Music News & Gossip
Nov 5, 2003
Threats & Promises
Regularly scheduled bundle of puppies Gordon Lamb is taking time off this week, so your humble music editor's taking over. No worries, though: local music news still goes down even when Vitamin G's not around. The gossip? We'll just make something up. (Look, I got through that intro without mentioning the weather once! Besides just then. Proof that this is a whole new "Threats & Promises")...
DM Don't Just Mean Dungeon Master: Since Gordon's not around, I feel secure in mentioning England without saying how much they love The Agenda over there. However, they sure love some Brian Burton, known alternately as Danger Mouse. London's daily newspaper The Guardian just named the "40 Greatest Bands in the US today," and former Athenian Burton is on there with his co-conspirator Jemini. Coming in at No. 39 (between Fannypack and Emmylou Harris), the duo, according to The Guardian, "opts for a charming musical eclecticism and a fierce lyrical intelligence that bears comparison to prime-time Public Enemy." Sounds about right. DM and Jemini will also have some songs featured in the Bruckheimer-produced television show "Skin." Oh, and obscure local experimental trio R.E.M. made the list at No. 22. Who else is on the list? Lambchop, who backed local troubadour Vic Chesnutt on his '98 release The Salesman and Bernadette scored slot No. 10. And with Tom Waits, Will Oldham, Le Tigre, Timbaland and Outkast on the list as well, it looks like the Brits could teach our mainstream press a thing or two. Check the stuff at www.guardian.co.uk/arts.
Speaking of R.E.M.: So remember that time when you were walking by Blue Sky a while back, back when they'd installed that new public clock downtown? And you were standing under it just staring, because it was new and big and black, and you noticed a guy next to you? And he was staring at the clock too? And then you realized he was Michael Stipe, and you made eye contact, then looked at the clock, then back at each other, shrugged and walked away? And remember how tired your friends are of hearing that damn story? Yeah, well, now you've got a new outlet; one R.E.M. devotee is taking the fan-zine concept one step further. "I am trying to compile a book of R.E.M. stories written by fans," says photographer Louise Daniels. "I feel and hope that it will be an amusing and touching insight into one of the most important bands of the last 20 years." Daniels plans to publish a book of memories, show reviews, photos and other R.E.M.-related business. Drop by www.rem-stories.com or email lou@rem-stories.com for details, legal info and all the etceteras.
First We Take Manhattan: Athens/Atlanta new-again rock number Swimming Pool Q's are getting a little of Indiana Jones' loot. Well, indirectly, maybe: the long-running band's song "More Than One Heaven" appears on the just-released soundtrack for director Steven Spielberg's Sci Fi Channel mini-series "Taken," which came out on DVD Oct. 21. One of the show's writers was a fan of the band ever since his band and the Q's played a show together back in "the day." The song from 1986's Blue Tomorrow appears alongside tracks from Love, Bob Dylan, The Stooges and more.
Mouth on the Plastic Hole: McKenna Mackie's shifting group of rock addicts Polemic has (finally!) finished its new album Plastic on the Mouth Hole. The album was recorded by Joe Rowe (The Glands) and mixed by Rowe and Asa Leffer down at Skylab Audio. Mastering took place over at City Mastering with Jeff Capurso. The album was recorded with Todd Sims on drums, Jeff Fox on bass and Mackie on guitar. While Mackie's the lead singer, Sims takes over vocal duties on two of the album's nine tracks. If it's all sold out around town, drop a line to P.O. Box 661, Athens, GA 30603, visit www.polemicmusic.net or email polemic_@hotmail.com.
The Royal Treatment: Some news from the Fairburn Royals camp - video of the band's July 18, 2003, 40 Watt gig has been posted on the Digital Club Network, so point and click over to www.dcn.com and look around. New York's Secret Crush Records also just put out a compilation called Stamp Collecting (for Beginners). It features the Royals' song "These Aren't Mistakes" as well as tunes from 19 other up-and-coming acts.
Autumn in New York: Solponticello Records mastermind (and Flagpole contributor) Erik Hinds has been on the move, taking a week to tour New York and Boston. Between November 2 and 8, Hinds "spontaneously composed" numbers on his hybrid H'arpeggione (somewhere between a Hardanger fiddle and an arpeggione) while accompanied by saxophonist Blaise Siwula and a different drummer at every performance.
If It's Not In Normaltown Anymore...: That monthly folk shindig known as "The Hoot" has found a new winter home. Put on by the Athens Folk Music & Dance Society, "The Hoot" had up until now spent the cold months at The Normaltown Café on Prince Ave. Now that the diner's moved to a considerably smaller location over by Calie... er, Salsa Rock Latin Café, "The Hoot" needed a new home. Enter the Athens Steam Co. Pub, located in the Foundry Park Inn complex - it's a place that organizer Susan Staley calls "the perfect spot." Monday, Nov. 10, is the debut show in the new location, and will feature multiple acts, including a fiddle-and-banjo duet. See ABC for the scoop.
So Long, Farewell: Sara O'Brien, the bluesy voiced pop singer/songwriter, has up and moved back home to New Jersey. Though she's been back and forth between Athens and South Jersey several times this month, it's about over. Her November 7 show at the Athens Steam Co. Pub over in the Foundry Park Inn is an official "Ta-Ta For Now Show." Though she expects several guests, O'Brien'll be backed by her regulars: David Weise (drums), Patrick Fours (guitar), Amanda Russ (backing vocals) and Zak Knight (bass). O'Brien's been away from home for about 10 years, and says "there's a time in your life when you just know it's time for a change, and for me it was time to go."
¿Que Pasó?: Those of you excited by the thought of seeing Cuban lute virtuoso Barbarito Torres perform (and if you read Flagpole two weeks ago, that's you!) must've been disappointed, as was I, to learn that the October 25 show had been canceled. Apparently, Torres had not yet been granted a work visa that would've allowed him to come to the States; as such, he nixed the first few shows of his tour. Word is that even Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was working to get Torres into the country ASAP, but to no avail. Josh Moore of Jomo Entertainment may reschedule the tour through Athens at a later date.
Fold-Out-Able: Think back to last week... when you read this column and I told you about Vanity Fair profiling Athens expats Azure Ray. I completely forgot to mention the three-page fold-out Volkswagen ad (part of the whole "Drivers Wanted" campaign) that featured nothing but Widespread Panic ticket stubs from across the nation. So what if places like Newman Arena in "Gainseville," GA, and Mangini Field here in Athens don't exist? It's rewarding to see the intense loyalty and near-mythic dedication of Spreadhead minions noted.
So that wraps up the wrapping up - Gordon'll be back next week, all fresh'n'sassy. Send info to him as always with his name or "Threats & Promises" in the subject line of your emails. Don't, don't, don't let's start 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.
Chris Hassiotis
DM Don't Just Mean Dungeon Master: Since Gordon's not around, I feel secure in mentioning England without saying how much they love The Agenda over there. However, they sure love some Brian Burton, known alternately as Danger Mouse. London's daily newspaper The Guardian just named the "40 Greatest Bands in the US today," and former Athenian Burton is on there with his co-conspirator Jemini. Coming in at No. 39 (between Fannypack and Emmylou Harris), the duo, according to The Guardian, "opts for a charming musical eclecticism and a fierce lyrical intelligence that bears comparison to prime-time Public Enemy." Sounds about right. DM and Jemini will also have some songs featured in the Bruckheimer-produced television show "Skin." Oh, and obscure local experimental trio R.E.M. made the list at No. 22. Who else is on the list? Lambchop, who backed local troubadour Vic Chesnutt on his '98 release The Salesman and Bernadette scored slot No. 10. And with Tom Waits, Will Oldham, Le Tigre, Timbaland and Outkast on the list as well, it looks like the Brits could teach our mainstream press a thing or two. Check the stuff at www.guardian.co.uk/arts.
Speaking of R.E.M.: So remember that time when you were walking by Blue Sky a while back, back when they'd installed that new public clock downtown? And you were standing under it just staring, because it was new and big and black, and you noticed a guy next to you? And he was staring at the clock too? And then you realized he was Michael Stipe, and you made eye contact, then looked at the clock, then back at each other, shrugged and walked away? And remember how tired your friends are of hearing that damn story? Yeah, well, now you've got a new outlet; one R.E.M. devotee is taking the fan-zine concept one step further. "I am trying to compile a book of R.E.M. stories written by fans," says photographer Louise Daniels. "I feel and hope that it will be an amusing and touching insight into one of the most important bands of the last 20 years." Daniels plans to publish a book of memories, show reviews, photos and other R.E.M.-related business. Drop by www.rem-stories.com or email lou@rem-stories.com for details, legal info and all the etceteras.
| |
First We Take Manhattan: Athens/Atlanta new-again rock number Swimming Pool Q's are getting a little of Indiana Jones' loot. Well, indirectly, maybe: the long-running band's song "More Than One Heaven" appears on the just-released soundtrack for director Steven Spielberg's Sci Fi Channel mini-series "Taken," which came out on DVD Oct. 21. One of the show's writers was a fan of the band ever since his band and the Q's played a show together back in "the day." The song from 1986's Blue Tomorrow appears alongside tracks from Love, Bob Dylan, The Stooges and more.
Mouth on the Plastic Hole: McKenna Mackie's shifting group of rock addicts Polemic has (finally!) finished its new album Plastic on the Mouth Hole. The album was recorded by Joe Rowe (The Glands) and mixed by Rowe and Asa Leffer down at Skylab Audio. Mastering took place over at City Mastering with Jeff Capurso. The album was recorded with Todd Sims on drums, Jeff Fox on bass and Mackie on guitar. While Mackie's the lead singer, Sims takes over vocal duties on two of the album's nine tracks. If it's all sold out around town, drop a line to P.O. Box 661, Athens, GA 30603, visit www.polemicmusic.net or email polemic_@hotmail.com.
The Royal Treatment: Some news from the Fairburn Royals camp - video of the band's July 18, 2003, 40 Watt gig has been posted on the Digital Club Network, so point and click over to www.dcn.com and look around. New York's Secret Crush Records also just put out a compilation called Stamp Collecting (for Beginners). It features the Royals' song "These Aren't Mistakes" as well as tunes from 19 other up-and-coming acts.
Autumn in New York: Solponticello Records mastermind (and Flagpole contributor) Erik Hinds has been on the move, taking a week to tour New York and Boston. Between November 2 and 8, Hinds "spontaneously composed" numbers on his hybrid H'arpeggione (somewhere between a Hardanger fiddle and an arpeggione) while accompanied by saxophonist Blaise Siwula and a different drummer at every performance.
If It's Not In Normaltown Anymore...: That monthly folk shindig known as "The Hoot" has found a new winter home. Put on by the Athens Folk Music & Dance Society, "The Hoot" had up until now spent the cold months at The Normaltown Café on Prince Ave. Now that the diner's moved to a considerably smaller location over by Calie... er, Salsa Rock Latin Café, "The Hoot" needed a new home. Enter the Athens Steam Co. Pub, located in the Foundry Park Inn complex - it's a place that organizer Susan Staley calls "the perfect spot." Monday, Nov. 10, is the debut show in the new location, and will feature multiple acts, including a fiddle-and-banjo duet. See ABC for the scoop.
| |
So Long, Farewell: Sara O'Brien, the bluesy voiced pop singer/songwriter, has up and moved back home to New Jersey. Though she's been back and forth between Athens and South Jersey several times this month, it's about over. Her November 7 show at the Athens Steam Co. Pub over in the Foundry Park Inn is an official "Ta-Ta For Now Show." Though she expects several guests, O'Brien'll be backed by her regulars: David Weise (drums), Patrick Fours (guitar), Amanda Russ (backing vocals) and Zak Knight (bass). O'Brien's been away from home for about 10 years, and says "there's a time in your life when you just know it's time for a change, and for me it was time to go."
| |
¿Que Pasó?: Those of you excited by the thought of seeing Cuban lute virtuoso Barbarito Torres perform (and if you read Flagpole two weeks ago, that's you!) must've been disappointed, as was I, to learn that the October 25 show had been canceled. Apparently, Torres had not yet been granted a work visa that would've allowed him to come to the States; as such, he nixed the first few shows of his tour. Word is that even Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton was working to get Torres into the country ASAP, but to no avail. Josh Moore of Jomo Entertainment may reschedule the tour through Athens at a later date.
Fold-Out-Able: Think back to last week... when you read this column and I told you about Vanity Fair profiling Athens expats Azure Ray. I completely forgot to mention the three-page fold-out Volkswagen ad (part of the whole "Drivers Wanted" campaign) that featured nothing but Widespread Panic ticket stubs from across the nation. So what if places like Newman Arena in "Gainseville," GA, and Mangini Field here in Athens don't exist? It's rewarding to see the intense loyalty and near-mythic dedication of Spreadhead minions noted.
So that wraps up the wrapping up - Gordon'll be back next week, all fresh'n'sassy. Send info to him as always with his name or "Threats & Promises" in the subject line of your emails. Don't, don't, don't let's start 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.
Chris Hassiotis
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