Newspaper Page Text
/
/
>oo
Montreal bassist Derek Almstead eyes me
\J I suspiciously. "Why are you interviewing
us? You don't even like our band," he says. After I
assure him that this isn't an across the board sen
timent, he loosens up. And after walking through
the pouring rain to our selected conversation spot
where we meet the rest of the band, we are both
too soaked to think of anything but the positive.
And Of Montreal has plenty of positivity
around it. The latest album, Aldhil's Arboretum,
has garnered wonderful reviews nationwide, and
the band—Almstead, Dottie Alexander and Jamey
Huggins—is set to embark on its very first
European tour in January.
"Me, Jamey and Kevin [Barnes] just got back
from Europe touring with Great Lakes, and Derek
just got back from a U.S. tour with Circulatory
System," Alexander dis
closes. These tours, by
the way, occurred immedi
ately after Of Montreal >
had done an extensive
U.S. tour, so the band is
understandably a bit fraz
zled, but still incredibly
focused.
On New Year's Eve, the
40 Watt will host another
night of cover songs from
Of Montreal that should
be just as much fun as
the band's set during
Team Clermont's Blue
Ribbon Ball earlier this
year. However, while the
Blue Ribbon Ball was
devoted exclusively to
songs from the 1980s, the
New Year's Eve perfor
mance will include songs
from several decades. But
the question begs to be
asked: why would one of
Athens' most prolific and
well-tooled bands turn to
playing huge shows filled
with other performers'
songs? Why would they go
the route of lesser bands
who need to play covers
just to fill a setlist?
Simply put, the band
says, it's fun. And by
learning a veritable smor
gasbord of hits, they hope
to tap into that pool of
never-ending cash (something that, realistically,
can mean the difference between getting a record
out and being a frustrated, never-heard prodigy)
that cover bands can dip into: fraternity parties.
Huggins puts it this way, "We definitely want
to get in on the band-for-hire party scene."
Considering that Athens bands as divergent as
Dreams So Real, Chickasaw Mudd Puppies and
Five-Eight have all done this, it's safe to say Of
Montreal is in good company.
While the band is cagey when asked which
sonqs would be included, they do drop some clues
as to what folks can expect. Almstead says, "We're
trying not to be too obscure. It'll be songs that
people like." Alexander chimes in, "We promised
the 40 Watt bartenders that we would play very
specific songs for them."
Perhaps Huggins is the most thoughtful when
it comes to the whole "cover show" idea. He
explains, "I think it makes us individually better
musicians and better ?s a band to have to learn a
whole lot of different styles [of music]." Even
though the folks in Of Montreal are currently up to
their ears in activity and pressed for rehearsal
time, they will most likely pull this off without
missing a beat. After all, the first covers show was
thrown together with less than 24 hours of prepa
ration, and the band performed flawlessly to a
packed house.
For the late-night revelers, Athens prankster
DJs the Krush Girls will be mixing it up. For those
who have never seen or danced the night away to
these guys let me warn you: the term "DJ" is a bit
of an exaggeration. Sure they play records, but
this is not a hip hop carnival of skills. It's more
like a huge slumber party with all your friends.
Group founder Chris Bilheimer claims, "It's totally
just for fun. As far as the art of DJ-ing goes, I
don't even consider us in that category. We know
absolutely nothing about the art of mixing
records. I hope we're not insulting." Bilheimer
also lets Flagpole in on a secret of sorts by
revealing that Strong Bad, the belligerent cartoon
character from the hilarious homestanrunner.com,
will be acting as MC for the night. How a cartoon
will perform is anyone's guess, but the Krush Girls
never disappoint.
While some listeners might tire of hearing
some of the same songs during each Krush Girls
set, Bilheimer pretty much says it's out of his
hands. "For some reason people always want to
hear the same stuff. But that's cool. The whole
idea is for people to have fun."
For those who have nevei ventured out to the
40 Watt for New Year's Eve, be advised this isn't
your normal party. Be prepared for umelentir.g
revelry, goodwill and just plain fun. Even for those
flying solo that night, Of Montreal and the Krush
Girls will make you feel right at home.
Gordon Lamb
WHO: Of Montreal, The Krush Girls
WHERE: 40 Watt Club
WHEN: Tuesday, December 31
HOW MUCH: $6
' W?
DESIGNERS
AND MAKERS OF
FINE JEWELRY
SINCE 1973
125 EAST CLAYTON STREET • DOWNTOWN • 546-8826
Custom Made Pita ►
< Wraps Since 1974
^ Gyro, Steak, Chicken or Veggie
^ Open at 1 lam Mon-Sat • 12pm on Sun
◄
►
►
►
►
►
◄
◄
◄
◄
◄
◄
◄
◄
4
See Our Full Menu At ^
www.gyrowrap.com
TAKE OUT AVAILABLE ►
543-9071 ►
Across from UGA Arch ^
On East Broad Street p*
Off Campus Meal Plan Accepted ^
►
Your Public Radio Station in
Athens and Northeast Georgia
WUGA
91.7
FM
The finest selection of news, classical
music, and cultural programming.
For information about making a
donation to WUGA-FM or becoming
an underwriting business, contact
the station at 706-542-9842 or visit us
online at www.wuga.org.
n p r
Georgia ,
Public Radio
WUGA-FM is a broadcast service of the
University of Georgia Center for
Continuing Education.
There’s no greater reward than giving
a child the chance for a better future.
And there’s no better way to help at-
risk kids than as a youth counselor at
an Eckerd wilderness camp. Hike the
Appalachian Trail. Canoe the Suwanee.
Sleep under the stars. And help a
troubled child have the chance to
succeed. Youth Counselor Melany
Martin sums it up, "You never know
what you can do until you’re
pushed to the limit.”
For more information and to apply
online, visit our web site at
www.eckerd.org.
Send resume to:
Career Advisor/FP,
P.O. Box 7450,
Clearwater, FL 33758-7450
E-mail to:
recruiting@eckerd.org
ECKERD
YOUTH
ALTERNATIVES
EYA offers you — Full-time, live-in positions • Excellent salary/benefits
• Free room and board • Free time-off quarters • Paid training
EOE
DECEMBER 25, 2002 - JANUARY 1, 2003 • FLAGPOLE.COM 11