Last week in show - Missed it !

Springtime is about to settle in Athens, at last, which tends to set me in a rather cozy mood. So, minimal review of last week's shows.


Thu.02/28 - 40 Watt

Showcase for Jimmy Hughes' (Folklore, Elf Power) bumbleBEAR label, back to activity after 5 years of slumber. I showed up far too late and missed most of the bands, but did catch Titans of Filth in their newest incarnation.
A few months ago, the band lost their multi-instrumentalist Emily Armond to her many other bands (Dark Meat, Mouser,Sea of Dogs) and their violonist Ann Rogers to her personal adventures. Since then, the Titans performed a couple of shows as a trio, before welcoming guitarist Spencer Rich among them. Replacing 40% for a band by yourself is no small feat, especially when the 40% in questions were so charming and talented. Nevertheless, Spencer did a fair job. I'm not completely convinced, however. The subtle balance the Titans had achieved and which materialized in some famous shows at New-York Popfest and at Hot Corners during Athfest 2007 will probably take more tweaking and practices to be fully restored. Still, the material is as good as ever, and I'm still fan.

Don't forget to lurk around the bumbleBEAR site, a true treasure trove of MP3s goodness.

MP3s:
Titans of Filth : Our Impending Announcement
Titans of Filth : Swinging Lovers

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Fri. 02/29 - Flicker

Following mostly the same pattern as the previous evening, I missed Everybody Everybody, the new band of Nate Mitchell (Cars Can Be Blue, Titans of Filth), Laura Swindall (Christopher's Liver), David Specht (Quiet Hooves), who were introducing Melissa Colbert, their new singer. From the reports I heard, the show was very dance-pop, fun and quite exciting, à la ESG. I know I should have hurried, but hey.
I was too busy drowning my regrets and celebrating my first day of Spring to really pay to the New Sound of Numbers the attention they deserved, but I liked what I heard. And the evening ended in yet another awesome dance party, but alas, my favorite partner was M.I.A. So I made more of a fool of myself on karaoke hero. I suck.

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Sat. 03/01 - Flicker / 40W

Talk about some confusion in the organization: the 40Watt was hosting Vic Chesnutt and Jonathan Richman, while Flicker was presenting Spring Tigers, another band named after a mall, and the Besties, more or less at the same time. Too many choices!
Spring Tigers followed their new motto "tighter, faster, louder" to the best effect. Really great show.
Vic Chesnutt was entrancing, but I spent most of the show fixing my nicotine levels and trying not to break in tears. I therefore missed the verbal altercation between Vic and a spectator that may or may have not been on his cell-phone during the show.
Despite Marisa's cold (she had to whisper before the show as to save a bit of voice for the actual performance), the Besties were faithful to their name and their reputation. It'd been too long since they last paid us a visit.
Jonathan Richman was as endearing as ever... He was again accompanied by drummer Tommy Larkins, and both were promoting the upcoming release of Jonathan's next album, "Because Her Beauty's Raw And Wild". Priceless, leaves me speechless.

MP3s
Besties: The Zombie Song
Jonathan Richman: Not So Much To Be Loved Than To Love

After such a song, there's nothing much to add...

[Update 03/07/2008: Mike White posted pictures of the 40W show. Go and check!]

Flagpole best local albums 2007

Ohoh, this time of the year again... Time of balances, best-ofs, worst-ofs, whatever. Our local institution, Flagpole magazine, just released the list of their 10 favorite local albums of 2007. By local, understand Athens, GA based, of course. And albums is to be understood in the wider sense of "release", as they also counted EPs.

I'm quite happy that two of my personal favorites made it: The Lolligags and Titans of Filth. Not only these bands are both excellent in their genre, the respective lead singers are also close, sibling-like friends.

The Lolligags were born in 2006 from the collaboration between high-school friends Leslie DS (Athens) and Ryan B. (based in Nashville, TN). They play what could be simply referred to as electro-pop: picture Siouxsie singing the Pet Shop Boys, and you would have a generic idea. Leslie comes with ideas of melodies and lyrics, she phones Ryan who comes up with something, he calls Leslie back, and after several back-and-worth, a song is born. Their first EP was released on HHBTM at the end of the spring, a second is in the pipes, with several songs written already but not yet properly recorded. You can find some of their new songs ("My Mascara", "A Spanner in the Works") on their myspace page. So far, the Lolligags played three gigs only, at Caledonia with CCBB on 11/02/2007 for Leslie's Bday, at the Star Bar and at Flicker with the Black Kids on 11/15 and 11/16. The shows were really good, with a lot of pre-recorded loops that gave Leslie the opportunity to harmonize with herself, and Ryan to play guitar. Oh, and you should check their scene set, with the huge lollipops. Spring 2008 should see a second EP, perhaps some remixes, and hopefully more shows. Get the Lolligag reflex.

I met Sam from the Titans of Filth for the first time in July 2006, during AthFest. He was distributing free copies of "Best Behavior", the first EP they had just finished recording a month before. I didn't pick up immediately, but waited a few weeks before catching them live at the Caledonia. I've been a huge fan since. If their music was to be described in one word, that would be twee, without a doubt. Simple yet catchy melodies, funny, smart and touching lyrics dealing with teenagehood in a Christian environment, depression, how to fit in the crowd, pretty much a Blue Ridge, GA hillbilly version of the early Belle and Sebastian. Note that Best Behavior was also re-distributed by HHBTM as part of their CDR club. "Feats of Strengths", their second EP, was recorded in June 2007, just in time for the NYC Popfest where they had a slot (and where they invited me as part buffer, part tour manager, part mascot). The production is more rounded than on the first EP, the sound is fuller, with even a dance-like tune ("Swinging Lovers", about the dating pool in a small collegetown of Georgia), and a very heart-felt ballad ("Fifth Year") written by their violonist Ann. All in all, I'm very, very proud of all of them... Let's hope that 2008 will see another release, the sooner, the better...

Oh, incidentally, the three EPs I mentioned were recorded by Jason "Casper and the Cookies" NeSmith at his BelAir Studio. Talk about a small world or an incestuous family, eh ?


(Respects to Hillary from Team Brown for the movies and Mike W. for the photo).