originally published February 6, 2008

Let's just dive on in to this week's local music extravaganza, shall we?

Video Time: The fifth annual Sprockets Music Video Competition is in the planning stages as we speak, and the call for entries opens… now! As always, the competition will take place during AthFest at the 40 Watt Club. The early deadline for submissions is Apr. 1, and the late deadline is Apr. 15. The Sprockets competition takes place June 14, with the winning entries screened at the annual Flagpole Athens Music Awards on June 19. For entry forms and more information, please see www.sprockets.filmathens.net.

Think Global, Act Local: On Thursday, Feb. 7, student organization Global Endeavors hosts a benefit show at Farm 255 featuring Part Bear, Ponderosa, Josh Roberts & The Hinges and Gift Horse. Global Endeavors was recently founded by UGA students who have developed a 20-year plan to benefit the Muslim village of Larabanga in Northern Ghana near the popular Mole National Park. Loosely, the plan is to establish self-reliant medical facilities and promote Larabanga as an essential tourism stop on the way to Mole. The group also has long-range plans to do similar work in Argentina. The show begins at 10 p.m., costs $3 and Farm 255 will kick in 10 percent of bar receipts that night for the cause, too. For slightly more information, please see www.global-endeavors.org.

Fun With Fellini: Want a preview of the new B-52's album Funplex more than a month before its release? Well, if you've got cable and can stomach Showtime's "The L Word," the band's song "Juliet of the Spirits" off the upcoming album pops up in the Sunday, Feb. 10, episode of that show.

Oh, Sweet God: A veritable gaggle of industry professionals will gather at Pigpen Studios on Saturday, Mar. 1 as part of the "Grammy U Demo Review," sponsored by SunTrust Bank and performing rights organization SESAC. At the event, local bands can have their material judged by the "experts." Just think, you can have your life's work in the hands of Ian Burke (Drift City Records), Nan Fisher (NFPromo/ The Cabal), Leslie Fram (ex-WNNX/ 99x FM), Laura Giles (Sho'nuff Records), Tosha Love (Your Music My Ears, ex-WVEE/ V103 FM), Dee Dee Murray (Purple Ribbon Records), Chris Siciliano (Virgin Records) and Stone Stafford (So So Def Productions). Just about the only person participating in this that has any legitimacy in my book is Chase Park Transduction's David Barbe. If you want in on this, please take note that the event is short on space and advanced registration is required. If you're a member of Grammy U (which cost $25 per 18 months for students) then it's free and, after looking into this, it looks like they really, really want you to become a member or they'd have provided information for non-members. The deadline for reservations is Feb. 22, and more info can be had by calling 404-816-1380, dropping an email to atlanta@grammy.com or by checking out www.myspace.com/grammyu.

 There's A New Girl In Town: The former DT's Down Under has officially changed owners and names. Now called the Rye Bar, the space will still occasionally have shows, and booking is handled by Dubconcious guy Adrian Zelski. The place opened its doors officially earlier this week with a performance by Zelski's AZ-IZ. The best way to inquire about booking for right now is to just drop by the place, because there's no way I'm giving out Zelski's personal email address and risking having a bunch of Bob Marley records thrown at my head.

Oh Captain, My Captain: Already enjoying a successful round of solid press and reviews for its latest album The Captain's Table, local band Ham 1 shows no signs of slowing. To wit, the band will finish its third full-length recording this March followed by performing the role as backing band for new recordings by both Liz Durrett and Jack Logan. The group will also tour with Vic Chesnutt and Durrett as her backing band this coming summer. For sounds and other info, please visit www.myspace.com/ham1.

Something New: Rightfully revered local drummer Patrick "Tigger" Ferguson has left his long-time gig with Athens band Music Hates You. Taking over Ferguson's role is Erin Stagg (Chop Top), and Ferguson says, "He plays everything I ever did, but better." About his leaving, Ferguson remarks, "There's some label interest in Music Hates You, so the next step for them is heavy touring, and I just couldn't give them what they needed. It was sad, because we're all friends, but it's a totally friendly situation." Another main reason for Ferguson's departure is the news that he's opening up a new recording studio in the Pigpen Studios building named Pig Sty. The doors should be open around mid-February, and clients are already lining up. For more information on booking time or anything else, please see www.pigpenstudios.net. (On A Personal Note…: Over the past few months, a distressing number of local releases have come out for retail sale that are of inferior quality yet priced as if they weren't. I'm not going to name any names, since that's not really fair but, people, do not believe what your pressing plant tells you. There is indeed a difference between CD replication and CD duplication. Replication is the only way to go if you want to charge more than five or so bucks for your release. Replicated CDs are standard, glass-mastered CDs that we all know and are distinguished by their silvery underside. Duplication is just a process by which a pressing plant mass-produces CD-Rs. CD-Rs scratch easier, have the telltale bluish tint on the underside and are unplayable by some CD players; they're kind of an insulting thing to receive after plunking down up to 15 dollars for a local CD. Demos, free goods, very inexpensive short run releases, etc. are just fine on CD-Rs, but for legitimate, full-length, full-priced releases, please don't present me with something I feel ripped off by.

New Metal: There's a new straight-up metal band in town named Stereo Gun who have done some gigging over at Tasty World and in Atlanta. Last week the band released the new EP Stupid Magic, which was recorded over at Pigpen Studios. Although not entirely my thing, I'm really liking the song "Bury Me," and I dig the band's enthusiasm, which always goes a long way with me. Check 'em over at www.myspace.com/coalitionofcoolkids.

The Time To Rise Has Been Engaged: R.E.M., currently in preparations for its hotly anticipated new album, Accelerate, which will see release on Apr. 1, has announced a North American tour for May and June of this year. The band will hit our area on Saturday, June 21 playing the Lakewood Amphitheatre (too bad, AthFest!). No word yet on tickets, but you'll know as soon as possible. In other news, the band recently shot a video for new song "Supernatural Superserious" with French filmmaker Vincent Moon, who has also worked with Vic Chesnutt, The Low Lows and tons of others. For more R.E.M., please see www.remhq.com, and for more Vincent Moon, please see www.blogotheque.net/takeawayshows.

As always, do keep your news coming in and always mention either Threats & Promises or my name in the subject line of all emails. Don't stop 'til you get enough 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