Authors | Flagpole Magazine | Athens, GA News, Music, Arts, Restaurants

Blog posts by Gabe Vodicka, Editor

Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Jan. 11

Blog: In the Loop

Welcome to Athens Power Rankings. In the spirit of sports rating systems, through painstaking analysis, we rank the top movers and shakers in the Classic City each week. Who's hot? Who's not? Find out below.

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones

By Gabe Vodicka | January 11, 2016
Watch Sad Dads' Wacky 'Holiday Special'

Blog: Homedrone

Forget A Very Murray Christmas: This year's No. 1 all-star holiday special comes courtesy of Athens jokesters Sad Dads, who have previously filmed themselves eating a buch of raw onions and whose music Flagpole's usually unflappable Gordon Lamb has gone on recordsaying he "can't muster the patience or stomach to deal with."

By Gabe Vodicka | January 4, 2016
Athens Power Rankings for the Weeks of Dec. 21 & 28

Blog: In the Loop

Welcome to Athens Power Rankings. In the spirit of sports rating systems, through painstaking analysis, we rank the top movers and shakers in the Classic City each week. Who's hot? Who's not? Find out below.

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones

By Gabe Vodicka | December 23, 2015
Watch a New Video from Scott Low

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Ryan Myers

Former Efren frontman and solo Americana troubadour Scott Low just dropped a new, five-song EP, Stole & Spent. You can stream or download the record over on Bandcamp, and below, you can watch a video for one of the EP's tracks, the wistful "Keep On Getting Lost."

By Gabe Vodicka | December 15, 2015
Local Artists Play for Holiday DVD to Benefit Military Families

Blog: Homedrone

Watkinsville-based Duck Cloud Productions has teamed up with nine Athens musical acts to put together a DVD of live performances, the proceeds from which will benefit Soldiers' Angels, a national organization that "work[s] tirelessly supporting our nation's veterans, wounded warriors, deployed service members and their families," according to the group's website.

By Gabe Vodicka | December 9, 2015
Angel Olsen, Maserati, Bombino Announced for Slingshot 2016

Blog: Homedrone

The first three headliners for the 2016 installment of the Slingshot Festival, which happens Mar. 31–Apr. 2, have been announced, and organizers say advance tickets will be available soon.

By Gabe Vodicka | December 8, 2015
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Dec. 7

Blog: In the Loop

Welcome to Athens Power Rankings. In the spirit of sports rating systems, through painstaking analysis, we rank the top movers and shakers in the Classic City each week. Who's hot? Who's not? Find out below.

Photo Credit: Nolan Terrebonne

Elite tha Showstoppa

By Gabe Vodicka | December 8, 2015
Video: Athens Cowboy Choir Played Flagpole's Parade of Lights Float

Blog: Homedrone

Last night, the annual Parade of Lights took over downtown Athens for a celebration of all things festive. As has become tradition, Flagpole, the 40 Watt Club and AthFest Educates teamed up to sponsor the official Athens Music Scene float. This year, we invited the Athens Cowboy Choir to regale onlookers with holiday songs "from just outside the city."

Check out two videos of the action below, shot by Flagpole production director Larry Tenner:

By Gabe Vodicka | December 4, 2015
Mark Richt Hired as Miami Coach

Blog: In the Loop

The Mark Richt saga continues to develop: Just three days after he was fired as Georgia's head football coach, the AJC reports that Richt has accepted the same position at the University of Miami. Richt was a quarterback at Miami from 1979–82.

By Gabe Vodicka | December 2, 2015
Reports: Kirby Smart Hired as Georgia Coach

Blog: In the Loop

Welp, that didn't take long: Multiple outlets are reporting that the University of Georgia will hire current Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart as its new head football coach.

By Gabe Vodicka | December 1, 2015
Widespread Panic Tickets on Sale Friday; Here's How to Get 'em

Blog: Homedrone

Tickets for Widespread Panic's Feb. 9 and 10 shows at Athens' Classic Center go on sale this Friday, Dec. 4 at noon, and will surely sell out in minutes. But don't, y'know, panic: To get everyone prepared for the rush, the venue has released a helpful list of tips, which you can check out in the form of the graphic below.

By Gabe Vodicka | December 1, 2015
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Nov. 23

Blog: In the Loop

Welcome to Athens Power Rankings. In the spirit of sports rating systems, through painstaking analysis, we rank the top movers and shakers in the Classic City each week. Who's hot? Who's not? Find out below.

Melaney Smith

By Gabe Vodicka | November 23, 2015
Drive-By Truckers Announce 2016 Homecoming Shows

Blog: Homedrone

The Drive-By Truckers have announced dates and supporting acts for the 2016 edition of their annual three-day Homecoming stand at the 40 Watt Club.

By Gabe Vodicka | November 19, 2015
Pinecones Change Name to Arbor Labor Union, Sign to Sub Pop

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file

Athens/Atlanta post-punk four-piece Pinecones have changed the band's name to Arbor Labor Union and will release a follow-up to this year's Sings For You Now on the storied, Seattle-based Sub Pop label next year, according to a press release.

By Gabe Vodicka | November 16, 2015
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Nov. 9

Blog: In the Loop

Welcome to Athens Power Rankings. In the spirit of sports rating systems, through painstaking analysis, we rank the top movers and shakers in the Classic City each week. Who's hot? Who's not? Find out below.

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file

By Gabe Vodicka | November 9, 2015
Updated With Statement: Bombs Away Books Has Closed

Blog: Culture Briefs

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones

As quickly as it arrived, it has gone away: Bombs Away Books, the local anarchist book store, DIY music venue and community space has closed, according to the Athens Banner-Herald.

By Gabe Vodicka | November 9, 2015
Athens Musician Michael Guthrie Recovering from Heart Surgery

Blog: Homedrone

Michael Guthrie

A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Athens musician Michael Guthrie, who suffered a serious medical emergency last month and was found to require open-heart surgery. The procedure took place Oct. 30.

Guthrie's wife Vanda underwent a similar surgery earlier this year, and is currently "suffering from a collapsed lung and ongoing treatment," according to the fundraising page.

By Gabe Vodicka | November 6, 2015
New Madrid, Muuy Biien, Grand Vapids, Mothers Announce NYE Show With Bitchin' GIF

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Kristin Karch

Mothers

There are bound to be plenty of great live-music options for New Year's Eve this year, but one show has shot quickly to the front of the pack. On Dec. 31, four of Athens' most currently essential local groups—New Madrid, Muuy Biien, Mothers and Grand Vapids—will join forces to rock the 40 Watt Club.

To announce the show, organizers put together this bitchin' GIF:

By Gabe Vodicka | November 4, 2015
Watch a Live Video of Adam Klein's 'Song for a New Year'

Blog: Homedrone

Last month, Athens alt-country troubadour Adam Klein released Archer's Arrow, his sixth album. The record, a collaboration with now-defunct Athens band Nutria, had been in the works since 2010; Klein shelved the project for several years, releasing Sky Blue DeVille with his live band, The Wild Fires, in 2013.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 27, 2015
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Oct. 26

Blog: In the Loop

Welcome to Athens Power Rankings. In the spirit of sports rating systems, through painstaking analysis, we rank the top movers and shakers in the Classic City each week. Who's hot? Who's not? Find out below.

Photo Credit: Jason Thrasher

Timi Conley

By Gabe Vodicka | October 26, 2015