5 ms·

Wow, HN meets Team Dresch! I've lived 'mentally' in Athens as an European youngster, I'm eager to read some stories, if you were there, then, please share!

eventualhorizon 4y ago
i grew up in Athens and was in high school/college during this time (graduated hs in '83). Unfortunately I was not that involved in the music scene but still got to see some great bands. The article spends a good bit of time on the B-52's but they were long gone to New York by this time and didn't really come back for public concerts until 'Cosmic Thing'. The popular bands that I remember were Love Tractor, REM, Dreams So Real and Kilkenny Cats. The scene as I knew it from a distance revolved around a few venues. Foremost at the time was the 40 watt club. It started as a room off of a back alley (with a bare light bulb?) that had moved by the time I was old enough to go. Lot's of history there. Other venues I visited were the Uptown Lounge, the Georgia Theater and surprisingly house parties. My favorite memories of the time were seeing PYLON and REM with about 50-100 other people at 'teen night' at the I&I club, I didn't really know PYLON but the show blew me away. Easily the best performance that I've seen. The Hillbilly Frankenstein album release party was wild and a blast. I also got to see the Flat Duo Jets at a house party and several times at small venues. Dex and Crowe made an amazing amount of sound for two guys with simple instruments. It was definitely a fun time to be in Athens and I certainly enjoyed myself. In hindsight I wish I had gotten more into the scene but growing up there and being so young I had no idea that there was anything special going on there.
- ethbr0 4y ago
  I was a bit after your time, but the old Athens food too! I didn't appreciate how exceptional (and cheap!) it was. Wilson's Soul Food, Taco Stand, Mexicali, Peppino's, Last Resort, Inoko Express There used to be a place next to the 40 Watt. X-Ray Cafe? I remember hanging out with poor bands post-show, because they had a grilled-cheese with tomato for $2.50 or so. By the mid to late 90s, it was more Widespread Panic, Drive-By Truckers, and Of Montreal, as REM had already graduated to super-stardom. The WP outdoor free concert (in the middle of downtown!) in '98 was something else. 100k happy people. https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/panic-in-the-streets-anniversary-widespread-panic/ https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/panic-in-the-streets-a... PS: Long live Jittery Joe's, fuck Starbucks. :) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jittery_Joe%27s https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jittery_Joe%27s
quercusa 4y ago
The Atlanta equivalent of the 40-Watt was 688, which was a cinder block building with maybe a 9 foot ceiling. It was always hot and full of clove cigarette smoke. The stage may have been 18 inches high. REM at 688 in early 1981: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAldqnBPz3Y&t=2077s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAldqnBPz3Y&t=2077s

eventualhorizon 4y ago

i grew up in Athens and was in high school/college during this time (graduated hs in '83). Unfortunately I was not that involved in the music scene but still got to see some great bands. The article spends a good bit of time on the B-52's but they were long gone to New York by this time and didn't really come back for public concerts until 'Cosmic Thing'. The popular bands that I remember were Love Tractor, REM, Dreams So Real and Kilkenny Cats. The scene as I knew it from a distance revolved around a few venues. Foremost at the time was the 40 watt club. It started as a room off of a back alley (with a bare light bulb?) that had moved by the time I was old enough to go. Lot's of history there. Other venues I visited were the Uptown Lounge, the Georgia Theater and surprisingly house parties. My favorite memories of the time were seeing PYLON and REM with about 50-100 other people at 'teen night' at the I&I club, I didn't really know PYLON but the show blew me away. Easily the best performance that I've seen. The Hillbilly Frankenstein album release party was wild and a blast. I also got to see the Flat Duo Jets at a house party and several times at small venues. Dex and Crowe made an amazing amount of sound for two guys with simple instruments. It was definitely a fun time to be in Athens and I certainly enjoyed myself. In hindsight I wish I had gotten more into the scene but growing up there and being so young I had no idea that there was anything special going on there.

ethbr0 4y ago
I was a bit after your time, but the old Athens food too! I didn't appreciate how exceptional (and cheap!) it was. Wilson's Soul Food, Taco Stand, Mexicali, Peppino's, Last Resort, Inoko Express There used to be a place next to the 40 Watt. X-Ray Cafe? I remember hanging out with poor bands post-show, because they had a grilled-cheese with tomato for $2.50 or so. By the mid to late 90s, it was more Widespread Panic, Drive-By Truckers, and Of Montreal, as REM had already graduated to super-stardom. The WP outdoor free concert (in the middle of downtown!) in '98 was something else. 100k happy people. https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/panic-in-the-streets-anniversary-widespread-panic/ https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/panic-in-the-streets-a... PS: Long live Jittery Joe's, fuck Starbucks. :) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jittery_Joe%27s https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jittery_Joe%27s

quercusa 4y ago

The Atlanta equivalent of the 40-Watt was 688, which was a cinder block building with maybe a 9 foot ceiling. It was always hot and full of clove cigarette smoke. The stage may have been 18 inches high. REM at 688 in early 1981: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAldqnBPz3Y&t=2077s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAldqnBPz3Y&t=2077s