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MUSIC NEWS AND GOSSIP
And here we are again for another week of Athens music
news. Be sure to take notes as you'll be tested on this. Buckle
down below...
Well, Hello There: The long-awaited new full-length LP from
local rockers We Versus the Shark will see release on July 1
courtesy of Athens label Hello Sir. Titled Dirty Versions, the
album was recorded by engineer Joel Hatstat while mixing and
mastering was collaborative between Hatstat and the band.
We Versus the Shark is currently engaged in a massive U.S. and
Canadian tour, but well-wishers can send them greetings over
at www.myspace.com/weversustheshark.
Woo Light Up My Life: From the "well, finally!" department
comes news that local rockers Down with the Woo have fin
ished the new album. Recorded over at member Eric Friar's
Downtown Athens Recording Company, the new collection is
titled Thylacines and the band is now on the hunt for a label to
release it. Hopefully, this won't take too long because this is a
band that people should hear.
In other news, Down with the
Woo has been busily working
on completing a video for its
song "Muscle Minus Brain" via
the nimble fingers of member
Winston Parker. Drop them
a line and tell them you need
these things over at www.mys-
pace.com/downwiththewoo.
Locals Only: Life-long skater
and skate enthusiast Jason
Thrasher, who has also been a
renowned photographer for as
long as I can remember, just
finished his first music video for
Drive-By Truckers. The piece is
for the song "A Ghost to Most,"
and was shot here in town at
the Skate Park of Athens. All
the actors are local skateboard
ers. The video is online as we
speak and can be viewed by
heading to www.myspace.com/
tnrasherphoto.
Go West: Local goof-pop band
Kite to the Moon will make its
Los Angeles debut Thursday,
May 8 at Cat Club. The trip is being funded by former Athens/
Atlanta musician-turned-actor Jonathan Spencer. The show
case comes courtesy of television and music producer Mark
Dutton who caught the band here in town and immediately
started formulating all sorts of ideas for them. Dutton origi
nally pitched the band for a developing show on The Disney
Channel, but soon wrote an original treatment for them in
which the bandmembers are aliens who come to Earth to help
restore ecological balance. They would do this via education,
solar-powered concerts, etc. Sounds great, but will it play
in Peoria? Ponder this and more over at www.myspace.com/
bitchinsolos.
The Kids Got LeFever: Local rockers Carla LeFever and the
Rays will play a very special benefit at Allen's on Saturday,
May 10. The band will play an "unplugged" set along with sets
from local kids and teachers beginning at 4 p.m. The event
is a benefit for Clarke Middle School, and the funds raised
will assist the school in paying for art supplies and field trips.
There's also an open jam planned for the event (all amps,
drums and P.A. provided!) so just show up with your guitar if
you want to get in on it. Also, if anyone knows any kids out
there who would like to play, please contact Carla LeFever at
706-540-0908 or carla@carlalefever.com.
Another Year of Me: This is an open call to let you know that
my annual birthday celebration will take place once again this
year at the Caledonia Lounge. Originally released in 1971,1
have undergone several lineup and stylistic changes, but have
consistently proved to be an audience favorite. This year's
party features local bands Spring Tigers, Entertainment
and Wedge; and Happy Happy Birthday to Me's Fishboy from
Denton, TX. So, yeah, you've got your Brit-pop, goth, garage
and indie-rock-pop covered right there. Also on the bill is
Athens comedian extraordinaire T.J. Young. This year we'll
be celebrating the 16th anniversary of my 21st birthday, so I
expect that y'all will have a blast. This all happens Saturday,
May 10, and due to the enormous lineup, things will start
right around 10 p.m., or maybe even a little earlier. For more
information drop a line tojglamb@gmail.com and we'll set you
•straight.
Y On the TV, On the Stereo: Ken Will Morton saw his song
"Oh Lord" featured on the Apr. 29 broadcast of The Discovery
Channel's program "The Deadliest Catch." More importantly,
though, is Morton's presumable excitement about his two
new upcoming releases, Devil in Me and Kickin' Out the Rungs,
which will be released simultaneously in the next month cour
tesy of Rara Avis Records. To see and hear more, go take a
look at w.vw.kenwiUrnorton.
com or www.myspace.com/
raraavisrecordsmusic.
It's Almost Here for Real: After
months of planning, hard
work and honing their gen
eral survival skills, locals The
Critical Darlings report they've
completed their long-rumored
album Sotisfactionisto. They
are, however, still messing
around with the mastering of
it. That said, the band hopes
for a digital release of the
album sometime in June and an
actual, honest-to-gosh physical
CD release by the end of sum
mer. The band has posted some
of the new material online and
would love to hear what you
think. Seriously. Let them know
over at www.myspace.com/
criticaldarlings.
New News: Local experimental
artist Killick is up to a lot
lately. He recorded his newest
H'arpeggione (his 18-stringed,
upright instrument) solo album
back on Mar. 9 with Tom Lewis and missed it the very next
day. Provocatively titled Amplifucker, the album features
Killick playing live with no overdubs whatsoever. Reports
indicate that the sound of the album should be very distinct
as it has taken a while to figure out how to properly mic the
H'arpeggione due to its naturally "soft-spoken" sound. After
some trial and error, Killick reports that what was used were,
"four microphones, a contact mic, a pickup, two amplifiers,
and then the whole lot was run through a PA speaker and that
was recorded. All of the signals were then blended in the mix."
And, yeah, it was done in one day. Take that, rock bands. In
related news, Killick is a featured commentator in the new
book on Slayer's Reign in Blood on the 33 1/3 imprint. Killick
recorded his own version of Reign in Blood back in 2005 to
overwhelming critical and fan praise. Here's to Amplifucker
being just as good. Dig deeper over at www.myspace.com/iam-
killick or www.myspace.com/solponticello.
Still Open: Don't forget to vote in the 2008 Flagpole Music
Awards via the paper ballot available in this issue or (prefer
ably) online at www.flagpole.com/awards. Voting ends Friday,
May 30.
As always, be sure to keep your news coming in, and always
mention either Threats & Promises or my name in the subject
line of all emails. Sing me to sleep via email to music@flag-
pole.com, voicemail at 706-549-9523, ext. 203, or by post to
P.O. Box 1027, Athens, GA, 30603.
Gordon Lamb
Ken Will Morton
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