Blog Topic: Local Music News

Homedrone: Is Jeff Mangum Dropping Hints About a New Neutral Milk Hotel Album?

By Gabe Vodicka | October 20, 2016 3:42pm

Photo Credit: Will Westbrook

Could there be new Neutral Milk Hotel music on the way?

According to a Reddit commenter who purchased some of Jeff Mangum's recent drawings, maybe. The black-and-white artwork, titled "The Book Cipher Sings," appears to contain the phrase "double album" in various permutations.

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Homedrone: Updated With Memorial Plans: R.I.P. Athens Musician Curtis Vorda

By Gabe Vodicka | September 28, 2016 1:20pm

The sad news rolled in on social media yesterday that Curtis Vorda, an Athens musician known for his free spirit, virtuosic singing talent and work with bands like psych supergroup Dark Meatand prog-tinged rockers American Mannequins, passed away after suffering a brain aneurysm.

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Homedrone: Packway Handle Band Is Playing a Free Show Today to Benefit United Way

By Blake Aued | August 4, 2016 3:23pm

Local purveyors of bluegrass Packway Handle Band is playing a free show at the Classic Center pavilion today as part of United Way of Northeast Georgia’s Reimagine campaign kickoff event.

Local purveyors of bluegrass Packway Handle Band is playing a free show at the Classic Center pavilion today as part of United Way of Northeast Georgia’s Reimagine campaign kickoff event.

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In the Loop: Drive-By Truckers Urge Democratic Party Unity

By Blake Aued | July 27, 2016 12:50pm

Photo Credit: Screenshot via MSNBC

MSNBC’s Kate Snow interviewed Athens-based band the Drive-By Truckers Tuesday afternoon at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

Co-frontman Patterson Hood addressed party unity, saying that he’s now backing the party’s nominee, Hillary Clinton, after supporting Bernie Sanders initially.

“It’s what needs to happen. The stakes are too high right now to sit around and cry because our first choice didn’t get to go on the way. I’m definitely totally on board” with Hillary Clinton, Hood said.

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In the Loop: R.I.P. Allen's Owner Billy Slaughter

By Blake Aued | July 2, 2016 6:08pm

Photo Credit: Jeff Montgomery

William "Billy" Slaughter, former owner of the famed local watering hole Allen's Hamburgers, died Thursday at the age of 79.

Slaughter was a halfback on the state champion Athens High and SEC champion Georgia football teams in the 1950s, going on to earn a law degree from UGA.

Later, he bought Allen's from Allen Saine. The bar and restaurant in Normaltown was one of the centers of the Athens music scene in the 1970s and '80s, as well a popular hangout for students, townies and sailors at the Navy Supply Corps School (now the UGA Health Sciences Campus). Future governor and senator Zell Miller worked there, and members of the B-52's, R.E.M. and Widespread Panic were patrons.

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Homedrone: Deerhoof, Daniel Johnston, His Name is Alive to Play PopFest 2016

By Gabe Vodicka | May 2, 2016 11:15am

Photo Credit: Joe Singh

Deerhoof

As Flagpole's Gordon Lamb reported last month, the Athens PopFest will make a triumphant return in August after nearly five years away. Last week, organizers announced some of the bands that will play the four-day event. The list includes some national heavy-hitters as well as a bunch of local standouts.

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Homedrone: Pylon Releases Live Single in Advance of Double-LP

By Gabe Vodicka | April 19, 2016 2:25pm

Local post-punk legends Pylon have teamed up with Chunklet founder Henry Owings to issue a vinyl pressing of a live performance from 1983 at Athens' Mad Hatter club, as Pylon frontwoman Vanessa Briscoe Hay told Flagpole back in January.

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Homedrone: AthFest Announces Featured Artists for 2016 Compilation

By Gabe Vodicka | April 5, 2016 2:40pm

AthFest Educates has announced the details for the 2016 AthFest compilation CD, which will be a special two-disc set this year in honor of the festival's 20th anniversary.

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Homedrone: Michael Stipe Stumps for Bernie Sanders in Rolling Stone Interview

By Gabe Vodicka | February 26, 2016 2:07pm

If you've been hoping that Athens' most famous part-time resident would weigh in on the 2016 democratic primary, wish no longer: R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe tells Rolling Stonehe is supporting Bernie Sanders for president in a new interview.

Says Stipe:

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Homedrone: Hear a Bangin' Tune from Eureka California's Upcoming Album

By Gabe Vodicka | February 1, 2016 2:18pm

Photo Credit: Stacey-Marie Piotrowski

Local rock duo Eureka California is gearing up to release Versus, the band's third LP, on Mar. 25 via local label HHBTM Records. Recently, they dropped the album's first single, the fierce, fuzzed-out "Sign My Name With an X." You can stream the track below:

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