To all our guests in town this week for AthFest, I want to wish you a very nice time. If you’re new to Athens, please consider taking some time to walk around downtown outside of the festival footprint. If you’ve got time, you can cool off at any of our numerous art galleries and, of course, restaurants and places of leisure. Whatever you do, though, just have fun, stay hydrated, and—hopefully—return home with knowledge of some artists you never heard before but can now claim you as a fan. And for all you locals, be polite and behave. We’ve got company.
THE NITTY GRITTY: Now approaching 50 years of playing—including more high profile collaborations than could possibly be listed here—fiddler David Blackmon needs our help. His health issues began with a spinal injury 25 years ago, and he underwent a double-amputation of the lower portion of both legs in 2021. A fundraiser is underway to assist him with medical bills and assistance to live comfortably. And if you really want to know, Blackmon has played with everyone from Vassar Clements to Widespread Panic and, even after those, the list goes on and on. For more information, please see gofundme.com/f/david-blackmon-needs-our-help.
NO STONE UNTURNED: Chunklet Industries continues to plumb the depths of Athens rock music history, and its next offering is two outtakes from the Bar-B-Q Killers live recording session for the 1986 film Athens, Ga: Inside/Out. The first track is a second take of “His And Hearse”—a different take was included in the actual film—and the second is “Just Call Me Hunchback In The Morning.” Now, the Bar-B-Q Killers were pretty singular in their presence on the scene and, no matter how many backward-looking views through rose-colored glasses are tallied up, definitely weren’t for everyone. They were musically aggressive, nasty, off-putting, and utterly indifferent to anyone’s sense of propriety or social grace. So, rock and roll, ya know? These songs are available digitally as we speak, and you can find ‘em at chunklet.bandcamp.com/album/athens-ga-inside-outtakes.
WHILE I’VE GOT YOUR ATTENTION: Preorders for both digital and vinyl LP versions of T. Hardy Morris’ upcoming album Artificial Tears are being accepted as we speak. This 12-song album of tunes will see official release Aug. 8. The lead single, “Juvenile Years,” is available to stream immediately. Morris’ signature vocals float atop this thoughtful, moving song, and the tune itself is more of the wonderfully distilled shoegazey-Americana we’ve come to know and love from him. It’s also one of the three tracks on the album to feature Thayer Sarrano on background vocals. For more information and to lay your money down, please see thardymorris.bandcamp.com.
STEP RIGHT UP: LowYoYo Stuff Records and Eric Kinlaw (of Augusta-based band forceghost) are hosting a two-night mini-festival at the store Friday and Saturday this week. Each night kicks off at 10 p.m., and these shows are free. Friday night’s hitmakers are Shane Parish, forceghost and Linear North. Saturday will host a solo performance by Organically Programmed, Matt Kovacevich and Grant Evans. For the unfamiliar, LowYoYo Stuff is located next door to Flicker Theatre & Bar at 261 W. Washington St. For more information, just walk inside and ask ‘em.
NOISE ANNOYS: And speaking of auxiliary vents, performance space work.shop (160 Winston Drive, Suite #9) will host Wav Rave on Friday, June 20. Coordinated by the performers, feature acts on this night of experimental and outsider-y/electronic music are Subdivision (Space Brother and Sweet Earth Flying), Low.Again (drum and bass), Other Voices/Other Rooms (live electronics/techno), and Rauncher (glitchy digital hardcore). Things start at 10 p.m. tonight, and the suggested donation is a mere $5, so go ahead and party like it’s 2009. For more information, please see workshopathens.com.
SECOND SKIN: Songwriter and musician Viv Awesome (Viv & The Things) just released her first collection of solo work. It’s titled a burn returns and, in my heart, I want to believe this is a Don Caballero reference, but I’ve no proof either way. Stylistically and structurally these tracks are singer-songwriter oriented but Awesome’s guitar is often treated with echo and other effects making this collection as lush as it is raw. At a few points her voice reminds me of Mimi Goese (Hugo Largo) which, if you know me at all, is a really big compliment.These songs are scheduled to be included on the new Viv & The Things album that comes out in August, too. Find this at vivawesome.bandcamp.com.
TALK AMONGST YOURSELVES: Longtime Athens guitarist Joe Leone will play a free set of his instrumental guitar compositions at Ciné on Wednesday, June 18 from 5–8 p.m. Attendees can chill out, grab a drink, etc. all while Leone soundtracks your experience. There may also be a chance to grab a free CD copy of some of his older work as well. That’s literally all the information, but if you want to try to dig up some more, please see facebook.com/AthensCine, athenscine.com and joeleone.net.
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.
