Pat the Wiz...
...preserving the magic
Athens Redux 10/21 thru 06/22
Shared on October 1, 2021
This is the debut of our new musical diversion, this one with no competition involved; rather, we are posting sets from shows by some of our favorite bands through the years. Please enjoy the first show by 10,000 Maniacs from their initial performances in the South, at the 40 Watt on Broad May 31, 1983. Enjoy!
Shared on October 8, 2021
Week 2 for our new puppy, one of my all-time favorites, Love Tractor. Hope you enjoy, from September of 1986.
Shared on October 15, 2021
Our show this week I believe to be the final recording I made at the Watt, this version was the one on Clayton, second time around. Our band was characterized by the front man as “four lads from Denton, Texas”. We hope you enjoy this music interlude provided by the one and only Brave Combo.
Shared on October 22, 2021
This week we feature a show from the Clayton Street Watt in February of 1990 that spotlighted our old friends the Chickasaw Mudd Puppies, Brant and Ben.
Shared on October 29, 2021
This week we present the Glenn Phillips Band for your audio pleasure. One of the finest collections of musicians to ever take the stage of the 40 Watt Club, it was a singular honor for me to work with them. We hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
Shared on November 5, 2021
Here's one from the archives for your listening pleasure. An Athens favorite, this band featured our town's all-time front man of renown, the inimitable Bryan Cook. We hope you enjoy!
Shared on November 12, 2021
Time for a visit from the Lone Star State and an outstanding band called the True Believers, augmented by a couple of locals you may recognize. Say hello to Alejandro, Javier, Hopper and Nicky!
Shared on November 19, 2021
This week’s choice for Athens Redux is an old favorite of mine, Kilkenny Cats. I’ve heard it said many times that this band was terrific live but their recordings failed to reflect that quality. Of course, that’s true of many bands. We hope you’ll enjoy this show in any event, from the 40 Watt Uptown on February 5,1985
Shared on November 26, 2021
Our best blues experience has to be Tinsley Ellis and the Heartfixers. This was their final show at the 40 Watt Uptown, February 25, 1987. We hope you enjoy!
Shared on December 3, 2021
From 12 bar blues to psychedelia deluxe, you name it we got it. We're back in Athens for this week's serenade, which is none other than Dreams So Real. Hope you give us a listen and that you push the "like" button!
Shared on December 10, 2021
Among the many benefits performed at the Watt and other locations in Athens over the years this one stands out in my mind because of the headline performer. Peter Holsapple has contributed to Athens in many ways and many times but this Project Safe effort was one to remember. We hope you'll agree and that you'll join us in reminiscing a memorable night at the Watt from 1989.
Shared on December 17, 2021
This week's band doesn't always get the credit it deserves, so we're going to try to rectify that oversight. We hope you'll give a listen to one of Athens' finest, Mercyland.
Shared on December 24, 2021
This week’s band is one of those that “straddles the fence”, in that they were all residents of Atlants but moved to Athens at some point and called Athens home for a while. I prefer to call them Atlantans myself so that’s how we’ll refer to them henceforth. They were a tight band that made a living playing purebred rock n’ roll. Their lead guitarist was a friend of mine and my partner at Wiz Audio. We miss him, he left us much too soon. This one’s dedicated to a one-of-a-kind, Van Buren Fowler.
Shared on December 31, 2021
Time to feature an Athens band, this one was a personal favorite during their time together. Athens' most notorious fusion rock ensemble, the Land Sharks never failed to impress when they took the stage. In this case that stage was the Watt on Broad, from February of1985.
Shared on January 7, 2022
Our band this week hailed from the Garden State of New Jersey and came to the Watt on several occasions; this recording was made at their final show at the Broad Street location on March 23, 1987. The Feelies, as they were known, were an eclectic group that featured a unique sound and style, and they have been called an influence by several bands in the years since.
Shared on January 14, 2022
this week it’s a local Athens band known as Rumjungle. They were a regular draw at the Clayton Street Watt in its first incarnation, in large part because they had a PA and that was a big help in the days before the Watt had its own . Here’s hoping you enjoy Rumjungle!
Shared on January 21, 2022
Welcome to another Friday night with music all around, our band this week is one-of-a-kind, Birdsongs of the Mesozoic. Take the time to give them a listen, it’s well worth it!
Shared on January 28, 2022
Time to rock out Athens! We have a true one-of-a-kind this week, Vic Chesnutt and the La De Das. That means kick back, relax and push the play button.
Shared on February 4, 2022
Time for a party, we’ve got the entertainment part covered! All you have to do is click the GO button and turn it up, and let the dulcet tones of the New Riders of the Purple Sage take you away.
Shared on February 11, 2022
It’s Athens’ turn this week, and our Athens band is a real keeper. Seven Simons was one of the first bands signed to Jefferson Holt’s record label, Dog Gone Records. They were also the first band that REM opened for at the Watt on Broad in the first of their unannounced shows at that renowned music club. They also featured an old friend of mine, William Mull. We hope you’ll enjoy a good set by a good band.
Shared on February 18, 2022
Serenade time again, we have a roadhouse blues band that called the Florida beaches home. Say hello to Charlie Pickett and the Eggs!
Shared on February 25, 2022
One of Athens’ most popular bands in the early ‘80’s, Art in the Dark cultivated a loyal following until their breakup in 1983. I always enjoyed working with them and I hope you enjoy this show from the 40 Watt on Clayton in February, 1983.
Shared on March 4, 2022
This week we’re going to break from the usual fare we have to offer and showcase the only bluegrass entry in our musical repertoire. Say hello to Norman and Nancy Blake, known as the Rising Fawn Ensemble by the addition of James Bryan to the personnel!
Shared on March 11, 2022
We have a real treat in store for this week’s show, the Little Tigers were a preeminent member of the Athens music community during the early years of the 1980’s. They always drew a loyal and vocal following wherever they performed and never failed to please their crowd. Give this clip a listen and see if you don’t agree!
Shared on March 18, 2022
We’re going to make a little sortie down by the river, the north Oconee to be precise, to take in a show by a perennial Atlanta power rock band known as the Georgia Hellhounds. Featuring members of another band of like energy, the Hellhounds performed under the nom de guerre just mentioned because there was a legal dispute regarding their use of the name of their previous incarnation. It doesn’t really matter, what matters is the music that the band purveyed. We present that for your enjoyment here tonight.
Shared on March 25, 2022
Imagine the sound of a rock band emanating from the old house across from the Taco Stand on Milledge, the one known as the Zoo. If it’s a summer evening the sweat that cloaks the crowd within is like a bishop’s robe, at once ubiquitous and pervasive. Club GaGa is holding court at the Zoo, and everyone in the crowd is moving. You don’t want to miss this, there’s no experience like it. We dedicate this episode to the memory of Chan Thoroughman.
Shared on April 1, 2022
This week’s band was a North Carolina group that played the Watt on Broad several times in the mid 80’s, this clip is from January of 1986. Say hello to Fetchin’ Bones, Hope, Aaron, and the rest.
Shared on April 8, 2022
This week we have another one of Athens’ unique and colorful musical groups to whet your appetite. Time Toy was composed of members from other Athens bands, as were many bands from those days. Let Bryan, Paul, Danny and Robbie serenade you with their eclectic brand of cerebral rock.
Shared on April 15, 2022
This week we feature a stalwart of the punk scene of the 1980’s, the Circle Jerks. If you like your music loud, hard and fast then this band is your cup of tea.
Shared on April 29, 2022
I don’t know what happened to my post last week but when I checked on it yesterday part of it was missing. I’ll try to check from now on to make sure the entire post is present before I log off. Our selection this week is an eclectic choice to be sure. Mojo Nixon and Skip Roper were a one-of-a-kind in every sense of the term. If you’ve never heard them do yourself a favor and give it a listen, you won’t regret it!
Shared on May 6, 2022
This week we have a good-time factory of a band, Hillbilly Frankenstein. Featuring players assembled from a cross-section of Athens bands, HF came to play and play they did. Sadly, we lost one of its members much too soon: Jeff Walls passed away a couple of years ago. We’d like to dedicate this episode in his memory.
Shared on May 13, 2022
Looks like there will be no Athens redux this week. There is something going on with Wix and I can't get the file to play. Wish me better luck next week!
Shared on May 20, 2022
We’re sorry for the trouble with last week, we still don’t know what happened but Jean spent three hours on the phone with Wix tech support, and they couldn’t tell us what was wrong but eventually the problem seemed to resolve itself. At any rate, it seems to be functioning now so we’ll hold our breath and hope it stays that way. Hope you enjoy this week!
Shared on May 27 , 2022
Time for an Athens original, and it doesn't get any more original than Limbo District. This recording was from the Clayton Street Watt not long before we moved to Broad Street, enjoy!
Shared on June 3, 2022
The Silos were a good band that played the Watt on Clayton a couple of times in the late 80’s, I liked the band so much that I recorded both shows. That was not a commonplace thing. Give this a listen and see if you don’t agree.
Shared on June 10 , 2022
No Athens Redux posted this date, just couldn't do it.
Shared on June 17, 2022
I cannot brook things that don’t work as intended, and after being subjected to cyber harassment for a few minutes I am usually ready to go to war with the offending party.
Such was the situation last week, when I encountered a “failure to communicate” with my software. It took a long while, but I finally persevered and we are ready to resume our weekly feature, Athens Redux. Speaking of redux, that’s exactly what I had to do battle with until there wasn’t enough time to complete the task at hand. Veni, vidi, vici.
We hope you enjoy a musical interlude with our choice this week, the New Invincibles.
Shared on June 24, 2022
We have a fun Friday planned for this evening, with our maestro du jour none other than John Cale, he of Velvet Underground fame. From the 40 Watt on Broad to the Lower East Side: