Okay, guys, welcome back for another week of ponderables both significant and inconsequential. Don't wrap the fish or line the birdcage yet because there just might be something here you can use. On with the show...

Oh, The Possibilities: Long-running and hugely talented local band The Possibilities have been busy as of late. Their latest album has been completely recorded and the band is currently about half way done with the mixing process. Since they are running the whole show themselves, it's taking slightly longer than they would like,

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but recent tape transfers onto fancy-dancy equipment over at Third Ear Studio have the tunes "sounding like a million bucks." Tom Lewis, owner of Third Ear, has been recording Athens bands for well over a decade and is no cheapskate when it comes to buying top equipment, so there's no reason to not believe that it really does sound as good as they say. The as-yet untitled album will be released this spring on Columbus, OH, label Shelterhouse Records; a European release will follow. In addition to all this the band has added new photos and MP3s and other what-not to their website. Also, there is a new Possibilities side-project called Nutria that will make noise over at The Caledonia on January 24 when they share the stage with The High Strung, Rosehill Drive and The Roy Owens, Jr. Rumors of one J Mascis sitting in with them are flying around also. Hell if I know. That's just what they told me. For more info and a bunch of stuff to look at please see www.thepossibilities.org.

See, Now I Would Never Do That: A pretty bitchy review of local rockers Heros Severum recently appeared in Southeastern Performer Magazine (www.performermag.com). Granted, the band's latest release was merely a two-track, cover-song affair.

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And yes, it's easy to pick on a band that implores the listener to push their own boundaries and discover new sounds. And, yes, complaining about one review is among the stupidest things one can do. I just wanted to let you guys know that I love each and every one of you and would never stoop so low as to insult one of y'all's bands. You believe me, don't you? At any rate, back to Heros Severum. The band is currently working on their newest album and has yet to promise a release date. But I can hope can't I? Here's to a Heros Severum spring release. Yes, please. Otherwise, catch 'em at the Caledonia on January 27. For more information please see www.herosseverum.com.

Not Content To Wear Stars On His Brow: I was pleasantly surprised this week when passed a copy of recent recordings by local musician Mike Richmond. Richmond, who has been in our dear local scene for almost 20 years now, is best known for his work with the deservedly legendary Love Tractor. Although Richmond briefly spent time in band-of-yore The Method Actors, this was news to me as I'm sure it is to you. At any rate, his new recording sound absolutely nothing like the Southern, porch-swept, breezy instrumentals of Love Tractor (which is refreshing as I wouldn't want to hear repetitious, nostalgic, navel-gazing anyway). What they do sound like is moody, intense, guitar-driven numbers that evoke an image of a non-insane Jandek or a non-drug addled Marc Bolan. Indeed, there's even a cover of Bolan's "Ride A White Swan" on here that, while fairly faithful to the original, makes its own mark. Some of the stuff is absolutely gorgeous ("Queen of The Cesspool") and the multi-tracked guitar on others ("Dragon Fire") would fit perfectly on the first Dinosaur album (before all this Dinosaur Jr. nonsense). Anyway, word has it that he's putting out feelers with this stuff and if any small label out there knows what's up they would do well to check him out. For more information contact Richmond at mbr@uga.edu.

I Think I'm Turning Japanese: Local instrumental rockers Maserati will be doing something incredibly exciting in the next month. Recently, their album The Language Of Cities was released in Japan courtesy of Human Highway Records and the band will be heading over there to do a short tour along with Japanese labelmates Mono. Although Mono has more experience via the art of the remix; a listen to their releases should bury any doubt one might have about the compatibility of the two. Maserati should be back in town toward the very end of February, so be sure to hit them up for Japanese candy and tour stories. For more information on all this hoo-ha, please see www.humanhighwayrecords.com.

Mice Are Generally A Bit More Dangerous In The Winter: Los Angeles-via-London-via-Athens producer/ DJ/ remix artist/ etc. Danger Mouse, also known simply as DM and known to his parents as Brian Burton, is poised to be a hip hop force as mighty Dr. Octagon, Prince Paul and any host of other beyond-hip DJs you'd care to name drop. His recently released EP Twenty Six Inch, another collaboration between Burton and Brooklyn's Jemini the Gifted One, features guest spots from Cee-Lo and Sadat X. Burton's also prepping a new album for a spring release; The Grey Album will incorporate vocals from Jay-Z's Black Album mixed over reworked, sampled and distorted music from The Beatles' White Album.

Opportunities For All: Barista's, the Epps Bridge Pkwy. coffee shop formerly known as Gailyn's, has put out the call for performers. Barista's Mary Elizabeth Rozema says she's looking for "just about anyone" who's willing to perform, and though the Athens location would best be suited for a solo or two-piece performance, she's got a store in Madison with performance space large enough for a full band. Local guitarists Eric Harris and Kevin Smith have already scheduled performances in the coming month. Contact Mary Elizabeth at 583-9557 to discuss the possibility of performing. [Chris Hassiotis]

And that's it for this week, pal. As always, get your news in early and often. Reference me or Threats & Promises when sending email. Oh, please someone make some noise out there. You really don't want me coming over to your house to shake the news outta you, do you? I will. I swear. Give up the funk via email music@flagpole.com, voicemail at 549-2360; or by post at P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603.

Gordon Lamb