Please Help: A benefit show for decades-long Athens musician Greg Veale will take place at the 40 Watt on Friday, July 30. Veale recently suffered a stroke which, among other complications, has left him permanently blind in one eye. A founding member of the Normaltown Flyers, Veale is also known for his work with Rack of Spam, Ravenstone and other classic Athens bands. Performing for his benefit are The Rattlers, Strawberry Flats and the current incarnation of The Normaltown Flyers. Veale has stated that he may attend the show and even perform a couple of songs with the band if he feels up to it. Athens music retailer Chick Piano has donated a guitar, which is autographed by all participants, to be auctioned during the event. Autographed items from R.E.M. and a signed poster of Widespread Panic will also go to the highest bidder. Greg, we're all pulling for you here at Flagpole, and everyone should have friends as good as yours.

Left of the Dial: Local multi-media promotion company Team Clermont will celebrate its 13th anniversary this week with a party at Go Bar. It happens on Saturday, July 31, and former Athenians Snowglobe will play a set, and DJ Urbn Turbn will spin records. The event is free and begins at 9 p.m. Go give 'em a pat on the back. Maybe they'll cut your band a deal.

The Spice of Life: A couple of weeks back I mentioned the Poetic Soul open mic night and told you it’s hosted by Montu Miller. Well, it’s also hosted by Showyn “Al Gorjus” Walton, AKA Buddah (pronounced “butter” but with that smooth Southern “ah” sound on the end). But, that’s not all. Walton has a weekly gig all his own called Buddah’s Variety Show, which is also an open mic event, and it’s open to musicians, comedians, poets, etc. Walton describes it as, “…a carnival, anything goes talent show. Also a good date for Craigslist first dates. Everybody gets lucky at Buddah's Variety Show. The funnest and funniest show in Athens, GA. We come to party, perform and have a good time.” Did I mention that this takes place at Chelsea’s Gentleman’s Club on Baxter Street? Well, it does, and it costs $5 to get in. Sign-ups for talent begin at 9 p.m., and the show begins at 11 p.m.

Stay in the Moment: Long-running publication The Improvisor ("the international magazine journal of free improvisation”) will bring its Improvisor Festival to Ciné on Monday, Aug. 9 and Tuesday, Aug. 10. The nights run from 8 p.m.–midnight and 7:30 p.m.–10 p.m., respectively. The festival will hit five other cities, including Seattle and Birmingham, AL, and is in celebration of the magazine’s 30-year anniversary. Appearing at the Monday show in Athens will be Andrea Centazzo (Los Angeles), Pocketful of Claptonite (Athens), Jill Burton & Claire Barratt (Birmingham, AL), Gino Robair (San Francisco), Chris Cochrane (New York City), Skryxl (Atlanta, GA/Montgomery, AL), Them Natives (Montevallo, AL), Cedro Dano (Montevallo, AL), Karst (Montevallo, AL) and Pony Payroll Bones (Atlanta, GA). On Tuesday, Gino Robair will conduct his improvisational opera, I, Norton, which is open to all participants of any skill level. Each night costs $6, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. For more information, please see www.the-improvisor.com.

Next Year’s Model: Four bands that are making fair headway into the Athens scene, even though one is from Atlanta, will play for free at New Earth Music Hall on Thursday, July 29. The groups in question are Wowser Bowser, Hans Darkbolt, Qurious (the band from Atlanta) and Tumbleweed Stampede. Each of these acts has thus far enjoyed enthusiastic reception here in town, which must surely be a treat for them as they’re all pretty new acts (sorry, people, if you’re less than two-years old you’re still a new band in my book). Out of the four, I’ll cop to digging the mystical-'n'-ambient Qurious and Wowser Bowser (especially the track “To the Pleasant Life!”). As of now, you’re on your own with the other two, but if you like Ben Gibbard-inspired melodies then maybe Tumbleweed Stampede is your thing. I saw Hans Darkbolt once, but the most memorable thing about the band was that the singer was wearing his shirt open to the waist (when he bothered wearing a shirt at all) along with a medallion and suspenders with shorts and work boots. Kind of like a disco lumberjack. In any case, I guarantee you’ll be seeing these four names a lot in the near future, so go ahead and get used to it. You can check out tunes from each via www.myspace.com/tumbleweedathens, www.myspace.com/hansdarkbolt, www.myspace.com/wowserbowsermusic, and www.myspace.com/quitequrious.

In the Can: R.E.M. has finished work on its newest LP, its first since 2008’s well-received Accelerate and second with producer Jacknife Lee, and is planning a spring 2011 release after mixing is finished this fall. The album was recorded at Berlin’s Hansa Studios. Earlier this month, the band’s 1985 album, Fables of the Reconstruction, enjoyed some very nice deluxe reissue action in celebration of its 25th anniversary. Keep up to date over at www.remhq.com.

Gordon Lamb

threatsandpromises@flagpole.com