originally published October 3, 2007

Hello, people. It's already October, which means the twinkling lights will soon be placed in all the trees downtown making it look like our own tiny Magic Kingdom. Fall is always one of the most exciting times in Athens. Catch this week's excitement below…

In My House?: Ex-Athenian Sean Rawls (ex-Masters of the Hemisphere, ex-Kincaid) will bring his 20-person pop-reggae band Still Flyin', which also includes ex-Athenians Bren Mead (Vetran, ex-Masters of the Hemisphere) and Phil Horan (ex-Maserati), to town on Friday, Oct. 5 to perform at the 40 Watt. Also on the bill that night are Rawls' homeboys/ partners-in-jive, AKA Je Suis France, Night Moves, Flip Scoldjah & Excalibrah and Fairmount Fair. Everyone involved in this show has a welcoming performance style, so even if you've never seen them you'll feel at home. Still, these guys are such tight bros and have such an insular sense of comedy that you'll also likely find yourself saying, "Is there something going on that no one told me about?" Yes, there is! There's years of history! But don't worry, I don't get it all the time, either, and I've known these kids for over a decade! Still Flyin' and Je Suis France perform Thursday, Oct. 4 at Atlanta's Drunken Unicorn, too, if that's easier for ya. For jams and slams, please see www.myspace.com/stillflyin, and do check out that feature story in this issue.

New Boom: The local rockers in Rat Babies just added a second drummer to their lineup. The new dude is John Crandall, who also pounds the skins for other local rock band Polemic. They've already broken him in via a show at Atlanta venue Lenny's and a local house show. Although they've yet to record with him, go give a listen and then just imagine those drums doubled up. Check it at www.myspace.com/ratbabies.

Hey, Kids! Leave Them Teachers Alone!: The local underdogs in Ham1 are currently out on an enviable weekend tour with Vic Chesnutt and Liz Durrett. Both Durrett and Ham1 are also working as Chesnutt's backing band when he performs. The tour will wind its way back to Athens and the triple bill will perform at the 40 Watt on Thursday, Oct. 18. Ham1, a local favorite for the past couple of years, has been garnering loads of positive feedback from nearly everyone who sees the group perform. So, you know, if you've not seen the band, maybe you should? Ham1's newest album The Captain's Table was released last month on Orange Twin Records. For more info, please see www.myspace.com/ham1.

Picture Yourself In A Boat On The Oconee…: The 2007 Lake Oconee Festival happens Oct. 11–13. Beginning with "Artoberfest" on Thursday, Oct. 11, the festival will host jazz vocalist Melanie Massell at the Steffen Thomas Museum as part of the museum's annual fundraiser. On Friday, Oct. 12, the festival will host guitarist David Leinweber at the James Madison Inn and Trey Wright (Squat) at the Cuscowilla Golf Club. Both performances are part of the evening's "Dine Around Oconee," and since I don't write about food, that's all you'll get from me. The main event is Saturday, Oct. 13 at Gary's Garden Center and the stars of the night are the original Beatles tribute act Beatlemania. Now, I was a kid when Beatlemania made its Broadway debut back in the late-1970s (it was a Tony Award-winning stage show), but I remember clearly seeing television advertisements for the act when it would tour around the country. The current cast has been in these roles for 14 years, so they must be, like, the Yul Brynners of the Beatles. They will perform 35 Beatles songs, running from Meet the Beatles through Abbey Road, with three separate costume changes. Also on the bill are the Katrina-displaced New Orleans '60s cover band Déjà Vu and Nashville singer JP Williams. I think I already have a contact high! For more information, please see www.lakeoconeefestivals.com.

Uh, Dude, Can You Cover My Wednesday Shift?: Local DJ boys Twin Powers - comprised of local bioengineer Dan Geller and local hair-dude Edward Russell - have stopped performing their weekly gig at Go Bar. But, honchos, they've simply moved to Thursday nights, so don't get your panties in a wad.

Extend And Release: The 63 Crayons have recorded an extended version of their song "Save Us" for a compilation to be released by U.K. label DC Recordings. The cumbersomely titled comp, Death Before Distemper - The Revenge of the Iron Ferret, will feature the track under the name "Heal Us." The name switch is due to legal reasons that are not that interesting after all. But, you know, if you care, feel free to ask the band. There's also a possibility that DC will release the track on 12" vinyl, so hold out on that one. In other news, The 63 Crayons will begin recording a new album in December. For other information, go look at www.myspace.com/dcrecordings or www.myspace.com/63crayons.

Laws Were Made to Be Broken: In another legal-leaning point of interest, local band King Cotton has had to change its name as well. Head guy Fester Hagood dropped me a note last week to say that "for legal reasons, we need to be referred as 'Fester Hagood's King Cotton Band'." Well okay!

Be sure to keep your news coming in and always mention either Threats & Promises or my name in the subject line of all emails. I got a fuzzbox and I'm gonna use 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