About Flagpole. (Athens, Ga.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 2011)
PAM BAXENOALE MUSIC NEWS AND GOSSIP Welcome to the last Threats & Promises for 2011. Next week's column will feature the "year in review" for 2012. I figure, why wait a whole year to find out what happened, right? But, for now, settle your anticipation and just enjoy what's being offered. It's good to be grateful for what you have. So, with that, let's go... This Moore-tal Coil: Busy Athens folks Lucas Jensen (Venice Is Sinking) and B.C. Fortenberry just released a collaborative, six-track effort under the name A.C. Moore. The project takes its title from A.C. Moore Elementary School in Columbia, SC, because the vocals on the record are all snippets of field recordings done at the school. The kids wrote poems under the tutelage of Kristyn "KK" Kuennen, the school's poet-in-resi dence, had them recorded by Dr. Courtnie Wolfgang, and then the tapes were cut up and used as lyrics on top of Jensen and Fortenberry's ambient electronica. The school held a "Creative Literacy Night" a few weeks ago where the recordings were played. I lis tened to the whole thing, and for the most part, I suppose it's pleasant enough, but some of this is just downright unsettling. It's like listening to Music for Airports, and then out of nowhere some little kid is saying, "I don't care what people think about me' and "I don't care a single thing about what some one says." Ostensibly, I guess, these could be seen as positive statements, but in the context of this particular record they sound defensive, if not defiant. Kudos to Kuennen and Wolfgang for documenting exactly what the kids wanted to say and not censoring them for the sake of comfort. You can head over to www.fortenberryandjensen.bandcamp. com to check it all out. That Place with the Books: The Oconee County Library wilt host its Winter Break Kick-Off party on Wednesday, Dec. 21 from 7 p.m. to midnight. Athens band Werewolves will per form. The event is coordinated by the library's Young Adult Program which occasionally hosts concerts such as this. It's open to persons age 11-18, but those under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian fill out a permission slip to attend. Other happenings during this event include snacks, a scavenger hunt, prizes and a talent show. For more information, please see www.facebook.com/OCLYA. A Long Winter's Nap: That band that was all hush-hush a few months ago, Diamond Rugs, will play its first-ever show on Dec. 29 at Atlanta venue the EARL. The group is com posed of Hardy Morris (Dead Confederate), Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), John McCauley and Rob Crowell (Deer Tick), Ian Saint Pe (Black Lips) and Brian Dufresne (Six Finger Satellite). Doesn't that just blow your skirt up? Only one song from the combo has been released, and it's a snore about eating Chinese food on Christmas day (see the video over at www.vimeo.com/33140228), but the group's publicist promises that "the rest of the album is a bit more rockin'." Well, it wouldn't take much. An album is in the works and will come out in March. V Doctor, Lawyer, Etc.: Null's Space is gear ing up for another edition of its Athens Business Rocks event, whereby local busi nesses form bands specifically for a charity "band battle" and then duke it out at the 40 Watt. Like last time, there are three separate competition dates and then a grand finale date to determine the overall winner. If you're interested in participating, it'd be a good idea to go ahead and get your act together and register your group over at www.athens- businessrocks.com. The competition happens in February 2012, and applica tions are being accepted now. Chucklin' Cheese: Hey, parents, if you're wonder ing what to do on Saturday, Mar. 3, 2012 and you've not yet filled up your kid's Christmas stocking, you might be interested to know that renowned kids band Laughing Pizza will be at the Melting Point that night. Advance tickets are S12 for general admission and S20 for reserved seating. This show will probably sell out, so if you're on the fence, it's time to pick a side. For more infor mation, please see www.meltingpointathens. cfcm and www.laughingpizza.com. Short Takes: Dusty Lightswitch has broken up... That El Hollin album I mentioned a couple of weeks ago is completed and released under the title Pleasure-Puncher. It's got a whopping 26 tracks and is available at www. elhollin.bandcamp.com... Spring Tigers has broken up... The HEAP has a new track available over at www.theheap.bandcamp. com. It's titled "It's Your Own Kind of Thing" and is a straight-up old-school heavy R&B tune—i.e., exactly what you'd expect, right? It's also reportedly the first of several singles to be released from the group... Tunabunny, still buoyant from a massive wave of positive press following the release of its LP, Minuna Moralia, will tour the U.K. in February. Member Brigette Adair Herron finished the first epi sode of her new video show, "I Want More!," and you can see it over at www.youtube. com/user/IWantMoreTVAthens. If she keeps it going, I can imagine I will look back on this as fondly as I do Chip Shirley's "Partyline." Gordon Lamb threatsandpromises@flagpole com 2011 Athens Business Rocks Champions The McCommunists W INCLUDE ) Adult DVDs / Toys for Lovers /Tobacco Accessories Sexual Enhancements Bath & Body Products Massage Oil & Lubes Adult Games & Novelties Sexy Lingerie & Shoes Celebrating Love and Staying Sexy EASTSIDE • 706-850-6919 50 Gaines School Rd. WESTSIDE • 678-661-0700 4124 Atlanta Hwy., Bogart HON-THUR lOam-llpm RI-SAT 10am-12am • SUN 12pm-8pm No One Under lfi Admitted • Photo ID Required Do You Want to Change Your Drinking Habits? • We are conducting a study on a 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 706-542-8350 for more information. The University of Georgia DECEMBER 21,2011 FLAGPOLE.COM 15
