The 40 Watt Club: One of the best venues in Athens!

Let's start with one of the most famous music venues in Athens: the 40 Watt Club. It's not famous for nothing! You can enter this dance club/ concert space with confidence knowing that the floor will almost always be clean enough sit on during the hours before midnight. Even better, it's filled with little tables, couches, bar stools, and other seating options, so that you won't actually ever have to sit on the floor anyway! Best of all, the large stage, raised several feet off of the ground, can be seen from every seat in the house, and it provides ample space for any number of band members to comfortably jam on their instruments or perform their choice of musical acrobatics. The massive speakers on the sides of the stage have also been used on many occasions as props during concerts; I've seen band members lay on them, lean on them, and even leap from them! They issue some quality sound as well, and the microphones provided work quite well too, a most necessary feature. Oh, and bands, remember to bring your hanging signs. This stage was meant to have gigantic band logos draped over the front edge for all to see!

After you partake in a few drinks from the full bar or some water from the cooler, you may have a few more questions. What about the bathrooms, you ask? As promised, here's my review of them. The walls are painted in a sort of graffiti-type style which looks a bit different from the rest of the club. The stalls themselves don't seem as ritzy as the rest of the place, but I must say, they've never been dirty when I've needed to step inside them, so that's a plus.

Once you head back to the dance floor, don't forget to look up! The ever-present Christmas lights add a bit of festive cheer to even the darkest, most screamo bands' performances. Looking to buy or sell some merchandise? Right next to the 40 Watt door, there's a large stand on a raised platform just for that purpose. Oh, and you may even get a chance to visit one of the two backstage hangouts in the club. There's an open one to the left of the stage with a very wide mirror, a pool table, and some video games to entertain you if happen to find yourself with a bit of free time. The other backstage space is located on the opposite side, down a hallway and through another door. This one's got some couches and small tables lining the walls which makes it a cozy little hangout for the band members and their pals.

The 40 Watt Club at a glance:

Ages: 18 to 20 are welcome!
21 and up usually get a cheaper price.

Cost: Varies depending on the band/event

Tickets: Advance tickets are generally available for larger shows online or at School Kids Records located at 264 East Clayton St. in Athens, GA . You can always buy your tickets at the door too!

Venue Website: http://www.40watt.com/

Venue Phone Number: 706-549-7871

Venue location & Google Map: 285 W Washington St, Athens, GA 30601


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Reviews of recent concerts/events at the 40 Watt Club:
Venice is Sinking
Crumbling Arches
Flagpole Athens Awards Show after party

Have any thoughts of your own about this venue? Dying to know something specific that I didn't mention? Be sure to comment below! Also, to read about all of the venues I've reviewed, visit my venues page!

The 40 What?

Have you ever found yourself wondering about that new music venue in town? How big is the stage? What are the acoustics like? Is it really as clean as their website says it is? Well, introducing the newest semi-regular blog series for Echoreyn of Athens: honest, unbiased articles about what all of the music venues around Athens are really like! Now you'll know if you can (legally) bring your underage pals to your new favorite band's next show. Now even the most inexperienced Athens newcomers will have a reference guide of sorts for all of the places to be (and places to avoid) in this little town!

See, after struggling to find one site that gives a complete account of all of the things I need to know when I'm researching a stage that's playing host to one of my favorites each weekend, I finally threw up my hands in surrender. Hey, if I can't find a site that'll tell me what I need to know, I'll just make one myself! After all, I see quite a few venues as I traverse my way across town in search of new treats for my ears. Why not share my knowledge? Feel free, of course, to chip in with your own experiences in these places, too, as I document my findings! The more info, the better!

Oh, and just so you'll have a link to all of the venues handy, I've added a new blog page too, Echoreyn of Athens: Music Venues. It's empty right now, but every time I add a new venue blog, it will show up on that page as part of an easily accessible guide. Hope this page truly becomes a one-stop guide for all of your venue-related queries!

Athfest 2009: Summing it all up! (until Athfest 2010)

Echoreyn of Athens attends Athfest!

And then, Athfest was over. I've never been to a bigger, more exciting music festival in my life, and I certainly hope that this was the first of many! Wow, to think that in four days I really saw 33 new bands in action fills me with awe. How is that even possible? Well, all I know is that I'm definitely going back again next year!

Now, before I say goodbye and take a weeklong blog-cation, there are a few things I'd like to announce. Don't leave yet! First, I finally caved and got a Twitter account. Yeah, I know what you might think. But see, I've found that it's actually quite useful from a music standpoint since I have access to tons of up-to-the-minute stats on many of my favorite bands and venues on Twitter. So, for links to all of my latest blogs, music-related tidbits, show info, and who knows what else, feel free to follow me: @Echoreyn!

Also, remember to check out the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for tons of concert videos from Athfest 2009, Summerfest 2009, and many more. Oh, and I just posted a new vlog on there that I filmed while in Athens during Athfest. It's filled with concert pictures and footage as well as my reactions to all of the sights and, most importantly, sounds of the festival. You can see it right at the top of this blog!

Finally, I just created an Echoreyn of Athens Photobucket account, so that I could share all of my Athfest pictures with you. I'll be updating it throughout the day, so keep checking back for more. In the future, I plan to post pictures from the other shows I attend as well since I never leave the house without my trusty old digital camera!

And I'll leave you today with a little something for the record books (or my record books, at least).

Echoreyn of Athens' Athfest and coverage by the numbers

• 34 bands seen in concert (total)
• 20 blogs
• 15 concert videos
• (At least) 9 new bands I'm dying to see again... What are yours?
  
• 3 well-worn wristbands
• 1 Athfest vlog
• A lifetime of memories (How corny can I get?)
  

Wow, those numbers are almost ridiculous! Clearly, Athfest 2009 was the stuff of legend. I seriously can't wait for Athfest 2010!

Athfest 2009: Dreams So Real reunites for a satisfying conclusion

Sunday, June 28th 2009

Dreams So Real

Dreams So Real... the event that we stayed in Athens through Sunday evening to see, the one reason that we had a few scuffles with our ride home about our departure time. Yeah, they're that big of a deal. Even more so, because this was their first show together again in over ten years - their much talked about reunion show!

At this point, I should probably mention that, still being an Athens music newbie (scanning the scene with wide eyes for the first time), I wasn't actually aware of their yesteryear fame until I researched bands for my itinerary about a week before Athfest. In fact, to be completely honest, I'd never even heard of them until then. After they passed the myspace test that I applied to every Athfest band and left me quite impressed, I yearned to find out more. That's when I read their Wikipedia page and discovered their dedicated fans across the net coming out in droves to celebrate their reunion. After so many years, how could all of these people still be so excited? There was no doubt in my mind that I had to find out for myself.

By the time the clock on my cell phone read 5:30, hundreds of people lined the streets in anticipation of their performance. The air buzzed with nearly electric enthusiasm as some of their biggest fans waited in the crowd, hidden amongst other soon-to-be fans of the band. Then, just after my friends and I had somehow managed to squeeze our way to the very front, the once-in-a-lifetime show began. Wow. And even more wow. They were, without question, rock at its best. Suddenly, their massive quantity of loyal fans, many of whom were dancing and singing along to all of the songs with their eyes glued to the stage, made sense. This was huge. After a few songs, Randall Bramblett stepped onstage to add a little something extra with his horn, and even later, one of their former members who has since become a part of Sheryl Crow's band, joined in. Star after star! It was all just simply amazing. Seriously breathtaking. Man, I hope they stay together this time! Hey, I can dream, can't I?

For more blogs about Athfest 2009, click here! I'll be updating daily, so be sure to check back often. Also, don't forget to check out concert videos from Dreams So Real, Venice is Sinking, Dead Confederate and many more at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!

Athfest 2009: Betsy Franck is worth baking in the sun to hear

Sunday, June 28th 2009

Betsy Franck and the Bareknuckle Band

Sunday morning, just before noon, I laughed my friends awake. Yes, that's right. I woke them up with a bit of soft giggling. Try it! It totally works, and most people forgive you for waking them up because they can't be mad at somebody that cheerful. Yeah. Two hours later, we were rushing through the streets of downtown Athens, hoping to make it to the main stage in time for the opening bars of Betsy Franck's first song. Luckily, we're rather quick when music hangs in the balance, so we actually arrived with time to spare. More time in the hot sun... Yikes! We dodged under Flicker Theatre's awning for some much needed shade as Betsy and the Bareknuckle Band began their set.

Now, generally, blues and southern rock are not my genres of choice, but Betsy has one of those incredibly powerful voices that transcends genre. Her vocal talent is completely undeniable, so much so that I actually braved a few minutes out in the hot sun for a closer listen. Near the end of the set, she invited the Half Dozen Brass Band to join them onstage for a song, and they all ended up spontaneously jamming together for the remaining tunes as well even though they weren't familiar with them. Utterly awesome. This was a group of bands that was truly worth sacrificing our previously uncooked skin to hear.

Next up, the band that reunited just in time for Athfest, Dreams So Real!

For more blogs about Athfest 2009, click here! I'll be updating daily, so be sure to check back often. Also, don't forget to check out concert videos from Dreams So Real, Venice is Sinking, Dead Confederate and many more at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!

Athfest 2009: Dancing in the streets

The original Dancing in the Streets party

Saturday (late night), June 27th 2009

Blur (not a band, but a club!)

Amidst the deep darkness of night, my posse and I stumbled upon one of the most unexpected and most awesome Athfest experiences. A whisper from another friend had hinted at a supposed dance party at Blur, the club behind Ciné famed for its techno music and drag shows, and as our tally of bands seen was nearing thirty, we decided to take a short break from the standard Athfest fare and check it out. And check it out we did... or at least, we had planned to until we were informed that the entry fee was $10. Well, that was rather steep, especially for poor college students like ourselves! But, you see, Blur has an outdoor component as well, a deck filled with music and clubgoers of all sorts. And you know what that means, right? Time for some dancing in the streets, of course!

This is not the first time my pals and I have opted to spontaneously throw our own party just outside of a venue with an outdoor stage. You may remember back in April when I discovered local 80s cover band, Velvet Runway, for myself while grooving to the tunes just outside of the gate of the Boar's Head Lounge. Every time we do this, it just ends up being even more fun than before! This time around, we actually had several other enthusiastic dancers that we didn't know partying on the sidewalk with us, and several of the club's own patrons even joined us for a few moments as they were leaving. All of the people lounging around just beyond deck's edge stared and smiled at us as we danced, and I think that a few may have even taken pictures of us. It was wild! I fully intend to continue this "party everywhere" tradition.

In fact, let me introduce you to the newest unofficial UGA club: Dancing in the Streets! Hey, why not? It's fun, it's free, and it's an experience you'll never forget! Even the owners of the clubs and the performers generally appreciate it because we actually bring in more business for the venues when we do this by demonstrating just how much fun can be had moving to the tunes that are playing. So, next time you see some people dancing outside of some music venue, don't be shy. Come on and join us! You just might end up having the time of your life!

For more blogs about Athfest 2009, click here! I'll be updating daily, so be sure to check back often. Also, don't forget to check out concert videos from Dreams So Real, Venice is Sinking, Dead Confederate and many more at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!

Athfest 2009: Of one man bands and deja vu

Matt Kurz One awes the crowd

Saturday (late night), June 27th 2009

Matt Kurz One & The Young Sinclairs

While Love Tractor was rocking out on the Melting Point stage, Matt Kurz One was preparing for his own performance at Ciné, all the way across town. My friends and I knew it'd be a close call, so once Love Tractor hit their final notes, we said farewell to our buddies at the table and rushed over as quickly as possible. Unfortunately for us, Ciné must have been using some sort of superfast clock, so by the time we had arrived, the one man band was just finishing up his set. Luckily, though, we caught his last two songs, and what a sight those were! See, Matt Kurz One has been generating a ton of buzz lately because, in his case, one man band doesn't really mean that there's just one member of the band. Rather, he's the whole band. Yup, that's right. The guy plays one electric guitar with his feet and another with his hands while providing the vocals at the same time. On top of all of this, he also beats the drums with his handheld guitar and presses the keys of his keyboard with a short stick attached to the other end of his guitar. I've honestly never seen anything like it! The end result was quite loud, but the volume didn't stop the audience from crowding around to see just how it was done.

Then, a short time later, a band that hails from Virginia joined us in Ciné's lab to set up for their show. Now, of course, I'd never seen this band, the Young Sinclairs, before. How could I have? And yet, something about them was eerily familiar. Their experimental rock sound wasn't the thing that gave me deja vu. No, their music style was rather unique but wonderfully enjoyable to listen to. So what was it? Partway through their first song, the band members began displaying some real energy, feeling their music and firing up the sleepy crowd. Their wild enthusiasm excited everyone in the room, and nearly all of the audience members wore joyous smiles. And then it hit me. Chris Mckay and the Critical Darlings! That's who they reminded me of. Maybe it was their clothes or their overall look. It most definitely had something to do with their spectacular energy as well. Even my friend Sheila, who has only seen pictures of the Critical Darlings, noticed the connection. Pretty crazy, right? Well, all I can really say is that you know that the Young Sinclairs had to be good. There's no other way they could possibly have reminded me of one of my top favorite Athens bands otherwise!

For more blogs about Athfest 2009, click here! I'll be updating daily, so be sure to check back often. Also, don't forget to check out concert videos from Dreams So Real, Venice is Sinking, Dead Confederate and many more at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!

Athfest 2009: Rockin' the night away

Love Tractor keeps it interesting

Saturday, June 27th 2009

Flash to Bang Time & Love Tractor

By nightfall, the sweet melodies of Saturday afternoon had morphed into the hard edge of alternative rock. The Melting Point, our next destination, was conveniently just a few steps away from the Green Room, so we leisurely made our way to the venue right after Rachel O'Neal finished her set. I'd never been to the Melting Point before so entering the dark and fancy-looking three-story restaurant was a bit of a surprise. It was definitely not the standard Athens dive bar. Far from it. As we walked in, the female and male vocalists of Flash to Bang Time were already rocking out for the audience as the rest of their band members jammed alternatively between soft and loud tones. Their new wave, indie sound inspired a bouncy atmosphere that everyone seemed to enjoy. After my friends and I had stood in the corner awkwardly for a song or two, my pal Jordan and her friends caught sight of us in the darkness and invited us to sit with them at their table. The view of the stage was much better from that vantage point, and we also got tipped off to the fact that there were, perhaps, a couple of REM members in the building as well. Athens royalty, indeed! A quick glance around the room confirmed this fact. How very cool!

Flash to Bang Time was followed by rather well-known Athens band, Love Tractor. Very few of the original members actually remain in the band, so their live sound, whatever it might have been in the past, is no longer what longtime fans of the band will remember. However, several of the fans that were there didn't seem to mind this. About halfway into the first song, they cleared away a table or so and began to dance joyously to the band's pop rock tunes. What truly caught my eye, though, were the seemingly random pictures, some shockingly graphic, that flashed on a giant screen beside the band as they performed. As someone not too familiar with their past performances, I've got to wonder: do they always do this at shows? Either way, it definitely stood out. What a way to ensure the audience's constant interest!

For more blogs about Athfest 2009, click here! I'll be updating daily, so be sure to check back often. Also, don't forget to check out concert videos from Dreams So Real, Venice is Sinking, Dead Confederate and many more at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!

Athfest 2009: Rhythm in my heart and guitar in my soul

Don Chambers + GOAT with the infamous ladder

Saturday, June 27th 2009

Don Chambers + GOAT & Rachel O'Neal

As evening approached, my pals and I found ourselves back in front of the main stage for yet another show, this time Don Chambers + GOAT. Although by all accounts it should have started cooling down outside at this point, I could have cooked an omelet on the street if I'd had some eggs in my possession. Yeah, it was really that hot. We nearly all died of heat exhaustion before the performance even began. Yikes! Looking onstage, one of the first things I noticed about the band was that the drummer had set up a ladder decorated with what looked like hubcaps beside his drumset. A few seconds later, I learned that the strange looking contraption wasn't for decoration - it was for beat-making! Wow, what unique sounds it made! The rhythm seemed to exist on a different wavelength than the average drum beats as well. I could feel the beat shake my body as if the entire world was vibrating with the metal plates. It was such a wild sensation.

Then it was time to head on over to the welcome air-conditioning of the Green Room to hear Rachel O'Neal. Sitting in the church-like pews, listening to her acoustic guitar performance was a very soothing experience. Her soft voice stayed true to the sweet melodies that had filled my Athfest Saturday, and I remember thinking several times throughout her set that her songs would make lovely additions to a movie soundtrack of some sort. Due to a slight mishap, we weren't able to quite get our fill of her wonderful songs that day, so I truly hope I get to see her perform again sometime in the future.

For more blogs about Athfest 2009, click here! I'll be updating daily, so be sure to check back often. Also, don't forget to check out concert videos from Dreams So Real, Venice is Sinking, Dead Confederate and many more at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!

Athfest 2009: Venice is Sinking fills us with glee

Saturday, June 27th 2009

Venice is Sinking

Ah, Venice is Sinking... one of my top favorites, as regular readers of this blog already know! I've seen them two times before, and yet, every time I attend one of their shows, they always manage to blow me away. Karolyn Troupe and Daniel Lawson truly possess two of the most beautiful voices on the planet, and the harmony of their vocal magic combined with the orchestra of the band's assorted instruments is nothing short of awe-inspiring. If you ever find yourself in need of some serious relaxation, Venice is Sinking is there for you, ready to soothe the most stressed and relieve the most tense with their immensely satisfying rhythms and soft, heartfelt lyrics.

I had spent much of Athfest eagerly awaiting their set, knowing that even if all of the other bands failed to caress my ears with their melodies, Venice is Sinking's show would most certainly fill me with joy. Luckily, the large majority of bands that I saw were quite talented indeed, but nothing could lessen my enthusiastic anticipation of their performance. As they prepared the stage for their show, my friends and I made our way to the very front of the crowd, as close as we could get to the bars that kept press-pass holders from getting crushed by us overexcited fans. From there, I could experience the band's music as it was meant to be experienced - as an all-encompassing world of unearthly glory for my eardrums. To my great delight, their set list of the day included several of my favorites like Okay and Ryan's Song from their latest CD Azar and the tugboat captain song as well as a new favorite: darker pop rock song Falls City. All of these were pure and utter beauty at its very best. If only you could hear my contented sigh over the internet! Venice is Sinking is definitely another can't-miss band to add to your list!

Oh, and before I go, I can't forget to wish the drummer Lucas Jenson a happy belated birthday! His special day was during Athfest itself, and I can only imagine that it must be a pretty amazing birthday present to see hundreds of people crowding around the stage for your band's show. Hope it was a great one!

For more blogs about Athfest 2009, click here! I'll be updating daily, so be sure to check back often. Also, don't forget to check out concert videos from Dreams So Real, Venice is Sinking, Dead Confederate and many more at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!

Athfest 2009: Feeling all Warm and Fuzzy

Saturday, June 27th 2009

The Warm Fuzzies

Just after Dancer vs. Politician set the trend for Sweet Music Saturday, the Warm Fuzzies took us for a spin in a completely different direction. After my friends and I left the main stage area, we happened upon this lovely little band while seeking a refreshing touch of cool mist from the sprayers near the Hull Street stage. Their music had us bouncing and dancing along to the beat even before we caught sight of the band. Then I heard their lyrics. Priceless!

If rock, electronica, synth, and pop music all held hands and told jokes to each other in the middle of a sunny field, it would sound like the Warm Fuzzies. They sure had an amazing sense of humor! The subject matter of their songs ranged from love in a fast food drive-through to letters for a pen pal to girls in giant sunglasses. One little ditty even focused entirely on cheese. My favorite, though, had to be the song about having robotic friends. Just turn them on when you need them! What a hilarious idea! After seeing them live, it's no surprise to me that they were up for the Flagpole Athens Music Award: Upstart of the Year. Seriously, if you haven't heard their stuff yet, you've got to check them out. They're like a jolt of happiness to your brain!

For more blogs about Athfest 2009, click here! I'll be updating daily, so be sure to check back often. Also, don't forget to check out concert videos from Dreams So Real, Venice is Sinking, Dead Confederate and many more at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!

Athfest 2009: The day of sweet melodies begins

Dancer vs. Politician pleases the crowd

Saturday, June 27th 2009
Dancer vs. Politician & Liz Durrett

At noon on Saturday, I woke up ready to feed more music to my eardrums. After a bit of coaxing (and some rather ridiculous noise-making as well), I finally managed to rouse my friends from their slumbers so that we could make our way up the steep hill to the main stage for the day's musical adventures. Dancer vs. Politician, a band that calls both Athens and Berlin home, started things off with some soft, winding melodies. Their lyrics leaned heavily on the German side of the scale, giving the show a sort of European pop vibe. Very nice. Then they whipped out the musical saw. Seriously! I've never heard a musical saw in action before, and it sounded a bit to me like a female opera singer wailing, but I have to admit, it was awesome. I definitely admire the bands that managed to completely stand out in the sea of music that was Athfest! Then, after getting us all involved with some rhythmic clapping, their set was done, and the day of soothing music was off to a running start.

Later that afternoon, singer Liz Durrett, accompanied by her full rock band, demonstrated her amazing vocal talent for us at the Hull Street stage. It was really incredible to listen to and so calming that the heat that was constantly attacking all of us didn't seem nearly as malicious. Off to the side, I noticed an adorable little baby in the audience keeping the beat with the band by tapping on his father's head. I've got to take this moment to say "Awwwwwwww!" It was such a cute sight! It looks like the general consensus is that people of all ages love Ms. Durrett.

Stay tuned for more from Sweet Music Saturday!

For more blogs about Athfest 2009, click here! I'll be updating regularly, so be sure to check back often. Also, don't forget to check out concert videos from Dreams So Real, Venice is Sinking, Dead Confederate and many more at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!

Athfest 2009: Music in all of the nooks and crannies

Friday (late night), June 26th 2009

Brave New Citizen &
Casper & the Cookies

My carefully-written itinerary informed us that the next and last act of the night would be the one-of-a-kind band Casper & the Cookies. However, the Deaf Judges show had ended a bit early, and we found ourselves with some unplanned time on our hands. What to do? Since we were all suffering from a slight bit of exhaustion, wandering ever so slowly towards Ciné seemed like the best idea of the night. And boy, am I glad this was our choice!

On the way to the next venue, I found one more example of the reason why I love Athens so much. Just before we reached Ciné, we heard small snatches of good rock music coming from somewhere. Being the massively curious person that I am, I insisted that we find the source of these tunes. We followed our ears to an outdoor stage tucked away behind the Little Kings Shuffle Club. The band playing there was rocking out to an excited audience of fans enveloped in the semi-darkness while scrolling words of poetry flashed behind them. After fully enjoying their set, we turned to the nearest Athfest staff member and inquired about this mysterious band. They were Brave New Citizen, we were told. A quick glance at the notes I had taken on all 170+ bands' myspaces told me that I had marked them under the "good" category, but for the sake of my underage friends, had left them off of the itinerary since Little Kings is generally a 21 and up place. I rejoiced in the fact that fate had given us a chance to hear them anyway. This is truly the foundation for my love of Athens: the discovery! Unexpectedly finding (sometimes literally) bands that I've never gotten to hear and adding them to my list of worthy musical acts is at the heart of my enthusiasm for this town!

Feeling kind of enlightened, we stepped over to the Casper & the Cookies show to catch their entertaining set. As always, their songs had a very unique, indie feel to them which was full of pure fun and very reminiscent of Boston indie band Lemon Demon's sound. Also, I couldn't help but smile as I noticed that all of the men in the band wore bright, glittery eyeshadow and wonderfully eccentric clothing which seemed to somehow fit with their musical style. All in all, it was quite an amusing and enjoyable end to the night.

For more blogs about Athfest 2009, click here! I'll be updating regularly, so be sure to check back often. Also, don't forget to check out concert videos from Dreams So Real, Venice is Sinking, Dead Confederate and many more at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!

Athfest 2009: Of skulls, vampires, and Deaf Judges

Friday (late night), June 26th 2009

Deaf Judges

By midnight, we were back in the Morton Theatre for another Deaf Judges performance. After the beach ball-filled party at the Flagpole Athens Music Awards, all of us were dying to see what this incredibly original hip hip/ rap group would do next. Apparently, my friends and I weren't the only ones looking forward to the show; the theatre was packed! It's easy to see why, though. Deaf Judges is more than just a musical act. They're a spectacle! You haven't really lived until you've seen them live.

This time, they aimed for a darker, more gothic theme. A skull with glowing red eyes watched over the performance amidst a great deal of fog, and a gigantic pirate flag loomed behind the band members as they rapped. Most wonderfully eye-catching, though, was the member of Deaf Judges dressed as a vampire in a long flowing cape. Together, he and his fellow band members filled our ears with unique tunes and beats which made everyone in the audience begin to dance gleefully and unrestrainedly. And then the most amazing thing happened. The man dressed as a vampire leapt from the stage in the middle of a song and scaled the balcony inside the theatre before our eyes! It was a breathtakingly spectacular feat and such a sight to see! Honestly, I must say that their performance was pure awesome - some of the most fun I've ever had.

For more blogs about Athfest 2009, click here! I'll be updating regularly, so be sure to check back often. Also, don't forget to check out concert videos from Dreams So Real, Venice is Sinking, Dead Confederate and many more at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!

Athfest 2009: Marriage and Wilx rock it out

Wilx brings the rock

Friday, June 26th 2009

Marriage & Wilx

After we left Excali Brah's rave party, my friends and I walked in on Marriage, a hard rock band. They had already begun their set and were jamming with quite a bit of energy. While their vocals tended to morph into yelling at times, they got their whole audience excited by having everyone help keep the beat during one of their songs. I'm glad I got to catch at least a bit of their show!

Then we all headed over to the Green Room, a venue not even my most hardcore downtown guru/friend had heard of. After traipsing across town, we finally found the outdoor stage we were seeking. Not too much later, Wilx started playing their own brand of awesome rock. Now I've seen a lot of excited fans before (actually, usually I am one of the excited fans everyone is staring at), but truly every band's biggest fan should bow down to Wilx's listeners. They beat everyone in the enthusiasm arena. I suppose it helped that a few were a bit drunk as well, but between the crowd's exuberant dancing and their penchant for throwing things in their extreme joy, I was completely amused and quite energized (and ok, slightly afraid too). Then the band topped off their set with a totally amazing rock cover of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean which brought the whole audience to their feet. I still can't keep from smiling when I think about it. Wow, what a time!

For more blogs about Athfest 2009, click here! I'll be updating regularly, so be sure to check back often. Also, don't forget to check out concert videos from Dreams So Real, Venice is Sinking, Dead Confederate and many more at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!

Athfest 2009: Excali Brah throws a rave party

Friday, June 26th 2009
Excali Brah

After Dead Confederate's amazing show, I was a bit worried that any band that followed the national act would be a bit of a letdown. Excali Brah, however, went above and beyond to prove me wrong. Just before I caught a glimpse of the stage, one of my friends who was slightly ahead of me yelled out something about the band members wearing costumes. As a lifelong Halloween aficionado, this comment grabbed my attention, so I quickened my pace. We all reached the Hull Street stage in record time. Sure enough, they were in costumes! And what an array of costumes they wore! The lead rapper, Excali Brah himself, was draped in a hooded monk's robe while another member of the group sported a little red riding hood cape and not much else. A guy in a suit stood in the background although my friends and I never could determine whether he was actually a member of the band or not. Swamp thing, though, was the most unique character onstage. He wore a leaf-covered costume with a gold chain hanging around his neck. And when he opened his mouth, he issued a deep and unearthly voice, clearly altered by some sort of Darth Vader-like modulator. Oh, the insanity! I was already enjoying the ridiculousness of it all, and they hadn't even begun their performance!

Then they started their set, and it was clear that there was nothing about their act that was meant to be taken seriously. Their songs ranged from country to rap at its most hilarious, and many of the tunes they used were borrowed from popular songs of the past like Jimmy Buffett's "Escape" (the Piña Colada song). Their own lyrics to these songs were incredibly comedic and original as well. And then, when the Swamp thing got his moment to shine, he sang with a voice so markedly different from the modulated low rumble he had previously used that it sent the audience into fits of laughter. The greatest moment, though, occurred as they performed their last song. After handing everyone in the audience a glowstick, they declared that they were just about to throw the first ever outdoor rave party. Then they had us all squat down and spin our glowsticks wildly before motioning to all of us to leap up in unison from our position at a particular moment in the song. It was a blast! These guys definitely know how to put on a live show experience that their audience will remember forever!

For more blogs about Athfest 2009, click here! I'll be updating regularly, so be sure to check back often. Also, don't forget to check out concert videos from Dreams So Real, Venice is Sinking, Dead Confederate and many more at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!

Athfest 2009: Dead Confederate draws us in

Friday, June 26th 2009

Dead Confederate

Less than an hour after Tealvox's set, my posse and I planted ourselves directly in front of the main stage in anticipation of Dead Confederate's show. For the past several weeks, I'd been haunting the band's myspace and getting my fix of their dark alternative rock tunes, so I could barely contain my excitement as the band members began preparing for their set. Minutes later, other dedicated fans swarmed into the street forming a massive crowd as large as the sea of people at Manchester Orchestra's Summerfest show. With a roar of cheers from the crowd, they stepped onstage and jumped right into their set.

Their soft, unique sound seasoned with lead singer Hardy Morris's rocker tones delighted everyone's ears, and many in the audience were singing and rocking out wildly to their songs. Feeding off of the energy from the crowd, the band members truly got into their music. Morris and drummer Jason Scarboro began tossing their hair in true rockstar style and got the audience even more pumped as they launched into their hit single, The Rat. Then, sadly, their time was up. As we eased through the crowd to move on to the next venue though, I felt completely satisfied. Dead Confederate's show was everything I had hoped it would be!

For more blogs about Athfest 2009, click here! I'll be updating regularly, so be sure to check back often. Also, don't forget to check out concert videos from Dreams So Real, Venice is Sinking, Dead Confederate, and many more at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!

Athfest 2009: The Empties & Tealvox begin the show

Tealvox performs on the Hull St. Stage

Friday, June 26th 2009

The Empties & Tealvox

Friday afternoon, my pals and I headed over to the Athfest main stage right in front of the 40 Watt, ready to experience some music. Local band the Empties kicked off this portion of Athfest, and their danceable rock got me energized and wildly excited for all of the amazing acts of the day. Although their lyrics tended to be more repetitive than I usually prefer, I loved the wonderful, dark quality that some of the songs had. I wrote "genuinely good rock" on my little pad of sticky notes that I fished out of the bottom of my downtown bag, and truly, that's what they were.

When they finished their songs, we hightailed it to the Hull Street stage to catch the beginning of Tealvox's set. We were lucky enough to grab second row seats in the shade for this one. At the time, I didn't value this shade as much as I should have, but we all soon learned what a precious commodity that was. Anyway, when Tealvox took the stage, I very nearly gasped. They were so young! I don't know what I was expecting, but I was certainly a bit surprised. However, once they began to play, I knew I had made a great choice when I had picked them out of the 170+ Athfest bands for my original 20 band itinerary. Boy, were they a talented bunch!

Lead singer Cody Stalvey particularly impressed me with his outstanding array of musical abilities. During the band's short set, he demonstrated his skill on the mic, the piano, the guitar, and the drums. Wow! They also brought a spectacular amount of energy to the stage, and they even involved the audience in one of their songs. For some reason, maybe it was their sound or perhaps something else, but they reminded me a bit of a young Maroon 5. Either way, this band is one to keep an eye on. I'll definitely be following their rock career as they progress. I'm dying to find out what's in store for them in the future!

For more blogs about Athfest 2009, click here! I'll be updating regularly, so be sure to check back often. Also, don't forget to check out concert videos from Dreams So Real, Venice is Sinking, Dead Confederate, and many more at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!

Athfest 2009: Like an Oscars after party!

Wristbands and x's

Thursday, June 25th 2009

Awards Show After Party

An after party... I got to attend an after party! Ok, so it may not seem like that big of a deal, but I've always wondered what one was like, and the Flagpole Athens Music Awards show after party certainly quenched my thirst for excitement! Like a large majority of the people at the awards show, we wandered down the small stretch of street between the Morton Theatre and the 40 Watt after the show and surrendered the ripped half of our tickets for a chance to party with all of the young Athens celebrities. And I'm not joking when I say we got to party with celebrities. There were so many local stars there that my inner fangirl squealed with delight several times throughout the night. In fact, just as we were showing our IDs to the doorman, I noticed that Karolyn and Lucas from Venice is Sinking were right in front of us, and seconds later, Karolyn waved to me. Then Jay from the Modern Skirts stepped between my friend and I with a smile to flash his ID as well.

Once inside, we were practically surrounded by personalities from the music scene. While we danced to DJ Mahogany's spontaneously mixed tribute to Michael Jackson, singer Allison Weiss spun by followed by several of the members of the Modern Skirts. Turning around, I saw Claire from Hope for Agoldensummer bobbing her head to the music, and just behind her, I think I caught a glimpse of Melissa from the band Creepy. Wow! My head was practically spinning, and the excitement in the room was tangible. As my friend Sheila said, it was "like an Oscars after party" except the people at the 40 Watt were the local talents that I truly care about and admire.

Once midnight hit, Immuzikation started their dance-worthy tribute to Daft Punk, and the club went wild. I've got to give props to all of the DJs that spun their records that night. It was seriously one of the most fun dance parties I've attended. Too soon, though, it was time to go and get some sleep. After all, we had to be ready to rock out with Friday's awesome lineup of bands!

Check back regularly for more blogs about Athfest 2009, and don't forget to check out the concert videos at http://www.youtube.com/echoreynofathens!