Newspaper Page Text
Monday, May 2
The Shins,
The Brunettes
40 Watt Club
One could under
stand if it feels odd
and perhaps a bit sur
real for James Mercer
to see the lavish praise
his band the Shins
have been receiving
over the past couple of
years for their melodic,
classic-sounding, yet
off-center-style of pop.
The band has recently
received national
attention after appearing on the Carden State soundtrack, with one of Mercer's songs, 'New
Slang/ also being prominently featured in a pivotal scene in the film. For Mercer, though, it
wasn't that long ago that he was unsure if he even had a future in music He and the other mem
bers of the Shms—keyboardist Marty Crandall, drummer Jesse Sandoval and bassist David
Hemande2—first played together in the earty '90s in a band called Flake. But neither Flake nor
the Shins, which started out in 1996 as Mercer's own songwriting vehicle, made much headway.
By the time he began focusing his energies on writing the Shins' 2001 debut album Oh,
Inverted Wortd, Mercer says he had decided the record would be his last shot at making a mark in
music 'I absolutely was in that position/ Mercer says. "I was turning 30 while I was recording
that and had dropped out of college probably six years earlier and was just sort of working odd
jobs and stuff and playing in bands... I was going to give it up basically. I was going to go back
to school and get an office job or something/
Chutes Too Narrow, the band's follow-up album, emphatically has suggested that there's
nothing accidental about the quality of the music the Shins make. Upon its release last fall, the
album earned the same type of rapturous praise that greeted Oh, Inverted Wortd. Mercer admits
he's still adjusting to the critical acclaim and the hype that has come to surround the Shins—
something that's understandable given the fact that he and his bandmates spent nearly the
entire decade of the 1990s in virtual anonymity. [Alan Sculley]
Thu Shins
continued from page 25
BATTLES (40 Watt) The layered aid
complex music of Battles should come
as no surprise, as it* made by math-
rock and metal veterans of Don
Caballero, Helmet and Tomahawk.
BAXTERSTREET BOYZ (Go Bar)
Jordan Noel and David Matysiak spin
what could be called intelligent, dance-
able indie rock music lor the late-night
dance party crowd.
CRACKER (Twilight Outdoor Stage)
Carrier Van Beethoven frontman David
Lowery* a roots man tor sure, as both
o! his bands pull heavily on numerous
traditions. Its with Cracker, though, that
rock tendencies show themsetves more
easily. 8 pm
DANNY BOYLAN & GEARY SMITH
(Whiskey Dick*) Danny Boyian rocks
out acoustic covers from Green Day to
Indigo Girls. Dave Matthews to
Radiohead and more vrfiile Geary Smith
provides electric solos.
DASH RIP ROCK (Georgia rheatre)
Bluesy classic rock fiom Tennessee
DAWGTOWN RAMBLERS (Wild
Wing Cate) This local cJassic-rock/
Southern-rock band plays traditional
country tunes, twangy rock covers and
originals. The band* got the full-eledric
treatment and performs full steam ahead
“DISCO NIGHT'(Stans Bar & Grill)
Brothers Disco are in charge of
bringing you R&B dance numbers.
DJ MAHOGANY (Little Kings) The
man also known as Mark T. Weather shy
spins *a lot of music from the 60s. 70s
and possibly early 80s spanning soul,
funk, blue-eyed soul. Northern soul and
a little soulful disco.* Ask him for a free
soul mix CD 1 10 p m.
DJ NOBODY (40 Watt) California*
Elvin Estela recently released the album
Soulmates, an eccenbic and exciting
blend ot quirky jazz, spoken word and
ambient hip hop.
DRIYIN* N' CRYIN’ (Georgia Theatre)
Kevn Kinney fronts his classic claim to
tame, playing jangfy Southern alt-pop
EDIE (Caledonia) Currently based out ot
Nashville, this singer-songwriter was
bom and raised in Holland. Her sopho
more album Nu was released last month.
FLASH TO BANG TIME (Go Bar)
Local ad that puts out a refreshingly
curious mix ot chamber pop sounds,
incorporating dramatic and distinctive
vocalizations, cello, guitars and drums.
Tonight's show* being recorded.
“FREEFORM FRIDAYS'* (Annex)
Contemporary dance mixes provided by
the house deeiav.
FUNKLE ESTER (Tasty World) This
Athens eight-piece funk ad is a favorite
among those looking to get the party
started and keep it going alt night. The
group performs covers of 70s R&B,
disco and rock classics.
GINGER ENVELOPE (Caledonia)
Slow-rolling countryish local pep
marked by breezy, melodic music with
chiming acoustic and electric sounds
and vocal melodies.
GRASSFOOT (DTS) Based out of
North Georgia, this three-piece plays
acoustic rock.
GUNNISON (Tasty World) The local
instrumental combo (steel drums, sax,
trombone, bass and drum kit) calls its
sound ‘innovative, instrumental super-
jazz.*
JUPITER COYOTE (Last Call) Over its
11 -year history, this popular North
Carolina jam-rock quintet has regularly
br ought its blend of country-rock, blue-
grass and funk to Athens.
“KARMA SALON ANNIVERSARY'
(Karma Salon) Celebrating two years of
the Milledge salon bein' around Music
starts at 4 30 pm. Performers indude
acoustic rocker Heidi Hensley, folk
duo Gabriel Young. Calliope Fair’S
Betsy Inglesby, folk guitarist Megan
Baer and pop ad Carla LeFever &
the Rays
LOOK BOTH WAYS (J.R. s Baitshack)
No information available.
MATT WINK & THE KENTUCKY
GENTLEMEN (Gus) Local guitarist
and singer plays a variety ol acouslic
music, ranging Irom John Mayer to
Dave Matthews to Tim McGraw Tonight
he performs with his full band
NATE NELSON (Twilight Outdoor
Stage) Young Athens-based performer
who goes for a set of his own tunes in
tonights solo showcase. He last year
won over a number of folks at the
Twilight Criterium outdoor stage and is
back for round two 6 p.m.
NEWSPEAK (DTS) New Athens band
that says its sound is‘close to Van
Morrison (think the album Moondancd)
or the Rolling Stones, but styled so hard
to pin down sometimes.' Mostly origi
nals, some covers.
PORCH TO THE PEOPLE (Athens
Steam Co. Pub) Dave *Freelove‘
Mundy and Clark Vreeland perform a
set of acoustic gospel and blues num
bers. using 'harmonica, slide guitar,
spoons, stomp board and vocal har
monies* Guest vocalists Claire
Campbell (Hope For AgokJensummer).
Alvetta Newby-Jones (Ori) and Star
Scott (Sursie) show up.
PREFUSE 73 (40 Wtt) Seep. 32.
REDNECK GREECE & THE HOGGY
BOTTOM BOYS (Jot 'em Down BBC)
Greg Reece (AKA Redneck GReece)
makes what* becoming a more regular
appearance with his backing band to
perform a set of his honky-tonkin’ tunes.
Every Friday, 6 p m.
“REWINO & FAST FORWARD”
(Insomnia) A weekly guest deejay spins
dance music from the’80s through
today, every Friday.
SEVEN 7 (Klassics) This cover band
selects a mrx oT60s soul, 70s disco
andftte pop with a mix of contempo
rary and classic rock.
“SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTER BEN
EFIT" (Little Kings) Tonights fund
raiser features performances by the
comedy-minded Triple Velcro,
country/ pop band Timber and late-
night dancing hosted by DJ Treadwell
and DJ Mahogany
SHIITAKE KNIGHTS (Caledonia)
Featuring former and ament members
of Murder Beach, The Glands. Lit Power.
Lona.JeSuis France... you gel the
point These workhorse pop musicians
play in the not-quite-twee supergroup
Also goes by Transmitter, REN. and
Special Teams.
SUN 00MING0 (Last Call) There* a
strong Stevie Wonder influence (as well
as a little Maroon 5 Hava) in this
acoustic-based rock trio* music See
Box
“UNDERGROUND EXPLOSION”
(Tasty World) Tonight* event focuses on
the rising talents ol local(ish) under
ground hip hop Athens mixmaster DJ
Jewels runs the turntables tonight, as
South Carolina* Billy Rob and Florida
Boy and locals Sean Caddy. Ra
Search Haiiq Infamous Cartel,
Sweet City Dope Buys and Powerful
Minds perform Upstairs 10 pm.
THE WEIGHT (Twilight Outdoor Stage)
Pick up the band* full-length album Ten
Mile Grace, a post-country collection of
Springsteeny rockers and iaspy bal
ladry Frontman Joseph Plunket last tall
moved to New York from Athens, and
this week he brings his NYC lineup
down with him. 7 p.m.
PETEY WHEATSKRAW (Eastwood
Pub) Southern classic rock, originals
and covers
Saturday, April 30
ASTRA (Caledonia) Jostah McGaughey.
Wes Tracy. Paul Nunn and Jeremy
Sellers play an alt-country-infhienced
set ol sparey, atmospheric rock as they
dose out their 'Wearing Out Their
Welcome* mini-tow ol Athens.
AUDITION WITH MAX REINHARDT
(Go Bar) Vocalist-accordionist-song-
writer Sanni Baumgartner leads this
ensemble through a sultry and brassy
set of authentic German cabaret music
from the 1920s and 30s The group
plumbs the early cabaret sounds that
influenced Kurt Weill and Tom Waits.
The debut album released in October is
Nachtiufl As Go Bar mainstay Kim
Kirby* about to move to Berlin, tonight*
good-bye show is an all-out extrava
ganza with burlesque dancers... and
morel
BLACKWATER(J.R* Baitshack)
Dalton boy Josh Taylor heads up this
fresh rock outfit. Look for a focus on
gu'tar work, as Taylor has been turning
heads with his abilities on the instru
ment since he was very young
CALO GITANO FLAMENCO CO.
(Rrtz) These flamencistos perform the
traditional Spanish dance, infusing it
with a passionate gypsy spirit
CIRCLE D & FRIENDS (Alhens Steam
Co. Pub) Dave *Freelove* and Dean
Davis—along with some others—com
bine aca istic blues with an innovative
guitar approach. All the songs are ‘orig
inal and Athens-inspired, and the sound
is rots and alternative music’
CUT BUFFER (Flicker) No information
available
“DISCO NIGHT (Stan* Bar & Grill)
The Godfather is in charge of
bringing you R&B dance numbers.
DJ ISAAC (Boneshakers) Spins elec
tronic dance numbers every Saturday
after the 1045 p.m. 'Underground
Divas' drag stow
DJ BEZY B (Annex) The local deejay
hosts an evening of hip hop and dance
music.
DJ KURTWOOD (Little Kings) Man
with the vinyl plan DJ Kurlwood spins an
earfy-evening set of garageadelic rock
and soul tunes ., and mort. 10 p.m.
GABRIEL YOUNG (Tasty World)
Fusing world music, folk. jazz, singer-
songwriter. pop and R&B into one cohe
sive but tam-happy unn. The debut
album is Sidewalks & Did Roads 6 p.m.
“HIP HOP SATURDAY" (Insomnia)
DJ Ty spins classics and current dance.
R&B and hip hop hits. Every Satorday
CHIP HOUSTON (Tasty World) Atlanta
caledoiria
www.caledonialounQe.com
due q/26 er,c mefadden trio
bloodkm
lued 4/97 dutria
the high strung
the hot pipes
bhu 4/20 astra
scott Stapleton
apollo quartet
Ph q/29 shitake knights’
ginger envelope
edie
sab 4/30 the weight.
san ferry arm
bue 5/3 early chow o 00pm
-
horses
256 west Clayton street 706.549.5577
Daniel R. Peiken,
I 708-433-2116
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26 . FLAGPOLE.COM • APRIL 27, 2005