originally published September 26, 2007

Is it fall yet? Is it? Can't say for sure - you know how it goes. So instead, let's go for some local music news below…

Man On The Move: Local hip-hop fans should be well aware of Travis Williams by now. In addition to being a University of Georgia law student, he's also a hip-hop producer and emcee, one of the voices behind talk radio at WUOG 90.5 FM and is set to release his newest mix-tape this week at the Caledonia Lounge. Lean On Me is Williams' second (his first, Reparations: The Rape Tape Vol. 1 was released earlier this year) and lately he's been working with DJ Speek Greene with whom he plans to perform at the 2008 South by Southwest conference. Williams' CD will be available Saturday, Sept. 29 during AthFactor Entertainment's monthly "Battle @ the Lounge" event. Although Travis Williams is the headliner, other acts include P Duble, DPS, Priceless One, Shawty Slick (AKA Lo Down) and others. If you're an emcee and want to battle that night, make sure you show up early and register by 9 p.m. Doors are at 10 and, as always during "Battle Lounge" nights, ladies get in for free and dudes must cough up a measly $3. DJ Bulldawg Purp spins all night, too. If you've never been to one of these nights. I'd totally encourage you to check out what's going on. For more information on Williams, please see www.myspace.com/thewilliamsproject.

An Honest Tune And A Crap-Ton Of Live Tracks: Widespread Panic has released its first-ever official live album. Compiled from this past summer's tour, the three-disc set includes 23 tracks and was culled from performances all over the country. The set costs a mere $23 and for five bucks more you can get the MP3 downloads instantly and then have your CDs mailed to you. Woo hoo! Hot jiminy cricket! In other news, the band has already anticipated fans' demand for recordings of upcoming shows, so you can go ahead and pre-order those, too. You can even order copies of all 32 shows slated for this fall tour! All in all, it's very cool move on the part of the bandmembers. They've always been very generous about people taping their shows, but at least this way fans can be assured of some very high quality recordings at a reasonable price. For more information, please see www.widespreadpanic.com.

Jazzy Friday: Local jazz vocalist Mary Sigalas jump-started her new Friday happy hour gigs over at the Flicker Theatre & Bar last week. She'll be collaborating with a different group of musicians each Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., so why not head down, drink up and enjoy?

That's It for Now: Just so you know, local workhorse musician Peter Alvanos played his last early-morning gig at Mama's Boy restaurant this past week. The 7:30 a.m. gigs were a weekly event for the past few months, but Alvanos says he's got other things a-brewin'. With that distinctively Athenian sense of documentation and history, the final gig was filmed for posterity by local musician and video buff Mark Opel.

Help Them Build This: University of Georgia student organization Invisible Children United (in partnership with the media-based non-profit organization Invisible Children) will host a benefit for the building of the Awere Secondary School in Uganda. The show takes place Thursday, Sept. 27 at the Melting Point and will feature Scott Baston (ex-Moonshine Still) and his new band The News Architects and Athens' own Ken Will Morton & the Wholly Ghosts. Invisible Children brings awareness and engages in fundraising to provide quality schools for kids in war-destroyed Uganda. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m., and for more information about the show and the Invisible Children organization, contact Caitlin Nossett via caitlinn@uga.edu, or visit www.uga.edu/icu.

Taking A Break From Live Hate: Local metal machine Music Hates You will take the next few months off from live shows in order to concentrate on writing new material. Seeing as how the band generally plays somewhere - either locally or regionally - each week, this is probably a welcome respite for the guys. In the "totally awesome" category, the band will see its album Send More Paramedics re-released by label Terminal Doom. The label, run by members of Zoroaster and reportedly affiliated with very cool label Southern Lord, plans to have it available in time for Christmas. The re-release will include a minimum of two, with possibly three, additional songs. Be sure to grab one for Grandma's stocking and tell her you knew them when. In the meantime, you can always look at www.musichatesyou.com.

Spree And Sausages: There will be a benefit for Camp Summer Spree of Athens/ Oconee on Sunday, Sept. 30 at 5:30 p.m. on the plaza of St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church. Camp Summer Spree is focused on "at risk" youth here in the Athens area, and provides a wide range of activities at no cost to the participants. Also benefiting from this evening's performance is local baritone vocalist Brandon Graham. Part of the proceeds from this show will help him finish his undergraduate degree and send him to Philadelphia, PA, where he will audition for the Curtis School of Music. Graham will perform this evening, as will local talent Dallas Bono and Kendall Kookogy. But that's not all! There will also be a grilled bruschetta bar, Italian sausages, pasta salads, beer, wine, etc. Basically, a complete package. Tickets, available at The Rolling Pin in the Beechwood shopping center, cost $20 in advance or $25 at the door, and family tickets are $60 in advance or $65 at the door. For more information on Camp Summer Spree or the performance itself, please contact Becky Lockman at rll30677@yahoo.com.

Reserve Yours Now: Commerce, GA, musician Ricky Fitzpatrick has organized the release of the compilation album The Power of a Song, which will include tracks from him, Nathan Sheppard, Mike Watson, Mad Whiskey Grin and Adam Payne along with others. Although the CD won't be released until Nov. 16, you can reserve your copy with no money down right now. The release is part of the Healing Power of Music organization, which plans performances at hospitals in each artist's local area. The belief is "in the actual power of music to sooth, heal and change not only a person's mind, but their physiology as well." Sales of the CD will allow the artists to give a copy to each patient in each hospital they perform in. Incredibly ambitious, true, but also incredibly sweet and refreshingly starry-eyed. For more information, please see www.rickyfitzpatrick.com.

 I Smell The Blood Of An Englishman: The Travel Channel cable television network will launch a new show in 2008 called "Lawrence of America," in which an English dude simply called "Lawrence" will travel around the United States and "delve into its many and fascinating subcultures." To this end, the show's producers will bring a crew to Athens on Saturday, Sept. 29 and capture highlights of the Georgia Bulldogs/ Ol' Miss Rebels game, and then tape a show by local band Beyond Tomorrow over at The Ritz. So the Travel Channel's idea of a "fascinating subculture" is football highlights and faceless mainstream pop-rock? I swear, this is the equivalent of heading to England to explore its "culture" and then filming the whole thing in a McDonald's. The show at The Ritz costs $5 and starts at 11 p.m., but you're on your own when it comes to tickets for the football game. Celebrate diversity over at www.rockbeyondtomorrow.com.

No-No-Nostalgia: Check out those first seven days in November! Looks to be a pretty massive dip into '90s nostalgia. They Might Be Giants hits the Georgia Theatre on Nov. 1, Mudhoney swings through the 40 Watt on Nov. 3 and the Smashing Pumpkins play at the Classic Center on Nov. 7. Check with the respective venues for ticket info.

In Closing: Last week, Jeffrey Collins, the road manager for Athens musician Randall Bramblett, passed away suddenly while on tour stop with the band at Jekyll Island. Bramblett and his band plan to play several benefit shows in Collins' honor soon. Memorial donations can be made to the Georgia Chapter of Juvenile Diabetes Association, 400 Perimeter Center Terrace #750, Atlanta, GA, 30346.

 And that's it for this week. Be sure to keep your news coming in and always mention either Threats & Promises or my name in the subject line of all emails. Papa-oom-mow-mow 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