Athens Music Scene
By Eric Leighton
May 8, 2008
Things that hack me off and make me sad this week:
The price of gas is at record highs. Any one of you who drives is painfully aware of this. Touring bands are painfully aware of this. I am rarely booking out-of-town gigs for myself because it becomes a Pay-to-Play kind of affair.
With the price of gas heading toward $4, somehow it shouldn’t surprise me that oil companies are posting record profits. Wait a minute… how’s that again? Oil companies are posting record profits! Something is drastically wrong with this picture – basically, somehow we are getting screwed. Go figure.
Also, the notion of repealing the gas tax for the summer is a bad idea. Experts estimate that this maneuver would take away $10 billion from much-needed road repairs that the taxes pay for and cost thousands of jobs for those folks who depend on that work. Don’t believe the hype. Don’t let these jerks fool you into brief forays of fiscal boons – like the tax rebate. Short-term solutions are mere band-aids to the gaping wounds in our economic system. The rich get richer and the poor get #$%*ed.
As to sad: I watched the Kentucky Derby this past weekend, stumbled upon it, so to speak (and not so punnily). I had heard an interview earlier in the day with a couple of blokes who made a movie about the Derby. They made it seem kind of fun.
I was as excited while watching the race, and the guy I thought would win (because I liked the stars on his costume) did win. The joy of the moment was lost almost immediately when I saw that 8 Belles, one of the two fillies in the race, had fallen.
I read the closed-captioning anxiously as we awaited the news as to what happened. Needless to say, I was horrified to hear she had broken both fore-ankles and was euthanized on the spot – with 150,000 people looking on. There were celebrations on one side of the track, and death on the other — mere minutes after she had been in full health and giving the boys a run for it.
What other sport kills its injured athletes? I know they said it was because she was in a lot of pain, and maybe it was the most humane thing to do, but still. I just can’t escape the feeling that there was probably a big insurance policy that helped to make the decision to euthanize a little easier. With that and the recent story in this paper concerning the foals taken in by Last Chance Corral exposing the seedy underbelly of the horse-racing industry, I think I’ll relegate my derby dreams to the County Fair’s Demolition Derby. In that capacity, breakage is welcome.
Casa Cantina
Andy Friedman & the Other Failures return to Casa tonight. I am quoted on his poster now as saying he is a “hillbilly Leonard Cohen.” Since I said it better myself, I’ll stand by that. Oxford, Miss.’s Blue Mountain is together again after a good run in the ’90s riding the alt.country wave. Preacher’s Kids drummer Frank Coutch is familiar to many of you nowadays, so you’ll recognize him behind the kit and you can read more about them in an accompanying piece in this issue of The A-NEWS. The Sad Bastards fill out this bill.
Friday: Bad Veins are an up-and-coming duo that splashes the occasionally lush tune at you from across the room. They’re getting a lot of attention from industry types and draw comparisons to Pavement, the Flaming Lips and the Strokes (which, by the way, don’t have much musical connection with one another). We’ll be paying big-ticket prices soon enough to hear them. The eclectic Russenorsk and Karate Coyote are also on the ticket.
Casa has an International Dance Night Saturday with DJ Self-Help.
Jackie O’s
Midwest Kid sparks it up tonight at Jackie O’s. Exploring the seamy side of life with powerful and catchy tunes is their specialty. Get an education at Folk U. with them and their friends.
Friday night Jackie O’s welcomes the return of The Cactus Pears. This band that began in the early ’90s has recently reformed and is giving their catchy brand of pop another go-round. Alex Vaughn & the Big Idea bring their island vibes to the closing set, and Joanie Loves Jar Jar will open the night. This group features Dan & Deb Dreifort, Josh Brown and Bryan Gibson.
Saturday night, Ann Arbor’s Macpodz come down to rock you with their jazz-flavored rock and soul. These guys pack a wallop anytime they hit the stage. Get your boogie on!
The Union
Paper Machetes get their rock on tonight (you have a good phrase, run with it) at the Union. Newcomers The Donnybrooks take to the stage as will one of the new faves around town, Octoberfist.
The Union offers another installation of the ultra-funky Dance or Die Friday night.
Saturday night, Cincy’s Buffalo Killers come back to the Union to rock your faces off. These guys just came off a tour with the Black Crowes, unleashing their Blue Cheer-like rock and roll to an unsuspecting crowd, who no doubt loved them. Last time I saw them I know I walked away with a CD. Their upcoming album (June 24) was produced by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. To do honor to these welcome guests, the Union trots out two of our finest rock and roll bands, Wheels on Fire and The Dragline Bros.
Monday night features a Sing or Die with DJ Barticus. I can see that being an extremely good time.
Tuesday they’ll have an Open Stage, and Wednesday features a Speakeasy benefit with a variety of DJs.
Blue Gator
The Gator offers up The Spikedrivers for your enjoyment on Friday night. These rockers get better every time I see them. Their foot-stomping hick and roll is like an oncoming freight train. If you’re lucky, you might get to see them with Megan Palmer and/or Steve Sweney when they aren’t busy elsewhere. It’s a hit no matter who shows up, as long as you do.
Donkey Coffee
Friday night features an InterActivist benefit with the bluesy folk tunes of Troy Gregorino, Jamie Rymers from Nostra Nova, the all-girl rawk of Ones and Zeroes, the folk power of EricA & the Little Beans and one Daniel Zimmer.
A Jenco Foundation fundraiser comes along on Saturday night, featuring the engaging acoustic sounds of The Bob Stewart Band.
Next Tuesday, May 13, a stripped-down Stella will reunited for a concert that’s part of the nationwide LIVESTRONG cancer-awareness effort. You may remember Stella as one of Athens’ most popular bands until a few years ago. The roots-rocking, alt.country outfit’s reunion show will feature band members Laura Nadeau (an advocate for the Lance Armstrong Foundation), Dave Baer and Catfish. The show runs from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
19 South
Tonight’s 9 o’clock show features a smattering of bands from across the spectrum. In some particular order Red Army, Pup the Rabbit, The Revulvas, Big Kiff (with me maybe sitting in on bass) and Black Spyral Dancer will all perform. Rumor has it that BSD will be performing a special acoustic set with Kent Lankas sitting in on the keys.
Friday Ace spins all night, and Saturday, the Dark Lord of Spin, TMO, returns to the tables.
There may be an early FREE show on Sunday; at least you can hang out and watch Adult Swim with Puffy.
Karaoke is back on Monday and TMO returns on Tuesday. Wednesday nights you can hear The Jazz Cream Assassins tear it up for fun and profit. They even let the sound guy “solo his organ.”
Smiling Skull - Gun and Knife Show
The first night of this weekend’s 2d Occasional Athens County Gun & Knife Show begins at the Skull Friday night. Kicking off the event will be The Balloon People followed by October Fist, The Sad Bastards and Amish Electric Chair.
Gun and Knife Show – 186 N. Congress
Saturday’s installment of the G&K Show will be a house party, a mainstay of the DYI punk-rock ethos. They’ll have seven bands performing and the music will begin at 4:30 p.m. Featured acts will be (in order): Spooktober, Damn Skippy, Evan Harris & the Driftwood Motion, Midwest Kid, Paper Machetes, The Makebelieves and Silo Circuit. This sounds like a dandy time.
The money raised will go to help out an unfortunate “local character” who lacks health-care coverage to pay his mounting medical bills. Check out myspace.com/gunandknife for more information on the events.
Maplewood Tavern
The Mudfork Blues Band will rip into the blues in their Meigs County kind of way at the Maplewood Tavern on Friday night. Hot wings and hot tunes are yours for the consuming.
Court St. Grill - Pomeroy
Friday night the Court Street Grill is happy to announce the arrival of The Mother Truckers from Austin, Texas. These folks have been voted the #1 Roots band in Austin for two years running – and that’s no small feat! They offer up a healthy slab of alt.country and rock and roll such that no one can resist. Editor Smith says he saw them at the Continental Club in Austin a year or two ago, and was mightily impressed. The Paranormals from Athens will open at 9.
Saturday night, Cincy’s Jon Justice Band brings you authentic Chicago-style blues – authentic because John is originally from Chi-town. His is a fresh take on the blues, thankfully; twisting the tired, overplayed stuff and adding a fresh dose of funk and fun.
Of course every Tuesday, Dale Kulchar hosts an Open Stage at the Grill.
Rhapsody - Nelsonville
Speaking of Dale Kulchar; Duo-Glide has a lock on the Rhapsody both Friday and Saturday. You can listen while they glisten through a wide variety of tunes during the early evening.
Union Hall Theater - Chesterhill
Saturday night, the UHT will thrill to the fine country sounds of The Rhythm Station Band. This band features some hot shots who have played variously with the likes of Kentucky Thunder, Frog & the Green Horns and the Big Al Downing Band. Steel guitarist Jeff Wise has performed on “Hee Haw,” the Grand Ole Opry, and the Wheeling Jamboree to name a few. Visit unionhalltheater.org for more information and directions.
Stuart’s Opry House - Nelsonville
Darlings of the bluegrass world and beyond, Cherryholmes bring their family band back to Stuart’s next Wednesday for what is likely a Sold-Out show. Wait … I’ve discovered that Tuesday there were still some tickets left, so snap ‘em up quick. These folks are great!
I know that Palmerfest is happening this Saturday, so if you feel the need for debauchery, head down there and check out some bands. I know a lot of things are going on, and I likely missed a few of ‘em. Keep your ears to the ground and listen out some live music!
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