Journey to CMJ 2011: the true story of a band on the road: Part 2

Read part 1 here!

It was just after 8 PM when we finally passed through the gleaming Holland Tunnel and made our way into the Big Apple. Minutes outside of Brooklyn, we found our venue, a midsize bar filled with a bunch of recognizable bands that had also journeyed up from the southeastern states to rock the CMJ showcase. Towers of band equipment filled the small room backstage, so we piled Misfortune500's instruments and amps onto the sidewalk as we waited for their set to begin.

Soon enough, I found myself watching band after upbeat band cycle through their short sets in front of a crowd composed mostly of friends they too had brought along with them. At times, the tunes of all the bands ran together in a blur of sound as the names of groups I'd seen before - Shallow Palace, the Winter Sounds, Sleepy Eye Giant - drifted in and out of my consciousness. Maybe it was all that time on the road, rushing to get to the city or the contrast of the quick pace of the New York streets with the bands' southern attitudes, but time seemed to just speed by as I stood there watching the show. What felt like mere minutes later, Misfortune500 was setting up and prepping their sound. Once they launched into their tunes, I began to feel a bit more alive as the numbness of traveling through eight states to get to this moment finally wore off. As always, I relished in every one of Misfortune500's dark rock songs, but much too soon, it was time for them to leave the stage. Atlanta's Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun followed them with a sexy, almost gothic sound that I quite enjoyed, underlined by thunderous drums. Then it was the aforementioned Sleepy Eye Giant's turn to give us a bit of their very whole and complete progressive rock style as we stepped back out into the cold city air.

Before ending our six hour jaunt in the NYC, the band and I, along with some pals of theirs, partied it up in a bar nearby around 2:30 AM. No 2 AM curfew for New York! Traipsing through the streets near Brooklyn, in the shadows of buildings that stretched far into the sky, I felt comfortable and revitalized. Yes, the lights were brighter, and people still filled the streets long into the night, but at that moment, I didn't feel so far away from home. In some ways, this little slice of the city wasn't so different from our own Athens town. One day, I'd like to visit this place again.

Then, with that small taste of New York still on the tips of our tongues, we drove back to Jersey, eager for one more nap in our cozy motel room before our journey home. The next afternoon, we began to make our way through the states we had traversed just days ago. I've always found that, for some reason, no matter where a trip takes you, the return journey always feels faster, and indeed, this notion held true this past weekend as well. Even with our stops for snacks and gas, the 13 hour ride back flew by. During one of our snack runs in Maryland, we caused quite a bit of a stir among some young teens merely by getting out of the van. At that moment, it hit me just how awesome it was to be traveling all the way to New York City and back with a band that looked and acted like a band. There's a camaraderie there that that emanates from such a band and fills onlookers, even ones unfamiliar with the group's music, with a sense of awe. It was quite inspiring just to observe such a thing.

The remainder of the ride passed relatively uneventfully as we crossed Virginia and slipped through the Carolinas, but that feeling of accomplishment, of satisfaction at having traveled so far together and seen so much in such a short amount of time... that feeling lingered. It was simply an incredible, unforgettable journey!

Journey to CMJ 2011: the true story of a band on the road: Part 1

What they tell you in books, what you see in the movies... those aren't the real stories. When the average person thinks of a band on tour, they imagine spacious tour buses, security guards, thousands of screaming fans awaiting them wherever they go, and massive drug-filled parties in ritzy hotel rooms that always seem to get trashed before the band leaves. That's just common knowledge, you know? For most fans of big name bands, it's hard to believe that there was ever a time before all of the autograph signings and dressing rooms, all the roadies and luxurious perks. I mean, all of this stuff just comes with the territory, right?

Well, unless that band embarked on their very first rock-filled journey under Disney's label or something similar, the untold stories of their road trips and tours are quite a bit different... and truly, just as interesting! This is a small taste of the true story of going on the road to the CMJ showcase in New York City with awesome local rockers, Misfortune500.

Hardcore as always, the band's plan was to do a straight-shot from Athens to Philadelphia in as little time as possible. In my cozy seat in the back surrounded by amps and luggage, I dozed off and on for thirteen hours between the road games and hilarious conversations that filled our trip. Until early evening, there really wasn't much of anything else to do besides watch the rows of trees speed past our windows and read the occasional road sign featuring names like Backlick and Dimwiddle. As the hours flew by, we knew once we reached our destination that we'd have a place to crash, but all the information we had was that we'd be staying with a man whom none of us had ever met, a man who called himself Bunny. Finally, right around 4 AM, while splitting headaches and an overwhelming sense of exhaustion engulfed us all, we arrived in the lovely Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and navigated our way to our host's house.

Now, Bunny's house was actually just as you'd expect a place owned by such a creatively named man to look like! Art exploded over every surface, and his adorable yet rather insane kitty leapt from statue to statue in the living room where we were to sleep. In the bathroom, a sprawling ceramic mural of a nude woman adorned the wall. Too tired to move, though, we hardly noticed these things as we curled up on the cold, wood floor of the living room beneath a towering nine-foot statue of a very pregnant Virgin Mary that watched us as we alternated between resting and pulling the cat off of our faces. You truly haven't lived until you've experienced a night like this one! And yet, every band who has spent time on the road has a tale to tell much like this one.

The next afternoon, after a short nap in a hard-to-find motel in New Jersey, we wound through the impossibly confusing streets, muddy fields, and toll roads that populated that state as we headed towards our ultimate destination, the NYC! Darkness had already fallen once again by the time we reached the city, but before entering through the Holland Tunnel, we caught glimpses of the Statue of Liberty shining in the distance. I have to admit I'm not normally a person impressed by iconic landmarks, but there was just something about seeing Lady Liberty for the very first time, even if just from afar, that left me a bit emotional and full of hope. I simply couldn't wait to see what the night had in store for us!

Stay tuned for the rest of the story as the band rocks CMJ and more!

Keep your ears safe this October!

First off, I just want to say that yesterday's "Shameless Plugathon" on WUOG 90.5 FM was a wonderfully amazing experience. Thank you to all of those who listened in!

And now, to business. Did you know that October is National Protect Your Hearing Month? What, a whole month dedicated to ear care!?! Who comes up with these things?

But truly, though, protecting your ears is incredibly important, especially if you're a fan of the scene. Now look at that picture above. The first thing you'll probably notice about it is that it looks a whole lot like the one in the post below. Clearly, I just can't hide my great love of fedoras, and I've really got to work on changing up my expression in pictures. Alright, I'll give you that. But look closer. See those earplugs dangling around my neck? I don't go anywhere without them. For just a few bucks, I've got an instant necklace that ensures that I'll be rockin' out to my favorite tunes for years to come.

Having good hearing is of the utmost importance to a music blogger, and it's just as necessary for music fans and band members too! Don't believe me? Or perhaps you're worried about what your friends might think? Look around you! Those massively awesome musicians you came to see - the ones that have been around the scene for a while now - well, most of them are wearing earplugs too. Got to protect those eardrums so they don't miss their chance to hear the golden notes of their band's latest hit tune!

Still not convinced? Well, everyone likes free things! If you're a student at UGA (or a person who can pass for a student - yes, I'm onto you, ageless townies...), head on over to the SLC (right across from the stadium) and ask one of the kids at a help desk for a pair of earplugs. They hand 'em out as study aides, but there's no reason you can't grab yourself a few for your band of choice's next show. And hey, even if you don't want to wear them for your favorite band, there's likely to be some, shall we say, less than good bands making their noise up onstage during many of the shows you see too. The idea of losing your hearing is bad enough, but losing it to a terrible band would just be a complete tragedy now, wouldn't it?

So protect your ears with pride, my friends! Happy October!

For the love of the Georgia Theatre

Up until last Thursday, I had never set foot in the Georgia Theatre. It's hard to believe, I know. See, I was still brand new to the Athens music scene in 2009, and my very first Athfest was on the horizon. There, on my schedule, were several events and shows slated to take place at the theatre, and I was practically bursting with excitement for them all. Then, just days before Athfest began, the people of Athens were shocked to see the theatre go up in flames, leaving just a darkened, hollowed out shell of what it had once been. Feeling like a bit of an outsider, I too mourned for the city's great loss as best I could, yet I couldn't help but wonder if, just like after the death of a celebrity, the great love expressed for the theatre was the result of its sudden and tragic notoriety. I mean, I knew the history was there. Even bands I'd already seen and loved back then like Venice is Sinking had special ties to the iconic venue. But did it really mean so much to the average hipster on the street?

Then, over two years since the first time I almost had the chance to experience the theatre for myself, I stepped up to the freshly built box office to buy my ticket for Thursday's Of Montreal show. Luck was indeed with me that day as I was one of just a few people who had arrived so early that the doormen decided to let us wait on the rooftop balcony so we could claim our places in front of the stage before the doors opened to the public. After a long ride in a wonderfully spacious elevator, I had my first view of the Athens town from up above. As it was near sunset, some of the views from the various angles atop the theatre were simply stunning. A short while later, it was time to descend the stairs to the main floor of the venue, and on the way down, I caught glimpses of the beautifully designed uppermost floors filled with seating that overlooked the stage.

Once we had finally made our way to the dance floor in front of the stage, I eagerly drank in the sights of the theatre around me. Everything was beautifully and stylistically designed, from the wings that led backstage to the mind-blowingly massive fans that spun overhead. But surrounding us was the darkened, exposed brick that held the history of what this place had been and what memories it still held for the countless people who had fallen in love with the theatre before me.

This love, this passion, that the citizens of Athens have for the Georgia Theatre is real and true and well-deserved. There is some abiding beauty and depth in this place that it maintains and reveals, even in its newest incarnation. I finally understand... and I can truly say now that I, too, love the Georgia Theatre.

Out on your own, rockin' the scene

Say there's an awesome show coming up that's got you massively pumped, but your friends all have to cram for tests that night. What's a music fan to do? Well, you could just stay in and go to bed early, only to find yourself haunted by dreams of the unbelievable show you just missed. Luckily, there's a much better option. You can go it alone!

Alone? But that's no fun. It's too dangerous. Too lonely. Why would anyone go to a show alone? Well, I used to think the same way. In order to feed my voracious appetite for tunes, though, I eventually caved and began catching all the bands my ears desired, whether I had a fleet of friends by my side or just the company of my own shadow. Heading to that venue alone doesn't have to be a lonely, creepy experience. Here are some tips from a girl who's learned to love it.

Tip #1: Get to know the band. The best way to guarantee that you'll always have a friend at the shows you attend is to befriend your local band members. Just can't get enough of their sound? Don't hesitate to tell them! Better yet, offer to help them haul all their equipment after the show's over. Be genuine, and you'll never find yourself alone at one of their shows again!

Tip #2: Befriend other fans. More often than not, you'll find that you aren't the only one who decided to rock out on her own at a show. I've made some really great friends by just striking up a conversation with these other fans. You already know you've probably got something in common with them. After all, you're both there to catch the same lineup! Generally, people in the scene are pretty friendly once you make the effort to talk to them.

Tip #3: Bring a snack. Not as bummed about going to the show on your own as you are about missing out on that late night Grill run? Take your favorite snack along to the show. Not only will this cure the munchies you're sure to develop from all of that dancing you'll be doing, but it can also end up being a quirky conversation starter. Don't ask me how that works. Oddly enough, it just does. And hey, you could even bring some snacks to share. Everybody loves free food!

Tip #4: Bring a jacket. Are you most concerned about being just too damn sexy to walk back to your car alone at 2:30 AM? Well, that is a legitimate concern. After all, you ARE indeed damn sexy. Sticking to well-lit areas is a start, but sometimes you'll discover that the outfit that just looked flattering at 10 PM starts to look more like something out of a rap video to the blurred eyes of those stumbling around when 3 AM rolls around. A jacket to the rescue! Zipping up a jacket or even pulling on hoodie can do wonders to bring your sexiness to more manageable levels.

Tip #5: Celebrate your freedom. Most of all, embrace your independence. Want to catch one band here and another band there? It's completely up to you! Want to stay out till every last person leaves the venue? Go for it! Want to mix it up by rockin' out to a band on one side of town and then heading to a bar on the other? Why not. The scene is yours, and you've got the freedom to make the most of it!

Got some tips of your own? Share them with us in the comments below!

Hey, bands! How can your fans find you?

It's no secret that I'm a sucker for a well-maintained web presence. Whether you're a member of a band, a music promoter, or the social media manager for a venue, keeping the fans in mind should always be one of your top priorities. Let's get down to the basics. Established bands and budding musicians, this one's for you!

• Just starting out with your band? Well, all you need is a name to create your very own Facebook fan page! Listing all of your members' names and what they play as well as contact info and a brief, attention-grabbing description will make your page a one-stop shop for all of your listener's needs. Later on, you can add apps that will give you the chance to share your tunes with the masses, and you can create an event list and invite all your friends to attend your next rockin' show. These pages are incredibly valuable if you're hoping to get a bit of press about your band in the future too.

• Thinking about doing this music thing for a while? Looks like it's time for you to invest in a website! But why make a site when you're already running things from your Facebook fan page command center? To answer your question, try searching for Reptar, the Athens band that's been blowing up the scene for the past year, on Facebook. Hard to find unless you're already a fan, right? Bands that share names with other popular places, creatures, items, or ideas will often be lost in a sea of pages on everybody's favorite social networking site. A simple website featuring links to all of your pages, channels, and feeds plus a small tour schedule display will work wonders for the fan doing a Google search for your band. And there's no need to be worried about the cost either. Run your site through a blogging platform (like we do here on Blogger), and you'll just have to pay around $10 a year for your domain name. It's almost too easy!

• Once you've established yourself with a bit of a fanbase, you'll want to keep in touch with all those awesome fans you meet. Let them know what you're up to on the go with a Twitter page. The best thing about Twitter is that you can easily alert your followers of any time or venue changes quickly, no matter where you are. Your most eager fans can even sign up to get text messages of your latest tweets straight to their phone. Also, the Twitter community supporting the music scene is huge, so you'll have a chance to make some great contacts there as well.

• Ready to showcase your talents on the global stage? What your band needs next is its own YouTube channel. Grab a friend with a video camera and get to filming! Whether you're just uploading footage from your last show or you're showcasing a brand new music video masterpiece, it's always a good bet to nab a channel purely for the purposes of showing off what your band can do. Be sure to tag your videos well, so they'll be easy to find too!

Remember, every little thing you do could make a difference! You never know who might stumble across one of your band's pages and fall in love with your sound. Good luck, my friends!

Discover the Athens music scene!

This one's for all the newcomers to Athens as well as those of you who've been curious about the scene but have remained on the fringes of it thus far. Not sure whether you want to join an already existing band in need of a new rockin' member or start your own music project during your stay in the Ath-town? Still working on learning those first few guitar chords? Love being a fan but wish you could take it to the next step? Whether concerts have always been your thing or the scene is brand new to you, there's a place for you here!

If you're attending the ever-awesome University of Georgia, you've got tons of options to help you carve out a space for yourself in the Athens scene.

• Interested in DJaying, learning how to set up a show, or just getting an introduction to the world of local musicians? Check out WUOG, UGA's own student-run radio station. Don't be shy! They seriously welcome all students to eager to help out, and they're conveniently located in the Tate Student Center.
• Perhaps you're ready to throw yourself straight into the business... Well, then the Music Business Certificate Program is just for you! During your music business classes, you'll learn all the technical details you need to know to make the music industry part of your career.
• Or maybe you just want to focus on the fun side of putting on shows featuring big name artists. If that sounds right up your alley, then you should join University Union's Entertainment division. As part of this club, students get to select artists and organize massive shows for the student body. They often get to meet the musicians themselves too. Added bonus! Past shows organized by this group of eager students have featured a huge variety of artists and groups including Ludacris, Augustana, Soulja Boy, and Bo Burnham.

If you're most interested in the music-making process itself, your first stop should be the famed streets of downtown Athens! Even if you're not yet 21, there are several venues around town that cater to the 18+ music loving crowd. These include the Caledonia Lounge, the 40 Watt Club, Nuçi's Space, New Earth Music Hall, the Bad Manor, the Melting Point, and even the newly reopened Georgia Theatre! Once you've seen a few shows and met a few of your favorite local musicians, you can begin networking to find your niche in a sea of bands and rockers. Making friends here is where it all begins!

Interested in writing about the scene and your experiences in it? You could always join the Echoreyn of Athens team and give us your take as well! Check out our About page for more information on many of the people who have gotten involved with us in the past and a link to our contact info.

One way or another, I hope you all make the most of Athens' amazing and ever-exciting local music scene!

Musicians: A Rare Breed Indeed

Rockstars... As children, we were all in awe of them. To us, they represented the wild life, the untamed dream. The words they spoke and the clothes they wore inspired us. Surely these legends, these gods of humankind, were the epitome of cool in their day to day lives as well!

Now, some of you reading this blog realized at a very early age that the rockstar life was the life you were meant to lead. Others stumbled into it and fell in love with it. Either way, though, you grew to see this world from the inside out. The mystique it held became your life. Those of us who approached it without any background in the art of musical composition, however, had quite a different experience. For many of us, until we began to befriend successful and talented musicians, be they rich and famous or those still in the starving artist phase of their careers, we didn't see just how much we all have in common with each other.

During my early forays into the local music scene, I made a few very surprising discoveries. First and foremost, I learned that musicians were cool in quite a different way than I had come to expect from books and movies and magazine interviews. Most of them were deliciously awkward, in only the best way possible! I could totally relate to that. They communicated their true thoughts through their music just like I speak through my writing. Being a rockstar means that those quirky actions and inappropriate phrases that place the rest of us firmly under the label of "inexcusably awkward" become cool and gain intriguing depth. The moment a musician steps onstage in front of an impressionable newcomer to the scene, they become larger than life. It is truly a magic like no other.

Secondly, I discovered just how much work is put into the tune-making arts. It is truly a time-intensive career. All the fun and games that we, the fans, see are the product of hours and days and weeks of practice, scheduling meetings, and slaving over promotions. That CD the band just gave out for free? That took months to record, day after day of spilling their souls into layers of tracks that they compile to form each song. Let us not forget about all the frustrations of apologizing for cancelled shows, playing to empty rooms on tour, and waiting around for hours to rock a six-song opening set for that big-name band only to be booed by the impatient crowd. To all you musicians out there, I salute you! You hide all this work from us so well! For us, your shows are just amazing, joy-filled parties. Your dedication to this illusion is just awe-inspiring.

But that's not to say that the rockstar lifestyle is lacking in fun, of course. My final discovery was that of the curious nature of the relationship between sex, drugs, and rock and roll. In the beginning, I began to wonder... Was it all just a stereotype, a rumor, a misconception? Well, from what I've seen, this one is right on the money, in some ways at least! Not every musician chooses to embrace this aspect of the role, but for those that do, even movies do not quite do them justice. It is a fascinating life the aspiring rockstar leads, even those who live in our small town of Athens. Some of the things I've seen or heard... well, let's just say that the life of a musician is just simply indescribable!

These are my people, and I truly love them. I'm ridiculously proud to be as involved in the Athens music scene as I am, and I'm so glad it's picking back up again now that August has arrived. Let the madness begin again!

Athfest 2011: A taste of the perks!

Sunday, June 26th, 2011

Of King of Pops popsicles, robots, & hospitality wristbands

Here at Echoreyn of Athens, we're all about the music, but there's actually much more to Athfest than just rockin' bands! Outside of the festival, throughout the year, Athfest Inc. dedicates itself to the promotion of music and arts education in our local area. What a great mission! And even the festival itself features some awesome out-of-show experiences that help make the whole event completely spectacular.

First, I've just got to mention King of Pops popsicles. Saviors of the heat-struck fans, their delicious and incredibly unique flavors left us all craving another taste. During a lull in some of the shows, my friends and I would go gallivanting off in search of their latest location since they tended to park themselves wherever their refreshing creation was most needed.

And hey, if you don't want to take my word for it, listen to my friend Caity who declared her love for the tasty dessert, saying, "if it wasn't going to melt, I would have a long term relationship with this popsicle." Mmm, man, I want one right now!

Another awesome find at this year's Athfest was artist Jason Thomas. Stopping by his tent in the middle of the artist market, Athfest-goers could get a free drawing of a monster or a robot complete with an adorable and imaginative backstory that they helped to write. I'm definitely going to treasure mine forever. What a cool souvenir!

My absolute favorite discovery, however, was the hospitality tent. If you haven't ever considered volunteering at Athfest, trust me, you should! Because I was introducing the band Lingo's set on Sunday, I was given a special wristband that enabled me to enter the hospitality area whenever I needed. Beyond the gates and the wristband checkpoint was an oasis of wonder. Shade, a ton of free fresh food, places to sit down, and all of the cool drinks you could ever need awaited me. Fears of heat exhaustion were a thing of the past! And, if you're in a band playing the festival or you've got yourself a press pass, you can also make the most of this amazing area as well. There's no doubt about it... I'll definitely be volunteering again next year!

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, 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, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

The Summer Side Show 9 experience: Part 4

Read part 1, part 2, and part 3 of the Summer Side Show 9 experience!

As darkness settled over the festival, Misfortune500, one of my top Athens favorites and the band sweet enough to share their Summer Side Show adventure with me, began setting up. A few weeks ago, I tweeted that I could happily see this band play a live show once a week and still never get sick of them, and since that time, I've actually caught them in action about that often. Hey, it's true! Misfortune500's strong and dark alt rock is so powerful, I just can't get enough of their sound. And I'm definitely not alone. Curious fans, seeing the intense display of lights and pure rock from afar, ventured over throughout their brilliant set to join their crowd of fans as they ruled the show. Even on a stage sandwiched between Attila's monstrously loud tunes and American Idol contestant Bo Bice's songs from across the river, Misfortune500 owned the evening and, after their set was tragically cut short, left us dying for so much more of their style. In fact, the guy standing right in front of me during the show said that it was, by far, the best act he'd seen all day. What an impression!

And then, there was nothing left to see but the headliner. Creators of iconic 90s hit Sex and Candy, Marcy Playground topped off the night on the main stage, lit by Misfortune500's awesome lights, in front of a crowd of mostly teens too young to actually remember their biggest hit in its heyday. Now, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from these guys since I, like most of the audience, only knew one of their tunes. During the set, their sound ranged from almost metal to more southern rock which, all in all, was pretty well-crafted. Unfortunately, though, until they performed the song that everyone eagerly awaited, their hearts just didn't seem to be in the performance. I suppose, after all those years of being known for one great tune, it can be hard to maintain enthusiasm for the others. When the time came to satisfy the fans' craving, however, all of the band members threw themselves into the song and even got the fans to join in, proving that there are some things, like Sex and Candy, that never go out of style.

After that intense heat and all of those bands and those wild sights and sounds, I really only have one thing left to say. Wow, what a day!

You can check out the full coverage of the entire Summer Side Show 9 experience right here!

The Summer Side Show 9 experience: Part 3

Click for part 1 and part 2 of the Summer Side Show 9 experience!

Breezes finally arrived to ease the heat of the day by late afternoon. Sweeter, more melodic tunes rode these breezes into our ears from every corner of the field as the general tone of the festival began to soften.

Over on the main stage, Florida's Quiet Science began their set of soft, soothing rock. The band's pure quality sound drew me straight out of the merch tent and across the field. From the instant I first heard them, I really enjoyed their style, but something about them just seemed so familiar. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what it was until, finally, it hit me. I had seen them before over a year ago at the Caledonia! I had even written about their set way back then. Small world!

The next band to catch my attention was a group so memorable that, even though I never caught their name during their set, I felt like it would be tragic not to do some research to that end. Apparently, they're called Lost on LeMans, and they hail from Columbus, GA. There was just something about this band's attitude that reminded me of Athens' own Reptar. Maybe it was the beach balls flying through the air, the insane Justin Bieber t-shirt worn by one member, or the guy who crowdsurfed onstage to sing into the mic with the lead singer, but their show garnered the same level of unbridled excitement from their many fans as our town's pop rulers. Different from Reptar, though, was their sound which had a distinct Fallout Boy feel to it that their crowd clearly enjoyed.

Just a while later, quiet singer-songwriter style tunes guided me back to the main stage where I found the Great Paper Castle. Their songs, infused with trumpet-woven melodies, had me smiling instantly, and I simply fell in love with their sweet lyrics. Quite a find!

Then the solid, radio-ready soft rock of Ocean is Theory finished out the daylight hours. With night fast approaching, some of the most anticipated acts of the evening were just a few moments away!

Check back tomorrow for more documentation of the purely crazy Summer Side Show 9 experience!

The Summer Side Show 9 experience: Part 2

For Part 1 of the Summer Side Show 9 experience, click here!

As the heat climbed to even more unbearable heights, I knew that every band's set I caught would be a violent battle between myself and the sun's harsh rays. So, armed with a can of SPF 70 sunscreen and a full bottle of lemonade-flavored Vitamin Water (that stuff's expensive but I highly recommend it), I journeyed forth to find more rad bands.

By an awesome stroke of luck, I ran into Athens rockers Come What May who began setting up on a stage just a few feet away. They've long been on my list of bands to see, so I settled myself onto the warm grass to await their set. From my vantage point, I found myself facing a most curious sight. Apparently, several guys, eager to have a side of shade with their tunes, opted to hear their favorite bands play while seated underneath the stages. Pretty clever, actually!

A few moments later, Come What May stepped onstage to blast our ears with their tunes. Characterized by a hardcore indie rock sound infused with intense melodies, strong vocals, rare punk elements, and the occasional death scream, their style was, without a doubt, a quality cross-genre production. Keyboards and even jingle bells mixed with the standard guitar, bass, and drum fare to give them quite a unique feel. The minute they began to play, several kids came rushing from all over the festival to check out their set. Gathered at the very front of the crowd, a few new fans even started dancing so exuberantly that the band offered to give them t-shirts for their enthusiasm. Nice! Rockin', writhing, and head banging across the entire length of the stage, the band members finished out their set with an awesome show of energy and sound.

Once Come What May's set ended, I wandered over to the main stage to catch a few of the earthy yet ethereal creations of the musician called Panda. While it was unfortunate that there were a few sound and mic issues during the set, when everything was working as planned the simple keyboard tones blended with the exotic texture of the rain stick to create a style like no other. Most tragically, though, it was during this set that I began exhibiting all of the early signs of heat stroke, so I high-tailed it back to Misfortune500's merch tent before my heat-induced state of mental confusion had me laughing at the trees like it did last Athfest.

After relieving my headache, becoming less disoriented, and recovering vision in my left eye, I decided to give myself a bit of a rest and cool down with the help of Jordan's life-saving misting fan. Most joyfully, though, I was able to stave off any boredom I might have had while confined to the tent, thanks to all the sights and sounds of the festival that surrounded us. From my seat, I could see one band squirting silly string all over their fans while tossing beach balls over the crowd's heads. I also couldn't help but notice one drummer's less than savory exposure of his entire backside as he was beating away on his drums. The most ridiculous sight, however, had to be the man in the head-to-toe, face-covering black lycra bodysuit who hugged on a few girls he didn't seem to know before running off in the opposite direction. Just plain weird. Best of all, though, I had the chance to hear a bit of the funk-style rock tunes of Surround Sound on the stage behind the tent. I liked what I heard!

Finally, after a few hours of recovery, I was back to the grind again thanks to some unbelievable, professional-grade songs that reached my ears from afar. Over on the main stage, I found that Columbia, SC's Sent By Ravens had gathered a huge crowd of fans yearning for a taste of their true rock. Seriously, this band had just the right amount of every element of progressive rock tucked into their tunes. And such energy! Wow, I wish I had managed to see their whole set. As it is, just the one track I saw them play was enough to get me hooked! And, as that melody ended, late afternoon arrived, bringing with it a lineup of band after quality band.

Check back tomorrow for more documentation of the purely crazy Summer Side Show 9 experience!

The Summer Side Show 9 experience: Part 1

This past weekend was most eventful! Quite unexpectedly, I was invited to join my friend Jordan and the always-spectacular band Misfortune500 for a trip to Columbus, GA's festival of tunes, Summer Side Show. For me, it was my first true look into the action behind the scenes, from start to finish, of a day-long multistage show. Exciting, indeed!

The day started off rather early as hundreds of band members gathered to await the verdict on where and when they would be rockin' for the fans. Surrounded by a crowd of mostly high schoolers, my pals and I were certainly some of the oldest people there, but since we all looked to be somewhere around the age of sixteen, we blended in perfectly. Fashion-wise, however, it seemed we were a bit out of the loop since, despite the already intense heat of the early morning, we were standing amidst a sea of black fabric. No one, though, was more overdressed for the mid-day sun than the guy sporting the Batman costume who passed the time during the two long hours of band registration walking back and forth between the band area and the tent beside his own unique, gun-adorned version of the "batmobile". Oh, the things you see at music festivals! Finally, after quite a bit of waiting around and hiding from the sun's rays in the ever-shrinking shadows, the bands were given their time slots for the four stages that faced outwards in a rectangle in the middle of a large field on Columbus State's campus. Scrambling for what I would call a "prime real estate" spot, we quickly pitched Misfortune500's merch tent and set about displaying the goods. It was then that the cacophony of metal engulfed us from every angle.

Now I'll be honest, I'm not the world's biggest metal fan. Just like in most genres, I'll take the best and leave the rest. But even if I was a huge fanatic for screamo metal, that crushing mountain of sound would have been overwhelming. See, that's why earplugs are always a good idea! And that, kids, was my public service announcement for today. ANYway, after jamming in my industrial grade ones (best gift my brother ever gave me), I ventured out into the dire heat to scope out some quality tunes. And, joy upon joy, it wasn't long until I found some!

The first rockin' musician to catch my ears was creative rapper G Nasty. I only heard a small bit of his set, but the taste I did manage to get of his tracks put a sure smile on my face. My next find was a band whose name sure sounded like The Old New Standard, but since I've been able to find nothing of their particular existence online, I am tragically uncertain of their identity. No matter who they were, though, I must say their quality classic rock was a welcome choice! Finishing out the discoveries of my first few rounds of the stages, Asheville, North Carolina's Issachar grabbed my attention with their jazzy take on the metal genre, especially during their last few more melody-driven tunes. I couldn't stay long, though, because by that point, the heat became unbearable enough to warrant another trip back to Misfortune500's merch tent for a much needed bit of shade.

Check back tomorrow for more documentation of the purely crazy Summer Side Show 9 experience!

Just a few more days left to vote for the Flagpole Athens Music Awards!

Sunday's the last day! You have until midnight on Sunday night to vote for all your favorite bands in our local version of the Grammys, the Flagpole Athens Music Awards. Don't miss your chance! You can vote right here.

Still not sure who to vote for? Well, Echoreyn of Athens and Athens Music Junkie have teamed up to tell you who has our vote and who we think just might win too. We've divided the answers between our blogs so be sure to check out AMJ tomorrow for our thoughts on the second half of the categories.

Here we go!

Electronic

EOA:

Favorite: Abandon the Earth Mission

Favored to win: Basshunter 64

Last Athfest, I caught Abandon the Earth Mission for the first time, and I fell in love with their space-inspired sound. I’ve got to admit, though, the buzz about Basshunter 64 has been huge, so I expect quite a few votes for them this year as well.

AMJ:

Favorite: Abandon the Earth Mission

Favored to Win: Basshunter64

I love Abandon the Earth Mission but Basshunter64 has been pounding the pavement lately, getting their name out there. Electronic is a strange category that usually goes to the most well known name. This one could go either way really.

Experimental

EOA:

Favorite: Qurious

Favored to win: Bubbly Mommy Gun

Experimental is, by definition, a hard genre to classify. Indeed, the last time I saw Geisterkatzen, they were all wearing cat masks and filling the room with the sounds of a windstorm. Bubbly Mommy Gun has their own very popular version of this genre. For me, though, my choice would have to be a write-in for the mystic experience that is Qurious.

AMJ:

Favorite: Whistling School for Boys

Favored to Win: Bubbly Mommy Gun

Have you seen WSfB? It's pretty awesome. Not to mention the crossover they did a while back with Flash to Bang Time. But Bubbly Mommy Gun is the name here, along with Geiterkatzen.

Rock

EOA:

Favorite: Bambara

Favored to win: Dead Confederate

Bambara’s noise rock is truly like no other, so picking my favorite for this category was easy. However, Dead Confederate’s fame and southern rock sound may give them a bit of an edge. Manray is also one to watch. Really, it could go either way.

AMJ:

Favorite: The Humms

Favored to Win: Cinemachanica

The Humms released the best rock album last year. Period. They truly deserve to win this packed out category. But it'll be a struggle for anyone. Rally your fans, bands!

Cover Band

EOA:

Favorite: Velvet Runway

Favored to win: Abbey Road Live

Beatles lovers have always raved about Abbey Road Live’s quality covers, and as winners of this award last year, I think they have a good chance of walking away with the trophy again this year. However, 80s covers are more my speed, so cover band Velvet Runway gets my write-in pick for this category.

AMJ:

Favorite: Deja Vu

Favored to Win: Abbey Road Live

Abbey Road Live always puts on a solid show. I'm partial to Deja Vu right now though.

DJ

EOA:

Favorite: Mahogany

Favored to win: Immuzikation

Choosing a favorite Athens DJ is actually quite difficult. These guys have set the tone for countless nights of awesome dancing and fun. How can I pick just one? I’ve loved DJRX’s quirky style for years, and Feral Youth’s tunes just before Halloween were amazing. Out of this crowd, Immuzikation is probably the best known for spinning his tracks around town, but if I were to pick one, I’d have to give DJ Mahogany my vote for his righteous St. Patrick's Day mix.

AMJ:

Favorite: DJRX

Favored to Win: Immuzikation

My knowledge of this category is slim to none. So is pretty much everyone else's I bet. How does one judge a dj correctly?

Jazz

EOA:

Favorite: Kenosha Kid

Favored to win: Kenosha Kid

Winners of last year’s Jazz award, Kenosha Kid’s style appeals to both jazz fans and new listeners alike. Not only are they my choice for this year, I’d say they have a good chance of nabbing the trophy again as well.

AMJ:

Favorite: Mary Sigalas

Favored to Win: Kenosha Kid

Kenosha Kid is amazing. My vote this year went to Mary, however. She's a fresher face in the jazz category and man, can she perform.

Hip Hop

EOA:

Favorite: The Beat Geeks

Favored to win: Showtime (feat. Elite tha Showstoppa)

Since the Deaf Judges broke up in 2010, there is no longer a clear winner in this category anymore. My write-in pick would be up-and-coming group and openers for Ludacris, the Beat Geeks. If I were to gauge a winner based on buzz, though, I’d say Showtime featuring Elite tha Showstoppa, entertainers at the Flagpole Athens Music Awards show last year, have good odds.

AMJ:

Favorite: Showtime (Elite tha Showstoppa)

Favored to Win: Showtime (Elite tha Showstoppa)

I will completely and utterly admit that I'm voting for Showtime just because of the name. I haven't heard much of the others either.

Pop

EOA:

Favorite: The Orkids

Favored to win: Reptar

Athens’ favorite Reptar is likely to be a shoo-in for the Pop category this year. I have to admit, though, I was absolutely shocked that the Orkids didn’t make the list with their catchy pop tunes. My write-in vote has got to go to them.

AMJ:

Favorite: The Gold Party

Favored to Win: Reptar

No brainer. Reptar has had an incredible year. They're playing tons of awesome shows, got a kick-ass album, etc. I do love the quiet beauty of The Gold Party though. Part philosophy, part dance. Listen to Luxury and Light. Seriously.

World

EOA:

Favorite: Klezmer Local 42

Favored to win: Incatepec

I have yet to see Klezmer Local 42 live, but I truly enjoy their international sound from what I’ve heard online. I’ve long enjoyed Incatepec’s Latin style as well, and I’d say they have quite a good chance of winning this year.

AMJ:

Favorite: The Knockouts

Favored to Win: The Knockouts

Probably the most mainstream sounding of the bands listed here. Also the only one besides Grogus that I've listened to in the past year or so.

Folk

EOA:

Favorite: Yo Soybean

Favored to win: Madeline Adams and the White Flag Band

I’ll be happy to see any one of the bands in this category win the award for Folk this year. Madeline Adams and the White Flag Band have been spotted on stages all over town, and Efren’s gritty sound has caught the attention of many a fan. If I had to choose just one, though, I suppose I would pick Yo Soybean for their unique take on the style.

AMJ:

Favorite: Yo Soybean

Favored to Win: Madeline Adams and the White Flag Band

Such a hard category for me. I love each and every one of these bands. I'm picking Yo Soybean as my favorite mainly because I can't get Manifest Blasphemy out of my head. But I love Madeline's sweetness and Efren's folk songs and on and on....

Hope our blogger's take on the nominees helps you out! And don't forget to visit Athens Music Junkie on Friday for the other half of our favorites and favored to wins. Happy voting!