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It's getting hotter and around here the hits just keep on coming,
looking out for your interests, as always, we're back with another
update of cool junk. Think of me as a consumer advocate for the
musical community. Reports available below...
A Preview Before The Debut: As reported last week, new Athens
band Teenage Meth Lab will have its club debut Monday, May 30.
However, if you want to really get in on the ground floor, they'll be
playing a house show with out-of-towners Bring Back The Guns
(Austin, TX) and Plate Six (Birmingham, AL) over at “Mercer's
Place." For directions, please email bryant@cinemechanica.com.
That is all
Y Wild, Man. Just Wild: Local jam/ cover band Lionz has announced
that it has been working all year so far on a debut album, tenta
tively titled Stranger Things Have Happened, with local recording/
producing superstar David Barbe. The band plans to release the
November 1974, and while his legacy enjoyed a steady but small
following through the years, his star rose quite high via the use of
his music in a Volkswagen commercial a few years back. Fans were
alternately thrilled and aghast. Mostly aghast. Anyway, Hargon will
perform Drake's 1972 album Pink Moon in its entirety. The stark col
lection of songs comes in at just under half an hour, but is one of
the most rewarding half hours of recorded music ever. Hats off to
Hargon for giving this a go. (Also, what is it about the Ricker that
makes people want to do these really difficult tribute projects? First
John Fahey, now Nick Drake? Who's next. Segovia?)
Life Is A Cabaret: Local costuming expert Amanda Kr.isely will
debut her "Effie's Club FoUies"—a live burlesque and variety
show—at The Ritz on Saturday, May 28. Named after Athens leg
endary “house of ill repute" which was finally closed by the Athens
vice squad in 1972, the Effie's Club FoUies isn't exactly a continua
tion of that tradition; rather, it's a kind of theatrical take on the
free-spirited idea of such a place.
Promising "more class than ass," the per
formance troupe wilt of course, be pre
senting some burlesque dancing (with
many being accompanied by music from
the not-quite-departed Bellhouse). Also
on the ticket wiU be "roUer skating, belly-
dancing, stand-up comedy and juggling."
Each participant has designed her own set,
costumes and choreographed her own act,
so what you see is what you get. Knisley
says of the upcoming performance, "Funny
is sexy, and the slant of our show is defi
nitely funny. We aim to entertain first and
titillate second." The local dreamy pop
dudes in Boulevard wiU open the show.
There Can Be Only One: Last Call is
revving up its annual summer Battle of
the Bands. Every night of the event,
which takes place at the club several
times a week, features three to four local
and regional bands. At the end of the
summer, the final champs win $1,000 in
cash and $1,500 worth of recording time at Atlanta's Tree Sound
Studio along with a bunch of other prizes. To take part, call 353-
8869 and leave a message with all your contact info and details.
(Chris Hassiotis]
I Bet You Never Knew They Were An Urban Art: R.E.M. has teen
awarded a 2005 Zlatna Koogla Award for "Best Foreign Art." The
band cinched the Croatian award with their January 19 performance
at the Dorn Sportiva in the Croatian city of Zagreb. The honor, given
during the Croatian Urban Awards, was bestowed upon the band in
ApriL If you can read Croatian, please see
www.zlatnakoogla.com. For those stuck in
English, visit www.remhq.com.
Oh, Yeah, We're Still Counting 'Em: If you
haven't heeded our clarion call to get your
votes in yet, heed it now. "Votes for what?" a
few bleary eyed readers might say. Why, your
votes for the 2005 Flagpole Athens Music
Awards, that's what. A quick review of the
nominees in each category should show you
that we mean business this year. Now more
than ever. Of course, you can still order artists
not listed bn the menu by writing in your
selections if your particular favorite is, for
some reason, missing. Now don't go trying to
stuff the ballot box with the same artist
written in each category or anything stupid
like that We have ways of telling, I tell you.
And we'll toss 'em out faster than a Florida
recdunt offirial Time is running out also, as
voting ends on June 1. All winners will be
announced at our annual awards show at the Morton Theatre on
June 23. Please use the ballot provided in this issue or rock the
vote electronically over at www.flagpole.com.
And I'm off like a dirty shirt I look forward to hearing from you
concerning your news and whatnot So hop to it Always mention
either me or Threats 8i Promises in the subject line of all emails.
Find the greatest love of all via email to music@flagpole.com,
voicemail at 549-9523, ext 203; or by post at P.O. Box 1027,
Athens, GA 30603.
Gordon Lamb
Lionz
Go Where Fashion Sits: It seems exceedingly
safe to now say that the owners of The Ritz
are quite serious about their new direction as
a live music venue. With booking agent Keith
Hilgenfeldt stepping down, the Ritz has taken
on local promoter Megan Molotov to handle
booking duties. Molotov, who has formerly pro
moted shows at the dearly-departed Green
Scene, seems a wise choice as she's plugged in Gram Parsons
and should be able to direct the venue toward
a steady stream of appealing shows. Molotov's regular booking hours
are Monday through Friday, 2-5 p.m. As a firm believer that there are
never too many live music venues, I'm excited to see how this works
out. Any and all bands and artists interested in hopping this party
train to stardom should contact Molotov directly at 227-2124 or
email her at promoritz@hotmaiLcom.
Ambitious Is Too Small A Word: Athens guitarist Patrick Hargon
(Don Chambers + GOAT, The Good Ship) will undertake a fairly
serious and not easy at all task on Friday, May 27 over at the Ricker
Theatre & Bar. He will be doing a tribute show to beloved singer-
songwriter Nick Drake. The reclusive English guitarist passed away in
record around the beginning of UGA's fall semester. The two-time
Flagpole Athens Music Award Winners (Jam/ Improv Band of the
Year, 2004; Cover Band of the Year, 2003) will play locally again at
Chasers on Thursday, May 19, and at the Roadhouse during AthFest
on June 23 and 24. The group is currently concentrating on its orig
inal music, but will still draw from a pool of more than 50 artists
ranging from Sublime to Muddy Waters. I tried as best I could to
check out their new MP3s at www.lionz.org, but the files were all
messed up for some reason. If you're inteiasted in hearing them, I
suggest you drop the band a line if they aren't functional by the
time you read this.
> More Gram: Local trad-country band
Trunkfire will perform "The Gram Parsons
Project" at Foxz Tavern on Saturday, May 21.
Bandmember Tim Adams says, "We'll be
playing most of both the G.P. and Grievous
Angel records as well as several other Gram-
penned tunes. Special guests may be in the
works. The show is free but we like them
tips..." The show starts at 10 p.m.
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MAY 18, 2005 • FLAGPOLE.COM 29