Night on the Quad: One Year Later

Ah, springtime! One of my very favorite things about this time of year, besides the gorgeous weather, is the music. All of the little-known local bands and established favorites emerge from their winter hibernation ready to take on the world. Music festivals and events surround us!

Case in point: yesterday's Night on the Quad gave us a delicious list of bands to fill our hungry ears! Just about a year ago, this event gave me one of my earliest tastes of Athens' sound. This time around, I was happily surprised to find that I'd enjoyed three of the bands' tunes before and that one of the members of the first band I saw was no stranger either. Wow, what a difference a year makes!

I arrived on UGA's Myers Quad just in time to catch Koji Kondo's first song. Purely wonderful! This was the one band I hadn't seen before, and I'm quite happy to say, I got there just in time to delight in their tunes. But, wait a second! There was something so very familiar about the singer/violinist. Was it... Yes, it was! Hannah Samet, former member of Pholksinger Josh, was there to fill our ears with her sweet voice and violin's soft melodies. She and the rest of the band mixed traditional-sounding tunes with the rock style of the electric guitar to create a sound like no other. To put it simply, I loved it!

The last three bands were all ones I was incredibly delighted to see again. Groove Tangent was up next with a generous helping of their awesome covers. These guys truly have the best sense of fun! This time, Bad Romance was their Lady Gaga song of choice, and they rocked it most hilariously. I'm definitely going to have to keep seeing these guys whenever I can. After their shows, I can hardly keep the smile off of my face. Who would have ever thought I'd love hearing a cover band this much?

Then it was Carolina Ridge's turn. Having played this event three years running, Josh and Andy knew just how to give us the right mix of lyrical rhythm and folk melodies. And, for old time's sake, they even brought Hannah up to sing for two of the songs on the set list. Pholksinger Josh reunion! Best of all, they ended with the song I fell in love with all those many months ago, 18th Summer (April to August). Joy!

Last up was Bigfoot, the newest incarnation of Night on the Quad 2009's band Cyrnaca. Their set was a short one this time with a curious reading of some mysterious piece of paper to start things off. Interesting. Then they gave us a few minutes of their crazy rock sound before it was time to say goodbye to Night on the Quad 2010.

Man, I wish every Sunday was like this one!

Carolina Ridge: New Name, Nice Sound

Today we've got a short one, but I just couldn't let the week go by without mentioning the Carolina Ridge show I caught last Saturday night at Rye Bar. Sadly, it's been almost a year since I saw these banjo-playing guys share their tunes with the crowd. Back then, they were a trio called Pholksinger Josh with a sound they dubbed "gangsta folk." Now, fresh from a semester in North Carolina, Josh and his bandmate Andy have returned with some wonderful new tunes that draw influences from the original folk songs of old as well as from the experiences they've had traveling around the country and returning home.

One of my new favorites was definitely Andy's song (though, tragically, I didn't catch its name); I've never really heard him sing before, and the harmonies between he and Josh were simply amazing. I've gotta say, I loved it! I also couldn't help but smile as I listened to them sing and play their new tune about all the pretty girls in Athens. Awww. Don't fret, though, longtime fans of Pholksinger Josh. The band still has that lovely spoken word rhythm you know and love. Truly, I'm so joyful that they're back and making music in Athens once more!

Kristen's Concert Picks: You're gonna love February!

I can't wait for next month's shows! This February is shaping up to be one of the most exciting months of music I've ever seen. Let's not waste any more time... Here are my picks!

Tues, Feb 2: Futurebirds & Gift Horse @ 9 PM @ Tasty World Uptown
Hard rock and southern rock combine to give us a truly wild night. Party with Futurebirds once more as they continue their Tasty World takeover, and immerse yourself in Gift Horse's awesome tunes while you're at it!

Tues, Feb 2: Venice is Sinking @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt Club
Yay! Time for more Venice is Sinking. These soft but moving tunes will definitely take your ears on a ride!

Wed & Thurs, Feb 3 & 4: Of Montreal @ 8 PM @ 40 Watt Club
Oh. My. Gosh. OF MONTREAL! One of the biggest names to come out of Athens in recent years will grace the 40 Watt stage for a sure-to-be spectacular two-night party. Get your advance tickets now!

Thurs, Feb 4: Crumbling Arches @ 10 PM @ American Tavern
It's time for another delicious taste of Crumbling Arches! Want some wild rock tunes and an unforgettable experience? These guys will caress your eardrums in a most satisfying way!

Fri, Feb 5: Kalvinova @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge
And the purely amazing shows keep coming! I had the extreme pleasure to check out Kalvinova during their Live in the Lobby set last week, and they completely blew me away. You won't want to miss this show!

Sat, Feb 6: Casper and the Cookies & The Shut-Ups @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge
It's another pairing of bands I've seen and bands I've been dying to see! Casper and the Cookies has an absolutely crazy style that differs from all other bands, and rumor has it, the Shut-Ups' new wave indie rock will leave you speechless. Nice!

Sat, Feb 6: Carolina Ridge @ 10:30 PM @ Rye Bar
Formerly known as Pholksinger Josh, Carolina Ridge's triumphant return to Athens is finally here! Check out his new sound!

Sat, Feb 13: Sister Hazel @ 8 PM @ 40 Watt Club
WOW! Here's another one to add to our list of incredibly big names coming to Athens. That's right: rock band Sister Hazel visits the 40 Watt this February too! This is just five kinds of awesome! Don't forget to buy your advance tickets for this one as well.

Wed, Feb 17: Allison Weiss & Creepy @ 8 PM @ 40 Watt Club
Local songstress Allison Weiss and the powerfully-voiced Creepy join together with the Orkids and Incendiaries to celebrate women in music! Help out the Girls Rock Camp and lose yourself in some rockin' tunes at the same time. Sounds like tons of fun!

Fri, Feb 20: Bambara & Reptar @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge
Unbelievable! More and more tremendous shows await us! Everybody's talking about Bambara's insane dark rock sound these days, and Reptar's fanbase just keeps spreading the word about their wild, dance-inducing tunes. Best of all, Bambara will officially release their latest EP, Dog Ear Days, during this show too! There's no question about it; you just have to be there!

Wed, Feb 24: Romanenko @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge
Time for a rockin' midweek celebration. Romanenko's dark indie style will most certainly delight you! What fun!

I am just in shock. The music, the bands, the excitement... February is going to be breathtakingly sensational! And, of course, I'll let you know if I hear about any more shows worthy of this list. Feel free to comment below if there's a show you're just dying to see as well. Now join me downtown, and let's make the most of this rock-filled month!

Kristen's Concert Picks: January's tunes heat things up

It's 2010, you guys.... Another year, another year. Oh, holy platypus! That means it's another month, too! Well, luckily I managed to round up some delicious concert picks for January just in time. These shows are definitely worth braving the icy weather to experience. Enjoy!

Thurs, Jan 7: Dead Confederate @ 9 PM @ Tasty World Uptown
Old favorites Dead Confederate return to our little town to drive our ears wild! The last show I saw of theirs was probably the greatest show I've ever seen in Athens. You just can't miss this one!

Fri, Jan 8: Aman Amun @ 9 PM @ Tasty World Uptown
It's guaranteed to be a different kind of rockin' electronic experience with the massively talented Aman Amun this time around. Prepare yourself for the Eurotrash III party which, rumor has it, will be completely unforgettable!

Fri, Jan 8: Venice is Sinking @ 11 PM @ Farm 255
You know you've been missing them... Now Venice is Sinking's back to fill your ears with sweet melodies once more! And it's free too! Awesome.

Fri, Jan 8: Madeline @ 9 PM @ The 40 Watt
Remember when she opened for Dead Confederate and the Meat Puppets with a set full of dark and southern tunes? This girl's quite the singer. You've got to check out her songs.

Mon, Jan 11: Geronimo! @ 9 PM @ Tasty World Uptown
Hailing from Chicago, Geronimo!'s gearing up to share their loud, indie rock tunes with us here in Athens. And with their use of a keyboard instead of a bass guitar, it's likely to be quite an original experience!

Tues, Jan 19: Futurebirds @ 9 PM @ Tasty World Uptown
If you missed them last week, catch them now! Their southern rock sound definitely riles up the crowd, and their energy takes over the entire room.

Thurs, Jan 21: Doctor Squid & Leading Edge @ 9 PM @ The 40 Watt
The dream team joins together again, this time for a great cause! Help out the Children's Miracle Network while you jam to the tunes of four bands, each with members in the Redcoats. Pure joy!

Fri, Jan 22: Carolina Ridge @ 10:30 PM @ Rye Bar (Postponed till Feb 6)
Remember Pholksinger Josh? He and his band rocked their "gangsta folk" for us several times last year, and now he's finally returned to the Ath-town with a new name and a fresher folk sound too. Don't miss this!

Sat, Jan 30: Deaf Judges, @ 9 PM @ Caledonia Lounge
Deaf Judges will give you an experience unlike any other. Creativity abounds with these rappers! I wonder what they'll do next...

Sat, Jan 30: Modern Skirts & Reptar @ 9:30 PM @ The 40 Watt
Athens just can't get enough of these guys! Hear the buzz-worthy Modern Skirts take over the 40 Watt once more. And I've heard nothing but amazing things about Reptar. It's the cherry on top of a scrumptious month of music!


Well, it looks like January's going to rock. Yay! As always, I'll be adding more awesome shows as I hear about them so keep checking back often. Also, if you're just dying to tell everyone about a show that I didn't mention here, comment below and let the world know about it!

Now, don't forget your coats and scarves, my friends. Hope to see you again in all of our favorite Athens haunts!