originally published March 5, 2008

And here we are with another week of totally awesome Athens music news. Get awesome below…

They Gotta Wear Shades: It looks like local band Push! should be more active in the near future. However, there are a few changes going on. Founding member Jeremy Sellers is no longer playing bass for the group. Member Paul Nunn actually used the term “artistic differences” when describing the split. But these are both good guys, and I’ve no reason to not believe them. In a seemingly odd move, Sellers has been replaced by Los Angeles-based musician Todd Tanner who will provide bass parts that the band will replicate electronically for live shows. Local player Gregg Baker (Quiet Men, The Ones) will likely stand-in on live bass duties as well. Other than that, the band is working on new material and hopes to be back at it by the end of April. And that’s good news. Become a fan or lodge a complaint over at www.myspace.com/ournameispush.

And Cheap, Too: Local studio Japanski has issued what sounds like a challenge, but probably isn’t. But even so, the guys over there are pretty hyped-up about an absolute boatload of new equipment and gizmos they’ve got at their fingertips, including a new Pro Tools HD platform. Whenever I read about such things, the developers always make it sound like you can make all these incredible albums with no instruments at all. Which is, of course, not the case. At any rate, Japanski is only charging $15 per hour, which is pretty hella inexpensive. Give the studio a look-see over at www.myspace.com/japanskirecordingstudio.

Not A Complete Joke: Although they feature a cringe-worthy name and on paper appear to be another one of our local, thrown-together joke bands, the fact is that The Sugar Dicks can crank out some solid rock and roll when they want to. Case in point is a recent show over at The Caledonia Lounge where I had just settled in to hear what I expected to be complete wankerish tomfoolery. Guitarist Roy Coughlin had other plans for me, though, as he unloaded a batch of spot-on, garage rock tunes he’d written. Trouble is, these guys play far too infrequently, so go bug them about playing a little more at www.myspace.com/thesugardicks.

But Still: The above notwithstanding, why are so many of you local bands playing several times a month these days? All that does is cause people to think there’s no urgency in catching your band, because, you know, they’ll just see you tomorrow. All of you know who you are. Please rethink this “strategy.” That’s it. Just had to be said.

Unus Gone-us: Longtime local musician Steve Fitzpatrick (Radio:Tahiti, Autoscope, Sky City) has placed his current project, Unus Mundus, on semi-permanent hold until further notice. Although Fitzpatrick gives no specifics, don’t expect to hear from him regarding his music for a good while. He’s taking a well deserved break from over 20 years of ruthlessly consistent creativity. Even so, before his split from contact, he uploaded a recent Unus Mundus performance from WUGA 91.7FM’s “It’s Friday” to, hopefully, tide you over. Although Unus Mundus had multiple collaborators, Fitzpatrick was the instigator and only permanent member. Here’s to wishing him well and a speedy return to his rightfully earned post as one of the standard bearers of Athens outsider music. Dig the tunes over at www.myspace.com/unusworld.

Gently Into That Good Knight: Although future live shows are going to be a near-impossibility with the moving of member Jeff Rahuba (Long Legged Woman) to San Francisco, local band Green Knight will see its first release come out on Apr. 1. The album, Eternal OM, will be available via a cassette tape release courtesy of Thor’s Rubber Hammer. The actual length of the album was determined by the length of a batch of blank cassette tapes the band, Rahuba and Doug Patterson (Better People), had on hand. Patterson says: “The project started with five songs Jeff had written, and the name… Jeff’s songs took up about five minutes of tape, so I wrote enough material to fill the remaining time.” I love stuff like this. Significantly though, the pair did not collaborate on the recording; they each wrote and recorded their own material. For more information, please see www.myspace.com/thismachinekillscops.

And Even More Changes: Although now largely claiming Austin, TX, as home-base, The Low Lows maintain their ties to Athens by claiming Mikey Dwyer (Starter Kits) on bass. Also joining the group is Abram Shook on organ and harmonica. Lost from the fold were the recent additions of Page Campbell (Hope For agoldensummer) and Eva Hannan. The band is currently gearing up to play Austin, TX, festival South By Southwest and will then embark on its umpteenth European tour. Recently signed to Emeryville, CA, label Misra Records, The Low Lows will release their newest album, Shining Violence, in Europe (via Monotreme Records). A U.S. release won’t happen for a little while. For new sound samples, please see www.myspace.com/thelowlows.

New Ships To Sail: A local band that continually straddles the line between shimmering and heady instrumental brutishness, A. Armada will release its new EP, Anam Cara, via local label Hello Sir later this spring. The tracks are driving, emotive and powerful. The band plays locally on Sunday, Mar. 9 at Transmetropolitan before heading out to Austin for South By Southwest. Listen to the sole new track over at www.myspace.com/Aarmada.

Correction: A couple of weeks ago in a rush to make sure the news was reported by deadline, Flagpole inadvertently publicized a memorial show for the late Danny Esposito. Please disregard this information. I've been advised that an open-to-the-public memorial/benefit show will happen later this spring. Please check back here for details regarding the rescheduled date. We apologize for any confusion.

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