Music News & Gossip
Nov 13, 2002
Threats & Promises
Music News and Gossip
One of the most prominent slogans of this election season was "Regime change begins at home." How very, very true this turned out to be. At any rate, here's the latest rundown of the stuff you want to know.
The inside of electronica: Paul Thomas, proprietor of W. Washington Street's X-Ray Café (the little place sandwiched between Clocked and Flicker) has decided to give a whole evening over to a form of music many feel is largely underappreciated here in indie rock heaven: electronica. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 15 (and for a paltry $2) patrons of the café can hear what's being described as "bedroom electronic artists" offering their souls via synth, indie laptop electronica. And if you have the urge to scoff, remember the sage words of the great Getty Lee, "All this machinery making modern music can still be open-hearted." [Sarah Lee]
Girls! Girls! Girls!: The Donnas are bringing their rock and roll party to the Masquerade in Atlanta on Friday, Nov. 15. Read all about those hot rockers from Palo Alto, CA on-line at www.flagpole.com.
Benefits for you and your Lovers: Local band Lovers, whose van recently exploded while they were out on tour, will be the benefactors of money raised at a benefit to be held at Tasty World on Thursday, November 14. Apparently the band's insurance won't cover the cost of the van, nor, even more disturbing, will it make up the cost of having to buy new equipment lost in the freak fire. So other local players and good Samaritans such as Elf Power, The Gerbils, the Whigs and a few other special guests will offer their talents to help them out. Now shouldn't you offer that cigarette money to do your part? [SL]
Howard Stern meets the real Yucko: Yucko the Clown, one of the troupe of crazies from the local comedy ensemble The Damn! Show, apparently just taped a segment on the "Howard Stern Show" that will have aired this past Friday and Saturday on E! He is also scheduled to split the bill on a string of stand-up performances with Artie Lange of "Mad TV" called "The Murderers' Row Comedy Show" in coming months. He tells us he may soon be leaving Athens. Celebrate or weep, Yucko, we hardly knew ya. [SL]
All That Jazz: Mike Jones, who is perhaps Athens' finest jazz saxophonist, has informed me that he will be hosting a weekly jazz jam session every Sunday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Kelley's Jamaican Restaurant on Baxter Street. There is no cover charge and the event is open to any and all jazz musicians who want to come down and play. The first session will be Sunday Nov. 17. Cedar Shoals High School students known as The Jazz Bastards will be featured performers, and probably regulars, with an opening set starting at 6 p.m. Jones' main band, The Legitimate Businessman's Association, is also holding down the fort at the Foundry Park Inn every other Tuesday alternating weeks with The Carl Lindberg Quartet. Check this stuff out, folks, you won't be disappointed.
They've Got The Whole World In Their Hands: Athens' self-described "world- folk" band, Dromedary, has been up to some exciting stuff lately. Recently returning from a successful tour of the Pacific Northwest, the band
will be at The 40 Watt on November 18 with Hope For A Goldensummer and Audition With Max Reinhardt. In other news, Dromedary is talking about a possible collaboration with Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, who has been performing with his Grandfather the legendary Pete Seeger. A collaboration with Ken Vandermark drummer Hamid Drake is also apparently in the works. Pretty big stuff, guys. Hope it all works out.
Back That Thing Up! The frustration is palpable over at the Athens production studio Mealtime Brown. Apparently a power surge hit owner Chris Cates' external hard drive on his MAC G4, and entire albums by Parakeet Nelson and about seven other local bands were lost. Cates is also busy organizing a Tribute To Neil Young which will be performed, appropriately, on Young's birthday, November 16 at DT's Down Under.
Movin' On Up: Athens Rapper and Flagpole Music Award Winner Big Earl has finished the demos for his upcoming album and, folks, it's pretty darned good. While lyrically Earl gives too much credence to Athens area housing projects and general rap-themes such as "shakin' dat ass and stackin' dat cash," this record sounds about as pro as one can get without spending millions. It could easily compete with any major label stuff out there as far as potential radio hits. Earl has flow to rival anyone in recent memory, also.
Hopefully this will come out, as projected, in early 2003.
Hell Hath No Fury Like A Furry Short Man: Former Black Sabbath vocalist and longtime solo artist Ronnie James Dio will be heading out on a North American tour which will find its way to Atlanta on Nov. 25 at
The Masquerade. Dio is touring in support of his newest release Killing The Dragon (Spitfire) and will be recording the New York date for an upcoming DVD slated for the spring of 2003. At presstime he had not responded to my offer to join The Short Men Of Rock Coalition whose charter members include myself and former Misfits frontman Glenn Danzig.
You Didn't Have To Be So Nice: Australian ex-pat and former Birthday Party vocalist Nick Cave has announced plans to record three separate albums in three years time "the way they used to do it." As in, quickly and with as little fuss and muss as possible. Cave said of the plan, "We were sick of having to wait, ya know, three years (on a major label)... Ya know, you record the record, then there's this massive amount of promotion you have to do, and a fucking tour ... ya know, the whole cycle is so long." To this end, the first album, entitled Nocturama, will be released by indie Epitaph/Anti-, which has been forming a reputation for giving a home to established but frustrated, artists such as Merle Haggard and Tom Waits. Speaking for myself I am very happy about this development because Cave albums don't come out nearly as often as I'd like. My hat's off to you, sir.
Silence Is Golden: According to CNN, British unclassical composer Mike Batt, who conjured a "piece" that's a solid minute of complete silence, recently tendered a copyright settlement to the estate of PoMo artiste John Cage, the man behind "4:33," which is, as y'all Sonic Youth fans may know, four minutes and 33 seconds of complete silence. Bear this in mind next time you take a quiet moment to reflect on the absurdity of the litigious dystopia in which we now live. [Emerson Dameron]
God Bless The Child Of The Beast: Former Mötley Crüe drummer and amateur porn star Tommy Lee has announced that he has split with his label MCA Records. Although both declined to comment on the situation, it should be noted that while Lee's cult of personality continues to rise, his album sales have been abysmally low in recent years. He said, "I sometimes think that if somebody took music away from me, I would probably die. I think I was put on this planet to do this." Lee was formerly put on this earth to do Pamela Anderson who recently realized she was put on the earth to do Detroit superstar Kid Rock.
Well, Hell, Guess I'll Just Have To Wait: Queens, NY rapper Nas has announced that he will delay the release of his newest album God's Son until December 17. Apparently he is still recording some tracks for it. Nas has recently aligned himself with the utterly ridiculous Murder Inc. rap factory and CEO/gangster-wannabe Irv Gotti wanted the record to be released simultaneously with Ja Rule's new album The Last Temptation. All this was very big news during fourth period lunch at area middle schools.
Collector Nerds Unite: England's David Bowie has just released a hits package simply called Best Of. If you're at all even mildly familiar with David Bowie the songs are familiar hits with a few oddballs thrown in for good measure. Why anyone thought the world needed yet another Bowie hits package is beyond me, but get this: the album is being released in 22 (!) different versions worldwide. You can bet that someone, somewhere is sweating about how he's gonna get the Libyan-remix of "Oh, You Pretty Things" and I also bet that someone else is laughing all the way to the bank.
A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Ridiculous: Nashville diva Shania Twain, in a move that can only be tolerated by her label because she sells in the millions, will be releasing her newest album Up! In two different versions: A "country" one and a "pop" one. Since Twain is best described as a pop/country artist, this is sort of like trying to
separate the adhesive from a Band-Aid. The album will drop on November 19. Wouldn't it be great if the album was a tribute to R.E.M.'s album of the same name? Shudder to think.
It Was 20 Years Ago Today: Indispensable English Avant-garde Music magazine The Wire is celebrating it's 20th anniversary by issuing a special double-sized issue for the month of November and also a 3-CD boxed set featuring artists that have been near and dear to the magazine. The list of people participating is way too long to mention here but includes Tony Conrad, John Cage, Sun RA, Terry Reily and many, many more stellar performers. The boxed set is slated for release November 18. If you've never read The Wire, be warned that your first taste will likely be very different from run-of-the-mill music journalism. However, the writers share a deep passion for outsider music and artists and their dedication to the cause is obvious. For those about to sort-of-not-rock, I salute you.
Goodie Be Gone: In what is pretty sad news for hip hop Fans, Atlanta group Goodie Mob has quietly disbanded. Member Cee-Lo, who is currently enjoying a successful solo career, had this to say
about the split, "We made our pinnacle as a collective and now it's time to venture out with individual endeavors. I loved Goodie Mob for what we were, and for what we accomplished. I'll never be able to top it. It was a captured moment in time." Apparently the band had been growing apart for sometime, although no word on whether this movement was personal or musical. All I know is that this is a major disappointment to their fans, myself included.
And the big wheel keeps on turnin'. Send all your news to me via voicemail at 549-2360; via fax at 548-8981; or by post at PO Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603.
Gordon Lamb
The inside of electronica: Paul Thomas, proprietor of W. Washington Street's X-Ray Café (the little place sandwiched between Clocked and Flicker) has decided to give a whole evening over to a form of music many feel is largely underappreciated here in indie rock heaven: electronica. Beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 15 (and for a paltry $2) patrons of the café can hear what's being described as "bedroom electronic artists" offering their souls via synth, indie laptop electronica. And if you have the urge to scoff, remember the sage words of the great Getty Lee, "All this machinery making modern music can still be open-hearted." [Sarah Lee]
Girls! Girls! Girls!: The Donnas are bringing their rock and roll party to the Masquerade in Atlanta on Friday, Nov. 15. Read all about those hot rockers from Palo Alto, CA on-line at www.flagpole.com.
Benefits for you and your Lovers: Local band Lovers, whose van recently exploded while they were out on tour, will be the benefactors of money raised at a benefit to be held at Tasty World on Thursday, November 14. Apparently the band's insurance won't cover the cost of the van, nor, even more disturbing, will it make up the cost of having to buy new equipment lost in the freak fire. So other local players and good Samaritans such as Elf Power, The Gerbils, the Whigs and a few other special guests will offer their talents to help them out. Now shouldn't you offer that cigarette money to do your part? [SL]
Howard Stern meets the real Yucko: Yucko the Clown, one of the troupe of crazies from the local comedy ensemble The Damn! Show, apparently just taped a segment on the "Howard Stern Show" that will have aired this past Friday and Saturday on E! He is also scheduled to split the bill on a string of stand-up performances with Artie Lange of "Mad TV" called "The Murderers' Row Comedy Show" in coming months. He tells us he may soon be leaving Athens. Celebrate or weep, Yucko, we hardly knew ya. [SL]
All That Jazz: Mike Jones, who is perhaps Athens' finest jazz saxophonist, has informed me that he will be hosting a weekly jazz jam session every Sunday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Kelley's Jamaican Restaurant on Baxter Street. There is no cover charge and the event is open to any and all jazz musicians who want to come down and play. The first session will be Sunday Nov. 17. Cedar Shoals High School students known as The Jazz Bastards will be featured performers, and probably regulars, with an opening set starting at 6 p.m. Jones' main band, The Legitimate Businessman's Association, is also holding down the fort at the Foundry Park Inn every other Tuesday alternating weeks with The Carl Lindberg Quartet. Check this stuff out, folks, you won't be disappointed.
They've Got The Whole World In Their Hands: Athens' self-described "world- folk" band, Dromedary, has been up to some exciting stuff lately. Recently returning from a successful tour of the Pacific Northwest, the band
| |
Back That Thing Up! The frustration is palpable over at the Athens production studio Mealtime Brown. Apparently a power surge hit owner Chris Cates' external hard drive on his MAC G4, and entire albums by Parakeet Nelson and about seven other local bands were lost. Cates is also busy organizing a Tribute To Neil Young which will be performed, appropriately, on Young's birthday, November 16 at DT's Down Under.
Movin' On Up: Athens Rapper and Flagpole Music Award Winner Big Earl has finished the demos for his upcoming album and, folks, it's pretty darned good. While lyrically Earl gives too much credence to Athens area housing projects and general rap-themes such as "shakin' dat ass and stackin' dat cash," this record sounds about as pro as one can get without spending millions. It could easily compete with any major label stuff out there as far as potential radio hits. Earl has flow to rival anyone in recent memory, also.
Hopefully this will come out, as projected, in early 2003.
Hell Hath No Fury Like A Furry Short Man: Former Black Sabbath vocalist and longtime solo artist Ronnie James Dio will be heading out on a North American tour which will find its way to Atlanta on Nov. 25 at
| |
You Didn't Have To Be So Nice: Australian ex-pat and former Birthday Party vocalist Nick Cave has announced plans to record three separate albums in three years time "the way they used to do it." As in, quickly and with as little fuss and muss as possible. Cave said of the plan, "We were sick of having to wait, ya know, three years (on a major label)... Ya know, you record the record, then there's this massive amount of promotion you have to do, and a fucking tour ... ya know, the whole cycle is so long." To this end, the first album, entitled Nocturama, will be released by indie Epitaph/Anti-, which has been forming a reputation for giving a home to established but frustrated, artists such as Merle Haggard and Tom Waits. Speaking for myself I am very happy about this development because Cave albums don't come out nearly as often as I'd like. My hat's off to you, sir.
Silence Is Golden: According to CNN, British unclassical composer Mike Batt, who conjured a "piece" that's a solid minute of complete silence, recently tendered a copyright settlement to the estate of PoMo artiste John Cage, the man behind "4:33," which is, as y'all Sonic Youth fans may know, four minutes and 33 seconds of complete silence. Bear this in mind next time you take a quiet moment to reflect on the absurdity of the litigious dystopia in which we now live. [Emerson Dameron]
God Bless The Child Of The Beast: Former Mötley Crüe drummer and amateur porn star Tommy Lee has announced that he has split with his label MCA Records. Although both declined to comment on the situation, it should be noted that while Lee's cult of personality continues to rise, his album sales have been abysmally low in recent years. He said, "I sometimes think that if somebody took music away from me, I would probably die. I think I was put on this planet to do this." Lee was formerly put on this earth to do Pamela Anderson who recently realized she was put on the earth to do Detroit superstar Kid Rock.
Well, Hell, Guess I'll Just Have To Wait: Queens, NY rapper Nas has announced that he will delay the release of his newest album God's Son until December 17. Apparently he is still recording some tracks for it. Nas has recently aligned himself with the utterly ridiculous Murder Inc. rap factory and CEO/gangster-wannabe Irv Gotti wanted the record to be released simultaneously with Ja Rule's new album The Last Temptation. All this was very big news during fourth period lunch at area middle schools.
Collector Nerds Unite: England's David Bowie has just released a hits package simply called Best Of. If you're at all even mildly familiar with David Bowie the songs are familiar hits with a few oddballs thrown in for good measure. Why anyone thought the world needed yet another Bowie hits package is beyond me, but get this: the album is being released in 22 (!) different versions worldwide. You can bet that someone, somewhere is sweating about how he's gonna get the Libyan-remix of "Oh, You Pretty Things" and I also bet that someone else is laughing all the way to the bank.
A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Ridiculous: Nashville diva Shania Twain, in a move that can only be tolerated by her label because she sells in the millions, will be releasing her newest album Up! In two different versions: A "country" one and a "pop" one. Since Twain is best described as a pop/country artist, this is sort of like trying to
| |
It Was 20 Years Ago Today: Indispensable English Avant-garde Music magazine The Wire is celebrating it's 20th anniversary by issuing a special double-sized issue for the month of November and also a 3-CD boxed set featuring artists that have been near and dear to the magazine. The list of people participating is way too long to mention here but includes Tony Conrad, John Cage, Sun RA, Terry Reily and many, many more stellar performers. The boxed set is slated for release November 18. If you've never read The Wire, be warned that your first taste will likely be very different from run-of-the-mill music journalism. However, the writers share a deep passion for outsider music and artists and their dedication to the cause is obvious. For those about to sort-of-not-rock, I salute you.
Goodie Be Gone: In what is pretty sad news for hip hop Fans, Atlanta group Goodie Mob has quietly disbanded. Member Cee-Lo, who is currently enjoying a successful solo career, had this to say
| |
And the big wheel keeps on turnin'. Send all your news to me via voicemail at 549-2360; via fax at 548-8981; or by post at PO Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603.
Gordon Lamb
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