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

Blog posts by Gabe Vodicka, Editor

Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Nov. 3

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: Jamie Williams/Sydney Festival

Mitch Easter, Mike Mills and Ken Stringfellow

By Gabe Vodicka | November 3, 2014
Nuçi's Space Launches 'Reconstruction of the Steeple' Campaign

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Jason Thrasher

Rising high above Oconee Street just east of downtown, the red-brick steeple seen above has long been known as a beacon of Athens music. The structure, on the site of the Steeplechase condominiums, is all that remains of the 145-year-old St. Mary's Church, the site of R.E.M.'s first-ever live performance in 1980 (and, at the time, the home of Peter Buck, Michael Stipe and Bill Berry).

By Gabe Vodicka | November 3, 2014
U2's The Edge on Neutral Milk Hotel: 'Strange Hippie Stuff,' Not 'That Great'

Blog: Homedrone

I would give my left pinky to see this turn into another War on Drugs/Mark Kozelek situation. U2 guitarist The Edge tells Rolling Stone (emphasis mine):

By Gabe Vodicka | October 31, 2014
Hide Your Kids: Hear a Spooky Halloween Tune from Madeline

Blog: Homedrone

In honor of the holiday, here's a brand new tune from Madeline. It's about this, which is pretty terrifying. Happy Halloween!

By Gabe Vodicka | October 31, 2014
Win Tickets: Drive-By Truckers Play Georgia Theatre Tonight

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: David McClister

As we've noted elsewhere, there are plenty of excellent options for live music this Halloween. But the centerpiece of Athens' concert calendar is the Drive-By Truckers' special, spooky return to the Georgia Theatre.

We've got a pair of tickets to give away to one lucky commenter. To enter, tell us below why you deserve to go for free. We'll choose a winner at 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Good luck, ghouls!

By Gabe Vodicka | October 31, 2014
Flagpole Premieres: Powerkompany, 'Mermaid (Sunlight)' Video

Blog: Homedrone

Local hubby-and-wife electro-pop duo Powerkompany haven't released a proper album since dropping the bold and moody I Am More Than This in May 2013, but that doesn't mean the pair haven't stayed busy touring, writing, recording and, most recently, making music videos.

This summer, they released a lovely clip for I Am More Than This' "Lost," and today Flagpole is happy to premiere the comparatively creepy video (Halloween, y'all!) for that record's closer, "Mermaid (Sunlight)".

By Gabe Vodicka | October 30, 2014
Gurley Gets Four Games, Community Service from NCAA

Blog: Culture Briefs

Photo Credit: UGA Athletic Association

Nearly three weeks after Georgia's Todd Gurley was suspended by the university while it investigated whether the star running back received cash for autographs, and one week afterthe school submitted its findings to the NCAA, that governing body has ruled that Gurley must sit a total of four games.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 29, 2014
Stream a New T. Hardy Morris Tune

Blog: Homedrone

Dead Confederate frontman T. Hardy Morris, he of Flagpole's favorite local album of 2013, has debuted a new single titled "Painted On Attitude" in advance of a November tour that will find the songwriter traveling up the Eastern seaboard and into Ohio.

"Painted On Attitude" is billed as a shift in Morris' sonic approach, and it does feel like a departure, taking the subdued grunge-folk of Audition Tapes and piling on pedal steel and punk fuzz.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 23, 2014
Flagpole Premieres: Scooterbabe, 'Know That I Don't Want You'

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Anna Pence

Though it has played steadily around town for the last couple years and gained a respectable local fanbase in the process, indie-pop trio Scooterbabe has but one EP to its name, a self-titled, five-track effort released last November.

Now, the band is set to drop the follow-up, again in EP form. The new one is titled[email protected] (yes, that is the name of the damn thing) and is out Oct. 28 digitally and in the near future on cassette via Pizza Tomb.

The four-song record finds the band honing the C86-inspired sound it has put forth since the beginning. For fans of noisy, navel-gazing jangle-pop, it's a must-listen. Flagpole's Gordon Lamb is blunt in his assessment: "No one in Athens has played well-crafted, distortion-free pop of this type and caliber in a very long time."

More below.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 23, 2014
Flagpole Premieres: Hand Sand Hands, 'Pores' Video

Blog: Homedrone

We've been fans of local experimental rhythmsmith Jonathan Miller and his Hand Sand Hands project since Miller emigrated from the Twin Cities to Athens in 2012. Attendees at this summer's Flagpole Athens Music Awards got a taste of HSH's upcoming album, Good Luck With That, which now has a release date: Nov. 11, when you can grab the album on cassette via Arrowhawk and digitally via Autumn + Colour.

The album—there's the cover art above—features contributions from bassist Taylor Chmura and drummer Chase Merritt (both of Little Gold), who lend the music a live, full-band feel, though it loses none of HSH's sample-based strangeness.

Below, check out a video for "Pores," the record's strong lead single, filmed by the increasingly in-demand Dominar, LTD.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 22, 2014
UGA Applies for Gurley Reinstatement

Blog: Culture Briefs

Photo Credit: UGA Athletic Association

The University of Georgia released a statement this morning announcing that it will file paperwork Wednesday with the NCAA to request reinstatement for suspended running back Todd Gurley, who has missed two games due to a school investigation into whether the star running back received improper benefits.

It's not known how quickly the NCAA will respond to UGA's request for reinstatement, though the Macon Telegraph's Seth Emerson notes that since the "NCAA and UGA have been working together on Gurley's situation… UGA's request seems almost assured of being approved."

Signs point to Gurley being available for Georgia's next game, the annual clash with the Florida Gators in Jacksonville, on Nov. 1.

Meanwhile, Gurley was recently spotted in Athens wearing—what else?—a "Free Gurley" T-shirt. Let's hope he paid for it.

More below.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 22, 2014
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Oct. 20

Blog: In the Loop

Photo Credit: John Kelley

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.

1. Jason Carter

The onetime Athens resident (and this week's Flagpole cover model) is, rather surprisingly, running neck-and-neck in the polls with incumbent Gov. Nathan Deal. Read former Flagpoleeditor Richard Faussett's piece in the New York Times for more.

2. Nick Chubb

CHUBB-A-DUB-DUB.™

By Gabe Vodicka | October 20, 2014
Watch a New Video from Honeychild

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Nathan Baerreis

Honeychild is gearing up to release Surrender, the pop follow-up to the tropical American Beach (Flagpole review). An Indiegogo campaign has been in the works for a while, and though the group has thus far raised less than half of the desired $8,000, there's still another week-plus for folks to donate.

And the band is making it easy to do so: At Honeychild's show Saturday, Oct. 18 atHendershot's—where they'll play the new record in its entirety—frontlady SJ Ursrey tellsFlagpole she will have a laptop set up where folks can pre-order the album through the Indiegogo page.

Below, watch the recently released, Shannon Moncrief-directed video for "Make Out," a tune from Surrender.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 17, 2014
Oct. 24 Martina McBride Show Postponed

Blog: Homedrone

This just in from the good folks at the Classic Center:

The Martina McBride performance originally scheduled for Friday, October 24, 2014 has been postponed and been rescheduled for Saturday, January 17, 2015. The Classic Center, on behalf of the concert promoter and Martina McBride’s management team, sincerely thank you for your understanding in this matter. The performance will go on fully as planned on the new date and all tickets already purchased will be fully honored and valid at that time. Existing ticket holders who have conflicts with the new performance date should contact the Box Office during normal operating hours by Nov. 7 for resolution. Remaining available tickets for the concert will continue to be on-sale for the January performance.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 16, 2014
Flagpole Premieres: Musickland, a Documentary About Rocker-Turned-Farmer Adam Musick

Blog: Homedrone

Adam Musick

Last February, we hipped you to an in-progress documentary called Musickland, centered on rocker-turned-hog-farmer Adam Musick, the former frontman of Athens rock band Southern Bitch. Now, Flagpole is thrilled to premiere the finished project, courtesy of student filmmakers Cameron Bargerstock and Jacob Rosdail.

The 34-minute film is an incisive portrait of a very particular internal battle. It captures Adam Musick and his wife and former bandmate Wendy as they live, work and contemplate the series of events that led them from the 40 Watt stage to a farm in rural Virginia. It also documents Adam's slow but steady—and still ongoing—return to music.

Stream Musickland below:

By Gabe Vodicka | October 16, 2014
UPDATE: The Bworst UGA Football Tribute Songs of 2014 So Far

Blog: Homedrone

We're almost a month and a half into the Georgia football season, and for fans, there's plenty of reason to be optimistic. Despite a crushing week-two loss to South Carolina, the Dawgs are in the driver's seat in the SEC East; CMR and company might very well find themselves back in the Georgia Dome come December.

There's perhaps no UGA football tradition more indelible than the ill-considered and/or blatantly cash-grabby fan-made fight song, and so, nearing the season's midpoint, we thought it would be a good time to round up the best and worst—and bworst—tribute jams of the year so far.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 16, 2014
Watch a Fiery New Video from Chief Scout

Blog: Homedrone

Chief Scout, the pet project of Athens-based songwriter and guitarist Trey Rosenkampff, has been steadily gathering buzz, earning high marks from in-the-know locals for its scrappy guitar pyrotechnics and energetic live shows.

A two-song single is scheduled for release Oct. 28, with a five-song EP to follow next year. To tease the new material last month, Rosenkampff offered a stream of "Run Away From Home," the single's high-octane A-side with an impossibly catchy chorus.

Now there's a flame-filled video, directed by Andrew Schwab, to accompany the tune. Check it out below:

By Gabe Vodicka | October 15, 2014
The Weekly Three: Caribou, Ex Hex, Sunn O))) and Scott Walker

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Jonah Takagi

Ex Hex

This week's new finds from the great beyond:

By Gabe Vodicka | October 13, 2014
Monsoon Hosts 'Roller Skate Night' to Fund Video

Blog: Homedrone

Local rock trio Monsoon is looking to shoot a fancy music video. But, like most Athens bands, they're hard up for cash. Rather than go the Kickstarter route—"I just couldn't bring myself to ask folks for money when everyone is so tapped these days," says singer and guitarist Sienna Chandler—the band has teamed with Fun Galaxy on Cherokee Road for a night of roller skating, live music and a few special surprises.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 13, 2014
Flagpole Premieres: Mark Rogers & Mary Byrne, I Line My Days Along Your Weight

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez

Mark Rogers and Mary Byrne call New York City home these days, but the pair cut their musical teeth in Georgia—Rogers with new-folk standouts Myssouri and Byrne with eclectic rockers Hot Young Priest. The album Rogers and Byrne have just crafted as a duo, I Line My Days Along Your Weight, should establish the pair as one of the most vital acts in folk music right now.

Recorded in Brooklyn and set for release next Tuesday, Oct. 14 via Important, I Line My Days Along Your Weight is a striking set of sparse, evocative tunes filled with rich instrumentation—"baritone acoustic, tricone resonator, golden-era flat top, space-age lap steel guitar, upright piano and hundred-year-old mandolin," per the press release—that is unassuming even as it devastates.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 10, 2014