LET GOD BE YOUR GARDENER: Athens rockers Rosie & the Ratdogs just doubled down on their promise to bring more music to their audience. After nothing for four years, the band released the single “Peench” back in February, and just this week it’s releasing another new single named “We Have A Situation.” On this new one, the group is still driving down the same hard ‘90s alt rock-grunge-indie-metal road, but with a vigor and dedication that probably could have produced two entire albums by this time. These guys are killer at weaving subtle and thoughtful musical touchstones throughout their brashness. For example, check the vocal melody right at 0:53 seconds, and then listen up for the single-note guitar string bend/howl at 2:05. The song itself is out now, and once Apr. 26 comes along you can catch the accompanying video, too. Find this at rosieandtheratdogs.bandcamp.com, and for more information, please see facebook.com/rosieandtheratdogs.
THE RESULTS ARE IN: The finalists for this year’s Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year Awards show have been announced. They are AmandaGrace Schiano (Clover County), Garrett Boyd (Goodie), Gracie Huffman (lighthearted), Ethan and Sam Caspary (Little Mae) and Spencer Paul (Mannequin Party). This year’s awards event happens Thursday, May 2 at the 40 Watt Club. Tickets are $15 in advance or $12 with a student ID. The Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of The Year Awards is a creation and production of Classic City Rotary and was established in 2016. For more information, please see facebook.com/VicChesnuttAward and/or vicchesnuttaward.com.
EBONY & IVORY: If you didn’t know, UGA’s Performing Arts Center has spent this current season celebrating the Year of The Piano in honor of the center’s purchase of a new Hamburg Steinway grand piano. The center is honored to present highly influential Chinese pianist Lang Lang in concert on the instrument on Saturday, Apr. 27. Two nights earlier, though, on Thursday, Apr. 25, Ciné will screen the 2009 documentary Note By Note: The Making of Steinway L1037. The film was made by UGA alumnus and director Ben Niles, and this screening is presented by the center in partnership with the UGA Lamar Dodd School of Art and Department of Film Studies. Niles will both introduce the film and participate in a Q&A session after the screening. Lang Lang’s concert is already sold out, but information and tickets to the film can be found at athenscine.com. I’d encourage you to read up on the film, too, as it’s quite interesting and exceedingly well detailed. Find your assignment at steinway.com/misc/note-by-note.
BELIEVE YOU ME: Although its bouncy intro feels incongruous, by the time Robe really kicks into its new single “Tunnel Of Love,” it fits like hand in glove. Indeed, with this first song in a year from this project, it’s nice to know there was some actual work happening. Overall, it’s a decently low-slung affair, but one that builds for a solid three minutes before taking a brief reprieve then blasting out toward its end. Not much else to say about this, but if you’re in the market to hear some nicely composed and solidly shoegaze-influenced stuff, check this out at robeathens.bandcamp.com.
SCHOOL’S OUT!: You ever wonder exactly what goes on in the storied UGA Music Business Program? Well, one thing is a whole lot of students record songs and music as part of their final projects. Most of us never get to hear any of these things, but this year there’s a dedicated Spotify playlist featuring them. Notably, it features the debut single “Whirlpool” from Easy Sleaze, as well as tracks from Cannon Cole, Emergency Teleport, Ashtxn, Luka Briglevich, Eonbaer, Marlayna Vonkarpen, JMoney, Dylan Rowen, Annabeth Hatfield and Serendipity. If you want to listen in, head over to Spotify and search for “MBUS Microcosm Projects 2024.” MBUS will additionally host The Bulldog Boogie, spotlighting several of these acts, at Southern Brewing Co. on Sunday, Apr. 28 from 2–9 p.m.
SLOW DOWN: The next instance of ATHICA’s Sonic Space live music performance series happens Saturday, Apr. 27. This show will feature Cloud Recordings artists The Rishis along with guests Wet Meadows. Doors open at 7 p.m., and The Rishis are slated to play at 8 p.m. with Wet Meadows to follow at 9 p.m. Word is that The Rishis will play with a full band lineup, and will share some new tunes from its upcoming sophomore album. If you want to get up to speed, please see therishis.bandcamp.com and wetmeadows.bandcamp.com. For all other information, please see athica.org.
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