REST IN PEACE: The founding director of the UGA Music Business Program and hit songwriter Bruce Burch has died at age 69. Burch, who had been in treatment for leukemia for the past 30 years, succumbed to the disease Saturday, Mar. 12 at his home in Nashville. In addition to founding the MBUS program at UGA, Burch also established a similar program at Kennesaw State University. Most recently he was teaching at Brenau University in his native Gainesville. He also helped create the annual charitable John Jarrard concert series for that town. As a songwriter, Burch wrote hits for Reba McEntire as well as compositions for George Jones, Faith Hill and T. Graham Brown. Burch is remembered with love, admiration and respect from his former students and colleagues.
UP AND COMING: UGA student and songwriter Brooks Todd is on the cusp of releasing his new double-single. The songs, “Fading” and “Mine,” feel like they’re not of their time, though, as Todd reaches very far back on these. To wit, it’s easy to hear the Christopher Cross-isms on the former as well as the Todd Rundgren touches on the latter. Neither statement is to be taken as criticism, though, as these are each lovely in their own right. Todd began playing piano at age five and is a self-taught guitarist as well. He has released music in the past with previous projects, but these are his first songs as a solo artist. Both these songs are set for release on all major streaming sites Mar. 25. Follow Todd on Instagram at @brooks.todd3.
LEGENDS NEVER REALLY DIE: On the night of Mar. 12, at his farm just outside of Athens, guitarist Barry Bailey died in his sleep. Founding guitarist of the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Bailey had stayed with the band since its inception, when it was formed from the studio group that worked out of Doraville’s Studio One recording facility in 1970, through his retirement in 2006. Bailey had suffered from multiple sclerosis for several years. Atlanta Rhythm Section, of course, was one of the most successful groups to appear on the scene during the Southern Rock heyday of the 1970s. While smoother around the edges than many of their contemporaries—at least one critic has described them as a Southern Rock Steely Dan—the band was a wonderful vehicle for Bailey’s songs, and his live performances displayed a sense of effortless cool. He was 73. For more information, please see atlantarhythmsection.com.
SOMEONE BRING ME A PLATE: The dates for the 2022 Hot Corner Festival have been announced. The kickoff happens Friday, June 10 at 6 p.m. at the First AME Church (521 N. Hull Street), and the festival itself runs from 11 a.m.–10 p.m. the next day, Saturday, June 11 at the Hot Corner. This area—loosely defined as the area immediately surrounding the intersection of Hull and Washington Streets—is a historic local seat of African American businesses and cultural engagement. Promoted each year by the Hot Corner Association, the festival is now over two decades old. There are multiple opportunities to get involved with the festival, so please see hotcornerathens.weebly.com for more information.
AIN’T THAT ENOUGH?: Although the limited picture disc—an edition of 50—is now sold out, digital customers can still get a fix of Blunt Bangs covering Teenage Fanclub’s flagship anthem “Everything Flows.” This song remains a live staple for the band and easily one of the most emotionally compelling songs from the entire 1990s. Find it at bluntbangs.bandcamp.com.
UPCOMING: In the hot show category, there are a few things worth mentioning. First, on Thursday, Mar. 24 The World Famous will flip your wig to the noisy post-punk sounds of McQQeen, New York’s Patti, Columbus, OH’s Dana and Consec. Doors at 10 p.m., cost is three bucks if you’re over 21, five bucks if you’re under. Buvez is hosting goth-n-punk karaoke Friday, Mar. 25 between 7–11 p.m. This is presented by Dark Entries Athens, and if you’re wondering about the aesthetics of a goth karaoke night ending before midnight, I don’t know what to tell you. The Flicker Theatre & Bar will host its third Ambient Night Tuesday, Mar. 29. Doors are at 8 p.m., and it’ll run you seven bucks for entry. Featured acts this night are The Electric Nature, Goddess Complex, Ihlyatt and Blythe Bonnie.
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