Folks, the heat is on, but so's the rain. So, after sweating through another week here in Athens I hope y'all are prepared for the news I'm gonna lay on you this week. If not, just suffer through it. It builds character, you know...

Anyone Wanna Buy a Vowel?: 2003 Flagpole Athens Music Award recipient in the Rap/Hip Hop category eLeMeN.O.P. is shopping for a new drummer. Seems skin-beater Matt Wooley has decided to dedicate himself full-time to local reggae clan Dubconscious (which, by the way, has an excellent track out right now called "Under The Weather"). The group plans on fulfilling all current bookings and has recently been accepted to play at the 2003 Atlantis Music Conference in the ATL, but is looking for a full-time replacement drummer. If any of you folks think you're up to the challenge contact them at elemenopfan@aol.com

Somebody Tune the Flux Capacitor: In a move not seen in Athens since DJ Danger Mouse (AKA Brian Burton) did a killer remix of the Neutral Milk Hotel track "The Fool," another local band is seeing their work remixed by some Athens knob-turners and word is the shit is dope. "Futurist" collective Sleuth Empire, via electronic artists Assembly and Tytus, has remixed the track "The Language" by bliss merchants Maserati. The original version of the track can be heard on the band's 2002 album The Language Of Cities and it will see the light of day on the upcoming Kindercore Records release of a split EP by Maserati and Gainesville, FL maestros The Mercury Program. The Mercury Program itself has a solid tie to Athens by virtue of its long history of recording its albums with local magic man Andy Baker. In additional news, The Language of Cities will be released in Japan on December 15, 2003, and will feature the Assembly remix of the track "Ambassador of Cinema" and the Tytus remix of "The Language." The next time any of you will be able to catch Maserati locally will be August 23 at the fabulous 40 Watt. If any other local bands would be interested in having their work experimented on by the guys in Sleuth Empire, drop 'em a line via sleuthprod@hotmail.com.

No Need To Sign The "Prom Promise" Here: The radio promotion pace setters and all-around good folks over at Team Clermont have announced the dates for this year's "Big Weekend and Blue Ribbon Ball." The hoe-down takes place at the fabulous 40 Watt on August 1 and 2 and if you've never gotten the chance - or never had the inclination - to attend I gotta tell you honestly, you're missing out on what has been accurately billed as "The Best Prom You Never Had." Team Clermont always packs the bills on both nights with the most ace bands that they've been promoting that year and the Saturday night ball is a surreal experience that everyone should experience at least once. You'll see guys you never even knew owned a tie dressed to the nines and girls who wouldn't be caught dead in a dress donning gowns straight out of the prom scene in Carrie. The line-up for this year's weekend hasn't been announced yet, but previous years have included performers as diverse as Trans-Am, Five-Eight and Man... Or Astroman? and there's no reason to believe this years will be any less entertaining or fun. Check this spot for updates or head over to www.teamclermont.com.

Let 'Em Know What You Want: R.E.M. has been rocking in full force over in Europe and recently blew crowds away at the recent Glastonbury Festival. In other news, the folks over at Rockathens (onlineathens.com/rockathens) have been following the band throughout this tour and have been compiling all their set lists so far. They also have a space on the site where your can compile your "dream set list" for an R.E.M. show and the submitted lists are being forwarded to the band. No word on whether or not they will take these lists into account but R.E.M. is notoriously good to their fans, so I would bet a couple o' sawbucks that they'll have at least some influence. (Having said that I want to put in my votes for "King Of Birds," "Sweetness Follows" and "Green Grow The Rushes".) The band won't hit Atlanta until October 11 when they will perform at the Phillips Arena, but tickets go on sale on Saturday, July 19, so be ready to get them. Get more info over at www.remhq.com.

This Week's Local Lyric: Sometimes this part is political, sometimes funny and sometimes personal. Even though spring is traditionally the season known for its renewing qualities I think summer is gonna be it for me, so to that end I give you the classic lines from Drivin' 'N Cryin's 1986 tune "Scarred, But Smarter": "Nobody said it would be fair/ They Warned you before you went out there/ There's always a chance to get restarted/ To a new world, new life/ Scarred, but smarter."

Final Notes: Thanks to Murphy Wolford at Tasty World for bringing The Pernice Brothers and openers Mates of State to town. Every panty-waist 'emo' boy band in the world could take a good lesson from Mr. Joe Pernice in what constitutes a well-written lyric; The Agenda received 3 out of 5 stars in a review of their album Start The Panic from the incredible Mojo Magazine; Widespread Panic may take an extended break after this current tour, so you fans might want to think about getting a job or something to tide you over for a while since it looks like the bottom is gonna fall out of the homemade-sandwich-in-a-parking-lot market.

And I'm off. Hopefully you got your fill and you'll be hungry for more next week. But, either way, I'm not beyond a good force feeding. Give me cat scratch fever 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