Kristen's Concert Picks: August takes back the town!

For optimal viewing of these picks on a mobile device, click here!

It's that time of year again when the population of our little town explodes with young people, many of them brand new to the magic of the Athens music scene! It's also that time when we welcome back all our friends who are hungry for more rockin' experiences and awesome tunes. Well, lucky us, August is going to be just simply wild!

Mon, Aug 1: Georgia Theatre Grand Opening @ 8PM @ Georgia Theatre
Guys, we've been brimming with anticipation for years, and now the day has finally arrived... The Georgia Theatre officially reopens on August 1st! Featuring The Glands and maker of soft dark tunes, Madeline, this kickoff show is sure to be brilliant. For the list of exciting Georgia Theatre shows, check out their website here!

Tues, Aug 2: Allison Weiss @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia
Allison Weiss is back to bring her adorable, quirky songs to her hometown fans again! With the sweet Sea of Dogs on the bill as well, this show will certainly put a smile on your face.

Wed, Aug 3: Kenosha Kid @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre
Flagpole Award voters say it every year, and I totally agree... Kenosha Kid is the best jazz band around! Don't miss 'em at their Ga Theatre show. And best of all, it's FREE!

Thurs, Aug 4: Betsy Franck @ 8:30 PM @ Melting Point
Betsy Franck's powerful country voice will leave you begging for more. Check her out over at the Melting Point!

Thurs, Aug 4: Sphynx @ 9 PM @ New Earth
Oh wow, I just heard these guys online, and I'm in love with their electronic indie pop sound! They're coming all the way from Austin, Texas to take the New Earth stage with Sweet Knieval on Thursday. Plus, it's a totally free show!

Thurs, Aug 4: Sam Sniper & White Violet @ 10 PM @ Caledonia
For my southern rock needs, Sam Sniper is always my band, and the newer White Violet band has a soft rock sound I just love. What a combination!

Sat, Aug 6: Manray @ 10 PM @ Caledonia
The melodic hard rock of Manray will drive you nuts, there's no question about it!

Mon, Aug 8: Comedy Benefit @ 9 PM @ Caledonia
This may not be a music show, but there's no doubt it'll be fun! With tons of budding comedians sharing their jokes in support of Project Safe, this will be both a laugh riot and a great benefit!

Tues, Aug 9: Androcles & the Lion @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia
Like a bit of dark, sometimes melancholy rock? Androcles and the Lion are here to share their sound with you!

Tues, Aug 9: Reptar @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre
REPTAR! I hardly need to say more. These kings of the pop scene will very likely fill the Georgia Theatre with their rabid, dance-happy fans! Buy your tickets early, so you don't end up missing out on the fun.

Wednesdays in Aug: Gift Horse residency @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt
Every Wednesday in August starting on the 10th, the dark rockers Gift Horse will be taking over the stage at the 40 Watt. Way cool!

Fri, Aug 12: Taj Motel Trio @ 9 PM @ Caledonia
Jazzy ska tunes for people who like to move, Taj Motel Trio shows are always a treat!

Fri, Aug 19: Abandon the Earth Mission @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt
Ethereal electronic tunes are Abandon the Earth Mission's forte, and you'll just love the otherworldly feel of their shows. Celebrate surviving your first week of school this year at the 'Watt!

Sat, Aug 20: Easter Island, Spring Tigers, Gold Party @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia
Almost every month has its amazing lineup, and this one is August's. Soft and sweet quality melodies with engulf you at the Caledonia with these three wonderful bands!

Fri, Aug 26: ExcaliBrah and Swamp Thang @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt
Ridiculous is the best way to describe the hip hop experience of ExcaliBrah and the Swamp Thang. I can promise you'll never forget it!

This is going to be one undeniably unbelievable month! I just can't wait for all of these exciting shows. As always, don't forget to check back often for show updates, and let us know in the comments if you hear of another rockin' show we've just got to see. Catch ya around town, my friends!

Echoreview: Mark Tulk's Central State

A former resident of Australia and a relative newcomer to the Athens scene, Mark Tulk brings us a unique mix of soft, unstructured melodies and gothic,

piano-laden tunes

. His sound differs markedly from that of many of our current local bands, but this serves to make his music stand out from the crowd. Central State, his second album and first to be recorded in Athens, will be released to the general public on July 30th. So, how would we describe the record?

The first song Open Sky enters with the whisper of a very soft, deconstructed melody, a serene rule-breaker. Likewise, Speak No More follows it with a very peaceful tune that maintains its almost too calm existence even while it builds to a heightened rhythm.

Fittingly, the next melody Ghosts wafts in on an eerie breeze. As it grows, organ-style tones and echo-filled vocals lend an even more haunting feel to the tune. This song leads easily into the title track, a chillingly soft and somber number, filled with darkness.

Highlighted by sweet lyrics and a smooth string-driven melody layered over a gritty sound, Rain ushers in a much more upbeat set of tracks. Over You Go, undoubtably my favorite tune on the album, follows this song with its rhythm-based sound and clear pop folk influences. Then bouncy dance folk marks the entrance of Fellowship Cult Blues. A true departure from the first few tracks, this particular segment of the record almost feels like a separate album at times.

However, the poppy, piano-laced Spirit returns to a softer style that continues through the ethereal Shadow Light. Lovely backing vocal melodies truly bring this tune to life! Then Now We Are carries the record to its soft, peaceful end as the faint chiming of tones fades into silence.

While not entirely cohesive with regards to style, the soft darkness of Mark Tulk's sound holds the album together quite well. It serves as a wonderful introduction to his music for the people of the Athens scene. Want to give these melodies a listen? You can check out Central State for yourself right here!

Kristen's Concert Picks reminder... July's too rockin' for one post!

Know which show you're going to check out downtown tonight? The choices are unbelievable! We've got listings for Manray, Sam Sniper, Ye Olde Sup Shoppe, the Shut-Ups, the Athens band, and many more. And the fun doesn't stop there... We've just updated this month's concert picks list to include TONS more shows and bands that will be rocking stages all over town during the next few days. You can check out the list right here!

But wait! Have you got an iPhone, iPod, or other mobile device? Then we've got great news for you... Echoreyn of Athens has gone mobile! But it's not just the blog that you can read on the go. We've built a special mobile app, just for Kristen's Concert Picks! The link you need is

http://www.echoreyn.com/ofathens or you can just click on the picture below!

Hope to catch ya partying it up downtown, my pals!

Athfest 2011: Summing up the excitement!

And then, Athfest 2011 was over.

Whew, what an event! We've got almost a whole month's worth of festival coverage from that one rockin', band-filled weekend. I was even able to catch 28 new bands in action as well as several old favorites. This is why Athfest has always been, and will always be, amazing. There is such a chance for discovery, and nothing beats the excitement of finding a brand new band to love! In fact, this year's Athfest was so incredible that I'd say it's time for another numerical breakdown of our crazy experience!

Echoreyn of Athens' Athfest 2011 by the numbers

• 44 bands seen in concert
• 107 pictures
• 5 preparation guides
• 26 blogs
  
• 14 concert videos
• (At least) 8 new bands I must check out again!
  
• 4 more well-worn wristbands to add to my growing Athfest collection
  
• 1 crazy Athfest vlog (see above)

Be sure not to miss a single one of our pictures and band page links up on our Facebook page, our videos of live shows including footage of the Orkids, Futurebirds, Centro-matic, Jason Isbell, Lera Lynn, the Athens band, and many more plus vlog coverage on our YouTube channel, and our up-to-the-minute Athfest details on our Twitter page!

Hope you loved the festival as much as we did. Can't wait to see what Athfest 2012 has in store for us!

To check out every bit of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here!

Athfest 2011: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit finish the fest!

Sunday, June 26th, 2011

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

The end of Athfest was drawing near. Over by the Pulaski Street Stage, a huge crowd had gathered as Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit prepared to give us the final show of the festival. From their very first note, the band's loud, strong rock resonated through everyone in the audience. Solid tunes with a small bit of a dark, southern feel to them, the music excited the fans inspiring many of them to begin mouthing the words. By the time the band began playing their biggest hits, most of the audience was singing along with them joyfully. The band finished up their set as a colossal storm rolled in, concluding Athfest 2011 with a note of finality brought on by nature herself.

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

Athfest 2011: A taste of the perks!

Sunday, June 26th, 2011

Of King of Pops popsicles, robots, & hospitality wristbands

Here at Echoreyn of Athens, we're all about the music, but there's actually much more to Athfest than just rockin' bands! Outside of the festival, throughout the year, Athfest Inc. dedicates itself to the promotion of music and arts education in our local area. What a great mission! And even the festival itself features some awesome out-of-show experiences that help make the whole event completely spectacular.

First, I've just got to mention King of Pops popsicles. Saviors of the heat-struck fans, their delicious and incredibly unique flavors left us all craving another taste. During a lull in some of the shows, my friends and I would go gallivanting off in search of their latest location since they tended to park themselves wherever their refreshing creation was most needed.

And hey, if you don't want to take my word for it, listen to my friend Caity who declared her love for the tasty dessert, saying, "if it wasn't going to melt, I would have a long term relationship with this popsicle." Mmm, man, I want one right now!

Another awesome find at this year's Athfest was artist Jason Thomas. Stopping by his tent in the middle of the artist market, Athfest-goers could get a free drawing of a monster or a robot complete with an adorable and imaginative backstory that they helped to write. I'm definitely going to treasure mine forever. What a cool souvenir!

My absolute favorite discovery, however, was the hospitality tent. If you haven't ever considered volunteering at Athfest, trust me, you should! Because I was introducing the band Lingo's set on Sunday, I was given a special wristband that enabled me to enter the hospitality area whenever I needed. Beyond the gates and the wristband checkpoint was an oasis of wonder. Shade, a ton of free fresh food, places to sit down, and all of the cool drinks you could ever need awaited me. Fears of heat exhaustion were a thing of the past! And, if you're in a band playing the festival or you've got yourself a press pass, you can also make the most of this amazing area as well. There's no doubt about it... I'll definitely be volunteering again next year!

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

Athfest 2011: Dr. Arvin Scott gives us a beat through the heat

Sunday, June 26th, 2011

Dr. Arvin Scott

Determined to cool down while the sun's rays beat down upon us, my friends and I installed ourselves as semi-permanent fixtures underneath the misting line that hung near the Hull Street Stage. As we coated ourselves with a fine layer of water droplets, several people I knew stopped by to tell me that I just had to check out Dr. Arvin Scott's set. My curiosity sparked, I finally managed to pull myself out of the mist to see what all the buzz was about. A melodic beat emanated from the stage as the one man band began. Surrounded by many different types of percussive instruments, Dr. Scott gave us tunes rich with exotic rhythm. Everyone was right... This was one show I'm glad I didn't miss!

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

Athfest 2011: Groovin' to the tunes of Grogus

Sunday, June 26th, 2011

Grogus

Moments later, my friends and I happened upon a huge crowd of people dancing up a storm in front of the main stage. Everyone from old couples to little tiny girls and boys were grooving to the beat of Latin music band, Grogus. Led by Carl Lindberg, this group of extremely talented musicians gave the crowd song after dance-inducing song, and even in the intense Sunday afternoon heat, no one in the vicinity could resist moving their feet. It was quite a fun show!

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

Athfest 2011: Lingo jams through the madness

Sunday, June 26th, 2011

Lingo

Nervous but exhilarated, I stepped onto the Hull Street Stage to announce the next band, Lingo. At my very first Athfest, I had a chance to catch a few of the band's tunes, and their fun, jazzy songs with a hint of southern blues sounded even more awesome this time around. Half soulful funk and half jam band, they played an energetic mix of tunes that followed in that style. Then, in the middle of their set, a protester of sorts marched through the crowd bearing a nonsensical sign talking of Nazis and bogeymen, but the band didn't let this slight disturbance phase them for a second. As the man was quickly escorted away by the police, Lingo kept it cool, rockin' the stage till the very end. Great show!

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

Athfest 2011: John King and Rachel Farley lead us into Sunday

Sunday, June 26th, 2011

The John King Band & Rachel Farley Band

As I made the long, uphill trek through the heat back downtown that Sunday morning, only the thought of the tunes that awaited me kept me going. Upon entering the festival space, the upbeat country rock sound of The John King Band welcomed me back. The band's great beat, steady through their softer songs as well, drove their tunes as the crowd clapped along. And, once they had finished, there was good news for those who craved more too. They've got a new EP due out in August!

Then it was Rachel Farley's turn to share her powerful, vocal-led southern rock with us. Backed by a full band, she gave us an amazing set of strong, beautiful tunes. The band's show was packed with so much energy that people ventured out into the heat just to watch them play! Rachel responded by declaring her love for all of the fans and rocking even harder just for them. Now that's the best kind of connection there is!

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

Athfest 2011: The surreal world of Ye Olde Sub Shoppe

Saturday, June 25th, 2011 (late night)

Ye Olde Sub Shoppe

Highly intrigued by the list of nonsensical terms Flagpole Magazine used to describe the next band, my friends and I took seats up at the very front of the Flicker Theatre in anticipation of Ye Olde Sub Shoppe. What ensued was quite possibly the most surreal experience of my entire life!

Right off the bat, the band charmed the audience with their characteristically point perfect awkwardness. Armed with several adorably miniature instruments including a rather small guitar, a ukelele, and a melodica, they set about giving us what could only be classified as experimental folk pop tunes laden with some of the most ridiculously hilarious lyrics I've ever heard! Smiles splashed across our faces as things leapt from merely weird to levels of absurdity only found in movies about the most indie of bands. With a sense of amused joy bordering on incredulity, we watched as the band members suddenly dubbed themselves Ye Olde Sex Shoppe, announced their support of safe sex, and threw a huge pack of condoms into the audience. These landed on my friend's lap momentarily before she shrieked and tossed them behind her, causing a ripple effect that sent them flying backwards to disappear behind the crowd. Oh man, one of the funniest things I've ever seen!

These guys clearly don't take themselves too seriously at all, and I absolutely loved that about them. Half the time, it seemed like they were actually just performing for themselves in front of the bathroom mirror, and the rest of the time, it almost seemed like they were making up all of these cleverly silly songs on the spot. The thing is, as utterly ludicrous as their songs were, you can't deny there's quality in their tunes as well. Later, they eagerly asked the members of the crowd if they had ever wet the bed before launching into a song about just that. Every bit of their show was sheer madness down to their band t-shirts featuring a picture of one of their friends, expressly duplicated without his permission. Seriously, my friends and I could not stop giggling during their set, and everyone else who came to have fun was undoubtably entertained as well.

I think my friend Deirdre put it best when she labelled the members of this awesomely unique trio the hipster, the hippie, and the nerd (a simply spot-on observation) and exclaimed that hearing them talk alone made the show worth attending. The crazy songs were just an added bonus. Honestly, these guys redefined what it means to be a unique band in the most insanely brilliant way possible! Did this all even actually happen? Was it the product of an overactive imagination or just a surreal dream? You be the judge. I'm still not entirely sure. But I can tell you one thing. I am definitely going to have to see Ye Olde Sub Shoppe again!

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

Athfest 2011: Dreamboat and Sea of Dogs serve us some sweet tunes

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

Dreamboat and Sea of Dogs

Dreamboat was high on my list of must-see bands at this year's Athfest. I caught a very short Live in the Lobby show of theirs a while back at WUOG, UGA's student-run radio station, and my ears craved more of their soft, lovely melodies. Featuring members of the well-loved local band Hope For Agoldensummer as well as several other talented musicians, they gave us a set of melodies that were earthy yet transcendent, with echoing drums and bells that flowed like soft but powerful breezes into our ears. Although not entirely acoustic, Dreamboat's beautiful sound was so natural that it could have been created by the earth itself. Their lyrics, sometimes unexpectedly dark in tone, wound through the tunes in a purely delightful way. Among them, one of the most memorable lines was one disguised within a sweet melody that said "if life didn't suck so much, I wouldn't have to use so many drugs, so blame life." Such a fascinating song in its melancholy yet somehow serene disposition! Encored at the end of their set to play several more songs, they taught the crowd to sing along, bringing their show to a most fulfilling finish.

Following Dreamboat, all-female band Sea of Dogs took the stage to give us their own soft, rather indie tunes. A trumpet and a banjo joined the usual array of band instruments to form a very endearing, sort of folk-style sound. The whole effect was quite sweet. Also, I must say that I'm extremely happy to see so many women rocking their hearts out in our hometown scene this year!

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

Athfest 2011: Videos!

Do you want to relive the fun and the tunes of Athfest? Did you miss out on some of the action? Well, up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel, we've got 14 videos of song footage from Athfest 2011 as well as tons of videos from past Athfests and other rockin' shows! Some of our very favorites from this year's festival are below.

Lera Lynn plays Gasoline through the wind

The Athens band rocks their tune She'll Wait

The Orkids perform Social Heroin for a pumped crowd

Remember, you can check out all of the videos on our YouTube channel right here. Dying to see some pictures? We've got over 100 from this year's Athfest festivities up on our Facebook page as well.

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often.

Athfest 2011: Guadalcanal Diary gives us more

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

Guadalcanal Diary

Once I finally regained my strength, I headed straight for the Athfest main stage where Guadalcanal Dairy was blasting a massive crowd with their awesome classic rock tunes. The fans, consumed by their love for this headlining band, were grooving all over the place, and one guy in front of me was purely blown away by their quality sound. Indeed, the listeners were so enthused that the band was fervently encored, and they returned to the stage to give us three more songs. Although I’m a bit disappointed that I couldn’t catch their whole set, the small taste I got of Guadalcanal Diary live was quite brilliant!

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

Athfest 2011: Bambara blows us a away and Lazer/Wulf rocks us back in

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

Bambara and Lazer/Wulf

Then, as fans crowded the courtyard outside of the Caledonia, it was time for the Dirty Athens party’s main event. BAMBARA! Playing their final show in Athens for a good while, they mixed it up a bit by rocking outdoors in the still-bright sunlight. What’s this insanity? In all the years that I’ve been a fan of the band, I’ve never actually been able to fully see the members as they immersed our ears in their sensual, noise rock blitz. In an effort to bring things back to normal, though, a leafy bush chose to obscure my view of the trio, making the whole event seem like it was taking place in some dense and untamed jungle. A rather perfect setting for their sound, I’d say! Their set included all of their newest hits as well as several beloved favorites. Then, much too soon, it was all over.

Now, I don’t generally fare too well when one of my favorite bands plays a final show, even if their goodbyes are by no means permanent. After all, the band will likely return to visit our little town on a regular basis to fill our ears with joy once more. Still, my anticipation and energy spent and my brain slightly addled by a mild case of the Athfest heat stroke I’ve come to know so well, I sat at one of Caledonia’s convenient little tables, nearly catatonic with exhaustion, for a few hours after their set.

On the bright side, this put me in the perfect position to hear Lazer/Wulf’s instrumentally-fueled metal tunes when they took the indoor stage a while later. Their massive strength of sound and their yells reverberated through the courtyard, even inspiring me to ease myself out of my comfortable position to see them in action. Inside, the venue was packed, and the warpaint-wearing band members were enlisting the crowd to sing along to one of their songs. It was quite a show!

Before I finish this entry, I’d just like to wish Bambara and each of its members more than the very best for their lives in Brooklyn. They have many amazing things ahead for them, of that I am absolutely certain!

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

The Critical Darlings turn it up a notch

Almost two and a half years ago, back when I was still a bright-eyed newcomer to the Athens music scene, I stumbled across a benefit concert featuring the band Chris McKay and the Critical Darlings. It was quite an exciting experience and inadvertently led to the creation of this very blog. Since then, the band has disappeared from and reemerged in the scene several times and has gained an influx of new members, held together by the ever-enthusiastic Chris McKay. After over a year of waiting to see their latest incarnation in action, I finally got my chance last Saturday night.

Now a 5-piece band, the Critical Darlings kicked off the show with their song The Only Way, followed by a set of new tunes peppered here and there with old favorites. New or old, though, their sound was not quite the same creature it was when we last met. While still retaining their beloved classic rock style, the band's tunes had a stronger, more modern, and sometimes even darker feel to them that thrilled me to the core. The keyboardist Kate Powell's backing vocals seemed have had a heavy influence on this change. Their take on the new song Hold On, which I remember voting for back when the band was enlisting the fans' help to choose their latest hits, was quite awesome. Then, in the middle of the set, they surprised the fans by alternating to give Kate the lead vocal spot for a lovely and rather dark, theatrical number. I've gotta say, I definitely like where the Critical Darlings are taking their sound.

As always, the band's famous energy engulfed the room. Chris hammed it up throughout the set and even fistbumped members of the Athens band in the front row as he played. Kate stuck one leg up onto the keyboard while her fingers danced over the keys. Just wild! The crowd, in turn, grooved to the music, some of them even waltzing to a few of the tunes. Rounding out the set, they finished their trademark song Happy Here and Now with a surprise burst of confetti that fluttered over the fans as they played their final note. What a fun show!

Athfest 2011: Chilling with the tunes of Hot Cha Cha and Turf War

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

Hot Cha Cha & Turf War

After being outside in the sunlight nearly all day, stepping into the Caledonia was like getting sucked into a black hole. For a few moments, all I could see was pure darkness. My ears, however, relished in the loud, hard rock blasting forth from the band before me. With elements of noise rock entered into the mix as well, the whole effect was rather awesome. When my eyes finally adjusted to the light, I took a good look at the Ohio-based group that called themselves Hot Cha Cha. Wow, three out the four members were female, including the wild lead singer/screamer! It's so refreshing to see women rocking this tune style. I've gotta say I like this band!

Back outside, Atlanta's upbeat 5-piece Turf War gave us a taste of their fun rock sound. With a slight bit of a nineties feel to them, their tunes resonated with the crowd, even drawing kids from outside the venue to watch them from above in the Farm 255 courtyard. These guys definitely had some personality too! When one guitarist leaned too close to the other, the second pretended to kiss him, adding a touch of humor to their set. And I can't forget to mention the drummer's awesome musical note tattoo! Cool band, way cool show.

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

Athfest 2011: Buxton makes an impression

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

Buxton

Staving off all of the early signs of heat stroke, I opted to step back into the shade of the Caledonia Lounge once the Knockouts were finished. To my great surprise, as I seated myself with some friends, I saw Houston's own Buxton setting up on the outdoor stage. I had met the super cool electric guitarist of the band after their Flagpole Awards Afterparty show, and I was eager to see the band perform more than one song during this go around. However, the band had been under the impression that they were playing the Dirty Athens show much later on, so to catch them now was just a happy coincidence. Although generally not my favorite of the music genres, I truly enjoyed their all-encompassing soft country rock sound. And apparently this being the day of sea-faring songs, they also gave us a very unique indie tune that resembled something of a traditional shanty. Awesome. But their love for the fans and friends they made in Athens extended beyond the bounds of just this show. Aware that many of the people they had invited to see them would arrive too late to catch their set, they performed an impromptu mini show in the Caledonia parking lot later that day as well. Oh, the unexpected surprises of Athfest are always some of the most exciting!

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

Athfest 2011: Braving the heat for Monahan & The Knockouts

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

Monahan & The Knockouts

Always ready to sample the tunes of another local band getting the buzz, I headed back out into the nearly unbearable heat to catch Monahan on the Hull Street Stage. After an intro from our friend Jordan of Athens Music Junkie fame, the band launched into a set of smooth and radio-ready, southern-style indie rock. Their high quality vocals and cohesive sound certainly made the imminent risk of sunburn worthwhile!

After Monahan's show, my pals and I were draw to the Pulaski Street Stage where the Knockouts were giving the crowd a set of quirky, upbeat tunes. Armed with a variety of instruments that included a banjo, an accordion, and a saxophone, these guys gave us their own brand of fast-paced folky, ska punk. My favorite song of all, though, was the accordion-fueled sea shanty they performed near the end of their set. Ah, what fun!

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

Athfest 2011: Green Gerry and the Gellyphish & White Violet rule the shade

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

Green Gerry and the Gellyphish &

White Violet

As Saturday's heat began to get a bit too intense and my flip flop tan became much too awkward for my liking, I made my way to the Caledonia Lounge for some shade and a few awesome tunes. Dirty Athens, Caledonia's unofficial Athfest full day show, was already underway when I arrived. Pulling up a chair, I watched Green Gerry and the Gellyphish set up on the raised deck outside the venue. Back in November, I saw Green Gerry perform solo at the 40 Watt, but the buzz around town that he'd added a full band and changed up his sound convinced me that I just had see what he was up to these days. This time around, the band's unique and often sweet, soft indie rock style and nice rhythm left me craving more. Great stuff!

Then it was into the Caledonia for a bit of White Violet's stylings. The latest project of well-known local crooner of melodies Nate Nelson, the band's soft rock songs, with a slight southern influence and a taste of darkness, were a welcome addition to the day's lineup. Solid, expansive tunes and a sweet, strong sound characterized the bulk of the set, and talent was the clear order of the day. Honestly, I can't believe this is only their third show together! I'd love to hear these guys again.

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

Athfest 2011: Pictures!

Let's take a break from the words today to check out Echoreyn of Athens' Athfest 2011 in pictures! We've got more than a hundred photos of bands and crowds and even a few surprises up on our Facebook page right now. Some of my very favorites are below, but you can see them all here. And if these pictures make you happy, don't hesitate to tell us you "like" us while you're there! :)

Thomas Hardy and the Outfit on the Hull Street Stage

The corner of Trapeze where lightning struck

Buxton playing an impromptu set in the Caledonia parking lot

The Georgia Theatre sign about a month before it reopens

See the whole album on the Echoreyn of Athens Facebook Page!

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

Athfest 2011: Klezmer Local 42 and the Charlie Garrett rock the midday

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

Klezmer Local 42 & The Charlie Garrett Band

Over on the Hull Street Stage, Klezmer Local 42 prepared to deal us a bit of culture with their unique style of sound. Having never experienced this type of music live before, I didn't quite know what to expect, but immediately their humor put a smile on my face. During their soundcheck, the drummer gave a beat to a guy climbing up a ladder to fix their sign, encouraging us to pretend that he was an acrobat performing some feat of great skill. Just a short while later, the band launched into their upbeat, very traditional Hebrew tunes, and soon after, the dancing began. A whole little crowd of women in the audience began twirling and moving all over the place while children bounced along to the melodies. Responding to the crowd's enthusiasm, the band had those of us in the audience join in to sing part of one of their songs in Yiddish. What a cool experience! Beyond the traditional tunes, they also gave us a few unexpected but purely awesome covers including a great instrumental version of Survivor's Eye of the Tiger and a klezmer-style take on the cantina music from the original Star Wars movie. They finished their set with a catchy original song about attending Hebrew school. I truly love their style!

Once Klezmer Local 42's set ended, it was time to head back to the Pulaski Street Stage for the Charlie Garrett band. Their classic and quality southern rock was positively brimming with excellent keyboard melodies and a huge drum sound. Very nice!

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

Athfest 2011: the UGA Accidentals show us their style

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

the UGA Accidentals

Saturday morning, I awoke, pumped for another day of Athfest. Just after I arrived at the Pulaski Street Stage, the UGA Accidentals, an-all male a cappella group that's said to be one of the best in the world, stepped up to kick off the show. Wow, these guys were good! As an ensemble, they had an unbelievable vocal range. With only their voices expertly blending together, they gave us their versions of everything from current pop tunes to traditional UGA songs from many decades ago. Adding more than just a touch of humor to most of the songs, they spiced up the show with choreographed dances and, at one point, even pulled a girl from the crowd to serenade her. Such personality! Best of all, they performed an awesome rendition of Cee-Lo Green's Forget You and gave us a hilarious medley of hip hop tunes as well. Their undeniable talent and unique style was definitely an exciting change of pace, and I'd love the chance to see them again!

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, you can visit the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel for show footage and Athfest vlogs as well!

Falling for the sheer insanity of Hans Darkbolt

Tomorrow, we'll continue with our overwhelmingly detailed Athfest coverage, but today I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to write about my wild experience seeing Hans Darkbolt live for the very first time last Friday night. Memorable doesn't even begin to come close to describing that show! I'd even venture to say that a little something called destiny played a part in my discovery of this band.

Perhaps I should explain myself. You see, once upon a time (or last year, if you want to be specific), regular readers of the blog might remember I had a favorite band called Crumbling Arches who most tragically split up in November. After their break up, I was quite sure I would never find another awesome band that fit into the theatrical progressive alt rock genre again. But then, during my extensive research of every band playing Athfest this year, I stumbled across the curious stylings of Hans Darkbolt. Upon checking out their Facebook page, something just clicked. Immediately, I knew I had to catch these guys in action!

Now I've got to admit, it's been months since I've been to a show where I didn't know a single soul by name, but it was kind of a refreshing change too. The courtyard outside of Farm 255 was packed with friends and fans of the band, awaiting what I was told would be a brilliant live show. Before the set began, lead singer Peter Dovey, sporting suspenders and a zebra-striped headband, yelled something nonsensical into the microphone and then ran offstage. From that moment on, my suspicions were confirmed. I knew I was going to like this band.

As their set began, haunting gothic overtones joined in a post-genre dance with fun, showtune-styled rock to create a deliciously unique sound for their tunes. Humorous inflections and lyrics peppered their vocals, which ranged from soft and smooth to the occasional yell, and they approached each song with a sort of chill, rock-edged energy that defied explanation. What's more, a slight touch of a placeless international feel gave their set a dreamlike quality which persisted throughout show. This band, alternating between a 4-piece and a 5-piece ensemble depending on the song, ruled the stage with an air of mystery that kept the whole crowd intrigued during every second of the set. And whenever we thought we had figured them out, these multitalented guys would all trade instruments again or surprise us by twirling offstage and into the dancing crowd. Just a few songs in, clutching his guitar as one possessed, the lead singer stumbled like a zombie through their sea of fans until he was behind the audience, then sprinted on over to where his parents were seated to play just inches from their faces. Minutes later, faced with a few technical difficulties, he grabbed two mics on their stands without hesitation and sang into both of them at once. It was madness, I tell you! And I loved every minute of it.

Then, as the set neared an end, the band encouraged their fans to shout out all of their favorite lines from action movies, once more displaying their incredible sense of fun. To top it all off, the aforementioned Dovey leapt offstage in the middle of the final song, lapped the crowd twice, ran inside the Farm 255 while strumming his guitar, then jumped up to play his final notes atop a small, rickety-looking table before collapsing on the ground in the most overdramtically awe-inspiring and hilarious display of manic, musically-induced insanity I've ever seen! And believe it or not, I've only mentioned some of the main highlights of this band's set... Their live show must be experienced to be believed. Hans Darkbolt is one band I'm positively dying to see again!

Athfest 2011: Bad Manor blows us away with the Athens band, Tealvox, & the Orkids

Friday, June 24th, 2011

Athens, Tealvox, and the Orkids

Just before 10 PM, the venues of Athens opened up to flood our ears with the tunes of bands upon bands. In the mood for a few familiar favorites guaranteed to melt my eardrums with their awesomeness, I headed on over to the Bad Manor. As I entered, I was greeted by quite a hilarious video of the Athens band as they gave us an intro that covered the entire night's lineup on the giant screen before us. Then, the moment the video ended, an engine revved. Curiosity and excitement pulsing through my veins, I turned to face the door of the venue. Suddenly, bursting through Bad Manor's doorway, a motorcycle flew through the crowd towards the stage carrying young guitarist Beau on its back. Oh my God, AMAZING! It was quite possibly the coolest, most rockstar-style entrance I've ever seen. Then the band launched into their set, and I couldn't help but notice that, in the time since I last saw them, they've reached unbelievable heights of solid classic rock. Every song was explosive, and as they played, a huge crowd gathered just for them. Their charisma was just undeniable!

Amongst their many covers and original songs, they also gave us their own incredible version of Foo Fighters' Best of You. Too cool. It was, unequivocally, their best show yet!

Next up were local soft rockers Tealvox. As even more people poured into Bad Manor, power emanated from the band's instruments, building into an all-encompassing tidal wave of sound. Absorbed in their solid, quality tunes, almost even possessed by the music, the members of the band leapt around the stage in the throes of passion. Then, as their set neared an end, they all shocked the crowd by switching up instruments and calling Athens band's bass player Justin Granados onstage to take the drums as they rocked out a purely awesome song. Wow, what talent all of these guys possess! Simply amazing.

Rounding out the night were pop rock rulers of the local scene, the Orkids. I am positively in love with their style! At their shows, I can always just let loose and throw myself, ears first, into their fun, upbeat sound. And the other fans there clearly felt the same way. Packed into the venue, the crowd went insane during their set, singing the words along to every song and dancing their hearts out. The Orkids' tunes pulsated through the floor, electrifying the room, and once the band had finished, we all begged for more. Without a doubt, this was the most awesome show of theirs I've ever seen! Truly an incredible lineup.

For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2011, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, click here! More entries on all the bands and madness of the festival will be posted daily, so be sure to check back often. Plus, get ready for show footage and Athfest vlogs coming soon to the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well!