Athens Music Scene
By Eric Leighton
October 25, 2007
Wowee Zowee! What a weekend we have coming at us here! The Halloween season is upon us and we are about to be inundated (and inebriated) with lots of people and music. Let's all play nice together, enjoy the weather, and like birds of a feather, hope to feel better by at least Monday.
The music for the weekend is already underway and runs through next week, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for some Halloween shows next Wednesday. Dig the bands and give 'em a listen. I will see you this weekend, though I hope to not recognize you - more from the cool costume you are wearing than because of debilitating mind-altered states.
In the confirmed rumor department (and of no real value to the week at hand; I just am too excited not to tell): Ike Willis, former front-man for Frank Zappa's band, will be performing with Ugly Radio Rebellion at Jackie O's on Dec. 20! You can get a preview of an Ike-less URR next week. Zappa-heads rejoice! (Editor Smith is probably wondering why Zappa wasn't the front-man of his own band. I'll explain later.)
Let's see just what's happening this week in the Athens Music Scene.
Uptown block party
Once again the Halloween gods have brought a full lineup of bands to the two Court Street stages during this year's block party.
The music kicks off around 6 p.m. and runs until late.
Bands performing on the north stage this year, in the order they will perform, are Megan and Eye, Downplay, The Goodbye Goats, A-list, After Hours and The Ragbirds. The bands on the south stage include The Werks, Hiatus, Black Spiral Dancer, Woody Pines & the Lonesome Two, Greenleif and Papadosio.
Casa Cantina
The fourth annual Halloween Creepout kicks off Night 1 at the Casa Cantina tonight. Creep on out with the Dragline Bros., Men of Gentle Birth, The Sad Bastards and Red Dahlia.
Friday night, The Church of the Red Museum (CMH - airport lingo for Columbus) brings their gothic cabaret music to town for a cool night of music. Rosehips (CMH), an all-female troupe, feature ethereal vocals and a heavy, well-crafted undertone of riffage that is crafty and rocking. The Bygones are also on the bill and they remain one of my favorite bands with their Stones-y R&R. Ex-Athenian Bill Waggoner is the front-dude for this fine group.
Saturday night is an Open Doors Dance Party.
The Union
Tonight, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" continues its run as performed by the Lost Flamingo Theater Company.
Friday night the Halloween Creepout moves to the Union to turn you all a-quiver. Another favorite of mine and many others is This Moment in Black History! These guys are a force of nature. The Makebelieves vie for that designation, wreaking more destruction than the forest fires in California. We March can be said to have a similar effect, while Casual Future and The Never Evers will keep things from spiraling too far out of control.
Saturday night's Halloween Creepout will feature the bizarre antics of Dan Melchior und Das Menace, the rock & roll of Wheels on Fire, the metallic mayhem of Brimstone Howl, and the powerful drive of the Paper Machetes.
Halloween proper (Wednesday) brings about the final performance of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" - for this year anyway.
Jackie O's
A variety of singer/songwriter types will play and sing at Jackie O's tonight. Ryan Dillaha will fingerpick your fancies, JJ Reed will howl his way into your heart, Jess Kauffman will get all sultry and soulful for you, and I just might deign to play a few tunes with my altered ego Junebug.
Friday night, I'm excited to say that The Ragbirds are coming back to town. This band of gypsies weave world-music beats and mountain music with grooves galore and more. They are a fantastic band and great individuals. The Paranormals will kick off the Happy Hour and work their way up to when the Ragbirds hit the stage.
Saturday night don't miss instrumental prowess of Big Lazy. This Brooklyn band performs garage swing with psychedelic turnips and jazz. They cut such a wide swath through the musical landscape that you wonder how they do it, but don't care as long as they keep doing it! Megan Palmer (Hopefuls, Spikedrivers) will perform a solo set as will Dan Dougan (Wahoos, Stache's, Little Brothers). There may be a few tricks hanging around the treats so stay alert!
Donkey Coffee
Troy Gregorino hosts the Open Stage every Thursday.
Friday night, Luke Brawner from the Ft. Worth, Texas poppy-folk band Poor Rich Folk will be playing a solo show at Donkey. Pete Nitsch from Akron will open the night.
19 South
Tonight, Midwest Kid rocks it out all folky-style. The Kid has a pile of great songs and great players to boot. The Jazz Workshop will also perform.
Sunday night offers an Open Stage from 8 to midnight.
Wednesday features a Halloween Spectacular with 15+ acts and more than 12 hours of music. The first four hours will be DJs and hip hop (featuring the Fun-Key production company), the next four run the gamut from folk to punk to metal, and the last four hours will be the butt-shaking phase of the evening. Featured acts are: The Red Army, Goodbye Goats, The Cast Asides, The Paranormals, The Get Downs, Amish Electric Chair, Leonidas, Mister Got Heat, Robot on Crack and Without Papers.
Fur Peace Station
Are you looking to get out of town Saturday night to avoid the craziness, but you still have a hankering to see some great live music? Have I got the solution for you; go see John McEuen and Chris Smither at the Fur Peace. McEuen's list of accomplishments is about a mile long including over 65 albums (as instigator and guest), four of which went platinum and five of which went gold. The main thing, though, is that he was a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, whose "Will the Circle B e Unbroken" album is a bluegrass classic that single-handedly turned on many '70s rockers to country and bluegrass. Chris Smither is probably best known by a song of his made mega-popular by Bonnie Raitt - "Love Me Like a Man." He has a string of hits and is a most personable performer.
Baker Center
Russenorsk and Ben Ashman let ambience rule the day at the Front Room tonight.
Friday nights are meant for the Front Room with Bruce Dalzell playing the host for the Open Stage.
The Brevity Thing swamp-boogies the Front Room Saturday night.
Blue Gator
The Gator sets things up tonight with Urban Transit, a piano-driven pop/rock band that used to be Mr. B.
Friday night, the inimitable Paul Thorn returns to Athens. I can't remember where he played last time he was here, but people were raving about this audacious man. He is always a guarantee of a good time, so don't miss this chance for goodness.
Saturday night the Gator will host a Halloween Bash with bands and fun.
Steve Zarate
I've decided to give Steve his own section this weekend. Friday and Saturday nights you can hear him and his music at the Sandstone in Logan - another good escape from the madness.
Wednesdays Steve will be at BW3's playing tunes in the bar.
Rhapsody - Nelsonville
Duo-Glide, looking suspiciously like Dale Kulchar and Ted Harris, will perform from 6:30-9:30 both Friday and Saturday evenings.
Mt .Zion Baptist Church
Helping to wash away some of the sins from the weekend, the Mt Zion Baptist Church is proud to present gospel recording artist and songwriter Tonya Baker in concert Sunday at 2 p.m. She is a well-regarded gospel singer and has toured with many of the genre's greats.
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