Despite predictions of rain, local folk act Glupist ended up with a lovely night for their Athens sendoff. Atlanta band Abby GoGo kicked things off around 11, and the place was already packed in anticipation of their heavy, psychedelic drone-rock. Bringing to mind weirdo garage acts like Woven Bones, or Athens’ own Vincas, this quartet’s powerful sound turned that patio into a canyon full of avalanches as it bounced off every wall and echoed out into the Classic City sky. Due to a late start (a seemingly constant problem for Farm shows), their set was cut extremely short (they only got to play three songs, and they were not happy about it) but their trip to Athens was most definitely a success. Here’s hoping they felt appreciated enough to come back and that they’ll get to stay longer next time.
Next up was everyone’s favorite local folk act Yo Soybean, primary vehicle for singer-songwriter Nicholas Mallis. In fine form, this jubilant collection of musicians raised their voices as one and engaged the ever-growing crowd in an uptempo prairie serenade. While clearly influenced by Bob Dylan, Mallis brings a clear-throated exuberance to his tunes that separates him from his musical forebears, and whether he’s bringing his talents to bear on matters of lost love, spiritual searching, or just old-fashioned country barn dances, he is always singing through a smile. As their guitar, banjo, and lap steel comingled with the sounds of crickets and tree frogs in the humid, Southern Summer air, no venue name ever seemed more appropriate than Farm.
Thanks to an economical, dual-sided stage setup that allows bands to play back-to-back in quick succession, Nashville jazz-rockers Square People were able to kick off their set with virtually no downtime in between. Easily the most unique act of the evening, these guys combined odd, ska-tinged time signatures, squealy punk vocals and furious, alto-sax freakouts into an almost uncategorizable musical assault. After encouraging the crowd to move up close, Square People rewarded them with an intense sonic storm that seemed to kick up clouds of dust of its own volition. An already loose crowd started to really move, both on the dancefloor and back to the bar for another round, and the stage was set for Glupist’s last Athenian hurrah.
Flanked by an upright bass, lap steel, and banjo, frontman Danny Gorbachev absolutely brought the house down with his infectious, jangly brand of what he has labeled “future-folk.” Jumping from the greasy, gritty blues of “I Shit Gold†to the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it hilarity of the 30-second ditty “Happy Fun,†this troupe of troubadours saw a sauced and shifty crowd evolve quickly from toe-tapping to foot-stomping to a full-on bow-to-your-partner-bow-to-your-corner promenade. By the time they reached their closer, a beautiful reel of close, mountain harmonies stretched across the repeated chorus of “don’t you up and die,†Farm was damn near ready to go out and raise a barn (and if they’d played for another 20 minutes we just might have done it). Gorbachev has moved on to North Carolina for the time being, but the indelible words and gorgeous voices of Glupist will linger on long after, bringing the sounds of the rustic past into a bright, brave new future.
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