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

Blog posts by Gabe Vodicka, Editor

The Weekly Three: Mark Rogers & Mary Byrne, Prince, Godflesh

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez

Mark Rogers and Mary Byrne

This week's new finds from the great beyond:

By Gabe Vodicka | October 8, 2014
Stream The Glands' Entire 36-Song Comeback Show via Southern Shelter

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Mike White

Beloved local rock and roll institution The Glands returned to the stage Saturday after a two-year hiatus (which was preceded by a one-year hiatus, which was preceded by a seven-year hiatus…), and they played. Boy, did they play. Thirty-six songs, in fact.

The setlist, which spanned the band's career and teased unreleased material from a long-awaited third record, which frontman Ross Shapiro confirmed to Flagpole will be out within the year, is now streamable via Southern Shelter. Check it out below.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 6, 2014
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Oct. 6

Blog: In the Loop

Photo Credit: UGA Athletic Association

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.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 6, 2014
UGA Cancels Homecoming Parade Due to Threat of Weather

Blog: In the Loop

It sure is nice and sunny out right now, but the forecast calls for thunderstorms throughout the day Friday. Hence, UGA has canceled its annual Homecoming Parade.

But don't worry, ye lovers of pageantry:

.@UGAHomecoming Parade canceled due to weather. Top floats will be on display Sat. at Tate. http://t.co/tHY5i01RRD
— UGA (@universityofga) October 2, 2014

By Gabe Vodicka | October 2, 2014
Win Tickets: J. Mascis and Luluc Play 40 Watt Thursday

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Justin La Priore

Legendary Dinosaur Jr. frontman J. Mascis brings his solo acoustic tour to the 40 Watt Club Thursday, with support from Australian folk duo Luluc. We've got a pair of tickets to give away. To enter, tell us in the comments below why YOU deserve to go for free. We'll choose a winner Thursday at 4 p.m.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 1, 2014
Q&A With Brian Burton of Broken Bells, Playing Georgia Theatre Wednesday

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: James Minchin III

Broken Bells

Brian Burton, aka Danger Mouse, became a household name in 2004 after The Grey Album, his inspired mash-up of Jay-Z's Black Album and the Beatles' self-titled "white album," went viral. Since then, he's become one of the most in-demand music producers of our time, teaming up with CeeLo Green in Gnarls Barkley and helming records by Beck, the Black Keys, Norah Jones and others. Most recently, Burton produced U2's the-call-is-coming-from-inside-your-MacBook opus Songs of Innocence.

Burton, a former Athens resident and UGA student, returns to play the Georgia Theatre Wednesday, Oct. 1 with his current project, a collaboration with Shins frontman James Mercer called Broken Bells. The group released its second LP, the sleek, funky After the Disco, in February. Flagpole got Burton on the phone for a quick chat.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 29, 2014
Spotify Study: UGA Students Really Like The Dirty Guv'nahs, Sleep 10 Hours a Night

Blog: Homedrone

The Dirty Guv'nahs

Last week, Spotify published a study ranking the top 40 "most musical universities in America," based on the number of students who signed up for the streaming service's half-off student deal last semester. The University of Georgia barely made the cut, coming in at No. 40.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 23, 2014
Garrison Keillor Appearance Rescheduled for Jan. 26

Blog: Culture Briefs

Photo Credit: Trishhhh/Flickr

Humorist, radio host and author Garrison Keillor's Sept. 24 appearance at UGA's Hodgson Concert Hall has been postponed indefinitely, according to a news release. Keillor is reportedly set to undergo an unspecified medial procedure.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 22, 2014
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Sept. 22

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: John Kelley

Sony Michel

By Gabe Vodicka | September 22, 2014
Mike Mills, Others to Pay Tribute to Big Star on College Square Nov. 8

Blog: Homedrone

The Willson Center for Humanities and Arts announced this afternoon that it is partnering with Slingshot and UGA's Music Business Program for an outdoor concert on College Square Saturday, Nov. 8. Headlining the show is Big Star Third, an all-star group of musicians paying tribute to iconic Memphis power-pop group Big Star.

The cast of players, which has been touring the tribute show since 2010, includes original Big Star drummer Jody Stephens, as well as R.E.M.'s Mike Mills, Wilco's Pat Sansone, Ken Stringfellow of the Posies, Chris Stamey of the dB's and Mitch Easter of Let's Active.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 19, 2014
Win Tickets: White Denim Plays 40 Watt Friday

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Mark Seliger

Eclectic, Austin, TX-based rockers White Denim play the 40 Watt Club tonight, Friday, Sept. 19, and we've got a pair of tickets to give away. To enter, tell us in the comments below why YOU deserve to go for free. We'll choose a winner Friday at 2:30 p.m.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 19, 2014
Q&A With The Egyptian Lover, Playing New Earth Saturday

Blog: Homedrone

Greg Broussard is a dance music legend. Under his Egyptian Lover stage name, Broussard released several LPs and a whole slew of 12-inch singles in the 1980s, including the club megahit "Egypt, Egypt." Broussard's urgent, minimalist production style both foresaw the coming electro movement and helped usher in the golden age of hip hop.

The Egyptian Lover continues to tour and record into the fourth decade of his career, and he'll hit Athens for the first time ever on Saturday, playing New Earth Athens as part ofAthens Intensified's second weekend.

Flagpole caught up with the pioneering producer via email, where he discussed his far-reaching influence and corrected one key piece of the historical record.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 18, 2014
Win Tickets and Dinner for Two: Jeff Tweedy Plays Georgia Theatre Friday

Blog: Homedrone

If you're yearning for the dulcet sounds of Jeff Tweedy (and son!) but don't have $50 to shell out for a ticket to see the duo play the Georgia Theatre Friday, you're in luck. Not only are we giving away a pair of tix to the concert, but one lucky commenter will also receive a voucher for dinner for two on the Georgia Theatre rooftop.

To enter, tell us in the comments below why YOU deserve the prize package. We'll choose a winner Friday at 2:30 p.m.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 18, 2014
Tonight in Athens: The Mattson 2

Blog: Homedrone

Slimmish pickings for live entertainment tonight, but if you're out and about, consider popping into Green Room, where The Mattson 2 will perform. The California-based group, composed of twin brothers Jonathan and Jared Mattson, takes cues from jazz, surf, drone and new wave; all together, it's a chilled-out, West Coast take on the hyper-extended electro-jazz of Tortoise and their ilk.

Local experimental favorite Hand Sand Hands and a stripped-down duo version of jazz mainstay Kenosha Kid will also perform.

Stream the Mattson 2's new album, Agar, which is out today on Um Yeah Arts, below:

By Gabe Vodicka | September 16, 2014
Watch Members of Sad Dads Try To Eat 13 Raw Onions

Blog: Homedrone

Last month, we brought you news of a Kickstarter campaign from local band Sad Dads, which offered a slew of unorthodox rewards to those who donated, including, at the $25 level, the ability to force bassist Michael Jefts to eat an entire raw onion.

Not only did the band meet its $500 goal, it exceeded it by $100—and the final onion tally sat at 13.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 16, 2014
Michael Stipe: 9/11 'Changed My Notion of Home and Safety Forever'

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Today is the 13th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. To commemorate the day, The Guardian has published an excerpt fromEverywhere is Anywhere is Anything is Everything, a new book featuring artwork depicting "the 21st Century condition" by Canadian author and artist Douglas Coupland.

The excerpt, written by R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe, a NYC resident, features Stipe's assessment of Coupland's 9/11-inspired black-and-white graphic art, as well as his thoughts about that fateful morning itself and its political and cultural aftermath.

It's all pretty unwieldy, as Stipe's writing tends to be, but it's also thoughtful and engrossing. A few choice cuts:

By Gabe Vodicka | September 11, 2014
Drive-By Truckers Release Trailer for New Live Film

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: David McClister

In February, the Drive-By Truckers kicked off their annual series of "homecoming" shows at the 40 Watt Club with a special, invitation-only concert where they performed their then-new record, English Oceans, in its entirety.

The show happened to coincide with the worst winter weather Georgia had seen in years. But that didn't stop the band from taking the stage, nor did it dissuade fans from coming out. An upcoming concert film, titled Black Ice Vérité, documents the English Oceansperformance, as well as the Icepocalypse that swirled just outside.

In addition to the film, the band announced it is re-releasing English Oceans as a "deluxe edition" with an additional disc of eight live songs. The whole package is out Nov. 18 viaATO.

Watch the film's trailer below:

By Gabe Vodicka | September 10, 2014
On the Rise: Watch a New Oak House Video

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Elliot Fuerniss

Songwriter Gresham Cash cycled through a couple other names for his new alt-rock project—Sehrmann, Cedar Waxwing—before settling on the pleasant, placid Oak House. The band, composed of Cash as well as members Slade Adams, Wes Gregory and Wes Kent, is set to release its debut album, Plastique Cash, next Tuesday, Sept 16.

In advance of the record's release, the group has posted a fancy-looking music video for one of the record's tracks, the reverb-laden, Jeff Buckley-esque "Little Queen."

By Gabe Vodicka | September 10, 2014
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Sept. 8

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.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 8, 2014
Deer Tick to Play Free Show at 40 Watt on Sept. 17

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Anna Webber

Deer Tick

The 40 Watt Club has announced a big addition to its September calendar: On Wednesday, Sept. 17, Rhode Island alt-country act Deer Tick will perform a free show, with support from local troubadour T. Hardy Morris.

All that's required for entry to the show, which is sponsored by cable conglomerate Charter—and by the way, Charter, why the hell has my Internet been so spotty lately, like, it totally goes out for 10–15 minutes at a time, I mean, what is even going on with that—is an RSVP.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 3, 2014