Athens Music Scene
By Eric Leighton
November 15, 2007
There's nothing worse than possessing the overwhelming urge to be clever and the underwhelming ability to be so; and there's nothing better than a quickie - a nap that is. Yes, there are other types of quickies that are useful; oil changes come to mind. A very short set that pays you a lot of money can also be very handy, and a handy can be dandy.
Short introductions can also be useful to a writer on a deadline with the tick-tock ticking so very loudly in his ears. Can we stop with the clock allusions someday? Yes, someday when there's time.
I've never been tall, and unlike my inability to shut up most times, I'm not exactly short either, unless you call me on the phone early in the morning and you are a telemarketer. Then you get short; and then there is Mr. Short Legs. Speaking of short ...
Jackie O's
Tonight the wonderful Erin Condo comes to town for an evening of acoustical goodness. She stopped through a while back with a bit of a band, but this Austin, Texas gal is going solo on this night. Also performing will be Katie Reichlin, and possibly Junebug (my altered ego), but I am hoping for someone more like Jess Kauffman - who I just confirmed will be there. Yes!
Friday night, The Selecter Reggae Band will roll in from Cincy to reggae and roll you into a fun little ball of dance. This band features members of Ray's Music Exchange and other fantastic regional bands.
Saturday night the good-foot-stomping bluegrass music of The Wild Breed Boys returns to Jackie O's to get you folks out of the holler so you can holler.
Sunday night, Vermont's Madison Project teams up with Columbus's own The Phantods for an eclectic night of music. The Phantods' wide-ranging palette of dark-hued music should be a nice contrast to the MP's hard-rocking pop tendencies.
Stuart's Opera House
The Asylum Street Spankers make it back to Athens on Saturday night. This ridiculous and eclectic band of musicians hails from Austin, and that fact alone accounts for their existence and their sound. "Defiantly acoustic" means that they rarely use microphones, if they can get away with it; you need to listen and listen well. Whacky songs and great instrumentation make these folks a barrel of fun.
Sunday afternoon at 2 the renowned pianist Richard Syracuse will perform at Stuart's Opera House as part of a benefit for the Majestic Galleries, a Nelsonville art collective right on the Square.
Smiling Skull Saloon
Saturday you should Rise Up Singing, according to the Meigs Community Action Network. CAN is working against coal mining and one or more proposed coal-fired power plants along the river in Meigs County. The Paranormals(TM) will kick the music off in our trademarked style, and Matt Peters will follow. Here's to the Long Haul will bring their Mountain Resistance Music to the Skull from Bristol, Tenn., in order to lend a hand in raising awareness for this cause. The show begins at 9 p.m.
Rhapsody - Nelsonville
Duo-Glide, featuring Dale Kulchar and Ted Harris, will perform at Rhapsody both Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 6:30.
19 South
Tonight will be a super high-energy show at 19 South featuring TMO.
Friday night offers an end-of-the-quarter bash featuring the funky grooves of 2EB, not to be confused with EP3. This will be a pull-out-all-the-stops affair. At least two references to organs there; maybe there should B3. I'll have a Hammond Rye to give you what, four?
Court Grill - Pomeroy
Tonight, the great blazing bluesman Scott Holt returns to the Court Grill for a night of blistering tunes. Known as long-time sideman to Buddy Guy, Holt can certainly "take care of biz all by himself."
Friday night The Mudfork Blues Band brings its slightly more genteel approach to the blues back to the Grill. These folks host their own festival down in Meigs Co. - aka the County. They have a solid blues style with good features for all of the players.
Dale Kulchar hosts the Open Stage every Tuesday at the Court Grill; show starts at 8 p.m.
Casa Cantina
Casa is happy to have The everybodyfields in town from their Johnson City, Tenn., home tonight. I saw these guys at the Hockhocking Folk Fest and thought that they were a very interesting group, and then later, I think I challenged some of them to a wrestling match. So it goes. They have great singing and very interesting approach to what otherwise might be some kind of country music - on acid. Zephuros and his extremely docile music will open the evening.
Friday night the Casa wants to Funk You Up with DJ Barticus.
Saturday features an International Dance night.
Sunday, Amy Annelle from the band The Places will perform her sort of "dark, shoe-gazing songwriter stuff." That phrase certainly oversimplifies but gets to the point. She's a rambler by nature and her adventures find their way into her songs. Ralph White will as likely accompany her as he will open the show. I first heard White with the Bad Livers, but as one person recently said, he "has drifted far from the Livers days." You can pretty much say that about the other Bad Livers, too -- Danny and Mark. Amen. Ralph is a gifted multi-instrumentalist with the emphasis on mental. He mixes old-time music with psychedelia and whatnot. You will enjoy his offerings. There will likely be an opening act, maybe Mike Elliot, maybe the Paranormals. Show up and see.
Monday nights at Casa is an old-timey jam with Rattletrap, and Tuesday Woody Pines and the Lonesome Two will be back at the Casa with their jump blues and rags. Mad Tea Party from Asheville, N.C., reels in all kinds of music and warps it to their twisted and fun expectations. Jeff and Vida, of Nashville via New Orleans, let loose with everything from some great-sounding traditional bluegrass to the most avant-garde alt-country going. Nice stuff for sure.
Blue Gator
One Under returns to Athens tonight to perform their musical amalgamations. This band features members of numerous jam bands of repute.
Mr. Brown brings their distinctive reggae sounds back to Athens from their home in Austin on Friday night, sealing the burgeoning Athens-Austin connection. They were a hit over the summer, for sure.
Saturday: Saving Jane helps to reclaim the soul of female-led pop bands by having integrity. This Columbus band had three albums to its credit and a massive fan base if MySpace numbers are to be believed: over 3 million page views. Downplay will play up their new release at this show, I'll bet, and Lovesick Radio bring this Greek-friendly show a big wet kiss.
Sunday afternoon at 4, the Athens High Society Jazz Band gets all Dixieland and whatnot for your listening and dining pleasures.
The Union
Tonight Red Dahlia ramps up the amps and gets their powerfully moody music to the masses one last time before fall quarter comes to an end. White Album rocks it while Russenorsk continues to confuse and confute my fingers. Fleshworld finishes this bill off in a most honest manner.
Friday night the fabulous Grafton comes back to rip and roll you a new one. These guys have been perennial faves of mine and many for years. Don't stop now. Speaking of perennial faves, The Dragline Bros. and their distinctive rock and roll pick it up; Meat Feet, a newish band featuring members of Men of Gentle Birth, Fleshworld and Arch Villains, will open the night.
Wheels on Fire take you out for sure Saturday night with The Dropdead Sons and The Serfs; happy Thanksgiving indeed. Way to go out on a high note!
The music won't stop, nor will this column just because the kids are going home to do whatever it is when they're not here in Athens. I'll still be kicking it and enjoying the Athens Music Scene. Join me, eh?
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