Crib Notes

As reported by Crib Notes earlier this week long-standing local musician, DJ and promoter Johnny “Ether” Laubach passed away last Friday due to blunt force trauma to the head. According to an e-mail sent out by his friend and roommate Joe Cruz, “The fall was caused by weakness due to a tear in his stomach… he passed peacefully.”

The Laubach family cremated Johnny as per his request and there will not be a traditional funeral.

A memorial will be held on Mon., Dec. 8th at The Albert located in Inman Park at 3:30 p.m.

Anyone who is interested in speaking or performing should contact Cruz. Johnny’s parents and sister will be in attendance, along with a minister.

Cruz encourages all who attend to bring instruments, photos, flowers, poems, Ether’s music and any other appropriate materials.

A Food buffet will be supplied and there will be a cash bar.

The Albert is located at 918 Austin Ave. (30307).
(404) 872-4990

(Photo courtesy of Johnny Ether’s Myspace page)

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For today’s Roll Call we call out Mark Carbone of A Fight to the Death.

Who are you?
Mark Carbone, drummer for A Fight to the Death

Describe yourself in three words.
Anxious, Eager, More

Who — dead or alive — would most you like to meet?
Elvin Fuckin’ Jones

Whom would you most like to slap in the face?
Dick Cheney

What song do you wish you had written?
“O Holy Night”

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
Love Costello, but gotta go with the KING

LP, CD or MP3?
LP.  If only there were portable HiFi’s

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
Not to just be in a band, but be a MUSICIAN!

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
Trends

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
Helena Christensen (Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” era).

Have You Heard Sessions: A Fight To The Death from HaveYouHeard on Vimeo.

A Fight to the Death team up with Atlanta Community Food Bank for a benefit show at The Highland Ballroom Lounge on Sat., Dec. 20th.  Free admission with 2 cans of food.  Several special guests will be performing with the group, including Daniel Clay, Jamie Shepard (ex Hope For a Golden Summer), Drew Deman (No River City), Troy Bieser (Telegram), Chris Jansen (Antic Clay), Kitty Snider, Anton Harris, Daniel Winn (ex Hot Young Priest), and several others.

(Photo courtesy of AFTD)

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From CL music contributor Jon Ross’ new blog, Jazzlanta:

The AJC reported today on Mayor Shirley Franklin’s decision to cut another 222 city jobs and a slew of recreation centers, but the reporter left out a small tidbit of large import to the local jazz community. It looks like the Atlanta Jazz Festival is no more.

Apparently a projected “$50-60 million shortfall for the fiscal 2009 year” is to blame.

Read the full post, “The death of the Atlanta Jazz Festival.”

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For today’s Roll Call we call out Philip Frobos of Carnivores.

Who are you?
I’m Philip Frobos, and I play bass and sing for CARNIVORES (used to be Chainestereo). I also play bass with those Untied States kids. I like dead culture, cheese grits and David Bowie.

Describe yourself in three words.
Rambunctious, Paranoid, Blue

Who — dead or alive — would most you like to meet?
I’d like to roll with Nancy Sinatra back in her heyday, I wanna be her Lee Hazelwood. That record Nancy & Lee destroys me, if you can find it on the internet you should get the bonus track that doesn’t come on the LP called “Arkansas Coal.” I don’t know how they wrote that song, it might as well be an epic, but not like lame epic rock.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
Dj Dj Dj Dylan. He wouldn’t get an Oh Snap picture with me. Maybe next week.

What song do you wish you had written?
It’s probably a tie between ELO’s “Showdown” and Jobim’s “The Girl from Ipanema.”

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
Costello.

LP, CD or MP3?
My favorite is LP, since I moved to Atlanta I’ve been building up a decent collection. I like that its a little more engaging, I like to think of records as two parts. Although I do love my morning on Marta with my iPod. It’s a toss up, those new LPs that come with the mp3 download card are brilliant!

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
Bring the word “Rad” back up to its former dynasty in “cool” synonyms. Also bring “Game On” from Wayne’s World back, but then I probably wouldn’t want to say them anymore. How about Swatch?

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
Overly HUGE sunglasses that hide ugly girls’ faces. Those things are as good as beer goggles but you don’t even get to be drunk.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
Zooey Deschanel. She seems like a pretty rad kid.

“A Crime”

Carnivores plays the Pine Magazine showcase at The Star Bar on Thurs., Dec. 4. Free. 9 p.m.

(Photo courtesy of Philip Frobos)

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By Terry Sartor

Snowden journeyed through a very provocative set of songs at the Earl this past Saturday, Nov. 29 that was everything from shoe-gazed epic masterpieces to killer indie rock dance jams.

The entire band gelled extremely well together throughout the entire course of the main set and quick encore. Lead singer and guitarist Jordan Jeffries’ echo-esque voice amazingly blended into to the songs themselves as a beautiful secondary accessory and then at times took a complete upfront role.

The Joy Division thing cannot be ignored — and that of course is a good thing. Like JD, they exhibited a knack for playing stellar goth punk rock with substance that at times was danceable and at other times extremely low-key, brooding, slow, dark, introspective and very understated. The now defunct Ride definitely comes to mind in that regard.

Drummer Chandler Rentz kept a very frenetic pace — that continued to draw the audience in — and rocked out. And wonderful musicianship from other bandmates Corinne Lee and David Payne completed the picture of Snowden’s show that was nothing less than fantastic.

And even with all of the dark introspection, the set struck a balance between being one where you could totally party out but at the same time be completely enlightened and educated by an exciting band that continues to go in very interesting directions.

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On Saturday, March 14th, two titans of song, Elton John and Billy Joel will go head-to-head, song for song, tit-for-tat at Philips Arena for the Face to Face tour.

EJ and BJ will open the show with a series of duets, playing twin pianos and trading vocals. Each artist will then perform a set with their own band. When the smoke clears a grand finale will bring them together again for a closing encore running through hits from their respective catalogs as well as several other rock and roll classics.

“I love touring with Billy. I have the greatest respect for him and we’re such good friends,” Elton said.

“The great thing about performing with Elton is that he is such a good piano player and that makes me have to dig deep to keep up with him, not to mention I’ve got the best seat in the house-only one piano away from Elton John!” said Billy.

Tickets will go on sale Sat. Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster, TicketMaster.com, LiveNation.com, the Philips Arena box office or charge by phone at (404) 249-6400.

One ticket will get you a whole seat, but you only need the edge…

And although this isn’t exactly the typical Crib Notes fodder the pairing of EJ and BJ has spawned such a heated debate in the office that we’re opening the floor to our readers. Drop us a line at and let us know who you like more and why, and we’ll give the the best response two tickets to the King Tut Exhibit at the Atlanta Civic Center.

(Photo of Billy Joel by Myrna Suarez.)
(Photo of Elton John by Deborah Anderson.)

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KRISTIAN BUSH, ELLIS PAUL, LISA CARVER Taking a moment off from the multiplatinum road, Bush of Sugarland (without Jennifer Nettles) performs with fellow songwriters Paul (”The Dragonfly Races”) and Lisa Carver (”Bullets”) in the Attic’s in-the-round format. $25. 8 p.m. Eddie’s Attic. 404-377-4976. www.eddiesattic.com. – MG

ROSEBUDS, LOVE LANGUAGE, THE PREAKNESS The Rosebuds covered plenty of stylistic ground before settling into the shadowy darkwave synth – including peals of guitar chime – of their last two releases. Warmer and more luxurious, their latest release, Life Like, is evidential assurance. $10. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com. — CP

(Photo Credit: Nashville UMG)

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Creative Loafing was saddened to learn that long-time Atlanta music fixture and one-time Eastside Lounge co-owner Johnny Ether (Johnny Laubach) has passed away.

Details regarding the cause of his death are still not available. A Lunar Magazine thread addresses some vague details concerning the accidental nature of his death, but there aren’t any substantial details to report at this time.

A post from his close friend Joe Cruz states:

Johnny Ether Laubach. Joe Cruz here. I am johnny’s friend and roommate. Thank you all for your well wishes. The Laubach family thanks you all. I have no word on a service yet. I know Johnny requested creamation. Sorry for the delay. We just got word that Johnny died from blunt force trama to the head, a freak accident. We will miss you dearly, Johnny Ether.

All I can say is that I will let you all know when and where the service will be held asap. There will be a gathering at the Albert in Inman park in his honor. Time and day TBD

Laubach was performing music in Atlanta during the city’s so-called “Destroy All Music” era in the early to mid-’80s. He performed in the electro/industrial act PVC Precinct as well as several other like minded groups before he went by the name Johnny Ether. He later emerged onto Atlanta’s drum and bass scene as a musician, DJ and promoter.

Local goth rockers the Changelings even wrote an ethereal number about him, titled “Johnny Ether’s Great Escape.”

More details will be posted on Crib Notes as soon as they become available.

In the meantime e-mails are pouring in offering insight and testimonials about Johnny Ether’s passions as a musician and friend.

Bay area musician Josh Brown writes:

In the mid-90’s Johnny approached me to collaborate with him mixing traditional Indian ragas on Sitar with his digital music… Johnny was a VERY astute student of Indian Classical music. I point this out because Indian Raga is EXTREMELY detailed and almost impossible to learn in the west. Johnny researched, went to performances, studied with my Guru-Ustad Rafi Akbar Zada and talked endlessly with me about this majestic music which he loved so much.

Through his understanding of this difficult music, he was able to really incorporate it into his music which set him above other music makers that used Sitar as a gimmick… I think his understanding and love of Raga really made him stand out…

(Photo courtesy of Johnny Ether’s Myspace.)

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It’s the last Saturday of the month again, which means it’s time for another installment of the Fringe Factory .

Fringe Factory returns to The Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge tonight to present the Reverberation DJs from Houston, Texas.

Come dance off your Thanksgiving leftovers with DJ Psychedelic Sex Panther and DJ Andrew Lee as well as your regular Fringe Factory hosts DJs Suzy Q and Vikki V for an ATL meets Tejas dance party extravaganza.

Local band electro/experimental rockers Recompas (featuring Travis Thatcher from Judi Chicago) will be performing as well.

Cover is $7 and things will get started around 9 p.m. The Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge.

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For today’s Roll Call we call out Shannon Mulvaney, record store clerk and bass player for Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause.

Who are you?
Shannon Mulvaney = Record store working class elitist, bass player/band loser, Irish American prone to depression and sunburns and inappropriate drunken displays of affection or violence, devoted and flawed husband, record label “owner,” dog lover, he-man, conflicted, really a pretty nice guy and incapable of self-editing.

Describe yourself in three words.
See above. Especially the self-editing part.

Who — dead or alive — would most you like to meet?
John F. Kennedy at the Palm Springs compound of Frank Sinatra pre-election. I know Kennedy was a silver spoon but he was also a bad ass. Plus you would have hot Hollywood actresses poolside, Cosa Nostra poker games, great food and liquor and 3a.m. drives to Las Vegas when it was still for adults only.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
Shit… Who don’t I want to slap in the face?

What song do you wish you had written?
“Ace of Spades” Motorhead. No wait, “the Mercy Seat” Nick Cave. No wait, “Tuesdays Gone” Lynyrd Skynyrd. No wait, all of Exile on Main Street… No, No…. “White Girl” X , no…….. What a stupid fucking question.

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
Elvis Presley. Elvis Costello is great. We all know that. But Presley was larger than life. And bat shit crazy, what with the drugs and guns and young girls in white cotton panties and one of the most memorable deaths in rock star history.
Maybe when Costello dies and the tell all books and tv miniseries come out I’ll change my mind.

LP, CD or MP3?
LP. duh. mp3’s are for people who don’t listen to music for enjoyment.

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
The “anti cell phone, especially the kind you wear on your head like a malignant growth while sitting next to me in public places like a bar and talking about your fucking 401k” trend. Douche bags.

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
The trend of young male hipsters who wear women’s jeans. Unless you have a huge dick, please, for the love of God, shop in the men’s section, Nancy boys. Neil Young should be allowed to kick you in the balls.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
Exene (circa ‘82), Amy Poehler, Amy Sedaris, Zooey Deschanel, the girl who sang for Shocking Blue, Emmylou Harris (circa Elite Hotel).

Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause play a benefit show for Ted Welson at The Star Bar on Fri., Dec. 19th. Details to be announced.