Music News & Gossip
May 21, 2003
Threats & Promises
Music News And Gossip
Sometimes my love for Athens just begins to burst at the seams. So much cool junk is going on nowadays. Check it all out below...
You Shoulda Been There!: The fabulous 40 Watt Club once again set the standard for bringing the top-notch touring acts to town with recent shows by The Cramps and Johnny Marr & The Healers. While The Cramps main duo of Lux Interior and Poison Ivy are starting to push 60 years old each, there's enough venom and ice water in their veins to keep them standing upright for now; fans should count themselves among the lucky to have caught them yet again. Ex-Smiths guitarist and former publishing-royalty litigant Johnny Marr simply blessed the club on Monday, May 12. While some fans were hoping for a few Smiths songs in the set, it was pretty clear that Marr was taking no prisoners with his new band. The show, though sorely underattended, was enjoyed thoroughly by the worshipful crowd, myself included. Kudos to the Watt, the bands and the fans.
*Correction: A few weeks back I inadvertently referred to an up-and-coming local band by the wrong name and even though I've already kicked myself for it, I should give y'all the lowdown. Among the bands that rocked the Ultramod Compound back in April was We Versus The Shark, not We Versus The Volcano as was reported. Sorry guys, and damn you, Tom Hanks, for taking up so many of my thoughts.
What a Way To End The Night: The other night on my way out of the 40 Watt doors, I drop into Low Yo-Yo Stuff, that singularly esoteric joint occupying the space out front. As soon as I cross the threshold I am treated to a reading, in front of several customers, of my column praising Atlanta's Criminal Records. Let it be known that the guys over at Low Yo-Yo Stuff really do care about the local scene and apparently have some of the most loyal customers known to man. Case in point, a long-haired heavy-metal lookin' dude threatened to "kill the guy that wrote that" until he realized that guy was me standing right next to him. Sheesh, folks. Lighten up. Nothin' but love.
No, My Brother, I Get the Goat Today: The Michigan transplants over at Athens' Community Billygoat Records have been up to some cool stuff lately. Label honcho Martin Brummeler just got back from Ann Arbor, MI, where he was recording Michigan band Rome For A Day. The full-length by the band will be released sometime in the fall. (Of note: this will be the label's first release since they up and left Michigan to move to Athens.) The label also hosts releases by Chicago act We Ragazzi and Michigan's Data Cadet. You can get more info by going over to www.brummeler.biz.
Sad News From Atlanta: The folks over at the Echo Lounge have sent news that their friend and supporter John "Agent Rip Thrillby" Scott was killed Sunday, May 11, in an auto accident. Scott played lead guitar in Atlanta band The Penetrators and was a scene fixture in Atlanta. "Threats & Promises" sends its sincere condolences to all friends and family.
More Sad News: On Monday, May 12, George Montague Holton III passed away in his sleep due to complications involving prescription medication and diabetes. The guitarist for The Woggles was 31. While The Woggles called Atlanta home for the past several years, the band formed in Athens over 15 years ago. The band's overwhelming sounds and rowdy live sets were some of the few dependable aspects of the Atlanta scene. George's parents asked that he be buried in a Woggles T-shirt with his guitar strap at his side. The service took place Friday, May 16 in Chattanooga, TN. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association at (800) 342-2383. Cards should be addressed to either George and Marilyn Holton at 402 Ferncliff Dr., Signal Mountain, TN 37377. The Woggles, who have just finished recorded an album for summer release, say it best themselves: "George Montague Holton III was a big name for a man big in both stature and magnitude of presence. The silence of his guitar is saddest song imaginable. We miss him greatly." [Chris Hassiotis]
*Better Than Extreme Sports' At Any Rate: Travis from Athens' own Green Bean Go let me know that art/damage act Extreme Animals will play at the X-Ray Café with local musical pranksters Crunchifus, named after polar microorganisms, on Thursday, June 5. Be there or be square.
Our Finest Export: Athens' own Melted Men will be spreading madness and whipping women and men into frenzies this month as they tour France and Italy. Most of the shows will take place in Southern Italy and Sicily.
The tour follows the release of the 9-song (!) 7" record Abdominal Snowman which was released by the Dutch label Dead Mind Records. In other Melted Men news, San Francisco label Toyo Records is including them (along with Melt Banana, Throbbing Gristle's Chris Carter, Sonic Youth and more) on their 20 Second Compilation which will be a 3-CD set of 20-second songs by each band. For more information or to file a complaint please visit www.meltedmen.com or www.toyorecords.com.
If You Don't Vote, How Will We Know?: See, folks, the thing is that we've got all these awards boxed up and ready to be given to people when they win them, but if you don't vote in the 2003 Flagpole Athens Music Awards how will we know what to do with them? Turn them into ploughshares? Drop them from the parking deck? You can see the quandary we face. So get a ballot from this week's paper, vote in the appropriate categories and either mail it in to us or drop it off over here at the Foundry St. headquarters or vote on the web at www.flagpole.com. You don't have to vote in each category, but you must vote for bands in the appropriate category. Like don't vote for the Dave Matthews Cover Band in the Best Punk Band category and so on. Deadline is Monday, June 2, so let's get crackin, McCrackin. Then, after the post-election bliss starts to fade, you can get revved up again over at the Morton Theatre on Thursday, June 19, with the 2003 Flagpole Athens Music Awards Show.
And that's it for this weeks update. (and wasn't that fun!) Get all your news to me early and don't forget to maybe check out a band you never heard of this week. Do the hammerlock via email to music@flagpole.com, voicemail at 549-2360; via fax at 548-8981; or by post to P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603.
Gordon Lamb
You Shoulda Been There!: The fabulous 40 Watt Club once again set the standard for bringing the top-notch touring acts to town with recent shows by The Cramps and Johnny Marr & The Healers. While The Cramps main duo of Lux Interior and Poison Ivy are starting to push 60 years old each, there's enough venom and ice water in their veins to keep them standing upright for now; fans should count themselves among the lucky to have caught them yet again. Ex-Smiths guitarist and former publishing-royalty litigant Johnny Marr simply blessed the club on Monday, May 12. While some fans were hoping for a few Smiths songs in the set, it was pretty clear that Marr was taking no prisoners with his new band. The show, though sorely underattended, was enjoyed thoroughly by the worshipful crowd, myself included. Kudos to the Watt, the bands and the fans.
*Correction: A few weeks back I inadvertently referred to an up-and-coming local band by the wrong name and even though I've already kicked myself for it, I should give y'all the lowdown. Among the bands that rocked the Ultramod Compound back in April was We Versus The Shark, not We Versus The Volcano as was reported. Sorry guys, and damn you, Tom Hanks, for taking up so many of my thoughts.
What a Way To End The Night: The other night on my way out of the 40 Watt doors, I drop into Low Yo-Yo Stuff, that singularly esoteric joint occupying the space out front. As soon as I cross the threshold I am treated to a reading, in front of several customers, of my column praising Atlanta's Criminal Records. Let it be known that the guys over at Low Yo-Yo Stuff really do care about the local scene and apparently have some of the most loyal customers known to man. Case in point, a long-haired heavy-metal lookin' dude threatened to "kill the guy that wrote that" until he realized that guy was me standing right next to him. Sheesh, folks. Lighten up. Nothin' but love.
No, My Brother, I Get the Goat Today: The Michigan transplants over at Athens' Community Billygoat Records have been up to some cool stuff lately. Label honcho Martin Brummeler just got back from Ann Arbor, MI, where he was recording Michigan band Rome For A Day. The full-length by the band will be released sometime in the fall. (Of note: this will be the label's first release since they up and left Michigan to move to Athens.) The label also hosts releases by Chicago act We Ragazzi and Michigan's Data Cadet. You can get more info by going over to www.brummeler.biz.
Sad News From Atlanta: The folks over at the Echo Lounge have sent news that their friend and supporter John "Agent Rip Thrillby" Scott was killed Sunday, May 11, in an auto accident. Scott played lead guitar in Atlanta band The Penetrators and was a scene fixture in Atlanta. "Threats & Promises" sends its sincere condolences to all friends and family.
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More Sad News: On Monday, May 12, George Montague Holton III passed away in his sleep due to complications involving prescription medication and diabetes. The guitarist for The Woggles was 31. While The Woggles called Atlanta home for the past several years, the band formed in Athens over 15 years ago. The band's overwhelming sounds and rowdy live sets were some of the few dependable aspects of the Atlanta scene. George's parents asked that he be buried in a Woggles T-shirt with his guitar strap at his side. The service took place Friday, May 16 in Chattanooga, TN. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association at (800) 342-2383. Cards should be addressed to either George and Marilyn Holton at 402 Ferncliff Dr., Signal Mountain, TN 37377. The Woggles, who have just finished recorded an album for summer release, say it best themselves: "George Montague Holton III was a big name for a man big in both stature and magnitude of presence. The silence of his guitar is saddest song imaginable. We miss him greatly." [Chris Hassiotis]
*Better Than Extreme Sports' At Any Rate: Travis from Athens' own Green Bean Go let me know that art/damage act Extreme Animals will play at the X-Ray Café with local musical pranksters Crunchifus, named after polar microorganisms, on Thursday, June 5. Be there or be square.
| |
Our Finest Export: Athens' own Melted Men will be spreading madness and whipping women and men into frenzies this month as they tour France and Italy. Most of the shows will take place in Southern Italy and Sicily.
The tour follows the release of the 9-song (!) 7" record Abdominal Snowman which was released by the Dutch label Dead Mind Records. In other Melted Men news, San Francisco label Toyo Records is including them (along with Melt Banana, Throbbing Gristle's Chris Carter, Sonic Youth and more) on their 20 Second Compilation which will be a 3-CD set of 20-second songs by each band. For more information or to file a complaint please visit www.meltedmen.com or www.toyorecords.com.
If You Don't Vote, How Will We Know?: See, folks, the thing is that we've got all these awards boxed up and ready to be given to people when they win them, but if you don't vote in the 2003 Flagpole Athens Music Awards how will we know what to do with them? Turn them into ploughshares? Drop them from the parking deck? You can see the quandary we face. So get a ballot from this week's paper, vote in the appropriate categories and either mail it in to us or drop it off over here at the Foundry St. headquarters or vote on the web at www.flagpole.com. You don't have to vote in each category, but you must vote for bands in the appropriate category. Like don't vote for the Dave Matthews Cover Band in the Best Punk Band category and so on. Deadline is Monday, June 2, so let's get crackin, McCrackin. Then, after the post-election bliss starts to fade, you can get revved up again over at the Morton Theatre on Thursday, June 19, with the 2003 Flagpole Athens Music Awards Show.
And that's it for this weeks update. (and wasn't that fun!) Get all your news to me early and don't forget to maybe check out a band you never heard of this week. Do the hammerlock via email to music@flagpole.com, voicemail at 549-2360; via fax at 548-8981; or by post to P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603.
Gordon Lamb
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