originally published April 23, 2008

Summer is almost here, but you wouldn’t know it from the way you’ve been freezing in the morning and evening, but shedding layers during the afternoon. I know you want some consistency. Which is why we’re here each week keeping your music news on track. Stay regular below…

Where the Small Lands Are: The Instruments, led by the prolific Heather McIntosh, will release their newest album May 13 via local label Orange Twin Records. Titled Dark Småland, the album features performances by members and ex-members of Olivia Tremor Control, Of Montreal, Elf Power, Dark Meat, Circulatory System and Neutral Milk Hotel. The band's last record, Cast Half a Shadow (2006), was a darkly gorgeous affair whereas Dark Småland transfers this darkness into a slightly more pastoral setting. In other news, McIntosh had done some cello work on the latest Gnarls Barkley album, The Odd Couple, and that goofy duo has picked her up as its touring cellist, too. As such, McIntosh made her major television debut a couple of weeks back when Gnarls Barkley performed on Saturday Night Live. Dig it over at www.myspace.com/theinstruments.

Warm to It: Local beauty merchants Warm Electronic Recordings have a couple of anticipated releases in the can - or almost there. First is the new Don Chambers record, titled Zebulon, which was recorded at Athens studio The Bakery in late 2007. Word is that the tunes are reminiscent of a toned-down version of his work with GOAT. Next up is Liz Durrett’s newest, as-yet-untitled album. Production duties are being handled by Eric Bachmann (Archers of Loaf) with Joel Hatstat (Pegasuses-XL) acting as engineer. Reports indicate a “virtual laundry list of Athens luminaries” appear on the album including Durrett’s uncle Vic Chesnutt. Final mixing will happen next month when Bakery owner Andy Baker will return briefly from his long stay in Taiwan. Both records are slated for release Sept. 9. Keep up to date over at www.thewarmsupercomputer.com.

And in Related News… Andy Baker will only be back in town for a few weeks, but will record bands at The Bakery while he is here. Sure, his studio is great by itself and caretaker Joel Hatstat is an able and creative engineer, but there's nothing quite like having Andy Baker himself work on your record. So if you’re up to it, give him a call at 706-583-9150 and set something up. He’ll be leaving to go back to Taiwan at the end of May, so this is a limited opportunity.

Get It Now or Don’t Complain: After thrilling Harvey Milk fans with a limited edition, audiophile-quality, double-LP repressing of Courtesy and Good Will Toward Men a couple of months back, Chunklet Magazine mob boss Henry Owings is giving similar treatment to the band's much more accessible album The Pleaser. This is the third time The Pleaser has seen release. Originally released via Reproductive Records in 1997, the CD was re-released by Relapse Records last year, but the LP reissue will see the album matched with its companion piece Live Pleaser and be issued in a gatefold sleeve. These will, undoubtedly, be limited and instantaneously collectible. But, as record hoarders tend to be pretty miserable little squirrels, purchasers are limited to three copies each. The reissue of Courtesy and Good Will Toward Men sold out in just over a week. The album will ship in late May, but you can preorder it, on color vinyl even, over at www.chunklet.com until the end of April. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

Dark in the Tooth: Local band Sweet-Tooth Simpleton will head out on a small Southeastern tour this week before returning to town to play Little Kings Shuffle Club on Thursday, May 1. Also on the bill are Virginians Mason Dixon Disaster and local dude Justin Evans. Although the band still carries on with its impossibly goofball moniker, reports are Sweet-Tooth Simpleton is delving into somewhat darker material and that after the tour the band will commit some of this to tape via sessions at Alysseum Recordings with engineer Daniel Aaron. Chomp down over at www.myspace.com/sweettoothsimpleton.

Get on Your Bikes and Ride! The UGA/Twilight Jazz Festival will commence this weekend (Thursday, Apr. 24–Saturday, Apr. 26) at the Hugh Hodgson School Of Music, the Melting Point and the Twilight Criterium Outdoor Stage. Featured performers include Joshua Redman, Ilona Knopfler, The Mark Maxwell Quintet, The UGA Jazz Band and many, many more. A full schedule is up over at www.uga.edu/music/jazzfestival. Unrelated, but interesting, is the fact that Queen’s hit song “Bicycle Race” was featured on the band’s 1978 album Jazz. Thus, the world comes full circle.

A Decade of Decadence: Each year since 1998, the boys in Je Suis France have hosted an event named the “Twilight Delirium” which was basically an excuse to get really drunk, act a total fool and play obnoxious rock and roll. Well, not one thing has changed. Always scheduled to coincide with the weekend of the Twilight Criterium, this year’s Delirium will happen Saturday Apr. 26 at the 40 Watt and feature the aforementioned Je Suis France, new-ish locals The Buddy System and Knoxville, TN band Royal Bangs. Expect miles of old-school (well, if the ‘90s are old-school, that is) Athenians to be in attendance and, quite possibly, on stage. It’s always a total blast and is as close as you’re ever going to want to be to an actual frat party. And it’s Rohypnol free, too!

Your Video Buddy: Just a tip for all of you out there to tune your television dial to MTV2 on Sunday, Apr. 27 for the network's weekly video-block program Subterranean. Local video-n-soundtrack band The Buddy System will see its video for the track "Clap Paws" debuted on the network that night, and we congratulate them. So watch it, yo. For more information please see

And Again: As mentioned last week, if you’re looking for some behind-the-scenes work and are interested in the music internship opportunities at Flagpole then you’d better jump on it. We’re currently accepting applications for summer and fall internships so put together a cover letter and your resume and email them to music@flagpole.com. Be sure to put “internship” in the subject lines so we don’t lose you in the shuffle.

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. Keep your hands off my power supply via email to music@flagpole.com, voicemail at 706-549-9523, ext. 203, or by post to P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA, 30603.

Gordon Lamb