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

Blog posts by Gabe Vodicka, Editor

Win Tickets: X Plays Georgia Theatre Tonight

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Gary Leonard

L.A. punk legends X play the Georgia Theatre tonight, and we've got a pair of tickets to give away. To enter, tell us why you deserve to go for free in the comments below. We'll choose a winner at 4:30 p.m.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 8, 2015
R.I.P. Paul Scales, Athens Musician and 40 Watt Co-Founder

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Photo via Facebook

Athens musician Paul Scales has died, according to posts on social media, including a tweetfrom R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills and tributes on Scales' Facebook page.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 5, 2015
Flagpole Premieres: Saline, Dumb EP

Blog: Homedrone

Athens-based four-person rock band Saline describes its sound as "shoegrease." Listening to the group's debut EP, Dumb, the term starts to make some sense. A spaced-out, mid-fi blend of post-rock, nervy punk, Pinback precision and fuzzed-to-fuck guitar drama, Dumb is a promising start from a band whose live show has already begun to turn heads around town.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 4, 2015
Dodd Ferrelle Is Running for Mayor of Winterville

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Justin Evans

Dodd Ferrelle (center), with his band, March.

Dodd Ferrelle is considering throwing his hat into the ring for mayor of Winterville.

By Gabe Vodicka | August 31, 2015
Five Eight, Patterson Hood Mark 10-Year Katrina Anniversary with 'The Flood'

Blog: Homedrone

Today marks the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged New Orleans and the surrounding Gulf Coast, killing nearly 2,000 people and dislocating thousands more. To commemorate the date, Athens rock legends Five Eight have released a brand new tune, "The Flood," featuring lead vocals from Drive-By Truckers' Patterson Hood.

By Gabe Vodicka | August 29, 2015
Little Kings is 25-and-Up On Weekends Now

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Joshua L. Jones/file

Deep State performs on the Little Kings patio during AthFest 2014.

Like all downtown Athens watering holes, the popular bar and music venue Little Kings Shuffle Club has seen its share of unruly patrons over the years: The infamous patio pooper comes to mind, as does a recent incident in which a man attempted to steal money from a tip jar, was thrown out and responded by breaking one of the club's windows.

After a series of similarly unfortunate events last weekend—the first following the start of UGA's fall semester—the bar at the corner of Hancock Avenue and Hull Street will only admit customers who are aged 25 or older on Fridays and Saturdays. The change is effective immediately.

By Gabe Vodicka | August 28, 2015
Flagpole Premieres: Wieuca, 'Pressure Head'

Blog: Homedrone

Athens band Wieuca has slowly, steadily carved out a spot in the scene by transforming its once-boilerplate indie rock sound into something psych-addled, pop-minded and altogether more exploratory. Hints of krautrock dot "Pressure Head," the group's new single, which you can stream below:

By Gabe Vodicka | August 28, 2015
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Aug. 24

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: Caitlin Sullivan

Fred Schneider

By Gabe Vodicka | August 24, 2015
This Year's UGA Football Hype Video is Not as Good as Last Year's UGA Football Hype Video

Blog: Culture Briefs

With two weeks (!) until UGA's season opener against Louisiana-Monroe, it's time yet again to evaluate the team's annual preseason hype video.

By Gabe Vodicka | August 23, 2015
Listen to New Music from Thayer Sarrano, Mothers and Houston in the Blind

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Jason Thrasher

Thayer Sarrano

As the slow season wraps up, there's exciting stuff in store from some of Athens' talented locals, including the Aug. 28 release of Shaky, the new album from psych-rock songstress Thayer Sarrano. Check out the record's vibe-heavy first single, "Touch My Face," below:

By Gabe Vodicka | August 19, 2015
Hear a Song from Kite to the Moon's New Album

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Ann Conley

Timi Conley

Today marks the official release of the long-in-the-making new album from Athens songwriter/rabblerouser Timi Conley and his Kite to the Moon trio: the expertly named Songs in the Key of OMG. To celebrate the record's release, the band will play the Georgia Theatre rooftop this Friday, Aug. 21, after Moon Taxi plays the inside stage.

Below, check out Songs in the Key of OMG's alt-rocking opening track, "Girl On the Edge of a Seaside Cliff":

By Gabe Vodicka | August 18, 2015
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Aug. 10

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.

Eureka California

By Gabe Vodicka | August 10, 2015
Unknown Mortal Orchestra to Play Urban Outfitters Grand Opening Party

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Dusdin Condren

Unknown Mortal Orchestra

To commemorate the opening of the downtown location of international youth culture and ill-advised design emporium Urban Outfitters, which finally opens its doors this week, buzzy Portland, OR psychmongers Unknown Mortal Orchestra will play an outdoor show in the Creature Comforts parking lot on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 8:30 p.m.

By Gabe Vodicka | August 10, 2015
B-52s' Kate Pierson Marries Partner in Hawaii

Blog: Homedrone

According to pictures posted to her Facebook page—as well as multiple news outlets—B-52s singer Kate Pierson married her longtime partner, Monica Coleman, in a ceremony in Hawaii earlier this week.

By Gabe Vodicka | August 5, 2015
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of July 27

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

Valerie Bell

By Gabe Vodicka | July 27, 2015
Drive-By Truckers to Release 35-Track Live Album Oct. 30

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: David McClister

Anyone who's caught the Drive-By Truckers in concert knows that the band puts on one hell of a show. On Oct. 30, all will be able to experience the mad, whiskey-fueled magic via a 35-track live record, the aptly titled It's Great to Be Alive!

By Gabe Vodicka | July 27, 2015
Polaris, Wavves, Toro Y Moi, Willis Earl Beal, More to Play Athens Intensified

Blog: Homedrone

Toro Y Moi

From Oct. 7–10, the fourth annual Athens Intensified festival, the brainchild of Flagpolecolumnist and Athens music aficionado Gordon Lamb, returns to downtown, bringing with it an impressive lineup of local, regional and national talent.

By Gabe Vodicka | July 22, 2015
Flagpole Premieres: Louie Larceny, 'White Money' Video

Blog: Homedrone

Good news for fans of defunct local hip hop group Mad Axes: One of that act's founding members, Louie Larceny, is gearing up to release White Love, a 12-track effort recorded, mixed and mastered by Joel Hatstat, this fall.

Earlier this week, Larceny posted the album's moody, menacing first single, "White Money," tohis Bandcamp page. Today, Flagpole is pleased to premiere the song's stylish video.

By Gabe Vodicka | July 16, 2015
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of July 13

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.

Patterson Hood

By Gabe Vodicka | July 13, 2015
Stream Five Eight's Weirdo Reissue, Out Now

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Courtney McDermott

Today marks the official reissue release of Weirdo, the 1994 classic from Athens-based underdog rockers Five Eight. A spry, 11-track album, Weirdo represents a would-be alt-rock breakthrough that never quite came.

By Gabe Vodicka | July 10, 2015