9-1030pm Black Dominoes/Judi Chicago vinyl DJ set
1030-1130pm Noot d’Noot
1130-1215pm Judi Chicago
1215pm Special Performance
1230-close Black Dominoes DJ set

[mp3] Judi Chicago – Burger Joy
[mp3] Noot d’Noot – Living The Life (featuring Sleepy Brown)
[mp3] Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal (Black Dominoes Remix)

Friday is when things really get going at Athfest, and it’s filled to bursting with great shows. In most cases, the bands highlighted here are one among other great bands on a bill. Athfest shows, much like SXSW shows, tend to be put together with sonic congruence of sound in mind. It’s a good bet that if you like one band on a bill, you’ll like them all.

6:40 PM
Twin Tigers — Main Stage
Free
Though Athens is often thought of as a pop town, there are plenty of new noisemakers and rock bands on the rise (Dead Confederate, Spring Tigers, Gift Horse). Twin Tigers are one of the best of this scene. They’re noisy and driving in the No Age vein, except that they have actual songs! They get better each time I see them, and they were no slouches when they started out. Dead Confederate and Je Suis France-affiliated rapper Excalibrah are playing right after them, so stick around!

9:30 PM
Circulatory System — Nuci’s Space
Free with Athfest wristband (donations for Camp Amped and Nuci’s Space are encouraged)
Circulatory System shows are fairly rare, so you should take this opportunity to check them out. Fans of E6 stuff and psychedelica will be rewarded by OTC Will Hart’s mind-melding, twisty creations. The band has been working on forthcoming album Signal Morning, for over seven years, in part due to Hart’s Multiple Sclerosis. Take every opportunity you can to see this band.

10:00 PM
Creepy — Flicker
Free with Athfest wristband
One of the more exciting all female acts I’ve encountered since Electrelane, Creepy is another band that gets better each time I see them. They’re not too far off from turn-of-the-90s shoegaze like Slowdive, but singers Melissa Colbert, Page Campbell, and SJ Ursey eschew the cold, Gregorian feel of the Cocteau Twins for soulfulness. It’s surprising when you first hear it, as so many bands–particularly within this genre–consider real singing verboeten. They may be a little outsized for Flicker, so bring earplugs!

10:30 PM
Lazer/Wulf — Morton Theatre
Free with Athfest wristband
This pick ain’t for everybody, as Lazer/Wulf is an instrumental metal band. Some of you will probably tune out right there. I get it. But hear me out, by staying vocal-Free (for now…don’t cave, guys!), they avoid one of the great pitfalls of metal: the ridiculous lyrics and laughable vocals. I love plenty of metal that has these things, but I suspect it’s a deal-breaker for a lot of casual observers. Lazer/Wulf strips it all back to the foundations: chops, deft changes, thunderous playing. And it rips.

11:45 PM
Brave New Citizen — Little Kings
Free with Athfest wristband
I haven’t seen Brave New Citizen yet, but I figured I’d go out on a limb here, given the talent assembled. Jay Nackashi’s last band was Empire State, one of Athens’ lost treasures, an unusual pop project with homemade instruments. Guitarist Jesse Flavin has the same protean qualities as Lindsey Buckingham (and is a great songwriter in his own right). I’m picking this one on pedigree alone, so don’t let me down, guys.

1:00 AM
Casper & the Cookies — Cine
Free with Athfest wristband
Full disclosure up front: I played drums with this band for six months last year. I’m biased, sure, but they replaced me with an iPod, so I also have a reason to be bitter (*grumbles*). The Cookies’ new album is called Modern Silence, and it’s an epic, genre-skipping pop record, fusing the accessible and experimental while never losing site of song essentials. Committed to the concept of “the show”, they are one of Athens most flamboyant live acts. This is the show for you if you hate indie rockers standing around looking at their instruments.

If you are interested in being a part of this movie, email your headshot or photo to ExtrasCastingATL@gmail.com. Compensation is $58 for 8 hours.

They are calling for submissions on art space service projects. This is a great opportunity for community members interested in leading a project to come and share their ideas and discuss how WonderRoot can help. This meeting is also open to anyone interested in volunteering and finding their place within WonderRoot and the art community. Possible project ideas could include, but are not limited to, classes and workshops, public art, and in school programs for kids. Individuals wanting to help with a community garden are also encouraged to attend.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Kristy at WonderRoot.

Brightblack Morning Light
Rio En Medio
Sunday, February 22
Doors 8PM | $10 | 21+
The Earl

To win a pair of tickets to see Brightblack Morning Light at The Earl on Sunday, February 22, enter via email with your full name and tell me why you should win the tickets. Two winners will be chosen at random from the rule abiding contestants and notified via email by 5PM on Friday, February 20. Upon confirmation, each winner will receive two tickets which they will receive at Will Call.

[mp3] Brightblack Morning Light – Hologram Buffalo
[buy] Motion To Rejoin (2008)

Check out more Contests & Giveaways from Drive A Faster Car.

Monday Reads:

1. The Knife Is Writing An Opera… Olof Dreijer Currently In The Amazon, Field Recording Animals, Fish and Plants… (from The Daily Swarm)
I could not think of a darker, more peculiar, modern band to write an opera. This should be good.

2. Deerhunter’s Pundt Unveils Debut Lotus Plaza LP (from Pitchfork)
Atlanta representin’.

3. Takka Takka Daytrotter Session (from, duh, Daytrotter)
Lust, lust.

4. See You on the Flip Side (from Listening Post on Wired.com)
Wired is canning their music blog.

5. Medulla Obbligato (from Transmission on Gapers Block)
“Owned and operated by the crew at the Shape Shoppe studio and members of affiliated groups Icy Demons and Chandeliers, the recently-launched Obey Your Brain label aims to showcase the work of the Shoppe’s allies, associates, and fellow travelers alike”

Monday Tunes:

[mp3] Cut Off Your Hands – Happy As Can Be

[mp3] The Republic Tigers – Fight Song

[mp3] Department Of Eagles – No One Does It

[mp3] Mixel Pixel – Sinking Feeling

[mp3] Anthem In – Down

Stomp and Stammer’s 12th Birthday is this weekend and they are kicking it off with a free concert at The Earl tonight with an all-star Atlanta local music lineup including Noot d’Noot, All The Saints and The Coathangers. This is a must hit show.

[mp3] Noot d’Noot featuring Sleepy Brown – Living The Life
[mp3] The Coathangers – Parking Lot
[mp3] The Coathangers – Shut The F*ck Up
[mp3] All The Saints – Hornett
[mp3] All The Saints – Sheffield

Monday, November 10
DaFC Pick: Brightblack Morning Light @ Eyedrum
Butch Walker & Jesse Malin @ The Loft
Diplo @ Masquerade
DaFC Pick: Magnetic Morning @ The Earl
Orphan @ Drunken Unicorn
Sleeping in the Aviary @ Lenny’s
Usher @ Tabernacle

[mp3] Butch Walker – The Weight Of Her
[mp3] Jesse Malin – Hotel Columbia
[mp3] Diplo – Must Be A Devil
[mp3] Diplo – Blow Your Head (DJ Eli Remix)
[mp3] Diplo and Rye Rye – Wassup Wassup (ddpesh Remix)
[mp3] Magnetic Morning – Cold War Kids

Tuesday, November 11
Blitzkid @ Drunken Unicorn
Coldplay @ Philips Arena
Legendary Shack Shackers @ Masquerade
DaFC Pick: M83 w/ School Of Seven Bells @ The Earl
Sisters of Mercy @ Variety Playhouse
The Flobots @ The Loft
Tim Reynolds & TR3 @ Smith’s Olde Bar

[mp3] Coldplay – Bigger, Stronger
[mp3] M83 – Kim & Jessie
[mp3] School of Seven Bells – Wired For Light

Wednesday, November 12
The Alternate Routes @ Smith’s Olde Bar
DaFC Pick: The Spinto Band @ Masquerade

[mp3] The Spinto Band – Later On
[mp3] The Spinto Band – Pumpkins & Paisley

Thursday, November 13
Young Antiques, Liverhearts @ Star Bar

Friday, November 14
Cobra Starship @ Masquerade
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band @ Variety Playhouse
Modern Society @ Vinyl
DaFC Pick: The Atlanta Mess-Around @ The Earl
The Grails @ Drunken Unicorn
The Phreakness @ Lenny’s
The Selmanaires w/ Parts & Labor @ Star Bar

[mp3] The Selmanaires – Images

Saturday, November 15
Electric Six, Local H and The Golden Dogs @ Lenny’s
The Beggars’ Guild w/ Jon Black @ Vinyl
DaFC Pick: The Atlanta Mess-Around @ The Earl
DaFC Pick: The Sword @ Masquerade

[mp3] Electric Six – Don’t Be Afraid Of The Robot

[MP3] – Cold War Kids – Something Is Not Right With Me

No Atlanta dates posted yet, and if that doesn’t change – who wants to take a little drive to Nashville?

In local news – there is a grrrreat (excessive R’s means its for reals) show coming up – Saturday, August 9 at the Highland Inn Ballroom & Lounge.

The Constellations CD Release
Saturday, August 9
at the Highland Inn Ballroom & Lounge
featuring:
The Selmanaries
DJ Set by Judi Chicago
5 BUCKS // 9PM // 21 and UP
Anyone wearing 4 or less items of clothing gets limited edition Constellations B-Side