Athens Music Scene (4-7-11)

I saw some great April Fool's jokes last week. Like when the bar crowd actually listened to Ernie Hendrickson's set at Jackie O's last week. Boy, they got him good. He was totally freaked out. He even asked them if everything was all right. I almost cried.

Later that night, the Corbin Marsh Band played a joke on their guitarist. They began a song purposefully in the wrong key to confuse him, blamed Mike for the screw up, and then stormed off the stage in disgust. Everyone in the bar was a bit taken aback and Flynn was beside himself, but Corbin came back and everyone was relieved. A bit over the top, but funny in the end.

The biggest joke last week (and beyond) continues to be the federal government, specifically Congress. I know that it was designed to not work, but I think their perfecting of this art has come to absurd conclusions.

That they (congresspeople) can stand in front of cameras and microphones declaring that they must cut spending and cut it deep (meaning to rid the government of many social programs, health care and educational funding) while maintaining two wars (and starting another) that have thus far cost the U.S.A. into the trillions of dollars, well, it just blows my mind. It simply must be a joke.

If the government shuts down, does that mean our armies can pack up and come home?

The state governments have taken up the corporate banner and are continuing to chip away at the middle class. You must realize, you stupid, bought corporate puppets, that someday, when there is no one left, they will come for you too.

Fringe Florida minister Terry Jones pulled a great April Fool's joke on the nation of Islam when he held a mock trial for "the Koran," with Jones serving as magistrate. He found it guilty, and as "the Koran" had poor representation, it was found guilty and burned, which is the usual punishment for heresy in Florida. What happened to "Luke 6:37" there, buddy? The joke was on Jones, though; Muslims in Afghanistan thought it was a riot and died laughing. Oh, no wait, I mean, they had a riot and 20 people died, no laughing matter. There will be more burning in his future, that's my bet.

As a telecommuter, I was wondering if I can be accused of phoning it in. Aargh! Lots of good music to join the better weather

Casa Cantina

Whale Zombie will bring its gothic surf music to the Casa Cantina tonight. The excellent but hard-to-Google Sport Fishing USA brings great songwriting into line with a strong live performance. Vug keeps alive Columbus' long-running history of country-tinged pop rock bands: Greenhorn for a new age. Ghost Shirt crafts grandiose, dynamic music featuring nice string arrangements with boy/girl pop motifs. A very nice night of music.

The Royales make their triumphant return on Friday night. Those "funkin' kings of rock and soul" have been on a live show hiatus for the last several months working up lots of new material. I can't wait to hear what they have in store for us. Jess & Kyle of Duke Jr. fame (aka two Smokey Boots) will open the evening.

The Coolvile Hotclub perform their jumping Django-jazz Saturday evening at 6:30 for another fun and fabulous free show at the Casa Cantina.

There will be an Open Doors Dance Night on Saturday.

Jackie O's

Tonight starts the month-long odyssey that is "Thursdays with Joey Hebdo." Each Thursday in the Brewery, Joey will team up with another group for an informal musical discussion that gets multiple sets from all concerned. Tonight's show features JoDo along with Kentucky's Lost River Cavemen, a group whose energetic acoustic music utilizes tight arrangements and fine singing.

There will be a Halfway to Halloween Benefit for the Clean & Safe Halloween Committee at Jackie O's on Friday night. No matter which room you choose, you will help make this fall's Block Party happen. DJ B-Funk and DJ Time Traveler of Dave Rave take over the Public House with laser lights and door prizes. First Street Heat rears back and funks it up along with Canton's PJ & the Whistlers.

Elemental Groove Theory continue their regional jam-funk assault Saturday night in Jackie O's Public House. Great energy flows forth from these folks with every song.

Fox 'n Hounds are back swinging bluegrass in Jackie O's Brewery on Saturday night. This Columbus crew is replete with excellent pickers and is led by Stephen Fox from the Spikedrivers.

Comedy Night returns to Jackie O's next Wednesday, so be sure to go have a laugh or two. I've been very impressed by the events I have attended.

The Union

Tonight, the Hip-Hop Shop returns to the Union with DJs, spoken word and MC jams. This show is brought to you by the OU Hip Hop Congress.

ACRN hosts its Anniversary Party on Friday night with a slew of bands. Featured acts include Whale Zombie, Scubadog, In Silent Movies and the D-Rays.

Dave Rave is back at the Union on Saturday night for the first of many huge dance parties this quarter.

Kennedy Museum of Art - the Ridges

The New Music Ensemble is having a set of a cool, interactive performances that will accompany (and complement) the exhibition "Phantoms: Shadows and Phenomena" at the Kennedy Museum of Art at the Ridges tonight at 7:30. Among other compositions there will be the world premiere of a piece from OU graduate student Ian Frederick. Guest director Steven Huang will join NME director Andrew Traschel, violinist Christina McGann and the rest of the NME in creating a variety of musical environments for you to enjoy. Sounds pretty great to me, even better that it is free.

Smiling Skull

An ACRN Night is on tap tonight at the Skull with a generous smattering of bands including Cop Hugger (positive hardcore), Vagrant Beat (reverbed angel band) and The Bummers.

Joe Walla's Birthday Bash happens Friday night and his band, the Fireside Chats (easygoing indie-pop), will perform along with Dayton's The Orphan, The Poet (heavy-guitar pop assault) and our own Flow Town Four (Dave Mathews-y, Beatlesque pop).

Backwords returns to the Skull Saturday night to rock out classically with a solid catalogue of old-fashioned rock and roll. Their bladder-busting sets are the stuff of legends.

Donkey Coffee

George Worthmore has had a musical career that most of us only dream about. He has performed with Bo Diddley, Ace Frehley, Ben E. King, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, even local faves Hot Tuna, just to name a few. He is out touring on his new album, "the Ridiculous and the Sublime," and his show Friday night at the Donkey will feature a mix of ragtime and blues with a bit of Bach to class(ical) things up a bit. Local country-blues picker Corbin Marsh will open the night.

An International Student Union Talent Night is set for Saturday, an event where a person might presume to find international students showing their talents. Yup.

Court St. Grill

Bobaflex is back to shred the Grill on Friday night. These guys are known for their anthemic doom metal far and wide, but they like to keep things close to home once in awhile.

The Gas House Gorillas just might be "God's favorite rhythm & blues band," as their website proclaims. These guys are a bundle of fun you might have noticed them at last year's Big Bend Blues Bash swinging from the rockabilly trees with blues as sweet as they are salty; horns, great guitars, incredible energy. They will bring down the house at the Grill on Saturday night.

Stuart's Opera House

Are you in the mood for some good, traditional bluegrass? Look no further than Stuart's Opera House on Saturday night. The Hart Brothers and Northwest Territory have been entertaining audiences across our region for many years and are as true to their craft as any you'll find. The show begins at 8 p.m.

Fur Peace Station

The Fur Peace Ranch offers up another sold-out Hot Tuna Acoustic concert this Saturday. If you're lucky enough to have snagged a ticket while they were still available, you're in for a treat. The Fur Peace still has seats for upcoming shows, including FPR proprietor Jorma Kaukonen, Happy Traum, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams on April 17, Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks on May 14, and country singer Suzy Bogguss on May 21.

Abrio's Brick Oven

Not quite a mile from its namesake road, McGuffey Lane returns to Athens for a weekend of music. To warm up, you can listen to Terry Efaw & Larnay Zeller Friday evening from 6-8, as they play on the patio.

McGuffey Lane returns full force to Abrio's Saturday night. These guys have been around for a long time and have the country-rock thing in the pocket. Good stuff. Openers the Jonalee White Trio is an all-woman outfit from Columbus making a splash in the international country music scene. With videos on CMT, tours with the USO, and appearances at seemingly every Major or Minor League baseball game in the state, we here at AMS HQ are rooting for this hard working crew.

Don't forget to check out all of the regularly scheduled music that happens on a weekly basis in the "What's Happening" section of this fine paper. Sometimes I don't have the time to shower love on those hardworking musicians. That's all I have for this week, so I'll see you at the gigs!