A TRIBUTE TO HEROES: JOKER JOKER Gallery, home of JOKERJOKERtv and pretty much whatever else founder Mux Blank comes up with, will host the nicely put together Freak Fest ‘22 on Sunday, Sept. 11. The lineup features Tomb Lily aka Adria Stembridge of Tears For The Dying (3 p.m.), The Mission Creep featuring Ben Ferguson from Athens industrial originals Damage Report (4 p.m.), Toxic Patriarch (5 p.m.), Sparkle Trauma (6 p.m.) and Support Group featuring Steve Fitzpatrick of Unus Mundus (7 p.m.). To close out the night at 8 p.m. is another grand return from Nerve Clinic, and this set will feature founder Monte Greene DJ-ing his tracks with live vocals and video projections. JOKER JOKER Gallery is located at 145 Vine St. Arrive early, or at least on time, if you plan on parking anywhere. Better yet, carpool!
TEN YEARS AFTER: After spending the past decade establishing themselves as a crack live act and gaining an audience, the irrepressible Wieuca has let it be known that its closing shop as a live act. Yes, the group’s appearance at the 40 Watt on Saturday, Sept. 10 is the band’s last live show for both the foreseeable and unforeseeable future. Also on the bill this night are Monsoon and Commüne. While they heartily invoke the “never say never” clause, this is still likely your final chance to see them. Wieuca will remain a studio band, though, and continue to compose and record music which has always been its main port of call if judging by its stacks of releases is any indication. Get up to speed at wieuca.bandcamp.com, and see what these guys have to say for themselves over at facebook.com/wieucaband.
DO YOU HAVE THE TIME?: In passing conversation last week, I heard talk of there being two separate Athens-based pop-punk tribute bands currently vying for attention on the nostalgia superhighway. I only know of one of them, though. It’s named That’s Rad!, and it’s been doing this for a while. Anyway, it will be bringing its particular strain of magic to The World Famous on Thursday, Sept. 8. Also on the bill this night is Murder The Mood, which is reportedly playing a tribute set to My Chemical Romance. Find out more about what this is all about over at facebook.com/thatsradband.
DOOT, DOOT, DOO, LOOKIN’ AT YOUR FRONT DOOR: The map and lineup for this year’s Historic Athens Porchfest are now released. This herculean event, presented by both Historic Athens and this year’s presenting sponsor Café Racer, has quickly become a do-not-miss event, and has grown exponentially since its first instance in 2019. Although originally concentrated in the neighborhoods of Pulaski Heights, Newtown, Boulevard and Buena Vista, the event has grown to include a huge section of Normaltown on the south side of Prince Avenue (i.e. Oglethorpe Avenue to Hawthorne Avenue). Over 150 porches are hosting bands this year, and there’s just too many to mention here. The Historic Athens Porchfest is free, open to all ages and takes place this year on Sunday, Oct. 2 from 1–8 p.m. For all other information, please see historicathens.com/porchfest.
LISTEN, THE SNOW IS FALLING: The stunningly prolific Shane Parish (Ahleuchatistas) is one half of a very special show happening at Hendershot’s Tuesday, Sept. 13. In addition to Parish’s expressive and sometimes idiosyncratic compositions, attendees are to be treated to Austin, TX act Little Mazarn. Gentle, lilting and almost barely there is a decent way to describe Little Mazarn’s dark yet nearly ethereal acoustic compositions. Basically, it’s a perfect bill. Listen in and get up to speed at shaneparish.bandcamp.com and littlemazarn.bandcamp.com.
STREAM ON: Musician’s resource center Nuçi’s Space is in the midst of hosting its second series of Satellite Sessions. This is a virtual concert series featuring bands filmed at Nuçi’s Space or within the Athens area. All shows are hosted on the center’s YouTube channel located at youtube.com/c/nucisspace. Upcoming performers include Wim Tapley and the Cannons (Sept. 15), the aforementioned Shane Parish (Sept. 22), Norma Rae (Sept. 29), Newport Transplant (Oct. 6), Sasha Stray (Oct. 13), Actus Reus (Oct. 20) and Trvy (Oct. 27). For more information, please see nuci.org and facebook.com/nucisspace.
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