Athens Music Scene

I feel like I should do one of those introductory articles that inform all the new folks what they can expect in this column during their stay as my reader.

It's probably more appropriate than ranging off on some rambling rant that takes up more column space than it's worth. I'm still undecided at this point which way I'll go. Curious? Meet me at the next paragraph.

So it seems that another school year has started. I left town for the weekend and came back to utter drunken madness. Well, while folks were partying it up, people were casing their joints. I heard that a string of thefts has occurred in the uptown area. Apparently, folks have been going into parties dressed in a casual, student-like manner, waiting till individuals got drunk, and then stealing a bunch of stuff. They even bum-rushed the Import House, broke the window and grabbed some loot - wearing bandanas over their faces and using special tools! I'm glad we can dispel those warm, fuzzy feelings that go along with the start of a new school year right off of the bat. Watch your stuff. Jerks are about!

It's nice to see a full in-box again. The summer's e-mails were pretty thin. If you have an event of a musical nature within your purview to report, then I am your guy and the e-mail you should use is: athens.music.scene@gmail.com. I believe it is printed right under my name in at least every other edition of this fine paper, generally Thursdays. If you want me to know about something, you should remember to send it to me while you're reading Monday's edition, meaning, preferably, on Monday.

A note to bands: Send me stuff about your band. I probably haven't seen you, or I haven't seen you in a long time, so I forget, and naturally, as you are all maturing and learning and getting better, and starting new bands, you would want me to be informed in the most up-to-date manner that we can muster. Send me a link, not a CD or a press packet - that is so 2000. It is real easy to set up a musical Myspace or Facebook page (or many other sites) and equally easy to put something informative on it for me to glean what's really special about your act and tell thousands of people about it for free. Do it, please. Your future and present fans and music columnists await.

Editor Smith really loves to place hi-res pictures in the paper; he think it makes the paper look sexy. I agree. His email is news@athensnews.com, so send your pictures to him as I am not as good at forwarding things to him as he is to me.

Don't forget to check out the online version of this column at www.athensnews.com. Editor Smith works his magic and adds pictures and links and videos. It's so very now and hip.

The musical summer laze that we have seen the past several weeks has snapped and everyone is hanging out a shingle! We got music coming out the grand wazoo and going in the band's wahoo! Er, something.

Casa Cantina

The Casa Cantina has a wide variety of entertainment each week, and you can start checking it out tonight when two excellent groups perform a free show.The Lewis Brothers and the Tillers are part of a new tradition in bluegrass and old-timey musical market. They each excel at good singing and good pickin'; energetic and fun. Give them a listen.

Dayton's Yakuza Heart Attack sounds like an old Atari game on King Crimson, or ELP on Mario Brothers doing "Night on Bald Mountain." If their live show resembles the recordings I have heard, wowzers! Delightfully weird and fun. They perform Friday night with our own prog-rockers Tribe of the Mountain. The Porters open the show with their ever-evolving bluesy groove.

Broken Ring brings their Americana-laden tunes to the Casa for an early free show on Saturday night, about 6:30. They've got a new bass player. Check 'em out.

Saturday night is the first installment of Open Doors Dance Night for the season.

Rattletrapplays for free every Monday night in the Cantina. They hang out and jam old-timey style.

Chris Biester is the host with the most for the Open Mic on Wednesday nights. No sign-ups necessary.

Jackie O's

Jackie O's is the only brew-pub in town and features a wide array of music throughout each week in two different rooms known as the Brewery (the small room in the old O'Hooley's/Graduate space) and the Public House (the big room, the new room, in the old Skipper's space).

Tonight you can catch Mic Harrison & the High Score giving you their roots rock and roll action in the Brewery. Harrison (V-Roys, Superdrag) is a good songwriter and he wears the band like a musical corset: tight, that is. They are celebrating the release of their new album, "Great Commotion." The Cur Dogs are the hard-rocking neighbors of Athens, Georgia's Drive-By Truckers; tough and gruff. They will open.

Waterbandbrings a grateful vibe to the Jackie O's Public House on Friday night with songs that frolic and foment funk and folk, with the occasional bit of naughty fun.

Brad Clark is one of the finest brewers around. He makes some great beer and is a true craftsman and adventurer. He has wrangled up a Barrel Aged Fest Saturday that will feature some crazy beers (with a bottle sale!) and some good music! The Paranormals (a duo that I pay in) will kick things off in the Public House right after the OSU-Miami late afternoon game, and the Joey Hebdo Trio will log some time before The Lennon Orchestra steps up to play a bunch of Beatles songs.

Eric Sommer, meanwhile, will get down and bluesy with you in the Brewery. Visit jackieos.com for more information.

Every Monday night, a guy who looks a lot like me hosts the Open Stage at Jackie O's.

Tuesday nights Jackie O's has one of the best Celtic jams this side of the Atlantic.

EP3returns to Jackie O's Public House on Wednesday to get you a dose of their top-fueled jams.

Smiling Skull

The Skull is getting their musical act together again for the fall season. Tonight ACRN hosts Night One of their Welcome Back Lobster event. The surf-rocking Whale Zombie takes the lead and is buoyed up by Blithe Field, an electronica duo, and Brothertiger, an electronica solo. The Professionalisms are a garage-pop duo that will open the night.

Saturday night Adam Albo joins Evan Harris & the Driftwood Motion for a night of musical meanderings and pointed pontifications.

Tuesday nights you can catch JJ Reed at the Skull being a host and jamming good.

Wednesday nights you can get your karaoke on with Beetle.

The Union

Fallout Fest happens tonight at the Union and features great sets from the Holly Grahams, Spooktober, the Snarlas, Skumplast and Magna Crag.

Friday night is night two of ACRN's Welcome Back Lobster event, an ACRN party. She Bears just returned from a nationwide tour and ought to be as snug as the bedbugs in that last cheap motel they stayed in. Scubadog features members of Kaslo and Southeast Engine and plays with a folky jive. Flotation Walls are more than just their matching jumpsuits; they are bizarre fun and mayhem.

Saturday night features the first Dance or Die event of this, the event's eighth year. This is a perennial favorite amongst dance partygoers.

UnionArts

UnionArts is a nice space downstairs where Haffa's used to live, 15 W. Union St. They have art shows, installations and the occasional rock show. Friday evening, filmmaker Bill Daniel, who made the great movie about the mythical Bozo Texino, is showing a new movie, "Sonic Orphans," which features lost and found music films from 1965 to 1987. Fittingly, The 65's will perform their fine and sassy music sometime thereafter.

Donkey Coffee

The Donkey has an Open Stage every Thursday night hosted by Troy Gregorino, unless I am mistaken. You can sign up anytime at the counter.

Friday night Donkey will show you a free movie, "The Making of Bruce Springsteen's 'Born to Run.'"

Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards might be better known for their work with the folk trio Accident That Led Me to the World, but they are out and about changing all of that, especially Saturday night at Donkey. Daniel Doyle is an odd duck who performs entertaining and surprising sets.

Court St. Grill - Pomeroy

The Court Street Grill in Pomeroy manages to pull in some of the best of the up-and-coming bands that are on the scene. A short trip down U.S. Rt. 33 on Friday gets you there in time to hear Steepwater, a Chicago band that gets it out in a manner that fans of the Black Crowes and Tom Petty would dig.

Dale Kulchar hosts the Open Stage at the Grill every Tuesday beginning at 8 p.m.

Uncle Buck's - New Marshfield

Want to ride a horse, eat some BBQ, drink a few beers and listen to some music in a laid-back country setting? Head New Marshfield-ways and go to Uncle Buck's on Saturday night where you can hear the reformed Peach Melba that features the talents of Bill Nunley, Morgan Washam, Brian Carney and Matt Simpkins, who will be sporting old favorites and new songs. The Blues Cowboys are also on tap to play.

OU Inn - Cutler's

Steve Zarate makes beautiful acoustic music Saturday evening while you dine at the Cutler's, the restaurant in the OU Inn.

Eclipse Company Store - the Plains

There will be a Hobo's Holiday Burlesque and Music Festival hosted by Athens' own Boxcar Burlesque Saturday at the Eclipse Company Store just off of the bike path near the Plains. You can ride your bike there - and get a discount at the gate - and check out Woody Pines, a band that should be backing up burlesque dancers if there ever was one. The Sundresses bring their fine rock and roll to bear upon the evening, jammed up by The Elbow Claps and Queen Bee & the Honey Don'ts. There will be a viewing of the film "Who is Bozo Texino" that is a must-see, as well as the old-timey fun of Rattletrap - who sounded great last week! Of course, the Boxcar Burlesque dancers will be there, along with their new calendar! Visit boxcarburlesque.com for more info.

Rhapsody - Nelsonville

Fine dining in Nelsonville? You bet! Fine music too! Dale Kulchar picks sans vocals for you Saturday evening during dinner.

Stuart's Opera House - Nelsonville

Stuart's summer outdoor concert series happens TONIGHT in the parking lot, not last week as was erroneously reported previously. This free concert features The Hot Seats (nee Special Ed & the Short Bus). These guys are a fun-filled group that takes all manner of string-band music, adds a touch of humor and sings you away with it. Great fun.

Red Brick Tavern

The Red Brick hits it heavy with DJs this quarter. Tonight is Retro Night with DJ C "Upstairs on the Largest Dance Floor in Athens," and DJ Quillen downstairs in the Bull Pen.

DJ C is back at it Friday night UotLDFiA. DJ Huff Daddy takes his turn in the Bull Pen.

DJ Brad swings it topside on Saturday night and DJ Huff Daddy Bull Pens it.

Fur Peace Ranch - Darwin

The Fur Peace Ranch is hosting a Bluegrass & BBQ benefit for the Red Cross as well as having an Open House on Saturday evening. You can show up at 6 p.m. and tour the Ranch, and at 8 you can settle in for the Infamous Stringdusters, one of the best and most creative bluegrass bands out and about. They really are mind-blowingly good and appeal to traditionalists and newgrassers alike. All that and BBQ too! (Check out the separate story in this issue of the paper.)

Well folks, until you send me more stuff to write about, I'm just going to switch off and sit in the corner for a while and then go hear some bands. Giggity!