Week #460                         Community Trolls performing "Six Stock Answers"

July 12, 2019

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

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Hint: this wasn't exactly a band, rather it was a small group of Athens musicians who decided to get together and busk outside the 40 Watt on Broad, which turned into the group performing with two members in a legendary show at a place called Stitchcraft. They only performed four songs, and the reception was a bit chilly since the crowd was there for REM, not a two-piece that included Peter Buck as an auxiliary. We want the name of this group, as they were known. 

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Week #461                          Government Cheese performing "I Want to Be a Man"

July 19, 2019                   

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

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Hint: this was a band that hailed from Bowling Green, Kentucky, and being friends with Athens' own musicologist Ort, came to the 40 Watt on Clayton in the summer of '89. They put on an energetic show that was punctuated with witty humor interspersed with driving rock n' roll. Their career lasted from 1985 to 1995, releasing several LP's and EP's along the way. The lead singer is still at it to this day.

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Week #462                          Go Van Go performing "Inside Job"

July 26, 2019

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

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Hint: this band was a local favorite in the days when the 40 Watt called East Broad street home. Their lineup revolved around the front man/guitarist, whose fame as a member of Athens' preeminent avant-garde two piece group in the early '80's established his reputation in the art-rock community. This group enjoyed the notoriety of representing the Classic City when the Washington Post came to town in an attempt to determine what was in the water in Athens, Georgia, and the famous photo that appeared in that medium graces a place in the scroll on our home page. Their original bassist has gone on to fame of his own, releasing his debut novel in 2016 after a stellar career in music. Good luck everybody!!

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Week #463                            Peter Holsapple performing "You Don't Miss Your Water"

August 2, 2019

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

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Week #464                            Wheel of Cheese performing "Are You Experienced?"

August 9, 2019

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

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Hint: this band was the alter ego group for a very popular Athens band that flourished during almost all of the 1980's. Their success in performing favorite rock n' roll covers at frat shows led to the formation of this alter ego version, which debuted at the Clayton Street Watt shortly before we moved to the Broad Street location. They developed a following that rivaled their original counterpart, and at times their set lists were almost synonymous, with a sprinkling of covers mixed with originals to the point they were almost indistinguishable from each other. Their roster of personnel was unchanged except for a succession of drummers, of which there were three, and we'll award an extra 5 points to anyone who can name any or all of them in any order. Good luck everybody!!

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Week #465                              Stiv Bators & the Dead Boys performing "Son of Sam and Bruce"

August 16, 2019

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

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Hint: this band originated in Cleveland but quickly relocated to New York in 1976, where they became a staple at a nascent punk rock venue named CBGB's. They were briefly managed by the owner of CBGB's, Hilly Kristal. They went on to a career that included two studio LPs and a variety of live albums and other efforts before disbanding in 1979. They reunited in 1987, which is when this clip was recorded. In fact, it was made on February 18, 1987, the birthday of its guitarist Cheetah Chrome. That also happens to be my birthday. Good luck everybody!!

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Week #466                              Rumjungle performing " Number"

August 23, 2019

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

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Hint: this was a local band whose members included a brother on guitar, a sister on keys and the brother's girlfriend on bass, along with a drummer who played in several bands in the Classic City during his college years here. They were a regular at the first Watt on Clayton mainly due to the fact that they owned a small PA and, after my gear burned in the Tyrone's fire, that was a huge help to Paul in putting on a show there. This clip is from their final show, which took place at the Watt on Broad in May of 1984. Good luck everybody!!

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Week # 467                             Jumper Cables performing "That's a Cold Shot"

August 30, 2019

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

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Hint: this band was a regular at a place called the Windjammer on the Isle of Palms outside of Charleston, South Carolina. They came to town in April of 1986 and played the Watt on Broad, opening for local favorites the Land Sharks. As far as I know that was their only performance in Athens, unless they played one of the other venues in town. This one's a little tougher than most, we wish everybody good luck!!

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Week #468                              Body Electric performing "Funk Medley"

September 6, 2019

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

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Hint: this was an Athens band that I worked for after leaving the Watt in February of 1990. They were outside the circle of bands that played the Watt frequently, and most of our shows were either at O'Malley's down by the river or in New York City. This show was one that took place at neither of those locations. The band was fronted by a dynamic guitarist/vocalist/songwriter, and its members included three former members of the Redcoat Marching Band. Their name, which was derived from a Walt Whitman literary work, had been used previously by an esoteric New Zealand band, but the two shared nothing in common. Since this episode closes out this year's competition we'll make this a little more interesting by offering 10 bonus points to anyone who can identify any of the five band members, and 20 bonus points to anyone who can identify the guest guitarist who sat in with the band on the night this recording was made. Good luck everybody, this one won't be easy!!

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Final Points at End of 9th Year:  Congratulations!!

Tom English     598     /     Darryl White 577     /     Kip Shepherd 382      

Chris Hartstonge 370  /  Andy Johnson 367  /  Matt Morris 269  /  Craig Williams  252   

Steve Fleming 155  /  Kenneth Rogers 125  /  Tim Abbott 114  /  Melissa Bock 52  

David Judd 26  /  Joel Suttles 14  /  Dana Downs  10  /  Andrew Carter 7 

Greg Smith 6  /   Lynn Berndt 5  /  David Smith 3  /  Jennifer Barnhart 3  /  Matt King 3 

 Gale Bartow 1  /   Starr Wright 1   

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Week #469                                the Catheads performing "Grass"

September 13, 2019

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

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Hint: this band hailed from San Francisco, forming there in 1985. They came to Athens sometime in the late 80's, not long before I left the 40 Watt. I liked them enough to pop a tape in the Nakamichi and press the red button, which provides us with this auditory pause. Their webpage reveals that they released two albums, the latter of which was produced by David Lowery of Camper van Beethoven. While I was researching this text I discovered that the lead singer sadly passed away not long ago. Good luck everybody!!

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Week #470                               BANG! performing "Minefield"

September 20, 2019

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

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Week #471                               Drivin' 'n' Cryin' performing "Can't Promise You the World"

September 27, 2019

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

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Hint: this band first played the Watt in December of 1986 when we were still on Broad Street. They continued to play the Watt after a change of drummers when we relocated to Clayton Street in 1987 and performed several shows there afterwards. This clip is from their second studio album and was released as their first single, and is noteworthy as the song featured in their first music video. Good luck everybody!!

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Week #472                                Men in Trees performing "Walk, Don't Run"

October 4, 2019

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

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Hint: this band was the reason I came to Athens in April, 1980 and wound up moving here to stay in July. They needed a demo tape and I took the job, setting up my Sony half-track in their practice space in the back of the Morton Theater building, in the bloodletting room of the old mortuary that had been the B-52's practice space previously. I joined the band as their sound man that fall, and worked with them until the Tyrone's fire took us in different directions. They underwent a name change in early 1981, and we'd like to have the first name as well as the last one, and we'll award a bonus of 5 extra points for every original member of the band that can be named, and a bonus of 10 points if you can name the two original members who are no longer with us. Good luck everybody!!

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Week #473                               Tinsley Ellis & the Heartfixers performing "Red Dress"

October 11, 2019

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

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Hint: this band was unquestionably one of the best roadhouse blues bands to play Athens in my time in the Classic City. They developed a loyal following and never failed to put on an energetic and entertaining performance every time they took the stage. Sadly, two of the members who are represented in this clip are among those who have passed on, but the lead singer/guitarist continues to perform today, having released a total of 17 albums over the years. This clip appeared on the first of those, which was the only album issued with his first backing band. We want the complete name including the front man and the backing group. 

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Week #474                                the Squalls performing "Kathy"

October 18, 2019

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

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Hint: last week we featured an Atlanta band that made a signature of playing at the 40 Watt in the 1980's, this week we feature an Athens band that accomplished the same feat. This band's rise to popularity in the Classic City was synonymous with the rise to notoriety by the 40 Watt during the same period. It was altogether fitting that this band and Love Tractor were the two bands whose entry in the documentary Athens, GA Inside Out  was filmed at the Watt. If you spent any time going to hear live music in Athens in the 1980's you probably saw this band at least once.

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Week #475                                Lava Love performing "Suzy Keeps Telling Me"

October 25, 2019

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

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Hint: this was an Atlanta band that wasn't widely known but they had a following based on being managed by David Pierce, erstwhile drummer for Oh Ok and Buzz of Delight, and signed to Dog Gone Records, the label established by Jefferson Holt, who managed REM. Thus, they had a built-in audience in the Classic City when they came to play. They performed twice at the Watt on Clayton in its second coming, one of which produced this clip. The band went on to release two albums, one in 1991 and one in 1992, before breaking up in 1993. The first album was produced by none other than Mitch Easter.

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Week #476                                Hillbilly Frankenstein performing "Tobacco Road"

November 1, 2019

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

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Hint: this band was one of those that straddled the fence, having members who lived in Athens and some who lived in Atlanta. They burst upon the Athens music scene in the late 80's and enjoyed local success for several years thereafter. Consisting of musicians who had gained notoriety performing in bands previously, including Guadalcanal Diary, Pillars of Talent and Lava Love (among others) their musical blend encompassed several genres. Sadly, their lead guitarist passed away at an untimely age not long ago. Good luck everybody!!

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Week #477                                 Suicidal Tendencies performing "Subliminal"

November 8, 2019

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

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Hint: this band was one of the Southern California punk/crossover/thrash groups that played the Watt on Broad in its heyday. It was formed in Venice, California in 1980 by the lead singer, who is the only original member of the band still performing with it. They enjoyed a degree of success, being nominated for a grammy in 1994 and releasing 13 studio albums over the years. 

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Week #478                               Bluesicians performing "Love & Happiness"

November 15, 2019

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

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Hint: this band was a local band that featured some of "old school" Athens' most accomplished musicians. They enjoyed a fair amount of success, performing as regulars at Tyrone's before the fire as well as at the Watt on Broad, where this clip was recorded. I believe everyone who performed in this band played in other bands in Athens, some of them well-known and represented elsewhere on these pages. Sadly, one of the guitarists passed away from cancer at a young age. Good luck everybody!!

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Week #479                               New Riders of the Purple Sage performing "Rainbow"

November 22, 2019

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

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​Hint: this band has a rich history in the country-rock music period of California of the late 60's and early 70's. Formed by the lead singer and accompanists including three members of the Grateful Dead, this band's reputation was earned for being the Dead's opening act for several years. They performed together till 1997, when the lead singer retired and moved to Mexico. The band re-formed without him in 2005, but with his blessing and support. Sadly, he passed away in Mexico in 2009. Good luck everybody!!

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