Athens Music Scene
By Eric Leighton
March 27, 2008
There were a variety of losses in the last week, most of which were the several thousand students who boogied out of town. Have you ever noticed how peaceful, quiet and clean this town can be? Townies walking the streets with impunity, nabbing empty bar stools, enjoying the folks who never come to town except for these times of the year. It’s delightful — and fleeting. So get it while you can! Get out there and listen to some tunes this weekend. It’s your time to shine!
Jackie O’s
Friday night Jackie O’s welcomes back Old School Union, a band that was last in town there for the Jazz and Blues Fest. This R&B supergroup hits heavy with blues and jazz as well as R&B, and features Wayne Williams, who used to tour with the Temptations and the O’Jays. This show will start at 9 p.m. in a flagrant attempt to get you out and dancing.
Saturday night, the band formerly known as Selecter Reggae Band will perform their butt-shaking reggae at Jackie O’s. They’re now known as Super-Massive, and I imagine your enjoyment will be much the same.
The Union
The Union clocks in with a show on Saturday night, and it’s a doozy. Wheels on Fire, Dropdead Sons and The Dragline Bros. are the cream of the crop as far as rock bands go in this town, so do not hesitate to get up there and get down. This show originally was intended to be a tribute to the great ’60s British Invasion band The Kinks, but alas, the bands didn’t have enough time to put together a Kinks show. All’s not lost, however, as the Dropdead Sons will play a few Kinks tunes — “Lazy Old Sun,” “Dead End Street,” “Big Black Smoke” and possibly others.
Fur Peace Ranch
The Fur Peace Ranch kicks off its marvelous musical season with a real wing-ding of a show Sunday night: Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Jorma Kaukonen and Roger McGuinn will perform at the sold-out show. McGuinn, you might recognize from the Byrds, the seminal ’60s jingle-jangle group (or its late ’60s incarnation as a groundbreaking country-rock band), and Kaukonen is known from his days in Jefferson Airplane and his continuing group Hot Tuna. This one’s been sold out for two months. Tough luck. Eh?
Stuart’s Opera House
Holy Woodstock, Snoopy! If the preceding show wasn’t enough of that good old-fashioned ’60s flair, then howzabout this one: Richie Havens is appearing at Stuart’s on Friday night. Havens’ percussive style and unmistakable voice rocked the thousands at Woodstock (“Freedom, freedom, freedom, etc.”), and his freedom-fighting message continues to this day. Don’t miss this chance for such an intimate show. Oh, wait a minute, this one is sold out, too. Darn.
Court Street Grill - Pomeroy
Mike Milligan and Steam Shovel return to the Grill on Friday night. This blues-rocking band has been a favorite down there for a while, so drive that extra mile and get yer jam on.
Casa Cantina
The Casa rejoins the land of the Open Stage tonight, and the music hits on Friday with Red Dahlia, Earwig and more. Red Dahlia is a super-hard-working band that has been making considerable inroads around the region in recent years. Earwig has been around for a long time espousing the heart-on-your-sleeve, catchy rock and roll of front-man Lizard McGee. Their music has been featured on the radio and in commercials and movies, including a DVD about Kurt Cobain and Nirvana. Good stuff.
Saturday night, Big Rock and his Candy Ass Mountain Boys bring their good-time, or should I say old-time, music to the Casa for some foot-stomping joy. Stump Juice must of fired up another batch cause I see they are coming out of hibernation to perform some of their fun for ya, too.
Rattletrap is back on Monday. Tuesday night, Fools or no, it is reported that there is a Devo Reunion show free for the first 150 people. Yes, I’m sure Mark Mothersbaugh is bored out there in Hollywood, and has nothing better to do than to regroup his classic weirdo band from Akron and perform a show in Athens.
Wednesday night Chris Biester cleans ‘em up at the Open Stage.
Sandstone Bistro - Logan
Steve Zarate is back filling up the Bistro with gastronomically delicious music on Saturday night. Originals and covers galore form this fingerpicking fool.
That looks like plenty of music to gobble up if you ask me. I look forward to seeing you all at the gigs!
Comments
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Dickey commented, on March 29, 2008 at 2:54 p.m.:
Question: Last Oct? I saw a Lennon reunion show at the Union...a really talented woman sang a few songs with the band...I think her band is called Eva Destruction..can anyone tell me if she/they are playing any time soon? She Rocked! best performer Ive seen in a long long time!
