BACK TO THE FRONT PORCH: Ghostmeat Records founder Russ Hallauer (The Welfare Liners, Sunbrain, The Lures) is about to release his first solo recording in a decade. Hallauer’s music is a mix of folk, bluegrass and old-time, and Mind Your Fire is a tight, 10-song record that stays pretty clearly in its lane and remains true to its traditions. Ghostmeat is known for its coordination and release of the multiple AthFest CDs that have come out over the years. However, the label also released compilations of unknown bands and full-length albums by different artists over the years, which wound up forming a neat time capsule of Athens music in the 1990s. If you’re unfamiliar, see ghostmeat.com, and check out Hallauer’s new record at soundcloud.com/ghostmeat-records.
HOMEMADE JAM: Although he didn’t mean for this to be any sort of official release and definitely wasn’t seeking press attention, I’d be totally remiss in my duties if I didn’t fill y’all in on the set of songs just put online by Athens visual artist Alexei Gural under the title Where We Are Now. He really just put these up as a way of clearing the decks and having it out there. For this collection, Gural worked totally by himself. Everything is guitar-based but has occasional keyboard flourishes (“Patterns in the Dye”), and all the drums were programmed. Gural’s music is deeply influenced by 1990s alt-rock—specifically Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, et al—but there’s also a little bit of Rush poking around (“These Windy Plains,” “It Goes Away”). On paper, this isn’t something obviously in my wheelhouse, but Gural’s voice is solid and strong, each tune is really a complete accomplishment, and he’s done a superb job with this. It’s totally enjoyable, and you can check it out at alexeigural.bandcamp.com.
HERE COMES TREBLE: Auditions are being held Wednesday, Sept. 6 and Thursday, Sept. 7 for UGA Kalakaar. Described as “UGA’s only South Asian a capella team,” the group will see potential new members from 6–7 p.m. both nights in room 412 of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. The group says it’s looking specifically for beatboxers and singers. All those auditioning will need to be prepared to sing 30 seconds each from two different songs. One song should be in English, and the other needs be in any other language. No previous experience is required. Kalakaar, a Hindi term, loosely translates in English to “artist,” so be creative and have fun. For more information, see facebook.com/ugakalakaar.
PAY YR RESPECTS: OK, normally there’s just not enough room in this column to cover tribute acts. But since you’ve got class on Monday, there’s little to no chance you’re gonna spend Friday, Sept. 8 heading to Indiana to see the Dawgs, so spend this time instead catching Gimme Hendrix on the Georgia Theatre Rooftop. The three-time Flagpole Athens Music Award winning tribute to the Jimi Hendrix Experience is jam of a good time, and if you don’t believe me, check out gimmehendrix.com and facebook.com/GimmeHendrix for proof. This show is 21 and up and costs $5. Doors open at 10 p.m., and Gimme Hendrix begins at 11. Hell, if you want, make a night of it and go see Allman Brothers cover band Tribute at The Foundry the same night. That show starts at 8 p.m. and is $8 for college students (take a school ID!) or $10 in advance and $13 at the door for everyone else. For more information, see tributeabb.com and thefoundryathens.com.
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