Monday, February 6, 2012

Music

Betsy Kingston knew Joseph Dinnan before they started a band together, and that familiarity has enhanced their debut as part of Betsy Kingston & The Crowns; and their debut enhances Kingston's affinity for bluesy, emotional sound. Courtesy Betsy Kingston

‘All or nothing’ artist celebrates album release

By on February 6, 2012

A rock band came from a conversation about vending. The relationship between Joseph Dinnan and Betsy Kingston’s families span about 50 years; Dinnan’s father knew Kingston’s grandfather. “Our families go way back,” said Kingston, singer, songwriter and frontwoman for Betsy Kingston & The Crowns. “I moved to Athens to pursue music.” In a conversation about [...]

Chris Pickering began as a pop drummer in Australia before striking out solo and, now, striking out a bit country. Courtesy Chris Pickering

Aussie makes jump from ‘invasion pop’ to Nashville

By on February 4, 2012

It’s the invasion of the Australian country crooners. Among the ranks of illustrious Aussie imports like Adam Brand and Keith Urban, comes singer-songwriter Chris Pickering. But Pickering doesn’t settle for a standard “country” music label. “[My music] is British invasion pop music-meets-Americana twang, and that’s a pretty good approximation for people who actually know what British invasion music is,” [...]

John Goode, who leads an eponymous performance group, has been working with both professional dancers and select students in preparation for his piece “The Rambler,” about the “rambling spirit.” ELIZABETH WILSON/Staff

Dance troupe recruits Univ. students for conceptual, ‘very romantic’ piece

By on February 4, 2012

“The Rambler,” a dance performance piece by the Joe Goode Performance Group, has been a long time in the making. For Joe Goode and the dancers, including four chosen University students, the project has taken a journey opposite to the style it portrays. In September of last year, preparations began for the students who were [...]

The Corduroy Road played at the Georgia Theatre on February 2, 2012

PHOTO GALLERY: The Corduroy Road

By on February 3, 2012

     

John French is funding his latest CD in a standard way – through donations, through the website Kickstarter — but with a most peculiar side-goal: if the album is a-go, it will do so complemented with art by French’s friends and fellow locals. Courtesy Cassie Robinson

Writers, artists inspired by musician’s album-in-the-making

By on February 3, 2012

Collaboration is the new lonely. John French and a handful of local musicians and artists aim to create together — but they need help. Local band John French & the Bastilles have launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for its new album. This album, however, will go far past just music, incorporating complementary artworks [...]

Corduroy Road has changed over the past year. While the name remains, the members have changed. EVAN STICHLER/Staff

Corduroy Road returns to old campfires with new members

By on February 2, 2012

Last year, The Corduroy Road died. Now it’s back: same name different band. With three new members out of five, more has changed than has stayed the same. While some members of the band moved on to different goals, the passion for playing never left Drew Carman, the band’s vocalist and guitarist, and Elijah NeeSmith, [...]

Anvil helped pioneer heavy metal as a genre several decades ago. But unlike Metallica or Black Sabbath, the group was never immortalized for its work. Still, that hasn’t kept it from keeping on — both in the studio, with 14 albums, and on the road. Courtesy Dalila Kriheli

Anvil looks to what went right in past

By on February 2, 2012

Anvil is the Cinderella of heavy metal. Despite having the looks, sound and ambition of its more popular sisters such as Metallica, Motörhead and Black Sabbath, Anvil never quite managed to achieve the same status as those early-heavy metal groups. But vocalist and guitarist Steve “Lips” Kudlow prefers to think about what went right, even [...]

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Tycho’s set swirls sight, sound

By on February 1, 2012

Most of the time when a band sounds exactly like the recording it’s a good thing — a compliment of perfection even. The live sound Tycho can produce outweighs the studio sound twice over. The three-man band’s performance last night at the Georgia Theatre was a stark contrast to its recorded sound: Tycho brought its [...]

Graphic designer and musician Tycho, performed at the Georgia Theatre on Jan. 31.  SEAN TAYLOR/Staff

Tycho spins designs into ‘hybrid’ sounds

By on January 31, 2012

Tycho likes to walk a tightrope. Scott Hansen, the man behind Tycho, strives to balance his different interests in life and in music. The inherent originality this produces makes Tycho and its sound one of a kind. Previously a freelance graphic designer, Hansen decided to spotlight his passion for music about a year ago. But designing didn’t go. “I’ve [...]

Nurses, a trio begun in Portland, Ore., made its last album in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. That group commitment informs much else about the band. Courtesy Nurses

Oregon-based band builds music from its ‘dark tone’

By on January 30, 2012

For five weeks, James Mitchell, Aaron Chapman and John Bowers lived in a cabin in the woods. And then, at the end of it, they made an album. We were just immersed in it,” Mitchell said. “It was really great. We were all pretty excited to just focus on that.” The Oregon coast was gloomy, [...]