As the days get cooler and the leaves continue to change color it is obvious that old man winter is creeping his way back into the area.  Yes winter, a time forreflecting on the year to date and thinking ahead of the year to come.

One area band that is thinking ahead is rock trio NoStar.  These guys have been hitting the road heavy in 2009 and don’t look to let up anytime soon.  I recently enjoyed an online chat with guitarist/singer Carey Murdock about ways to raise money to support touring and while I seriously suggested busking (a European form of street performing for tips usually done in subways) I also jokingly mentioned having a car wash, a bake sale and even a lemonade stand.  Imagine my surprise when this past First Friday I received a message from Murdock to stop by The Book Tavern on Broad Street to purchase some hot chocolate to help the band raise money for their next road trip!  Seems very un-rock & roll?  A band willing to do anything themselves to make it is VERY rock & roll in my eyes!  Needless to say these guys will be hitting the road again very soon! 

Speaking of hitting the road, looks like Augusta punky metalheads The Skuds will head West in January in support of their new split vinyl LP with Massachusetts punkers Man the Conveyors, who also happen to take up the other side of the split EP.  Is it my imagination ot have The Skuds released more vinyl than KISS?

While Augusta bands continue to move forward one area band is calling it a day.  Yes, Joe Graves & the Dirty Left Hand will be soiling the their palms one last time before breaking out the soap bar.  Catch ‘em one last time November 27th at Sky City with My Instant Lunch and Great Day in the Morning.

With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away of course that means Christmas is not too far up the road which means lots of big rock and roll shows during the month of December.  Lexie’s Legacy and Lokal Loudness will kick things off December 5th at Sky City with the 16th Annual Kevin Scott Brown Rocking the Stocking Concert and Christmas Party.  All proceeds go to fullfilling Christmas Angel wishes from around the Augusta area and this year The Vellotones will play host to an all-star cast of artists playing and singing classic rock and Christmas tunes including George Croft and Steve Allen of legendary Augusta sixties band The Pallbearers, Greg Hester along with former soul General Keith Jenkins, WGAC reporter Scott Hudon, Jacob Beltz, Henry Wynn, Jr., Deb Hemingway, Edmond “Lurch” Kida, former 420 Outback / current Tommy OD & the Survivors guitarist Doug James, Impulse Ride’s Ruskin Yeargain, Allison Foster, Dirty Left Hand / 48 Volt drummer Brian “Stak” Allen, Augusta Chronicle entertainment writer Steven Uhles, and many many more!  This will be an event you will NOT want to miss!

Speaking of holiday events, 12 Bands co-creator Coco Rubio is nearly finished working on a three (maybe four) night Christmas event featuring a calvacade of Augusta bands that is sure to be awesome!  But if you just can’t seem to get through the holidays without your 12 Bands fix, don’t fret – while the regular event will be M.I.A. this year look for a very special “Best of 12 Bands” CD with a possible coinciding event. 

If all this talk about Christmas before Thanksgiving is getting you all frazled let me just say this – there’s nothing wrong with planning in advance.  Just look at it this way, after all the turkey is gone there’s still more holiday fun to be had!

Finally, I would like to remind everyone that you have just a few more weeks to nominate your fave Augusta music artists for February’s Choice Awards.  Polls close on Thanksgiving night and the beginning of December the nominees will be posted for you to vote for.  So go to the Featured Post here on Lokal loudness and nominate!

Also bands only have until Christmas to send in their original unreleased recorded tunes for the second volume of “A Very Lexie” CD.  The first edition had many great artists and ended up in the hands of several hundred Augusta residents so make sure you jump on board.  It costs nada to get on the compilation but space is limited to the amount of tracks that will fit on a CD.  Call John “Stoney” Cannon at 706.836.5683 for more info.

Lokal Loudness is always looking for news to post about area bands and musicians.  If you have any news such as new band members, upcoming CD releases, etc.  you can sendyour news and updates to moc.oohaynull@ssenduollakol.  This is also the same address to send mp3′s to get played on Sunday night online talk show CONfederation of LOUDness.

Speaking of CONfederation of LOUDness…look for a new version in the upcoming weeks as we change from a live talk show to a pre-production show featuring interviews and live performances by area music artists.  This will be the next step in the COL evolution as we continue to try and bring you the latest and greatest stuff on area music.

Well I typed enough this time so until I feel like spewing again…Make It LOKAL, Keep IT LOUD!

Your Brother-In-Arms,

Stoney