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Wednesday, April 4
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Kamila Thompson,
Women And Children
Melting Point
It's not easy being the
son of the greatest rock star
to ever grace the planet—or
so we hear. Sean Lennon has
been ducking his father's
shadow for pretty much his
entire life, but he's only re
cently stepped into his own
songwriting skin. Lennon's
latest release, Friendly Fire,
shows a more comfortable
songwriter—unfocused on the Sean Lennon
precedent left by his father.
While opinions on the record were mixed, Lennon has dealt with the massive press buzz excep
tionally well, giving mostly reasonable responses to constant scrutiny and comparison. Most of
the questions focus on his family, but, as would be expected, Sean Lennon usually wishes, and
tries, to discuss his own music.
Friendly Fire, Lennon's second full-length studio effort, reflects pretty good pop songwrit
ing executed pretty weU. There's nothing all that bad about the record—but it leaves a fair-
weather taste. The album reveals itself as more impressive when considering that Lennon self-
produced it, and created the album artwork himself.
Friendly Fire comes eight years after Lennon's debut release Into the Sun. There are many
subtle differences between the two records. Yuka Honda, Lennon's then-girtfriend and Cibo
Matto member, produced Into the Sun—which Lennon claimed to be mostly about her. Friendly
Fire shows Lennon setting out on his own, and while the record may not have completely
held up to critics' expectations, it's a step forward and reflects his true songwriting potentiaL
Tracks like "Dead Meat* and "Headlights* reveal a young songwriter still looking for a proper
voice, but well learned in song structures and phrasing. Again, it's not easy being the son of
the greatest rock star ever—but that could be the thread that pushes Lennon to the top. He's
got the talent He's got the know-how. Now, he just needs to make the record that lets him
come fully into his own. [Ian Wheeler]
Sean Lennon
continued from page 23
LAST NOVEMBER (40 Watt) This
teenaged North Georgia rock lour-piece
came to Athens for the first time last
October to celebrate the release of the
debut album All the Gory Details.
LAZER/WULF (Caledonia) This new
local art-metal five-piece mixes in prog
and more eclectic influences, and last
year released its demo album Demo
lition.
MAO WHISKEY GRIN (Borders)
Alternating between six- and 12-string
guitar, local musician Frank Williams
slides and fingerpicks his way through
bluesy and decidedly American
sounds. 7 p.m.
MADHAPPY (Farm 255) The duo of
Rivka and Mike iLL “puts a hip-hop
twist on rock' in the same vein of
young Beck, playing bluesy, electro
pop hip-hop. The harmonizing New
Jersey duo released the album Feel
Good Music... for the Broke Middle
Class in 2002.
MARINO (DT’s) Light, funk-flavored
rock from this local band.
BAIN MATTOX (UGA Herty Field)
The multi-instrumental Athens singer-
songwriter Bain Mattox and his backing
band offer audiences acoustic-based
college rock that’s both emotionally
direct and emphatically heart-turn
ing. Their sophomore album is called
Prizefighter. Mattox's new solo album
is called Bird in the Hand. Playing
outdoors at noon as part of the “Terry
Tunes’ series.
THE MOOD (Little Kings) Bluesy clas
sic rock fcur-piece from Augusta.
THE MURDERER (Caledonia)
Melodramatic Atlanta hardcore metal
five-piece that should be the kind of
thing fans of As I Lay Dying, Himsa
and Converge dig.
RICK FOWLER & FRIENDS (Saving
Grace) This semi-acoustic trio includes
guitarist Rick Fowler, bassist Michael
C. Steele and percussionist Eddie
Glikin, and performs blues originals
and covers at the restaurant in Comer.
7:30 p.m.
RUSTWOOD^Eastwood Pub)
Formerly known as The Husbands, this
local trio performs a set of its rootsy,
catchy folk-rock and country tunes,
usually mixing both acoustic and elec
tric performances.
SAMURAI TROUT (Foxz) Local
roots-rock, swamp-boogie band featur
ing singer-songwriters Mark Wilmot
and Woody Garrison and former Dan
K Theory members Tommy Jones and
Bill Bokas.
ERIC SKELTON (DT’s) South Carolina
songwriter playing airy acoustic pop in
vein a similar to David Gray or Damien
Rice. Tonight he’s solo, leaving his
backing band The Homecoming Kings
at home.
SOUNDS OF SILENCE (40 Watt)
This local four-piece started out on
the local scene by turning out capable
Green Day, Collective Soul. Nickelback
and Hoobastank covers, but since their
start a few years back have evolved
into performing their own modern-rock
tunes along the same late-’90s lines.
STYGIAN APOTHEGM (Tasty World)
Local four-piece Stygian Apothegm
creates heavy-ass metal in leather
pants, drawing on bands li’/e Pantera
and Opeth for ideas.
THE SUM (Sounds & Grounds Coffee
House) Locals Felicity Combs (piano,
vocals) and Chris Combs (guitar) play
easygoing, sincere and upbeat pop
songs. The name of theii debut EP is
Everyone. Sounds & Grounds is lo
cated in Building D of the Beech Haven
Baptist Church on Atlanta Highway.
7:30 p.m. show.
THUNDERCHIEF (Tasty World
Upstairs) “We play classic rock-influ
enced punk, or punk-influenced classic
rock,” say the bandmembers, who last
year wrapped recording sessions on
a debut album. "Whichever way you
wanna look at it.“ New vocalist recently
added, reportedly moving things more
towards the West Coast hardcore
sound.
TIN CUP PROPHETTE (UGA\ Herty
Field) Local artist Amanda Kapousouz
blends genres as she switches instru
ments. loops her airy vocals and violin
around guitar and drums. Last year’s
debut album is the enchanting Liar and
the Thief, and there’s also the “unof
ficial’ EP of Celtic tunes Calling the
Oceans By Name. Playing outdoors at
noon as part of the “Terry Tunes’ series.
WELTERWEIGHT (Caledonia)
Guitarist-vocalist Greg Harmelink
(ex-Kincaid) performs with his backing
band—expanded recently from two
to four—of Rob Walsh (ex-Kincaid),
Ash White, Carolyn McLanahan and
Todd Elihu. Talk of an album was in
the air for much of last year, and newer
material is supposedly more acoustic,
slower, gentler. It’s a free 6 p.m. happy-
hour show today!
YINGYANG TWINS (UGA Tate
Center Georgia Hall) Whispering their
way to stardom, the crunk Atlanta duo
of Eric “Kaine" Jackson D'Angelo "D-
Roc" Holmes made their name collabo
rating with Lil Jon and have gone on to
numerous high-profile gigs—Bubba
Sparxxx, Bonecrusher, Wyclef Jean,
efc. The pair's fifth album, Chemically
Imbalanced, was released in November.
See Box.
Saturday, Mar. 31
THE AFROMOTIVE (Farm 255) The
Afromotive is a heavy-swinging nine-
piece ensemble out of Asheville, NC
The band plays classic polyrhythmic
afrobeat with a nod towards funk and
improv and has an album coming out
this spring.
“BATTLE @ THE LOUNGE’’
(Caledonia) Tonight's hip-hop event fea
tures emcee battling from Athens' finest.
Registration for rappers starts at 9 p.m..
while the music gets going around 10
p m. and the battling around 11 p m
Already on the bill are locals Dark
Fabled Elite tha Showstoppa
Southern Poetik Conneckshun
and Too Complicated, and tonight s
featured performer is Badkat. who
celebrates the release of her new
mixtape Alternative Mix DJ Bulldog
Purp works the turntables and pro
vides the night’s sounds while 2 tha
Mathmatikal Radikal hosts
BLACK SKY (Repent) No information
available.
BROKEN MIC (J.R.’s Baitshack) No
information available
SAM BUSH (Melting Point) In
career spanning four decades, Sam
Bush pushed the accepted role of the
mandolin and the fiddle to incorporate
a seamless blend of bluegrass, rock,
jazz and reggae. He founded and led
the New Grass Revival, guiding the
resurgence of modern hill-country
music and collaborating all over the
place. His latest release is last year’s
Laps in Seven.
COLOSSUS (Repent) Five-piece
punk/ metal band from Raleigh. NC,
featuring former members of Sorry
About Dresden and Amish Jihad
DJ BLAZE (The Library) DJ Blaze, who
has held down the wheels of steel at
The Annex and last summer's “Classic
City Hip-Hop," hosts tonight’s dance
party, mixing contemporary hip-hop
with older ‘avorites and some unex
pected forays into other genres.
DJ BOBBY C (Loft) Local deejay
Bobby Casille drop tonight's dance
tunes for your feet and your ass.
DJ GANESH (Tasty World) DJ Ganesh
specializes in down-tempo, dub and
breakbeat mixes.
DJ KILLACUT (Tasty World) Local
deejay Killacut is the guy manning the
wheels of steel for many of Athens'
hip-hop showcases, and his style fo
cuses on old-school spinning and beat
matching while incorporating newer
sounds
DJ MAHOGANY (Little Kings) Freaky
funk, deep disco, solid soul—it's a
cornucopia of classic ass-shakery
from the '60s, 70s and '80s that DJ
Mahogany provides. Tonight's billed as
a “Soul Blowout.' Midnight.
OJ MARK BELL (8e's) Starting at 11
p.m. every Friday and Saturday, local
deejay Mark Bell focuses on the dan-
cier sounds of 20 years ago.
DJ REBB (Detour) Atlanta’s DJ Rebb
plays Top 40, hip-tv p, progressive
house and other electronic sounds
prime for dancing At midnight, follow
ing tonight's band performance
DJ TOMMY SALMON (Repent) Local
bassist Tommy Salmon (The High
Caliber. ex-Trinket) takes over the bar s
speakers as he selects the evening's
music. Every Friday and Saturday
DJRX (Rumor) Local deejay Brian
Gonzalez, AKA DJRX, plays party tracks
both current and old school, many are
his own remixes.
THE ERIC HARRIS GROUP
(Borders) Harris relocated to Athens
from Oklahoma several years ago and
started playing with the band Luminous
a few years back. The Eric Harris Group
released an album in April 2004. and
has an upcoming one drawing on live
radio performances. 6 p m
THE GUNTOWN MOUNTAIN
TRAGEDY (Farm 255) Formerly
known as The Electric Marmalade, this
Kentucky band plays '6Gs-inspired rock
HEIDI HENSLEY & HOLLY BELLE
(Detour) Local singer-songwriters
Heidi Hensley and Holly Belle and their
full band play the likes of Prince. Ozzy
Osbourne, Journey and more. “It'll be a
night full of rock and surprises." says
Hensley, who'll welcome some new
players to the stage.
wwwjnercuryalhens.i
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now serving
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GO BAR
HAPPY HOUR 5-8pm
WED. 28 DANCE PARTY w/
TWIN POWERS
THU. 29 HIP HOP NIGHT W/
KANYE TWITTY
fri 30 SPELLING BEE 3
registration 8pm • spelling bee 9pm
S1 to enter / $ 1 to spell
FOLLOWED BY DANCE PARTY w/
DJ MAHOGANY
sat 31 CORA & EDDIE’S
STUDIO 54
BIRTHDAY PARTY
70’s ATTIRE RECOMMENDED
mon. 2 jena PARADIES
THE NEW IN ELECTRONIC MUSIC-
UE3 LOUNGE
21 & OVER ONLY
• Be more involved in the
Athens Community!
• Volunteer for a
non-profit!
• Support the Athens
Music Scene!
VOLUNTEER FOR
ATHFEST 2007
Festival Dates:
June 20-24
Volunteering Opportunities
are available this Spring
and during the Festival.
Contact Andy Kogerma at
volunteering@atnfest.com
24 FlAGPOLE.COM • MARCH 28,2007
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