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MUSIC NEWS AND GOSSIP
This week's column is special, folks, because, you know, it's
AthFest time and all and chances are high that some out-of-town-
ers will pick this up and see what we have to say this week. So,
y'all talk among yourselves while I talk to them. You can listen in
if you want. Start eavesdropping below...
Get Happening!: So the 2007 Flagpole Athens Music Awards
Show will rock the Morton Theatre on Thursday, June 21, with
performances by acts like Tin Cup Prophette, The Empties, Bear,
Ben Stevens, Grogus and more! See p. 27. We'll be handing out
multiple awards in local music—you can find the finalists in each
category on the back cover of this issue. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.,
show starts promptly at 8 p.m. Tickets cost
$6 in advance and are available at the |j
Flagpole office, SchoolKids Records or the <
Morton, and cost $8 at the door. AthFest =*
wristband holders, however, get in for only q.
$4. For more info, call Flagpole at 706-549- a
9523. See you there!
9Q
3
M
>• New, Live: Saturday night AthFest head- |
liner The Whigs has a new EP available
through music site www.Rhapsody.com.
The recording was done live in the studio
during this year's South by Southwest Music
Festival in Austin, TX, and features five
songs, including the too-close-to-an-R.E.M.-
song-title "Half the World Away." This is
the first available recording featuring new
bass player Sam Gunn (Iron Hero), so all
his fans should check it out. Most hilarious
thing, though, about visiting Rhapsody is
the "suggested" items that are supposed to
tie-in with the item you're viewing. When
I went to look for this Whigs EP, I was also
encouraged to try items by Wilco, Bloc p arty Sam Gunn
and Gorillaz. Man, that's like looking for
Cheap Trick and getting recommendations for Amy Winehouse, The
B-52's and Parliament. Go see for yourself over at www.rhapsody.
com/thewhigs/rhapsodyoriginals.
when Lunch Paper was bought by the folks who own Repent, but
my fears have been proven largely unfounded. Repent has very
much upped the metal/ punk rock/ Goth/ fetish ante on the west
end of downtown, which couldn't make me happier. Before the
changeover took place, there were rampant rumors about no more
shows at the space, but Repent has consistently booked a calendar
packed with stuff, and has more shows currently scheduled and
announced than heavyweights like the 40 Watt and the Georgia
Theatre. Wanna get booked over there? Just keep in mind what
the powers that be say: "We like the heavy but will book just
about anything," so give Repent a try by dropping a line over at
new booking-specific site www.myspace.com/bookingrepent.
And The Award For Most Detail Goes To...:
The members of local rock band The Critical
Darlings have announced that Drive-By
Truckers drummer Brad Morgan will col
laborate with the band when it records the
track "Something Unseen" for an upcom
ing project next week with engineer David
Barbe. No insult to Morgan, but I'm much
more impressed that pianist Mike Garson •
will also join the band to record. Ever heard
David Bowie's "We Are The Dead," "Aladdin
Sane" or "Young Americans"? That's Garson
on piano. So, yeah, that's a hell of a feather
in bandleader Chris McKay's cap. In other
news, if you've ever wanted to get email
updates from a band that read like small
novels, go ahead and sign up over at www.
myspace.com/criticaldarlings or visit www.
criticaldarlings.com. The volume of writing
over there is astounding.
You Will Never Need This Information:
Anyone remember a faceless, Frisbee-by-
the-river type of band in Athens named
Nelo? Well, the members have up and moved back to Austin, TX,
and have changed their name to Nello. Find the band and its self-
described "pop-rock songs and powerful condensed jams" over at
www.myspace.com/nelloband.
Well, It's Happening This Year!: All day long on Saturday, June
23, Detour and Little Kings will host Wired 2007: The Athens
Electronic Music Festival presented by Dash Productions. The
12-hour event begins at 2 p.m. and is free with an AthFest wrist
band or a mere S10 at the door. This is the fifth Wired Festival,
and although billed as an "electronic music festival," a more apt
description would be "premier Southeastern deejay
showcase," because that's what you'll get. Styles in- |j
elude drum'n'bass, downtempo, house, trance, breaks, <
hip-hop, industrial, mashup and old school. The event ^
will also feature video game systems to play with, break o.
dancing exhibitions and more. More than 40 deejays will
participate, and I can't be the only one who finds this s
totally thrilling. Get full details, including artist lineup, 3
in the AthFest Program inserted in this issue, and more §
stuff over at www.athensedm.com.
Summertime Special: Ever wondered what happens inside the leg
endary walls of the Chase Park Transduction studios? Well, now
with nine separate engineers under his umbrella, honcho David
Barbe has n.ade a super deal for bands in town. Since a couple
of the engineers—Mark Brut and Nate Nelson—are pretty new.
► Just So You Know...: Anyone that has any bucks left
over by the time We Versus The Shark takes the stage
at the 40 Watt on Saturday, June 23 at 12:30 a.m.—
which is actually Sunday morning, but I digress—will
have the opportunity to pick up a copy of the band's
newly released EP/DVD titled EP Of Bees EP/ We Wanted
A New Government, Not Odd Time Signatures. The entire
name of the release is more than a mouthful, but, hav
ing absorbed all the band's previous work. I'd say it's
definitely worth a listen.
We Versus The Shark
Workingman Blues: The story goes like this: brothers Ian and
Joshua Schwarber write songs together for years, move from
Ohio to Atlanta in 2002 and get a band together, move back to
Ohio and then move here to Athens in late 2006. Working under
the name Blue Flashing Light, the band has just finished its
debut album which was recorded at Cleveland, OH, studio The
Lava Room and locally at PigPen Studio and John Keane Studio.
The Schwarbers' brand of mainstream pop rock is exactly the type
of thing that drives me batty, but is, conversely, loved by radio
programmers, wedding planners and fly-by-night PR companies.
They'll be playing over at Tasty World on Thursday, June 21 with
The Critical Darlings and The Julia Dream. Curious? Then go look
at www.myspace.com/bluefla'ihinglightemup.
Use This Stuff: There's always a danger when new owners take over
a formerly-beloved space. I admit it upfront that I was worried
sessions with them are, for now, a meie S30 an hour. After that, it
goes up according to which engineer you want. Thing is, though,
bands getting the inexpensive deal will still have access to all the
same super-sweet gear and rooms as everyone else. Not a bad way
to make a killer demo, or even an EPs worth of stuff, wouldn't ya
say? Go check out www.chaseparktransduction.com and do two
things. One, contact the studio and book your band, and two,
plead with those guys to update their front page.
As always, troops, be sure to keep your news coming in and
always mention either Threats & Promises or my name in the
subject line of all emails. Stop, look and listen via email to
music@flagpole.com, voicemail at 706-549-9523, ext. 203, or by
post at P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA 30603.
Gordon Lamb
285 W Waihmgton Si Athens. GA • Cas> 706-545-78/1 *or Sbo* Upaatet
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NEWS & FEATURES I ARTS & EVENTS I MOVIES I MUSIC I COMICS & ADVICE I CLASSIFIEDS
JUNE 20,2007 • FLAGPOLE.COM 33