Crib Notes

The funeral for B Jay Womack will be held on Mon, July 6 at the Honeycreek Woodlands near the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, GA.

The funereal starts at 2 p.m. sharp and will be held on a nature preserve down the road from the monastery. Please be prepared to follow signs for parking and burial site. Parking is very limited, so carpooling is required. The burial site is a 1/2 mile hike on a gravel path through a densely wooded area, so please wear proper attire (high heels are not a good idea), and be prepared with sunscreen and bug spray.

Memorial service to follow at Manuel’s Tavern at 6 p.m. Please check websites for details maps and info at Vacation, which will also be a shuttle and central meeting point for the trek out to Conyers. Be at Vacation, by no later than 12:30-1 p.m. to catch a ride.

B Jay will be dearly missed and all friends are welcome to come and pay their respects.

Click below for directions to the Honeycreek Woodlands at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit.

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Chad Radford: You are coming to DJ a dance party at Vinyl in Atlanta on the Fourth of July…

Bob Mould: Yes, The party on Saturday is called BLOWOFF. It’s an event that Rich Morel and I have been doing for about six and a half years.

CR: So, you aren’t playing music, just DJing?

BM: Yeah, it’s a series of DJ sets across the entire night. It’s a pretty fun party, I mean it’s club music. House music for lack of a better term, but I think within that there is a lot of variety to what we play.

CR: DJing is one of the most rewarding gigs out there. You don’t have to load heavy equipment; you’re just spinning your tastes and your ability to keep a party going and people treat you like a hero.

BM: Yeah, it is kind of like a rock star without moving stuff. The real heavy lifting is the amount of research that I do. I have to spend a lot of time keeping up with new music and I find that if I put in a lot of work up front, it makes the work part of the party a lot easier.

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Before they were Black Lips they were the Renegades, and they revert to their early former hooligan selves very rarely these days. Tonight is one such occasion as the Renegades return to play a benefit show at the Drunken Unicorn to raise money to cover the funeral expenses for the subject of CL’s cover story this week, Bobby Ubangi.

Baby Dinosaur Vs. Extinction, Pizza Party, and Trip Hop Cowboy are also performing. All proceeds are being donated to the funeral fund.

Anyone interested in donating to the Bobby Ubangi Funeral Fund can do so via send Paypal.

Cost for the show is $5 for 21+, $7 for under 21. Doors open at 9 p.m. and the show starts promptly at 9:15 p.m. The Drunken Unicorn, 736 Ponce de Leon Place.

FULL DISCLOSURE: Since I have Power of Attorney responsibilities I am using my personal Paypal account to transfer all of funds received directly to cover the costs of funeral expenses.

(Photo by Chad Radford)

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Tiny Vipers’ sole songstress, Jesy Fortino, has a voice so strong and captivating it softens her existential quandaries, but resolves nothing. Life on Earth takes a heavy-duty trip into candle-lit depression via songs more concerned with asking questions than providing answers. In “Time Takes,” Fortino muses “am I crazy for feeling this way?” while strumming into a void of loneliness amid booming layers of texture. “Dreamer” climaxes with a slow, rhythmic gallop filled with dark intonations and a plea: “I’m dying for a way out.” But as each song bleeds into the next, there’s no sanctuary. The 10-minute title track is an ominous testament affirming that the only way out of hell is to tread right through it, and it’s a long, dreary ride indeed. 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Tiny Vipers plays a Criminal Records in-store at 7 p.m. and later at 529 with Balmorhea and Ben Trickey. $7. 9 p.m.

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From Pine:

Jeffrey Butzer and Midwives
With a solid following that continues to build in Europe, Asia and the US, Jeffrey Butzer is easily one of Atlanta’s new prized musicians with music that is reminiscent of Gainsbourg’s darker days in France, of the thematic explorations of Galt McDermont, and of songs that create the setting of late nights that are experienced but experimentative, the sort of nights we all wished we had more often. Read more about his new CD here. For our July show, Butzer is joined for a special reunion with his original band The Midwives, but will play a short set of songs off his new album. We’re very excited to hear both sets.

Tous Les Jours
Tous Les Jours is the psychedelic hypno-drone guitar rock project of Ronney Douglas, who has become a fixture in the rapidly growing Atlanta scene. Originally a guitarist in Ocha La Rocha, he now heads Tous Les Jours, and is also in the improvisational Gringo Star side project Pink Police. Tous les Jours’ original recordings are lovely in their minimalist experimentation, with songs that feature little more than a voice and a stripped down guitar to the more expansive tracks complete with an accordion. His full band however, with two guitarists, bassist and drummer, promises to be a much higher energy version of the Ronney’s original concept. You’ll want to see it.

Free. 9 p.m. Star Bar, 437 Moreland Ave. 404-681-9018. More about the rest of the line-up following the jump.

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This week’s CL cover story, “The Life & Times of Bobby Ubangi: How Atlanta’s garage rock mascot saved himself before dying,” chronicles local music fixture B Jay Womack’s battle with cancer. The video montage was created by We Fun director Matthew Robison and Zack Wilson.

The following mp3s cover musical output from the Lids on up to some of his most recent songs that appear on Inside the Mind of Bobby Ubangi.

The Gaye Blades “Bobby is a Lover”

The Lids “Something to do”

Bobby Ubangi “That’s Alright”

Bobby Ubangi “Not My fault”

The Soft Spots “Can’t Get her Off”

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The phone call interrupts dinner around 6 p.m. on a Thursday. It’s my girlfriend’s birthday and our meals have just been served up at her favorite Italian restaurant. Normally, I wouldn’t answer at a time like this, not even for my own mother. But the picture of B Jay pops up on my phone’s screen, his arms outstretched like Mr. Bill when he’s about to get squashed. I have to answer.

For the last nine months, Benjamin Jay Womack has been soldiering through terminal lung cancer that has spread to his brain, liver and God knows where else — at the age of 34. I answer, expecting to hear his voice on the other end asking for a ride to get something to eat or a pack of cigarettes. But it’s his roommate Jessica. “I had to put B Jay into hospice care today,” she deadpans. “His hips gave out and he’s having a hard time walking. We’re filling out paperwork with a social worker right now and B Jay wants to know if he can put you down for power of attorney.” I answer yes, envisioning the worst-case scenario as a wave of denial sweeps over me.

One year ago, the man best known by his stage name Bobby Ubangi was a rebel without a pause, partying like a rock star and working as the grouchy door guy at the Drunken Unicorn off Ponce de Leon Avenue. Long considered a mascot of sorts for the Atlanta music scene that nurtured such bands as Deerhunter, Black Lips and Gentleman Jesse, B Jay was a founding member of Carbonas before he got kicked out because he didn’t like to practice. He went on to play guitar and sing in such local garage-punk outfits as the Lids, the Gaye Blades, and Bobby and the Soft Spots. “B Jay is omnipresent around here,” says Jared Swilley of the Black Lips. “He’s been around forever.”

Continue reading “The life and times of Bobby Ubangi”

(Photo by Chad Radford)

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On Fri., July 3 the student voice of Georgia State 88.5 FM/WRAS will host its summer fundraiser concert, with performances from Zoroaster tapping into the raw power of the stoned cosmos while the Spooks rattle their garage rock chains from beyond the grave. Thy Mighty Contract plays terse and chiming post-hardcore and Danger Woman, the crime fighting super hero who’s disabled, but able to rock will round out the bill. $10. 7 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655.

(Photo courtesy of the Spooks)

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Twin Tigers

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Athens band Modern Skirts headlined day 1 of the Corndogorama on Saturday night. The heat was brutal during the day and didn’t let off much after the sun went down, and a brief spell of rain made everything soggy, then humid. Still, the vibe was mellow, and the chunk of real estate upon which this year’s Cornodog landed is spacious. Although it never felt crowded, it wasn’t empty by any means, at least by the end of the night.

The new location feels right, but needs more places to hide from the heat. It is June in Georgia after all. Sitting in the summer heat and sweating for the sake of a good time and good music is one thing, but when you add the grease and girth of a steady intake of corndogs staggered throughout the day, washed down by however many hot PBRs it takes to get the job done, the body moves in slow motion. Such was the case for many who were willing to suffer for their music at Corndogorama XII.

At the end of the night, best estimates put it at somewhere just over 1,000 people had attended from beginning to end. When asked if it was success? David Railey laughed, “I think so, but I don’t know. Ask me tomorrow.”

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Once again Athens’ annual downtown AthFest music blitz is back for an extended weekend of performances by Black Lips, Dreams So Real, Patterson Hood, Those Darlins, Dead Confederate and scores of others. In addition to the music, there’ll be kids workshops, an open-air artist market, and food and drinks galore. If you’ve got family in town and are looking for something to do, or you’re just itching to take drive up Ga. 316, there’s no better time than AthFest. Thurs.-Sun., June 25-28. $15-$20.

A Schedule of performances for the outdoor stage can be found here, and the lineup for the indoor venues can be found here.

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Who are you?
Owen Ashworth, the person from Casiotone for the Painfully Alone.

Describe yourself in three words.
Really cool guy.

Who — dead or alive — would you most like to meet?
My great great grandfather, George Berg.  Legend has it he killed a bear with his bare hands.  It was self defense!

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
I’m not much of a slapper, to be honest.

What song do you wish you had written?
“He Stopped Loving Her Today” by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman.

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
Elvis Stojko, world class figure skater

LP, CD or MP3?
Nothing ever sounds as good as it does in my head.

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
The popularity of my music.  I try and I try.

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
Penny loafers all of a sudden.  Really, dudes?

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
The city of Atlanta. Give yourselves a hand, people!

Casiotone for the Painfully alone plays 529 with Cryptacize and CCIVORY on Tues., June 30. $7. 9 p.m.

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It’s official: When the “Supreme Genius” King Khan joined GZA on stage in Toronto to tear it up on some Liquid Swords cuts, he became the first Indian to join the Wu-Tang Clan.

If you watch closely he unslings his guitar and wanders away in the middle of “4th Chamber,” but he returns for the second video. I guess those guitar parts aren’t really essential. But I guess this makes it official, King Khan ain’t nothin’ to fuck with!

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From the Whigs mailing list:

“Due to the unfortunate loss of the Georgia Theater, The Whigs will be playing a fundraiser Tuesday June 23 at the Melting Point. All proceeds to benefit the staff of the Georgia Theater. Also, our good friends Dead Confederate will be sharing the stage with us. Please join us for this important cause. Early show. Tickets can be purchased HERE.”

Georgia Theatre Fundraiser, The Melting Point. Tues., June 23. $10. ALL proceeds benefit the staff of the Georgia Theatre.

7:00 p.m. the New Familiars
9:15 p.m. Dead Confederate
10:30 p.m. the Whigs

(Photo courtesy the Whigs)

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There are a couple of good shows going on tonight in East Atlanta. If bleak and somewhat feminine, though mostly androgynous new wave electro pop skulk is your bag, Telepathe is headlining a show over at 529. The Living Rooms and Lemonade open. The cover is $8 and the show starts around 9 p.m.

If a catchier, ’60s inspired psyche rock sound is your thing, the Black Hollies from Jersey City are playing at the Earl. Reckless Hearts from Milwaukee and Atlanta’s Stolen Hearts also perform. $8. Doors open at 8:30.

Telepathe’s “Lights Go Down” mp3

(Photo by Eliza Douglas)

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Ever since that whole debacle went down with the Black Lips having to flee India to avoid going to jail, I’ve been getting daily phone calls from the Mighty Hannibal asking me if I know anything about the Black Lips and King Khan teaming up to cover one of his songs for a new record they recorded while exiled in Berlin. The answer has been a categorical no until yesterday when Vice announced that it will be releasing the self-titled debut LP by the Almighty Defenders, a new collaboration between the Black Lips, Khan and his longtime cohort BBQ, or as his friends call him Mark Sultan. It’s important to note that no track list has been revealed yet, but Hannibal assures me that they’ve covered what he calls a “bad ass damn version” of his song “I’m Coming Home.”

“They really did it up right and it teaches me something about my own song,” Hannibal says.

The album, according to Vice, is “brimming with soul, earnest shouts, cries and hand-claps over post-modern gospel-rock anthems.” The whole thing was recorded at Khan’s Moon Studios and will be released on LP and digitally via Vice Records on Tues., Sept. 22.

Almighty Defenders @ Amsterdam Brewery from NOW Magazine on Vimeo.

(Photo by David Waldman)

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Who are you?
Songwriter/front fellow, Chickens and Pigs.

Describe yourself in three words.
Animal Planet survivor.

Who — dead or alive — would you most like to meet?
Charlie Patton. He used to only eat fat meat at juke joints so he wouldn’t get too drunk to play. Also seemed to hang out with a bunch of cool musicians.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
You put the u in douchebag.

What song do you wish you had written?
“Little Debbie Wedding (oh wait, I already did). First runner-up: “Beast of Burden.”

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
Presley, singing “Pump it up.”

LP, CD or MP3?
CDs make the best beer coasters. LPs melt in the sun best. You can fit more mp3s in a fish.

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
More topless girls at Chickens and Pigs shows.

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?
Those Darlins.

“Little Debbie Wedding” mp3

Chickens and Pigs plays the Drunken Unicorn on Thurs., June 25 with Those Darlins, the Electric Cycles and Myopic I. $7. 9 p.m.

(Photo by Chad Radford)

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It took Die Slaughterhaus seven years to get off its ass and release this long-forgotten EP from the Wet Dreams. The occasional trio featured Deerhunter’s Bradford Cox (drums/vocals), Golden Triangle’s Alix Brown (bass/vocals) and Tabitha’s Julie Elledge (guitar/vocals) concocting sultry, fuzzed-out pop wrapped in ghostly delay. Each song is a catchy hybrid of new wave and avant-garage rock vampirism. “Circuit Breaker” breaks the weirdo sci-fi pop of the B-52’s, circa “Rock Lobsters,” down to a primitive plod. “Teenage Dream” pillages Kinks’ riffs and marries them to a patchwork of punchy, honey sweet melodies. “Crybaby” is a girl-group rocker imbued with bratty punk jeers, while “The Outskirts” is a space-junk nod to the Fall. Seven years after the fact, each number is a solid pop ditty, well-aged and well worth the wait — even if you weren’t waiting. (Die Slaughterhaus) 4 stars out of 5

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Tiny Vipers’ sole songstress, Jesy Fortino, has a voice so strong and captivating it softens her existential quandaries, but resolves nothing. Life on Earth takes a heavy-duty trip into candle-lit depression via songs more concerned with asking questions than providing answers. In “Time Takes,” Fortino muses “am I crazy for feeling this way?” while strumming into a void of loneliness amid booming layers of texture. “Dreamer” climaxes with a slow, rhythmic gallop filled with dark intonations and a plea: “I’m dying for a way out.” But as each song bleeds into the next, there’s no sanctuary. The 10-minute title track is an ominous testament affirming that the only way out of hell is to tread right through it, and it’s a long, dreary ride indeed. (Sub Pop) 3 stars out of 5

Tiny Vipers with Balmorhea, Ben Trickey. $7. 9 p.m. Wed., July 1. 529. www.529atl.com.

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The inner-sleeve of Those Darlins’ self-titled debut CD features a noir-ish black and white photo of three ladies — Nikki, Jessi and Kelley Darlin — huddled in a corner at some dive bar, drinks half-drunk. Each one of them looks like a rural siren, brandishing poker faces at once devious and doe-eyed.

There’s awesome trouble lingering in the allure of the Murfreesboro, Tenn., trio’s rollicking country and rock ’n’ roll numbers that seethe with emotional twang and rich tales of debauchery in the wilds of middle Tennessee.

The group’s dichotomy is best illustrated in the opening line of their lament to being reckless women, “Wild One.” Vocalist and ukulele strummer Nikki Darlin sweetly croons, “I may be a little darling gal of yours/That’s when I’m straight and sober and both feet are on the floor/But sometimes when the booze gets a hold of me/I get the devil in my eyes and I’m running wild and free.”

Continue reading “Those Darlins ain’t another country chick band”

(Photo by Travis Huggett)

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