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

Blog posts by Gabe Vodicka, Editor

Hear a Song from Ruby the RabbitFoot's Normaltown Records Debut

Blog: Homedrone

Today Normaltown Records announced their latest signee: local outfit Ruby the RabbitFoot. The group, led by songwriter Ruby Kendrick, established itself with the No Weight No Chain LP, a solid collection of folky pop tunes that centered on Kendrick's airy sense of melody.

But if "Coffee & Honey," a video for which can be streamed after the jump, is any indication, the band's Normaltown debut—said to be called New as Dew and out spring 2014—will be a vast departure for the group.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 2, 2013
Sans Abri Starts Green Room Residency Tonight, Gives Away Schwag

Blog: Homedrone

Local folk duo Sans Abri, a group that features Josh Erwin and Michael Paynter of bluegrass mainstays Packway Handle Band, begins a monthlong residency at Green Room tonight. The band will play at the Lumpkin Street venue four Tuesdays in October—Oct. 1, Oct. 15, Oct. 22 and Oct. 29—previewing material from the upcoming Shelter LP all the while.

More after the jump.

By Gabe Vodicka | October 1, 2013
Here's Some More Video of Athens in the '90s

Blog: Homedrone

Another day, another time capsule. The video above comes from reader Chip Shirley, who says:

I shot and edited this as a 'would be' monthly TV show for a local Athens channel that went out of business just as I had it finished. For years I thought the files were corrupted and useless. I just discovered that it was my equipment for playback that was malfunctioning. For all the great Athens artists who let me record them I have this brief offering and great thanks. Hope you enjoy!

The charming but rather awkwardly edited 25-minute clip features footage of Widespread Panic's infamous "Panic in the Streets" concert, as well as music videos from Jucifer and Leguano and live footage of the 8-Track Gorilla.

Cue nostalgia train in 3, 2, 1…

By Gabe Vodicka | October 1, 2013
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Sept. 30

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 30, 2013
This Stirring Georgia Football Promo is Actually Worth Watching

Blog: Culture Briefs

By Gabe Vodicka | September 27, 2013
Six Things to Do This Weekend

Blog: Culture Briefs

Bill Callahan is SO HAPPY these days.

1. It's the last weekend for you to catch the lo-fi glory that is the Flickskinny museum at Flicker Theatre & Bar.

2. It's College GameDay Saturday! At an on-campus presser earlier today, Paul Finebaum called Georgia fans "cerebral." Drink a lot of beer and prove him wrong. Also, follow along as we live blog the game.

Read the rest after the jump.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 27, 2013
Bro-on-Bro Violence in Muuy Biien's New Video

Blog: Homedrone

Here's a newly released video from local punks Muuy Biien, for the track "Another Degradation," from the band's 2012 album This is What Your Mind Imagines. The black-and-white clip for the 49-second tune features members of the band and several of their former Birdhouse colleagues wrasslin' each other to the ground.

Video after the jump.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 27, 2013
Tonight in Athens: Jacuzzi Boys, Grant-Lee Phillips, HFAGS

Blog: Homedrone

Jacuzzi Boys

There's a lot of great music happening Thursday evening—and George Clinton is just the start. At Flicker, Hope for Agoldensummer will play an increasingly rare hometown gig, the band's last of the season before member Page Campbell heads back to her current home of Madison, WI. Opening the show are Nashville's Loney John Hutchins and locals Sea of Dogs, whose sublime folk is worth the $5 ticket price alone.

Music and more after the jump.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 26, 2013
Tonight in Athens: Molly Nilsson at Go Bar, Springsteen Tribute at Hendershot's

Blog: Homedrone

Molly Nilsson

In addition to the Blitzen Trapper/Phox bill at the 40 Watt, there are a couple other notable shows happ'nin tonight. Click through for a preview.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 25, 2013
Jandek's Athens Show is Now Available on CD

Blog: Homedrone

Hands down, one of the biggest local shows of 2012 was reclusive sound wizard Jandek's appearance out at the Orange Twin Conservation Community. Last July, the Man from Corwood (who's actually, uh, from Texas) was joined by regional luminaries like Bradford Cox and Heather McIntosh for a weird and unforgettable performance.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 24, 2013
Athens to Host 'College GameDay' on Saturday

Blog: Culture Briefs

Get those signs ready, hooligans: ESPN's flagship college football program, "College GameDay," will broadcast from Athens this Saturday, Sept. 28. starting at 9 a.m. No. 9 Georgia takes on No. 6 LSU at Sanford Stadium at 3:30 p.m. that afternoon.

The show, which features talking heads Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and former Georgia linebacker David Pollack, is a network staple known primarily for its feature wherein the hosts (and often a celebrity guest) predict the outcomes of the day's games. For the final segment, which previews the day's marquee matchup, Corso famously dons the head of the mascot from whichever team he predicts will win.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 23, 2013
Win Tickets: Washed Out Plays Georgia Theatre Tuesday

Blog: Homedrone

Local dude Ernest Greene brings his Washed Out project to the Georgia Theatre stage tomorrow night (Tuesday, Sept. 24), and we've got a pair of tickets to give away.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 23, 2013
Win Tickets: Son Volt at 40 Watt, New Orleans Suspects at Melting Point Tonight

Blog: Homedrone

Son Volt

In the paper this week, we profiled Son Volt's Jay Farrar, who spoke with us about his legendary career and his new memoir, Falling Cars and Junkyard Dogs. Back in May, we featured swamp-funkers the New Orleans Suspects, an all-star group of cats from the Crescent City.

Both bands are in town tonight—Son Volt is at the 40 Watt Club and the Suspects are at Melting Point—and you can win tickets by commenting below.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 20, 2013
Flagpole Premieres! The New Sound of Numbers: 'Complete'

Blog: Homedrone

Local post-punk/dance crew The New Sound of Numbers has been working on its new LP Invisible Magnetic for the better part of this year; back in March, we gave you a taste of the title track. Now, finally, the album is prepped for mass consumption, and the group will celebrate with a release show at Flicker Theatre & Bar tonight.

Today, Flagpole is beyond excited to premiere an exclusive new tune from the record, which is out on local imprint Cloud Recordings. Below, stream "Complete," a joyous, psychedelic dance workout and Invisible Magnetic's second track.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 20, 2013
Win Tickets: Waxahatchee Plays 40 Watt Thursday

Blog: Homedrone

Philly-based folk outfit Waxahatchee plays the 40 Watt Club tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 19, with Screaming Females, Tenement and Grape Soda. Wanna win a pair of tickets? Comment below with why you deserve to go for free. We'll choose a winner on Thursday at 4 p.m.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 18, 2013
Flagpole Premieres! Elf Power: 'Lift the Shell'

Blog: Homedrone

Elf Power celebrates the release of its 12th studio album, Sunlight on the Moon, with a show this Saturday at The World Famous. (Read our Q&A with frontman Andrew Rieger.) At the show, folks can grab advance copies of the record, which is officially out Oct. 1 via Orange Twin. The band has been teasing the album for several weeks, leaking two singles, the ebullient title track and the fuzzed-out "A Grey Cloth Covering My Face."

Today, Flagpole is excited to premiere an exclusive third track from the album. "Lift the Shell" is an insistent, invigorating trip of a song. It's also the album's most experimental track, with all its (literal) bells and whistles, though a luminescent pop core shines through.

Stream the song after the jump.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 18, 2013
This Belle and Sebastian Video Was Filmed in Athens in 1998

Blog: Homedrone

During a chat last week with Elf Power frontman Andrew Rieger (look for that Q&A online and in the paper tomorrow), the subject of the upcoming Neutral Milk Hotel tour came up. It led to a mention of filmmaker/Jackass collaborator Lance Bangs, an E6 pal who shot the now-famous Live at Jittery Joe's performance, which in turn prompted an offhand recollection from Rieger of a Belle and Sebastian music video that Bangs shot in Athens around the same time.

Above, watch that video, for the Boy With the Arab Strap tune "Dirty Dream #2," and revel in the sunlit, forever-young glory that was—and, despite the steady townie hang-wringing over things like politics, preservation and big box stores, still very much is—Athens.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 17, 2013
Athens Power Rankings for the Week of Sept. 16

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 16, 2013
Six Things to Do This Weekend

Blog: Culture Briefs

Yip Deceiver

1. Enjoy the Athens PRIDE festivities.

2. Freek 'til the break of dawn (or at least 'til last call) at Freekfest.

3. Help Yip Deceiver celebrate the release of Medallius at The World Famous Friday.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 13, 2013
Relive Jason Aldean's Sanford Stadium Show with Night Train to Georgia

Blog: Homedrone

Back in April, country megastar Jason Aldean made history as the first musical act to play between the hedges with his "Night Train" tour. The show, which featured guest appearances from Ludacris and Kelly Clarkson, was by all measures a smashing success.

Now, the singer is releasing a concert film documenting the experience. The aptly named Night Train to Georgia is out Oct. 15 and available for pre-order now (though why would you wanna do a thing like that), and yesterday fans "unlocked" the DVD's cover art by retweeting Walmart. That's some goddamn SYNERGY!

After the jump, watch the trailer.

By Gabe Vodicka | September 13, 2013