originally published August 22, 2007

Athens' own Widespread Panic is out on another nationwide tour, and though there are no plans for a local date this time around, the band is setting down in (relatively) nearby Macon at the Macon Centreplex on Saturday, Oct. 27. Why am I telling you this now? Because tickets go on pre-sale this week on Wednesday, Aug. 22 and are officially up for public grabs on Saturday, Aug. 25. Want more? Hit up www.widespreadpanic.com.

To The Land Of Sand: Longtime local musician and resident Aaron Wegelin (ex-Elf Power) will be moving to Tucson, AZ, soon and has set up what will be one of his last shows in town. Appearing at Little Kings on Thursday, Aug. 23 are Honey and Tiny Sticks. The latter is the only ESG cover band in the known world, and if you need to know what ESG is, just Google it. Suffice it to say that you can expect a throbbing, rhythmically synchronized good time. After the bands, Wegelin says he'll deejay a "Sonic Youth dance party," so there's that, too. In any case, you should come and say goodbye to a guy who has probably been onstage at over half the shows you've seen in the past decade.

How Lovely For You: Once upon a time, there was place called the Athens Music Factory in the space where The Library now serves drinks. In this factory was a blues band that was pretty much the house blues band for the place. That band, Big C & The Ringers, fizzled when vocalist Clarence "Big C" Cameron split to live in Memphis, TN, several years ago. On Thursday, Aug. 23, the band will play a reunion show at the No Where Bar.

Back To The Basement: Another reunion is happening this week on Friday, Aug. 24 over at the Caledonia Lounge. Basement, which won Flagpole Athens Music Awards in 2002 and 2003 in the jam/ improv category, will reunite for one show only that night. Also on the bill are the hip-hop/ comedy stylings of Dillon Maurer (formerly known as Intellekt from the combo Intellekt & Dirty Digits) along with the goofball R&B of Da Ticklah (AKA Jay Murphy of Bling the Children Back Home, STS9). Buy a drink when you get there. You'll need it.

 Loud Is The New Quiet, Wimpy: Formerly Athenian, now based nowhere, Jucifer will return to town next week and play the Georgia Theatre on Friday, Aug. 24 along with We Versus The Shark and Summerbirds In The Cellar. A few weeks back, the band released a video for the track "Hennin Hardine," from the album If Thine Enemy Hunger, exclusively at www.singingfool.com. Shot by former Athenian and Flagpole writer Mark Pilvinsky, this makes the third video he's directed for the band via his Bare Ruined Films production company. For more information, please see www.myspace.com/jucifer.

Work That Skirt: Video production house New Slang Films just completed work on a new video for Modern Skirts, which the band will debut at its show on Friday, Aug. 24 at the 40 Watt. The new clip is for the song "Pasadena" and the band has worked with New Slang in the past to produce its electronic press kit and a video for the track "Indiana Indian." Also on the bill that night are The Old Ceremony and XYZ Affair. So, to catch the video, see some bands and meet perhaps the entire new UGA freshman class, all you gotta do is go and pony up $10. Doors are at 9 p.m.

Puttin' On The Fritz: All you folks who were gone over the summer and all you folks who slugged out here in town should know there's a new booking sheriff over at Tasty World. Your new booking contact there is Fritz Gibson, and you can bother him via email to tastyworld@mindspring.com or by calling 706-543-0797 from 3 to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Seriously, don't call at other times trying to book your act. One thing I can tell you absolutely about club bookers: they may not remember the name of your band, but they will absolutely remember if you bug them when they ask not to be bugged. Yes, they're a touchy bunch, but, for now at least, the man to touch is Fritz.

They Totally Almost Did It: So, I was all jazzed to tell you how local musician Sam Paulsen (We Versus the Shark) and her pal Corrie Dickherber were the official winners of the Hall and Oates video contest! Heck, they thought they won! But turns out that a web mixup on the end of the lite-rock duo caused a round of voting to be accidentally skipped. Now, you've got until Wednesday, Aug. 22 to send Paulsen and Dickherber to Hollywood, CA to meet the guys backstage, win some cash, and make their dreams come true! Hit up www.hallandoates.com/vcontest.php.

A New Iron Curtain: Local band Iron Hero saw its album Safe As Houses released in Germany, Switzerland and Austria a couple of weeks ago via Stagnation Records. This is certainly cool news for the band and, hopefully, will lead to some international touring. A few years ago, Iron Hero was a band quickly on the rise, but for the past year - Iron Hero's last show was in December of '06 - has been residing in the "where are they now?" file as vocalist Sam Gunn toured as a fill-in member of The Whigs. Well, bub, they're in the practice space with lots of new songs and equipment and are eagerly anticipating being a live Athens band again in the near future. Eye candy and music available over at www.myspace.com/ironhero.

Now, In The Rumor Department: While it's true that Christopher's Liver frontman Christopher Ingham will move to New Orleans in the coming weeks, it's less certain whether this spells the end of the band. Ingham, along with drummer Laura Swindall, are among the very few local musicians - see also American Cheeseburger and Madeline - who have ever been able to completely transcend the house-show and club scenes. Loved by (generally) all audiences, the band played a well-attended set at the Athens PopFest a couple of weeks back and the rumor was that it was the final show for the pair. However, the two played again the following week. As this vital news develops, please check this space for updates. In the meantime, please see www.myspace.com/christopher39sliver.

Be sure to keep your news coming in and always mention either Threats & Promises or my name in the subject line of all emails. That's how my love grows 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