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Threats & Promises

Grant and Rachel Evans’ “Patience Folding Waters,” And More Music News and Gossip

Rachel and Grant Evans

IT TAKES TWO: A few weeks ago, visual artists and musicians Grant and Rachel Evans held the opening at tiny ATH gallery for their combined show “Patience Folding Waters: The Paper Works of Grant & Rachel Evans.” Last week, they held a live artist’s talk about the exhibit. This week, they’ll perform live at the gallery under their project name Quiet Evenings. I’ve covered them extensively in this column, so if you’re unfamiliar, check our archives. This happens Thursday, May 19 from 6–9 p.m. tiny ATH gallery is located at 174 Cleveland Ave. For more information, please see facebook.com/hookervision and facebook.com/tinyathgallery.

Quiet Evenings – Transcending Spheres from Motion Sickness of Time Travel on Vimeo.

QUIET EVENINGS – Tangled Garden (excerpt) from Hooker Vision on Vimeo.

REALLY CLASSIN’ UP THE JOINT: Looking for a break from the regular onslaught of rock and roll, country, hip hop and seemingly every other genre that gets a nod in Athens? If so, head to Southern Brewing Co. Friday, May 20 and catch Athens’ own klezmer band Klezmer Local 42 along with jazz and swing band The Hot Hotty-Hots. There was a time a couple of decades ago when klezmer music—a danceable Jewish folk style originating in Central and Eastern Europe—was within a hair’s breadth of cracking into the mainstream the way the swing music revival did. Good to have the folks in Klezmer Local 42 keeping the faith. For more information, please see facebook.com/klezmerlocal42 and facebook.com/TheHotHottyHots. Doors open this night at 7 p.m. and the whole evening is planned to wrap at 10 p.m.

Klezmer Local 42 Klezmer Local 42

IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY. PERIOD.: Longtime Athens musician, band member and friend Ben Spraker will celebrate his 50th birthday at the 40 Watt Club Saturday, May 21. Known best for his role in Ceiling Fan and The Shut-Ups, Spraker has graced Athens stages for nearly three decades. As might be expected, he’ll be playing this night as well. In addition to the aforementioned Shut-Ups, one of Spraker’s other groups—Normaltown Sound Machine—is also on the bill, as are The Wydelles, with whom Spraker will not play. Doors are at 8 p.m. and music starts at 9 p.m. So head down and wish this man a happy birthday already, would ya? 

Jessica Smith A young Ben Spraker.

ROLL THROUGH FOR THE YELLOW AND BLUE: A benefit for Ukrainians seeking to evacuate active war zones will happen at Buvez Saturday, May 21 from 3–8 p.m. There is planned live music at this, as well as an art show and sale. All donations given at the door will benefit Ukrainian relief, as will at least 50% of proceeds from art sales. This event is organized by Denise Gorrio (Turtle Grenade) and Russian-born Athens photographer Irina Rozovsky. Featured performers this day are Canary Affair, Elijah Johnston, Turtle Grenade, Dish (Asheville, NC), Sweet Earth Flying, Hawk Proof Rooster, Liz Farrell and Lisa Love. For more information on the specific organizational beneficiary, please see ukrainetrustchain.org. 

Denise Gorrio

SECOND HELPING: Hardcore heroes Foodeater will celebrate the vinyl release of its self-titled 2021 album at the Flicker Theatre & Bar Thursday, May 26. Also on the bill this night are Athens’ Multiple Miggs and Atlanta’s Saddam Death. Posted time for this show is 8 p.m. I know y’all like to ride the lightning and arrive at everything at the last possible minute, but people have been really serious lately about starting things on time and much earlier than the late-night tradition Athens dutifully established over the past five decades. So don’t slack. If you’ve not heard these dudes by now, get up to speed courtesy of member Reeth Dasgupta’s Futile Force label at futileforce.bandcamp.com/album/foodeater.

HEAVY D: In related news to the above, Futile Force has just released the new tape by Fat Jock, which is charmingly titled Line Up Eat Shit. Of course, you may purchase this as a digital download, too, or stream continuously for free, so let your conscience and available technology be your guide. The eight-song album is stupendously performed and notably lower on the grindcore index than a demo from last year. Instead, this is a solid entry into the new d-beat/hardcore/crust canon, which is a grouping of styles that have never really gone away but certainly waxed and waned in popularity over the past 40 or so years. Fat Jock imparts such energy, style and enthusiasm in these tracks that it all seems somewhat new again. Dig it over at futileforce.bandcamp.com/album/line-up-eat-shit. 

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