Athens Music Scene
By Eric Leighton
June 5, 2008
Remember what I said last week about the weirdness being at bay? Well, not anymore. It’s full on and I feel more comfortable now that it is upon us. To wit: I’m never hanging a flier again in this town. I have been here a long time, and I know the rules of posting fliers. For those of you who don’t know the rules, they are fairly simple: If there is a bulletin board, or an approved window space, you are fine; just don’t put them on the poles or on the outside of buildings or you risk getting fined.
Last week, I was detained by two Athens Police officers for allegedly posting fliers on poles, which as I have previously stated, I know better than to do and had not done in this case. Apparently, a Concerned Citizen saw me posting fliers and called the cops on me. I’d like to say to that particular person that they should not falsely accuse somebody of something that they didn’t do, let alone call the cops on them.
I have never felt so weird as to being held in front of the BP for something I didn’t do, until released on my own recognizance. The officers were very nice and just doing their job, and I understand the Concerned Citizen and his or her desire to keep a clean city, but you got the wrong dude.
So I say to you, musicians and people who publicize shows: Let’s play by the rules, because frankly it was you jerks who hang fliers in places that upset Concerned Citizens that got me detained by the police, and I tell you what, nobody wants to be detained, least of all me.
Furthermore, can we do something about the size of the fliers? Do they all need to be 11x17? We have limited space to hang fliers in town and a bunch of shows each week. Do we need four fliers from the same club in a given week? C an we consolidate the shows onto one flier? Can we cut the flier size in half?
For those of you who might clamor for public places to hang fliers, I say this: Every year the Code Enforcement folks post a notice on the Athens Musician Network stating the rules for hanging fliers. Every year some snarky little fart gripes about how the city should provide such a place. Every year the Code Enforcement people tell them to go to City Council meetings and bring it up there. Every year nobody does anything about it, and this year I was detained by the police.
I admit to having a vested interest in this, but come on! I won’t name names of frequent Code Breakers; you know who you are, I know who you are, and the Code Officer will be talking to you sooner or later. City Council meeting anyone?
And thanks again to the Concerned Citizen who called the police on me. It was very… something of you. You could have talked to me perhaps.
Jackie O’s
Tonight is Night I of Gemini Fest XIII, and it features the talented and lovely Megan Palmer & the Hopefuls, as well as those funsters The Paranormals and the up-and-coming singer/songwriter Jess Kauffman.
Friday night Jackie O’s has a benefit for My Sister’s Place featuring Red Dahlia, The Balloon People, Jess Kauffman and more.
Night III of Gemini Fest XIII occurs Saturday at Jackie O’s and features the wild acoustical antics of Special Ed & the Short Bus, a super-fun group from Richmond, Va. The Paranormals will kick off the hilarity.
Casa Cantina
Tonight it’s rock and roll time when the Paper Machetes meet up with Cleveland’s The Pages and our own Spooktober.
Friday night is Night II of Gemini Fest XIII, and it features the all too reclusive Hiatus and the Funkin’ Kings of Rock & Soul, The Royales.
Saturday night Southeast Engine fires it up for an end-of-the-quarter blast, and Casual Future will predict what the summer is going to look like.
The Union
Not to be outdone by a three-day fest, the Union is helping to host another three-day fest – ACRN’s Lobsterfest. This year’s lineup looks to be one of the best ever.
Tonight you can see one of my favorites, The High Strung along with Russenorsk, Nostra Nova and Grade School. All the shows this weekend start at 9 p.m.
Night 2 happens on Friday when Defiance Ohio storms the stage along with Beaten Awake (great name), The Quincy Apparatus, infamous garage-rockers The In-Sect and Delay.
Night 3 starts after the day-long festival on the green Saturday. Japan’s fun-loving group The Birthday Suits rip and roar, Night Beast adds its temper, Earwig rocks you with heart-on-sleeve, Necropolis get’s its Greek on and Goes Cube slips into the third dimension.
Lobsterfest – South Green Lawn
Saturday is the highlight of the three-day music blowout. Outdoors and FREE to the public Lobsterfest is offering up two stages filled with music. Kaslo kicks it off at 3 p.m. followed by Six Gallery, Inspector Owl, Kevin Devine and Columbus Hip Hop artist Blueprint. Headlining the night will be Andrew WK. (See separate stories on both Lobsterfest and Andrew WK.)
On the Side Stage beginning at 3:30 p.m., you can hear Death Beef, Eric Metronome, Joe Anderl, the Gunshy and Mouth of the Architect.
Blue Gator
Tonight The Ordinance gets the rock happening while Hiatus brings in the more subtle funk and reggae vibe.
Alex Vaughn & the Big Idea return to the Gator Friday to try to conjure up some beach vibes to prepare you for the summer.
Papadosio gives Athens a try after gigging all over God’s creation recently. Saturday night you can rock and reel with that boogie feel. I believe Ann Arbor’s Aleph-1 is back to bring in their jam-laden sampled goodness.
Donkey Coffee
Donkey Coffee is going off-line, musically, until exams are over, so drink your coffee and study hard! Donkey will be open all night during exam week, for all you students pulling all-nighters.
19 South
Black Spyral Dancer gets one more night of jazz-influenced metallic mayhem in tonight at 19 South.
Smiling Skull
Without Papers is bringing in their fantastic blend of roots rock & roll to the Smiling Skull on Saturday night.
Uncle Buck’s
Just after celebrating the opening of the ’08 season, Uncle Buck’s stables and dance barn are back for another Saturday night BBQ, this one featuring Columbus mainstay Donna Mogavero. She always puts on an energetic show, and this should be no different. Eating starts at 5 and the music at 8.
Court St. Grill - Pomeroy
Friday night Ian Ross returns to the Grill. This young fella is one helluva good musician. Keep your ears open for this one!
Dale Kulchar hosts an Open Stage at the Grill every Tuesday.
Rhapsody - Nelsonville
Steve Zarate picks precariously precious tunes for you while you dine Friday evening at the Rhapsody.
Stuart’s Opera House - Nelsonville
Paul Thorn continues his road-dog mode and makes another pass at the Athens Co. area tonight. His gritty tunes are full of notions that should make people blush, and he can take a punch.
Sandstone - Logan
Dale Kulchar will show you his musical prowess at the Sandstone in Logan Saturday evening from 7 onward.
Union Hall Theater - Chesterhill
The Union Hall Theater is having a Ribs, Rhythm & Blues Party Saturday in Chesterhill. There will be food available, with advanced purchase of tickets (call The Posy Place at 740-554-3761), and the music features the Colin John Band, Izzy & Chris and Woody Pines & the Lonesome Two. The fun begins at 5 p.m.
Federal Valley Resource Center - Stewart
Fee food and good bluegrass will be on hand at the FVRC in Stewart on Saturday. A community potluck begins at 5 p.m. and at 7 Blackwater Run Bluegrass will take to the stage. Good food, good people and good pickin’.
If that isn’t enough music for you, then you are a super trooper. I’ll see you at the gigs.
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