thanks/award

thanks to everybody who was so good to us on tour. thanks for coming to see us play and letting us sleep at your house. thanks for the books, fly fishing movies and dim sum. thanks to Father Bill of the St. Francis Mission in Philly for the delicious coffee cake. thanks to Michael for the live camel at University of Maryland. thanks to Twin Tigers for everything. thanks to Blaze for killing it on the drums for both Gift Horse and Twin Tigers back to back most nights. thanks to Bambara for letting us borrow him. our friends in Athens and everyone we meet on the road collectively make it possible for us to do what we do. so thank you thank you.

we're proud to be nominated for a Flagpole Music Award again this year. we are up for best rock band and are humbled to be in a category beside The Whigs, Twin Tigers, Bambara, and Pride Parade. pretty rad. please go vote!

thanks

final shows of 2009

we leave today to play our final shows of 2009. it's been a fine year for us and 2010 is looking to be so so much better with our record coming out soon and a bunch of touring ahead. you can catch us this week with two really cool bands: Hammer No More the Fingers from Durham, NC and Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun from Atlanta, GA.

Thursday, December 10, 2009 @ Tir Na Nog in Raleigh, NC

Friday, December 11, 2009 @ The Star Bar in Atlanta, GA

Saturday, December 12, 2009 @ The Caledonia Lounge in Athens, GA

follow me here to RSVP to this Caledonia show on facebook

in other stuff, it always feels good to get praise from people who have perpetual good taste and tirelessly aim to find good music out there. exhibit a: Dan Goldin who runs the site explodinginsound. VISIT HIS SITE for it is good. he recently said this:

Since the very first note I ever heard Gift Horse play, I knew I was a fan for life. The Athens, Georgia quartet offers an unbelievable mix of 90’s indie rock, grunge, and shoegaze for a sound that honors its influences, but roars with originality. The band’s style can be equally attributed to a love for My Bloody Valentine and Dinosaur Jr., with wall of sound blasts of noise riding side by side with carefully constructed melodies and honest hazy vocals. With an exciting year that saw the band storming SXSW to wide-spread praise and touring with the Meat Puppets and Dead Confederate coming to an end, Gift Horse prepare for an even bigger 2010. Their debut album will be released in February, while preparing to head out on a full scale national tour shortly after.

this weeks Flagpole (December 9, 2009) has a feature about the December 12th Caledonia show on page 34, although THE DATE IS WRONG! its Saturday, December 12th, not Monday December 14th. also there is this from the Flagpole:

This isn't the first time Gift Horse has gotten a mention in this column, but I am excited as the release date for the band's new release inches closer. If you are into local act Dead Confederate, you'll find some common ground here, with reverb-drenched guitars that seem to descend from outer space and envelope the room. The vocals are much more atmospheric than DC, though, offering a deeper, darker undertone. These guys have grown by leaps and bounds over the past year, and their live show is super tight and impressive.

also be sure to pick up a copy of the December 2009 Performer magazine (it has Atlas Sound on the front) and flip to page 50. there is a cool article about the emerging psyche-rock scene in Athens and it features us and our good friends Bambara and A.Armada. its at various locations around Athens (and all over the southeast) but if you follow the link above you can read the article courtesy of our boys Bambara who took the time to blow up the PDF.

lets see...anything else? nope!

January 12-18

Monday, January 12:

Ghost To Falco, Sing iDog, Drivers Songs.

Caledonia. 10 p.m. $5. www.caledonialounge.com.

I don't know much about these bands but the description sounds psychedelic and creepy...

and Ghost To Falco is from Portland (where the smack flows like wine).

Tuesday, January 13:

Kevin Blechdom, Irene Moon, The World Provider.

Flicker. 8:30 p.m. $5. www.myspace.com/flickerbar.

Don't know much here either but this sounds really weird. And that's good. For example, Kevin Blechdom is not a man, Irene Moon is an entomologist/performance artist who talks about her slides while music plays, and The World Provider is from Montreal (where they eat their young). Drugs, anyone?

Wednesday, January 14:

Marriage, P.O.B., The Warm Fuzzies, Freakaboo.

Caledonia. 10 p.m. $5. www.caledonialounge.com. 

Thursday, January 15:

Drive-By Truckers, The Whigs, South San Gabriel.

40 Watt. 9 p.m. $20. www.40watt.com. 

Friday, January 16:

Drive-By Truckers, Centro-matic.

40 Watt. 9 p.m. $20. www.40watt.com.

Saturday, January 17:

Drive-By Truckers, Centro-matic.

40 Watt. 9 p.m. $20. www.40watt.com.

Los Campesinos!, Titus Andronicus.

The EARL (ATL)  9 p.m. $15. www.badearl.com.

This week, Mercer West and PartyPartyPartners.com are having a festival over at Tasty World. The club recently hired Mercer to handle the booking and his first act of business is to offer some free food and music starting at 10 p.m. every night. Apparently this is the Tasty World revival. Or maybe the entrance into the post-Tasty era. Either way, sounds like a townie townie town good time, and we won't mention the fact that Murphy hired my uh, lets say "roommate" for this booking job first and then hired Mercer without even so much as a phone call to the H-bomb to let him know that he wouldn't be getting the position after all. Eh, maybe we will mention that. Thanks Murphy!

Anyhow, here's the lineup. If you need any more info, get this weeks Flagpole where there are no less than 9 separate stories on the subject.

Monday, January 12:

Gay Africa, Hume, Muchos Gracias, Sweet Teeth, Tunabunny.

Tuesday, January 13:

Daffodil, The Matt Kurz One, Pegasuses-XL, Skeletonbreath.        

Wednesday, January 14:

Bambara, Horse Party, Memory Gospel Dancers, Yukon.

Thursday, January 15:

Bubbly Mommy Gun, Explorers Club, Puddin' Tang, Timmy Tumble. 

Flagpole Writer's 2008 Picks and Reader's Survey

Hey everybody, check out the Flagpole's year-end lists for best local albums of 2008 as chosen by the writers, best musical moments of the year and best local albums according to the readers, and a few other lists here, here and here.

In the "Best Local Albums" category, it's no surprise that Dead Confederate sits atop the list with Wrecking Ball. Also making the list are The Whigs with Mission Control at six and Twin Tigers' Curious Faces/Violet Future at number seven. Some other pals got honorable mention, but take the time read the whole page because it also has a comprehensive list of pretty much every local release of the year, give or take a few. That should help you round out your collection...

Check out the year-end reader's survey to read some comments about what the citizens thought were the "Best Musical Moments of 2008". Comments from the Athens townfolk mentioned great shows from Bambara, Dead Confederate, Gift Horse, Pegasuses-XL, Kuroma and a lot of other bands from the list over there <---.

Nor Am I Above Any List Of Any Kind: Mike's Top 20 Albums of 2008

Inspired by Matt, here's my top 20 albums of 2008, in absolutely no particular order. These are albums from bands that make the Rebel Forces list of links and that are actually doing something around here, in my own humble opinion. Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of other good local releases that I did not get my hands on, but here's what I got. Some of these were released in 2007, but they were late in '07 so back off.
___________________________________________________________________

Dead Confederate, Wrecking Ball
Released: 9/16/08 on TAO/Razor & Tie
Key Tracks: Wrecking Ball, Start Me Laughing, Yer Circus







___________________________________________________________________
The Whigs, Mission Control
Released: 2/5/08 on ATO
Key Tracks: Like A Vibration, Production City, Sleep Sunshine










___________________________________________________________________
Kuroma, Paris
Released: 6/1/08
Key Tracks: Alexander Martin, I Was The Rat, Searching For A Sheep
Listen to it here.






___________________________________________________________________
Modern Skirts, All Of Us In Our Night
Released: 10/3/08 (Nationwide January 20, 2009)
Key Tracks: Radio Breaks, Soft Pedals, Chanel







___________________________________________________________________
Pegasuses-XL, The Antiphon
Released: 2/26/08 on The Ernest Jenning Record Co.
Key Tracks: Marathon Mansion, Atmospheric Skull, Drugs For Change, Intermurals
Keep an eye out for a new one in early '09.





___________________________________________________________________
Deaf Judges, All Rise

Released: 9/26/08 on Emerald City Ruins
Key Tracks: Space Cadet Setlist, Nuevo, Short Term Memories






___________________________________________________________________

Twin Tigers, Curious Faces Violet Future
Released: 6/10/08
Key Tracks: Golden Days, Watershed, Red Fox Run






___________________________________________________




Blue Flashing Light, The Mayor of Five Points
Released: 8/18/08
Key Tracks: Tangled Up In You, Cinderella, To My Love Who Disappeared

__________________________________________________

Cinemechanica, Rivals
Released: 8/19/08 on Hello Sir
Key Tracks: Hero/Protagonist, Rivals, Kurosawa
Sorry for the crappy picture.

________________________________________________________

A.Armada, Anam Cara
Released: 12/22/07 on Hello Sir
Key Tracks: The Moon Shifts The Sea The Sea Shapes The Shore The Shore Shakes The Sand The Sand Sinks The Ship, Fall Triumph, Into Days & Nights & Years & Months
This counts. Once again, sorry for the pic.





________________________________________________________

Bambara, Bambara
Released: 7/6/08 on Emerald Weapon
Key Tracks: Native Tongue, Shake, Snakes In Our Hair

________________________________________________________

All The Saints, Fire On Corridor X
Re-Released: 5/27/08 on Killer Pimp

Key Tracks: Regal Regalia, Sheffield, Farmacia

________________________________________________________


Russian Spy Camera, Mutiny in the Kitchen With Knives
Released: 3/2/08
Key Tracks: Pixels In Your Soup, This Town Has Placed A Curse On Me, Hotels, X's Over Eyes
Download it for free. It's legal, I swear.






___________________________________________________________________


The N.E.C., Million Minks
Released: 9/10/07
Key Tracks: Only One You Know, Witness, Why Don't You Stay?
This counts too. Keep an eye out, they've got a split out and a new one coming in January '09.






___________________________________________________________________


Sleepy Horses, The Golden Light EP
Released: 9/17/08
Key Tracks: Echoes, Sleep, NYC
Download it for free. Also legal, I swear.







___________________________________________________________________

Dark Meat, Universal Indians
Re-Released: 4/8/08 on Vice
Key Tracks: Freedom Ritual, Assholes For Eyeballs, Disintegrating Flowers









___________________________________________________________________


The George W. Bush Cover Band, Hits From The Oval Ranch
Released: 10/22/08
Key Tracks: Make The Pie Higher, Mission Accomplished, My Base

___________________________________________________________________

Olympus Mans, Shelf Life
Released: 12/9/07
Key Tracks: Pictures From The War, I'm In Love With A Comeback, Sucker









___________________________________________________________________

Harvey Milk, Life...The Best Game In Town
Released: 6/3/08 on Hydra Head
Key Tracks: Death Goes To The Winner, Motown, Skull Socks & Rope Shoes









___________________________________________________________________

Lazer/Wulf, The Void That Isn't
Released: 9/22/08
Key Tracks: Sacrilicious, Lagarto

Phew! That is a fine year for Athens bands. If anyone can think of any good stuff that I left off then please help me out. This is in no way meant to encompass all of the material coming from the Forces. Also I would like to apologize for the formatting of this post. Posting something with this many pictures is alot like trying to transcribe a Bach prelude by ear in real time. So I hope it looks okay on your screen.

December 8-14

Tuesday, December 9:
Chrissakes, City of Ships. Caledonia. 10 p.m. $5. http://www.caledonialounge.com/.

Ice Cube. Center Stage. (ATL) 7 p.m. $31-$33.

The Coathangers, Darker My Love, The Strange Boys. The Earl. (ATL) 9 p.m. http://www.badearl.com/.

Wednesday, December 10:
Neil Diamond. The Arena at Gwinnett Center. 7 p.m. $52-$120. http://www.gwinnettcenter.com/. gwinnettciviccenter.com.
Come dry your eyes...

Thursday, December 11:
Aziz Ansari, Nick Kroll, T.J. Young. 40 Watt. 9 p.m. $10-$12. www.40watt.com/.
Comedy from Aziz Ansari of Human Giant and Flight of the Conchords.

Marriage, Hooray for the Earth, Spring Tigers. Caledonia. 10 p.m. $5. http://www.caledonialounge.com/.

The Ginger Envelope.  Flicker.  8:30 p.m.  $5.  www.myspace.com/flickerbar. 

Friday, December 12:
Gift Horse, Sleepy Horses, Horse Eggs. Nuci's Space. 8 p.m. $5. http://www.nuci.org/.
Day of the Horse Benefit.

Immuzikation.  Go Bar.  10 p.m.  FREE.  www.myspace.com/gobar.

Subrig Destroyer, Das Manics, Sons of Tonitiuh, Noble Rust. East Atlanta Ice House. (ATL) 8:30 p.m. $7. http://www.eastatlantaicehouse.com/.

Saturday, December 13:
Bambara, Iron Hero, Vincas. Caledonia. 10 p.m. $5. http://www.caledonialounge.com/.

Immuzikation, Velveteen Pink. 283 Bar.  10 p.m.  FREE. www.myspace.com/the283bar.   

Wax Fang, The Empties, The Features.  Tasty World.  10 p.m. $5. www.tastyworld.net.

Ra Ra Riot, So Many Dynamos, Princeton. 40 Watt. 9 p.m. $10 (advance). http://www.40watt.com/.

Dancer Vs. Politician, The Buddy System, Madeline.  Nuci's Space.  6:30 p.m. $5. www.nuci.org.

Underage Music:  Must be under 21 to attend or accompanied by someone who is.    

All The Saints, The N.E.C., The Balkans, Abby Go Go. The Drunken Unicorn. (ATL) $6-$8. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net/.

Ike Stubblefield. Northside Tavern. (ATL) 10 p.m. $10. http://www.northsidetavern.com/.
Anybody know who Ike Stubblefield is?

November 24-30

Tuesday, November 25:

Perfect Circle: Athens Bands Play R.E.M.'s Murmur. 40 Watt. 8 p.m. $10 (advance). http://www.40watt.com/.

CD release party for the 25th anniversary, deluxe edition of R.E.M.'s debut LP. Don Chambers & Goat, Liz Durrett, Iron Hero, Nate Nelson, Heavy Feather, Spring Tigers, and Packway Handle Band cover songs from the 1983 album. The event features a screening of vintage footage of the band and limited edition Perfect Circle event shirts for sale. See the Flagpole's Calendar Pick and Redux Nation spots for more.

Saturday, November 29:

Me, Matt Decamp, Mitchel Thunderbolt. Flicker. 8:30 p.m. FREE. www.myspace.com/flickerbar.

Thats me as in, well, me. I'm excited to do some solo stuff with my good friends Matt (aka Rebel Forces contributor and Gift Horse/Panic co-manager) and Vaughan (aka Mitchel Thunderbolt and Gift Horse bassist). Matt's got a cool acoustic/fingerpicky set worked up, Mitchel Thunderbolt is a touch deeply moving acoustic melancholy-folk aimed at the religious right, and I'm just gonna play some stuff off of my demo page and a few obscure covers, experimental noise rock style. Hope to see you there...

The Black Fortys, The Duke Spirit, Eulogies, Spring Tigers. 40 Watt. 9 p.m. $5 (advance). http://www.40watt.com/.

Heavy Petty. Farm 255. 11 p.m. FREE! http://www.farm255.com/.

Kevin and Jeff from the Caledonia staff roster rock through Tom Petty's catalogue of songs. This is probably where most of our crowd will go after our sets at Flicker considering it's also free, right next door to Flicker, and a hell of a good time.

The Sammies, Idiot Slowdown, JY, Pretty Lights. Tasty World. 10 p.m. $5. http://www.tastyworld.net/

---------

This is the weekend of NoPhest #5 in Atlanta. This year the festival is held at a community arts venue called WonderRoot and it's only $5 bucks a day. Not a clue about most of these bands but here's the entire lineup:

Friday, November 28:

Walk To Run Records Showcase:
8:00 p.m-Leadcar Holiday

9:00-The Jonesplan

10:00-Nerd Parade

11:00-Sunday Drive Bye

12:00 a.m.-Phoenix for Saints

1:00-Lions & Scissors

Saturday, November 29:

2:00 p.m.-Intrepid Souls

3:00-Lindsay Appel

4:00-Jungol

5:00-Jesse Nobody

6:00-Tealights

7:00-Mice in Cars

8:00-Extraordinary Contraptions

9:00-It's Elephant's

10:00-Envie

11:00-FishHawk

12:00 a.m.-Pistolero

1:00-Trial By Fire

Sunday, November 30:

1:00 p.m.-Toby Foster

2:00-Dustin and the Furniture

3:00-Red The Exploder

4:00-The Sneaky Hand

5:00-Eric Zer
6:00-The Blacks
7:00-Why Are We Building Such A Big Ship
8:00-Bambara-->
9:00-Gift Horse-->

10:00-Wighat

11:00-Free Ticket

12:00 a.m.-Finletter

Thanks to the boys of Bambara for that flyer.

Perhaps An Intention?

So I'm lying in bed a moment ago reading a book and I decided that I needed to get up and write about a few things.  The book I'm reading is Kim Cooper's fantastic and insightful study of Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (pictured) from the popular 33 1/3 series. Thanks to Hunter and Mary Katherine for letting me borrow it.  They both read it and felt like I needed to read it, and they were right.  For more on the 33 1/3 books, see the "worthy" links over there <---.  

First off, those of you who have read Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey (the book I just finished reading) will recognize the title of this post as the title of the final chapter of that book.  It's kind of hard to explain if you haven't read it, but let's just say that sometimes things happen that seem too serendipitous.  Some events are so coincidental that it seems like there must be some intentional force at work behind the coincidence.  I guess it's going to seem that way when you live and create in Athens and you're reading a book about one of the greatest bands to ever live and create in Athens.  For example, you flip the page and there's a photo of the house on Grady Avenue.  Right above that is a picture of "The Landfill" house on Reese Street.  Both of these houses are within a mile or two of our house.  But aside from the obvious geographical coincidences there are so many other connections I feel to the actual attitudes and feelings the guys in the Elephant 6 crew seemed to have while trying to find their footing.  Just the loving, genuine caring that they all felt for one another.  A sincere, judgement-free appreciation for whatever it was that creatively came out of the souls in their clan.  Man that sounds nice.  

Some people in Athens aren't really impressed with stuff like this; either they are jaded from years of living here amongst the mythical status music folklore, or for whatever reason they kind of act like it isn't that big of a deal.  But I'm floored by this type of stuff.  In my opinion, this is why we should all love Athens, because it breeds and fosters this type of behavior:  cheap-rent houses and plentiful part-time day jobs, the beautiful "Southern Gothic" landscape, a whole bunch of kids, a whole bunch of bars, people who care, I don't know...something that makes people come here to play music.  Something in the water.  It's what made these gentlemen come from Ruston, Louisiana and it is what has made countless others make the move also.

So anyhow, on to the more coincidental stuff.  As of late Hunter and I have been recording like mad in our palatial Park Avenue estate and today was no exception, but alas!  We lacked various components of a drum kit, as we have yet to fully set our gear up after our farm 255 show Sunday night with Arizona.  (Speaking of which, check out the Flagpole's glowing review of the show, hot off the presses).  So after I rigged up a hi-hat stand by twisting a coat hanger through the broken chain links of the pedal and assembling some leftover cymbals in the basement, we called up our boy Blaze from Bambara and he was kind enough to allow us to borrow the last two necessary ingredients that I could not skimp on:  a kick pedal and some drum sticks.  By the way I'm officially sold on Bambara, they rocked one hell of a bombastic free set last night at Go Bar and played two really, really good new songs.  Go see them promptly in order to save your mortal soul.  So, Hunter and I head downtown to borrow the gear, listening to The Gerbils on the way.  Hunter mentions that Gerbils leader and Neutral Milk Hotel horn guy Scott Spillane is a big dude with an amazing voice and a big ass white beard.  We scoop up Blaze on the street corner and proceed to get a pedal and two of the crappiest shredded drumsticks I have ever seen and head back to drop him off.  As we approach the corner of College Avenue and Washington Street (still listening to The Gerbils) we look to our right and notice that Scott Spillane is stopped right next to us at the red light, driving a big white band van.  We all sat there, unable to comprehend the serendipity.  Hunter swears something almost compelled him to say "What if Scott Spillane just pulls up next to us?" right before we saw him.  I mean, I know Athens is pretty small but come on, it's not that small.  The light turned green, as it sometimes does, and we dropped Blaze off and went back to the house to lay down some demo drums for four new songs.  

Whether someone is trying to tell us something or not, I don't know.  We have decided that we will gladly keep our ears open and probably create connections that do not even exist.  But reading the 33 1/3 book In the Aeroplane Over the Sea is nearly as inspiring as listening to the album and I feel like it's telling me something 39 pages in.  In no way am I self-absorbed enough to think that I am a prodigal son following in the footsteps of my cult heroes, but it feels good to have the reason for your very existence validated by the words of your cult heroes. 

I guess what I mean is when Mary Katherine let me borrow the book last night, she made me read the last page first, and once again she was right to do so.  Seriously, thanks to Hunter and Mary Katherine for this book.  It has already helped me in numerous ways.  Realizing that some of you may not get to read it, I'm going to share with you the passage she made me read:

Julian Koster, whose life was immeasurably enriched by the souls he found in Ruston, has a message for young musicians and artists who are trying to find their way.  It seems like he's talking to his teenage self when he says, emphatically and sweetly, "I think what Elephant 6 meant for us is very simple:  there's something pure and infinite in you, that wants to come out of you, and can come out of no other person on the planet.  That's what you've got to share, and that's as real and important as the fact that you're alive.  We were able, at a really young age, to somehow protect each other so we could feel that.  The world at large, careerism, money, magazines, your parents, the people at the rock club in your town, other kids, nothing is going to give you that message, necessarily.  In fact, most things are going to lead you away from it, sadly, because humanity is really confused at the moment.  But you wouldn't exist if the universe didn't need you.  And any time I encounter something beautiful that came out of a human somewhere, that's them, that's their own soul.  That's just pure, whatever its physicality is, if the person can play piano, if they can't play piano, if they're tone deaf, whatever it is, if it's pure, it hits you like a sledgehammer.  It fills up your own soul, it makes you want to cry, it makes you glad you're alive, it lets you come out of you.  And that's what we need:  we desperately need you." 

   

November 17-23

Monday, November 17:
Bambara, Dynamite Club, Marriage. Go Bar. 10 p.m. FREE. www.myspace.com/gobar.

Arizona, Horse Feathers, Ben Trickey. The Earl. (ATL) 9 p.m. $8. http://www.badearl.com/.
We had a really good time playing with Arizona last night at the farm. They were in fact some very nice dudes and they sounded unbelievable. Thanks to everyone who came out. Go see them at the Earl tonight if you are up in Atlanta, they will not disappoint.

Tuesday, November 18:
Blue Flashing Light, Romaneko, The Heligoats, Leaving Araby. Caledonia. 10 p.m. $6. http://www.caledonialounge.com/.

The Whigs, Kings Of Leon, We Are Scientists. Tabernacle. (ATL) 6 p.m. $37.50. www.myspace.com/tabernacleatlanta.

Lazer/Wulf. On WUOG's 90.5 f.m.'s Live in the Lobby. 8 p.m. http://www.wuog.org/.

Wednesday, November 19:
Lazer/Wulf, Marriage, The Classic Bastards. Caledonia. 10 p.m. $6. http://www.caledonialounge.com/.

Thursday, November 20:
The Judies, Tendaberry, How I Became the Bomb. Star Bar. (ATL) 9 p.m. FREE. http://www.starbar.net/.

Friday, November 21:
Trances Arc, The Empties. Caledonia. 10 p.m. $5. http://www.caledonialoung.com/.

All the Saints, The Coathangers, Noot d'Noot. The Earl. (ATL) 9 p.m. FREE. http://www.badearl.com/.

Saturday, November 22:
Deaf Judges. Cine. 10 p.m. http://www.athenscine.com/.

Abbey Road Live. Georgia Theatre. 9 p.m. $10 (advance), $12 (door).
http://www.georgiatheatre.com/.

Gift Horse, Overhead Ground, Citizen Icon. Vinyl. (ATL) 9 p.m. $8. www.vinylatlanta.com/.

and in the same complex you can check out

Eagles of Death Metal, The Duke Spirit. Center Stage. (ATL) 8 p.m. $18-$20. www.vinylatlanta.com/.
Along with playing right across the way from us at Vinyl, Eagles of Death Metal are also playing an in-store set at Criminal Records at 5 p.m. http://www.criminal.com/.

I'm dragging behind a little bit on the this week's calendar so I'll probably add some more shows tomorrow. Please contain your excitement.

News Wire

Hi I'm Ron Burgundy and here's what's happening in your world today:

....Dead Confederate has been out in my fair city of San Diego playing on KBZT and chatting with Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips. Currently they are on their way to Vegas (best of luck at the nickel slots)...

...The Whigs were robbed in Wisconsin recently and Delta managed to break Parker's guitar during a flight to Cali. Don't worry they seem to be just fine as nothing incredibly important was taken and they are always making light of any misfortune...

...I heard that Blue Flashing Light played a really good set last night at The EARL to a grand and responsive crowd...

...San Diego's favorite band Gift Horse received a pretty good concert review in the Flagpole's online archives. The show was with Sleepy Horses and Pride Parade at Caledonia and good things were also said about los compadres. Thanks Jordan Stepp...

...Speaking of Sleepy Horses, they've recently gotten a live recording posted on Sloan's Southern Shelter...

...The boys from Bambara continue to make waves by receiving a decent amount of plays on WUOG 90.5's regular rotation, selling their album on iTunes (not sure how to link to that), and also getting a live recording posted on the Southern Shelter page...

...News to me: Joel Hatstat did a really good job with the new Deaf Judges album All Rise over at The Bakery, and I am currently listening to that album nonstop. Actually, I am taking breaks to listen to Modern Skirts' All of Us In Our Night which is also fantastic. David Lowery (Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker) and Mike Mills (uh, R.E.M.) did a real number producing that album as well...

...Speaking of Joel Hatstat, his band Pegasuses-XL has somewhat quietly released a new album called Electro Agitators. I think it is a compilation of material off of their first three EP's, and that seems like a really good idea to me. Check out the live recording of the Electro Agitators cd release party on (guess what site?)...

...There is a bunch of other stuff happening as we speak, but in the spirit of reporting the news I'm going to omit some important items. I'll leave the comments section as an open thread for anyone to post relevant (or random) news...

...You stay classy San Diego...

November 10-16

Monday, November 10:

Ryan Hetrick. Flicker. 8:30 p.m. $5. www.myspace.com/flickerbar.

Tuesday, November 11:

Bambara. On Live in the Lobby WUOG 90.5 fm at 8 p.m. http://www.wuog.org/.

Wednesday, November 12:

Subrig Destroyer, Telestrion. Go Bar. 10 p.m. FREE. www.myspace.com/gobar.

The N.E.C., Derek Lyn Plastic. Star Bar. (ATL) 9 p.m. $3. http://www.starbar.net/.

Thursday, November 13:

Benji Hughes, Randall Bramblett Band, Ben Deignan. 40 Watt. 9 p.m. $10. $5 for UGA students.

Blue Flashing Light, Silent and Listen, Lions and Scissors. The Earl. (ATL) 9 p.m. $7. http://www.badearl.com/.

Subrig Destroyer, The Dead Sea, Armazilla, Nigredo. Lenny's. (ATL) 9 p.m. http://www.lennysbar.com/.

Friday, November 14:

No Age, Titus Andronicus, Soft Circle. 40 Watt. 9 p.m. $12 advance. http://www.40watt.com/.

A.Armada, Grails, Silver Apples. Drunken Unicorn. (ATL) 9 p.m. $10. http://www.thedrunkenunicorn.net/.

Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band. Variety Playhouse. (ATL) 8 p.m. $22.50-$25. http://www.variety-playhouse.com/.

Saturday November 15:

The Black Lips, All the Saints, The Spits. 40 Watt. 9 p.m. $10 advance. http://www.40watt.com/.

A.Armada, Grails, Silver Apples. Caledonia. 10 p.m. $8 advance. http://www.caledonialounge.com/.

Links to these bands can be found up yonder after the posting for their Friday show.

Local H, Electric Six, Golden Dogs. Lenny's. (ATL) 9 p.m. $12. http://www.lennysbar.com/.

So that's what those dudes in Local H are doing now...

Dexter Romweber Duo, Black Diamond Heavies, Pearlene. Star Bar. (ATL) 9 p.m. $8. http://www.starbar.net/.

Sunday, November 16:

Arizona, Gift Horse. Farm 255. 10 p.m. http://www.farm255.com/.

We're pretty excited to be playing with Arizona (from North Carolina). More info to come...

October 27-November 2

Monday, October 27:
Mouser, Muchas Gracias, Ebu Gogo, Double Dagger. Go Bar. 10 p.m. FREE! www.myspace.com/gobar.

Tuesday, October 28:
Bambara, His Mischief, Hot Pink Money Shot, Nero and The Burning Violins. Caledonia. 10 p.m. $6 (21+), $8 (18+). http://www.caledonialounge.com/.

George W. Bush Cover Band. Live in the Lobby on WUOG 90.5 fm @ 8 p.m. http://www.wuog.org/.

Wednesday, October 29:
Monotonix, Crystal Antlers, Dark Meat, One Man Machine. Georgia Theatre. 9:30 p.m. $8. http://www.georgiatheatre.com/.

Pride Parade, Desert Cult Ritual. Little Kings. WUOG Birth-O-Ween. 9 p.m. FREE! www.myspace.com/littlekingsshuffleclub.
Desert Cult Ritual features members of Chrissakes and Complete Adventurer.

Thursday, October 30:
We Versus the Shark, Pegasuses-XL, Sirhan Sirhan, Prize Country. Caledonia. Doors at 10 p.m. $6 (21+). $8 (18-20). http://www.caledonialounge.com/.

Matthew Sweet. Variety Playhouse. (ATL) 8 p.m. $20. http://www.variety-playhouse.com/.

Friday, October 31:
Deerhoof, Experimental Dental School, Flying. 40 Watt. 9 p.m. $10 (advance). http://www.40watt.com/.

Pastor of Muppets, Zombie Puppet Show. Farm 255. 10 p.m. FREE! http://www.farm255.com/.
Metallica cover band, Zombie Puppets. (state the obvious)

Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars. Georgia Theatre. 10 p.m. $10. http://www.georgiatheatre.com/.
Another cover band--playing the entire album.

Music Hates You, Holy Liars. Tasty World. 8 p.m. $7 (21+). $10 (18+). http://www.tastyworld.net/.
Boobutante Ball #8.

Pylon, Deerhunter, Jay Reatard, Times New Viking. Variety Playhouse. (ATL) 8 p.m. $16-$18. http://www.variety-playhouse.com/.

HALLOWEEN BITCHES

Saturday, November 1:
Space Rock Con. Tasty World. $10. 12 noon–12 midnight. http://www.tastyworld.net/.
Annual concert for "fans of Space Rock". There are a ton of bands so click the link for more info.

Constellations, Kuroma, Ponderosa, The Empties, Part Bear, Death on Wheels, Shovels & Rope, The Weeks. Star Bar. (ATL) Starts at 2 p.m. $5. http://www.starbar.net/.
Day of the Dead show. Don't get mugged or get your shit stolen. The unfortunate kid from Gentlemen Jesse and His Men got mugged outside of there not too long ago and our unfortunate drummer had some very old and cool drums and cymbals stolen from there during the Atlantis Music Conference. Big trouble in Little Five Points...

Drive By Truckers, The Hold Steady. Tabernacle. (ATL) 6:30 p.m. $30. www.myspace.com/tabernacleatlanta.

Twin Tigers, Jay Reatard, Carbonas. Lenny's. (ATL) 9 p.m. $10. http://www.lennysbar.com/.

Weedeater, Black Cobra, Today is the Day. 9 p.m. $12-$15. The Drunken Unicorn. (ATL) www.thedrunkenunicorn.net/.

Minus The Bear, Annuals, Sylvie. Variety Playhouse. (ATL) 10 p.m. $18-$20. http://www.variety-playhouse.com/.

October 13-19

Tuesday, October 14:
Olympus Mans. Georgia Theatre. 9:30 p.m. $5. http://www.georgiatheatre.com/.

Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band. Variety Playhouse. (ATL) 8 p.m. $22.50-$25. http://www.variety-playhouse.com/.

Wednesday, October 15:
Enoch, Brown Chicken Brown Cow, Distaster. Flicker. 8:30 p.m. $5. www.myspace.com/flickerbar.
Enoch Bledsoe of Twin Tigers, Ryan Hetrick, and some punk band, respectively.

Dead Confederate, Heartless Bastards. The Five Spot. (ATL) 8:30 p.m. $12.50-$15. http://www.fivespot-atl.com/.

Thursday, October 16:
Gift Horse, Beatrix Kiddo, Johnny Buffalo and the Mutinous Noise. Drunken Unicorn. (ATL) 9 p.m. $8. www.thedrunkenunicorn.net/.

Friday, October 17:
Cinemechanica, A.Armada, Bambara, Building the State. 40 Watt. Doors @ 9:00 p.m. $6 over 21. $8 under 21. http://www.40watt.com/.

Cinemechanica celebrates the release of their new jam Rivals with A.Armada, Building the State and Bambara. Those are some pretty cool laid back type of fellas in that Bambara. I like those guys.

Widespread Panic. Lakewood Amphitheatre. (ATL) 5:30 p.m. $25 - $75. Lakewood Amphitheatre.

The Magnetic Fields. Woodruff Arts Center. (ATL) 8 p.m. $26-$30. http://www.woodruffcenter.org/.

Saturday, October 18:

Widespread Panic. Lakewood Amphitheatre. (ATL) 5:30 p.m. $25 - $75. Lakewood Amphitheatre.

Sunday, October 19:

Widespread Panic. Tabernacle. (ATL) 7 p.m. $125. www.myspace.com/tabernacleatlanta.

Tunes for Tots benefit.

September 29-October 5

Monday, September 29:
The George W. Bush Cover Band, Hot Pink Money Shot. The Globe. 9:30 p.m. FREE! Celebrating The Globe's 19th birthday and billed as the farewell concert since dubya's on his way out the door. According to Esquire magazine, The Globe is the best bar in America. According to 90% of Athens, Esquire doesn't know shit.

The Whigs, The Kooks. Variety Playhouse (ATL) 8 p.m. $16-$18.
http://www.variety-playhouse.com/.

Tuesday, September 30:
Bambara, Mouser, Ours to Alibi, They Mean Us. Caledonia. 10 p.m. $6 (21+), $7 (18+). http://www.caledonialounge.com/.

Fleet Foxes, Frank Fairfield. Georgia Theatre. 10 p.m. $10. http://www.georgiatheatre.com/.
These dudes may actually be living up to the hype. Yeah I know, I liked 'em before it was cool too. Let it die.

Wednesday, October 1:
Old 97's, Charlie Louvin. Georgia Theatre. 8 p.m. $16 (advance), $18 (door). http://www.georgiatheatre.com/.

The Raconteurs, The Kills. Tabernacle (ATL) $38.50. www.myspace.com/tabernacleatlanta.

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists. Masquerade (ATL) 7 p.m. $18. www.masq.com/.

Thursday, October 2:
Okkervil River, Crooked Fingers, Black Joe Lewis & The Honey Bears. 40 Watt. 10 p.m. $15 (advance). http://www.40watt.com/.

The Avett Brothers. Georgia Theatre. 9 p.m. $25. http://www.georgiatheatre.com/.
Everybody keeps telling me how good they are. Personally I like two songs they have. $25-a-pop good? Ehhh...

The Black Keys. Tabernacle (ATL) 8 p.m. $25. www.myspace.com/tabernacleatlanta.

Friday, October 3:
Pegasuses-XL, Bambara, Deaf Judges, Creepy. Caledonia. 9 p.m. http://www.caledonialounge.com/.
Last chance to see Pegasuses before they embark on nation domination...

The Avett Brothers. Georgia Theatre. 9 p.m. SOLD OUT! http://www.georgiatheatre.com/.
Well, excuse me Avett Bros. 500 dumbass frat boys can't be wrong!

Modern Skirts, Venice Is Sinking. 40 Watt. 9:30 PM Doors. $8 Advance.
Concert release of Modern Skirts new one, All of Us in Our Night. http://www.40watt.com/.

Saturday, October 4:
We Versus The Shark, Chrissakes, Childbite, Stnnng. Caledonia. 9 p.m. http://www.caledonialounge.com.
We Versus The Shark also embarking upon said domination...

Alan Jackson. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (ATL) 8 p.m.
You didn't really think I was gonna leave that out did you?

Sunday, October 5:
Janet Jackson. Phillips Arena (ATL).
How many Atlantans will shell out an outrageous sum of money for this ticket for the sole purpose of maybe seeing a nipple or some other J. Jack sweet meat wardrobe malfunction? Just something to ponder as you go about your week. By the way since this was posted I saw where it is "really big news" that Janet had to be rushed to the hospital before her show in Montreal the other day, so Atlantans may have to wait for the ol' nip-slip Timberlake-style. This show may be canceled. Why am I devoting so much time to this? No idea.