Newspaper Page Text
The Heckler
Parenthetical Local Music News in Bold & italics
L. bv JOHN BRITT ^
HECKLER GETS'VOICE-MAIL: 9:29 a.m., Thursday, July 15: “Yes,
this is Brian Harris from Asa Nisi Masa. I thought I'd call and
help you get your facts straight Asa Nisi Masa is not broken up.
I am Asa Nisi Masa. I think you should contact the person who
is in control of what is going on as far as my project is con
cerned, which is me. Asa Nisi Masa is alive and well. Secondly, I
don't agree with you putting me in the same category as
Dayroom. I don't know who you are, but anyone who knows who
I am knows that my shit does not sound like Hall of Fame,
Dayroom, or anyone else's shit Maybe you should give me a call
and I can help you get your facts straight."
PRESS ONE TO ERASE, TWO TO SAVE: Funny, we always conceived
of Asa Nisi Masa as a band, whether it be from violinist Mamie
Fike's days in the group, or as the stripped-down duo of Harris
and drummer Rick Gordon. Apparently, Harris considers Rick
.and Mamie's work in ANM to have been mere accents to his
atmospheric, Middle-Eastern-inspired bass playing. Regardless,
it was manager Warren Chilton (who is listed as Asa Nisi
Masa's contact person) who explained that ANM was no more
and added that Harris was not returning his calls about the
split. Repeated messages left by Flagpole were not returned
either, probably because Harris was attempting to write a stel
lar bass-line that best communicated his depth of feeling on
this matter.
MY ATHFEST EXPERIENCE IN 387 WORDS: I'm running across
downtown, from the 40 Watt to the Manhattan to Mean Mike's
to Lunch Paper to Tasty World, backstepping to the Quality
building and the Engine Room, wondering if I'll have a chance
to enjoy more than two beers tonight and wishing I could see
more than 15 minutes of any single band. Hello, AthFest!
Despite the fact that every band I wanted to see seemed to be
playing at the same time, and the utter lack of energy I had
by Saturday night, AthFest didn't do too bad for themselves
this year. Work precluded my chances of catching most of the
outside stage acts, though I heard there weren't Widespread-
like throngs of people during those daytime shows. I did
notice a number of older, professional folks downtown who don't
normally seem to come out to support the music scene. This, of
course, was part of AthFest organizer Jared Bailey's plan: to bring
fresh faces from the surrounding environs downtown, using music
and art as the main attractions. In this case, he succeeded.
Sponsors were also apparently happy with AthFest, and were
r
already discussing what to do for next year's festival. A few
observers, though, noticed problems with the setup. Dan Wall,
owner of Wuxtry, commented, "At least 10 people a day were
coming in and asking, Where the heck is AthFest?' They couldn't
find the main stage, or even hear the music from down the
better pariring at either of the downtown lots, and prevent
problems that could arise if one located a four-day festival mere.
He also added that AthFest eventually may incorporate the
Classic Center into the Washington Street events. My highlights
from AthFest '98 included the blue-collar rock of Tony Tidwell
and the Scalded Dogs, newcomers Dynamite High, the atmos
pheric art-tunes of Empire State, the Jesus and Mary Chain-esque
dance-fuzz of Vibeulator, and the final outing by punk outfit A
Mercy Union.
THE SALESMAN AND BERNADETTE: That's the title of the new Vic
Chesnutt album that Capitol was gearing up to distribute before
releasing the Athens songwriter from their roster. Flagpole recent
ly acquired an advance copy of the CD (emblazoned, ironically,
with the Capitol insignia). Aided by Nashville's Lambchop,
who played with Vic at the 40 Watt in May, Chesnutt has cre
ated a beautiful, self-described "song cycle " which should
ought be picked up domestically as soon as possible if there's
a single bit of taste left among American music labels. From
the Beatles-quoting pop-soul of "Replenished" to the somber
orchestrations of "Parade," The Salesman and Bernadette joins
those rare few current releases that stand up to the hype rui -
rounding them. It shows again that Chesnutt exists in a musi
cal world of his own.
SO WHY ISN'T NASHVILLE PUSSY PLAYING THE SHOW? Tickets
are now on sale for the Not Dogs... Too Simple (A Tale of
Two Kitties) record release show, which will take place Friday,
August 7 at Atlanta's Cotton Club. The CD is a children's story
about cat love, albeit with a tinge of adult humor (references
to AA's "moment of clarity" and female feline Luis' "not so
fresh feeling."). Originating from the minds of Mark and Clay
Harper, the record features Jack Logan (who illustrated the
CD booklet), Ian Dury (of Blockheads fame), ex-Velvet Moe
Tucker, Jim Heath (aka Rev. Horton Heat), and B-52 Cindy
Wilson, among others. The Atlanta show will include Logan,
The original cover art for The Salesmon ind Bernadette designed by Doug Hollingsworth. Tucker, Murray Attaway, and Kevn Kinney performing short
sets of their own songs, as well as joining Mark Harper's band
The Bogues for a few selections from the CD. Tickets are $6 in
advance, and $8 at the door.
block." Walt who is an avid supporter of AthFest, also wonders
why the stage wasn't located in College Square, where the Human
Rights Festival takes place. Art Jackson, head of the Downtown
Development Authority, responded that the stage was "deliberate
ly moved to Washington Street." According to Jackson, placing
the stage in front of the courthouse allows for a bigger venue and
Here at The Heckler, the Customer is Always Right and Quality is
Always Job One. E-mail your news to icecoldpbr@hotmail.com or
call Flagpole at 549-9523.
$1.00 PBR and Natural Utes
During Wrestling and
Braves Games
Now Hiring Experienced Cooks
485 Baldwin St. 548-3442
www.nbank.com
Oniina Banking
Where Financial Services
Meet the Internet
www.nbank.net
Internet Service
Checking Account o FREE
Internet Service c $14.95 Unlimited Use
When you sign on with nhank.net tor Internet service, your nBank checking
account is FREE. Sure, other hanks offer free checking, but can they provide
low cost Internet access too? And furthermore, can you get free checking
from your Internet Service Provider? <Wvesiftedthroughtheofferfcgsoffelotanet
Not likely. banks out there and our favorite is nBank.”
— SaurNIcoey interactive, May "98
Sign on with nbank.net for Internet service and get access to a FREE
checking account from nBank, the “favorite Internet bank” of SmartMoney
Interactive.
Simply visit www.nbank.com,www.nbank.net
or call 1-800-335-9973 to sign up.
Monthly Internet service charge of $14 95 must be automatically drafted out of an nbank checking
account. Reduced Internet fee is for nbank checking customers. If nbank checking account is closed
or rhere is a lack of account usage, the Internet service charge will revert to standard pricing.
Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender
m PLACPOLE JULY 29, 1998