Hey guys. Fall is here again and Athens is just so damn nice this time of year I can't stand it. So just pull on the wool socks, grab some coffee and settle down and soak up this week's news. The whole story starts below...

All The Flavor With None Of The Irony: Local band The Capricorns proved themselves worthy to be crowned the top New Wave band of Athens last week when they opened for Vancouver, BC act Submission Hold over at Tite Pockets. Lead Capricorn Heather Lynn is about the only person working this genre in recent memory that has a clear grasp and understanding of the nuances of what made early New Wave acts (Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, Simple Minds, Human League, etc.) so exciting in the first place. It wasn't the fashion, it was the tunes. Anyone out there that's sick to death of misplaced 1980s-nostalgia but craves authentic keyboard-based pop, get yourself out to a Capricorns show. The band released their sophomore album Go The Distance earlier this year and you can find MP3s and a bunch of other junk over at www.thecapricorns.com.

More News From The Troops: More news has come in regarding popular Athens act Stewart & Winfield. In addition to recent reports of the band being slated to play the Great Southern Music Harvest in Live Oak, FL, it seems fans simply cannot get enough of the band. The band has logged over 25,000 downloads of its music over at www.cornerband.com, has seen combined sales of over 10,000 from their five independent releases and has recently sold out completely of the newest release Low Country Blues. Recently the band was featured on "Studio GPR," the weekly music show broadcast over 15 radio stations affiliated with Georgia Public Radio. Take these guys as an example of what the possibilities are for your own band if you work hard enough and long enough. The band will next perform in Athens on Friday, Oct. 17, at The Georgia Theatre. Get more info over at www.stewartandwinfield.com.

Hilarity And Poignancy, All Rolled Into One: You read much in these pages about local artist Paul Thomas and his X-Ray Café. However, if you're not into the experimental scene or are intimidated by the rambunctious artsy-ness of the place, here's an event you might finally be able to sink your teeth into. Thomas has observed recently the similarity between Athens 2003 and Athens 1975 in that the two most popular things in town are disco and Southern rock. (Albeit, the "disco" being served up now is 99% pop tunes of the 1980s.) At any rate, Thomas is seeking to battle this trend. To this end, he is seeking volunteers to help organize The Johnny Thunders Memorial Barbecue and Tuna Casserole Bake Sale. The event, to be held later this fall, promises to be everything one might imagine it could be. Volunteers can apply to participate in person at X-Ray or email paul77@bellsouth.net for details. I live for this stuff.

Gainesville, FL Served Up Two Nights in A Row: Gainesville, FL has fostered a scene over the past 15 years or so that has come to rival Athens' own by virtue of its sheer size, the quality of bands and its eclectic makeup. The fabulous 40 Watt is hosting two not-to-be-missed shows this week featuring bands from Gainesville. First up, on Tuesday, Oct. 14, is the effervescent Against Me!, a band which has come under heavy fire from the local punk scene in the past years for playing such large venues. But you know what? Who cares? While I prefer the band's earlier, more acoustic-based work to its latter day full-band ensemble, Against Me! still put on a great show and if anyone should encounter protesters outside the venue (as was the case with the band's last 40 Watt appearance) simply be thankful we live in the land of free speech. The very next night fans can enjoy Gainesville's Mercury Program along with the much loved/fresh from the road local favorite Maserati.

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The two bands will be celebrating the release of their split EP Confines Of Heat which was released by Kindercore Records. Also on the bill that night is WARM Recordings act Pacific UV. So get out there and have fun.

Not Half As Expensive As Missing It: Sure, Athens has a reputation for hosting the hottest up-and-coming acts in multiple genres, and this reputation is well deserved. But every now and again, Athens is blessed with a showing by a performer of such a grand scale that we should all lose our collective cool over it. Friday, Oct. 10, is such an occasion. This is when bluegrass legend Dr. Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys will perform over at The Georgia Theatre The show, hosted by Jomo Entertainment, promises to be one that Athenians will speak of for years. Dr. Stanley has been in the bluegrass business for over 55 years, played on over 170 albums, pioneered the "mountain" style of bluegrass and is basically not to be missed. This show will start early and is a non-smoking event. See story on p. 26. Tickets are $30 and can be had by visiting www.jomoentertainment.com.

And that's it for this week, folks. Keep the news flowing in and I'll keep it flowing out. Remember to reference me or Threats & Promises in all email subject lines and remember: I like the way you do it right thurr 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