Crib Notes

In the December issue of Spin Magazine’s monthly list of “Songs You Need to Download Now,” Atlanta’s Gentleman Jesse Smith gets a shout out for the a-side of his debut 7-inch single, “I Don’t Wanna Know.”

Normally we here at Crib Notes would recommend that you go out and buy the 7-inch that was released in 2006 by local label DoucheMaster Records. But sadly it is long out of print and you have no choice but to settle for a digital file.

At any rate, if you’re not already familiar with the tune that put Gentleman Jesse on the map you are a couple of years behind the curve, and like Spin suggests, go out and get it right now. As soon as you have digested that, go get the full-length which came out earlier this year on DoucheMaster. You won’t be disappointed.

“I Don’t Wanna Know” MP3

(Photo by Laura Hull)

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For Today’s Roll Call we call out Atlanta power pop extraordinaire, Gentleman Jesse Smith.

Who are you?
Gentleman Jesse.

Describe yourself in three words.
Song Carpenter Extraordinaire.

Who — dead or alive — would most you like to meet?
Bruce Springsteen. My girlfriend met him at her work. She said he was supercool and asking about the music she was listening to. We went to see him on that last tour and it was amazing.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
I’m not much for slapping faces. I’m more of a stern talking to kinda guy. That be said I would like to slap bad drivers, bad tippers and Bad Company (the band).

What song do you wish you had written?
Anything that King Tuff or NOBUNNY wrote.

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
Elvis Presley. Fat of course.

LP, CD or MP3?
LP. what are those other ones?

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
I think I’m going to start LARPing. You know running around in the woods pretending to sword fight with some nerds. Anybody in?

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
Starting a garage band with no idea what garage music is. It did not start in 2001. Do some fucking homework.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
A gentleman would not discuss these matters.

Gentleman Jesse plays The Earl as part of the Atlanta Mess-Around fest. on Sat., Nov. 15th. Two day passes are available for $20. Tickets are $12 at the door.

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The work, of Montreal visual artist Luc Paradis, is up on the walls at Vacation Gallery & Boutique as of today (Thursday October 30th).

The opening begins at 7 p.m. A new incarnation of local band the Gaye Blades, dubbed Blade2, which features the band’s normal line-up + Gentelman Jesse Smith playing guitar.

Vacation is located at 674a North Highland Ave. (404-875-4413).

Photo courtesy of Vacation Gallery & Boutique

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BLUE MOUNTAIN Despite nearly a decade of hard touring and raw, rollicking shows, Mississippi alt-country trio Blue Mountain tossed in the greasy, sweat-soaked towel in 2001. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Cary Hudson made a stab at a solo career, but despite their quality his albums never connected, so it’s reformation time. Touring to support two new discs — one of original music and a rerecorded “hits” set — Mountain combines backwoods, slinky picking with amped-up energy. At its best, the threesome’s energetic, sizzling gigs left newcomers raving and existing fans wondering why they weren’t stars. Andy Friedman & the Other Failures and Amy Speace & the Tearjerks get the party started. $12. 7 p.m. Smith’s Olde Bar. 404-875-1522. www.smithsoldebar.com. — HH

PIERCED ARROWS Rural Oregon outsiders Dead Moon called it quits in 2006. But after decades spent crafting rugged, outlaw garage rock as a lifestyle choice, retirement just wasn’t their style. In the downtime, the husband-and-wife team of Fred and Toody Cole recharged their batteries to return as PIERCED ARROWS. Their debut full-length, Straight to the Heart, is a dark, groove-driven nod to the power of loud and lo-fi rock ‘n’ roll. Gentleman Jesse and Coffin Bound open. $8-$10. 9 p.m. The Earl. 404-522-3950. www.badearl.com – CR

(Photo by Brad Hodge)

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This is perhaps the best Friday this city has seen in a long time, and if you’re looking to go out and see some shows tonight, you’re in luck, but you’re going to have to make some executive decisions.

First and foremost there is the screening of Michael Tully and Matthew Robison’s documentary film, Silver Jew showing over at Eyedrum.

Robison, who is also involved with the Atlanta rock doc., We Fun (currently in production) will be in attendance. $5. 9 p.m. (doors) Film starts at 10 p.m. Money from door sales goes to B Jay Womack who was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. 404-522-0655. www.eyedrum.org.

Over at Lenny’s Intelligence, Gentleman Jesse, Vera Fang and HOWLIES are playing a FREE show over at Lenny’s. Intelligence is at the forefront of the new no-wave junk-rock art clatter that so dominates the cutting edge of abrasive post-punk in 2008. The group’s sound is brash, damaged, alien and filled with angst and hooks. Local power-pop ambassador Gentleman Jesse brings things back to a more earthbound pop sound with a triumphant return to the stage. Vera Fang and Howlies open. 9 p.m. 404-577-7721. www.lennysbar.com.

Stereolab photo by Sabrina Tabuchi

The Variety Playhouse plays host to Stereolab’s stop in support of Chemical Chords, the group’s best album in years. Stereolab’s penchant for crafting droning rhythms, Moog jams and space-age bachelor-pad music set a precedent for experimental sounds in the ’90s. With Chemical Chords (their 4AD debut), the pop explorers churn out their catchiest songs this side of the millennium. Recent material such as “Pop Molecule,” “Cellulose Sunshine” and “Daisy Click Clack” channel the “groop’s” cosmic music into digestible bursts of short pop songs. Tonight, expect nothing less than a headlong trip into melancholia and ’60s psych pop, sans kitsch. Atlas Sound (aka Deerhunter’s Bradford Cox) also performs. Herb and Jason Harris of the Selmanaires open. $20-$22.50. 8:30 p.m. , 1099 Euclid Ave. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com.

There’s a Hank Williams Sr. tribute show at The Star Bar, featuring Slim Chance, Dave Weil (Blacktop Rockets), Caroline Engel, Phil Anderson, Bill Fleming, Danny Pope, Craig Rafuse, Ted Weldon and several others (and just so you know, this is a non-smoking event). $10. 9 p.m. 404-681-5740. www.starbar.net.

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This morning Pitchfork posted a long overdue review of Gentleman Jesse’s debut album on DoucheMaster Records (whom, by the way received a CL Best Of Atlanta award this week for critic’s pick for best local record label).

Unlike the pukey face review that Vice gave him this month, Pitchfork likes Gentleman Jesse so much that they bestowed upon him an empowering 8.1 rating.

Read the review here.

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Shortly after the Fringe Binge came to an end on Saturday night (Aug. 2) at The Star Bar Gentleman Jesse Smith’s guitar was stolen.

The missing guitar is a 70’s Danelectro hollow body guitar that’s missing a volume knob. According to Smith it is “incredibly rare and irreplaceable. Basically if I see one I will know it was mine.”
If anyone has any information concerning the guitar’s whereabouts please send an e-mail here.

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The show at Rob’s House this Saturday, July 26th was a well-kept secret… sort of. There wasn’t as much as a peep on the internet or in the local media about the Black Lips playing a free house show in East Atlanta, but word-of-mouth brought about 100 - 150 people out, which actually made it about the perfect sized crowd.

The flier that you see to your left didn’t even show up until the day of the show.

Regardless, the basement at 1318 Ormewood Ave. felt like a scene from Dante’s Infero as Predator, Gentleman Jesse and Carbonas exploded in a haze of smoke and unbearable heat. Sweat-soaked bodies packed the tiny dungeon as Gentleman Jesse played its final show before bassist Dustin Nigro moves off to NYC. This show also served as a successful test run for the group with new guitarist Adrian Barrera (also of the Hiss).

For many long-time but estranged fans, seeing the Black Lips in a basement was a refreshing reminder of the days when most local venues wouldn’t even give the group the time of day for fear of property damage. Back then the Black Lips had nowhere else to play but house shows. Seeing them tear it up in such a cramped and sweaty environment was a return to the good old days. It was also the last show at Rob’s House before the label’s founder Trey Lindsay moves off to New York as well.

Could there have been a better way to bring an end to the era? The show was a visceral return to form that literally brought it all back home.

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Today’s Air Loaf features CL’s Chanté LaGon and Chad Radford chatting about the concerts happening around town this weekend including AthFest, Gentleman Jesse, Dion Farris and Hubcap City.

Air Loaf is broadcast weekdays on 1690 WMLB-AM at approximately 8:10 a.m., 12:20 p.m. and 6:20 p.m.

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