About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2011)
A SNEAK PEAK AT THIS FALL’S LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR W hile late springtime is a busy time in Athens with all the benefit shows and joy that the sun has come out again, fall is an equally abundant time for music-related events. Students are back, the summer swelter is fading, and it always seems like there's not a weekend where you can safely get away without missing some unmissable show. (The secret is: You can and should get out of town on the weekends. It offers healthy perspective! But not every weekend, because there's so much stuff to do.) Herewith, then, is Flagpoles fall concert preview. Mark your calendars now, but also keep an eye on our weekly edition and website, as new shows at smaller clubs are still in the process of coming together. (40 Watt Club, 8/26). You'll find in-person versions of online sensations, as tongue-in-cheek hip-hop artists Yung Humma and Flynt Flossy perform their tunes "Lemme Smang It," "Licky Sticky" and "Not Your Professor but Your Prosexxor." Perpetual suburban stars Rehab (Georgia Theatre, 8/27) return to town at the end of the month. September traditionally brings Athens cooler weather and bigger shows, and the month kicks off with one of the most acclaimed and original local acts setting up shop in a reborn M««« If you want to dive right back into big shows this weekend, The Whigs (Georgia Theatre, 8/20) will hit the stage, and The Queers (Caledonia, 8/22) finally make it to town (see p. 23). Corey Smith's big show (Georgia Theatre, 8/19) is sold out, so why not make your way over to check out a new rising local talent in Ruby Kendrick (Caledonia, 8/18)? Offsetting these big shows with something smaller and more inti mate can be refreshing, anyway, and though Ruby's young and still finding her feet, she's moving in all the right in-town directions, teaming up with strong local talents. Former Whig Hank Sullivant brings his band Kuroma (Georgia Theatre, 8/25) back to local stages, with Thayer Sarrano open ing. Hank's been back and forth in terms of drawing large audiences; this Theatre gig is a great opportunity to catch him on his way up and check out the revitalized venue. It also marks Sarrano's first full band show in quite a while, as she's been busy touring the world with of Montreal. For those not raised in the community, access to gospel music can seem intimidating and inaccessible. That's why catching the historic legacy act The Blind Boys of Alabama (Melting Point, 8/26) in Athens at the end of the month offers a unique opportunity. Jump on it! However, if contemporary tur.'S are more your thing—or your thang, as it were—head across town to catch the Turquoise Jeep Records Showcase venue, of Montreal (Georgia Theatre, 9/1) has reached a cre ative turning point, balancing between crowd-pleasing theat rics and artistically satisfying indulgence; OM tourmates Yip Deceiver and '80s-worshippers The Gold Party open. The next night, the Chris Robinson Brotherhood (Georgia Theatre, 9/2) finds the Black Crowes frontman strutting his stuff with his new band while the Crowes are on hiatus, featur ing members of that band, Burning Tree, Mofro and other acts. Expect bluesy, gritty rock with a little more of a psychedelic edge than the Crowes offer. If that's a little too rockin' of a night, then you could find your way over to the "Del Yeah!" (Terrapin Brewery, 9/2) event at our local brewhouse, where bluegrass legend Del McCoury will team up with a number of musicians. The idea "is to create a festival atmosphere in an outdoor setting or otherwise non-traditional venue complete with impromptu jams and unscheduled collaborations." If you dig this Friday-night show, the Saturday portion of the event takes place at the Pisgah Brewing Company up in Black Mountain, NC. Perennial hometown favorites Modem Skirts (40 Watt Club, 9/3) put on their traditional our-bread-and-butter's-back-in- school, and though the college crowd provides the sustenance for the Skirts, the boys have engaged in some experimentation with their tunes worthy of the townie atten tion that frequently eludes 'em. The weekend wraps with a welcome Sunday show: Vieux Farka Toure, the son of famed Malian musi cian Ali Farka Toure, brings international tunes to town. Grogus opens (Georgia Theatre, 9/4). A one-time frequent performer in town and 40 Watt favorite, Conor Oberst brings Bright Eyes (Georgia Theatre, 9/8) back to Athens with a high-energy new album, The People's Key. Toro y Moi (40 Watt Club, 9/9) draw lines between the mellow chillwave style and more expansive prog rock, and South Carolina native Chazwick Bundick celebrates the release of a new EP titled Freaking Out this week. The following night presents two solid shows: New Orleans rockers Mute Math (40 Watt Club, 9/10) rep their moody new album, Old Soul, while the impressive Pacific Northwest double bill of Mount Eerie / The Microphones (or whatever name Phil Elverum's playing under these days) and instrumental, increasingly eclectic doom- drone purveyors Earth (Caledonia, 9/10) bring the Caledonia one of its few big national tours this fall. Athens champs Don Chambers + GOAT (Flicker, 9/14) released a new album a few weeks back; get a closer listen to tunes f rom Punch Drunk mid-September at Flicker. Next door, a killer one-two punch of soulful, melodic Americana comes with Okkervil River and Wye Oak (40 Watt Club, 9/14). For those who missed August's sold-out show, Corey Smith (Georgia Theatre, 9/15) just scheduled another performance; expect Ask about Our Student Discounts + DISC Mill 4- suneErnoiEciOHSH located on BaHisi NehtDooi to Papa John's Bight acioss homing Dotms! 706 534 8787 5S3 p i i i SHOW THIS COUPON TO RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL I I II 25* I IN TRADE I L J| IBKE UGflMf to 90210 to join VIP dub JT. mfcm — SALON, INC.— www.alaferasalon.com 2440 West Broad Street 706-548-2188 24 FLAGPOLE.COM AUGUST 17,2011
