Athens Music Scene (4-14-11)

I like to read when I eat. I know that Hagbard Celine advises against this in his missive, "Never Whistle While You're Pissing," but as usual, I read that while I was eating, so I figured I'd just continue on my way. Then recently, I thought, "Perhaps that is my problem," just continuing on my way.

I am actively trying to reprogram my brain. I have been napping too long, lulled into a false sense of oblivion that has left me feeling awkward and sitting in the weeds. It's a challenge. The donkey is slow and cranky, not easily prodded into action.

I am starting to feel my age. I watch my peers, many of us still that 15 year-old kid inside, suffering the indignities of bodily issues, or worse yet, falling prey to "mature thinking." That kind of stuff can get you into trouble.

I have finally begun to feel settled with my surroundings, after many years mentally abroad. I hadn't realized how ungrounded I had become. I find myself opening up and experimenting. Then one day, the songs came back.

It seems now that I have stopped moving for a minute, my muse has been able to locate me and has begun taking tentative steps toward reconciliation by sending me some songs to ponder. I couldn't be more pleased.

I'm figuring out that I learn differently now than in the past. It's been fun exploring this like it is new territory, which it is. It feels good to humble myself and face my ignorance as best I can.

So anyway, the other day, whilst eating breakfast, I grabbed "Hallucinations of Grandeur" by Henry Rollins off the shelf. I bought this book when I was in high school and haven't read it since.

It's a tour diary, a somewhat fascinating account of Rollins' life with the (totally awesome) band Black Flag. Over the course of the day I read the whole book. That got me fired up and helped rouse my inner 15-year-old. I listened to as much Black Flag as I could find and supplemented it with Bad Brains, Gone, Dead Kennedys, Cro-Mags, Agnostic Front, Reagan Youth and whatever else I could dig up. This dovetailed nicely with a lot of the music I've been playing, and I feel I have tumbled into a new groove. About time. We'll see how this pans out.

I'll close with another piece of advice from Hagbard Celine, one that I have always taken to heart: "Think for yourself, schmuck." Much love.

Casa Cantina

Two years in the making and Brick City Records is finally ready to release their new compilation "Sounds for the City." This offering features music from 12 bands, some of which will perform at two shows this weekend. The first show is free and happens tonight at the Casa Cantina. Earwig rocks it with emotion and great support from Mindfish and In Silent Movies. Proceeds from the CD go to benefit the Gathering Place.

Duke Junior & the Smokey Boots are back and in fine, bluesy form on Friday night. Joining them for a full night of fine music is Yakuza Heart Attack (video game music on crack) and Human Cannonball, a band that features SEE's Jesse Remnant.

Saturday night the Casa Cantina will turn into a European Discotheque.

Monday I need to alert you to the fact that the fine man who is Pokey LaFarge and his band, The South City Three will be back at the Casa Cantina to perform their riverboat soul music for you. He has new music out on Jack White's Third Man label and is a natty dresser. I can't say enough good things about the fella. Stop in and give a listen. Rattletrap amend their regular old-timey gig a bit to take part in the fun.

Jackie O's

The Paranormals do their part to support Steve Patterson, in his bid to become an at-large member of Athens City Council, tonight from 6-8 in the Brewery of Jackie O's. Come meet the candidate and listen to some tunes. Free.

Later tonight in the Brewery, Joey Hebdo is back to perform his haunting, melodic music along with my favorite one-man band, Smokestack & the Foothill Fury. Smokey plays a grinding country-blues with an interesting rig to perform it with. The Paranormals might stick around for another set's worth of tunes for this free show as well.

Broken Ring is throwing a Darius Rucker post-show party at Jackie O's in the Brewery on Friday night. Their glistening Americana will complement the evening's fare, and those Buffoons of Bluegrass, those Court Street Jesters, the Paranormals, will yuk it up at 10 p.m.

Any Colour (formerly Any Colour You Like) are playing a night's worth of Pink Floyd in the Public House on Friday night. These folks are awesome. They go all in and all out to make this a really cool experience, and the music is spectacular!

Eric Sommer is back in the Brewery of Jackie O's on Saturday night. This itinerant bluesman makes his rounds around the country, sweating the blues to all that will listen. He's got a lot of guitars, and he's not afraid to use them!

BuzzUniverse head down from their Elizabeth, N.J., home to get their groove on in the Public House Saturday night. Theirs is a more organic, laid-back kind of jam that might appeal to Voodoo Birds and Grateful Dead fans more so than some of the frenetic and electronic-leaning jam bands that are becoming popular of late.

The Old Tire Swingers are swinging their way through old-timey and bluegrass influenced originals and found tunes, and they are wending their way through Athens on Sunday night to keep Corbie company at Jackie O's (probably in the Public House).

The Werks spend their favorite holiday, 4-20, at Jackie O's on Wednesday in the Public House. That said, it is time for my annual 420 greeting card poem:

Four-Twenty sure has some perks,

People are cool, not jerks,

They don't go to seed,

they sample their weed,

and then they go check out the Werks.

The Union

My recent hunger for loud rock and roll will be thoroughly sated this weekend when the 16th annual Blackoutfest takes place at the Union, Thursday through Saturday. This fest pulls them in from all over the place and is well known on the underground music circuit.

Tonight Blackoutfest begins at 6:30 with Zapano and will be followed by Mindfish, Seascapes, She Bears, Feral, Valleyboys, Fergus & Geronimo and White Mystery, and will be headlined by the super-fine Times New Viking.

Blackoutfest lights it up Friday with Buffalo Killers as the headliner. Good choice. Leading up to that peak are a number of bands that may pique your interest. Let's take a peek. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. you can hear Supertape, Spooktober, Mr. Free & the Satellite Freakout, Weird Science, Chickenpussy, Gardens, Guinea Worms, and the way-out Psychedelic Horseshit.

Still standing? OK! Saturday's installment of Blackoutfest begins at 4:30 p.m. with Nurser, followed by Amish Electric Chair, Skumplast, Revulvas, Johnny Ill Band, the Urns, Angel Sluts, Hexnet, Whale Zombie, Greg Ashley Band and Terrible Twos culminating in a Cheap Time good time. Advance tickets are available at Haffa's. Keep in mind, Blackoutfest is old enough to drive, so stay off of the streets this weekend!

Fur Peace Ranch

The Fur Peace Ranch has a special Sunday show this weekend with Jorma Kaukonen, Happy Traum and Larry Campbell w/ Teresa Williams all performing beautiful acoustic music from fingerpicked blues to simple folk. Campbell recently finished producing the new Hot Tuna album, so keep your ears peeled for that. Tickets for this show are available at Haffa's and Blue Eagle.

Smiling Skull

The Fayble Family Band is back with their energetic, spacy, vocal-rich music at the Skull on Friday night. I have enjoyed watching these folks unfold musically. Emily & the Complexes is a one-man act from Cincy that writes and plays sedate, thoughtful tunes. The Good Fight (W.Va.), who looks to be headlining the night, are a big-sounding trio that rocks it like a pipe organ with all the stops wide open.

Brick City Records is celebrating the release of their new compilation , "Sounds for the City," this weekend, and Saturday's show, the second of two, will feature the hip-hop stylings of Jan P and Pandaz.

Donkey Coffee

At 6:30 on Friday evening you can hear some great "a cappella" music at the Donkey via Ohio University's Women's Chorale, Section 8 & and Title IX. I'm sure this will be great.

Later on Friday you can give a listen to The Easy Winners, a band whose namesake Scott Joplin song eclipses any effort to learn much about them on the web, unless it is actually telling us something about them. Hmmm. Zach Parkman is a fine singer/songwriter and with his band, The Damaged Goods, he tells a wide array of stories from his experiences in the world abroad.

The Suffering Moses Blues Band tones it down a bit for their Donkey performance on Saturday night. This band, in full flower, reminds me a lot of the Voodoo Birds (I know, two references in one article, but it's true, I have a limited frame of reference). Good grooves, horns and whatnot. Wild Honey Pie will open the night with their trans-Atlantic musical entwinement.

Court Street Grill

Broken Ring returns to the Court Street Grill on Saturday night to let loose with some good ol' alt.country fun, replete with a female vocalist. These folks have been tightening it up for a while, so check 'em out again.

Uncle Bucks

The Blues Cowboys are back at their job of being the house band (barn band?) for Uncle Buck's on Saturday night. You can often get other music out of them than what their name implies. 8 p.m. (plus great BBQ if you want it).

OU Inn - Cutler's

Steve Zarate will perform instrumental music while you dine Saturday evening from 6-8 at Cutler's in the OU Inn.

Salaam

Dave "Bubba" Borowski is back at Salaam Sunday evening (6:30), playing guitar and singing songs with that booming baritone of his. Mark Burhans will join in and play along on the bass.

Memorial Auditorium

Darius Rucker's first country album debuted at number one. So did his second. This is pretty incredible, especially when you count up the number of chart-topping singles he's released. What's even stranger is that not many years ago he was the front man for Hootie & the Blowfish. It's an odd world. I'm glad to know that there is a second chance out there for all of us. Rucker brings his country crooning self to Memorial Auditorium on Friday night. Tickets available at the box office.

It's spring, people! Act like it! Go hear some live music and I can assure you that I'll see you at the gig.