PEOPLE HERE ARE COLORFUL AND BRIGHT: Public input is now being sought on various designs to be used for the new Eastside public library. While the whole of this project certainly impacts our residents and, by extension, our whole scene, there’s one specific design element that should be of particular interest to y’all. According to a press release from the ACC communications department, “…residents will have the opportunity to suggest a song that is representational of Athens or inspirational in nature in terms of expanding horizons. The design team is considering options to symbolically represent the encoding of a song on the façade of the building.” This public input period lasts until Dec. 15, and you may preview the proposed designs at accgov.com/eastsidelibrary. That’s also the URL to follow to provide your input. The form is behind the big navy blue rectangle that says “Provide input.”
HERE’S WHERE THE STRINGS COME IN: Hunger Anthem will celebrate the release of its newest full-length album, Lift, Saturday, Dec. 7 at Normal Bar with things starting up around 8 p.m. Also on the bill are Trycoh and Noise Mountain, so, between these three, pretty much all your guitar needs are met. The band has steadily released three singles (“Patron,” “Bloodsucker” and “Hours And Miles”) during the run-up to the album’s release. Hunger Anthem has been, for several years, one of the most reliably consistent guitar-oriented American-indie rock bands in Athens. The new album hits on all relevant points, is a joy to hear, and you can preview and purchase the vinyl LP or digital download over at hungeranthem.bandcamp.com. For all other information, please see facebook.com/hungeranthem.
GUITAR ARMY: Heffner is currently in its midst of celebrating five years as a band. As part of this effort, the group will play two free shows at Nowhere Bar a few weeks apart this month. First up is Saturday, Dec. 7 and Elijah Johnston will share the bill. Next up is Saturday, Dec. 28 and McKendrick Bearden will share the bill. Now, don’t sleep on these openers, folks. As much as we all love Heffner and are proud o’ them boys, both Johnston and Bearden have released excellent records in the past 20 months or so. Check ‘em out at mckendrickbearden.bandcamp.com and elijahjohnston.bandcamp.com. And, of course, celebrate the birthday boys by following along at facebook.com/Heffnerband.
HOME IS WHERE THE HOOD IS: Patterson Hood will release his first solo album in 12 years early next year, bringing the total to four so far. It’s titled Exploding Trees & Airplane Screams, comes courtesy of ATO Records, and its street date is Feb. 21. The album was produced by Chris Funk (The Decemberists, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks) at various Portland, OR studios because that’s where Hood has been making his home for the past several years. Even so, longtime friend and collaborator David Barbe still appears on this. The album art is truly among the most disturbing I’ve ever seen from an Athens artist or, even, an Athens-related artist. But since it’s the holiday season, I don’t want to spoil your surprise, so just go look it up on your own. The first single, “A Werewolf And A Girl” is out now and features country music legend Lydia Loveless. As a general rule, I’m not really a fan of duets except in rare situations, and this is one of those. The next time Hood will fly close to Athens is Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Asheville Music Hall in Asheville, NC. Preorders for the new album are available at atorecords-ffm.com/etaas. For all other information, please see pattersonhood.com.
ACCOMPLISHED, ENLIGHTENED: Long-running Athens band The Rishis are now an expanded group who have grown quite capably and have a brand new single out on the Primordial Void label. The song is named “Coloring,” and it’s a tune that hits that particular intersection of pop psychedelia, Tin Pan Alley, jazzy baroque, and even late-1960s country and western. Honestly, not at all different from its Elephant 6 forebears except in its high-quality recording. I won’t spoil it here, but just check out the group lineup for this song and my description above won’t be surprising at all. Also, I’ll admit it’s taken me a while to fully come around to The Rishis, but this song has me anticipating a new full-length album more than I had previously. Find it at primordialvoid.bandcamp.com.
RIGHT HERE WADING: Over in Atlanta, former Jet By Day members Mason Brown and David Matysiak have teamed up with singer-songwriter Madeline Adams and Katie Spradley to form Flamingo Shadow. The group’s debut album is named Shake For Fruit, and the album credits all use pseudonyms so I have no idea who’s really doing what here, but I can tell you this thing is shiny and bright and incredibly well recorded courtesy of Adult Swim Studios. There are some real gems on this album. In particular, the Caribbean-rhythmed “Kingdom” and the driven and urgent “Headlights.” There’s a post-punk aesthetic and conceit throughout, and I find Flamingo Shadow to be much more compelling when approaching this through melody, beauty and glamor as opposed to angularity, heavy drums and discordant guitars. Your mileage may vary, of course, so check it out at flamingoshadow.bandcamp.com.
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