Blog Topic: Q&A

Homedrone: Q&A With NPR Music Critic Ann Powers

By Dan Mistich | February 10, 2015 12:22pm

Adding to all of the hoopla surrounding the Drive-By Truckers' homecoming residency at the 40 Watt this weekend, NPR Music’s Ann Powers makes a stop in town Thursday to have a public chat with DBT frontman Patterson Hood. Flagpole caught up with Powers via email to talk about her appearance on campus, the role of a critic in today’s media environment and the Athens scene right now.

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Homedrone: Q&A With Lilly Hiatt

By Dan Mistich | February 3, 2015 11:23am

Photo Credit: Gregg Roth

Lilly Hiatt has steadily made quite a name for herself over the last few years, gigging steadily since the release of her 2012 debut LP, Let Down. The Nashville-based songstress releases her sophomore album, Royal Blue, on Mar. 3 via Athens' Normaltown Records. Hiatt playsHendershot’s on Friday, Feb. 6 with her band, The Dropped Ponies.

Flagpole caught up with Hiatt for a chat.

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Homedrone: Q&A With the Method Actors' Vic Varney, Playing Flicker Thursday

By Dan Mistich | May 12, 2015 10:33am

Songwriter Vic Varney is known to Athenians for his work with post-wave punks The Method Actors. Since his time in Athens, he has focused on a solo songwriting career. The New York City resident plays Athens for the first time in over a decade on Saturday, Jan. 31, when he takes the stage at Hendershot's.

Flagpole caught up with Varney for a chat.

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Homedrone: Q&A With Howe Gelb

By Dan Mistich | November 17, 2014 2:32pm

Photo Credit: Jane Mingay

Arizona-based musician Howe Gelb is no stranger to Normaltown Hall. He’s made a couple of visits to the cozy venue since his last record, The Coincidentalist, was released on New West. The enigmatic songwriter will enjoy an extended stay in the Hall this week, playing there Nov. 19 & 20, with Wednesday’s show featuring Mothers and Don Chambers performing Thursday. Both nights will also feature Grant-Lee Phillips.

Flagpole caught up with Gelb via telephone.

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Homedrone: Win Tickets: Q&A With Emerson, Lake & Palmer's Carl Palmer, Playing Melting Point Friday

By Dan Mistich | November 6, 2014 3:05pm

Drummer Carl Palmer is a key figure in the story of progressive rock, most notably for his work with the supergroup Emerson, Lake & Palmer. He plays the Melting Point Friday, Nov. 7 with his current project, Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy, which celebrates the music of his most well-known outlet.

We've got a pair of tickets, as well as a meet-and-greet with Palmer, to give away to one lucky commenter. To enter, tell us below why you deserve the prize package. We'll choose a winner Friday at 2:30 p.m.

Flagpole caught up with Palmer for a telephone chat.

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Homedrone: Q&A With Neal Casal of Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Playing Georgia Theatre Thursday

By Dan Mistich | October 22, 2014 4:52pm

Photo Credit: Matthew Mendenhall

Chris Robinson Brotherhood

You're apt to be familiar with at least one project Neal Casal has been involved with over the past decade or so. At the moment, he’s taken up lead guitar duties for the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, who play the Georgia Theatre Thursday, Oct. 23. Flagpole caught up with Casal to discuss what it’s like to be asked to play in high-profile bands and the similarities of working in different media.

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Homedrone: Walter Martin Cancels Normaltown Hall Show

By Dan Mistich | October 7, 2014 11:54am

Photo Credit: Matt Barrick

UPDATE: Walter Martin's show Wednesday at Normaltown Hall has been canceled, per the venue.

Walter Martin, best known for his bass work with indie giants The Walkmen, has taken to performing in homes instead of rock clubs in support of his whimsical new solo record, We’re All Young Together. Although his stop in Athens is at Normaltown Hall instead of someone’s cozy den, it was also organized through Undertow Music’s Living Room Showsinitiative.

Flagpole caught up with Martin to discuss what it’s like to perform so close to his audience, his star-studded new album and the status of his band.

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Homedrone: Q&A With Brian Burton of Broken Bells, Playing Georgia Theatre Wednesday

By Gabe Vodicka | September 29, 2014 12:04pm

Photo Credit: James Minchin III

Broken Bells

Brian Burton, aka Danger Mouse, became a household name in 2004 after The Grey Album, his inspired mash-up of Jay-Z's Black Album and the Beatles' self-titled "white album," went viral. Since then, he's become one of the most in-demand music producers of our time, teaming up with CeeLo Green in Gnarls Barkley and helming records by Beck, the Black Keys, Norah Jones and others. Most recently, Burton produced U2's the-call-is-coming-from-inside-your-MacBook opus Songs of Innocence.

Burton, a former Athens resident and UGA student, returns to play the Georgia Theatre Wednesday, Oct. 1 with his current project, a collaboration with Shins frontman James Mercer called Broken Bells. The group released its second LP, the sleek, funky After the Disco, in February. Flagpole got Burton on the phone for a quick chat.

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Homedrone: Q&A With The Egyptian Lover, Playing New Earth Saturday

By Gabe Vodicka | September 18, 2014 1:18pm

Greg Broussard is a dance music legend. Under his Egyptian Lover stage name, Broussard released several LPs and a whole slew of 12-inch singles in the 1980s, including the club megahit "Egypt, Egypt." Broussard's urgent, minimalist production style both foresaw the coming electro movement and helped usher in the golden age of hip hop.

The Egyptian Lover continues to tour and record into the fourth decade of his career, and he'll hit Athens for the first time ever on Saturday, playing New Earth Athens as part ofAthens Intensified's second weekend.

Flagpole caught up with the pioneering producer via email, where he discussed his far-reaching influence and corrected one key piece of the historical record.

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Homedrone: Q&A With Caleb Caudle, Playing Georgia Theatre Monday

By Dan Mistich | September 15, 2014 10:45am

North Carolina native Caleb Caudle is no stranger to Athens, having made several stops in town during long tours across the country. This time around, he plays the Georgia Theatre rooftop’s Americana Monday series in support of his new record, Paint Another Layer On My Heart, which includes contributions from Americana sweetheart Lydia Loveless and members of American Aquarium.

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