More than Music: Creative Merch and Promotions

There's no doubt that the tunes bring the fans to shows, but what keeps them coming back for more? How can bands ensure their fans will share their latest rockin' discovery with all of their friends? Sometimes it takes a little more than music. Here's where a bit of creativity and some great merch can make all the difference!

After choosing a name, recording a few songs, and playing a couple of shows, most bands take the next logical step and arm themselves with EPs and t-shirts to sell to the masses. Many even give out something small, like a button or a sticker, to potential fans for free to keep their name fresh in fans' minds. This is, indeed, one of the best ways to get your name out there! But some bands have forged their own path with regards to merch and advertising. Putting their creativity and ingenuity to good use, they've thrown a whole new spin on the idea.

My first true experience with merch tables and band promotions was at this year's Summer Side Show in Columbus, GA where I was lucky enough to be traveling with a band who were masters at the art. The very first thing Misfortune500 did when they arrived at the festival was set up a professional-looking merch tent complete with nicely arranged tables and well-displayed items for sale. After all, you've got to think big to make it big! Displays like these lend bands the illusion of great fame, and that really does wonders when you're playing for an unfamiliar crowd. They also took account of their audience for the festival. Hot weather? Well, then there's no better idea than selling water bottles with the band name on them! Other bands around the park also embraced the festival layout, guiding potential fans to their tents with signs and even writing messages on their friends' chests. Definitely eye-catching!

Here in Athens, I've seen some amazing promotional ideas as well. Several years ago, the Warm Fuzzies released their tunes on a bubblegum-scented CD. No fan is ever going to forget a band like that! I can vouch for the fact that, even weeks later, my friends and I could't get enough of telling our pals about them and letting them get a whiff of that sweet song-filled goodness.

Reptar, on the other hand, mixed it up in the early days with their t-shirts, making handmade pieces of one-of-a-kind art using just fabric paint and old clothes they'd found. Back when Allison Weiss lived here, she opted to go for printed t-shirts instead, but they certainly weren't any less memorable with sayings like "Allison Weiss is ok I guess." Ye Olde Sub Shoppe even went so far as to print headshots of one of their unwilling friends on their shirts. Having a sense of humor about their merch is an awesome way to keep the fans amused and excited!

Some bands step even further outside of the box when making their merch. Screamin Eagle, a soft indie pop band from Florida, sold small, hand-drawn books filled with the notions and themes they'd shared in their songs. It was such a unique move that you can bet I've never forgotten their show!

And hey, a band can even stand out in the way they sell their merch. Bambara and Misfortune500, among several other bands I've seen, have begun accepting credit cards at their shows as well. How is this possible? Well, all you need is an iPhone, a small addition to swipe cards, and an app to make your merch table into a legitimate portable business! You can't deny it. That is pretty cool!

Just remember, whether a band is selling sunglasses and beer koozies or earrings and bracelets, they should always make sure their fans leave with their minds full of unforgettable memories and their hands full of incredibly creative merch!

To read about all of the ingredients that make up a live show to top all others, click here!

A buzz worthy lineup and the "Return of Allison Weiss"

All of the bands on 40 Watt's bill last Friday night have garnered quite a bit of buzz about themselves. As such, I knew I would just have to split my time between my friends' graduation and this crazy stacked lineup. Kicking off the night, the Young Orchids played for us a very indie set with a sort of old school vibe. Their soft pop rock songs layered with the punk-like vocals of the lead singer gave them a bit of a unique edge, and I was certainly intrigued when they whipped out maracas for one of the tunes.

Next up were the Winter Sounds, a band I was introduced to very early in my exploration of the local music scene. I've always been a fan of their rich and powerful sound and their beautifully soft yet upbeat style. This time around, the band featured what seemed to be a whole slew of new members whose presence added a brand new dimension to their tunes though admittedly also made them a bit less cohesive than I remember. The sweet melody of the violin intermixed with the rock, however, was undoubtably exciting, and their banter between songs was just plain hilarious.

Then it was time for the widely advertised return of Allison Weiss. Back in the day, people would refer to her as the queen of the Athens music scene, but she has since changed things up by making the big move up to New York and trimming her locks as well. Fans of Allison can rest assured , though, that she still employs that rather adorably awkward style of crowd banter between songs that had been something of a trademark when she lived here. Backed by members of the Winter Sounds for many of her newer songs, she started things off with the familiar tune I'm Ready before launching into a set that alternated between slower melodies and very upbeat dance tunes. The latter of these naturally caused an eruption of hipster dancing at its finest right in front of the stage as the other fans mouthed the words to every song along with her. During the performance of a cover, Allison even brought two of the dancers onstage to move behind her as she sang. Quite a crazy time!

Finally, after an Eminim song served to us by two girls calling themselves Feminem, headliners Misfortune500 finished out the night with a set that, once again, was impossibly better than their last. These guys are definitely among my top favorites in the scene, no question about it. What a show!

Kristen's Concert Picks: Spring Break 2011 Edition

Ah, to be a student again! Battling tests and projects and papers until the sweet moment of freedom comes to whisk you off to another land, be it home or somewhere exotic or even just the land of sleep and dreams. Spring Break starts today! But what does this mean for the Athens scene?

Well, for those of us still in town tonight, Farm 255's got an awesome show featuring country-meets-hardcore-rock band Sam Sniper to kick off the break. Excellent!

Headed out to Texas later in the week? I can honestly say I'm too jealous for words! Tons of our local favorites are going to be rocking shows in Austin, Texas for the massive South by Southwest festival. Be sure not to miss the all-day shows (starting at noon) at the Side Bar on the 18th and 19th featuring such spectacular bands as Bambara, Venice is Sinking, Reptar, Futurebirds, Gift Horse, Twin Tigers, and so many more!

Or maybe the Midwest is your destination? Well, if that's the case, Atlanta's rock superstars the Constellations have got you covered with shows in Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Minnesota! For more info on those, check out their Facebook page here!

Or perhaps you're trekking to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Well, you're in luck! You have the chance to catch the Winter Sounds as they rock the stage with the one and only Allison Weiss, queen of the Athens music scene turned NYC darling. Mark it down: Club Cafe on the 19th! Too cool.

Know of any other Spring Break shows around town or even around the world featuring some of our local favorites? Don't let us miss them! Be sure to comment below and share the tune-filled love.

And party on, my friends! Party on.

Twists and turns - Fare thee well to Tasty World, the Critical Darlings, and many more

Oh, it's just days away... the smell of fresh new pencils, used textbooks, and nervous young musicians. I'm nearly about to explode with anticipation! But before we ring in a brand new school year, we must take the time to say goodbye to some of the beloved bands and places in Athens that will continue to exist only in or memories.

First up, we have to say a proper final farewell to Tasty World (Uptown). The club that helped jumpstart many a band's musical careers closed its doors for the last time during this year's Athfest celebration. As I've mentioned before, Tasty World will always hold a special place in my heart as it was the venue that first introduced me to the Athens music scene and gave me some of my very favorite music moments here. Oh, the memories! Goodbye, dear Tasty World.

Now which bands will no longer be here to rock our year? Well, Athfest also marked the final local performance of pop scene queen Allison Weiss... for a while, at least. Heading up to New York in the hopes of making it big on the national scale, she plans to return one day to bring her tunes back to the fans that have loved her from the beginning.

Bands Leading Edge and Chris McKay & the Critical Darlings are taking something of a different route. The members of both bands have gone their separate ways (Frank of the Critical Darlings is headed all the way out to Europe!), but fans, there is good news. Word is, singer Chris McKay and Leading Edge singer/keyboardist Matt Daniel will continue to share their own rockin' songs with us here in Athens. I've seen Matt perform solo before, and I'm quite happy to hear that he plans to keep bringing his talents to the scene. As far as Chris McKay and the Critical Darlings goes, I cannot express my gratitude enough for the part they played in sparking my interest in Athens music and inspiring me to start this blog. The band will most certainly be missed. If I know Chris, though, he won't leave us without a taste of his creativity for long. I'm eager to see what he'll do next!

And while we're bidding farewell, I must take this opportunity to say a few words in honor of my late laptop. Oh laptop, how many blogs were typed with the aide of your keys! How you shined in your picture for the EoA Red and Black article! Dear laptop, Echoreyn of Athens could never have existed without you. You will always be loved.

Enough with the goodbyes! In happier news, less than two weeks ago workers began pouring concrete for the rebirth of the Georgia Theatre. Last year's tragic fire marked the end of the last incarnation of the theatre, but the citizens of Athens pulled together to bring it back once more. Look out for the Georgia Theatre's triumphant return in spring of 2011!

Athfest 2010: Allison Weiss kicks things off

Friday, June 25th, 2010

Allison Weiss and the Way She Likes It

Friday was simply a tidal wave of rock! As I headed downtown late that afternoon, I was practically wriggling with excitement for all the tunes I was about to hear. Allison Weiss, well-known queen of the acoustic pop scene and first act of the day, was just being introduced to the already growing crowd of Athens music enthusiasts and new fans as I stepped in front of the stage.

Now I've seen the girl perform a few times before, but I've got to say this time she and her band, the Way She Likes It, totally rocked it! As always, her songs had just the right mixture of humor and truth, of youth and experience, and she's certainly found her sound with the full band backing her up. Sadly, though, it was a bittersweet show because word has it that she'll soon be off to New York to make it big. Love her or hate her, nobody can deny that her quirky soft pop tunes have caused quite a stir in the Athens area in the few years she's been here. And she's definitely gathered some seriously hardcore fans in that time too. I was nearly surrounded by eager fans mouthing all of the words to her latest melodies!

An eager music fan herself, it'll be quite weird not seeing Allison sporting her trademark red glasses at all the shows downtown. No doubt about it, Athens will miss her! Don't mourn too much, though. She's already looking forward to giving Athfest another spin in the near future!

For all of our coverage of Athfest 2010, click here! I'll be blasting you with updates regularly, so be sure to check back often. Also, look out for Athfest concert videos and vlogs, coming soon to http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!

Have a Rockin' Vacation!

For those of you here at UGA, I don't need to tell you twice: SPRING BREAK IS ALMOST HERE!

Hanging with the family? Got some wild plans with your pals? Or perhaps you're prepping for a trip to an exotic land. Well, here's some fantastic news. Our beloved local bands are on the road too!

Headed to Savannah, Georgia? Venice is Sinking has planned a whopping two shows there for tomorrow night, and Dead Confederate is stopping by on Saturday the 13th to finish off your Spring Break Athens-style!

Is North Carolina your destination? Well, Venice is Sinking's dropping by Greensboro too, and Allison Weiss rounds out the first Spring Break weekend with stops in Charlotte and Chapel Hill.

Need some of your favorite tunes in Columbus, Ohio? Both Allison Weiss and the Constellations will be there to treat your ears to some tunes on the 13th.

Want a taste of the ATL in Chicago? The Constellations hope to mix things up in Illinois on the 12th. In fact, they've got the northern U.S. pretty much covered this week with shows in Milwaukee and Minneapolis too! And if you're really lucky, you might even catch them in London, England this Friday!

Or maybe you're hoping for some local love closer to home. Youthful rockers Tealvox are taking over Jefferson, Georgia this Friday while Dead Confederate is visiting Macon and Augusta later in the week.

Jetting off to some of the most popular vacation spots? Bambara's trekking across the country to rock Houston, Texas this Saturday and Los Angelos, California next Monday. And Allison Weiss isn't showing any signs of slowing down with her nationwide tour either. You can check her out in Richmond, VA, Brooklyn, NY, Philadelphia, PA, and several more states throughout the break too!

For more details about all of these shows including locations and times, check out each of the bands' MySpace pages:

• Allison Weiss
• Bambara
• The Constellations
• Dead Confederate
• Tealvox
• Venice is Sinking

Show these rockin' bands some love, and while you're at it, take advantage of a whole delicious feast of new tunes in whatever local music scene you can find. Have a truly awesome break, my friends!

Kristen's Concert Picks: Spring into March's Tunes!

March won't let February take the medal for best tunes without a fight! Spring Break's on its way, but with these shows to look forward to, you can party it up all month long. This is going to be amazing!

Wed, Mar 3: Allison Weiss @ 9:30 PM @ The Caledonia Lounge
Athens' much buzzed about songstress is back to kick off our month with her truthful tunes. Enjoy!

Thurs, Mar 4: Groove Tangent & Doctor Squid @ 8 PM @ Melting Point
Want to be able to say you knew them at the very beginning? The brand new band Groove Tangent rocks the stage for the first time with old favorites Doctor Squid on Thursday at the Melting Point. While Groove Tangent plans to introduce themselves with some awesome covers, they hope to become a fixture in the Athens music scene with their own original songs in the future.

Thurs, Mar 4: Madeline @ 9 PM @ Little Kings Shuffle Club
Soft rock is the sound! With southern tunes and dark melodies flowing through her music, Madeline's show will certainly make your night.

Wed, Mar 17: The Winter Sounds @ 10 PM @ The Caledonia Lounge
After taking quite a hiatus from the music scene, the Winter Sounds return to share their delicious tunes this month with shows on both the 2nd and the 17th at Caledonia. With Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun, the 17th's show should be quite a treat for the ears.

Thurs, Mar 18: Leaving Araby CD release with Doctor Squid & the Warm Fuzzies @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt
WHAT A LINEUP! Several of our favorites will take over the 40 Watt to celebrate the release of Leaving Araby's latest CD. The sheer joy emanating from these bands will make this a most glee-filled night. You won't want to miss this show!

Fri, Mar 19: Betsy Franck @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt
Bands, bands everywhere! The powerfully voiced Betsy Franck brings us an awesome mix of blues and southern rock for the Athens Music Collective Showcase Concert. Eight other bands are scheduled to play as well. Nice!

Sat, Mar 20: Tealvox @ 8 PM @ Nuçi's Space
These guys may be young, but they sure know how to rock! Tealvox has been making a name for itself all over the place, and now you can check them out in their hometown for yourself.

Thurs, Mar 25: Aman Amun @ 8 PM @ UGA's Black Box Theatre
Aman Amun, our favorite electronic soul-searching adventurer, brings his tunes to our yearning ears once more. He's also spreading the musical love at Farm 255 at 10 PM the next day during a Haiti Benefit concert. What wonderful news!

Fri, Mar 26: Deaf Judges @ 11 PM @ The Classic Center
Wild rappers Deaf Judges are back to surprise us with their latest crazy show! What will they do this time? I can't wait to find out!

Sat, Mar 27: Venice is Sinking @ 8 PM @ Nuçi's Space
Oh, how I love them! Venice is Sinking will be here to soothe our troubled hearts with their lovely tunes near the end of March. What joy!

Wed, Mar 31: Romanenko @ 10 PM @ The Caledonia Lounge
Once again, indie band Romanenko ends our month with their wonderfully dark sound. What a perfect finish!

Wow! These nights are sure to be unbelievable! And don't forget... even more awesome shows will certainly find their way onto this list as I hear about them. Know of a show you want everyone to check out? Comment below, and tell us all about it! See you downtown, my friends!

Kristen's Concert Picks: December brings frosty tune-filled delights!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you're truly enjoying this day of food, family, and football too. So, what are you thankful for? Me? Naturally, I'm thankful for the unbelievably rockin' Athens music scene. More specifically, I'm thankful for the absolutely amazing lineup of bands that December has in store for us! Your ears certainly won't be in any danger of freezing off with all of these nonstop music-filled experiences.

Tues, Dec 1: The Ha's Neptica Atlas & Matt Daniel from Leading Edge @ 9 PM @Tasty World Uptown
Start off the month with the public debut of The Ha's Neptica Atlas. You will not want to miss this! And Matt from Leading Edge will be performing too. Brilliant! And best of all, it's a benefit concert so you'll be helping people while you party!

Wed, Dec 2: Allison Weiss @ 10 PM @ The Caledonia Lounge
Oh yes, a CD release party! Don't miss your chance to check out the latest tunes from one of Athens' reigning queens of the music scene. I recently had the pleasure of seeing her sing her heart out for the WUOG listeners , and I can tell you, she truly pours her soul into these songs!

Thu, Dec 3: Madeline @ 10 PM @ The Caledonia Lounge
Madeline's soft dark rock is infused with a taste of southern rock as well. Something for everyone! She has quite a sound. She and her White Flag band are definitely worth your time!

Thu, Dec 3: Venice is Sinking @ 9 PM @ The 40 Watt Club
Ah, Venice is Sinking! After disappearing from the Athens music scene for a few months, they're back to treat our ears to some beautiful, soothing tunes. Excellent!

Fri, Dec 4: Efren @ 9 PM @ Flicker Theatre
Wow, December's full of CD releases! The ever-mysterious Efren is dropping his first album "Thunder and Moan" at this show. Delightful! Stay tuned for my Echoreview of his new tunes, coming soon!

Fri, Dec 4: A Postwar Drama @ 10 PM @ The Caledonia Lounge
The list of bands I'm dying to see keeps getting shorter, and nothing makes me happier. Here's another band I've been hoping to check out since my Athfest research days. Soft, acoustic roots-type music is their style. Very nice!

Sat, Dec 5: Bambara @ 9 PM @ Farm 255
This ever-talented trio of loud, hard rockers is playing a free show at Farm 255. Yay! I mean, let's be honest. Their sound is just plain sexy. Everyone who's had a chance to experience their tunes agrees. And they've got some brand new ones too! Trust me. You'll want to be there.

Tues, Dec 8: Aman Amun @ 10 PM @ The Caledonia Lounge - **Postponed till January 7th**
This guy brings new meaning to the words "musical genius" every time he plays. Prepare yourself for a wonderfully impressive and creative display of art and technology intertwined with deep, soul-searching electronic rock.

Thurs, Dec 10: Doctor Squid @ 10 PM @ 40 Watt
MERRY SQUIDMAS! It's time to don your holiday-themed costumes, and get ready to rock the season in style! From what I've heard, last year's Squidmas was epic. And this year, they're playing with Romanenko, and Leaving Araby. I'm definitely not missing this one!

Sat, Dec 12: Hammer No More the Fingers & Gift Horse @ 10 PM @ The Caledonia Lounge
HNMtF will give you a reason to dance! This North Carolina band knows how to make rock truly fun. With Gift Horse, another band I've heard great buzz about, on the bill, this show should be quite something!

Sat, Dec 19: Excali Brah @ 10 PM @ The Caledonia Lounge
And the Caledonia does it again with another awesome December show! Excali Brah is hilarity at its finest. These costumed guys embrace the unexpected in their shows. At Athfest, outdoor rave parties were their thing. Who knows what they're going to do next?

Thu, Dec 31: Deaf Judges @ 10 PM @ The Caledonia Lounge
Here's another band that's up for anything! These rappers will definitely capture your attention and keep it. There's no doubt about that! And, whoa, look at the date. This will certainly be a great show to ring in 2010!


Thu, Dec 31: The Constellations @ 9 PM @ Tasty World Uptown
Back in Athens just in time to usher in the new year, it's THE CONSTELLATIONS! This show's 18+, so all you kids who've been missing out on their amazing tunes, this is your chance. No matter where you are during break, be sure get yourself to Athens for this!

Have you got a show you think should be added to this list? Comment, and let me know! Also, I'll be giving you even more shows to look forward to as I find them, so check back often. Have a truly lovely December, my pals!

Athfest 2009: Like an Oscars after party!

Wristbands and x's

Thursday, June 25th 2009

Awards Show After Party

An after party... I got to attend an after party! Ok, so it may not seem like that big of a deal, but I've always wondered what one was like, and the Flagpole Athens Music Awards show after party certainly quenched my thirst for excitement! Like a large majority of the people at the awards show, we wandered down the small stretch of street between the Morton Theatre and the 40 Watt after the show and surrendered the ripped half of our tickets for a chance to party with all of the young Athens celebrities. And I'm not joking when I say we got to party with celebrities. There were so many local stars there that my inner fangirl squealed with delight several times throughout the night. In fact, just as we were showing our IDs to the doorman, I noticed that Karolyn and Lucas from Venice is Sinking were right in front of us, and seconds later, Karolyn waved to me. Then Jay from the Modern Skirts stepped between my friend and I with a smile to flash his ID as well.

Once inside, we were practically surrounded by personalities from the music scene. While we danced to DJ Mahogany's spontaneously mixed tribute to Michael Jackson, singer Allison Weiss spun by followed by several of the members of the Modern Skirts. Turning around, I saw Claire from Hope for Agoldensummer bobbing her head to the music, and just behind her, I think I caught a glimpse of Melissa from the band Creepy. Wow! My head was practically spinning, and the excitement in the room was tangible. As my friend Sheila said, it was "like an Oscars after party" except the people at the 40 Watt were the local talents that I truly care about and admire.

Once midnight hit, Immuzikation started their dance-worthy tribute to Daft Punk, and the club went wild. I've got to give props to all of the DJs that spun their records that night. It was seriously one of the most fun dance parties I've attended. Too soon, though, it was time to go and get some sleep. After all, we had to be ready to rock out with Friday's awesome lineup of bands!

Check back regularly for more blogs about Athfest 2009, and don't forget to check out the concert videos at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!