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JUNE 24, 2009 · VOL. 23 · NO. 25 · FREE
AthFest 2009 Black Lips p. 17 Dreams So Real p. 19 Patterson Hood p. 21
See Insert
The Official AthFest Program Is Inside This Issue!
Music Awards This Year’s Finalists p. 20 & Full Show Preview p. 18
Holy Land Sojourn p. 9 · Mike White p. 15 · Georgia Theatre p. 18 · Our AthFest Picks p. 23
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guest pub notes Inside the TheatER
“Randy says a good band’s playing after the film,” she said. “Which one?” “The Possibilities. I never heard of them, but that doesn’t mean anything.” “Days like today, I think anything’s possible. Good and bad.” Inside the theater, a cover band was playing Neil Young songs. As her eyes adjusted, slowly and intimately, among the silhouettes cast by the warm lights from the stage, she started to recognize faces from her photos. Speakers at the Human Rights Festivals, some artists and musicians, university folks, a few local shop owners, even a couple of good hearted politicians. She didn’t remember their names as much as their conversations. Their stories. She felt like she was back in an amber-hued dark room, watching as a picture developed before her. Only this print was living and moving, a picture of Athens as it is, superimposed on a picture of Athens as it was. She saw again, something that made the place so unique. Pure human energy in so many malleable forms, cooked in courage and craziness, age and wisdom and youth, and a freedom of thought and action so rare anywhere else. She had a two-beer buzz going. Mark brought a third. She hesitated. “Don’t worry. I’m driving. Enjoy yourself.” She did, watching the crowd, remembering names, saying hi to old friends, Melissa, Rick, Gwen… Randy stayed next to her, rocking back and forth, as the cover band wrapped up a set. He cupped his hand to her ear. “You’re going to be so glad you came,” he said. “I already am,” she answered. The music was good. The beer was good, and it was great to get out for a night. The guys on stage started switching out with a new group that was going to play. The Possibilities. Jules didn’t think she’d ever heard them before but the new guitarist coming out looked familiar. And the other guy. Weren’t they with R.E.M.?
THIS WEEK’S ISSUE: News & Features Athens Rising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Downtown Planning: Part Two
Maybe we need to take advantage of downtown’s eccentricities and let them guide any planning for the area.
Holy Land Sojourn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Why I’m Spending My Summer in Israel and Palestine Why go all the way to Palestine for a summer job?
Arts & Events Grub Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Just Chillin’
This week’s theme is refreshment, thanks to the utterly adorable Los Comales on Tallassee Road.
The Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
COVER DESIGN by Kelly Ruberto
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Buddy Holly Syndrome
Arthur Phillips’ The Song Is You is a remarkable novel, period, and especially as a book about music.
Music Dreams So Real . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Back Together Again!
The legendary Athens band reunites after a decade apart.
Oscar Doesn’t Live Here Anymore… . . . . . . 21 But Patterson Hood Has Both Feet Firmly on Modern Ground
How the Drive-By Trucker took nearly lost 15-year-old demos and transformed them into a new record.
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21
COURTESY: R.E.M.
Yeah! A flurry of surprise and cheers rose up from the crowd as Michael Stipe walked on the stage, and R.E.M. started strumming a riff that lifted the floor. It was a homegrown, good-to-see-you dance party. Something lost was found. Even if it was just a three-beer buzz, for Jules it was a joy to be alive, listening and jumping in time to song after familiar song, Calling all radio stations… Calling all radio stations… Wasting time, Sitting Still… Don’t go back to Rockvi-i-i-ille… Don’t go back to Rockvi-i-i-ille… This One goes out to the One I love… This one goes out to the one I left behind… and coming at last to that song with the lyric that had haunted her for the past month solid, with its signature line, sounded out loud and live, like the manifestation of her worst fears amplified… It’s the end of the world as we know it… It’s the end of the world as we know it… It’s the end of the world as we know it… She could dance to that song. She could dance to that fear. She could repeat it over and over again and finally come to the end and feel it was true… It’s the end of the world as we know it… and I feel fine… I feel fine… Molly Read Woo Excerpted, with permission, from The Red and Black Breed, a novel by Molly Read Woo, due out this summer.
LETTERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 CITY DOPE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 CITY PAGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 CAPITOL IMPACT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 ATHENS RISING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 HOLY LAND SOJOURN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 GRUB NOTES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 THE READER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 MOVIE DOPE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 MOVIE PICK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 THREATS & PROMISES. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 MIKE WHITE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 RECORD REVIEWS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
EDITOR & PUBLISHER Pete McCommons ADVERTISING DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER Alicia Nickles PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Larry Tenner MANAGING EDITOR Christina Cotter ADVERTISING SALES Anita Aubrey, Melinda Edwards, Jessica Pritchard MUSIC EDITOR Michelle Gilzenrat CITY EDITOR Ben Emanuel CLASSIFIEDS, DISTRIBUTION & OFFICE MANAGER Paul Karjian AD DESIGNERS Ian Rickert, Kelly Ruberto CARTOONISTS James Allen, Cameron Bogue, Matthew Doxtad, Mutant Hamster, Joe Havasy, Missy Kulik, Jeremy Long, Clint McElroy ADOPT ME Special Agent Cindy Jerrell CONTRIBUTORS Michael Andrews, Christopher Benton, Hillary Brown, Tom Crawford, Michael J. Gerber, Jennifer Gibson, Jeff Gore, John Huie, Coy King, Gordon Lamb, John Nettles, Jordan Stepp, Jeff Tobias, Drew Wheeler, Kevan Williams CIRCULATION Charles Greenleaf, Jimmy Courson, Swen Froemke, Eric Mullins WEB DESIGNER Ian Rickert ADVERTISING ASSISTANT Maggie Summers EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Jennifer Bryant EDITORIAL INTERN Christina Downs MUSIC INTERN Tiago Moura ADVERTISING INTERN Brent Ducote
VOLUME 23 ISSUE NUMBER 25
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BLACK LIPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 GEORGIA THEATRE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 MUSIC AWARDS SHOW. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 DREAMS SO REAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 PATTERSON HOOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 DON’T MISS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 THE CALENDAR!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 BULLETIN BOARD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 ART AROUND TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 COMICS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 REALITY CHECK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 EVERYDAY PEOPLE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
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JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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letters
CONTACT US AT P.O. BOX 1027, ATHENS, GA 30603, LETTERS@FLAGPOLE.COM OR VIA FLAGPOLE.COM
the 1940s–1960s, the upper tax rate for rich Americans was 88 percent–94 percent! All through the 1950s and early 1960s In regard to “Pulver Not Qualified,” the upper tax rate for the rich was over 90 (Flagpole Letters, June 17) it’s a shame that percent, and anybody old enough can tell our representative in Congress, Dr. Paul Broun, you that those were the years when America Jr., can’t use his medical experience to help us was the strongest and happiest and most improve the affordability of healthcare, which prosperous. we obviously need if American business is to During those years you could make a very prosper. good living and support your family and buy a Instead of focusing on his area of experhouse and a car, all on just one salary, while tise, Paul Broun is sounding like Rush working at the most modest jobs in America. Limbaugh, obsessing that Obama is some kind You could have a very good life for a whole of socialist fantasy, when anyone can see family all supported by just one burger-flipper that he is simply an or elevator operator updated version of or simply pumping FDR, economically gas! Jobs that Rush BUMPERSTICKER OF THE WEEK: speaking. Obama is Limbaugh now mocks spending to help the people for having working class and used to be good paymaking the more ing jobs. wealthy pay for it. Wake up, you’ve Like FDR he is a been lied to. Send your sightings to man whose time has First, as for WWII ben@flagpole.com or call 706-549-9523 come, because in the getting us out of the years prior to their Depression and not both being elected, FDR’s public spendour laws of commerce had overly favored the ing, the money spent on WWII was public well off. It’s really that simple. spending. Some try to say that only WWII took us out It was the public spending of the war, of the Depression. If that war helped get us along with the FDR public works spending that out of the Depression, it is only because we ended the Great Depression. If there had been spent a lot of money on it putting people to no war, then FDR would have had to spend work at a time when they needed it. even more money on public works in order to Think how great it could have been if we end the Depression. could have spent that money on our own You also must remember that this spendcountry instead of fighting others. Now could ing was not wasted, because improving our be that time. It’s not socialism, it’s nationinfrastructure actually increases the value of building, right here at home. our land by making a more productive base for If you read the Mar. 8 New York Times Frank commerce to flourish. Better roads, rail, elecRich column, you’ll see that the selfish and tric grid, communications grid make the very greedy politicians and pundits of the time said land more valuable to the business world. the same hateful and dishonest things about We paid for this by having an upper tax FDR that they’re saying about Obama today. rate of 88 percent for rich people all during Thank god we didn’t listen to them then, and the 1940s and then we raised the tax rate I pray to god that we have as much sense to 94 percent to help pay for all of this. Our today. upper tax rate stayed above 90 percent from Tax Facts for Hannitized Ditto-Heads: 1944–1963. During this time Eisenhower built In 1929, when the stock market crashed, our entire interstate expressway system! This the upper tax bracket for the rich was only was America at our best, at our very peak! 24 percent. Today, in 2009, it is 35 percent. Now our rates are all the way down to 35 But when America was at our greatest, during percent for the rich, and look where we are.
Tax and Spend
Kiss My Chain-Smokin’ Ass
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FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ JUNE 24, 2009
Limbaugh and Hannity have been lying about America’s tax and financial history for years. You can check these facts in any encyclopedia, or at this link… http://www.truthandpolitics.org/top-rates. php Chip Shirley Athens
States’ Rights In the May 14 issue of Flagpole, Tom Crawford’s article “Fighting an Old War Again” attempts to paint anyone who thinks we should adhere to the Constitution of the United States as a racist. “Racism” has become the cheap Saturday night special in the leftist arsenal, but rarely have I seen it used with such amazing dishonesty and ignorance of the obvious. First, Crawford fails to give even a passing nod to the elephant in the room—that frustration at the bailouts and runaway federal spending is the only reason the new states’ rights movement has any real traction. If not, why have secession movements also been wildly popular in states without flag issues? And why only recently? In fact, to point to anything except the government’s response to the financial crisis as the driving force behind the secession movement shows either remarkable ignorance or an odd agenda to pin any perceived crime on the “rural voters” he holds in such contempt. Crawford writes in disdain, “SR 632… declares the state can ignore federal laws if its leaders think Congress doesn’t have the authority to enact such measures.” What would Crawford have them do, obey it? Isn’t it necessary for a state to disobey an illegal, unconstitutional law? Crawford has so much contempt for the Constitution that he suggests it’s beside the point, and makes a morally shoeless “might makes right” argument, writing, “The question of who prevails in a dispute between the federal government and the states was settled about 150 years ago in that struggle called the Civil War.” As if states should abdicate their rightful place in the checks and balances system for
fear the federal bully might take their lunch money! Finally, Crawford is condescending to none other than Thomas Jefferson as he quotes the “quaint” language of SR 632, and makes a point of addressing the date—1798—as if to suggest that Jefferson’s keen, clear thoughts can be outdated like a passing fad. Thomas Jefferson, it seems, is not only hopelessly out of vogue in Tom Crawford’s intellectual circles, he’s actually the author of “crazy talk.” And now the irony gets delicious. This Jefferson excerpt was a response written by Jefferson and adopted by the State of Kentucky as a challenge to the Alien and Sedition Act of 1798. The Act gave the federal government power to imprison anyone for saying anything “false, scandalous or malicious” about the government, and the Kentucky and Virginia legislatures stood up bravely in the face of this unconstitutional challenge to our first amendment rights. How ironic that this was part of a states’ rights issue 200 years ago. A battle waged by the states against the federal government to protect Tom’s right to—you guessed it— criticize the government. I doubt Crawford would write a similar column defending the authority of the federal government if it was an issue of, say, Vermont refusing to send soldiers to Iraq during the Bush administration. Crawford should own up to the fact that his problem isn’t with states’ rights—it’s that his side is “winning” now, rule of law be damned. Until we all fight for the Constitution, whether or not the freedom exercised by our neighbor happens to fit in with our particular worldview, we’re going to see abuses of power on both right and left. I have to write an aside here to reflect on a smug little subset of the modern mind: anyone born before 1950 has no useful philosophy for the modern man, and anything written before 1980 can’t possibly be relevant to today’s sophisticated problems. It’s arrogance on a grand scale, and it’s a subterfuge for every bad idea that’s come down the chute lately. Cole Skinner Email
Athens News and Views To Your Health: According to [a study that will be published this summer by the American Journal of Medicine], medical problems contributed to almost 62.1 percent of all bankruptcies in 2007. Worse yet, the data from the study show that, from 2001 to 2007, the proportion of all bankruptcies attributable to medical problems rose by 49.6 percent. That’s a particularly unsettling notion, as the current economic meltdown is all but sure to have caused an expansion of the crisis. Thus, as many as two-thirds of the 1.5 million Americans who are being forced into bankruptcy annually end up there because they made the “mistake” of getting sick.
LERY
GOOD
DIRT
PETE MCCOMMONS
Save the Theatre: A city official leaving the site of the Georgia Theatre fire last Friday morning remarked that they need to go back to the drawing boards with their plans for the parking deck adjacent to the Georgia Theatre, meaning now they don’t have to build around the Theatre, meaning tear it down. He spoke off the top of his head, but that is exactly the opposite of what we need at this time in regard to saving the Georgia Theatre. The Athens-Clarke County Commission has shown its commitment to downtown historic preservation by including part of downtown under the protection of the Historic Preservation Commission. There will be pressures enough, mainly financial, in the way of the Theatre’s rebirth. The city’s giant parking deck is encroachment enough on the Theatre. Let there be no talk within city government of tearing down the Theatre. Our local government should be in the forefront of those committed to saving the Georgia Theatre. No landmark better represents what Athens means to its citizens and visitors centered on the downtown scene. To tear down the Theatre would be to rip the heart out of downtown and speed it further on its way toward generic anywheresville. Our citizens want this landmark restored, and our government should clearly state its commitment toward that goal.
THE G
city dope
AL
Love Your Farmers’ Market: For those too busy to garden, Nature presented this bouquet last week on Vote online for the Athens East Broad Street at Mulberry Street, just past Chicopee. Farmers’ Market and give the Market a chance to win $5,000 to help And here is where things get downright it continue its great service to our commuscary. According to the study: nity. It’s simple, but we’re up against a lot • Most of those bankrupted by medical probof other giant markets in San Francisco, New lems had health insurance. More than York, Durham, etc. So, we’ve got to make up three-quarters (77.9 percent) were insured in effort what we lack in numbers. It’s winat the start of the bankrupting illness. win, anyway, because the Love Your Famers • Most of the medically bankrupt fell into Market contest is sponsored by Care2.com and income categories that the authors of the LocalHarvest.org. Every vote helps promote study identify as “solidly middle class before local food, family farms and sustainable agrifinancial disaster hit.” Two-thirds were culture. Go vote for our market at http://www. homeowners, and three-fifths had gone to care2.com/farmersmarket. college. • In a substantial number of instances, Too Big to Fail: In case you’re keeping score, high medical bills coincided with a loss the Augusta, GA-based Morris Publishing of income as illness forced breadwinners Group, which owns the Athens Banner-Herald, to lose time from work. Often, illness led got another extension last week, the seventh, to job loss, and with it the loss of health on a $9.7 million interest payment originally insurance. due Feb. 1. The company has debt of $419 “Our findings are frightening,” says Dr. million and around $171 million in assets, David Himmelstein, the lead author of the so one can see why its creditors are in no study and an associate professor of medicine hurry to foreclose. What does this mean for at Harvard. “Unless you’re Warren Buffett, the Banner-Herald? It will probably continue your family is just one serious illness away as usual, putting out the paper and hoping from bankruptcy. For middle-class Americans, that its parent company gets its act together. health insurance offers little protection. Most Even if Morris does enter bankruptcy, that’s of us have policies with so many loopholes, a matter little likely to affect our local daily, co-payments and deductibles that illness can though it has already had to cut staff and now put you in the poorhouse. And even the best begins an across-the-board pay cut. They’re job-based health insurance often vanishes not alone: Flagpole is feeling the economic when prolonged illness causes job loss— downturn, too, and can only sympathize with precisely when families need it most. Private our journalistic sisters and brothers across the health insurance is a defective product, akin street. On the other hand, after 21 years of to an umbrella that melts in the rain.” fighting it, Flagpole can’t muster much sym[Excerpted, with permission, from The Nation] pathy for Morris Publishing Group, formerly known as Morris Communications, Inc. Pete McCommons editor@flagpole.com
JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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city pages North Oconee Greenway Grows South Toward UGA ACC has already acquired land and easements to extend the North Oconee Greenway south to College Station Road from its present end at Oak Street. “You’ll be riding it in a couple of years,” ACC Natural Resources Administrator Mike Wharton tells Flagpole. The 14-foot-wide bike/ ped trail will hug the river and cross it on two new pedestrian bridges, eventually connecting to downtown via the planned rail/trail and to UGA near East Campus Village. “It is absolutely going to be one of the busiest sections,” Wharton says. “You’ll have some great views of the Easley’s Mill site, which is what started Athens.” Wharton says beavers, herons, otters and foxes may be seen, and “there are a lot of fish in there.” Wharton updated ACC commissioners on the county’s Greenway Network Plan at a work session earlier this month. The longterm plan mostly follows the two branches of the Oconee River, combining recreational trails in some areas with corridors protecting wildlife and green space. Eventually, it could continue to Whitehall Road and beyond, past
the confluence of the two rivers to the Oconee County line. But in building the Greenway, ACC has never forced anyone to sell land to the county, and doesn’t plan to, Wharton says. That makes his job—piecing together publiclyowned and privately-owned sections into a Greenway trail—a long-term process. “There are some people that don’t like you, and don’t want you to come anywhere close,” he said. “And then there’s others that are ready to help you out, and actually sell you their property. Often they live next door to each other.” Extending a continuous trail farther south than College Station Road could be “a generational process,” Wharton said. Some University Heights and River Oaks residents don’t want a trail in their neighborhood, and Wharton’s maps show a gap in that section of the trail. “This isn’t something we’re pushing,” Wharton says, but he points out that some who initially opposed a trail are now supportive. John Huie johnphuie@gmail.com
Commish To Ease Taxes On Older Homeowners? Kathy Hoard doesn’t think her tax money is wasted by local government, but the taxes on her home have climbed so much over the years that she’s not sure how long she can afford to live there. Property taxes that once ran $325 a year are now $4000, Hoard said, because the home’s value—and therefore its taxes—have gone up so much. “I couldn’t afford to buy the home today,” she said at last week’s meeting of the Athens-Clarke County Commission’s Legislative Review Committee. Hoard’s situation may not be unusual among long-term homeowners. But she wasn’t just there to complain; she has been an ACC commissioner since 2003, and served three terms on the Athens City Council before that. Local governments depend largely on property taxes, calculated from the market value of a home, business or land. In Athens, those values have been going up for years. And not much property is going down in value, even in the current downturn, says the county assessor’s office (which tracks taxable value by looking at recent property sales). For longtime homeowners like Hoard—and older homeowners on fixed incomes—spiraling taxes can be a burden. Last week, the Legislative Review Committee took a first look at how, or whether, to lower taxes for some citizens. “I want to help low-income people stay in their homes, and moderate-income people stay in their homes,” Hoard told fellow commissioners. “I’ve heard from a lot of widows… that want to stay in their homeplace as long as they can. I know it’s hard to hang on, and it’s very hurtful to hear their stories.”
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“There’s no magic wand,” ACC Tax Assessor George Hanson warned. “There’s no more money, it’s just how you spread it out.” Exempting some taxpayers will mean others must make up the difference, agreed deputy county manager Bob Snipes. And adding exemptions could necessitate raising the general tax rate (the “millage rate”) to bring in the same revenue, he said. The Board of Education should be consulted too, Snipes added, because the board’s tax rate is already at its legal limit. Athens already has one of Georgia’s more generous homestead exemptions—a tax deduction for citizens who own the home they live in. (Another exemption, available only to citizens over 65, freezes school-district taxes at 2002 levels; and by state law veterans also get a large exemption.) As county budget documents regularly explain, ACC’s taxes on a home of any particular value compare favorably to other Georgia cities; still Athens property values (and therefore taxes) have continued to go up. When people buy and refurbish homes in formerly rundown areas of town (where taxes were low), property values can skyrocket throughout the neighborhood. If ACC commissioners decide to add another tax exemption—perhaps based on income or age—local legislators will have to get legislative approval, then local voters will have to approve it, too, county attorney Bill Berryman told commissioners. But Commissioner Hoard wondered who should qualify for such an exemption. John Huie johnphuie@gmail.com
Is the Board of Education Committed to Safe Routes? Over $110,000 worth of pedestrian improvements will be added near Barrow Elementary School, off Lumpkin Street, under the Federally funded “Safe Routes to Schools” program, which encourages children to walk and bike to school. Permanent radar-speed signs will show motorists how fast they’re driving along Lumpkin and on Pinecrest Drive, and “countdown” pedestrian timers will be added at the nearby Five Points intersection. Brick-look crosswalks will also be installed. A “safe routes” program to encourage children to walk or bicycle to school has existed at Barrow Elementary since 2005, according to Principal Tad MacMillan. The program has been spearheaded by members of BikeAthens, the local bicycle advocacy group. “I probably have 40 children who walk regularly,” McMillan says, adding that some of those walk even in bad weather; but on Walkand-Bike-to-School Day once a month, some hundred students join a “walking school bus” from St. James Methodist Church, over a mile away, accompanied by several parents. After August, when new neighborhood school zones will be in effect, MacMillan expects more children will walk and bike to school. But many live across busy Milledge Avenue from the school, and crossing at Milledge is the difficulty, he says. On school days, police officers staff nearby school crossings, but some drivers still speed up to catch a light at Rutherford Street, McMillan says. The school holds safety programs for students, and BikeAthens also sponsors a bike safety program for parents. There have been no injuries of students walking or biking to the school, McMillan added. The AthensClarke County government has submitted detailed plans to the Georgia Department of Transportation for similar pedestrian improvements at six other schools, transportation planner Sherry Moore says. From all accounts GDOT has been frustratingly slow to implement the program, making Georgia the last state to begin spending $17 million in Federal money. GDOT says there will be more grants but isn’t yet taking applications. But while grants for crosswalks improvements will be limited—it’s “seed money,” Moore says—a GDOT “resource center” will help any K-8 school with planning and education programs. Just scoping out paths to schools can be important, says Evelyn Hanes of Safe Kids Athens, which works to reduce accidental child injuries. “When you walk around and look critically at each area, there
usually are things that can be done fairly inexpensively,” she says. Around Chase Street School, that involved repainting crosswalks and cutting shrubs back for visibility. ACC will eventually replace walk lights with “countdown” timers. The “Safe Routes” movement began in Denmark in the 1970s to overcome barriers to walking to school and spread to other nations. “Physically active kids have improved mood and concentration, a stronger self-image and more self-confidence,” says a Georgia DOT webpage. Being overweight brings health risks: an hour of exercise a day is recommended, but many children don’t get that. And children prefer to walk or bike, but parents fear for their safety, yet up to one-fourth of morning traffic is from parents driving students to school, says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. When children are hit by cars, it’s often by other parents. Among those who successfully lobbied Georgia’s Congressional delegation for Safe Routes money and other alternativetransportation programs was Kris Boudreau of BikeAthens. But even after the program was funded, it took a letter from several Georgia Congressmen to shake the Federal money loose from the Georgia Department of Transportation. “They’re being obstructionist about certain changes in federal policy that don’t appeal to them,” Boudreau says. BikeAthens organized the Safe Routes pilot program at Barrow Elementary, with support from parents, school staff and others before any federal grants were available. But according to various participants—and despite support from principals, teachers, police and parents—the Clarke County school district’s central office was uncooperative, eventually rejecting the group’s involvement. Safe Routes Athens participants are philosophical about being shut out, but Boudreau is disappointed that the Safe Routes plan wasn’t funded at Stroud Elementary, “because that was a low-income school and because the obesity epidemic hits poor kids especially hard.” But she hopes that with “a couple of parents and a sympathetic principal or teacher”—plus the institutional support of the Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center—Safe Routes programs will spread. With neighborhood school zones, Boudreau said, “it’ll be much easier for the kids to ride their bikes to school.” John Huie johnphuie@gmail.com
capitol impact DOT Looks for the Right Turn The State Transportation Board has elected yet another commissioner for that troubled agency: state Rep. Vance Smith (R-Pine Mountain). Smith will be the fourth person in two years to serve as commissioner of DOT, which budgets more than $2 billion a year to build our highways. If you think the turnover in the top job is an indication of turmoil at DOT, you’re right. Smith will take over a crippled department that is out of money, losing much of its authority to the governor’s office and unable to handle most highway construction projects unless it has federal stimulus funds to pay for them. The department has been squeezed by declining motor fuel tax revenues and the inability to get the Legislature to adopt a new funding source for transportation improvements. There are also internal accounting issues that prompted a special audit of the DOT last year. “We are broke,” said Gerald Ross, the interim DOT commissioner who will now return to his old job as chief engineer. Many of DOT’s financial problems were caused by Perdue in the early years of his administration. Anxious to get highways built more quickly, Perdue launched a “Fast Forward” program in which he urged DOT to speed up construction projects that were still on the drawing board. Under pressure from the governor’s office, DOT started committing itself to highway contracts before the money to pay for them had even been received. “I think we’re looking at the effects of Fast Forward,” state auditor John Thornton said last year after a review of DOT’s books revealed a deficit approaching $1 billion. “Advanced construction contracts being accelerated, when you get down to it, really caused this shortfall.”
All throughout the financial mess that he was responsible for causing, Perdue has been a persistent critic of DOT management for their inability to get the budget straightened out— which makes him comparable to the arsonist who sets a house on fire and then complains that the fire department doesn’t get there quickly enough. Because of the department’s ongoing problems, Perdue pushed for passage this year of SB 200, legislation that gives him more control over the DOT. The governor now appoints a planning director who determines which highway projects will be funded by the state. Perdue needs to stop meddling in DOT’s affairs and give the agency’s new commissioner a realistic chance to get them straightened out. That, of course, is not likely to happen. Now that Perdue has the power to appoint the planning director who decides which projects will get funded, he and every future governor will have a powerful motivation to continue interfering with DOT management. Legislators also need to agree on something—a statewide sales tax, an increase in the gasoline tax, whatever—that will generate funds to pay for badly needed highways and transit facilities. Yes, that’s a tax increase, but you can’t sit around and pretend that free market forces are someday going to magically solve the state’s transportation woes. Even with all of these problems hanging over him, Vance Smith remains confident that he can find a way to deal with them. “We can certainly take a state that’s great and continue to move it forward,” he said. “We’re going to move forward in the 21st Century.”
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Tom Crawford Tom Crawford is the editor of Capitol Impact’s Georgia Report, an Internet news service at www.gareport.com.
JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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athens rising 2009
Book Sale SATURDAY, JUNE 27 9 A.M. - 3 P.M.
FREE Admission, GREAT Bargains!
Thousands of Books for Sale! Proceeds Benefit ACC Library
Last week, I took a look at what may be How does that scale up to a larger issue? coming in terms of planning for downtown’s Well, for instance, on Washington Street, Farm future, as well as the benefits and pitfalls of 255 has an excellent courtyard, shared with some of the usual approaches. This week, I’d several other businesses. Right behind Farm like to explore some different points. I don’t 255, the Caledonia Lounge, on Clayton, has know exactly how they’d form a solution, but an adjoining courtyard garden, but it’s a story they might point toward a new way of seebelow. Both courtyards are successful, locally ing the processes which shape the city. We’re grown urban spaces. Imagine a staircase or a notoriously creative community. Could we connection between them. All it would take is come up with a little construcsomething altotion, and not gether different much in the way that isn’t based of public planon producing a ning or money. set of planning The result, policies? Could though, would the nature of be a quirky planning downpedestrian and town Athens be thoroughly as equally weird Athenian alley, and funky as which could the people and improve the businesses that retail viability occupy it? Could of users on it be successful? either end. It This is a would provide town full of the same kind Right behind Farm 255’s courtyard is the Caledonia Lounge’s oddly painted of connectivcourtyard—one level down. and decorated ity as making houses and shops, and equally creative College Square a pedestrian mall, but without landscapes, such as the Wall of TVs or the any of the pitfalls or parking paranoia. If this Birchmore Wall. How will conventional planalley were successful, new development could ning allow for and facilitate folk art and tie in and take advantage of it, growing and informal, creative solutions? A little conextending it through the city into a vibrant trolled chaos might be in order. Some of the attraction. most interesting installations downtown are Downtown is a collaborative and living unintended consequences. The amazing colpiece of artwork, and any regulatory framelection of railings work ought to around sidewalk enhance that artiscafes is one of the tic mess, rather than best examples. clean it up. These There are easily sevthoughts about raileral dozen different ings, sidewalks and types of fencing on alleys don’t constiour streets: some tute a planning proplain and funccess, and it would tional, some fancy, take some work to some impractical fashion one out of works of art. The them. Adding incenfiberglass bulldogs tives for businesses which litter the which creatively city channel the take on responsibilsame energy into a ity for the public process. Give somerealm beyond their one a canvas, and doors could practichances are they’ll cally and affordably put something deal with some interesting on it. street-level issues, The Bus Shelter art though not compreproject is another hensive, long-range example. concerns. Now consider the Maybe, though, bumpy sidewalks before producing on East Clayton or a plan and then West Washington. declaring downtown The Caledonia Lounge’s courtyard backs up to Farm Rather than pavto be “planned,” we 255’s courtyard—one level up. ing the whole city ought to acknowlwith brick, what if we allowed storeowners to edge that the place is dynamic and moves repair the sidewalk in front of their store if too quickly for one document to define it they so choose? The deal would be that they and solve all its problems for a decade or could make it artistic advertising. Over time, so. That document is an essential one to these businesses would change, but the sidehave around, but it can’t be updated quickly. walks would keep a bit of history. Think about Experimentation and eclectic, piecemeal soluthe old Smart ’n’ Thrifty mosaic on Clayton. tions to specific problems may be a more Transmet and Tasty World are other businesses appropriate approach in the short-term and a with interesting mosaics that have the potengood way to give a Downtown Master Plan life tial to spill into the street. This is an example once the official planning process is over. of solving functional concerns while adding to the town’s distinctive personality. Kevan Williams athensrising@flagpole.com PETE McCOMMONS
at the Athens-Clarke County Library 2025 Baxter St. (706) 613-3650
DOWNTOWN PLANNING: PART TWO
PETE McCOMMONS
Books? Clothes? Dinner? Music? Jewelry? Shoes? You really CAN have it all.
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FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ JUNE 24, 2009
JEFF GORE
holy land sojourn
Why I’m Spending My Summer in Israel and Palestine
near the holy cities of Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem. Unfortunately, there were already hundreds of thousands of Arabs living in the area then known as the British Mandate of Palestine. Thus, the Palestinians’ desire to stay in their villages and the Zionists’ desire to create a Jewish state proved incompatible, and to make a long story short, resulted in a war that Jewish forces won—although the new state of Israel retained some of the existing Arab
JEFF GORE
It has only been a little over a year since I graduated from college, but politically speaking, it feels like much longer. In college I went through an ideological phase that could be described as fiercely far-left. Like many others in my circle, I was awash in negativity. I had scorn for the hordes of dumb Americans who had put their faith in the two-party system, scorn for the greed and self-serving nature of the powers-that-be, scorn for liberals for not being radical enough, scorn for the radicals for not doing enough, and scorn for myself for not feeling enough for the oppressed peoples of the world. As you may guess, I was a masterful critic but a terrible problem solver. A few months after graduating, I moved to Athens for a change of atmosphere. Before long I had a full-time job at a middle school and had started interviewing “everyday people” for this very magazine. These two unexpected developments—not to mention being outside of the social and ideological bubble of academia—were like buckets of cold water dumped on my head. I began to understand how complex the people and the social systems of this country really are, and how woefully immature and dogmatic I had been in my political judgments of them. I came to realize more fully the truth of the axiom that character, not ideology, is the better measure of a person. Yet as I came to understand the “other side” of many political debates, and as my need to be right faded, there was still one issue that could make my blood boil. The hairs on the back of my neck still bristle at the prospect of confrontation when this politically charged subject makes a rare appearance in conversation. I am talking about the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Some Background To understand where my feelings come from, you first need to know some historical background. I don’t like to assume knowledge (preaching to the choir is the fatally complacent sin of almost the entire progressive movement), so I’ll give the uninitiated the pertinent details. Israel is a small Middle Eastern country which officially came into being in 1948, right on the heels of the Second World War. The horrors that European Jews suffered at the hands of the Nazis greatly accelerated the creation of a “safe haven” for Jews (in other words, a modern Jewish state), the idea for which was conceived half a century before by what is called the Zionist movement. The Zionists set out to create this state in the lands of their Jewish ancestors between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea,
population. Then came the war of 1967, which was a critical juncture in the conflict. In this war, Israel decisively routed neighboring Syria, Jordan and Egypt in a matter of six days and militarily occupied the West Bank and the Gaza Strip—Palestinian territories which were previously under Jordanian and Egyptian rule, respectively. Israel also claimed from Jordan the eastern half of Jerusalem, a city right at the nexus of Israel and the West Bank largely populated by Palestinian Arabs. To this day, 42 years later, the names, faces and political parties have changed, but the situation has been generally the same: the Palestinian West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem are still either militarily occupied by or under the complete control of Israel. Palestinian militants have attacked Israel, citing this reason, while Israel has pointed to these attacks as proof of the necessity of such an occupation.
My Sympathies Here’s where you find out where my sympathies lie, if you haven’t figured that out already. In both territories, and in Israel proper, Palestinian Arabs are systematically and institutionally discriminated against by the Israeli authorities. The evidence of this is so overwhelming that Jimmy Carter titled his book on the conflict Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, despite the enormous risks to his public image for doing so. In Israel this discrimination is everywhere, from the issuing of travel permits, to the decision of who gets through military checkpoints (a nightmarish version of airport security), to access to medical care, to access to public and political office… the list goes on and on.
Nowhere is this racism more obvious than when it comes to the issue of settlements. In 2004, the Jerusalem Municipality, in a 20-year “Master Plan,” endorsed the maintenance of a 70-30 ratio of Jews to Arabs in order to preserve “a firm Jewish majority in the city.” Thus, it is little surprise that Palestinians find it nearly impossible to obtain permits to build homes in East Jerusalem. When they build anyway, their homes are declared illegal and eventually demolished. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers in the West Bank are not only unpunished, but actually protected by the Israeli military. An estimated 18,600 homes in East Jerusalem are currently slated for demolition, while Jewish settlements in the West Bank, illegal by international law, continue to grow. This is precisely the reason why I have chosen to spend my summer in the holy lands of Israel and Palestine, working for the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD): it is not only where the Palestinian need seems greatest, but where I feel most unquestionably right about what I am doing. While I am here, I will live in the Palestinian city of Ramallah and work mostly in nearby Jerusalem, where ICAHD is based. Most of ICAHD’s work is advocacy—reaching out to the rest of the world through a variety of educational initiatives with the aim of getting more people to know, care about and act on the situation here. But the members of ICAHD also get their hands dirty as well. Every few months or so, they rebuild a Palestinian home that has been destroyed by a wellguarded Israeli bulldozer. On one hand, my perception of injustice may be so strong because I have not actually been to the area yet. I may not understand the nuances and the complexities of the situation that may be glossed over in the books and movies covering the conflict that I have likely selected to suit my initial biases. I must go, then, to complete this journey of political maturity on which I have already come so far, and perhaps when I return I will look back at this column with an embarrassed smile. Yet another part of me wants to say that it is significant, given my newfound moderation and understanding, that the situation of the Palestinians still seems so glaringly unjust, that it survived the post-college gut check and passed through the filter of unimportance and emerged as the most urgent task at hand. Maybe I will come home an even stronger supporter of the Palestinian cause. Either way, I believe I’ll be a wiser man when I return. Jeff Gore Jeff Gore’s frequently updated journal about his summer in the Holy Land can be found online at www. flagpole.com.
JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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grub notes JUST CHILLIN’ Revitalization: This week’s theme is refreshment, and the appearance of the utterly adorable Los Comales (211 Tallassee Rd.) in the space that was once Caliente Cab (and then a series of sort of depressing and dark places that never seemed to fit with the amazing beachy location Bruno Rubio had created) could be characterized more as a refreshment than a renovation. Once again, the whole space seems to be in use, with fresh paint on the tables, a red stage out in the uncovered area and a general emphasis on the exterior stuff rather than the sad little building where the kitchen is. Happy music blares from the speakers, and the menu is buoyantly promising about its abilities, despite some slight mangling of the language. The array of dishes isn’t terrifically adventurous. Not here will you find goat tacos or Oaxacan cheese dishes. It’s fairly normal and unintimidating to the uninitiated, with a familiar range of standards, some of which are better than others. The fried jalapenos stuffed with chicken and cheese and served with a dish of yet more cheese for dunking put the lie to any inkling you might have that I don’t like fried things. I don’t like bad fried things. Deliciousness like these fat little peppers, eight to a plate, perfectly battered and crisped and just hot enough to …a mouthful cool you off, is always welcome. A plate of bistec à la mexicana had of soft, sleepy good things (the steak was pretty happiness… tasty) and bad (the guacamole was watery) and was certainly pleasant enough. It just wasn’t up to the high standards set by La Estrella. The torta with chorizo and eggs was pure comfort food, and though its appeal faded as the sandwich cooled, the first half was a mouthful of soft, sleepy happiness, like a memory from childhood. Los Comales is open every day for lunch and dinner, takes credit cards, does not serve beer (although it seems like the owner is interested in applying for a license) and is a wonderful place to chill out and feel the breeze.
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Refreezeration: Okay, so Rita’s (2080 Timothy Rd.) is a franchise, and sometimes franchises are not impressive and they’re less local than some businesses. Plus, they’re a Yankee business (out of Pennsylvania). But their product is really darn tasty, and I have to admit I’m going to keep going back. Sometimes, you don’t want a giant, rich cup of ice cream, especially when it’s 90+ outside and your reaction to that much dairy is going to be to lie on the couch like a slug, panting. This is where a “water ice” comes in. It’s sort of like an Italian ice, only thinner, and Rita’s makes several flavors fresh each day. They also have “custard,” which is basically soft-serve ice cream, and the two get mixed together in a mildly bewildering number of different ways (blendini, gelati, etc.), sometimes with cookies thrown in. The guy behind the counter can describe it all a lot better than I can, but the result is kind of like a liquid-ish creamsicle, the only downside of which is that you’re apt to get brain-freeze from sucking it through a straw too fast. Rita’s has a lot of rules (no leaning or sitting on the counter, tall tables for adults only), but I kind of like that authoritarian attitude, and it’s a nice new option to have. It also takes credit cards and does parties. What Up? If you haven’t been going to Flagpole.com, then you might have missed the news that Grub Notes is also a blog now, updated three to five times a week on exciting topics like Phickles (delicious local pickles), the return of sue gai and much more. Plus, there’s commenting. Woo! A Tavola is open in the Bottleworks, in the space that once was Bischero and from one of the former owners of that restaurant. Delightful Bitefuls is no longer on Baxter Street nor serving lunch. Plantation Restaurant from the Plantation Buffet people is open on the Eastside in what was El Guanaco. The Basil Press, downtown, is closed for the summer. Antojitos Salvadorenos, on Chase Street, is being replaced by Tlaloc Mexican Restaurant (not open yet). Fox’s Pizza Den, home of the wedgie, is opening a second location on Epps Bridge Road. Downhome Cooking Smokehouse BBQ is now serving breakfast, lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. And The Savannah Room in the Georgia Center, newly remodeled, is offering some well-priced dinner specials. Hillary Brown
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FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ JUNE 24, 2009
the reader BUDDY HOLLY SYNDROME Anyone who ever met the late Jim Kilgo— teacher, sportsman, one helluva writer—came away with a story. This one is my favorite. As an undergrad at UGA in the late ’80s I was in one of Kilgo’s creative writing seminars, and one day Kilgo was going around the big table asking each of us where we saw ourselves going with our writing. He came to one guy, who had been something of an ass throughout the term, and the guy replied that he wasn’t actually into this writing thing, that he was going to go to law school and the only thing he’d probably write was his autobiography. Kilgo’s eyes narrowed into a withering stare for a beat, then he said, “Why the hell would anybody wanna read about you?” I hadn’t thought about this episode in years, until recently a friend of mine was lamenting that she hadn’t done anything notable, that her life had failed to live up to the aspirations she had for it. It happens to all of us, the feeling as we get older that time is running out for whatever schedule we had established for our dreams. There’s probably another name for it, but I’ve always thought of it as the Buddy Holly Syndrome. When the plane went down on that fateful day in 1959, Holly was 22 years old—barely old enough to buy beer today but a founding father of rock and roll and one of its few true geniuses—and that piece of trivia will make you despondent when you consider how little you’ve done with the many more years you’ve been handed. When you’re young it makes for desperation; by the time you’re my age it becomes full-blown Middle-age Crazy. What we fail to consider in this situation, however, is that Holly was a prodigy, a freak, a bolt of lightning like Mozart or Picasso. Most of us require time and experience for our gifts to emerge and mature into something worthwhile, and when we don’t wait for the right time, we often make bad decisions and bad art. It’s why I always express delight at reading a great first novel, because most first novels suck. They’re shallow and callow and overwrought with the excessive yet half-understood emotionalism of youth— they’re Bret Easton Ellis’ Less Than Zero or Jay McInerney’s Bright Lights, Big City, flashy and loud and utterly disposable. A Damn Good Tune: Arthur Phillips is both a prodigy and a man with some mileage, and his fourth novel The Song Is You (Random House, 2009) is the sort of book that could only be written by someone who is both. It’s both smart and wise, a novel that roams over the pockmarked landscapes of sorrow and regret, obsession and longing, the scarred soul of a middle-aged man and the bright blaze of an ambitious woman in her 20s, with a tracker’s surefootedness and eye for detail. It is a sad and funny and wonderfully written novel, unreal and yet relentlessly true. Julian Donahue is a man in his 40s building a high emotional wall brick by brick. A successful director of TV commercials in New York, he has retreated from the death of his young son and the resulting devastation of his
marriage by shutting down his feeling self and getting lost in his lucrative but banal work. His only source of joy, his electronic lifeline to what’s left of his heart is his iPod, “that greatest of all human inventions.” Through his player Julian lives and relives his connections to people, past and present, in his 8000+ songs on endless shuffle. He is prepared for monastic solitude, closing up all points of entry to avoid further pain but at the same time locking his grief inside with him. Then he catches Cait O’Dwyer. Cait is a singer-songwriter from rural Ireland working the Brooklyn clubs and building a slow, steady following among the cool kids. She’s beautiful, soulful, fierce and relentless in the pursuit of her career (musicians, take note: Cait does what you didn’t, which is why your band failed). She’s the kind of Poet Rock Girl we’ve all fallen head-over-balls for at one time or another (this town grows them like orchids), and Julian is no exception. Against his will, he finds himself entranced by Cait and her talent but, unwilling to be just one of the fans, one night he drops off some suggestions in cartoon form on some coasters, impromptu storyboards for her future. To Julian’s surprise, Cait responds to his message, and so begins a slow dance of long-distance communiqués and nearmeetings throughout the city and over the Internet that all at once draws them together and keeps them apart. If these were any other people, this would be incredibly creepy, a young star and her middle-aged stalker—and the people around Cait, including her lovestruck guitarist and a skeezy would-be impresario, see it as exactly that—but Cait and Julian connect in a way that is uniquely intimate and can only be so as long as they keep their distance. As Cait’s career begins to take off, the pressure on both of them to consummate their relationship begins to build even as Julian’s wife mounts her own campaign to save their marriage. The last third of the novel is a complex battle of competing emotional tensions that comes to a head in (and this is a minor miracle for most fiction) the only possible way it can. Phillips pulls off many such miracles in his remarkable novel, most notably in the way he writes about music, practically the third main character. Julian’s codependent relationship with his iPod; his father’s obsession, in flashback, with Billie Holiday, echoed in his son; the wholly accurate depiction of the near-telepathy and tensions that go into the process of writing and playing music (again, musicians take note); and how songs inform and define us. It’s damn hard to write about music, hence that old saw “writing about music is like dancing about architecture.” I’ve only read three books in my time that got it right: Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity, Rob Sheffield’s Love Is a Mix Tape, and Lester Bangs’ Psychotic Reactions and Carburator Dung (that’s right, I said it). Now I’m going for it and adding The Song Is You to that list.
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JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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movie dope Some releases may not be showing locally this week. 17 AGAIN (PG-13) The unimaginative casting and several giant, unnavigable plotholes hide a charming performance from the young lead. Efron may still be too lightweight for heavier fare, but he proves he’s more than Disney’s song-and-dance man. Alas, 17 Again has nothing new to offer the bodyswitching canon but Efron. Make your ticket-buying decisions accordingly. ANGELS & DEMONS (PG-13) Angels & Demons, the Da Vinci Code predecessor turned cinematic sequel, offers the same lukewarm thrills as the 2006 blockbuster. Symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks with a better hairdo) is tasked by the Vatican with solving a mystery involving a dead pope, four kidnapped cardinals and the Illuminati, a legendary cabal supposedly wiped out by the Catholic church centuries ago. Apparently, Langdon’s brainy brand of non-action reads better than it watches. ANVIL (NR) 2008. In the early 1980s, Anvil was scheduled to be the next big thing in metal. The “demigods of Canadian metal” influenced everyone from Metallica to Slayer. School chums Steve “Lips” Kudlow and Robb Reiner planned to rock forever, and they still do in the obscurity of tiny clubs and tiny audiences. Anvil! The Story of Anvil is no mockumentary; this hilarious account of the band’s last-ditch revival is the reality of rock and roll.
ATHENS, GA: INSIDE/OUT (NR) 1987. Athens as musical mecca is catalogued in Tony Gayton’s documentary. The Classic City’s rock rep was founded on the success of R.E.M., whose live performances at the Lucy Cobb Institue Chapel are included, and The B-52s. Included are performances and interviews with Pylon, Bar-B-Q Killers, Time Toy, Jim Herbert, Flat Duo Jets, Love Tractor, Kilkenny Cats and more. THE BROTHERS BLOOM (PG-13) Depending on personal taste, The Brothers Bloom either flourishes or wilts from its quirky, eccentric preciousness. This screwball farce begins when the Blooms, elder Stephen (Mark Ruffalo) and younger Bloom (Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody), were pre-teens being shuffled from foster home to foster home. Along the way, they learned the confidence game, which they perfected under the tutelage of the Fagin-esque Diamond Dog (Maximilian Schell). At 35, Bloom, who has never lived a life not written by his master manipulator and con architect brother, wants out. Before Stephen will let him quit, he plans one final scheme targeting lonely, rich beauty Penelope Stamp (Academy Award-winner Rachel Weisz), collector of hobbies and yellow Lamborghinis. Foreseeing how the story will end is impossible through the layers of conning and scheming.
CHÉRI (R) In 1920s Paris, a young man, Cheri (Rupert Friend, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas), retreats into a fantasy world after being forced to end his affair with the older woman, Lea de Lonval (Michelle Pfeiffer), who taught him how to love. Oscar-winning screenwriter Christopher Hampton (Dangerous Liaisons) adapted the novels by Colette for two-time Academy Award-nominated director Stephen Frears (The Grifters, The Queen). Nominated for the Berlin International Film Festival’s Golden Bear. With Kathy Bates. CORALINE (PG) The filmed adaptation of the young adult novel by Neil Gaiman (Sandman, Stardust) virtually adds a third sense to the moviegoing experience. A visual, sonic marvel, Coraline, brought to life from real stuff (puppets and miniature trees and toy trains), has a tactile dimension. Every object, every surface has a texture of which CG can only dream. Wonderful new 3D technology reinforces the actual existence of the denizens of Coraline’s fantastical adventure. DESPERATE MAN BLUES (NR) 2003. The Athens Folk Music & Dance Society presents a celebration of Grammy Award-winner Art Rosenbaum, a Professor Emeritus at UGA’s School of Art. Desperate Man Blues: Discovering the Roots of American Music documents the story of Joseph E. Bussard, Jr., the self-proclaimed king of record collectors. Included is
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In Love We Trust (NR) 7:00 (Th. 6/25)
BEECHWOOD (706-546-1011)
Due to production deadlines, Beechwood movie times are only accurate through June 24. Visit www.Flagpole.com for updated times. Coraline (PG) 10:00 a.m. (Th. 6/25) Doogal (G) 10:00 a.m. (Th. 6/25) The Hangover (R) 1:30, 4:00, 7:00, 9:35 Imagine That (PG) 1:35, 4:30, 7:15, 9:45 Land of the Lost (PG-13) 12:15, 2:35, 4:55, 7:20, 9:55 My Life in Ruins (PG-13) 12:10, 2:40, 5:10, 7:25, 10:00 Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (PG) 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 9:55 The Proposal (PG-13) 1:15, 4:05, 7:10, 9:45 Star Trek (PG-13) 1:00, 4:15, 7:05, 9:50 The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (R) 1:20, 4:10, 7:05, 9:40 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PG-13) 12:00, 12:15, 12:30, 3:15, 3:30, 3:45, 6:30, 6:45, 7:00, 9:45, 10:00, 10:15 (starts W. 6/24) Up (PG) 12:30, 3:00, 5:30, 8:00 Up (3D) (PG) 11:45, 2:15, 4:45, 7:15, 9:45 Year One (PG-13) 12:10, 2:45, 5:05, 7:25, 9:50
CARMIKE 12 (706-354-0016)
Due to production deadlines, Carmike movie times are only accurate through June 25. Visit www.Flagpole.com for updated times. Angels & Demons (PG-13) 4:00, 9:40 (ends W. 6/24) Drag Me to Hell (PG-13) 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:40, 10:05 The Hangover (R) 12:40, 1:10, 3:05, 3:35, 5:30, 5:55, 7:50, 8:20, 10:15 (add’l time W. 6/24–Th. 6/25: 10:45) Imagine That (PG) 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 (ends W. 6/24) Land of the Lost (PG-13) 12:30, 2:55, 5:20, 7:45, 10:10 My Sister’s Keeper (PG-13) 1:45, 4:20, 7:10, 9:45 (starts F. 6/26) Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (PG) 12:45, 3:15, 5:45, 8:10 (add’l time W. 6/24–Th. 6/25: 10:35) The Proposal (PG-13) 12:15, 2:45, 5:15, 7:45, 10:10 Star Trek (PG-13) 1:20, 7:00 (ends W. 6/24) The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (R) 1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 9:40
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FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ JUNE 24, 2009
Terminator Salvation (PG-13) 1:00, 4:00, 7:00, 9:35 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PG-13) 12:30, 1:30, 3:45, 4:45, 7:00, 8:00, 10:15, 11:15 (starts W. 6/24) Up (3D) (PG) 12:15, 2:40, 5:05, 7:30, 9:55 Year One (PG-13) 12:45, 3:15, 5:30, 7:45, 10:05
CINÉ (706-353-3343)
Anvil (NR) 10:30 (add’l time F. 6/26–Su. 6/28: 4:00) (add’l time Th. 6/25–Sa. 6/27: midnight) (no 10:30 show Th. 6/25 & Su. 6/28) Athens, GA: Inside/Out (NR) 8:30 (Tu. 6/23 & Th. 6/25), 2:30 (Sa. 6/27–Su. 6/28) The Brothers Bloom (PG-13) 8:15 (F. 6/26–Su. 6/28), 10:35 (M. 6/29–W. 7/1) Desperate Man Blues (NR) 8:00 (W. 6/24), 4:30 (F. 6/26–Su. 6/28) Easy Virtue (PG-13) 6:15, 8:15, 10:15 (new times F. 6/26: 6:15) (add’l time Sa. 6/27–Su. 6/28: 1:45) Elephant 6 Night at the Movies (NR) 10:00 (Tu. 6/23, Th. 6/25, Sa. 6/27) Paper Heart (PG-13) midnight (F. 6/26) Please Call Home: The Big House Years (NR) 8:00, 10:00 (F. 6/26) R.E.M. Retrospective (NR) 8:00 (Tu. 6/23 & Th. 6/25), 2:00 (Sa. 6/27–Su. 6/28), 7:00 (M. 6/29–W. 7/1) RIP! A Remix Manifesto (NR) 4:00 (Sa. 6/27–Su. 6/28) TeenScreen Film Festival (NR) 8:00 (Sa. 6/27–Su. 6/28), 6:00 (M. 6/29–W. 7/1) The Wrecking Crew (NR) 6:00 (W. 6/24–Su. 6/28), 8:00 (M. 6/29–W. 7/1)
GEORGIA SQUARE 5 (706-548-3426)
Due to production deadlines, Georgia Square Five movie times are only accurate through June 25. Visit www.Flagpole. com for updated times. 17 Again (PG-13) 12:45, 3:05, 5:25, 7:45, 10:05 Fast & Furious (PG-13) 12:55, 4:10, 7:25, 9:50 Race to Witch Mountain (PG) 12:40, 3:00, 5:20, 7:40, 10:00 State of Play (PG-13) 4:05, 9:45 Sunshine Cleaning (R) 1:00, 7:30 X-Men Origins: Wolverine (PG-13) 12:50, 4:15, 7:20, 9:55
TATE CENTER THEATER (706-542-6396)
Paul Blart: Mall Cop (PG-13) 8:00, 10:00 (W. 6/24)
a short preview for Sing My Troubles By, Neil Rosenbaum’s documentary on women and Georgia folk music. Followed by a Q&A with Rosenbaum and filmmaker Lance Ledbetter on Wednesday (6/24). DOOGAL (G) With voices provided by Chevy Chase, Judi Dench, Jimmy Fallon, Whoopi Goldberg, William H. Macy, Ian McKellen, Kevin Smith and Jon Stewart, how did this Weinsteinproduced animated film fail? DRAG ME TO HELL (PG-13) While trying to get a promotion, sweet loan officer Christine Brown (Allison Lohman) shames an old gypsy hag, Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver). After a rousing attack in a parking garage, Christine is cursed. The demon Lamia will stop at nothing to torture her and carry her soul to hell for all eternity. EASY VIRTUE (PG-13) A young Englishman, John Whittaker (Ben Barnes, Prince Caspian), brings his American wife, Larita (Jessica Biel), home to Jolly Olde England to meet the stuffy fam. I’ll give you three guesses as to who’s playing his parents. Wow, you got Colin Firth on the first try. Don’t feel bad; Kristin Scott Thomas, who’s been nominated for two Best Supporting Actress awards for the role, was a little less obvious. Directed by Stephan Elliott (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert). ELEPHANT 6 NIGHT AT THE MOVIES (NR) The short film Major Organ and the Adding Machine, the cinematic companion to the puzzling album of the same name by the unidentified titular supergroup, will be joined by vintage and never-beforeseen performance footage, music videos and “experimental cinema” from the Elephant 6 Recording Company. Sounds trippy, man! FAST & FURIOUS (PG-13) The fourth model of the Fast & Furious franchise knows exactly what it is and doesn’t try to be anything else. It is graphic vehicular pornography with the ultra-softcore sexuality of a bikini-filled car mag. THE HANGOVER (R) The summer’s most relentlessly funny comedy may have arrived. When three buddies— married schoolteacher Phil (Bradley Cooper), emasculated dentist Stu (Ed Helms) and strange Alan (Zack Galifianakis)—take their pal, Doug (Justin Bartha), to Las Vegas for his bachelor party, all hell breaks loose. Too bad none of these guys can remember one moment of it. Peppered with familiar funny faces, The Hangover is a perfect comedic convergence that’s funnier than it deserves to be. IMAGINE THAT (PG) On the scale of Eddie Murphy’s recent movies, his latest, Imagine That, ranks somewhat higher than last summer’s Meet Dave or the flabby Norbit. Still, the fam-com does no favors to the comedic legacy of the former Axel Foley. IN LOVE WE TRUST (NR) 2007. Divorced parents Mei Zhu (Liu Weiwei, winner of the Pula Film Festival’s Golden Arena for Best Actress) and Xiao Lu must put their new marriages in danger to save their daughter, Hehe, whose only cure for leukemia is a new sibling. Winner of the Silver Bear for Best Screenplay at the Berlin Film Festival, where the film was also nominated for the coveted Golden Bear, and a Film of Merit award from the Shanghai Film Critics.
LAND OF THE LOST (PG-13) The comical, quirky Land of the Lost proves one thing. Big screen, bigger budget updates of the cult universes conceived by brothers Sid and Marty Krofft (“H.R. Pufnstuf”) are best left as cheesy, campy and bizarre as the grown-up fans, all hopped up on nostalgia, remember them. MY LIFE IN RUINS (PG-13) This super-size sitcom stars a dazzling Nia Vardalos, who blew the mega-success of My Big Fat Greek Wedding on a failed television show, as Georgia, a tour guide looking for love among the ruins of ancient Greece. The tacky romcom held its small throng of older viewers in enchanted thrall. MY SISTER’S KEEPER (PG-13) This adaptation of Jodi Picoult’s weepie novel from the director of The Notebook, Nick Cassevetes, should keep Kleenex in business during these hard times. Andromeda “Anna” Fitzgerald (Academy Award-nominee Abigail Breslin) looks to win medical emancipation from her parents, Sara and Brian (Cameron Diaz and Jason Patric), who conceived Anna to be the bone marrow donor that saves her older, leukemia-stricken sister. NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN (PG) Everything about NatM:BotS improves on the lifeless original, especially the thankful lack of monkey antics of which there are a mere toned down few. PAPER HEART (PG-13) Ciné hosts a special sneak preview of the film (due out in August) about Charlyne Yi’s quest to make a documentary about love. With Michael Cera. PAUL BLART: MALL COP (PG) Paul Blart: Mall Cop delivers mild, unobjectionable humor. The movie is as likable and funny (more the former than the latter) as its star. PLEASE CALL HOME (NR) 2008. Kirk West, the official archivist of the Allman Brothers Band, directed this feature documentary about the tragic rise of the South’s first integrated rock band. From “The Big House,” a Tudorstyle mansion on Macon’s Vineville Avenue, the Allmans, their family and friends scaled Mount Rock but lost two brothers in the process. Followed by a Q&A with the director and guests. THE PROPOSAL (PG-13) An unlikable career woman, Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock), is about to be deported to her native Canada. Her quick fix requires her put-upon assistant, Andrew (Ryan Reynolds) to marry her. Naturally, a trip to meet his family—Mary Steenburgen, “Coach” Craig T. Nelson and Betty White as the loopy grandma—is the next step. RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN (PG) Watching Disney’s franchise reboot didn’t exactly conjure up wispy nostalgia like I’d hoped. The filmmakers were kidding themselves if they thought they could replace the 1975 cast. RIP! A REMIX MANIFESTO (NR) Web activist and filmmaker Brett Gaylor tackles the music industry’s predominant issue of the ever-more digital age. Focusing on Girl Talk, a musician topping the charts through creative sampling, Creative Commons founder Lawrence Lessig, Brazil’s Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil and pop culture critic Cory Doctorow, RIP is participatory as well. Gaylor shared his raw footage at opensource.org, integrating various remixes into the whole.
STAR TREK (PG-13) Director J.J. Abrams brings Gene Roddenberry’s idyllic, stodgy creation to warp speed. Space may be the final frontier, but Star Trek should just be the first of many missions for this particularly talented team. STATE OF PLAY (PG-13) Newspaper reporter Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe) is a dinosaur on the verge of extinction. But when a sex scandal rocks the political/personal boat of his college roommate, Congressman Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck), Cal gets another shot at glory. With the help of his paper’s political blogger, Della Frye (Rachel McAdams), Cal uncovers a deeper conspiracy, one full of twists and turns too juicy to spoil here. SUNSHINE CLEANING (R) Maid Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams) needs some quick cash so she can send her unique son, Oscar (the expectedly cute Jason Spevack), to private school, where all his authority-related issues will magically disappear. But the house of cards comes fluttering down in unsurprising fashion after Nora fulfills her role as familial destroyer. Yet nothing fulfills its role more than Sunshine Cleaning. It contains every marking of an indie dramedy. THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1 2 3 (R) A schlubby MTA employee, Walter Garber (Denzel Washington), becomes embroiled in New York City’s News Story of the Day when a mysterious hijacker (John Travolta) attempts to ransom a subway car for $10 million. Excitingly suspenseful as Pelham is, the film grows exhausting by the time the case is closed by its unlikely, outof-shape hero. TEENSCREEN FILM FESTIVAL (NR) Festival features a lineup of short films made by local teens. The next generation of filmmakers will be in attendance to answer questions about their work following the Saturday screening. TERMINATOR SALVATION (PG-13) The ultra-grim fourth installment of the time-bending franchise makes minor improvements on the frivolous third film. The long-awaited battles between humanity and the endoskeleton army grow tedious in chunks larger than T2’s tantalizing bits. As unkillable as the Terminators are, it might be time to unplug a franchise that’s two movies and a failed TV show past its T2 prime. TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN (PG-13) Rejoining LaBeouf as the giant shape-shifting robots’ human keepers are Megan Fox and Josh Duhamel. A rumored 40 Autobots and Decepticons—never fear, Optimus Prime (still the cartoon voice of Peter Cullen) is among the returners—have been conceived and created for a movie fiercely jockeying for the year’s box office title. UP (PG) Seventy-eight-year-old Carl Fredricksen (v. Edward Asner) and his late wife, Ellie, always dreamed of traveling to South America. After Ellie’s death, Carl floats his house to the fabled Paradise Falls via several thousand helium balloons. Every minute of the film, co-directed by Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc.) and Peterson, bursts with creativity and ingenuity. THE WRECKING CREW (NR) See Movie Pick. X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE (PG-13) In a post-Iron Man/Dark Marvel’s new and improved property handling, no one should expect great things from subsequent Origins pics. Wolverine merely fills in the pre-X team gaps in the hairy, tri-clawed mutant’s long, long life. YEAR ONE (PG-13) A couple of lazy hunters, Zed (Jack Black) and Oh (Michael Cera), are banished and embark on an epic adventure that brings them into contact with numerous figures, ancient and biblical.
Drew Wheeler
movie pick GREAT VIBRATIONS THE WRECKING CREW (NR) Watching Denny for the film, were the uncredited backbone Tedesco’s labor-of-love documentary, The of thousands of pop songs recorded in Los Wrecking Crew, one begins to acquire a new Angeles between the late ‘50s and late ‘60s. sense of the interconnectedness of American Dubbed the “Wrecking Crew” because they pop music from the 1960s. That this common were seen as a threat to “wreck” the session thread, which ties Dean Martin to The Beach business by the older generation of musicians, Boys, Herb Alpert and the this young, diverse corps of Tijuana Brass, and Alvin and players expertly, but with the Chipmunks, arises from a casual flair, shaped the the fact that the hit songs sound of hit songs from “A by all these disparate artTaste of Honey” to “You’ve ists were played by the same Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’.” extended group of musicians Watching Kaye vamp might be cause to see the on the “Good Vibrations” pop music industry as even bassline in order to illustrate more regulated, marketBrian Wilson’s genius is one tested and homogenized of the many pleasures of the than we already knew it was. film, as is hearing Wilson But in the context of this call Kaye “the greatest bass warm, personal and revealing player in the world,” and film, it becomes something Cher marvel at the constructo celebrate and a reason to tion of Phil Spector’s Wall of enjoy the songs on a new, Sound. Nancy Sinatra, Alpert Carol Kaye of the Wrecking Crew and richer, level. and Campbell are also among The film is structured the truly impressive collecaround a fun, informal “round-table” convertion of relevant parties who appear on-camera. sation between drummer Hal Blaine, bassist It’s unexpectedly moving in the end when, Carol Kaye, saxophonist Plas Johnson and the inevitably, I suppose, the film becomes a director’s father, guitarist Tommy Tedesco, meditation on the ethereal nature of celebrity filmed before his death from cancer in 1997. and the fleetingness of success. Immortality— These four, along with drummer Earl Palmer, touchingly, when bestowed by a devoted guitarists Bill Pittman and Glen Campbell (yes, son—is in the eye of the beholder. that Glen Campbell), and some 20-odd other studio pros, many of whom are interviewed Dave Marr
JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
THURSDAY, JUNE 25
FRIDAY, JUNE 26
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
MONDAY, JUNE 29
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
THURSDAY, JULY 2
COMING SOON
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FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ JUNE 24, 2009
Right Lens,
Right Film
Music News And Gossip Well, now we find ourselves in the midst of AthFest week, so I want to give a very hearty welcome to those from out of town who are picking up a copy of Flagpole for the first time. For everyone else, welcome back. How about you try to catch some bands you’ve never seen before instead of watching the same five bands you’ve seen all year? If you need your hand held you could even check out the suggestions printed elsewhere in this week’s issue. With that, let’s get to the news… Char-Dude: Drew Smith, who also does time in Chrissakes, played a blistering set a couple of weeks ago under his solo moniker, Chartreuse. Currently working on yet another release, Smith had the show recorded by audio archivist and scene patron Sloan Simpson, and it should appear with all deliberate speed at www.southernshelter.com. Simpson recently recorded some live Chrissakes material, which made it onto that group’s most recent release in a matter of days. Please visit www.myspace. com/chartreusesounds for more info and don’t miss www.southernshelter.com for a mindboggling archive of live Athens recordings.
In Retreat: Werewolves played its last show for a long while on Tuesday, and will now concentrate on finishing a full-length. Further, violinist Kimhuong Ruiz is currently in Vietnam (as in the actual nation, not the band) and will later be located in New York with only a single month in Georgia for the rest of the year. Plowing ahead, though, founder Wyatt Strother has taken to his bedroom, apartments of friends and other similar environs to commence the completion of the record. He plans to include lots of field recordings of natural sounds such as birds. Strother’s songs certainly deserve a proper release, as he’s one of the most engaging folks working
Up and Coming: The local rockers in Romanenko have finished their new EP, cleverly titled RKO, and it should be available at their show at Flicker Theatre & Bar on Thursday, June 25. I’ve liked this band for several months now, although it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how they turned my ear when so many other bands operating via the same method and genre (the vaguely singersongwriter-esque, trio format) leave me cold. When pressed, I’d have to attribute it to the band’s overall honesty of presentation and completely non-cloying earnestness. Also, the opening track on the new EP, “Magic Touch,” has been on repeat around my house for a few days now. This EP is a lead-up to a full-length release planned for September. For more info and tunes, please see www.myspace.com/ romanenkomusic.
m
Mike White
Wants to Take Your Picture “ONE THING
Whiff-n-Click: Musician/artist Nicklaus Andersen has spent the past year, presumably among other things, developing a website for the music he creates under the moniker Whiff Trophy. Conveniently, the site is located at www.whifftrophy.com. Andersen has eight albums and around six EPs and singles available to listen to over there. As an added bonus, you may download them all for free. Some of it is straight up Garage Band (the recording software) farting around, but most of it reminds me of hard-to-find soundtrack treasures and even the minimalist pop-synth sensibilities of Suicide and early Kraftwerk. In any case, it’s a lot to explore, but I find it worthwhile. In other news, Andersen says that a new episode of the local music podcast “AthCast Flashlight” is in production as we speak, and you can subscribe by punching that into iTunes or by heading over to www.athcast.com.
I love about this town,” says Mike White, “…one good thing and one bad thing: there are bands always forming, but there’s always bands breaking up that you fell in love with, graduating and moving away.” Forget about glory; pretty much everything is fleeting. History races along at an alarming pace, grinding at an exponentially more rapid speed by the nanosecond and constantly threatening to completely dilapidate and burst into a fireball at less than a moment’s notice—a cosmic Pinto, if you will. This is where people like Mike White, one of Athens’ premier photographers of live music, become an essential part of our city’s creative machinery. Hailing originally from the sleepy (I’m assuming—never been) Georgia town of Riverdale, Mike moved to Athens for work entirely unrelated to photography and ended up a scene staple for that very reason—someone whose attendance silently announces that you are probably at the right show to be at that night. His presence is consistently even-mannered and affable, a straight-shooting guy if you’ll excuse the pun (and I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t). His photography style is impregnable, his cropping skills impetuous. But our story begins, like so many, in—you guessed it—Disneyworld. The year was 2003. “I’d had an internship at Disneyworld, and I wanted to document my time there. So, every day I took photos,” White reminisces in his laconic Southern tone. White captured his experience as a hobbyist, with an ordinary, point-and-shoot camera. But it was there, in Walt Disney’s backyard, that White, who’d previously been a casual music listener—attending George Jones concerts with his folks, digging whatever the radio had to offer—expanded his interests to less conventional realms. “During my college program at Disneyworld, one of my roommates was into a lot of indie bands like Modest Mouse, Refused, At the Drive-In. So, I got exposed to those types of bands, which I’d never heard of.” Upon returning to Georgia, White graduated from Clayton State University and headed to Athens, having landed a job and finding himself increasingly curious about less mainstream music. His graduation from college coincided with a graduation in equipment: “I had used the point-and-shoot camera for a while and I was really frustrated with it because it couldn’t do what I wanted it to do,” he says. “I worked at UGA and I borrowed a camera they had, so at the very first show [I went to], I used UGA’s camera to take photos. They didn’t really turn out that well,” he laughs. While untrained and having no previous academic experience with the camera, he found his hobby expanding its grip on his time off the clock. “I went to Warped Tour 2004 with a friend’s camera—somehow I got a photo pass based off of my point-and-shoot photos. I don’t know how that happened, but I was like, well, I’m going to be shooting Warped Tour, so I’m kinda gonna need a better camera than this.” His approach from there on was decidedly DIY. “Whenever I start learning something I always like to dive in and learn as much as I can and teach myself,” he says. “So, I started from there—researched online about techniques, went trial and error on different photos, and then read up on lenses and stuff. I had one lens [at first]. Eventually I saved up money and bought more lenses after researching on what to buy and what worked for cheap. eBay was a major player in that.” Before long, White was plying his relatively newfound craft constantly, taking advantage of Athens’ six-nights-of-music weeks. In his estimation, in 2008 he photographed roughly 150 shows. All of them can be seen on his website, DeadlyDesigns.com. His style is distinctive for a couple of reasons, but notably: he’s always in the front. This has its drawbacks. “There’s definitely been some times where it’s been really rough. In Atlanta, I went and saw Coalesce at Purgatory [at the Masquerade]… I didn’t fear for my life or anything, but my camera got ripped out of my hands. That was the first time that’d ever happened. This guy caught it while he was going crazy and handed it back to me. He just stopped what he was doing and said, ‘Here you go.’” Being in the middle of a beer-can melee at a Black Lips show or receiving the full force of a mosh pit at his back while photographing Mastodon doesn’t faze White. “It’s all part of the deal. If you wanna be up there, you can’t be telling people not to have fun. It’s on me; if any of my stuff gets broken, it’s my fault.” This approach has paid off, with White’s materials appearing in Pitchfork’s Best Photos of 2008 as well as Spin magazine, not to mention almost weekly in these very pages. Some of Mike White’s finest material will be on display at The Grit for the week of AthFest. Also on display will be the work of another celebrated local photographer, Jason Thrasher, who is known for his artistic compositions and unique promotional band shots. The show serves as a superb opportunity to feast your eyes on both the recent anthropological activities of our city’s musical brutes and take in a perfect example of the DIY initiative: a hobby that became art.
Gordon Lamb threatsandpromises@flagpole.com
Jeff Tobias
lesley onstott
More Music, More Places: Athensmusic.net has teamed up with Jittery Joe’s to sell local music in four of the local coffee chain’s stores (Five Points, Eastside, Baxter Street and the roaster on East Broad). At any given time, 10 local releases will be on display, with the current selection featuring albums from: Madeline, Venice Is Sinking, Packway Handle Band, The Whigs, Bloodkin, Jeff Mangum, Modern Skirts and Corey Smith. Also available are the AthFest 2009 CD and Finest Worksongs: Athens Bands Play the Music of R.E.M. In other news, Athensmusic.net has coordinated the re-release of the two amazingly popular albums by Jennifer Romanenko Nettles’ (Sugarland) old group, Soul Miner’s Daughter. The long outof-print titles are available online and at the merchant’s booth at AthFest. Although both albums serve as a fine primer in boring, ironically soulless, acoustic caterwauling, the fact is that they are still in high demand, so this should be a financial slam-dunk. For more information, please see www.athensmusic.net
Whatcha Gonna Do?: Look, the fact is, really, that you’re not gonna spend every waking moment this weekend watching bands. But what do people who are generally obsessed with seeing bands do otherwise? Talk about bands and shop for records, of course. With this in mind, let me direct you to Kurt Wood’s Front Porch Record Sale, which is held, literally, on Wood’s front porch at 1080 Oconee Street. Wood, a local legend by any reasonable measure, hosts these events every few months, and the next one is this Saturday, June 27 from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday, June 28 from noon–5 p.m. When Wood says he has “thousands of LPs, singles and 78s” for sale, it’s true. I know, I’ve seen ‘em! Please call 706546-9602 for more info.
in Athens music right now. So, here’s to a swift wrapping up of everything. He plans to include, as he says, “as many local cameos as possible,” so if you’re interested, send a message via www.myspace.com/athenswerewolves.
JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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Mike White · deadlydesigns.com
threats & promises
record reviews HOLY LIARS Smoke Independent Release Living up to the contradiction in their name, local band Holy Liars sing about the outcasts of Southern society—the losers, the rebels and the criminals in a culture obsessed with righteousness and conservative morality. Singer C. Nicholson Ross has tar in his lungs and bitter truth in his throat. When his bold, husky snarl speaks of putting down the Bible and picking up the bottle (or worse), the authenticity in his rugged delivery is convincing, suggesting he’s lived through the thick of it himself. And despite the struggle he speaks of, the melodies are triumphant, with anthemic, powerful backing harmonies and blazing guitar solos for the diehard classic Southern rock fans who still throw a lighter in the air instead of a cellphone. Through the course of Smoke, Holy Liars trudge through the ups and downs of heartland rock, with high-energy fist-pumpers like “Strong Stuff” and the melancholy of “Ag Center Blues.” Fans of Springsteen, Drive-By Truckers or Lynyrd Skynyrd will fall easy for Holy Liars, and this astutely produced record should take the band far. Michelle Gilzenrat Holy Liars are playing the AthFest Hull Street Stage on Saturday, June 27 at 8:30 p.m.
member Kelley Darlin after volunteering at the original GRRC in Portland, OR. Those Darlins fit somewhere between The Carter Family and Old Dirty Bastard, locally on par with Puddin’ Tang, who could also fit in on “Hee Haw.” Those Darlins played in Athens two years ago this summer and were little more than spindly legged pups in cute cowgirl boots. On this debut record they show the seasoning that constant touring does, without losing the humor at the heart of the schtick. Go see them at AthFest and then get drunk with them at the bar. Coy King Those Darlins are playing the AthFest Hull Street Stage on Friday, June 26 at 7:15 p.m. .
SUNSET RUBDOWN Dragonslayer Jagjaguar Eleven months after an album with Wolf Parade, two months after another one with indie-super group Swan Lake, and looking to two more (expected) 2009 releases (one an instrumental marimba-and-drum EP), Spencer Krug prolifically presents his followup to best-of-breakthrough Random Spirit Lover via his other group, Sunset Rubdown. And this is all a little Krug-ian, itself: digressive suites framed by concise lyricism. And while Dragonslayer’s arch dramatizes the Homeric journey archetype of a hero’s return to a lover after a little bit of freaky-deaky and bacchanalia, it is not a concept album. It’s only conceptual and definitely not as much as a gestalt listen-straight-through capital A Album like its double-LP predecessor. Krug’s voice is as idiosyncratic as ever; note the last 35 seconds of “Idiot Heart” which is like Rhianna singing the pre-chorus of “Umbrella” suffocating on broken auto-tune ad-libs. Some guitars are jangly, some Songs for Drella-esque crunchy, and all are very dramatic, proving the theory that Krug was once a drama geek doing one-act plays in some performing arts high school program about 15 years ago. If you ever liked any Krug song before, you’ll dig the Arcade Fire-ness, the mood, the tones, and especially welcome the new pointedness. Good stuff. Christopher Joshua Benton
THOSE DARLINS Those Darlins Oh Wow Dang/Thirty Tigers Their name alone confers a level of sarcasm and ballsy-ness that tastes really good to people who like their chicken fried. Story goes like this: Three Southern ladies discover their musical heritage right about the time they discover whiskey and humpin’, start a band and torment all the dudes and half the ladies with a hilariously snarked up kindercountry that pretty much deals mainly with, well, whiskey and humpin’. A paean to getting wasted and eating an entire chicken? Check. “DUI or Die” advises the young ladies of the world to let some guy “give you a ride” rather than drive drunk. The trio formed in Murfreesboro, TN in 2006 after meeting at The Southern Girls Rock and Roll Camp, which was founded by
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FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ JUNE 24, 2009
THE CORDUROY ROAD Love Is a War Mule Train Stringed instrument-wielding Athens foursome The Corduroy Road invokes a variety of Southern textures on Love Is a War, the group’s debut full-length. There are sharp harmonies abounding and a little bluegrass juice simmering in Dylan Solise’s vocals and Drew Carman’s steady banjo runs. Though a tried-and-true bluegrass band this is not as, fer tarnation’s sake, they employ a drummer in the form of recent addition John Cable.
Instead, the group invokes the kind of swampy, barefoot Americana that made the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band a standalone, do-it-all act in the 1970s. Built on close vocal harmonies, countrified, back porch-friendly arrangements and a dozen original songs, Love Is a War is an encouraging and solid first outing for the group. Solise and Carman have harmonizing, twangy voices suited for college bars, sawdust floor honky tonks and even country radio. Drummer Cable and bassist Elijah NeeSmith form a warm and steady rhythm section, while guests John Keane and Vigilantes of Love’s Bill Mallonee contribute some sweet dollops of pedal steel and harmonica, respectively, to such tracks as “So Blue” and “Just One Drop.” They’re a little country and a little rock… but not really country-rock. Instead, The Corduroy Road simply plays decent Southern music that’s a little folky, a little hippie and nothin’ fancy, but should certainly stick to the part of you that holds on to stuff worth remembering. Michael Andrews The Corduroy Road is playing the AthFest Main Stage on Saturday, June 27 at 5:30 p.m.
ART BRUT Art Brut vs. Satan Downtown With its third album, Art Brut vs. Satan, British rock group Art Brut fights to keep rock and roll out of the hands of the establishment and return it to the down and out. The band’s arsenal is a narrative that captures the debauchery and fun of sex, drugs and rock and roll. Herky-jerky riffs create the perfect soundtrack for a man who has devoted his life to impulse and obsession. Eddie Argos, the band’s fearless leader, gives voice to this man. Talking instead of singing, he regales us with 11 stories told in just 40 minutes. Each story follows a similar arc, beginning with a confession and using repetition to turn clever phrases into mission statements. With the charismatic delivery of a seasoned stand-up comedian, Argos ensures that Art Brut is victorious in its cause. When it’s over, Argos is back where he started, a drunk and a punk, but he’s defended his gloriously childish lifestyle with authenticity and wit. Michael J. Gerber
LEADING EDGE Leading Edge EP Independent Release When a young band is faced with making an EP, it usually goes one of two ways. Either the band throws every bell and whistle onto the record and makes it too heavy and shiny to listen to, or it heads in the minimalist direction with too little elaboration, making you think that there’s nothing more to the band or the music. Leading Edge aims for a third option: just play your best songs as well as you can and offer up a few touches of detail here and there. Imagine a really young Radiohead flirting with the poppy side of life. Leading Edge takes great care in crafting works that are instantly memorable melodically. With members hailing from the UGA Redcoat Band, it’s no surprise that the band knows how to play a great song. Lyrically, the EP is hit or miss. “Love Is the Answer” is by far the best song. Combining a very melodic and funky bassline with alternating crooning and soaring vocals, it makes the strongest impression. “Sarah” reveals more of the band’s pop leanings with a hum-worthy standard structure. The last song, “Dream a Story for Me,” reaches for epic level audio immersion but falls a bit short. The mix is far from great on this EP. The vocals are too quiet in places with guitars too loud in others. But as far as new bands go, Leading Edge is at the front. Jordan Stepp Leading Edge is playing the Melting Point on Wednesday, June 24 and Wild Wing Café on Friday, June 26.
ARIZONA Glowing Bird Echo Mountain With a band like Arizona (from Brooklyn/Asheville, despite its name), which flutters from soft and folky to loud and folky with a great variety of sounds in between but a general kind of Venice Is Sinking-y gentleness dusted with prog, do they have to be from your hometown to garner appropriate levels of appreciation? Glowing Bird is a nice record, and it is no hardship to listen to. The songs are not overlong, and the instrumentation, which includes strings, horns and good percussion as well as dark, fuzzy guitar, is interesting. There is nothing annoying here, and if you like Beirut or other groups that write tracks driven by a less hook-invested type of melody, you might should pick this up. But there also could be something more to recommend it all. And if you do not know the people involved or aren’t standing in a field, drinking beers and enamored of the romance of the moment, the appeal might be too ephemeral to give the record much time. Hillary Brown
Bodily Fluids and Backlash Are Black Lips the Last Real Rock Band?
A
tlanta’s Black Lips have been making lo-fi, punk-influenced three-minuters since they were punk-ass suburb kids from Dunwoody who couldn’t play their instruments, and way before lo-fi blew the fuck up with scenesters and sub-sub-labels like no-fi and shitgaze. In that sense, Black Lips are less hypeblogged wunderkinds and more it’s-a-long-way-to-the-top-if-youwant-to rock-and-roll grassroots innovators. But I’m sure you already knew that and were probably at one their ATL or Athens house shows way back when, when they trashed your bud’s pad. Rowdy and unpredictable, Black Lips just like to have fun and write songs about it. So, what happened to all the rock stars, anyway? Are Black Lips the torchbearers of balls-to-the-wall, rowdy independent music? “I grew up in the early ‘90s and remember being excited by the danger of cinema and music. NWA and Tupac got blasted on the streets and Cobain—I love Nirvana—shot his head off. Watching Natural Born Killers and Pulp Fiction with its gratuitous violence and edgy druginess, there was this real sense of danger in music and film. Rock and roll should be like the Wild Wild West and GG Allin instead of being so docile. I recently read an interview with Kevin (Barnes) of Of Montreal and he criticized indie rock for being too polite. I don’t get anything real out of indie rock today, so any band that brings the noise or brings the heat excites me. I like the controversy,” singer-guitarist Cole Alexander says. Flagpole caught up with the Black Lips front man during their European tour. On the phone we talked about Wavves’ Primavera meltdown, Ian Saint Pé (Black Lips’ lead guitarist) dropping out of B-School and buying gold fronts with financial aid money, and the band smoking grass with GZA at SXSW. Mostly, it was about the band’s live act, which has become quite the thing of fable. We also talked about the new We Fun documentary where Black Lips calls Athens “bullshit.” “I disagree with that statement. I never said that, Ian did… I am really annoyed with that movie because their footage didn’t get much that really represented us, just a couple of stupid drunken moments and sound bites. They didn’t capture the essence of Black Lips. Athens is awesome… For me, I was
offended because I know that Athens helped build the Georgia music scene and cultivated a lot of great artists.” Beyond the drama, it’s the music that makes a band, and Black Lips make great, archival garage-rock songs. Alexander sings with a whiskey-drenched Southern boy swagger while simultaneously namechecking all sorts of drunken debauchery like Magic City hoes, smoking BC buds and getting wasted on purple stuff. It’s all impressionism, and beneath fuzzscapes and Cole’s slurry glossolalia is skuzzy flower-power psychobilly and ramshackle tunefulness. There’s a strong pop sensibility, too, that is as much fuzz against junk as it is jangly junkiepop. Yep, if you ain’t up on thangs, you’d probably think their recordings were vintage gems off of one of those Rhino-remastered Nuggets compilations. Keeping with the aesthetic, their newest, fifth release, 200 Million Thousand, recreates that dirty, lo-fi sound by being pressed to vinyl and then re-recorded from the 33, so you get all the warmth, hiss and pop of an LP.
Shlock and Awe Vomiting onstage, pissing in their own mouths and making out with each other during a jaunt through India and subsequently getting lost and kicked out of the country while being filmed in a multi-part video series for Vice’s VBS.tv—just another week in the life of Black Lips’ publicist, although Alexander claims they’ve toned down most of that stuff. And while Black Lips are legitimately wild and crazy guys, their rockist posturing is definitely contrived and selfaware. They’re building an image, baby, plus those old-school rockers were just self-mythologizing publicity stuntmen, anyway. “It’s a cliché, but life’s a gimmick,” Alexander says. “I watched Jimi Hendrix play with his teeth, and that was his trademark so I wanted to come up with my own trademark. I’d like to call playing with my penis my trademark… To me, it’s the total sexual embodiment of the instrument, playing with your reproductive organ.” “Does it hurt?” Flagpole asks. “It’s pretty painful. I have a spot on my dick from when I did it too hard and
it kinda cut my penis open. It looks like a black dot, and it’s a permanent scar.” Ouch. Black Lips are definitely a live band, having played now-legendary shows around Athens. Of course, there was that one show at the Georgia Theatre where Alexander got naked, did some weird yoga moves and pissed on the audience. And then there was that incendiary set that had them (temporarily) banned from the 40 Watt… “It was probably one of our first shows where we were playing for more than a couple of hundred people and we wanted to impress them. We’ve done the trick before and it isn’t a big deal. We just throw lighter fluid on the drum set and it catches on fire for a minute or two, but it doesn’t break the drums or catch on anything else. Apparently, the 40 Watt caught wind of what we were doing and tried to stop us. One of the security guards jumped and sideswiped one of us and it ended up being a big fiasco onstage with us rolling around with the bouncers. It’s really funny looking back. Maybe it’s better that they stopped us, maybe we would’ve ended up with a Great White situation [where the club burned down].” There’s been plenty of show-ending bloody mishaps, too, although the guys always try to finish every concert (there was even one instance where Saint Pé tried this “Icing” move that you may have seen in The Wrestler but instead ruptured a vein and got stitches). “We’re not going to bleed all the time because it’s dangerous, but at least when you do see a Black Lips show I promise you it is real, whereas at a KISS show or a Marilyn Manson show, they bleed every time, but it’s pretty much always fake. That’s the difference between us and these legendary shock rockers,” Alexander says. With no strings and with real excrement, Black Lips just may be the last real rock stars in indie rock. Be sure to check out what the guys pull this year headlining AthFest. Christopher Joshua Benton
WHO: Black Lips WHERE: AthFest Main Stage WHEN: Friday, June 26, 9 p.m. HOW MUCH: Free!
JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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REBUILDING THE GEORGIA THEATRE It’ll Take More Than Flames to Destroy This Local Landmark B arely three hours had passed since the first flames ignited the Georgia Theatre when Adrian Zelski, front man of local band and Theatre staple DubConscious, began his online campaign for reconstruction. “BIG LOVE to the Georgia Theatre,” he posted on Facebook just before 11 a.m on Friday, June 19. “Whatever it takes, let’s get that place back and better than ever as soon as possible.” It wasn’t long before many others independently followed suit. The Classic Center generously opened its doors to Perpetual Groove who were originally slated to play the Theatre. Friday night, P. Groove frontman Brock Butler played a benefit show at Barnette’s, with the bar donating $1 for every drink sold to the Theatre. AthensMusic.net received a sudden barrage of Georgia Theatre t-shirt orders Friday morning—more than they were able to fill— from fans across the country showing their support. By Saturday night there were already specialty t-shirts proudly declaring “We Shall Return” for sale online and at the Classic Center, with proceeds benefiting Georgia Theatre employees. By the end of the weekend, the “Rebuild the Georgia Theatre” Facebook page had nearly 4,000 fans. Venice Is Sinking, who recorded its last record at the Theatre, updated its ongoing kickstarter.com campaign so that all proceeds beyond the cost of pressing the record would go to the Theatre. The Melting Point also sprang into action, booking Dead Confederate and The Whigs for a benefit show on Tuesday night. The community response—from fans, musicians and competing venues—has been overwhelming and truly epitomizes the spirit of what makes our music town so special. “I have to say that as a 40 Watt employee and local musician, I am tickled and proud of all of you who have stepped up and donated what $$$ and services you can to help out those affected by this unfortunate and tragic
event,” posted Ryan Hetrick on one Theatre-oriented Facebook page. “This is why I love this town sooooooo much! It’s a community and family in every sense of the words… I know we will do what we can at the Watt to help out the Theatre folks in any way we can!” Musician, school teacher and lifelong Athenian Mark Cunningham was also one of the first to take action. The Theatre has long been close to his heart and a part of his family. He says his mom saw her very first movie at the Theatre in 1944, and Cunningham himself has played on its stage and seen performances by such legendary acts as The Grapes, R.E.M., Drive-By Truckers and Widespread Panic. Together with Daniel Peiken (Analogue Records) and Greg Reynolds (equipment manager for Kinchafoonee Cowboys), he launched a group on Facebook called the Georgia Theatre Phoenix Project which is already working on booking gigs to benefit the Theatre. Cunningham says the response to his group has been overwhelming in both speed and magnitude. “As soon as I put the page up, Clint McElroy (owner of Flicker Theatre & Bar) emailed me as soon as he saw it, and said whatever you want to do… you can use Flicker as a venue for a benefit. I’m going to get with him sometime after AthFest and hopefully we’ll do something in August. Mike Mantione (Five Eight) called me today and he wants to be involved, too.” Zelski heard about the Theatre fire while on the road and says by the end of the day he had already begun mapping out a benefit show, possibly to be held at the Terrapin Brewery in September. “The Georgia Theatre is one of the main reasons I moved to Athens,” says Zelski. “I came to see a show at the Theatre and was sold.” When asked where jam bands and other staple Theatre acts will play now that their home base is gone, Zelski is hard pressed to find an answer. “There’s nothing like the Georgia Theatre,” says Zelski.
In fact, the whole balance of the music scene already seems skewed. Even with the large banner bearing the Theatre’s name displayed proudly behind Perpetual Groove at the Classic Center show, the crowd seemed pitifully displaced. Wandering the carpeted hallways and lining up in polite single-file lines for cups of beer served by uniformed staff… it’s just not the way a P. Groove show should be. Zelski says that he’d like any future shows he promotes in Athens “to be centered around getting the Theatre back in position.” The Theatre is just “too prime a spot, too perfect a location” to be replaced. But it’ll take a lot of time and continued community support for the Theatre to rise from the ashes. “If it’s possible to rebuild,” says Theatre owner Wilmot Greene, “the one thing I’m sure of now is that we’re not insured enough… We are insured for less than we owe the bank… So, it will take some sort of public help.” And this is no quick fixer-upper, either. “One of the insurance guys told me it would be a minor miracle for us to be open for New Year’s,” says Greene, adding that he thinks even that is overly optimistic. “I think realistically it would take a year [to rebuild], but who knows? It’s purely speculation at this point.” While the details of when and how much are yet to be determined, it’s not too early to contribute to the effort. The Theatre set up a non-profit organization a couple of years ago called Friends of the Georgia Theatre, and Greene says if anybody wants to send “memorabilia or money or notes or anything,” they can send it to Friends of Georgia Theatre at the Georgia Theatre’s address (215 N. Lumpkin). If you have questions or ideas about fundraising for the Theatre, send an email to Katie Carmody at katie@ georgiatheatre.com. Carmody is working to make sure all efforts are streamlined and consolidated for a maximum impact. Michelle Gilzenrat
The 11th Annual
Flagpole Athens Music Awards
Mike White · deadlydesigns.com
Roll out the red carpet and look sharp, Athens, the Flagpole Athens Music Awards are here! And I know what you’re all wondering—what (or as they say on entertainment television, “who”) are Athens’ stars going to be wearing? Right? No, of course not. There’s way too much substance to focus on style. It’s been said that Athens has more bands per capita than anywhere in the world, and that makes voting for the Flagpole Awards highly competitive. Yet the overall mood reflects the supportive nature of our scene; it’s a night of celebration—not just for the winners or nominees, but for everyone who cherishes what this thriving creative hotbed has to offer. Athens is a small college town after all, but as our list of nominees shows, we have more musical diversity than many major metropolises. And to think that within each category— from country to metal—these nominees are merely a sample of Athens’ total creative output. If you’re still planning your AthFest schedule, I’d suggest you put the Flagpole Awards nominees at the top of your priority list as they were voted “Best of Athens” by Flagpole’s readers. Of course, you’ll get a great preview of Athens music at the Awards ceremony itself which features a stellar lineup of live performances that span almost every award category. We’ve got hip-hop from Deaf Judges, metal from Lazer/Wülf, pop from Casper and the Cookies, atmospheric rock from Creepy, Southern rock from Dead Confederate, traditional Americana from Grammy-winner Art Rosenbaum and rootsy rock from guitar slinger Betsy Franck and funky pianist Lefty Hathaway. The Flagpole Awards wouldn’t be complete without a stellar pit band to keep things moving, and jazz finalists Kenosha Kid will fill that position once again this year. There will also be a colorful hoopdancing performance from members of Canopy Studios who will provide onstage assistance throughout the evening. If you’ve attended the Flagpole Music Awards in the past, you will notice the unfortunate absence of the Sprockets Awards. In an attempt to fill the gap, we introduced the Flagpole Award for Best Local Music Video, and the finalists will be screened at the show. Besides that, there haven’t been too many changes. The DJ category has gotten stronger and more eclectic, focusing on turntablists, remixers and innovators. And the ever-evolving Americana category has merged once again with folk. And finally, the show will once again be presented by an array of local musicians and personalities. This year’s presenters include 2008 Flagpole Award-winner and 2009 finalist Madeline Adams; Trent Allen of the soon to be reformed Dreams So Real; acclaimed local poet Jeff Fallis; and Joel Hatstat and Jeff Tobias of Pegasuses-XL, a band that has been nominated in a different category almost ever year. Tobias is also a regular contributor to Flagpole, and Hatstat is an acclaimed producer who has worked with such nominated acts as Deaf Judges and Twin Tigers. All that, plus many more surprise guests. Michelle Gilzenrat
WHAT: Flagpole Athens Music Awards WHERE: The Morton Theatre WHEN: Thursday, June 25, 8 p.m. HOW MUCH: $7 (adv.), $9 (door); $3 (w/AthFest wristband)
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FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ JUNE 24, 2009
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A
dream is a strange thing. It teases and hints at possibilities once thought out of reach, and sometimes the dreams that seem impossible do come true. And as all things must come to an end, so it is with dreams. But hope springs eternal, and the power of a dream deferred cannot be denied. Trent Allen is intimately familiar with the tumultuous nature of dreams. His band lived and played through the dreamlike atmosphere of what many consider to be the heyday of Athens music. The band appeared in Athens, GA: Inside/Out, released two records on a major label, and had tons of support from home and college radio. But then the dream began to fade. And so did the band Dreams So Real. Dreams So Real began in 1984 when Allen, a bassist, met drummer Drew Worsham and singer-guitarist Barry Marler. The credit for the name and for some of the psychedelic sound lies with Marler, who grew up with the music of the ‘60s when his bandmates were still very young. But the age difference didn’t matter musically to Worsham and Allen, who fell right into creating music that, at the time, was different from what people were used to hearing from Athens. Dreams So Real worked hard to distance the band from the Athens “label” while simultaneously embracing it. “Back in those days, there became a stigma to not sound like R.E.M.,” says Allen. “But you could get booked because you were from Athens on new wave night. Any association you could create was incredibly valuable.” So, with a 45 produced by friend Peter Buck, Dreams So Real began to create a stir around Athens and on college radio. The band toured heavily behind its first full-length album, Father’s House, also produced by Buck. After some success, Dreams So Real released its first album for Arista Records, Rough Night in Jericho. It proved to be the album that would break the band to the nation. A few singles made it onto the Billboard charts and Dreams So Real was off to make the difficult next album. By that time, the wear and tear of touring had started to take its toll.
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“You are subject to the whimsy of any of the other bandmembers,” recalls Allen. “That is not an empowering feeling. You are nothing, and you can’t play without these guys.” The next album, Gloryline, would prove to be the band’s last for Arista. The record received mixed reviews, and the band began to unravel. “That was the point where trying to be successful probably hurt us,” says Allen. Dreams So Real released a compilation of b-sides and outtakes, then the members drifted away into their own lives and careers. Allen began work as a graphic artist, Worsham became a computer technician, and Marler started work at the University of Georgia. In 2003, Worsham survived a near-fatal gunshot to the head. It seemed like the members of Dreams So Real would never get back together for a real show. Space, time and their lives had divided a dream. Then, Allen got a phone call. He ran an idea past his two former bandmates, and they agreed. Dreams So Real would finally reunite and perform at AthFest 2009. The dream was still alive. Dreams So Real is playing the Main Outdoor Stage on Sunday, a gig that has been nearly a decade in the making. So, why get the band back together after so long away from the stage? “It was just the right time,” says Allen. “It’s very, very easy years later after it’s been put to bed to wake it up again and say ‘Hey, this isn’t done.’ You put all the baggage aside and realize and appreciate what was great.” With Marler still writing songs, and the others open to what’s next, there are hints of more Dreams So Real gigs on the horizon. “I think it’s possible,” says Allen, laughing. “I think it’s very likely we’ll play somewhere else. Together we’re something. And that’s important.” Jordan Stepp
call 706-548-1920 to place order
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City Lights Downtown Festival Saturday, June 27, 2009 8:00a.m. to Dusk MUSIC BY Solstice Sisters (11:00) Temple Johnson Band (12:15) Wesley Cook (1:30) Eli Carlan Band (2:45) Betsy Franck & The Bareknuckle Band (4:00) East Ponce Soul Faction (6:00) The Breeze Kings (8:00)
FEATURING Farmers’ Market Arts & Crafts Vendors 7th Annual Star Chase 5K Road Race Hot Rod & Antique Car Show Food Vendors and Kids’ Zone And
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WHO: Dreams So Real WHERE: AthFest Main Stage WHEN: Sunday, June 28, 5:50 p.m. HOW MUCH: FREE!
JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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FINALISTS!
2009
The Musicians/Bands that received the most votes in each category are listed below. The winners will be announced at the show.
ATHENS
PUNK/HARDCORE
MUSIC
ELECTRONIC/DJ DJ Triz Immuzikation SeaDub
AWARDS
JAZZ Carl Lindberg Half Dozen Brass Band Kenosha Kid
THURSDAY, JUNE 25 At The Morton Theatre 8:00pm • doors 7:30pm
WORLD Bob Hay and the Jolly Beggars DubConscious One L
FEATURING
CREEPY
JAM/FUNK
BETSY & LEFTY
Randall Bramblett The HEAP Widespread Panic
DEAD CONFEDER
ATE
(UNPLUGGED)
ART ROSENBAUM
EXPERIMENTAL Diet Rock Star Killick Sweet Teeth
HIP HOP/RAP Athens Boys Choir Deaf Judges Future Ape Tapes
DEAF JUDGES KENOSHA KID CASPER & THE COOKIES
ROOTS/AMERICANA Don Chambers The Corduroy Road Packway Handle Band
COUNTRY
HOOPDANCING
:
LAZER/WULF
AND MORE!
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! AVAILABLE AT SCHOOLKIDS RECORDS, THE MORTON THEATRE & THE FLAGPOLE OFFICE.
$7 ADVANCE • $9 NIGHT OF SHOW $3 WITH ATHFEST WRISTBAND
ATTENTION FINALISTS: 20
FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ JUNE 24, 2009
Colt Ford Kaitlin Jones and the County Fair Corey Smith
ROCK Dead Confederate Pride Parade Twin Tigers
POP Allison Weiss and the Way She Likes It Modern Skirts Venice Is Sinking
American Cheeseburger Chrissakes Pegasuses-XL
METAL The Dumps Harvey Milk Lazer/Wülf
TRIBUTE BAND Gimme Hendrix Pastor of Muppets Ziggy Stardust
SOLO PERFORMER Brock Butler Liz Durrett Madeline
UPSTART OF THE YEAR Gift Horse The Incredible Sandwich The Warm Fuzzies
BEST LIVE BAND The Corduroy Road Deaf Judges Of Montreal
BEST ALBUM Bloodkin: Baby They Told Us We’d Rise Again Dead Confederate: Wrecking Ball Modern Skirts: All of Us in Our Night
ALBUM COVER ART The Incredible Sandwich: The Incredible Sandwich EP Modern Skirts: All of Us in Our Night Of Montreal: Skeletal Lamping
MUSIC VIDEO Dead Confederate: The Rat Hope for Agoldensummer: 4th Night Venice Is Sinking: Ryan’s Song
BAND/PERFORMER OF THE YEAR Dead Confederate Modern Skirts Pride Parade Widespread Panic
Each finalist band receives a free pair of passes! Please contact Flagpole to get your passes. Call Alicia or Paul at 706-549-9523.
JASON THRASHER
OSCAR DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE…
BUT
PATTERSON HOOD
Patterson Hood of today is The not the same wild-eyed, hirsute rascal who once forewarned us about the sundry intentions of nine bullets at rest in his roommate’s gun. Or is he? Hood’s new solo release, Murdering Oscar (and Other Love Songs), may have even the most ardent Drive-By Truckers fan asking that question. Various life events have matured Hood as both a songwriter and human being since he relocated to Athens from Alabama in 1994. Still, much of …Oscar remains anchored by such essential Hood themes as murder, betrayal, regret and redemption marked by Hood’s unflinchingly gruff style, laced with copious amounts of gallows humor. But there’s also a more sedate, dare say, sweetheart of a man afoot among the wreckage. About five years back, Hood says he randomly unearthed an old cassette dated 1994 that contained early sketches of several songs since updated and refined for the new album. “Parts are certainly autobiographical, while others are not. In all, these songs are almost like sketches of very different eras in my life,” says Hood about …Oscar’s spliced genetic makeup. “The majority of it was written in
HAS BOTH FEET FIRMLY ON
MODERN GROUND
two big clumps beginning in ‘94, when I first moved to Athens. That was a big rebirth for me after coming out of a really dark period where I’d gone through a divorce and the band I’d been with for years had just split. I was looking through old tapes to see if there might be any ideas that could be updated for a Truckers record when I found one labeled Murdering Oscar (and Other Love Songs) with early versions of a lot of songs that actually ended up on this album of the same name. Many of them had really held up. But my life was so different at the time I started working on this album; it was almost like listening to someone else’s stuff. These autobiographical songs were about someone I really wasn’t anymore. I liked ‘em enough to where I was inspired to write sort of some answer songs that were more about where I was at the beginning of ’05 when I’d just recently married my wife, Rebecca, and our daughter was about to be born.” Like a seasoned crime novelist, Hood populates Murdering Oscar’s darker songs with men and women who aren’t squeaky clean angels, nor are they complete misanthropic devils. Most of the time, they hover somewhere in
between. Tracks like “Heavy and Hanging,” where a red-handed perpetrator is “fixing the alarm,” and the deceptive domestication of “Screwtopia” suggest how far one’s emotional strengths and weaknesses can vary to each extreme. Other times, as on the contentedly docile “Granddaddy,” Hood celebrates finally settling down into family life. Instead of extolling burning out and fading away with gnashed teeth as Neil Young once did, instead Hood matter-of-factly declares if that ever happens to him, “like everything else in my life, I’ll be running late.” “The way the songs are sequenced showcases an old song, then a new one right after it with a totally different viewpoint,” says Hood. For example, ‘Screwtopia’ and ‘Granddaddy’ couldn’t be more different. I think they’re both valid views and good songs. Fortunately, I feel more like the guy you hear about in ‘Granddaddy,’ these days, which is a good thing.” The band Hood employed for the longdelayed album greatly mirrors the current formation of the Truckers, with Mike Cooley, John Neff, Brad Morgan, Shonna Tucker and producer David Barbe, who Hood says was
“the glue that held the whole thing together,” making appearances alongside guests Will Johnson and Scott Danbom from Texas’ Centromatic, as well as Patterson’s father, Muscle Shoals Sound bassist David Hood. Much of that personnel, including Morgan, Neff, Barbe and the Centro-matic two will join Hood when he and The Screwtopians take the outdoor evening stage at AthFest. “It’s funny, because many of the musicians on this record ended up being in the lineup of the Truckers that we have now,” says Hood. “You have to remember this was originally planned to come out several years ago but, for music business reasons, it didn’t. Well, here we are four years later, me and my wife are expecting another baby, and the thing’s finally gonna come out!” Michael Andrews
WHO: Patterson Hood and the Screwtopians WHERE: AthFest Main Stage WHEN: Saturday, June 27, 9 p.m. HOW MUCH: FREE!
win
enjoy
ride
fat tire amber ale is brewed by new belgium brewing fort collins co JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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local, seasonal & sustainable food
BAR OPEN ALL DAY SATURDAY for ATHFEST!
serving stimulus sausages & veggies too!
SUNDAY BRUNCH 11-2, SUNDAY SUPPER 5:30-9:30
FULL MUSIC LINE-UP EVERY NIGHT BAR OPEN UNTIL 2am
255 w. washington street
(at the back of the courtyard next to Clocked Diner)
706.549.4660
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FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ JUNE 24, 2009
www.farm255.com
don’t miss OUR MUSIC EDITOR’S WEEKLY PICKS You’ve heard about all the stellar headliners, what about the best of the rest? Here are Flagpole’s picks! You can also follow us throughout the week via Twitter (www.twitter.com/FlagpoleMusic), and check our blog at www.Flagpole.com/Weekly/Homedrone for daily video uploads, photos and reviews!
curated by Team Clermont and acclaimed national music blog Aquarium Drunkard. Check Homedrone for our exclusive interview with AD founder Justin Gage. (Nuçi’s Space, 9:30 p.m.)
Reidl (ex-Macha), this band made its debut back in April with a performance on campus at the Ramsey Concert Hall. Reidl is joined by a number of other prominent local musicians, including Page Campbell of Hope for Agoldensummer. (Little Kings Shuffle Club, 10:30 p.m.) Quiet Hooves: This band often gets the “experimental” tag, but at their core, the tunes are really straightforward, lo-fi, pop ditties. It’s the unique, jingly-jangly instrumentation that really sets Quiet Hooves apart: toy
FRIDAY, JUNE 26 Twin Tigers: I had the privilege of sitting in at Chase Park Transduction Studio while Joel Hatstat worked his magic mixing the new Twin Tigers record. It sounds amazing: dreamy guitars, soaring vocals and loads of power. (Main Stage, 6:40 p.m.) Those Darlins: Yee-ha! Inspired by classic country crooners like Hank Williams and Loretta Lynn, these ladies write playful singalongs about wild Southern nights spent drinkin’ and raising hell. I missed their last show in Athens, but I’ll be damned if I let another slip by. Check out our record review on p.16! (Hull Street Stage, 7:20 p.m.)
Etienne de Rocher: With a smooth, sweet voice reminiscent of Elliott Smith, de Rocher sings lovely, delicate acoustic ballads. At his most adventurous, his songs also call to mind Destroyer or Beck. He’ll be backed tonight by Ben Mize (Counting Crows), Chris Sugiuchi (Ham1), and Joe Attaway. (Little Kings Shuffle Club, 9:30 p.m.)
Circulatory System: E6 fans are trembling in their Converse hightops just waiting for this band’s sophomore release to finally hit the streets! Signal Morning has been eight years in the making, but the band, which features former members of Olivia Tremor Control, is finally back in action. A small show at Farm 255 a few weeks ago marked the live debut of a number of new tracks, and they sounded Circulatory System great—expansive strings, surprising melodic twists and turns, and Will Cullen Hart’s expressive, distinctive vocals. The lineup at Nuçi’s tonight—which also includes Liz Durrett and Modern Skirts—was
Showtime: This is the brand new band fronted by celebrated local hip-hop artist Elite Tha Showstoppa! The group features “Gimme Hendrix” on lead guitar, and early reports say the group has a funky, Parliament-esque sound. (Wild Wing, 10 p.m.) ‘Powers: If you see only one band this week, this should be it. ‘Powers offers an experience unlike any other band in town: four guitarists set up with raised amps in the corners of the room. The drummer and the audience stand in the center. What follows is a surround-sound, quadrophonic mind-fuck that requires exceptional precision and accuracy to execute. In fact, if you love shredding, just park it at the 40 Watt for the rest of the night and enjoy everything that Hello Sir Records has to offer. Also on the bill are Cinemechanica, A. Armada and Pegasuses-XL. (40 Watt Club, 10:15 p.m.) The Agenda: Another awesome reunion show! These guys blew up on the scene around 2002, and I remember them ruling the 40 Watt stage opening for The Faint. Screaming, repetitive vocals with lyrics like “CRASH! CRASH!” It’s all electricity and energy... It’s fun! (Ciné, 10:15 p.m.)
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The Agenda Puddin’ Tang: Ask me again, and I’ll tell you the same: this band will put a smile on your face and a bounce in your step with its lighthearted garage-rock soul! Psst, here’s a little secret: the band is playing another show during AthFest under another name… (Farm 255, 10 p.m.)
KELLY RUBERTO
The Gold Party: Debut show! I’ve been hearing murmurs about this band for some time and, being a fan of all of the members’ former projects, I am super psyched to hear what’s in store. The Gold Party evolved out of a remix that Dan Geller (Ruby Isle, I Am the WTC) did of a song called “Discolite” by one-time Athens band Boulevard. After Boulevard called it quits, singer Benji Barton teamed up with Geller and local multi-instrumentalist Brian Smith to form The Gold Party. Expect a Britpop meets new wave type of vibe. (Go Bar, 9 p.m.)
numbers. The group reunited in 2005 and have a new record, White Mountain, on the way! (The Melting Point, 7:30 p.m.)
piano, banjo, accordion, violin and a lot of heart. (Farm 255, Midnight) We Vs. the Shark: Noisy, erratic and innovative, there’s no telling what’s next for We Vs. the Shark. After months of international touring, the Shark has decided to take a break to re-work… everything. This will be the group’s last show for a while, until it reemerges with a new sound and, potentially, even a new name. Founding member Samantha Paulsen will join the group tonight for a set that reaches back to the band’s earliest material. (Morton Theatre, 12:30 a.m.) Casper and the Cookies: The delightfully eclectic new record, Modern Silence, is even more fun live! Electronic beats back wiry synth lines, charming harmonies and Beatles-esque dreamscapes. (Ciné, 1 a.m.)
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
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Wired Dance Music Festival: I’m cheating here because this one event is actually 20 artists in one! Starting at 4 p.m. and going until 2 a.m., Wired features an assortment of invigorating electronic artists and DJs from both Atlanta and Athens. (Blur, 4 p.m.–2 a.m.)
Our New Silence: This is the first club show for this experimental project featuring field recordings and modern reinterpretations of traditional Indonesian music. Led by Kai
Love Tractor: The lineup at the Melting Point tonight features all Athens luminaries—Flash to Bang Time, Time Toy, Five Eight and, of course, Love Tractor. All are highly recommended, but for the sake of space, let’s focus on Love Tractor. This group helped establish the Athens music scene in the ‘80s with its edgy instrumental
Hope for Agoldensummer: Always delightful, Hope for Agoldensummer is an Athens treasure, featuring gorgeous harmonies care of the sisters Campbell and earnest, heartfelt folk songwriting. (Flicker Theatre, 11 p.m.) Madeline and the White Flag Band: Madeline Adams is playing two shows during AthFest, one solo (Flicker on Friday) and one with her full band. You’ll probably fall in love with her either way… Madeline is one of Athens’ most promising songwriters, compared to the likes of Joni Mitchell and Karen Carpenter. Her woeful, tender ballads are beautiful and heartwrenching. (Go Bar, Midnight)
SUNDAY, JUNE 28 Lefty Hathaway & the Half Dozen Brass Band: You can catch Lefty doing an acoustic set with Betsy Franck at the Flagpole Awards, but this should be an even livelier performance. Backed by Athens’ preeminent New Orleans-style brass band, Hathaway will take you to the bayou and back with his funky rhythm-and-blues soul. (Main Stage, 1 p.m.) Betsy Franck & the Bareknuckle Band: Speaking of Betsy, she’s got her own set on the Main Stage, too! I’m always most impressed by her versatility. Her powerful pipes can sing the blues, wail country numbers or get funky on some wah-wah filled jams. (Main Stage, 2:20 p.m.) Mountain Music and Medicine Show: This award-winning, locally produced radio program has the feel of traditional old-time radio. While the show is based in Dahlonega, it’s taking a road trip to Athens this week! The event features live performances from The Packway Handle Band, The Solstice Sisters, Beverly Smith and Carl Jones. (Morton Theatre, 7:30 p.m.) Michelle Gilzenrat
JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK
Deadline for getting listed in the calendar is every FRIDAY at 5 p.m. for the issue that comes out the following Wednesday. Email calendar@flagpole.com.
Tuesday 23 EVENTS: Purrfect Pairings Wine Tasting (Earth Fare) An evening of wine tasting and food pairing with Chef Michael Perkins to benefit Cat Zip Alliance. 7 p.m. $20 suggested donation. 706-227-1717, www. catzip.org PERFORMANCE: Alison Buchanan (Church of the Advent, Madison) The British soprano star who has performed for the New York City Opera returns to the Madison Chamber Music Festival to perform American Civil War period works in the church that counted antisecessionist Joshua Hill as one of its first vestry members. Wine and cheese reception follows. 5:30 p.m. $25. 706-342-4743, www.mmccarts.org* PERFORMANCE: Cabaret Revue with Classic City Arts (Buffalo’s Southwest Café) An evening of ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and contemporary music by local cabaret performers Scott Earle and Amy Wright. 7:30 p.m. FREE! 706-354-6655 KIDSTUFF: Duct Tape Madness (Oconee County Library) Make wallets, bookmarks, purses, ties and more. Materials and instruction provided. Ages 11–18. 5:30–7 p.m. FREE! 706-769-3950 KIDSTUFF: Storytime (ACC Library) For ages 18 months to 5 years. 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 KIDSTUFF: We All Can Dance! (ACC Library) Listen to stories about dancing and do a little boogying with Kim James. 2:30 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 GAMES: Drunken Bingo (283 Bar) Great prizes and fun all night long. 10 p.m. FREE! 706-208-1283 GAMES: Locos Trivia (Locos Grill & Pub) All three Athens locations of Locos Grill and Pub (Westside, Eastside and Harris St.) feature trivia night every Tuesday. 8:30 p.m. FREE! www.locosgrill.com GAMES: Mo’s 8-Ball Tournament (Fat Daddy’s) Tuesdays. Win prizes! 7 p.m. 706-353-0241 GAMES: Movie Trivia (Ciné Barcafé) With drink specials and prizes every Tuesday. Sign up at 7:30 p.m. 8 p.m. FREE! www.athenscine.com
Wednesday 24 EVENTS: Through a Glass Darkly (Lamar Dodd School of Art) Dr. Janice Simon introduces the film, part of a summer series called “Ingmar Bergman’s Trilogy and ‘The Seventh Seal’: Questions of Faith and Spirituality in Film.” Sponsored by the Georgia Museum of Art. 7 p.m. FREE! www.uga.edu/gamuseum EVENTS: Young Mr. Lincoln (ACC Library) Screening of director John Ford’s fictionalized account of 10 years in the life of Abraham Lincoln
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(played by Henry Fonda) before he became known to the world. Part of the library’s Lincoln film festival. 7 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 PERFORMANCE: Drag Show (Blur) Come see what Chianti has up her sleeve in Kaos Entertainment’s weekly drag show. 10 p.m. $3. www. myspace.com/blurathens KIDSTUFF: Eatin’ with the Critters (Sandy Creek Nature Center, ENSAT) Bring a sack lunch for an hour of learning about “Past to Present.” For ages 3–5 with an adult. Call to register. 12:30 p.m. $0–$16 (scholarships available). 706-613-3615 KIDSTUFF: Puppet Show (Oconee County Library) “And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon,” based on the book by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel. 10:30 a.m. FREE! 706-769-3950 KIDSTUFF: Storytime (ACC Library) For ages 18 months to 5 years. 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 LECTURES & LIT.: Oconee Dems Book Group (Five Points Deli & More, Epps Bridge) Communitywide book group hosted by the Oconee County Democrats. This month: Janisse Ray’s Ecology of a Cracker Childhood. Newcomers from any county and of any political affiliation are welcome. 6 p.m. FREE! ppriest@charter.net, www. oconeedemocrats.org LECTURES & LIT.: “The Recession’s Impact on Children in the Welfare System” (UGA Tate Center, Room 138) Dr. Alberta Ellett and Lisa Plank discuss the economy’s impact on child abuse, neglect and the number of children entering foster care. 12:30 p.m. FREE! hagues@cviog.uga.edu GAMES: Bar Olympics (The Loft Dance Lounge) First night of the season. Compete in beer pong, flip cup, quarters, flong and more. Register your four-person team online. Teams must include at least two girls. Each player gets a Loft t-shirt. 10:30 p.m. $5 (for the season). www. loftofathens.com/barolympics.cfm GAMES: Rock Star Game Night (Wild Wing Café) Try your luck as a virtual musician! Every Wednesday. 9 p.m. www.wildwingcafe.com GAMES: Trivia (Willy’s Mexicana Grill) Play for prizes every Wednesday. 8–10 p.m. FREE! 706548-1920
Thursday 25 EVENTS: Flagpole Athens Music Awards (Morton Theatre) The 11th Annual Flagpole Awards will feature performances by Lazer/Wülf, Deaf Judges, Dead Confederate, Betsy Franck and Lefty Hathaway, Creepy, Casper and the Cookies and Art Rosenbaum, plus special guest presenters! 8 p.m. $7 (adv.), $3 (w/AthFest wristband), $9 (door). www.flagpole.com/awards
FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ JUNE 24, 2009
PERFORMANCE: Classic City Kings (Blur) Athens’ first and only drag king troupe puts on another show. 10 p.m. $3. www.myspace. com/blurathens KIDSTUFF: Read to Rover (ACC Library) Beginning readers in grades 1–4 read aloud to an aid dog. Trainer always present. 3:30–4:30 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 KIDSTUFF: Storytelling Concert (ACC Library) Local storyteller Donna Butler gets creative with fun folktales from around the world. 10:30 a.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 LECTURES & LIT.: Brian Jay Corrigan (Oconee County Library) The Georgia author will relate the story behind his first novel, The Poet of Loch Ness, talk about his upcoming novels and give tips on finding an agent and getting published. 7 p.m. FREE! 706-769-3950 MEETINGS: Clarke County Democratic Committee (Clarke County Courthouse, Grand Jury Room) Monthly meeting of the CCDC. Carol Porter, wife of Democratic gubernatorial candidate DuBose Porter, is the featured speaker. All interested persons are invited to attend. 6 p.m. FREE! 706202-7515 GAMES: Trivia (WOW Café & Wingery) Every Thursday. 706-543-5510
Friday 26 EVENTS: “Move to Improve” Block Party (Waddell Street, Between Paris St. and Minor St.) A block party in celebration of National Home Ownership Month featuring live music, a dunking booth, a moonwalk, hot dogs, face painting, workshops and more. 4–7 p.m. FREE! www.athenshabitat.com EVENTS: Sock Hop (Buffalo’s Southwest Café) Do the twist, shag and other popular dances of the ‘50s and ‘60s. Wear your poodle skirt, saddle shoes, penny loafers or peddle pushers to win a prize. Every Friday. 7 p.m. FREE! 706-354-6655 PERFORMANCE: Drag Night (Blur) The queens strut their stuff every Friday. Music by DJ Shine[y] before and after the show. 9 p.m. $5. www. myspace.com/blurathens PERFORMANCE: “Go Light Your World” (Young Harris United Methodist Church) Contemporary, high-energy worship program performed by The Joyful Noise Singers of Manassas, VA. 7–8 p.m. FREE! 706-549-6001 PERFORMANCE: The Julliard String Quartet (Madison-Morgan Cultural Center) America’s “First Family of Chamber Music” presents a program of works by Beethoven, Haydn and Mendelssohn. Reception follows. Part of the Madison Chamber Music Festival. 8 p.m. $25. 706-342-4743, www.mmccarts.org*
The Julliard String Quartet will play a classical program at the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center Friday, June 26. KIDSTUFF: Open Playtime (ACC Library) For children ages 1–3 with their caregivers. 10 a.m. FREE! 706613-3650 MEETINGS: Novel Journeys (Borders Books & Music) New group for fiction writers of all experience levels and genres. Meets second and fourth Friday of every month. 5 p.m. FREE! clonedturtle1@ hotmail.com
Saturday 27 EVENTS: Athens Farmers’ Market (Bishop Park) Buy fresh, locally grown organic produce, locally crafted goods and freshly baked breads. Live music, cooking demos and educational classes, too. Every Saturday. 8 a.m.–12 p.m. athensfarmersmarket.net EVENTS: Athens Health and Wellness Day (Bishop Park) Featuring massages, acupuncture sessions, demos and info provided by local health and wellness providers. 9 a.m.–12 p.m. FREE! 404326-2826 EVENTS: City Lights Downtown Festival (Downtown Commerce) Featuring arts and crafts vendors, farmers’ market, antique car show, kids’ zone, live music, fireworks and more. 8 a.m. to dusk. FREE! www. commercega.org EVENTS: Field Day (Nicholson Park, Nicholson, GA) For the culminating event of the nationwide celebration of Amateur Radio Week, the Athens Radio Club and the Northeast Georgia Amateur Radio Club give a public demo of their emergency
communication capabilities. June 27–28. FREE! www.emergencyradio.org EVENTS: Film Screening (Lighthouse Christian Fellowship, 100 Newton Bridge Rd.) Part of a series of Holocaust movies screened in observance of Holocaust Remembrance Month. 7 p.m. FREE! 706-244-5308 EVENTS: Henderson Avenue Tour with John Whitehead (Various Locations) Guided walking tour of historic Henderson Avenue, part of the Dearing Street National Register District. The homes include examples of Folk Victorian and Craftsman-style architecture. Limited to 25 participants. 10 a.m. $15. 706353-1801, www.achfonline.org EVENTS: Rummage Sale (Barx Bros., 335 Whitehead Road) Hosted by the Kitty Crusaders of Athens (KCA) and Pet Assistance and Welfare Society (PAWS) to raise money for spays/neuters, vaccinations, food and litter for homeless cats in the local area. Clothing, furniture, handmade gifts and more will be available. 8 a.m.–3 p.m. kittycrusadersofathens@gmail.com EVENTS: Summer Book Sale (ACC Library) Featuring thousands of bargain books. Hosted by the Friends of the Library. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. 706-613-3650 EVENTS: Voter Registration Drive (Downtown Athens, College Avenue) Sponsored by the Clarke County Democratic Committee. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. 706-369-1982 EVENTS: Zumba-Thon (Transmetropolitan) Zumba instructors from the Omni Club lead a
Zumba-Thon Dance Party featuring drink specials, food and raffle prizes. All proceeds benefit The Cottage, Athens’ sexual assault center. 6–10 p.m. Donations. 706-613-8773 PERFORMANCE: Camille SaintSaëns: The French Romantic (Lake Oconee Presbyterian Church) William Ransom, Christopher Rex, Yinzi Kong and Jessica Wu join Grammy Award-winning violinist William Preucil in a presentation of the music of Camille Saint-Saëns. 5 p.m. $20. 706-342-4743, www. mmcc-arts.org* THEATRE: High School Musical (Historic Elbert Theatre) Kids ages 10–16 from the Elbert Theatre Foundation’s camp present the popular Disney musical. June 27, 7 p.m. June 28, 2 p.m. $5. 706-283-1049 KIDSTUFF: Lap Puppet Show (Oconee County Library) The Big Bad Wolf, Peter Rabbit and others try to find jobs in “Storybook Characters Look for Work.” 11 a.m. FREE! 706-769-3950 KIDSTUFF: Splash-tastic Swim Day (Rocksprings Park) Giveaways, contests, prizes and more. 12–5:30 p.m. $1. 706-549-9046 KIDSTUFF: Storytime (Barnes and Noble) Every Saturday morning. 11 a.m. FREE! 706-354-1195 KIDSTUFF: Super Saturday Smackdown (Borders Books & Music) Square off in a game showstyle trivia challenge about your favorite books and authors. Ages 8–12. 2 p.m. FREE! 706-583-8647 MEETINGS: African-American Family History Research Group (ACC Library) Group for people who want to research their African-
NANA WATANABE
the calendar!
American roots. Co-sponsored by the Clarke-Oconee Genealogical Society. 1 p.m. FREE! 706-6133650, loutome@aol.com
Sunday 28 EVENTS: Field Day (Nicholson Park, Nicholson, GA) For the culminating event of the nationwide celebration of Amateur Radio Week, the Athens Radio Club and the Northeast Georgia Amateur Radio Club give a public demo of their emergency communication capabilities. June 27–28. FREE! www.emergencyradio.org EVENTS: Rummage Sale (Barx Bros., 335 Whitehead Road) Hosted by the Kitty Crusaders of Athens (KCA) and Pet Assistance and Welfare Society (PAWS) to raise money for spays/neuters, vaccinations, food and litter for homeless cats in the local area. Clothing, furniture, handmade gifts and more will be available. 8 a.m.–3 p.m. kittycrusadersofathens@gmail.com PERFORMANCE: “The Colors of Winds” (Steffen Thomas Museum, Madison) The museum provides artistic surroundings for the musical colors unique to the five wind instruments of the Atlanta Woodwind Quintet. Pre-concert discussion at 4 p.m. Part of the Madison Chamber Music Festival. 5 p.m. $25. 706342-4743, www.mmcc-arts.org* THEATRE: High School Musical (Historic Elbert Theatre) Kids ages 10–16 from the Elbert Theatre Foundation’s summer camp present the popular Disney musical. June 27, 7 p.m. June 28, 2 p.m. $5. 706283-1049 GAMES: Full-Contact Trivia (Allen’s Bar & Grill) “The lord of all that is trivia,” Bobby Nettles, commutes from Duluth, GA to pick your brain. Sports-themed rules with diverse categories. 9 p.m. FREE! www. allensbarandgrill.com GAMES: Team Trivia (Wild Wing Café) Every Sunday at Wild Wing! FREE! www.wildwingcafe.com
Monday 29 PERFORMANCE: LoftComedy. com Showcase (The Loft Dance Lounge) Featuring the best local and nationally touring comedians. Last Monday of every month. 9 p.m. $5 (21+), $8 (18+). www.loftcomedy. com PERFORMANCE: UGA Recital (UGA Ramsey Concert Hall) Julie Kang Harvey, piano. 3:35 p.m. FREE! www.music.uga.edu KIDSTUFF: Infant Storytime (ACC Library) 10:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 KIDSTUFF: Storytime (ACC Library) Bedtime stories. 7 p.m. FREE! 706613-3650 LECTURES & LIT.: Last Monday Book Group (ACC Library, Small Conference Room) This month’s book: Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. Newcomers welcome. 7 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 GAMES: Live Trivia (Buffalo’s Southwest Café) Every Monday with Trivia Joe. Lots of prizes available plus winning teams have a chance to qualify for a $200 cash prize. 8 p.m. FREE! 706-354-6655 GAMES: Ping Pong (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Get your paddle ready for a game of table tennis! 8:30 p.m. $5. www.myspace.com/flickerbar GAMES: Rock and Roll Trivia (Little Kings Shuffle Club) Get a team together and show off your extensive music knowledge every Monday! 8 p.m. FREE! www.myspace.com/littlekingsshuffleclub
GAMES: Sports Trivia (WOW Café & Wingery) Every Monday. 706543-5510. GAMES: Texas Hold ‘Em (Fat Daddy’s) Every Monday. 6 & 9 p.m. 706-353-0241. GAMES: Trivia (Taco Stand) Every Monday night at the downtown location. 9 p.m. www.thetacostand.com
Tuesday 30 EVENTS: Mental Health Awards Banquet (Milledge Avenue Baptist Church) State Representative Mickey Channell is this year’s keynote speaker. 6 p.m. $18. 706-549-7888, www.fightthestigma.com* ART: Opening and Sale (Earth Fare) Featuring cat art by Robin Fay, James Dean, Cecile Moore, Josh Payne, Cathy Dailey and more. Proceeds benefit the non-profit group Cat Zip Alliance. Wine and vegan refreshments. 6 p.m. FREE! 706-227-1717, www.catzip.org KIDSTUFF: Lap Puppet Show (ACC Library) “Go to Sleep, Gecko!”, a Balinese folktale adapted by Kim James from the book by Margaret Read McDonald. 2:30 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 KIDSTUFF: Storytime (ACC Library) For ages 18 months to 5 years. 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 LECTURES & LIT.: Book Signing and Reception (Taylor Grady House) For Frances Taliaferro Thomas’ A Portrait of Historic Athens and Clarke County. Books will be available for purchase, with 50% of proceeds going to support the Athens-Clarke Heritage Foundation. Space is limited. RSVP by June 24. 5:30 p.m. FREE! 706-353-1801 LECTURES & LIT.: Brown Bag Lunch: “Your Loved One is Slipping, Now What?” (ACC Library) Athens-Clarke County Probate Judge Susan Tate discusses guardianship and medical consent law. Feel free to bring a lunch to this 45-minute program. 12:15 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 MEETINGS: Athens Green Drinks (The Royal Peasant) The group’s first mixer is open to all who are interested in local green building, transportation and environmental sustainability. 6–8 p.m. FREE! www. athensgreendrinks.org GAMES: Drunken Bingo (283 Bar) Great prizes and fun all night long. 10 p.m. FREE! 706-208-1283 GAMES: Flicker Poker Night (Flicker Theatre & Bar) Last Tuesday of every month! 8:30 p.m. www. myspace.com/flickerbar GAMES: Locos Trivia (Locos Grill & Pub) All three Athens locations of Locos Grill and Pub (Westside, Eastside and Harris St.) feature trivia night every Tuesday. 8:30 p.m. FREE! www.locosgrill.com GAMES: Mo’s 8-Ball Tournament (Fat Daddy’s) Win prizes! Tuesdays. 7 p.m. 706-353-0241 GAMES: Movie Trivia (Ciné Barcafé) With drink specials and prizes every Tuesday. Sign up at 7:30 p.m. 8 p.m. FREE! www.athenscine.com
WWW. FLAGPOLE. COM
Wednesday 1 EVENTS: Winter Light (Lamar Dodd School of Art) Dr. Janice Simon introduces the film, part of a series called “Ingmar Bergman’s Trilogy and ‘The Seventh Seal’: Questions of Faith and Spirituality in Film.” Screens at 7 p.m. FREE! www.uga. edu/gamuseum KIDSTUFF: Imitation Ocean (Bishop Park) Explore the pool’s underwater wonders and swim with the fish. 11 a.m.–12 p.m. & 3–5 p.m. $3. 706-613-3580
JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ JUNE 24, 2009
Skate Shop
Wednesday, June 24
The Constellations, SolShakr
O F AT H E N S
Rye Bar
It would be easy to crack a joke about The Constellations being the brightest stars in the Atlanta music scene. The band is, after all, comprised entirely of members of wellknown Atlanta bands, and the sound is sort of along The Constellations the hip lines of Beck meets Gorillaz with sex appeal to spare. Yes, it would be easy—easy and silly. But since front man Elijah Jones isn’t afraid to break that one out, no one else should be, especially considering it’s not far from the truth. “We’re all basically members of different bands in Atlanta,” Jones says. “So, the idea of the project, The Constellations, is that stars combine to form constellations, with each band member being a star.” The Constellations, at nine members strong, features musicians from Snowden, Ocha La Rocha, Second Shift and others. The single, “Felicia,” from their record, Southern Gothic (produced by Ben Allen of Gnarls Barkley fame, with songs featuring Cee-Lo and Asher Roth), has been in rotation on Atlanta radio station 99X. It’s a funky, keyboarddriven romp complete with a video depicting Jones as a geeky photographer who nonetheless scores a bevy of hotrod pin-up beauties. And the scoring bit is about right. If one thing’s for sure, it’s that The Constellations aren’t hurting for sexiness, and their high-wattage live shows won’t disappoint those looking for a sweaty good time. There’s a palpable energy in the air when these nine take the stage, and like the original intent of the record, there’s no real game plan except to have fun. “I don’t know if we keep it together. We just do it,” Jones says. “That’s part of the energy of the group. With that energy, you can’t be in a bad mood.” [Jennifer Gibson]
THE CALENDAR!
continued from p. 25
KIDSTUFF: Storytime (ACC Library) For ages 18 months to 5 years. 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 LECTURES & LIT.: “Abraham Lincoln: Growth to Greatness” (ACC Library) Dr. Emory Thomas, Professor Emeritus of History at UGA, discusses the growth Lincoln demonstrated in both his public and private life. 7 p.m. FREE! 706613-3650 LECTURES & LIT.: Clueless (Oconee County Library) Mystery book discussion group. This month’s featured title is In the Woods by Tana French. 7 p.m. FREE! 706-769-3950 GAMES: Rock Star Game Night (Wild Wing Café) Try your luck as a virtual musician! Every Wednesday. 9 p.m. www.wildwingcafe.com GAMES: Trivia (Willy’s Mexicana Grill) Play for prizes every Wednesday. 8–10 p.m. FREE! 706548-1920 * Advance Tickets Available
Down the Line ART: Walk and Talk (ATHICA) Hear the thoughts of the curators and artists of “Emerges III: Journeys.” 7 p.m. FREE! www.athica.org EVENTS: Star Spangled Classic 7/4 (Bishop Park) Featuring inflatables, old-fashioned family games, a dunking booth, children’s art activities, music and concessions. Culminates with the popular annual fireworks display. 6 p.m. FREE! 706613-3589 LECTURES & LIT.: “Emancipation: Lincoln’s Second Thoughts” 7/5 (ACC Library) Dr. Barry Schwartz, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at UGA, discusses Lincoln’s feelings of ambivalence about the Emancipation Proclamation. 3 p.m. FREE! 706613-3650 THEATRE: Fools (Athens Community Theatre) Town and Gown
Players present the romantic comedy by Neil Simon about a village in Ukraine whose people have been cursed with stupidity for 200 years. July 10–11 & 16–18, 8 p.m. July 12 & 19, 2 p.m. $18, $15 (students & seniors). 706-208-8696 EVENTS: Farmer for a Day 7/11 (Dancing Sprout Farm) Athens Locally Grown hosts third of six monthly tours highlighting the benefits of sustainable agricultural practices. Limited space, email to register. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. FREE! farmerforaday@gmail.com, athens. locallygrown.net EVENTS: Countdown to Kickoff 7/18 (UGA Football Practice Fields) Present and former UGA football players run drills, throw passes, play games, sign autographs and take pictures with fans. Proceeds benefit local and regional children’s health care organizations. 3–6 p.m. $25. www.ugakickoff.com* EVENTS: The Art of: Cinema 7/21 (Ciné Barcafé) Explore the art of cinema and watch/discuss a specially selected movie. Part of GMOA’s “The Art of” Series. Call to RSVP. 6–8 p.m. $15. 706-542-0830, www.uga. edu/gamuseum * Advance Tickets Available
Live Music Tuesday 23 Caledonia Lounge 10 p.m. $5 (21+), $7 (18+). www.caledonialounge.com CATAWBA Local four-piece plays mellow indie rock informed by windswept Americana. THE HEAP Local indie-soul band that’s been praised by the likes of Violent Femmes and Kevn Kinney. Driven by funky bass guitar and husky bass vocals.
50 GAINES SCHOOL ROAD · 706.543.6368
ROMANENKO Local trio draws from ‘70s pop and folk with a modern rock edge, like Mary Timony fronting the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. THE STEREOFIDELICS With passionate vocals, organic harmonies and spontaneous instrumental creativity, the Stereofidelics draw on bluegrass, Latin and jazz for a lively sound that’s bigger than you might expect from just a duo. Fat Daddy’s 10 p.m. FREE! 706-353-0241 KARAOKE Huge karaoke dance party hosted by Lynn every Tuesday. Go Bar 10 p.m. www.myspace.com/gobar TRASHCANS Nate Mitchell of Cars Can Be Blue heads up this garagerock project that’s self-described as “lo-fi, blown-out scuzz punk.” LONNIE WALKER Singer-songwriter performs with friends to infuse poppy Americana and folk into his tunes. WEREWOLVES This is the band’s last show for a while with members going out of town and the rest of the group taking a break from the stage to finish recording its full-length. The band promises a number of special guests on stage tonight helping out with Werewolves’ quirky, upbeat pop. Little Kings Shuffle Club 10 p.m. FREE! www.myspace.com/ littlekingshuffleclub PUNK ROCK DANCE PARTY Every Tuesday! Hosted by Randy Smyre. The Melting Point 7 p.m. $3. www.meltingpointathens.com THE NEW FAMILIARS Soulful, moving folk ballads with a bluesy energy from the foothills of North Carolina. Part of the Melting Point’s weekly bluegrass series. Georgia Theatre Benefit! 9:30 p.m. $10. www.meltingpointathens.com DEAD CONFEDERATE With its moody, dark weaving of Southern rock and grunge, Dead Confederate k continued on next page
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THE CALENDAR!
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is quickly ascending in popularity across the nation and beyond. THE WHIGS One of Athens’ most treasured local rock bands of the moment, The Whigs have been busy in the studio as of late, preparing for the release of their third album. Expect classic rock riffs and enthusiastic sing-alongs led by Parker Gispert’s unmistakable snarl. State Botanical Garden of Georgia 7 p.m. $15. 706-542-1244 DODD FERRELLE AND FRIENDS Acclaimed local songwriter Ferrelle will be joined by David Van Wyk (cello and glockenspiel) and Noel Blackmon (guitar, mandolin). MODERN SKIRTS This piano-driven foursome has become one of Athens’ most treasured and acclaimed pop acts. Wild Wing Café 10 p.m. FREE! www.wildwingcafe.com KARAOKE Every Tuesday night at the downtown wing chain’s upstairs space.
Wednesday 24
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Proudly Presenting Athens’ July 4th Fireworks Celebration
macs • ipods • software • service • business solutions 1850 Epps Bridge Pkwy (across from Lowe’s) • 706-208-9990 peachmac.com • also in Augusta!
Tuesday, June 23 continued from p. 27
and sultry blues punctuated by fiddle, harmonica and guitar. LAMINATED CAT Local psychedelic pop band fluent in the absurd and eccentric. VAN*GLORIA Miami-based Van*Gloria cranks out Jamiroquailike vocals, guitar and house beats. Fat Daddy’s 10 p.m.–1 a.m. FREE! 706-353-0241 OPEN MIC Every Wednesday featuring Avery Dylan. Flicker Theatre & Bar 8:30 p.m. $5. www.myspace.com/ flickerbar AMERICAN CHEESEBURGER Athens four-piece that boasts former members of No!, Divorce and Carrie Nations, delivering rapid-fire, loud and aggressive old-school thrash rock. BUKKAKE BOYS Hardcore punk from Atlanta. Look for a split record with American Cheeseburger soon! HOT BREATH Thrash trio featuring members of experimental local acts Garbage Island and S.V.A. SMART COPS Punk rock from Italy!
Buffalo’s Southwest Café 8 p.m. FREE! 706-354-6655 LOUIS PELOT The guitarist/vocalist from local folk rock group Leaving Countries performs Wednesday nights in the Atrium.
The Globe 9 p.m. FREE! 706-353-4721 BOB LIVINGSTON Texas troubadour known best for his work with Jerry Jeff Walker and the Lost Gonzo Band. Livingston is sometimes called a “cosmic cowboy” due in part to his focus on the music and mysteries of other cultures.
Caledonia Lounge 10 p.m. $5 (21+), $7 (18+). www.caledonialounge.com DUSTY LIGHTSWITCH Described as “one of the most exciting and satisfying live bands in town” by our own Gordon Lamb, this revolving cast of local eccentrics delivers rock and roll with epic possibilites. THE IBILISI TAKEDOWN This Athens band plays energetic Southern rock
Gnat’s Landing 6 p.m. FREE! www.gnatslanding.net DAVE PRINCE This Athens staple and one-time member of The Jesters plays your favorite soul, rock and R&B oldies. Go Bar 10 p.m. www.myspace.com/gobar THE EXTRAORDINAIRES Kooky, spirited pop that rightly cites The Muppet Show as a key influence.
MOUSER Colby Carter (vocals, guitar) and his expanding gang of backing musicians play efficient and exuberant garage-pop songs that suggest a willingness to experiment, working through noise jams to find the aggressive pop hiding behind. Harry Bissett’s Bayou Grill 6 p.m. FREE! 706-552-1193 THE BIG DADDYS Clarence Young (Rack of Spam, The Jesters) teams up with Bill Pappas, Kenny Head (The Georgia Satellites), Tim Pritchett and Chris Hillsman to turn out some good-time Southern rock tunes. Locos Grill & Pub 8 p.m. FREE! www.locosgrill.com NATHAN SHEPPARD & MATT MCKINNEY Lead songwriter and guitarist for The Incredible Sandwich Matt Mckinney joins local acoustic guitarist-harmonicist Nathan Sheppard, best known for his emotive singing style and his modern reworkings of classic tunes, from Dylan and Neil Young to Van Morrison. The Melting Point 8:30 p.m. www.meltingpointathens. com* ASHUTTO MIRRA This alternative rock quartet features members of alterna-soul group The Revival. LEADING EDGE The local band formerly known as Mudra has gotten a bit more upbeat since the name change - channeling alternative rock and pop sounds from across the decades. The Office Lounge 9:30 p.m. FREE! 706-549-0840 KARAOKE Every Wednesday with Stan. Rye Bar 10 p.m. $5. www.myspace.com/ryebarathens* THE CONSTELLATIONS This Atlanta band plays a psychedelic blend of
Friday, June 26
Dex Romweber Duo, All Night Drug Prowling Wolves, Still, Small Voice and the Joyful Noise, Magnum Force 40 Watt Club
Dex Romweber should be well known to locals. As Dex Romweber Duo front man of the Flat Duo Jets, he was one of a handful of rockers who, in the ‘80s, helped to cement Athens’ spot on the musical map with a wild performance in the documentary Athens GA: Inside/Out. Since then, he’s gone through being the guitar-wielding half of the Duo Jets to being a prolific soloist. Now he’s back to a twosome as the Dex Romweber Duo, with his sister Sara on drums. And somewhere along the way he inspired the White Stripes and nearly every other garage-rock duo out there. Despite it all, he’s not a big name outside serious music circles. But with friends like Neko Case, Cat Power and Exene Cervenka working with him, Jack White pushing him and recent tour mates the Detroit Cobras squarely in his corner, that may soon change. “I think sometimes we draw people ourselves, but it’s very hard for me to distinguish who’s a Cobra fan and who’s a Romweber Duo fan,” he says of the recent tour. “We did a tour of just ourselves before we went on this Cobras tour, so maybe next time around we’ll have bigger crowds.” The Duo has been in existence about two and a half years and hasn’t wasted any time. The debut record, Ruins of Berlin, was released in February, and the newly released 45 with Jack White, The Wind Did Move, is on White’s Third Man label. The band’s planning deserved time off soon, so catch its headlining show at the 40 Watt on June 26. Otherwise, the next chance to see DRD may involve a trek to Atlanta. [Jennifer Gibson]
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soul rock with hip-hop flourishes. The latest record, Southern Gothic, was produced by Grammy-winner Ben H. Allen (Gnarls Barkley). SOLSHAKR Brand-new rock powertrio from Atlanta.
Thursday 25 40 Watt Club AthFest After-Awards Party. 10 p.m. $5, FREE! (w/Flagpole Awards ticket). www.40watt.com DJ MAHOGANY Freaky funk, sultry soul, righteous R&B, and a whole lotta unexpected faves as DJ Mahogany dips into his enormous bag of goodies from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. VERY DISCO: A DAFT PUNK TRIBUTE Featuring the DJ wizardry of Immuzikation, this tribute act will turn the 40 Watt into a full-on rave dance party explosion. Alibi 9 p.m.–1 a.m. FREE! 706-549-1010 “STAN’S ALMOST FAMOUS KARAOKE” Karaoke lady Lynn is your energetic host for the night. Every Thursday. Allen’s Bar & Grill 6:30 p.m. FREE! www.allensbarandgrill. com JON PENLAND This acoustic singersongwriter from Toccoa, GA is influenced by artists like Switchfoot, Creed and Jack Johnson. He has a “rare comfortableness in front of a crowd” thanks to years performing at his church. Caledonia Lounge 10 p.m. $6 (21+), $8 (18+). www.caledonialounge.com THE ICE CREAM MEN Van Halen covers all night long. POWERLOAD AC/DC tribute band. SUPERNAUT This Black Sabbath cover band features members of guitar-reverent local acts Maserati, Cinemechanica, Producto and 300 Cobras. Farm 255 11 p.m. FREE! www.farm255.com BELLYACHE Brothers Austin and Caleb Darnell play rousing and raw country and blues originals with harmony vocals, backed by acoustic guitar, upright bass and singing saw. JUMPIN’ JESUS CHRISTERS Lively Appalachian-style string band composed of local musicians. Fat Daddy’s 9 p.m. FREE! 706-353-0241 HIP HOP NIGHT The second Hip Hop Night kicks off with local groups Grade A, Natural Breed and C.C.T. Flicker Theatre & Bar 10 p.m. $5. www.myspace.com/ flickerbar MELISSA COLBERT You’ve seen Colbert strut her stuff in local bands Creepy and Everybody Everybody. Don’t miss her always energetic performances and rich, powerful vocals. HOLA HALO Sparkling keys, heavenly vocals and crunchy ‘70s guitar riffs drive this melodic local act. ROMANENKO Local trio draws from ‘70s pop and folk with a modern rock edge, like Mary Timony fronting the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. T. T. MAHONY AND THE STANDARD 8 “Ricky Nelson swirled with a pinch of Devo. Add Eddie Money and The Dead Kennedys to taste,” says the MySpace page of this local, snappily dressed band which plays croony “originals and cover songs that harken back to the early days of rock and roll.”
Girasoles 6–9 p.m. FREE! 706-310-0410 SONNY GOT BLUE Local jazz group featuring James Goodhand (bass), George Davidson (tenor sax), Andrew Murdison (trumpet) and Karl Friday (drums) plays swing and Latin jazz standards for the dinner crowd every Thursday. The Globe 10 p.m. FREE! 706-353-4721 CANDY MALDONADO New local band whose debut EP, Me to Your Right, Like Meteorite, features airy, mostly instrumental numbers punctuated by unpredictable rhythms and jangly guitars. GLEEMONEX Self-proclaimed “flashin’ booby space rock” featuring members of Commander Chameleon and Olympus Mans. This will be the band’s first ever show! Gnat’s Landing 6 p.m. FREE! www.gnatslanding.net DREW DIXON This UGA student plays classic blues licks with a lot of soul. Go Bar 11 p.m. www.myspace.com/gobar “DR. FRED’S KARAOKE” Hosted by karaoke fanatic John “Dr. Fred” Bowers, every Thursday, following the live music. YFF Magazine Launch Party. 8 p.m.–11 p.m. FREE! www.myspace.com/ gobar DJ BALLET Kim Kirby tears it up in the DJ booth bringing you the Brit pop hits you know and love and introducing you to the Euro dance hits so often featured in early National Lampoons films. Think Raff, Den Harrow and anything not techno from Ibiza. Little Kings Shuffle Club 10 p.m. FREE! www.myspace.com/ littlekingsshuffleclub DJ OVOR DJ Other Voices, Other Rooms presents “Dub Housing,” a night of rocksteady, dub, dancehall, jungle, and dubstep celebrating soundsystem culture. SUPERCLUSTER Local “Appalachian Wave” band that just finished recording a new full-length that will be distributed by Secretly Canadian later this fall. Friends Heather McIntosh (Elf Power) and Jason NeSmith (Casper and the Cookies) will assist at the show and also appear on the new album. The Max Canada 10:15 p.m. FREE! 706-254-3392 CHIP MCKENZIE AND JEF WHATLEY Members of Still, Small Voice and the Joyful Noise perform as a duo. The full band will play AthFest on Friday at the 40 Watt. GARBAGE ISLAND The challenging, interesting Athens improvisational group soldiers on despite lineup shifts. Loud, metallic and edgy, the band dips into krautrock and progressive thought, earning it the “experimental” tag. HOLY LIARS This local four-piece tends towards blue-collar rock, not unlike more polished early Uncle Tupelo or the cow-punkier moments of Social Distortion. RETRIC Ryan Hetrick is backed by a revolving cast of local musicians ranging musically from old school rock, bluegrass, acoustic and punk. The Melting Point 8 p.m. $7 (adv.), $10 (door). www. meltingpointathens.com* NATIONAL SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND In this showcase of singer-songwriters, Bill Mallonee, Mary Bragg, Erick Baker and Jedd Hughes will play two sets in the round.
No Where Bar 11 p.m. 706-546-4742 3 FOOT SWAGGER Local band featuring musicians Dave Cardello, Jake Cohen, Scott Lerch, Charlie McCoy and Jeff Reusche. The Swagger plays dynamic, high-energy rock and roll with a lot of funk. DJ TRIZ Local talent performs his brand of electro-turntablism, blending original compositions with an array of electronica/hip-hop/house/ funk/D&B and dubstep. The Office Lounge 6 p.m. 706-546-0840 JOANNE PARKS TIDWELL This singer-songwriter from Jackson, MS covers all the classics plus some new popular music in her own style. RPM 10 p.m. FREE! 706-543-0428 SQUIRRELHOUSE This Tuscaloosa band reinterprets psychedelic and new wave-influenced sounds through distant guitar and bass, energetic drumming and tender bells and horns. Rye Bar 10 p.m. www.myspace.com/ryebarathens JON MARK THOMS Local singersongwriter plays acoustic guitar folk with a Christian message. He is joined by friends USA, Los Novios and Harry Day & Co. Tasty World Uptown 10 p.m. $5. www.tastyworld.net REEKS OF FAILURE This three-piece punk band takes its cues from bands like Bad Religion, Jawbreaker, Minor Threat, The Descendants and Face to Face. THE PLAGUE One of the original Athens punk bands formed in the ‘80s, The Plague was revitalized in 2005 and continues to tear it up with dark, angular rock. Terrapin Beer Co. 5:30 p.m. www.terrapinbeer.com TENT CITY This local four-piece fuses elements of jazz, funk, blues and world music. The band says, “Come prepared to boogie!” Wild Wing Café 9 p.m. FREE! www.wildwingcafe.com NAPOLEON SOLO This multitasking one-man rock band handles it all.
Friday 26 Club Chrome 9:30 p.m. FREE! 706-543-9009 THE DANIEL LEE BAND Countrytinged Southern rock based just outside of Athens in Bethlehem, GA. Fat Daddy’s 9 p.m. FREE! 706-353-0241 ELECTRIK EELZ Veteran Athens musicians Wade Hester, Chris Hampton and Matt Donaldson play party rock, pop, funk and even some blue-eyed soul classics with a lot of surprises thrown in. Gnat’s Landing 7 p.m. FREE! www.gnatslanding.net TJ MIMBS This local acoustic singersongwriter plays melodramatic pop in the vein of Dave Matthews. Highwire Lounge 9 p.m. FREE! 706-583-8510 KENOSHA KID Pirates sailing the high seas of musical chance, Kenosha Kid dances nimbly from one musical source to another and is hard to pinpoint as anything other than “great music with improvisation.” These two sets will feature Dan Nettles on guitar, Robby Handley on bass, and Marlon Patton on drums.
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Saturday, June 27 & July 18 -ELVIS! July 25 & 26 - Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre Mondays - Trivia Fridays - Sock Hop
196 Alps Rd. • 706.354.6655
JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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THE CALENDAR! No Where Bar 10 p.m. 706-546-4742 STEWART & WINFIELD Low Country drawlin’ Athens songcraftsmen Stewart Marshall and Winfield Smith are vets of the Athens rootsrock scene, turning out tuneful, easy-going hits, one after another. The Office Lounge 8 p.m. 706-546-0840 CARLA LEFEVER & THE RAYS LeFever and her band play dance tunes, sweet pop, classic rock and originals. Sideways 11 p.m. FREE! www.myspace.com/ sidewaysbar DJRX Brian G. delivers his own original mixes of current pop and dance with accents ranging from old-school to country.
6.24 • wednesdays
rock star game night 6.25 • thursdays
napoleon solo
6.26 • friday night rocks
athfest! live music all night! • leading edge • founder & the invisibles • rollin’ home 6.27 • saturday
athfest! live music all night! • showtime • ty manning & friends 312 E. Washington Street 706-227-WING (9464) wildwingcafe.com
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FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ JUNE 24, 2009
Terrapin Beer Co. 5:30 p.m. www.terrapinbeer.com OPERATION EXPERIMENTATION This Lawrenceville-based rock band plays bluesy jams with poppy vocals. Two Story Coffeehouse 8–10 p.m. $5. www.twostorycoffeehouse.com KATE MORRISSEY Best known throughout this corridor for her dark velvet voice whose range and control stands on its own, Morrissey’s songwriting is literate and sincere, and her conversational live shows come punctuated with an off-beat sense of humor. She is accompanied by upright bass and jazz drums. WUGA 91.7 FM 4 p.m. FREE! www.wuga.org “IT’S FRIDAY!” One L and Packway Handle Band will perform on the local radio station’s weekly program. University Cable Channel 15 will also broadcast the show.
Saturday 27 Alibi 9 p.m. FREE! 706-549-1010 DJ J.R. SUPERSTAR Spinning fresh country and classic rock every Saturday! The Athens Farmers Market 10 a.m. FREE! www.athensfarmersmarket.net WITHOUT PEARLS Professors Lew Allen, Bob Fecho and Janette Hill from the UGA College of Education get together to play covers and originals with a focus on strong harmonies, alternative country and folk. 8 a.m. FREE! www.athensfarmersmarket.net REPENT AT LEISURE Traditional Celtic tunes. Fat Daddy’s 9 p.m. FREE! 706-353-0241 ELI CARLAN BAND Bluesy Southern rock out of Commerce, GA, tearing through tunes from the ‘50s up to today’s country hits. Gnat’s Landing 7 p.m. FREE! www.gnatslanding.net TONGUE N GROOVE The acoustic trio plays lively originals and classic acoustic rock covers. Lansdowne Road Irish Pub 10:30 p.m. 706-208-3682 HARP UNSTRUNG This local act gives melodic alternative rock a bluesy, Southern twist.
Friday, June 26 continued from p. 29
The Manhattan Cafe 9 p.m. FREE! 706-369-9767 CONNELLY CROWE BAND This young band features the rich, vibrant and velvety vocals of Connelly Crowe. She’s backed by fellow high school students Lewis Jones (guitar, drums) and Gus Boyd (bass) who play a soulful kind of acoustic-driven rock. They’ll be joined by special guest Davis Causey on guitar.
performs his brand of psych-pop, drawing heavily from quirky sensibilities of ‘80s alternative rock. The Melting Point 7 p.m. $5 (adv.), $7 (door). www.meltingpointathens.com ATHENS LATIN JAZZ QUINTET
ON WONDERFUL JONATHAN No info available. REPTAR Young rock trio influenced by acts like Animal Collective and Talking Heads. Reptar plays uptempo punk/funk with choppy guitar licks, melodic drumming and electronic loops and sound washes.
No Where Bar 10 p.m. 706-546-4742 THE ADAM PAYNE BAND Local musician Adam Payne’s impressively versatile tenor is somewhat reminiscent of Neil Young’s nasal delivery. Payne writes songs with a lot of heart - the kind of tunes that can either make you tear up or laugh out loud. ADAM PAYNE Two Adam Paynes playing Bloodkin is playing the AthFest Main Stage on Saturday, June 27 at 7:50 p.m. tonight! The first is a singer-songwriter An all-star lineup of seasoned, loWild Wing Café from Massachusetts playing good cal musicians playing aggressive, 10 p.m. FREE! www.wildwingcafe.com humored neo-soul. percussion-driven Latin jazz that KARAOKE Every Tuesday night at draws from Afro Cuban, Brazilian, the downtown wing chain’s upstairs The Office Lounge and Afro-American musical tradispace. 9 p.m. 706-546-0840 tions. The band features Rand Lines S.O.B. BLUES BAND Covering on piano, Ryan “Manito” Wendel WUOG 90.5FM blues from the ‘70s and beyond. (Grogus and One L) on congas, 8 p.m. FREE! www.wuog.org Dusty Brown (Grogus) on vibra“LIVE IN THE LOBBY” Sailor Raw/Xhale phone, Preston Smith (One L) on Dawn will perform on the college 11 p.m. 335 E. Clayton St. bass and Philip Mayer (Rand Lines radio station’s weekly program feaDJRX Brian Gonzalez delivers his own Trio, Carl Lindberg Trio, Grogus) turing local artists. original mixes of current pop and on drums. dance with accents ranging from old-school to country. Tasty World Uptown 10 p.m. $5. www.tastyworld.net Terrapin Beer Co. 40 Watt Club AVARIA This Augusta-based band’s 5:30 p.m. www.terrapinbeer.com Georgia Theatre Presents. 9 p.m. $15 upbeat power pop that doesn’t fall far MARK DAY No info available. (adv. at School Kids), $20 (door). from Fall Out Boy’s Cork Tree. www.40watt.com* BLUESWATER BRIDGE Local rock THE GRENADINES Sweet, intimate outfit inspired by classic Southern lyrics pour out of The Grenadines’ rock and blues. ambient psych-pop and sultry girlFarm 255 EDDY SHIN TRIO Local power trio boy vocals. 10 p.m. FREE! www.farm255.com expands Eddy Shin’s acoustic ideas HEARTLESS BASTARDS THE HEAP Local indie-soul band into bluesy rock numbers informed Cincinnati’s Heartless Bastards play that’s been praised by the likes of equally by pop and jazz. Think along distorted, mellowed out garage rock Violent Femmes and Kevn Kinney. the lines of John Mayer, Eric Clapton that features the Grace Slick-like Driven by funky bass guitar and or edgier singer-songwriters. vocals of Erika Wannerstrom. husky bass vocals. JENNY LEWIS Rilo Kiley singer KINKY WAIKIKI Featuring members breaks off into her solo act where of Kenosha Kid, Birds+Wire, Big C she spins sweet reveries with razorand the Ringers, Vigilantes of Love Fat Daddy’s sharp wit. and Pride Parade, this group plays 10 p.m. FREE! 706-353-0241 modern arrangements of traditional KARAOKE Huge karaoke dance party Fat Daddy’s Hawaiian music, with a little Western hosted by Lynn every Tuesday. 10 p.m.–1 a.m. FREE! 706-353-0241 swing thrown in the mix. Call it steel OPEN MIC Every Wednesday featurguitar cocktail music. Little Kings Shuffle Club ing Avery Dylan. 10 p.m. FREE! www.myspace.com/ Jot ‘Em Down Country littlekingshuffleclub Gnat’s Landing Store & BBQ PUNK ROCK DANCE PARTY Every 6 p.m. FREE! www.gnatslanding.net 3 p.m. FREE! 706-549-2110 Tuesday! Hosted by Randy Smyre. DAVE PRINCE This Athens staple THE R.I.B.S. With energetic and one-time member of The Jesters Southern and classic rock originals The Melting Point plays your favorite soul, rock and and covers, this band hopes to “in7 p.m. $3. www.meltingpointathens. R&B oldies. spire redneck behavior.” com* BEVERLY SMITH AND CARL Harry Bissett’s Bayou JONES The artists in this bluegrass Grill duo harmonize their voices, guitars 6 p.m. FREE! 706-552-1193 Ciné Barcafé and banjos for a rootsy sound. KIP JONES TRIO Many of Jones’ 6–8:30 p.m. FREE! www.athenscine. tunes split between the reflective com No Where Bar acoustic territory of Harvest-era Neil OPEN JAZZ JAM Calling all jazz 10 p.m. 706-546-4742 Young and the country-infused rock musicians. Now you can join local ASHUTTO MIRRA This alternative of ‘80s-era Steve Earle. jazz group Sonny Got Blue every rock quartet features members of Monday for an open mic jam. Note alterna-soul group The Revival. The Melting Point the new location! 9 p.m. $5. www.meltingpointathens. Tasty World Uptown com Fat Daddy’s 10 p.m. $5. www.tastyworld.net THE BROS. MARLER Brothers Drew 9 p.m. FREE! 706-353-0241 COCO RICO This new local post-rock and Daniel Marler are currently conCHRIS NORMAN The artist behind trio performs over experimental centrating on bringing their brand new local act Necessary Bandwidth samples and beats. of Neil Young/Elliot Smith/Allman
Wednesday 1
Sunday 28
Tuesday 30
Monday 29
Bros.-influenced music to the people as an acoustic duo. LIONZ Southern jam-rock from Athens. The Office Lounge 9:30 p.m. FREE! 706-549-0840 KARAOKE Every Wednesday with Stan. * Advance Tickets Available
Down the Line 7/2 Gritz and Jelly Butter (Buffalo’s Southwest Café) 7/2 Sonny Got Blue (Girasoles) 7/2 Carla LeFever (Roadhouse) 7/2 The Additives / Colorful Quiet / Phillip Mitchell (Rye Bar) 7/2 Napoleon Solo (Wild Wing Café) 7/3 The Jack Burton / Nightingale News (40 Watt Club) 7/3 Gabe Vodicka & Roy Coughlin / Keven Gilbert (Flicker Theatre & Bar) 7/3 Isidro / Sandia (Rye Bar) 7/3 Sons of Sailors (The Melting Point)* 7/4 Greg Hester (Ashford Manor) 7/4 Kate Morrissey (The Athens Farmers Market) 7/4 Red White and Brewgrass Festival (The Melting Point)* 7/7 Punk Rock Dance Party (Little Kings Shuffle Club) 7/7 Karaoke (Fat Daddy’s) 7/7 Karaoke (Wild Wing Café) 7/7 Paul Lombard (The Melting Point)* 7/7 “Live in the Lobby” (WUOG 90.5FM) 7/8 Dave Prince (Gnat’s Landing) 7/8 The Bacups (Harry Bissett’s Bayou Grill) 7/8 Augusta Wind / Sunset Soundtrack (Rye Bar) 7/9 (Go Bar) 7/9 Live Jazz (Buffalo’s Southwest Café) 7/9 Hills Rolling (Terrapin Beer Co.) 7/9 Marcia Ball (The Melting Point) 7/10 Ted Scallan Band (Fat Daddy’s) 7/10 Redneck GReece (Jot ‘Em Down Country Store & BBQ) 7/10 Founder and the Invisibles (Rye Bar) 7/10 Kate Morrissey (Terrapin Beer Co.) 7/11 The Heap / Noot d’Noot (40 Watt Club)* 7/11 Harp Unstrung (Lansdowne Road Irish Pub) 7/11 DJ Mahogany (Little Kings Shuffle Club) 7/11 Harp Unstrung (Terrapin Beer Co.) 7/13 Lazy B and the Recliners (Ashford Manor) 7/14 The Broderick (Rye Bar) 7/14 Exception to the Rule (The Melting Point)* 7/15 The Cornerstone (Rye Bar) 7/15 Holy Liars / Lullwater (The Melting Point) 7/16 Eureka California / Idiot Slowdown (40 Watt Club) 7/16 Dirk Quinn Band (Terrapin Beer Co.) 7/16 Female Songwriters in the Round (The Melting Point) 7/17 The Deep Vibration / Eric Wilson and Empty Hearts / Kaitlin Jones / Radiolucent (40 Watt Club) 7/17 The Humms (Rye Bar) 7/17 Rachel O’Neal (Terrapin Beer Co.) 7/17 The Splitz (The Melting Point)* 7/17 Harp Unstrung (The Office Lounge) 7/18 Better Than Ezra / Tyler Hilton (40 Watt Club)* 7/18 The Ginger Envelope / Madeline (Little Kings Shuffle Club) 7/18 Ben and Kurt (Terrapin Beer Co.)
7/18 16 Tons (The Melting Point) 7/21 A. A. Bondy / Connor Oberst & the Mystic Valley Band (40 Watt Club)* 7/21 Dusty Lightswitch (Caledonia Lounge) 7/21 Hoot and Hellmouth (The Melting Point)* 7/22 The Donkeys / Magnolia Electric Company / Thousand Arrows (40 Watt Club) 7/23 Timber (40 Watt Club) 7/23 Free Lunch (Terrapin Beer Co.) 7/24 Adam Payne Band / Brad Downs & the Poor Bastard Souls / Theomataras (40 Watt Club) 7/24 Gunslinger / Jungol (Rye Bar) 7/25 The Jonesplan (Terrapin Beer Co.) 7/27 The Moaners / M.Ward (40 Watt Club)* 7/27 Grogus (Ashford Manor) 7/28 The Mudflapjacks (The Melting Point)* 7/30 Dangermuffin (Rye Bar) 7/30 Mercury Veil (Terrapin Beer Co.) 7/31 Jon Roniger (Terrapin Beer Co.) 8/1 Harvey Milk / Torche (40 Watt Club)* 8/1 Harp Unstrung (Go Bar) 8/4 The Incorrigible String Band (The Melting Point)* 8/7 Reigning Sound / The Thomas Function (40 Watt Club)* 8/10 Randall Bramblett (Ashford Manor) 8/14 Amy Ray / Von Iva (40 Watt Club)* 8/14 Monahan (Terrapin Beer Co.) 8/15 Celeb Stine (Terrapin Beer Co.) 8/15 Strawberry Flats (The Melting Point)* 8/18 High Strung (The Melting Point)* 8/20 Dave Howard (Terrapin Beer Co.) 8/21 The Suex Effect (Terrapin Beer Co.) 8/21 Abbey Road LIVE! (The Melting Point)* 8/24 Mama’s Love (Ashford Manor) 8/25 String Theory (The Melting Point)* 8/26 The Eric Culberson Blues Band (The Melting Point)* 8/27 The Hypsys / JazzChronic (No Where Bar) 8/27 Sam Bush Band (The Melting Point) 8/28 WILX (Terrapin Beer Co.) 8/29 Vinyl Strangers (Terrapin Beer Co.) 8/29 Francine Reed (The Melting Point) 9/3 Curley Maple (Terrapin Beer Co.) 9/7 Dirk Howell (Ashford Manor) 9/8 The Driftwood Band (The Melting Point)* 9/12 Will Hoge (40 Watt Club) 9/15 Smokey’s Farmland Band (The Melting Point)* 9/17 Bloodkin / Leon Russell (The Melting Point)* 9/18 John “JoJo”Hermann (The Melting Point)* 9/25 The Jesters (The Melting Point)* 9/29 The North Georgia Bluegrass Band (The Melting Point)* 10/2 Rack of Spam (The Melting Point) 10/6 Lonesome Traveler (The Melting Point)* 10/13 Steel String Session (The Melting Point)* 10/20 Tasty Tuesday (Tasty World Uptown) 10/20 Curley Maple (The Melting Point)* 10/27 Buck & Nelson (The Melting Point)* 11/3 The Drovers Old Time Medicine Show (The Melting Point) 12/22 Tasty Tuesday (Tasty World Uptown)
home ids • accessories • k
FIREWORKS SEE THE
JULY 4 AT
Homewood Village off Prince Ave. by Kingpins Enjoy BBQ & Beer Enj
while you watch the Athens Country Club and Bishop Park fireworks displays
706-612-9219 HarrysPigShop.com
* Advance Tickets Available
JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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DO SOMETHING; GET INVOLVED!
bit
Deadline for getting listed in Bulletin Board and Art Around Town is every THURSDAY at 12 p.m. Email calendar@flagpole.com. Listings are printed based on available space, more listings are online.
ART Call for Entries (The Classic Center) The Classic Center Cultural Foundation is accepting submissions through July 19 for free-form bicycle racks designed by artists. Winning racks will be installed on Hancock and Foundry streets. 706357-4417, www.classiccenter.com Call for Entries (ATHICA) Seeking work that addresses the embattled news media industry for upcoming "Free Press in Free Fall" exhibit (Sept. 19–Nov. 8). Deadline is July 6. See site for instructions. www.athica.org/callforentries.php Summer Photo Contest ACC Leisure Services seeks digital photos of summertime for upcoming exhibit. Entries accepted July 1–30. 706-613-3580
AUDITIONS Athens Rock Theatre (Call for location) Seeking performance artists, dancers and trapeze artists to perform in a fall production of "Hellfire Cabaret" with Mad Whiskey Grin. Contact Genie for more info. 706-338-7969, zen_motion@ hotmail.com
CLASSES Aging & Disability Resource Connection Seminar (ACC Library) Learn how to access free resource information for seniors, the disabled and caregivers. June 25, 1:30–2:30 p.m. FREE! 706583-2546 Aquatic Aerobics (Memorial Park) Low-impact exercise sessions with Kim Saxton on Saturdays (10
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a.m.), and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (6 p.m.). No preregistration necessary. $5/session. 706-613-3580 Archery for Beginners (Sandy Creek Park) Basic archery instructions for beginners with a strong emphasis on safety. Ages 10 & up. Pre-registration required. June 27, 10 a.m. $6. 706-613-3631 AWC Classes (Athens Wellness Cooperative) Offering community acupuncture sessions Wednesdays– Fridays from 1–5 p.m. ($25). Also, Yoga, Pilates, tai chi and salsa classes for adults and older teens. Full schedule online. $14/drop-in, $60/6 classes, $108/12 classes. 706-369-8855, www.wellnesscooperative.com Baby Signs Classes (Full Bloom Center) Workshop that teaches parents how to use the Baby Signs program at home (Aug. 1, 3–4:30 p.m. $55/person, $75/couple) and a 6-week Say & Play series where parents can practice signing with their babies (Saturdays, July 18–Aug. 22, 11–11:45 a.m. $130/child). 850653-5016, www.babysignsprogram. com/withtraceysummers Beaded Jewelry Workshop (Oconee County Library) Create original earrings with beaded jewelry. Hardware and beads provided. Pre-registration required. July 8, 7–8 p.m. FREE! 706-769-3950 "Beyond Memoir" (Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation) Poet and essayist Dana Wildsmith provides instruction on how to focus on the facts of your life in your writing without merely recording family stories. All levels are welcome. July 11, 18 & 25, 9 a.m.–noon. $150. 706-7694565, info@ocaf.com Booty Camp (Sangha Yoga Studio) A low-impact core fitness course led by Mary Imes. Tuesdays, 5:30–6:45
FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ JUNE 24, 2009
p.m. Fridays, 10:30–11:45 a.m. 706-613-1143 Bradley Method Natural Childbirth Classes (Various Locations) Call or email Bobbi Jean Singleton for details. 706-474-4126, bj@innerbodyworks.net Canning the Summer Garden (State Botanical Garden of Georgia) Brenda Beckham and BJ Garrett lead an intro to the pressure cooker method of home canning. Preregistration required. July 16, 2–4 p.m. $14. 706-542-6156, www.uga. edu/botgarden Clay Classes (Good Dirt) Weekly "Try Clay" class every Friday from 7–9 p.m. and "Family Try Clay" every Sunday from 2–4 p.m. ($20/ person). 706-355-3161, www.gooddirt.net Computer Class (ACC Library) "Introduction to Word." In the Educational Technology Center. Call to register. June 25, 7–8:30 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 Craft Classes (Main Street Yarns, Watkinsville) Offering instruction in knitting, crocheting, wheel spinning and more. Full schedule online. 706-769-5531, www.mainstreetyarns.com Creating More Prosperity and Abundance in Your Life (Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens) Laurie Hart leads the class in techniques such as EFT, dowsing and meditation. First and third Tuesday of every month. 7–9 p.m. $10. 706-5461107, hartlem@earthlink.net Earthen Building Intensive Workshop Series (Earthsong) Three-week course covering natural building philosophy, ecological design, cob construction, natural plasters and earthen floor construction. Focus will be placed on hands-on experience. Camping provided, veg-
Robyn Waserman’s photograph “Erebus, Terranova and Terror” is part of the “Emerges III” exhibit at ATHICA through July 19. etarian meals included. July 10–31. $2000. will@redclaynb.org, www. redclaynb.org, www.earthsong.cc Garden Jewelry (State Botanical Garden of Georgia) Learn to make beads, mirrors and pendants for your garden. All supplies will be provided to create two garden ornaments. Pre-registration required. July 9, 6:30–8:30 p.m. $27. 706-542-6156, www.uga.edu/botgarden Genealogy on the Internet (Oconee County Library) Learn how to research your family online using GALILEO, Heritage Quest and more. Limited to 7 people, pre-registration required. July 11, 2–3:30 p.m. FREE! 706-769-3950 Getting Started with Genealogy (ACC Library) Monthly informal class to walk you through the basics of researching family history. Bring a pencil and paper. In Heritage Room. July 16, 6–8:30 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 Intro to Publisher (Oconee County Library) Learn how to create items like note cards and invitations in this two-part class. Pre-registration required. July 9–10, 4–5:30 p.m. FREE! 706-769-3950 Intro to Word (Oconee County Library) Learn the basics of word processing. Pre-registration required. July 16, 2 p.m. & 4 p.m. FREE! 706-769-3950 Job Searching in a New Economy (Oconee County Library) Joey Freeman leads a job search seminar on the personal qualities and thinking skills needed to flourish in the new economy. July 16, 7:30 p.m. FREE! 706-769-3950 Maternity Aqua Shape-Up (Memorial Park) Aquatic aerobics class for expectant mothers. Saturdays, 11 a.m. $5/class. 706613-3580 MBI Classes (Mind Body Institute) Yoga classes for every ability level. Offerings include Therapeutic Yoga, Chair Yoga, Yoga for the Unbendable Man, Prenatal Yoga and more. Morning, afternoon and evening class times. 706-475-7329, www. armc.org/mbi Natural History of Georgia Plants (State Botanical Garden of Georgia) Led by Jim Hamrick, a professor in UGA's Department of
Plant Biology, the course will introduce students to the diverse natural vegetation of GA. Pre-registration required. July 15, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. $100. 706-542-6156, www. uga.edu/botgarden Open Art Studio (Art School, Watkinsville) Led by Tracy Jefferies. Participants work at their own pace, and instruction is provided as requested. Reduced fee if you bring your own supplies. Open to all experience levels. Tuesdays, 6:30–8:30 p.m. $175 for 8 classes (includes supplies). artschoolstreet@gmail. com, www.artschoolwatkinsville.com Reiki Clinic (Pangea Herbs) De-stress with a 15-minute reiki tune-up. June 27, 1–5 p.m. FREE! 706-549-6007 Tae Kwon Do & Jodo Classes (Live Oak Martial Arts) For kids and adults, beginner–advanced. Chase St. Warehouses, next to Canopy and ATHICA. Mondays–Thursdays, 3:30-8:30 p.m. 706-548-0077, www. liveoakmartialarts.com Tech Tips: Photoshop (ACC Library) Learn how to optimize photos and graphics for printing and uploading to the web. June 23, 12:15–1 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 Yoga Classes (Om Town Yoga, 190 Park Avenue) Ongoing classes with detailed asana instruction. Multi-class discounts. Mondays, 6:15 p.m. Wednesdays, 5:45 p.m. $10/drop-in. www.athensomtownyoga.com Yoga Classes (Sangha Yoga Studio) Gentle Yoga (Tuesdays, 12–1 p.m.) and Prenatal Yoga (Thursdays, 10:30–11:45 a.m.) led by Bobbi Jean Singleton. $14/ drop-in, $60/6-class punch card. bjm_js@bellsouth.net Yoga for Beginners (Athens Wellness Cooperative) Slower paced class accessible to people of all sizes, ages and fitness levels. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. $14/drop-in, $60/6 classes, $108/12 classes. www. wellnesscooperative.com Yoga Teacher Training (Rubber Soul Yoga Revolution Studio) 200hour training provided by the Vastu School of Yoga in early September that prepares students to be confident and competent instructors.
$100 tuition discount for students who register before the end of June. $1000. 561-723-6172, vastuyoga@ hotmail.com YWCO Classes (YWCO) Offerings include Belly Dancing, Triathlon Training, Pilates and Yoga. Full schedule online. 706-354-7880, www.ywco.org
HELP OUT! American Red Cross (Red Cross Donor Center, 3525 Atlanta Hwy.) This month all donors will receive coupons from local restaurants and be entered for a chance to win a cruise for two. 706-546-0681, www. redcrossblood.org Athens Farmers' Market Volunteers (Bishop Park) Looking for people willing to help out anytime between 6:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on any Saturday through Nov. 14. Volunteers usually get fresh vegetable donations from the farmers. marketmanager@athensfarmersmarket.net Become a Mentor (Boys and Girls Clubs of Athens) Volunteer one hour per week to make a difference in the life of a child. Training provided. 706-546-4910, mentor@ athensbgca.com, www.fflife.net Bike Recycling Program (Chase Street Warehouses) Join BikeAthens volunteers as they clean and repair donated bicycles for local service agencies. Bike repair skills a plus, but not necessary. Sunday, 2–4 p.m. Monday & Wednesday, 6–8 p.m. www.bikeathens.com Book Donations (Oconee County Library) Collecting gently used books for the library's annual fundraising book sale in September. Drop items at the library or call Pat Hallow, 706-310-0880, to arrange a pick-up. Foster Homes Needed (Athens Area Humane Society) AAHS is looking for dependable foster parents to take in cats/dogs for a limited time (often 2–4 weeks). Download an application at www. athenshumanesociety.org. foster@ athenshumanesociety.org Get Well Soon: A Day of Hope (Various Locations) Event in sup-
port of President Obama's National Health Care Day of Service on June 27. Call or email to volunteer as a medical care worker or comfort/relief worker, or to share your health-care story. 706-850-5896, info@abolishpoverty.us
KIDSTUFF Be Creative @ Your Library (ACC Library) Calling all young authors and illustrators. Seeking short stories to include in a book that will be added to the library's collection. Each child can submit one story up to four pages long. Participants will be invited to a book release party at the end of the summer. Ages 10 & under. Through July 30. FREE! 706613-3650 Belly Dancing Class (ACC Library) Clara Smith teaches the basics of belly dance. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a scarf to tie around your hips. Classes culminate in a live performance at the library's Teen Film Festival on July 25. Ages 11–18. Tuesdays, 2–3 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 Book Club (Oconee County Library) Rising 4th–6th graders are invited to participate in a Diary of a Wimpy Kid book club. Must register by July 1 at the circulation desk. July 6, 2 p.m. FREE! 706-769-3950 Creative Movement (Floorspace) Ongoing class for ages 3–5. Thursdays, 4:15 p.m. $40/4 classes. 706-850-5557, lisayaconelli@ yahoo.com Cyber Camp (Rocksprings Neighborhood Center) Learn basic computer skills, typing skills, Internet safety, the history of computers and take a trip to UGA to see one of the state's largest CPUs in action. Guest speakers throughout the week. Register by July 24. July 27–31, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. $11. 706613-3603 EcoCamp (Georgia Nature Center, Watkinsville) Summer day camp for ages 4–16. Kids learn about solar power, organic farming, carnivorous plants and green building while exploring over 100 acres of fern grottos, springs, creeks and waterfalls. Upcoming sessions: July 13–17 & July 27–31. $49–$199. 706-7691000, www.ecocamp.org Family Fishing Day (Sandy Creek Park) Basic instruction, equipment and guidance provided. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration required. July 11, 10 a.m. $4. 706-613-3631 Henna Hands (ACC Library) Learn how to apply temporary henna body art. Ages 11–18. Parents are encouraged to attend with their teen. Preregistration required. July 9, 2–4 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 Kids' Art Camps (Good Dirt) Now registering for summer art camps. Camps for the week of June 29–July 3: "Construction Production" (ages 4–6), "Animal Sculptures" (ages 7–10) and "Dinnerware" (ages 11 & up). Complete schedule info and registration forms at www.gooddirt. net. 706-355-3161 New Moon Summer Adventure Camps (Various Locations) Now accepting registration for summer camp that travels to different state parks and natural areas daily. Activities include hiking, swimming, boating and more. Fee includes all activities and travel expenses. July 13–17 & July 20–24, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. $150/ week. 706-338-2892, newmoonpreschool@gmail.com Pysanky Eggs (ACC Library) Learn the ancient Ukrainian art of Pysanky from Melody Ransom, an apprentice Pysanky artist. Students will deco-
rate eggs using wax and colorful dyes. Ages 11–18. Must attend both days. Pre-registration required. July 1–2, 2–4 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3650 Summer Academy at UGA (UGA Campus) UGA Center for Continuing Education is now registering for its week-long summer programs for ages 11–17. This year's offerings include Comic Book and Cartoon Art, Website Design, Film School, Mini Medical School and more. $149–$349. 706-542-3537, www. georgiacenter.uga.edu/summeracademy Summer Art Camp (Art School, Watkinsville) Painting and drawing camp for ages 6–13. All supplies and a snack provided. Family and multiple week discounts available. Also now registering for after-school program in the fall. July 13–17, 20–24, & 27–31, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. $130/week. 706-255-1344, www. artschoolwatkinsville.com Summer Stretch Camp (Full Bloom Center) Now registering for summer camp featuring children's yoga, arts, gardening and more. One week sessions (Monday–Thursday,
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.) throughout June and July. Ages 3–12. $120/ week. summerstretch@gmail.com Swim School (Bishop Park) Now registering for lessons for levels I–V taught by an American Red Cross Certified Water Safety Instructor. Pre-school and parent/tot classes also offered. July 7–23. $33. 706613-3589 Teen Art Contest (ACC Library) Any size and media (except sculpture) are accepted. Enter your three best pieces to be voted on by other teens. Prizes will be awarded to the top three. Through July 24. 706613-3650 Yoga Sprouts (Full Bloom Center) Fun, playful yoga for kids ages 2–6. Builds strength and flexibility while enhancing relaxation and confidence. Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m. $14/single class, $60/6 classes. 706-353-3373
SUPPORT Domestic Violence Support Group (Call for location) Dinner
ART AROUND TOWN ACC Library (Heritage Room Corridor) 2009 Congressional Arts Contest. Through June. “Forever Free: Lincoln’s Journey to Emancipation,” a new traveling exhibition that traces Lincoln’s transformation from an antislavery moderate into “The Great Emancipator.” Through July 10. (Top of the Stairs Gallery) “Absentminded Examiner,” an exhibit featuring work by Tyrus Lytton of the GA Fine Arts Academy. Through June. (Lobby) “River of Words,” an exhibit intended to stimulate kids’ imaginations through poetry and art. Through June 26. Antiques and Jewels “Athens Fine Art Gallery,” an exhibit featuring works by Mary Porter, Elizabeth Barton, Brandon Zinninger, Greg Benson, Jim StipeMaas, Taylor DuBeau, Judy Dudley O’Donnell and Susan Elizabeth. Through September. ATHICA “Emerges III: Journeys,” featuring Jennifer Desormeaux’s documentation of her running routines, Layet Johnson & Charles Westfall’s simulated ocean journey and Robyn Waserman’s large-scale color prints from her expedition to Antarctica. Robert August Peterson’s multimedia installation will be set up at ATHICA’s satellite space in the Bottleworks. Through July 19. Aurum Studio Artist Studio Sale featuring work by 19 local artists, including Margaret Agner, John Ahee, Shannon Candler, Leigh Ellis, Joe Ruiz, Margie Spalding, Joy Stanley, Lamar Wood and Chris Wyrick. Through June 26. Big City Bread Cafe Mosaic artwork by J. Elizabeth Wright. Through June. Ciné Barcafé An exhibit of posters highlighting drawings made by Art Rosenbaum of musical performers from the North Georgia Folk Festival from 1984 to the present. June 24–July 12. Elements Hair Salon Abstract paintings by Meg McConnell. Through August. Five Star Day Cafe—Eastside Paintings by Jim StipeMaas. Through June. Flicker Theatre & Bar “Letters from Emptiness,” featuring new paintings by David Hale. Through June. Good Dirt New work by Roger Jamison, Tiffany Whitfield, Rob Sutherland and Geoff Pickett. Through June. The Grit Music photography by Mike White and Jason Thrasher. Through July 12. Ice House Underground (Madison) Exhibit featuring landscapes by Sam Traina, abstract work by Shannon Candler and paintings inspired by Norse mythology by Liselott Johnsson. Through Aug. 22. Jittery Joe’s Coffee (Baxter St.) Paintings by Lauren Harrell. Through June. (Barnett Shoals Rd.) Psychedelic drawings by Gabriel Ricks. Through June. Just Pho…and More Acrylic paintings by Leslie Moody. Through July 30. Last Resort Grill Photography by John Griffiths. Through June. Lyndon House Arts Center A selection of needlework and a five-panel tapestry depicting flora, fauna and natural wonders of the U.S. that was cre-
begins at 6 p.m. and group at 6:30 p.m. Children are welcome for supper and childcare is provided during group. Call Project Safe hotline at 706-543-3331 for location. 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month in Clarke County. 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month in Madison County. 6–8 p.m. Emotional Abuse Support Group (Call for location) Demeaning behavior and hateful words can be just as harmful as punches and kicks. Childcare is provided. Call Project Safe hotline at 706-543-3331 for location. Wednesdays, 6:30–8 p.m. Mental Health Support Group (St. Mary's Hospital) Meets in the lobby conference room. Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. 706-7835706, www.athensmentalhealth.org
ON THE STREET ATHICA 4Lease (ATHICA) Dates available to use ATHICA's 4Lease space for summer parties, exhibits, etc. www.athica.org/4lease.php
ated over a period of 6 years by over 1,000 artists. Presented by the Dogwood chapter of the Embroiders’ Guild of America. Through July 18. “Light After Dark,” featuring a selection of dream-like landscapes by photographers Karekin and Ginger Goekjian. Through Aug. 15. A juried exhibition of works by members of the Southeastern Pastel Society. Through Aug. 15. Madison County Library Face jugs by Mudcat Pottery (Janice Hall and Pat Shields) of Danielsville. Through June. Madison-Morgan Cultural Center “The Houses of Madison: Pen and Ink Drawings,” featuring original works by Atlanta architect and artist Kemp Mooney. Through June 30. “The Many Faces of Madison: A History of Portrait Painting in the Piedmont” features 35 portraits dating from the late-18th century through 1985. Exhibit curated by Spalding Nix. Through June 30. Mama’s Boy A display featuring the original drawings of Mark Watkins’ “Cats Love Birds” zine. Through July 20. Marigold Cafe (Winterville) Abstract paintings by Meg McConnell. Through August. Monroe Art Guild Stephanie Roberts photographically documents 365 days in a sequence in “Project 365: Daily Discoveries.” Through June 25. Oconee County Library Photographs by Jane Crisan. July 1–31. Acrylic paintings by Lanelle Mauldin. Through June. Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation Annual Members’ Exhibit, featuring a diverse display of works, including sculpture, paintings, drawings, textiles, jewelry, pottery and photos, from a variety of skilled artists who are also OCAF members. Also includes an unpublished manuscript by author Terry Kay that has been fashioned into a one-of-a-kind piece by bookmaker Peggy Pitts. Through July 3. Pauley’s Original Crepe Bar “Streak,” featuring photographs by Brittny Teree Smith. Through June. The Point of Art Gallery (Union Point) “On the Road,” featuring work by Del Sanders, Cameron Hampton and Anne Jenkins. Through July 4. www. thepointofart.net Red Eye Coffee Monsterrific paintings by Dan Smith. Through June. www.seedanpaint.com Transmetropolitan (Oglethorpe Ave.) New paintings by Ainhoa Canup. Through June. (Downtown) New paintings by Lindsey Reynolds. (Oglethorpe Ave.) Large charcoal pieces and smaller oil pastels by Mark Watkins in a style he calls expressive surrealism. July 1–31. UGA Aderhold Local artist and UGA faculty member Jamie Calkin helps the College of Education recognize its centennial year with “Celebration,” a rotating exhibit of original watercolors of the UGA campus and downtown Athens. Through Aug. 30. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens “Digital Collage,” featuring work by local artist Roger Moore. Through July 2. White Tiger Gourmet Food & Chocolates An exhibition of prints and drawings by Amanda Jane Burk. Through June.
114 COLLEGE AVENUE
DOWNTOWN ATHENS GA
JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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comics
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reality check Matters Of The Heart And Loins I met a guy at my internship last semester. He would go out of his way to talk to me every time I was at the office. Finally, towards the end of my internship he asked me out and we had an amazing date. We kept seeing each other whenever we had time (I was busy with school in April, and he works weekends and lives in Atlanta). Scheduling time to see each other was difficult, but I thought that once I graduated in May things would be easier since I would move back in with my parents in the Metro Atlanta area. However, things have cooled down dramatically. He always mentions over the phone or in an email that we should see each other soon but he never makes plans for a date. And we talk on the phone like once a week now. He says he has been busy at work, but that just makes me feel like busy = I’m not that important to him to waste 30 minutes of his life to drive over and see me. I haven’t seen him in 3 weeks now. I’m really baffled by his action, or more like his lack of action. Is it safe to say it’s over even though he calls to see how I am doing? And if it is over, why doesn’t he just tell me he doesn’t want to date me so that I can stop trying to figure out whether he wants me or not? Should I call him out on it? Or is it time to let it go without fighting for it? Yours Truly, Missing in Action Depends on how much you actually care. It sounds like you are halfway out the door anyway, and an amazing date—as in ONE date—hardly seems worth the trouble, don’t you think? I mean, I also find it puzzling that he calls you once a week, but it smacks of “back burner” action to me. Like he needs to know that you’re still there, just in case. So, probably you just shouldn’t be. Your call. I was dating this guy for a year and it was a really good relationship. We were both heading to different colleges, so we decided to end it amicably before either one of us met someone else and hurt the other. Since we ended our relationship we have seen each other several times: (I’ll visit him and we’ll have sex all the time or he’ll visit me and we’ll have sex all the time). And actually it goes beyond sex; he always brings up marriage and intense stuff like that. Both of us have been casually dating a couple of other people throughout the year, and it’s no big deal, but recently I found out that he and a girl went on a trip together to see a band only a week after we spent a week together getting it on. Now, I know I shouldn’t be upset about this kind of thing, but I’d rather he didn’t do it a week later (though I should say that I did visit him while dating someone else at the same time and we got very physical), but the thing is I don’t know if I should waste anymore time or energy pursuing him, even though we both are into each other emotionally and physically. He and I have talked about how we’re both mature adults and we’ll be dating other people eventually, but if I had it my way, we’d date each other. On the other hand, I want to experience some
new people, too. And I’d never tell him I still wanted to be with him in a relationship way because he doesn’t know me as a supersensitive person and I don’t want to appear to be weak. (sigh) I just don’t know. IDK It sounds like you have a pretty good situation if you ask me. You get to see whomever you want, and you get to hang out with him when you both have the chance. Is it healthy? I don’t know. The fact that you are writing to an advice columnist about it is probably an indication that it’s not. You already know that your initial complaint is hypocritical. I can tell that by the wording of your letter. You are looking for me to either tell you that he’s an asshole and you deserve better or that you need to shut up and get over it. Well, sassafras, you know what I’m gonna say: Get. Over. It. You see other people, he sees other people, the world keeps on turning. It’s obvious that there is more than a passing thing between you, but it isn’t practical for you to be exclusive right now. So, keep on doing what you’re doing and don’t ask too many questions. You both need to get some life experience before you’re ready for marriage. Continue to be honest with each other, and always be honest with the other guys you see. This thing will work itself out. Either you will end up together or not. Just stop thinking so much. My ex contacted me about a month ago. We dated several years ago for a couple of years and were practically married. Long story short: we were in love; her family loved me; and I thought we were getting married. So, she broke my heart. And we remained sort of friends, but talked very rarely, as it was too painful for me. Then recently she came around again. Her father has died, and her mother is remarrying, and we live in different cities but she absolutely had to see me. And I went. She claimed that she was still in love, that we belonged together, etc. I was hesitant. I consulted my best friend. She told me I had to at least try. I argued about all the reasons why not. My ex countered all of my arguments earnestly and convinced me to give it a shot. I considered it for several days before finally relenting. Then, two days later she told me that I was right and that it would never work. What the hell am I supposed to do now? F*%ked, in the Bad Way Wow, that is super shitty. I think you have to chalk it up to human weakness and temporary insanity. Your best friend thought she was helping, so don’t be mad at her. In fact, don’t be mad at anybody. But do not—DO NOT— ever speak to your ex again. Forgive, forget and know better next time. She was in a weird place, and you seemed like a safe answer. She didn’t mean to hurt you but she did. Just walk away quietly. Jyl Inov Got a question for Jyl? Submit your anonymous inquiry via the Reality Check button at www.flagpole.com.
JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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Real Estate Apartments for Rent $ 1 2 7 5 / m o . T h e Wo o d l a n d s . 3BR/3BA. All amenities. W/D, Gated, Avail. Fall. Owner/Agent. Call Mike (706) 207-7400. $485/mo. Quiet 1BR basement apt. in 5 Pts. Priv. entrance, off–street parking, W/D access, full kitchen. 1 block from the Waffle House in 5 Pts. Shared utils. & cable. Available i m m e d i a t e l y. O n M o r t o n Ave. between Pinecrest Dr. & Milledge Ave. (706) 354-6039, if no answer call David (706) 2542526. $575/mo. Min. to UGA. 2BR/2 private BA. W/D. Safe n’hood. Rent incl. water, garbage & lawn maintenance. Avail. 8/1. 145 Sandburg St. Owner/Agent Mike (706) 207-7400. $655/mo. 2BR/2.5BA spacious Eastside condo. W/D. CHAC, new appls. Pool. Pet Friendly. Lg. downstairs area w/ 1/2 bath & 2 upstairs BRs w/ private BAs. Avail. 7/21. Call Andrea (706) 247-1858 or (706) 247-5930. 1BR Studios. East Campus Rd. $0 sec. dep. $625/mo. Incl. water, gas, pest & trash. City/UGA bus stop, built–ins, tile & HWflrs. Pets OK. Call today–only a few left! Contact kaceyprice@hotmail.com, (706) 540-2829. 1BR on Meigs St. Private porch, HWflrs, close to Dwntn. NS, no pets. $475/mo. Avail. Aug. Lv. msg. (706) 224-5273.
1BR apar tments star ting at $443.34, 2BRs $506.67, 3BRs $705! Deposit $150. Spacious, quiet community, pet friendly, on busline, recycling. June rent free on 2 bedrooms! (706) 549-6254. Restrictions apply. 1BR/1BA, 2 Blocks to town, Lg. separate BR, CHVAC, great view of city, ceiling fans, some screen porches. Owner pays water & garbage. $475–525/mo. Avail. for June, July or August move-in. BoulevardPropertyManagement. com, (706) 548-9797. 1BR/1BA. Next to UGA. Walk to campus & Dwntn. HWflrs., A/C, some utils. incl. Free parking for residents. Cats OK, no dogs. $475–$500/mo. Call (706) 354-4261, 10am–2pm. Get a roommate & live w/ us! 2 or 4BR Riverbend Rd. Incl. CHAC, DW, W/D hookups. $650-$1300/mo. Flexible move–in dates. Call (706) 546-6900 or go to www.ValerioProperties. com. 2BR Downtown Athens loft. Located N. Hull St. C o n t ro l l e d a c c e s s , p a r k i n g garage, elevator, 15 ft. ceil.! Rent incl. water, basic cable, t r a s h , D W, & W / D . ( 7 0 6 ) 543-1910 or email becky@ landmarkathens.com. 2BR basement apt. 180 Moss Side Dr. Great rm. w/ FP. Priv. ent. $580/mo + utils. Washer & DW provided. Call (706) 254-2526 or (706) 227-9312. 2BR duplexes starting at $450/ mo. (706) 549-6070. 2BR/1BA apt. Close to campus, 50 Springdale. $695/mo. Avail. now! W/D & appls. Water & trash incl. Pets OK w/ dep. Call (706) 207-9295. 2BR/1BA renovated apts., perfect for grad students, nice & quiet, close to campus & Dwntn. 225 China St. 1 avail. now! Also preleasing for fall, $500/mo. Incl. water & trash, no dogs, laundry onsite. Chris (706) 202-5156.
AT ! GREIA LS SPEC
WELCH PLACE
PRE-LEASING FOR FALL!
2BR/1BA Flats in 5 Points
Includes Washer & Dryer and Free Wireless! Call Today for viewing.
Hamilton & Associates
706-613-9001 · 706-613-1776 (fax)
www.athens-ga-rental.com
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2BR/1BA duplex in North Place for lease. $450/mo. 1st mo. rent & dep. req’d. Pls. call (706) 4614556. Avail. 7/1. 2BR/2.5BA luxury townhouse. Gated community, great location. Country in the city. Woods, lake, pool, FP, deck, 2 car-garage. Pets fine. $975/mo. Great landlady! Call (706) 714-7600. 2BR/2BA Eastside condo. $950/ mo. All appls. incl. Only 3 yrs. old. 3 mi from campus. Avail. 8/1. Call (910) 876-1030 or email michael. leinwand@gmail.com. 2BR/2BA apt. at 238 Barber St. CHAC, W/D, HWflrs. & ceiling fan. Front porch w/ fenced–in yd. $750/mo. incl. water & garbage. Avail. 8/1. Call (706) 208-1181 or email info@pirasdevelopment. com. 2BR/2BA apt. w/ FP. Just outside perimeter off Jefferson Rd. W/D connection. Big kitchen w/ breakfast area. Patio. $600/mo. RE/MAX Realtor Michelle Watson (706) 433-2712. 2BR/2BA condo. Screened porch, tennis & pool in complex, no pets, NS. $600/mo. (706) 540-2818. 2BR/2BA. $850/mo. Walk to UGA campus. Close to Alps Rd. shopping. All appls. incl.! Contact Nicole for details or tour (770) 713-0601 or email dawgs0385@ yahoo.com. 2BR/2BA. BR’s w/ full priv. BA. Walk–in closets. W/D hookups. Rent starting at $525/mo. Water & trash incl. Sm. pets allowed. (706) 245-8435 or cell (706) 4986013. 5BR/3.5BA. Very lg. Excellent condition. Complete paint, new carpet. Must see! Avail. Aug. Great price. $825/mo. Eastside bus line. Call (706) 548-2433. 2BR/2BA Harris Place Apar tments. 1 block from Varsity! Incl. CHAC, DW, W/D. $695/mo. Flexible move–in dates. Call (706) 546-6900 or go to www.ValerioProperties. com.
Avail. now! 2BR/1.5BA duplex on Eastside. $550/mo. Pets OK. Call (706) 338-0169. Best property in town! Woodlands of Athens. 3BR/3BA full of amenities. Gated community, great specials. Call Pete (706) 372-3319. Cedar Shoals Dr. area. 4 or 5BR/4BA. Lg. rms., quiet n’hood, W/D incl. $1K/mo. + dep. req’d. (706) 742-8555. Close to Downtown. 2BR/1BA apt. in house. HWflrs, DW, W/D, CHAC. $575/mo. Avail. 8/1. (706) 769-4779 or (706) 207-2001. Cobbham historic district. 1BR apt. Heart pine flrs. + ceil. fans. CHAC, W/D, garage w/ auto opener. NS. No pets. Call (706) 340-1283. College Station 2BR/2BA. All appls + W/D, FP, xtra closet space, water/garbage incl. $575/ mo. Owner/Agent (706) 3402450. Completely furnished. Daylight basement apt. Quiet, overlooks lake. 1400 sq. ft. Carpet. kitchen, bath. Oconee Co. No pets/ smoking. Private entrance. Dish network. All utils. $650/mo. (706) 769-6208. Condo for rent. 3BR/2.5BA, close to UGA. Dep. req’d. Pool. $800/ mo. Call (770) 307-7003. DGH Properties Inc. 112 Foundry St. Now leasing for Aug. Dwntn. Close to everything but out of bar scene. 1 & 2 BR avail. Enjoy living in the ambiance of a historic bldg. Call George at (706) 340-0987. Directly next to campus, walk to 5 points, 2br, 2.5bath,fp,pool, private patio, dw, w/d, great in town location, lots of parking, Pets OK, 675.00 per month, half off first months rent. Oversize bedrooms and closets, walk to lake Herrick and dog park. call 706-338-9018 Dwntn 2BR/1BA, walk to class. Laundry, lg. deck w/ swing, CHAC. 185 S. Finley St., cobblestone st. the tree that owns itself. $595/mo. (706) 7141100. Eastside Cedar Shoals Dr. 4 min. to UGA. Preleasing for Fall! 5BR/3BA. Lg. rms. Total electric. W/D incl. Lawncare & trash p/u paid. $995/mo. Unbelievable! (706) 621-0077.
For rent 8/1. 2 private duplex apts. in circa 1890s house on Oconee St. HWflrs, tile BA, cold AC, fenced backyd., W/D, nice covered porch, super clean & nice. Walk to UGA or town. $525/ mo. each. Call Drew (706) 2022712. Free month’s rent. Stadium Village 2BR/1BA gated community, close to campus. Water, trash, lawn incl. Pool, gym. $575/mo. (706) 5496070. Hill St. 2BR/1BA. All electric apt. W/D, water, trash, lawn incl. $575/ mo. Call (706) 549-6070. On the River. 12 ac. in Clark Co. Mins. from campus & mall. All w/ deck or porches. Incl. water, trash, W/D. Pets OK w/ approval. 1BR/1BA $350/mo., 1BR/loft $350/mo., 1BR/1BA $400/mo. Off Tallassee Rd. Call (706) 614-3252. Quiet 1BR/1BA apt. Walking distance to campus. In great n’hood. CHAC. All appls. Hwflrs. $620/mo. Cozy studio apt. also avail. in same n’hood. $480/mo. (706) 340-7531. Studio & 1BR apts. for rent. $495525/mo., utils. incl. On the bus line. W/D avail., remodeled, quiet complex. Call Katie (706) 2024777. Walk to 5 Points. 2BR/2.5BA. W/D, FP, pool, pets OK w/ fee. Close to dog park, on busline. Outdoor patio. Great location! $750/mo. (706) 202-4777. Westside condos. 2BR/2BA, $600/mo. 3BR/2BA, $700/mo. Converted clubhouse into a huge open flr. plan. 4BR/2.5BA, $1200/mo. 5 Pts. 2BR/2.5BA. lv. rm w/ FP. Corner lot. $700/ mo. Eastside quadraplex 2BR/2BA, $525/mo. 2BR/1BA, $490/mo. Call M c Wa t e r s Realty, (706) 549-3222, (706) 353-2700 or cell (706) 540-1529. Windsor Place. 2BR/2BA. All appls. FP. $695/mo. Some pets allowed. (706) 540-0857.
Apartments for Sale $89,900. Studio 40. 1BR/1BA. Tile & HWflrs., DW. Courtyds, w/in walking distance to Ramsey Center! Also for rent. Reign at Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty. (706) 3724166, (706) 543-4000.
1305 Cedar Shoals. $121,900. 2BR/2BA condo. ReignSold.com or Call Reign at Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty. (706) 372-4166, (706) 543-4000.
Commercial Property Amazing Office Spaces for lease above Dwntn Five Guys restaurant. No better location! Call Reign at Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty (706) 3724166, or (706) 543-4000. Athens Executive Suites. Offices avail. in historic Dwntn bldg. w/ on–site parking. All utils., Internet, & janitorial incl. Single or multiple offices avail. Call Stacy (706) 425-4048 or (706) 296-1863. Charming historic cottage. 500 sq. ft., 2 rms. 2 FP, BA, ceiling fans, CHAC, Internet, parking, security, pine flrs., excellent condition. Flexible terms. Great retail store, office, studio, Therapist, etc. $650/ mo. 290 N. Milledge Ave. Pls. call Karen (706) 340-3717. Paint Artist Studio for rent. 300 sq. ft. $150/mo. 400 sq. ft. $200/mo. 160 Tracy St. Historic Boulevard Area, Artist/Crafts Community. (706) 546-1615 or athenstownproperties.com. Retail Suites for lease at Homewood Village. 1K–12,500 sq. ft. avail. For more info. Call Bryan Austin at (706) 353-1039 or visit www.sumnerproperties.net.
Houses for Rent $350 & up! 1BR, 2BR, & 3BR homes for lease. Just 1.5 mi. from UGA & Dwntn! Water & lawn maintenance incl. Call Dekle Realty (706) 548-0580. $1075/mo. OBO. Athens Regional Medical College area. Close to UGA. 3BR/2BA brick home. HWflrs, granite counters, lg. rms. lg. yd. Perfect for students! (479) 879-1541 or (479) 841-8039. $ 1 2 0 0 – $ 1 6 0 0 / m o . G re a t for entertaining! Avail. 8/1. 3BR/2BA. 2004 gut renovation. 1/4 mi. to Dwntn/Campus. Front porch, priv. fenced in backyd. w/ 2 decks. House & yards wired for sound. Unique details, alarm, W/D, DW, ceiling fans, screen doors/windows, CHAC. Pets OK. (770) 329-0409 or 135oakridge@ gmail.com.
$300–$400/BR. 3–5BR townhome on Eastside. Double porches, HWflrs., ceiling fans, DW, W/D, trash incl., & new pool. Now leasing! (706) 543-1910 or email becky@landmarkathens.com. $395–$1700/mo. 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, 4BR, & 5BR. Prices reduced! Awesome walk & bike to campus & town! Pre–leasing for Fall! Many historical houses w/ lg. rms, high ceilings, big windows, HWflrs., old–world charm, modern amenities. Porches, & yds. Pet friendly. These go fast! Email for list: luckydawg96@yahoo.com. $500 lease–signing bonus! 4BR/4BA. New construction, all appls. incl. $450/BR. A view of Dwntn. Off North Ave. Avail. July. (706) 202-4648. $650/mo. Eastside. Nice 3BR w/ study rm., HWflrs., porch, W/D conn. Mins. to UGA/Dwntn. Avail 7/1. Call (678) 643-5851. $725/mo. 3BR/1BA Westside ranch. Quiet street near loop, 78, 316. CHAC, fridge, range, DW, W/D hookup. incl. water, sewer, trash. Avail. 7/1 or sooner. (706) 353-0196, (706) 247-3499. $875/mo. 3BR/1BA. Spacious renovated 1880s farmhouse on fenced ac. lot. 16 ft. ceilings, HWflrs, W/D, porches. 1/2 mi. from Dwntn & campus. Pets OK w/ dep. Avail. 7/1. (912) 655-5550 or email callinectes_sapidus@hotmail.com. $895/mo. 4BR/1.5BA. CHAC, W/D, lg. kitchen, quiet & safe n’hood, Eastside, 10 min. to UGA. Avail. now. 117 Crossbow Circle. Owner/ Agent, Call Mike at (706) 207-7400. $995/mo., 3BR/2BA, lg. house, only 5 min. to campus. Popular Eastside, safe n’hood, exc. cond., no pets. 475 Crestwood Dr. Call Mike at (706) 207-7400 or email mikejoyner@charter.net. 1, 2, 3BR houses. Pre–leasing for fall. Close to UGA & Dwntn. Call (706) 255-0066. 135 Northview Dr. Next to campus, at UGA baseball field. 3BR/2BA. W/D, DW, CHAC, FP, HWflrs. $1275/mo. (706) 714-1100. 145 Woodcrest Dr. Avail. now! 3BR/2BA. CHAC. Fenced yd. Pets OK. No pet fees! Free W/D if needed. $825/mo. Call (706) 372-6813. 150 Inglewood Ave. Restored 1890s house. 2BR/1BA. 12 ft. ceiling, HWflrs., FP, W/D, DW, lg. yd., front porch w/ swing. CHAC, pet OK. $795/mo. (706) 714-1100. 1BR big apartment in historic Boulevard house. Incl. W/D hookups, DW, HWflrs, pet friendly. $625/mo. Call (706) 546-6900 or go to www.ValerioProperties. com. 226 Johnson Dr. Behind Carmike. Stellar rental! Bamboo & tile flrs., all new appls, W/D. 2BR/1BA. $850/mo. Avail. now! Pets OK. Call (706) 340-5054. 2BR/1BA & 1BR/1BA apts. Great in-town n’hood. Walk everywhere. Water & garbage paid. $490$695/mo. Check out boulevard propertym anagement.com or call (706) 548-9797. 2BR/1BA Woody Drive. Newly renovated duplexes, beautifully landscaped, quiet dead–in street, perfect for everyone. Timothy school zone & close to every shopping need. (706) 5489797 or boulevardp roperty management.com. 2BR/1BA Blvd. area duplex. Energy efficient, total electric, recently renovated, W/D, DW, HVAC, shared fenced yd, some pets OK. Avail. now. Lease/dep./refs. req’d. $650/ mo. (706) 227-6000. 2BR/1BA cute cottage w/ front porch. CHAC, near UGA. Avail 8/1. $800/mo. Also, ask about 2 other available houses. Call (706) 354-1276 or (706) 540-7812.
2BR/1BA duplex Willow Run near ARMC. Incl. W/D hookups, D W, C H A C . $ 6 5 0 / m o . C a l l (706) 546-6900 or go to www. ValerioProperties.com.
3BR/1BA pet friendly home. Athens Regional area w/ fenced–in yd. $850/mo. All Hart Realty (706) 476-8262 or (706) 201-7363.
2BR/1BA in Five Points. HWflrs, tile BA, W/D. Great locations. 12 & 14 Milledge Ct. $625/mo. (706) 548-9797 or boulevardproperty management.com.
3BR/2.5BA end–unit townhome off Cedar Shoals. Pets OK. Incl. W/D. On bus route. Only $750/ mo. Now 1/2 off your first month’s Rent! Aaron (706) 207-2957.
2BR/1BA. 1.5 mi from Dwntn. Complete renovation. HWflrs., HVAC, W/D, new appls! Lg. fenced yd. Avail. 8/1. Pets OK. $800/mo. + dep. (864) 901-9949. 2BR/1BA. 2790 Danielsville Rd. Wooded. Wide porch. CHAC, W/D hookup. Wood flrs., fenced yd., lawncare incl. $600/mo. + dep. (706) 546-5390, lv. msg. 2BR/1BA. 2895 Danielsville Rd. Wooded. Wide porch. CHAC, W/D hookup. Wood flrs., fenced yd., lawncare incl. $600/mo. + dep. (706) 546-5390, lv. msg. 2BR/1BA. HWflrs, W/D, CHAC, FP, ceiling fans, close to Dwntn/ campus. Pets OK. Porches. $650/ mo. + dep. Avail. 8/1. 375 N. Billups. Email dmarklevitt@hotmail. com, (706) 424-9127. 2BR/2.5BA townhome for rent on Westside. Lg. lv. & din. rm. W/D. Ample storage. Private back patio w/ grill & lg. shared backyd. Avail. 7/1. Call (773) 805-5780. 2BR/2.5BA. 256 Appleby Mews. Poolside, W/D, DW, porch, lg. BRs, on Oconee Hill close to Mama’s Boy & the Greenway! Lots of room for little money. $675/mo. (706) 548-9797. 2BR/2BA in–town luxury! Unique, Immaculate, & Huge! W/D. Quick, beautiful walk to Dwntn & UGA Arch. Must see to appreciate! $1100/mo. (706) 372-3957. Virtual tour www.visualtour.com/shownp. asp?sk=13&t=1868334. 2BR/2BA on 22 ac., 35 mins from Athens. Trails, creek, swimming shoals, fish pond. Ar tist designed sunny house. CHAC, W/D, free well water. Wood stove. Neighbors organic farm. Pets welcome. Ogelthorpe Co. Avail. 8/1. $700/mo. Call Rose (706) 540-5979 2BR/2BA. Navy School area. Lg. covered front porch. All appls., incl. W/D. Excellent condition. Vacant & ready for occupancy. $600/mo. Owner/Agent (706) 540-0472. 2–3BR/1BA. 1/2 mile to c a m p u s . Fenced backyd., HWflrs., DW, W/D, CHAC. Pets OK. Pre–leasing. Avail. 8/1. $800/mo. Won’t last! (706) 3692908. 3BR/1.5BA. 288 4th St. Pre– leasing for 8/1/09. Fenced yd. DW, CHAC, big yd. W/D, FP, garbage disposal, HWflrs. Pecan trees. $800/mo. + $800/sec. (706) 2542936. 3BR/1.5BA. HWflrs., CHVAC, W/D. University Heights on Eastside. On busline, convenient to East Campus. $950/mo. Call Dave (706) 201-9222.
3BR/2BA house. Cedar creek subdivision. Fenced backyd., gas grill attached to sundeck, FP, wooded lot. Quiet family n’hood. Swimming community. 360 Sandstone Dr. Avail. 7/1. $1025/mo + dep. (706) 319-1846, or (706) 548-4819. GA. R, E, lic. 300830. 3BR/2BA in Normaltown. HWflrs, CHAC, quiet street. (706) 5492283. 3BR/2BA pet friendly home. Dwntn w/ fenced yd. $1200/mo. All Hart Realty (706) 476-8262 or (706) 201-7363. 3BR/2BA renovated house w. bonus rm. 1 mi. from Dwntn. CHAC, W/D, water & trash incl. 320 Conrad Dr. $1100/mo. Call Brian (706) 613-7242. 3BR/2BA. Renovated Bungalow, East Broad St. $875/mo. + all appliance options avail. (706) 2550659, or email odomappraisal@ gmail.com for photos. 3BR/2BA. Tiled, CHAC, W/D, DW, HWflrs, in–town, fenced yd., pets OK, carport, $960/mo. + dep. 260 Sunset Dr. Avail. 8/1. (706) 424-9127 or email dmarklevitt@ hotmail.com. 3BR/3BA Eastside. Quiet n’hood. $1100/mo. All appls. 213 Springtree St. Avail 8/1. (706) 713-0626. 3–4BR/4BA house. Great location! Walk to Dwntn. $1400/mo. All appls. 200 MLK Jr. Pkwy. Avail. 8/1. (706) 713-0626. 3–4BRs. 340 Barber, 255 Boulevard Heights, 3 9 0 P o u n d S t re e t , 1 8 0 O’Farrell, 255 Boulevard Heights, 1321 Dowdy Road. Check out these great houses online at boulevardp roper ty management.com or call (706) 548-9797.
4BR/2.5BA beautiful plantation house on 3 acres. High ceilings, HWflrs., lg. kit. & rooms w/ a country setting. Front porch, screen porch & rear sun room. Pets welcome. 3–sided fence. 990 Double Bridges Rd. Avail. 6/1. $1200/mo. + dep. (706) 319-1846, or (706) 548-4819. GA. R, E, lic. 300830.
ARMC/Cobbham area. 2BR/1BA. CHAC, total electric, new fixtures, kitchen cabinets & includes Washer/ Dryer/Refrigerator. Lawn care included in $700/mo. rental. Large shady backyard. Available Aug. 1st or sooner if needed. Call Bob (706) 2156848 GAREL #269394.
4BR/2BA renovated victorian home. 1/2 mi. from campus. W/D, DW, fenced yd., HWflrs, $1200/ mo. Huge rooms! Lots of character. Pre–leasing. Avail. 8/1. Pets OK. (706) 369-2908.
Adorable 3BR/2.5BA house w/ fenced yard, 1–car garage, 1700 sq. ft. on .5 ac. Lawn care incl. Lots of storage, nice deck. W/D, DW, CHAC. 6 mi. from UGA in quaint Winterville on Twin Lane. Avail. now or for fall move in. $1100/mo. Call April (706) 549-5006, & go to www. athenscondosales.com.
4BR/2BA renovated Victorian home. 1/2 mi. from campus. W/D, DW, fenced yd., HWflrs, $1200/ mo. Huge rooms! Lots of character. Pre–leasing. Avail. 8/1. Pets OK. (706) 369-2908. 4BR/3BA. Boulevard area, 686 1/2 Barber St., DW, W/D HWflrs., s c re e n e d p o rc h , l g . r m s . , renovated old church. Some pets OK. Avail. 8/1. $1395/mo. Lease, dep., ref’s. (706) 227-6000. 4BR/4BA brand new houses D w n t n & 5 P t s . Aw e s o m e locations! W/D incl. Now preleasing for Fall 09. $1700-1800/ mo. Call Aaron (706) 207-2957. 4BR/4BA brick home. Spacious BR w/ full BA. HVAC. Full kit., deck, lawn/pest control. W/D incl. $860/mo. (404) 274-0948. 4BR/4BA house. $1500/ mo. Convenient to Campus/ Dwntn. Avail. 8/1/09. HWflrs., porch, W/D & more. Solid Source Property Management (770) 4161444 ext. 305. 4BR/4BA house. $900 special! W/D, sec. sys., 24 hr. maint. service, pets welcome, lawn & pest incl. (706) 552-3500. Go to www.hancockpropertiesinc.com. 510 Rustwood Dr. 2BR/1BA w/ fenced yd. on wooded lot. $695/ mo. Rent to own. Or for sale at $82K. Call Dennis (706) 255-1574. All Amenities Incl.! 4BR/4BA on Eastside by Publix. Huge BR suites w/ walk–in closets. It’s the blue one! All Hart Realty (706) 476-8262 or (706) 201-7363.
All Around Athens & near Campus! 105 Redstone Dr. 2BR/1BA, $525/mo. 4930 Mars Hill Rd. Oconee Co. 3BR/2BA, $875/mo. 597 Dearing St. off Milledge. 4BR/2BA, $1495/mo. 105 Whitehall Rd., 2BR/1BA, $675/mo. (706) 546-7946, Flowersnancy@ bellsouth.net. See virtual tours www.nancyflowers.com. All Hart Realty has cool houses for Fall! New construction or historic renovations. All locations, all sizes, all prices. All Hart Realty (706) 476-8262 or (706) 201-7363. Amazing n’hood off Milledge Ave. Pet friendly, 4 & 5BR houses starting at $1260/mo. All Hart Realty (706) 476-8262 or (706) 201-7363. Avail. Aug.! 3 & 4 Bedroom Cottages. Close to campus! Features incl. DW, W/D, private BAs, pool! Leasing special! $400–$485/BR. Call (706) 543-1910 or email becky@ landmarkathens.com. Best rentals in Athens! 1–5BR houses, apts., condos. In the heart of UGA/Dwntn/5 Pts. Going fast, call today! (706) 369-2908 for more info. Close to Dwntn. New 4BR/3.5BA houses. New appls. Pets welcome. $1300/mo. Call (706) 540-1257. Cobbham. 3–4BR, 3 full BA. HWflrs, CHAC, Sm. pets OK. Avail. now! 1 yr. lease & sec. dep. $1700/mo. Call (706) 224-9307.
Cute & clean in ARMC! 210 Best Dr. 2BR/1BA, fenced backyd., DW, CHAC, W/D hookup, carport, pets OK. Avail 8/1. $850/mo. J.J. (410) 808-1110. Duplex for rent. 2BR/1.5BA. Fenced yd. Sleepy Creek Dr. near UGA, Memorial Park & Birchmore Tr. W/D, DW, CHAC. Avail. Aug. $725/mo. Call April (706) 549-5006, go to www. athenscondosales.com. Duplex for rent. 2BR/1.5BA. Jolly Lane in Sleepy Hollow Subdivision. Near UGA, Memorial Park & Birchmore Trail. W/D, DW, CHAC. Avail Aug. $715/mo. Call April (706) 549-5006, go to www.athenscondosales. com. East Athens. F re e w a t e r, garbage. 2BR/1BA chalets. Quiet, CHAC, deck, pet OK. Avail. 7/1. $575/mo. neg. Owner/Broker (706) 340-4619. East Athens. Remodeled. Free lawncare, water, garbage. 2BR/1BA house on cul–de–sac. CHAC, extra insulation, ceiling fans. Deck. Pet OK. Avail. 7/1. $675/mo. Owner/Broker (706) 340-4619. Eastside 2BR/1BA split lvl. Lg. lv. area splits BRs. Lg. kitchen. Priv. drive. Big backyd. w/ storage bldg. Appls. incl. $675/mo. + dep. Pet negotiable. (706) 2487338. Excellent renovated 4BR/3BA. 1/2 mi. to campus. Lots of character! Big rms. DW, W/D, CHAC. Pets OK. Pre– leasing, Avail. 8/1. $1250/mo. Call (706) 369-2908. Great 4BR/4BA houses. 1/2 mi. from campus. Front porch, back deck, nice yd., DW, W/D, CHAC. Pets OK. Pre–leasing Avail. 8/1. $1000/mo. (706) 3692908. Half off first month. Walk to campus! 2 & 3BRs from $625/ mo. W/D, DW, priv. deck, pets welcome. Mention this ad & pay no pet fee! (706) 548-2522, www.dovetailmanagement.com. ➤ continued on next page
4 or 5BR/3BA. Cottage + study. CHAC, HWflrs., front porch & back deck. DW, W/D, micro, & alarm sys. 1 mi. to Dwntn! Avail. Aug. (706) 543-1910 or becky@ landmarkathens.com. $370$450/BR. Call about our rent specials! 4BR/2 tile BA. Beautiful lg. Victorian. CHAC, W/D, DW, 10 ft. ceilings w/ fans, porches, FP, fenced yd., stainless appls. 550 Cobb St. No undergrads, must see. $1580/mo. + dep. Avail. 8/1. Email dmarklevitt@hotmail.com, 706-424-9127.
3BR/1BA house at 235 Pearl St. CHAC, W/D, DW & lots of privacy. $825/mo. avail. 8/1. Call (706) 208-1181 or email info@ pirasdevelopment.com.
WELCH PLACE
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3BR Townhomes and 4BR/3BA Townhouse w/ Study Includes Washer & Dryer, Free Wireless and 42” Plasma TV! Call Today for viewing.
Hamilton & Associates 706-613-9001 · 706-613-1776(fax)
www.athens-ga-rental.com
JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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Huge 5BR/4BA Nor maltown home. 2 lv. rms., FP, 2 kitchens. Safe parking, deck & patio w/ grill. RE/MAX Realtor Michelle Watson (706) 433-2712. $2K/mo. Pets OK. Incredible 4BR/4BA house. WiFi, Stainless, granite, pets OK. $1500/ mo. Dwntn. All Hart Realty (706) 476-8262 or (706) 201-7363. Next to UGA. 836 Church St. 2BR brick duplex. All appls. Avail. 8/1. $650/mo. Owner/Broker Herbert Bond at (706) 224-8002. Northside 2BR/1BA, lg. lot, $600/mo. Hospital area Fenced–in yd. Avail. June. $800/ mo. Five Points 2BR/2.5BA, lv. rm. w/ FP, corner lot, $700/mo. Eastside 3BR/2BA. Lg. yd., on dead–end street. $1100/mo. 4BR/2BA w/ lg. yd. $1300/mo. 2 or 3BR/1BA w/ screened front porch, $800/mo. Cedar Creek 4BR/2BA $1100/mo. Oconee County 3BR/2BA. Lv. rm. w/ FP, din. rm., double garage, $1100/ mo. Call McWaters Realty, (706) 549-3222, (706) 353-2700. Old & ugly, but cheap & close! 1BR/1BA on Oak St. $425/mo. Walk to campus & Dwntn. All Hart Realty (706) 476-8262 or (706) 201-7363. One month rent free! Apt. in house. 3BR/1BA w/ alarm sys. Nice side yd. HWflrs, DW, W/D, CHAC. $800/mo. Avail. 8/1. (706) 769-4779 or cell (706) 207-2001.
Houses for Sale $149,900. Charming 2BR/2BA. Remodeled in 2006. 1.5 mi. to UGA & Dwntn. (404) 6264351, http://picasaweb.google. com/230JohnsonDrive. $219,900. 180 Marshall Drive. Watkinsville. 3BR/2BA w/ bonus rm. DW, CHAC, FP, HWflrs, new interior paint, & bricked patios, irrigation system. (407) 421-1604. $79,900. Cute 2BR/1BA cottage. HWflrs., CHAC, fenced yd., butterfly garden. In town, on bus line, biking/walking distance to Dwntn & campus. Call Michael at Full Circle Realty, (706) 255-8600. 1 8 5 P o p l a r. $ 2 2 4 , 9 3 6 . 3BR/1.5BA. In–town classic Artisan home. ReignSold.com or Call Reign at Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty. (706) 372-4166, (706) 543-4000. 2BR/2.5BA Huntington Place townhouse. Near Mall. All appls remain incl. W/D. All electric. Very good condition. Avail. now! $98K. Call for details, (706) 613-9466. Best location for Downtowners! Pulaski Heights, 134 Hendrix Ave. Spacious & beautiful. Open flr. plan. 2BR/2BA. 20 ft. vaulted ceilings, bamboo flrs., tile BA, stain glass. Lg. professionally landscaped private yd., deck & patio, CHAC. $194,900. (706) 340-6221 or (770) 294-9063. FSBO. 1BR studio condo. Broad St., Athens. HWflrs, appls incl. Private & secure. $94,900. (706) 474-1101.
Free foreclosure listings. Over 200,000 properties nationwide. Low down payment. Call now (800) 446-1328 (AAN CAN). Historic Blvd n’hood. 224 Dubose. Meticulously maintained 4BR/2BA. New kitchen, new paint. HWflrs, pressed tin ceiling. Walk to Dwntn/UGA. $424,900. Patrick (706) 614-8007, go to www.fullcircleathens.com. More house for the money in Madison Co. 2–story, 3BR/2.5BA, 1807 sq. ft., 2/3 ac. EnergyStar appls w/ warranties. Fenced yd., gorgeous landscaping. $139,900. (706) 202-6119. New Construction Homes! 3BR/2BA, 4BR/3BA eco–friendly homes for sale. Featuring 3.5 ac. green space, walking trails, community garden, & rear alley access. 1.1 mi. to Downtown, .3 mi. to Greenway, HWflrs, custom kitchens, artistic tile, metal roofs, Energy Star certified, & more! $174,900 & $205,000. Call Jared at (404) 797-1034 or visit website at www.jwyorkhomes.com. Own your own rental property! 139 & 143 Strickland Ave. 4BR/3BA on each side of duplex. Entire duplex for $359,800. 1 side for rent $1600/ mo. Call Reign at Coldwell Banker Upchurch Realty (706) 372-4166, or (706) 543-4000. The New In–Town! Remodeled 3BR/2BA bungalow, HWflrs, screened–in porch, slate patio, tin roof, separate garage, walk to shopping & restaurants. $110K. Call Melinda at Benny Payne Realty (706) 540-0606, www. homesinathens.com.
Land for Sale Texas land. Zero $ down! 20 ac. ranches, near El Paso. Beautiful mountain views, road access, surveyed. $15,900. $159/mo. Money back guarantee. Owner financing. (800) 843-7537, www. sunsetranches.com (AAN CAN).
Roommates 1 or 2 F roommates to share exceptional house in Normaltown/ARMC area w/ UGA student. $475/mo. incl. all utils., W/D, WiFi, TV, etc. Pet OK. (706) 614-8876 or cad126@uga. edu. 2 roommates needed. 3BR/2.5BA at Milledge Place. UGA Athens busline. $300/mo. + 1/3 power. 3–5 min. drive to campus. No smoking/pets. Swimming pool. (909) 957-7058. Christian F seeks roommate to share townhouse. Call (706) 2021553. F roommate needed to share cute 3BR/2BA house on Odd St. Grad student/working professional. W/D, DW, CHAC. 1 yr. lease. $525/mo + utils. Avail. 6/20. Pet OK. (706) 614-6331. F roommate needed, grad student or professional, to share 4BR/3BA condo off S. lumpkin. $335/ mo. + ? utils. Huge space. Email Clogeman@gmail.com or (404) 788-9682. Mature student to rent suite in 3BR home furnished private BR/BA w/ study. Shared kitchen. Incl. utils., dish, Tivo, WiFi, quiet, safe, near UGA. (706) 296-6956.
M UGA student seeks roommate to share newly renovated 2BR/2BA condo for 2009–10 school yr. 1.5 mi. to campus, on bus line. Pool, volleyball, basketball. W/D, DW, water & garbage incl. No pets. NS. $360/mo. George (706) 3728960 or (706) 372-8962. Responsible roommate needed in Normaltown house. 2BR/1.5BA. W/D & DW. $400/mo + 1/2 utils. Furnished rm. optional. Pet OK. Fenced in yd. (706) 614-8352. Roommate for Dwntn apt. Avail. Aug. Awesome location! Across from the Arch. 2BR/1BA. Only $375/mo. Call (706) 466-0067 or email sstone05@gmail.com. Roommate needed to share nice apt. in Appleby Mews. Near campus. $375/mo. (678) 8874599 or email markabuzzotta@ comcast.net or go to website at www.athensapt.com. Roommate needed. Brand new townhome, 3BR/2.5BA. HWflrs., vaulted ceilings, pool. No pets. $375/mo. + 1/3 utils. Dep. neg. Avail. now. (706) 714-8072. Roommates needed. Awesome house. Avail. 8/1. Huge rms, 12’ ceilings fans, HWflrs, HVAC, multiple entrances. 2 kitchens, 2 full BAs. W/D provided. Graduate student/ professional. (706) 424-0901.
Rooms for Rent 1BR/1BA available in house/ r e c o r d i n g s t u d i o . $47 5/ mo. + 1/4 of utils. In 5 Pts. 12 mo. lease. Move–in date 8/1. Call Luke at (703) 727-2184 or animalspiritsmusic@gmail.com. Charming country house. Fully furnished. 2BR’s avail. Female only. 15 min. from UGA, 5 min. from Athens Tech. $275/BR incl. utils./Internet access. W/D, DW, renovated kitchen. No pets. (706) 369-1659. Close to campus. M or F. Must be pet friendly. Rent $450/mo. + 1/2 utils. Avail. 8/1. Pls. call (706) 248-0738. Look! Beautiful house. M/F needed for 3BR/2BA. W/D, DW, FP, deck, fenced yds, garage, cool roommates. $310/mo.+ utils. 10 min drive to Dwntn. (352) 215-0056. Rm. avail. in 3BR/3BA condo. The Woodlands. W/D, appls, pool. $425/mo. Avail. 7/1. Mins. to UGA/ Dwntn. Mike (912) 223-4639. Roommate to live in 2BR/1BA near campus. CHAC, private garden, fish pond, no pets. I spend about 4–6 wks a yr., mostly summers, in Athens. 450/mo. plus utils. Room available mid-July (possibly earlier). email: coverdev00@gmail.com Spacious, furnished BR. Quiet, close to campus, kit., laundry privileges. Shared BA, priv. entrance. No pets. M students only. $275/mo. incl. utils. (706) 353-0227. Avail. immediately!
Sub-lease Avail. July or Aug. 1st. 1BR/1BA house off College Ave. New W/D incl., lg. fridge, porch. Great location, near Dwntn, on Greenway. $375/mo. Matthew (706) 254-2285.
For Sale Antiques Estate Sale. Starts Tue. June 24th-28th., 9am–4pm. Lots of everything, fabulous antiques. There will be no early buyers and no pre– sale. Cash only. No checks, no exceptions. Beds, clothing, china, art, rugs, Yamaha Baby Grand piano, just a taste. Go to Inverness Rd. off Tallasee & look for the signs. Don’t miss this one! For more info email adkturn@bellsouth.net.
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FLAGPOLE.COM ∙ JUNE 24, 2009
Art
Services
Antiques & Jewels Artist Appreciation Sale! Fabulous paintings by Mary Porter, Taylor Dubeau, Jim Stipe Maas, Judy Dudley O’Donnell, Greg Benson, Susan Elizabeth, & Art Quilts by Elizabeth Barton. New Gallery, great prices! Pls. visit 290 N. Milledge Ave. Tue.–Sat., 12pm– 6pm, by chance or appt. on Sun.–Mon. (706) 340-3717.
Fret Shop. Professional guitar repairs & modifications, setups, electronics, precision fretwork. Previous clients incl. R.E.M., Widespread Panic, Cracker, Bob Mould, John Berry, Abbey Road Live!, Squat. (706) 5491567.
Businesses Great business in Winder. For sale due to death. Full kitchen, full bar, 7 top of the line pool tables! Price negotiable. (706) 255-5899.
Computers Brand new laptops & desktops. Bad credit, no credit, no problem. Small wkly payments. Order today & get free Nintendo Wii game system! Call now (800) 840-5439 (AAN CAN).
Furniture Spring into Mom’s Garage for amazing deals! Gently used fur niture for frugal people. Appointments & Sat. noon–5pm. Chase Park Warehouses (706) 207-7855. Tables, chairs, sofas, antiques, clothes, records & players, retro goods, & more! Cool, affordable furniture every day. Go to Agora! Your favorite everything store! 260 W. Clayton St., (706) 316-0130.
Miscellaneous BBQ Lunch 6-27-09, 11:30am-2:00pm. Central Baptist Church, 720 Danielsville Rd., Athens. For The Fallen Soldier Fund. Tickets are $6.00 for 1/4 BBQ Chicken or Bratwurst w/ potato salad, baked beans, roll, drink. Tickets may be purchased at event or you can call (706) 5481609 to reserve your tickets. Come to B e t t y for vintage quilted Chanel bags, just in for Summer! On the corner of Pulaski & Clayton, next to Agora. Open 1–4 daily. (706) 424-0566. Flagpole Classifieds! $9/wk. for your merchandise, $13/wk. for your house, $15/wk. for your business! Go to www.flagpole.com or call (706) 549-0301. Deadlines every Monday at 11am.
Music Equipment Ask about our Run–till–Sold rate. Lowest classified ad rate in town! Call (706) 549-0301 or submit your ad through www. flagpole.com. Restrictions may apply. New Fender Highway 1 Jazz Bass (Sunburst) w/ Peavey Max. 115 Bass amp + accessories. $950. (706) 850-0992.
Instruction Ash Raymond. Old Time, Bluegrass, & Folk. Fiddle, banjo, mando, autoharp, etc. (706) 2555838. Athens School of Music. Instruction in Guitar, Bass, Drums, Piano, Voice, Brass, Woodwinds, Strings, Banjo, Mandolin, Fiddle, & more. From beginner to expert. Instrument repairs avail. (706) 543-5800. Guitar lessons taught by college guitar instructor. All styles. 18 yrs. exp. Students have won several guitar competitions. 1st lesson free. Composition/ theory & bass lessons too. David Mitchell, (706) 546-7082 or www. mitchellmusicguitar.com.
Guitar Repair, setups, electronics & fretwork by 20 yr. pro. Thousands of previous clients. Proceeds help benefit Nuçi’s Space. Contact Jeff, (404) 6439772 or www.AthensGuitar.com for details. Looking for a fun, classy alternative to the typical wedding band? If you are looking for “YMCA” than S q u a t is not your band. If you want Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, & salsa, then visit www.squatme.com/ weddings. (706) 548-0457. We d d i n g B a n d s . Quality, professional bands. Weddings, parties. Rock, Jazz, etc. Call Classic City Enter tainment. ( 7 0 6 ) 5 4 9 - 1 5 6 7 . w w w. classiccityentertainment.com. Featuring The Magictones— Athens’ premiere wedding & party band. www.themagictones.com.
Services Computer Get better exposure w/ a cuttingedge website. New designer in Athens currently offers discounted rates to build local portfolio. Call Jim to set up an appt. (518) 256-8552.
Home and Garden Backyard Solutions. Make your neighbors jealous! Waterfalls, ponds, fences, decks, gazebos, porches, & more! Call Robin for free estimate! (706) 340-4492. Mural Painting. Residential, commercial, hand painted borders, & nurseries. Unbeatable prices! Quality guaranteed. Call or email for estimate. (706) 961-3633 or scarborough_78@hotmail.com.
Marketing Communication Specialist. Join an est. Athens company calling CEO’s & CFO’s of major corporations generating sales leads for technology companies. $9/hr. BOS Staffing www.bostemps. com, (706) 353-3030. The Globe (Dwntn) is looking for a new cook! Must work Sat/Sun days. Apply in person Mon.–Sat., ask for Matt. UberPrints.com is hiring! Growing web company based in Athens/Watkinsville is looking for talented & motivated individuals to join our team. We have openings in our Customer Service, Production Art, & Graphic Design Dept. Great work environment! Visit www.uberprints.com/jobs to learn more about the positions & application process.
Opportunities $600 wk. potential. Helping the gov’t. PT. No exp., no selling. Call (888) 213-5225 AD code L-5. Void in MD & SD. (AAN CAN). High School diploma! Fast, affordable & accredited. Free brochure. Call now! (800) 5326546. Ext. 97. Go to http://www. continentalacademy.com (AAN CAN). Movie extras needed. Earn $150 to $300 per day. All looks, types & ages. Feature films, television, commercials & print. No exp. necessary. (800) 340-8404 x2001 (AAN CAN) Post Office now hiring. Avg. pay $21/hr. or $54K annually incl. federal benefits & OT. Paid training, vacations. PT, FT. (866) 945-0295 (AAN CAN).
Part-time Hair stylist wanted for Sat. booth rental in private salon. Work alone, in beautiful setting. Centrally located. Call (706) 714-2592. Mystery shoppers earn up to $100/day. Undercover shoppers needed to judge retail & dining establishments. No exp. req’d. (800) 743-8535.
Vehicles
Massage
Autos
Revolutionary Massage & Wellness. Just 2 mi. from 5 Pts. 60 min. massage $40. Online booking avail.! Go to www. revolutionarymassage.com.
1995 Volvo 850 4 door sedan. New battery. Runs well. Asking $2500 OBO. Call Mon.–Fri. (706) 769-8334.
Misc. Services Improve your credit. Score below 750? Our system helps you achieve higher credit scores, incl. a 100% accurate report. Moneyback guarantee. Call (877) 9368639, www.ABCCreditHelp.com (AAN CAN). Need cash fast? $500, $1000, or $1500 direct to your account. No credit history req’d. Get cash now. For complete details go to www. BestTopCash.com (AAN CAN).
Jobs Full-time Cozy salon in artist community seeks stylists for booth rent positions. Sense of environmentalism a must! Paul Mitchell Focus Salon. Email res. to jo@honeyssalon.com. Hardcore Sales Reps Needed. Hourly + commission. I need the best & forget the rest! Call Chris (770) 560-5653. Inoko Express is looking for FT & PT cashiers. Apply in person from 2–4pm at Inoko Express, 3190 Atlanta Hwy. (706) 425-8828.
1996 Toyota 4Runner. 153K mi. 2WD. Good condition. Sunroof, CD player. Very reliable. Price negotiable. Call (706) 425-4048 or (706) 296-1863. 2000 Oldsmobile Alero. Red 4 door sedan. Auto, 73K mi. Runs great! Asking $3500. (404) 2772623.
Notices Organizations Advertise your business in 111 alternative newspapers like this one. Over 6 million circulation every wk. for $1200. No adult ads. Call Rick at (202) 289-8484 (AAN CAN).
Messages Leaving town? Don’t know how to get your weekly Flagpole fix? Subscribe! $35 for 6 months, $55 for a yr.! Call (706) 549-9523. Women, earn $18K-$30K for 6 egg donations w/ the largest, most experienced Agency in US. Call (800) 444-7119 or to apply online visit www.theworldeggbank.com (AAN CAN). Bell Acres Nudist Resort. 45 min. from Athens. Call (800) 432-1436 or visit www.bellacres.com.
everyday people Marisa Bilbao, Chef/Broad St. BAR & Grill MB: It wasn’t easy, when you’re 28 years old going to a foreign country. Very difficult. [laughs] Many times I felt so dumb, so stupid, because I couldn’t understand and I couldn’t communicate. It was a very lonely process, very lonely. After leaving everything you love, your family, everything, you come to a country where nobody understands you. It was really difficult… thanks to family and neighbors, I managed to survive one more step… my neighbors, they were amazing. Especially the children… they taught me how to read [and] how to speak through the storybooks.
A native of the northern Spanish city of Portugalete, Bilbao moved to Athens when she was 28 years old. Reared in a family of expert cooks, she became kitchen manager of downtown’s acclaimed and ever-busy Last Resort Grill. A woman of many talents, she also plays the piano and guitar, and when she was younger, she ran marathons and taught aerobics classics. Now a chef at the Broad Street Bar & Grill, she enjoys winding down after work with a reflective walk down the Birchmore Trail. Flagpole: How long is the average shift for you at work? Marisa Bilbao:…When I started at the Broad Street Bar and Grill, I started working from nine o’clock, let’s say, till seven, eight o’clock at night.
FP: Could you talk more about what it was like to have cancer? MB: I think my immune system got low, very low, because it was very stressful working in a restaurant. And I didn’t really take care of myself as I should. I didn’t exercise or eat properly; sometimes I went by without eating; I never sit down… so then I got very, very, very sick. But thanks [to] God… and thanks to my family that they came and they took care of me. Because I was alone here, practically… but my mom came from Spain, my sister came from North Carolina, my children came— so everybody helped me, you know? Because I really didn’t have any interest in living at all.
Ben Mostyn
FP: That’s a lot of hours. MB: A lot of hours… but then I got sick. I had cancer, so then they cut my hours somehow, but I still work my 35 hours, 40 hours.
FP: How was it growing up in Spain? MB: Oh, it was fun… I had many, many friends; I had so many friends I couldn’t walk anywhere without stopping 10 minutes. I’d say, “Lord please, get me out of here, because I am never going to accomplish anything!”
TUESDAY, JUNE 23 • 6pm
FP: What kind of cancer was it? MB: Breast cancer. It was really, really big, maybe like six inches [spreads forefingers above breast]. FP: Do you think that ultimately, the cancer was a good thing, since it was like a wake-up call? MB: Yeah, it was a good thing. I’m so thankful to the Lord, to my friends, for my family… [and] for everybody that worked with me… I worked with a cook, together 12 hours a day… and the day I say “Coach, I have cancer,” he started crying, you know? I said, “I never thought that you loved me so much!” FP: So, obviously, you’re religious. Any specific type of Christianity? MB: I am 100 percent Catholic. FP: Were you brought up that way? MB: No, I became [religious]… I worked Sundays, all the time, so it was not my kind of thing to do. I thought I was not, um, how do you say… worthy? But a friend of mine said to me, “I’m not either, but every time I go, I feel better.” … [So] we started going to church. And then I had a conversion, like I realized that something was missing, part of me was missing, and I wanted to be good also, like the other people, normal. Just [listening to] the prayers, and the music, and the sermons, and what the preacher was teaching and pastor was talking about… I said, “Everything makes so much sense.” You know, your parents teach you to go to church… they practically demand you to go. But then when you’re 17, 18, you say, “Forget it. I’ve had enough,” you know? But then, I realized, “I’m missing that spiritual part, that beautiful part, that pure part.” FP: Do you think your experience with cancer would have been different if you weren’t religious? MB: Yeah… I would be desperate. If I had cancer and I didn’t have my faith, my God… I’d be miserable. FP: When did you move to Athens? MB: Thirty years ago, because my sister had cancer also. She was married to an American—her husband used to travel a lot—they asked me if I could come with them, so I took care of my sister and her children and my children… so we grew up together until they moved to North Carolina and I stayed here. FP: How was it for you when you first arrived here, seeing as you weren’t really prepared to come?
FP: What’s a really obvious difference between Spanish and American culture? MB: Here, people like food fast. Just spend 10 minutes and go. Over there they don’t mind to wait one hour or two hours or three hours. They can sit down and stay three hours in the restaurant… the lifestyle is slower in Spain; it’s much more enjoyable… they socialize more, they stay with the family more… here life is too fast, too hectic.
FRIDAY, JUNE 26 • 8pm ¨ • HOT NEW MEXICANS LAZER/WULF MARRIAGE • GEOFF REACHER DEAF JUDGES WE VS. THE SHARK
FP: Since you’re from the Basque country of Spain, do you have any opinions on the ETA separatist movement there? Or are you familiar with it? MB: I’m very familiar with it… I think it’s very sad that older people encourage young people to be violent, through violence to get what they want and disrespect and hurt other people. I’ve always have been a uniter and a pacifier, never a divider.
SATURDAY, JUNE 27 • 9pm
FP: How are you liking Athens now, 30 years later? MB: Athens is to me like a paradise, especially because of the trails that I visit. Like Sandy Creek: so amazing, so beautiful… I think that the Earth is sacred and I love recycling, I won a prize on recycling. So, in the restaurant we recycle bottles, plastic, cans, everything. And I take my time to make sure every piece of paper goes to recycling.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1 • 8pm
FP: Were you glad to go back to work after you recovered? MB: I’m really, really thankful that the Lord gave me strength to go back to work, to have two hands, two feet, and to be able to cook. And so every single sandwich, every single burger, every single salad I make, to me, a piece of art… a little piece of love goes into it. Jeff Gore
JUNE 24, 2009 · FLAGPOLE.COM
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