Kristen's Concert Picks: You'll go mad for February's tunes!

Ah February!  It's the month of love, change, and unpredictable weather... well, at least in Athens.  Let's jump into the music, and make the most of it!

Thu, February 7: Sean VanMeter@ 7 PM @ Melting Point

Rock your Mardi Gras style at this tribute to New Orleans piano greats, featuring the young and amazingly talented Sean VanMeter!

 Fri, February 8: Tealvox @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge
Longtime blog favorites Tealvox will be taking over the Caledonia with their awesome alt rock sound.  Catch 'em on the 8th!

Sat, February 9: Betsy Franck @ 8 PM @ 40 Watt

I'll never cease to be impressed by Betsy Franck's strong southern vocals.  You won't want to miss her set!

Sat, February 9: Chris McKay @ 9 PM @ Flicker Theatre

You've heard and rocked out to the Critical Darlings, but this time the man's going solo.  Head on over to Flicker and get yourself ready for Chris McKay's awesome sound!

Tue, February 12: Grass Giraffes @ TBA PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Ready for some fun?  You'll go wild for the Grass Giraffes' brand of indie rock!

Wed, February 13: Brothers @ 11 PM @ Farm255

Brother's unique sound is the lovechild of indie pop and classic rock.  You've gotta check them out!

 Thu, February 14: The Powder Room @ 10 PM @ 40 Watt

Go hardcore on Valentine's Day with the incredible explosive noise of the Powder Room!

 Fri, February 15: Sister Hazel @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

Big name rockers Sister Hazel returns to Athens this month to bring joy to your ears.  Buy your tickets early for this one!

 Fri, February 15: Bit Brigade @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

If you're craving an experience like no other and you miss the games of your childhood, then Bit Brigade is your band!  Join them for a rousing rock n' play session as you delve into a pre-digital world.

 Sat, February 16: Emily Hearn @ 8 PM @ 40 Watt

You'll fall head over heels for the lilting sweetness of Emily Hearn.  This singer/songwriter is one of my absolute favorites from last year's Athfest!

 Sat, February 16: White Violet and Thayer Sarrano @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

The soft rock of White Violet joins with the sweet speech-like vocals of Thayer Sarrano to form an awesome lineup.  What a combination!  

Mon, February 18: Bertis Downs Conversation @ 4 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Now this one's no show, but if you're a fan of R.E.M., you're definitely want to check out this talk given by their manager Bertis Downs.  With them through their whole 30-year career, he's sure to have some amazing stories to tell!

This is certainly going to be quite a month of shows!  As always, if you've heard of another local lineup that you love hitting the stage this month, tell everyone about it in the comments.  Hope you all have an incredible February!

Athfest 2012: All the madness of Manray and Bit Brigade

Saturday, June 23rd, 2012 (late)

Manray and Bit Brigade

The tale of my Manray adventure begins with a line... a long line stretching all the way across the Caledonia parking lot.  After popping over to Flicker to watch Boycycle's set, I was eager for another delicious taste of noise rock.  Apparently, everyone else felt the same way. I always liked Manray's style, and many of my friends are huge fans as well, but I had no idea just how popular these Flagpole Award winners had become until now.  You know a band is a success story in this town when even the press pass holders can't get inside because the venue's already far over capacity!  Finally, after about half an hour of waiting, I achieved victory and stepped through the gates.  Not a moment too soon, either. I managed to catch about two rockin' songs infused with hardcore melody before their set ended.  Filled with satisfaction from the sheer insanity of their noise, I grabbed a seat in the courtyard to wait for the next set to begin.

Once I heard a new note struck, I made my way back inside for the final show of the night. Cutting through the darkness and illuminating the whole stage, a massive video screen displayed early 90s game graphics.  And then the real fun began.  Bit Brigade, not content to merely serve up some rock like most of their fellow bands, showed off their utterly unique talents as they jammed their way through pitch perfect renditions of the soundtracks to the classic games Contra and Megaman while they were being played live.  I've got to admit, it was captivating to watch.  All the gamers in the venue were going wild as they made their way through the different characters and levels, a rather impressive feat in its own right.  The whole show was really just surreal.  It was almost like watching your friend from elementary school master his favorite games while a live band plays in his living room.  I can truly say, I've never seen anything like this before in my life. Crazy? Yes.  But there's no doubt, it was awesome as well!

  For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, check out our show footage and Athfest vlogs up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well!