Music News & Gossip
Oct 22, 2003
Threats & Promises
Mmmm. Athens in the fall is one of the most spectacular things. For me, this is the time of excitement - not spring, when the only thing to look forward to is a long, humid summer. At any rate, lots of cool stuff's been happening so maybe this feeling gets into everyone's bones. Full scans are found below...
Get Your Shopping Done Early: Long-time, and I really mean long-time this time, Athens musician Kurt Wood, along with wife Gretchen, will be hosting his fall record sale soon - anyone looking to score some cool records for cheap should show up. Wood's record sales are always billed as "The Front Porch Record Sale" because that's literally where they happen... on his porch. Whereas some homespun merchants might try to lure you onto their porch with promises of candy or home-made preserves, Wood has a killer selection and an unbelievable, encyclopedic knowledge of his product. This all goes down Saturday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, Oct. 26, from noon until 5 p.m. For directions, information and more, email ognir45@yahoo.com.
Reformed And Revamped: Mandy Branch, bass player extraordinaire of angular/post-punk band Heros Severum has decided to reform her old band, The Bet. The band will feature Eric Friar, also of Heros Severum, on drums and musician and band friend Dustin Hudson on bass. Branch has already set the band on course to rock the western hemisphere by lining up gigs opening for Jenny Toomey at Nuçi's Space on October 29 and for Ted Leo & The Pharmacists at Atlanta's Echo Lounge on December 11. (By the way, you should all be super-excited about Toomey's visit; she's a punk pioneer and one of the most intelligent people working in music today. Good singer, too.)
Hopefully this reforming will encourage them to get in the studio and give the kids something for posterity.
Same Dread, Different Place: University Of Georgia-based hip hop collective Dreaded Mindz has announced a change in venue for the weekly Battle Lounge and Ear Therapy events. Until recently both events were held at Element, but found themselves in need of a new home after new management took over and closed the club down. Both Tasty World and Insomnia stepped up to the plate for the Dreaded Mindz Family; Athens will benefit by having these events continue. Here's the scoop on both: Ear Therapy, a poetry session in which members of the community are encouraged to express themselves in spoken word, dance, music or any other art form, will be held every Monday night at 10 p.m. upstairs at Tasty World. It'll be co-hosted by Dreaded Mindz Family members Life and Quik. If this isn't your thing, then Battle Lounge probably is. Just as the name implies, Battle Lounge is a weekly rap battle in which local MC's can show their skills in front of an audience. A big difference between a regular ol' rap battle and Battle Lounge is this: no real "battle" raps (where MC's focus their skills on verbally decimating and running down their opponent) are allowed. Instead, and in keeping with the positive nature of all things Dreaded Mindz, rappers are allowed to freestyle only. This is cool because often-time rap battles are won by who has the best lyrical put-downs rather than the best flow, as it should be. At any rate, Battle Lounge will go down every Wednesday night at 11 p.m. over at Insomnia. Family member Montu Hotep and the aforementioned Life will host. All interested in battling must sign up between 11 and 11:20 p.m. in order to participate. For more information on these and other Dreaded Mindz productions please contact dreadedmindz9@hotmail.com or call 227-2430.
Two Nights The Night: The fabulous 40 Watt will host singer songwriter Gillian Welch, who's accompanied by husband and musician David Rawlings, for a two-night stand Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25. Welch, who continues to forge inroads into the psyche and hearts of fans, is a true talent who is sure to please those in attendance. Both these shows will be early and are non-smoking. Read more in ABC.
A late night performance on the 25th by Athens' own wonderful Circulatory System and Welsh pop-psyche merchants Gorky's Zygotic Mynci is sure to grab those who aren't into the whole singer-songwriter jazz. Either way, you won't be bored.
Caledonia Here I Come, Right Back Where I Started From: The Caledonia Lounge is packing a one-two punch this week starting on Thursday, Oct. 23, with the "Must Destroy Music Dance Party." Local rockers The Agenda are playing host to this event, although they will not be playing themselves, in order to introduce Athens to their British label Must Destroy Music, which released the band's debut album across the pond earlier this year. Folks will have an opportunity to listen to various Must Destroy artists being pumped through the P.A. while Agenda guitarist Ryan Lewis DJs. Live music will be provided by Austin, TX, band Pink Swords. The next night sees the performance of Athens' own pop-maestros The High Caliber. They'll share the bill with Teen Wheat and Hex Error. I can't express how much The High Caliber adds to the lexicon of Athens music nowadays, so get yourself out and see them.
Final Notes: Many, many thanks to Jomo Entertainment for bringing Dr. Ralph Stanley to Athens a couple of weeks ago. Simply mind-blowing, he was; Anyone who caught R.E.M. over at Philips Arena will concur when I say it was hands down one of the best R.E.M. shows ever seen. Check Chris McKay's review in this issue; On a d'oh! note, the Flagpole article on Lona last week mentioned bassist Nick Bielli as being "ex-Hayride." Yeah, well, Nick's still in Hayride - hell, he was who started the group 12 years ago! Apologies for the confusion, Nick; Bundle up and keep warm, guys. It's getting cold out there.
And we're off. Keep your tidbits pouring in and, as always, I will lovingly spew them out to everyone. Be sure to reference Threats & Promises or me in the subject line of all email correspondence. My baby don't mess around via email to music@flagpole.com, voicemail at 549-2360; via fax at 548-8981; or by post at P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603.
Gordon Lamb
Get Your Shopping Done Early: Long-time, and I really mean long-time this time, Athens musician Kurt Wood, along with wife Gretchen, will be hosting his fall record sale soon - anyone looking to score some cool records for cheap should show up. Wood's record sales are always billed as "The Front Porch Record Sale" because that's literally where they happen... on his porch. Whereas some homespun merchants might try to lure you onto their porch with promises of candy or home-made preserves, Wood has a killer selection and an unbelievable, encyclopedic knowledge of his product. This all goes down Saturday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, Oct. 26, from noon until 5 p.m. For directions, information and more, email ognir45@yahoo.com.
Reformed And Revamped: Mandy Branch, bass player extraordinaire of angular/post-punk band Heros Severum has decided to reform her old band, The Bet. The band will feature Eric Friar, also of Heros Severum, on drums and musician and band friend Dustin Hudson on bass. Branch has already set the band on course to rock the western hemisphere by lining up gigs opening for Jenny Toomey at Nuçi's Space on October 29 and for Ted Leo & The Pharmacists at Atlanta's Echo Lounge on December 11. (By the way, you should all be super-excited about Toomey's visit; she's a punk pioneer and one of the most intelligent people working in music today. Good singer, too.)
| |
Same Dread, Different Place: University Of Georgia-based hip hop collective Dreaded Mindz has announced a change in venue for the weekly Battle Lounge and Ear Therapy events. Until recently both events were held at Element, but found themselves in need of a new home after new management took over and closed the club down. Both Tasty World and Insomnia stepped up to the plate for the Dreaded Mindz Family; Athens will benefit by having these events continue. Here's the scoop on both: Ear Therapy, a poetry session in which members of the community are encouraged to express themselves in spoken word, dance, music or any other art form, will be held every Monday night at 10 p.m. upstairs at Tasty World. It'll be co-hosted by Dreaded Mindz Family members Life and Quik. If this isn't your thing, then Battle Lounge probably is. Just as the name implies, Battle Lounge is a weekly rap battle in which local MC's can show their skills in front of an audience. A big difference between a regular ol' rap battle and Battle Lounge is this: no real "battle" raps (where MC's focus their skills on verbally decimating and running down their opponent) are allowed. Instead, and in keeping with the positive nature of all things Dreaded Mindz, rappers are allowed to freestyle only. This is cool because often-time rap battles are won by who has the best lyrical put-downs rather than the best flow, as it should be. At any rate, Battle Lounge will go down every Wednesday night at 11 p.m. over at Insomnia. Family member Montu Hotep and the aforementioned Life will host. All interested in battling must sign up between 11 and 11:20 p.m. in order to participate. For more information on these and other Dreaded Mindz productions please contact dreadedmindz9@hotmail.com or call 227-2430.
Two Nights The Night: The fabulous 40 Watt will host singer songwriter Gillian Welch, who's accompanied by husband and musician David Rawlings, for a two-night stand Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25. Welch, who continues to forge inroads into the psyche and hearts of fans, is a true talent who is sure to please those in attendance. Both these shows will be early and are non-smoking. Read more in ABC.
| |
Caledonia Here I Come, Right Back Where I Started From: The Caledonia Lounge is packing a one-two punch this week starting on Thursday, Oct. 23, with the "Must Destroy Music Dance Party." Local rockers The Agenda are playing host to this event, although they will not be playing themselves, in order to introduce Athens to their British label Must Destroy Music, which released the band's debut album across the pond earlier this year. Folks will have an opportunity to listen to various Must Destroy artists being pumped through the P.A. while Agenda guitarist Ryan Lewis DJs. Live music will be provided by Austin, TX, band Pink Swords. The next night sees the performance of Athens' own pop-maestros The High Caliber. They'll share the bill with Teen Wheat and Hex Error. I can't express how much The High Caliber adds to the lexicon of Athens music nowadays, so get yourself out and see them.
Final Notes: Many, many thanks to Jomo Entertainment for bringing Dr. Ralph Stanley to Athens a couple of weeks ago. Simply mind-blowing, he was; Anyone who caught R.E.M. over at Philips Arena will concur when I say it was hands down one of the best R.E.M. shows ever seen. Check Chris McKay's review in this issue; On a d'oh! note, the Flagpole article on Lona last week mentioned bassist Nick Bielli as being "ex-Hayride." Yeah, well, Nick's still in Hayride - hell, he was who started the group 12 years ago! Apologies for the confusion, Nick; Bundle up and keep warm, guys. It's getting cold out there.
And we're off. Keep your tidbits pouring in and, as always, I will lovingly spew them out to everyone. Be sure to reference Threats & Promises or me in the subject line of all email correspondence. My baby don't mess around via email to music@flagpole.com, voicemail at 549-2360; via fax at 548-8981; or by post at P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603.
Gordon Lamb
Threats & Promises RSS Feed
Share This Page 
View the Paper in PDF
Past Issues
