|
Greetings from Athens. Hundreds and hundreds of emails flood my inbox after each one of my pieces I write for this publication. Now, while most of them are praising me, asking for pictures, asking for dates, or are junk mail, there have been a few from music fans who think I have it plain wrong. To those folks all I have to say is: I do not have it wrong. You do. My opinions are so very true that they almost lose all semblance of being an opinion and kind of just jump right in step with fact. So don’t any of you dare question my authority and voice in this music world. All right? Good. Now that I have that off my back (which some say is the sexiest part of my body; I don’t know though, that is a tough tough question), time to review some music.
By David Wilds |
Went and saw Patterson Hood play a solo gig the other night. No, not that Patterson Hood, not the minor league ball player who is famous for striking out in his first 72 home plate appearances. I am talking about Patterson Hood: the rambunctious, story telling front man of the Athens-based band Drive-By Truckers. It wasn’t actually a solo gig; it was listed as Patterson Hood vs. Don Chambers. No, not that Don Chambers, not the former rightwing conservative Hawaiian delegate turned hot air balloon daredevil. I am talking about Don Chambers the cool, heavy guitar playing local rock star who digs playing loud. These were the two men that were pinned against each other in a bill labeled as "Patterson Hood vs. Don Chambers."
Who was going to win? How would the point system be set up? And most importantly, who was refereeing? Nah, just kidding. There was no battle, just two friends up on stage trading off songs. The drummer from the Truckers sat behind them playing a tiny little drum kit, while the two in front played some good ole southern guitars.
By James Adams |
"Intimate" is how some would describe the Flicker Theater. Not Mad Mode though. She, who is I, would describe it as the hidden away living room that makes a closet feel large. It is so small that the amount of soul that the String Cheese Incident has produced in its entire career could easily fit in the room. So small, it is, that it makes the Caledonia seem big. It is so small that Dave Schools couldn’t even fit in the room.
Shortly after the show started, the single microphone (that Chambers and Hood had been passing back and forth between songs) was working on a "when I want to" basis. The men on stage decided to do away with the mic and just sing loud, without any form of amplification. Patterson told a story that I will never forget about a childhood friend who snorted too much glue. (A taper taped it - not on tape - or perhaps on tape. I am not sure but at any rate, get this tape to hear this story.) The story wound up covering the gospel subject. Which led Don Chambers into playing a gospel song. The man played and sang with a sense of feeling I don’t think I have seen before. He sang and played with passion, while remaining in his cool stance. He came off as such a cool dude, he probably wouldn’t produce a drop of sweat in a summertime Mississippi kitchen. His voice was somewhat sheik while his guitar was loud and rugged.
By David Wilds |
When it was Patterson's turn he’d tell a story and then burst into the song about that story, which suddenly had much more meaning. He finished off the night with "Sink Hole" (which will be on the new Drive-By Truckers album). "Sink Hole" is typical of a Patterson song: gritty, twangy, real and fun. The kind of song that makes you down your drink, order another one, down that one and order a round for everyone sitting at the bar. His music makes you feel good about going out and getting hammered.
The crowd was an atypical Athens crowd. Spring break let all the kiddies go home to their mommies and daddies, or make arses of themselves in Panama City. What was left was a crowd who came to hear some good ole home brewed music. There was only one boy in the entire venue that wouldn't leave me alone. And he still won't leave me alone! (Chauncey, stop bothering me. Yes I know I am beautiful, yes I know I am hipper than any girl you have ever met, I have heard it all before! Leave me alone!)
While folks pealed out of the Flicker into the thick dropping rain pellets, I made my way up on yonder to a lil' hole in the wall bar that shall remain nameless, out of respect. The band that played there, to put it nicely, sucked. To put it bluntly: couldn’t carry a tune if it was put in a nice carrying case with handles and all. They called themselves "Pittt Stopp," but I called them "Pleaseee Stopp." This local arrangement consisted of two guitar players (just figuring out how to do bar chords), a bass player with smaller fingers than me, and a very beginner drummer. They attempted to cover the Grateful Dead's "Eyes of the World," but it turned out sounding like “Who Let the Dogs Out.” I kid you not. The terrible thing about it was that there were actually people dancing around, like it was good or something.
So my great night of music turned very sour, very quickly. But oh well.
Till next time,
Madeline Modeliste
On an Athens Scale of 5, the Patterson Hood vs. Don Chambers show got a 3.89: three Cubano sandwiches from the tasty Cuban food joint, Caliente Cab; and the 89 cents that I found in JoMo’s couch while I interviewed him.
Pittt Stopp got a one. Only because they are from Athens, and only because I have a heart. They get one free music lesson each from anyone that'll give it to them. Even though they need much much more.
Madeline Modeliste
JamBase | Athens
Go See Live Music!
|
