originally published July 4, 2007

Knock three times, jump right in. Dig this week's news below…

Regroup, Reform, Re-launch: The rumors, largely self-created, are true: Kindercore Records has risen from the dead. (Full disclosure: I was employed in the past by Kindercore and am also working with the company now. Athens is too small to wear a single hat anyway.) The website, www.kindercore.com, went live on Sunday, July 1, and a majority of the label's back catalog is currently available via iTunes and other online outlets. The new Kindercore organization is an expanded version of the original concept and will focus not simply on music, but on a variety of media. Look for an official label relaunch party/ event to happen on Aug. 18 at the Caledonia Lounge.

Gimme Dat: When Titans of Filth released its debut EP last year, I caught a few shows and listened to the record and thought it all very nice and pleasant enough - not world-shattering or anything but, y'know… good. The band has seriously upped the ante with its newly released six-song EP, though, titled Feats of Strength. The group has, incredibly, packed a lifetime's worth of heartbreak, nervousness, existential crises and jittery pop into less than half an hour. Guitarist-vocalist Sam Grindstaff sounds more confident, or at least more willing to loudly present his lack of confidence, and the whole band plays together tight as a drum. It’s really an incredible little record and totally worth the time of anyone who plans on listening to a record now or in the future. Check Titans out over at www.myspace.com/titansoffilth or at the Caledonia Lounge on Friday, July 6, and see a review of the EP in this issue.

We’re Like Barbizon, But on Paper: It’s no secret that Of Montreal has soared stratospherically the last couple of years due to dedication and unbelievably hard work. However, the folks over at MTV2 nearly shit their pants when they heard Of Montreal took top pop honors in the 2007 Flagpole Music Awards (i.e. “Pop Band of the Year”). The powers that be looked around and said, "We gotta get on that!” To this end, MTV2 debuted Of Montreal’s newest video for the tune “Suffer for Fashion” on Sunday, July 1 at approximately 1 a.m. Some of what you just read is true and some is completely fantasy, and even more is a cheap attempt at humor. I report, you decide.

Three Is The Magic Number: Brian Smith of the Georgia Guitar Quartet will perform as three separate acts at Nuçi’s Space on Friday, July 6 from 9 p.m. to midnight. The show is a benefit for the space and will feature three distinctive styles from Smith. One set will simply be “Brian Smith” performing acoustic, singer-songwriter works; the next is dubbed Dilated Summit and will feature “industrial metal compositions;” and the third set is titled DS: Public Domain and features breakbeat-based experimental compositions. There will also be musical interludes between the sets courtesy of fellow Quartet member Kyle Dawkins. For more info, please see www.myspace.com/dilatedsummit or www.myspace.com/dspublicdomain.

Home Again, Home Again: Former Athenian Scott Stapleton will come through town with his band Virgin Forest and play at Little Kings on Saturday, July 7. Thematically, the band seems in line with Stapleton’s solo work, but musically, the band is steeped in the kind of Appalachian melancholy that makes me wonder why this music isn’t what people mean when they say “Americana.” They’ll be playing with The Good Ship, which hardly ever disappoints. And Virgin Forest will send you its new album Songs from Virgin Forest free if you send the band your address. You can also download the whole thing via three separate pages on MySpace, the first of which is www.myspace.com/ocelotpage - that one has links to the other two.

This Is The Way It’s Done!: Local fanzine Rabblerouser, which was a really good idea, is now gone, but the idea lives on with Rabblerouser Compilations. The 'zine - which in its brief life sought to document the Athens scene as it was happening (including reprinting current flyers and whatnot in its pages) - and the proposed series of compilations appears to have the same mission. Here’s the deal: this is only for bands currently living and playing in Athens. Got that? Active Athens bands only! Then, donate between $10 and $20 (or more if you want), get your song on a comp and get free copies to do with what you wish. There are a few other details that I don’t have room to include, but the first copies will be handed out Friday, July 13 at the 40 Watt Club during "Mr. Blank's Carnivale of Black Hearts." The whole thing is non-profit and the compilations are free. Please support this, and please participate! See www.myspace.com/rabblerousermusiccomp for more.

Travelin’ Angel: Although ostensibly an Athens artist and singer-songwriter, Adam Klein has really become a citizen of the world. Easily the most enthusiastic and well-traveled person I know, he continues to take his music around the nation and garner impressive accolades worldwide. Currently working on his second album, Klein has been joined by A.J. Adams (Blueground Undergrass) on production duties. The list of players is highly impressive, including Carlton Owens (Bloodkin, M Coast, ex-John Mayer)  on drums, Raphael McGregor (NationBeat)  on guitar and lap steel, Phillip McArdle (Wydelles, ex-Star Room Boys)  and Jess Franklin (Tishamingo)  on guitar; John Neff (Drive-By Truckers) will add  his gorgeous pedal steel sounds, and William Tonks (Barbara Cue, Workhorses Of The Entertainment/Recreational Industry)  adds dobro to the mix. As they say, holy Toledo! Klein next plays Athens on Thursday, Aug. 23 at the Caledonia Lounge. Check out www.cowboyangelmusic.com.

And Now, Here’s This: Speaking of new records, the members of the loosely reformed Eskimos have just made their third album Kola available via free download. You might also be able to find a CD-R of the album lying around the pile of free stuff over at Wuxtry Records downtown, which is where I got mine. The band adheres to no particular style other than what could be called classic pop rock in the vein of, maybe, Big Star. Just think good, solid adult (as opposed to teenage) pop that is well played and solidly written. The band's website lists the comeback show at the Caledonia with Nutria and Fabulous Bird as both Saturday, Sept. 2 and Saturday, Sept. 7, neither of which is actually a Saturday, so when I have better info, I’ll get it out to you. Interested? Go see www.theeskimos.com/kola and download this.

Oops: In a review of Athens/ Atlanta band One Hand Loves the Other's debut album One Hand Loves the Other last week, we mistakenly identified the vocals on the track "Tortoise." That's main guy Lou Rodriguez on all the songs. Apologies for the oversight - dude's got a deceptively impressive range. Also, the band dropped a line to mention that what sounded like cellos, piano and horns to our reviewer were, in fact, not.

Okay then. Be sure to keep your news coming in and always mention either Threats & Promises or my name in the subject line of all emails. Papa was a rolling stone 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