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Bill Callahan’s rich.
MP3: Diamond Dancer (press that little play button).
“My wallet’s gotten too fat from this tour,” Callahan said last night at The Red Light Cafe in Atlanta, removing the girthy thing from the breast pocket of his jacket and replacing it in a back pocket. The joke was quiet and unexpected, yielding lengthy, bewildered laughter from the audience.
Callahan, who performed and recorded for years under the name Smog, doesn’t talk much between songs. Typically, a smallish “thanks” stands in where other frontmen might wonder how are we tonight, Atlanta.
The venue - oblong, cozy, with a capacity of about 150 - was packed. Sorry to the suckers who showed up late and stood crowded ’round the bar toward the back out of necessity, and high five to those of us who staked claims at stage-side tables.
Callahan, guitarist Jonathan Meiburg (see Shearwater) and drummer Thor Harris each wore black suits. In them, long-haired and bearded Harris was adorable, Callahan a natural, and Meiburg lanky.
Through slitted eyes Callahan peered out at nothing, or at least not at any of us. High notes and drawn out syncopation made his face screw up, handsome features contorted.
And okay. So Callahan missed a few high notes (”I have a cold”), restarted a song (”My guitar disappeared”) and mixed up verses in another (to what seemed to be Meiburg’s grinned, but unspoken, “Oh, Bill”). Didn’t matter.
He two-stepped, marched-in-placed, kicked and strutted his songs hard and without fail. Where Meiburg’s frantic kinetic energy suited his electric guitar, Callahan maintained infinite, calculated composure on his tiny little acoustic.
And if he’s going to play it live, he’s going to make it new. Pulling from his newest Woke on a Whaleheart, released under his own name, and heavily from his last as Smog, A River Ain’t Too Much to Love, Callahan also reached further back with “Our Anniversary” and the closer “Cold Blooded old Times.” Rarely was a song delivered precisely in the way its album representative was recorded. It was a fun game: Is he gonna make it? Will he delay that line and miss the next? He always made it.
Tom Snyder: Where did the name The Sex Pistols come from? Who thought that name up?
John Lyndon: Some animal, I can’t remember. It doesn’t matter. It’s history.
ATHENS, Ga. - According to lead vocalist and guitarist Roy Coughlin, last night’s Some Animal show at Tasty World was the group’s final performance.
Coughlin was accompanied by guitarist Gabe Vodicka (Long Legged Woman, Sugar Dicks), bassist Fritz Gibson and drummer James McGaw.
The show was dynamic with the full ensemble, as Vodicka correctly forecasted. In the past, Coughlin frequently performed solo or as a duo with Dan Nettles of Kenosha Kid.
Coughlin and Vodicka.
The One Thing you really need to know about Some Animal is that Coughlin has a goddamn voice on him. He’s a charming jokester offstage, and an impassioned and self-deprecating frontman on, typically turning the joke on himself.
“We didn’t write this song, but we’re going to goddamn play it,” he said, prefacing a cover of something* about a girl, and Kansas City, and baby, baby, baby. I should have recognized it but failed to.
Coughlin didn’t play his guitar — he ferociously beat its already well-abused strings, one of which reasonably broke. It made a person wonder what or who provoked the intensity, which seemed to stem from a solid something in addition to the moment.
And then the song finished. I wiped my brow.
“Are you crying?” a friend I stood with asked.
“No, I’m sweating.” But why not? I felt whatever it was that Coughlin directed at his instrument. I’ll cry about it another time.
He closed the set with a solo performance of the song “Some Good,” which dates back to Some Animal’s earliest single-member incarnation.
Less-considerate crowd members talked amongst themselves and a chump in a track suit and matching Bluetooth headset complained loudly that the other bands hadn’t gone on yet.
Coughlin played on, maintaining his focus and roughing up his guitar good and well. Finishing his last song ever as Some Animal, he smirked for a second to himself before letting the expression quickly fall. It looked like a final “Well, goddamn.”
Coughlin assures me that he and Vodicka aren’t finished, that they’ll be up to something ‘noisy’ soon. Fine by me, so long as he yelps and belts it and pushes that voice and guitar in the same way Some Animal called for.
*”Kansas City” by Okkervil River.
Went to a great concert but fell victim to warbled lyrics?…Looking for a good band to break you into the Athens music scene?…Ever wonder about the story behind your favorite song?…Or let me put it this way, do you like free music?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then this blog belongs on your computer monitor. Welcome to Liner Notes.
Consider me your lyrical detective. Each week (or basically often as I can), I will track down a local Athens band and get the scoop on one of their songs. Lyrics will be posted as well as an in-depth interview on the creative process behind the song. PLUS with the band’s permission, we will make that song available for download…for FREE!
And like any good DJ, I take requests. In fact, I’d rather base this blog off requests. After all, I want to find the bands you actually want to listen to. So go ahead, leave a comment with the band’s name and the song you want me to feature next time. Don’t worry too much about them being local either, I will hunt down anybody. Just keep in mind though, the less corporate the band, the more likely I will make contact and get the song for download.
So there you have it, Liner Notes 101. I look forward to being your musical private eye, gumshoe…or whatever.
We’re now less than 48 before the beginning of another footall season here in Athens. Come Saturday, the masses that bleed Red & Black will overtake the town, drinking the day and screaming the night away as the Dawgs take the field for another year of battle.
I, for one, know where i’ll be on Saturday– tailgating in my same spot that I have called home for almost every home game since 2004. But If I’ve learned something since then, it’s that gameday isn’t for everyone. Some dont like the crowds, and some just don’t like football. Fair enough. So, if you won’t be tailgating and cheering on Saturday, there’s no need to sit inside all day or flee the town altogether.. Here are a few suggestions of how to spend gameday away from the game.
1) Believe it or now, it’s actually a pretty good time to head downtown and do some record or clothes shopping, especially as game time approached and the masses head in the direction of the stadium or their favorite bar watching spot. Take advantage of game time to avoid some crowds and browse around.
2) Try the Botanical Gardens on South Milledge. A beautiful plot of land to spend the day in a quiet place with gorgeous scenery, good company, and maybe a picnic basket.
3) The Gardens arent the only park around. As a matter of fact, there are more than I can even list in the blog. Do a quick google search and find youself a nice spot to spend the day with that special someone…
4) There are plenty of movie theaters around this town, and plenty of good flicks out to catch. Haven’t seen ‘Superbad” yet? Here’s a good opportunity.
5) And, of course, Vision Video is open for business. If you’re going to stay inside, at least take advantage of some cheap movie rentals.
This is only a surface scratch of some things you might do on gameday that have nothing to do with gameday. If it’s just not your thing, go find your own perfect gameday niche.
Either way, have a beautiful Saturday in old Athens town.
–Alec Wooden
Unfortunately there isn’t one single web directory of all Athens events. Get started by checking out the following sites.
Events directories:
Local Venues:
11/30/06 - Thursday
12/01/06 - Friday
12/02/006 - Saturday
12/06/06 - Wednesday
LISTINGS FOR WEEK OF NOVEMBER 16-29, 2006
11/16
THURSDAY
Touring in support of 2006’s The Greatest, Cat Power and the Memphis Rhythm Band is coming to Athens on Saturday, November 18th to play at the 40 Watt.
Listen to the first single off the album: The Greatest (mp3 link from Matador Records).
Matador Records site, myspace page
Here is a directory of links to Athens’ bands. Put together with the help of the excellent list over at athensmusic.com.
#
16 Tons (bluegrass)
The 63 Crayons - myspace (pop)
696 - myspace (punk)
A
A.Armada - myspace (indie rock)
A Bitter Fight Against Nothing (metalcore)
A Dead Lois - myspace (rock)
Don Auber - myspace (Americana)
Acetate - myspace (rock)
An Epic At Best - myspace (indie emo)
Andrew Nelson & the Shotgun Lovers - myspace (rock)
Annaray - myspace (pop-rock)
Anti-Music - myspace (lo-fi)
Aqualove - myspace (funky water musik)
Astra - myspace (atmospheric pop)
Eddie Arnold - myspace (Christian Country)
The Artie Ball Swing Band - myspace (jazz)
B
Bain Mattox - myspace (pop)
Banish Misfortune - myspace (Celtic)
Barbara Cue - myspace (honky tonk rock)
Bart - myspace (soulful rock)
The Bearfoot Hookers - myspace (funny country)
Betsy Franck & the Bare Nuckle Band - myspace (rock/country)
The Blackmon Brothers - myspace (bluegrass)
Blackwater - myspace (rock)
Bling the Children Back Home - myspace (hip-hop)
Bloodkin - myspace (rock)
Blue Hiram - myspace (rock)
Bo Bedingfield & the Wydelles (country-folk)
Bob Hay & the Jolly Beggars (old-timey/Bobby Burns)
Bonni’s Band (pop-rock)
Boulevard (rock)
Justin Brogdon (S/S)
Brown Frown (hardcore)
Randall Bramblett (soulful blues rock)
Mark Brut (S/S)
Burn the Dying City (rock)
C
Calliope Fair (worldgrass)
Carrie Nations (punk)
Casper and the Cookies (pop-rock)
Ceiling Fan (rock)
Ceramic Dvck (grindcore)
Don Chambers (roots-rock)
Vic Chesnutt (S/S)
Cinemechanica (rock)
Circulatory System (psychedelic pop)
Col. Knowledge & the Lickety Splits (garage soul-rock)
Commander Chameleon (indie-schizo)
Community Chaos (punk)
Wesley Cook (S/S)
Cosmic Charlie (Grateful Dead)
Coulier (rock)
Count (pop)
D
Dan K. Theory
Kyle Dawkins (acoustic guitar/banjo)
Dictatortots (rock)
Dirk Howell Band (R & B/beach)
Dirty Mittens (rock/pop)
Dirty Sanchez & the Pancho Villas (rock)
Dodd Ferrelle & the Tinfoil Stars (roots rock)
Donkey Punch (rock)
Drive-By Truckers (Southern rock!)
Dromedary (world)
Drunk & Furious (redneck country rock with humor)
Dubconscious (funky reggae)
Duke and Dawn (classic/traditional country)
Liz Durrett (S/S)
E
Nick Edelstein (rock-pop)
Electa Villain (rock)
Elf Power (pop rock)
The Empties (rock)
Entropy (funk)
Eric Harris Group (jazz-folk)
Erutrevo (rock)
The Eskimos (rock)
Exit Left (alt-rock)
Ex-Panty Lions (folk-rock)
F
Fabulous Bird (power pop)
The Fairburn Royals (pop rock)
Fairmount Fair (rap)
Dodd Ferrelle (rock)
Five-Eight (rock)
Flood City Shootout (rock)
Forthfading (rock)
Full Fathom Five (pop)
Jason Fuller (piano man)
Funkle Ester (covers)
G
Gabriel Young Band (S/S)
The Gerbils (pop)
Georgia Guitar Quartet (classical acoustic)
The Good Ship (pop)
Grand Fury (Southern rock)
Green Light Council (spacey jam-groove)
Grogus (jazz and more)
GrooveJoint (rock)
The Grunttones (rock & blues)
GuFF (punk)
Jamie Hadzima (S/S)
Fester Hagood (S/S)
H
Ham 1 (indie-pop)
The Happenin’ (rock)
Cyndi Harvell (S/S)
Jason Harwell (S/S)
Hayride (hard rock)
Mack Heath (hip-hop)
Heidi Hensley (S/S)
Leslie Helpert (S/S)
Herb & Skills (hip-hop)
Heros Severum (rock)
hey, revolution! (rock)
The High Caliber (rock)
Erik Hinds (devil cello)
Patterson Hood (S/S-Southern rock)
hope for agoldensummer (folky pop)
Horrible Idea (punk/ska/metal)
The Hot Club of Athens (jazz)
I
I Am The World Trade Center (electro-pop)
The Inphlu Ants (rock)
Iron Hero (rock/ambient pop)
J
Jackpot City (rock)
Je Suis France (pop)
Jet By Day (rock)
Jucifer (rock)
Jupiter Coyote (mountain rock)
Just These Dudes (power pop)
K
Kahuna King (electronica)
Kevn Kinney’s Sun Tangled Angel Revival (rock)
The Knife Trade (hardcore)
L
Carla LeFever (rock)
The Late B.P. Helium (pop)
Leaving Miss Blue (delta blues rock)
Left Front Tire (pop-punk)
Legend Has It (rock)
Life is a Fight (hardcore)
Lionz (rock)
Liquid Sundrop (jam-funk)
Little Green Chairs (funky)
Lona (rock)
Christian Lopez (S/S)
M
Magnetic Sound Waves (electronic/ambient)
Bill Mallonee (S/S)
Maron Haven (metal)
Marshmallow Coast (pop)
The Marvelous Rejections (hip-hop-rock)
Mayhem Hero (rock)
Chris McKay & the Critical Darlings (pop/rock)
Melodious Ground (funk/rock/blues)
Michael Guthrie Band (rock)
Misfortune 500 (rock)
Sam Mixon (lo-fi)
Ben Mize (Americana)
Modern Skirts (alt-rock)
Momsex (rock)
Kate Morrissey (folk rock)
Ken Will Morton (S/S)
Mother Jackson (rock)
Murder Beach (pop rock)
Music Hates You (dirt metal)
N
Kalen Nash (S/S)
Nate Nelson (S/S)
Neat Stripe (pop)
Newspeak (rock)
Normaltown Flyers (pickup truck rock)
Now It’s Overhead (melodic pop)
Nutria (rock)
O
Of Montreal (pop)
OK Watson (rock)
Ori (soul)
The Outfit (rock)
OverflO (roots rock)
P
Pacific UV (ambient)
Packway Handle Band (bluegrass)
Paper Lions (rock)
Parakeet (funk/rock)
Park Bench Trio (blues rock)
Petey Wheatstraw (rock)
Plan B (jam)
Polemic (alt-metal)
Poncho Magic (pop rock)
Julie Powell (S/S)
Psychic Hearts (new wave shoe gaze)
Pylon (rock)
R
Ravenstone (rock)
Red Leader (rock)
Red Eye Johnson (rock)
Geoff Reacher (S/S)
(red) (rock)
Joshua Reid (S/S)
R.E.M. (rock)
Rock Beyond Tomorrow (pop-punk/alt-rock)
Ralph Roddenbery Band (roots rock)
Russian Spy Camera (rock)
Matt Ryczek (S/S)
S
Sci Fu (metal)
Scott Leon-O’ Day Quartet (jazz)
Seven 7 (dance)
Shadowboxx (rock)
Slackdaddy (rock)
Sleepy Horses (indie country)
Corey Smith (S/S)
S.M.O. (crunch rock)
Southern Bitch (rock)
Southland Yankee (rock)
The Specters (power pop)
The Spins (soul/jazz/rock)
Split-Side Anna (rock)
Squat (improv/jazz combo)
Sstian (goth)
The Stand-Ins (rock)
Stewart & Winfield (country rock)
Subversivo! (surf-metal)
Summer Hymns (pop)
The Sunshine Fix (pop-rock)
Sursie (jazzy rock)
T
Luke Tan (S/S)
Tangents (country-rock)
Television Buzz (post-punk)
Timber (countrified rock)
Tin Cup Prophette (eclectic)
Tishamingo (soulful rock)
Sarah Tollerson (S/S)
The Tom Collins (rock)
Tracer Matula (post-pop)
U
Unavox (industrial)
V
Venice Is Sinking (melodic pop)
W
We Vs. The Shark (math-rock)
The Warblers (folk/old-time/gospel)
Mike Watson Band (blues/country/rock)
We Vs. the Shark (math-rock)
The Wee Turtles (indie-pop)
Welterweight (pop-rock)
Whereabouts Underground (pop-blues-jazz)
The Whigs (rock)
Widespread Panic (jam)
Winslow Willard (S/S)
X
Xtra Medium (rock)
Y
Gabriel Young (S/S)
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