Kristen's Concert Picks: October's bringing some scary good tunes!

It's the month of spooks and ghouls and things that go bump in the night!  There's no need to fear though.  The rock will keep your spirits high!

Fri October 5: Easter Island @ 8 PM @ 40 Watt

You'll just love kicking off the month with Easter Island's solid and uplifting soft rock along with their smooth vocals and rhythmic drumming!

Fri October 5: Here We Go Magic @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

The last time I caught this Brooklyn band in action, they were a wild mix of lights, drumbeats, and surreal rock.  Don't miss your chance to dance it up at this show!

 Sat, October 6: Tumbleweed Stampede @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt

Make sure you're at 40 Watt for Tumbleweed Stampede's set! These guys will have you grooving in no time.  

Wed, October 17: Lullwater @ 9 PM @ Melting Point

Craving some hard rock tunes infused with a folk sound? Then Lullwater's the band for you! Be there for their mid-month show over at the Melting Point.

Thu, October 18: Boycycle @ 8 PM @ WUOG

I happened upon this band at the last Athfest and fell in love with their ever-changing style and sound.  Check out Boycycle for an experience beyond definitions!

 Sat, October 20: Lera Lynn @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

There's no doubt that Lera Lynn's powerful voice and indie folk style will blow you away!

 Sat, October 20: Lazer/Wulf @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge
Lazer/Wulf will blast your ears with a heaping serving of instrumentally-driven melodic metal.  Pure awesome!

Thu, October 23: Powerkompany @ 8 PM @ WUOG

Let yourself be absorbed into the strong yet ethereal melodies of Powerkompany.  See them at UGA's own student radio station, WUOG, or tune in online!

Thu, October 25: The Constellations @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

The Constellations are back!  I've been a fan of these guys for years, long before they blew up the Atlanta scene and then took the country by storm.  Catch their gritty, sexy party rock at the Georgia Theatre near the end of the month!

 Sat, October 27: Wild Rumpus After Party @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

It's time for the annual Wild Rumpus parade.  And how better to get into the Halloween spirit than with a rockin' afterparty featuring the always spectacular Of Montreal!   Along with Velveteen Pink and Kite to the Moon, they'll be surrounding us with their crazy, larger than life style.  What a show this will be!

Wow, October's shaping up to be deliciously spooky and brimming with amazing tunes!  Heard a whisper of another local show you're just dying to attend?  Tell the world all about it in the comments.  Have a wonderfully dark and rockin' month, my friends!

Kristen's Concert Picks: Get ready for a rad September!

September has already rocked its way into our lives, but this tune-filled month certainly isn't finished with us yet!  The music awaits you...

Fri, September 7: Saint Francis & The Breaks @ 8 PM @ New Earth Music Hall

I caught both of these rockin' southern style bands for the first time at this year's Athfest.  See 'em for yourself over at New Earth!

Mon, September 10: Yo Soybean @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge 

Craving a different sort of southern rock?  Then Yo Soybean's your band!

Tue, September 11: Turf War @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

You'll just love Turf War's fun rock sound!

Fri, September 14: Betsy Kingston and the Crowns @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt

You haven't seen passion until you've caught Betsy Kingston and the Crowns in action!  Get yourself to this show!

Sat, September 15: The Orkids @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt

The Orkids are back!  You know you've been dying for another taste of their upbeat pop sound.  Don't miss this blog favorite over at the 40 Watt!

Sat, September 15: Cicada Rhythm @ 11:30 PM @ Farm 255

Cicada Rhythm's folk vocals have a unique lilt that you'll just love!

Mon, September 17: Thayer Sarrano @ 9 PM @ Caledonia Lounge 

You've never heard anything like Thayer Sarrano's sweet speech-style vocals.  Bask in her awesome sound!

Thu, September 20: Ruby Kendrick @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Ruby Kendrick always serves up some sweet pop rock melodies.  See her at the Caledonia Lounge!

Fri, September 21: Viking Progress @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

These indie rockers bring their sound to a whole new level with some wild acoustic distortion.  Excellent!

Sat, September 29: Grass Giraffes @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Ready to end the month with some insane fun?  Head on over to the Caledonia for a nice, heaping dose of Grass Giraffes!

Wow, what a month this will be!  If you're eagerly awaiting any other awesome local shows, let the world know about 'em in the comments below.  Happy listening, everyone!

Kristen's Concert Picks: August rocks the fans back to Athens!

You feel a strange yearning coming over you. The soft winds of August are urging you back into the Athens town.  The rock awaits you!

Thu, August 2: Manray @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Get your fill of noise rock with Manray.  This town just can't get enough of these guys!

Thu, August 2: Yo Soybean @ 11 PM @ Farm 255

Need some solid southern rock in your life?  Of course you do!  Yo Soybean is bringing it to Farm 255 at the beginning of the month.

Fri, August 3: Boycycle @ 9 PM @ Flicker Theatre

Boycycle, the undefinable but undeniably awesome band we caught at Athfest this year, will be releasing a brand new album this Friday. You won't want to miss this show!

Sat, August 4: Viking Progress @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

You'll love the distorted acoustic rock of Viking Progress, for sure!

Wed, August 8: Indie Songwriter Summit @ 7:30 PM @ Melting Point

Relish in the talents of singer/songwriters Marie from Powerkompany/Venice is Sinking, Jay from Modern Skirts, Patrick from the Viking Progress, and more as they play the crowd into the inception of some of their most delectable songs.  This one's going to be quite a show!

Wed, August 8: Betsy Kingston and the Crowns @ 9 PM @ Georgia Theatre rooftop

These guys are the physical manifestation of passion.  Get sucked into their incredible southern rock!

Fri, August 10: Brothers & Dead Confederate @ 10 PM @ 40 Watt

Brothers mixes it up with an indie pop take on classic rock while Dead Confederate knows how to serve up some amazing soft southern rock.  Catch 'em both over at the 40 Watt!

Sat, August 11: Stokeswood @ 9 PM @ Georgia Theatre rooftop

I saw Stokeswood for the first time at this year's Athfest, and let me just say, I LOVE THIS BAND!  Don't miss your chance to catch these rockers in action.

Sat, August 11: Sam Sniper @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt

Are you a fan of southern rock?  Well, then, you need to get yourself to the 40 Watt for the unique and quality stylings of Sam Sniper!

Sat, August 11: Tealvox @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Wow, this weekend's tunes are almost too spectacular to be believed.  For some of the best rock in town, you'll want to make your way to the Caledonia where Tealvox will be ruling the stage.

Mon August 13: Adron & Little Tybee @ 8 PM @ Melting Point

A free show over at the Melting Point featuring the massively talented singer Adron and the tunes of Little Tybee?  Sign me up!

Thu, August 23: Thayer Sarrano @ 8 PM @ WUOG 90.5FM 

I always revel in the unique, and Thayer Sarrano certainly sings her way into this category with her spoken melody.  Listen to her live in the radio station lobby or tune into 90.5 to hear her over the airwaves!

Sat, August 25: Cicada Rhythm @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

Cicada Rhythm's lilting folk sound will fill your soul with joy.  See 'em over at the Georgia Theatre!

Tue, August 28: Grass Giraffes & Abandon the Earth Mission @ 11 PM @ Georgia Theatre rooftop

Get ready to enjoy yourself with Grass Giraffes' brand of indie rock and the ethereal style of Abandon the Earth Mission!

Wed, August 29: Emily Hearn @ 8 PM @ Melting Point

One of the best singers I've heard in years, Emily Hearn is definitely a musician you'll want to hear!  I was just blown away by her sweet voice at Athfest this year.

Wow, looks like Athens has got some incredible tunes in store for us this August! Pumped for any other local shows this month?  Leave a comment below and tell us all about them.  Have an awesome month, my friends!  

Athfest 2012: Final take on the festival!

Wow, Athfest 2012 was just incredible!

I'm not exaggerating when I say that this Athfest was probably the best one I've ever attended.  And, to top it off, we've got tons of festival coverage from that one tune-filled weekend. I think it's ridiculously amazing that I was able to see 30 new bands in action that I'd never caught before as well as a bunch of old favorites.  What an awesome experience!  Let's break it down and crunch the numbers on this year's insane adventure...

Echoreyn of Athens' Athfest 2012 by the numbers

• 49 bands seen in concert
• 78 pictures
• 4 preparation guides
• 20 blogs
• 12 concert videos
• (At least) 13 new bands I'm dying to check out again!
• 3 more well-worn wristbands to add to my ever-expanding Athfest collection
• 1 glorious press pass
• 1 extremely enthusiastic vlog (see above)

Want another taste of the spectacular festival madness? We've got all of those rad pictures up on our Facebook page, videos galore of some of the most incredible live shows including footage of Emily Hearn, Stokeswood, Betsy Kingston and the Crowns, Holly Belle, Yip Deciever, Ruby Kendrick, Atlas Sound, and many more plus full vlog coverage on our YouTube channel, and a log of up-to-the-minute Athfest details on our Twitter page! 

You can also check out every bit of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, right here!

Hope you had as much fun at this year's Athfest as we did.  Can't wait to experience the craziness of Athfest 2013!

Athfest 2012: Betsy Kingston and the Crowns and Bloodkin finish the show

Sunday, June 24th, 2012

Betsy Kingston and the Crowns & Bloodkin

By this time, I was pumped to be at Athfest regardless of the weather.  I had just seen some awesome acts on the Pulaski and Kidsfest Stages, and I was headed to the Hull Street Stage for Betsy Kingston and the Crowns.  Already in the middle of her set, Betsy and her talented band were passionately serving up some smooth, southern rock as I joined the crowd.  Immediately, I fell in love with her vocal style.  Throwing herself into every lyric, she and the Crowns put on a show that was deliciously intense and bursting with personality.  Basically, they rocked it out of the park!  Once their set had ended, I knew one thing for sure.  I had never had an Athfest Sunday more awesome than this one!

As I popped by the press tent for some sustenance before my trek back home, I caught a bit of Bloodkin's solid country rock.  The musicians milling around the press tent began dancing wildly to the tunes, to my utter delight.  Things like this make me fall in love with this town all over again. Then, walking out of the festival, I caught sight of a kid wearing a cardboard robot head.  Oh, the ridiculousness of Athens! It was just simply the perfect ending to Athfest 2012.

  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: Saint Francis and Sean VanMeter rock us into Sunday

Sunday, June 24th, 2012

Saint Francis & Sean VanMeter

Athfest Sunday morning is always the hardest.  After two days of exposure to the harsh sun's rays, it takes some incredible motivation to get back out.  Truly, the lure of awesome tunes is the only thing that keeps me coming back for more.

Journeying to the festival, I headed straight for the Pulaski Street Stage to catch the first act on my list, Saint Francis.  Within minutes, the band's upbeat country rock sound had the crowd up and dancing despite the killer heat.  I even saw a little baby groovin' to the tunes.  These guys were definitely good at what they do.  It was great way to start off the day!

Then it was time to head up the street to see what the kids were up to.  A lot of people just walk on by the Kidsfest stage without a second glance, but sometimes you can find some real talent there.  After a rather adorable father-son group finished their set, piano prodigy Sean VanMeter and his band Death of the Peanut King took the stage. Man, that kid can play!  He started off with a bit of Chopin and then launched into a medley of upbeat and classical melodies.  He followed this by changing up the genre and giving us a wonderful cover of John Lennon's Imagine.  It was all just incredible.  Then his band Death of the Peanut King rocked an awesome cover of Pat Benatar's Heartbreaker.  I'm so glad I chose to check out the Kidsfest stage!

  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: All the madness of Manray and Bit Brigade

Saturday, June 23rd, 2012 (late)

Manray and Bit Brigade

The tale of my Manray adventure begins with a line... a long line stretching all the way across the Caledonia parking lot.  After popping over to Flicker to watch Boycycle's set, I was eager for another delicious taste of noise rock.  Apparently, everyone else felt the same way. I always liked Manray's style, and many of my friends are huge fans as well, but I had no idea just how popular these Flagpole Award winners had become until now.  You know a band is a success story in this town when even the press pass holders can't get inside because the venue's already far over capacity!  Finally, after about half an hour of waiting, I achieved victory and stepped through the gates.  Not a moment too soon, either. I managed to catch about two rockin' songs infused with hardcore melody before their set ended.  Filled with satisfaction from the sheer insanity of their noise, I grabbed a seat in the courtyard to wait for the next set to begin.

Once I heard a new note struck, I made my way back inside for the final show of the night. Cutting through the darkness and illuminating the whole stage, a massive video screen displayed early 90s game graphics.  And then the real fun began.  Bit Brigade, not content to merely serve up some rock like most of their fellow bands, showed off their utterly unique talents as they jammed their way through pitch perfect renditions of the soundtracks to the classic games Contra and Megaman while they were being played live.  I've got to admit, it was captivating to watch.  All the gamers in the venue were going wild as they made their way through the different characters and levels, a rather impressive feat in its own right.  The whole show was really just surreal.  It was almost like watching your friend from elementary school master his favorite games while a live band plays in his living room.  I can truly say, I've never seen anything like this before in my life. Crazy? Yes.  But there's no doubt, it was awesome as well!

  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!