Athfest 2013: the ever-insane Flagpole Athens Music Awards

Thursday, June 20th, 2013 

 Flagpole Athens Music Awards show 

Zombies and bands and ghosts, oh my!  Nobody does it like Athens when it comes to award shows.

The Flagpole Athens Music Awards 2013 kicked off the festivities with an eerie and awesomely theatrical performance by Brett Vaughn and the Miracle of Human Sound starring local musican Kayez along with several ghostly dancers and featuring Modern Skirts drummer John Swint and local folk rockers The Skipperdees.  What a sight!  Lights flickered in the darkness as a young woman, dressed in white and covered in blood, rose from the dead as the night began, setting the tone for what would be a haunting, wild, and utterly unique show.

Jazz masters and house band Kenosha Kid played us through the night, winning the first of the coveted awards for yet another year in a row.  And just when we weren't expecting it, punk zombies came out in full force as T. Hardy Morris leapt off a balcony to accept Dead Confederate's award for Heavy Rock.  Later on, the Barlettas proved themselves a band to watch when they nabbed Upstart of the Year.  And New Madrid cleaned house, getting both Album of the Year and Artist of the Year.

When it came to music, it was impossible to pick a favorite set of the night!  Soft and sweet Dream Boat gave us a taste of their amazing, soothing tunes. Then Jubee and the Morning Afters blew us away with their soulful hip hop layered over smooth rock. After that, Dead Confederate's ever-talented singer T. Hardy Morris brought his slow and sorrowful sound into the mix.  Man, I just can't get enough of his voice!

Hands down, the best segment of the show, though, was the unveiling of the two Music Video Award winners.  If you haven't seen Obvious Signs by Grape Soda yet, you've got to check this one out!  Live action, animation, and ghosts... What could beat that?  And Audience Choice Video went to Flames of Love by Spencer.  With a twist you'll never be able to anticipate, this video had the crowd practically bawling with laughter.  Great stuff!

All in all, it was a celebration of our town and of all of our unbelievable local talents, both big and small.  What a night!

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2013, 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, soon you can check out our show footage and Athfest vlogs up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well!

Kristen's Concert Picks: Fend off the cold with some rockin' bands this January!

We've made it to 2013, my friends!  It looks like it's going to be a cold one though.  Keep yourself warm and dance the night away with these awesome bands!

Fri, January 4: Yo Soybean @ 10:30 PM @ Farm 255
Start off your semester with a bit of southern rock courtesy of Yo Soybean over at Farm 255!

Wed, January 9: Ryan Cabrera, Tyler Hilton, Teddy Geiger @ 8 PM @ Melting Point

These guys from pop music's not-so-far-gone past have apparently joined together for an acoustic lineup of old favorites and new tunes.  Relive the days of your youth, and stop by the Melting Point to catch them live.

Thu, January 10: The District Attorneys & Ruby the Rabbitfoot @ 10 PM @ Green Room

There's nothing better than a free show!  Check out Flagpole Award winners The District Attorneys and the sweet sounds of Ruby the Rabbitfoot at the brand new venue The Green Room (175 N. Lumpkin Street) on the 10th.  

Fri, January 11: Dead Confederate @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt

Want to hear Dead Confederate's latest tunes? The band joins John French and the Bastilles at the 40 Watt to play through their newest EP release!

Wed, January 16: Cicada Rhythm @ 8 PM @ New Earth Music Hall

Fill your ears with the standout, folky sound of Cicada Rhythm over at New Earth in the middle of the month!

Thu, January 17: Come What May @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Come What May rocks an intense, indie style that transcends genre.  You won't want to miss them!

Sat, January 19: Manray & Lazer/Wulf @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Craving even more explosive melodic noise?  Manray and Lazer/Wulf will be combining forces once again to take over the Caledonia on the 19th!

Sat, January 26: Seven Handle Circus @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

What do get when you combine nearly every stringed instrument under the sun with a healthy dose of fun? The bumpin' folk tunes of Seven Handle Circus, of course.  One of my new favorites from last summer's Athfest, you've got to hear these guys in action!

Thu, January 31: Sam Sniper @ 8:30 PM @ Georgia Theatre

Finish out your January with the unique, southern-style rock of Sam Sniper over at the ever-incredible GA Theatre!  

What a way to kick off 2013!  Got another local show you're pumped for?  Post about it below so that everyone can partake in the awesomeness.  Enjoy yourselves!

Kristen's Concert Picks: May heats things up

For optimal viewing of these picks on a mobile device, click here!

Summertime is almost here.  Let's celebrate freedom, joy, and sunny days with some incredible tunes!

Tue, May 1: Reptar DJ set @ 11 PM @ Georgia Theatre Rooftop

Want to get your dance on with the members of Reptar?  Kick off the month with DJs from one of Athens' favorite bands!

Thu, May 3: Dead Confederate @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge
Quality dark rock is Dead Confederate's way.  Don't miss this longtime favorite in action!

Fri, May 4: Reptar @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt

It's time for Reptar's brand new album! Start your summer off the right way with this mad crazy dance party.  Trust me, this will be an unforgettable night!

Sat, May 5: Hope for Agoldensummer @ 7 PM @ Whole: Mind. Body. Art.

Soft folk band Hope for Agoldensummer is also releasing an album this weekend.  Catch the band as they perform with the ever-talented songstress Madeline!

Sat, May 5: Manray @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

For all your dark noise rock needs, Manray is your band.  Let them devour your ears!

Tue, May 8: Switchfoot @ 7 PM @ Georgia Theatre

If you've been craving some big name bands, the Georgia Theatre's got you covered.  Reminisce over the past few decades with Switchfoot, creators of such songs as "Dare You to Move" and "Meant to Live"!

Tue, May 8: Ruby Kendrick @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Ruby Kendrick's sweet and soft melodies will bring a smile to your face, for sure!

Wed, May 9: Lullwater @ 8 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Ready for some good solid rock?  Lullwater will deliver over at the Caledonia Lounge!

Fri, May 11: White Violet @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

You'll love the soft rock sound of Nate Nelson's band White Violet.  Head to the Caledonia to hear their quality tunes!

Wed, May 16: Turf War @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Mix it up mid-month with fun rock band Turf War.  These guys have a bit of a nineties style and tons of personality!

Tue, May 22: Dead Confederate @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

Just in case exams got in the way earlier in the month, you can catch Dead Confederate again, this time over at the Georgia Theatre!  Excellent.

May is going to be wild!  As always, if you know of a rockin' show happening in Athens this month, let the world know about it in the comments below. Hope these tunes are just the the beginning of a spectacular summer!

Good luck, my friends!

I know for many of you, it's that dreaded final exam time again!  Some of you may have already even started your test-taking journey while others will be finishing up this semester over the next week.  Either way, I heartily wish all of you good luck!

Need a study break full of Athens music goodies?  Just like always, you can get your fill of live footage over on our Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel here!

Want some new tunes to download for your very own instead to help you with your studies?  I'll list some of this year's best free and pay-what-you-want offerings below!

Dead Confederate
the Athens band
Rainbow Ghost
Hans Darkbolt
Sam Sniper
Doctor Squid
the Warm Fuzzies

I'm sending good vibes your way.  I'm sure you'll all do an awesome job on your finals!

Kristen's Concert Picks: Take a break from it all with July's tunes!

For optimal viewing of these picks on a mobile device, click here!

After the hundreds of bands and the insanity that has been and will continue to be this June, July sure seems pretty quiet. The shows we’ve got to look forward to, though, are guaranteed to be incredible! Weirdly enough, it looks like Sundays are joining the Fridays and Saturdays of the month to make these upcoming weekends chock full of rock. Exciting!

Fri, July 1: Hans Darkbolt @ 11 PM @ Farm 255
I’ve been searching far and wide for another theatrical alt rock band, and from what I’ve heard online of these guys, it seems I’ve hit the jackpot. Can’t wait to catch them live! And, if you miss this show, they’re also rocking the Caledonia stage on the 14th as well.

Sun, July 3: Yo Soybean @ 2 PM @ Melting Point
Got music festivals on the brain? Well, you’re in luck! The American Music Festival is giving us an incredible lineup of band after band on one ticket. Some of the highlights are sure to be Yo Soybean, Lera Lynn, Patterson Hood, and Packway Handle Band. Buy your tickets now on the Melting Point website: http://www.meltingpointathens.com

Fri, July 8: Little Tybee @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt
Little Tybee's soft indie sound has garnered all sorts of buzz lately. Check 'em out for yourself at the 40 Watt!

Sat, July 9: The Orkids, Tealvox, & Chris McKay @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge
WOW, what a combination! The awesome rock of Tealvox and the newest incarnation of Chris McKay & the Critical Darlings meets the unbelievable pop sound of the Orkids for a show that’s sure to blow everyone away. Don’t miss this lineup of some of Athens’ best!

Sun, July 10: Vincas @ 8 PM @ Highwire Lounge
I just caught noise rock band Vincas in action for the first time last week, and I definitely liked what I heard!

Fri, July 22: the Athens band @ 8 PM @ New Earth Music Hall
Much buzzed about young rockers, Athens, will be ruling the stage at New Earth on Friday. If you haven't seen one of their shows yet, trust me, you won't wanna miss this one!

Fri, July 22: Sam Sniper @ 9:30 PM @ Flicker
A little bit country, a little bit rock with a funky style that that's all their own, blog favorite Sam Sniper's show is a must-see!

Fri, July 22: Turf War @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge
If you're looking for a fun, rock-filled show this Friday, Atlanta's Turf War is your band! You can see them at the Caledonia with rockers the Agenda.

Fri, July 22: the Shut-Ups @ 10 PM @ 40 Watt
Over at the 40 Watt, you can catch the fun, electronic stylings of the Shut-Ups with another purely rockin' set from Chris McKay and the Critical Darlings. What a lineup!

Thurs - Sat, July 21 - 23: Slop Fest @ 6 PM @ Little Kings
You haven't heard the last of the music festivals yet! Slop Fest 2011 will kick it in Little Kings Shuffle Club on this late weekend in July with a lineup of over 30 bands including awesome melodic noise rockers Xavii and Manray plus insanity-filled experience Ye Olde Sub Shoppe. Can't wait!

Sat, July 23: Camp Amped Session 2 Finale @ 7 PM @ Nuçi's Space
Want another taste of the future of the Athens music scene? Catch a glimpse of the youngest and newest emerging bands in our town at Camp Amped's Session 2 Grand Finale showcase. And since it's a free, all-ages show, bring your family and friends along too!

Sat, July 23: Daddy Lion @ 10 PM @ Flicker Theatre
I've heard a few tunes from South Carolina's indie musician Daddy Lion online, and now you can check them out too at Flicker on Saturday!

Fri, July 29: Bambara & Dead Confederate @ 8 PM @ Max Canada
Noise rockers Bambara join southern rockers Dead Confederate for a show that's going to be several different kinds of amazing! I've seen these two blog favorites perform together before, and I was blown away by the sheer incredible rock I experienced. Plus, Five Eight is on the bill as well. Trust me, you'll want to be there!

Well, it looks like July's got a few sure-to-be awesome shows in store for us! Don't forget, if you hear of a show that you want the world to know about, post in the comments and share it with us. And as always, check back often for any new shows that just might appear on this list throughout the month. Happy listening, you guys!

Kristen's Concert Picks: April's tunes thrive

It's April already? The year's passing by so quickly! The cold, dreary weather of early Spring will soon give way to days of warmth and sunshine, and everything around us will bloom and thrive. For those of us in the scene, this month's tunes are thriving too! There's just so many shows to pick from, and we love it that way!

Fri, April 1: Venice is Sinking @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Always a favorite, Venice is Sinking's soft but strong melodies are the perfect way to start off the month!

Fri, April 1: Futurebirds @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt

In the mood for some righteous Southern rock? The Futurebirds have got ya covered with their April Fools set at the 'Watt!

Wed, April 6: Chris McKay and the Critical Darlings @ 8 PM @ The Melting Point

It's Chris McKay and the Critical Darlings 3.0! Chris's long-awaited return with the Darlings is sure to fill the Melting Point with awesome classic rock and boundless energy. Best of all, its proceeds go toward the relief effort for those affected by the disasters in Japan. What a great cause!

Fri, April 8: Bambara @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Bambara is, by far, one of my absolute favorite bands in the scene! Their raucous, noise rock style will awaken something native and carnal in your very being, and your soul will beg for more.

Thurs, April 14: Powerkompany @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Powerkompany is an ethereal serenade traipsing through darkness and light. Your ears are dying to experience their sound, trust me!

Thurs, April 14: The Orkids & Tealvox @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt

The Orkids and Tealvox in one night? This is undoubtably one of those shows where the lineup alone promises an unbelievable night! Infectiously joy-inducing pop will dance through the 40 Watt with solid rock tunes. Excellent!

Fri, April 15: Sam Sniper CD release @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Sam Sniper's delectably intense country rock has made it one of my most recent Athens favorites. Releasing their very first album We're Not Coming Back This Way on the 15th with free copies for all who attend, this show is definitely a must!

Sat, April 16: the Athens band @ 8 PM @ The Office Lounge

Awesome youth rockers Athens (the band) are back to help raise funds for Nuçi's Space. Such a worthy cause! You won't want to miss this show!

Sat, April 16: The Shut-Ups @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

I loved the Shut-ups' joy-filled, electronic style when I saw them at the last Athfest, and I've been yearning to catch another set of theirs. Enjoy!

Sat, April 16: Pholksinger Josh CD release @ 10 PM @ Go Bar

So many bands I love are taking the stage this month! Pholksinger Josh's unique style of folk-insfused spoken word will most certainly make this show one to catch. Also, the band is releasing their newest album Watermelon Mountain that night too! Nice.

Sat, April 16: The Beat Geeks @ 10 PM @ Bad Manor

Get ready to move! The Beat Geeks are back to make you lose control on the dance floor. Don't miss your chance to catch these guys in action before they blow up big time!

Thurs, April 21: Taj Motel Trio @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Ska returns to Athens in the form of the Taj Motel Trio. Get ready to skank till you drop to their fast-paced, classic tunes!

Fri, April 22: Dead Confederate @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt

I'm actually listening to Dead Confederate on my iPod right now. Why? Because their songs are just unbelievably awesome, and they never get old. If soft rock with a Southern twinge tickles your fancy, Dead Confederate is your band!

Oh man, Caledonia and the 40 Watt are serving up show after incredible show this April! What a month of music! Just like before, if you know of another rockin' Athens show you think the world should see, post in the comments and tell us all about it. And, of course, don't forget to keep checking the Concert Picks link at the top of the page throughout the month as we add new must-see shows to the list. Have an amazing April, you guys!

'Twas an Unbelievable Week

There's nothing like a three night explosion of tunes from a bunch of your favorite bands! I've been sleeping off the excitement for days now. Since I've already written loads on Dead Confederate, Bambara, Doctor Squid, and the Athens band, I thought I'd share some of my favorite video footage from their past shows with you instead.

Up first, we've got this lovely video of Dead Confederate performing their single, the Rat, at Athfest 2009.

Check out Bambara giving us a sexy taste of one of their hit tunes, Shake.

Everyone in the crowd sings along to Doctor Squid's massive favorite, On My Way!

And finally, here's the Athens band rocking a cover of Van Halen's And the Cradle Will Rock at Athfest 2010!

As always, you can check out the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for more videos like these. Here's hoping the scene's got more weeks like this one in store for us soon!

A Few Awesome Shows

This one's just a reminder that the rest of this week is filled to the brim with amazing shows featuring blog favorites! Don't miss 'em!

Tonight at the Caledonia, Mud Scholar bids farewell to Athens with a nice big helping of the most hilarious, douchiest pop imaginable! If you like songs that are sure to offend your parents, you must see this show.

Then on Thursday, two of our longtime favorites, Doctor Squid and the Athens band are taking over the 40 Watt together to bring a healthy mix of happiness and rock to all who attend. Such joy!

Finally, Friday night will give us an epic pairing of sound at the 40 Watt with Dead Confederate and Bambara rocking the night away! Pure awesome.

For detailed info about these shows and many more, check out January's list of show picks right here!

Athfest 2010: Dead Confederate rocks out the night!

Saturday, June 26th, 2010
(after midnight)

Dead Confederate

Moments later, Dead Confederate took over the stage, ready to rock it like they do so well. This time around, they fed our ears a big helping of their newest songs with old favorites like the Rat and Heavy Petting sprinkled in. And as always, they sounded SO GOOD. I know I write about them all the time, but let's be honest, you guys, I just can't stop talking about them because they never stop being so damn awesome. Every time I see them, the fans (which, by the way, filled the 40 Watt to capacity for their show!) demand encore after encore. I've never seen anything like it! I know I don't have to tell you how amazing it was... After all, if you were at Athfest, you were probably there too, absorbed in their southern rock sound just like I was. Truly, it was the perfect ending to Athfest night number two!

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!

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!

A Block Party Like No Other

I don't think I've ever walked through an archway of inflatable legs or seen a pole dancing rat or been complimented by a pink-headed chicken bunny before last Wednesday. Truly, the Adult Swim Block Party held outside the 40 Watt was an event like no other! There was so much to do, it was madness. Lucky for me, though, between waiting in a monumentally long line for a t-shirt of my choice, seeing a girl stuff $136 in her shirt, and staring for much too long at the beautiful ribbon that kept floating across the sky, there were bands. Two to be exact.

Now, I'm going to tell you a crazy secret. Please don't think any less of me after you read this. I've just got to finally come clean. Until Wednesday, I had never seen a Modern Skirts show. Blasphemy, I know! I've got to be one of the only people in the whole Athens music scene who had never experienced their tunes. Ok, I'll give you a minute to get over your shock.

You alright now? Still breathing? Good. In my defense, I still consider myself to be someone who's just discovering the music scene. But I'm proud to say that I'm no longer in the dark. And without further ado, here's my take on my very first Skirts show.

Drum beats began the set as each band member joined together to create a massive, all-encompassing rhythm. Then the pop sound they're so well known for entered into the mix. Fun, indeed. From research, I know that their set was full of brand new songs, so my first of their tunes was probably quite different than most. Despite the newness of their songs, it put a smile on my face to see at least one hardcore fan mouthing the lyrics. I love the dedication! I'm sad to say though, from their incredibly short set, I think I missed out on the true Skirts experience. Many of my friends were a bit surprised by their new style so I'm definitely hoping to see them play a whole range of their tunes at the next Athfest.

Then Brooklyn band Here We Go Magic took the stage. The lights glowed and changed as they began with a series of tribal-sounding drumbeats the led into a very ethereal tune. From there, they launched into a set of songs that seemed to take influences from nearly every possible style of music, electronic, blues, and rock among them. With such a surreal sound and look, I would be surprised if they didn't list Pink Floyd as one of their inspirations. Whatever the case may be, though, they certainly had me grooving to the beat. And as they played, I couldn't help but notice the audience reactions to the unique musical madness as well. Several people in the crowd were dancing in circles. Some even donned neon sunglasses and started leaping around in front the stage. And then, in the middle of their set, there was a slight diversion when a group of four ghostbusters suddenly charged through the crowd. Oh, Athens, I love you! This is the stuff memories are made of.

Really, this whole experience had me craving Athfest big time. Tons of people, stages on the street, awesome bands... I was having severe flashbacks. Best of all, just like during the summer festival, the crowd looked like a who's who of up-and-coming Athens music legends. My celebrities, the talented local musicians I admire so much, were there in droves! And, I'm happy to say, I finally had the chance to meet Hardy Morris, lead singer of Dead Confederate. From what I heard, fans of the band will get to catch them at Athfest again this year. Yes!

Really, all I can say now is: what a block party, what a night!

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!

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.

Snowy Days, Unexpected Nights

Well, that night didn't quite go as planned. It started off rather awesomely, though. Some of you may have been lucky enough to dance through the thick sheets of snow whirling around among the icy Athens winds yesterday night. My pals and I embraced this once-in-a-blue-moon opportunity to frolic through the snowflakes as we headed downtown to catch our first show of the new semester. Ah, snow in Athens! Snowflakes on my tongue, nature's glitter on my hat. Such joy!

Naturally, we arrived hours too early for the show since I consistently harbor an irrational fear that the bands I want to see will somehow start playing before I get to the venue. I've really got to convince my brain that no show will ever start on time or early unless it's being televised (just a little tidbit to remember for any readers who are not yet experienced concert-goers). By the time Futurebirds introduced themselves with a loud "hi," the place was completely packed. People lined every open wall, the most enthusiastic of them practically hugging the stage in their excitement. Aw, man, I love seeing fans enjoy themselves. The levels of insanity that the Futurebirds' fans reached very nearly terrified those standing in their general vicinity, but their joy was undeniably awesome. Their exuberance infused the entire crowd with enthusiasm, and the band responded beautifully, throwing themselves into their southern rock tunes. Indeed, their sound certainly made them the perfect opener for Dead Confederate's melodies.

Unfortunately, near the end of the Futurebirds set, my rockin' adventure was abruptly cut short. One of my pals suddenly fell ill due to adverse atmospheric conditions and had to be taken out of the venue. Definitely not a great way to end the night. I'm glad I got to see the Futurebirds though. And the snow! We can't forget the snow. It was indeed quite a memorable night.

Special thanks to Elizabeth Boyd for her contribution to this post.

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!

Dead Confederate & Meat Puppets: the essence of true rock

Rarely do I ever get to see an entire lineup of bands I've been dying to hear, but Saturday night at the 40 Watt was a night like no other!

I first discovered Madeline as I was making a list of bands that I just had to check out during Athfest. I was quite intrigued by the songs of hers I had sampled on Last.FM and MySpace, but since my underage friends couldn't get into the venues she was playing, we had to miss out on her sets. When I learned she was opening for Athens band Dead Confederate and nineties famed rockers Meat Puppets, I was overjoyed! Indeed, she was the perfect singer to start off the show.

Madeline's sound alternated between soft southern rock and soft dark rock, and she wore an incredibly intense expression on her face as she sang which made her songs all the more powerful. She and the White Flag band particularly fired up the crowd with their Johnny Cash cover and a number of their final tunes. And the crowd she gathered... Wow! I've never seen such a large and eager audience for an opening set before.

Moments later, everyone on the floor waited with bated breath for the first headliner. I had previously seen Dead Confederate own the stage at Athfest over the summer, but nothing could have prepared me for the show they had in store for us this time. They leapt immediately into their hard rock as they stepped onstage, setting the mood as they jammed wordlessly for several minutes in the low light. What an entrance! They followed these songs with a set of amazing tunes which included their much-loved hits The Rat and Get Out. The guitar chords resonated through my whole body, and the lights behind the band flashed almost constantly in a shock-inducing display of sheer madness. Lead singer Hardy Morris was so completely immersed in the songs that he closed his eyes during most of them and even writhed on the floor near the end of the set. Truly, this is how Dead Confederate was meant to be experienced. I adored them at Athfest, but seeing them rock the darkened 40 Watt surrounded by crowds of enthusiastic fans was completely amazing! And as they were packing up after their last song, Hardy jumped off the stage and landed right between Sheila and I so that he could talk to the talented photographer who happened to be standing right beside us. Oh, Athens! Fun times.


And then, there were the Meat Puppets. Getting to see these rock legends take over the stage was nothing short of incredible! Their subtly southern rock and wild long hair screamed nineties in its prime, and their wild energy and badass attitudes captured the attentions of everyone in the audience. Their fans, ranging in age from college students to middle aged partiers, covered the whole dance floor with their exuberant moves as basist Cris Kirkwood jammed across the stage, pushing over sound equipment and grimacing with intensity. One lady in the crowd even held up a shirt she had gotten from them over two decades ago as she danced. Wow, these guys have staying power! I could see why, too. The Meat Puppets sure know how to put on a show! Then, as they finished up their set, Cris lifted up his shirt to show off his tattoo, making one drunk fan so excited that he started screaming and trying to touch the design. And boy, was this guy determined. After several minutes of trying, he finally succeed in diving onto the stage only to be dragged off by a security guy, who was helped by Cris himself, and thrown out of the 40 Watt. Wild!

Then, just as we thought the show was over, another drum appeared onstage and the members of both Dead Confederate and Meat Puppets emerged from behind the curtain. We could all tell they had bonded quite a bit during their joint tour throughout the country. Cris and Hardy even shared a cigarette as they tuned their instruments once more. And then, they began. It was an encore of insane proportions! Together, both bands rocked a short set with such energy that it was an experience unlike any I've had before. The whole dance floor felt so in the moment right then. I wouldn't have missed it for anything! It was like those rock shows of past decades that I've seen on TV. I've really never seen anything like it. Saturday was definitely one of the most unbelievable nights ever!

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!

Athfest 2009: Dead Confederate draws us in

Friday, June 26th 2009

Dead Confederate

Less than an hour after Tealvox's set, my posse and I planted ourselves directly in front of the main stage in anticipation of Dead Confederate's show. For the past several weeks, I'd been haunting the band's myspace and getting my fix of their dark alternative rock tunes, so I could barely contain my excitement as the band members began preparing for their set. Minutes later, other dedicated fans swarmed into the street forming a massive crowd as large as the sea of people at Manchester Orchestra's Summerfest show. With a roar of cheers from the crowd, they stepped onstage and jumped right into their set.

Their soft, unique sound seasoned with lead singer Hardy Morris's rocker tones delighted everyone's ears, and many in the audience were singing and rocking out wildly to their songs. Feeding off of the energy from the crowd, the band members truly got into their music. Morris and drummer Jason Scarboro began tossing their hair in true rockstar style and got the audience even more pumped as they launched into their hit single, The Rat. Then, sadly, their time was up. As we eased through the crowd to move on to the next venue though, I felt completely satisfied. Dead Confederate's show was everything I had hoped it would be!

For more blogs about Athfest 2009, click here! I'll be updating regularly, so be sure to check back often. Also, don't forget to check out concert videos from Dreams So Real, Venice is Sinking, Dead Confederate, and many more at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!

Athfest 2009: And the winner is...

Thursday, June 25th 2009
Flagpole Athens Music Awards Show

Ah, Athens! It was great to finally be back in my favorite city!

My friend Sheila and I got into downtown just about half an hour before the Flagpole Athens Music Awards started. As we waited in the lobby for another friend to arrive, I noticed several people dressed in an array of eye-catching clothing milling around in a side room just beside us. These, I assumed, would be the celebrities of the night. Even though I'm still a relative newcomer to the Athens music scene, I could sense that the members of this group were the people to watch. I'll admit, it helped that I caught a glimpse of Hardy Morris, the lead singer of Dead Confederate walking around back there just before Trent Allen of the band Dreams So Real paused next to us to ask some of the workers where the presenters were supposed to be. Sightings like these merely fueled my anticipation for the show and the days ahead.

Having never attended an official awards show in my life, I was eager to see what would happen once the presenters and bands stepped onstage. We managed to get seats relatively close to the front but still far left enough that I had to crane my head a bit to get a good view. However, it transpired later in the evening that we had some of the best seats in the house. Little did I know that a majority of the winning bands were seated in the dark area just beside us. Also, I could never have guessed that the distinguished-looking gentleman right behind us was one of the presenters for the night. The best was yet to come though.

Pretty soon after the show began, Deaf Judges, a local hip hop and rap group, took the stage. Well, I say "took the stage," but in reality, they made the whole theatre their stage. They tossed beach balls into the audience before they started so that the air was filled with flying spheres during (and following) their performance. These balls even played a hilarious part in the awards proceedings when the Half Dozen Brass Band got a beach ball chucked at them good-naturedly as they were giving their acceptance speech for the Best Jazz Band award. Then, during the perfomance, one of the members of Deaf Judges ran into the audience and jumped on a chair right behind my friend Diana to rap to the crowd in close quarters. I told you we had great seats!

Another highlight of the night was when American Cheeseburger won for Best Punk/Hardcore Band. Unlike the other winning bands, their acceptance speech didn't include any speaking at all. Instead, one of the members donned a rubbish-filled trash can for a hat, mumbled some sort of incoherent sound into the microphone, and then poured water onto his head before leaving the stage. What a sight! My favorite moment of the night by far, though, actually happened because of a glitch. During the presentation of the finalists' videos for the Best Music Video category, the film started skipping which disrupted the music horribly. Kenosha Kid, the band playing music in the pit for the awards show, filled in the gaps of the Dead Confederate glitching video with an impromptu performance of the missing parts of background music. There's nothing better than seeing a band make something awesome out of a problem like that!

The only thing that really put a damper on the evening was this guy, Clay Leverett, who kept making jokes at the expense of recently deceased king of pop, Michael Jackson. The jokes were in bad taste, and it wasn't long before he was booed off the stage. Also, a few times during the show, I felt like an outsider at an exclusive party. Inside jokes that only longtime citizens of Athens could understand ran rampant throughout, but luckily, these were harmless.

However, on a more positive note, some of the biggest cheers of the night went to those who really deserved them. The second biggest cheer was for my fellow blogger and friend Jordan of AthensMusicJunkie who's become a sort of celebrity around these parts for her extensive and dedicated blogging about the bands of Athens. Don't tell her that, though! She'll deny it completely. But truly, the girl did a great job presenting a special award to the man in charge of UGA's music business program. The loudest, most heartfelt cheer, though, was also a bittersweet one for Wilmot Greene, owner of the recently destroyed Georgia Theatre. When he walked onstage, everyone in the theatre gave him a standing ovation. It was wonderful seeing all of the people of Athens join together in their earnest determination to see the theatre rebuilt and the years of memories maintained!

Then soon after all of this, the show was over, but for my friends and I the night had just begun. The awards show after party had already started, and we weren't about to miss that!

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!

It's Athfest Time!

Just a small part of the crowd at Atlanta's Summerfest 2009

Tonight, Athfest 2009 kicks off with the Flagpole Athens Music Awards at 8 pm in the Morton Theatre! As anyone who reads this blog can guess, I'm more than just a little bit excited about Athfest. In fact, I'd say I'm beyond tremendously ecstatic that I'm going to be able to attend. This will be my first Athfest experience, so get ready to be bombarded with enthusiastic entries about all of the bands that I encounter. Like any severely dedicated blogger (or slightly crazy Athens music enthusiast), I leapt straight into the 170+ list of bands provided on the Athfest website, listening to all of the ones I hadn't heard before on their myspaces. From that list, I was able to create a much shorter list of bands that I hope to catch live. While it's quite unfortunate that some of my new potential favorites will be playing at conflicting times, I've picked a few for my can't-miss list, including already quite well-known bands Dead Confederate and Love Tractor. Also, old favorites Venice is Sinking and Doctor Squid will be sharing some tunes with us at the festival as well. This should certainly be a weekend to remember!

Don't forget to pick up your wristbands and choose your list of must-see bands. I'll see you there!