CLEANING UP NICELY: New West Records will release The Complete Dirty South, a resequenced, annotated, expanded and nicely packaged version of Drive-By Truckers’ touchstone 2004 album, on June 16. This new version features fresh vocals on the songs “Puttin’ People on the Moon” and “The Sands of Iwo Jima.” Also featured are three bonus tracks left off the original release and a 32-page book with both the original liner notes and new ones, both written by Patterson Hood. Plus, there are loads of unreleased photos and track-by-track notes by Jason Isbell, Mike Cooley and Hood. This release is to be available digitally as well as, uh, physi-digital (i.e. a double compact disc set), and a double vinyl LP. Preorders are being taken as we speak at newwst.com/dirtysouth.
HEAVEN UP HERE: A celebration of the life of Davis Causey happens at the Georgia Theatre Sunday, Apr. 30 from 3–5 p.m. Causey, who passed away at age 74 on Feb. 19, enjoyed a broad and influential career as a musician across nearly 60 years. In addition to being a founding member of Athens’ own Jesters, he was a longtime collaborator with artists such as Gregg Allman, Randall Bramblett and Chuck Leavell. At the time of his passing, he had just released a wonderful new full-length album, New Things From Old Strings, which you can enjoy at daviscausey.bandcamp.com.
TO YOUR HEALTH: Longtime Athens promoter Akeeme Martin presents, through his Onyx Echelon 85 Enterprises organization, Festival of Sisterhood: A Queendom Homecoming Sunday, Apr. 30 at Rabbit Hole Studios (1001 Winterville Road). It’s described in a press release as a “celebration of Feminenergy and Sisterhood through the avenues of music, art, comedy, business, education, health and wellness.” Doors open at noon, and the event kicks off at 1 p.m. with a “Breathe & Release Session.” Featured performers begin at 2 p.m. and are, in order of appearance, Ashley Tatarsky, Tracy Brown, HNNH, Nadia Vaeh, Robin Shakedown and Of Persephone. For more information and tickets, please search for the event on eventbrite.com.
WE ALL SHINE ON: UGA student and Christian rapper Shawn Ohuabunwa, who records and performs under the name Shine, has a new single out now named “Light It Up.” On it, Shine works his strong flow into a narrative describing his relationship with God and explores his faith. The beat is a nicely moving strong track, albeit clearly married to modern production values. I don’t really know anything else about Ohuabunwa, but he seems like a nice young man, and I wish him well. Shine has a handful of tracks available to hear now, and everything can be found on Spotify.
SPEND THE DAY: If the paragraph above grabbed your interest, then keep paying attention. Shine is just one of 18 performers that will fill the bill at the UGA Music Business Program’s Beats ’N Brews Music Festival happening Sunday, Apr. 30 at Southern Brewing Co. For a mere 10 bucks, attendees can enjoy sets by Mars Hill, Tattoo Logic, Prodigal, House Arrest, David Barbe, Patio, The Angelics, Five Gallon Flow, Recess Party, Balistix, Jane Day, Girl Dad, Nickname, Bea Porges, the aforementioned Shine, Sophia Barkhouse, Marie Daly and Evelia. Food trucks are to be on site, too, so you don’t fall out. For more information and tickets, find the event on eventbrite.com.
GOING BLANK AGAIN: The new album Good Form by Athens artist/project Robe (née Bryan Casey) didn’t really grab me at first, but subsequent spins revealed a depth of composition that wasn’t immediately evident. To wit, the shambolic Doors arrangement across the entire second half of opening song “Seraph Talk” and the Cure-worthy synth swells toward the end of “Slow March (Repose).” The real wealth here, though, is Casey’s four-song punch right in the middle of this seven song release. On these tracks in particular (“Not Enough,” “How Far,” “Whirlpool” and “Bite”), he takes his seat next to classic shoegaze artists such as Ride but also guitar hero indie rockers like The Field Mice and other associated Sarah Records acts. It’s a highly enjoyable and, from what I can discern, thoughtful release that arrives just as spring feels like it’s turning into summer. The opening guitar lines of “Bite” are about as joyous and life-affirming as anything released in recent memory. Find this on major streaming services or go directly to the artist at robeathens.bandcamp.com.
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