Athens Music Scene
By Eric Leighton
November 8, 2007
I know that winter is pressing upon us. My proof lies in the passing of Halloween, followed closely by the Time Change (no riots in the fall, hmmm ...), and finally the exodus of students for six glorious weeks, peppered with holidays, cold weather and little sunshine; yeah.
This year I have somewhat successfully combined the Time Change with my perpetual lateness in a manner that seems to work out for all of us. By not changing my clocks, I ensure that I am at least a half-hour to 40 minutes early to all of my obligations. The math is simple; I am usually late, so leaving an hour early for any engagement actually gets me there closer to the time I am supposed to be there without me having to seemingly change my lackadaisical tendency toward sloth, or anyone having to deal with me being late. Since most of the work I engage in ends either upon completion, or when it's closing time, I never accidentally leave work an hour early, hence getting myself in a real pickle.
Likewise, much of my work is not Alarm Clock Dependent, so when I eventually lose that hour - or gain it, whatever - I never seem to notice.
I do run into problems when I have friends over. They seem to all be tied up in this Time Specific mentality. When they ask what time it is, I have to think. You see, in addition to my clocks now being an hour fast (fast, right?), I have sabotaged them all to tell different times - to confuse me and keep me moving toward the door. This one is 15 minutes, that one 10, another is actually correct, and one is running at some remote Pacific Island time.
I grew up in a house with an antique clock collector. Let me tell you something about antique clocks; they do not all keep the Naval Standard Atomic Time. Some of them ring on the hour, some on the half hour, some every 15 minutes. Imagine 60 such clocks, all running in various states of wind and ringing at their appointed hours without regard for the actual time. This is why I do not have my clocks set proper in my house. I swear. I can also sing to you at least 15 (the operative number of the day: 1+5=6) different cuckoo clock songs. Don't ask me to do it. It's a can of worms even the early cuckoo bird doesn't want to open.
Jackie O's
Tonight Jackie O's is happy to have a cool show with bands from all over the region. Fat City Reprise (Philly) was here a couple of times a couple of weeks ago. They are a ball full of fun in a 35-foot RV; rock and roll, straight-ahead and classically original. Phonograph Duo (NY) is comprised of Matt Welsh & Phil Sterk from the band Phonograph. They are out on a special tour hitting smaller clubs with their laid-back and heartfelt alt.country folk tunes. Ryan Smith is a good singer/songwriter from Columbus who has rather entertaining songs about life, fornication and other adventures. All in all, this is a great pile of music.
Bill Rawlins brings his effusive self back to Jackie O's Friday evening for Happy Hour to entertain you for the last time there this year.
Friday night, Sean Benjamin brings his strummy, bluesy, soul-inflected tunes to the Jackie O's stage from Cleveland. Morning Round hails from Columbus and has an open jangly feel that illustrates its loose conglomeration of members. Nice stuff.
Saturday night, The John Turck Trio returns to Jackie O's for some more blues-rockin' goodness. Ryan Bingham, who's on tour with the Drive-by Truckers, may perform on Friday night if some contractual hoo-hahs can be settled. It would be nice to have this talented young man and his band, but you never seem to know with the Industry Types who make a living suckling at the breast of Talent.
Since there is no school on Monday, Jackie O's has a Pura Vida Benefit Sunday night to raise money for families in South and Latin Americas, set up in honor of a young woman named Madison. Performances will begin at 8 p.m. and start with Jessie Aberached, followed by Leila Carter and Ryan Goehler & the Barefooted Bootleggers.
Memorial Auditorium
Jimmy Eat World is a band that I'm sure a lot of people are aware of. I heard the name, but thought it had more to do with a Hot Dog Eating contest or something. They and their angst-filled pop will be at Mem Aud on Tuesday of next week. When I checked their MySpace page, they had almost 10,000 listeners to their songs today. I was up to 7.
Sandstone -- Logan
Steve Zarate will hold court Friday night at the Sandstone in Logan - a fine restaurant if I ever knew one; best steak I've had ever, maybe. His set will run from 7-11.
Rhapsody -- Nelsonville
Saturday evening from 6:30-9:30 Zarate will instrumentalize alongside your carmelized onions.
Stuart's Opera House
Saturday night Stuart's Opry House has its annual fundraiser, and this year's emphasis is on fun. The notorious Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks will return in full glory to the House. Hicks is funny, talented, wry and an overall good time -- jazzy, swingy tunes with lots of catty call and response from his back-up singers. I've seen him before and I would see him again. Opening the night is a band that was foolish enough to ask me to sit in with them once. Luckily, I saved myself embarrassment by being sans horn. The Firecracker Jazz Band is a fine, full-power, stomping-good dixieland jazz band from Asheville, N.C. They would be worth the price of admission alone. I'm excited to have them up here. Help Stuart's out and make this a great show. There are early tickets and dinner and stuff, but you'll have to call them to figure it out (or, of course, go to www.stuartsoperahouse.org).
BW3s
Steve Zarate will be on the bar side of BW3s for the remainder of the quarter each Wednesday night, rocking out. It's FREE!
Donkey Coffee
Friday night, Russenorsk grabs the cello and the percussion and heads to Donkey. Red Dahlia takes the more acoustic route, which ought to be great, and The Instant chime in to make this night fun.
Bruce Dalzell hosts another of his famous Songwriter Showcases this Saturday at the Donkey. This "In the Round" style of performing allows a deeper inspection of the material. Performing will be Vince Trocchia, Harlan Dalzell, Sadie Roth and Tristan Kinsley. Talented one and all. Show begins at 9 p.m.
19 South
Wednesday night the Hip Hop Congress presents an evening of hip-hop and more with DJones and many special guests.
Court Grill -- Pomeroy
Tony Adami & After Hours take it to the Court Grill on Saturday night with special guest singer Tammy Jordan. Tony has been really working on his original tunes lately. They blend seamlessly with the cover he chooses, and I believe that bodes well. Keep up the good work!
Casa Cantina
Handsome Jack rolls in from Buffalo tonight to let loose with their straight-ahead gruff-voiced rock and roll. Oh yeah! Dirty Johnny & the Makebelieves make this a rock and roll dream date. Chris Monday & Matt Presutti get up to their usually entertaining shenanigans as well.
Friday night features a People Might benefit.
Saturday night The Royales come back from their self-reposed relaxation to rock the house with their trademarked rhythm and blues styles.
Sunday night will be a pajama party with Dirty Johnny and Chris Monday. Now there's one for the adventurous.
Monday night offers an art opening featuring Ben Bibee and Colin Donahue. Rattletrap will provide the music and Casa will feed you.
Blue Gator
Red Wanting Blue returns to the Gator tonight to continue to try and educate the huddled Greek masses that popular music can be musical and educational.
The Spikedrivers will nail your boots to the floor and dance maniacally around with their hillbilly inspired thigh-swatting music. A perennial fave. This show is on Friday night.
The Brevity Thing waxes eloquent and swampy Saturday night for a free show in the downstairs part of the Gator. Upstairs Saturday night will be an Open Doors dance party.
The Union
Tonight it's Dance or Die at the Union.
His Mischief from St. Paul, Minn., hits the Union on Friday night. Musical and somewhat minimal arrangements make these folks interesting. The Spider Bags, Paper Machetes and Sad Bastards fill this bill out in a rocking way.
Saturday night you get a whole handful of stuff at the Union. Beard of the See is worth the wait to check out with their Mountain-ous riffs. Can of Wormz, Andrew Lampela, The Green Hits, and Android Violent make up just a few of the acts you can hear. Be sure to stay tuned for the Open Noise Jam after the show!
Sunday night, from Athens, Ga., hails Casper and the Cookies. From the listening I got, I must admit fascination with this multi-layered, frankly odd band. It's highly listenable and inexplicable. I say, "Monday is a holiday. Long live Casper and the Cookies."
Get on out and listen to some tunes before winter makes you hide your love away. See you at the gigs!
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