Athens Music Scene
By Eric Leighton
Athens NEWS Writer
January 31, 2008
I have a squeaky belt on my truck. It can be obnoxious. I get scornful looks from some people, and other people laugh at my misfortune. I know I need to change it, but have you spent any time outside lately? It’s either been cold or crappy, often both. The one nice day this week was spent gathering wood to keep the home warm. I simply must prioritize.
I went into this winter more backwards than any before – and that’s a statement. I changed heat sources in mid month; well, at least one of them turned out to be a source of heat. The only warmth I got from the other one was trying to move it out of the house. Jeez!
What’s fascinating is the mammalian need to constantly try to improve our place in the pecking order. When I go squealing past folks in my truck – with much embarrassment – I’m providing the opportunity for them to feel better about their lot in life. “At least I’m not a total loser like that guy.” Pecking order. In their mind, I am now beneath them. No matter, I know that I can ridicule them — and myself — in an article here in the paper for thousands of people to read. Thousands, really? Egads!
No matter. Music is upon us this week, and it’s shaping up to be a doozie. A new mid-winter festival is upon us, and lots of good tunes from here and abroad.
Jackie O’s
Tonight you can get all sweaty and put those library dance lessons to work with Juan Soto during Merengue Night.
Friday night The Ragbirds come back to roost. Last making a stir with their Halloween appearances, these folks keep the world-beat groove happening. The Paranormals will open, and we’d like to wish Erin a belated Happy Birthday!
Saturday evening, Jackie O’s joins the fray with the Athens Winter Jazz & Blues Festival. At 6:30 Old School Union, a jazz group led by Wayne Williams, will perform. Williams has performed with the O’Jays and the Temptations. They will be joined, as will every other act, by Mark Pender, trumpeter extraordinaire for the Max Weinberg band on Conan O’Brien’s show, and he also tours with Bruce Springsteen.
Saturday night, After Hours, featuring Tony Adami, will rock and roll you through classics and originals.
Casa Cantina
Tonight DJ Barticus sparks it up with his Electric Mayhem.
Friday night the Athens Winter Jazz & Blues Festival kicks off with a blues jam featuring the D&R Studio Band and R&B Station. Mark Pender will join the bands and rock the joint.
Saturday night, the great Terry Efaw & Steve Reis of McGuffey lane fame will join with Mark Pender and R&B Station for an evening of blues and jazz as the festival continues.
Blue Gator
Friday night, The Ordinance unleashes their inner-rock monsters at the Blue Gator.
Every Tuesday, the Blue Gator sponsors an Open Stage featuring The Paranormals. This is unofficial at press time, but rumor has it we placed in the Best Open Stage this year! Thanks to those of you who thought to vote!
The Union
Tonight, everyone’s favorite band – based on the number of stickers I see on the bumpers of cars – Beat the Devil returns to slay you with their mesmerizing music. Diminutive lead singer Shilpa Ray belts out songs like a banshee, terrifying the unenlightened; a truly fascinating band. Our own Double Gold lets loose with their bubblegum garage melt, and The Fresh Kills, also from Brooklyn where seemingly thousands of bands reside, round out the bill.
Friday night, Dead Sea brings their stormy metal back to the Union. They’re joined by Jesus de Magico and Black Dove.
Saturday night’s return of the Big Cover Up (#8) has bands all over town scrambling for records. Several bands are performing, but confirmed as of press time we have as the Faces Wheels on Fire; Stone Temple Pilots by Red Dahlia; and The Flaming Groovies by the Dragline Brothers.
Sunday night, that whacky Japanese-by-way-of-Minnesota duo, the article-dropping Birthday Suits, return to one of their favorite haunts, the Union. By way of support they have the Paper Machetes and Blind Shake.
Donkey Coffee
Tonight and every Thursday night features an Open Stage hosted by Troy Gregorino of The Jarts.
Friday night offers a Sexual Assault Prevention Program Benefit w/ Kaslo, Megan Cameron and more.
Saturday night, the ebullient Victor Rasgaitis will be joined by pals Nick Long and Andy Francis for an acoust-astic evening.
Baker Center Theater
Matt Wertz has just been confirmed as the entertainment for Saturday night. He has toured the country with a number of notables. He will be supported by Dante Brunetto of Urban Transit and Brian Marcel. The show begins at 8 p.m. and is free!
Brenen’s
Brenen’s is one of the sites for the AWJ&B Fest. Bill Rawlins will kick things off at 7 p.m. Saturday, and pianist Cheryl Renee will go on at 8:30. Both will be joined by ubiquitous trumpeter Mark Pender.
19 South
II Juicy will take the stage at 19 South Saturday night beginning at 10 and blues it up. Some trumpet guy from out of state might sit in with them and jam it up.
Toscano’s
The Jazztet will lay down the grooves at Toscanos beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday night. Mark Pender will begin his long night here.
ARTS/West
Hip Pocket will perform at ARTS/West at 9 p.m. on Saturday. Featured will be some trumpet player from NYC.
Sunday afternoon, aka Super Sunday, II Juicy gets back to the blues game at 1, followed by the Alexander High School Jazz Ensemble, R&B Station, and closing with Mark Pender performing his own tunes.
Court Grill - Pomeroy
The Hells Fire Sinners invade Pomeroy Saturday night with their driving country punk. Sounds like a good time, damnation!
Union Hall Theater - Chesterhill
The Back Porch Swing Band brings its billified swing music to the Union Hall Theater in Chesterhill Saturday night at 7:30. This band features long-time band leader and orchardist Pete Shew, as well as champion fiddler Adam Jackson and if you are lucky, master mandolinist Zeke Hutchinson.
Steve Zarate
You can catch the canny melodies of Mr. Steve Zarate Friday night at the Rhapsody in Nelsonville, and Saturday night at the lovely Sandstone Bistro in Logan. And he gets his name at the top of this blurb because it’s more economical to provide Mr. Zarate with one paragraph instead of one for each venue he’s playing at.
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