Athens Music Scene
By Eric Leighton
September 11, 2008
Well, I learned today that Mac computers, no matter how superior to PCs, are not impervious to failure, as I lost an almost complete article to my Mac’s foibles (although I must give kudos to Microsoft Word over the Mac Pages. I would have been saved by Microsoft, quite literally. Save and save often!). This is my first hate toward an otherwise delightful machine. Now I begin again with a heavy heart and tired fingers and an increased sense of stress related to deadline issues.
Each week I bring you news of the Athens Music Scene. It’s a bit of a look forward into the future as opposed to our continual backward-looking perception via our eyeballs. (I’ll be giving a seminar to further explain this phenomenon called “Why Am I Always Looking Into The Past” should any of you care to explore this visual oddity.)
If you care to educate me as to the general import of any particular event that you might be a part of, or elucidate the finer points of any of your musical projects, let me share with you how to best do so: e-mail me at circle5music at gmail.com. I write it like that because Matt Toledo helped me to understand that if you put it that way on the Web, then you will get less spam, and since this fine article appears on the Web site for this paper (athensnews.com) along with a bunch of other web-exclusive content, I would be remiss to avoid using some sort of spam-avoiding technique.
Speaking of Matt Toledo, he has been the mastermind behind the Athens Musician Network (athensmusician.net), a virtual treasure trove of information about our adorable music scene. You should post all of your concerts there, or go there to find out what’s happening around town (after you’re finished doing the same thing here). You can also post useless rants to which other people will add snarky and bitchy responses; it’s great fun.
Athens is a lovely town; you should check it out, all of you folks who will never read this column or go see a live band or do anything interesting (excuse me, I think I’m upset at losing my article — the previous was much more loving and robust). What you can do, my darling readers, is open this page to my article and leave it lying around spots where non-believers congregate. Maybe they’ll line Tweety’s cage with it, or train a puppy. Go see live music and don’t despair!
Casa Cantina
Tonight you can hear the fantabulous Wheels on Fire at the Casa Cantina, the nexus of the generative portion of this article. Spindrift, from L.A., will add their Quentin Tarantino soundtrack sound to this delightful rocking. Midwest Kid, which will herald the return of Matt Box to the fold, as well as welcome me on the drums, will open the night.
Friday night celebrates the return of International Dance Night to the spectrum of Athens music.
Saturday night, one of the handful of local bands that have some sort of national recognition, Southeast Engine, returns to the Casa. These guys are an excellent band and if you haven’t heard them, for shame! Kaslo brings their peculiarly unique sound to the opening slot.
Each week the Casa is proud to present these regular activities: Mondays with the old-timey sounds of Rattletrap; Tuesdays with the newly invented Casa Caraoke (I know, I winced the first time too); Wednesdays feature Chris Biester as the Host with the Most for the Open Stage.
Jackie O’s
Friday night, the Wooly Lemons invite you to their CD Release Party! Their fuzzed-out groove rock is a danceable devastation. Red Dahlia adds their moody, melodious and melancholy rock to the mix and Midwest Kid, I think, will close the night.
Saturday night’s somewhat incongruous show features two Columbus acts. Lollipop Factory ends a tour that began in July at Jackie O’s. They are Queen: the Next Generation — sort of. Cowboy Hillbilly Hippy Folk’s name pretty much says it all (even though my editor says that “hippy,” spelled that way, means having wide hips). I’m not sure how they’ll mix it up, but it should be great fun.
Every Monday, I, in the guise of Junebug, host an Open Stage at Jackie O’s; Tuesday nights you can catch the Celtic folks in full swing; Wednesday nights are usually an Old-Timey night, but the next couple of weeks there will be bands that may or may not disturb this patio fun.
Next Wednesday, for example, Gregg Ginn, the guitar player from Black Flag and the founder of SST Records will be back with his two bands, Jambang and the Taylor Texas Corrugators. Last time the show was great. Essentially, it’s the same band, but the first and last parts of the show are completely improvised, and the middle part of the show is scripted and sequenced with a trippy visual display. I thought it to be an interesting experiment between opposites. I also happen to need that dose of Gregg Ginn guitar.
The Union
Tonight might be the last show for Crucifixion Addiction. It’s hell getting that last nail in! If that’s the case, well played, gents; Civilian will open the night.
Russenorsk takes the stage Friday night with Karate Coyote, The Couch Forts and The Ghost of Asa Phelps.
In celebration of its Grand Re-Opening, the Union is presenting a FREE show on Saturday night. There has been considerable work done on the downstairs portion of the bar, and you should all go check it out. The upstairs still rocks, but now so does the downstairs. Making this a special night will be Seattle’s Intelligence (very cool). Spooktober adds a creepy fall-type vibe, and Submarine Spaceship reminds me of one of my favorite childhood cartoons whilst rocking your socks off.
Monday night is Sing or Die, a karaoke to kill for. Tuesday nights are for the Open Stage and Jess Kauffman will host for the next few weeks.
Wednesday night Evan Harris & the Driftwood Motion slide down from Columbus for some roots-rock fun. The Sad Bastards and Adam Lee make things complete.
19 South
Tonight, ladies, you get in FREE until midnight while DJ Ace spins some tunes.
Friday night’s band had to cancel due to injury, but there will be live music nonetheless, so stop in to hear what’s on tap.
Saturday’s arsenal includes The Ordinance and without being belligerent, the Resentment makes an appearance too.
19 South has karaoke every Monday night with DJ Aroc and KJ Chaz; College Night is every Tuesday with DJ Tmo; The Jazz Cream Assassins play every Wednesday for your rocking delight.
Pawpaw Fest - Lake Snowden - Albany-ish
The Pawpaw Festival has become one of the most fun events of any season. Kids, pawpaw-eating contests, random whateverness and good fun are always on tap — as well as the Pawpaw Wheat (beer)! Music is a basic grounding for the fest and begins Saturday at noon with the Queen City Zapatistas and continues with Steve Free, Megan Cameron & Amethyst Stone, The Flex Crew, The Jarts, The Hot Point String Band, The Royales, and Woody Pines & the Lonesome Two.
Sunday starts up with the Boys of the Hock at noon, followed by the Back Porch Swing Band and The Billycats. Good fun. Camp out, yo!
Donkey Coffee
Troy Gregorino goes solo without his band the Jarts on Friday night. He has good Delta blues inclinations and is a genuine folky. Newcomers Nicole Conn and Charles Lee are also on the bill.
Saturday night offers an Action Committee Benefit. this group puts on DIY (Do It Yourself) shows all over town, usually in some basement somewhere — the true hardcore spirit! Performing for this event will be Arthur Killroad, Ones & Zeros and Guernica.
BW3
Jared Mahone brings his wayward band to BW3 Friday night. He has the kind of band that you wouldn’t expect at BW3, if you know what I mean. If you don’t, then just like, never mind.
Smiling Skull Saloon
Tonight and every Thursday you can take yourself or your band down to the Smiling Skull for an Open Stage hosted by Andie Walla
Saturday night White Heat will ply you with modern and classic rock covers for your dancing and drinking pleasure.
Wednesday nights you can groove to the karaoke stylings of Twin Towers. I can only let this karaoke stuff go on so long without comment. Beware!
Uncle Buck’s
Saturday night’s BBQ at Uncle Buck’s features the Blues Cowboys, which has as members people who have played with Jorma Kaukonen, Pure Prairie league and a variety of other roots-rockin’ bands. Tell em’ Junebug sent ya!
Sandstone - Logan
Saturday night, Steve Zarate continues to take advantage of the patio at the Sandstone. It is really nice. Good food and good music might just lure you out for a night on the town in Logan!
Stuart’s Opera House - Nelsonville
Stuart’s offers up an up-close-and-personal look and listen to the fascinating Malcolm Holcombe on Friday night. This Back Stage Show gets you near and dear to the performer — in this instance a true roots revivalist and explorer all in one. This intimate show is even more so than your average concert. It’s a great opportunity to check out someone you might not be able to afford in a couple of years.
Fur Peace Ranch
Joma’s place down in Meigs features the great Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks Friday night. That’s the good news. The bad news is that this legendary, swinging cat’s show is Sold Out. Darn.
I swear sometime soon I will stop being so — whatever it is I am being. I hope to be available and accessible in the near future. In the meantime — or the nicetime — I’ll see you at the gig!
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