Athens Blur Magazine Issue 11
Athens Blur Magazine Issue 11
Athens Blur Magazine Issue 11
forfans
fansof
ofmusic
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Issue 11 • FREE • athensblur.com
volcanO choir
Channeling the best
fiery furnaces
How to subvert
the expectation of
POP
for their sixth album, tegan and sara
find faith in — and out of — love
unexpectedness
A royal pain
Will a new piece of
legislation kill
radio as we know it?
For their sixth album, Tegan and Sara find faith in — and out of — love.
story by Natalie David photo by Pamela Littky
Volcano revamping
choir my choir
Channelling the very best Fiery Furnaces on how to
of “The Badger State” subvert the expectation of
unexpectedness
by Alec Wooden 28 by Adam Clair 30
every daisy Royal PaiNS
has its thorn? A new piece of legislation
promises the performing
Hardly a flower, ten years in artist new royalty rights.
Brand New are anything but But will it kill radio as we
gentle know it?
by Natalie David 32 by Sarah McCarty 42
celebrating Open Late
a decade Conan’s got The Tonight
Happy Happy Birthday To Show. Leno’s got his own
Me Records is still big on show, too. But is America
friendship, imagination and being entertained?
ingenuity
by Ed Morales 46 by DeMarco Williams 54
ATHENS BLUR MAGAZINE 3
13 music
c OLUMNS
EDITOR’S PLAYLIST: 7
Ten Tunes Worth Noting
THE FIRST WORD: 8
Remembering Nebraska
WORTH A THOUSAND: 64
14
Who says you need words?
19 16 spotlights:
11 Thao and the Get Down Stay Down
David Mead
10
11
21
Why? 12
Pride Parade 13
Kings of Convenience 14
Royal Bangs 16
Efren 17
Clipse 19
Mass Solo Revolt 20
Holy Ghost Tent Revival 21
a LSO:
20 EAR CANDY:
Album Reviews
THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY
22
26
35 17
TEN QUESTIONS WITH: 35
Drivin’ n’ Cryin’
m usician’s corner
MUSICIAN’S GEAR GUIDE 49
Life’s too short to own bad gear
22
Regional Report: 51
60
Jacksonville, Fla.
49 a RTS &
e NTERTAINMENT
upcoming on the screen 52
c oncert shots 60
Contributing Writers
Adam Clair, Amanda Cuda,
Matt Conner, Natalie David,
Alec Wooden Matt Fink, Jennifer Gibson,
Executive Editor Tiffani Harcrow, Sarah McCarty,
Ed Morales, Phil Pyle,
Ned Rauch, Ingrid Sibley,
Dylan Solise, DeMarco Williams
Reason to believe
27 Years later, springsteen’s Nebraska still shines a light
Twenty-seven years ago Bruce Springsteen the same line. “Mary Lou loved Johnny with
released the most daring, revolutionary and a love mean and true.” Past tense. That love’s
rock ’n’ roll record of his career and, perhaps, on ice, too.
of the era. He did it without drums, bass, One cut, sort of, qualifies as a love song:
saxophone or pretty back-up singers and “Open All Night.” But it’s less an ode to
recorded it in his bedroom on a four-track Wanda, the narrator’s girlfriend, whom he
tape machine. Then he went and named it met at Bob’s Big Boy, than it is to his car.
Nebraska. Springsteen sings the lyrics to this one
It’s simple, it’s spare, it’s honest and it’s five times faster than anything else on the
haunting, and to hand it into the record record, and it’s the one tune on which we
company, at a time when synths and New hear an electric guitar. It, too, is running fast.
Wave ruled, took more balls than his peers There’s a frantic, fleeting freedom here. It’s
would have even dared to muster. You think the feeling you get when you know where
Jackson Browne could have pulled that off? you’re going and why. You’re in control, and
In today’s scene, Jack White has made a control is a rare thing for the characters on
career out of zigging when people thought this record.
he’d zag. Nebraska out-zigs White by a mile, And yet Springsteen is in total control of it.
ReignSold.com
and it’s no novelty act. It’s painfully real. He played and sang every note on it, adding
In 1982, Springsteen was at the cusp of Ned Rauch bits of harmonica, mandolin, glockenspiel
international superstardom. Born in the USA and organ here and there, fleshing out these
was two years away, but Springsteen had skeletal songs just enough to give them life.
already established himself as the greatest Over the course of He tried the tunes with the rest of the band,
American rock performer. The River, which
came out in 1980, produced his first top- Nebraska’ s 40 minutes but heard none of the angst and pain in the
new arrangements.
ten hit, “Hungry Heart.” He’d toured the
country’s arenas, but hadn’t yet graduated to
are 14 deaths, including a Springsteen, like the people on the record,
would be alone on this one and, in some
stadiums, and supernova status was anything
but certain.
death-row execution, ways, barely there. The reverb on his voice
creates a sense of distance and detachment.
In the decade that had passed since the four run-ins of one kind or While his face appeared on the cover of his
release of his first record, he’d consistently last four records, Nebraska’s cover shot is just
moved toward his rock side and away from another with the police, two a road cutting through the prairie beneath a
his folk side, filling his songs with sharp, heavy sky. The record came out, went gold,
chiming electric guitars, pianos and organ courtroom scenes, a fist fight but Springsteen didn’t tour behind it. He
riffs, explosive drums and sax. Whereas OK’d a video for “Atlantic City” but isn’t in
acoustic guitars defined the sound of
and a fatal explosion. it — just black-and-white shots of a beat-up
1973’s Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ, they gambling town.
appeared on subsequent records only to color Over the course of Nebraska’s 40 minutes Somehow, in the midst of all that darkness,
a song or two. are 14 deaths, including a death-row Springsteen shines a little light. It’s dim, but
Meanwhile, the '80s were becoming, execution (another character, sentenced it’s there in the refrain of “Atlantic City”
well, the '80s. War between Iran and Iraq, to life in prison, asks the judge, instead, to (“Maybe everything that dies someday
Russians in Afghanistan, Central America “put me on that execution line,”), four run- comes back.”) and in the title of the last cut,
a violent mess. Reagan was elected on a ins of one kind or another with the police, “Reason to Believe.” The song doesn’t offer
promise of a new morning in America that, two courtroom scenes, a fist fight and a fatal any reasons at all, but it finds Springsteen
to Springsteen’s ears, sounded like a con. explosion. marveling at the ability of people who’ve
And so he retreats to a rented Jersey Much of Nebraska is about life’s unforgiving lost it all to endure. “At the end of every
farmhouse with an acoustic guitar, a side and the authority patrolling it — and hard-earned day, people find some reason to
tape recorder and a bunch of Flannery whether you face it or run away from it. The believe,” he sings.
O’Connor stories. Out comes a record word “sir” appears nine times; “road” appears And that’s what makes Nebraska not just
about serial killers, organized crime, envy, seven times; “car” and “highway” both appear gutsy but strong: it finds hope in the hardest
social stratification, a cop-killer, brotherly six times. This is not a record about romance. of times.
love, corruption, Vietnam, desperation, duty, The word “love” shows up just three times on
emasculation, pride, cars, love, family and — the whole record. The first time, the narrator Ned P. Rauch lives in New York City and
all in one song — a dead dog, a dead man, a admits that his “love may be cold.” The other writes for www.tendollarradioshow.com and
baptism and a runaway bride. two times come at the end of the record, in plays guitar in the band Frankenpine.
WHY?
photo: SARA BLUM
WHO’S WHO Andrew Prater has a dream. It’s two years, and it certainly seems listened to the grunge rock that
Yoni Wolf, Josiah Wolf, a mischievous dream – indicative to have evolved in that time. In PRIDE was bursting onto the scene at
It’s Yoni Wolf ’s unequaled why. I knew the type of work that if that's even a word. I wanted Austin Brown, Doug McDi-
armid
of his deep desire to “fuck with fact, Prater says, he originally PARADE that time. But, in general, their
blend of honesty and artistry that’s Alopecia needed on it, so I decided it to sound natural, but it almost people’s minds.” The dream envisioned the band “as some tastes are eclectic. Prater says
accelerated his hip-hop collective, to pick that one up to finish it sounded too natural. So we went centers on Pride Parade, the kind of Neil Young type thing. WHO’S WHO everyone in the band is interested
Why?, to the front of critical hip- first. We ended up recording some in and psyched it out a bit — FORMED
1997 in Berkeley, Calif. bracing hard rock band for which More country type stuff.” But Andrew Prater (vocals), in different types of music. His
hop lists everywhere. Last year’s more songs for Alopecia and then just enough so it had a different Prater is vocalist and guitarist, and those early concepts are nowhere Allen Owens (guitar), BJ own tastes are particularly diverse
Alopecia delivered one of the year’s that came out in 2008.” flavor to it. We didn't want to LABEL the band’s somewhat whimsical to be found on the band’s latest Bracewell (guitar), Bubba and have more to do with an
most celebrated hip-hop releases “It wasn't about songs or go overboard and make it into Anticon name. In his dream, the band and project. Dose is undeniably rock McDonald (bass), and interest in quality than a loyalty
and placed the Berkeley unit on anything on the surface. It was a an Animal Collective record or Aaron Sims (drums)
its moniker play a role in changing ‘n roll, with elements of punk and to any particular genre. “I've been
the map for many new fans. Now, tonal thing, I think. I had gone something like that.” LATEST RELEASE narrow minds and bringing about other genres thrown in. listening to The Temptations
Eskimo Snow provides a quick down to Nashville and mixed it Wolf ’s insistence toward Eskimo Snow (2009) FORMED
universal understanding. Well, Prater acknowledges the 2007 in Athens, GA a lot lately, [as well as] Willie
record to capitalize on a still- with my friend Mark Nevers. He excellence and willingness kind of. big difference between how he Nelson,” he says. “Anybody
buzzing fan base. has this distinct sound that he’s to admit mistakes keeps this ON THE WEB
“I want some homophobic originally saw the band and LABEL who writes a good song.”
The turnaround time is as done with artists like Silver Jews longtime musician focused and www.myspace.com/
whyanticon asshole to have to tell his friends its current style. He says Pride No label Right now, the band is busy
startling as the music inside, but and Bonnie Prince Billy, and I sharp. As Wolf notes, it’s usually he saw a badass band last night Parade’s sound changed and touring to promote the new
that comes as no surprise when thought this record has that sound the difficult choices that are the called Pride Parade,” Prater says. developed the longer the band LATEST RELEASE release. As far as the future is
considering the two projects or a kinship with those types of ones worth making. stake with each new project,” he Actually, the group’s powerful, worked together as musicians and Dose (2009) concerned, Prater says he isn’t
are “sister albums,” as Wolf calls artists. So I wanted to go to the “Sometimes you have to be continues. “I'm harder on myself unrelenting music doesn’t quite songwriters. In the beginning, he really sure what it holds, though
them. “We recorded Eskimo Snow source to mix with Mark.” honest with yourself and admit with each new record and feel ON THE WEB
mesh with its sunny, upbeat said, the band didn’t collaborate as www.myspace.com/pride- he’s eager to keep working with his
at the same time as Alopecia, and While pleased with Nevers' when it's not working like it that it has to be more and more name. So maybe homophobes much on songwriting. Once that fellow Pride Parade musicians.
they were split up according to work, Wolf explains that should be,” says Wolf. “You have parade69
of what it's supposed to be. When aren’t the only demographic that changed, the sound and energy of “The ultimate goal is to write,
the sounds and the ideas behind something still tugged at him to admit what needs to change I first made a tape in ’97 or so, Prater and his band mates enjoy their music changed right along record and play as much music
the songs. But they come from about the project. There wasn’t a for it to maintain its integrity it was just anything goes. It was messing with. with it. among rock artists. as we possibly can before we
the same sessions.” cohesion with Why?’s previous as a project. Sometimes that's a done because there's an hour and The band released its latest “As we kept playing together “I'm inspired by the same start hating each other and quit,”
Originally, Wolf says Eskimo work, and more detail work was to bitch and it takes a whole lot of a half of material to go on it and album Dose on September 30 and, and writing songs together we got things anybody else is inspired by Prater quips.
Snow was scheduled first, but be done. The question remained: reworking. I didn't want to mix that's all you thought. As time has like previous releases Descendants more and more dark and twisted,” — happiness, depression, social In reality, the likelihood of the
some internal misgivings on his What exactly was needed? Eskimo Snow all over again, but I gone on, I've been able to hone my and the EP V, it was self-released. Prater says. The result was “a anxiety disorder, binge drinking, band devolving into a hatefest is
part forced the band to consider “Coming away from that had to be honest with myself at editing skills and critical listening The Athens-based band — lot of anxiety music — manic life, the world, [the idea that] pills pretty small.
Alopecia instead. experience and listening to the some point and say, 'You know, skills, so I'm harder on things which also includes guitarists depression's a bitch; Hell is real.” are fun sometimes,” Prater says . “We’re pretty good friends,”
“I set that material aside for material, I couldn't help but feel it's just not done. It needs a lot than I've ever been in a way. That's Allen Owens and BJ Bracewell, All that darkness is influenced As far as being influenced by the Prater says. “Best friends, actually.
a second because I didn't know that it didn't sound like a Why? more work to it,' and we just had a good thing I think.” bassist Bubba McDonald and a great deal by life experience, work of other artists, Prater says We’ll see.”
what it needed,” he explains. “It record,” says Wolf. “It sounded to do it.” drummer Aaron Sims – has been which Prater says doesn’t, in and he and his band mates grew up
wasn't done, but I didn't know super-raw and under-produced, “I believe there’s more at — Matt Conner performing together for about of itself, make the band unique in the mid '90s, and, of course, — Amanda Cuda
DARE TO DEPEND
T H E G E O RG I A B A R
. . . a good place to drink
The Secret to
the Universe
LATEST RELEASE
with just two men and their Declaration of Dependence
guitars. Together again for (2009)
its third album, Declaration of
Dependence continues the Kings ON THE WEB
Athens, Georgia
of Convenience's crusade for www.kingsofconvenience.
all things delicate, mixing a com
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best, even if it causes battles
bliss. 159 W. Clayton St. 195 Paradise Blvd. * Athens, Ga. * 30607
between the two songwriters.
Answering questions about “We’re not very respectful (706) 546-9884
the new disc, Øye speaks in PHOTO: ASE HOLTE with the other’s ideas, so there’s
purposefully slow, thoughtful a lot of ‘That sucks. That’s ok.
responses, but can’t help but “When we started out doing this thing, I was really That’s good. That sucks. This
launch himself into a long- part could be something. That,
dependent on Eirik because he had a good voice, and I didn’t
winded discussion about that’s boring,’” Øye says. “So
dependence, and why it might yet. And he was dependent on me because he didn’t really have
you kind of have to fight for
not deserve the bad rep pop any kind of idea of how to bring his music out of the bedroom your ideas.”
culture has conjured for it. But now, through the making of this album, there was no Ultimately, the rigorous
“Well, if you are independent, longer this thing that we depended on each other anymore, writing process for Kings of
it also means that you are and that made it much more difficult.” Convenience, one seemingly
completely free. You have lots based on near-perfectionism,
of options. The Western world is one well suited to the band’s
now, you have so many options — Erland Øye, Kings of Convenience — acoustic, guitar-and-vocals-
that a lot of people are going only sound. And Øye says he
crazy,” he explains. “And if you to do it or not, if you want to be through the making of this is drawn to that sound because
are dependent on something, with this person.” album, there was no longer this there are no studio tricks to hide
you can face the world from Their declaration of thing that we depended on each imperfections or songwriting
that wall.” dependence, then, is the decision other anymore, and that made it mishaps.
But Øye’s musical relationship to stick together. Always a much more difficult.” “I like the idea of stripping
with Bøe is far less based on 50/50 partnership, their divided “We have to discuss down to the bone and getting
dependence than it once was. So lines of responsibility have now everything,” explains Øye, citing rid of unnecessary stuff. It’s
when they reconvened for album blurred, creating both more decisions from who should play like when you cover with just
number three, their partnership options, and greater difficulty the nylon guitar to who should a guitar a very produced song.
required an altogether different for the duo. helm lead vocals or take the high And the song is so good that it
reason to remain intact: because “When we started out harmonies, since both men are doesn’t really matter; it’s very
they wanted it to. doing this thing, I was really now capable of all three. “So it good with just one guitar,” he
“Back in the day, when I was dependent on Eirik because he was a lot more choices. Choices, says. “The songs have to be
really dependent on Eirik and had a good voice, and I didn’t choices, choices.” really good. The words have to
he was really dependent on me, yet. But together we sang really On top of the new decisions be really good if you do it on
it was much easier because, well, well. And he was dependent to be made, Øye and Bøe just guitars.”
we needed each other,” says on me because he didn’t really aren’t exactly known for their And, from these Kings, that’s
Øye. “And when you don’t need have any kind of idea of how cordiality while in the studio. something you can depend on.
somebody, well, then you have to bring his music out of the However, Øye admits that the
to constantly decide if you want bedroom,” says Øye. “But now, scathing constructive criticism — Natalie B. David
Advertised in advance as
Phil Elverum’s foray into black
metal, Wind’s Poem was figured
to be a harsh departure from
The Inner Banks Mount Eerie’s most recent spate
Songs From Disko Bay of eerily quiet releases. But, in
keeping with most of his body
Cool is an overused word, and I'm as guilty as anyone when it comes to usage. I'll drop the word in of work, Wind’s Poem is actually
conversation with the effect of an Altoid — trying to freshen an otherwise ordinary moment. So when more Neil Young than Xasthur,
I describe Songs From Disko Bay, the sophomore effort by Brooklyn's The Inner Banks (married couple as its emphasis on heavy
Caroline Schultz and David Gould accompanied instrumentally by a dozen others), as a “cool” album, it's guitar feedback and roaring distortion never gets in the way of a
not meant to be a trite assessment because I have nothing better to write. But then again, maybe I don't gentle turn of phrase and stark melody. That said, here Elverum
— I'm really on the fence here. clearly favors building texture over flexing his traditional singer-
The opening track, “Lemon Tree,” stirs this indecision. Galvanized by Schultz's angelic voice (a modern- songwriter muscles, as these songs are wrapped in wet sonic wool
day Julee Cruise if there ever was one), the music itself limps along at a tepid pace, an indifferent observer and layered in thick clouds of fuzz, from the windowpane rattling
to Schultz's soaring lyrics. Midway through, the song becomes a lingering instrumental with the feel of a shards of guitar in “The Hidden Stone” to the reverb-drenched
forfeit. “Pyramids” has the same disinterest (dare I say coolness), pulled solely by Schultz's dreamy cords. organ drones of “Through the Trees.” The mood is dark if not exactly
But as the music gets much better, with Gould boasting a host of inventive arrangements, Schultz becomes far too commonplace. threatening, a smoldering landscape where ominously corroded
“Tournament of Waves” and “Big Bang” are celebrations of sound — playful pianos, glockenspiels and violins — while Schultz, once the wow blasts of static-laden percussion lead to meditative keyboard
factor, becomes mundane after six songs of the same cadence and vocal structure. They seem aware of this, as subtle yet strong instrumentals movements, only to be swallowed up by the morass again. The
“Blame” and “Coda (Lemon Tree)” close the album. spirit of Young (particularly his work with Crazy Horse) hangs
“Disko Bay” is a dichotomy — when one part flourishes, the other fades, and this tug-o-war fractures an album full of promise. And hey, heavy in the album’s musty air, pronounced in the soft harmonies
that's cool. and reflective echoes of “Stone’s Ode” and the drifting, dirge-like
Or not. guitar tones of “Summons.” No doubt, all those heavy textures add
— Ed Morales up to a more massive sounding album, as there’s nothing in his
catalog aside from the Microphones’ landmark The Glow, Pt. 2 that
Lou Barlow compares to the monolithic hugeness of the textures he pieces
Goodnight Unknown together here. Those clamoring for a sequel should look no further.
— Matt Fink
Lou Barlow’s playing it fast and loose the second time ‘round. And the music’s all the better for it.
For the uninitiated, Barlow’s one of this generation’s under-the-radar pioneers. A founding member Boo Ray
of Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh and Folk Implosion, Barlow’s lo-fi techniques grated counter-culturally and Bad News Travels Fast
paved the way for many a future sound. His previous solo foray, 2005’s Emoh, ripped up his rock roots and
soaked them in acoustic glory – giving us perhaps our most tender look at Barlow the man. Boo Ray's Bad News Travels
Goodnight Unknown finds Barlow harder to pin down, because he’s much more musically interesting. Fast is like a book on tape you'd
“Gravitate” stomps a slightly distorted, Caribbean feel with a dreary accordion and industrial percussion like to pop in and never take out
filling out the rest. “Sharing” arrests from the outset with a straightforward Killers-vibe, while the title — a most agreeable companion
track provides the most plodding two minutes in indie rock. for most any situation. Much like
The acoustic guitar returns for “Faith in Your Heartbeat” and “Too Much Freedom,” the latter a Great the songwriter himself, these
Lake Swimmers’ confession of sorts that perfectly moves the album forward in tone and instrumentation. As Goodnight Unknown closes with songs are well-travelled and bear
the militant crash of “Don’t Apologize” and driving acoustics of “One Note Tone,” it’s clear Barlow’s not a torchbearer found in music’s past, the lofty weight of the southern
but a hero to look to for in its future as well. songwriter genre with great
— Matt Conner class and ease. At work here is a
combination of West coast glimmer, Nashville knowledge and the
free-loving grit of the southern blues. The Colin Linden (“O Brother
Lingo
Where Art Thou?”) co-penned “Bad News Travels Fast” is not just
Through The Scattered Trees
the perfect foot-stomping title track, but a perfect summation of
everything you need to know about this record's namesake in the
If the guys in Lingo were 10, 15, 20 year veterans of jam-rock, this album would be largely overlooked,
future. Bad news, good news, it doesn't matter — the news about
categorized as a solid collection, but nothing necessarily worth writing home about (oh, the perils of
Boo Ray is spreading quickly. Don't miss out.
southern blues/jam rock). But they’re not. The ages in the band read 22, 20, 20 and 20 — though from the
— Alec Wooden
music you would never know it. The execution is passable, though it’s not the highlight of the record —
that distinction belongs to the arranging and songwriting, two of the most oft-overlooked pillars of this
genre. Particularly on the middle stretch of the record (third track “You’re Lost” to sixth track “Agents”
showcases the best of the best here), with songs ranging from true southern ballads to damn-near brit What’s in your top 20
for 2009?
riff-rock, all expertly written and tastefully played. This stuff is rooted in a particular time a place, no doubt
(read: four 20-year-olds in Michigan aren’t going to make this record), which is a big selling point of the
band. They can, and likely will, find a nice home in the southern states if they stick to the pedigree which
they seem to understand quite well: sing when you need to, play when you need to, and don’t choke the chicken (that’s Southern for “don’t Athens Blur is collecting reader data on your Top
overdo it,” right?) Only one song on Trees breaks the 7:00 mark, which is a big deal for a “jam” band. Not overcooked but full of substance, 20 albums of 2009. Review, rank ‘em and submit to
keep an eye out for Lingo in the calendar year to come. editorial@athensblur.com by November 1!
—Alec Wooden (albums MUST be ranked #1-#20, and include a
one sentence reason for your choice at #1!)
22 ATHENS BLUR MAGAZINE
MUSIC ALBUM REVIEWS
No Age
Losing Feeling EP
There’s a wave of excitement that accompanies the oncoming layers of No Age’s latest EP, Losing
Feeling. The stunning guitar work, ambient distortion, solid percussion and indie rock flavors slowly
scroll forward a la the “Star Wars” intro until the familiar sounds from Nouns engulfs the listener
fully with the lead-out title track.
Sub Pop’s darling duo deserves every ounce of attention it's received thus far — from its obnoxious
debut (five different EPs released on five different labels with each covering a different letter of the
band’s name — all dropping on the same day) to the heralded LP Nouns. Now, Losing Feeling only
continues the journey it's begun, adding a couple unique elements to tide us over until the next
release.
The aforementioned Losing Feeling conjures The Walkmen at their best, but it’s “Genie” that stands
out for its faux acoustic core. The song finds beauty within No Age’s typical distortion and heart within its sometimes cold, calculated layers.
“Aim at the Airport” and “You’re a Target” close out Losing Feeling, with the former a fairly forgettable instrumental that’s simply a
complex outro from “Genie” and a soothing way into “Target.” It’s here on the last track that Randy Randall and Dean Allen Spunt find
their adrenaline rush, make their mark and leave the listener absolutely panting for more.
—Matt Conner
Give it up for Abby Parks, an artful Arguably the most widely ridiculed
writer and guitarist with a voice that musician in the history of popular music, her
could very well part the sea of kudzu name shorthand for everything pretentious
leading out of Jacksonville, Ala. With and unlistenable, Yoko Ono has experienced
her latest CD, The Homeplace, Abby a remarkable rehabilitation over the past
doesn’t hang her hat on just one peg decade. Long celebrated in the avant garde
but shows this is indeed her album underground for the very qualities that
musically, vocally and lyrically—quite made most listeners despise her, a new
the trifecta, and she scores on all generation of indie rockers came together in
points. 2007 on Yes, I’m a Witch, providing backing
Abby’s a storyteller, often throwing David Nail I’m About to Come Alive tracks to vintage Ono vocals and proving
in a dash of melancholy, which puts just how ingenious and imaginative her best
Homeplace in company with one of my What makes a country artist these days? pop songs actually were. As if rejuvenated
most oft-played CDs, All About Eve’s Apparently, good looks, a pair of jeans, a by the experience, Ono now revives the
Scarlet and Other Stories, but with a t-shirt and a pouty “lone wolf” cover photo Plastic Ono Band, the act that she co-lead
twist of American Gothic. will do the trick. To hell with talent and with John Lennon after the Beatles’ demise,
Standouts on Homeplace include the originality. Even the title track is a Train substituting son Sean for his late father. The
opening title track, an upbeat recount cover that sounds exactly like the original result is startling, a rollicking return to her
of exploring an abandoned house (one of my peeves — what’s the point?!) most spirited and immediate '70s work, from
that’s rumored to hide a treasure, and Nail has a good voice, but it’s nothing you the scorched earth freakout of “Waiting for
“Chantilly,” an acoustic ballad that haven’t heard before. the D Train” to the free form funk of “Ask
showcases her mesmerizing vocals and Individually, the songs hold their own, the Elephant!” and the richly textured
intricate guitar work — both of which but collectively, it’s a one-note woe-fest freak-folk of “Healing.” Having largely
she controls with affecting precision. about lost love or leaving a small town worked in the dance sub-genre since her last
The rest of this album ebbs and or both. The standout is “Mississippi,” an full-length, 2001’s hit-or-miss Blueprint for
flows with engaging, moody melodies,
though she hits on some themes
ode to its musically historical namesake Sunrise, here the 76-year-old Ono sounds
genuinely invigorated to be playing with a
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and one worth downloading. “Red Light”
and metaphors that might raise an
eyebrow, as in “Caves.” Then again, two
semesters of English Lit flew over my
has rightfully garnered some airplay, but
after sitting through all 11 songs a few
times, it finally hit me — this album has
live rock band, unleashing her infamous
vocal ululations as if she were Ornette
Coleman blowing his sax and maintaining
www.gamefly.com/print
head, too, so apparently poetic aptitude
isn’t my strong suit. But nobody will
no balls! Not a single foot-stomping, beer-
spilling “Girl, get in my truck!” anthem.
a high level of energy as the album drifts
through synth-pop, piano ballads and
ENTER CODE: NEWS65
mistake Miss Parks for being part of No fiddles or finger-picking solos that psychedelic riff-rock. As always, there are a
the uninspired brood of coffeehouse country fans have come to expect. In fact, number of new agey platitudes and cringe-
acoustic acts. Her blend of musicality Mr. Nail doesn’t even play guitar! And he worthy truisms about peace, clean water
gives that relaxing sense of something only [co] wrote four songs. But hey, he’s a and love, but even those eccentricities add
familiar, but she's original enough to handsome guy, so I’m sure his female fan depth to a thoroughly enjoyable whole, the
make you wonder where the next song base will keep him around, just like they sort of album that even her haters should *New members only. Free trial valid in the 50 United States only, and cannot be combined with any other offer. Limit one per household. First-time customers only. Internet access and valid payment
will take you. have another almost-talent, Taylor Swift. find hard not to like. method required to redeem offer. GameFly will begin to bill your payment method for the plan selected at sign-up at the completion of the free trial unless you cancel prior to the end of the free trial. Plan
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— Phil Pyle —Phil Pyle —Matt Fink
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
1993 – Public Enemy’s Flavor 1977 - Ozzy Osbourne 1991 - Randy Jackson is
Flav is arrested for allegedly 1991 - Eric Carr of KISS 1961 - The Everly
quits Black Sabbath. 1991 - Frank Zappa sentenced to one month in
trying to shoot another 1970 - The Doors make its last dies of cancer at age 41. Brothers are sworn
He would rejoin after a is diagnosed with jail for violating probation
man in a dispute over a appearance with Jim Morrison. Carr joined the group into the Marine Corps
few weeks before later prostate cancer related to charges of beating
woman. He is later charged in 1982 as Peter Criss’ Reserves.
quitting again. his wife the year before.
with attempted murder and 1987 - Sly Stone is arrested for replacement.
reckless endangerment. nonpayment of child support when 1966 - The Jimi Hendrix
1998 - Liam Gallagher 1967 – The first 1994 - David Crosby gets a
he arrives for his “comeback” concert 1991 - Freddie Mercury Experience makes its
of Oasis is arrested on issue of Rolling liver transplant.
1994 - Nirvana’s “MTV in L.A. of Queen dies at age 45 London debut at the Bag
charges of attacking Stone hits stands
Unplugged” performance is of complications from O’ Nails Club.
a photographer with John Lennon 1987 - U2 opens for itself by
released as “MTV Unplugged AIDS. 1969 - The “Save Rave
and damaging his on the cover. pretending to be a country-
in New York.” 1986 - Metallica performs its first 1976 - Queen’s “Somebody ‘69” benefit concert,
equipment. concert with Jason Newstead. rock group called The Dalton
1998 - Rick James 1889 - The first jukebox To Love” is released. thrown to aid the youth
Brothers during a Los Angeles culture magazine
1974 – Becoming the first is hospitalized is debuted in at The
1973 - Gram Parsons’ 2005 – “Guitar Hero” is released in concert. “Rave,” takes place in
Beatle to attempt a national after suffering Palais Royale Saloon in 1997 – Singer Bjork is
manager Phil Kaufman North America. San Francisco. admitted to an Icelandic London.
solo tour, George Harrison a stroke when 1995 - The Rolling Stones
is fined $300 for a blood vessel hospital with a high fever.
hits the road for the first time become the first act to 1988 – LL Cool J
stealing Parsons’ body ruptured in his 1973 - Jerry Lee Lewis, Jr. is 1998 - Donald Bohana is The resulting diagnosis of a
in eight years. broadcast a concert via the performs the first rap
shortly after his death. neck a week before killed in a highway accident in sentenced to 15 years to kidney infection forces her
Kaufman claimed that Internet.
2003 - Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs in Denver. Mississippi. life in prison for her role to cancel most remaining
it was Parson’s wish to in the drowning death tour dates.
raises $2 million dollars for be cremated. 1997 - The musical “The Lion of Delores “DeeDee”
charity by running in the 1979 - Chuck Berry is released
New York City Marathon, King” opens. from a California prison after Jackson — Tito Jackson’s 1968 - The Who releases its
1975 - The Sex Pistols ex-wife. first concert record, “The
finishing in 4 hours, 14 doing time for income tax
makes its live debut at Who Sell Out.”
minutes and 54 seconds. evasion.
St. Martin’s School of
Art in London. 1900 – American 1956 – Legendary big
1990 - Milli Vanilli is stripped 1995 - Sammy Hagar and
1957 – Jerry Lee Lewis composer Aaron band leader Tommy
of its Grammy because other model Kari Karte tie the
releases “Great Balls of Fire” 1978 – Boston (the band) Copland is born. Dorsey dies.
singers had lent their voices knot.
on Sun Records. performs its first show in
1990 - The Who’s Pete to the “Girl You Know It’s True” 1999 – Boy band
Boston (the city). album.
1995 - Hootie and the Townshend confesses sensation 98 Degrees Hey! You! Ya, you! The one reading this! Be
Blowfish and Bob Dylan reach 1998 – Amazon.com forms to Newsweek that he performs and sells sure to check back in the next issue, out
an out of court settlement in “Advantage For Music,” a is bisexual. some exclusive band December 1, for a special “all-decade” music
a lawsuit over the group’s use tool for unsigned artists and merchandise on the history selection, featuring only the best from
of Dylan’s lyrics in their song independent labels to sell Home Shopping 2000-2009. You’ll be amazed at what you’ve
“Only Want To Be With You.” music online. Network. forgotten!
Revamping My Choir
they’re fans of the band, to have the band drop out and have the shows just be about the
audience.”
If you’re keeping score at home, that’s a fan-reviewed album I’m Going Away and a fan-
performed album Silent Record. What comes next is, naturally, a fan-written album.
At shows during the past year or two, the Fiery Furnaces asked members of the audience
to pass to the stage whatever bits of trash they might have in their pockets: movie tickets,
Fiery Furnaces on how to subvert the expectation of unexpectedness dry cleaning stubs, fast food receipts, whatever. The band’s goal is to turn these bits of
prosaic ephemera into an album, not just from gleaning lyrics from the text but also
by ADAM CLAIR depending on their level of acrimony. It’s easy to label a band like the Fiery from turning serial numbers and account balances into chord progressions and rhythm
At least one half of the Furnaces calls it Furnaces as simply “different for the sake patterns.
The Fiery Furnaces have a reputation “casual,” a decidedly new style for a band of being different.” It’s also a bit unfair. The aptly titled Democ-Rock — an album by the people, for the people — should be out
for quirkiness. Through a career that has who has dabbled in a lot of them. While Friedberger is intent on keeping in the summer. The band has 15 or 16 songs ready and hasn’t ruled out adding more, but
thus far seen the release of records like “We can’t make the same record every things interesting superficially, he’s also Friedberger insists he isn’t just outsourcing.
the conceptually globetrotting Blueberry time,” Matthew Friedberger says. “That driven by making sure there’s some depth, “It’s not fair to make the fans of the band actually write the songs and send them to you,
Boat, the backmask-laden Bitter Tea, the would be cheating.” too. It’s just that this time, the band wanted making them work,” he says “It has to be automatic or inattentive writing on their part.”
geriatrically narrated Rehearsing My Choir So each time the Furnaces make a record to let the listeners do some of the work. Not that he’s afraid to challenge people, not even at the risk of alienating them.
and Remember, the “live” album cobbled — and I’m Going Away is the band’s eighth “We wanted this record to be “As a rock band, you have to change,” Friedberger says. “You have to be more willing to
together from countless shows over the — they have to do something new, which is unelaborated, to make people have to do displease the people who like you than to please them. You have to make things that people
course of three years, maybe that reputation of course dependent almost solely on what the work themselves,” he says. “They have want to come to, as opposed to things that go to people and give them the equivalent of
is deserved. they’ve already done. Nearly a decade of to elaborate it themselves in their own a backrub and say ‘please love me.’ There’s a difference between setting up an expectation
But when everyone begins to expect the quirkiness cleared the path, important to imaginations. A lot of people prefer that.” and trying to fulfill it and setting up an expectation and then having it be a little surprise.
unexpected — and looking at the “deaf both the band and to its listeners. This, it seems, is the key to the Fiery The pleasure comes from the surprise, as opposed to the fulfillment of the expectation.”
descriptions,” fan-written reviews of the “We wouldn’t have felt free to make Furnaces modus operandi: challenging This, Friedberger says, is the drama of being a fan, hoping the band sticks to what drew
Furnaces’ newest record written before any this record if we hadn’t set up people’s listeners in a way that ultimately rewards you to them but changes enough to avoid getting stale. He was mum on what other plans
fans had heard the album, that’s what no expectations with the records we’ve made them. the band has — though it definitely has other plans — but he was clear that despite all the
small number of people expected from I’m in the past,” the male Friedberger says. “To In the past, it has been records that were territory the Fiery Furnaces have covered in their career so far, they’re constantly looking
Going Away — what’s a band to do? people who have never heard the band, this sonically dense and lyrically prolix. On for new ground to cover.
If you’re the Fiery Furnaces, you will sound very conventional, and that’s I’m Going Away, it has been by offering “Unless you’re a band like the Ramones and you just have this one thing that you do and
release a record this summer that, since good and bad. But for people who know much sparser arrangements and letting — you have to get the message out, it’s traditional to change,” Friedberger says. “That’s what
actually hearing it, listeners have called the band, hopefully, it’ll be funny, both or forcing — listeners to fill in the blanks would be sincere, that you would try something a little different each time. If you didn’t,
straightforward, generic or boring, amusing and a little bit queer.” themselves. that would be strange.” B
30 ATHENS BLUR MAGAZINE
PHoto: alexa lambros
innocuous Daisy, but this flower has thorns and burrs aplenty. Brand
New has never been exactly what you would call a “happy” band with
a catalog’s worth of Holden Caulfield-inspired melodrama, emo
loneliness and breakup angst making up their repertoire, and Daisy,
too, follows its well-traveled path of dark catharsis. If its preceding
album was the sound of the devil and God duking it out, then Daisy
is undoubtedly the sound of the former’s victory.
Adding to the gloom, mixed in amongst searing guitars, analogies
to being broken down cars and metaphors of being burned alive are
archival sounding clips of a Baptist minister recorded in the 1960s.
Pulled from tapes Lacey found at an estate sale, the snippets of
sermons and hymns incorporates a definite sense of creepiness to the
overwhelmingly bleak affair.
However, unlike many bands that have lengthy tales of woe to
precede its darkest discs, the enveloping blackness on Daisy is just as
inexplicable to the guys who created it.
“It’s interesting because the last record we were all in darker places
than we were during this record. The last record we had a lot of things
to sort out internally and externally, and this time wasn’t like that at
all,” says Lane. “A lot of death wasn’t surrounding us like last time
and we weren’t away from home and we didn’t go through living in
other places.”
He continues, “None of us can probably really explain why it was
darker, it just turned out that way.”
One option, though Lane seems skeptical, is that lead guitarist
Accardi took a larger role in the songwriting for Daisy than for
previous albums. Always an integral part of the Brand New writing
team, this time around he took more turns at bat, writing lyrics
and lending his harsh scream to lead vocal duties more often, most
notably on the scathing, blistering album opener “Vices.”
Composition-wise, Daisy also stays truer to the sound of Brand
New’s live performance. Whereas in the past, songs were written in-
studio and figured out live afterward, for Daisy, the band worked
backwards, thinking through how the songs would be played live first
ten Drivin’n’
QUESTIONS: Cryin’
by Jennifer Gibson photo by ruth letiman
Athens Blur Magazine (ABM): First thing's first: was a really big proponent of being American made, back when Sam
Drivin’ n’ Cryin’ hasn’t released a full-length Walton was running it. When he passed away it became a Chinese
record of new material since 1997. What took clearing house, basically. I took my granddaughter to the Dollar
so long? Tree one day, and we were looking at bubbles, and it said, “Made in
Kevn Kinney (KK): Well, we didn’t think anybody was really China.” And I thought, “Wow, these bubbles came a long way. 'Made
waiting. I’d been making solo records, everybody kind of went in China.' Why can’t they make these in Dalton, Ga.?” So it’s just a
their own way for a while. I had a band with Dave [V. Johnson] the conversation about how it’s obviously cheaper to make automobiles
drummer. I wanted to try some different things. I just really didn’t and televisions across seas, and maybe the technology over there
feel like it was ready until we all had some presence in it. I really for what they do will make it more economical for us to own things
wanted to do it right. I really wanted to have a publicist. I wanted to like that, but what about garments? The millworks, the garment
have some sort of machine behind it. It just took a while for interest factories of the South. I was talking to some buddies, and I said I’d
to be definite and to see that it’s a big deal, because it’s a big deal to pay an extra $15 or $20 for a shirt to be made in South Carolina of
do this. I want to treat it with the proper amount of respect. I don’t South Carolina-made cotton. It’s about, you know, bringing back
want to just keep churning records out just to do it. So this fellow in some place to work in this country besides just Googling and doing
Atlanta says, “Hey, man, we’d love to help you pay for a record. We the best we can to sell our services. There’s got to be more to do
want to go full bore on it. We want to hire a publicist and hire a real than just bartending, or singing songs on stage. There’s got to be
company to distribute it.” I was like, “OK cool.” I didn’t just want to something.
pay for it myself. I could do that. I could pay for it myself. We could
make a cover and we could let it trickle out there and sell it at shows, ABM: You’ve said that this record is “the
but I didn’t want to do that. I wanted to wait until we had some sort perfect crescendo to a long 20-plus year
of support system in place. career of Drivin’ n’ Cryin’. I think we’ve found
the true essence of what we started to build
ABM: The title of your new record is The Great back in 1985.” What is it about this record that
American Bubble Factory. What exactly is gives you that feeling?
that? KK: It goes back to what we were doing. The musical styles are
KK: It’s the starting point of a conversation I had with somebody back to what we know, some hard rock mixed with traditional
about factories and corporations in America not making things in Americana. We had a couple in the '80s and '90s that I think were
America. If you can remember back when Wal-Mart first started, it self-help kind of records, I guess like armchair psychology, end of
“we never do
KK: Our friend that was in the assembly is not in the assembly any
more. He retired to raise his kids. He’s a juvenile court judge now in
PATRON are so
afraid
to write
SAINTS torch
songs
or love
OF FOR THEIR
SIXTH ALBUM,
songs
...and I
hate that
POPby
Natalie B. David
TEGAN AND SARA
FIND FAITH IN
– AND OUT –
OF LOVE.
because I
love love
songs.
photo: pamela littky
For some
books became a team effort between Tegan and
Sara, their management and close friends, with
everyone taking turns writing, copyediting and
reason, if
finessing the minutiae of publishing.
“We all learned a ton about publishing and
shipping and the differences between copyright
a woman or
and publishing in the written world and the
music world,” says Sara of the experience. “I
mean, we’re geeks. We basically decided that this
an indie rock
was fascinating and we really sort of immersed
ourselves in it.”
The three books chronicle the past year in the
band sings
lives of Tegan and Sara: “ON” and “AT” similarly
document a U.S. tour from October 2008 and an
Australian tour from January 2009 with photos,
about love or
essays and journals written by tour mates and
repertoire, although not apparent on Sainthood,
members of the band, amongst other goodies.
she began to almost exclusively listen to the
The middle book, “IN,” captures a songwrit-
sounds of Motown, old French records and hip
it’s sort of
Spawned from a conversation with a musician
song. Every Supremes song is a love song. Every
friend undergoing a rather difficult recording
hip hop song is a love song. And I started to feel
process, Sara looked back at her own songwrit-
like, you know what? There is nothing embar-
assigned a
ing past, realizing that it had been years since
rassing about wanting to sing your heart out
she had felt intimidated or challenged by the
about your heart.”
creative process having rarely strayed from her
It’s true, the love song has been maligned as
lesser value
solo ways.
the ultimate rock ‘n’ roll cliché. A subject both
“It occurred to me that the scariest thing I
accepted and expected in mainstream circles, in
could do was put myself in a room with anyone
other genres, especially in indie rock, wearing
than if you
and write; it didn’t have to just be Tegan,” she
your heart on your sleeve in flashing, neon lights
is often considered an ultimate taboo. Sure, most
bands do it — they just don’t talk about it.
“For some reason, if a woman or an indie rock
band sings about love or gets a bit too emo about
love,” she says, “it’s sort of assigned a lesser value
than if you sing cryptically about love in this
way that is seen as more heroic or more stoic or
something like that.”
Tegan and Sara’s offbeat-yet-user-friendly
take on love has certainly resonated with a wide-
ranging flock of music fans. As a special treat
to please Tegan and Sara devotees, the duo also
created a three book boxed series to accompany
Sainthood. The project, entitled “ON, IN, AT” was
created as an alternative to a more video-cen-
tric endeavor (the duo has two DVDs — 2006’s
touring documentary “It’s Not Fun, Don’t Do
It” and 2007’s “The Con — The Movie”), and a
way for the sisters Quin to offer fans an experi-
‘‘
sing cryptically
about love in
this way that
is seen as
more heroic.
clarifies. “I realized that I had gone about 10
(CONTINUED ON PG. 56)
sara
By Sarah A. McCarty
S
itting in an office surrounded by gold and platinum RIAA Sales Awards,
PAIN
Sitting in an office surrounded
thanking by gold
radio for selling and platinum
millions and millions RIAA Sales Awards
of recordings of artists,
thanking radio for selling millions and millions of recordings of artists, Kevin
Kevin Steele, program manager for Athens radio station Magic 102.1 sends
an e-mail explaining why he thinks the current actions of those same record
Steele, program
companies and manager
their artistsfor
who Athens radio gratitude
once showed station Magic
are now102.1 sendstheanradio
threatening
email correspondence
industry explaining
– an industry with a dynamic why he full
history thinks theandcurrent
of ups downs. actions of those
same record
Nearlycompanies
one-hundredand yearstheir
sinceartists who
the first once
U.S. showed
licensed gratitude
commercial are now
broadcasting
station hit the airwaves, proposed legislation that calls for radio stations to pay performing
threatening thechange
artists could radiotheindustry – an
face of the industry
industry once with
again.a dynamic history full of ups
and downs.
“Now that we’re in the digital age, all those years of support from radio stations don’t
seem to matter anymore,” Steele said of the players on the other side of the line who
support what he calls the “potentially detrimental legislation.”
Nearly In one hundred years since the first U.S. licensed commercial
February, Representative John Conyers, (D-MI) introduced HR 848 Performance
broadcasting
Rights Act intostation hit thewhich
Congress, airwaves, proposed
would require radiolegislation
stations to paythat callswhen
artists for they
radio
stations to pay performing artists could change the face of the industry once
play their music.
House resolution 848 again. According to opencongress.org, the Performance Rights Act and the similar S. 379
performing “Now
in the Senate, would amend federal copyright law to grant performers of sound recordings
equal rights to compensation from terrestrial broadcasters. For broadcast stations with
that we’reofinless the than
digital age, all those years of support from public radio
rights act
gross revenues $1.25 million and for noncommercial, broadcast
stations don’t seem to matter anymore,” Steele said of the players on the fee
stations such as University of Georgia’s WUOG, the act would establish a flat annual
in lieu of payment of royalties. An exemption from royalty payments would be granted
other
forside of theofline whoservices
support what he calls usesthe “potentially detrimental
is looking out
broadcasts religious and for incidental of musical sound recordings.
legislation.”
Although the act has been considered by committee and recommended to be considered
by the House, it has not yet been put to a vote. If the bill does eventually get passed,
for the artist. some say it could have serious effects on radio stations throughout the country, which is
In February,
causing a lotRepresentative
of controversy andJohn pittingConyers,
people like(D-MI) introduced
Steele against HR 848 and
many organizations
Performance Rights Act into Congress, which would require radio stations to
but does it have famous recording
pay artists when
Backing
artists.
thethey
proposedplaylegislation
their music.
are several organizations, politicians and recording
artists including the Recording Industry Association of America, the American Federation
the potential to of Television and Radio Artists, the American Association of Independent Music,
According to opencongress.org,
Academy, Georgia the PerformanceHank Rights
JohnsonAct and and the
shut down
The Recording representative the musicFIRST
similar S. 379
coalition in the by
supported Senate,
a widewould
range of amend federal
performers suchcopyright law to grant
as Bruce Springsteen, Dave
performers of sound recordings equal rights to compensation from terrestrial
Matthews Band, Jay-Z, Andrea Bocelli and Amy Grant.
the airwaves?
In a press release, Rep. Johnson, like many supporters of the performance royalties,
broadcasters. Foranbroadcast
said it is merely stations
act of fairness. Radiowith gross
stations revenues
currently of less
pay writers thanroyalties,
of songs $1.25
million andperformers.
for noncommercial,
“This bill is notpublic broadcast stationsThesuch
realityasisUniversity
This is the
but not an attack on broadcasters. that artists
of Georgia’s
get paid forWUOG,
the use of the theiract would
music on allestablish a flat annual
other platforms, such as thefeeInternet,
in lieu satellite,
of
and cable, but they do not get any compensation when their work is played over AM and
payment of royalties. An exemption from royalty payments would be granted
story of
FM radio stations,” Johnson says.
for broadcasts
In the sameof religious services and(Fairness
sense, the musicFIRST for incidental
in Radio uses of musical
Starting sound
Today) coalition
recordings.
says on its website it is “committed to making sure everyone, from up-and-coming artists
to our favorites from years-ago, is guaranteed Fair Pay for Air Play.”
Although the act has been considered by committee and recommended to
radio’s fight
In committee hearings before the 111th Congress, Billy Corgan of The Smashing
be considered by theonHouse,
Pumpkins testified behalf ofitmusicFIRST
has not yetand beensaid,put to aa big
“I am vote.fan If
of the
radio, bill
anddoes
am
eventually get passed,
very interested some say
in its continued it could
health have serious
and well-being. effects
Terrestrial onhas
radio radio stations
helped me
br oa
usic fo
outspoken organization Cox Media Group a billion dollars in CD and download sales songwriters and owners of the music. The
m
lk for
many myndicated t
that owns Magic 102.1, say that it threatens for record labels annually.” performance tax would be an added fee that
the industry and claim it is not fair Though recording companies and many broadcasters can’t afford to pay,” he a
compensation but actually a tax for airing many performers say that while it is still said. “Therefore, many music formatted
s
free music.
Many people in the radio industry
important, traditional radio broadcasts of
their music is not as significant as it once
stations will either go to syndicated talk
formats or just go dark.”
go to of Georgia. In
the beginning, most stations went to a
refute the argument that it is only fair to was. During his testimony, Corgan said, Some supporters say the fees won’t m u s i c strictly music format, with some news and
pay for the use of songs the artists perform “If the performance of a song has value force any stations to close, but Steele programs, serial soap operas, sports talk programs, but there was a lot of
because the airplay received is beneficial to a particular terrestrial radio station disagrees. “These added fees will no doubt albums mysteries, dramas, comedy shows and overlap as more and more stations came on
to the artists. Some radio supporters recall in its airing, I believe it is only right to bring many independent broadcasters (the music was the product). news. Although music was not the primary the scene, according to Hollifield. “As TV
the infamous Payola scandals, saying record compensate those performers who have to their knees, virtually shutting down Now, artists distribute music in order product in early radio, some record became a more powerful competitor, radio
companies depend on airplay so much created this work. If a station plays a song, many local and community oriented radio to drive demand for their tours (the live companies reportedly feared the medium really reinvented itself in the late 1960s and
they once reportedly bribed and paid disc both the author and the performer should stations,” he said. performance is the product). It won't be at the onset as competition providing early 70s to a format-type in very narrow
jockeys to broadcast the songs of their be paid. These particular performances must While Magic is a larger station, Steele long before most music is free, or nearly a free product while others saw it as a niches such as top 40, classical and jazz
artists to promote the music. National have value to the stations or they wouldn’t said he did believe if the legislation passes, free anyway,” Elkins said. Large touring acts means for promotion of music. A court stations as opposed to just general mixes of
Association of Broadcasters Executive Vice be playing them.” many of the community services provided will still make the big bucks, which makes ruling eventually granted copyright owners music,” Hollifield said. She said when cable
President Dennis Wharton touted airplay However, Steele says the royalties by the Cox stations would be greatly the idea of royalties seem disconnected compensation and the American Society TV entered the game and there was
of songs in a press release when he wrote, would put many stations in danger. “All affected by the added cost. and trivial by comparison, according to of Composers, Authors and Publishers
“Every week, radio airplay reaches 235 radio stations pay publishing companies Tony Kidd, vice president/market Elkins. He said he sees fees as a method for (ASCAP) began collecting licensing fees. (continued ON PG. 57)
HAPPY HAPPY
the first African-American head of state – but perhaps the bands help each other out. If you don’t think you can help a fellow
lovely
in today’s detached, 24-hour Bunnygrunt. “They realize
news cycle world, it’s a heady that the alternative to doing
achievement. Especially for stuff is not doing stuff and
I
of my zine Bee’s Knees. The
friendships, imagination
a wide variety of stuff. I’ve
collection of 15 singles was never really put out a noise
culled from contacts and friends
I
his venture was to become. bands named The Smittens,
t’s an August night in Athens’ Caledonia Lounge as the crowd, amid their delight, can see what’s And now, a decade later, the Afternoon Naps and The
one-off “joke” has grown to an Lolligags, but a closer look
and Holly Ross, lead singer/guitarist of UK’s unfolding. With each hit, the tom leg inches closer industrious enterprise. HHBTM at the catalogue shows
Lovely Eggs, is holding court atop the dimly- and closer and closer to the floor. claims more than 100 albums, elements of Americana,
lit stage. With a drum mallet in one hand and There’s trouble ahead. a stable of bands of various MIKE TURNER POSES AT WUXTRY RECORDS, HIS OTHER ATHENS LOVE 1960s power pop and
a PBR in the other, she watches fellow bandmate Standing near the stage is Nate Mitchell, drummer musical genres, an annual five- photo: wes elkin psychedelic-folk reminiscent
(and husband) David Blackwell set an unstable, rust- for Cars Can Be Blue. Just as the tom topples, he day festival featuring 80-100 of Elephant 6.
bands from all over the world,
colored floor tom aside the front monitor. rushes over and holds it steady as Holly keeps “The first CD I put out was by the artist Birddog, which was more
and a belief that taking chances and cherishing a personal, homemade Americana,” Turner said. “The record had Elliott Smith on it, Paul K
“This is a song about an amazing guy we know who blasting away. Two other people lend a hand, and the feel can not only attract a fan base, but grow one as well. from Paul K and the Weathermen, Edith Frost, Glenn Kotche from
draws octopuses and owls,” she says while swigging song, lasting less than a minute, is saved. “Everyone I’ve met associated with HHBTM have been really nice Wilco, so the first actual artist CD that I put out was Americana music.
the beer, “it’s called ‘Jon Carling’.” And she’s off, Mike Turner, the founder of Happy Happy and genuinely enthusiastic about our band and the other bands on The second one was The Visitations with Davey Wrathgabar, who I
banging the mallet against the tom with all her Birthday to Me records and the man who made this the label,” said Tom DeChristofaro, whose band Afternoon Naps knew because of the E6 connection, so I really got into that scene.
might. moment possible, watches a few feet away. He smiles. is a recent addition to the HHBTM family. “He’s actually releasing Then the Gwens were kind of another sub E6 affiliate band . . . and
our debut, and as with all the current releases, Mike has pre-order then as things went on I had an Ashley Park record, which is more ’60s
“I know an artist and he draws about owls/He Bands helping bands. That’s what this 10 years is specials the early bird fans can order and in return they get something pop.
knows about birds/He draws about owls” she croons all about. special with the album. We pitched him the idea of wrapping it in a
silkscreened pillowcase and he loved it. Little things like that make it continued
46 ATHENS BLUR MAGAZINE ATHENS BLUR MAGAZINE 47
musici
CO
gear guide
“There’s a time from 2002 to 2003 where all the things that came dance music, and by the third year it’s Mountain Goats, Deerhoof and
out were Americana,” Turner continued. “It wasn’t Elephant 6, it
wasn’t pop, it was very much roots oriented acoustic music — folky
Apples in Stereo. None of the people fit the twee pop thing, but to a
rock audience, it’s very much a twee festival. To an indie pop or twee RNER
an
’
’60s based. And right after that there may have been more like
psychedelic pop stuff, which led to the twee pop.”
pop element, this is a rock festival, which is really frustrating because
I like a lot of stuff. But you can’t change the way people think about it
or write about it so you just have to let it go.”
s
And it was at the time of more twee when Turner, living in Panama
City, Fla. decided to take a chance
T
on creating a music festival — 400 he music business as it is
miles away in Athens. Set to play nowadays, sometimes having
at Tasty World and the 40 Watt
Club, Popfest 2004 saw the 50 or
a label doesn’t make much sense. Fender Sub-Lime Bass Fuzz Pedal
For this reason, Turner takes a
so bands (including Sunshine Fix nontraditional approach in who The Fender Sub-Lime Bass Fuzz Pedal resurrects classic Fender fuzz tone from the 1960s
and the Rosebuds) play four days he chooses to work with, and once and ’70s—a distinctively dirty sound that fueled a thousand garage bands and put buzz-saw bass
and nights in early August. they’re onboard, how he markets and tone beneath everything from Bowie-esque glam to the most snarling punk. In short, it’s the re-
Turner moved to town just in introduces them to the world. turn of an epic rock sound.
time for the festival’s festivities. “It’s always up in the air,” he said. Added to the signal path between your bass and your speakers, the Sub-Lime Bass Fuzz Pedal gives you
“I thought, you know what, “If someone doesn’t like how it easily dialed-in classic Fender fuzz ranging from the barest hint of buzz to an all-out seismic roar. A ma-
I’m just going to put together a goes, they’re free to go. There’s no jor modern touch is that the tone can be tailored by setting the crossover frequency wherever you want the ef-
festival,” Turner said, laughing. real signing on, there’s no contract. fect to happen—low-frequency fuzz, high-frequency fuzz and anything in between—without sacrificing all-
“I’d been visiting Athens and I fell Sometimes I wish there were — important low-end muscle and fundamental bass tone.
in love with it . . . I made friends there’s been times where I wish
with people who were putting I would have had that because at
out records at that time. So I just least the interest of the label would
moved up here and put together a
festival with no real job. The first
be protected. But at the same time Monster Turbine PRO High Performance In-Ear Speakers
at times it’s good there weren’t
year of the festival was a success contracts signed. It’s so easy for Whether you’re a professional audio engineer or a demanding audiophile, attaining perfect sound reproduction
in that it went off.” bands to do it on their own anyway, doesn’t matter a little—it’s all that matters. That’s why Monster brings you a higher level music listening expe-
With Eric Hernandez at sometimes I don’t even know where rience with Turbine Pro professional in-ear speakers. Turbine Pros were engineered to deliver bass so deep, it’s
his side as the festival’s stage the label exists at some point.” like a subwoofer in your ears, plus reproduce the clarity, detail and dynamic range of
manager (he also does artwork for When the label started, he added the finest studio monitors or audiophile reference loudspeakers.
the label), Turner knew he had a musicians and bands he met while Turbine Pro reproduces all genres of music with incredible musicality and accuracy: Whether
good idea, but with several kinks putting together Bee’s Knees — it’s the deep rhythm sounds of hip hop, the intimacy of a jazz trio, or the thunderous power of
to work out. Birddog, Visitations, Kingsauce. But a full-scale orchestra. You’ll rediscover your favorite music, hearing things that you didn’t even
“I learned everything not to now Turner — aside from getting know were there.
do, then it was trying to fix that a healthy host of letters and MP3s
and make back the money that via e-mails (which he promptly
was lost,” Turner said. “It was deletes) — brings bands into the fold
frustrating at the end because it
really wasn’t local.”
after being impressed with their live
show, following recommendations
Roland BA-330 Portable Digital PA System
Undaunted, Turner set sights by friends, or by pure kismet. He
for 2005, moving to the Little The BA-330 is the all-in-one portable PA solution for music venues, worship events, conferences, seminars, business meetings, and much
also leans on Hernandez and his more. The BA-330 has a four-channel configuration, with two channels dedicated for microphones or instruments, and two other channels
Kings bar from Tasty World wife Leslie (who is a member of The
(“moving all that stuff from for standard 1/4” stereo inputs. Each channel has its own independent tone adjustment and effects switching for built-in effects, such as EQ,
Lolligags) to find the best fits. reverb, delay and widening. A Stereo Link function allows for a pair of BA-330s to work in tandem to provide an extra-wide stereo spread.
Tasty World to 40 Watt was a “With Tunabunny I went to see
big hassle,” Turner remembers), Powered by a high performance digital stereo amplifier, the BA-330 features four custom-designed 6.5” stereo speakers and two tweet-
them and was blown away with how ers, positioned for wide stereo dispersion. While the built-in tilt-back stand enables the unit to
and getting a huge boost when unaware of themselves they were,”
Athens’ favorites Pylon and be angled up for better sound monitoring, the BA-330 also can easily be mounted on a speak-
he said. “It was really like they were er stand.
Of Montreal signed on to be playing and doing what was right for
headliners. Later years saw The The Roland BA-330 PA System features a unique Intelligent Anti-Feedback
them and whatever else was going on function previously unavailable in self-contained portable PA sys-
Mountain Goats, Deerhoof, Ted didn’t really matter. Instantly I had
Leo and the Pharmacists and a tems. During use, the BA-330 can automatically detect
to sign them. Then there’s this band potential feedback possibilities and eliminate it imme-
breakthrough performance by Sourpatch. Friends of mine who I
Black Kids etch the festival into diately. This is a huge advantage over manually adjust-
really trust went to see them at San ing volume levels, as it allows performers to place the PA
minds of music bloggers everywhere. Francisco Popfest and said ‘We met this band, they’re so nice, they fit
“We met Mike and the gang when we were asked to play the Athens system behind them and easily hear themselves without
the label, they’ll help bands out with shows they’ll give people a place experiencing feedback.
Popfest,” DeChristofaro said. “Needless to say the whole Popfest to stay, their music fits in, we know you already love their influences.’
experience was amazing and quite eye-opening.” Designed to deliver high-quality stereo sound for au-
So I got these demos in and one night was listening to it eight or nine diences of up to 80 people, the BA-330 can run on stan-
A rough economy had Turner shut down Popfest for 2009, but he times and I thought, 'yeah I can see this working.'”
plans to return in 2010 with a few new surprises. Surprises to further dard AC Power or eight AA Alkaline or Ni-MH re-
“I booked a show for this band TacocaT which I was really excited chargeable batteries. The switchable output power allows
dispel the twee image. about seeing, and Forever was touring with them,” Turner continued.
“With Popfest there’s a certain community that looks at it as ‘Oh, the user to switch between the maximum power and the
“Though I was excited about TacocaT, when Forever played I was energy-saving Eco modes to preserve battery life. The
this is tender twee pop type stuff,’ but it’s not really,” Turner said. instantly into them, and by the time they got home from their tour I
“Maybe the first year it was indie pop, but it wasn’t specifically twee BA-330 is also amazingly efficient, delivering a sound
sent them an e-mail and said we need to put this out on a real CD and pressure level of 109 dB, comparable to much larger
pop, and there all different kinds of pop. By the second year the
addition of Pylon and Of Montreal moved to more electronic and (continued on page 58) mid-range sound systems.
upcoming on the screen Nick Twisp (Michael Cera) goes to extremes to win the heart of the
girl next door. He creates an alternate persona named Francois who
is the antithesis of the nerdy Nick – in short, he is a no-rules bad ass.
making sure it’s worth your $9.50 But how far is too far in trying to win the girl?
We say: Michael Cera playing an awkward, quirky guy in pursuit of a
cute girl? Never seen that before – or maybe just in four or five oth-
er movies. But his alter ego Francois does add something new – and
something funny – to the mix.
men who
stare at goats 2012
Where the Wild Things Are (NOVEMEBER 6) (Grant Heslov) They say: Journalist Bob Wilton
(NOVEMBER 13) (Roland Emmerich) They say: The end of the world ar-
rives – just as the ancient Mayans predicted – in the year 2012. The
(OCTOBER16) (Spike Jonze) They say: An adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s classic children’s story, where Max (Max Records), a disobedient little (Ewan McGregor) meets Lyn Cassidy (George Clooney), who
Earth’s 6 billion inhabitants are left to battle it out against the apoca-
boy sent to bed without his supper, creates his own world—a forest inhabited by ferocious wild creatures that crown Max as their leader. claims to be a member of a secret “psychic warrior” branch of the
lyptic events that ensue. Volcanic eruptions, massive avalanches and
U.S. military. Based on a story that seems too weird to be true but
tidal waves tear the world apart while John Cusack’s character and his
We say: There are two directions this could go. Good—i.e. “Horton Hears a Who,” or terribly bad—i.e. “The Bridge to Terabithia.” People hoping is, this dark comedy follows Wilton and Cassidy as they embark on
family fight to survive.
for a little nostalgia are sure to fill the theater’s seats despite the critics. an adventure and delve deeper into this secretive military unit.
We say: All this world coming to a horrifying end, everyone run for their
We say: This movie is prime to be a hilarious success with a cast
The that includes George Clooney, Ewan McGregor and Jeff Bridges as
the hippie leader of the “warrior monks.”
lives business is enough to give us nightmares. This film from the di-
rector of “Independence Day” will delight doomsday and action lovers
Step alike.
Amelia
too-nice, boyfriend. stole them from. must take care of two 7-year-old
kids.
We say: Your typical 1987 thriller We Say: Director Wes Anderson’s unique ad-
remake. Watching Penn Badgley aptation and previous films (The Darjeeling
(OCTOBER 23) (Mira Nair) They say: A look at the life of legendary American pilot Amelia Earhart, who We Say: With the generational gap
all hot and bothered by his new Limited, Rushmore) point to a more mature
disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 in an attempt to make a flight around the bridged with the help of Seth Green
“daddy” won’t take away from animated adventure that will surely satisfy
world. and Justin Long, this PG-rated film
the thrill of the tell-tale story of an older crowd, and will go over the heads of
should prove to be entertaining for
falling for the wrong — possibly children who are just entertained by a talking
We say: Should be an appealing movie surrounding the mysterious nature of Amelia Earhart's fame. No all ages, though competition will be
evil — guy. fox. steep this holiday season.
T
he numbers don’t lie. Last July, history. Yes, its rival, “Late Show with Jay many O’Briens, Lenos, Jimmy Fallons and
David Letterman” is kicking its butt right Leno Show” in mid-September. Chelsea Handlers out there, there may
“Jay staying with the network and going to
“The Tonight Show with Jay
Leno” earned about 4.6 million now. But no, Conan’s not losing a wink “Another [magazine] is coming out next not be enough top-shelf guests to keep
nightly viewers. This July, “The of sleep over any of it. Remember: the week.” Maybe so, still, there’s no denying viewers entertained. “There are really only
Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” got man had his own show, “Late Night with 10 o'clock has made the transition particularly the things said in the magazine about about 18 people that make a difference,”
<<HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY
TO YOU>>
continued from pg. 48
do this right now and it just worked. I like the way they were
working toward what they were doing.”
“It’s been really great getting to know everyone on the label
and getting to know and work with Mike,” said Joel Lopez of
Forever. “Recently, we got to hang out with him again at AthFest
2009 which ended up being such a good time. The label showcase
we played was well attended, air conditioned and ended up being
a really great time. We got to see Tunabunny who were radical
and ended up putting us up for the night in their big beautiful
house just outside of Athens. I read some good material in their
bathroom. We’re also stoked about our friends Sourpatch who will
be putting out a release on HHBTM. Stay tuned, it’s gonna rule.”
Connections. Bands helping bands. See, it’s working.
—
“This is where I find myself to be more of a chump than a record
mogul,” Turner said with a grin. “I’ve got this band called Lovely
Eggs coming over from the UK, and I think, 'You know what,
I’ll make them a bunch of buttons and I’ll mail them to them so
when they start their tour, they’ll have this bag of buttons.' Then
they say ‘Hey can you silkscreen some shirts for us?’ OK, I guess
I can, when you get to Athens you can pick them up. I find myself
making T-shirts, posters — it’s a nonstop thing to where I’m sure
no one in Matador or Merge are in the little details of things.”
The little details. Whether it’s sleeves made of fun foam (Red
Pony Clock), a coloring book based on song lyrics (63 Crayons),
or a specially-designed reference dictionary (Patience Please), the
individuality of the label is what keeps Turner’s business going.
Moving past the 10-year mark, Turner has designs for another 10
years, and has ideas of how to achieve that.
One way is to get more bands on tour — with booking agents.
Right now only longtime HHBTM band Casper & the Cookies has
an agent (although Marshmallow Coast is close to having one as
well), but a band such as Cars Can Be Blue with a booking agent
would break new territory (“they would stay on the road – all year
long. I wish I could get them on a Warped tour because I know the
people who would really dig what they do are probably a bunch of
14 and 15 year old kids,” Turner said).
Another aspect to continued success is having bands in constant
“go mode.”
“I would love to see bands be able to get out and create a fan
base or meet their fan base or discover that fan base and keep the
records in print,” Turner said.
But while Turner would like bands to take more control over
their destiny, he knows part of his destiny is helping them achieve
that goal. For Turner, continuing to be a “record mogul” is staying
connected with the people you work with, and the music you love,
because it makes you a part of something bigger than yourself.
“The beginning of the label was very much me being hands on in
an arts and crafts background of making sleeves and hand-doing
stuff,” he said. “And then it led to manufactured goods, where
everything was done at a processing plant and there was shrink
photography
wrap around everything. But in the last year it’s changed. I looked
at the amount of records we’ve done, and I love these records, but
I’m completely detached from some of them. Sure I put them out,
I was involved with the distribution or manufacturing end, but I’m
not attached to them in that I actually had a hand in helping them
www.alexgibbsphotos.com more than just getting them to the store. So I sat down and said
‘what part of the label did I enjoy?’ And it instantly became I enjoy
alexxgibbs@yahoo.com doing the handmade end. It’s where I want to be.” B
404.310.5039
concert shots concert shots 1
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3
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The Felice Brothers @ 40 Watt (Laurie Moot) Still Flyin’ @ 40 Watt (Alyssa De Hayes) Crowd Shot, Baller’s Ball @ Athens Arena (Wes Elkin) Greg Holden The Felice Brothers @ 40 Watt (Laurie Moot) Tom Goss @ Little Kings Shuffle Club (Wes Elkin) The Lovely Feathers @ Tasty World Uptown (Alyssa De
@ Melting Point (Stefan Eberhard) Greg Holden @ Melting Point (Stefan Eberhard) Timi Conley @ New Earth Music Hall (Daniel Peiken) Leon Russell @ Melt- Hayes) Sister Hazel @ The Classic Center (Wes Elkin) Workhorses of the Entertainment & Recreational Industry @ 40 Watt (McGinnis Leathers) The Dirk
ing Point (Daniel Peiken) Prefuse 73 @ New Earth Music Hall (Wes Elkin) The Rural Alberta Advantage @ Tasty World Uptown (Alyssa De Hayes) Howell Band @ Ashford Manor (Daniel Peiken) Sister Hazel @ Classic Center (Wes Elkin)
1 2
1 2
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concert shots?
send hi-res
versions to
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Amon Tobin @ New Earth Music Hall (Wes Elkin) Pretty Lights (Baller’s Ball) @ New Earth Music Hall (Wes Elkin) Still Small Voice & The Joyful Noise @ 40 T8RTOT @ New Earth Music Hall (Wes Elkin) The Black Hollies @ Caledonia Lounge (Alyssa De Hayes) Missing Cats featuring JoJo Hermann (Widespread Pan-
Watt (Daniel Peiken) Keegan Kell painting during Pretty Lights @ New Earth Music Hall (Wes Elkin) Corey Smith @ Classic Center (Wes Elkin) Constellations ic) @ Melting Point (Alex Gibbs) Missing Cats featuring JoJo Hermann (Widespread Panic) @ Melting Point (Alex Gibbs) Ingrid Michaelson @ Melting Point (Wes
@ Tasty World Uptown (Daniel Peiken) Elkin) Ingrid Michaelson @ Melting Point (Wes Elkin)