Local Music News

Artist: Utah
Album: Here They Come
Year: 2010

Utah are an Athens two-piece drums and guitar band formed in 2009. Their first release, Here They Come, is a highly proficient husk of Doom ala EyeHateGod, Bongzilla, or Electric Wizard. However, their sound is not always slow and plodding. On the contrary, many of the songs on their first EP are mid tempo and have an occasional punk feel. Their sound is primarily characterized by a wall of fuzzy guitar-distortion. Larry C.’s ride cymbal sets the tempo as he plays fast drum fills and pounds heavy beats on the kick. Will and Larry share vocal duties. Many of the lyrics are sung in a yelled, or chanted fashion which creates a powerful sound and compliments well their primal sounding instruments. The riffs are ever-basked in chewy fuzz and seem as if they were written specifically to compliment the husky sound of the amplifiers. Here They Come is a great demonstration of up-tempo Doom Metal, but none of the songs really feel like completed pieces. The longest song is 2:55 and the whole EP only clocks in at 12:13. Additionally, the EP’s grungey mixing doesn’t truly do justice to the power of Larry’s kick drum which is somewhat lost in the muddy bottom end. However, the exceptionally throaty guitar tone should be a nirvana for hardcore Doom enthusiasts looking for a fuzzy fix.

Tracklist:
1. Bisontennial
2. Geo
3. Help
4. Uno
5. Jorge

Odist are an experimental rock trio from Atlanta, GA. They play in a style which is reminiscent of Chicago progressives Pelican with occasional FX drenched leads ala Jimi Hendrix. All their music is instrumental and incorporates drums, bass, guitars, loops, and effects to create a sweeping, wave-like sound which is driven along by intricate, hard hitting drum grooves and a riffing bass line. Tracks 1, 3, and 5 are moderate length pieces which have a less improvised feel. However, 2, 4, 6, and 7 are quite long and lean much more towards the bands experimental, possibly self-indulgent, tendencies. Overall, Odist’s On The 49^th Day is intense and powerful, yet graceful and spacey. Check out more on Odist on their myspace.

I stood in the WUOG Lobby and watched as unknown faces poured in to begin assembling a musical platform in the small lobby. A colorful drumset adorned with paintings of clouds and rainbows sat next to a six foot bass amp with the word ‘Megoliath’ etched on its speaker grill. There were many smaller amps, each for a different instrument including a mandolin, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, Korg mini-keyboard, and a violin.

This was the set of the aptly named Super Cluster. Athen’s premier experimental folk rock super group. Vocalist and keyboardist Vanessa Hay, of Pylon, and drummer Hannah Jones of The New Sound of Numbers are chief creative minds behind the group, but the bands sound is truly a collaborative effort.

Of particular interest was bass player Kay Stanton who from behind the bands mountain of cacophonous sound, held down a menacing beat whilst interjecting bits of distortion and style into her sound. Her exhilarating performance lended a needed visual presence to the aural focused band. In a brief interview after the performance she cited the Riot Girls, Flaming Lips, and Simon & Garfunkle as influences.

The band played a total of nine songs all of which were quite short in length. They displayed a lot of variety in their set. The first song, “Sunflower Clock (short version),” showcased a Middle Eastern sound replete with a chiming tambourine holding a steady beat whilst the bass riffed over and the other instruments generally laid back to create a spacious but moving vibe. Another set highlight was “Night I Died,” the fourth song in their set. Its psychedelic atmosphere was set off by spacey synth lines and long violin chords. A steady staccato rhythm from the mandolin, drums, and bass pushed the song along for its duration.

Super Cluster is everything that is great about the Athens music scene. These are musicians who have been in Athens since the so-called “Glory Days” and have evolved to remain current with the times. Before beginning their set, the band conversed amongst themselves about how great it was to be playing music and you could tell through their performance that they really just enjoyed playing together. This is a group of musicians whom I can respect. Whether they are ever to have success individually or together outside of Athens seems irrelevant. What matters is that they are fulfilling their musical desires and are continuing to evolve their musical identity.

Setlist:

Sunflower Clock (short version)

Answer

Mermaids Tale

Night I Died

Too Many 8’s (short version)

Anyone

Peace Disco Song

Neat In Sheet (Side Effects cover)

Paris Effects

This Friday will be the first in two days of ear splitting metal at The Caledonia in Athens. The two day festival will feature some key acts from the Athens metal scene such as Music Hates You and Guzik as well as acts from Atlanta and out of state.

The full lineup is as follows:

Friday, October 1

In The Lurch
Utah
Holy Dirt
Sons of Tonatiuh
Telestrion
Armazilla
Royal Thunder
American Cheesburger
Music Hates You

Saturday, October 2

Helmsman
Rat Babies
Cat Meat
Stone Mountain Freeway
Guzik
Death of Kings
Wizard Smoke
Noble Rust
Let The Night Roar
Whores
Indian
Rwake
Colossus
Demonaut

Doors will open at 6:30 on Friday and at 2:30 on Saturday. Two day passes can be purchased exclusively at Pain & Wonder tattoo studios in downtown Athens at 285 West Washington St. Tickets can also be printed online from PayPal.

Let’s all turn out and show some support for the local metal scene. Let the juicy metal flow!