Music News & Gossip
Oct 29, 2003
Threats & Promises
Hey guys. Hope all of you are fine and I'm sure you've been looking forward to this time of the week as much as I have. So let's all take off our sports coats, put on a sweater (or a costume) and take a little trip to the land of make believe. Board the trolley now...
I'll Drive Anything If'n It's Free: On Saturday, Nov. 1, Athenians far and near will have the chance to get their mittens on one of those multi-colored, junk-adorned oddities that have been prowling our streets for several years now : a spy car will be given away at the fabulous 40 Watt during the show by The Hot August Knights and Das Cowboys UK.
The give away is sponsored by Team Clermont, Das Cowboys UK and Athensmusic.net and word is that the car was originally a 1991 Pontiac Grand Prix, but who the hell knows what it is now. There are a few restrictions like having to be at least 16 years old, getting the car as-is, etc. Full details over at Athensmusic.net.
Live at Your Desktop: Have any of you guys actually watched any of those "web-cast" things that have happened at various clubs over the years? Well, the technology has gotten a lot better and now it's actually something you might enjoy. Case in point: The Fairburn Royals show from The fabulous 40 Watt back on July 18 has recently been posted to the Digital Club Network site. The 40 Watt, a member of the network, has many shows available for viewing, like archived shows by The Drive-By Truckers, Kevn Kinney and The Possibilities among other notable local acts. Also, a ton of bigger national acts such as The Donnas, Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Pernice Brothers. You need a high-speed Internet connection to view all this, though, or you won't be at work for days. At any rate, head over to www.dcn.com and check it out.
Don't Throw 'em Away: After moving recently, I went through a purging stage where I got rid of a bunch of things I no longer needed. Among my things were hundreds of 'zines (small, self-published magazines which generally focus on the personal tastes of the publisher) from over the years which not only broke my back moving but took up way too much space. On the verge of tossing them away it occurred to me: why not donate them to the 'zine library over at Tite Pockets. Which I did. Then it occurred to me: why not tell other people to do the same? So I am. If you suffer from a pack-rat tendency as much as I do and voraciously consume photo-copied, self-published works but have found your collection cumbersome and overwhelming, then just box them up and truck them on down to Tite Pockets during a show. They'll be glad to take them. The X-Ray Café has at times also expressed interest in starting a 'zine library, so you might want to ask them if they're interested.
Zines? How 'bout Magazines?: A couple of local acts have been getting ink in some pretty well-read (if not prestigious - I am, after all, about to mention Rolling Stone) national magazines. First off, Pacific UV's self-titled debut got a nod on the back page of the (sigh) "Women Who Rock" issue of Rolling Stone. Seems the shoegazey delight is one of the editors' top five picks.
And thanks to Flagpole reader Carrie Coker, who pointed out that ex-Athenians Azure Ray got a brief profile in the current issue of Vanity Fair. Page 317 of the publication's "American Music" issue has a full-page photo of Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor, who'll be in Athens Nov. 22 promoting their new Saddle Creek album Hold On Love. [Chris Hassiotis]
I Feel So Behind the Curve: If you've attended any of the Homemade Junction events in town, not only have you been exposed to the super-underground of Athens music, but you have also seen some damn fine music, which brings me to this: Athens has a real treasure in the band known as Bellhouse. Led by songwriter/keyboardist Kimberly Paglia, the band also features multi-instrumentalist/artist Missy Kulik and Paglia's husband Tony. The band recently performed over at Flicker with K Records artists Dennis Driscoll. Previously, the band made its club debut at The Caledonia Lounge (the night doubled as Kimberly's birthday party). To that end she decked herself out in a dress entirely fabricated to resemble a huge birthday cake, complete with a head-piece featuring real, burning candles. But beyond all the fun and revelry is a band that twists a pop hook with an innocent sweetness. Paglia weaves a lyrical world where romance is pure and married life is blissful. I've had Bellhouse's album Evolution Of The Lemon stuck in my stereo since that night almost one month ago and I've not tired of it yet. If you're the type to be sincerely interested in solid, whimsical pop with genuine dreaminess, head over to www.bellhouse.org and download some MP3s. Then get the album.
People Like That: Skilled Atlanta rapper T.I. was all set to perform this week at Clarke Central High School to benefit a literacy promotion organization. Stories conflict as to the reasoning behind the cancellation: some say it was a procedural thing and some say it had to do with security, while others claim prejudice against hip hop acts and audiences. T.I. will most likely reschedule his performance for sometime in mid-November, when the University of Georgia will host the event. [CH]
Local Lyric For This Week: Okay, sue me, but I'm still on an R.E.M. high after seeing them a few weeks ago. And, well, let's just say things in my world have been a little upside down lately (to put it mildly). So here is a - for me at least - poignant line from "Sweetness Follows," off the band's 1992 Automatic For The People: "It's these little things, they can pull you under/ Live your life filled with joy and wonder/ I always knew this altogether thunder/ was lost in our little lives... oh, sweetness follows."
Perseverance Finally Pays Off: Speaking of Athens' best-kept secret, R.E.M.'s been getting a little television exposure as of late. The October 22 episode of Superman-derivative "Smallville" featured five R.E.M. tunes. The band provided all the music for the WB's episode titled "Slumber," for you TiVo fanatics. "Imitation of Life," "Everybody Hurts," "Losing My Religion," "Bad Day" and "At My Most Beautiful" are all off the group's new In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003, released on Oct. 20 by Warner Bros. Are Buck, Stipe and Mills (and Berry) trying to sex things up for a younger audience after getting called a "nostalgia act" by Slate.com? (Visit slate.msn.com/id/2089925.) Well, the episode did feature hotties Kristin Kreuk and Tom Welling (day)swimming all naked and stuff... [CH]
And that's all from me this week, folks. Send everything to me as always with my name in the subject line of your emails. Do the lido shuffle 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
I'll Drive Anything If'n It's Free: On Saturday, Nov. 1, Athenians far and near will have the chance to get their mittens on one of those multi-colored, junk-adorned oddities that have been prowling our streets for several years now : a spy car will be given away at the fabulous 40 Watt during the show by The Hot August Knights and Das Cowboys UK.
| |
Live at Your Desktop: Have any of you guys actually watched any of those "web-cast" things that have happened at various clubs over the years? Well, the technology has gotten a lot better and now it's actually something you might enjoy. Case in point: The Fairburn Royals show from The fabulous 40 Watt back on July 18 has recently been posted to the Digital Club Network site. The 40 Watt, a member of the network, has many shows available for viewing, like archived shows by The Drive-By Truckers, Kevn Kinney and The Possibilities among other notable local acts. Also, a ton of bigger national acts such as The Donnas, Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Pernice Brothers. You need a high-speed Internet connection to view all this, though, or you won't be at work for days. At any rate, head over to www.dcn.com and check it out.
Don't Throw 'em Away: After moving recently, I went through a purging stage where I got rid of a bunch of things I no longer needed. Among my things were hundreds of 'zines (small, self-published magazines which generally focus on the personal tastes of the publisher) from over the years which not only broke my back moving but took up way too much space. On the verge of tossing them away it occurred to me: why not donate them to the 'zine library over at Tite Pockets. Which I did. Then it occurred to me: why not tell other people to do the same? So I am. If you suffer from a pack-rat tendency as much as I do and voraciously consume photo-copied, self-published works but have found your collection cumbersome and overwhelming, then just box them up and truck them on down to Tite Pockets during a show. They'll be glad to take them. The X-Ray Café has at times also expressed interest in starting a 'zine library, so you might want to ask them if they're interested.
Zines? How 'bout Magazines?: A couple of local acts have been getting ink in some pretty well-read (if not prestigious - I am, after all, about to mention Rolling Stone) national magazines. First off, Pacific UV's self-titled debut got a nod on the back page of the (sigh) "Women Who Rock" issue of Rolling Stone. Seems the shoegazey delight is one of the editors' top five picks.
| |
I Feel So Behind the Curve: If you've attended any of the Homemade Junction events in town, not only have you been exposed to the super-underground of Athens music, but you have also seen some damn fine music, which brings me to this: Athens has a real treasure in the band known as Bellhouse. Led by songwriter/keyboardist Kimberly Paglia, the band also features multi-instrumentalist/artist Missy Kulik and Paglia's husband Tony. The band recently performed over at Flicker with K Records artists Dennis Driscoll. Previously, the band made its club debut at The Caledonia Lounge (the night doubled as Kimberly's birthday party). To that end she decked herself out in a dress entirely fabricated to resemble a huge birthday cake, complete with a head-piece featuring real, burning candles. But beyond all the fun and revelry is a band that twists a pop hook with an innocent sweetness. Paglia weaves a lyrical world where romance is pure and married life is blissful. I've had Bellhouse's album Evolution Of The Lemon stuck in my stereo since that night almost one month ago and I've not tired of it yet. If you're the type to be sincerely interested in solid, whimsical pop with genuine dreaminess, head over to www.bellhouse.org and download some MP3s. Then get the album.
People Like That: Skilled Atlanta rapper T.I. was all set to perform this week at Clarke Central High School to benefit a literacy promotion organization. Stories conflict as to the reasoning behind the cancellation: some say it was a procedural thing and some say it had to do with security, while others claim prejudice against hip hop acts and audiences. T.I. will most likely reschedule his performance for sometime in mid-November, when the University of Georgia will host the event. [CH]
Local Lyric For This Week: Okay, sue me, but I'm still on an R.E.M. high after seeing them a few weeks ago. And, well, let's just say things in my world have been a little upside down lately (to put it mildly). So here is a - for me at least - poignant line from "Sweetness Follows," off the band's 1992 Automatic For The People: "It's these little things, they can pull you under/ Live your life filled with joy and wonder/ I always knew this altogether thunder/ was lost in our little lives... oh, sweetness follows."
Perseverance Finally Pays Off: Speaking of Athens' best-kept secret, R.E.M.'s been getting a little television exposure as of late. The October 22 episode of Superman-derivative "Smallville" featured five R.E.M. tunes. The band provided all the music for the WB's episode titled "Slumber," for you TiVo fanatics. "Imitation of Life," "Everybody Hurts," "Losing My Religion," "Bad Day" and "At My Most Beautiful" are all off the group's new In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003, released on Oct. 20 by Warner Bros. Are Buck, Stipe and Mills (and Berry) trying to sex things up for a younger audience after getting called a "nostalgia act" by Slate.com? (Visit slate.msn.com/id/2089925.) Well, the episode did feature hotties Kristin Kreuk and Tom Welling (day)swimming all naked and stuff... [CH]
And that's all from me this week, folks. Send everything to me as always with my name in the subject line of your emails. Do the lido shuffle 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
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