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

Blog posts by Gabe Vodicka, Editor

Titus Andronicus' Stickles: 'I Don't Need the People of Athens'

Blog: Homedrone

Titus Andronicus' Athens show last month ended with singer/guitarist/weight-of-the-world-carrier Patrick Stickles (who, by the way, seems like a really fun guy who would not at all ruin your BBQ) berating audience members and ranting about slavery. It was weird.

Shortly after, Impose Magazine caught up with the outspoken frontman to ask about the show, where a concertgoer passed out mini-Confederate flags in an apparent attempt to troll the politically-minded group, whose breakthrough album The Monitor was based on the Civil War.

Stickles, who spends a fair amount of time in the interview talking about how "Irish" and "punk" he is, casts his ire far and wide, complaining about the Georgia Theare staff (they "weren't giving me the things I needed to do my job effectively and give the kids their money's worth"); the crowd ("by the end of the show it's a bunch of fucking bros beating on each other in some kind of weird, homoerotic ritual"); the perpetrator ("I was ready to choke him out. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't been tied down to the guitar."); and a host of others.

By Gabe Vodicka | June 6, 2013
Hendershot's to Announce New Location at 'Press Conference' Tonight

Blog: Homedrone

The Hendershot's-Transmetropolitan lease battle, which has ended with the former leaving its Oglethorpe Ave. location, has been well documented here. Perhaps in response to our intrepid coverage (but likely just because he's a jokester), Hendershot's owner Seth Hendershot will hold a taped "press conference" tonight at 7:30 p.m. to formally announce his venue's new spot.

By Gabe Vodicka | June 5, 2013
New Videos: Powerkompany, Grape Soda, Mad Axes

Blog: Homedrone

Powerkompany

Hello, friends. I've been out of town for several days and thus Homedrone posting has been sparse and I've got a thousand million emails to delete, I mean respond to, and so here's a quick VIDEO ROUNDUP:

The video for Powerkompany's "It's Not the Last," a terrific track from the band's terrific new album I Am More Than This is just as elaborate and, y'know, artsy and stuff as the group's music. Dig:

By Gabe Vodicka | June 4, 2013
Stream k i d s' New Live Album; Tapes Available Tonight at Flicker

Blog: Homedrone

Today, local noise-pop band k i d s dropped are US, a new live album recorded by producer David Barbe earlier this year during a show at Caledonia Lounge. Below, you can stream the entire thing in all its raucous glory, but you can also pick up one of 20 limited edition, handmade cassettes at the Birdhouse Collection's final show of a monthlong residency tonight at Flicker Theatre & Bar.

By Gabe Vodicka | May 29, 2013
Hendershot's Leaving Current Location in June

Blog: Homedrone

Hendershot's Coffee Bar owner Seth Hendershot tells Flagpole that his bar and music venue will indeed vacate its current Oglethorpe Avenue location.

As we reported back in March, Hendershot's and the adjacent westside location of Transmetropolitan, the latter of which controls both properties, were at odds over the terms of a lease renewal. A proposed increase in Hendershot's rent, as well as the issue of who would control the lot's few parking spaces, were the key points of contention in the dispute.

By Gabe Vodicka | May 25, 2013
Hear Outer Spaces' Matador 7-Inch; Say Goodbye Tonight at Go Bar

Blog: Homedrone

Local folk-pop group Outer Spaces, a.k.a. Cara Beth Satalino and friends, has just released a new 7-inch as part of Matador Records' Singles Going Home Alone series, wherein subscribers receive a new and exclusive single in the mail each month of the year. Below, stream the single, "I Was Divided" and the B-side, "Eternally Fifteen."

By Gabe Vodicka | May 24, 2013
Peep the Hypnotic Trailer for Washed Out's New Album

Blog: Homedrone

Today it was revealed that Washed Out, the musical alias of newly Athens-based sound explorer Ernest Greene, will release Paracosm, the group's third full-length, Aug. 13 via Sub Pop. The album was recorded with Athens native/in-demand indie producer Ben Allen, whose previous credits include Animal Collective and Reptar.

By Gabe Vodicka | May 23, 2013
New Music From NYMPH (Feat. Former Members of Dark Meat): 'Battle Funk'

Blog: Homedrone

Below, stream "Battle Funk," a 10-minute tune from Brooklyn soul-noise outfit NYMPH's upcoming album New Millenium Prayer. The band, which recently built on its already strong Athens ties by inviting several former members of Dark Meat—namely Jim McHugh, Jason Robira and sometime Flagpole contributor Jeff Tobias—into the fold, has built its psych-addled worldbeat into something muscular and beautifully freakish.

By Gabe Vodicka | May 23, 2013
Hear a Terrific New Cassie Chantel Track: 'The Dedication'

Blog: Homedrone

Local emcee Cassie Chantel has been building up steam for the last couple years; she recently followed up last year's solid Enjoy mixtape with a sequel, Enjoy Two, this past March. And today, via her website, she leaked a brand new track. "The Dedication" is a sparse and seductive tune with production courtesy of AyoWayneKilldit where Chantel details a relationship gone bad.

By Gabe Vodicka | May 23, 2013
Flagpole Named AAN Awards Finalist

Blog: In the Loop

Pete McCommons

The Association of Alternative Newsmedia has announced the finalists for the 2013 AAN Awards, and Flagpole has been named a finalist in the "Column: Circulation Under 50,000" category.

By Gabe Vodicka | May 23, 2013
Matt Hudgins' Tribute to Evan Gattis is the Best

Blog: Homedrone

The amazing story of Atlanta Braves rookie catcher Evan Gattis, who overcame drug and alcohol problems, severe bouts of clinical depression and time spent jumping from odd job (janitor) to odder job (hostel housekeeper) only to have one of the more remarkable starts for any MLB rookie in recent history, has inspired a fair amount of mythologizing. Gattis, quickly a fan favorite, has been nicknamed El Oso Blanco ("the white bear), a meme that has given rise to some pretty incredible t-shirt designs.

By Gabe Vodicka | May 22, 2013
Watch this Short but Gripping Documentary on Dead Wood Guitars

Blog: Homedrone

Jason Booth

This past January, local filmmaker Cartter Fontaine began filming local luthier Jason Booth of Dead Wood Guitars as he crafted a handmade guitar for local bluesman Rick Fowler. The resulting 14-minute documentary, which chronicles the entire process, from tree to tuning, is a fascinating and beautifully shot inside look at one man's commitment to his art.

By Gabe Vodicka | May 22, 2013
FINAL UPDATE: Watch the Chase in Space Balloon Launch

Blog: In the Loop

Chase in Space, a project developed by the Chase Street Elementary School Engineering Club to send a camera-equipped weather balloon into the atmosphere, celebrated a successful launch earlier today. Below, watch video of the liftoff:

By Gabe Vodicka | May 19, 2013
Live Review: Titus Andronicus at Georgia Theatre, Wednesday, May 15

Blog: Homedrone

Last night the Georgia Theatre rooftop was buzzing with people eager to hear Jersey rockers Titus Andronicus perform tunes from their most recent album, Local Business. But the audience got more than it bargained for.

Short version: When band overlord/frontman Patrick Stickles wasn't (half-jokingly?) berating concertgoers for their lifestyle decisions, he was ranting about slavery. So.

By Gabe Vodicka | May 16, 2013
Dead Confederate Shares Cocktail Recipes in 'Vacations' Video

Blog: Homedrone

The Jordan Noel-directed video for "Vacations," a single from Dead Confederate's recently released LP In the Marrow, is not only entertaining but also educational, at least for all y'all aspiring mixologists out there. Ever wondered how to make "Brantley's Jack 'N' Coke"? Click play to find out. (Hint: it involves a broken cigarette and "1 sock of drummer sweat.")

By Gabe Vodicka | May 15, 2013
Flagpole Premieres: Don Chambers, 'Three Steps Down'

Blog: Homedrone

Don Chambers

Local songwriter Don Chambers has spent much time exploring the "whiskey-soaked bootstomps" of a certain rowdy brand of Southern folk music, but A Sudden Loss of Elevation, Chambers' upcoming solo LP, finds him quieting down. "These are solo, acoustic, diminutive, romantic, natural recordings," says Chambers, "nothing too tricky, though a few songs did have some help from Thayer Sarrano and my wife Sanni Baumgaertner."

By Gabe Vodicka | May 14, 2013
Win VIP Tickets to Party in the Park

Blog: Homedrone

This Saturday, May 18, Party in the Park will take over Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park and feature performances from some of the biggest names in music, including Passion Pit, Grouplove, Ellie Goulding, Yeasayer and the Electric Sons. Tickets are $35 for general admission and $115 for VIP access, which includes the following:

By Gabe Vodicka | May 13, 2013
Flagpole Premieres: k i d s, 'Give it Up' Video

Blog: Homedrone

Since its inception, Jared Collins' k i d s project has become less of an enigma, solidifying into something sleek and sure. This doesn't mean it's any less exciting; with each release—and there are lots of them—the group, which finally features a steady cast of charaters thanks to Velocirapture's unforeseen but brilliant assignment as Collins' backing band, continues to hone its sound in unexpected ways.

By Gabe Vodicka | May 8, 2013
Neutral Milk Hotel Will Play Atlanta, Too

Blog: Homedrone

If you missed out, like most Athenians, on buying tickets for Neutral Milk Hotel's first two announced 40 Watt shows on Oct. 22 and 23, and also whiffed, like most Athenians, on procuring tix for the last-minute, locals-only gig on Oct. 24, here's another, more promising glimmer of hope: a new slew of tourdates has been announced, including a stop at Atlanta's Tabernacle on Saturday, Oct. 26. Half Japanese will open.

By Gabe Vodicka | May 7, 2013
Muuy Biien, murk daddy flex to Play Hopscotch Road Show at 40 Watt

Blog: Homedrone

From Sept. 5-7, the Hopscotch Music Festival will take over downtown Raleigh, NC and feature an impressive list of performers, from Big Boi, The Breeders and Spiritualized to Merzbow, Angel Olsen and Waxahatchee. In advance of the fest, organizers have scheduled a run of "road shows," concerts set across the South and featuring North Carolina-based bands.

On Saturday, June 1, the 40 Watt Club will host a Hopscotch Road Show featuring NC groups Floating Action, Toddlers and Lonnie Walker. Local punks Muuy Biien will rep the home state, as will upstart hip hop producer murk daddy flex, the multiple Flagpole Award nominee who's also playing Flagpole's AthFest showcase, and DJ Daffy Duck.

Find more details on the H opscotch site.

By Gabe Vodicka | May 7, 2013