originally published February 20, 2008

Another week, another batch of local music goings-on. Dive on in, folks.

Sing Out: Tucker-based singer-songwriter Sean Kagalis will play two shows next week celebrating the release of his newest album Connect: Live At Eddie's Attic. The first happens at Farm 255 on Thursday, Feb. 21 and the next is Friday, Feb. 22 at 106 West in Winder. Cellist Brennan Bray accompanies Kagalis on many of the tracks found on the record, and although Kagalis bills himself as a "power-folkie," his music is actually much quieter and more reserved than that moniker would indicate. Check him out of at www.myspace.com/seankagalis.

Flashing Blue For Maoist Red: Local dudes in Blue Flashing Light have been invited by the government of China to perform multiple shows in Beijing and Chengdu as part of Chengdu's annual Peach Blossom Festival. In fact, the peaches Georgia's known for originate there. According to the band, Blue Flashing Light is the first rock band to be asked to the festival since 1999. The stadiums the band will perform in can hold up to 50,000 people, and frontman Ian Schwerber promises to wear a 40 Watt T-shirt for at least one show, which is kinda cool of him.

Heartfelt: In related news, Blue Flashing Light has established an organization named Spotlight, which will join bands together four times a year and also host four other events featuring artists, filmmakers and other stuff at local arthouse theater Ciné, which is a main sponsor of the organization. The beneficiary of each event is the American Red Cross. In fact, representatives from the Red Cross will be taking money at the door, so the chain of custody is that much shorter. The first event will take place at Tasty World on Friday, Feb. 22 and feature Ishues, Badkat, Blue Flashing Light, Chris McKay & The Critical Darlings, Audio Mischief, Great Society and Birmingham band April Cover. That event starts early at 6 p.m. and runs all night long. For more info, please see www.myspace.com/blueflashinglightemup.

And This One Time We Opened For…: Two Athens-related bands will open for R.E.M.'s performance at Austin, TX venue Stubbs on Mar. 12 during South By Southwest. The lucky groups are Dead Confederate and Summerbirds in the Cellar. Also joining the party: Florida band Papercranes and Los Angeles artist Jonathan Rice. It's unclear how much of a role the members of R.E.M. had in this lineup, but Dead Confederate shares the same booking agency, so there's some speculation for ya. In other news, Dead Confederate was recently in Austin working on a new full-length recording (the group is saying it's the "first," hoping folks will forget about Petition to the Queen) and is now touring like mad. The band will be back in town to play the Caledonia Lounge on Mar. 1. Dig www.myspace.com/deadconfederate and keep up to date.

Now In A Convenient Single Dose: Local troubadour Ken Will Morton will re-release two previous albums, Kickin' Out The Rungs and Devil In Me, this spring as a single, double-disc package. The first was recorded at Hoschton, GA, studio Summerhouse Sound, and the second was done here in town in a basement and features impressive collaborations with Brann Dailor (Mastodon) and longtime Atlanta musician Kristen Hall. In other news, Morton will head to New York City early next month to record with session drummer and record producer Mark Ambrosino, who has worked with Whitney Houston and Michael Bolton. Man, sometimes I just don't want to know this stuff. Morton next plays locally on Thursday, Mar. 13, over at Little Kings. For more information, please see www.myspace.com/kenwillmorton.

No, It's His: A couple of weeks back, it was reported that local band Television Buzz was releasing a new album on Mar. 4. That's untrue. It's actually a solo album by Television Buzz member Brent Cash. Titled How Will I Know If I'm Awake, the album will receive a celebratory release party on Mar. 8 at Chapel. Wanna know more? Then go to www.myspace.com/brentcashmusic.

Taking It To The Folks: Enjoyable local band Folklore will head out for several dates at the end of this month to promote the release of its newest record Carpenter's Falls.  Pitched as a "companion piece" to last year's The Ghost Of H.W. Beaverman and a continuation of 2006's Carpenter's Falls EP, the new album features re-recorded versions of the songs from the EP plus seven new ones. It is divided into two parts titled "Ghost Stories" and "Ancestry." The tour kicks off Thursday, Feb. 28, at the 40 Watt, and the band will travel throughout the Midwest before heading back south. Please give a healthy listen over at www.myspace.com/folkloreband.

In Closing: The Athens music scene lost another contributor on Thursday, Feb. 7: guitarist Danny Esposito passed away. The blues guitarist had a long career in local music, and he played with Carla LeFever, Neal Pattman and most recently, Tangents. He was 46. Donations in Esposito's memory can be made to the Athens Area Humane Society, 399 Beaverdam Road Ext., Athens, GA 30605. His friends are planning a concert in his memory to raise money for his widow at The Melting Point on March 14. More on that later.

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. All I ever needed is here 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