originally published January 9, 2008

This is the space where I welcome everyone back to town, wish everyone a very happy 2008 and all that. So, consider it said, consider it relatively sincere and consider getting on with it below…

Gone In The New Year: East Athens venue The Eastwood Pub has changed hands and is currently closed for renovations. The venue became popular in the past couple of years due to its more traditional, roots-music-based bookings and earlier show times. No other information is available at this time, but, y'know, if anything transpires, I'll let you know.

Wrong Turn: And as the New Year closed out, so did another downtown club. Detour, Athens' only overtly gay-friendly bar and dance club, shut its doors in late December. The downtown club had experimented with live music nights, generally pulling from the local punk and DIY scene, but that wasn't enough to keep it from succumbing to money troubles. The business was for sale for much of the last half of '07, but with no takers the owners decided it wouldn't be worth it to renew a costly liquor license.

And Another One: Clayton Street venue DT's Down Under has also changed ownership, and the rumor is that the place will begin to host a wider array of talent than the singer-songwriter types that have typically enjoyed an audience there. I, for one, certainly welcome this change; DT's is located in the same space The Downstairs was located way back when, and that venue figured out how to host packed-out, full-on rock shows all the time. As of this writing, the phone at DT's was disconnected, too, so, as with the info given just above, I'll update you as news comes in.

Band Of 1,000 Chances: Local pop act Cars Can Be Blue will enter the studio with engineer Joel Hatstat (Pegasuses-XL) this month to record its newest album for Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records. The label plans a summer release for the record from the always engaging duo of Becky Brooks and Nate Mitchell. Give a listen to what you'll be in for over at www.myspace.com/carscanbeblue.

Grammy's Boys: Athens musician Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers, Adam's House Cat) and engineer/ producer David Barbe have both been enjoying the news that the album they produced by veteran artist Betty LaVette, titled Scene of the Crime, has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Contemporary Blues Album. Other artists nominated in the category include JJ Cale & Eric Clapton, Joan Armatrading and Doyle Bramhall. The winner will be declared at the annual industry circle jerk on Feb. 10.

And In Other News…: The aforementioned Drive-By Truckers will preview their newest album and tour for local audiences this week via three shows at the 40 Watt. The band will appear Thursday, Jan. 10 with Don Chambers + GOAT and Bo Bedingfield & The Wydelles; Friday, Jan. 11 with Glossary and Saturday, Jan. 12 with The Dexateens. The band's newest album, Brighter Than Creation's Dark, will be officially released Jan. 22. (Note: The performance on Thursday, Jan. 10 is a benefit for Nuçi's Space, and the band will play the new album in its entirety.) Each of these shows will be completely sold-out, so act fast with the ticket action as soon as you read this. Although the new album will be available virtually everywhere, there's some very cool bonus stuff and extras you can get if you preorder the album via the band's website before Jan. 18. Check it all out at www.drivebytruckers.com. For tickets, head to SchoolKids Records downtown. Finally, in the coming year, every single Drive-By Truckers release (except the live Alabama Ass-Whuppin') will be released on vinyl courtesy of New West Records.

Sold!: Oh, another thing about that Truckers Nuçi's Space benefit show. Before the rocking kicks off at the 40 Watt, there's a pre-party and auction over at Ciné. The local cinema will host a free get-together in its spacious "lab" room, and the auction to benefit Nuçi's Space will feature exclusive DBT memorabilia and other signed items from the Comedians of Comedy tour, David Cross, Widespread Panic and more. That gets going at 7 p.m.

Welcome Home, Kid: Never one to rest on her laurels or, you know, waste any time at all, Allison Weiss did a quick 10-day tour up the East Coast between taking her last finals of fall semester and celebrating Christmas with her family. Accompanied by brother AJ Weiss, she worked her way up to New York and back down and will next play Athens on Friday, Jan. 11 at the Flicker Theatre & Bar. Go ask her to tell some tour stories, or read 'em yourself over at www.myspace.com/allisonweiss.

Witch Way Did He Go?: Sailor Winters (AKA Ryan Cox) has signed to Janesville, WI, label Witchhouse Records. This signing marks Cox's first move away from his own Black Noise label as an outlet for his work. Witchhouse will also release new work by former Athenian and Cox's Black Noise labelmate Owen Keegan. In other news, Witchhouse will rerelease the out-of-print Sailor Winters album Static As Harmony early this year. For more information on all this, please see www.myspace.com/sailorwinters or www.myspace.com/witchhouserecords.

Hardest Worker I Know: The prolific Bradford Cox (Deerhunter) will see his first official release under his solo moniker Atlas Sound next month courtesy of Chicago label (and Deerhunter's home) Kranky Records. Titled Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel, the album is much more intimate than anything Deerhunter has released and the musical scope is extended a good bit. All in all, it's a fabulously enjoyable record. While Deerhunter is on extended hiatus, Cox shows no signs of slowing down at all. When not maintaining the popular Deerhunter blog, which features an absolute shitload of free Atlas Sound compositions, he continues to tour at a steady clip. Wish him well and gather more information over at www.myspace.com/bradfordcox.

And so ends the first new news of 2008. Be sure to keep your news coming in and always mention either Threats & Promises or my name in the subject line of all emails. Rip it up and start again 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