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THE BEST NEW BANDS OF 2010
I launched the monthly Upstart Roundup column a couple
of years ago as a means of highlighting brand-new acts in
town—whether they are young musicians starting their first
band or vets pursuing new collaborations. I think of it as a
small nudge of support to help get a project rolling—a very
quick introduction between a newbie band and the Athens
music scene. Of course, the reality is that starting a band is
the easy part, and despite even the most sincere initial enthu
siasm, a lot of these Upstarts fizzle and fade by the time the
next column hits the streets. And that's alright, too, because
it's all part of the creative process—failing, learning, grow
ing... and repeat. But every once in a while, the right pieces
fall into place and something sticks. Here's a look at some of
the most promising local bands to debut this year:
Manray: Hands down, this is
my favorite new Athens band.
Manray is a non-stop barrage
of tempo changes, technical
proficiency and intensity. Even
if you go just for the porno
graphic promotional posters,
go see this band play. The
combination of the brothers
Olivera—all screaming vocals,
sweat drenched tattoos and
mean riffs—paired with the
virtuosity and finesse of gui
tarist Gene Woolfolk makes
for a mathy metal juggernaut.
The band upped the ante even
further during its recent tour,
adding high-speed guitar
ist Bryan Aiken (Lazer/Wulf,
'Powers) into the mix. It might
not be quite the guitar orgy of
'Powers, but it's getting close.
The band's debut EP just came
out this month, and I'm looking forward to sinking my teeth
into it over the holidays.
straight-up, no-apologies classic rock and roll with extra soul
ful. husky vocals. Fans of ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin and other bluesy
heavy rock bands should plan to spend their New Year's Eve
with these guys over at the Caledonia Lounge.
Bird Names: One of the perks of having a reputation as a great
music town is that great music comes to you. Enter: David
Lineal and Phelan La Velle, the core songwriting duo behind
Chicago-born band Bird Names. After releasing five albums of
experimental psych-pop. Bird Names was a beloved and inte
gral part of Chicago's DIY scene, so Athens should feel very
lucky that we're now able to count the band as one of our own.
After just a few short months here, Bird Names has already
found a nice little niche, sharing much aesthetically with
bands like Bubbly Mommy Gun, Quiet Hooves and other purvey
ors of quirky fringe pop.
Up Until Now: Drawing on an eclectic and vast array of
influences—including world beat, hip-hop, funk, metal and
more—Jay Murphy and Chris Byron have quickly pushed to the
forefront of Athens' burgeoning electronic scene. The duo's live
show is particularly compelling as they switch up instruments,
playing drums, bass, keys and more live behind their fortress
of electronic equipment. You can download their debut record,
Gresham's Disco (1320 Records) for free at www.upuntilnow.
com.
Free Mountain: I love a good supergroup, so it's promising to
see Free Mountain is still moving right along since its debut at
AthFest this year. Featuring guitarist Kevin Sweeney (Hayride),
vocalist Jared Hasmuk (Dictatortots), bassist Bryan Howard
(The HEAP) and drummer Mark Brill (Hayride), this group plays
Hans Darkbolt: I was first drawn to Peter Dovey's acrobatic
vocals and the band's bouncy, intricate melodies, but I offi
cially became a fan when I learned of the band's mythology.
The group's theatrical tunes run parallel to a comic book Dovey
is creating, telling the story of
a globetrotting super villain. I
just hope both works—the band's
forthcoming album and the comic
book—come to fruition in the
new year so we can really appreci
ate the full scope of the band's
creativity.
Nutritional Peace: Chances are
you've never seen a sax played like
this before. In Jeff Tobias' hands,
the instrument changes shape-
sampled, looped and distorted
into hazy ambiance. And so it goes
with his guitar and keys as well;
swelling washes of tone and drone
set the mood as Amy Whisenhunt
delicately plucks a melody on her
autoharp, and drummer Mat Lewis
propels the songs forward. The
arrangements are at once sparse
and lushly layered, creating a
hypnotizing swirl of sound. What began as a home recording
project has grown into a live band with unlimited potential
as guest players and visual projections have the ability to
transform every set. I am particularly eager to see how the
band reincorporates video into its presentation in the coming
year—whether that's live or online. Whisenhunt has created
some lovely animated collages to accompany the music in the
past, and those kind of swirling abstractions complement these
tunes perfectly.
Michelle Gilzenra!
o benefit for I'JugPs’Spoce
would happen if you and
your co-workers formed a band
and were given a chance to
perform in front of a sold-out
crowd at the world-famous
40 Watt Club in downtown
Athens, GA?
visit our
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wwv. RotaHydropomcj con. • Mai-Sat
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40-532-0091
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DECEMBER 22,2010 FLAGPOLE.COM 19