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OUR MUSIC EDITOR’S WEEKLY PICKS
I know, it's cold. It's hard to get downtown
when the weather is dreary, but just because
school is wrapping and the sun is setting
early doesn't mean the shows are cooling off
quite yet. So, bundle up in your Snuggie, your
Nuddle, your Slanket or whatever new blanket-
with-holes best suits your needs, and curl up
with these bands. Bonus: arm slits allow for
easy beer drinking and clapping! Also, while
those typing fingers are free, don't forget to
stop by www.flagpole.com and vote for your
favorite local albums and shows of 2008.
Hooray for Earth: When I read press clip
pings that compare a band to both Enya and
Nirvana in the same sentence, I usually...
well, frankly, I don't know what to think
because that has never happened before in
the history of music until Hooray for Earth. Is
this a soundtrack for head-banging or doing
yoga? The answer, it turns out, is neither.
This is surprisingly danceable, angular rock
with extraordinarily unique textures, pacing
and delivery. There are occasional moments of
Enya-esque staccato synth and some grungy
guitars do rear their angsty heads, but the
gentle spoken-sung lyrics of Noel Heroux most
strongly call to mind Elliott Smith. Instead
of attempting to negotiate the twists and
turns of Hooray for Earth's melodic structure
in the mood for a weekend of horsing around.
The concept comes to us from Cedar Shoals
High School student and Nug's Space intern
Abby Willis. Your $5 donation at the door will
go toward the Nugi's Space counseling assis
tance program. You can read our review of the
beautiful new Sleepy Horses record, The Golden
Light EP, on p. 30. (Nugi's Space, Friday 12)
The New Familiars: Creative Loafing up in
Charlotte, NC hailed The New Familiars as
the "Best Local Band of 2008," and Athens
is lucky to have this group visit for a second
time this year. Currently touring in support of
their six-song EP The Storm, The New Familiars
offer a taste of Appalachia shaped by raucous
rock and roll. Through powerful use of har
mony, this quintet of multi-instrumentalists
spin compelling folk tales with the help of
mandolin, banjo, guitar and harmonica. I'll
take this opportunity to put in a request for
their poignant cover of The Temptations hit
"My Girl." (Melting Point, Friday 12)
Underage Music: This show featuring The
Buddy System, Dancer vs. Politician and
Madeline is exclusively for kids UNDER 21.
Says Sanni Baumgaertner of Dancer Vs.
Politician, "the idea is to offer underagers
something fun to do... and to introduce them
Hooray for Earth
on record, I am looking forward to seeing and
feeling how these tunes translate live. Until
I can more accurately classify this Boston
act, I am just filing this one under "damn
good!'—and that's what really matters, right?
(Caledonia Lounge, Thursday 11)
Day of the Horse!: So, 2008 was the year of
the rat (I like t^say it was the year of the
Gilzenrat), and next year is the year of the
ox, but since 2004, Dec. 13 has been reserved
as the National Day of the Horse. The exact
words of the resolution as passed by the
108th Congress state that this day is meant
to "encourage the people of the United States
to be mindful of the contribution of horses
to the economy, history and character of the
United States." What better way to honor our
equine friends than with a concert featuring
the aptly named local acts Sleepy Horses,
Gift Horse and Horse Eggs—the latter fea
turing members of Quiet Hooves. The concert
itself is actually the night before National
Horse Day, a pre-party if you will, to get you
to local music that they otherwise wouldn't
be able to see." Sure they could have made
it all ages, but it's fun to get an early taste
of exclusivity. If you are of drinking age and
want to attend, you need to be accompanied
by someone who isn't. So, grab your kid bro
and get there by 6:30 p.m. to catch the first
act. (Nugi's Space, Saturday 13).
The Middlemen: This top-notch Tennessee
alt-country rock act was originally sched
uled to play in Athens Dec. 9, but the show
was pushed up a week to Dec. 16. Dead
Confederate fans will connect with this trio's
emotional Southern sound that lies somewhere
between the rousing stomps of Kings of Leon
and the soulful, sharp lyricism of Howl-era
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Joining The
Middlemen is local post-rock band Beatrix
Kiddo and recent Upstart Roundup-featured
act Reeks of Failure. (Caledonia Lounge,
Tuesday 16)
Michelle Gilzenrat music@llagpole.com
casGY ear • screen tevei
TASTY MUSIC
See TASTYWORLD.NET
for Private Party and Booking info
312 EAST BROAD STREET • 706-543-0797
NO COVER!
- TUESDAYS -
SPINNING HIP HOP
- WEDNESDAYS -
DJ PHILIP RICH
W 12/10 Revival
Th 12/11 Sonic Consortium / Hawers of Evil /
Braden land
S 12/13 Wax Fang / The Empties / The Features
Tasty Bar: Latin Night 10pm
So 12/14 Downtown Community Fellowship
7pm Worship 5ervice • www.dcfathens.org
M 12/15 Larkin Grimm / Titans of fifth / Sea of Dogs
/ Necklaces / Oak Munson & Mercer West
T 12/16 Absent Wednesday / Don't Be Ondy / Robots
& Butterflies / KHmory / Asher & Quick
770-931-9190
Open Every Day:
Mon-Fri 10-8, Sat 10-6, Sun 12-4
Directions: 316 West to 1-85 South
Exit 102 East on Beaver Ruin Rd - 3 miles
Left into Kroger Shopping Center
at the corner of Hwy 29
4153 Lawrenceville Hwy
NW Lilburn, GA 30047
www.musicgoround.com
OH, YEAH...BRING TRADES!
5-7PM •
FREE
WINGS
with
ITRCII \S]-:
Ol \mCIIKR
OK HI (KIT
SUNDAYS
SERVICE INDUSTRY
NIGHT
NFL DIRECT TICKET
TRIVIA @ 6PM
BED LIGHT.
O PITCHERS
SUNDAY & MONDAY
$f\ 99 ALL YOU
U CAN EAT
A WINGS
430 Clayton Street • 706-543-7591
I
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1
www.caledonialounge.com
tjhll in n spring tigers
hooray for earth
marriage
Ph 12 12 dexateens
vulture whale
the wydelles
sab 12 13 iron hero
vincas
bambara
bile 19 16 beatnx kiddo
reeks o.f failure
the middlemen
Wed 19 J7 ashtray
immuzikation
cominc soon:
12/18- buddies helping buddies presents
cars can be blue howhes bubbly mommy gun
12 19- kill lebaron attest f a fight for life
sharks among rhe suits
256 west dayton street 706.549.5577
Ham S&winq
jtftouj jae'o ca^fcee • ftai caeca
Hudted ciden • kenbol tent • ca^ee dniukt
FRI DEC 12 LIVE JAZZ at 8pm ’
w/ ONE TON TOMATO
LATE NIGHT DANCE PARTY
w/ DJ APPLE PAUL
SAT DEC 13 FLAMES OF ALCHEMY
ORCHESTRA w/
BELLYDANCER ATTAR
LATE NIGHT DANCE PARTY
w/ DJ TANNER
www.mercuryathens.com
(members of Quiet Hooves)
ALL ACES! 8pm • $5 Donation
Sat. December 13
UndErtgc Music
You MUST be under 21 or accompanied by someone who is wider 211
DANCER vs. POLITICIAN
THE BUDDY SYSTEM
Art Show beforehand at 5:30pm
Music at 8pm • $5 Donation
Extra Parking available at gravel lot on
Oconee St. across from Armstrong & Dobbs
DECEMBER 10, 2008 • FLAGPOLE.COM 31