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

Blog posts by Gabe Vodicka, Editor

Coming Tuesday: Behind the Scene

Blog: Homedrone

Here at Flagpole, we pay a lot of attention to the musicians that comprise the Athens scene, and rightfully so. But, as anyone who's spent even a modicum of time in our little creative ecosystem can attest, there are hundreds of local folks who labor just as hard offstage to make it all happen.

We've struggled for years with the issue of how to give these folks the recognition they deserve. And while our new web series, Behind the Scene, may not be the end-all, we think it's a pretty good start.

More after the jump.

By Gabe Vodicka | February 10, 2014
Watch Yip Deceiver's Terrifying New Video

Blog: Homedrone

Tonight's Turquoise Jeep show at New Earth comes with a bonus in the form of openers Yip Deceiver, the local synth-pop outfit still riding high on its 2013 LP Medallius (Flagpole review). After the jump, watch the new video for that album's "Lover," a remarkably well executed if slightly nightmarish clip courtesy of director Brett Vaughn.

By Gabe Vodicka | February 7, 2014
Win Tickets: Turquoise Jeep Plays New Earth Tonight

Blog: Homedrone

Viral hip hop oddballs Turquoise Jeep smang into town to play New Earth Athens Friday, and we've got a pair of tickets to give away. To win, tell us in the comments after the jump why YOU deserve to go for free. We'll choose a winner at 4:30 p.m.

By Gabe Vodicka | February 7, 2014
Watch a New Video from Old Smokey, Playing Normaltown Hall Thursday

Blog: Homedrone

Local psych-folk outfit Old Smokey is gearing up for the release of its highly anticipated new LPWester Easter, which is out Apr. 29 on Cloud/Gypsy Farm. After the jump, check out the just-released music video for the album's first single, "Dead Man's Pose."

By Gabe Vodicka | February 6, 2014
Replacements Added to Shaky Knees Lineup

Blog: Homedrone

Last month, we hipped you to the initial lineup for the Shaky Knees Music Fest, which will take over Atlanta's Atlantic Station May 9–11. We also noted that one headliner was yet to be announced. That headliner has now been revealed: Minneapolis punk legends The Replacements will perform.

More after the jump.

By Gabe Vodicka | February 6, 2014
Flagpole Premieres! Nicholas Mallis: 'Moonrise'

Blog: Homedrone

In addition to his work with locals Sam Sniper and The Viking Progress, Athens songwriter Nicholas Mallis is known for fronting the indie-folk outfit Yo Soybean, a band that dissolved late last year. Now, Mallis is striking out on his own, and offering up a taste of what folks can expect from his new project.

After the jump, check out the exclusive premiere of the moody, melodic "Moonrise."

By Gabe Vodicka | February 4, 2014
Tinariwen, Kishi Bashi, Washed Out, Doug Benson to Headline Slingshot 2014

Blog: Culture Briefs

The organizers of Athens Slingshot, the upstart art, music and tech festival, have announced the initial lineup of featured performers for their second annual happening, which takes place Mar. 19–22.

In music, West African world-rock rebels Tinariwen will play the Georgia Theatre on Slingshot's opening day. Local pop heavyweight Kishi Bashi will also perform during the fest, as will Washed Out's Ernest Greene, who will spin a DJ set.

More info after the jump.

By Gabe Vodicka | February 3, 2014
Watch a New Video from Ruby the RabbitFoot

Blog: Homedrone

Ruby the RabbitFoot's highly anticipated Normaltown Records debut, New as Dew, is out Mar. 18 (you can pre-order it here). In advance of the release, the band has unveiled a music video for the album's leadoff track, "Ways," which you can dig after the jump.

By Gabe Vodicka | January 30, 2014
Hear New Music from Lowdive, Shade, Hot Fudge

Blog: Homedrone

Bored at work? Need some of that sweet new Athens music to help you cope with the crushing monotony of day-to-day life? You're in luck, 'cause we've compiled three of the best new local releases into one handy blog post. Dig in after the jump.

By Gabe Vodicka | January 30, 2014
Flagpole Premieres!: Four Eyes, 'Our Insides' Video

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Matthew MacCarthy

Erin Lovett

Four Eyes, the Athens-based indie-pop project helmed by songwriter Erin Lovett, is gearing up to release a new album, Our Insides, which it will celebrate with a show at Flicker on Friday. The full-band record finds Lovett and company in excellent form, a leap forward from the group's twee-folk beginnings.

Prior to the album's release, we're happy to premiere the gorgeously constructed music video for Our Insides' singalong title track. Watch it after the jump.

By Gabe Vodicka | January 29, 2014
Win Tickets: Fluffer Plays The World Famous Tonight

Blog: Homedrone

Fluffer

Cincinatti psych-rock band Fluffer plays The World Famous Monday along with local experimental outfit Come On Tokyo, and we've got a pair of tickets to give away. To win, comment after the jump with why YOU deserve to go for free. We'll choose a winner at 4:30 p.m.

By Gabe Vodicka | January 27, 2014
The 2014 Grammys in 12 Tweets

Blog: Homedrone

Daft Punk won a bunch of awards.

The 2014 Grammy Awards happened last night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The telecast had everything you would expect from the Grammys: whitebread collaborations (Chicago and Robin Thicke), blatant oversights (Kendrick; hip hop, in general), hilarious crowd shots and the occasional bit of honest-to-goodness brilliance (Kendrick, again, and his shouldn't-have-worked-but-did collab with Imagine Dragons).

After the jump, a 12-tweet recap of Music's Biggest Night™. For the full list of winners, go here.

By Gabe Vodicka | January 27, 2014
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Jan. 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.

By Gabe Vodicka | January 27, 2014
Win Tickets to the Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Camp-In

Blog: Homedrone

Cracker

The Cracker/Camper Van Beethoven Camp-In continues Friday and concludes Saturday at the 40 Watt Club, and we've got a pair of tickets to give away to each show. To win, tell us in the comments after the jump why YOU deserve to go for free. Please also be sure to note which show you're interested in going to (if you have a preference).

By Gabe Vodicka | January 24, 2014
Watch Athens Songwriter Sam Burchfield On 'American Idol'

Blog: Homedrone

Last night, "American Idol" hit Atlanta for another round of auditions (What? You're not watching "American Idol?" GET WITH THE PROGRAM), and like most episodes of the now 13-year-old show (!), it was tense, emotional television. Who would make it to HOLLYWOOD? Who would have their hopes and dreams squashed like so many tone-deaf cockroaches?

Among the contestants who sang and/or played their hearts out for judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr. (who is so great in this role BTW) was Sam Burchfield, an Athenian who gigs regularly around town under his own name and with his band Street Rhythm and Rhyme. Burchfield sang Louis Prima's "I Wan'na Be Like You"—yes, the song from The Jungle Book—but did he make it through to the next round?

Hit the jump to find out.

By Gabe Vodicka | January 24, 2014
Win Tickets: The Ringers Play Georgia Theatre Friday

Blog: Homedrone

The Ringers, a funky, jammy rock and roll supergroup featuring Jimmy Herring of Widespread Panic and an A-list cast of session players—Wayne Krantz, Michael Landau, Keith Carlock and Etienne Mbappe—play the Georgia Theatre Friday, and we've got two pairs of tickets to give away. To win, tell us after the jump why YOU deserve to go for free. We'll choose two winners Friday at 1:30 p.m.

By Gabe Vodicka | January 23, 2014
Watch An Incredible Tlaloc Commercial Starring Local Band DIP

Blog: Grub Notes

Here's a little something to ease your mid-week malaise: an incredible new commercial for local Mexican restaurant Tlaloc, featuring freak-pop band DIP.

Really, the ad makes a weird sort of sense, given the group's name and propensity for all things dip-related (queso, anyone?). It also plays up the fact that Tlaloc, formerly beer-and-wine-only, is now serving margaritas, and ends with the restaurant's madcap catchphrase: "Let's get drunk!"

Watch after the jump.

By Gabe Vodicka | January 22, 2014
Download T. Hardy Morris' Live at the Georgia Theatre

Blog: Homedrone

Fresh off his solo debut Audition Tapes' No. 1 slot on Flagpole's Top 10 Albums of 2013 list, local troubadour T. Hardy Morris is offering up free downloads of his new live album, Live at the Georgia Theatre. The six-track album, recorded last year with the help of Thayer Sarrano and Matt Stoessel, features five tunes from Audition Tapes, as well as an unreleased song called "Drinking of You." Download it here.

Morris will embark on a short tour in February, when he'll support acts like Drive-By Truckers, Robert Ellis and Wilco bassist John Stirratt's side project The Autumn Defense. He plays Athens with Ellis on Thursday, Feb. 27 at Normaltown Hall.

By Gabe Vodicka | January 21, 2014
Win Tickets: Against Me! Plays the 40 Watt Tonight

Blog: Homedrone

Pop-punk mainstay Against Me! plays the 40 Watt Club Tuesday with openers The Sidekicks and The Shondes to celebrate the release of its terrific new album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues. We've got a pair of tickets to give away. To win, tell us why YOU deserve to go for free in the comments after the jump. We'll choose a winner at 4:30 p.m.

By Gabe Vodicka | January 21, 2014
The Rock*A*Teens Return to the Stage

Blog: Homedrone

Big news out of Atlanta, as The Rock*A*Teens, the beloved Cabbagetown garage-rock outfit whose last show was 11 years ago at the Caledonia Lounge, announced last night on its Facebook page that it will return for a pair of shows at The Earl on Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7.

More after the jump.

By Gabe Vodicka | January 21, 2014