originally published January 30, 2008

Loads of good news this week. Check it out, why don't ya?

A Hero Returns: Like a phoenix from the ashes, or an awakening sleeping giant, local band Iron Hero will return to the stage after being absent for more than a year. The band has added Jordan Noel (Dream Girls, ex-Breakheart Beat) on bass guitar and will unveil him on Friday, Feb. 15, at The Caledonia Lounge when Iron Hero plays with Twin Tigers and Nashville, TN band Oblio. The band promises lots of new material and says this isn't a one-off show but a full-scale return to regular work. Iron Hero released its debut album Safe As Houses in 2006, and saw the same album enjoy a European release last year. Go listen to lots of it over at www.myspace.com/ironhero.

Power Up: Details are in on the new Elf Power album. In a Cave is all set for release on Mar. 25 via Warner Bros. subsidiary Rykodisc, the same label that released the band's previous album Back to the Web. The 13-song album welcomes drummer Eric Harris to the band, and features a number of tracks cowritten by Harris and frontman Andrew Rieger.

Well, That Was Fast: Christopher Ingham (Christopher's Liver) has sold out and/or given away the entire run of his solo cassette release Mon Voyage, which was recently reviewed here in Flagpole. Accordingly, Ingham just issued a CD release of the popular tape, but this version features more material, including stuff he did as far back as 2004 and is titled Mon Voyage: The Extended Mix. Christopher's Liver plays for free on Wednesday, Jan. 30 at Farm 255. Go dig him at www.myspace.com/christopher39sliver.

Back For More: Athens hardcore/ metal band Of Legend has dropped one guitarist, added a new drummer and will return to Athens stages on Friday, Feb. 1, at the Caledonia Lounge. Although Of Legend has already done a great deal to foster its metal-propelled brand of brute-rock, the band promises changes in its live show and several new songs that are reportedly darker in nature. Either way, I'll be there. Check them out over at www.myspace.com/oflegend.

Bring Your Own Beads: On Tuesday, Feb. 5, a very special benefit show will take place at the Melting Point featuring The Randall Bramblett Band and special guests. The show's proceeds go towards the Family Counseling Service and the family of Stuart Collins. Collins was Bramblett's road manager who passed away recently. Doors are at 7 p.m. and music begins at 8:30 p.m. Billed as "Mardi Gras Athens 2008," the event will feature a pre-show reception at 6 p.m. and a "reverse raffle" (i.e. the last ticket drawn wins) for $2,500! Tickets for the show cost $100 a pair. Yes, one hundred bucks. Of course, this includes admission for two, the pre-party and one reverse raffle ticket. And it's also tax-deductible. Tickets are available via Family Counseling Services; see www.fcsathens.com.

Tickets Please: Some big shows coming up at the Georgia Theatre that should appeal to the West Washington crowd: Stars drops in on Saturday, Mar. 22, and Girl Talk finds his way over on Friday, Mar. 28. Tickets for both of those shows should be available as you read this, and then there's a New Pornographers, Neko Case and Okkervil River triple bill on Thursday, April 17; tickets for that show will be available on Saturday, Feb. 9.

They've Got It And We Don't. Yet.: Local band Venice Is Sinking reports that it's finished the long process of recording its next album AZAR, but will finish the mixing process sometime this March. So far, the band has no home for the new material and is reportedly "doing the label dance." Let's hope this decision gets made soon, though, because 2006's Sorry About The Flowers, released via One Percent Press, was one of the best local releases in years. Please see www.myspace.com/veniceissinking for other information and sounds.

Short Stack: Brent Cash from local rock band Television Buzz let it be known around here that the band's newest release The Greatest Hits Are Missing will see the light of day on Mar. 4. You can listen to a few tracks online over at www.myspace.com/tvbuzz.

Community Is As Community Does: Martin Brummeler, head dude behind the band Mass Solo Revolt and label Community Billygoat Records (formerly known as Community Billygoat and then Community B. and now back to the original) has launched the new Community Billygoat website over at www.communitybillygoatrecords.com. In other news, Brummeler just secured a new practice space that Mass Solo Revolt will subdivide into at least four, and eventually as many as 10, practice spaces. Word is these spaces will be as comfortable as playing in your own house, but since so many of you don't have houses to play in, you might want to drop a line to brummeller@communitybillgoatrecords.com. Mass Solo Revolt has been gigging around town again, but I've not yet gotten a chance to catch the group. However, I've been a fan of Brummeler's melodic, thoughtful post-punk for a long time, and I pretty much think everyone should be. Check it out at www.myspace.com/masssolorevolt.

(Pay Attention: Athens bands, I love you. Well, most of you anyway, but the most important music news this week has nothing to do with you. The deservedly legendary Atlanta hardcore band Neon Christ will reunite for the final time on Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Ratlanta Punk Fest at Lawrenceville, GA venue The Treehouse. Originally existing from 1983 to 1986, Neon Christ personified radical punk culture and was routinely hassled for being a radical, multi-racial hardcore band in the Deep South. Guitarist and founder William "Kip" Duvall has been playing with a reformed Alice In Chains for the past few years, and although Neon Christ reunited twice before to play one-off gigs, all concerned say this is it. Also on the bill are Double Negative, The Despised, Government Warning, The Carbonas, Last Hope Down, The Hounds, Flex Your Head, Accidents and Trash. The entire event has been organized by the members of Neon Christ who are utilizing the name as a tribute to both 1980s punk 'zine Ratlanta and in memory of the first Ratlanta Fest which was held June 26, 1983 at Atlanta's Metroplex (R.I.P). This is the kind of gig I totally love and tickets cost a mere $8! The fest begins at 3 p.m. and I'm not sure how sold out it will be, but I'm not taking any chances. For more information, please see www.myspace.com/ratlantapunkfest, www.myspace.com/neonchristatlanta or www.nx.motherbuster.com.

Whew! Be sure to keep your news coming in and always mention either Threats & Promises or my name in the subject line of all emails. Everybody's a dreamer 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