It's all happening today: Denton, Texas songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Markham will release his latest full-length album, Just Like a Dream, on Chase Park Transduction in May 2022. ' was recorded. The album was recorded and produced by David Barb and features Chris Killingsworth (Thrift). Store Cowboys) on drums, Kyle Harris (Diamond Center, Sleepy Horses) on bass. Being from Texas, I wouldn't normally qualify for inclusion here, but it had so many Athens-related aspects that it passed the test. This is great, and I'm glad it happened too. Markham is a power-pop purist in the best sense of the word. Although his influences are sometimes worn on his sleeve (Tommy Keene, The Raspberries, Weezer, Matthew Sweet, etc.), they are just as often buried beneath his own clever pop style, where He accurately conveys pop music as a language rather than a set of instructions. Particularly enjoyable songs include album opener “Big Star,” the hooky “Out For Blood,” the tropical synth-filled “Standing In The Rain,” and the slow-paced but effective album closer “Miracle.” there is. Markham will play Athens on Saturday, April 13th at the Little Kings with guests Pilgrim and Claire Morales. The new album is available digitally or on vinyl and can be found at danielmarkham.bandcamp.com.
Just Like a Dream by Daniel Markham
Rejoice that the songs never end: Athens artist Dean Malmberg, who goes by the project name Blue Green Demenor, has released a new self-titled six-song EP. In an email to Flagpole, he described the record as “…a fantastical journey with a meandering quality that touches on specific genres but never settles down.” I don't really agree with this either, but I think it's not of this world, it's earth-based. That said, the majority of the songs are very peaceful acoustic guitar-based pieces, and many of the tracks are quite long, making them great when you want to relax and get lost in something. As for my tastes, I really liked his opening track, “Fell Away,” but it was his eight-minute long “Out Of My Hands” that impressed me the most. Find this on Spotify.
THE SOUND OF MUSIC: AthFest has announced the primary artists selected to perform at this year's event, which will take place June 21-23. There are some really great ones on this list, so read carefully. The first group of artists confirmed to perform include Kilkenny Cats, Pink Stones, Sust, Wim Tapley & The Cannons, Hefner, Hotel Fiction, Kishona, Lil' Darius, Maserati, Reverend Tribble & Includes The Deacons. I wish I could print this next part in 36-point type, but please be careful. But folks, this year we're also going to have Sneakers, an absolutely fundamental band from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Generally only familiar to power pop aficionados, sneakers were originally created by Mitch Easter (Let's Active, Drive-In Studio), Chris Stamey (The Decibels), Robert Keeley, Robert Slater, Will Rigby ( Formed by The Decibels. I have no idea who will actually play in the line-up, considering that this band hasn't received any active attention since about 1978, except for occasional reunions. I mean, look at these guys. They were busy. He gives a lot of credit to AthFest for securing this performance. Rumor has it that the full lineup for the festival should be announced in early May, so we won't have to hold our breath for too long. For more information, visit athfesteducates.org.
You've come this far, stop now: Primordial Void hosts Seattle electronic artist RM Francis, Athens' Ohmu, and Primordial Void head Marcel Sletten at Cine on Thursday, April 11th. Masu. While Ohm and Sletten can be otherworldly and soothing at times, RM Francis is downright unsettling and disturbing. So be prepared to be interrupted. Doors open at 8pm and music starts at 9pm. Visit rmfrancis.bandcamp.com, ohmushell.bandcamp.com and primordialvoid.bandcamp.com before the game.
Counting Flowers: Local band Violent Violet just released their debut album, wonderfully titled Music For Medication Commercials. At first glance, it might seem like it's full of hard rock metaphors and common musical phrases. But a closer listen reveals a deep glam rock influence. This comparison may not make much sense now, but I think of the Lee Harvey Oswald Band more than anyone else, and that's a compliment. There are nine tracks on the album, most of which just suck. This is especially true for “Hate Me,” “Junk,” and “Candy Bar.” Last year's demo from a band called Six Songz is also worth checking out. Find new albums on Spotify and older ones at Violetvioletathens.bandcamp.com.
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