Crib Notes

“Down” by The Meeks Family (Live @ The Earl) from William Haun on Vimeo.

Brooks Meeks stresses that the two songs on the brand new Meeks Family’s debut 7-inch should not be called “country,” and he’s right. Although the idea behind the former vocalist and guitar player for long-defunct Atlanta indie rockers the Close explains that the project was initially conceived as a country/songwriter-esque project, it has come a long way over the last couple of years. The A-side on the 7-inch is a duet with Tom Cheshire of All Night Drug Prowling Wolves for a cover of Nick Cave and Robyn Hitchcock’s “Weeping Song.” Here their rendition does justice to the original’s air of darkness while draping a Southern twang over the its subtle nuances. On the b-side “The Deuce of Clubs” is a like-minded atmospheric brood where Meeks gives his nod to the lowest card in the deck, which kind of says it all. Think Neko Case, Johnny Cash and the likes and you have a good idea for the kind of non-country country style songs that are in store.

The single brought old school Atlanta indie label Moodswing Records out of retirement, and is a teaser for a forthcoming self-released full-length to be titled 31 Years of Lullaby, which will be followed by another 7-inch featuring a cover of Hank Locklin’s country heart breaker “Please Help Me I’m Falling.”

No release date has been set for the album or the single with the Locklin cover, but on Saturday night the group is playing a release party for the “Weeping Song” b/w “The Deuce of Clubs” 7-inch at the Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge. The lineup features former Iron & Wine drummer Jonathan Bradley, Johnny Kral of the Hiss playing bass, Chris Case playing keys and, of course, Meeks will be at the front and center of it all. Brooklyn’s Girls in Trouble opens the show.

$5. 9 p.m. Sat., Dec. 5. The Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge. 644 North Highland Ave. 404-874-5756.

Bookmark to:

Please note that the Wilke Family will be performing tonight at Eddie’s Attic.

Maverick string band the Wilkie Family singers (lead by King Wilkie) are playing at Eddie’s Attic tonight (Wed., Nov. 4).

According to the Wilkie Family’s Boston-based label, Casa Nueva:

The disk is a beguiling concept album, purportedly written and recorded by the dysfunctional Wilkie family as part of a music therapy program spearheaded by the mysterious Dr. Art… musically, it mixes early American stringband styles (from parlour ballads to old-time and bluegrass) with more contemporary influences — chamber-pop, brass-band music, and much more. Special guests on the disk include Robyn Hitchcock, Peter Rowan, David Bromberg, John McEuen, Abigail Washburn and Sam Parton (of Be Good Tanyas)… Their music has slowly evolved from hardcore traditional bluegrass to something quite undefinable.

“Videotape” (feat. Robyn Hitchcock) mp3

For more information contact Eddies Attic. 515 N. McDonough St. in Decatur. 404-377-4976

Bookmark to:

For today’s Roll Call we call out Robyn Hitchcock.

Who are you?
I am me.

Describe yourself in three words.
I am him.

Who — dead or alive —would you most like to meet?
Janis Joplin.

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

What song do you wish you had written?
“The Main Thing” by Bryan Ferry.

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
Presley as a singer, Costello as a songwriter.

LP, CD or MP3?
They are all different stages of the same thing. But only an LP will survive the digital age. And sheet music, of course.

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
Turning off the lights when you aren’t in the room.

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
Male violence.

With whom would you most like to playa game of spin the bottle?
Jim Morrison.

Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3 play the Variety Playhouse on Tues. April 7. $17.50 (adv). $20 (door). 8 p.m. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. 404-524-7354.

(Photo courtesy Yep Roc.)

Bookmark to: