Gimme coffee!

Don't be misled by the title of this post: I'm not talking about the chain of espresso bars that started in Ithaca, NY before expanding all over New York State (after all, they're really called "Gimme! Coffee"), but about the late Hot Corners, here in Athens, GA.

Yep, late. Hot Corners, this local institution providing coffee, treats and couches for thousands of students and night owls since 2003, closed its doors for good on Fri. 05/09. The very last cup of coffee was offered to yet another local institution, Gordon L., for his birthday. A photographic evidence is displayed (stolen from "Overseen in Athens", sorry and thanks guys), where you'll recognize the legendary trucker hat/glasses/beard. One can only assume that the beverage is indeed coffee, with roughly half a pint of creamers, as usual for GFL.

I'm still flummoxed by this sudden disappearance. I wasn't a regular, but it was neat to know that coffee could be found in Townietown/Tinytown at whatever hour of the night (during school months). Now, I'll have to run to Espresso Royale or Walker's to get a cup of joe or whatever sugary product to fight hypoglycemia, which is a good 3 blocks walk. No, I won't mention a third possibility, they don't need the publicity. Besides, where will I kick friends' collective ass at Scrabble, mmh ?

Moreover, Hot Corners used to be a cool place for small open-mic style shows. I'll always keep a very fond memory of a Titans of Filth show for Athfest2007 that drew a fairly impressive crowd in the "quiet room".

So, the information I could get points towards the walls being taken over by the Trappeze Pub, which opened just before Christmas 2007 in what used to be the "quiet room" mentioned above. Hardly a surprise, given the recent craze around the pub: a wide selection of exotic and expensive beers, a knowledgeable staff, semi-private booths and a patio of some sort... What else could you ask for ? Coffee ? As GFL summarized,

"the message they send is clear: in Townietown, get drunk or get lost"

Ecco.


BTW, it was indeed GFL's birthday last week-end, and a show was organized at the Caledonia Lounge: on the bill, Wedge, Entertainment, TJ Young, Fishboy and Spring Tigers.

• You already know what I think of Wedge, no comment.


• I was expecting the worse from Entertainment, mostly because of the blurb in the last flagpole:

  The Atlanta/Athens band plays dark, synth- and bass-heavy rock that's propulsive and layered, maybe a little like the lovechild that results from the late-night gropings of U2, Echo & the Bunnymen and The Cure.

  and this hilarious review of their latest album:

  Gender, the first full-length album from Athens band Entertainment, is a dark, dance-y amalgamation of all things '80s. The band melds post-punk, new wave, goth-rock and pop into something that sounds as if Bauhaus, Joy Division, (very early) U2, and Chrome were having an orgy.

  Wow. Once again, where's the indie police when you need it ? How did this piece ever got published ? Surprisingly, Entertainment are actually pretty good: they are old enough to have a first-hand knowledge of that musical period, they obviously love it and do a very decent job in recapturing it. I was fearing for some kind of Interpol-inspired rhythms, I was wrong, and I loved being wrong. I'm not ultra-keen on the Shaun Ryder like vocals on some tracks, but hey...


• TJ Young is a local stand-up comedian. Gordon, if you want, I dress up as a clown for your next birthday.


• Fishboy is a band I shouldn't have to introduce. They released one of the best concept/opera-rock albums of the decade, Albatross: How We Failed To Save The Lone Star State With The Power Of Rock And Roll. Go and listen to it now. And buy it. Twice.



• Spring Tigers recently lost a member: their keyboardist Brian called it quit. Fortunately, Shane was able to cover most of his parts while managing with his. Great job. Hopefully the band will find a replacement soon: let's say that the coming months are expected to be full of very exciting news for the Tigers.

That's it for now. I'll post some MP3s soon, when I'll be caffeinated.