Week # 420                                           Damage Report performing "Mad Animal"

October 5, 2018

                                                                  Winner:  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU.  Co-winners:  Tom English,                                                                    Archdale, NC;  Matt Morrison, Salem-Winston, NC;  Chris                                                                                    Hartstonge, London, UK;  Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Craig                                                                            Williams, Portland, OR;  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA;  Kenneth                                                                            Rogers, Atlanta, GA; Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA.

 

Hint: I got chewed out for calling this band Athens' only true purveyor of technopop in a prior episode so I'm not going there again! Let's just call it industrial strength emotive tonalities, and that's my story till my attorney gets here! This recording comes from that dear little concrete shoebox known as the 40 Watt on Clayton, version 2.0. I can't provide much more of a clue than that without risking getting into trouble, so that will have to do! Good luck everybody!!

 

 

Week #421                                            the Lyres performing "Love Me Til the Sun Shines"

October 12, 2018

                                                                  Winner:  Tom English, Archdale, NC.  Co-winners:  Craig Williams                                                                    Portland, OR;  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU;  Chris Hartstonge,                                                                        London, UK;  Joel Suttles, Asheville, NC;  Andy Johnson, Athens,                                                                      GA;  Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Andrew Carter, Charlottesville,                                                                    VA;  Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA;  Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA.

 

Hint: during the days of the 40 Watt Uptown there was a string of bands from Boston who were from the Ace of Hearts label that played when their tour brought them to the South. This was one of those bands and arguably the best-known from Beantown. Their Wikipedia article lists their inception as being 1979 and that they are still current as of this writing. During that span of time, their personnel are listed as being 13, of which only the frontman/keyboardist has been a constant. Their discography consists of 6 albums, 4 singles and 3 EPs.

 

 

Week #422                                            Final Frontier performing "Remember"

October 19, 2018

                                                                  Winner:  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU.  Co-winners:  Tom English,                                                                    Archdale, NC;  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA;  Chris Hartstonge,                                                                            London, UK;  Matt Morrison, Winston-Salem, NC;  Kip Shepherd,                                                                      Huntsville, AL;  Craig Williams, Portland, OR;  Kenneth Rogers,                                                                          Atlanta, GA. 

                                                             

Hint: this was an Athens band that enjoyed a modicum of popularity in the mid 80's, usually playing the Watt on Broad in a supporting role but headlining on earlier nights of the week on occasion. It was a three-piece group consisting of guitar, bass and drums, and the guitarist was the younger brother of another guitarist whose band was an Athens favorite. They released a 45 that got some radio play but it never caught fire and by the time we reopened on Clayton Street in '87 they were a distant memory. Good luck everybody!!

 

 

Week #423                                            Brian Brain performing "You Want to Wake Up Happy"

October 26, 2019

                                                                  Winner:  Tom English, Archdale, NC.  Co-winners:  Andy Johnson,                                                                    Athens, GA; Darryl White, Melbourne, AU;  Kip Shepherd,                                                                                    Huntsville, AL;  Craig Williams, Portland, OR;  Matt Morris,                                                                                  Winston-Salem, NC;  Steve Fleming, Portland, OR;  Kenneth                                                                              Rogers, Atlanta, GA;  Chris Hartstonge, London, UK.

 

Hint: this band consisted of a front man who'd been the member of a well-known post punk experimental band, which he left the year before this recording was made. They played the Watt on Broad in the summer of '86 to a less-than-overwhelmed audience, which seemed jaded to the use of piped-in recordings, onstage vocal effects and other such gimmickry. The name of this band was adopted as a moniker by the front man for this project, that filled in between bigger fish he had to fry. We'll award an extra 5 points to everyone who can name the well-known post-punk band that he left to create this group. 

 

 

Week #424                                         La Di Das performing "I'm Not a Victim"

November 2, 2018                            

                                                               Winner:  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA.   Co-Winners:  Matt                                                                           Morris, Winston-Salem, NC;  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU;                                                                       Tom English, Archdale, NC;  Kip Shepherd, Huntsville,  AL;                                                                       Craig Williams, Portland, OR;  David Judd, Alexandria, VA;                                                                         Chris Hartstonge,  London, UK;  Steve Fleming, Portland, OR;                                                                 Tim Abbott, Skipton, UK;  Kenneth Rogers,  Atlanta, GA.

 

Hint: this band burst on the Athens music scene and had an immediate impact. Fronted by an aspiring singer/songwriter, they performed at the 40 Watt on a regular basis and developed a loyal following as a result. The  frontman went on to a solo career that is remembered to this day, overcoming physical challenges due to being paralyzed in an auto crash as a teen. We'll award an extra 5 points to anyone who can name him, but we need the name of this band first and foremost. We apologize in advance for this selection ending abruptly due to the tape running out. 

 

 

Week #425                                             Tupelo Chain Sex performing "Ballroom Blitz"

November 9, 2018

                                                                   Winner:  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU.  Co-winners:  Tom                                                                                   English,  Archdale, NC;  Chris  Hartstonge, London, UK;  Craig                                                                             Williams, Portland, OR;  Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC;                                                                                   Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA;  Steve                                                                       Fleming, Seattle, WA.

 

Hint: this band called LA home and chalked up favorable critical reviews when it made its debut on the musical stage there, headlining at Club Lingerie frequently. Referred to as punk/jazz/rockabilly, its eclectic style led to a devoted following despite a revolving door of personnel during its years of activity in 1982-1989. They released six studio albums before calling it a career. I always enjoyed working with them because they didn't bring a Southern California attitude when they came to town, unlike some other acts from that time period. Good luck everybody!!

 

 

Week #426                                           Seven Simons  performing "Dandelion Goodbye"

November 16, 2018

                                                                 Winner:  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU.  Co-winners:  Tom English,                                                                   Archdale, NC; Kip  Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Andy Johnson,                                                                               Athens, GA;  Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA;  Kenneth  Rogers,                                                                               Atlanta, GA;  Chris Hartstonge, London, UK.

 

Hint: this band burst upon the Athens music scene in 1986 and left a mark by being one of the first bands to sign to Jefferson Holt's record label. Attendant to that aspiration, it was arranged for REM to play an opening set for them at the Watt on Broad, which show took place in February of 1987, less than a month before we closed our doors forever. REM shared backline equipment, but after three songs the guitar amp went into defunct mode and their set was cut short in the middle of "Just a Touch". The evening's headline act was salvaged by REM's crew retrieving Peter's amp from their practice space and, as the old adage intones, the show must go on and it did. The bassist from this band was our second champion on Band of the Week, we'll award 5 bonus points to everyone who can identify him. Good luck everybody!!

 

 

Week #427                                            Matt "Guitar" Murphy performing "Stormy Monday"

November 23, 2018

                                                                  Winner:  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU.  Co-winners:  Tom English,                                                                    Archdale, NC;  Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Chris Hartstonge,                                                                          London, UK;   Matt Morrison, Winston-Salem, NC;  Andy Johnson,                                                                    Athens, GA;  Craig Williams, Portland, OR;  Kenneth Rogers,                                                                              Atlanta, GA;  Dave Smith, Bristol, UK;  Tim Abbott, Skipton, UK;                                                                        Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA.

 

Hint: this band took its name from the frontman/guitarist, who was born in Mississippi and moved to Memphis as a child, then moved on to Chicago as a young man where he found fame as a blues guitarist. He worked with Howlin' Wolf, Memphis Slim, Chuck Berry, Buddy Guy, Etta James, Willie Dixon and Otis Rush, among others. His biggest claim to fame was his role in the movie "Blues Brothers", in which he played the part of Aretha Franklin's husband. Both of them passed away this year, and we're dedicating this episode of Band of the Week in their memory. 

​

 

Week #428                                             Time Toy performing "Pervert's Delight"

November 30, 2018

                                                                   Winner:  Tom English, Archdale, NC.  Co-winners:  Andy Johnson,                                                                     Athens, GA;  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU;  Kip Shepherd,                                                                                   Huntsville, AL;  Chris Hartstonge, London, UK;  Matt Morris,                                                                               Winston-Salem, NC;  Andrew Carter, Keswick, Virginia;  Craig                                                                           Williams, Portland, OR;  Tim  Abbott, Skipton, UK;  Steve                                                                                     Fleming, Seattle, WA. 

 

Hint: his band was an Athens favorite, composed of members from other Athens bands who coalesced into a local legend within the music community.  The frontman had already made a mark on the Athens music scene due to performing with members of an Athens giant in an ad hoc group, as well as other ensembles, but this was the first band that he fronted as lead singer.  Their career spanned only a couple of years but in that time they left an indelible mark on the Classic City.  

 

 

Week #429                                               Bill Sheffield & the XLs performing "Hold On, I'm Coming"

December 7, 2018

                                                                     Winner:  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU.  Co-winners:  Tom                                                                                   English, Archdale, NC;  Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Chris                                                                                 Hartstonge, London, UK;  Craig Williams, Portland, OR;  Matt                                                                             Morris, Winston-Salem, NC;  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA;  Steve                                                                         Fleming, Seattle, WA;  Tim Abbott, Skipton, UK;  Kenneth                                                                                 Rogers, Atlanta, GA.

 

Hint: this was an Atlanta band that developed a loyal following during a career that spanned several years in the late '70s and early 80's. They came to the 40 Watt on Broad once in the summer of '84, when this recording was made. Their name consisted of that of the front man, followed by a two-letter surname with a descriptive flair. The frontman had a widespread reputation for being arguably Atlanta's most recognized purveyor of blue-eyed soul, which is readily apparent in this clip. Good luck everybody!!

 

 

Week #430                                                Pylon performing "Working"

December 14, 2018

                                                                      Winner:  Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC.  Co-winners:  Chris                                                                          Hartstonge, London, UK;  Tom English, Archdale, NC;  Craig                                                                              Williams, Portland, OR;  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA;  Darryl                                                                                White, Melbourne, AU;  Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  David                                                                              Judd, Alexandria, VA,  Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA and Steve                                                                          Fleming, Seattle, WA.

 

Hint: this band really needs no introduction because its singular sound is an unmistakable guidon of the Athens art-rock movement of the 1980's. Their career spanned the period from the late 70's to 1983, when they broke up the first time, then reunited in 1989, broke up again in 1991, reformed in 2004 and broke up for good when their guitarist was killed in a traffic mishap in 2009. They left an indelible mark on not only Athens music, they left one on contemporary music in general. 

 

 

Week #431                                                 Taj Mahal performing "Cakewalk"

December 21, 2018

                                                                        Winner:  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA.  Co-winners:  Tom                                                                                        English, Archdale, NC;  Chris  Hartstonge, London, UK;  Darryl                                                                            White, Melbourne, AU;   Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Craig                                                                              Williams, Portland, OR;  Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA;  Kenneth                                                                          Rogers, Atlanta, GA.

 

Hint: this artist has been a blues influence and legend for more than half a century, being named the official Blues Artist of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2006.  He has made a career of playing solo but has also performed with a host of notable musicians, including the Rolling Stones, Ry Cooder, Eric Clapton, Etta James, Cyndi Lauper and a list too long to present here. He has released 28 studio albums, 8 live albums, 13 compilation albums, dozens of collaborative efforts and has appeared in a dozen films. He has also won three Grammy Awards and been nominated for ten. Good luck everybody!!

 

 

Week #  432                                               REM performing "The One I Love"

December 28, 2018

                                                                       Winner:  Chris Hartstonge, London, UK.  Co-winners:  Tom                                                                                 English, Archdale, UK;  Darryl  White, Melbourne, AU;  Tim                                                                                 Abbott, Skipton, UK;  Melissa Bock, Charlotte, NC;  Kip                                                                                         Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA;  Lynn                                                                           Berndt, Grafton, WI;  Craig Williams, Portland, OR;  Andy                                                                                     Johnson, Athens, GA;  Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA;  Gale                                                                                     Bartow, Franklin, WI.

 

Hint: this band is such an icon in Athens and around the world that they need no introduction or hint. If you don't recognize this band you really have no business playing our game. Good luck everybody!!

 

 

Week #433                                                 the Le Roi Brothers performing "Roadrunner"

January 4, 2019

                                                                       Winner:  Tom English, Archdale, NC.  Co-winners:  Darryl                                                                                     White,  Melbourne, AU;  Chris  Hartstonge, London, UK;  Andy                                                                           Johnson, Athens, GA;  Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC;  Tim                                                                           Abbott, Skipton, UK;  Craig Williams, Portland, OR;  Kip                                                                                       Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Melissa Bock, Charlotte, NC.  

 

Hint: this band was one of the many Austin, Texas bands that graced the doors of the Watt on Broad during our time there. Formed in 1981, this band featured a rockabilly guitarist who unfortunately passed away in 2017. They released eleven albums, the second of which reached #181 on the Billboard 200 chart in 1987. 

 

Week #434                                                 Little Tigers performing "Separate Beds"

January 11, 2019

                                                                       Winner:  Tom English, Archdale, NC.  Co-winners:  Chris                                                                                       Hartstonge, London, UK;  Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Andy                                                                           Johnson, Athens, GA;  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU;  Craig                                                                                 Williams, Portland, OR;  Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA;  Jennifer                                                                           Barnhart, Athens, GA; Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA;  Melissa                                                                             Bock, Charlotte, NC.  

 

Hint: this band was one of Athens' most well-known and best-followed in the first half of the 1980's. Taking their name from the appearance of the mottled pattern on seeds of Indica marijuana, they carved a niche of their own in the music community in the Classic City. They held the distinction of setting the house record for draw and bar at the 40 Watt on Clayton Version 1.0. which event took place in January of '83. I happened to glance at the band photo in our home page scroll when it occurred to me: of the five band members only two survive to the present day. Time takes its toll. Good luck everybody!!

 

 

Week #435                                                  Webb Wilder & the Beatnecks performing "You Can't Hide Behind Your Makeup"

January 18, 2019

                                                                        Winner:  Tom English, Archdale, NC.  Co-winners:   Darryl                                                                                    White, Melbourne, AU;  Chris  Hartstonge, London, UK;  Kip                                                                                Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Tim Abbott, Skipton, UK;  Matt                                                                                  Morris, Winston-Salem, NC;  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA;  Craig                                                                          Williams, Portland, OR;  Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA. 

 

Hint: this band consisted of a frontman and his backing group, the frontman taking his stage name from a character who was created to star in a film about aliens and he kept the stage name for his music career that ensued. That career has been called rockabilly, roots rock, rock n' roll, boogie rock, Southern rock, and Americana. This band came to the Watt on Broad in February of '87, and while the frontman has persevered in Nashville since those early days the personnel used in a backing role has changed with the passing of the years. We want the front man's stage name and we'll award an extra 5 points to anyone who can provide the name of the backing band that appeared on this excerpt. We'll also award an extra 10 points to the first person who can provide the real birth name of the front man.

 

 

Week #436                                                the Blanks performing "Wrap It Up, & I'll Take It"

January 25, 2019

                                                                      Winner:  Tom English, Archdale, NC.  Co-winners:  Chris                                                                                      Hartstonge, London, UK;  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU;  Matt                                                                            Morris, Winston-Salem, NC;  Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;                                                                                  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA;  Craig Williams, Portland, OR;                                                                                    Steve  Fleming, Seattle, WA;  Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA.

 

Hint: when Tyrone's burned in January of '82 I made the decision to part ways with Men in Trees, which led to me becoming fader jockey for this band, with whom I'd worked several times previously. They had a steady set of bookings due to affiliation with an agent who worked the area from Savannah to Charleston primarily, and this clip was recorded at the Windjammer on the Isle of Palms. An interesting note is that the 1982 version consisted of three Aquarians across the front and me on the board. The band endured a change in personnel later on, which is the lineup featured here. We hope you'll enjoy, good luck everybody!!

 

 

Week #437                                               Mojo & Skid performing "Don't You Come Round Here"

February 1, 2019

                                                                     Winner:  Tom English, Archdale, NC.  Co-winners:  Tim Abbott,                                                                         Skipton, UK;  Darryl White,  Melbourne, AU;  Chris Hartstonge,                                                                         London, UK;  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA;  Kip Shepherd,                                                                                       Huntsville, AL;  Craig Williams, Portland, OR;  David Judd,                                                                                   Alexandria, Virginia;  Kenneth  Rogers, Atlanta, GA;  Matt                                                                                   Morris, Winston-Salem, NC;  Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA;  Starr                                                                        Wright, Athens, GA.

 

Hint: this band was a two-piece that came to the Watt on Broad in support of their debut eponymous album release in the summer of '85. Their stage presence consisted of the front man playing guitar and providing vocals, and the accompanist performing assorted percussion effects that I've often referred to as "dingle balls". Their musical style is usually called "psychobilly", an apt description if there is one. Their career lasted until 1989, but the front man has extended his with the Sirius radio medium, as well as appearing in films and music videos. After retiring from music in 2004 he pursued a career as radio DJ, and has three shows on the Sirius platform. He has also served as honorary captain of the US luge team at the 1998 Winter Olympics. Good luck everybody!!

 

 

Week #438                                              Mercyland

February 8, 2019

                                                                    Winner:  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU.  Co-winners:  Tom                                                                                    English, Archdale, NC;  Kip  Shepherd, Huntsville, AL;  Chris                                                                                Hartstonge, London, UK;  Craig Williams, Portland, OR; Andy                                                                            Johnson, Athens, GA;  Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC;  Dana                                                                          Downs, Athens, GA;  Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA;  Steve                                                                                  Fleming, Seattle, WA. 

 

Hint: this band was Athens' entry in the grunge revolution of the late 80's, establishing a reputation by touring and performing extensively, often in company with other bands from the Classic City. They established a loyal following that showed up when they played by utilizing that formula. The frontman has gone on to success as an engineer, producer and head of the UGA Music Business Department. Good luck everybody!!

 

 

Week #439                                              Birdsongs of the Mesozoic performing "Final Motif"

February 15, 2019

                                                                    Winner:  Tom English, Archdale, NC.  Co-winners:  Tim Abbott,                                                                          Skipton, UK;  Matt Morris,  Winston-Salem, NC;  Kip Shepherd,                                                                        Huntsville, AL;  Darryl White, Melbourne, AU;  Melissa Bock,                                                                              Charlotte, NC;  Andy Johnson, Athens, GA;  Chris Hartstonge,                                                                            London, UK;  Craig  Williams, Portland OR;  Kenneth Rogers,                                                                              Atlanta, GA;  Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA. 

 

Hint: this band was formed in Boston in 1980 and enjoyed a career that, according to their Wikipedia article, is extant to this day. They have released six studio albums, the first on the Ace of Hearts label and the rest on Cuneiform Records. Their influences are many, among them classical, avant-garde, jazz, progressive and others, including punk and post-punk. One of its members has enjoyed a very successful career as a composer, producer, and recording engineer.