Archive for October, 2008
Brock Butler 10/27/08 @ the Georgia Theatre (Athens, GA)
Take a cold fall night (let’s say it is a Monday) and add the feeling that you do not really want to go out, but would not mind to hear good music with a couple of friends. Now it only takes one man, an acoustic guitar, and a loop station to have a perfect evening. Thanks to Brock Butler that is exactly what I had last night.
It kind of felt like being invited to a very intimate party. The Georgia Theatre was not crowded at all and they had put up chairs for the people who wanted to sit. Brock started early with a short solo set playing some of his own songs but also tunes by Pearl Jam and Medeski, Scofield, Martin and Wood. It was impressive to see him work the loop station, building his own backup group. I feel like I liked his original songs best, but since he did not talk a lot even those songs could have been cover songs.
After a short break Brock was joined on stage by one of his buddies on the drums. For me, at that Monday night, I would have preferred to just listen to him doing his solo stuff. That does not mean that they sucked. It was just one of those nights…
Like most jam band related artists, a lot of the live concerts of Brock Butler can be found on the Live Music Archive (LMA). I have chosen the following three songs from one of his older shows on the LMA. Enjoy!
“Breathe” performed at Amberland IX – Cherokee Farms, 05-25-2008:
The UGA Music Business Program
“If someone tells you that it’s a bad time to get into the music business, he or she is wrong. The whole music business gets redefined right now and you can be there from the beginning,” says Les Ottolenghi, founding partner of Fuzebox Inc. Les is just one of the many guest speakers who have taken part in the Music Business Program so far. But let me go back and start at the beginning.
A few days ago I wrote that coming to Athens, Geogia had nothing to do with the Music Business Program. Originally I came here to get my MBA. It all started back in Germany at my home University of Erlangen-Nuremberg when someone asked me if I knew anyone who would like to study for a year in the U.S. Of course I did!!!!
Conspirator & Eoto 10/22/08 @ the Georgia Theatre (Athens, GA)
This fall brings a lot of good bands into town. The evening with Eoto and Conspirator was one of those many upcoming nights I am looking forward to until Christmas. There’ll also be JJ Grey & Mofro, Lotus, Pnuma Trio, and more of Perpetual Groove and STS9. I guess music-wise, I’ll be fine.
Eoto is a live electronic project by Jason and Travis from String Cheese Incident. There are drums and a lot of synth sounds sometimes paired with guitar or bass. They are just a two piece band. I really enjoyed their show, but have to admit that I felt like something was missing. They had good grooves going, but in my opinion never took it far enough. They didn’t peak. That’s strange though, knowing from which background Jason and Travis come from. Maybe it was just a phenomenon of this night. (more…)
Umphrey’s McGee Podcast #70
Here is some special treat! If you are not familiar with Umphrey’s McGee you should check this out. One of the best live bands I have ever seen.
It’s an mp3 that you can download or simply listen to with the player.
Umphrey’s McGee Podcast #70: Download: umpodcast70.mp3?nvb=20081019153717&nva=20081020153717&t=05e3e4b47ea1242e2353d
[Download Umphrey's McGee Podcast #70]
Have fun!
Bassnectar 10/17/08 @ Georgia Theatre (Athens, GA)
Because I have been sick (and still am) I had already missed one concert this week. That’s why I felt I could not miss out on Bassnectar. And besides, since I did not get my Phish tickets for Hampton, VA 2009 I had saved a whole lot of money, too.
It took a long time until Bassnectar finally came on. I was almost ready to go home again before he actually started. At that point the Georgia Theatre was packed. I have never seen it that full. And then came the bass waves and I couldn’t leave. There was no way to not dance to this music. It just got to your feet. If you ever have a chance to see Bassnectar, go!!!
Galactic 10/8/08 @ Georgia Theatre (Athens, GA)
The Georgia Theatre was depressingly desolate when an energetic young band from Oakland, CA took the stage. It was the Crown City Rockers’ first gig on a three week tour in support of the headliner of the evening – Galactic. Despite only a handful of people in front of the stage, Raashan Ahmad (MC) and his team put on an impressive show. Without being obnoxious the two MCs, who were backed by a grooving rhythm section and funky keys, managed to draw the sparse audience into their performance. It was a show that had it all: Kickass funk songs, compelling a-capella rhymes, drum and bass solo and wacky synth sounds. These guys had three things that I think are essential for an up-and-coming band: Likeability, interactivity, and enthusiasm (everybody could tell these guys had fun on stage). I think Galactic found the perfect opener for their performance in this hip hop-funk band from California. Athenians can be a stiff crowd that sometimes has a hard time opening up to new music right away. Most of the people just came to see Galactic. But these guys had everyone waving their hands in the air-like hip-hop from the early 90’s. A great show!
The AthFest Panels
After attending the impressive Atlantis Music Conference in Atlanta which presented several concerts by various artists and many panel discussions, I didn’t expect that the smaller AthFest Panels (October 4th, 2008) which were held at the Melting Point in Athens would have much to offer that I hadn’t already heard or seen. I was wrong. The smaller and more modest atmosphere surrounding these panels seemed to promote more in depth discussions and a more thorough exchange of ideas. The first panel, “Entrepreneurship in the Music and Entertainment Industry,” was maybe the best presentation I’ve ever experienced. The panelists, Don Perry (Greenberg Traurig), Mark Montgomery (Echo), Jeff Hoffman (Priceline.com), Jan Smith (Jan Smith Studios), and David Lowery (Artist) provided insightful information about trends and ideas in the music industry. They talked about the challenges new entrepreneurs will encounter in the rapidly changing environment of today’s music industry. Their discussion was enlightening without being discouraging.
During the discussion I heard three ideas that I find very valuable, (more…)
Introducing “Out of Athens”
It’s been more than four months now since I came to Athens, GA. The original idea did not go much beyond getting my MBA at the University of Georgia’s Terry College. I knew that Athens was the home of bands like R.E.M., B-52s, Indigo Girls, and jambands like Widespread Panic and Perpetual Groove and is a great music town. However I did not forsee that this experience would present opportunities that would make me rethink my career goals, my future, and ultimately my life.
This blog will become my small music journal, about what I experience, learn, and think about music in Athens, GA. I have to apologize to my friends and family in Germany that I will keep this in English. I know you can deal with it!
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