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AUGUST
The first month when all the students flood
back in can be a tricky one, with local clubs
not wanting to cram too much onto their
schedules for fear of overwhelming folks. And
things unfold in surprising ways in Athens
music, so expect a lot to be announced over
the next few months. August's marquee events
may be a little sparse, especially with the
destructive fire at the Georgia Theatre, but
what's been confirmed is quality, with a par
ticularly generous schedule at the Caledonia,
which over the past year or two has turned
more and more away from touring acts and
this fell features a bevy of local goodness. The
40 Watt dominates this first week, though.
The first big name of the month is Amy
Ray (40 Watt Club, 8/14), one half of the
Atlanta femi-folk institution the Indigo
Girls. And just around the weekend's turn
comes West Coast freak-folk duo Brightblack
Homing light (40 Watt Club, 8/17). Cracker
has always been a
mainstay at the club
thanks to its loyal
local fens and the
band's relationship
with the 40 Watt and
the local Pitch-a-Tent
record label, but keep
an eye on openers the
Dexateens (40 Watt
Club, 8/21), righteous
rock-and-rollers out
of Alabama who,
though no strang
ers to Athens, have
been pulling in larger
crowds at every turn.
The Caledonia .
Lounge opened its
doors back in 1999
in one of the 40 *
Watt's former spaces,
and this month
brings the Caledonia
10-Year Anniversary
(Caledonia Lounge,
8/21-22) with a weekend of rock from some
of the venue's favorites—and a number of the
acts feature dudes who work there, too. The
first night finds Cinemechanica, The Arcs and
Vincas playing, while the big Saturday news is
a reunion show of The Tom Collins, the Zep-
inspired hard-rock band that christened the
club's stage a decade ago but broke up a few
years back. Mayride and David Barbe round out
that night's bill.
AthFest introduced the town to a new
enterprise on the east side of downtown,
and The Green Room hosts the second annual
MuleFest (The Green Room, 8/21-23) celebra
tion, a conglomeration of local jam bands,
country acts, folksters, jazzbos and more: the
23 announced artists include JazzChronic, the
Bearfoot Hookers, The Lee Boys, a kids' band,
a steel-drum band and more.
For the punk and hardcore folks not around
for the summer to witness the resurrection
of a local favorite, American Cheeseburger
(Ricker, 8/24) recruited a new singer after a
romantic felling-out temporarily split the band
up earlier this year.
A few days later, Sam Bush (Melting Point,
8/27), the Kentucky vocalist, bluegrass man
dolin pro and "newgrass" originator, fids the
northeastern corner of downtown with his
lively country-influenced style.
The second celebration of a decade
comes on the last weekend in August, with
the Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records
10-Year Anniversary (Caledonia Lounge,
8/27-29). The local label behind PopFest
started out in Florida but relocated to Athens
a few years ago; you'll find Marshmallow
Coast, Oh-OK, The Lolligags, Casper & the
Cookies, Bunnygrunt and more over Friday and
Saturday nights.
Over around the corner, though, it wouldn't
be either the beginning or end of a UGA
school year without a Modem Skirts (40 Watt
Club, 8/29) show to capitalize on the students
being back in town. The band's crowds may
have remained collegiate, but the musical
interests and songs
bf the four guys have
grown wider; that
curiosity shows up in
both new songs and
choice of openers,
with ATL fantasy-rap
enigma ExcaliBrah
propping the crowd.
SEPTEMBER
September has
traditionally been the
big-show month for
the Athens fell con
cert calendar, though
this year it looks
like October's gonna
claim that mantle.
Still, as temperatures
(hopefully!) mellow,
there's a lot to do
around here. One of
the many shows origi
nally scheduled for the Georgia Theatre, but
relocated due to its gutting, is Pretty Lights
(Athens Arena, 9/4). Will the downtown crowd
stay true and make its way ^ut by the mall
to catch this energizing electro act out of
Colorado?
Eric Church (40 Watt Club, 9/11), too, was
booked to play the Theatre, but the Nashville
sensation had to relocate his country per
formance. Will Hoge (40 Watt Club, 9/12),
another popular solo singer dude, follows on
the next night, while back at the Caledonia
you've got ferocious local rock gang Pride
Parade (Caledonia Lounge, 9/12) celebrating
the release of a new album. Expect a weird
mix in the crowd: Pride Parade won a number
of young new fens this summer participating
in Huai's Space's summer Camp Amped, a rock
camp for local kids.
After several years away, rock royalty Derek
Trucks Band (Classic Center, 9/16) comes
back through town, upsizing to The Classic
Center. The next day you've got the Man in
26 FLAGPOLE.COM • AUGUST 12,2009