This is always a pretty neat time of year here in the Classic City. The new population brings an electricity to the air, summer winds down, and a whole new slew of parties springs up. Pay attention and keep your heads up. This is no time to be looking down. Except on this page. This is one place I really do need you to look down, so go ahead…

Low-N-Bro: There's been some shifting around in the Efren camp. After the exit of two members, the band is now composed of members Scott Low—not a bad pseudonym, all things considered—and Jonathan Brill. No word yet on how this will change the group's sound, but I'm sure something will happen. Efren has undergone some major stylistic changes in the past three years already, moving from a gently desperate folk act to a rocking Americana combo. The band's final show with the original lineup will happen Friday, Aug. 31 at Flicker Theatre & Bar. In order to recreate the bill from Efren's first show three years ago, A Postwar Drama—who I'm not really sure anyone ever noticed was broken up—will reunite and share the stage. Keep up with Low and Co. via efrenmusic.com.

Tunabunny

Plate O' Shrimp: The new full-length album from Tunabunny is completely finished. The band and label Happy Happy Birthday to Me (HHBTM) are aiming for an Oct. 23 release date. It's titled Genius Fatigue, and that name immediately made me think of the opening lines of Nirvana's “Serve the Servants,” even though there's nothing there explicitly referencing that. Whatever, people. That's how culture works. As Miller said in Repo Man, “There's this, like, lattice of coincidence that lays on top of everything.” Hang out with the whole gang over at facebook.com/Tunabunny.

For the Kids: Time is running out on the fundraising campaign for kid-rock band Like Totally!. The group is currently composed of Danny Gorbachov, Jenny Woodward, Zach Clayton, Zack Jones, Mandy Riley and Josh Wendling. They all inhabit different characters that, while as an adult I find confusing and hard to follow, kids flip over. They're seeking a modest $1,500 to package, press and distribute their debut album. You can find an informative video and all other pertinent details at facebook.com/PartyTimeLikeTotally.

Darker Days: Sidney Rouse (AKA visual artist Ben Rouse) has several tracks completed and available for streaming. Divided into two sets, The Real Life and Ritual, the ones on the former were completed a while ago, whereas the ones on the latter are more recent. Consequently, there are some major differences. Although heavily electronic throughout, Ritual is darker, more rigidly structured and noticeably free of any sort of playfulness or lightness, qualities that are present in droves on The Real Life. All in all, the seven tracks available show evidence of a real artist at work. That is, one who feels and bleeds and throws it all at the canvas. Good stuff, I tell you. Dig it over at soundcloud.com/sidneyrouse.

The Bucks Stop Here: In other fundraising news, Matt Hudgins has a campaign going for his debut solo album, Better Days Are Coming. Since launching a couple of weeks ago, it's been pretty successful, but still has a little ways to go. His goal is an incredibly reasonable $700 to cover mixing, mastering, artwork and duplication. Hudgins only recently decided he even wanted to do a solo album, and this campaign is the product of wanting to get it all done as quickly as possible. In his words, “Hopefully, everyone and everything will be better off soon, so I wanted to get this thing out as soon as possible while it still feels relevant, and so as to not bring everyone down later.” That's quite possibly the least self-indulgent thing anyone has ever said about a solo project. Right now, those pledging money are guaranteed a CD-R of the album, but he's also offering “Theoretical CDs” and “Theoretical Vinyl,” meaning that anyone who pledges money at those higher levels will receive a professional CD or LP if those items are pressed in the next two years. Do your part at indiegogo.com/matthudgins.

See Some Music, Save a Life: A benefit concert for longtime Athenian Ricky Smith, who is in need of a kidney transplant due to complications from Type 2 Diabetes, is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 2 at the Melting Point. The show features locals Romper Stompers, Randall Bramblett & Friends (featuring Ike Stubblefield and Col. Bruce Hampton), Fester Hagood and Midnight Sun. Tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for kids 16 and under. So, y'know. Help a brother out! [Gabe Vodicka]

Bits and Bobs: Lera Lynn is now on her national tour with K.D. Lang. She'll play Athens on Oct. 20, and we wish her lots of safety and wellness... Chris Ezelle has a new video out (at vimeo.com/chrisezelle) for his song “The Spooky Collector”... Longtime record merchant and all around impressive dude Chris Razz, the man behind the Secret Record Swap, has a new retail location at 297½ E. Broad St. (underneath Jittery Joe's) named Secret Sounds. Keep abreast of the goings on over there via facebook.com/SecretSoundsAthens. I personally wish him the best of luck, and I bet you do, too.