athensmusic.com

DBT always moving forward

From Jenn in the DBT camp:

Hey guys!

Just wanted to let y'all know that we've done a little updating to the DBT Web site!

#1 - I've posted European tour dates. All you folks overseas, get your rock pants on!

#2 - It's been pushed up! A BLESSING AND A CURSE US RELEASE DATE: APRIL 18

#3 - There's a slightly new look to the front page, and some brand-spanking-new photos by Danny Clinch on the Photos page. Ain't that Shon-T a beauty? Ain't the rest of 'em funny-lookin'? God I love 'em.

#4 - New West has been rolling out some cool shite, like www.blessingandacurse.com, where anyone can go and post their DBT pictures to a Flicker account and have them seen by all. You really should go check it out, for the songs in the background ("Feb. 14" and "Lika A Rolling Stone") as well as the many, many photos.

#5 - "Feb. 14" and "Lika A Rolling Stone" are also now available on iTunes, and you can check out more stuff and be our friend at the DBT MySpace page.

That's all for now. See you guys real soon!

Hey, it was cold that night!

Here is a very lengthy thread discussing Robert Pollard's show last Thursday at the 40 Watt. They discuss why the place was only half full. A typical response: "I'm going to hypothesize that the real factor here is that Athens's hipster culture isn't at all about the Elephant Six/Kindercore thing OR the Ohio drunken rock thing: it's about 2,000 20-21-year-old Pitchfork addicts weaned on emo, Franz Ferdinand, and adjectives like "mathy." As for me, I was at Indie Rock Karaoke, which is the real live, beating heart of musical delight in town. Sometimes anyway."

Tuesday 01.31.06

• Farm 255: Tuesday Night Jazz.
• Tasty World (downstairs): Newspeak, Sleepy Horses, Three Ring Circus, Jesse Payne.
• Tasty World (upstairs): Hardcore night.

EBK hitting Tasty World

It's a demand you might expect from a toddler standing in line, waiting for cotton candy. But in this case, Extra Blue Kind is the Bloomington, Indiana-born, Indianapolis-based rock band you'll find at Tasty World tonight. The band's 2005 release "The Tide and the Undertow" (Opulent Records) exposes their sometimes wavy, sometimes edgy, and undoubtedly radio-ready style. For this blogger, highlights include the Revolutionary War drumming on the sparse, emotive acoustic dirge "Trails Turn," and when vocalist David Barajas sprinkles breathy "Ah-hah's" throughout "Lipstick" before exploding in a frenetic rage.

If you calibrate your compass to local sounds, head to the lab and create a Boulevard-Bain Mattox hybrid and EBK will bear a striking resemblance. If you prefer the opinions of more accomplished music journalists:

"A perfect union of energy and melody, Extra Blue Kind ranks among the state's hottest unsigned acts"

David Lindquist, The Indianapolis Star

Chambers, NMH, Coulier, Son Volt

Don Chambers in Creative Loafing here.

Neutral Milk Hotel and Coulier in the Loaf, too.

Son Volt will be in town soon (Wilco, too). Read what this hack had to say about their latest.

Hunter Brown (STS9) and Dave Schools (WSP) tell jambands.com what they liked about 2005.

Panic working on new record

What a tough life. Panic is back in the Bahamas recording their new record at Compass Point Studios. Some pix and background here. The record is due out this summer.

Also, according to an e-mail from the band, "there will not be a traditional spring tour this year." A source told me a few weeks back that they are going to cut WAY back on the touring this year, probably just concentrating on some larger venues, festivals and events. I imagine the die-hard Spreadheads are freaking.

Friday 01.27.06, Saturday 01.28.06

Friday:
• Boar's Head: Logan Thompson.
• Caledonia: The Chasers, The Rounders, Connor Rand & the Red Dirt Band.
• DT's: Wesley Cook, Doc Luvs Sullivan, Ladies Drink Free.
• Eastwood Pub: Tongue & Groove.
• Farm 255: Squat.
• Flicker: Kenosha Kid.
• 40 Watt: Modern Skirts, Trances Arc, The Noises 10.
• Georgia Theatre: Stewart & Winfield, Jay Markwalter.
• Hot Corner Coffee: Porch to the People.
• JR's Baitshack: T.J. Mimbs.
• Last Call: Rhythm Token, High River Band, Recycled Shotgun.
• Melting Point: Gaelic Storm.
• Mercury Lounge: Bart King.
• Tasty World (downstairs): Shady Boys, Mayberry, Andrew Nelson & the Shotgun Lovers, The Swear.
• Tasty World (upstairs): Tresor Hugo, The Renegadez, Rockwell Jones, MC Willie Joe, Ayana.

Saturday:
• Caledonia: Babies Who Hurt People, Mandy Jane & the Jaws of Life.
• DT's: The Immaculate, Liquid Sundrop,
• Flicker: Bellyache, Ice Cream Socialists.
• 40 Watt: High on Fire, The Bronx, Big Business, Buried Inside.
• Georgia Theatre: Kinchafoonee Cowboys.
• Hot Corner Coffee: Allison Weiss.
• JR's Baitshack: Eric Dodd.
• Last Call: Wayne Mills.
• Melting Point: Tony Pritchett Band/Sons of Sailors.
• Nuci's Space: eLeMeN.O.P., Tresor Hugo, The Renegades.
• Tasty World: 6 p.m. - Poncho Magic, Kendl & Still Life, Joey Capoccia; 10 p.m. - Lionz, Sursie.

Lots of press for the locals

Any word on how the Turner South thingy went at the 40 Watt? I was handcuffed to my desk by an oppressive work ethic. Thus far, I've only found this.

Tishamingo tours Colorado with WSP's guitar tech. More here.

Boulevard is in the Top Ten in Tucson.

A review of a recent Murder Beach performance in the ATL here.

Nutria's "Metronome" reviewed here.

The Drive-By Truckers will join John Prine, Neko Case, Nickel Creek, and others at the 33rd Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival this June.

Two out of three ain't bad

Well, I'm finally coming to grips with what many of you have been saying, or at the very least thinking: Seeing the Truckers in Athens just isn't the same. They've received the seal of approval from the panhellenic world. In doing so they introduced the 40 Watt to hundreds of kids that until now thought the only landmark at the corner of Pulaski and Washington was the SAE house.

Thursday night I enjoyed The Whigs and was annoyed with all the purses. They could sell a hundred more tickets if they limited the size of passenger's carry-on bags. As for the DBT set -- based on the live delivery of the new songs, the forthcoming release will definitely keep the boys on the map. Two near-miss brawls discouraged me from seeing the entire encore.

Friday night I saw Producto for the first time and I feel guilty admitting that here. They were phenomenal, and the purses had not yet become an issue. I didn't last much longer. In the middle of "Zip City" I had seen one too many brothers taking each other's pictures with the band as a back drop, then check the screen before snapping a do-over, before text messaging their friends to arrange for a field trip the restroom so as to ensure everyone was on the same "after-the-show" page.

Saturday, I sold my tickets and bought a Nintendo 64 at a flea market and played Galaga a few too many times.

Thursday 01.26.06

• Boar's Head: Justin Brogdon.
• Caledonia: 7 p.m. - Magic Missile, Ole Mossy Face, Special Teams.
• DT's: Marvelous Rejections, Renegade Sound System.
• Flicker: Box Devils.
• 40 Watt: Robert Pollard, Tenement Halls.
• Georgia Theatre: Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band, Bling the Children Back Home.
• Last Call: Steel Horses.
• Lunch Paper: Chop Top, Dirty Sanchez & the Pancho Villas, Music Hates You, 696.
• Melting Point: Kaki King, Leslie Helpert.
• No Where Bar: King Daddy Conspiracy.
• Tasty World (downstairs): Bain Mattox, Tim Brantley, Obsession Day.
• Tasty World (upstairs): Matt Hebbard, Cam Helleger, Maggie Smith, Justin Caudill, Adam Hebbard.

Friday 01.20.06, Saturday 01.21.06

Friday:
• Boar's Head: Tim Miller.
• Caledonia: Murder Beach, Pushbutton, Folklore.
• DT's: Tristan Isolde.
• Eastwood Pub: Jason "Lefty" Williams.
• Farm 255: Scott Leon-O'Day Quartet.
• Flicker: Bill Mallonee.
• 40 Watt: Drive-By Truckers, Producto.
• Georgia Theatre: Drivin' N' Cryin', Gates of Berlin.
• JR's Baitshack: Matt Wink.
• Last Call: Wrong Way, Rhythm Token, Renegade Sound System.
• Melting Point: New Riders of the Purple Sage.
• Tasty World: An Epic at Best, The Pendletons, Freeze Tag.

Saturday:
• Boar's Head: Kip Jones.
• Caledonia: Annie + Her Guns, Parade.
• DT's: Cinjed, The Family, Repeater.
• Eastwood Pub: The Bearfoot Hookers.
• Flicker: KChari.
• 40 Watt: Drive-By Truckers, Dexateens.
• Georgia Theatre: Luke Bryan, The Matt Moore Band.
• Hot Corner Coffee: Andrew Vickery.
• JR's Baitshack: John Thrasher & Zach Taylor.
• Last Call: Dan Plowden, Rolling Home.
• Mercury Lounge: Carter McMullen Trio.
• Tasty World: 6 p.m. - Wesley Cook, Slightly Amped, Haylee Slaughter; 10 p.m. - Echovalve, Sounds of Silence, D-Sul.

Houser, KChari

Treasure unearthed in 'Sandbox': The musical world surrounding Athens' own Widespread Panic stood still for a brief period of time in mid-2002 when founding guitarist/singer/songwriter Michael Houser announced he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Houser passed away on Aug. 10 that year, leaving behind a legacy with Widespread Panic - a growing body of original material, hundreds of epic shows played all over the country and a massive, hugely devoted fan base unsure about the future of their favorite band. Full story.

Power Trio: What better venue than the Flicker Theatre to host a trio whose songs elicit a silver-screen essence? KChari's "Power Out" would fit comfortably within the score during the denouement of any Hollywood movie featuring glamorous folks in precarious situations. The drama has unfolded and the protagonists narrowly escape villains or a sinking maritime marvel, seconds before a sunrise. Full story.

Boulevard venturing to the ATL

We got a note from our friends in Boulevard pushing their show tomorrow at Vinyl in Atlanta. It's an early show, with doors at 7:30 p.m. and Boulevard starting at 8:30. Also performing will be The Swear and Y-O-U. It's an all-ages show; tickets $10 at www.ticketalternative.com.

They also included this info: "What do Nick Niespodziani and Mark Cobb of Y-O-U have in common with Donovan Babb of Boulevard? All three teach rock music to young musicians through an exciting summer program called Camp Jam! Camp Jam is the Ultimate Rock n Roll Day Camp! Musicians ages 11-17 attend a weeklong camp that teaches them band dynamics, secrets of the trade, performance skills, and practice techniques. The program also allows them to interact with industry professionals, such as Jeff Carlisi (former lead guitarist, .38 Special), Chuck Leavell (keyboardist, Rolling Stones, Allman Brothers) and Ed King (Lynyrd Skynyrd, wrote "Sweet Home Alabama"). For more information on Camp Jam, visit CampJamUSA.com."

Jay Markwalter releases debut album

From Troy Aubrey of Nomad Artists:

After 10 years as both an agent and volunteer in the music industry and helping numerous musicians and bands with management services, Jay Markwalter is releasing his debut album "Downtime." "Downtime" is a collection of original songs written from 1994 to 2004 and also includes a track written by folk artist Gordon Lightfoot. "Performing as an acoustic solo artist over the years, I wanted to finally share some work from the studio. Mostly during our 'downtime,' we encounter great experiences, write or express our thoughts, and share through many avenues of entertaining." ...

Living in Athens since 1992 and working in the late '90s as a tour/road manager for local artists, Jay’s writings and songs were pieced together in cities and towns all over Georgia and North Carolina, and during brief visits to Colorado, South Carolina lowlands, farmlands in Virginia, Tennessee skylines, the foggy coast of Maine, West Virginia mountains, villages of Montana, upstate New York, and Mississippi main streets. Markwalter’s roots in the cultural, historic cities of Savannah and Athens have obviously flavored the songwriting of "Downtime" along with memorable relationships, occasional hardships, numerous road trips, and solid friendships.

The album was recorded on Chattooga Avenue in Athens in April, May, and June 2004 with the production and engineering help of local musician and multi-instrumentalist A.J. Adams. Other notable Athens musicians Carlton Owens, Stewart Marshall, and Julia Schoening all lend their talents to the record. The acoustic and folk songwriting, vocal harmony, and county/bluegrass tasteful instrumentation of guitars, both pedal and lap steel, mandolin, and dobro all make this Americana style release pleasing to the roots-rock fan.

Friday, January 27, 2006, is the official release of "Downtime". Jay will be performing as the supporting act of regional and fellow Americana/Roots songwriters Stewart & Winfield in Athens at the Georgia Theatre. Stewart & Winfield, with their band, will be starting their 2006 tour dates at the Georgia Theatre with this January concert.

The CD is now available online at www.athensmusic.net

Thursday 01.19.06

• Caledonia: The Knife Trade, Hell Within, A Bitter Fight Against Nothing.
• DT's: Deacon Brian Reeves, See No Evil,
• Farm 255: Leslie Helpert.
• Flicker: Sean Arrington, Adam Klein.
• 40 Watt: Drive-By Truckers, The Whigs.
• Georgia Theatre: Cosmic Charlie.
• JR's Baitshack: Daniel Simpson.
• Last Call: Brantley Gilbert, T.J. Mimbs.
• Lunch Paper: The Carry-Ons, Creve Coeur, Emergency Broadcast System, Guff.
• Mercury Lounge: MP3J Vinal.
• The Ritz: Harrison Hobby, Jill Station.
• Tasty World: Telenovela, Mouser.
• Transmetropolitan: Timber.

Lots O Links for your pleasure

Blogging is a breeze when Largehearted Boy does most of the heavy lifting:

My favorite Macon blogger recently caught a Jason Isbell solo set.

GBV's Robert Pollard will be at the 40 Watt next week. Read a review of his latest.

Liz Durrett has a record coming out next week check out LHB's daily download from Jan. 17 for a sample.

Folks in Pittsburgh expect big things this year from Prince, Wilco, Outkast and Drive-By Truckers.

And for a few things not listed by LHB:

Of Montreal (here) and Maserati (here) get a little love from Pitchfork.

An Athens-based brewer sponsors a tour featuring no Athens-based bands. Win tickets for the entire tour (including the 2-11-06 Athens gig) here.

The current Glide Magazine podcast features Michael Houser's "Sandbox" along with an interview of John Keane.

Wednesday 01.18.06

• Caledonia: Baxter Street Boyz, Blowfly, Love it to Death.
• Flicker: Calliope Fair.
• 40 Watt: Empire State.
• Georgia Theatre: Rhythm Token, The High River Band, Wesley Cook.
• Melting Point: Steve Kimock Band.
• Tasty World (downstairs): IKON: Engaged, Blame Shift, DJ Swerve.
• Tasty World (upstairs): Spencer Durham.

Tuesday 01.17.06

• Caledonia: Heist, Rhabdophobic.
• Tasty World: The Stops, Georgia, Richard Shirley.

Heavy hitters at the Melting Point

Big offerings at The Melting Point next week. A little bit about the heavy hitters rolling through town...

MIKE MARSHALL & CHRIS THILE (Sunday): Mike Marshall's touring and recording career began over 20 years ago as a member of the original David Grisman Quintet in 1979. Since then, Marshall has been at the center of the acoustic music scene and his work has been heard on hundreds of recordings and in live shows including those of Stephane Grappelli, Tony Rice, and Darol Anger to name a few. Separated by a generation, Chris Thile is best known as part of Grammy-winning Nickel Creek, whose first two albums have sold a combined 1.4 million copies, spawned hit music videos, and helped to push acoustic music into the mainstream.

STEVE KIMOCK BAND (Wednesday): The Steve Kimock Band defies simple categorization. Its players are renowned artists with diverse musical influences and a shared love of stretching sonic boundaries. Its music is a kaleidoscope of innovative compositions and dazzling improvisations that range from the rush of exploratory fusion and funk, to the roar of psychedelic rock, to the whisper of a ballad so haunting more and sweet that audiences fall silent under its spell. Its live performances are incendiary marathons of musical creation and on-stage chemistry that are unlike anything else in music today.

Misra artists look back at '05

Here's an amended version of the Austin-based Misra Records (Summer Hymns, Phosphorescent, Marshmallow Coast, Mendoza Line) monthly newsletter. You know, the Athenscentric stuff:

Misra's best of 2005 lists
Since it's a little hard to stomach the endless parade of homogenized top 10 lists, we ask everyone in the Misra family to contribute their own best of 2005 and open it up to whatever they please. Sure, some of us like talking about music, but we're trying to have a little fun with it. I mean, did Rolling Stone have any haikus on their best of 2005 list? I think not. Hope you enjoy! Comments and criticisms are welcome. ...

Pete Hoffman, The Mendoza Line
Top Ten Reasons I Didn't Play On The New Mendoza Line Record:
1. Paul's mustache hit on my mother
2. Paul's mustache ate 3/4 of my Combos
3. Paul's mustache snored
4. Paul's mustache didn't have a driver's license
5. Paul's mustache was always late to practice
6. Paul's mustache asks too many questions
7. Paul's mustache gets all the girls
8. Paul's mustache owes me $20
9. Paul's mustache always bragged about his "bass fingers"
10. Paul's mustache gets all the guys

Shannon McArdle-Bracy, The Mendoza Line, Slow Dazzle
Top ten animals:
1) Cats
2) Cats
3) that thing they just found in Borneo that looks like a cat and fox
4) Foxes
5) squirrels
6) pandas
7) elephants
8) large jungle cats of any kind
9) small jungle cats
10) my cats

Chris Riser, Summer Hymns
Ten 2005 Musical Favorites (in no particular order....):
Six Organs of Admittance - School of the Flower
White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
Stephen Malkmus - Face the Truth
Brian Eno - Another Day on Earth
The Strugglers - You Win
M.I.A. - Arular
V/A - Love, Peace & Poetry: Turkish Psychedelic Music
Animal Collective - Feels
Mugison - Mugimama, Is This Monkey Music?
David Cross - "Albums to Listen to While Reading Overwrought Pitchfork Reviews"

Andy Gonzales, Marshmallow Coast
Top ten made up things (written upon first waking):
1. electric spam
2. candy cane eyes
3. flamingo sausage
4. irregardless
5. state scents (like a state flag or flower)

Ethan Smith, Misra (mailorder king)
[One of the]10 most memorable things I listened to this year with some commentary:
5. Patterson Hood-Killers and Stars ---Freshman year my best friend was an alcoholic from a broken home in Jackson, MS who had been to jail for a violent crime, dealt drugs, lived under a park bench, and managed a record store all before his 17th birthday and he absolutely HATED the Drive-by-Truckers. That being said, I think he would have dug this album. Its dark as shit in an extremely personal way and it makes me feel good to know Patterson writes in his liner notes that he's in a better place now. Here's hoping Scott is too.

Friday 01.13.06, Saturday 01.14.06

Friday:
• Boar's Head: Matt Wink.
• Caledonia: The Tom Collins, Teenage Meth Lab.
• DT's: Ladies Drink Free, Nelo, Rhythm Token.
• Eastwood Pub: The Rising Creek Band.
• 40 Watt: Krush Girls, Twin Powers.
• Georgia Theatre: The Packway Handle Band, Grogus, Brian Connell & the Dickens.
• JR's Baitshack: John Thrasher & Zach Taylor.
• Last Call: The Real Grass Roots, Suburban Camoflauge, Crazy Anglos.
• Nuci's Space: A Bitter Fight Against Nothing, Community Chaos, Music Hates You.
• The Ritz: El Scorcho, Van Heineken.
• Tasty World: 6 p.m. - Five Eight w/William Tonks, Kilroy, Really Bad Hors d'Ouevres; 10 p.m. - Rick Brantley & the Well, The Loft, The Sophomore Year.

Saturday:
• Caledonia: Flash to Bang Time, Geoff Reacher, The Ginger Envelope.
• DT's: Contagious, Ghost Dad the Robot, Hot Grits.
• Eastwood Pub: Brian Connell & the Dickens.
• Farm 255: Dromedary Quartet.
• Flicker: Workhorses of the Entertainment & Recreational Industry.
• 40 Watt: Lona, The Chasers, Two Dollar Pistols, Randy Whitt & the Grits.
• Georgia Theatre: Who's Bad?
• Hot Corner Coffee: Laura Calvert, Jason Harwell, Kate Morrissey.
• JR's Baitshack: Daniel Simpson.
• Last Call: Wayne Mills Band.
• Tasty World: Minor Kings, Xtra Medium.

Kimock, Guerzo

All for 'Eu': Steve Kimock is heralded as one of the true guitar wizards of the jam band realm. His career first began in the San Francisco area in the late 1970s, playing in the Goodman Brothers Band, the Underdogs and the Heart of Gold Band. After the formation of the band Zero, Kimock's role as a band leader and prominent guitarist began to take shape over Zero's 15-year run. Full story.

On the Record Player: Joe Guerzo is a local musician/songwriter who currently sings and plays guitar with Flood City Shootout and The Vinyl Strangers. FCS has released their second full-length CD, "Motel Carolina," while the Vinyl Strangers have a new EP, "Under the Otter." He also hosts trivia at Locos on Harris Street on Tuesday nights and Jigsy's on Baxter Street on Wednesday nights. Find out what's in his CD player.

Thursday 01.12.06

• Caledonia: Coulier, Cataract Camp, Sorry No Ferrari.
• DT's: Renegade Sound.
• Farm 255: Leslie Helpert.
• Flicker: Shiftless Rounders.
• 40 Watt: The Plague, Count.
• Georgia Theatre: Zoso.
• Gus': Carla LeFever Band.
• JR's Baitshack: T.J. Mimbs.
• Lunch Paper: Ghost Dad the Robot, Kilroy, Last Picture Show.
• Roadhouse: Lionz.
• Tasty World (downstairs): Captain #1, Enoch, Daniel Aaron, The Ice Cream Socialists.
• Tasty World (upstairs): Nathan Beaver, The Brilliant Invention.

Introducing Professor Hood

Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers spoke to students yesterday in the University of Georgia's Sanford Hall. Hood talked about the music industry and answered students' questions as part of the new Music Business Certificate Program, a partnership between UGA's schools of business and music. Full story.

Wednesday 01.11.06

• Caledonia: Kind of Like Spitting, Sleepy Horses, Swayze.
• Eastwood Pub: Brian Connell & Friends.
• Flicker: Kate Morrissey, Old White Women.
• 40 Watt: The Carry-Ons, Misfortune 500, Morning State.
• Georgia Theatre: Watchtower.
• JR's Baitshack: Dusty Rhodes.
• Tasty World: Cobra Clutch, Crime of Passion, The Divining, The Face-Off, Of Legend, Casper & the Cookies.

Of Montreal, Hood, TTC, Cracker

Of Montreal's imperious tour plans do not involve Athens.

In sad news, Splendid no longer exists.

Patterson Hood gives his Best of 2005 here.

More best of news: Of Montreal's "Sunlandic Twins" here and here. The Tom Collins come in first here.

Largeheartedboy has the 12-16-05 Cracker gig (40 Watt Christmas Party) available for download (look under Daily Downloads from Jan. 9).

Miles and Wedren at Caledonia

The publicist for Amy Miles and Craig Wedren sent the following information about them. They both have pretty interesting backgrounds, and are playing at the Caledonia tonight. Read on...

AMY MILES is a NYC-based southern gothic indie rocker, by way of Arkansas. Her haunting voice, expertly crafted pop songs and personal dynamism have made her an "it" girl to watch (you can hear the clamoring of industry folks grow louder at every show). Amy has toured with They Might Be Giants & Mason Jennings, and played with Robyn Hitchcock, Clem Snide, Amos Lee, The Minus Five, Juliana Hatfield, Tracy Bonham, Martha Wainwright, Ollabelle, and many others. She has appeared as the musical guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC), Cold Pizza (ESPN), Pure Oxygen (Oxygen Network), and Late World with Zach (VH1). Amy is the creator & Music Director of "Soundtracks Live!," and off-broadway show she co-directs with Saturday Night Live's Amy Poehler. (Amy Poehler is also the backing vocalists on both of Amy Miles' albums.)
http://www.amymiles.net
http://www.myspace.com/AmyMiles
http://www.soundtrackslive.com
http://www.thecitizensband.net

CRAIG WEDREN was the lead singer of the seminal art punk band, Shudder To Think. StT toured the world in the 90s with the likes of R.E.M., Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam, and they were widely considered to be one of the most original rock bands of that era. StT signed with Epic Records in 1994, and soon after Craig was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease. Craig's treatment prevented the band from touring, so they began scoring films. StT disbanded in 1998, and since then Craig has scored the films School of Rock, Laurel Canyon, Roger Dodger, The Secret Lives of Dentists, Wet Hot American Summer, The Baxter and many others, as well as all the music for the Comedy Central shows "Reno 911" and "Stella." In September, Craig released his first solo effort, Lapland (Saddle Creek/Team Love Records). Lapland contains unrealized Shudder songs, one-offs from films he's scored, and brand new ditties. Craig is currently producing the upcoming (3rd) album of Amy Miles, titled King of Girls.
http://www.craigwedren.com
http://www.myspace.com/CraigWedren
http://www.team-love.com

Tuesday 01.10.06

• Caledonia: A.Armada, Get Him Eat Him, Amy Miles, Craig Wedren.
• Flicker: Erik Hinds, Tony Evans & Marshall Marrotte Trio; Mary Halvorson & Jessica Pavone.
• Tasty World: Morning State, Philip Kohnen y Su Conjunto, The Akiko Asawa Trio.

No Music Midtown this year

Music Midtown in Atlanta has been canceled -- at least for this year. Promoters cited a variety of reasons -- financial, location, weather -- but said they might bring it back in the future, but at a different location and possibly even a different city. Full story here.

Roddenbery to tour with Gans

Local singer-songwriter Ralph Roddenbery will be hitting the road with David Gans this month. Who? Gans is the preeminent authority on the Grateful Dead. He hosts a nationally syndicated radio show, "The Grateful Dead Hour," and has written a few books about the band. No local date has been set, but the tour will be running through Macon and Decatur for those of you willing to road trip. Bio-diesel, super-unleaded, sandals on the pavement ... whatever it takes, hippies! More info here.

News from Pigpen Studios

Pigpen Studios brings in the new year with some huge upgrades and news:

Upgrades - Pigpen joins only a select few studios in Athens to jump up to the world of Pro Tools HD. (For those of you not schooled in studio lingo, this is the top of the line system. There is nothing better!) We have added an HD 2Accel rig with 192 converters all running the new Pro Tools 7 on a brand new Mac G5. That combined with a stack of new outboard gear means Pigpen is set for another huge step forward this year.

News - Pigpen is starting to turn a few national eyes as we have now received a few reviews and articles in some national press. Quite a few Pigpen bands (Crane, Gonzalez, Wesley Cook, A Bitter Fight Against Nothing) have all received their fair share of favorable press and recognition off their new releases produced at Pigpen.

Pigpen brings in a new engineer/producer on staff. More info to come soon! Thanks, Daniel Maldonado Collins, Pigpen Studios

Friday 01.06.06, Saturday 01.07.06

Friday:
• Boar's Head: Logan Thompson.
• Caledonia: Visitations, New Town Drunks.
• DT's: Dot the I, The Family.
• Eastwood Pub: The Thrillbillies.
• Farm 255: Scott Leon-O'Day Quartet.
• 40 Watt: Music Hates You, Victor Charlie.
• Georgia Theatre: Lionz, Thelonious.
• Hot Corner Coffee: Box Devils.
• Last Call: Sounds of Silence, Cinjed.
• Tasty World: Last Picture Show, Mother Jackson, Betsy Franck and the Barenuckle Band.

Saturday:
• Boar's Head: Justin Brogdon.
• Caledonia: The 63 Crayons, The Wading Girl.
• DT's: Liquid Sundrop, Repeater.
• Flicker: Magic Missile, Manchester Orchestra.
• 40 Watt: The Dictatortots, Flood City Shootout.
• Georgia Theatre: Rehab, eLeMeN.O.P.
• Hot Corner Coffee: Luke Tan.

Halverson/Pavone, Bart King

Synchronistic stylings: New York City musician Mary Halvorson stays busy, with or without public transit. During one eight-day stretch in the first half of December, she played six shows around town. When the transit strike halted the subways and snarled car traffic, Halvorson still needed to get around, and one night walked about an hour to her gig, carrying a guitar and an amp. Traveling a bit farther this month, Halvorson will be driving around the southern United States with her friend Jessica Pavone and the two will perform at Flicker on Jan. 10. Full story.

Band for a King: When singer/songwriter Bart King decided to move his music beyond the solo realm, he began assembling a backup band - one player at a time. "As a solo artist, you hear how the songs might sound with a band," says King, whose yet-to-be-named band makes its Athens debut tonight at Little Kings. "And then when those sounds actually materialize, it's an exciting thing to experience. Full story.

Thursday 01.05.06

• Caledonia: hope for agoldensummer, A Fir-Ju Well, Down Home Southernaires, Awesome New Republic.
• DT's: See No Evil.
• Farm 255: Leslie Helpert.
• Little Kings: Bart and the Nameless.
• Lunch Paper: Kid Cadaver, Kill Gordon.
• Mercury Lounge: Would Be Farmers.
• Tasty World: Lady Fantastik, The Accomplice, Love Takes Flight, Death of a Celebrity.
• Transmetropolitan: Calvin, Don't Jump; Cars Can Be Blue; Harley Po.

Stipe, Vic, Schools, STS9

Happy Birthday Michael Stipe. R.E.M.'s frontman shares his birthday with these folks.

Vic Chesnutt and Will Johnson (Centro-Matic) will collaborate with other songwriters of note to form the "Undertow Orchestra." The tour kicks off in Athens next month. More here.

Pop Matters' Best 50 albums of 2005: check number 45.

More Best Of 2005 stuff: Dave Schools offers his opinion and "The Sunlandic Twins" gets a little love here.

STS9's New Years shows are available for download here. For a review of said shows click this.

The HOOT moves to Little Kings

The Athens Folk Music and Dance Society Presents:
The Hoot
January 9 @ Little Kings
8-10pm admission is FREE
All ages show!

The HOOT has moved for the winter months to Little Kings, 223 Hancock Avenue, downtown Athens. (Corner of Hull St/Hancock Ave.)

The kick off show will feature the country flavored music of singer/songwriter Jean Spencer, The Trans-Fatty Playboys, (Joe Willey & Kyle Wickings) playing blues and old time on dobro, banjo, harmonica and fiddle. The HOOT is very pleased to welcome back the newly formed traditional bluegrass group, The McAlpin Brothers (David Rutland, Michael Bordeaux, Dick Daniels, Bill David and Ed Kellough). Susan Staley will open and host the event.

Little Kings is newly refurbished with a full bar that is open for special events. They do not serve food there, but folks can brown bag & purchase from the bar.

Wednesday 01.04.06

• Caledonia: Killer Rock from Space, Potatoes.
• Eastwood Pub: Jason Beckham.
• Go Bar: Twin Powers.
• Tasty World: IKON w/ the Astronauts, Grab Bag.

The AthFest ball is rolling

From the AthFest crew:

ATHENS BANDS - COMPILATION CD SUBMISSIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL JAN. 31: If you are a band or musician from Athens, you are eligible to submit a song for the official AthFest 2006 compilation CD. Complete details and a downloadable form are available on the AthFest Web site. Submissions must be on CD to Musician's Warehouse in downtown Athens. Exclusive or previously unreleased recordings are encouraged.

SO YOU WANNA PLAY ATHFEST? We get e-mails almost every day from bands and musicians looking to play AthFest. Instructions for how to be considered for the AthFest main stages and the venues will be posted online in January. Please don't e-mail us about performing, as we normally don't respond.

Tuesday 01.03.06

• Caledonia: Child Abuse, Genghis Tron, No!
• Farm 255: Tuesday Night Jazz.
• Tasty World: Empty Face, Trigger Level.