LOVE IS ALL AROUND: It’s been well over a year since we heard any new music from Love My Truck, but the fabulous electro-Americana duo has returned with a new one-off single. Working methodically and slowly through a downbeat melody and rhythm, with plenty of guitar punctuation to boot, the song—titled “Insufficient Fun(ds)”—bears little resemblance to the band these guys were a few years ago. However, it bears a striking resemblance to what they would become, obviously. Find this at lovemytruck.bandcamp.com.
MEAT AND GREET: Nuçi’s Space will host its annual HeAthens Homecoming Cookout and Silent Auction on Saturday, Apr. 1 from 12–3 p.m. This event coincides with the annual Drive-By Truckers return-to-Athens shows at the 40 Watt. Attendance is free, all ages and open to the public. Drinks and food, including baked goods, will be available for purchase. The silent auction includes various music memorabilia, fan-made artwork, vinyl LPs and more. All proceeds benefit Nuçi’s Space. If you aren’t able to attend and would still like to participate in the auction, please see 32auctions.com/Nuci2023. In related news, both Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley of Drive-By Truckers have donated handwritten lyrics to be raffled off at the DBT fan club gathering at Ciné on Friday, Mar. 31. This event begins at 1 p.m., and live music by Jay Gonzalez begins at 1:30 p.m. The suggested donation for this particular event is $5, which will also go to benefit Nuçi’s Space. To enter the raffle, which features multiple price points for entry depending on how many chances you’d like to purchase, please follow this ridiculous URL that nobody had the foresight to shorten: secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/6r4itpEkSS1-Em0Fb86F8Q.
KOSMISCHE AMERICAN MUSIC: Compositional virtuoso Andrew Steck returns with a new single named “What’s Your Answer?” on Mar. 31. The track is from his upcoming album Sore Thumb, which has not yet been scheduled for release. He mentioned via email that this particular track is the product of his initial approach to the new album, which was to “merge krautrock and big band.” And, to be honest, he pretty much nailed it, even though he also mentioned that, as the track’s composition progressed, other less self-evident elements moved into the process. While it does feature a semi-motorik beat, this has less in common with, say, Neu! than perhaps other, less celebrated krautrock groups, such as Popul Vuh and Cluster. Find this on all streaming platforms Mar. 31.
JOKERS, SMOKERS, COOL TUNE BROKERS: JOKER JOKER Gallery (145 Vine St.) is hosting a show titled Four Ostinati Two Saurians (stylization in the original) on Sunday, Apr. 2 at 4 p.m. Featured performers for this show are percussionist Casen Alesi; multidisciplinary artist, songwriter and singer Lydian Brambila; composer, conductor and author Jack Curtis Dubowsky; and Kevin McFoy Dunn (The Fans, Regiment of Women, Cosmo, Jr.). For more information, please see jokerjokertv.com.
I WILL TURN THIS CAR AROUND RIGHT NOW: Although they certainly don’t have the worst name ever imagined, it’s still pretty bad. This means the new EP by punk-hardcore rockers Beer Piss really needed to shine out to overcome this and promote a path to healing. To this end, to snatch a phrase from the mighty Jon Bon Jovi, “Whoa-oh, we’re halfway there.” The new release, actually titled The Worst, features six tracks, of which about half are really cool and the other half just drools. In the thumbs-up column are “Jäger,” “$200,” “Dementia” and “Deuce Coup.” In the this-is-bad column go “Bunnies” and “Starchman (Interlude).” So this clocks in at a solid B. Find it at beerpiss.bandcamp.com.
AURALLY ASSISTED NARCOLEPSY: If you’d entered college the last time I mentioned Eric Hat (aka Eric The Hat), you’d be nearly graduated by now. Fact is, while I’ve remained relatively in the dark about his goings on, he’s been steadily releasing more and more music under various names. His very latest, as of Mar. 17, is the single-track release Colderdisc, which runs just over 21 minutes long. It is credited to partydead, as are a few other releases of his. With no hesitation nor hyperbole, I can honestly declare this one of the most authentic ambient releases in Athens for the past several months. That is, this glacially paced piece actually sounds like various environments (wind chimes, wind itself, water, some urban noise, etc). I nearly fell asleep listening to it, and you probably will as well. So hit snooze and wander over to ericthehat.bandcamp.com to finish the job.
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.
