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Augusta meets Atlanta band Whosehouse kicks off Volume Six with a great rendition of Christmas classic “Silver Bells”. Headed up by Augusta singer-songwriter Jacob Beltz and featuring several Atlanta musicians, Whosehouse stick respectfully close to the original while still managing to put their own spin on the long-time holiday favorite. Beltz’ vocal delivery is powerfully sincere and the “La Bamba” style breakdown adds a festive feel.

Thomson’s own Crosstie Walkers keep the holiday spirit in Georgia with their take on Red Lights (Merry Christmas), originally written and recorded by 80’s Athens New Wave band Dreams So Real. Starting off with precious singing children Crosstie Walkers turn in a great catchy tune that sways between Americana folk and just good pop.

Kids and Christmas music go hand in hand and no one knows how to rock the kids in the CSRA like Tara Scheyer and the Mud Puppy Band. Made up of a multitude of great Augusta talent and topped off with Scheyer’s sweet vocals this original tune- “Red & Yellow, Black & White”, is unmistakably a Scheyer composition. Rumor has it that the great chorus of voices behind Scheyer’s lead vocals took 22 tracks!

Former Horsepower guitarist/vocalist Grady Nickel shows his Americana colors on his great original tune “Decoration Day”. Fans of Nickel’s former projects will undoubtedly love to toss back a few cold ones to this track while toasting the upcoming holiday season. Nickel always manages to mix melody with heartfelt energy and his latest song has that combination stamped all over it.

Former Augusta resident Greg Hester brings one of the most soulful voices in music to the table with an oh so funky version of “Back Door Santa”. This bluesy ode to year-long holiday lovin’ features tasty guitar licks by another former Horsepower alum (and James Brown guitar player extraordinaire) Keith Jenkins and offers just enough groove and grit to keep the big kids from feeling excluded.

While not an Augusta artist, singer-songwriter Jennifer Daniels has logged as many Augusta show hours as some born and bred local bands drawing rooms of fans with each and every visit to the area. One listen to her rendition of the traditional Christmas hymn “O Holy Night” and it’s easy to hear why Daniels is consistently one of Augusta’s favorite visiting artists. Daniel’s enchanting vocals do great justice to one of the seasons most cherished and beautiful classics providing perhaps the most tender of moments on this years release.

Who better to musically share the true meaning of Christmas than the legendary Swanee Quintet? With a history that spans over six decades and includes sharing the stage with such music icons as Shirley Ceasar and James Brown, this incredible Gospel act graces this year’s 12 Bands with the very soulful and moving “In Bethlehem”. While some members have come and gone over the years the one thing that hasn’t changed is the Swanee Quintet’s ability to stir the soul like few others in music can.

Leave it to Say Vandelay to take a song by 80’s pop sensations Wham! and turn it into a driving rock tune so catchy that anyone within earshot will be tapping a happy toe in mere seconds. More hooks can be found in this version of “Last Christmas” than on a lake during fishing season. Only a band that rocks would have the coconuts to tackle a George Michael song and well, Say Vandelay definitely rocks!

One of Augusta’s most interesting original bands, Debt of Nature returns to the scene after nearly a 20-year absence with “Santa Claus is DUI (of Love)” on this year’s CD. Made up of musicians that would go on to be members of bands such as Hundred Year Sun, Smile, Billionaire, Deviltown, and 48Volt, Debt of Nature not only returns but also does so by sounding as remarkably fresh as they did when they first rocked Augusta in 1988.

Made up of current/former members of Augusta bands Taming Bacchus, Dirty Sons of Ireland, The Radar Cinema, and Atlanta rock-a-billy act The Hot Rods, G-City Rockers take the Ramones and Buddy Holly and tosses them in the blender for their take on the traditional Christmas song “Up on the House Top”. Fans of guitar rock and gang-style vocals will enjoy rocking out with this fun tune.

“Lights on the Boulevard” by 48Volt is a gorgeous song written with love for our very own Stoney and his wife Jean. (Don’t believe us? It even says so right on the back of the CD jacket!) Christmas is a time for family even the ones who can longer be with us no matter how hard it may be. Nothing says this more than the line “…let the memories turn into gold of every Christmas you’ve ever had.”

It comes as no surprise that Ed Turner and Number 9, the South’s greatest tribute to the Beatles, would contribute by paying homage to the Fab Four. Ed and his merry band do a spot-on (that’s right, I said “spot-on”) medley of the mop tops holiday tune “Christmas Time is Here Again” and George Harrison’s 1970 hit “My Sweet Lord”. While the first may appeal mainly to die-hard Beatles fans, the latter will surely have music fans of all ages singing along. Just more proof that the music of the Beatles is timeless and that Augusta is home to some of the most incredible musicians in the south.

Not only does this year’s 12 Bands of Christmas feature almost all acts not featured on a previous Volume, Tara Scheyer and the Mud Puppy Band being the exception, it could also possibly be the strongest of the six CDs yet. With nearly an equal mix of covered renditions and original compositions, Volume Six has something for just about every musical ear out there. Even better is that you can already run out and get it and start listening to it as soon as you’d like. The CD is available at many locations around Augusta including all area Circle K stores and is a must addition for any local or Christmas CD collection. They’d make a superb gift as well!

If you’re still not convinced, come out to this year’s 12 Bands of Christmas CD listening party this Friday November 14th at Sky City. The fun starts at 7PM and the event is free! You can hear the whole CD before you pick up one and if it moves you to the point that you must purchase one immediately…copies will be on hand! This year’s show will be held December 21st at the Imperial theatre.

For more information visit www.myspace.com/12bands

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The band gave fair warning months ago.In fact, in an interview this past June to promote their Friday the 13^th DVD release it was revealed that Chairleg’s MySpace Page-
http://www.myspace.com/chairleg
had already listed Halloween night as the drop date for the band’s next CD release.Despite the extreme advance warning, nothing could have possibly prepared Augusta metal heads for a release this brutal.

Clocking in at just over 33 minutes, the 7 songs on Chairleg’s latest release Determinant weight in somewhere between the average EP and usual full-length CD.Just enough to fill you up but the perfect amount to leave you wanting more.

Starting off with evil marching drums Determinant’s opening track Far pauses just long enough for a guttural welcome to the onslaught that is to follow.While it’s apparent right off the bat that Chairleg has progressed into heavier territory the result is still the old school metal that the band has become known for.The kind of metal Metallica used to play before Napster made them forget that tape trading is what made them an underground metal sensation in the first place.Far is the kind of metal that makes you want to shake your fist in unison, bang your head methodically, and scream along loudly.

Barely leaving the listener time to breathe 2-6 Hold takes of fast and furious and it doesn’t get any more forward than when frontman Larry Sprowl screams “you want to see the real me now.”Imagine if David Banner said “you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry” AFTER he turned into the Hulk and you might get an inkling of the ferociousness of this tune.Thrown in some choice lead guitar madness and you have an old school heavy metal lover’s wet dream come true.

Leave it to Chairleg to conjure up a song about a laser shooting-missile firing robot and make it pure infectious chantable angry metal. I defy anyone to attend a Chairleg show and try and refrain from raising their fist and chanting “robot robot robot go!” with a mob of fellow metal maniacs.Can’t be done, trust me. I’d be doing it now if I wasn’t afraid I might break something! Mecha is perfect mosh pit material and by that I mean arm flailing high-stepping in a circle moshing not aimless slam dancing.

For anyone barely able to remain upright after the first three songs it only gets harder and faster with the next track Resolute, almost four and a half minutes of marathon sprint metal. Resolute is a super fast slingshot to top speed that stays on the tracks for the full ride before coming to an abrupt brutal stop. Not recommended for use near pacemakers or oxygen tanks.

At What Cost moves things along with great vocal lines and dual guitar harmonies ala Iron Maiden. Possibly the most classic metal tune on Determinant, this track may also be the most complete track of the bunch offering just about every thing a metal fan could possibly want just short of a sledgehammer and some car windows.

Not to be overshadowed by the true metalness of the previous track, Gravecloth is just plain f’n angry metal carnage. Not surprising that after hearing this track on Confederation of Loudness that a listener was prompted to comment “Chairleg are a bunch of angry muthaf%*kers.” Whether that is true or not may be a matter of personal opinion but one thing is for sure, if ever someone needed a song to get pumped up to Gravecloth would be a great choice.

Despite the fact that after listening to the first six songs on Determinant a nap may be in order Chairleg, never one to let anyone off easy, throws in one final chance to sweat off a few more pounds and pick up your heart rate to near cardiac proportions via the smashing tune Forgotten3. As if six songs wasn’t bloody enough the guys toss in one final downhill drop leaving nothing to catch the fall but a sudden blunt stop. Skull crushing doesn’t get anymore punishing than this.

While fans of metal may not find anything particularly groundbreaking about Chairleg’s latest release what they will discover is that classic ear-splitting metal is alive and well in the CSRA. Massive drums complete with pounding double bass pedals chained to growling bass guitar topped with a lethal two-guitar attack and steered by the angriest vocals. It’s a combination that has driven metal fans into a frenzy for nearly three decades and from the looks of it will continue for many years to come.It was the music that got angst ridden teenage males through the blandness and boredom of everyday life back in the 80’s and looks to do the same for a whole new generation of headbangers looking for a space to call their own.

Thank the Metal Gods that they can still find it in bands like Chairleg.

For more information about Chairleg visit their MySpace page at
http://www.myspace.com/chairleg

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www.fizzkicks.com is a great online promotional site that will house a great band profile and is filled with great tools for you to get your music out to the masses including offering song / album downloads as well as Digital Download Cards which you can mail to your friends and fans in email form, print out and hand out, or for a small fee get printed out to distribute.  The artist sets up the card with any number of songs (downloads) which can be found on your page on FizzKicks.  The artists can charge fans any price they choose or even use the cards for a promotional tool and offer free downloads.  Each card comes with the artist’s FizzKicks page address and a code for the download and never expires as long as the artists has the page.  FizzKicks even offers templates for card creation.  Your profile can include artist info, upcoming shows, etc. And it’s dirt cheap.  You can pay monthly for the super plan or go for the “no-risk-no-money up front plan”.

There are two ways artists can take part: the Pro-Plan Subscription

Or the Pay as You Go Plan Subscrition:

FizzKicks looks to have a good thing going for bands.  If it didn’t do you think we’d be on here pushing their site?  We’re not making any dough off of this mention.  We just think lokal bands can benefit from FizzKicks.

But if you decide to join up…we won’t mind you mentioning that you heard it here!

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LL – It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 5 months since we last spoke to you guys. What have you been up to since then?

LS- Writing, recording, playing chess… the usual.
RG-Writing a lot of new music and having many cold ones, well…except the straight edger over there, Mike…he’s been finding ways to become at least 51% machine so that he and Larry can begin their real life epic P2P battle of good and evil.
ML- It’s been a long process but we wanted to make our music- harder, heavier, fast, and better. We wanted to do something more for our fans and ourselves.

LL – Now last time we spoke you guys were about to release a DVD on Friday June 13th. How’d that go? Were you guys pleased with how the DVD turned out?

ML- The DVD turned out better than we expected and the “drunken commentary” and “behind the leg” stuff was a great time!
RG-I guess it was good, we sold out. Nick Laws from Sector 7G did a great job on it and we are in the process of adding some extra footage to add to it thanks to our robot.
LS - I was pleased with the show. The DVD turned out better than I expected though I have to admit the special features were better than the show!

LL – In June we also talked about the bands love of horror stuff, especially Matt and his ability to find obscure horror stuff. With Halloween and your CD release coming up, I think it would be the perfect time to ask what Matt’s pick for a new horror flick to watch this Halloween.

LS- Here comes something ridiculous. Please do not say “Teeth”…
RG-Matt likes some sick shit
ML- wow, the pressure. I have to pick a new horror flick to watch…hmmm well the Saw movies are always a fun watch for the gore. “Zombie Strippers” comes on DVD on the 28th or if your lucky enough “My Name is Bruce” (a horror comedy about Bruce Campbell) is limited release on the 26th. That would be the newer stuff I would keep an eye on. But of course I’ll be waiting to see how Friday the 13th and Hellraiser are going to be in Feb of next year!

LL - Fun stuff! So like I said, Halloween is coming up which means the Nightmare on Ellis Street show at Sector 7G. A few years ago, if I’m correct Chairleg was part of the Nightmare on Ellis Street show and compilation CD and last year ripped it up at Bloodfest. You guys just live for this spooky stuff don’t you?

LS- Wouldn’t say “live for”… I’d say “prefer”.
RG– Nightmare on Ellis was the brainchild of Lawhorne and Laws and was Chairleg’s first show. I’d like to see the CD portion return…Matt, get on it slacker.
ML-Yeah, yeah, yeah, Its been gone for a little bit and so we figured what better time to bring it back than for Chairleg’s CD release. We hope to make this an annual event from now on. Hopefully even bring back the Compilation CDs again and start a new tradition in Augusta music.

LL – Now this year’s event will also be a CD release show for your latest CD. I gotta ask this, you announced back in June that you were gonna do this but I found out recently that up until just a few days ago you were still finishing up the tracks. You guys procrastinators or just like last minute challenges?

LS- None of the above. We knew it was going to be rough from the get go. We really took our time making sure we did our best. That and it was the only time the Jam Room was available.
RG – We wanted to produce the best product possible. That included writing a few new songs and putting finishing touches on the ones we had ready for the album.
ML-“The early bird may get the worm, but it’s the second mouse that gets the cheese”. Honest though we just wanted to make it the best record that we could. We wanted the fans to be as excited as we are about this

LL – Are you guys gonna have this thing ready in time? Why didn’t you knock it out a couple months ago?

RG-Lots of work and money, man! You know how it goes, right? Sometimes things just don’t work out the way you want them to and instead of slapping tape on it we decided to rebuild once or twice.

LL – O.K. I’ll stop giving you guys grief over it. What’s up with the new CD? What can fans expect?

LS- Doesn’t matter what we do to prepare them for it, they’re going to get exactly what they deserve from us. Brutal music played by nerds.
ML-Expect it to be heavier, faster, harder, (funnier), and just a damn good CD. We were told by a close friend that has been there while we were recording that this CD will be putting “Omen, Now” to shame.

LL – So it’s gonna be “bloody” good right?

LS- Nah, I’m giving up all that blood stuff. Well, maybe not completely. Okay yes. Buckets of the shit.
RG - It’ll make you want to punch your mama. Just kidding, but seriously…it will.

LL – Now Brian Allen and I recently discussed the lack of effort of many area bands when it comes to promotion. I was listening to The Radar on 95 Rock recently and I thought I heard Joe Stevenson say that the show was sponsored by Chairleg. Did I hear that right?

LS- You heard correctly. We wanted everyone to know what was happening on Halloween, and we felt 95Rock was a perfect vehicle to get the word out.
RG –We also sponsor the Witching Hour with Troy Bradley on from 12am to 2am every Saturday night.
ML- Yup. Thanks to Brower, we are sponsors of all the Weekend shows on 95 rock Scratch and Sniff, and Hard Drive as well.

LL – What made you decide to sponsor the show and what did it entail?

RG – We feel strongly about promoting all local and metal music, so if the ads help fund Radar and The Witching Hour to carry on, then we are happy to support those programs, and you all should listen to them!
ML-We really want to make this show something special and so we went all out on the promotion. We wanted everyone and their brother to know about this show because we are pulling out all the stops to make this a big event not just a show.

LL – Now last time we talked about horror films and characters. Gonna get a little more Halloween on your asses. What kind of weird things did you guys dress up for on Halloween when you were kids?

RG - I remember when I was in 4th grade I got the liquid latex Freddy Krueger makeup kit and spent 5 hours applying it before school and wore it ALL day and night. Of course there was the time a few years back that I dressed as Michael Myers and walked up and down Broad St scaring the hell out of people all night. I went so far as to make an ID so that when a door person asked for it, I brought that out…that was fun.
LS-The ones that stick out to me are Super Gonzo, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, Freddy, Jason x4, and Sub Zero.
ML-Well I have done a lot of different things, I always try to do something different every year, and no, they haven’t always dealt with Horror gene. Haha. I’ve done everything from witches, pumpkins, mummies, Maurice from “little monsters” to even California Raisins (that was crazy me in a trash bag and tights haha)

LL – And favorite Halloween candy?

LS– Nerds.
ML- hmm I always loved DOTS that was a great change from the chocolate that everyone gave out
RG – Candy Corn-Straight up sugar.

LL - Last time I also asked you to compare some Halloween scary guys…let’s try some weapon-wielding dudes this time. Jason seemed to win out last time so…Jason or Leatherface?

ML- Well I’ll still have to go with Jason on this one. Leatherface just like to run around and scream with his Chainsaw not a whole lot of planning. He was great chasing the girls, but Jason really made more of an art out of all the killing and it was always different.
LS- Jason. Leatherface gets hurt. Jason gets people very dead.
RG – Michael Myers is “pure evil”…Jason and Leatherface are a joke. Hell, Voorhees didn’t even have his “big knife” until the 3rd or 4th installment and Leatherface is a fucking retard. Michael has been killing with a butcher knife since age 7.

LL – Alright, before we go…shoot us a little info on the show coming up on Halloween. What bands are playing, cover, time, etc.

LS- Matt?
ML- The show will start at 6:30 with Blood of an Empire followed by Pursuit of Angels, Shotgun Opera, Quickfuse (in their last show ever) and we will be hitting the stage by 10:30. We will be having Costume contest between each band for funniest, scariest, cutest, and most original. Price is $7 or if you’re in a costume its only $5. Come early and stay late, there will be fun and surprises all night long!!

LL – And how about a weird Halloween message for our readers?

RG – If you don’t buy our CDs and shirts, the boogey man WILL get you! Heh
LS- Do not watch “Teeth”! No matter what Matt says! Remember the Blumpkin!

LL – Well thanks once again for the spook-tacular answers!

RG- Thanks for having us.
LS- It was our pleas-tacular-ure.
ML- Thank you kind sir, see you at the show. If you’re not too scared that is. Haha

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“Jamie has been blessed with an opportunity that he just cannot pass up - so very understandably, we accept this change. Although we are going to miss him like heck, we can’t help but feel excited for him as he pursues his new endeavor in Chicago!”

Garin and Roberts are looking for ”a drummer who is serious about making music a priority in their life.” and interested drummers can contact them at: languageartsrocks@gmail.com - SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY.

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Unfortunately what was meant to be a discussion on the timing on the August Chronicle’s part to finally supply a regular news column about lokal music came off to some as a diss towards Uhles’ efforts.  To his credit Stephen Uhles, to use a term often spoken by Stak, “got it” and responded  in this weeks Pop Rocks column by saying- “They (Stak & myself) were enormously supportive of focusing on local music. They did, however, raise the question as to whether my mix-tape approach was completely original. No, it isn’t..” 

 Now if Stephen wanted to get nit picky he easily could have questioned where a couple of guys chatting up lokal music in a two hour time period could have come up with such a “novel” idea.  But instead the guy Stak and I both consider the ultimate scribe of lokal music reporting graciously pimped the also new Confederation of Loudness online show even offering up his own useful suggestions. 

To our defense, not that any is needed as it regards anyone else, Confederation of Loudness was not created to simply pat lokal music on the ass and yell “good play.”  Augusta has an incredible music community but that doesn’t mean we can all just hold hands all the time and be complacent.  This music community is worth fighting for and if that means shaking things up or rattling a few cages, then so be it. 

Stephen Uhles gets this.

To all who ”get it” as well, we stand to fight beside you not simply for you.  If you’re clueless, step aside.  It’s about time deserving lokal bands had a few qualified roadies. 

Bands, get your music to 95 Rock to be played on The Radar, send it to Stephen so he can share it with the masses, mail it to the Metro Spirit so someone can help expose it.  Hell, send it to us at COL c/o Cannon 734 Hickory Oak Hollow Martinez, GA 30907 and we’ll pimp it on the show.  Listen to the show on Sundays at 5PM at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lokalcon and call in and share your opinion.  Let us know what you think.

Make the effort and without a doubt it will get rewarded.

Stoney

To read Stephen Uhles latest Pop Rocks go to: http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/102308/mus_480462.shtml

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