You know, for all my complaining about the heat this summer, I really should have held my tongue until now, huh? It's been like living in the bottom of a wok or something.

Hot enough to make me just give away my season tickets to the Bulldogs and jump in the pool instead. See? Now I'm delirious. Damn...

Everybody's Moving!: The guys over at bumbleBEAR Records have up and moved again; this time they've gotten a P.O. Box so all your demos and fan mail won't get lost in this newest shuffle. So if you need to stalk them, go hang out at the post office and leave the new tenants alone. The new address is P.O. Box 7321, Athens, GA, 30604. Also in bumbleBEAR news, there are a couple of new records out (in addition to the already released chart-climber How Big This Is by the killer - pun intended - Murder Beach) that should have all you pop and rock folks salivating. First is the double CD of the final show by the beloved Masters Of The Hemisphere which was recorded by Chris Bishop over at the fabulous 40 Watt in November of 2002. Also our is a tribute to underground popmeisters Tullycraft. While not comprised completely of local Athens bands, the release is notable for its inclusion of Athens' own Bugs Eat Books and Crewsin' For A Brewsin'. Look up all you need to know at www.bumblebear.com.

Looks Like A Good Read: The Possibilities have been updating their website (www.thepossibilities.org) with such frequency it's getting harder to believe that there's a rock band behind all that. At any rate, in addition to the multiple links to external MP3s, there's a ton of new photos, new video footage, on-line polls and "lots of ranting and raving about cool new bands and albums on the forum." The band is putting the finishing touches on its newest album over at Tom Lewis' studio and is also compiling archival video footage for a potential DVD release. Damn - when do they find time to write songs anymore?

Confused? Not Anymore: As reported last week, Rock Star Wallabies are no more. Instead, some members of the group have decided to reassess their music and carry on as More Sweet Confusion.

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Kirsten Hazler and Heidi Millington will share guitar, bass and vocal duties, while Shawn Gachassin will do the drum thing. The band carries on the sweet pop-rock harmonies the Wallabies established but, according to Millington, will incorporate "more noise, more rock and roll, more action, more variety... lyrics laden with love, hate, and confusion, plus lightning-fast instrument changes!" [Chris Hassiotis]

Instant Memories: Paul Thomas over at the X-Ray Café just loaded a few bucks into the well via the eBay sale of a rare piece of R.E.M. memorabilia. The item in question is the black and white portrait of an anonymous man that was held for several seconds in the hands of video star (and then-skateboard champ and now-member of local rock gods Music Hates You) Noah Ray in the video for "The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" off of 1987's Document.

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The photograph was sold as a benefit for the performance space located inside the X-Ray, and if you've never gotten yourself down there, just make the hike cause it's worth it. "Eclectric" and exciting, the performances go down almost every week with dance parties following. Located between Clocked! and the fabulous 40 Watt on Washington Street, it's hard not to find. Thomas and local writer, promoter and radio guy JoE Silva will be placing their new sound and video installation at the Contemporary Museum Of Art in Atlanta on Saturday, September 13.

Look Closer. It's All There: There seems to be some confusion surrounding the fate of the now-former Ultramod Compound building. Raleigh Hatfield, a resident and member of local band What?, wishes to assure the public that he and the other residents will still host bands there and you can contact him at 549-3781. When I said that I was done with doing shows there and that I was removing the name of the place I certainly didn't mean that the building would vanish into fairy dust and float away, just that you couldn't contact me in reference to the place anymore. On Saturday, September 13, The House Formerly Known As The Ultramod Compound (which is, for this show, a temporary name, unless Prince shows up) will put on The Impossible Shapes and June Panic

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from Bloomington, IN. Look for Ultramod productions to occur elsewhere in town in the future, and thanks for all the support over the years.

Cool As Hell and Free To Boot: Jack Logan, a local figurehead and our stock answer to Ohio's Robert Pollard, is making tracks recorded with his Monday Night Recorders available for free on Athensmusic.net. Monday Night Recorders is a group of local musicians with a penchant for 4- and 8-track home recording. Not only are tracks being made available for free, but Logan himself will also provide free artwork for the tracks via the website and liner notes (of sorts). He'll describe the recording and history of the songs and give a rundown of who's on what and when it all happened and how and why and whatnot. Check it out at www.athensmusic.net.

Sounds Messy, But It's Not: Athens' newest recording/rehearsal space is now up and running and sounds great. Pigpen Studios opened up recently over on Oneida Street and features 19 (!) rehearsal rooms, a live recording room and a huge Pro-Tools rig. Of course none of this makes any sense at all to the casual reader, but all you band types out there that are sick to death of practicing with your gear shoved between the sofa and television, complaining neighbors, noise ordinances and hot-as-hell practice spaces, listen up. This joint has 24-hour access, climate controlled rooms and a lounge with a "Donkey Kong" machine. Get more info and reserve your space by calling 369-6755 or visiting www.pigpenstudios.net.

Final Notes: Cell phone-atics, get yer Drive-By Truckers ringtone at www.zingy.com for only $1.99. The Truckers also appeared on "The Late, Late Show With Craig Kilborn" on Monday, August 18. I'm not making this up. Be sure to pick up the new Bubba Sparxxx and Jet By Day albums this month. Say hello to freshmen and transplants at shows and make everyone feel welcome. You were a new kid once, and it can be overwhelming.

And I'm off. Please, as always, get your news to me often and quickly, reference me or Threats & Promises in the subject line of your emails and stir some junk up. I'm just here to chum the waters. You guys are the sharks that need to draw the blood. Let it bleed 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