VISITING THE RUINS: Chicago archival re-issue label The Numero Group has set its sights on late ‘90s/early 2000s Athens group Macha. While the label itself has been pretty tight-lipped about its intentions, it has released two tracks from the band’s self-titled 1998 debut album, originally released on now-defunct label Jetset. The songs in particular are “Sama Sama” and “Light The Chinese Flower.” Macha (Josh and Mischo McKay, Kai Reidl and Wes Martin) enjoyed that rarified space in Athens music whereby they were pretty instantaneously popular and enjoyed nearly unbroken critical acclaim, and were simultaneously well respected in the indie underground. There are a solid handful of live videos of the group available online as well as a decent amount of their music, albeit in a completely unofficial way. For more information, please see instagram.com/thenumerogroup, numerogroup.com and instagram.com/macha_musick.
PRODUCTIVE, CONDUCTIVE: After what has seemed like an exceedingly long wait—it’s actually been nine years—The Arcs are prepared to release a new album. It’s titled Athens Avenue, and while the full album, which will arrive courtesy of Arfus Records, won’t be out until Sept. 16, the first single, “She’s Just That Kinda Girl,” is out now. Fans of the old Arcs sound will be pleased to know that this new music fits hand-in-glove with the type of power-pop-Amer-indie you’ve come to expect from this crew. I’m especially partial to the synthesizer on this song, as it adds a necessary emotional component that the song would be emptier without. Find it on all major streaming services, and for more information, please see thearcs.bandcamp.com, facebook.com/thearcs, and arfusrecords.com.
THE PARTY NEVER ENDS: It’s been forever since I mentioned noise project—admittedly a reductive label of convenience—partydead in this column. And that’s because it was getting very hard to keep up with the steady wave of releases, which seem to just keep coming. So, it’s time to catch up. I’m not going to go into all the releases that have come out in the past several months, but I will mention memorial beach versions which came out at the end of May. The first and last tracks of this three-track release can justly be described as television static with a beat but each embodies bliss and anxiety in a way that should be heard to appreciate. The centerpiece, the 30-minute-long “Big Louie,” is somewhat structurally similar but with nearly zero anxiety producing sections. It also only relents its smoky, static-drone for about one minute around the 23:00 mark. Now, I’m a fan of this kind of stuff, but readily acknowledge it’s not for everybody. It might also be for nobody. But if you want to test it out, go over to ericthehat.bandcamp.com.
ATTESTATION NATION: Decades before there was a Rubber Udder in Athens, there was simply Udder. Existing solely between the tight dates of 1990 and 1992, Udder was composed of Sherri Brady Carter (Hall of Fame), Heather Jones Lotti and Rick Stanziale (Waylaid). The group recorded three songs with engineer David Barbe at John Keane’s studio and, when asked by Stanziale if he still had the master tape, Barbe responded affirmatively. They’re each available to stream now, but Stanziale has also formed Depose Records and these songs will see release on vinyl as well. The band is slated to reunite and play the 40 Watt Club for a release show on July 19. While I would hope there’s still a percentage of readers out there who would have heard of these folks already, I know that’s a long shot. So, know that this music is very much part of what was then an emerging heavy-rock/proto grunge scene that owed as much to punk rock as it did the noisy art rock of the day. It owes much less to, say, the heavy metal tradition than subsequent scene entrants would embrace. You can find these directly at udder.bandcamp.com.
WAX ON: You’ve got two more chances to throw on your huaraches, wax your board and head down to Athentic Brewing Co. for The Spectre of Surf and Serf Lords. They’ll be appearing at the brewery Friday, June 13 and Friday, July 11. The shows run from 7–9 p.m. This is just some simple summertime fun for those who don’t take things too seriously. Expect “rockin’ beach music and swing dancing!” For more information, please see facebook.com/athenticbrewing and athenticbrewing.com.
UP TO DATE: Songwriter Mary Margaret Cozart is busy calling Atlanta home these days, but reports she’s also now playing in Athens’ Your Ex’s Pets and, of course, still kicks around town doing gigs and whatnot. She’ll next play locally during AthFest at The Globe on Friday, June 20. But a week before then, this Friday as a matter of fact, she’ll release her newest single “Maggie’s World.” She recorded it with the killer McKendrick Bearden and Ben Hackett last year. You’ll be able to find it on all major streaming services as well as directly at marymargaretcozart.bandcamp.com. For more information, please see marymargaretcozart.com.
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