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Five More Athens Popfest Shows to See

The Veldt
Wednesday, Aug. 9, 12 a.m. @ 40 Watt Club

Started by twin brothers Daniel and Danny Chavis, psychedelic dream-pop act The Veldt released a couple of LPs in the ’90s—including the would-be classic Afrodisiac—before fading out of the public consciousness, largely due to the fact that labels (and, to some extent, audiences) didn’t know how to deal with a black shoegaze band. The group, which temporarily re-branded itself as Apollo Heights in the early 2000s, is back in action, having just released a new EP, The Shocking Fuzz of Your Electric Fur: The Drake Equation. [Gabe Vodicka]

The Apples in Stereo
Thursday, Aug. 10, 12:15 a.m. @ Georgia Theatre

Founding Elephant 6 member Robert Schneider has done a fine job staying in touch with his old hometown, scooting over from Atlanta to play solo sets every now and again, including an appearance at last year’s Popfest. But it’s been several years since the full Apples in Stereo crew hit a local stage, so it’s a true treat to see them headlining this year’s shindig. Expect a typically jubilant set from the psych-pop legends. [GV]

Einschlagen
Friday, Aug. 11, 7 p.m. @ Georgia Theatre

After a brief tenure, it’s time to say goodbye to local post-punk group Einschlagen. The band, which started as a three-piece spearheaded by Perfect Attendance Records and Pity Party proprietor Taylor Chicoine, morphed into an unbridled creative outlet over the past year with the addition of Aubry Meers on keys and vocals and Peyton Sarah lending spoken-word contributions. They’ll play their final show Friday of Popfest, opening up for Laetitia Sadier and Superchunk—not a bad way to go out. [Andy Barton]

R. Ring
Friday, Aug. 11, 8:30 p.m. @ Georgia Theatre

Rock duo R. Ring has existed since 2012, and finally released its debut full-length this April. The record, Ignite the Rest, refuses to be pigeonholed. It’s alternately pummeling and patient, representing an increasingly rare sort of exploratory indie-rock album. The group, which features Breeders co-leader Kelley Deal alongside multi-instrumentalist Mike Montgomery, makes its Athens debut Friday. [GV]

The Gotobeds
Thursday, Aug. 10, 9 p.m. @ Georgia Theatre

Pittsburgh four-piece The Gotobeds channel ’80s source material like The Replacements, The Fall and Mission of Burma to create a ramshackle sound as cheeky as it is biting. On last year’s Blood // Sugar // Secs // Traffic—a jab at the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ similarly named 1991 album—the band treads a fine line between ironic, self-aware detachment and earnest social criticism across 11 supercharged tracks. [AB]

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