About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (July 6, 2011)
MfViHlIC com ^TRnmsrifyif; SOUTHERN VISION J\ C^XrVU,VU, {yd ow interested am I in vintage dresses? How much time do I have to take off of work? Can I still go on tour all the time and make a store happen? Could my friends—who I'd want to be part of this project with me—think I'm crazy Decause I’m essentially taking ove r a vintage dress store and trying to turn it into a more open-ended cool space/store/thing?" These were some of the thoughts going through Michael Clancy's head as he spec Enough Florida via tour van this past January. He was on the road drumming with his ndie- punk trio. Witches, when he received a sur prising phone call from Kimberly Drew, at the time the proprietor of Ohh. Boy!, a vintage store located on West Broad Street, Her mes sage for him was simple: she wanted to step Michael Clancy away from the Store and is offering * un to Clancy to do with it as no wished. As someone who'd never considered himself an entrepre neur on that level, he was a little stunned. After a week's worm of consideration, he accepted. This is how things got roilina for Southern Vision. Having previously done a portion of the Cooking work at The Hangar, the now-defunct catch-all OIY space for band practicing, art making and punk show-throwing, Clancy has been eyeing this opportunity to both de-ghet- toize his community's events and maintain a location that will act as a store, yes, but hopefully as something bigger as well. Sounding a little baffled to hear the words coming out of his own mouth, Clancy says. "I own a business now—which is weird—but I can open it to anyone. I don't want it to be {exclusive]. I mean, I love punk, but I don't like being part of some secret club with my friends. I like doing these things so as many people can be part of some kind of alterna tive. There's commerce involved; it's still a normal thing in some ways, but it's also weirder and more open-ended. Making money is in no way the point—I mean, we need to make rent, but the idea is definitely to incor porate and invite people so that we’re not just j this secret thing." In addition to many of the consignment items that Ohh, Boy! already has for sale, Clancy will be expanding the store's scope to Include more records, musical eauiprnent and •he like. The store will be volunteer-run. with Detter consignment rates available for those nmding the register. The scrappy, potential- filled nature of Southern Vision provides a muc -needed service to kids of all ages in Athens: the vaguely purposed, cool swag-filled hangout, a window into a music community where all too often, ageism reigns on the downtown scene. It's apt that the store's grand opening would see the return of a onetime staple of the Athens punk scene, Andre Gallant. Gallant established himself as a guitarist and song writer with Carrie Nations, by now a widely and fondly regarded band influenced by the gusto of Guided by Voices and the pep of Superchunk. As with the journalistic work he'd honed since Carrie Nations broke up in 2005 (including contributions to Flagpole). Gallant used music as a tool to communicate across communities. "I don't write political songs at all," says Gallant. "But they're emotional, and that's the kind of journalism I did—very emotional writing in seme sense. I'm telling the same types of stories: stories about hardworking people or people trying to get by." While walking around AthFest with Patrick Jennings of the recently hiatus-ed Hot New Mexicans. Gallant acquired a sense of urgency to return to the platform of musical performance. The duo agreed to play the roles I of mutual ass-kickers, egg! g on j and encouraging one another's new musical ventures by going on a joint solo mini-tour, startina in Athens inq ending the next day in the punk r 3tellite citv of Chattanooqa. "!'m eager to start playing out." Gallant says; as of late, he’s been fine-tuning a proj ect featuring Clancy on drums. "I have a lot les<i inhibition than when I was playing in punk bands, where I would be more afraid to p.ay acoustically or by myself." The operative theme here, of course, is one of support: bringing the unity-based feel of the DIY circuit out into the world at large and taking chances—chances like opening a busi ness on a lark. Once my friends were into it, I was like, OK. As long as I have some people to help me out,'" says Clancy. "I have nothing to lose, you know?" Jeff Tobias r— \ WHAT: Southern Vision Grand Opening WHERE: Southern Vision, 766 W. Broad St WHEN: Friday, July 8,8:30 p.m. HOW MUCH: FREE! V ) m • J rl PIT FLAGPOLE .COM TJlflNinUT-ftOPOLITUh 1550 OGLETHORPE AVE. • 145 E. CLAYTON ST. Every tOedneSday) l/:? Bott/eS <2 o/ 1 \ Do You Want to Change Your Drinking Habits? • We are conducting a study on medication for treating alcohol problems. • Participation will include five in-person assessments, . including four sessions of individual outpatient treatment for alcohol problems. • There is no cost for the treatment. • You will be asked to take a medication or placebo on two occasions. Call (706) 542-6881 for more information. (g) The University of Georgia JULY6.2011-FLAGPOLE.COM 13
