "Most importantly we gave over a significant amount of square footage to our control room, making for a more comfortable work environment and a superior listening environment.” They’ll host an open house party at the space on Sunday, Apr. 8, with music at 7 p.m. from Ginger Envelope's Patrick Carey and An Epic At Best's Roy Coughlin. More info at 706-552-0745, or drop a line via downtownathens@bellsouth.net.

Live On The Plaza: UGA's University Union is gearing up for another round of “Local Bands Live” this spring. The shows will take place on the plaza of the Tate Student Center every Tuesday in April from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Some historic local shows have taken place here (or, at least, shows featuring bands that went on to really make a name for themselves) and, in years past, the opportunity was open to pretty much anyone. Several years back, however, after numerous complaints from instructors actually trying to teach during this time, the Union scaled back shows to feature mainly acoustic and lower-volume acts. No word yet on how loud this year's schedule is to be. Call the Union at 706-542-6396 and get the skinny.

Heard It In A Love Song: On Wednesday, Apr. 11, the Georgia Theatre will host a benefit for St. Jude Children's Hospital featuring local band Part Bear, Backyard Tire Fire and the one-original-member-left Marshall Tucker Band. Formerly of Asheville, NC, the members of Bloomington-based Backyard Tire Fire released their debut album Live at the Georgia Theatre back in 2002 and have been on a steady roll since then with multiple albums and hundreds of shows under their belts. The Marshall Tucker Band formed in Spartanburg, SC, in 1972 and its entire story can be found at www.marshalltucker.com. St. Jude Hospital, founded by comedian/ entertainer Danny Thomas, opened in 1962 and continues to help children fight pediatric cancers regardless of their ability to pay. More info is available at www.stjude.org. Tickets for the show are $20.

 Yes, You Need One: Local bands are notoriously unfamiliar and/ or lazy when it comes to vital legal information concerning their careers. Half the problem is the band, and half the problem is whoever is ripping off the band, but, in the end, the band gets shafted. So, I’m pretty happy to announce that Nuçi’s Space and the Public Interest Project of UGA's law school have started what looks to be a wonderful program that will provide legal advice and information to artists who cannot afford their own attorney. All you have to do is mention that you’re already a client of Nuçi’s Space or that you read about it here! All consultations are, of course, confidential and PIP representatives will meet with you at your convenience. Remember: any contract presented to you was written by a lawyer, and it’s in your best interest to have a lawyer on your side, too. For more information, please call 706-542-5213 or write to Katie Nolan via kan71883@uga.edu.

Can’t Wait One Minute More: Longtime Athens creative force Steve Fitzpatrick (Sky City, Radio:Tahiti, Autoscope, Aftermath, Cave Painting) has a project called Unus Mundus which gigged over at Flicker on Tuesday, Apr. 3. For those of you who missed the show, and even those of you who caught it, go check out Unus Mundus over at www.myspace.com/unusworld. Fitzpatrick has long been one of the most uncompromising musicians in Athens and this has resulted in a career of wonderfully creative work, albeit one shrouded in obscurity. Let’s help change this. The obscurity part, that is.

Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair: Local musician Andrew Reissiger played with a full cast of characters this past Sunday over at Farm 255 as part of his “going away jam.” Reissiger has called Athens home for the past 13 years, but he's heard the call of the West, so is moving to San Francisco. Known primarily for his work with world-music crew Dromedary, he says the band will continue to perform, although, understandably, it will be intermittent. While in California, Reissiger will continue to produce his radio show “World Tour” for WUGA and Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Alright, that’s it. Just keep your news coming in and always mention either Threats & Promises or my name in the subject line of all emails. Run, run away 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