Athens Music Scene
By Eric Leighton
October 9, 2008
Well, the sun shines bright in my Athens County home, wherever that may soon be. As one era comes to a close for me, another is most certainly opening up. Change is in the air as winter begins pressing toward this lovely fall. I feel that I am turning a brilliant color much like my perennial favorite, the maple.
I have spent many an hour tangling myself into the branches of trees, even far into my “mature” years. I’ve long adhered to that great song from “Peter Pan” that goes something like, “If growing up means it will beeeee beneath my dignity to climb a tree.” No sir, not me.
I believe that the ability to re-invent yourself, to make a fresh start, to embrace Life and have new adventures is the key to longevity. When you’re in the presence of newness, breaking out of your well-run patterns, there is a renewed awareness of time, a slowing down of it as your interest is piqued by the freshness of your surroundings. When we are young, time seems to pass slowly (especially when waiting for 3 o’clock to roll around). This has to do with 1) the ratio of time passing as compared to our length of time on Earth, which is at a young age, very short, and 2) the amount of information we have stored away in our brains, which, when we are young, is relatively small.
When we have little in our minds (when we are little, not as we get stupid with age, abuse and neglect), we spend lots of our time being curious about things, comparing, contrasting and classifying. As we get older and more set in our ways, we tend to get less curious about things as we have already built up assumptions and classifications for the things we come across. Time flies when you’re processing none.
The goal is to keep learning all of the time. Keep pushing your personal boundaries into unknown territories — like going to see new bands. Every year, every week almost, there are new bands in town — both passing through and formulating anew. Why don’t you pick something random and stretch your horizons, instead of your waistbands.
Casa Cantina
The Shake ‘Em Ups roll in from Austin tonight on their “No Surrender Tour,” so I say submit to this energetic and playful trio. I would proffer that these folks are similar to The Avett Brothers with the exception that these guys are really good musicians. The McGovern Brothers make one of their all-too-rare appearances in the opening slot to give you some fine, fine bluegrass.
The Royales get down and funky Friday night, whilst retaining their thrones as the “Funkin’ Kings of Rock and Soul.” This particular show marks the next appearance of the Eye Candy Girls, a troupe of “retro pinup girls” who encourage you all to get into your best ’50s era garb and join them on the dance floor.
Saturday night will be another installment of Open Doors Dance Night to coincide with Out Week, I believe.
Jackie O’s
Tonight Jackie O’s has an Advertising Agency function. As is usual with this group of advertising students and the functions they “sponsor,” I know nothing of what they have planned. Is this for a grade?
After Hours is back at Jackie O’s on Friday night. They are an ever-maturing group that mixes excellent originals with classics from a variety of eras. Pay attention: Starting the night at 9:30 will be the incredible guitarist Eric Sommer. This guy uses more odd tunings than Sonic Youth, and he actually knows what they are. Sommer is the kind of guitarist you are likely to hear at the Fur Peace Ranch sometime soon, and you can get up close and personal Friday night.
Saturday night offers a special treat when Soraia comes in from Philly on a tour around the region. This female-led troupe rocks it out pretty hard and comes with a big thumbs up from their buddies Fat City Reprise. Opening the night will be another female-fronted band, Eva Destruction & The Ohio Country Outlaw Band (this week’s winners of the Name That Will Never Fit On a Marquee award). This group gets better every time I hear them as they swoop through some rockin’ styles. (If I chop the “G” sound off of my “ing” endings, can I call that a “Palin-drone”? (C) etl 2008.)
The Union
Tonight the online OU magazine speakeasymag.com is putting on a benefit at the Union. Guernica, She Bears, Five Deadly Venoms and The Sad Bastards are all slated to perform.
The Union is planning a Halloween Block Party Benefit Friday night with bands to be announced at a more convenient time.
Saturday afternoon at 3, in the continuing tradition of matinee shows, Endless Mike & The Beagle Club, In The Face of War and a veritable host of other bands will perform.
Saturday night, Dance or Die returns to the upstairs at the Union for another night of boogie madness.
Donkey Coffee
Wheels on Fire goes acoustic at Donkey on Friday night. This is a special opportunity to be able catch the subtle nuances of rock tunes as they shine through in one of their more pure forms.
Put on your dancing shoes because Saturday night the Jitterbug Club will host a Dance Party at Donkey. They should do a warm-up the night before at another undisclosed danceable location.
Smiling Skull
Open Stage happens every Thursday at the Smiling Skull with Andie Walla — bands welcomed.
Friday night the Wooly Lemons, purveyors of fine rock and roll, continue to hawk their brand-new CD at the Skull. Occasional Monster, and Go Analog! add to this “head-banging and grooving” affair.
Holy Spicoli bring the ’80s back to the Skull Saturday night. Personally, I could puke (about the choice of material, not the band — they’re great), but if you like ’80s music, this is the band for you. They rock out with The Ramones, Cheap Trick, Tom Petty, and even Madonna! Holy Spicoli! No shirt, No shoes, No dice! 9 p.m.
Court Street Grill
Shannon Scott’s Common One rocks out the Court Street Grill in Pomeroy on Friday night. This new-ish outlet for Scott’s guitar prowess has been working it lately, so check ’em out.
Dale Kulchar hosts an Open Stage every Tuesday night in Pomeroy.
Rhapsody
Steve Zarate is back picking and grinning at the Rhapsody Saturday night: Delightful tunes to gastrointestinate to.
Jerseyville Festival
Shade Community Center
The old school in Shade on Rt. 33 south is now a community center, and to honor the old name of the community — Jerseyville — they throw the aforementioned festival annually. Festivities begin at 10 a.m. Saturday with cow-pie contests (gotta see that one to believe it!), lots of food and of course, entertainment. Featured music outside will come from The Christys, Boyd Ruth & Steve Burson, The Paranormals, Never Too Late and Megan Murphy & Yankee Bluegrass. Inside will be entertainment from Staff Infection and the Federal Valley Cloggers.
Fur Peace Ranch
Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen return to the FPR on Saturday night. Hillman gained notoriety with his stints as a Flying Burrito Brother and a Byrd (with the latter group, he alternated his trademark vocals with Roger McGuinn, Gram Parsons, Gene Clark and David Crosby, among others). Herb Pedersen might be best known to some of you by his work with Jerry Garcia and Emmylou Harris (That’s Pedersen doing the duet with Emmylou on the Louvin Brothers’ classic, “If I Could Only Win Your Love,” on her first solo record.) Hillman and Pedersen, who have recorded together, make a formidable duo, and the music sounds fresh and invigorated. I wish I could be there.
Stuart’s Opera House
David Wells is helping spread the word — or words, if you will. The words are: Chocolate Jazz. Before you jump to any conclusions, let me elucidate. Wells intends to combine the joys of chocolate with “smooth jazz,” and maybe some good coffee and wine. Wells has a storied career (including seven CDs), and this trumpeter/flugelhorn-ist will perform his brand of “smooth jazz” with his band Monday night at the Opry House. Tickets are being sold by Nelsonville-York students as a fundraiser. (Alas, he is not the former starting pitcher for a variety of Major League ballclubs.)
That’s it, I’m out. I’ll see you at the gigs!
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