Music News & Gossip
Jul 2, 2003
Threats & Promises
Well, it's been over a week since AthFest ended but don't be sad, Poncho, there's a whole 'nother year of Athens music that's gonna happen starting right... now. Speaking of which, look out below...
Speaking of AthFest: I'm sure everyone has their own AthFest memory that they will carry with them, but I had to borrow this one. Immediately before hardcore-mayhem bandits This Scares Me started their short and ill-fated set on the sidewalk outside Tasty World on Saturday, June 21, club owner Murphy Wolford reminded the crowd of punks gathered outside that a big reason for punk rock even existing in Athens was the late Laura Carter (Bar-B-Q Killers, Feltch, Jack-O-Nuts, Christa McAuliffe & The Challengers). While I haven't got his exact words, Wolford gave a loving tribute to Carter and dedicated the entire Tasty World weekend to her. In a related note, after about 15 minutes of blasting the ears off downtown Athens, This Scares Me was summarily shut down by Sgt. Willie Smith of the Athens Police Department. While some out-of-town youngsters shouted the typical "fuck the police!" nonsense, locals knew that if you're gonna be busted by the cops, there's no one you'd want more on the scene than Sgt. Smith - he's a fixture on the downtown scene and known as one of the most cool-headed officers in history.
Most Appropriate Band Name Category: Gonna be stuck in Atlanta over the July 4 weekend? Well, after you're done shoveling hot dogs and baked beans down your gullet and have rested for a day or so, get your carbohydrate-addicted body down to Criminal Records to catch Athens' very own Summer Hymns on Sunday, July 6. The band will be doing an in-store performance (which at Criminal actually means in the parking lot) at 4 p.m. The band's current release Clemency, in stores July 1, is their second for Brooklyn-based Misra Records (which is owned by Athens ex-pat Phil Waldorf). In other Criminal Records news, The Woggles will do an in-store over there on July 17 at 7 p.m. While surely they'll never be the same after the loss of guitarist George Holton earlier this summer, band leader Manfred Jones is the very definition of perseverance and I wish them the best.
Not So Slack After All: Fans will be saddened to learn that Athens rockers Slackdaddy will be taking some time off. Word is that after a few more shows here in town the band is gonna splinter like kindling for a while with guitarist and singer Andrew McCain scooting up to the University of Virginia to grab his Masters Degree in American Studies, bassist Bryan Howard will be scooting around the country with The Kevn Kinney Band and drummer Ian Werden will scoot along here in town with Jackpot City. Don't worry, the band has no plans for a permanent split; they'll release their third album, Karmageddon, sometime around December.
Finally, A Reason To Traverse Baxter Street: Local songwriter and Neat Stripes member Paul Walker, along with compatriot Brian Connell, will be shoring up the ears of patrons over at Spaar's Bar & Grill on Baxter St. every Thursday evening this Summer as part of their bluegrass/country showcase thing. The Neat Stripes will be playing as a duo over at the 283 Bar on July 2. Neat Stripes are also working on their second release, the follow-up to their debut The End Of That, which is currently being touted and promoted by Yum Yum Publicity (owned and operated by Mike Turner of the Florida pop label Happy, Happy Birthday To Me.) Rumor is that HHBTM has decided to release the new Casper And The Cookies album, Oh!. Walker also plays drums in the Cookies. See, you might think Athens has a bunch of different bands but it's really just one huge musicians' union that regroups under different names. Seriously.
Local Lyric For This Week: This week's lyric was chosen specifically so I could extend an apology to all the wonderfully nice people I've met at shows, over the phone or through email in this scene and yet I simply cannot remember their names. I've always had this problem and while it is a sure sign of failure in the business world, hopefully the music scene can forgive me. If you see me on the street and I don't call you by name, please gently remind me. I really do like you and I'm just crap with names. So here it is, this week's local lyric courtesy of longtime-Athens favorites Ceiling Fan: "What was your name?/ I've forgotten already." Sadly, I've also forgotten the title of the song this lyric is from. Damn.
Speaking of Forgotten Names: Tanner Brown just sent in his report from the Bonnaroo Music Festival, and while there was a lot to say, see and do, one thing struck us here at the office as we filed through his pictures - James Brown looks a hell of a lot like the Hulk. I mean, they've both got a shiny, almost rubber-like complexion, they're both prone to fits of rage and Dr. Bruce Banner is one of the hardest working men in science-biz. Judge for yourself. [Chris Hassiotis]
Final Notes: Personal congrats to Carrie Nations for scooping up the Flagpole Athens Music Award for "Best Punk Band"; Give a pat on the back [Not too hard - I sunburned at AthFest - CH] to music editor Chris Hassiotis for surviving his first Flagpole Athens Music Awards while looking quite suave in black; Petition Flagpole to only allow 10 minutes per band in next year's ceremony so we can all get on with the celebratin'; Look around and remember what a great town you live in.
I'm out. Hope you enjoyed it. Let's meet here again next week where I'll spin tall tales and steal your thunder again. Remember to get all you news to me as soon as you know what's going on and I'll get it in here. The whole world loves it when you make that sound 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
Speaking of AthFest: I'm sure everyone has their own AthFest memory that they will carry with them, but I had to borrow this one. Immediately before hardcore-mayhem bandits This Scares Me started their short and ill-fated set on the sidewalk outside Tasty World on Saturday, June 21, club owner Murphy Wolford reminded the crowd of punks gathered outside that a big reason for punk rock even existing in Athens was the late Laura Carter (Bar-B-Q Killers, Feltch, Jack-O-Nuts, Christa McAuliffe & The Challengers). While I haven't got his exact words, Wolford gave a loving tribute to Carter and dedicated the entire Tasty World weekend to her. In a related note, after about 15 minutes of blasting the ears off downtown Athens, This Scares Me was summarily shut down by Sgt. Willie Smith of the Athens Police Department. While some out-of-town youngsters shouted the typical "fuck the police!" nonsense, locals knew that if you're gonna be busted by the cops, there's no one you'd want more on the scene than Sgt. Smith - he's a fixture on the downtown scene and known as one of the most cool-headed officers in history.
| |
Most Appropriate Band Name Category: Gonna be stuck in Atlanta over the July 4 weekend? Well, after you're done shoveling hot dogs and baked beans down your gullet and have rested for a day or so, get your carbohydrate-addicted body down to Criminal Records to catch Athens' very own Summer Hymns on Sunday, July 6. The band will be doing an in-store performance (which at Criminal actually means in the parking lot) at 4 p.m. The band's current release Clemency, in stores July 1, is their second for Brooklyn-based Misra Records (which is owned by Athens ex-pat Phil Waldorf). In other Criminal Records news, The Woggles will do an in-store over there on July 17 at 7 p.m. While surely they'll never be the same after the loss of guitarist George Holton earlier this summer, band leader Manfred Jones is the very definition of perseverance and I wish them the best.
Not So Slack After All: Fans will be saddened to learn that Athens rockers Slackdaddy will be taking some time off. Word is that after a few more shows here in town the band is gonna splinter like kindling for a while with guitarist and singer Andrew McCain scooting up to the University of Virginia to grab his Masters Degree in American Studies, bassist Bryan Howard will be scooting around the country with The Kevn Kinney Band and drummer Ian Werden will scoot along here in town with Jackpot City. Don't worry, the band has no plans for a permanent split; they'll release their third album, Karmageddon, sometime around December.
| |
Finally, A Reason To Traverse Baxter Street: Local songwriter and Neat Stripes member Paul Walker, along with compatriot Brian Connell, will be shoring up the ears of patrons over at Spaar's Bar & Grill on Baxter St. every Thursday evening this Summer as part of their bluegrass/country showcase thing. The Neat Stripes will be playing as a duo over at the 283 Bar on July 2. Neat Stripes are also working on their second release, the follow-up to their debut The End Of That, which is currently being touted and promoted by Yum Yum Publicity (owned and operated by Mike Turner of the Florida pop label Happy, Happy Birthday To Me.) Rumor is that HHBTM has decided to release the new Casper And The Cookies album, Oh!. Walker also plays drums in the Cookies. See, you might think Athens has a bunch of different bands but it's really just one huge musicians' union that regroups under different names. Seriously.
Local Lyric For This Week: This week's lyric was chosen specifically so I could extend an apology to all the wonderfully nice people I've met at shows, over the phone or through email in this scene and yet I simply cannot remember their names. I've always had this problem and while it is a sure sign of failure in the business world, hopefully the music scene can forgive me. If you see me on the street and I don't call you by name, please gently remind me. I really do like you and I'm just crap with names. So here it is, this week's local lyric courtesy of longtime-Athens favorites Ceiling Fan: "What was your name?/ I've forgotten already." Sadly, I've also forgotten the title of the song this lyric is from. Damn.
Speaking of Forgotten Names: Tanner Brown just sent in his report from the Bonnaroo Music Festival, and while there was a lot to say, see and do, one thing struck us here at the office as we filed through his pictures - James Brown looks a hell of a lot like the Hulk. I mean, they've both got a shiny, almost rubber-like complexion, they're both prone to fits of rage and Dr. Bruce Banner is one of the hardest working men in science-biz. Judge for yourself. [Chris Hassiotis]
Final Notes: Personal congrats to Carrie Nations for scooping up the Flagpole Athens Music Award for "Best Punk Band"; Give a pat on the back [Not too hard - I sunburned at AthFest - CH] to music editor Chris Hassiotis for surviving his first Flagpole Athens Music Awards while looking quite suave in black; Petition Flagpole to only allow 10 minutes per band in next year's ceremony so we can all get on with the celebratin'; Look around and remember what a great town you live in.
I'm out. Hope you enjoyed it. Let's meet here again next week where I'll spin tall tales and steal your thunder again. Remember to get all you news to me as soon as you know what's going on and I'll get it in here. The whole world loves it when you make that sound 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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