Music News & Gossip
Feb 4, 2004
Threats & Promises
Music News and Gossip
I don't know about you, but a little ice won't stop things from getting done around here. At least not on my watch. I was doing really good about not mentioning the weather in this column, and now I've gone and blown it all to hell. Somebody stop me...
Book Learnin': Martyr & Pistol drummer Brent Van Daley has some news. Drag City Records, home of acts like Smog, Will Oldham and Pavement has published Van Daley's short story "This is In" in issue 28 of The Minus Times; the publication also features contributions from Jeff Johnson, the Silver Jews' David Berman and an interview with Stephen Colbert of "The Daily Show." Pick up a copy and you'll also find mixtapes compiled by members of Spoon, Califone, the Decemberists and Songs: Ohia. More info over at www.dragcity.com and www.minustimes.com. [Chris Hassiotis]
A Little Help From: Local guitarist Ralph Roddenbery dropped off a copy of his new album Live at Tree Sound Studios, which is credited to Ralph Roddenbery & Friends,
and he'll may have copies for you to check out at his show at Tasty World on Tuesday, Feb. 10. It's not his "official" release party, but show up for a sample of what you'll find on the album - if earthy, sincere songwriter stuff's your bag, Roddenbery's got a knack for character pieces that bring to mind the mini-dramas of Dylan's Blonde on Blonde. Fiddler David Blackmon will likely make an appearance at the show as well. [Chris Hassiotis]
Years in the Making: You gotta love some bands' tenacity. Whereas 99 percent of all Athens bands have a life-expectancy of two years maximum, some just keep going and going. Yeah, a goodly portion of them should have quit after only a couple of years, but then others keep blowing your mind. A perfect example of the positive side of longevity is Ceiling Fan. I swear, these guys have rocked more graduating classes than they can probably count, and while their releases have been few and very far between, the faithful will be able to get their grubby paws on some new stuff as of February 27 at the Caledonia Lounge.
This is the night Ceiling Fan releases their second studio album Hot Streets, the long-awaited sequel to the 1997 release Trick Music. If you wanna have the band set your ears on fire or simply get drunk and rock out, then mark this date. Also, if you can't make the show you can still tune into "Live In The Lobby" on WUOG 90.5 FM earlier that evening and hear the band make mincemeat out of the current rotation. Be sure to check this space for other Ceiling Fan related stuff as reports become available. For more information please see www.ceilingfan.org.
Help a Brother Out: Very often it's easy for people to forget that the folks who write columns like this one, spin records on the radio and promote shows are actual people with lives as special as our own. Case in point: Atlanta DJ and rock journalist Jon Kincaid. Kincaid has been a long-time host of the show "Personality Crisis" on Georgia Tech's WREK 91.7 FM and most recently a columnist and features writer of Jeff Clark's Stomp and Stammer magazine. Earlier this month, Kincaid suffered a heart attack and while his angioplasty and bypass surgery were successful, the bills are piling up at an extremely quick clip. (In related news, Clark and Low Yo Yo Stuff owner Todd Ploharski hightailed it to Atlanta to cover for the man at WREK while he was going through all this.) Like most people in this business, he was uninsured and needs our help. For more information on the man, his radio show and how to help out, please visit www.personalitycrisis.org.
I Jumped The Gun. So Sue Me: Several weeks back I mentioned that Summer Hymns had been recording at a new studio location upstairs from Tasty World. Well, apparently studio owners Eric Friar and Asa Leffer weren't quite ready to announce their new location, but they've agreed not to break my kneecaps or anything. At any rate, here's the official lowdown on the new space. It's going to be called Downtown Athens Recording and it's been in the making for the past four months or so. Both Leffer and Friar have extensive engineering experience and anyone who has ever heard any of their projects should be more than comfortable working with them. Going rates are approximately $250 a day or $25 an hour - which is cheap, pardner. But quality is always Job One with these guys and you can expect only the finest. Since I'm about as equipment-oriented as a blind rat, I'll let Friar himself explain what they've got: "We are offering 2" analog recording and a 32-track Pro Tools set up, all in a gorgeous 1890's live room. We're proud to boast the largest room in town, over 3500 sq. feet with 21-foot ceilings and a great view of downtown." Current projects include Ginger Envelope, Todd Ferry, Stories Below, Ceramic Duck, Let's Surf, Sharks and Minnows, The Bet, Heros Severum and the aforementioned Summer Hymns. For a full list of available equipment, to book time or anything else please contact these guys at (706) 552-0745 or email them at downtownathens@bellsouth.net.
No Garbage Is An Island: More news from the Garbage Island camp this week. Yet Another offshoot project will be crowding the stage at the fabulous 40 Watt. This time around it's member Craig Lieske and his Echo Canyon project. The band will open for Mother Jackson, who are better known as regular 40 Watt staffers. Indeed, Mother Jackson rhythm section members Jim Wilson and Chuck Bradburn will be rounding out Echo Canyon so it probably won't be a death-cage match or anything like that. This all goes down on Thursday, Feb. 5, so don't say I didn't warn you.
I've Always Had More Fun In My Jammys, Too: The gods of the jam band scene Widespread Panic have been nominated for three different "Jammy" awards this year. Basically, the awards go out to whichever band gets the most votes in each category listed at Jammys.com. Needless to say all the bands pretty much fall into the rock-purgatory category of "jam bands." At any rate, Panic has been nominated for the award in the following categories: Studio Album Of The Year, Tour Of The Year and Song Of The Year. Other nominees include the horrific String Cheese Incident, the pointless Leftover Salmon and the incomprehensibly popular moe. Needless to say, I'm pulling for Widespread over any of these other hosers if for the simple reason that they are homeboys. And I always support the homeboys. Cast your vote over at www.jammys.com.
Things to Remember: The 2004 Flagpole Music Directory is under construction and coming together fast. Deadline for getting in your submission and/or correction is this Friday, Feb. 6!! To get your band, venues, label, store or other service listed - or to update the existing listing - just visit www.flagpole.com and click on the handy button. This thing's invaluable, and will help you book gigs, find equipment and build a better tomorrow. And remember this, too: AthFest CD submissions are open until the end of February. Pick up a form at any Musician's Warehouse or at www.athfest.com. Go for the gold. [Chris Hassiotis]
And I'm off like a dirty shirt. Keep your news coming in and I'll get to it. Reference me or "Threats And Promises" in all email subject lines and this whole process will go a lot smoother. Come to where the flavor is via email music@flagpole.com, voicemail at 549-2360; or by post at P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603.
Gordon Lamb
Book Learnin': Martyr & Pistol drummer Brent Van Daley has some news. Drag City Records, home of acts like Smog, Will Oldham and Pavement has published Van Daley's short story "This is In" in issue 28 of The Minus Times; the publication also features contributions from Jeff Johnson, the Silver Jews' David Berman and an interview with Stephen Colbert of "The Daily Show." Pick up a copy and you'll also find mixtapes compiled by members of Spoon, Califone, the Decemberists and Songs: Ohia. More info over at www.dragcity.com and www.minustimes.com. [Chris Hassiotis]
A Little Help From: Local guitarist Ralph Roddenbery dropped off a copy of his new album Live at Tree Sound Studios, which is credited to Ralph Roddenbery & Friends,
| |
Years in the Making: You gotta love some bands' tenacity. Whereas 99 percent of all Athens bands have a life-expectancy of two years maximum, some just keep going and going. Yeah, a goodly portion of them should have quit after only a couple of years, but then others keep blowing your mind. A perfect example of the positive side of longevity is Ceiling Fan. I swear, these guys have rocked more graduating classes than they can probably count, and while their releases have been few and very far between, the faithful will be able to get their grubby paws on some new stuff as of February 27 at the Caledonia Lounge.
| |
Help a Brother Out: Very often it's easy for people to forget that the folks who write columns like this one, spin records on the radio and promote shows are actual people with lives as special as our own. Case in point: Atlanta DJ and rock journalist Jon Kincaid. Kincaid has been a long-time host of the show "Personality Crisis" on Georgia Tech's WREK 91.7 FM and most recently a columnist and features writer of Jeff Clark's Stomp and Stammer magazine. Earlier this month, Kincaid suffered a heart attack and while his angioplasty and bypass surgery were successful, the bills are piling up at an extremely quick clip. (In related news, Clark and Low Yo Yo Stuff owner Todd Ploharski hightailed it to Atlanta to cover for the man at WREK while he was going through all this.) Like most people in this business, he was uninsured and needs our help. For more information on the man, his radio show and how to help out, please visit www.personalitycrisis.org.
I Jumped The Gun. So Sue Me: Several weeks back I mentioned that Summer Hymns had been recording at a new studio location upstairs from Tasty World. Well, apparently studio owners Eric Friar and Asa Leffer weren't quite ready to announce their new location, but they've agreed not to break my kneecaps or anything. At any rate, here's the official lowdown on the new space. It's going to be called Downtown Athens Recording and it's been in the making for the past four months or so. Both Leffer and Friar have extensive engineering experience and anyone who has ever heard any of their projects should be more than comfortable working with them. Going rates are approximately $250 a day or $25 an hour - which is cheap, pardner. But quality is always Job One with these guys and you can expect only the finest. Since I'm about as equipment-oriented as a blind rat, I'll let Friar himself explain what they've got: "We are offering 2" analog recording and a 32-track Pro Tools set up, all in a gorgeous 1890's live room. We're proud to boast the largest room in town, over 3500 sq. feet with 21-foot ceilings and a great view of downtown." Current projects include Ginger Envelope, Todd Ferry, Stories Below, Ceramic Duck, Let's Surf, Sharks and Minnows, The Bet, Heros Severum and the aforementioned Summer Hymns. For a full list of available equipment, to book time or anything else please contact these guys at (706) 552-0745 or email them at downtownathens@bellsouth.net.
No Garbage Is An Island: More news from the Garbage Island camp this week. Yet Another offshoot project will be crowding the stage at the fabulous 40 Watt. This time around it's member Craig Lieske and his Echo Canyon project. The band will open for Mother Jackson, who are better known as regular 40 Watt staffers. Indeed, Mother Jackson rhythm section members Jim Wilson and Chuck Bradburn will be rounding out Echo Canyon so it probably won't be a death-cage match or anything like that. This all goes down on Thursday, Feb. 5, so don't say I didn't warn you.
I've Always Had More Fun In My Jammys, Too: The gods of the jam band scene Widespread Panic have been nominated for three different "Jammy" awards this year. Basically, the awards go out to whichever band gets the most votes in each category listed at Jammys.com. Needless to say all the bands pretty much fall into the rock-purgatory category of "jam bands." At any rate, Panic has been nominated for the award in the following categories: Studio Album Of The Year, Tour Of The Year and Song Of The Year. Other nominees include the horrific String Cheese Incident, the pointless Leftover Salmon and the incomprehensibly popular moe. Needless to say, I'm pulling for Widespread over any of these other hosers if for the simple reason that they are homeboys. And I always support the homeboys. Cast your vote over at www.jammys.com.
Things to Remember: The 2004 Flagpole Music Directory is under construction and coming together fast. Deadline for getting in your submission and/or correction is this Friday, Feb. 6!! To get your band, venues, label, store or other service listed - or to update the existing listing - just visit www.flagpole.com and click on the handy button. This thing's invaluable, and will help you book gigs, find equipment and build a better tomorrow. And remember this, too: AthFest CD submissions are open until the end of February. Pick up a form at any Musician's Warehouse or at www.athfest.com. Go for the gold. [Chris Hassiotis]
And I'm off like a dirty shirt. Keep your news coming in and I'll get to it. Reference me or "Threats And Promises" in all email subject lines and this whole process will go a lot smoother. Come to where the flavor is via email music@flagpole.com, voicemail at 549-2360; or by post at P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603.
Gordon Lamb
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