AthFest 2013 Review - Day 3

Lassine Kouyate (aka Adam Klein) - Hull Street Stage

This was a refreshing change of pace. Adam Klein led a quartet through several tunes in the language and musical style of Mali, African. The rhythm was a little ragged on the first tune, but by the second, the band found its groove. The melodic tunes and syncopated beats had some fans dancing enthusiastically and most of the audience tapping their feet. The last couple of songs were in English, but fit stylistically with the rest of the set. Kudos to Klein for bringing this music to Athens.

Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds - Pulaski Street Stage

She is not much bigger than her namesake, but Sister Sparrow has a powerhouse voice with a touch of rasp and a lot of soul. Like Ruby Velle and the Stereophonics the previous day, the Dirty Birds’ sound harkens back to 70s era soul, R&B and funk. The eight-piece, including Sister Sparrow, band featured baritone sax, two more horn players and some wailing harmonica from Sister’s brother. Sparrow flitted, hopped and shimmied around the stage for the full show. The crowd began to build a couple of songs into the set, and soon much of the audience was dancing along with the band.

Bloodkin - Pulaski Street Stage

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Lera Lynn - Pulaski Street Stage

Lynn has the perfect voice for her classic and alt-country sound and songwriting chops to match. Her performance during AthFest last year at the 40 Watt  was memorable. Maybe it was the drive down from Nashville or the mid-set rain interruption, but today’s performance seemed a little lackluster. Her song Whiskey began to build some momentum, but there were only a couple songs left at that point.

Patterson Hood & the Downtown Mystic Ramblers - Pulaski Street Stage

The headlining act started off fairly low key and laid back. The crowd in front of the stage actually thinned out a bit after a few songs, about the same time as the energy level began to pick up. Unfortunately, some of the band’s efforts were lost in the mix. The Campbell sisters could only faintly be heard; the cello was completely inaudible. They would have added another layer of richness to Hood’s slice-of-Southern-life characters and songs. 

AthFest 2013 Review - Additional Observations

Department of Local Stalwarts - Part 1

Cracker delivered an energetic set late Saturday night at the 40 Watt to a packed house. After twenty years and ten or more albums, the Athens-based band has a large catalog to draw from. They included their most well known songs in the setlist; a series of catchy tunes delivered at rapid pace with little time for banter between songs. David Lowery started on acoustic guitar, but strapped on his electric a few songs into the set as the show took on a harder edge. Johnny Hickman provided an almost continuous series of guitar fills and solos as a counterpoint to Lowery’s vocals.

Department of Local Stalwarts - Part 2

Much the same could be said for Bloodkin on the Pulaski Street Stage late Sunday afternoon. These AthFest veterans can always be counted on to satisfy old and new fans with their dependable stable of well written, radio ready songs. Their performance was solid, and if not always inspired, was still enjoyable.

Beyond Maximum Capacity

Demand far exceeded available space at World Famous Saturday night for Cicada Rhythm. Nobody was monitoring the main entry or the single door into the performance room. New arrivals tried to edge their way into an an already uncomfortably packed space, an almost impossible task. One young woman, after squeezing her way out of the room, said, “You don’t want to be in there.” We believed her.

AthFest 2013 Review - Day Two

A selective and subjective review of AthFest Day 2, June 22, 2013

By the second day, AthFest can become an endurance contest. The music starts at noon and lasts past 2 am. Do you start in the heat of the day and see how long you can last or wait until evening, sacrificing some of the outdoor stage events? As it turns out, some of the best bands at AthFest make appearances during the daylight hours.

Highlights of AthFest 2013, Day Two, included Ruby Velle & the Soulphonics on the Pulaski Street Stage. If it wasn’t for the shaved patch on the side of Ruby’s head, you could swear you were watching a soul/R&B band from the mid 1970s. Ruby is much younger than her sound; her powerful voice leads a seven-member band, including a three-piece horn section. Though she gave ample time to the band, allowing for keyboard, guitar and horn solos, it was her voice and enthusiasm that ruled the show. There was much dancing under the mid-day sun.

Sons of Bill at the 40 Watt also had a strong showing. The five-piece band from Virginia is led by three brothers. Choose your favorite alt-country-Americana label. Their melodic songs are guitar-based and easily flow from quiet, country moments to full-tilt rock. Brother Sam’s guitar solos heated up as the band got deeper into their set. By the end of the extended set, brother James, the primary vocalist and front man, was drenched in sweat, as was much of the enthusiastic crowd.

Good, but not great sets were heard from Shonna Tucker & Eye Candy at the Pulaski Street Stage and Blue Blood at the Georgia Theatre. Shonna Tucker’s sound is somewhat more on country side of things. The strongest songs were when that twang came to the forefront. Blue Blood has been pieced together from several other bands and still needs time to fully develop.

The Michelin man raises a hand for Zoogma

Electronica ruled the late afternoon and evening on the outdoor stages. Ghost Owl and Zoogma, both on the main stage, relied extensively on sequencers and synthesizers. The presence of live drums, along with the digital, did add some warmth. Heavy on the bass and the beat, both bands were popular with the younger members of the crowd. There was much moving in place, fist-pumping and arm-waving near the front of the stage.

Zach Deputy is actually one man and many digital devices. Funky beats and soulful vocals got the crowd boogying at beginning of his Hull Street Stage set, but his shtick became tiring to some listeners after a few songs.

A more soulful performance was happening at the same time a couple of hundred feet away by the corner barbeque restaurant. Athen’s Hands of Time, with an equal number of band members and instruments, had a small, but appreciative, audience for their Motown and soul covers. Pedestrians on their way to and from the official AthFest stages would stop for a song or two and listen. Some frat boys waited patiently while their dates danced flirtatiously with each other, crowd members and the lead singer.

AthFest 2013 - Day One Review

A selective and subjective review of AthFest Day 1, June 21, 2013

“Listening for the Secret, Searching for the Sound”*

AthFest is always fun and interesting. If you are not enamored with a particular band during the day or early evening, there are a couple of dozen artists booths to explore. The quality of the art seems better this year. Listening to AthFest bands on Day 1 became an ongoing quest for a performance that could fire on all cylinders and ignite the crowd. With thirteen club venues that gear up for over fifty different acts as the outdoor stages wind down, it’s a challenge that cannot always be successfully met.

Quiet Hounds - Pulaski Street Stage

The set starts off well with a marching band style entry through the crowd. The band is heavy on percussion and guitars for the first couple of songs. The vocals are strong and the band is tight. Lots of “whoo-hoo, hey-ho” singing in the style of the Lumineers, which seems to be the current trend. For the third song, instruments are switched; a bass, trumpet and trombone add more depth to the sound. It has just a bit of a 60s - 70s soul/pop feel, but it doesn’t last for long.

Twin Tigers - Hull Street Stage

The vocals have a touch of Jim Morrison, but nothing really stands out. The sound of this quartet is full and dense.

Modern Skirts - Pulaski Street Stage

Modern Skirts and an almost full moon

It’s billed as Modern Skirts’ final show, and there is a big crowd for the popular, hometown favorites. The band has good energy and an 80s pop-rock sound. Usually, it’s keyboard-driven, with bass and drums, plus vocals, though a guitar is sometimes brought into the mix. The PA system is different at the main stage this year. To these ears, the sound is not as crisp and clear as in the past.

Don Chambers - Caledonia

Chambers is leading a guitar, bass and drums trio. Dissonant guitar loops are overlaid with loud distortion. The songs are brief; the idea seems better than the result. When Chambers’ songs, band and ambitious approach all come together, the results are worth hearing.

Tia Madre - the Green Room

This is a new venue for Athens and AthFest. It must be a new band, too, and this sounds like rehearsal. An idea is started; everyone picks it up and as it gets going, suddenly, it drops. The band asks for a five minute break and leaves the stage. Did they know they were going to playing at AthFest tonight? Time to check out something else.

New Madrid - 40 Watt

Two guitars, bass and drums; what more do you need? New Madrid sounds like a lightweight hippy band at first, but during instrumental breaks, a heavier, driving sound emerges, showing signs of promise. The loop station for one of the guitars, when used sparingly, enhances the sound. Sometimes it’s the fifth band member that’s in the way.

The 40 Watt is crowded. With constant chatter from the crowd, you have to be close to stage to really hear what’s going on.

Caleb Caudle - Little Kings Shuffle Club

Competent singer-songwriter leading a country-rock quartet.

Buxton - 40 Watt

The 40 Watt is about 40 minutes behind schedule. Buxton has good stage presence. Wilco comes to mind as the lead guitarist is obviously influenced by Nels Cline’s efforts in that band. It would have been worth hearing a couple more tunes, but other venues are calling.

Thayer Sarrano - Caledonia

Dark, moody and atmospheric immediately come to mind. Many songs in minor keys. Sarrano has a nice voice. It’s not powerful, but with the band behind her, there is force and presence. It was worth staying for the full set.

Day 2 will be long; sleep is needed.

*Unbroken Chain, by Phil Lesh and Robert Peterson