Once again, your local music news served up hot and fresh. And so clean, clean. Get it all just below this line. Yeah, this one…

Just So There's No Confusion: Last week I mentioned Maserati's new record and the fact that Stevie Scarborough and Josh McCauley were appearing on it. Just to be clear: Maserati remains Coley Dennis, Matt Cherry and Chris McNeal. Scarborough and McCauley have both played essential roles in the band, but while they are guests on the record, the core trio is still responsible for the album and the majority of its compositional elements. Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.

Studio Roundup Part One: Pigpen Studios has several projects underway in the form of new records by locals Five Eight, Parasite Shoes, Sounds of Silence and Atlanta bands Hog Tooth and Brothers Grey. Also on deck is a debut by the brand-new band Crane, which features Pigpen’s Daniel Collins and Patrick Ferguson (Five Eight). There are a couple of rehearsal rooms available at the studio’s Oneta Street location, and they’re also running a special $300 per day deal to record with Collins. Get more information over at www.pigpenstudios.net.

Studio Roundup Part Two: Chase Park Transduction has stepped up its mastering services by adding owner David Barbe and engineer Drew Vandenberg to its stable of mastering engineers. Long time mastering, um, master Jeff Capurso is still handling projects, too. Dig ‘em over at www.chaseparktransduction.com.

Studio Roundup Part Three: Do you own a studio? Do you track bands in your basement? Do you record music in any capacity? I want to know what you’re up to. There’s tons of recording news happening all the time. Wouldn’t you like the public to know about yours? Exactly.

Do You Remember Rock & Roll Radio?: Have you ever wanted to grunt, guffaw and mispronounce names like “Cinemechanica” and “Thelonious” live on the radio? Now you can! WUOG 90.5 FM is hosting its popular “Seize the Airwaves” event the weekend of Feb. 19–21. You may bring your own records, play live music over the air, read a book, talk or do whatever you want for only $10 an hour. A trained DJ will stay with you the whole time so you won’t be at a loss when operating equipment, etc. All money raised will benefit the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Athens, which provides immediate shelter and care for homeless families in Athens and coordinates transportation, daycare, etc., while helping folks back to their feet. Get on the air by contacting affairs@wuog.org and learn more about the charity over at www.ihnathens.org.

Back from the Past: Newly reformed Athens band The Agenda has steadily written new songs since deciding the members didn’t hate each other and being in a band is more fun than not being in one. The first five demos, released under the title Only the Young Die Young, are available to download for free over at www.fuckyeahtheagenda.tumblr.com. Just click through to that URL and scroll until you find the songs. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, let the band know what you think when they play Go Bar on Feb. 5 with American Cheeseburger.

No Mic Tuesdays: Hip-hop promoters Tommy Valentine, Bobby Stamps and Elite tha Showstoppa have shut the doors on Mean Mic Entertainment’s months-old Mean Mic Tuesdays after moving the weekly event through two downtown venues, New Earth Music Hall and Flanagan’s Bar. Apparently, alcohol sales were not sufficient enough to maintain profitability. In other news, Mean Mic Entertainment will release a compilation, Mean Mic Tuesdays: Athens Hip-Hop Volume I, in the next few weeks through iTunes. Watch this space for further developments.

Short Takes: Dusty Lightswitch will release its debut album on Feb. 24. Look for a full feature on the band closer to that date. Former Athens band Winter Sounds is moving back to town temporarily to record with Asa Leffer at Chase Park Transduction. Has anyone else noticed how good Titans of Filth is sounding lately? On the other hand, I’m not terribly sure that the previously twee-n-pop Gemini Cricket is believable in its new incarnation as a fuzzy garage band. There are also a couple of new tracks from the upcoming album by Werewolves available for listening over at www.myspace.com/athenswerewolves. I’ve always really dug this band, but these new recordings are easily heads and tails over previous recordings.

After the Party: A new alcohol-free, late-night dance club is now open at the old location of Level 131 (131 West Broad St.). The club, Aftermath, maintains the hours of 1–5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Free pizza will be served between 1:30 and 2:30 a.m. Music for the after-hours joint is courtesy of DJ Sparks. Owned by former bouncer and employee of various downtown establishments George "Ski" Wiatrowski and managed by Stacia Struck, the club is described by each as a place for "college kids to go blow off some steam" after a night of drinking in downtown Athens. A dress code will be in place, and Wiatrowski says it's the same type of dress code that applies at several downtown bars east of Lumpkin Street. Since I honestly have no idea what these codes specify, you're on your own with this, but Wiatrowski specified "no ripped jeans." Admission is $5 with a college ID and $10 to the general public, and you must be at least 18 to enter. Eventually, Aftermath plans to open on Thursday nights, too, but no plans are in place for this yet. So, gentle readers, that's the scoop.

Gordon Lamb

threatsandpromises@flagpole.com