Your Weekly Show Picks

Wednesday - 9/30

40 Watt
Colour Revolt
Bambara (We like them a lot)
Twin Tigers

Go Bar
Abbanna Lebon (Pieces of our buddies Fashion Knee High)
Daniel Francis Doyle
Memory Gospel Dancers (Yet another Jeff Tobias Project)

Thursday - 10/1

Square One Fish Co.
Lefty Williams

Farm 255
Kinky Waikiki (exactly how it sounds)


Friday - 10/2

The Classic Center
B.B. King (Yes. THE B.B. King)

The Melting Point
Rack of Spam


Saturday - 10/3

Gnat's Landing
Leaving Countries

Sanford Stadium
The University of Georgia Redcoat Marching Band


Monday -10/5

Ashford Manor
Lera Lynn
Packway Handle Band

Tasty World
Richard Sherfey and All God's Children
Mr. Falcon
Middle Distance Runner (From D.C., woah)
Farewell Flight


Tuesday -10/6

Georgia Dome, Atlanta
U2
AMJ goes to ATL to see U2.

Wayne Sawyer (Updated)

Blow after blow. News comes from the Widespread Panic camp today that Wayne Sawyer died in his sleep last night. Wayne worked with Panic for a number of years and was a great friend to many in the Athens music community.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his daughter and wife and all of his friends in the Panic community.
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Memorial Services will be held Saturday October 3, at 2 pm at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta (3098 St. Annes Lane NW Atlanta, GA 30327). There will be a gathering following the service at Martha Temple's house (303 Wilton Drive Decatur, GA).

In lieu of flowers Shannon and the Sawyer family are asking friends to please make donations, in Wayne’s honor, to The Michael Houser Music Fund (www.housertribute.com).

Jon Guthrie (Updated)

Sad news in Athens today. We have lost one of our own and at too young an age. The body of Jon Guthrie was found today inside his wrecked car on Beaverdam Road. Reports say it appears that he lost control of the vehicle while crossing over a bridge.

Jon was an incredible musician in several bands around town which included the Vigilantes of Love and Love Tractor. He performed alongside his father and uncle in the Michael Guthrie Band.

News of Jon's disappearance spread like wildfire on social networks, spearheaded by friends and family determined to find him. He was last seen on Sunday morning leaving RPM at around 1 a.m. and news of his death has left us all stunned.

All of our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends at this time. Any further announcements will be posted here as we are updated.
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Memorial services for Jon Guthrie scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 4 at 3 p.m. at the Salvation Worship and Service Center (784 N. Chase Street)

Sun o))) Did WHAT?!

Photo by Candice Jones

I'll go ahead and say that I have no clue who Sun o))) is, only that some of my friends have been screaming into my ears about the band since they found out Athens dates. Provided, I've been doing the same thing about the Minus 5 (TONIGHT! 40 WATT!!), but the venue choice is a little odd. Of course I'm interested now.

Remember Seney-Stovall Chapel? That little place next to the Varsity, from Athens Ga: Inside, Out, where R.E.M. recorded some of Accelerate? That little church place? Yeah, someone thought it would be a great idea to host a metal show there. It's not a great idea. It's brilliant! Who would've thunk?

Sun o))) played last night and will play again tonight but here's hoping that they don't accidently almost set the place on fire again. Truth be told, it was just a fog machine. It set off the smoke detectors and made all the alarms go off for a bit. We've been assured it won't happen again but if it does, it just fits the mood right?

So if you're not going to the Minus 5/Baseball Project/Steve Wynn I.V. supercluster o' talent, you may want to check out the eerie looking outside of the chapel.

It's Not an Arch. It's a Wall.

For some reason, this week has been one example after another about how separate the UGA campus is from the rest of Athens. There's always been a tiny flow between the two but maybe I'm just now aware of how dammed up that stream is.

Let's face it. There are kids who are just here for 4 (or 5, or 6) years because they have to be. A band might play their frat/sorority party, an older brother might have once met someone famous in a bar, but there's no real interaction with anything outside of UGA. And why would there be? They didn't come here for the music.

Then there are those who came strictly for the music. The type that you'll find at every show from the minute they set their bags down on the mattress in Creswell. It's their dream to be in a band. They've known of the 40 Watt since birth and can quote Neutral Milk Hotel lyrics backwards. In Spanish.

Then there's the kids like me. I went to UGA with one goal in mind: get a degree in Journalism. But I was open to trying new things. I joined a few clubs here and there but I had been fortunate enough to know Derek and Kat Lewis. They showed me WUOG. Then Jason Gore and Nic Goodson showed me Downtown. I had a map. Sure, it was missing a compass and key but it was enough to get me interested in the town.

So why am I still just shocked that someone wouldn't know that R.E.M. and the B-52s are from here? Or that they would never even consider venturing downtown to hear some band? I tried to remember what I had been told about the town during Freshman Orientation. They did play "Love Shack" once. But as for any history beyond the UGA archway? Not a whole lot.

Now, I'm not saying that the University goes out of its way to keep kids from venues. Far from it. But ask any freshman not wearing All-Stars where the Caledonia is and you're likely to get a blank stare. Maybe he cares, maybe not. But for some reason, I bumped into about 8 different people on campus in the past three days that had no clue about the music scene.

Yes, provided my idea of a clue about the music scene is knowing who Pylon is but I'm talking basic "there's entertainment out there" stuff. How can we get more people to start crossing that border? Like it or not, UGA and Athens depend on each other. If one goes, the other is likely to head down with it.

There's really two main problems here. First: Athens scenesters not caring about what happens on campus. Second: UGA students being unaware of Athenian events.

Yes, I know that once you've graduated, there's little reason to even step back on campus anymore. But with the passing of Fred Mills, some began to realize that not everything on UGA grounds is geared towards students. Mills was known world-wide as someone in the top of his field. As a musician!

The University has concerts constantly on East Campus. They're mostly classical in nature but it's high quality. Why not go?

On the other side of the Arch, there's the general lack of an Athens Orientation. I only wish someone had told me that "Doors at 9:00" does not mean "Band at 9:00". Or that you can get some food from downtown places for free on your birthday! Or where the 40 Watt was in relation to campus. Or that having "The One I Love" as your ringtone will get a few stares...

Athens music depends on new people coming in to keep it fresh with ideas and fans that may be able to pay for merch. Students need to be aware of the scene because they may one day be staying here.

One of the main reasons we were told that WUOG had to move from the fifth floor of Memorial Hall was that it was too isolated. No one knew about it other than those of us who had been shown by friends or siblings. So when we picked up shop and moved to the Tate Center, they put in a lot of windows and said "Here! You're visible now!"

I'm hoping that stuff like that, Flagpole circulation on campus, and events like the UGA FRESHMAN NIGHT that happened on Thursday will get some people through the Arch. Both ways. The Arch shouldn't be used as a wall to keep some people in and others out. It's a gate. Even if we like to walk around it.

Funny Friday

Okay, so these may or may not be funny depending on your sense of humor or lack of sleep. I'm always on the lookout for Athens jokes so here's a few I collected via Twitter.

Local High Schooler Discovers New Athens Band!

How does Dark Meat, Supercluster, and Dead Confederate all get on the same bus?
They "Pylon"


What's Athens favorite comedy troupe?
Monty "Pylon"


Knock Knock.
Who's there?
Wendy
Wendy who?
Wendy world, is a monster, bad to swallow you whole..


Where does Of Montreal keep their money?
"Out Back!"


Brief history about that one, the "Let's Go Outback Tonight" commercial features music by of Montreal. They caught hell for doing that but I'm pretty sure it helped fund the next record so I'm cool with it. You can check out the video right here. Directed by the Buddy System's Lauren & Craig.

BEST. INTERVIEW. EVER.

Athens Time Stamp: A Ziona Post

By Ziona Kocher


DISCLAIMER: Jordan Stepp, the amazing head of AthensMusicJunkie, is referred to as the Bosslady/Boss throughout this piece. I do this to annoy her. Nearly all descriptions of her cruelty have been exaggerated (except for the Glare 'o' Death. That thing is scary). While she does often tease, she's one of my best friends, and any cruelty is completely deserved and most definitely reciprocated.

09/18/09 3:30 PM Walking back to my dorm after class, going over a mental checklist for my trip. I had checked into my flight, printed my boarding pass, packed everything I needed, and was dealing with that annoying nagging feeling that I had forgotten something crucial. My roommate keeps on telling me that I need to chill out.

09/18/09 4:30 PM At the Sarasota airport two hours before my flight leaves. My nerves led me to arrive unnecessarily early, as the Sarasota airport is tiny and the security checkpoint was bare when I passed through. Find my gate and sit down, realizing I am one of the only people there who doesn't work for an airline.

09/18/09 4:35 PM Thank goodness for free Wi-Fi. The Sarasota airport is insanely boring, and the music they play is eclectic to say the least. “Mrs. Robinson” is followed by “Stop! In The Name Of Love” which is followed by “Beat It.” Wait, what? I log onto Facebook to discover that the time for Leading Edge at Farm 255 has finally been finalized...or so Matt claims. I inform the few people I am supposed to meet and try to distract myself from the fact that I really do not enjoy flying.

09/18/09 6:30 PM After killing the better part of two hours wandering the internet aimlessly on my iPod, I'm on the plane. We aren't allowed to have electronic devices turned on for some reason I have never understood, so I am listening to the free XM Radio they provide, flipping between Classic Vinyl and 80s on 8. Thrilling.

09/18/09 6:45 PM Finally I can listen to my own music. I put on a few songs by Leading Edge in preparation for the show later before putting the Indigo Girls on shuffle. I was more than a little amused when “Airplane” came up. I try to ignore the woman sitting in the next seat over who had already tried to engage me in conversation twice. Sorry, I just don't like small talk.

09/18/09 7:30 PM Have to turn off electronics again. Back to Classic Vinyl on XM. Rejoice briefly when I hear the Rolling Stones, then mourn the fact that the song is about to end. It's followed by an annoying commercial. Why oh why?

09/18/09 7:50 PM Back on the ground. Huge sigh of relief. The flight wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting, and the evening could only go uphill from here.

09/18/09 8:10 PM The Atlanta airport is insane. Scariest. Escalator. Ever. The tram was fun though.

09/18/09 8:30 PM On the way to Athens. FINALLY. We had managed to escape Atlanta without ending up in a car crash, something that I am always grateful for. Listening to even more Indigo Girls at the request of the parentals (not that I'm complaining).

09/18/09 9:30 PM Pizza was acquired in Lawrenceville, and after some brief confusion we were continuing on to Athens. “Chickenman” is played, as always, for the line “On the road to Athens,” and as we pass Winder, I put on “Hot Corner” (I-I-I'm lookin' for some fun/Waitin' for the bus from Winder to come). As soon as we hit the Atlanta Highway, “Love Shack” is turned on at an obnoxious level. Oh, road trip traditions...

09/18/09 10:30 PM Finally in Athens. As we check into the hotel, I call the Bosslady to find out the plans for the evening. I wake her up from a nap, and we participate in a brief, though witty, conversation, deciding to meet at Farm when we've both cleaned up a bit. I'm looking forward to it, despite the fact that our meetings always end with her being mean to me.
09/18/09 11:00 PM Manage to find the Bosslady at Farm quite easily. A brief hug and the abuse began. It was only worsened by my parents fondness for her and their willingness to join in. Luckily, my friend Rosalie, with what seemed like 15 of her new friends from UGA, showed up a few minutes later, and I was briefly safe from the cruel remarks that had been plaguing me. The show started, and the Boss and I hung to the back. We apparently looked adorable, leaning on the wall with our arms crossed and looking both pensive and vaguely amused.

09/18/09 11:45 PM The brief (but incredibly awesome) set by Leading Edge was over, and we headed over to congratulate/harass Matt. He seemed rather pleased with the turnout, and I demanded a commission for the number of people I had convinced to come. However, it had been a free show, so I felt a bit guilty. Next time, though...

09/18/09 11:50 PM The “Let's Be Mean To Ziona” game resumes as the Bosslady and I rejoin my parents, and it escalates as my phone is passed around the table so everyone can make fun of the pictures I have stored there. Luckily, Matt comes over and takes the focus off of me for a few minutes. It's always amusing to see him and the Boss be mean to each other. Or maybe I'm just happy she isn't being mean to me...

09/19/09 12:00 AM My parents, the Bosslady and I depart Farm 255 and head to her car in order to grab the presents I insisted she not get for me. There was no way I was turning down a poster and a t-shirt, though. The Boss then heads off to the Caledonia to cover the madness happening there, and the parents and I head back to our hotel.

09/19/09 12:30 AM I really should have gone to the Caledonia. Missed out on all of the awesomeness.

09/19/09 11:00 AM Finally leaving the hotel after sleeping in and taking our time getting ready. I call the Boss, who tells me we're meeting Chris McKay at Transmet for pizza at noon. I'm thrilled and somewhat nervous, simply because I'm a nervous person. Anxiety – it makes life interesting.

09/19/09 11:30 AM After grabbing a quick bite to eat at Big City Bread Cafe, we head over to Agora so I can drool on the vinyl. After a shockingly small amount of digging, I am ready to go, having acquired both the Side Effects and the Indigo Girls in nice condition for relatively reasonable prices. I get a call from the Bosslady – lunch has been postponed to 12:30. I'm not complaining, this gives us time to hit the Wuxtry before lunch.

09/19/09 12:15 PM I love the Wuxtry. I really do. I could spend hours there, just looking at everything. So it's no shock that that is where the Boss found us. She has news – lunch is getting knocked back to 1:00, so after looking around for a few more minutes we head over to Helix to look around. There is entirely too much cute, kitschy and expensive stuff there. It should be illegal.

09/19/09 1:00 PM Finally at the Transmet for lunch. We decide what we want, and it isn't too long until Chris and his wife Amanda arrive. They are both incredibly nice and awesome, and Chris told us tons of great stories about both performing and photographing shows. Considering that I have a desire to be a concert photographer, it was really informative, but now I am terrified of the career that I have been wanting for about a year now. Still, it was a great time, and the Bosslady only pulled out her patented “Glare 'o' Death” once, and it was luckily not directed at me.

09/19/09 3:00 PM It is decided that we really need to get on the road, so we drag ourselves out of the Transmet to say our goodbyes. One last story is shared (this one about the shoes that Chris and I both have) and we all agree that lunch is definitely a must next time I'm in town.

09/19/09 3:30 PM After dragging the Bosslady back to our rental car to give her the presents I had brought for her, we are back on our way, driving back to Atlanta for the Indigo Girls show at Chastain later in the evening. Some pictures are taken along the way, largely because I'm bored, but also because the Boss told me to. I've found that it's easiest to do what she tells me to without arguing.


Editor's note: Ziona dishes out just as well as I do so any "cruelty" occurs on both sides. :P

Upcoming Concerts and Stuff

Photo by Mike White

If you're like me, you're just sick of all the rain and want to get out and play. Well, the week is PACKED with stuff to do and the weekend just keeps getting better and better. Here's a list of AMJ approved shows but this is a community blog so if there's something you feel we should go to, leave it in the comments!

THURSDAY:

WARM FUZZIES!!
Caledonia
Our beloved Warm Fuzzies are playing with Dr. Squid and Gemini Cricket, both of whom were on Live in the Lobby during my first months at the station. Also cool, it's UGA Freshman night. So grab a freshie and get going!

PAUL MCHUGH
Flicker
You saw him earlier on the blog playing in a UGA classroom, now catch him with Mikey Dwyer, Patrick Morales and Retric at the Flicker Bar. What more can you ask for?

BROS MARLER
Gnat's Landing
I remember thinking, "Wow, I like these guys and they sound really familiar." That's a story for the file marked DUH but this is something you should check out if you're in Gnat's neighborhood on Thursday.


FRIDAY:

WUOG BACK TO SCHOOL PARTAY!!
Go Bar
Yup, we crazy radio kids are taking over Go Bar for the night with Casper and the Cookies, Deaf Judges, and DJ Twin Powers. Also of note, Go Bar turns 10! Doors are at 9 pm and we go until we can't go any mo'.

THE JESTERS
Melting Point
They're an R&B ensemble from 40 years back. Part blues, part surf, all awesome. Check 'em out.

MARRIAGE & REPTAR!
Flicker
Both these bands have been getting a lot of hype lately and there's a reason. They kinda rock. Add in Alexis Gideon and the amazing songstress Shelley Short and you've got a kick-ass show. Short's got a great album called "A Cave, A Canoo" that I can't stop listening to.

COREY SMITH
Classic Center
The indie millionaire made his fortune giving away his songs. Now he's playing Athens again with American Aquarium opening up. Tickets are $25 now, $30 day of show. You'll want to catch him while you can. If he keeps getting big, he may have to make ATL his new base of operations...


SATURDAY:

GIFT HORSE
Farm 255
Anytime you can see Gift Horse is great but seeing them for free? With Gus D? Priceless. Literally.

KITE TO THE MOON
Tasty World
Timi Conley and the pancake lovin' Kite to the Mooners are playing with the Constelations and Sol Shaker. Dancing girls and syrup have been promised.

THE DECEMBERISTS
Classic Center
Okay, I love the Decemberists. And I'd be going to the show. But I have not the $30 to spend. You see, there are these bands coming up on Sunday...


SUNDAY:

THE MINUS 5
The Earl, Atlanta
Hehe. Yeah, AMJ is headed to ATL to see REM's right hand man McCaughey and guitarist Peter Buck play with Steve Wynn and Linda Pitmon as the Minus 5, Baseball Project, AND Steve Wynn I.V. But they're not Athens, why see them AMJ? Cause A) I love them, B) I once woke Scott up for an interview and C) I can list you so many reasons that they could be honorary Athenians. SO THERE.


MONDAY:
THE MINUS 5
40 Watt
Yeah, like I'm gonna go to ATL and not see the guys play the 40 Watt too. See above for reasoning. And see you there.

Well That Was Random: Mother Jackson, Corduroy Road at UGA SLC

There's usually such a gap between the downtown music scene and UGA that one wouldn't know the other even existed if not for WUOG, frat bands, and the countless art/English majors that make up 80% of the groups. That fact is why I was surprised when a Telecommunications professor announced an "Athens Music" day in his class. I nearly died.

The class began with a youtube video of a certain famous Athens band playing its most famous song. Something about being in a spotlight... Anyway, it was interesting to see how many people recognized the song. Most disturbing though was the number of whispers I heard asking "Wait, they're from Athens?!". We need to do a better job training the freshies. That's all I'm saying.

Students had been invited to bring in local artists from around town. It was a pretty decent mix of genres and levels of talent. First up was the Corduroy Road. Three of the members played a bouncy little tune about a flood. Lovely sense of humor those guys have. The crowd responded pretty well and fired a few questions which were easily answered.

Next came two singer-songwriters. The first sounded a bit like Death Cab for Cutie and the second sounded like Dave Matthews. Say what you want about wearing your influences on your sleeve but I find it helpful in deciding if I'm interested in an act or not.

Paul McHugh of Mother Jackson and the Ginger Envelope was next, picking a slow and twangy tune on a dark and wicked old looking guitar. It sounded like it should've been a part of the "Oh Brother Where Art Thou?" soundtrack. The class really seemed to get into the mood of it.

Paul was followed by a rap/hip-hop group called Wild Kard. I'm not the best of judges when it comes to this kinda stuff but I liked their song. Sure, a lot of it was about bumping and grinding and getting 'underneath the covas' but it was a change of pace and thusly enjoyed.

Overall, the class was pretty happy about being treated to a free concert. It's not how I might've handled an Athens Music Day (we'd be there for hours, possibly days), but as far as classes go, you should be kicking yourself if you skipped.

Athens in Perspective: Indigo Girls in Atlanta

By Ziona Kocher



“Wow, it feels electric out there!” were the first words we heard from Emily Saliers as she and Amy Ray took the stage on a rainy Saturday evening at Chastain Park. I couldn't help but think to myself, “if it is so electric, why aren't we all being electrocuted?” It had been raining on and off all afternoon, and it didn't seem like it would stop anytime soon. Everyone was at least partially damp from sitting out in the drizzle, but nobody seemed to mind. The Indigo Girls were back home at one of their favorite venues, and we were all expecting an amazing show. The energy that passed through the crowd as they started the first song, “Love of Our Lives,” was impossible to ignore as the Girls swept us away on a wave not unlike the one featured on the cover of their new album.

The set went by quickly as they played through a number of songs from “Poseidon and the Bitter Bug” (released in March of this year) mixed in with some favorites that had the whole crowd singing along. Amy and Emily decided to pull a classic Indigo Girls stunt during “Power Of Two,” which led to a huge response from the audience. After making sure that we were all singing along, they stopped from time to time, urging us to take over and sing the chorus or a particularly strong verse. It's these times during shows that make me love seeing the Indigo Girls live. Their fans, especially those willing to sit in an uncovered ampitheatre in the rain to see them play, are truly dedicated, and could probably sing the whole show themselves while Amy and Emily just sat back and watched.

Julie Wolf, who has been touring and playing with Amy and Emily for some time now on keyboards, accordion and backing vocals, as well as part of Amy's solo act, came forward and was featured on the grand piano as the trio performed a breathtaking rendition of “Fugitive.” While Julie is usually impressive while acting as the group's multi-instrumentalist, this was particularly amazing, and it was clear that Emily and Amy were quite literally giving her some time in the spotlight.



The moment that everything slowed down came about halfway through the show. When I had first arrived at Chastain, I noticed that we were sitting behind a family of four. The mother seemed to be the Indigo Girls fanatic of the group, but they all seemed to be having a pretty good time, and I enjoyed watching them enjoy the show. It wasn't until Amy and Emily started singing “Get Out The Map” that I truly realized why I felt a connection to this group of people.

“Get Out The Map” is off of the 1997 album “Shaming of the Sun,” and it was around this time that I first started feeling a connection to the Indigo Girls. While touring to promote this album, I went and saw them play at Chastain for the first time with my mother and her friends, and this song was one of my very favorites. Of course, I have very few memories of the show itself, but there are those that are deeply engraved of driving through Georgia on our way to Atlanta as we did, in fact, get out the map.

As Amy and Emily broke into the song that means so much to me, I noticed the daughter, who was probably about 12 years old, lean closer to her mother, and as the song progressed, the girl ended up on her mother's lap as they both sang along. Memories of times I haven't thought of in years rushed forward, and I couldn't help but miss those days with just us in the car, completely consumed with the music.

The set then seemed to speed up again, and because it was a home show, it was only a matter of time before Amy or Emily emphasized some important cause they were participating in around their community. This time they were promoting a new CD that they released with the help of the Care and Counseling Center of Georgia. Entitled “Voices of Hope,” the album is a collection of performances by the choir at the Metro State Women's Prison in Atlanta. All proceeds from the album benefit the Children's Center at the prison, and in order to really show us what this program is all about, Renee Snead and a few other members of the choir came out on stage and did one beautiful song which clearly moved the entire audience.

After such a performance, Emily and Amy claimed to no longer feel like playing, but it certainly didn't seem like it as they tore through an intense version of “Chickenman”, extended to include parts of “Bitter Root.” From there they went on to “Watershed,” which had the whole crowd singing, despite Emily's change in the lyrics. What was once “every five years or so I look back on my life/And I have a good laugh,” became “every five days or so,” and it seemed to fit just as well, and show the way the Girls have matured during their long career together.



The biggest surprise of the night came when Emily exited the stage and Amy was left alone with her guitar. This in itself isn't shocking, since the past few shows I had been to Emily and Amy both did a solo song towards the end of the set. What was shocking is that she played “Romeo And Juliet,” by Dire Straits, which the Indigo Girls covered on “Rite of Passage.” Earlier that evening, there had been a discussion about what songs we hoped would be played but never actually expected. This was one of those songs on my list, and as Amy poured her heart into it, I couldn't help but laugh in amazement.

I was already starting to get hoarse from singing along to every song, but this was the point where it really started to become obvious. That, however, was in no way discouraging me. I was getting suspicious that the show would be ending soon when they played the opening chords of “Kid Fears,” but I was slightly confused by the lack of Matt Nathanson, who had opened for them that evening, to sing the third set of vocals. This was quickly dismissed though, as I assumed that Julie would take the part, though it is the opening act's traditional place in an Indigo Girls set.

As the song progressed, though, things started to go through my head. After all, it was an Atlanta show...maybe Michael Stipe would show up to sing the part that only seemed right when he sang it. Unfortunately, this didn't happen (it never does), but we got the next best thing. In the style of Mr. Stipe from the Uptown Lounge video, Matt came onstage right before his part began, and did a rather impressive impression of the man I had been hoping to see. It seemed that he had seen that video a number of times and studied Stipe's every action, and I must admit it was the best rendition of “Kid Fears” that I have seen.

Matt Nathanson, despite my original fear of him being a “VH1 You Oughta Know – Artist on the Rise,” was actually a pretty good opening act. He seemed like a genuine Indigo Girls fan, and understood an Indigo Girls crowd, urging the audience to sing along on a few simple verses. He gained even more of my respect after jokingly abusing the audience for their affection for 80s covers and songs they've heard on the radio, since those were what got the most response.



Matt remained onstage with Amy and Emily as they played “Closer To Fine,” which had the entire audience on their feet, singing and dancing along. This is truly what an Indigo Girls show is about – the audience's willingness to participate is just as important as the artists' willingness to play. After this they left us ever so briefly, before coming back for a two song encore. After “Second Time Around,” Emily mentioned how good it was to be home, and Amy reflected on the fact that this was their 29th year playing together. “We're gonna try to beat the Rolling Stones!” she exclaimed, to a great deal of applause and screaming. And then they threw themselves into “Galileo,” and just as with “Closer To Fine,” the whole audience was singing along with just as much, if not more, intensity as Emily and Amy were.

It was over before I knew it. As I gathered my various notes and checked to make sure my camera hadn't gotten wet, I started going over things in my head. What were the high points, the lows, what had been the most unexpected. This was the first time I had gone into a show knowing that I would be reflecting on it in a way that others would be exposed to, and I'm not sure how it affected my connection to the music. I wasn't just absorbing what was going on around me, I was picking it apart. As I walked up the stairs out of Chastain and tried not to slip, I realized that this would be a show that I would remember more than the others. It wasn't the best show I had been to, but it would probably be the one I looked back on the most fondly. That's what I kept in mind as we hiked back to the car, more hoarse than we had been when we arrived, as is the tradition for an Indigo Girls show. At least that hadn't changed.

SETLIST

Love Of Our Lives
Sugar Tongue
The Wood Song
Become You
What Are You Like
Ghost Of The Gang
Power Of Two
Gone Again
Fill It Up Again
Fugitive
Digging For Your Dream
Shame On You
Get Out The Map
Driver Education
I'll Change
Chickenman/Bitter Root
Watershed
Romeo and Juliet (Amy Ray solo)
Fleet Of Hope
Kid Fears (w/ Matt Nathanson)
Closer To Fine (w/ Matt Nathanson)
Second Time Around
Galileo

File Athens Under Water...

...cause it's been a wet week and it ain't lettin' up anytime soon.



Seriously, I need a freakin' canoe.

Guess the Athens Bands Answers and News

Wowzers. I have rarely seen my inbox so full. So I'll begin with a huge THANK YOU for reading and playing along with our little game. I'll have to bring this back again next month. Here are your answers!

HUBRIS MARCH - Pride Parade

HM-ALRIGHT - Oh-Ok

FRUIT IN BOTH EARS - Apples In Stereo (though I will count Grape Soda due to some discussion among AMJ staff about the "Athens-ness" of AiS)

JEWEL LAND - Ruby Isle

THE LIST OF THINGS TO DO - The Agenda

RADIATED SEASON - Nuclear Spring

THINKERINO - Ponderosa (though they just moved HQ to ATL)

RUGRAT - Reptar

BIKES MIGHT BE GREEN - Cars Can Be Blue

INSANE BOURBON SMILE - Mad Whiskey Grin

B. BATTLESHIPS - A. Armada

A number of you mentioned missing the first one so here's the link just in case you're bored at work or something. Congrats to MORGAN for getting 10 out of 11.
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News:

You'll notice that a great number of bands on ^that list^ are playing this weekend. It's intentional. Go see 'em.

Don't forget to enter the Rock n Raffle to see the Drive-By Truckers and Widespread Panic at Voodoo Fest. September 30th is the last day to enter! Details here. (Yes, I wrote it, don't judge me.)

Managed to fix the Flip Video camera so that means more new AthensMusicJunkie videos! YAY!

If you hear of anything interesting going on in Athens, music wise or non, email please. We'd love to hear from you.

UPCOMING Next Week +:
Casper and the Cookies Modern Silence review
I make my intern do stuff
Ziona comes to Athens, then leaves me for the Indigo Girls...
Complete and utter fawning as usual
and stuffs!

Guess the Athens Bands, Get Free Stuff (UPDATE)

Last time I did this, J.J., Shil, and Steve had a blast trying to name all the bands. Since Steve begged me to do this again, here you are.

WIN ATHENS CDS

All you have to do is email athensmusicjunkie@gmail.com with the subject line "AMJ CONTEST" and your best guesses at who the bands in the above picture are. They're a bit harder than last time so if you have problems, might I suggest looking them up on Flagpole.com?

Anyway, best of luck!
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UPDATE:

WOW. You've exploded my inbox with all these great ideas for bands. I really wasn't expecting such a show so I guess I'll have to call 7:00 AM TOMORROW as the deadline for your guesses.

Just FYI, Currently MORGAN is in the lead with 9!

And A Bassline From Hell...

There are days when you can walk to your normal rhythm and then there are days when a good groove hits you. Yesterday was a bit out of the ordinary, that's for sure. Technically, my yesterday began the night before when I sat in front of this screen and wondered what the hell I was going to do with this Flagpole article. I had the details right. All of the quotes were in place. I just needed a good starting sentence to kick things off.

The phrase didn't arrive until 2 in the morning, by which time I had already been extremely productive with two other record reviews, done my laundry, and washed all the dishes. Sometimes the idea will just hit you. Other times, you have to try and lure it out. Thankfully, the first sentence soon appeared on my paper and the rest of the piece followed pretty nicely. Fingers crossed.

After a brief stint at work, I headed downtown for some much needed R & R. A short trip to the Flagpole office was followed by a slow stroll towards downtown and, possibly, the record store. On the way towards Wuxtry, I hear a familiar shout. One of my old bosses was walking out of Taco Stand and on her way back to work. Having nothing to do and wanting to see how the office was doing, I followed her up those well-worn stairs.

Seems the office is doing pretty well. It was great seeing everyone again and getting their feedback on the blog as well as finding out which shows I should be headed off to in the coming weeks. Next time, I'll have to bring ice cream.

I spent a bit of time in Wuxtry, talking to Mike about the Happy Happy Birthday to Me celebrations and the flu-like illness that seems to be running through Athens quicker than Rep. Broun from his constituents. Conversation turned towards the new Beatles remasters and the fact that neither of us had owned a Beatles record until we were in our twenties. Some may gasp but when everyone sites the band as an influence, haven't you already heard it anyway? Regardless, I walked out of there with Abby Road, purely because it had "I Want You" and "Come Together" on it.

It was still drizzling when I left so I quickly found shelter that had a wireless connection and began arranging some interviews and performances. I was tempted to go ahead and listen to my new Beatles record but I settled for a movie version of "Come Together" instead. My god, that bass line.

The weather matched my mood, both of us becoming a bit more cloudy as the day wore on. The rhythms of the day out of synch with my usual cruising pace. It was nice to get out of one groove and into another. I took my bag and headed to WUOG for the night's show.

Still feeling that "Together" groove, I felt it appropriate to do most of the show on vinyl. I grabbed everyone from the Brains and Guadalcanal Diary to 13-1-11 and, in keeping with that groove, my ever present Pylon. The whole shift when quicker than I thought, probably aided by the absurd amount of other stuff I was doing at the time.

Left the station, came home, grabbed a hot dog and threw on the Beatles. Yeah, I listen to non-Athens artists every once in a while. Laying my head down, I pressed play on my remote, letting those first deep notes carry me into the dark.

Happy Birthday Jason!

I should probably explain who Jason is. His name is Jason Gore and I owe him big time. You see, there was a time when I didn't go to shows in Athens. It was too intimidating. I had no clue where to start. And then came the Brothers Gore.

Along with Sleepy Horses, the Brothers Gore are responsible for getting my ass out of the dorm and onto the scene. They'd come up to WUOG (since it was still in Memorial at that time) and were so nice, I immediately took a liking to them.

Jason would always invite me out to their shows which was something because they almost always played Rye Bar. I was 18 and the show was 21+. So with the bouncer always watching my hands for drink (he needn't have worried), I got to hear some of my first shows from the Brothers Gore and their partners in crime Television Buzz.

Neither band really exists anymore. I keep hoping for a reunion sometime but that seems a far fetched idea. Jason's off to the big city now, though we do still keep in touch. Besides being one of the first to let me tag along to shows, Jason also proved to be one of my first interviews for this here blog. You can read the hilarity here. He's also responsible for ruining the works of Springsteen for me but that's another story...

So thanks Jason. And happy birthday.

Venice Rising

Venice is Sinking is determined to not do things the easy way. Take their latest EP "Okay" for instance. The title of the EP is "Okay." There are two versions of the song "Okay" along with "Ryan's Song," all by ViS. Then there's two cover songs by the band Okay. Ok?

It's a pretty hefty release coming from a band whose latest album just came out. But the guys (and gal) in Venice are still rolling along. The band just recently finished a successful Kickstarter bid to have their third album pressed. Recorded in the Georgia Theatre over a week of live performances it was tentatively called "Sand and Lines."

Though our buddies at Stomp and Stammer have deemed the band "blah," the new new album sounds very interesting so far. Sure, if you're not into this dreamy pop sounding band, then yeah, they could be cast as "blah." It's sweeping and sad, not heavy metal. Venice is Sinking would make a good metal name though.

But back to the point, I'm enjoying the new EP while waiting for the next album. Word is that Venice might be taking a bit of time off from the touring circuit which will probably serve as a nice break for the band. The future, it seems, will be anything but blah.

Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul
and sings the tune without the words
and never stops...
at all.
~Emily Dickinson

Athens Music News OVERLOAD

Photo/Daniel Peiken AthensRockShow.com


HOLY CRAP! There's always a lot going on in Athens but our bands have been making some racket out there lately in the national press.

First up, Athens has been named one of America's best college towns by MSN Travel. You might remember the cool photo taken by our very own Chris McKay at the surprise R.E.M. 40 Watt gig a few years back. Yes, the article tells us folk everything we already know. Athens rocks. The end.

The new Hotel Indigo is still in the process of trotting out the green carpet to guests. The latest bit to hit the incredibly fancy Rialto Room is David Smits this Friday. The price and age bars are set a little high ($25 and 21 respectively) but I've been told that the Rialto is to die for.

The Drive-By Truckers have apparently outsold Taylor Swift. Yup, that's right, our own DBTs are giving country music a swift kick in the A.s.s.

Circulatory System's album Signal Morning was just released after waiting, oh, 8 years. It's no longer streaming on NPR but the article about it's inspiration is still pretty awesome.

Loud rockin' Pride Parade is giving away their album. For free. To you. It's a kick in the head and will leave you stunned at it's awesomeness.

There's a new record label out there called RowYourBoat Records. Behind it is Daniel Peiken who is absolutely thrilled silly about the label's first project: Timmy Conley's (of Kite to the Moon, Aqualove, etc.)Nerd Sexy. More to come on that later.

And in R.E.M. land, a non-touring, sorta not recording (but kinda are) year has led to a lot of extracurricular activities. They're currently involved in MoveOn.org's "We Can't Afford to Wait" health care reform videos.

In addition, it's been announced by the Future of Music Coalition that Sen. Al Franken will be interviewed by... Mike Mills! No, I'm not joking. The R.E.M.sters have been involved with FMC for a while from what I can tell and hardcore fans will recall that Mr. Mills once expressed an interest in Journalism as his UGA major.

Mills also jumped onstage last night with Jojo of the Modern Skirts,Clay Leverett, and Lona to sing the Rolling Stones' "Happy." Just another Wednesday night in Athens, right?

Whew! That was a lot for one little post but it had to be done! As always, questions/comments in the box below. Thanks!

Fred Mills

Those outside of UGA's School of Music and the world of brass ensembles would not know of Fred Mills. That is a shame.

Mr. Mills was a university professor, head of the Bulldog Brass Society, and was a damn fine musician that was internationally recognized for his skill and persistence.

Mr. Mills died after a car crash on Monday night. His School of Music family will miss him dearly as will all the rest of us who had the pleasure of hearing his music.

More information about Fred Mills and any subsequent plans or arrangements may be found at the Athens Banner-Herald.

Workin' Miracles

It's easy enough to group UGA students into a giant ball of uncaring, spoiled, bratty post-teens who don't give a rip about Athens or anyone else. It's completely untrue. One of the prime examples of this is an amazing group called UGAMiracle.

UGAMiracle is a phenomenal student organization at UGA that raises funds for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Probably their best known event is the 24 Hour Dance Marathon, one of my traditional favorites to watch. So why mention this group on the blog? Because they asked. And they're throwing a concert.

Anyone else remember Sister Hazel and that one song "All for You"? I remember loving that song (along with the many other Hootie & the Blowfishesque tracks) so much that I'd wait by the radio for hours with a mixtape ready.

Well, UGAMiracle is bringing the band to the Classic Center on Friday, September 11th. It's $18 pre-order and $20 at the door, all going to benefit the kids. You get a good show, they get the help they need. That, my friends, is what it's all about.

Labor Day

I've been battling a flu all weekend so Labor Day will probably be spent much like Spring Break was...on the floor. Sick. Fun.

So if there's anyone out there who is NOT currently feeling blech, here's a lovely break day post o' videos all from Athens Soundies. There'll be a bigger post on that site later..

Dead Confederate: Wrecking Ball
by eikonproductions

The Corduroy Road: The Healing
by eikonproductions

Quiet Hooves: Feelin Down
by eikonproductions

Just as a side note, I think that every band member in Athens has been in that pool at some point or another. It's like a requirement.

Back to our regular schedule on Tuesday. Happy Labor Day guys.

Athens: Outside, In

By Ziona Kocher


“What was the first thing you noticed about Athens?”

This is the question posed to me late one night during a brainstorming session. It made me pause. What was the first thing I noticed? I don't remember. I was four years old, and my mother and her friends were in Athens as a bit of a pilgrimage. The first thing I probably noticed was that I was tired and wanted to go home.

They were there for the same reason I found myself headed to Athens so many years later. They wanted to see the place where it happened. The story has been told to me many times, and each time, I wish I was able to remember.

Being borderline obsessive Indigo Girls fans, they had seen “Live at the Uptown Lounge” more than a few times, and once in Athens they tracked down the original location and soaked it in. Looking back now, I long to be at that show and see Amy and Emily belting out “Kid Fears” when Michael Stipe pops out of nowhere (so it seems) to do his part. I've seen the Girls live more than a few times now, and “Kid Fears” is never quite right without the distinct quality his voice provides.

Unfortunately, these are not my memories. These things that I am recalling are stories I was told while going through photo albums, when Mom happened to recognize a UGA lamp pole and decided to share the magic she had experienced there, and that I had been dragged along for, or from a concert I have watched a few times on an old VHS.

Fast-forward 15 years, give or take. Driving up through Georgia, we had quite a debate over what to listen to. Whenever we drove to Atlanta, we listened to the Indigo Girls, simply because that's what you do when you drive to Atlanta. There were obvious suggestions for R.E.M., but that seemed too obvious. We eventually decided to skip around whatever I had on my iPod, but once we hit the back-roads and knew we were almost there, there was one option, and one option only. And yes, it was the Indigo Girls. We turned up “Chickenman” and sang along, probably more loudly than was necessary. “On the road to Athens...”

So there's that question again. “What was the first thing you noticed about Athens?” In all honesty, it would have to have been the fact that we had taken a wrong turn. Or maybe that the that intersection we had just gone through was really weird. Or possibly the fact that it wasn't quite as chilly as I would have liked. That's not very meaningful, though, is it?

We were making this trip as something spur of the moment. I had an unexpected day off from school, and I had been wanting to take a road trip to Athens for some time now. It had started out with a rediscovered love for R.E.M., but it grew beyond that. The Indigo Girls, the B-52's, Pylon, the Modern Skirts...I wanted to see where they came from, and simply be in that environment for a little while. I wanted to know why so much amazing music came from someplace so seemingly random. Unfortunately, I didn't learn that, but I began to understand something about the community that I had become so infatuated with.

Now, you're probably thinking that I must be completely insane to think that I understood how this town works after being there for three days. But honestly, it seemed quite clear to me. Where I live, you don't have people wandering downtown playing music. It's hard to find a single poster for a music venue, and in Athens it's hard to go three steps without seeing at least fifteen. I am used to planning weeks ahead if I'm going to see a band play, and in my brief time in Athens, I saw a few that were stunning in a single night without any planning at all.

I treasured that weekend I spent in Athens, and could not imagine any way that it could be improved. Sure, if I had been there a week later I would have seen the Modern Skirts at the 40 Watt instead of Doctor Squid and the Leading Edge. Maybe if I had been there a week earlier I would have spotted a celebrity. But that wasn't necessary. I came away from this trip having spent some time with one of my closest friends, and discovering some amazing new bands. And I knew that I would be coming back. I knew there would be a time when I would be back in Athens and see everything I had 'missed' the first time around.

And that did happen. After some serious arm-twisting, I was back in Athens for Athfest, this time with a bigger group and even more magic. In the six months or so since I had been there, my love for Athens music had exploded. One might even say I was the Athens Music Junkie's apprentice. After weeks spent planning, we knew exactly who we wanted to see and when we wanted to see them. To put it lightly, it was intense.

In those three days, I saw old Athens, new Athens and everything in between. I would have been perfectly happy just seeing the bands, but being close personal friends with someone who writes a music blog, and thus has major music connections, definitely came with some perks. I had the opportunity to meet with some musicians that I had admired for a while, as well as some that I had just fallen for. The best introduction would probably be to Matt Daniel of the Leading Edge, whose three song EP had been played regularly in my iTunes library since seeing them in January. Not only is he a stellar musician – he also shares my appreciation for harassing a certain Music Junkie we both know.

I suppose at this point I might be off topic, as the assignment was to talk about what I first noticed about Athens – not to wax romantic about wonderful vacations since past. But really, everything that really hit me about Athens in the time I spent there was what I first noticed. The music is everywhere. You can't escape it. And that's what makes Athens special. In big cities, people talk about the fact that there is music everywhere. It's different in Athens, though. Maybe it's the fact that it's on a smaller scale that makes it special. I don't think that's quite it, though.

Music is simply engraved in Athens. It started small, and slowly established it's place in the community. Now that is what the community revolves around. It is for this reason that I am happy I first experienced Athens during it's regular operating hours. It wasn't trying to show off with an impressive line-up and big outdoor stages. It wasn't trying to prove anything. My first time in Athens, this little town was just going about it's business as usual, and even then you could feel that pulse, and see the evidence of it everywhere you looked.

Random Video: B-52s on Guiding Light

And you just thought the trend of awkward acting Athens bands acting awkwardly began with the scary ice cream man..



Yeah guys..*snicker*... loosen up. :)

Weekly Concert Picks (And Things!)

I'm trying to post a list of shows each week that I think people really need to see. Whether this will be a regular feature remains to be seen. Here's hoping anyhow. Now on with the shows!

WEDNESDAY
Caledonia
Celerity
Days of Hysteria
Leading Edge
Someday Static

THURSDAY
Caledonia
Bambara (BACK FROM EUROPE!!)
Hammer No More the Fingers
Marriage

FRIDAY
Allen's Bar & Grill
The Normaltown Flyers

SATURDAY
40 Watt
The Goodfight
Leaving Araby
The Warm Fuzzies!!!!

SUNDAY
ACC Library
Live in the Library! (3 p.m.)
Marty Winkler and Michael C. Steele

MONDAY
Ashford Manor
Dirk Howell
Adam Klein (This guy is incredible. One of the first shows I ever reviewed for Flagpole!)

TUESDAY
Farm 255
Dan Nettles

Yes. Athens is so awesome that we have music..IN THE LIBRARY. Take that Seattle.

Debate: Athens Music Messge Board

picture by Josh Schultz

This debate question comes straight from Daniel via email. He reckons that a message board would get some more conversation going about different bands and venues around town. You could start and comment on threads, giving you more say so than just the comments section here and on Flagpole. So would it be a good idea or a bad one? Leave comments/ideas below.

YES: It's about time that everyone had a single place to go and speak their minds about certain bands and venues. Sometimes all I read is good reviews of a band. What about the bad stuff? What about the people who didn't like the band? It'd be nice to hear some other opinions. I'd like a place to vent about the poor bartending service at (X) place or how crappy (X) band sounded on Friday. Or just a place to say how much I love the sound system at (Y) place.

NO: Do you really want to give Winfield J. Abbe more to do? We've already got the comments section on Flagpole, we don't really need a message board. It would get out of hand really fast with people posting spam and hate messages about people. With a bunch of yahoos just yelling opinions, there wouldn't be any civil conversation about how to improve things. Just people being obnoxious. Best just leave it to the comments sections.