originally published November 28, 2007

As we begin the quick descent into the end of 2007, I don’t want anyone out there thinking they can take the rest of the year off via a ho-hum attitude toward local music happenings and news. If anything, paying nice, close attention now will ensure Santa smiles on you in about a month or so. He knows, you know…

Everybody is A Star:  Local rap group T-n-D (Trill-n-Dangerous) may not be well known to even the local hip-hop crowd but the group, composed of siblings (the 17-year-old Alexis, 16-year-old Jade, 14-year-old Kelly, 12-year-old Taylor and 6-year-old Trey Lissimore), recently played as openers for the legendary Patti LaBelle and previously mentioned five-time Grammy Award winner John Legend. The event, the Hands On Atlanta Community Benefit Concert, took place this past Sunday, Nov. 25 at Atlanta’s Phillips Arena. T-n-D got the gig after auditioning back in August of this year and the group’s first public performance occurred last month in Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park. The event at Phillips Arena was the final event of the annual “Do Something Good!” fundraising campaign by Hands On Atlanta, which continues to operate, literally, as a hands-on organization which works to transform neighborhoods and schools from places of despair and entrapment to livelihood and encouragement. Basically, they help make the city better for those who actually, you know, live in the city. For more information please see www.handsonatlanta.org.

Valentine Wishes: Although this event won’t happen for three months, I couldn’t not tell you about it! Legendary jazz artist Dave Brubeck will sit in residency at UGA’s Hugh Hodgson School of Music for a week next February, and perform two special public concerts. The first concert is a celebration of the 40th anniversary of Brubeck’s first oration (i.e. large scale composition for vocals and soloists) “A Light in the Wilderness,” from 1968. Brubeck, Russell Gloyd and the Dave Brubeck Quartet, baritone Frederick Burchinal, the UGA Concert Choir, University Chorus and the UGA Symphony Orchestra will collectively perform the piece on Wednesday, Feb. 13. The next night, which happens to be Valentines Day (hint, yo!) is titled “Time with Dave Brubeck: An Evening of Jazz with the Dave Brubeck Quartet.” Both shows take place at 8 p.m. at the Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall at UGA, and more information can be had by dropping a line to jpowell@uga.edu, though tickets aren’t on sale yet.

But, Mom, I Was At The Library: The folks in UGA’s chapter of F.O.O.T.S.T.E.P.S. (Friends On One Team Supporting the Effort to Provide Sustainability) have more on their plate besides a cumbersome mouthful of an acronym. They’ve joined together with Homeschool Records, founded by R&B singer John Legend, to present the Athens date of the Save Our Generation Tour which their press release says will take place at The Library (but their posters say Tasty World) on Wednesday, Nov. 28. The event will feature Vaughn Anthony (Legend’s brother), Shawn Diggy and Stephen Fryrear. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door, and will cost somewhere between $6-$10 advance and $10-$13 at the door, depending on which of F.O.O.T.S.T.E.P.S.’s announcements is accurate. The money raised from the event will help build 10 schools in Mali, and that’s a good enough reason to plow through the confusion and help this organization out. For some other information please see www.saveourgeneration.org/UGA.

Nothing New Under The Sun: No matter how hard a band may try, coming up with a truly one-of-a-kind name is pretty difficult. Take, for example, local band The Savoir Faire. The band has been operating under that moniker for a few years now, but recently came to the realization that there were, literally, hundreds of artists using the same name. So, as of a couple of weeks ago the Athens outfit composed of Mark Opel (vocals, guitar, keys), Chris Giddens (guitar, vocals, bass), Christina Hogan Opel (bass, vocals, guitars) and Peter Alvanos (drums) has changed its name to The Golden Gates. Here’s to making that one permanent. In other news, the band will release its long-awaited EP The Queen of The Western Skies in the next couple of weeks or so. And, either as a bonus or just to get the word out, the first 20 people who send the band a message about their new T-shirts will get a free one. So bug these guys via www.myspace.com/athenspopband.

The Good Shepherd: So you might be thinking, hey, I heard that Pastor Troy, Killer Mike and Lord T & Eloise were playing at the Georgia Theatre on Friday, Nov. 30, but now I can’t find any info about that. Well, the show’s going on, but as several UGA fraternities bought up all the tickets before they even went on sale to the general public, it’s being billed just as a “private party.” Too bad for the rest of us.

Always Be Working: Athens’ newest favorite daughter Allison Weiss has put together a new lineup of her band The Bandits and has ditched the “Allie” she was playing under when previously performing with the band. Now, all full band shows will be billed as Allison Weiss & The Bandits. The new band features A.J. Weiss on guitar and vocals, Donovan Babb (ex-Winter Sounds, Boulevard) on drums and Alec Wooden (Beyond Tomorrow) on bass. The new lineup makes its debut Friday, Nov. 30 at the Melting Point. That same night you can catch a brief duo set by Weiss and Ian Schwarber, frontman of the headlining band Blue Flashing Light - the two just recorded a five-song EP called I Saw an Alian, which includes a cover of Joni Mitchell’s “River.” Never one to waste any time or opportunity, Weiss and brother A.J. will head out on a 10-day tour during the holiday break at UGA and travel up the East Coast playing shows in almost every state up to New York and then back down. For more information please see www.allisonw.com.

Unpack The Kids, We’re Staying: A couple of weeks ago I reported that longtime Athens bluegrass and roots-music promoter and musician Rich Mullinax was moving to Miami, FL. Almost as soon as the word hit the street Mullinax was surprised to learn of some restructuring at his job, and now isn’t moving anywhere after all. Mullinax says, “I can think of no better place to raise my sons than Athens, and we are glad to be staying right where we belong!” So welcome him back via richmullinax@bellsouth.net. Good thing we left the light on for ya, huh Rich?

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. I love you for who you are 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