Kristen's Concert Picks: December ends the year with a bang!

Get pumped for the end of the year (or the end of the world if that's the way you kick it) with these awesome December shows.  Let's rock our way into 2013!

Sat, December 1: The Peaks @ 9 PM @ The Nest (170 Riverdale Dr.)

Hands down, one of my favorite bands right now, you've got to get yourself to The Peaks' music and arts show this month.  Throw yourself into some of the best tunes and works of art this town has to offer at December's incarnation of their monthly celebration!

Sat, December 1: Tumbleweed Stampede @ 11:30 PM @ Farm255

Craving another serving of fun at the start of the month?  Be sure to catch the groove-worthy sounds of Tumbleweed Stampede over at Farm255.

Mon, December 3: Emily Hearn @ 7:30 PM @ Melting Point 
Without a doubt, Emily Hearn was one of my absolute favorite acts at this year's Athfest.  Her incredible, sweet voice will blow you away!

Tue, December 4: Stokeswood @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

Ready to rock your way through UGA's Reading Day?  Then don't miss Stokeswood, another one of the most awesome acts from this year's Athfest, as they take the stage at the Georgia Theatre.  It's time to party!

Fri, December 7: Hope For Agoldensummer @ 8 PM @ 40 Watt
Longtime staples in the Athens scene, Hope for Agoldensummer will be sharing their soft yet soulful folk melodies with the crowd at 40 Watt for Flagpole's Poverty Is Real benefit!

Sat, December 8: Tealvox @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge
A favorite of mine since I first saw them four years ago, Tealvox has always had some of the most solid and awesome rock in this town's scene!

Sun, December 9: Beat Cancer Bash @ 6 PM @ Melting Point 

Good causes always make me want to dance.  Help fight cancer with an incredible lineup of some of Athens' most talented bands and musicians including Young Benjamin, The Skipperdees, and Kyshona Armstrong!

Thu, December 13: The Breaks @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

Love yourself some southern rock and powerful female vocals?  Well, then, the Breaks is your band.

Fri, December 14: The Shut-Ups @ 10 PM @ Caledonia

Indie pop with an electronic vibe, the Shut-Ups know how to have fun!

Mon, December 31: Yip Deceiver, Kishi Bashi, Modern Skirts @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

Wow, what a jaw-dropping lineup the Georgia Theatre has in store for us this New Year's Eve!  Local darlings Modern Skirts join the breath-taking violinist Kishi Bashi and wild party boys Yip Deceiver for what is guaranteed to be an unforgettable show to ring in 2013.  Don't miss this one!

This is the Athens scene at its very best, my friends! It looks like some of the most talented and amazing local acts will be taking the stage this December, and this list includes more than just a few of my favorites.  Eagerly awaiting another show this month?  Share the details with everyone in the comments.  Let's make this the most memorable December yet!

Kristen's Concert Picks: Get your fill of November's tunes!

Don't let the cool weather get you down!  Warm up with the delicious sounds of November.

Thu, November 1: Futurebirds @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

Start the month the right way with some quality southern rock from the always great Futurebirds!

Fri, November 2: Cicada Rhythm @ 8 PM @ Melting Point

Craving something different?  You'll just love the lilting folk vocals of Cicada Rhythm!

Fri, November 2: Sam Sniper @ 11:30 PM @ Farm255

One of my favorites in the Athens scene, the unique southern rock of Sam Sniper will have you dancing in no time!

Wed, November 7: The Peaks @ 8 PM @ Go Bar

One of my newest favorite bands on the scene, the Peaks' dark and soulful tunes will no doubt entrance you!  

Wed, November 7: Blue Man Group @ 8 PM @ Classic Center Theatre

It's the Blue Man Group! Yeah, you've heard of them...  The lights. The insanity.  This time they're on your doorstep!

Thu, November 8: Brothers @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge
Classic rock meets indie pop when Brothers plays.  You can catch 'em on the 29th of the month as well!

Thu, November 8: Life Coach @ 10 PM @ Little Kings

Life Coach will blast you away with their sound.  Be there!

Fri, November 9: Reptar @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

It's REPTAR!  Get your tickets early because this outrageous band's show will surely sell out fast.  Prepare for the insanity!

Sat, November 10: Manray @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Brace yourself for Manray's explosive noise rock sound!

Sun, November 11: The Skipperdees @ 9 PM @ Flicker Theatre

A spectacular mix of talent, heart, and southern folk makes every Skipperdees show just incredible!

Fri, November 16: Lazer/Wulf @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Melodic rock infused with instrumental metal tunes, you'll love Lazer/Wulf's strength of sound! Plus, you can catch our town's latest noise rock addition, The Powder Room!

Sat, November 17: Ruby the Rabitfoot @ 9 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

You know her as Ruby Kendrick, but now she's Ruby the Rabitfoot.  With her sweet pop style, she's taking the town once again!

Fri, November 23: Young Benjamin @ 9 PM @ Flicker Theatre

Ambient and ethereal, Young Benjamin's melodies with transport you to another world.  Can't catch him on the 23rd?  Well, you're in luck!  He'll also be filling Flicker with his unbelievable sound on the 28th.

Sat, November 24: Velvet Runway @ 9 PM @ Melting Point

One of my favorite college memories is throwing a spontaneous dance party outside a rockin' Velvet Runway show.  Check out this quality 80s cover band!

Thu, November 29: The Viking Progress and John French & the Bastilles @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Don't miss the innovative indie rock of Viking Progress and the dark, polished sound of John French and the Bastilles over at the Caledonia.  What a mix!

Thu, November 29: Qurious @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt

Wow, Qurious, Brothers, AND Thick Paint?  Catch the indescribable experience that is Qurious as they join indie pop rockers Brothers and Thick Paint, Graham of Reptar's DJ act at the 40 Watt.  This is going to be just wild!

Well, we've got an incredible month of tunes in store for us!  Totally pumped about an Athens show not listed here?  Post about it below so everyone can get the details.  Have an awesome November, you guys!

Kristen's Concert Picks: October's bringing some scary good tunes!

It's the month of spooks and ghouls and things that go bump in the night!  There's no need to fear though.  The rock will keep your spirits high!

Fri October 5: Easter Island @ 8 PM @ 40 Watt

You'll just love kicking off the month with Easter Island's solid and uplifting soft rock along with their smooth vocals and rhythmic drumming!

Fri October 5: Here We Go Magic @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

The last time I caught this Brooklyn band in action, they were a wild mix of lights, drumbeats, and surreal rock.  Don't miss your chance to dance it up at this show!

 Sat, October 6: Tumbleweed Stampede @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt

Make sure you're at 40 Watt for Tumbleweed Stampede's set! These guys will have you grooving in no time.  

Wed, October 17: Lullwater @ 9 PM @ Melting Point

Craving some hard rock tunes infused with a folk sound? Then Lullwater's the band for you! Be there for their mid-month show over at the Melting Point.

Thu, October 18: Boycycle @ 8 PM @ WUOG

I happened upon this band at the last Athfest and fell in love with their ever-changing style and sound.  Check out Boycycle for an experience beyond definitions!

 Sat, October 20: Lera Lynn @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

There's no doubt that Lera Lynn's powerful voice and indie folk style will blow you away!

 Sat, October 20: Lazer/Wulf @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge
Lazer/Wulf will blast your ears with a heaping serving of instrumentally-driven melodic metal.  Pure awesome!

Thu, October 23: Powerkompany @ 8 PM @ WUOG

Let yourself be absorbed into the strong yet ethereal melodies of Powerkompany.  See them at UGA's own student radio station, WUOG, or tune in online!

Thu, October 25: The Constellations @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

The Constellations are back!  I've been a fan of these guys for years, long before they blew up the Atlanta scene and then took the country by storm.  Catch their gritty, sexy party rock at the Georgia Theatre near the end of the month!

 Sat, October 27: Wild Rumpus After Party @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

It's time for the annual Wild Rumpus parade.  And how better to get into the Halloween spirit than with a rockin' afterparty featuring the always spectacular Of Montreal!   Along with Velveteen Pink and Kite to the Moon, they'll be surrounding us with their crazy, larger than life style.  What a show this will be!

Wow, October's shaping up to be deliciously spooky and brimming with amazing tunes!  Heard a whisper of another local show you're just dying to attend?  Tell the world all about it in the comments.  Have a wonderfully dark and rockin' month, my friends!

Kristen's Concert Picks: Get ready for a rad September!

September has already rocked its way into our lives, but this tune-filled month certainly isn't finished with us yet!  The music awaits you...

Fri, September 7: Saint Francis & The Breaks @ 8 PM @ New Earth Music Hall

I caught both of these rockin' southern style bands for the first time at this year's Athfest.  See 'em for yourself over at New Earth!

Mon, September 10: Yo Soybean @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge 

Craving a different sort of southern rock?  Then Yo Soybean's your band!

Tue, September 11: Turf War @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

You'll just love Turf War's fun rock sound!

Fri, September 14: Betsy Kingston and the Crowns @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt

You haven't seen passion until you've caught Betsy Kingston and the Crowns in action!  Get yourself to this show!

Sat, September 15: The Orkids @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt

The Orkids are back!  You know you've been dying for another taste of their upbeat pop sound.  Don't miss this blog favorite over at the 40 Watt!

Sat, September 15: Cicada Rhythm @ 11:30 PM @ Farm 255

Cicada Rhythm's folk vocals have a unique lilt that you'll just love!

Mon, September 17: Thayer Sarrano @ 9 PM @ Caledonia Lounge 

You've never heard anything like Thayer Sarrano's sweet speech-style vocals.  Bask in her awesome sound!

Thu, September 20: Ruby Kendrick @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Ruby Kendrick always serves up some sweet pop rock melodies.  See her at the Caledonia Lounge!

Fri, September 21: Viking Progress @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

These indie rockers bring their sound to a whole new level with some wild acoustic distortion.  Excellent!

Sat, September 29: Grass Giraffes @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Ready to end the month with some insane fun?  Head on over to the Caledonia for a nice, heaping dose of Grass Giraffes!

Wow, what a month this will be!  If you're eagerly awaiting any other awesome local shows, let the world know about 'em in the comments below.  Happy listening, everyone!

Kristen's Concert Picks: August rocks the fans back to Athens!

You feel a strange yearning coming over you. The soft winds of August are urging you back into the Athens town.  The rock awaits you!

Thu, August 2: Manray @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Get your fill of noise rock with Manray.  This town just can't get enough of these guys!

Thu, August 2: Yo Soybean @ 11 PM @ Farm 255

Need some solid southern rock in your life?  Of course you do!  Yo Soybean is bringing it to Farm 255 at the beginning of the month.

Fri, August 3: Boycycle @ 9 PM @ Flicker Theatre

Boycycle, the undefinable but undeniably awesome band we caught at Athfest this year, will be releasing a brand new album this Friday. You won't want to miss this show!

Sat, August 4: Viking Progress @ 10 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

You'll love the distorted acoustic rock of Viking Progress, for sure!

Wed, August 8: Indie Songwriter Summit @ 7:30 PM @ Melting Point

Relish in the talents of singer/songwriters Marie from Powerkompany/Venice is Sinking, Jay from Modern Skirts, Patrick from the Viking Progress, and more as they play the crowd into the inception of some of their most delectable songs.  This one's going to be quite a show!

Wed, August 8: Betsy Kingston and the Crowns @ 9 PM @ Georgia Theatre rooftop

These guys are the physical manifestation of passion.  Get sucked into their incredible southern rock!

Fri, August 10: Brothers & Dead Confederate @ 10 PM @ 40 Watt

Brothers mixes it up with an indie pop take on classic rock while Dead Confederate knows how to serve up some amazing soft southern rock.  Catch 'em both over at the 40 Watt!

Sat, August 11: Stokeswood @ 9 PM @ Georgia Theatre rooftop

I saw Stokeswood for the first time at this year's Athfest, and let me just say, I LOVE THIS BAND!  Don't miss your chance to catch these rockers in action.

Sat, August 11: Sam Sniper @ 9 PM @ 40 Watt

Are you a fan of southern rock?  Well, then, you need to get yourself to the 40 Watt for the unique and quality stylings of Sam Sniper!

Sat, August 11: Tealvox @ 9:30 PM @ Caledonia Lounge

Wow, this weekend's tunes are almost too spectacular to be believed.  For some of the best rock in town, you'll want to make your way to the Caledonia where Tealvox will be ruling the stage.

Mon August 13: Adron & Little Tybee @ 8 PM @ Melting Point

A free show over at the Melting Point featuring the massively talented singer Adron and the tunes of Little Tybee?  Sign me up!

Thu, August 23: Thayer Sarrano @ 8 PM @ WUOG 90.5FM 

I always revel in the unique, and Thayer Sarrano certainly sings her way into this category with her spoken melody.  Listen to her live in the radio station lobby or tune into 90.5 to hear her over the airwaves!

Sat, August 25: Cicada Rhythm @ 8 PM @ Georgia Theatre

Cicada Rhythm's lilting folk sound will fill your soul with joy.  See 'em over at the Georgia Theatre!

Tue, August 28: Grass Giraffes & Abandon the Earth Mission @ 11 PM @ Georgia Theatre rooftop

Get ready to enjoy yourself with Grass Giraffes' brand of indie rock and the ethereal style of Abandon the Earth Mission!

Wed, August 29: Emily Hearn @ 8 PM @ Melting Point

One of the best singers I've heard in years, Emily Hearn is definitely a musician you'll want to hear!  I was just blown away by her sweet voice at Athfest this year.

Wow, looks like Athens has got some incredible tunes in store for us this August! Pumped for any other local shows this month?  Leave a comment below and tell us all about them.  Have an awesome month, my friends!  

Athfest 2012: Final take on the festival!

Wow, Athfest 2012 was just incredible!

I'm not exaggerating when I say that this Athfest was probably the best one I've ever attended.  And, to top it off, we've got tons of festival coverage from that one tune-filled weekend. I think it's ridiculously amazing that I was able to see 30 new bands in action that I'd never caught before as well as a bunch of old favorites.  What an awesome experience!  Let's break it down and crunch the numbers on this year's insane adventure...

Echoreyn of Athens' Athfest 2012 by the numbers

• 49 bands seen in concert
• 78 pictures
• 4 preparation guides
• 20 blogs
• 12 concert videos
• (At least) 13 new bands I'm dying to check out again!
• 3 more well-worn wristbands to add to my ever-expanding Athfest collection
• 1 glorious press pass
• 1 extremely enthusiastic vlog (see above)

Want another taste of the spectacular festival madness? We've got all of those rad pictures up on our Facebook page, videos galore of some of the most incredible live shows including footage of Emily Hearn, Stokeswood, Betsy Kingston and the Crowns, Holly Belle, Yip Deciever, Ruby Kendrick, Atlas Sound, and many more plus full vlog coverage on our YouTube channel, and a log of up-to-the-minute Athfest details on our Twitter page! 

You can also check out every bit of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, from preparation guides to articles on some of the best featured bands and shows, right here!

Hope you had as much fun at this year's Athfest as we did.  Can't wait to experience the craziness of Athfest 2013!

Athfest 2012: Betsy Kingston and the Crowns and Bloodkin finish the show

Sunday, June 24th, 2012

Betsy Kingston and the Crowns & Bloodkin

By this time, I was pumped to be at Athfest regardless of the weather.  I had just seen some awesome acts on the Pulaski and Kidsfest Stages, and I was headed to the Hull Street Stage for Betsy Kingston and the Crowns.  Already in the middle of her set, Betsy and her talented band were passionately serving up some smooth, southern rock as I joined the crowd.  Immediately, I fell in love with her vocal style.  Throwing herself into every lyric, she and the Crowns put on a show that was deliciously intense and bursting with personality.  Basically, they rocked it out of the park!  Once their set had ended, I knew one thing for sure.  I had never had an Athfest Sunday more awesome than this one!

As I popped by the press tent for some sustenance before my trek back home, I caught a bit of Bloodkin's solid country rock.  The musicians milling around the press tent began dancing wildly to the tunes, to my utter delight.  Things like this make me fall in love with this town all over again. Then, walking out of the festival, I caught sight of a kid wearing a cardboard robot head.  Oh, the ridiculousness of Athens! It was just simply the perfect ending to Athfest 2012.

  For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, 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, check out our show footage and Athfest vlogs up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well! 

Athfest 2012: Saint Francis and Sean VanMeter rock us into Sunday

Sunday, June 24th, 2012

Saint Francis & Sean VanMeter

Athfest Sunday morning is always the hardest.  After two days of exposure to the harsh sun's rays, it takes some incredible motivation to get back out.  Truly, the lure of awesome tunes is the only thing that keeps me coming back for more.

Journeying to the festival, I headed straight for the Pulaski Street Stage to catch the first act on my list, Saint Francis.  Within minutes, the band's upbeat country rock sound had the crowd up and dancing despite the killer heat.  I even saw a little baby groovin' to the tunes.  These guys were definitely good at what they do.  It was great way to start off the day!

Then it was time to head up the street to see what the kids were up to.  A lot of people just walk on by the Kidsfest stage without a second glance, but sometimes you can find some real talent there.  After a rather adorable father-son group finished their set, piano prodigy Sean VanMeter and his band Death of the Peanut King took the stage. Man, that kid can play!  He started off with a bit of Chopin and then launched into a medley of upbeat and classical melodies.  He followed this by changing up the genre and giving us a wonderful cover of John Lennon's Imagine.  It was all just incredible.  Then his band Death of the Peanut King rocked an awesome cover of Pat Benatar's Heartbreaker.  I'm so glad I chose to check out the Kidsfest stage!

  For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, 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, check out our show footage and Athfest vlogs up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well! 

Athfest 2012: All the madness of Manray and Bit Brigade

Saturday, June 23rd, 2012 (late)

Manray and Bit Brigade

The tale of my Manray adventure begins with a line... a long line stretching all the way across the Caledonia parking lot.  After popping over to Flicker to watch Boycycle's set, I was eager for another delicious taste of noise rock.  Apparently, everyone else felt the same way. I always liked Manray's style, and many of my friends are huge fans as well, but I had no idea just how popular these Flagpole Award winners had become until now.  You know a band is a success story in this town when even the press pass holders can't get inside because the venue's already far over capacity!  Finally, after about half an hour of waiting, I achieved victory and stepped through the gates.  Not a moment too soon, either. I managed to catch about two rockin' songs infused with hardcore melody before their set ended.  Filled with satisfaction from the sheer insanity of their noise, I grabbed a seat in the courtyard to wait for the next set to begin.

Once I heard a new note struck, I made my way back inside for the final show of the night. Cutting through the darkness and illuminating the whole stage, a massive video screen displayed early 90s game graphics.  And then the real fun began.  Bit Brigade, not content to merely serve up some rock like most of their fellow bands, showed off their utterly unique talents as they jammed their way through pitch perfect renditions of the soundtracks to the classic games Contra and Megaman while they were being played live.  I've got to admit, it was captivating to watch.  All the gamers in the venue were going wild as they made their way through the different characters and levels, a rather impressive feat in its own right.  The whole show was really just surreal.  It was almost like watching your friend from elementary school master his favorite games while a live band plays in his living room.  I can truly say, I've never seen anything like this before in my life. Crazy? Yes.  But there's no doubt, it was awesome as well!

  For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, 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, check out our show footage and Athfest vlogs up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well! 

Athfest 2012: The ever-changing band Boycycle

Saturday, June 23rd, 2012 (late)

Boycycle

After seeing Bambara and Life Coach at the Caledonia, it was the perfect time to take the decibel level down a notch and head over to Flicker for a bit.  Once I arrived, I quickly seated myself in a cozy corner, narrowly inching out the small crowd that soon filled the room.  The band that I later found out was Boycycle started off their set as a solo act with their lead singer pounding away on the drums.  Then it slowly morphed into a full band with an ever-changing slew of talented members creating soft, indie tunes and wonderful arrangements.  The drum-heavy melodies, threaded together by the lead singer's unique and often ethereal vocals, simply touched my soul.  Not far into the set, they whipped out an accordion, adding yet another layer to their tunes.  I just loved what I heard!  As Boycycle finished their set, the crowd called for an encore, a testament to their awesome performance.  Unfortunately though, seconds into the first song, a really talkative drunk man had sat beside me and had begun narrating the whole set and having a conversation with himself which was extremely distracting. Hopefully, sometime soon I'll be able to see this band again and absorb their beautiful music without interruption!  

  For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, 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, check out our show footage and Athfest vlogs up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well! 

Athfest 2012: Bambara and Life Coach blast us with sound

Saturday, June 23rd, 2012

Bambara and Life Coach

So how did this blog's favorite noise rockers Bambara do at Athfest 2012? Oh, they sucked.  Just kidding, you guys! Of course, they were awesome as always. After they ironed out a few technical issues (I've always felt that they sound their best indoors rather than outdoors where they played this year), they gave us the show we all desired. With the pure manic force of their performance, Bambara absorbed all sound in the world and then shot it back out at us in a blast of pure distorted essence. It was a beautiful assault of every one of our senses, no doubt, but it was all too short. Despite bassist William's claims that the band's set was actually longer than usual, those of us in the crowd were left desperately craving for more. Luckily, though, it seems we'll only have to wait a few more weeks for them to return: they'll be rockin' at Little King's annual Slopfest this year on July 21st, with heavy-hitters Manray no less.

And speaking of luck, I was quite happy to find the band Life Coach up next as well.  I had never actually seen them before this, though their name sounded rather familiar to me.  After a bit of research, I realized that I had just missed catching them a couple of months ago, so the time was ripe to see them in action this go around.  I've gotta say, I liked what I heard.  Pairing them with Bambara was a quite a genius move as they had a similar eardrum-bursting, rock sound.  I definitely hope I'll get to catch them again sometime!

  For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, 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, check out our show footage and Athfest vlogs up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well! 

Athfest 2012: Pictures, bands, and a dancing banana

We caught all sorts of wild sights at Athfest 2012, and now we've got pictures of all of 'em up on the Echoreyn of Athens Facebook page!  You can see some of our favorites below:

Like Totally intros the Flagpole Awards

Stokeswood lights up the night

Emily Hearn sings so sweetly

Reptar puts on an insane show

Betsy Kingston belts it out during her set

Want to see more?  Check out the full album on our Facebook page!

  For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, 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, check out our show footage and Athfest vlogs up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well! 

Athfest 2012: District Attorneys & Elf Power ease us into evening

Saturday, June 23rd, 2012

District Attorneys and Elf Power

After seeing them sweep the Flagpole Awards this year, I just had to check out the District Attorneys to see what all the fuss was about.  As I arrived, they were giving the crowd that had already gathered in front of the stage an amusing pre-show in the form of a mic check featuring everything from Arby's commercial jingles to classic songs like When A Man Loves A Woman.  I've got to admit, it was pretty funny.  Then it was time for their set.  Pure rock with almost punk vocals at times, they had the fans bobbing along to their tunes almost immediately. There's no doubt these guys can shred!

Not much later, it was Elf Power's turn to take the Pulaski Stage.  Fulfilling the yearly need for a well-established 90s headliner and hailing from this very town, they gave us a rock set that all of their longtime fans loved.  While there seemed to be a bit of a disconnect with the younger crowd who had never seen them before, by the end of the show, the whole audience seemed to be enjoying the tunes. It was quite a nice final set to see before I headed off to the venues for a bit of a grittier sound.

  For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, 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, check out our show footage and Athfest vlogs up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well! 

Athfest 2012: Mad Axes and Seven Handle Circus go wild

Saturday, June 23rd, 2012 

Mad Axes & Seven Handle Circus

 Whew, it was time for another break from the heat.  After getting a taste of some quality country folk tunes from the band Josh Perkins Experiment In Southern Hospitality (yes, that really is its name), I popped in to the Caledonia to nab some shade again.  It was perfect timing too.  Apparently, they had changed up the schedule since I had last seen it, and the hip hop act Mad Axes that I had already been planning to catch was setting up onstage as I grabbed a spot on the bench inside.  Moments later, they launched into a cool mix of song and rap with an in-your-face edge to it.  They were up to all of their classic antics that I recall from their Deaf Judges days, leaping into the crowd and getting into full character while wielding giant axes.  One of the members even hearkened back to the old days, sporting a t-shirt emblazoned with the Deaf Judges name.  The insanity didn't stop there though.  From giving the mic to an awesome guest rapper to tossing free condoms into the audience to intro their Dirty Girls song, there was no doubt this show was wild!

Then it was time to venture back out into the burning sunlight for Seven Handle Circus.  Despite my near heat exhaustion at that point, I was diggin' their bouncy, upbeat folk tunes.  Man, these guys are talented!  Mixing violins, banjos, and fiddles in with electric guitars and bass, they put on a rockin' show for the crowd, and their fans responded in turn, singing along to their songs and requesting all of their favorite tunes.  The very best moment for me, though, was when they shattered any preconceived notions of genre and gave us an incredible cover of 90s hit Jump Around.  The crowd gleefully obeyed, forgetting the heat and losing themselves in the joy.  So much fun!

  For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, 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, check out our show footage and Athfest vlogs up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well! 

Athfest 2012: Free Tomorrow and Packway Handle Band make it exciting!

Saturday, June 23rd, 2012

Free Tomorrow & Packway Handle Band

I've always loved bands that flat out refuse to be pigeonholed into a single genre.  Free Tomorrow, the next band to take the Hull Street Stage, didn't let anyone tell them how to shape their sound. First they gave us a bit of jazzy rock along the line of Atlanta's the Constellations, but not long after that, they were droppin' some wild hip hop beats and overlaying them with violin melodies.  Then they slipped a couple of covers into their set.  Excellent!

Moments later, it was Packway Handle Band's chance to show their skills.  My friends have been talking up this band for years now, so I was quite excited to get finally catch them in action.  Almost immediately, it became clear these guys also refused to adhere to a genre label.  While they had an overarching folk sound, they brought insanity into the mix with hints of nearly every type of music imaginable. One song about American music involved operatic crooning layered over rap and country folk tunes.  What madness it was!  I could only describe their style as clowning around for the super talented.  I've truly never heard anything like it!  Before the end of their set, they gave us a really nice cover of Take You There, proving that when it comes down to it, they've definitely got incredible music chops.  And then it was over... or so I though.  Without warning, the band stepped offstage and ran into their audience with reckless abandon, playing their instruments while falling into members of the crowd.  After clearing a suitable space, they rocked one final song as the fans gathered in a circle around them.  It was definitely one of the craziest, most exciting experiences I've had in the scene!

  For all of our massive coverage of Athfest 2012, 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, check out our show footage and Athfest vlogs up on the Echoreyn of Athens YouTube channel as well!