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Blog posts by Dan Mistich

Interview with Dave Rawlings, Playing Georgia Theatre Tuesday

Blog: Homedrone

There’s something incredibly disarming about Nashville songwriter and producer Dave Rawlings. Having existed as a sideman for the better part of the past two decades for several artists with ties to the alt-country world, Rawlings comes off as slightly uninterested in performing under the spotlight. But given his extensive resume and repetoire, the crowd at the Georgia Theatre Tuesday should be in for quite a treat.

More after the jump.

By Dan Mistich | November 26, 2013
Live Review: Peter Buck and Kevn Kinney at 40 Watt Club, Thursday, Nov. 14

Blog: Homedrone

The first thing everyone present at the 40 Watt last night found out was that Peter Buck has quite the voice. It’s probably more accurate to call it a growl or a snarl, but rest assured that Buck’s guitar playing isn’t the only thing that is capable of blistering audience’s ears.

By Dan Mistich | November 15, 2013
Nashville Folkie Todd Snider Plays Georgia Theatre Tonight

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Senor McGuire

It would be a mistake to take Todd Snider too seriously. The folkster from East Nashville has made a career out of striking a balance between being reverent to the folk and country traditions where he apprenticed (with legends like Jerry Jeff Walker and John Prine, no less) and having a playful, "enjoy it while it lasts" attitude.

Snider says there are too many people in the music business that take themselves too seriously. "There are a ton of people in this line of work... that are not ready to be perceived as foolish. They're not ready to be embarrassed. They aren't ready to take their dick out," he says.

After the jump: "My job is to live as hard as I can and to risk early death."

By Dan Mistich | November 1, 2013
Live Review: The So So Glos at Caledonia Lounge

Blog: Homedrone

The more I think about it, it must be easier to play to an audience of 20,000 than to an audience of 20. Not that I think that the Brooklyn-based So So Glos are deserving of playing to that small of a crowd, but those were the very real circumstances in which the band found itself Tuesday night at the Caledonia Lounge. The real test of a band is if it plays with the same amount of intensity no matter the size of the crowd. At least in this case, So So Glos passed.

More after the jump.

By Dan Mistich | October 9, 2013
Diarrhea Planet Plays Georgia Theatre Tonight

Blog: Homedrone

They've been named checked by Patrick Stickles on Titus Andronicus' latest album, Local Business. They have more guitarists than Iron Maiden, if you can believe that. They've lapped the U.S. a few times this year and have what is arguably the most obscene name of any active band right now (one booking agent refused to work with them unless they changed it). Everything about the band and its sound screams reckless abandon.

More after the jump.

By Dan Mistich | October 4, 2013
Win Tickets: Family and Friends Play Georgia Theatre Tonight

Blog: Homedrone

As almost any up-and-coming band in Athens will tell you, an opening slot at the Georgia Theatre is nothing to scoff at. For folk-infused local band Family and Friends, warming up a crowd for Athens mainstays Packway Handle Band is proof that you can go a long way in a little amount of time in this town. Although the band has only been playing as a full unit since late April, it's begun to generate quite a bit of buzz around town, squeezing in quite a few shows this summer and laying the groundwork for a record to be released sometime in the near future.

By Dan Mistich | September 12, 2013
Drive-By Truckers' Patterson Hood Talks New Lineup, New Album

Blog: Homedrone

If you’re following his output closely, you might get the impression that Patterson Hood from Drive-By Truckers will sleep when he’s dead. In addition to writing reflective essays about how growing up in the South influenced the band’s Southern Rock Opera, playing solo shows around the country, writing songs to protect downtown Athens from a Walmart eye-sore, and blazing through recording sessions with fellow Athenian David Barbe at the helm, Hood stays awfully busy.

Hood might not have a lot of free time on his hands, but he and his band have managed to squeeze in their annual August appearances at the Georgia Theatre this weekend. They’ll be joined Friday by Tuscaloosa-based rockers the Dexateens and on Saturday by Fly Golden Eagle, stationed out of Nashville.

Although Hood is perhaps the most public and vocal member of the band, DBT has long functioned as a unit that extends beyond those who hold instruments during recording sessions and on tour. Hood is grateful for the contributions that have made the band a success, both in Athens and around the globe.

By Dan Mistich | August 21, 2013
Sunday in Review: Bloodkin, Lera Lynn, Patterson Hood

Blog: AthFest

Photo Credit: Mike White

Patterson Hood and the Downtown Mystic Rumblers

Because I grew up 20 minutes away from where Daniel Hutchens and Eric Carter are from in West Virginia, I’m morally obligated to love Bloodkin. Even though most of their tunes can be described as Black Crowes-lite, I still get a kick out of hearing great made-for-radio pop. From their grey hair to the way they hold their instruments, you can tell that the guys in Bloodkin are veterans. The band took the stage right at 4:30 p.m. and busted out a solid hour of tunes from their almost 20-year career.

By Dan Mistich | June 24, 2013
Sunday in Review: FilmFest Screens Muscle Shoals

Blog: AthFest

AthFest ain’t just about the music, folks. I scored tickets to a screening of the documentary Muscle Shoals earlier in the week. Although I had already had a ton of fun during the weekend, I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t looking forward to this seeing film more than checking out the bands I had seen thus far.

By Dan Mistich | June 24, 2013
Saturday in Review: Breakfast of Champions, Dirty Athens Day Party, Ghost Owl

Blog: AthFest

Photo Credit: Mike White

New Madrid

Everyone hangin’ in there? Sunscreen applied and adequately hydrated? Okay, good.

If you got plenty of rest Friday night and were brave enough to make your AthFest experience an all day affair Saturday, you had plenty of stuff to choose from. I missed the tacos, but a friend reported that Sr. Sol catered some pretty badass food to the New West Records party over at 399 Meigs. Buxton, New Madrid and Daniel Romano wound up playing some great sets over at Normaltown Hall. I’ve been to that place over on Meigs now a few times and I’m getting the feeling that it is the best-kept open secret in town. If you haven’t been, I highly recommend you check out the venue the next time they host a show.

By Dan Mistich | June 23, 2013
Friday in Review: Reptar, Yip Deceiver, Velveteen Pink

Blog: AthFest

One of the many beautiful things about a small festival held in a renowned music town like Athens is that—holy cow—things start on time (usually)! I rolled into the Georgia Theatre at 9:59 and, by golly, the guys in Velveteen Pink were already on stage. But it’s not the fact that the band was on time that made them worthy of precious AthFest time at a wristband-only event. Although the crowd was scattered throughout the multi-level theatre (likely because of the need to post up for the impending Reptar set later in the night), the band certainly had a few limber young'uns shaking on the floor.

By Dan Mistich | June 22, 2013
Friday in Review: Modern Skirts Play Final Show to Packed Crowd

Blog: AthFest

Photo Credit: Mike White

And…we’re off. Officially, anyway.

If you were downtown anytime after noon today, you could feel the hustle and bustle west of College Avenue. Early in the day, a swath of vendors were lugging their merch around to be sold later in the night while the stage crews whipped up the final touches on the Pulaski Street Stage. Not a whole to see for the average AthFest goer, but plenty to look at for the Athens music uber-nerds.

By Dan Mistich | June 22, 2013
SXSW: The Mastersons; Intimate House Show With Austin Lucas

Blog: Homedrone

While the excitement around downtown stayed consistent throughout the day with plenty of big shows going on early, a house party north of the SXSW hubbub drew a crowd for Austin Lucas.

By Dan Mistich | March 14, 2013
SXSW: Chief, Fletcher C. Johnson Slay Hotel Vegas for Burger Records

Blog: Homedrone

Is there a Joe Walsh look-alike contest at SXSW this year? Probably not. In any case, there were a ton of dudes on stage this afternoon at Hotel Vegas that could have passed for the James Gang guitarist (we won’t mention The Eagles – we’ve “had a rough night and [we] hate the fuckin’ Eagles, man”). There must be something in the mutton chops and moustaches, because these bands drew an impressive crowd earlier today.

By Dan Mistich | March 13, 2013
SXSW: Trade Show Swag Central, Highlights New Gadgets

Blog: Homedrone

Lest SXSW be confused as a pack of bands all vying for media attention, the trade show in Austin’s Convention Center (the home base for all things SXSW) offered festival-goers the opportunity to check out the latest gadgets and products on the market.

By Dan Mistich | March 13, 2013
SXSW: Jason Isbell Plays Stripped Down Set With New Material

Blog: Homedrone

Although he might be cursed with being “that guy who used to be in Drive-By Truckers,” Jason Isbell’s solo output has been deserving of praise for quite some time. At his first of a few shows at SXSW this year, Isbell made good use of his time by playing a handful of songs acoustically and without any pretense. Amanda Shires, Isbell’s fiddle-slaying new wife, helped to turn rock-centric songs into intimate sing-alongs that made the large crowd feel rather small.

By Dan Mistich | March 13, 2013
SXSW: Rob Zombie Talks New Film, Mood Music

Blog: Homedrone

At this point, Rob Zombie’s film career has lasted as long as the band that launched him into popular consciousness. While White Zombie might be long gone, fans of Rob’s work can take solace in knowing that his newest film, Lords of Salem, is just over a month away from being released. Zombie joined film and music geeks alike for a conversation about the film’s production, ultimately telling aspiring artists not to worry about pleasing everyone and that “going unconventional” is sometimes a bold but necessary move.

By Dan Mistich | March 12, 2013
Q&A With Lantern, Playing Farm 255 Tonight

Blog: Homedrone

Give a listen to Lantern’s latest release, Dream Mine, and you might wonder what planet the band is from. From the ambient-dance sounds of "Untitled" to "Out of Our Heads," which drips of garage rock goo, it’s clear that the band’s musical palate runs the gamut. Flagpole recently caught up with Lantern guitarist Zachary Fairbrother to discuss the relationship between gritty cities and rock and roll, the risks of defining punk, and what it’s like to be a lo-fi rocker with a background in music composition.

Flagpole: You mention on your Bandcamp page that Dream Mine is a “loose concept album” that is a “a tribute to '80s dystopic cyber punk.” Can you say something of the concepts running throughout the album?

Zachary Fairbrother: I wouldn't say there is an obvious narrative throughout the EP, because there isn't. The concept more came about while I was putting the tracks together for the release. When we were finished assembling it we were like, "Wow, this really sounds scary." It comes off very cold and bleak. The idea of it being a tribute to '80s dystopic-cyber punk came from the track, “Untitled,” which I composed as a project separate from Lantern all together. It was the theme for an imaginary cyber punk movie. I really love the look of those movies, the gritty noir, the '80s technology. The '80s definitely seemed to have a fear of technology unlike today. We, however, might want to ask ourselves some of these questions again, but that's another discussion.

Also, there are lots of industrial themes running through the EP as well, such as “Fool's Gold,” “Train Song,” “You Can't Deny Me (Revisited).” I sort imagined it as a future primitive. To compare it to a movie, it might be like Escape from New York or The Warriors. We are playing rock and roll—it's an old genre, but we want to present it in a new a fresh way, or it might be thought of how punks in the future [will] try to play punk from the past.

FP: Although you’re originally from Canada, you’re now based out of Philadelphia. Despite being the City of Brotherly Love, your new home has a reputation of being a pretty rough place. How does the environment of Philly influence your music?

By Dan Mistich | March 5, 2013
Q&A With Daniel Romano, Playing Green Room Tonight

Blog: Homedrone

By Dan Mistich | February 16, 2013
Q&A With U.S. Girls, Playing Farm 255 Tonight

Blog: Homedrone

By Dan Mistich | February 8, 2013