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

Blog posts by Gabe Vodicka, Editor

New Green Gerry LP Coming Soon; Watch a Video for 'La La Lonely Maria #1'

Blog: Homedrone

Though songwriter Gerry Green now resides in Los Angeles, he got his musical start in Athens, wowing crowds around town with his psych-tinged folk-pop and helping to establish the volatile local arts collective Birdhouse Collection before splitting for the West Coast.

As Green Gerry, Green has released two stellar LPs, 2010's Odd Tymes and last year's King Baby (Flagpole review); both showcase the songwriter's ear for strange melody and not-of-this-world lyricism.

Now, local video company Dominar has released a very dirty (you'll see) music video for "La La Lonely Maria #1," a pop-forward King Baby tune.

By Gabe Vodicka | August 7, 2014
Watch a New Video from Pinecones

Blog: Homedrone

Not Pinecones.

The wonderful mystery that is Athens/Atlanta four-piece Pinecones only grows thicker and more irresistable every day. The band is basically Jon Hamm's beard in rock and roll form.

Here is a new music video for the studio version of "Sleep is Forget," a tune that first surfaced on the excellent live cassette Plays Cosmic Hits.

By Gabe Vodicka | August 5, 2014
Georgia Theatre Sold to Group of 'Silent' Investors

Blog: Homedrone

Scott Orvold, Drew Beskin and Wilmot Greene

After weeks of rumors suggesting a deal was in the works, Georgia Theatre owner Wilmot Greene tells Flagpole he has sold the iconic downtown music venue for an undisclosed sum to a group of anonymous regional investors operating under the name Agon LLC.

By Gabe Vodicka | August 5, 2014
Flagpole Contributor Rachel Bailey Suffers Head Injury, Friends Seek Donations for Medical Bills

Blog: In the Loop

Word came in yesterday that Rachel Bailey, a longtime Flagpole contributing writer who has penned many great arts and music features over the last several years, fell and suffered a rather serious head injury Friday, Aug. 2.

Though Rachel is now home and expected to make a full recovery, friends are seeking donations to help offset the costs of her hospital stay.

From the Rachel's Noggin blog:

By Gabe Vodicka | August 4, 2014
Win Tickets, Dinner for Two: Manchester Orchestra Plays Georgia Theatre Wednesday

Blog: Homedrone

Atlanta alt-rock powerhouse Manchester Orchestra plays the Georgia Theatre Wednesday, Aug. 6, in support of its recently released LP Cope. (See this week's Flagpole for a feature story on the band.)

We're teaming up with the Georgia Theatre to give away a pair of tickets to the show, as well as dinner for two at the Branded Butcher's restaurant on the GATH rooftop. To enter, tell us in the comments below why YOU deserve the prize. We'll choose a winner Wednesday at 4 p.m.

By Gabe Vodicka | August 4, 2014
The Weekly Three: Spoon, The Unicorns, New God

Blog: Homedrone

Spoon

This week's new discoveries from the great beyond:

By Gabe Vodicka | August 4, 2014
The Whigs Cancel GPB In-Studio After Pressure From #SaveWRAS

Blog: Homedrone

Georgia Public Broadcasting may have commandeered the WRAS 88.5 airwaves as planned, but the organization is still facing protests from those involved in the Save WRAS movement, which formed in opposition to GPB's controversial takeover of Georgia State University's student-run radio station.

By Gabe Vodicka | July 30, 2014
Future, Travis Porter, Curren$y to Play 'Back 2 School Jam' at Stegeman

Blog: Homedrone

Future

Several national hip hop heavyweights will play UGA's Stegeman Coliseum on Saturday. Aug. 23 as part of what is being billed as a "Back 2 School Jam."

By Gabe Vodicka | July 30, 2014
The Weekly Three: Joyce Manor, Stephen Steinbrink, Twin Peaks

Blog: Homedrone

Stephen Steinbrink

This week's new discoveries from the great beyond:

By Gabe Vodicka | July 29, 2014
Watch Vice's 'Made in Athens' Video

Blog: Homedrone

Patterson Hood

Filmmaker (and former Athens resident) Lance Bangs is working with Vice music blog Noisey on a Budweiser-sponsored video series titled "Made in America." Each episode spotlights a different U.S. city, with a particular focus on said city's music scene.

Last month, Bangs and crew journeyed to Athens to shoot footage for a Classic City episode. Today, Noisey premiered the end result.

By Gabe Vodicka | July 28, 2014
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of July 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.

Winner, winner, chicken… Never mind.

By Gabe Vodicka | July 28, 2014
EZFM No Longer Available on Local Airwaves

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Rachel Bailey

James Hutto

Fans of easy listening station EZFM ("Music To Your Years"), which has been broadcasting locally at WNEE 88.1 and 89.9 FM since summer 2012, got the sad news earlier today that the station will no longer occupy space on the Athens-area radio dial.

From a post on the EZFM Facebook page:

By Gabe Vodicka | July 25, 2014
Oconee Library to Host 'After-Hours Rave'

Blog: Culture Briefs

Ah, the old 6–8 p.m. rave. From the mailbox:

By Gabe Vodicka | July 25, 2014
Flagpole Premieres! Don Chambers: 'Grow Back Into the Ground' Video

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Jason Thrasher

After releasing a quiet and meditative solo album, 2013's A Sudden Loss of Elevation, local songwriter Don Chambers assembled a crack backing group and got weird. Disquietude, out earlier this year, was an unwieldy collection of textured folk tunes, industrial noise pieces and other back-room experimentations.

As a whole, it sounded a bit like a mind slowly unraveling, and the video for "Grow Back Into the Ground," which you can stream below, doesn't do much to restore confidence in Chambers' psychic fortitude. The stark, creepy clip matches up nicely with the song's haunted folk vibe.

By Gabe Vodicka | July 25, 2014
Fuze and BuzzFeed Want You to Visit the 'Athens Theatre'

Blog: Homedrone

From a recent sponsored post on content farm BuzzzzzFeeeeeeed. Something is off.

By Gabe Vodicka | July 23, 2014
Pitchfork Music Festival in Review: Kendrick Lamar, Slowdive, Jon Hopkins and More

Blog: Homedrone

Kendrick Lamar

Finishing the three-day marathon that is Pitchfork starts to feel like a daunting task by the time Sunday rolls around, and the mood in Union Park was flat early that afternoon, even as Bay Area black-metal outfit Deafheaven screeched and churned through songs fromSunbather. In fact, the vibe was downright chill:

By Gabe Vodicka | July 21, 2014
Four Eyes, Burns Like Fire Win at Sprockets

Blog: Homedrone

Four Eyes' "Our Insides"

The Sprockets International Music Video Festival took place last weekend at the 40 Watt Club and Melting Point, and two local bands took home trophies.

By Gabe Vodicka | July 21, 2014
Pitchfork Music Festival in Review: Neutral Milk Hotel, St. Vincent, Pusha T and More

Blog: Homedrone

St. Vincent

Empress Of got off to a shaky start on the Blue Stage Saturday, but soon Lorely Rodriguez and her backing band were locked in, riding a succession of strange grooves accentuated by Rodriguez's dynamic and equally strange vocal delivery. On the Red Stage, the ever-potent Cloud Nothings offered what was one of the only straight-up rock and roll sets of the day, heavy on songs from this year's Here and Nowhere Else.

By Gabe Vodicka | July 20, 2014
Pitchfork Music Festival in Review: Beck, Sun Kil Moon, Avey Tare and More

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Leif Johnson

Giorgio Moroder

Right off the bat, the best thing this year's Pitchfork Music Festival has going for it is the weather: Rather than last summer's mind-melting heat, Friday attendees were treated to a clear-skied 80-degree afternoon.

By Gabe Vodicka | July 19, 2014
Win Tickets: Wildwood Revival at Cloverleaf Farm, Saturday, July 19

Blog: Homedrone

The Whigs

The first-ever Wildwood Revival happens this Saturday at Cloverleaf Farm just outside of Athens, and features music from The Whigs, The Whiskey Gentry, The Deslondes and a bunch more "The" bands sure the satisfy your folk and Americana fix. Plus: food, art, camping and much more.

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 today at 3:30 p.m., so make sure to check back.

By Gabe Vodicka | July 17, 2014