Hello, friends. This is the final column for Threats and Promises in 2021. As such, I want to wish all of you a very happy holiday season and thank you for reading all this stuff every week. Even through our recent periods of restrictions and closings, the sheer volume of new music being created in Athens is both encouraging and, occasionally, a little overwhelming. I sincerely appreciate the trust you’ve placed in me to bring you as much news as possible each week. And to all Athens artists, the work you’ve been putting in has been incredible and, even when whatever you’re doing doesn’t float my particular boat, all of you deserve credit for your work, creativity and willingness to put yourself out there. With that, have a wonderful rest of the year, and we’ll see ya in 2022!
NO, CRANK THIS: Niño Brown is determined to close out the year with a bang. Or at least a banger. To this end, he just released “Red and Black” with guests BYV_Trubb and Quezzy Poet. It’s got a hooky chorus that’s a pretty clever interpolation of George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog,” and the whole thing is a celebration of UGA football, fanship and loyalty. Over the years there have been multiple artists who created field hype songs for the team, the best of them all being James Brown’s “Dooley’s Junkyard Dogs.” While this new track from Brown is certainly catchy enough to gain some fan traction, here’s to it gaining enough popularity that no one ever has to suffer through another round of Soulja Boy. Find this on all major streaming services.
CLICKS, CLACKS: A collaborative project between Joe Rowe (bass, drums, vocals, keys, percussion and kalimba) and Marc Tissenbaum (guitars, bass, vocals, kalimba, keys, organ and drums) named clangtint just released a nine-track album named can we call this life. Both band name and album title are stylized with lowercase letters, so don’t blame me. The project itself reaches all the way back to 2009. On this new record, the duo shines through the heavily rhythmic first few tracks, especially “Philly Strut.” Vocals, when they exist, are sparse and lyrics are minimal. There are also old world folk influences as well as nods to improvisation, drones, slight amounts of Krautrock and other ingredients. It’s difficult to describe but quite easy to listen to, so lean into it over at clangtint.bandcamp.com.
EVERYONE ELSE CAN JUST RATTLE THEIR JEWELRY: In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the UGA Performing Arts Center, there are a limited number of specially priced tickets for upcoming events. Specifically, there are 25 tickets available for these at the special rate of $25 each. Included performances are acrobatic dance company Momix: Viva Momix (Jan. 13), cabaret-style Broadway hits show On Broadway (Jan. 18), Zimbabwean women’s vocal quintet Nobuntu (Jan. 25), and Schubert, Schumann and Scandinavian folk song performers Danish String Quartet (Jan. 29). These will likely sell out very quickly, but if you’d like to try to grab some, head to pac.uga.edu/discounts and use the code PAC25. You can also order by phone at (706) 542-4400 on weekdays from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
ONE FOR EACH HAND: What would a year-end column be without two new releases from the never-resting folks behind the newly revitalized Hooker Vision label? To wit, Motion Sickness of Time Travel, the longtime project of Rachel Evans, just released The True Book of Space with guest musician Leslie Grove (Sparkle/Trauma). Presented as a “sound bath” inspired by the concept of Shinrin-Yoku (i.e. forest bathing), it functions exactly as it should, and these four movements—created with a variety of instrumentation—are both meditative and effortless for the listener. It’s sheer bliss, y’all. Also out now is Narrows by Quiet Evenings. This is the project of Grant Evans and the aforementioned Rachel. Consisting of a single 18-minute track, this music weaves a dark and drone-oriented path very similar to ones already cut by Quiet Evenings and, as always, rewards close listening while not requiring it. Find these at hookervision.bandcamp.com.
Like what you just read? Support Flagpole by making a donation today. Every dollar you give helps fund our ongoing mission to provide Athens with quality, independent journalism.
