Ode to an Athens Visit

Cars pass on Broad Street, glinting blindingly in the almost-too-beautiful-to-bear afternoon light. I guess it's just coincidence that makes today so gorgeous. Athens doesn't always glitter like this, a fact of which I'm well aware after living here for a full four years. I'd forgotten how romantic coffee shops across from campus make me feel. All seems right with the world when your view encompasses fellow lap-toppers, wooden tables and chairs, coffee cups, local artwork, table umbrellas, a busy street and an expansive green lawn. Not to mention a city trash can bearing an oh-so-familiar Elevado sticker. I wonder how many adhesive logos those guys manufactured, because they've certainly done an excellent job of slapping one on just about every flat surface in Athens or Atlanta. Kind of admirable, really. (They do run a promo company, so gung-ho marketing is to be expected, I guess...)

So. I wandered into the 40 Watt last night during my brief visit, despite intentions to the contrary. After a week of feeling under the weather, and desiring nothing more than to converse quietly with friends behind a beer, the idea of a Dark Meat Face/Off wasn't all that appealing...but as it turns out, it was, you know...free. So we went. The theme for the night was "duets." One member of Dark Meat would pair with one member of another local/regional band and play what may have been improvised or just covers. It was definitely entertaining, if for nothing other than the top-notch people-watching (Athens' special brand of hipsters, short shorts, etc...), but the noise level and semi-rehearsed material made my poor head hurt. Still, it was lovely to be inside the 40 Watt again. It really is a fantastic rock club.

I wonder about Athens' unique ability to foster this friendly music community. Everyone's interconnected, not unlike they are in any other close-knit environment. The difference, it seems, is to what extent. And with what kind of attitude. Maybe it's just my impression, but it feels like people are a little more open here. You can kind of tell when an Athens band comes and plays in Atlanta...just a bit of a different crowd. More laid-back.

The playlist over the last 20 minutes in Espresso Royale:
1. Regina Spektor - "Fidelity"

2. Third Eye Blind - "I'll Never Let You Go"
3. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - "Is This Love?"

4. Pearl Jam - ...don't remember what song.
5. Some cover of "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" by a girl.
6. Belle and Sebastian - "Step Into My Office, Baby"
7. Queen - "Fat Bottomed Girls" (seriously!)

Hmm.

Oh, Echo! (As promised)

The best of my shots from the Echo Project. Photo credentials are a beautiful thing. And here we go:

Atlanta boys, Elevado:


He lept off the stage, wielding a trombone. It ended up in pieces on the ground. Any middle school band kid's poor mother would be having a heart attack right about now.


The incoming Polyphonic Spree. Oh, the Spree is upon us...


Glory.


You can see the chorus of similarly dressed and haircutted women with synchronized movements. Creepy? Yes. Awesome? Yes.


Aaand, I'm out of time. More to come. Believe me, the best are still head.

I was minus five in 1981...

Oh, sweet sweet Fishboy. They're fabulous. And they reference the futility of proper name spelling bees and what it's like to be a racecar. How can you not fall in love? Another excellent find from Athens' Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records, who I also seem to have a crush on (if you can actually have a crush on a record label...)

In other news, I went to The Echo Project this weekend, and though it was exhausting and I actually did have to work part of the time, I got to see several bands that make me very very happy...irrationally so. They included, but were not limited to:

Elevado
The Polyphonic Spree
The Avett Brothers(squee!)
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah ("YEAH!!!!!!")
Man Man (who I hadn't known was so utterly, completely, and unequivocally incredible)
The Modern Skirts
a little Cat Power
some Spoon
and several local bands...

The best part was I had photo credentials, so that means I got some PHENOMENAL shots, which I promise faithfully to post here very very soon.

...I mean...I was practically under Alec Ounsworth....so.....that was cool.

Oh! Also, I got to meet much of the Paste Magazine staff, who are very nice. Sigh. Good times.

Snickering under my breath

So tomorrow night the The Star Baris featuring UK punk legends The Vibrators. Who else is on the bill? The Heart Attacks and...wait for it...The Vaginas.
Funny? Yes, I thought so.

New discoveries in my wading knee-deep into southeastern indie music:

I love Elevado. Most people are probably saying something to the effect of, "Duh, Elevado's been super-cool for like, years now." Well I'm sorry. I'm new. And most of the time I either live in a cave or am so overwhelmed by the onslaught of music I aggressively seek out and then run away from when it's thrown at me, that I miss the really good acts. I also decided I like the Pendletons, who I never saw in four years living in Athens, but who I might try to catch at aforementioned Star Bar tonight.

This Friday, perhaps my musical travels will take me to Lenny's, the night before their famed Zombie Walk, an event during which I'll proably have to work. Ugh. I really wanna see zombies. I suppose the old mannequin head (whose eyeballs and painted red and whose mouth is dripping blood) my adoring roommate has placed in the hanging planter outside our apartment will have to supply sufficient creepiness to hold me until Halloween actually approaches. It's October. It's not too soon. So what if I bought my pumpkin on September 30....?