Kristen's Concert Picks: The sounds of November waft in

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

Golden leaves flutter past your window as cool breezes pull them from their trees. Coats and boots become a fashion staple, and the scents of fall waft through the air. November has arrived, my friends, and with it comes an awesome selection of tunes!

Tues, Nov 1: Betsy Franck & Klezmer Local 42 @ 4 PM @ Little Kings
Powerful southern rock and a fun take on Hebrew-inspired tunes? What a mix!

Thu, Nov 3: Kenosha Kid & Grogus @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre
Kenosha Kid, one of the best jazz bands in Athens, teams up with the dance-inducing sound of Grogus at the Georgia Theatre. Here's another can't-miss lineup!

Thu, Nov 3: Manray @ 9 PM @ Caledonia
Craving some dark, noise rock-flavored melodies? Then you'll definitely want to check out Manray at the Caledonia!

Wed, Nov 9: Spring Tigers @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia
The electro-pop of the Spring Tigers will have you dancing in no time!

Wed, Nov 9: Magical Athens Talent Show @ 10 PM @ Go Bar
Our town is full of talent, and this show's got feats and acts of all kinds! Check out these crazy displays of skill, and help 'em raise a bit of money for Nuçi's Space while you're there!

Thu, Nov 10: Groove Tangent @ 8:30 PM @ 40 Watt
You've been missing the awesome covers and the classic 50s style original tunes of Groove Tangent, haven't you? It's the 'Watt to the rescue! This Thursday, join the band for a Redcoat Band benefit that's sure to be tons of fun!

Fri, Nov 11: White Violet @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt
You won't be able to get enough of the solid, soft rock tunes of White Violet. Don't miss them over at the 40 Watt!

Sat, Nov 12: Powerkompany & Gold Party @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt
The sweet, ethereal melodies of Powerkompany join with the awesome electronic indie sound of the Gold Party to create yet another amazing lineup!

Thu, Nov 17: Perpetual Groove @ 8 PM @ WUOG
Headliners of last year's Athfest, you can catch this band at WUOG and then on the Georgia Theatre stage the very next day!

Thu, Nov 17: Gift Horse @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt
Soft, dark rock complete with artsy projections is Gift Horse's way. Enjoy!

Thu, Nov 17: Sam Sniper @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia
One of my current Athens favorites, Sam Sniper's funky take on southern rock will blow your mind. Head on over to the Caledonia to catch these guys in action!

Sat, Nov 26: Easter Island @ 9 PM @ Caledonia
When you return from your celebrations of food and family, Easter Island will be taking the Caledonia stage to serve up some rhythmic, soft rock melodies. Perfect!

What a November this will be! If you know of another rockin' Athens show that isn't on the list, comment below and tell the world all about it. Also, don't forget to check back often to see what new shows are added to the list throughout the month. Catch ya at the shows!

Athfest 2011: Klezmer Local 42 and the Charlie Garrett rock the midday

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

Klezmer Local 42 & The Charlie Garrett Band

Over on the Hull Street Stage, Klezmer Local 42 prepared to deal us a bit of culture with their unique style of sound. Having never experienced this type of music live before, I didn't quite know what to expect, but immediately their humor put a smile on my face. During their soundcheck, the drummer gave a beat to a guy climbing up a ladder to fix their sign, encouraging us to pretend that he was an acrobat performing some feat of great skill. Just a short while later, the band launched into their upbeat, very traditional Hebrew tunes, and soon after, the dancing began. A whole little crowd of women in the audience began twirling and moving all over the place while children bounced along to the melodies. Responding to the crowd's enthusiasm, the band had those of us in the audience join in to sing part of one of their songs in Yiddish. What a cool experience! Beyond the traditional tunes, they also gave us a few unexpected but purely awesome covers including a great instrumental version of Survivor's Eye of the Tiger and a klezmer-style take on the cantina music from the original Star Wars movie. They finished their set with a catchy original song about attending Hebrew school. I truly love their style!

Once Klezmer Local 42's set ended, it was time to head back to the Pulaski Street Stage for the Charlie Garrett band. Their classic and quality southern rock was positively brimming with excellent keyboard melodies and a huge drum sound. Very nice!

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!