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

Blog posts by Gabe Vodicka, Editor

Ticketfly Hack Takes Down 40 Watt, Georgia Theatre Sites, Exposes Customer Data

Blog: Homedrone

After reportedly being attacked by a hacker late last week, the ticketing company Ticketfly has taken its system offline while it sorts out what it terms "a recent cyber incident."

By Gabe Vodicka | June 4, 2018
Flagpole Premieres: Reverie Rush, 'Coming Up for Air'

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Aisha Palmitessa

Flagpole readers know Andy Barton for his frequent bylines in our music section, where he's recently written thoughtful and informative profiles on local acts Neighbor Lady, Shade and Linqua Franqa. But folks might be surprised to learn that Barton has another ongoing outlet for his creative energy in Reverie Rush, a dreamy indie-pop project that is gearing up to release its debut EP, Beginners, June 15.

By Gabe Vodicka | May 30, 2018
Flagpole Premieres: Don Chambers, 'Your Lovers' Video

Blog: Homedrone

Chameleonic local singer-songwriter Don Chambers is set to release a new album, Love of Oblivion, this Thursday. Featuring contributions from an A-list supporting cast, including members of Drive-By Truckers, the Olivia Tremor Control and Southern Bitch, the record finds Chambers veering away from the ambient textures and guitar chaos of his most recent output towards a soulful, classic rock-inspired sound.

By Gabe Vodicka | May 15, 2018
Finalists Announced for 2018 Vic Chesnutt Songwriter Award

Blog: Homedrone

The finalists for the second annual Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year Award, presented by the Classic City Rotary in memory of the late Athens musician, have been announced.

By Gabe Vodicka | May 7, 2018
AthFest Announces 2018 Club Crawl Headliners

Blog: Homedrone

T. Hardy Morris

AthFest Educates has announced the Club Crawl headliners for this year's AthFest Music and Arts Festival, which takes place June 22–24.

By Gabe Vodicka | May 1, 2018
Flagpole Premieres: Scott Low, 'The Night the Music Died'

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: RP Analog

When we last heard from Americana wanderer Scott Low—formerly of Athens bands Efren and the Southern Bouillon—he had decamped to the mountain town of Clayton and released a boisterous solo effort, The New Vintage. Now, Low is back with a follow-up, Burning Tires, Smoking Gun—out June 15 via 10 Foot Woody and available to pre-order on Bandcamp—and today we're pleased to premiere a new single from the album, the mournful and meditative "The Night the Music Died."

By Gabe Vodicka | May 1, 2018
Guided By Voices, The Mummies, Ex Hex to Play Athens Popfest 2018

Blog: Homedrone

Guided By Voices

Athens Popfest has announced the initial lineup for this year's festival, which takes place Aug. 9–12 at the Georgia Theatre, Little Kings Shuffle Club and The Foundry.

By Gabe Vodicka | April 27, 2018
Flagpole Premieres: The Shut-Ups, 'We're Gonna Waste Your Time' Video

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Tansu

After initially teasing a February release, Athens/Atlanta power-pop crew The Shut-Ups are finally officially dropping their anticipated comeback record, Just Another Generation, this Friday. The album's first single, "Don't Get Me Started," is already available to stream on the group's Bandcamp page, and today we're excited to premiere a video for its earworm of a follow-up, "We're Gonna Waste Your Time."

By Gabe Vodicka | April 11, 2018
Flagpole Premieres: Eureka California, 'Over It'

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Stacey-Marie Piotrowski

As previously announced, Athens-based garage-rock duo Eureka California will release its fourth full-length, Roadrunners, May 4 via local label HHBTM. Previously, the group shared the record's punchy first single, "Threads," plus the more leisurely "Mexican Coke." Now, we're pleased to premiere the invigorating "Over It," which you can stream below.

By Gabe Vodicka | April 10, 2018
AthFest Announces 2018 Headliners

Blog: Homedrone

Dirty Dozen Brass Band

AthFest Educates, the parent organization of the annual AthFest Music and Arts Festival, has announced the headliners for this year's fest, which will take place June 22–24.

By Gabe Vodicka | April 4, 2018
Here's What's Up With E6 Supergroup Ear Ear, Playing Flicker Tonight

Blog: Homedrone

In our recent Calendar Pick for Maine musician Jeff Beam's Flicker show—happening tonight, Monday, Apr. 2—we made mention of opening act Ear Ear, "a one-time 'concept band' that is shrouded in mystery but reportedly contains some of the [Elephant 6] collective’s heavy hitters."

By Gabe Vodicka | April 2, 2018
Palace Doctor Releases 'There You Go' Video

Blog: Homedrone

After putting in work for nearly a decade with Athens rockers Modern Skirts, Phillip Brantley debuted his new trio, Palace Doctor, with last year's Mangled LP. In contrast to the Skirts' sunny indie-pop, Palace Doctor—consisting of Brantley on guitar and vocals, plus Nick Robbins (Velveteen Pink) on bass and Jeremy Wheatley (Crooked Fingers) on drums—deals in a moody, muted brand of rock that incorporates strains of grunge, doo-wop and Americana.

By Gabe Vodicka | March 30, 2018
Here Are the 2018 Athens Hip Hop Awards Winners

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Karica Smith

Sam Lipkin and Seline Haze

The sixth annual Athens Hip Hop Awards took place last night, with this year's event placing a special emphasis on activism. Local performers, politicians and community organizers gathered for a full evening of music and much more, in an effort to celebrate local hip hop and the community that supports it.

Read more about the awards here. Below, check out this year's winners:

By Gabe Vodicka | March 26, 2018
Flagpole Premieres: Cortez Garza, 'Immortal' Video

Blog: Homedrone

Athens troubadour Cortez Garza releases his latest full-length, The Low Vibe, tomorrow. Flagpole's Gordon Lamb calls the album, tracked with Matt Tamisin at Japanski Studio, a "tight collection of a mere eight songs [that] is refreshing in both its brevity and strength of composition."

By Gabe Vodicka | March 22, 2018
Flagpole Premieres: Del Toro Sound, 'I Hate Balloons'

Blog: Homedrone

Athens musician Bryan J. Howard is known for fronting The HEAP, the local indie-soul group that recently released its second full-length, Overdue, as well as his work with alt-rock mainstay Cracker. Howard also moonlights as a voiceover artist, contributing to "a variety of projects, from video-game characters to audiobook narration," according to his website.

By Gabe Vodicka | March 20, 2018
Stream New Music From The YOD, Eureka California, Grassland String Band

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Stacey-Marie Piotrowski

Eureka California

Just as Athens' event calendar revs up to full speed this time of year, local bands seem to drop new music left and right at the first signs of springtime. To wit, here are three recent tunes from across the stylistic spectrum, each of which is worthy of your attention.

By Gabe Vodicka | March 13, 2018
Nominations for Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year Award Open Until Mar. 31

Blog: Homedrone

As Flagpole's Gordon Lamb noted a few weeks back, nominations for the second annual Vic Chesnutt Songwriter of the Year Award are currently open.

By Gabe Vodicka | February 22, 2018
Win a Pair of Tickets to Savannah Stopover

Blog: Homedrone

The lineup for Savannah Stopover, the coastal-Georgia music happening initially designed as a conveniently located tour stop for East Coast bands headed to SXSW, seems to grow more impressive each year.

By Gabe Vodicka | February 21, 2018
AthFest Receives $10,000 NEA Grant

Blog: Homedrone

Photo Credit: Austin Steele/file

AthFest Educates, the local arts-education nonprofit that stages the annual AthFest Music and Arts Festival, has received a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to help fund this year's festival.

By Gabe Vodicka | February 8, 2018
Hear Holiday Tunes From Powerkompany, Shehehe, Gumshoe

Blog: Homedrone

'Tis the season—for Slackpole! But before we let readers take over the joint and head out for our annual holiday break, here's a selection of two local videos and a brand-new song guaranteed to put you in the Christmas spirit.

By Gabe Vodicka | December 22, 2017