Blog Topic: Q&A

Homedrone: Q&A: Athens Expat Green Gerry Is Donating Proceeds From His New Album to Charity

By Marshall Yarbrough | January 19, 2017 11:45am

Photo Credit: Cara Robbins

It's been close to five years since singer-songwriter Green Gerry left Athens to return to his native California. Gerry has kept busy since then, following up his 2013 sophomore record, King Baby, with a string of singles released over the summer on L.A.-based label Hit City U.S.A. A combination of frustration with the music industry and despair over current events led him to release his third effort, Electric Iron, on his own, with all proceeds going to charity.

Flagpole caught up with Green Gerry to talk about the newest record, industry woes, and plans for the future.

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Homedrone: Q&A: Americana Artist Caleb Keith Says Farewell to Athens

By Bobby Moore | January 5, 2017 2:02pm

When Caleb Keith isn’t moonlighting as a country singer and songwriter, he’s a doctoral candidate at the University of Georgia’s Institute of Higher Education and the senior coordinator for assessment and research in the Department of Student Affairs, Assessment and Staff Development. A full-fledged Dawg who pursues his musical passions on the side, his life encompasses two different takes newcomers and outsiders have on the promises and opportunities of this tight-knit college town.

Keith will be chasing a different dream soon, once he relocates to Arkansas and begins a new career at the University of the Ozarks. In anticipation of his farewell show this Saturday at Flicker, Keith talked to Flagpole about his overall Athens experience.

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Homedrone: Q&A With Former Television Guitarist Richard Lloyd, Playing Caledonia Saturday

By Chad Radford | November 2, 2016 10:40am

Photo Credit: David Godlis

Before his show at the Caledonia Lounge Saturday, former Television guitarist Richard Lloyd took a moment to ruminate on his life in music. See our Calendar Pick preview here.

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Homedrone: Q&A With Former Centro-matic Frontman Will Johnson

By Dan Mistich | October 4, 2016 11:12am

Photo Credit: Matt Pence

It’s not unfathomable that a currently inactive band like Centro-matic can have its legacy positively—and constantly—reconfigured in our digital age. Thanks to recently tweeted endorsements from artists like Jason Isbell, the indie darlings from Denton, TX are experiencing something of a renaissance, despite disbanding in 2014. Frontman Will Johnson is keeping his former band’s brand of rock and roll abstraction alive through contemplative solo releases and incessant touring. Johnson takes a break from an Undertow Music-endorsed living room jaunt around the U.S. to perform at Normaltown Hall on Sunday, Oct. 9.

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Homedrone: Q&A With Lera Lynn

By Dan Mistich | April 11, 2016 1:56pm

Photo Credit: Alysse Gafkjen

A onetime fixture on the Athens scene, Lera Lynn left town several years ago to pursue opportunities elsewhere. It’d be hard to argue that it hasn’t paid off. After connecting with Americana guru T-Bone Burnett, Lynn found herself acting on season two of “True Detective,” playing a unnamed bar singer opposite superstars Vince Vaughn and Colin Farrell. Several of her songs were also featured on the HBO show’s soundtrack. This month, she’ll release her fourth studio album, Resistor. She returns to Athens Wednesday, when she’ll headline the Georgia Theatre.

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Homedrone: Q&A With Asleep at the Wheel Frontman Ray Benson

By Dan Mistich | February 16, 2016 10:11am

Photo Credit: Wyatt McSpadden

Formed over four decades ago in Paw Paw, West Virginia, Asleep at the Wheel has been introducing Western swing to audiences around the world through a relentless touring schedule. Most recently, the band released Still the King, a tribute record to Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys, which features contributions from many country music legends and newcomers in the genre. And yesterday, that album took home the Grammy award for Best Recording Package.

Flagpole connected with the band’s leader and founder, Ray Benson, over email to answer a few questions about the band’s history and their stop in Athens at The Foundry this Friday, Feb. 19.

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Homedrone: Scooterbabe Lives! A Q&A With JJ Posway

By Nathan Kerce | August 25, 2015 3:41pm

On Wednesday, Aug. 26 at the Caledonia Lounge, local band scooterbabe will play its first show in Athens in nearly a year. The indie-pop trio played what was erroneously labeled as its “final show” last Halloween right before lead guitarist and vocalist JJ Posway moved to Brooklyn.

In the last year, scooterbabe still managed to release a career-spanning compilation and a standalone single. The band also played one show in New York, with Posway serving as the only original member. Unfortunately, even though Posway is back in Georgia for the time being, original drummer Grafton Tanner is moving to Chicago. It’s unclear how or if scooterbabe will move forward after Wednesday's show.

Flagpole talked to Posway about the initial rise of scooterbabe, why he left Athens when he did and what it feels like to come back.

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Homedrone: Q&A With Billy Bob Thornton and J.D. Andrew of The Boxmasters

By Dan Mistich | August 24, 2015 2:52pm

Billy Bob Thornton is best known for his work in film, but he has a long musical history, too. His band The Boxmasters is currently touring behind a couple of new records, including Providence, recently released via the group's website. Flagpole caught up with Thornton and his bandmate J.D. Andrew in advance of Tuesday's show at the Georgia Theatre.

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Homedrone: Q&A With Dweezil Zappa, Playing Georgia Theatre Wednesday

By Dan Mistich | May 4, 2015 11:12am

For the last decade, Dweezil Zappa has toured with his Zappa Plays Zappa project, which celebrates the music of his late father Frank. The group hits Athens this Wednesday, May 6, for a show at the Georgia Theatre. Flagpole caught up with Dweezil for a phone chat.

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Culture Briefs: Humans of Athens: Brie and Stephen Owens

By Laura James and Ryan Kor | March 24, 2015 11:40am

Photo Credit: Laura James

WHO: Brie Owens, 28, wedding planner; Stephen Owens, 30, graduate assistant and Uber driver

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