Athfest 2012: The Breaks and Showtime with Lowdive battle the heat

Saturday, June 23rd, 2012

The Breaks & Showtime with Lowdive

It happens at every Athfest.  You find yourself on the string of a yo-yo, rushing back and forth between the Pulaski Street Stage and the Hull Street Stage as the sun's heat beats down upon you.  Only the music keeps you going.

By the time the Breaks stepped onto the Hull Street Stage, it was already sweltering.  The fans, though didn't let the heat keep them down.  As the Breaks served up some solid southern rock headed by great female vocals, the crowd joyfully moved closer and closer to the stage, soaking in the tunes.

Then it was Showtime's turn to battle the heat.  Joined by rockers Lowdive, Elite tha Showstoppa and his Showtime gang gave us some rad beats and some pure quality hip hop.  It's no wonder they keep winning Flagpole Awards for their sound!  The crowd was loving it too.  This town is severely lacking in hip hop groups, so when we have a chance to party it up with talents like these, you can bet we take it!  The whole set was just awesome, but I've gotta say I loved it most when they mixed it up with a bit of reggae-inspired rap.  These guys are on the edge, innovators.  Way too cool!

  For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, 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, check out our show footage and Athfest vlogs up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well! 

Athfest 2012: Emily Hearn and the Greys kick things off

Saturday, June 23rd, 2012

The Greys & Emily Hearn

Saturday, I woke up jazzed for another day at Athfest.  After an uphill trek to the festival in the blistering heat, I settled into a seat near the Hull Street Stage to catch some tunes from the Monsignor Donovan Ram Jam winning band The Greys.  Watching their set, it was no surprise to me that they had won that aforementioned battle of the bands. These guys owned the stage with their pop rock sound, and some of their songs had a bit of a tropical feel which set them apart from the rest.  It's always nice to start your day with a quality show!

Then it was time for some beautiful melodies from Emily Hearn over on the Pulaski Street Stage.  Having heard a few of her recordings before, I thought I was prepared for the incredible sweetness of her voice, but the moment she opened her mouth, I knew I was wrong.  There was a striking purity in her vocals that resonated through me as she sang and immediately captivated the audience. What a voice!  Apparently she only started writing music and singing onstage three years ago, but without a doubt, she was born to do this.  She and her awesome backing band added a few covers to her set including amazing renditions of Best of You by Foo Fighters and a song from Garden State.  My absolute favorites, though, just had to be her original songs, especially Love Charade, the song I managed to get a (shaky) video of, and her hit Rooftop.  Word on the street is, actor Bill Murray loved that song so much,  he took part in her music video.  How cool is that!  Then, much too soon, she was announcing her final song. As her set wound a close, Emily encouraged the crowd to sing along, and many people joined in most joyfully.  It was indeed a touching end to her show. There's no doubt about it, I absolutely MUST see her perform again sometime soon!

  For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, 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, check out our show footage and Athfest vlogs up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well! 

Athfest 2012: Stokewood blows us away!

Friday, June 22st, 2012 (late)

Stokeswood

Energized by all of the amazing acts I had already seen throughout the day Friday, I power walked to Bad Manor for my final show of the night.  I didn't know much about Atlanta band Stokeswood, but I was definitely impressed when I saw the line for the venue.  After a few minutes of waiting, I stepped into the colorful, dreamlike haze that is the Bad Manor and nabbed a spot right near the stage.  Just seconds later, Stokeswood launched into their set and, before the first song had ended, I knew I was hooked.  These guys were amazing!  Their electronic indie rock and awesome vocals had me dancing almost immediately, and their energy was so intense, it emanated from the stage and filled the venue.  The band had something of a Bloodhound Gang vibe going at times, but it just worked for them so well.  As they lit up the stage, the crowd went insane, and even the smoke machines in the venue were moving in time to their tunes.  Just before the end, one of the members leapt off the stage to mosh with the crowd and dial up the madness of the show.  Brilliant!  I just loved the whole set from beginning to end.

It's no exaggeration on my part to say that this Athfest Friday was the single most exciting day of Athfest that I've ever experienced in my four years of attending the rockin' festival.  You can bet I was pumped to see what kind of shows Saturday would give us!

  For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, 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, check out our show footage and Athfest vlogs up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well! 

Athfest 2012: Thayer Sarrano and Adron take Farm255

 

Friday, June 22nd, 2012 (late)

Thayer Sarrano & Adron

Almost immediately after I stepped into Farm255's courtyard, I ran into my friend Caity who has rocked out at many an Athfest with me.  Awesome!  Gotta love kickin' it with friends at shows. Musician Thayer Sarrano was already up onstage as we planted ourselves in front of the band, her soft unique voice wafting over the crowd.  I was greatly intrigued by her style of singing.  It was almost as if she was adding melody to simple speech, an underlying sweetness in her voice resting just below the darkness of her sound.  I thoroughly enjoyed her set, and I definitely hope to see her and her quality backing band again!

Then, before I skipped off to Bad Manor - my final destination of the night - I decided to stay and check out a bit of Adron's set.  Boy, am I glad I did!  I wasn't quite sure what to expect from her, so I was happily surprised to hear her lovely voice through the microphone.  Wow, first Holly Belle, and now this?  She and her indie rock band spouted out some fresh melodies touched with a hint of jazz that made the whole experience feel like a dream or some sort of balmy vacation on the deck of a cruise ship.  In one song, her voice even became a flute and intertwined with the tunes of the other instruments.  Truly amazing!  And to top it off, Adron's quirky, adorable personality and funny anecdotes between songs made the whole experience just incredible.  Friday night was shaping up to be simply spectacular!

  For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, 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, check out our show footage and Athfest vlogs up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well! 

Athfest 2012: Beauty of sound: Young Benjamin and Holly Belle

 

Friday, June 22st, 2012 

Young Benjamin & Holly Belle

Off to the venues!  My first destination was New Earth Music Hall to see solo musician Young Benjamin.  Now I have to admit, when I first arrived, the latest layout of the venue confused me so much, I walked right past the stage.  Luckily, though, I figured out where I was supposed to be just as Young Benjamin began his set.  Immediately, I was immersed in an ethereal, otherworldly experience.  The collision of ambient, sometimes club-like backing tracks with the musician's deep and powerful vocals created a sound that flowed into my very soul.  It was just so good!  Near the end of his set, he promoted Emergent Heart, a wonderful music project that supports the efforts of Nuci's Space.   Always glad to hear people talking about a good cause!


 After Young Benjamin had finished, I strolled over to Little Kings to catch Holly Belle.  I was definitely looking forward to seeing her show since I truly enjoyed what I heard of hers online.  Sure enough, very soon there were beautiful jazzy pop vocals filling my ears, complemented by keyboard melodies and violin tunes courtesy of Flagpole Award Best Session Player Adam Poulin.  Hearing Holly and her band in person, I was awed to find that they sounded just like a perfect shot of her recordings.  Without a doubt, she has one of the best voices I've heard live since I started the blog.  How do pipes like that even happen?

Once Holly Belle's set had ended, I headed on over to Farm255 with pure joy in my smile.  I just love seeing such talented musicians!

  For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, 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, check out our show footage and Athfest vlogs up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well! 

Athfest 2012: Watch videos, live the experience!

Missed out on Athfest? Or had a blast at the festival and dying to relive it?  We've got tons of live show footage up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube Channel right now!  Below, you can check out a few of our very favorites:

I just loved this song performed by Holly Belle.

Stokeswood was definitely one of my favorite discoveries this year!

Emily Hearn's pure voice was just incredible. (Forgive the wobbly camera. :P)

Craving more?  Check out our YouTube channel for a huge collection of Athfest sights and sounds.  We might have even caught your favorite band in action!

  For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, 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.!

Kristen's Concert Picks: July's tunes keep it cool

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

Is all of this intense heat getting you down? Let these rockin' tunes cheer you up!

Wed, July 4: The Skipperdees @ 5 PM @ Athens Farmer's Market

These girls infuse their southern folk with heart and soul. Celebrate the Fourth of July with the Skipperdees!

Thu, July 5: Qurious @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Ready for an almost mystical experience?  Playing with Thick Paint, Reptar singer Graham's DJ act, Qurious is sure to deliver the insanity!

Thu, July 5: Cicada Rhythm @ 10 PM @ Georgia Theatre rooftop

You'll love Cicada Rhythm's blend of unique folk voices!  Catch 'em up on the Georgia Theatre rooftop.

Thu, July 5: Showtime with Lowdive @ 10 PM @ Max

If you're craving some awesome hip hop and rap, look no further than this year's Flagpole Award winner Showtime with their pals Lowdive rocking it out along with them! 

Fri, July 6: Thayer Sarrano @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

I caught Thayer Sarrano at this year's Athfest, and she's got a sweetness in her voice that makes her certainly worth a listen!

Sat, July 7: Tealvox @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt

Tealvox is the definition of pure, incredible rock.  Trust me, you'll want to be at this show!

Thu, July 12: Betsy Franck & the Bare Knuckle band @ 9 PM @ Georgia Theatre

Let Betsy Franck's strong, soulful voice inspire you!

Sat, July 14: The Viking Progress @ 8 PM @ 40 Watt

What a lineup! With the acoustic distortion of the Viking Progress along with solid rockers Easter Island and John French & the Bastilles, this will be a show to remember!

Thu, July 19: Sam Sniper @ 10 PM @ Georgia Theatre rooftop

Southern tunes with a unique rock flavor, Sam Sniper has long been one of my favorites.  Be sure to get a taste of their tunes!

Thu-Sat, July 19-21: Slopfest @ 7 PM @ Little Kings Shuffle Club

Are you ready for another spectacular music festival?  Catch a bunch of your favorites from Athfest and many more including Bambara, Life Coach, and the much buzzed about Manray at this three day fest!  Don't forget to make the most of this wild lineup with a multiday wristband bought at the door.

Fri, July 20: White Violet @ 7:30 PM @ Georgia Theatre

Is soft rock what you crave? White Violet is pure quality sound!

Fri, July 20: The Athens Band @ 8 PM @ 40 Watt

Youth rockers take it old school with a sound that's miles beyond their years.  Always a sight to see!

Fri, July 20: Grinnin Bear @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

In the mood to enjoy yourself with some awesome folk tunes?  The members of Grinnin Bear don't take themselves too seriously, but I can promise that you'll just love them!

Fri, July 27: Grass Giraffes @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

These guys are way too much fun.  Don't miss their set!

Tue, July 31: Reptar DJ Set @ 11 PM @ Georgia Theatre rooftop

Dying to hang with the members of Reptar? End the month with them, and dance it up to their DJayed tunes!


Looks like July's going to be extremely exciting!  Know of any other shows you think everyone should see?  Comment below, and give us all the details.  And have a good one, you guys. See ya around town!