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.

Stellate Sings Us Into 2010

Layers. That's what you need to remember when you're going to the Peach Drop celebration in Underground Atlanta to ring in the new year. It was FREEZING! But once Stellate leapt onstage, I forgot about the cold. It just didn't matter anymore. I was fully and completely absorbed in the music!

Seriously. This was the second time I've had the chance to see this incredible pop rock band share their tunes, and, as far as I can tell, every Stellate experience tops the last. They were simply AMAZING! Their larger than life sound engulfed the crowd of people lucky enough to arrive early to hear their tunes, and the audience's cheers just kept getting louder with each song. Halfway through their set, my dad turned to me, eyes wide with awe, and told me that he was blown away by their talent. Best of all, they rocked tons of songs from old favorites to EP hits to brand new melodies. Afterwards, thanks to my new friend Charlie, I managed to find Stellate hanging out amongst the massive crowd, and I got to snag myself one freakin' cool band t-shirt. These guys are the best! I'll never give up hoping they make their way to Athens soon to rock out for all of my pals there.

Shortly after, Ben Deignan followed Stellate with a bit of his own soulful rock, and indie rockers Sun Domingo brought us a few of their tunes that I swear I've heard before as well some nice covers. What an unbelievable time. Altogether, it was the absolute perfect show to usher in a brand new year!

More than Music: the Fashion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stellate: What I've Always Waited For

Sheila and I with the members of Stellate

The best part about living in Georgia is that there are two epicenters of rock: Athens and Atlanta. Since, most tragically, I had to leave Athens for the summer, I'm monumentally lucky to call Atlanta my temporary home. This luck manifested itself in great quantities this past Saturday when I got to see my favorite Atlanta band Stellate perform at Hot Topic in North Point Mall. I've been dying to see this band live ever since guitar player/singer Adam mentioned it at a chance meeting two years ago, so this was practically a dream come true!

As my friend Sheila and I walked into Hot Topic, we were greeted by a smiling Carly Kane, lead singer for the band, who was handing out flyers for the show. After informing her that we had made the trip just to see Stellate, we stepped through the racks of striped knee socks, ruffly skull skirts, and shiny corsets to the makeshift stage area near the front of the store. A few minutes later, they began the set I'd been waiting to hear since I started my hands-on musical education. Stellate filled our ears with the energetic pop rock that their fans love, performing all of the songs from their latest EP, I Get A Rush, as well as several of my other favorites from the days back when the band was known as Helios. No one in the store could keep themselves from dancing, and several people joyfully sang along to the lyrics as well. It was a performance like no other, indeed!

And you know how I feel about the ever-important band/fan connection... not only was it there this time, with Stellate, it was thriving! One little girl around 7 years old enthusiastically asked for an autograph from Carly in the middle of the set, and she cheerfully complied. Later on, the same little girl picked up a guitar pick that Adam had dropped only to have him give it her as a keepsake from the show. Carly, Adam, and guitar player Jon even managed to share the show with the large group of passerby that gathered outside to see them play by rocking out in the Hot Topic store window. Their infectious enthusiasm filled the room with such euphoria that, when they finished their set, they were called to encore two of the songs from their EP. Then, afterwards, each of the members signed CDs and took pictures with several eager fans.

As the culmination of two years of waiting, the Stellate experience was truly spectacular! I hope I'll get to see them again incredibly soon!

A Shockingly Exciting Calendar Update for April

The 40 Watt lights

Wow, this month keeps getting better and better! I've just added a few more shows to the incredible lineup of acts to see in April right here. Coming up soon: the Modern Skirts will be showering their audience with tunes at the 40 Watt Club this Friday, and the Atlanta band Stellate will show us what pop rock should sound like at the Athens Creative Theatre (which apparently actually is a real place) this Saturday! Don't miss them!

Also, I just found out that I'll be celebrating my half birthday with what just might be the greatest week of music ever! All five of my current favorite Athens bands and acts will be gracing stages all around this lovely town starting on the 24th of this month. Chris McKay and the Critical Darlings, Doctor Squid, Venice is Sinking, Crumbling Arches, and Aman Amun... I'm nearly speechless with excitement!

Update: Crumbling Arches will no longer be playing on April 30th in order to prepare for their show at the 40 Watt on May 8th with The Presidents of the United States of America!

Update 2: It seems that the end-of-the-year Crumbling Arches show is cursed. Stay tuned for more information on the date of their next show.

Update 3: Forget the curse! Crumbling Arches will now be playing a FREE show at the 40 Watt on May 8th. Don't miss it!

Kristen's Concert Picks for the Next Month... You won't want to miss them!

Diana & I with Doctor Squid at Habifest on April 1st

Athens is always a musically happening place, but this April, the city will treat us to a most exquisite menu of musical acts and shows. I thought I'd share a schedule of bands and dance opportunities sure to delight your (and, naturally, my) very being. :)

Be warned, though, that if stalking me is your passion, you will not find me at all of these shows. Much as I'd like to attend everything, evils like homework and prior obligations may prevent me from experiencing all of the events described below. However, I will try to attend as many as possible so that I can bask in the musical joy that they will most certainly provide.

Anyway, as promised, here they are:

DATE: BAND/ EVENT @ TIME @ PLACE

Wed, April 1: Doctor Squid @ 8 pm @ Tate Plaza: PAST

-If you like happy, upbeat music, Doctor Squid never fails to deliver. Relatively new to Athens, they're bringing their jolly sound to Habitat for Humanity's Habifest.

Sat, April 4: DJRX @ 11 pm @ Sideways: PAST
-DJRX manages to bring a new style of mixing to the DJ scene. You know you don't want to miss the opportunity to dance to the Free Credit Report Dot Com song!

Thurs, April 9: Soulja Boy @ 8 pm @ Legion Field
-Seriously, if you don't know who Soulja Boy is, you must be living under a rock. Come see him perform this decade's version of the Macarena. Yeah, I bet that ruined it for you, didn't it? :P

Fri, April 17: Modern Skirts @ 9:30 pm @ 40 Watt
-For those of you not going to Six Flags with your UGA pals, don't fret! The band that's the talk of the town, better known as the Modern Skirts, will be playing a lovely show at the 40 Watt that night just for you. I have yet to be lucky enough to see them live, but I've heard wonderful things!

Sat, April 18: Stellate @ 3 pm @ Athens Creative Theatre
-Stellate, formerly known as Helios, finally returns to Athens! Assuming the Athens Creative Theatre is a real place, this should be a show to remember.

........................DJRX @ 11 pm @ Sideways
-DJRX brings us a lovely mix of pop, rock, and everything in between once again.

Mon, April 20: Pholksinger Josh @ 11 am @ Tate Plaza
-If you like folk music or exciting dreadlocks, Pholksinger Josh is the one to see! I've never seen him perform live, but this seems like the perfect opportunity.

..................Crumbling Arches @ 11:30 pm-1:15 am @ Upstairs in Tasty World
-It's CRUMBLING ARCHES! Unique and dark theatrical rock at its best, Crumbling Arches holds the coveted title of "My Absolute Favorite Athens Band."

-> UGA NORML is putting on a show in celebration of the subject-matter-appropriate holiday 4/20 which includes both of the acts described above as well as several others.

Fri, April 24: Chris McKay & the Critical Darlings @ 10 pm – 2 am. @ Go Bar
-You've never seen a high energy rock show until you've seen Chris McKay & the Critical Darlings in action! Trust me, you won't want to miss them. They are a sight to see and a delectable treat to hear!

Sat, April 25: Local Bands Live @ 11 am – 6 pm @ Legion Field
-Union is being slightly mysterious and keeping the names of the performers secret. Using my superhero powers, I've found a possibly correct list of bands, but as I've never heard of most on the list, I'm keeping my mouth shut. If nothing else, this should be an opportunity to discover some new musical treasures.
**Note: This just in. Doctor Squid will be delighting the audience with some Squidtastic tunes at this show at around 12:45 pm! Lovely.

Tues, April 28: Venice is Sinking @ 9 pm @ Cine
-I can't help but use the phrase "sweet melodies" every time I mention Venice is Sinking. It will truly be a precious gift to your ears if you go and see them at the Human Rights Film Festival at Cine!


So there's the list... Mark your calendars!

Also, if you happen to know that I've gotten something terribly wrong, if you've heard a whisper of a cancellation, or if you know of another event that is tragically missing from this list, please comment and let me know!