Athens Music Scene (10-01-09)

As the leaves fall, they are joined by a somber little fruit, peachy-orange with heart-shaped seeds that possess predictive powers. I speak of the persimmon. My dogs love them. Seriously.

We were going for my customary drag through the woods when the hounds stumbled upon an exciting scent. I thought certain it was some fascinating animal leftovers - the coyotes have been very attentive to our neighborhood as of late. Finally, Bitty scored. She tentatively grabbed a pithy persimmon, spit it out, picked it up, spit it out, etc., until nothing but pulp remained. I was amused, but the dogs were aroused.

I am certain that we have found almost every persimmon tree within five square miles. They eat them whole now. It's a game we play. The humans try to spot and grab the persimmons before the dogs get them. Great fun, I suppose.

What these dogs don't understand is that they are a bit ahead of the curve, seasonally. These astringent little cherry tomato-sized fruits don't really get good until they freeze a few times. Then they get dreamy and creamy. It appears to be a good year for persimmons. I did some research and found out a few things.

People are nervous about dogs eating persimmons. Since they're not made of meat, I think it unnerves our omnivorous tendencies to think that they might be honing into our link of the food chain. Maybe not. The seeds are the source of worry as they cause blockage in certain critters. I can say, after careful observation, there will be some well-fertilized persimmon seedlings growing in our woods come spring.

Did you know the persimmon tree is in the ebony family? Me neither. Interesting fact: Originally, Paul McCartney had an idea for a song "Persimmon & Ivory" but he couldn't find a celebrity with jaundice who would sing with him.

Persimmon pits are purported to present proper forecasts for upcoming winters. Split long-ways they reveal their epicotyl. This gem of a germ is said to look like a fork, a spoon, or a knife. If spoon-shaped, we are in for a winter filled with wet, heavy snow - lots of shoveling. The fork suggests a more mild winter with light, fluffy snow. The knife denotes a cold, cutting winter. My own forays into divination yielded inconclusive results. I will persist and report.

Golfers will know the value of persimmon wood for golf club heads, pool sharks will know its trueness as a cue, and bluegrassholes will invariably know a tune about a pesky raccoon up in a 'simmon tree. I have a song of my own in the works.

I am always thankful when nature offers up new insights and wonders. Thankfully, as long as I am paying attention, there will always be something worth learning. Hopefully, that attention spans.

Casa Cantina

Tonight is an art opening at the Casa Nueva. That usually entails food, music and fine art.

Friday night the Spikedrivers return to Athens to rock the house with their racing-fueled alt.country stomping music. Great stuff.

Woody Pines returns to the Casa Cantina Saturday night with his ragtime, country-blues ensemble. Woody is always a good time. If you haven't checked him out yet, I Wood soon. Ahem.

Jackie O's

The Werks get their funknacious jams together at Jackie O's tonight, possibly in the annex.

Circle K whips things into a frothy cream on Friday night. Graveyard Shift adds their country drawl (drool?) to the evening's entertainment.

Joey Hebdo will celebrate the release of his new album, "Prosciutto," at Jackie O's on Saturday night. The Paranormals are the new normal, and Corbin Marsh has a really fascinating resonator guitar. Angus Young is making him offers. I will do my best to make this happen in the the new room at Jackie O's, affectionately know as the Annex.

The Union

ACRN is having a Web site re-launch event at the Union tonight. It will be a dance party with lots of giveaways.

Uh-oh! It's Lou's Birthday Bash Friday night, and my liver's a-quiver. Milwaukee's Jail brings their "lo-brow pop" into play as they tour their way across the country. Dropdead Sons and Wheels on Fire make this a night you will try to remember. Happy Birthday, Lou!

Saturday night, Dance or Die returns to the Union to make young people boogie like it's 1999.

Tuesday brings us an interesting show when TV Ghost hits town. This lurid freak show of a band sets out to defile and succeeds, especially when wallowing in their own decrepitude, dude. Gotta see it to hear it. Wizzard Sleeve acknowledges that "confederate glue-goth tard-wave" is not a genre likely to appear in great proliferation, but they're sticking to their guns knowing that it describes them best. Best in a field of one is still best. Good and greasy. Spooktember, the newest Spooktober tribute band to hit the streets, will perform, as will Slaughterhog, the newest metal super group in town.

Wednesday night the Hip Hop Shop is open for business as unusual.

Salaam

The Jazztet brings finesse and panache to the Salaam 6-8 Sunday night for the weekly jazz series. Expect great things and great food, early evening-ish!

Donkey Coffee

Open Stage is what happens every Thursday. That's tonight. Sign up early at the counter, like yesterday.

Friday night you can check out the Beatles' movie "A Hard Day's Night." He's very clean.

Saturday you can invest your musical capital into Teddy Humpert and Tim Race, frontmen for two of the more interesting and almost defunct bands to run the Athens circuit (Kaslo and Russenorsk, respectively). Get it while you can.

19 South

Yellow Light Maybe used to be 2 EB. It makes the brain spin, no? They will be at 19 South on Friday night with the Sufferin' Moses Blues Band - take your shoes off, this is holy ground! The SMBB takes up members of the Jazz Cream Assassins, Hennigan and other crews, and gives them work. Check out their stimulus packages!

Saturday night Brick City Records teams up with Speakeasy magazine to put on a diverse rock and roll show featuring the Wallabeez (with new singer Lyn Smith), Mindfish and iPhonic.

Smiling Skull

Ben Wagner -- Butch -- from the Squeaky Chairs Band will host the Open Stage tonight.

Saturday night you can celebrate We March's 10-year anniversary at the Smiling Skull -- a great place to see them, by the way. Congrats, guys! The Cutter Family and Necropolis help to fill out this mayhem-fueled night.

Court St. Grill - Pomeroy

The Jon Justice Band brings their Queen City blues to bear up the river at the Court Steet Grill on Friday night in Pomeroy; fresh and funky.

Uncle Buck's - New Marshfield-ish

Uncle Buck's Bluegrass BBQ takes place Saturday at the Dance Barn. Bluegrass stars the Rarely Herd and friends will perform, as will the great Columbus singer-songwriter Donna Magavero. All kinds of food and fun await. Go ride a horse and listen to live music!

Rhapsody

Steve Zarate has designs while you dine. He aims to please your ears while the chefs get all gastronomical on you. This will start at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Union Hall Theater - Chesterhill

The fourth annual Chesterhill Harvest Festival will take place Saturday in downtown Chesterhill beginning at 9 a.m. Yikes! John Wetzel will kick things off at that unholy hour, and in some particular order you will hear throughout the day the musics of Blackwater Run, the Paranormals, Aaron "The Kid" Heindel, Angela Perley, Corbin Marsh, Zach Parkman and Leah Nairn. There will be a main stage and a log-cabin environment that you can utilize to your listening content.

At 7 p.m. in the Union Hall Theater itself you can check out the Ohio Valley Opry, a group that usually operates out of the McConnelsville Opry House. This will kick off (or continue) their First Saturday series. These folks put on an old-fashioned variety show. It's cool. This go-round will feature the Conners out of Sutton, W.Va. That's a good day in Chesterhill.

Federal Valley Resource Center - Stewart

Saturday night you can thrill to the multi-ethnic sounds of Jerry Rockwell's dulcimers. Mindy King will add her delightful voice, and the fall concert season is well under way. This takes place at the old middle school in Stewart. It's a great space to hear some great music.

If that's not enough live music for you, then I have some work for you. Contact me with updates, news and whatnot at athens.music.scene@gmail.com. Giggity!