Picks of the Week

Monday, April 27th

1st Annual Athens’ Bar and Restaurant Battle of the Bands Benefit for Nuci’s Space and Athens Area Emergency Food Bank

Bands in competition:
Peppered with Rubbish (The Grit)
The Fist Mitts (The Grit)
Bjorn (Georgia Theater)
Pencilthin Reefer Band (Caledonia Lounge)
Tasty Boyz (Tasty World)
High and Inside (Max Canada)
Magnum Force (40 Watt)
Baby Blues and Baby Birds (Speakeasy)
Wild Cherry (The Last Resort)
The Maverick Mitchell Band (Trappeze)

Band order to be determined by lottery drawing on the night of the competition
Attendees are also asked to bring a box of cereal to help out with the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank
The event is also co-sponsored by Terrapin Brewing Co.

Doors at 9 pm, $5/$7 for under 21

Tuesday, April 28th

Steve Kimock Crazy Engine with Zach Deputy

Steve Kimock is on the road with his new venture, Steve Kimock Crazy Engine. With a new direction in mind, Crazy Engine is an unforseen Steve Kimock project .It mashes rock and roll, rhythm and blues, gospel and soul together. The repertoire will include Kimock classics as well as an fresh array of covers and fresh material. The long-awaited development will also feature Melvin Seals, best known for his work with the Jerry Garcia Band. The polished new line up also includes the rhythm section of Janis Wallin on bass (Family Groove Company) and Kimock's own son, John Morgan Kimock on drums. Rounding out the group, with their soulful crooning, are "The Girls" on vocals, featuring Cheryl Rucker and Shirley Starks.

The Georgia Theater— Doors at 8pm, $20

Wednesday, April 29th

Robert Randolph and the Family Band with Black Joe Lewis

By partnering up with Colorblind, Randolph and the Family Band have transitioned from not only being powerful performing artists, but also excellent recording artists. Having surfaced from a House of God church in Orange, New Jersey marked in the “sacred steel” tradition, Randolph’s immaculate pedal steel playing has been a avant-garde force. Randolph, like a fortunate few in the past, has defined and redefined the possibilities of his instrument. Randolph’s mastery is the base of the Family Band’s legendary live appearances, and led to guest spots with artists ranging from the Blind Boys of Alabama to Ozzy Osbourne.
The Georgia Theater—Doors at 9 pm, $20 in adv./$25 DOS

Thursday, April 30th

Incredible Sandwich
Jango Monkey

The Incredible Sandwich is currently recording a five-song EP (their first) at the Green Room in Athens. “The Sandwich,” as called by fans, fuses Latin, jazz, funk and rock and they have been compared to the improvisations of Phish, the Grateful Dead and the Steve Kimock Band. Their strong live performances have generated quite a buzz across town and with each show; their fan base continues to grow.

Jango Monkey plays sly original jam rock in the classic style of Phish and moe., with comparative hinges to Pink Floyd, Beck, and the Beatles. The band formed in 2004 in Atlanta, and consists of members of the now-defunct Atlanta jam band, the Tone Mutts. Musically the emphasis is on strong songwriting, complete with lyrics, hooks, and melody but with room for open improvisational jams.

Caledonia Lounge—Doors at 10 pm, $5 (+21)/$7 (18-20)

Friday, May 1st

Gift Horse
Arizona
Russian Spy Camera

Gift Horse relishes in the fact that it incorporates the stigma of our recent rock legends. It's a combination of detailed concentration, cheerful respect and constructive criticism that surrounds Gift Horse's music...the album incorporates organ, chimes and space-filling reverb that will be sure to take listeners back to the day of rock lore and re-establish the sound we all frantically, whether consciously or unconsciously, seek.

With their recent release, Glowing B Bird Sides, Arizona has continued along with their weirdness, which is paying off with a strong fan base. With influences ranging from Chinese instruments to rainbow socks, the members of Arizona aren’t afraid to push the boundaries. They pull off the laudable mix of both relaxing and exciting the listener with their harmonized melodies and constructive lyrics. Alex, Ben, James and Nick will be sure to satisfy.

Russian Spy Camera continues down the edifice of quirky and weird that Athens has come to greatly appreciate… and for good reason. With comparables to of Montreal and the B-52’s, how can one not like what Russian Spy Camera is doing right now? With funky bass lines and confusing guitar riffs that explain their music, it’s hard not to love RSC.

Caledonia Lounge—Doors at 10 pm, $6 (+21)/$8 (18-20)

-Will Hackett
“1348” by Umphrey’s McGee

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