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MUSIC NEWS AND GOSSIP
For all of you who were waiting so patiently, here is another
week of Athens music news that I'm sure you'll find essential
and gratifying. Get gratified below...
A New Wedge is Driven: Local band Wedge has a new EP on the
horizon, sort of. That is, the recording is all brand-new, but the
songs were actually written before main man Tommy Wedge
had written the group's debut album Heavensville, which was
released to much acclaim last year. Recorded in Wedge's home,
the tracks feature the dis
other news, kite To The Moon reports that the band is currently
mixing its debut album and that a couple of never-recorded
songs by band member Tim Conley's old projects Fuzzy Sprouts
and Aqualove have made the cut. Also nearing the finishing
stages is the band's video, in HD no less, for the song "Tigers.”
For everything else see www.myspace.com/bitchinsolos.
Sound Off: Remember the last time your band played at Go Bar,
and you thought, "Wow, this place is awesome! Great bar, good-
looking people and convenient
tinctive, Cocteau Twins-style
atmospherics that Heavensville
was so lauded for, but they
are slightly grittier. Of course,
"gritty" is completely relative,
and in the case of Wedge, that
means perhaps an untreated
guitar line or a clearer vocal.
Titled Until I Reach L.A., the
EP is currently in the mastering
stage, and should hit shelves
and digital distribution sites
later this spring. Assisting
Tommy Wedge were John Neff
on pedal steel and Marc Gilley
on saxophone. A couple of the
new tracks are available for
preview over at www.myspace.
com/tommywedge.
An Honor at Home: Athens
music history goes a lot
deeper than most folks may
realize. To wit, last week, the
University of Georgia paid
tribute to the 50-year career
of country songwriter and
performer "Whispering" Bill
Anderson. Anderson, a UGA ;
graduate, began his career as
a 19-year-old journalism student and recorded his first song,
"City Lights," in the studios of WGTV in 1958. The space is now
occupied by the Georgia Center for Continuing Education.
A historical marker was dedicated to Anderson commemorat
ing his 50 years in the music industry. Anderson was inducted
in the Georgia Music Hall
of Fame in 1985, and the
Country Music Hall of Fame
in 2001. There's simply too
much information about
Anderson to print here, so
please do yourself a favor, and
look him up over at www.bill
anderson.com.
► Well, Go Ahead And Move
Right In: Local band Venice
Is Sinking began its residency
at Flicker Theatre & Bar last
Wednesday, sharing the stage
with Ginger Envelope. The
band will play the next six
Wednesdays at the venue, hosting a variety of opening bands.
Sharing the night with Venice Is Sinking will be Lake City
(Mar. 19), Matias (Mar. 26), Stereo Campbell (Apr. 2), Jesse
Flavin and the Dumps (Apr. 9), Big Gray (Apr. 16) and Tin
Cup Prophette (Apr. 23). Venice Is Sinking promises that each
show will be special in some way, and I have no idea what the
band means by that; so don't ask me. Feel free, though, to ask
yourself over at www.myspace.com/veniceissinking.
And The Kite Rolled On: Local goofy rock band Kite to the
Moon will play Monday, Mar. 17 at the Georgia Theatre to
benefit local roller derby team The Classic City Rollergirls.
The band and the venue refer to this as a St. Patrick's Day
event, which isn't totally accurate. This year the head honchos
of the Catholic Church have moved St. Patrick's Day to Mar.
15 so it doesn't coincide with Holy Week. Still, why not drink
some green beer on Monday if it benefits the Rollergirls? In
OUR 2008 SXSW DIARY BEGINS
The Flagpole blog is finally here, folks. For clarity's
sake, let's just call it "daily content." Now you don't
have to wait a whole week to find out what's happening
in Athens music news. The music department staff will
be able to get it to you instantly, on our website—as it
happens! Or at least, as often as we feel like posting it!
As your devoted new music editor, I am going to test
the true mobility of this blog technology by posting live
from SXSW in Austin this week. Check www flagpole.com
daily for reports of Athens musicians wowing industry
types, drinking excessively and, hopefully, getting into
some journal-worthy shenanigans.
So, let that be a warning to all you Athens bands
heading out to SXSW this year (A.Armada, The Buddy
System, Dark Meat, Dead Confederate, Elf Power, King
■ of Prussia, List Christee, The Low Lows, Madeline,
Nana Grizol, The Pendletons, Ruby Isle, Spring Tigers,
We vs. the Shark, The Whigs and yes, even you, R.E.M.).
I will be there. I will be watching you. And, I will have
a camera. What happens in Austin stays in Austin?
Unlikely. [Michelle Gilzenrat]
Venice Is Sinking
location. I sure do wish,
though, they had a brand-new
P.A. for us to play through?"
Well, they do. So go use it. The
venue is currently booking for
March and April. Get in touch
via www.myspace.com/gobar.
Submission Time: The 2008
Athens PopFest will happen
again this year on Aug. 12-16.
In the interest of full disclo
sure, I should say that I am
involved in the organization
process for this year's event.
That said, selection of bands
has begun, and those inter
ested can submit an EPK via
www.sonicbids.com/athens
popfest for a fee of $12, or
submit free via snail-mail to
Athens PopFest, P.O. Box 742,
Athens, GA 30603. Slots are
filling up very quickly, and
the process is highly selective
due to limited space. All local
(read: Athens) bands applying
• i to play will receive a response
: J by May 1. Venues for this year's
Athens PopFest are the 40
Watt, Caledonia Lounge, Little Kings, Flicker Theatre & Bar
and Cine. For more information, see www.athenspopfest.com.
One Click and It's Yours: Local jagged pop band Russian Spy
Camera has relieved itself of manufacturing its newest release
Mutiny In The Kitchen With
Knives, and made it available
for free as a digital download.
There was some money set
aside for the record's manufac
turing bill, but frontman Ryan
White decided to spend it
on a plane ticket to Istanbul
instead. No, I'm not mak
ing this up. Because of this,
the band will largely be in a
state of hiatus, but Russian
Spy Camera will play locally
once more before the break at
Farm 255 on Friday, Apr. 4.
If you're so inclined, you can
also throw a few bucks the
band's way via a donation button when you download. Go grab
one over at www.russianspycamera.com.
And Another Thing: Just so there's no confusion over the
announcement of Bryant Williamson taking over booking at
the Caledonia Lounge, please let it be known that longtime
booking dude Coley Dennis is also still at the helm. What has
not changed, though, is the email address. Send all booking
inquires to: booking@caledonialounge.com.
As always, be sure to keep your news coming in, and always
mention either Threats & Promises or my name in the sub
ject line of all emails. Be a slave to the rhythm via email to
music@flagpole.com, voicemail at 706-549-9523, ext. 203, or
by post to P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA, 30603.
Gordon Lamb
as
snamrocH
ltmsisaturday!l
BeBsiSrn!
IKSHIiEY<M@®RE J
$3 GUINNESS • $4 BABY GUINNESS
^ $3 HABP • $3 SMITHWICKS
W $4 JAMESON • $4 CAB BOMBS W
AU WEEKEND!
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MARCH 12, 2008 • FLAGPOLE.COM 29
