originally published October 24, 2007

Hoo boy, folks. We're now in the beginning stages of cold and flu season and I've already become an active participant in this season's activities. So, with that in mind, let's jump straight from the 'tussin into this week's ton o' news.

Holy Awesome!: The 40 Watt will play host to an awesome, memorable night this weekend, and you should really get in on this. Friday, Oct. 26, the club will host "Orange Twin Night," as in local label Orange Twin Records, and the lineup includes Dark Meat, The Instruments and Elf Power. Dark Meat will play a more restrained, acoustic show: a phenomenon colloquially known as Soft Meat. Local poet Jeff Fallis serves as master of ceremonies tonight, and the trailer for the long-in-the-works Major Organ movie will also be shown. Shot in Athens over the past few years by folks from the Elephant 6 crew, the abstract movie is almost a complete mystery. The most incredible thing about the whole, um, thing is that the entire night's show will cost a mere $2. Yes, two dollars; it's being called some sort of "fan appreciation" thing. Deal of the year, I tell ya!

Sign 'Em Up!: That same massive local band just mentioned above (AKA Dark Meat) has signed on to be the band featured in the brand-new singles club by Volcom Entertainment. The label, an adjunct of wildly popular surf/ skate/ snowboard clothing and accessories company Volcom, will see the band recording the tracks at local studio Downtown Athens Recording Company in November. Hit up www.volcom.com or www.myspace.com/darkmeats.

Life In The Naked City: Former Athenian Jeremiah Cymerman was assigned the enviable task of curating an entire month of shows at the John Zorn-owned New York club The Stone. Always one to keep Athens in mind, Cymerman will host The Instruments on Nov. 16 and will host a benefit show for Nuçi's Space on Nov. 17. In addition to this, Cymerman will play with Zorn himself, whose legendary status in the jazz/ improv world is so stone-tablet hard you'd think it came from God himself, on Nov. 7. Also, Cymerman is currently working on his newest album Silence & Solitude, and will release it in the early party of next year on John Zorn's Tzadik record label. This is so very cool. Congrats, Jeremiah!

Better Late Than Never, Right?: Unfortunately, there wasn't room last week to get this mention in before the show, but one of the next bands you should pay attention to in these parts is Atlanta's Howlies. The group played locally last week over at Go Bar and doesn't look to have anything else in the Athens area booked any time soon. However, give these folks a listen and I'm sure you'll find their highly original blend of working-class psychedelia and garage rock to be the best you've heard since, oh, that other Atlanta band The Selmanaires. Ask the Howlies nicely to come back via www.myspace.com/thehowlies.

And Another One!: Anyone in town who is an honest-to-gosh rock-and-roll fan (as opposed to merely a fan of one of its various sub-genres) would do well to check out local band Honey. Although the name has long been the moniker under which leader J.S. Dillard has performed with various folks, there seems to be a renewed energy in the Honey camp, as the band now has four permanent members. Those would be Dillard, Scott Kviklys (Exit 86, No!), Jamie Coulter (Sweet Tooth Simpleton, The Help) and Jim Wilson (Mother Jackson, Garbage Island). Although the possibly-tongue-in-cheek goal of the band is to "sound like Creedence Clearwater Revival," Honey sounds, to me, more like classic rock and roll filtered through glam and then distilled into Honey. But, ya know, just go listen at www.myspace.com/honeyrocknroll.

Now Featuring The Deep Cuts: Local music man Jay Gonzales just keeps trucking along at his weekly Wednesday night piano gigs over at Kingpins Bowl & Brew, but there's about to be a new twist in his cocktail. Starting Nov. 7, Gonzales plans to perform entire albums by artists rather than just cherry pick the hits. Word is he'll be doing a different album every other week, and the first thing he'll perform is The Who's mini-opera "A Quick One While He's Away." Although that's really just a long song, and not an album proper, it should be a fitting introduction to Gonzales' concept. Talk about jumping in at the deep end, too! In other news, Kingpins itself is working on a new local cable-access show along the lines of the classic "Bowling For Dollars," and Gonzales has been tapped to write the show's theme song.

More Work: Local band Kilroy is currently holed up at Downtown Athens Recording Company with engineer Asa Leffer recording tracks for an upcoming album. The band's previous release, Violent Jolt of the Capitol, was a wonderful mix of pure, unselfconscious songwriting and lyricism and here's to the new batch being just as good. The band plans to release about 10 tracks on a to-be-named upcoming full-length release. One song, though, titled "Rotundas For The Taurus," is available for listening over at www.myspace.com/kilroymusicband.

Hang The DJ: People, let me get this off my chest. I hate all contests (band battles, fan voting and the like) that have to do with music. That said, I totally love Atlanta/ Athens band One Hand Loves The Other. So, it is with slight trepidation and mild regret that I tell you the band is currently sending out a call for all remix artists (deejays, engineers, etc.) to give a go at remixing one of the group's pre-selected tracks for inclusion on its upcoming remix album. To participate in the "One Hand Loves The Remix" contest, all you have to do is visit the band's website, download the individual tracks, mix 'em up and send it back. The winner will get a special to-be-announced prize as well as, y'know, the fame that will come from having the track included on the album. Tracks are available over at www.myspace.com/onehandlovestheother. The deadline is Sunday, Oct. 27, so get crackin'!

Save The Date: Since 1999, while you and yours were spending New Year's Eve, I dunno, getting drunk and making out to a Krush Girls set, local band Widespread Panic has gone to work. The band's temporary workspace is always Atlanta's Philips Arena, and the dates are always Dec. 30 and 31. This year is no different. These shows are near instant sellouts, though, so if you want to go, make sure you write down that tickets go on sale to the public Friday, Nov. 16 and they'll run you $49.50 each. However, you can beat the crowds by mail-ordering tickets, and all those details are available over at www.widespreadpanic.com.

Oh, And This: All you folks hoping to go see Of Montreal do its thing at the 40 Watt on Halloween night? Well, if you don't already have an in, you're outta luck. Advance tickets to the show sold out last week.

Okay, then. As always, be sure to keep your news coming in and always mention either Threats & Promises or my name in the subject line of all emails. Do your nervous service 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