Introducing Athens' Newest Talent
Dec 9, 2009
Vestibules
Folk/Rock/Americana
Vestibules
Lineup: William Chamberlain, Coy King, Charlie Estes and Michael Gonzalez. Shares members with: A PostWar Drama, Nightingale News, Dark Meat. Influences: AM Radio, girl trouble, whiskey.
There is little known about this new collaboration besides the eclectic and impressive previous projects of its bespectacled members. King divulges little, describing Vestibules as sounding like both "an earthquake fucking a hurricane" and "late night slipshod symphonic grammaphonistry" with promises of "Balkan wedding jams." There are no recorded tunes or a website yet, so these abstractions are all we have to work with. "Vestibules play fatal lullabies," adds King, "for the inner Lindsay Lohan trapped in a bathroom stall of eternity." Interpret that as you may, but it might be easier and more fruitful to just catch the band's debut gig on Wednesday.
Next show: Wednesday Dec. 9 @ Flicker Theatre and Bar
Dec 9, 2009
The District Attorneys
Americana/Pop/Rock
Lineup: Drew Beskin, Dennis Love, Reid "The Professor" Scott and Chris Wilson. Shares a member with: Futurebirds. Influences: Bruce Springsteen, Rilo Kiley, Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, The Replacements.
This melodic rock band started as Drew Beskin's solo project while he was a student at Indiana University. Beskin says he writes "progressively vintage songs about freedom," and the tunes do resonate with a sort of organic pride. It's a hearty mix of pop hooks and anthemic appeals to the Heartland. When Beskin returned to Georgia, he filled out the lineup with high school buddies Scott and Wilson plus Futurebirds pedal steel player Love (who takes on guitar and backup vocals for this band). The band has been gigging in town more and more frequently, and has been working on writing new material with plans to record soon. You can check out the preliminary demos at www.myspace.com/thedistrictattorneys.
Next show: Check website for updates.
Dec 9, 2009
Get Sad
Loud/Quiet/Medium
Lineup: Aaron Sims, Helen Rhinehart and (sometimes) Jeremy Snyder. Shares members with: Chrissakes and Pride Parade. Influences: Booze, Steve Albini, the song "Beautiful Sunrises" by the band Complete.
Get Sad was born in January of this year in Charlotte, NC as a recording project between Rhinehart and Snyder. Eventually Rhinehart returned to Athens to pursue her studies at UGA, and while in town she teamed up with Pride Parade drummer Aaron Sims. The latter duo recorded its debut release with Martin Brummler (Mass Solo Revolt) in October, and will be making its live debut in Athens this month. The group describes itself clinically, focusing on the various apparatuses that amplify its dynamic sound: "a Fender bass with active pickups + Sunn 0))) concert bass head + Ampeg 4x12 cabinet + a highly agitated snare, hi-hat, kick drum, some toms, cymbals + a girl mouth." Bassist Rhinehart jokes that the group's immediate and future plans include "getting in lots of fights, signing to a major label and making so much that we don't need anyone, even each other or you." Can you sense the aggression? Well, maybe it's said in jest here, but there is a palpable sense of tension in Get Sad's brooding rock. The guitars are edgy and almost politely discordant, utilizing a lot of space and unexpected pacing that often erupts into sludgy ferocity. You can get a preview the tunes online at www.myspace.com/getsadband.
Next show: Dec. 12th @ Flicker Theatre and Bar
Dec 9, 2009
Savagist
Metal
Lineup: Clem Adams, Steve Miller, Jason Richardson, Patrick Ware. Shares Members With: Hot Breath, 300 Cobras. Influences: Carcass, Suffocation, Mastodon, Black Flag, Philip Glass, High on Fire
It’s hard to write about a band in complete sentences when their music demands nothing but all-caps, poorly punctuated blasts of verbiage. So let’s skip to the gushing praise: is this the band that will meet the bar that Harvey Milk set for heavy metal in Athens-Clarke County 15 years ago? It seems that this might be the case. Dig the pedigree: Patrick Ware and Jason “Mohawk” Richardson of freshly ‘sploded sludge act The Dumps, Clem Adams of Hot Breath, and Steve Miller of 300 Cobras have united under this name, this Savagist name. It’s so awesome to see a band with no hyphens to dilute their aim, which is playing straight-up metal with teeth gritted and knuckles white. Operating in the vein of Mastodon and Baroness, Savagist is no-frills and all business. A long-gestating recording is on its way, but the band has been spewing bile from stages across downtown every two weeks or so, so in the meantime, run don’t walk. Seriously. Have a listen online at www.myspace.com/savagist.
Next show: Check website for updates!
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