Man, all I gotta say this week to y'all is that if you wanna get a solid piece of hip hop history under yer belt, get thee to the closest video store and demand your copy of the 1983 documentary Style Wars, put out by the fabulous Plexifilm. The film originally aired on PBS back in the day and just knowing that this gem once was distributed via public transmitters makes me almost forgive them for giving Bill Moyers so much airtime nowadays. With that, on with the show...

Talkin' Junk With The Plunk: One of Athens finest bands in the "roots-rock" category (oh, you know, Replacements, Gram Parsons, etc....), Joseph Plunket + The Weight, is recording some new work. The sessions have been going down in Atlanta at the Redlab Studio with Ed Rawls (Hal Al Shedad, Good Friday Experiment) at the knobs. The band is slated to release a 7" on Sabot Productions sometime in the fall and a new full-length with follow that, but no word on a label for the big one. Yet.

Rockin' The Skills, Payin' Some Bills: The Herb And Skills gang performed during the Atlantis Music Conference this past week at Atlanta's Apache Cafe. While I've never, ever been a fan of industry-type events like this, if the guys associated with H&S can get some added exposure and more fans from it, then more power to 'em. Oh, they've also just launched their brand new web site at www.herbandskills.com, so check it out. Speaking of power, point your browser over toward www.ishues.com and download Ishues' newest mix tape for free (see last weeks' column for details). Yep, all 22 tracks are completely free. And yeah, I don't know why people call digital compact-disc compilations "mix tapes," but they just do, okay?

Don't Go Breaking My Heart: Alright girls and guys, sad to say, but Athens' kings of vamp and mascara have decided to call it quits. Yes, the beloved Breakheart Beat will be playing its last show at Atlanta's Echo Lounge this Friday, August 8, which just happens to be the same night that the tribute CD to Black Lips guitarist Ben Eberbaugh will be released. Technically the band has already broken up, but the boys are honoring their agreement to play this show. This is probably because when they aren't rocking in bands they are all Boy Scout leaders. Fine folks, each and every one. At any rate, The Black Lips and Jet By Day share the bill for this one, so pack a lunch and hit the road!

Tha', Tha', Tha', That's All Folks!: Okay, guys, here it is. After seven years, a few headaches, lots of unforgettable moments and a couple hundred bands, I am throwing my final shows at The Ultramod Compound. I christened the place as such and will be using the name in the future on other projects, but will no longer be promoting shows out of the living room. At any rate, my final shows there will be Friday, August 15, (Murder Beach plus others) and Saturday, August 16, (lineup to be announced). Thanks to everyone that ever came to a show I put on and every band to cross my threshold. I appreciate it more than you'll ever know. For more info please call (706) 613-2331.

Time For Some Schoolin': Clint Weiler of Music Video Distributors, who bill themselves as masters of "eclectic DVD distribution," dropped a line to confirm that seminal scene documentary Athens, Ga.: Inside/Out will see a DVD release sometime in late fall - early November, perhaps. The company's still working on production so there's no word yet as to extras that'll be included on the disc (discs?). However, Weiler said that he and some local folks are tossing around the idea of having some sort of big screening party thing, so watch this space for updates. [Chris Hassiotis]

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Oh, Hell, This Is Surreal: Athens/Atlanta commute kings and pop-maestros The Shut Ups are having, ahem, a "Baby Release Party" for the newly released child that belongs to Shut Ups founder Don Condescending. No word on whether or not the baby will be available for a pre-show meet'n'greet, but I have it on good information that the baby itself is a pretty exclusive deal and available previously for a one-time-only download and then only available to Mrs. Condescending, at that. The show will happen Saturday, August 16, at Tasty World, and also on the bill that night are "fucked-up folk duo" Brat, hip hop group Grande Buffet and (yes!) The High Caliber. (Finally, The Shut Ups and The High Caliber will share the stage. Blessed be!) If this entire "Baby Release Show" thing sounds bizarre to you, rest assured: you're not alone.

Pass The Milk!: Athens legend Harvey Milk will have 13 "singles" released by metal/experimental label Relapse Records this month. While the band existed for seven years in Athens (1991-1998) and destroyed many times that amount of eardrums, its recordings have always been previously difficult to find. Relapse has a good reputation of keeping things in print so chances are that this collection will be around for a while. For more info on the release head over to www.relapse.com.

Final Notes: Crunchifus plays some funky, eclectic, fun music, so it's no surprise to see something like this in town.

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Not that the guys did anything... probably those crazed hordes of fans; Athens is big on benefit shows, so why doesn't somebody throw a benefit show for the gang over at Tite Pockets so they can buy a couple of those huge industrial-sized fans like the fabulous 40 Watt has? This summer heat has it baking like an oven in there; You might want to check out www.athensmusic.com for all the latest news on the R.E.M. tour and various other stuff. It reads more like a blog than a news-oriented website, but it's casual and that's okay. Great layout, though.

And another week is gone already. Send in droves, with my name on it of course, as soon as you have it written down. Yo, bum rush the show 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