Falling for the sheer insanity of Hans Darkbolt

Tomorrow, we'll continue with our overwhelmingly detailed Athfest coverage, but today I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to write about my wild experience seeing Hans Darkbolt live for the very first time last Friday night. Memorable doesn't even begin to come close to describing that show! I'd even venture to say that a little something called destiny played a part in my discovery of this band.

Perhaps I should explain myself. You see, once upon a time (or last year, if you want to be specific), regular readers of the blog might remember I had a favorite band called Crumbling Arches who most tragically split up in November. After their break up, I was quite sure I would never find another awesome band that fit into the theatrical progressive alt rock genre again. But then, during my extensive research of every band playing Athfest this year, I stumbled across the curious stylings of Hans Darkbolt. Upon checking out their Facebook page, something just clicked. Immediately, I knew I had to catch these guys in action!

Now I've got to admit, it's been months since I've been to a show where I didn't know a single soul by name, but it was kind of a refreshing change too. The courtyard outside of Farm 255 was packed with friends and fans of the band, awaiting what I was told would be a brilliant live show. Before the set began, lead singer Peter Dovey, sporting suspenders and a zebra-striped headband, yelled something nonsensical into the microphone and then ran offstage. From that moment on, my suspicions were confirmed. I knew I was going to like this band.

As their set began, haunting gothic overtones joined in a post-genre dance with fun, showtune-styled rock to create a deliciously unique sound for their tunes. Humorous inflections and lyrics peppered their vocals, which ranged from soft and smooth to the occasional yell, and they approached each song with a sort of chill, rock-edged energy that defied explanation. What's more, a slight touch of a placeless international feel gave their set a dreamlike quality which persisted throughout show. This band, alternating between a 4-piece and a 5-piece ensemble depending on the song, ruled the stage with an air of mystery that kept the whole crowd intrigued during every second of the set. And whenever we thought we had figured them out, these multitalented guys would all trade instruments again or surprise us by twirling offstage and into the dancing crowd. Just a few songs in, clutching his guitar as one possessed, the lead singer stumbled like a zombie through their sea of fans until he was behind the audience, then sprinted on over to where his parents were seated to play just inches from their faces. Minutes later, faced with a few technical difficulties, he grabbed two mics on their stands without hesitation and sang into both of them at once. It was madness, I tell you! And I loved every minute of it.

Then, as the set neared an end, the band encouraged their fans to shout out all of their favorite lines from action movies, once more displaying their incredible sense of fun. To top it all off, the aforementioned Dovey leapt offstage in the middle of the final song, lapped the crowd twice, ran inside the Farm 255 while strumming his guitar, then jumped up to play his final notes atop a small, rickety-looking table before collapsing on the ground in the most overdramtically awe-inspiring and hilarious display of manic, musically-induced insanity I've ever seen! And believe it or not, I've only mentioned some of the main highlights of this band's set... Their live show must be experienced to be believed. Hans Darkbolt is one band I'm positively dying to see again!

Crumbling Arches: THE END OF AN ERA

To call Crumbling Arches my favorite band in the world would be an understatement. If I loved these guys any more than I do, they'd probably have to put me in the crazy house. Seriously. As the band that's most responsible for bringing me into the Athens music scene, motivating me to find and follow my own dreams, and giving me the most spectacular memories like my insane birthday party last year, I can't thank them enough. And somewhere along the way, I was lucky enough to become friends with all of these awesome guys too. Crumbling Arches may have just played their final show, but this band will always rock a huge piece of my heart.

Attending their final show was as bittersweet as I knew it would be. I've been mentally preparing myself for this for quite some time now, but seeing the band in all its glory just like in the old days brought back a veritable flood of memories. They played through some of the highlights of their body of work, songs that span over the more than eight years that they've been together. Several of the tunes were from the very beginning of the band's existence, long before I had ever gotten a taste of their sound. Purely rockin'! And, rather spectacularly, as the show wound to an end, they thanked me and other fans that have been there through it all by name. Nothing can beat a band who truly loves their fans back! Most tragically, though, the set itself was much too short. I wasn't ready for it to be over. It still hadn't really hit me that this was the last time they would all be playing together like this.

Luckily, however, their final note belonged to a song I've been dying to hear as it was recorded many years ago, a song that I had never gotten to see performed in its original version in all my years of loving this band. Phantom, the band's notorious Phantom of the Opera cover, brought me full circle again with an epic finish that involved Alex perching atop Zachary's shoulders and smacking the drums with reckless abandon, lots of delicious falsetto, and just pure magic. Phantom was the very first recorded song I ever heard from Crumbling Arches all those long years ago. There could be no greater finish than finally seeing that tune performed live at the end of their final show!

It's only just starting to hit me that I won't get to see them again like this. Singers/ guitarists Brian McGaw and Alex McKelvey are off to New York in less than a month, fully ready to debut a sure-to-be-awesome brand new joint music project there to complement their amazing solo acts Aman Amun and Mud Scholar. Ever-smiling bassist Ian Hennessee will be jetting to Africa with the Peace Corps soon, and Zachary Hennessee will be working at an environmental consulting firm in Atlanta which is just brilliant. I will miss this band and these people more than I could ever express in words. If ever there comes a day that these guys reunite to play once more, you can bet I'll be in the front row, ready to sing along to their tunes just like I always do!

The Most Memorable Covers

It's no secret that I'm a sucker for an original song. I love celebrating a brand new creation! Sometimes, though, a cover song is so spectacular or so perfect for the moment that even just the memory of it blows you away. Over the past year, I've been lucky enough to experience a few of these gems for myself while adventuring through the Athens music scene. These particular remade tunes certainly deserve some love!

Now, the first Athens band to introduce to me the world of rockin' covers was (yep, that's right) Crumbling Arches with their always wildly popular and mind-blowingly ridiculous take on "I'll Make a Man Out of You" from Mulan. Rock and Mulan in the same sentence? It doesn't seem like it would work, but boy, does it! Every time I've seen them play it, the crowd goes wild, and every one of us eighties and nineties kids bursts into song. Fun times. And hey, while I'm at it, I have to mention their cover of the Ghostbuster's theme that they played at my birthday bonanza last fall. Although nearly every band ever chose to cover that song for Halloween 2009, I think you'll be able to understand from this video why theirs was my favorite.

But they're not the only ones who've given us some super awesome covers and memorable moments. Doctor Squid definitely comes to mind. While they usually focus on their original tunes, longtime fans have come to gleefully await their Squidmas celebrations in December of every year where they play Squidified versions of everybody's favorite carols. Seriously, I've never heard a thing like it before! Even thinking of it right now fills me with unparalleled amounts of joy. However, my absolute favorite Doctor Squid cover moment happened just before this summer's mass exodus from Athens in May. They were rockin' all of their regular tunes when suddenly all of us in the crowd heard something new. So familiar... but what could it be? Ahahaha! Yeah, they were playing Stacy's Mom, originally by Fountains of Wayne. Somehow, the song just fit the band perfectly. Oh, I loved it!

And going along the lines of hilarity, what could be more comical than a band of guys playing Lady Gaga's "Love Game"? That's right, nothing. I've laughed about it before, but hearing Groove Tangent sing about taking a ride on your disco stick still has got to be up there on my list of favorite Athens music moments. Seriously. And it seems that Lady Gaga is the one to cover at the moment. The Novanauts have got their own cover of "Bad Romance" on the scene that takes it to a more musically-electronic level. It's so good!

I'll finish this blog with a short mention of Venice is Sinking's beautiful cover of Galaxie 500's "Tugboat." I wasn't previously familiar with the original song, but I loved their cover of it immediately when I first heard it. From last week's review of their latest album, I'd say I still can't get enough of it!

So these are just a few of my recent favorites. Oh, what brilliant memories I have of hearing these live! How about you? Heard any favorite covers of your own that you want to share?

Echoreview: Crumbling Arches' Yellow Years

Here's some fan art I made way back in the day for Crumbling Arches'

last album. I'll post the cover art for Yellow Years when it's released.

And here it is... the cover!

It's finally here! I'm extremely excited to say that a week and a half ago Crumbling Arches released their latest EP Yellow Years, a culmination of the discoveries of their college days put to song. True to form, the band debuts a new sort of sound and style on the album as well, rather unique to this era in its existence. Honestly, though, this comes as no surprise since, throughout its history, Crumbling Arches has been known to thrive in the realm of musical experimentation. This time around, their songs tend toward soft pop rock and often tread the line between humorous and very dark.

Now, unlike their 2007 full-length release the Somnambulist, Yellow Years is not a concept album. However, despite a large range of styles and subjects presented in the tunes, it exists as a mostly cohesive work and arguably holds a new story within its lyrics. So how do these new songs compare?

Mutant Love begins our musical journey with a twist on a classic story. As the song progresses, it weaves a tale of the struggles and changes that love brings although, in this case, the object of the singer's affection has gone through so many changes that she has transformed into, well, a mutant. My very first thought upon hearing this song was that it sounds like it's sung by ghosts in an underground cavern. Rather fitting given the subject matter, really. Although it took me a couple of listens to get into the recorded version of this tune, its incredible instrumental transitions and ridiculously catchy sound had me hooked pretty quickly. Now its one of my favorites on the album! I particularly love the line, "You seem different in my eyes. Dear God, my eyes have changed!" Something about those words just makes this song, despite its unconventional lyrics, feel right.

Now, naturally, Mutant Love would be followed by Vampire Sex, right? The vampires in this song aren't your standard Twilight vampires, though - no glitter here! Chronicling the curious sexual encounters of one man with a plethora of dangerous women, this tune has got something of a gothic feel to it. However, as the least serious song on the album, it does stick out a bit. If you're one for dark humor, though, you'll enjoy this one.

Continuing in the tradition of choosing odd names for their songs, Crumbling Arches gives us Daily Vitamin next. Vitamin is a slow and pensive ballad, a sort of picking-up-the-pieces tune. Musically well-composed, the lyrics absolutely make this song. Alternating between depressing and uplifting, this tune may be quiet, but it's certainly filled with feeling.

I know it will surprise readers of this blog to hear that my one of my favorites from this album is called Athens is Shit but, truly, I feel like everyone living here can relate to some part of this song. I love Athens more than any place in the world, but this song spells it out just right. Lines like "time of our lives, the dirty rotten time in my life" speak to college kid in all of us. After all, isn't everyone always telling us we're supposed to love college? Sometimes the reality of it, especially while you're living it, doesn't seem so great. Another line that's just perfect is "F*** a major, I don't need a career. With the way things are going, I won't live to see senior year." Classic stuff! Athens is Shit also gives us a generous helping of singer Brian McGaw's melodic voice which is rare on this album as these songs are written and largely voiced by singer Alex McKelvey. And while it has a bit of a nineties sound to it (after all, the band is heavily influenced by nineties rock tunes), it is musically probably the best song on here, with Daily Vitamin coming in as a close second.

Then Beez Kneez slows things down once more with the keyboard and guitar-filled tale of man whose legacy lived much longer than he did. This song features an enjoyable return to the harmonies between Brian and Alex that peppered their last album. Intentionally low fi vocals also give this song a sort of finality that rounds out Yellow Years.

Truly, I'm incredibly happy I've finally got my hands on these songs. Ever since I first heard these songs live over a year ago, I've been dying to have them! Want to hear them for yourself? Well, you're in luck! You can download your own copy of Yellow Years right here.

May's MASSIVE Athfest 2010 update (and other tune tidbits)

The anticipation is building... Athfest headlines just keep pouring in from all sides! Being out of town for the summer is quite a terrible thing for an Athens music enthusiast like myself, but the excitement of the festival and all of this awesome news fills me with all kinds of joy. June just can't get here fast enough!

First off, the outdoor stage lineups as well as the lineups for nearly every venue are almost full! Looks like we're just waiting for the bands playing at Nuçi's Space and a few at Tasty World to complete the set. That's 145 bands as of last night, you guys! Wow, so many to choose from! And every time I check, they've added just a few more. See for yourself!

This is the perfect time to start writing out your Athfest plan of attack. Which bands are you just dying to see? Which of your favorites will be rockin' stages all over Athens? Just keep in mind, the schedule's still shuffling around a bit, so don't get too attached to your plans yet. Also, may I suggest searching the bands that you've never seen before on MySpace to hear a few of the tasty tunes each of them has to offer. That's definitely my research method of choice. I've almost gotten through the list of all 145 bands! Who knew there were so many Athens musicians just waiting to be heard?

Oh, and the Athfest folks have given us a few more treats as well. Still not really sure what the festival has to offer? Check out their overall schedule. And I've just got to remind you to vote, vote, VOTE for the Flagpole Athens Local Music Awards! You've got until May 28th, but that's only a week from now! Still not sure who you want to vote for? Well, my friend and blogger Jordan Stepp (Athens Music Junkie) has been writing up a few blurbs about each band again this year, so if you're just a bit flustered, she might be able to help you out.

As always, keep visiting here for more Athfest news and full coverage of this year's festival coming in June!

But wait, before you go, I've got one last treat for you! In other Athens music news, there's this:

What!?! A music video from Mud Scholar? For those of you who don't know, Mud Scholar is the newest creation straight from the twisted mind of Alex McKelvey. It's offensive, shocking, hilarious, brutally honest, and, well, purely brilliant. I was lucky enough to first hear this particular video's tune live a little over a year ago during a brief pause in a Crumbling Arches set. Little did I know what that song would one day become... Oh, I definitely look forward to seeing much more ridiculous imitation douchebaggery from Mud Scholar in the future!

Hope the weekend rocks your flip flops off! Have a wild one, my friends.

Exciting Tales in the World of Tunes

Hello, my friends! It's time for some more music news and tidbits. This just in!

First off, I'm simply dying to show everyone this music player I created for my New Media class a few weeks ago. I'm just learning how to use Flash, and I thought it would be rather cool to incorporate some of my favorite local bands and tunes into a playable graffiti wall complete with animations and, if you look hard enough, a special surprise too! I think it's pretty good for a beginner, if I do say so myself. :) Get your ears ready for some rad songs by Doctor Squid, Kalvinova, Chris McKay and the Critical Darlings, Bambara, Aman Amun, and Crumbling Arches!

And, as far as local music news goes, you may have heard that Athfest's already prepping for this summer's massive festival with the announcement of their outdoor stage headliners. Friday will give us the Modern Skirts and Packway Handle Band, on Saturday Perpetual Groove and Bubba Sparxx will share their songs, and Sunday will bring us the tunes of Cracker and Kinchafoonee Cowboys. Athfest 2010 can't come soon enough! Honestly, though, I'm a little bit sad that some of my favorites like Dead Confederate and Venice is Sinking didn't make the list too. But don't worry! Both of these bands will be rocking the 40 Watt that Athfest Saturday night instead. What joy!

Finally, I've just got to admit that I'm ridiculously excited right now because today's shaping up to be quite an awesome day of music! I'm seeing Doctor Squid at Tate this morning(10:30 AM) and then heading off to an adventure at UGA's Six Flags Night where I'll get to hear the tunes of Blueswater Bridge as well! Nice. And don't forget... If Six Flags isn't your scene, Reptar and Deaf Judges are taking over Caledonia tonight to rock your faces off with their style! Whee, what a night! And there's more coming, too. Tons of new shows have been added to April's Concert Pick list, so be sure to check it out and satisfy your ears!

Hope you all have a most spectacular day!

There and Back Again: A tale of Athens music and beyond

Bet you can guess which foot is mine. :)

Ah, vacation. Taking a break from it all.

As I lay on the beach soaking in the sun's warm but gentle rays, I thought I was taking a short break from my beloved Athens music scene as well. After all, my traveling buddies' music of choice consists mostly of the latest pop radio hits. For the first time in many months, I heard Lady Gaga's, Britney Spears's, and Taylor Swift's newest releases. Oh, and I learned that Justin Bieber is not actually a five year old! Good to know. Yes, that's right. At times, I'll admit it, I can be massively clueless about the popular music scene. For me, nothing can beat the up-close-and-personal experience of a live show in Athens. On occasion, though, it's probably good to get a nice big dose of what the kids are listening to these days.

Interestingly enough, however, Athens music has managed to seep into all of our lives in curious ways. It's no surprise, I suppose, that the shirts I wore on the days that we explored the seaside town nearby were tees I've collected from some of my favorite local acts. More surprising were the times when an Athens song or even a medley of local tunes would find its way onto my friends' party CDs. Wait... Was that... Crumbling Arches? Oh yes, and... Some Constellations too? Very nice. Even my clothes wouldn't let me forget this lovely town. I swear I found a feather on my favorite horned hoodie that had managed to cling to the fabric since that wild Of Montreal show in early February! Well, old friend, fancy seeing you here!

The beauty of Athens music is that, for those of us who are lucky enough to experience it, it truly becomes a part of our lives. There's something that everyone can enjoy here, no matter your taste, no matter your style. It's a feeling of joy that can't be forgotten regardless of where life's journey takes us.

Songs for Every Heart

Valentine's Day is looming... Are you ready for it? Whether you're deeply in love with the person of your dreams, completely disgusted with the mere idea of romance, or somewhere in between, our lovely local bands have some tunes you should check out! Courtesy of Lala.com and iLike.com, here are some of my favorites for your listening pleasure.

For those of you who are lucky enough to have someone special this Valentine's Day, might I suggest Native Tongue by Bambara. This particular delicious track has received the ultimate seal of sexiness from all of my friends. Hope this tune makes your night!

Want something a bit more graphic? Well, I'll let this song describe itself! Here's Atlanta band the Constellations' hit song Felicia. This song is scheduled for official re-release this Spring, but you can still get a taste of it here!

Things not working out too well? Maybe Aman Amun's Opportunity Cost is your song.

Or perhaps it's time to put an end to things, once and for all. Crumbling Arches gives us DJ Dormio's take on the state of things.

But wait, has someone's smile just got your heart doing backflips? Then Atlanta band Stellate's song Caught Up is just what you need!

Feeling a bit of unrequited love? Does he or she barely know you exist? Well, the Warm Fuzzies know how you feel! Check out their track Your Dairy King!

Or are all these songs just too upbeat for your mood? Well then, Dead Confederate's got you covered with Tortured-Artist Saint.

No matter what, I hope you have a rockin' day checking out some of these tunes! And hey, let us know which other songs out of Athens and Atlanta drive you wild!

Note: Why are all these songs just links instead of embedded MP3s? Well, I'll explain in more detail soon, but here are some blogs that might help you out if you're dying to know what's afoot in the music blogosphere.

More than Music: the Antics

Last week, you read about the silly banter that keeps live shows constantly exciting. But what else do bands do to make the time between (and sometimes during!) songs less like waiting and more like some sort of wild party? Welcome to the circus, my friends! It's time for some crazy antics. From acrobatics to unexpected appearances to pure jungle madness, you simply won't believe your eyes at these shows!

Last Athfest, Deaf Judges gave us an insane spectacle when, dressed in full vampire garb, one of the members of the band leapt up and scaled the balcony inside of Morton Theatre to rap while perched atop the ledge, high above the crowd. What a sight! Talk about an experience I'll remember forever! And that's not all. At the award show the night before, they threw beach balls into the audience and rapped from chairs throughout the venue as the balls flew overhead. Wow! Just wow.

Speaking of playing in the midst of a crowd of fans, bands 50:50 Shot and Matt Kurz One know that there's nothing more exciting than bringing the music to the people. Just a few weeks ago, the trombone player of 50:50 Shot appeared amongst the crowd and began to play right beside me while the band rocked the Caledonia. How cool is that! And Matt Kurz One did his one man show thing in the round at Ciné during Athfest so that everyone could see the crazy mix of instruments and techniques he used to make his music. Awesome, indeed.

Local rockers Coco Rico and Doctor Squid get into their tunes so much that they've been know to burst into interpretive dance on occasion. It's so much fun to watch! Coco Rico's show at Tasty World in December was simply full of madness as they writhed and moved in an intense dance that almost resembled some highly amusing animal mating ritual. Doctor Squid, on the other hand, took it the literal route with some incredibly comical hand motions that fit the words of the song perfectly. I can't help leaving with a smile on my face after shows like these!

If physical feats are your thing, Crumbling Arches will give you an unforgettable night. Jumping from speakers straight into a rockin' guitar segment? They've done that! Playing their instruments blindfolded? They've done that too! Strumming their guitars while locked in some sort of ridiculous music-infused embrace? Yup, they've done that! And, I've mentioned my favorite of their antics before: the flip. Seeing them crawl over, around, on top of, and through the legs of each other without touching the floor is just totally mind-boggling!

And any conversation about band antics is incomplete without a mention of Kite to the Moon. Their off-the-wall costumes and unimaginably-shaped instruments are wild enough, but with the help of the Tiger Girlz of Athens, they put on a show that is almost literally like a circus. The Tiger Girlz, dressed in impossibly high heels and an array of unexpected costumes picked for each song, actually swing, climb, and fly on a trapeze right beside the audience during the music! It's an absolutely unbelievable spectacle!

These are just some of the completely insane things bands do to make sure their name sticks in your mind. You know you'll tell your friends about the outrageous antics you've seen these crazy musicians engage in downtown! But what else makes a show an all-encompassing experience? Don't miss the next segment of More than Music!

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

More than Music: the Banter

It's just the tunes, right? That's the reason we all don our dancing shoes and leave our cozy rooms for the wild world downtown. Well, yes, the music's a big part of it. But let's be honest, amazing songs from super talented bands abound in Athens! It takes more than just a rockin' set of songs to stand out in this town.

So what do some bands do to keep us coming back for more? Well, most songs take a bit of setup time, but nobody wants to just stare off into space while they wait for the music to start again. After all, we are the get-it-now generation. These bands embrace the time between tunes to give us unforgettable experiences that we could never have lounging around listening to the stereo at home. How do they do it? Well, they simply open their mouths!

Banter. Talk. Spontaneous awkward conversations with the audience and with each other. It's so simple yet so wonderfully entertaining! Some of the things I've heard downtown would make even the most stoic people burst into hysterical laughter. Classic stuff.

Most of my favorite bands employ this technique to keep their fans excited. During one of the very first shows I saw in Athens, Venice is Sinking's drummer Lucas kept an awesomely hilarious commentary going as the rest of the band adjusted their instruments. The second time I saw them, he and singer Karolyn had a highly amusing mock argument during the show about the pronunciation of their album AZAR. Fun, interesting, relevant to the music... You've got to love these guys!

Atlanta band The Constellations give their whole set a sexually charged atmosphere as they flirt incessantly between songs. Lead singer Elijah especially loves to dish out lust-filled compliments to anyone and everyone in the audience and to the beautiful girls of the clap squad too. He's also not afraid to say whatever crazy thing comes to mind, and I absolutely love it! Some of the things he says would shock your mother and make your father cringe. It's all so in the moment! The crowd just can't wait to find out what he says next.

Birthed of pure joy, the Warm Fuzzies put a cute, personal spin to their songs by giving a bit of a background story. Why this subject, why this song? Often their stories are completely off the wall, but true or not, these tales make the songs that follow even more fun to hear! I just adore learning how a band came up with their lyrics, what they were doing when the tune came to them, or who their love song is really about. Ooh, juicy!

And, of course, I can't forget Crumbling Arches! These guys have banter down to an art form; they're the undisputed kings of the talk. Half the reason I love their shows so much is that I can't get enough of their between-song insanity. I've heard curiously ridiculous stories about their childhood, tattoo explanations, wonderfully awkward puns, band history tidbits, rap battles, and even an impromptu song so wild it made the audience squeal with glee. These always make for an incredibly memorable night!

All that bands need for this bit of banter is the creativity they already possess. Perfect! And hey, even for the bands that really hate using their voice instruments for the "lesser act" of speaking, merely introducing the band and sharing the name of the song to be played works too. I mean, how else are we supposed to pick out our favorites?

But talking's not the only thing bands do to gain a bit of a reputation around here, of course. Stay tuned for another chapter of More than Music!

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

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!

What an UNBELIEVABLE night! Crumbling Arches & the Ha's Neptica Atlas bring dreams to life...

Spectacular. Nearly indescribable. Pure euphoria. I'm still recovering from the shock of having my dream birthday party become a reality. My absolute favorite band in the world played a set just for me and my pals!?! Pinch me! This can't have really happened, right?

This culmination of over a year of dreaming and planning took place on Friday the 13th... What an ideal date for a costumed concert party! Since Halloween is my most favorite holiday, the house was adorned with tons of balloons, lights, and streamers in black, orange, and purple. Ooh, festive! Candy, juice boxes, and cake filled the room with sugary sweetness as well. However, it was the performances that topped everything else!

The band formerly known as Neptica made their official debut as the night began following a spontaneous name change to Atlas. Henceforth, I shall refer to them as the Ha's Neptica Atlas... until further notice, at least. Well, whatever they choose to call themselves, they were simply amazing! Everyone gathered around them in a semicircle on the floor, fully absorbed in their folk acoustic sound. During one song, they even had the attentive crowd wave their arms fluidly to their organically-formed music. The members of the audience jumped at the opportunity to involve themselves in the creation of such melodic magic. Beautiful. And what a curious array of instruments they used! It's purely awe-inspiring to hear Adriana, Parker, Jeff, and Sarah combine their musical talents to create a such wondfully fresh mix of tunes. I rejoice in the fact that I've gotten to see them grow as a group from one of their earliest practices into a now fully realized band with limitless potential! Their official public debut will be at a benifit concert at Tasty World on December 1st, so never fear, you'll get to see these bundles of talent for yourselves soon!

Then, just minutes later, it was Crumbling Arches' turn. I don't think I've ever gone into a show with so much anticipation before. I mean, CRUMBLING ARCHES! This was the band that first introduced me to the Athens music scene, that first inspired in me a true love of music. To have them perform at my birthday party as a favor to me is nearly beyond comprehension. And the set they played! Wow! Kicking things off with a completely ridiculous cover of the Ghostbusters theme infused with a slight hint of birthday references, they had the whole house dancing and yelling "busting makes me feel good!" Just plain hilarious. They followed this song with a wonderful set of their newer tunes including the holiday appropriate and deliciously dark Vampire Sex song. Mmm, how I love the organ-sounding keyboard in that one! And then, most joyfully, they dedicated their song Mutant Love to me. Everybody say awww. I just can't stop smiling! Their final tune of the night was old favorite, I'll Make a Man Out of You, their rock version of the ever-popular Mulan song. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the floor was shaking wildly from the nearly 50 person crowd rocking out to this song! Nothing can beat the energy that filled that room. Unbelievable! Ian finished things off by saying that whenever I want to celebrate another fake 18th birthday, they'll be there. Oh man, I love these guys!

Right now, I'm practically oozing appreciation. I absolutely must thank all of the members of Crumbling Arches and the Ha's Neptica Atlas for their spectacular performances as well as the members of Bambara for the use of their PA system. Also, I can't forget to thank the people who made this possible like the owners of the house especially Olivia, Kelly, and Megan as well as my pals Susannah, Meghan, Leona, and Sheila (you all know what you did). Oh, and I guess I should thank the police officer who didn't give us a noise violation too. :) I can never thank you all enough! As my friend Susannah declared, this party was the stuff of legend! It seems that the line between dreams and reality is not quite so thick after all. At this moment, I am utterly and completely ecstatic!

Stay tuned for tons of videos from this incredible event! Coming soon.

You're invited...

It's party time, people! A little over a week ago, I mentioned the plans for my next birthday party which includes a concert with live music as well as an awesome dance party. I can't wait! Tunes and costumes galore! This will essentially be the party of my dreams, and you're invited too.

Crumbling Arches will be rocking the house in what is sure to be the most delicious of sets! Also on the bill are newcomers The Ha's (formerly Neptica). This will be their official debut show so checking out their soft, folksy tunes is a must! It's all going down in Pineview this Friday the 13th (ooh, scary). Email me through my profile for details!

Also, don't forget to check out this month's concert picks for more spectacular show recommendations! Wonderfully unique rock band the Constellations will be returning for another insane show this Saturday, and I've added several bands and dates to the schedule as well. Hope you have a wild rest of the week!

Clouds, and Crinkles: An Evening of Alliteration with the Arches

Crumbling Arches, The Clouds Are Ghosts,
and a crowd of music enthusiasts

Frequent readers of this blog may be shocked to learn that I had never stepped foot in a venue in downtown Athens on a Monday night... until now. However, if every Monday show is as mind-blowingly spectacular as the Clouds Are Ghosts/Crumbling Arches show I had the incredible pleasure of seeing at the beginning of this week, I'm going to have to make a regular habit of it!

You see, Caledonia's a rather peaceful place so early in the week, perfect for a bit of soft, eerily beautiful music. The Clouds Are Ghosts traveled all the way from their hometown of Austin, Texas to satisfy our ears' needs. From the very first note they played, I was in love with their sound. Their name describes them exactly. Using a keyboard, a violin, and some electronic elements, they weaved together a set of amazing songs that transported me into another realm every time I closed my eyes. Most uniquely, they employed the use of a megaphone for the vocals of several of their tunes. I've never seen that done before! Intriguing... and completely awesome. My friends and I were mesmerized. In fact, their whole show blew me away. Behind them, a screen displayed everything from familiar internet videos to fiery explosions to a velvety black, star-filled sky that changed with the music. The whole effect was quite awe-inspiring, really. And I've got to admit once again, it's awfully hard for other bands to impress me during a show featuring my favorite band, but this group of talented musicians certainly managed to do it. I really hope I get to see them again in the future!

Then it was time. Crumbling Arches time! I've been thirsting for another sip of their delicious theatrical rock for months. Now, seeing as that this was the ninth time I've seen them, I wasn't really expecting any surprises during this show. Boy, was I wrong! Introducing themselves jokingly as "Crinkly Arches," the vocal, guitar playing half of Crumbling Arches seated themselves onstage for a set unlike any other. With Alex on acoustic guitar and Brian on electric, they rocked some of my very favorite songs in ways that I've never heard or even imagined before. Oh wow, it was awesome! And, in between songs, the comedy stylings of Alex and Brian had everyone in the audience cracking up. What with their jokes and their particularly prominent lyrics, it was one of their most memorable shows yet, and for a band known for its acrobatics, hilarious anecdotes, and general antics, that's certainly saying something! Quite simply, I loved it.

Amusingly, both the Clouds Are Ghosts and Crumbling Arches chose to perform their own vampire-inspired songs at this show, just in time for Halloween. The Arches even had everyone in the audience scream as loudly as they could near the end of their ode to the fanged being. Mmm, audience involvement. It's always fun to have a part to play! And then, with October's darkness setting in and hints of my favorite holiday surrounding me, the show came to a spellbinding finish. What a night!

Excitement, changes, and a bit of music!

It's mid-October, everyone! So far, October has certainly continued the tradition of being my busiest month of the year. Where's all the time gone? I haven't even decorated my room for Halloween yet, and if you know me at all, I'm sure that will come as quite a shock. But hey, there's a whole lot to to be excited about this month. Tons of amazing bands will be the gracing the stages at many of the most awesome Athens venues over the next few weeks. I can't wait! Don't believe me? The October schedule is right here for your planning pleasure!

In fact, the spectacular Crumbling Arches will be stepping onstage for the first time this school year to rock the Caledonia this Monday night! (That's tomorrow.) Oh yes! You know you want to take a study break and party with these favorites of mine. One thing to note: Original headliners, the Winter Sounds (formerly of Atlanta), are skipping out on this one. Actually, they won't be performing at all again until 2010 owing to the fact that they're in need of a new drummer. Hm, that's unexpected. I haven't gotten all of the concrete details yet, but it looks like their entire fall tour has been canceled. Well, I eagerly await their return. Never fear, though. Tomorrow's show will go on, and it's most definitely going to be a delicious one! Now it's a triple band lineup with Crumbling Arches, Joy in Tomorrow, and The Clouds Are Ghosts. Yay!

Oh, and before I go, I absolutely must share some videos with you! The two in this entry are from Bambara's latest show at the 40 Watt on the last day of September. This band's been getting tons of buzz lately, so be sure to check them out. Enjoy! And naturally, for more videos of your favorite Athens and Atlanta bands, visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel. Videos galore!

Well, that's all for now. Have a rockin' day!

Kristen's Concert Picks: October is party time!

Happy October! My favorite month comes bearing musical gifts of all sorts. From cultural groups to cover bands, from rock to pop, I've got you covered. Oh, and just for you, I've uploaded live footage from several of the shows I saw during the past month. Visit my YouTube channel for videos of Bambara, The Warm Fuzzies, Doctor Squid, The Constellations, and more! And now, prepare yourselves for some spectacular musical adventures!

Fri, Oct 2: Incatepec @ 6 PM @ Terrapin Beer Co.
If you want a fully cultural experience, Incatepec is the band for you! A mixture of jazz, rock, and South American flute music, you've never heard anything like them before.

Wed, Oct 7: Death on Two Wheels @ 10 PM @ Tasty World Uptown
Heavy rock is the order of the day! Atlanta band Death on Two Wheels will have you banging your head and moving your feet to the beat.

Mon, Oct 12: Crumbling Arches @ 10 PM @ The Caledonia Lounge
Readers of this blog will know that this is one show you can't miss! My favorite rockers return to the stage to treat us to a night of amazing tunes and general madness. With the Winter Sounds, another awesome band, on the bill, this show should be nothing short of spectacular!

Thurs, Oct 15: Birds and Wire & Electa Villain @ 10 PM @ The Caledonia Lounge
Two bands I've been hoping to check out since Athfest playing together on one night? Awesome! With soft southern pop from Birds and Wire and classic rock from Electa Villain, this should be one crazy night.

Sat, Oct 17: Modern Skirts @ 9 PM @ The Melting Point
The Modern Skirts are gracing yet another Athens stage! You' know you've heard of them. The buzz about this soft pop band never stops.

Thurs, Oct 22: The Warm Fuzzies @ 9:30 PM @ The Caledonia Lounge
More happiness, more hilarity, more joy! Take it from me, you can never have enough of the Warm Fuzzies. They're smile-inducing pop rock at its best!

Fri, Oct 23: Velvet Runway @ 8 PM @ Tasty World Uptown
Love 80s tunes? Well, then Velvet Runway is the cover band for you! They'll transport you back in time so that your ears will believe you're hearing the jams as they were originally played. It's time to rock!

Sat, Oct 24: Dead Confederate @ 9 PM @ The 40 Watt Club
Headlining with the Meat Puppets and with opener Madeline, this show is sure to be HUGE! Dead Confederate's dark rock will most certainly entrance you. Be sure to buy advance tickets on the 40 Watt website!

Wed, Oct 28: Bambara & The Agenda @ 8 PM @ Ciné
For your ghoulish delight, there will be a performance of Halloween: Live followed by a show from our favorite hard rocker trio Bambara and The Agenda, another group of rockers on my list of bands to see! Oh yes!

Wed, Oct 28: Doctor Squid & Leading Edge @ 9 PM @ Tasty World Uptown
Want some pop, some rock, and some old school tunes? The Redcoat Band party is where it's at! With Beatles cover band Abbey Road live playing as well, this lineup is nothing short of super awesome.

Wed, Oct 28: Chris McKay & the Critical Darlings @ 10 PM @ The Caledonia Lounge
Yay, the Critical Darlings are back! We've missed them quite a lot while they've been off picking songs for their latest CD. This will be one of the few chances we Athenians get to see this group of energetic power rockers this semester, so be sure to check them out!

Thurs, Oct 29: It's my birthday! Yay!
Yeah, ok, I couldn't help myself. I had to mention it too. :)

Sat Oct 31: Krush Girls @ 9 PM @ The 40 Watt Club
No way... KRUSH GIRLS!?! This pair of (shockingly male) DJs were the reason I first set foot in downtown Athens. Newcomers may not have heard of them since they tend to reunite only for special occasions these days, but they are known all over Athens for their rockin' ability to keep the party going with their selection of pop dance tunes!

And those are my picks! Just like before, when a whisper reaches my ears of another awesome show, I'll be sure to add it to my list. Also, so this list doesn't get lost in the quagmire of blogs that I write, check out the side bar! I've just added a monthly concert picks button for easy access.

Ok, be sure to mark your calendars! This October is going to rock!

More than Music: the Fashion

Ian and Zachary of Crumbling Arches
sporting their show attire with style

Why do people go to live shows? For the music, of course! Right? Well, technically the answer is yes, but with a good stereo and a few high quality recordings, you can pretty much recreate the same effect at home. There must be more to it.

I think most people go to live shows for the experiences, for the chance to see and be a part of something awesome and unforgettable, something they can't have at home. The music is important, yes, but it's only a small part of what makes a live show an event worth traveling through downtown (or even across a few states) to enjoy. So what else makes a show bridge the gap between good and FREAKIN' SPECTACULAR? Hold your breath with me now... I'm about to plunge right in.

Since I just spent the past day sewing up a storm in the hopes of having double the "downtown wardrobe" by the time I get back to Athens, I'll start with the subject at the forefront of my mind: fashion! Or, more specifically, band member fashions. Now the key thing to remember when picking a rockstar outfit as a member of a band or a clever imposter is to stand out. Wearing your normal, everyday t-shirts and jeans just won't cut it. Take a cue from your favorite Halloween costume or eccentric, established rocker icon, and go wild! Remember you can't go wrong with bright colors and crazy patterns.

Take it from Ian of Crumbling Arches. From what I've seen of his onstage fashions, his closet must be full of shirts with hypnotising designs, artfully ripped jeans, and multicolored pants. Alex of the same band keeps everybody's eyes on him with his array of curiously interesting and slightly ridiculous hats. Brian and Zachary generally keep it simple and classy with their dressy/casual take on suits - always a good choice. The members of this band and Doctor Squid too have also been known, at other times, to don some rather spectacular costumes as well, among them phantom masks, kitty suits, santa hats, and even full-face squid masks. And while we're on the subject, I can't forget to mention bands like Deaf Judges and Excali Brah. For them, costumes are mandatory show wear. It totally works, too. Nothing makes me more gleeful than seeing a bunch of fully grown men wearing capes and vampire fangs!

Sometimes, though, fashion choices directly relate to the music being played. The members of Chris McKay and the Critical Darlings take it old school all the way with their sound and their threads. Basist Frank DeFreese definitely does it right with his shiny, eye-catching clothing. In fact, just before I saw the Critical Darlings perform for the first time, I noticed him wandering by in the semi-darkness. Without knowing anything about the guy, I instantly knew that he must be a member of one of the featured bands. That's the way it should be! His clothes totally tipped me off. He had to be more than just an average bystander. And you can't miss Carly Kane, lead singer of Stellate, when she's rocking the house either! Her brightly-colored clothing smacks of fun just like her music. You'd know she was a star from a mile away!

Other whole bands choose to rock their looks uniformly. No, I'm not talking about the matching outfits worn by the boy bands of the nineties. I'm sure we all want to forget about those! I'm talking about a small hint of color coordination like the matching red glitter eyeshadow worn by all of the members of Casper and the Cookies (especially the men). Things like this ensure that these groups won't be forgotten in a sea of bands trying to stand out and make a name for themselves.

So, now that you've got a handle on some of the fashions of Athens and Atlanta bands, what's next? A live show has to be more than just a rockstar outfit, right? Well, naturally. As always, stay tuned for more!

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

Echoreyn of Athens takes over YouTube

The introductory video

You might have guessed it was coming, and here it is! The Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel! Click to enjoy! I plan on filming live show footage from as many of the concerts I attend in the future as I can, so be sure to check the channel regularly (or subscribe) in order to satisfy your desire for more Athens and Atlanta music. Not in the local area? Well now you can experience part of the shows from the comfort of your computer! In essence, you'll get to see a small hint of what I see at these shows. Not sure which bands you want to see live? Hopefully, these videos will put the flavor of each of these acts on the tip of your tongue, so it'll be easier for you to choose. For me, watching these videos over and over fills me with anticipation and enthusiasm. I can't wait to see them perform again and check out even more bands!

Also, I'm going to try something different on the channel as well: a semi-monthly Echoreyn of Athens vlog. That way I'll be able share some of the biggest local music news from each month with everyone on YouTube too. I can't wait!

So there you go! I already have footage up from the Crumbling Arches show on May 8th at the 40 Watt as well as several videos of both The Constellations and Manchester Orchestra at Summerfest on June 7th. Hope these vids pleasure both your eyes and your ears!

Crumbling Arches Goes Full Circle

The marquee at the 40 Watt

Honestly, there's no better way to end the year than the way I started it... with Crumbling Arches, of course! Despite the fact that I've now been privileged enough to see eight of their shows, this will actually be my first show blog of my favorite band. Madness, I know!

My friend Susannah and I started off Friday night by arriving at the 40 Watt slightly earlier than we had anticipated, but this merely gave us a chance to rest a bit since we both had spent the day packing up our stuff for the summer. While we were chilling, Alex, one of the lead singers of the band, came by to chat and to steal my pen for Zachary the drummer's use. Curiously, I never saw that pen again. However, losing a pen is a small price to pay for the absolutely amazing show that they served to us later that night!

Before the Arches took the stage, Puddin Tang, a band whose sound resembled that of a rather peppy 50's sock hop, opened the show. I should probably mention at this juncture that this show was originally meant to feature the Presidents of the United States of America, but unfortunately, they had to cancel due to a family emergency of some sort. Puddin Tang was one of the two bands who stepped in to join Crumbling Arches in a celebration of the beginning of summer. While their tunes were quite bouncy, the fact that I wasn't able to understand a single lyric from any of their songs kept me from truly getting into their music.

Then it was time for Crumbling Arches to show everyone how it should be done. They began their set with one of their newest songs, Mutant Love, which has one of the most musically satisfying instrumental intros I've ever heard. Then, after blessing our eardrums with a few of their slower pieces, they played one of their most well-known and most danceable songs, The Preachings of Priamides. Nearly everyone left their seats for this one and crowded around the stage, singing along. The audience was so loud, in fact, that had they pointed a microphone at us, the lyrics would have been clearly heard from every corner of the club. Before they ended their set, they gave the audience a choice between a song about their "love/hate relationship with Athens" and their infamous cover of "I'll Make a Man Out of You" from Mulan. Being a huge fan of both songs, I couldn't choose, but Mulan turned out to be the winner of the night. A cover like no other, Crumbling Arches demonstrates their incredible versatility in this song, showing us that the link between Disney and rock is most certainly an arch.

However, they did more than just pleasure us with their songs that night. I've mentioned before that a band's between-song antics and comments will often make a live show, and honestly, Crumbling Arches spoils me in this regard. No other band does it better! This time, Alex served us a bit of his most hilarious drabble with a public service announcement endorsing the HPV vaccine Guardasil. Later in the night, he managed to surpass even himself in delicious hilarity with an impromtu song about the band Lifehouse and the movie Teen Wolf. Then, while singing the Preachings of Priamides song, he and lead singer Brian reached for each other longingly in time to the music. It's unique bits of arbitrary banter and insanity like these that truly make every Crumbling Arches show an experience to remember! And speaking of experiences, nothing can prepare the first-time CA concert-goer for the acrobatics they might see at one of their shows. Sometimes it's like attending a rock-filled, visually exciting circus. In the past, they've delighted audiences with leaps from speakers and guitar-playing embraces, but this time, they showed us their most ridiculous feat, the one I call the flip. The flip is an indescribable display of balance involving Alex's ability to climb up, over, and through the legs of bass player Ian without touching the ground. You'd have to see it to believe it! Soon, I'll try to provide a video of it so that you can get a small taste of what it's like to view it live.

The show ended with a seven member band Quiet Hooves whose sound could only be labeled, for lack of a better word, interesting. With so many instruments onstage, I was hoping for some combination of sounds that would delight my ears, but instead, I struggled to hear anything that sounded much like music. However, I suppose I'll just give them the benefit of the doubt and say that perhaps this is just one type of music that exists beyond my understanding.

Luckily, though, the night was not over just yet. My friend Sheila, who had been dying to see Crumbling Arches live ever since she first heard the songs on their myspace, finally had the opportunity to buy their CD, the Somnambulist. Because there was no pen to be found, she got all of the members to sign it in my eyeliner. Hooray for creative solutions! It was after this that I truly realized that my Crumbling Arches connection had gone full circle. So many things about this show reminded me of my own first Crumbling Arches show over a year ago, and here was Sheila, just beginning her CA experience. What a way to kick off the summer!

Misheard in Athens

Hello, my friends! I've been rather busy lately, finishing up all of my class projects and preparing for finals and such. Tragic. Sadly, I'm also a bit behind in my show write-ups. Be on the lookout for my review of two of Pholksinger Josh's shows sometime soon after Sunday night. However, I have had a few humorous experiences during the past couple of days while pumping some of my favorite Athens acts, and I thought I'd share some of them with you. Apparently, good hearing is quite scarce on the UGA campus.

The first of the lovely mix-ups occurred while I was discussing the wonderfully exciting Crumbling Arches show coming up on May 8th. I told my friend that they were opening for the Presidents of the United States of America, but understandably, she thought I had said that they were playing for the President. The mental image of Obama mouthing the lyrics to the Preachings of Priamides while Sasha and Malia dance beside him certainly put a smile on my face.

Just a few moments later, as I shared the news of Aman Amun's May 1st show with another friend, a second mix-up occured. I was enumerating the event details listed on his website for her (free food, free music, free art) when I came to the last item: free booze. Of course, with her head firmly in the gutter, she heard "free boobs." Apparently, Mardi Gras is happening twice this year, the second in UGA's very own art building! I'll let you handle the visual image on that one.

My favorite moment occured not long after that. Filled with excitement after the Pholksinger Josh show I had just seen, I mentioned to a friend that several of his songs had been used in an indie film. In shock, she replied that she had no idea he had been involved with the Indian film industry. Oh, Bollywood will never be the same for me after this! The mental image of Josh's dreadlocked personage dancing Indian-style in colorful, traditional garb was nearly too much for me to take. After a long bout of hysterical laughter, I decided to give Athens music a rest for the day.

Now, however, I'm back full force. This weekend is going to be a wild treasure trove of Athens bands! Chris McKay and the Critical Darlings will kick off the weekend with their sure-to-be amazing Friday show at 10 pm at Go Bar. On Saturday, the party starts early with a seven-band Local Bands Live show at Legion Field beginning at 11 am. Don't miss Doctor Squid's set at 12:45 pm! Then we'll have the delightful opportunity to hear Pholksinger Josh again as well as six more local bands rock out on the Myers Quad for HPSC's Night on the Quad on Sunday starting at 5 pm. Athens has certainly outdone herself this time! Enjoy.