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TRAVELIN’ ON
INTO THE SUNSET
As Jason Statton squints west through the windshield of a one
way rental truck, Athens loses yet another music man. The good
news is that Jason is following his bliss. His girlfriend, Jessie
Hunnicutt—a familiarly efficient early morning presence behind the
counter of Espresso Royale Caffe—has taken a job as Projects Editor
at a book typesetting firm in Austin, so they're gone to Texas.
Athens is by design a transient town, and we must always steel
ourselves to understand the idea of "Joy, whose hand is ever at his
lips bidding adieu..." So it is with Jason, too, as it turns out.
Jason Slatton has been such a prolific writer and player and such
a presence for so long that we have simply inserted him into the
architecture of the Athens music scene. Had we had more notice we
might have mounted protests, saying we can no more afford to lose
Jason than we could the Adcock Building. Yet now he's gone, and
we can only hope that the swinging door will swing our way again,
for it is true that many who leave find their way back.
Jason came here to go to college and brought his guitar. He
started out studying and learning and picking and singing. He gravi
tated to Flagpole, where he did some writing and after a while ABC
and eventually became music editor. Meanwhile he was playing in
bands. He played drums in John Brown's Body that closed the
Downstairs. "We were awful."
He teamed with Liz Ireland and Diane Nuter in Rosary. He made
up The Lures with Russ Hallauer, Larry Tenner and Clay Leverett. "I
was in Lona for about 15 minutes, Math for 15 minutes and The
Walt Lariat for five." And all the while he was writing songs and
playing solo.
There came a time when Jason decided he'd better drop out of
college to earn some money. I lectured him about the importance of
his college education (he still does a great imitation), then called
my friend Joe Causey, CFO of Farm Electric. Yes, it did turn out The
Farm could use some help, so Joe hired Jason, who soon found him
self leaning on the counter next to a guy named Davis. "Who's he?"
Jason asked me. "You'll find out soon enough," I told him.
Jason had landed next to Davis Causey, one of Athens' pre-emi
nent practitioners of the guitar trade, a man who had anchored
almost every band to come out of the Normaltown music scene, and
who had played with some of the biggest bands in the country.
Davis was also the longtime collaborator with another core of the
Athens apple tree, Randall Bramblett. Soon, fate and talent con
spired and Jason was playing regularly with Davis in the Randall
Bramblett Band and writing songs with Randall.
That's the Athens music scene. A kid comes to town for college,
drops out, and through talent and hard work that seems easy
because he loves it, becomes good at music and brings great plea
sure to many, at the sacrifice of making a living.
So now Jason has gone west, and we'U miss him for his music
and for his ready wit and sly smile. But this story is perhaps only
prelude for our traveling troubadour, for he's now in that iiber-
Athens, that music town writ large, where though he is starting over
with his ft2 pencil and his guitar, he brings a seasoned ability, an
oeuvre. He's not just riding on his reputation; he's traveling on his
talent Writing music and playing it and singing it ought to travel
well to Austin.
POLITICAL POSTSCRIPT
Sen. Trent Lott should remain Majority Leader, (unless he'll get
out of the Senate altogether). Let him stay, as a reminder of the
racism inherent in the Republican Party's "Southern Strategy"
Pete McCommons, editor@flagpole.com
TIIL MTI1
399 Beaverdam RC, • 353-1187 • wmr.athenshumaneso6tcty.com
JESSE the Guinea
Pig is also looking
for a nice home.
PACO is a Persian type who
has copper eyes and
beautiful long black hair.
He’s very sedate and could
use some sweet talking to
bring him out of his kitty
shell.
DUKE is a very funny orange
tabby comedian with orange
eyes. Very sweet, also. He will
grab your arm and pretend
to bite and kick fiercely but
he won’t make a scratchl
Practice saying, “my cat is a
NUT,’’ then take him home.
BRUTUS is a big healthy boy
and has been described by
his hosts as being “SWEET
AS PIE!” What else can you
say about a cat that gives
hugs or purrs
instantaneously upon your
touching him.
EDDIE is a grey longhair
beauty with big green eyes.
He’s a passionate sort and
might plant a love nip on you
when you first pick him up,
but be patient and gentle
with this guy, he has a lot of
love to offer.
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STREET ADDRESS: 112 South Foundry Street, Athens, GA 30601
MAILING ADDRESS: P.O.B. 1027, Athens, GA 30603 • mail@flagpole.com
TEL 706-549-9523 • ADS: 706-549-0301 • FAX: 706-548-8981
VOICEMAIL: 706-549-2360 • WEBSITE: www.flagpole.com
EDITOR l PUBLISHER Pete McCommons ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
& PUPUSHER Alicia Nickles PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Larry Tenner
MANAGING EDITOR Margaret Moore EXECUTIVE EDITOR Brad Aaron
NEWS + CULTURE
CITY DOPE
ADVERTISING SALES Maggie Anderson, D.J. Hammond, Anita Pinto
SPECIAL AGENT Cindy Jerrell ACTING MUSIC EDITOR Sarah Lee
CLASSIFIEDS, DISTRIBUTION t OFFICE MANAGER Jili Buchanan
SPECIAL SCRIBE William Orten Carlton CARTOONIST Patrick Dean
ADOPT ME Cindy Jerrell SENIOR MUSIC WRITER Ballard Lesemann
THE YEAR IN MOVIES
REALITY CHECK
ABC Chris McKay WRITERS Mike Andrews, Tom Bavis, Emerson
Dameron, Patrick Franklin, Sam Gunn, John Knight, Gordon Lamb,
Ballard Lesemann, Chris McKay, Heather Muse, JoE Silva, Matt
LISTINGS
Thompson, Leah Weinberg. Jim Winders CIRCULATION Charles
Greenleaf, Chris Brewton, Chase Johnston, David Lasley, Micah
MOVIE DOPE
Sherman WEBFOOLS Ron Balthazor, p in Manchee EDITORIAL
INTERN Sasha Sarene Morgan MUSIC INTERN Mario Lamberti
ADVERTISING INTERNS Kimberly Smith. Leslie Swift PRODUCTION
ASSISTANT Brian Causey PRODUCTION INTERN Gary Holbrook
COVER DESIGN Cindy Jerrell featuring illustration by Patrick Dean
OUT THERE!.
ABC
CLASSIFIEDS
. 5
. 6
27
. 8
10
1?
28
MUSIC
BEST LOCAL RECORDS 18
BEST NATIONAL RECORDS 19
MOST OVERLOOKED RECORDS 20
CHRISTMAS RECORDS 21
BEST MUSIC MOMENTS 23
2C03 PREDICTIONS 23
TOP TEN SHOWS 24
THREATS & PROMISES 26
• ‘ volCNhe 16
ISSUE NUMBER 5I>
Flagpole, Inc. publishes Flagpole Magazine weekly end distributes
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A m audit circulation
DECEMBER 25, 2002 - JANUARY 1, 2003 • FLAGPOLE COM 3