Crib Notes

For today’s Roll Call we call out Kevin Wallace of the Goldest.

Who are you?
Kevin Wallace.

Describe yourself in three words.
One quarter Italian.

Who — dead or alive — would you most like to meet?
Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
If I can take the liberty to treat “who” as referring to a potential being, then God. Mostly because it seems an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-good being could have done a lot better. Maybe he’s just all-lazy as well. Otherwise, I’d slap one of those catholic priests who had sex with little boys.

What song do you wish you had written?
“A Day in the Life” [the Beatles].

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
Elvis Prestello (I have to thank my bandmate Matt for this clever response).

LP, CD or MP3?
LP.

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
4 Day/32 hour work week.

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
Moral conservatism.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
That’s easy. Susannah [Wallace] of the Goldest.

“Already Gone”

The Goldest plays the Earl on Thurs., Jan. 15th w/ Sealions and Beige. $7. 8:30 p.m. The Earl, 488 Flat Shoals Rd. 404-522-3950.

(Photo courtesy of the Goldest)

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Atlanta lady punk quartet the Coathangers have set April 7th, 2009 as the release date for their sophomore full-length, titled Scramble (Suicide Squeeze Records). The album is being released on both CD and a limited edition yellow vinyl LP.

Scramble track list:

“Intro”
“Toomer Head”
“Stop Stomp Stompin’”
“Time Passing”
“Bury Me”
“Dream Boat”
“Pussy Willow”
“Gettin’ Mad & Pumpin’ Iron”
“Killdozer”
“143″
“Arthriitus Sux”
“Sonic You”
“Bobby Knows Best”
“Cheap Cheap”
“Outro”

(Photo by Bob Levett)

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For today’s Roll Call we call out Dan Scanlan of Zoroaster.

Who are you?
Dan Scanlan, drummer, noise maker for Zoroaster.

Describe yourself in three words.
Pretty Fucking Awesome.

Who — dead or alive — would most you like to meet?
Dick Wolf, Creator/ Executive Producer of Law and Order. I’d like to thank him for giving me a reason to spend every second of my spare time on the couch!!

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
Michael Vick.

What song do you wish you had written?
Happy Together by The Turtles….quite possibly the best song ever!

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
Presley!!

LP, CD or MP3?
LP, but really I like 8-tracks, I’m waiting for their resurrection someday.

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
Canceling American Idol… Does that count? Well it should!!

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
Nickleback, My Chemical Romance, what’s that other really shitty band…? Yeah, that one too!!

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
Megan Estes. Mariska Hargitay, aka Detective Olivia Benson, I really like Law and Order… and Tom Cheshire.

“Spirit Molecule

Zoroaster plays the Clermont Lounge on New year’s Eve. Atlanta’s Withered and Athens’ doom and drone duo Subrig Destroyer also perform. 9 p.m. $10. 789 Ponce de Leon Ave. 404-874-4783.

(Photo by Kevin Griggs)

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Tonight (Tues., Dec. 30th), Atlanta-based singer Diane Durrett performs a rare and intimate gig at Blind Willies. Durrett has been around the Atlanta Blues and singer/songwriter scene for many years, and has released four well received albums.

In 1999 Durrett took the plunge most musicians only dream of and moved to Nashville, with the big plans to make it in the music industry. Several peripheral jobs later (including a rather interesting stint as a limo driver) she has written a book called Driving Music City. Basically, Durrett has compiled a collection of vignettes describing her experiences chauffeuring some major superstars around Music City. Interspersed with anecdotes from her own music career and family history, Durrett pulls back the curtain just a bit to expose a few somewhat shallow and trivial “secrets” about the stars. Scattered and tangential, this ain’t Shakespeare, folks. Hell, it ain’t even the National Enquirer for that matter.

But Durrett is a much better singer than an author, and her show at Blind Willies will be a real treat for her local fans. Hopefully she will sing more than she talks.

Diane Durrett plays Blind Willies tonight. $Call. 9 p.m. 828 N. Highland Ave. 404-873-2583.

(Photo courtesy of Diane Durrett).

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By Michael Gerber

Dead Confederate make unhappy music, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. On Sat., Dec. 20 at Variety Playhouse, the band presented its cathartic world of guitars banging away in dark corners. Right away the Nirvana comparisons the group have drawn with their latest CD, Wrecking Ball, were obvious. A clattering of moody and frustrated noise conjured up vivid memories of the grunge era. Dead Confederate have mastered the art of losing themselves in messy and hopeless dark rock. It’s a combination that has a unique power to take over the senses.

The headliners of the night were Manchester Orchestra. Right away, it was the cleanness of their sound that stood out, which was a drastic contrast to Dead Confederate. These were nice guys who opened with a joke (a tongue in cheek ode to 50 Cent) and went on to play youthful anthems primed for popular embrace.

Vocalist, guitar player and frontman Andy Hull’s bearded and flannel-clad exterior resembles a young Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, but there wasn’t too much Southern about this rock. Instead, they played something that had more of a suburban feel to it, with songs that felt dreamed up in an Alpharetta bedroom, shared for the first time with friends in a basement, and finally fleshed out as independence replaced high school and parents. I’m guessing. This is all based on the little that I know of where they’re from, their ages and the undeniable emo hand stirring their songs.

Hull reminisced about seeing Death Cab for Cutie at Variety Playhouse, and pointed to the exact spot where he was stood during their show and apparently, “shit [his] pants.” So it was something special to see the crowd singing along to his lyrics when he did the same thing with Ben Gibbard only a few years ago. Their set played like a triumphant homecoming: inspired, grateful, and it only got better as the night went on. Both bands demonstrated why they’ve become critical darlings over the last year. If this is the future of Southern rock it, the future has a lot in common with alternative rock from the ’90s.

(Photo by Shana Langfur)

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Since around Thanksgiving of this year the weekly Thursday night Kirkwood Ballers Club experimental open mic night has offered an early, online registration form to level the playing field for musicians who want to play each week, and to stimulate attendance.

This advancement in open-mic technology was hatched after a few disgruntled Ballers started balling about not being able to snag one of the eleven 15-minute slots available each week between 9 and 11:30 p.m.

“We used to have people coming out one week and singing up to come play the following week and we started getting a lot of flack for it,” says KBC founder Randy Castello.

The idea for online registration was spawned by his Tight Bros./Fifth Planet Press cohort Nisa Asokan who is using a similar means of RSVP for a group art show in Spring of 2009.

“It seemed like the right thing to do because not everyone wants to show up between 8:30 and 9 o’clock to sign up,” Randy adds. “Now they can do it from home and when they’re done they can start promoting right then and there. The response has been good and every week we only have about four or five slots left by the time we get there, and we’re seeing lots of new faces and lots of quality stuff.”

***NOTE:  The Kirkwood Ballers Club is canceled this week as it falls on New Year’s Day, but will resume next week at the Regular time and place.***

The Kirkwood Ballers Club takes place at the Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge on Thurs., nights. There’s no cover charge. Doors open 8 p.m. and the music begins at 9 p.m. 644 North Highland Ave. 404-874-5756. RSVP.

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Chris Devoe and Rachael Spiewak are spinning records tonight (Fri., Dec. 26th) at El Myr in Little 5 Points to raise funds and spread awareness after suffering a violent home invasion on Dec. 3rd in the Poncey-Highland neighborhood.

There will be no cover charge at the door but there will be a push for donations throughout the night as well as a raffle for prizes.

Word on the street has it that there will also be Jello shots served.

The benefit starts at 10p.m. El Myr. 1091 Euclid Ave. 404-588-0250.

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Going to lose it if you hear another tedious version of “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer?” Eskimo Bliss wants you to have a Christmas gift from The Ten Thousand Dollar Tattoo, a Los Angeles based folk-tronic group.

TT$T’s latest album, “The Advent Calendar,” is being offered for free on Last.FM. Even though the melancholic tunes are written as Christmas songs, you can be sure that this is a holiday gift that will still be worth listening to after the first of the year. They’ve even thrown in a couple remixes of indie superstars Fleet Foxes and Sufjan Stevens. Not bad for a last minute stocking stuffer.

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For today’s Roll Call we call out Matthew Lambert from All the Saints.

Who are you?
I am Matthew Allen Lambert.

Describe yourself in three words.
Confused. In tune

Who — dead or alive — would most you like to meet?
Neil Young and Mark Grace it’s a tie. I love them both equally.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
Right now I would have to say the rude hourly woman at the check-in counter at Hartsfield-Jackson last night. She was so mean. That’s all I can think of. I don’t hold grudges very well.

What song do you wish you had written?
“Amazing Grace.”

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
A hybrid Elvis would be cool. I would probably take Costello solely because of “Watching the Detectives,” but my mother would kill me. She would take Elvis P. over Jesus and Bear Bryant I think.

LP, CD or MP3?
I have to say vinyl. Oh the warmth and crackle. The only real way to listen to a record in its truest form, is on vinyl, through headphones. You flip the record, cue the songs, read the liner notes, smell the cover, all that. But I do love having the ability to make mixes with MP3’s.

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
A trend of people spending all of their money on records. Tuck your shirt in.

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
It’s pretty much on its way but I’ll say the whole “Indie” thing. Vomit. “Indie” is “Hair Metal” or “Emo” or something. It starts from something fresh and cool and then America torques it up to like 11 and shit. By the end it just becomes so heartless and boring.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
I can’t play spin the bottle.

“Sheffield” MP3

All the Saints play the Drunken Unicorn on Wed., Dec. 31 with Atlas Sound and the Balkans. $15. 10 p.m. Drunken Unicorn, 736 Ponce de Leon Place.

(Photo by Skylar Reeves)

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Atlanta psych metal trio Zoroaster has completed its third album, Voice of Saturn, due out on Match 10th via the group-run Terminal Doom Records.

Voice of Saturn was recorded at The Living Room with Ed Rawls, and carries Zoroaster’s hallucinogenic hybrid of doom-laden metal, drone and dirge to bombastic new places, and even features a guest appearance from Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds on the song “White Dwarf.”

Voice of Saturn track list:

1.) Intro (1:00)
2.) Spirit Molecule (6:10)
3.) Undying (13:43)
4.) White Dwarf (5:42)
5.) Voice of Saturn (5:25)
6.) Lamen of the Master Therion (7:55)
7.) Outro (14:14)

Bassist / vocalist Brent Anderson was recently featured as a guest on MTV’s Headbangers Blog.

Zoroaster will embark on a full North American tour starting in February. In the meantime you can catch them on New Year’s Eve as they headline a bill with Withered and Subrig Destroyer at the infamous Clermont Lounge.

“Spirit Molecule” (live).

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For today’s Roll Call we call out Jeffrey Butzer.

Who are you?
My name is Jeffrey Bützer I am a musician from Atlanta.

Describe yourself in three words.
Ridiculous, accordionist and hungry.

Who — dead or alive — would most you like to meet?
Luis Bunuel. He’s probably my favorite artist of all time and I don’t drink but I think I would have a Bunueltini if he made me one.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
Any of the three stooges (except for Curly).

What song do you wish you had written?
“Gnossiennes” by Erik Satie or “Suzanne” by Leonard Cohen

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
Do you mean who would win in a fight? Or who do I like better? Either way its a toss up… but I’m going with Costello.

LP, CD or MP3?
CD’s: I don’t even own a computer so mp3’s are out. And I like to hear music in my car so no LP’s either.

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
Fax machine jokes or wearing whale parts as clothing.

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
I’m not sure what is in… Do people still ironically have mustaches? If so that would be it.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
Flannery O’Connor, Audrey Tautou, Wynona Ryder, Luisel Ball, Sophia Loren and PJ Harvey … that would be a party.

(Photo by Ken Lackner).

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An Eluardian Instance EP

Last Thursday Of Montreal vocalist/mastermind Kevin Barnes spoke with Rolling Stone’s Rock and Roll Daily blog about what will come after Skeletal Lamping. Barnes told RS that he has something a little noisier in mind:

“It’s sort of abstract in my mind, but right now what I’ll create will be mesmeric and kind of physical music. Try to create music that you have a physical reaction to. Try to touch you on a level that’s not strictly intellectual but more physical, and that’s not to say you’ll dance to it.”

In the meantime a comprehensive Of Montreal DVD is in the works. The group filmed a show in Los Angeles during last year’s Hissing Fauna tour as well as a show at the Tabernacle in Atlanta last month. The plan is to release a DVD that compiles the group’s videos, the two live performances and some documentary material as well.

This week Of Montreal plays the Late Show with David Letterman on Thurs., Dec. 18th. After that the An Eluardian Instance EP featuring remixes from Grammy-nominated producer Jon Brion (Spoon, Kanye West, Elliott Smith, Fiona Apple) is due digitally Jan. 6th/Jan. 27th on CD and LP via Polyvinyl Records.

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This week Rob Trucks posted an interview with Pylon on the Village Voice’s Sound of the City music blog. The group is in New York to play WNYU’s 35th Anniversary Celebration’s at the Knitting Factory this Mon., Dec. 15th.

Three of Pylon’s four members–drummer Curtis Crowe, lead singer Vanessa Briscoe (now Briscoe Hay), bassist Michael Lachowski and guitarist Randy Bewley–still live [in Athens], playing in their third incarnation (seemingly final breakups in 1983 and 2001 didn’t quite take) of one of indie-rock’s most important collectives.

Pylon- 2007 from dawnbridges on Vimeo.

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Savannah’s blackened metal masters Kyleasa recently finished recording their fourth full-length, due out on Prosthetic Records in ‘09, and are heading to Japan in Januray. The journey to the land of the rising sun is in support of the Japanese release of their 2006 album, Time Will Fuse Its Worth (Red Cobalt Industries).

Before they leave for Japan Kylesa will play three stateside shows with crust punk legends, Amebix.

Kylesa tour dates:
1/29-Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY (w/ Amebix)
1/30-AS220 – Providence, RI (w/ Amebix)
1/31-Starlite Theater – Philadelphia, PA (w/ Amebix)
2/6 -Huck Finn – Nagoya, Japan
2/7-Earthdom – Tokyo, Japan
2/8 -TBA – Tokyo, Japan
2/11-51 – Gifu, Japan
2/13-Graf – Fukuoka, Japan
2/14-Club Squad – Yamaguchi, Japan
2/15-Club Drop – Osaka, Japan

(Photo by Jan Schwarzkamp).

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For today’s Roll Call we call out Leticia Arioli of Batata Doce.

Who are you?
I am working on finding that one out.

Describe yourself in three words.
Sweet & Sour mix.

Who — dead or alive — would most you like to meet?
Bono, ever since I read the book Killing Bono. Its a love and hate thing. But the guy can engage an entire stadium, you gotta commend him for it.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
Any disrespectful, condescending men. Seriously, respect the ladies. They are pretty, cherish them, don’t abuse them.

What song do you wish you had written?
Just about every song I love. One of them would be “When Doves Cry” by Prince.

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
Presley and his gyrating hips. I got my mom a wall clock of Elvis Presley with his hips moving to every tick. Now she’s got Elvis’ hips forever moving.

LP, CD or MP3?
LP!! But I am a traitor, I have mostly mp3s now. But its not the same… I hate them in fact.

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
A hugging fever. Like, instead of nodding your head, you just hugged everyone. Hey, we kiss everybody in Brazil, so its doable right?

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
Fake vintage (brand new & expensive) anything.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
That mysterious, gentlemanly and unattainable vampire from that teen flick Twilight. And I am not kidding. But he doesn’t exist, so I guess I have to say John Cusack.

Batata Doce plays 97 Estoria tonight (Thurs., Dec. 11th). Free. 9 p.m.

“Menina” MP3

Batata Doce Live See Through Souls A Menina

(Photo courtesy Casatelli Photography)

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For Today’s Roll Call we call out Knife of the 4th Ward Daggers.

Who are you?
My name’s Knife. I’m the Majestic Diner hang around, a 4th Ward Dagger, and a pretty nifty hockey player to boot.

Describe yourself in three words.
Who needs words, when you got exclamation marks?  !!!

Who — dead or alive — would most you like to meet?
Michael Jackson and Scarlett Johansson.  I’d be like, “Dude, I believe you’re innocent… So uhhh, can me and Scarlett go ride that roller coaster now?”

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
50 cent.  I once read an interview with him that was pretty much the most unintelligent thing I’d ever seen.  Remember when rap music had something to say?

What song do you wish you had written?
“Stay” by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs.

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
If I had a choice I’d play songs like Elvis Costello, but try to look as cool as Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock while doing it!

LP, CD or MP3?
I only listen to mixtapes that pretty girls give me when they’re trying to woo me.

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
Girls in tight jeans, a T-shirt, and a pair of torn up Chuck Taylor’s that let you know that this girl knows how to have fun.

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
Cocaine and that oh so hip game of trying to be secretive about going to the bathroom to do it, but at the same time making sure everyone in the room knows what you’re doing in hopes of them thinking you’re really cool. Dumb.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
The Coathangers. Where ever that bottle stops, I’ll be happy with it!  Maybe I could ditch Michael and invite Scarlett into the game too.

Knife and the 4th Ward Daggers play Lenny’s on Tues., Dec. 16the w/Thee Crucials, Facehugger and Poison Arrows. FREE. 9 p.m. 486 Decatur St. 404-577-7721.

“Don’t Need You” MP3

(Photo by Lamar George/Dark Wolf Productions).

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The title for the Black Lips‘ new LP has been unveiled as 200 Million Thousand.

The album will feature 14 brand new songs, recorded in Atlanta with Mike Wright at the former New Street Gallery spot in Avondale Estates. The album will hit the streets via Vice Records on Feb. 24th, which will be followed by some pretty lengthy touring throughout both the U.S. and the U.K.

In the meantime, starting tomorrow night  Cole and Jared from the Black Lips are DJing every Tues. night at 529 in East Atlanta (formerly the Village) at 529 Flat Shoals Rd. across the street from the Flat Iron.

(Photo by Chad Radford).

Click below to see 200 Million Thousand track list and tour dates:

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For today’s Roll Call we call out U.K. songstress, Billy Childish cohort, former Thee Headcotees‘ singer/guitarist and recent Atlanta transplant Holly Golightly.

Who are you?
Holly Golightly.

Describe yourself in three words.
English, white, female.

Who — dead or alive — would most you like to meet?
My great grandmother.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
Myself.

What song do you wish you had written?
“Happy Birthday.”

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
Elvis Costello.

LP, CD or MP3?
LP.

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
One where being in a band is not compulsory.

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
’80s fashion comeback.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
Lawyer Dave.

“Gettin’ High for Jesus” MP3

Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs performing “Devil Do.”

Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs play the Earl on Thurs., Dec. 11th w/ the Meeks Family and Delaney Davidson. $10. 9 p.m. 488 Flat Shoals Rd. 404-522-3950.

(Photo courtesy of Conqueroo).

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For today’s Roll Call we call out Cage from Nine Inch Neils.

Who are you?
Cage of the Nine Inch Neils – Neil Diamond Tribute Band

Describe yourself in three words.
So good… So good… So good.  Hmmmm, that’s six.  Don’t hate… Participate.

Who — dead or alive — would most you like to meet?
Neil Diamond while hangin’ with David Duchovny… Without getting a “bro”ner

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
Morning people.

What song do you wish you had written?
“Picture” by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow – then I could have torn it up and thrown it away before anyone sang it.

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
I saw Costello, very cool, love “Veronica,” but I have to say Presley all the way.  It’s all about the show.

LP, CD or MP3?
LP if I can get them out of the frame on my wall

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
I’m a sucker for the robot dance (how did that ever die?) or using your “inside voice” while talking on  cell phones.

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
Monica (Kaufman) Pearson’s ever changing hairdo and survey posts on Myspace… Stop. Please stop.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
My wife… Awwww.

MP3 “Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon.”

Nine Inch Neils play Smith’s Olde Bar on Tues., Dec. 9th. $5 + 2 canned goods. 1578 Piedmont Ave. (404) 875-1522.

(Photo courtesy of Nine Inch Neils).

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Skeletal Lamping, the latest full-length from Athens’ whimsical art-pop ensemble, and CL’s Nov. 5th cover artists, Of Montreal is holding strong as the #1 record on CMJ’s Top 200 list for its forth week in a row.

Click below to see the group’s current round of U.S. and European tour dates, which include two performances at the 40 Watt in Athens on Dec. 30th and 31st.

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