Pat the Wiz...
...preserving the magic
Band of the Week Winners 540 - 559
Week #540
January 22, 2021
Hindu Love Gods performing "Something Strange"
Winner: Tom English, Archdale, NC. Co-winners: Andy Johnson, Athens, GA; Darryl White, Melbourne, AU; Mitch Harris, Athens, GA; Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC; Andrew Carter, Charlottesville, VA; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK; Dan Matthews, Watkinsville, GA; Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL; Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA; Craig Williams, Portland, OR; Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA.
Hint: this band was a loose gathering of three members from a well-known local band, who performed as the supporting section for frontmen at shows at the 40 Watt on Broad in the mid-1980's. This particular clip is from a tribute to the member of a California band who was killed in a traffic incident in late 1985. That tribute was held at the Broad Street Watt in January of 1986.
Week #541
January 29, 2021
Winter Hours performing "Simple John"
Winner: Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL. Co-winners: Tom English, Archdale, NC; Andy Johnson, Athens, GA; Darryl White, Melbourne, AU; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK; Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC; Craig Williams, Portland, OR; Mitch Harris, Athens, GA; Melissa Kemmerly, Atlanta, GA; Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA.
Hint: this band called New Jersey home, forming the same year that the Watt moved from the Caledonia location to the Broad Street venue. They first performed at the 40 Watt Uptown in late 1985, which is when this recording was made. They released two studio albums and three EP's during their career, which ended when they disbanded in 1991. One of their songs charted #12 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks in 1989. Sadly, their lead singer died in 2004 and he was followed by the guitarist's untimely demise due to a heart attack in 2015. Good luck everybody!!
Week #542
February 5, 2021
Body Electric performing "Blood, Flesh, and Bone"
Winner: Andy Johnson, Athens, GA. Co-winners: Darryl White, Melbourne, AU; Tom English, Archdale, NC; Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL; Mitch Harris, Athens, GA; Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK; Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA.
Hint: this was an Athens band that was the first job I had after leaving the 40 Watt in February of 1990. I had worked with four of them when they performed as another group at the Watt on Clayton several times. When that band broke up they reincarnated as the support band for a frontman who had performed with another band, but one I never crossed paths with. Got all that? If you need another hint try this: The name of this band was taken from a famous phrase that appeared in Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman. Good luck everybody!!
Week #543
February 12, 2021
Luther "Guitar, Jr" Johnson
Winner: Tom English, Archdale, NC. Co-winners: Andy Johnson, Athens, GA. Darryl White, Melbourne, AU; Mitch Harris, Athens, GA; Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK; Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL; ; Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA; Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA; Craig Williams Portland, OR.
Hint: this band was formed around a guitarist who came from Mississippi and established himself as a blues musician of renown. He moved to Chicago with his family and grew up playing with the other Delta musicians who created that city's burgeoning music scene. Among his cohorts were Muddy Waters, Magic Sam and in 1980 backing John Lee Hooker in the first Blues Brothers movie. His discography includes 10 studio albums, and he earned a Grammy in 1985 for Best Traditional Blues Album. Good luck everybody!!
Week #544
February 19, 2021
the Blanks performing "Mad About You"
Winner: Tom English, Archdale, NC. Co-winners: Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC; Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL; Craig Williams Portland, OR; Darryl White, Melbourne, AU; Andy Johnson, Athens, GA; Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK; Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA
Hint: this was the band that I worked with after leaving Men in Trees, following the burning of Tyrone's O.C., working with them during most of 1982. There was a name amendment due to a letter from the attorney who represented a Chicago band that sported the same name and trademark registration, which resulted in a similar name but not one close enough to merit another cease and desist missive. Although we did shows in Athens from time to time, most of our performances were in Charleston and Savannah, with a few in places such as Milledgeville, Greenville, Chattanooga, and such. There were some personnel changes, the most important of which involved the lead singer, and her decision to leave resulted ultimately in the demise of the band.
Week #545
February 26, 2021
Catheads performing "Crash Landing"
Winner: Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL. Co-winners: Tom English, Archdale, NC; Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC; Darryl White, Melbourne, AU; Andy Johnson, Athens, GA; Melissa Kemmerly, Atlanta, GA; Craig Williams Portland, OR; Mitch Harris, Athens, GA
Hint: this was a band that formed in San Francisco in 1985 and came to the Watt on Clayton around 1987. The band consisted of members from other Bay area bands and were described as "punk", post punk", "folk rock" and "country". They released three studio albums, the second being produced by David Lowery. After that album the band re-formed with two new members and performed with an eponymous title for a period thereafter.
Week #546
March 5, 2021
Men in Trees/Turtle Bay performing "Long Tall Sally"
Winner: Darryl White, Melbourne, AU. Co-winners: Andy Johnson, Athens, GA; Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL; Tom English, Archdale, NC; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK; Melissa Kemmerly, Atlanta, GA; Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC; Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA; Mitch Harris, Athens, GA; Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA.
Hint: This was the band I first worked with after arriving in Athens in the summer of 1980. I had come to town in April of that year to make a demo recording for them when their lead singer was Caroline Aiken, but when she left the band I offered to help them with a demo that didn't feature her and we joined forces after that. I worked with them until shortly after Tyrone's burned, when we parted ways. Good luck everybody!!
Week #547
March 12, 2021
A Few Kids with Bicycles
Winner: Darryl White, Melbourne, AU. Co-winners: Tom English, Archdale, NC; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK; Andy Johnson, Athens, GA; Mitch Harris, Athens, GA; Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL; Craig Williams, Portland, OR; Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC; Melissa Kemmerly, Atlanta, GA
Hint: this was one of the lesser-known bands in our catalog, which means this is truly an esoteric entry in that catalog. To the best of my recollection, this was a band that came to the Watt on Clayton (version 2.0) and that's about all I know. For that reason, we've only featured them twice previously, most recently in August 2015. That ought to be enough to get most of our panel to the finish line, let's find out! Good luck everybody!!
Week #548
March 19, 2021
40W Needlecushions performing "Runnin' Away"
Winner: Tom English, Archdale, NC; Co-winners: Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL; Darryl White, Melbourne, AU; Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA; Mitch Harris, Athens, GA; Andy Johnson, Athens, GA; Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK; Craig Williams Portland, OR; Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA; Melissa Kemmerly, Atlanta, GA
Hint: this wasn't really a band as such, rather, it was a group put together by my late friend Paul Scales in hopes that it might become an actual band someday. Unfortunately, that never came to pass and the only remnant of that musical effort is the recording that I made in the Watt on Clayton, shortly after I helped Doug and Paul with the purchase and installation of the first house PA the Watt ever fielded. That was around this time of year in 1982. Paul and I were roommates in what would later become the REM offices two doors up Clayton from the door to the Watt, and when I had the PA up and running he asked me to record the band he was putting together, setting the band up on the stage and me running the board and recording two takes of their A effort. The name I gave this band wasn't a serious attempt at a name, the band broke up almost immediately after the recording session. Good luck everybody!!
Week #549
March 26, 2021
Dash Rip Rock performing "All Hung Up on What Used to Be"
Winner: Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL; Co-Winners: Andy Johnson, Athens, GA; Mitch Harris, Athens, GA; Celeste Dixon, Athens, GA; Darryl White, Melbourne, AU; Tom English, Archdale, NC; Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK; LH Sales, Atlanta, GA; Craig Williams Portland, OR; Melissa Kemmerly, Atlanta, GA
Hint: this band originated in Baton Rouge in 1984, coming to the Watt on Broad and performing there a couple of weeks before the club closed for the final time. They developed a loyal following based on their infectious brand of roots rock and they are still active, having released 13 studio albums, a live album, and two compilations. They were inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2012.
Week #550
April 2, 2021
Squalls performing "Religion"
Winner: Chris Hartstonge, London, UK. Co-Winners: Tom English, Archdale, NC; Andy Johson, Athens, GA; Darryl White, Melbourne, AU; Kirsteen Devorsey, Athens, GA; Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC; Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL Melissa Kemmerly, Atlanta, GA; Mitch Harris, Athens, GA Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA; Craig Williams Portland, OR
Hint: We’re proud to present this band again on Band of the Week, since they were among Athens’ most influential and successful throughout the 1980’s. Forming in the very early 80’s, they made their debut performance at the Bluebird Café on a Halloween night and performing on Halloween became a trademark of the band. They endured several personnel changes through the years, but the drive gear of the band was the frontman, who supplied primarily guitar and lead vocals and wrote a lion's share of their original material. They were consistently one of the best draws at the 40 Watt in its various locations, and left an indelible mark on the Athens music community.
Week #551
April 9, 2021
Joe "King" Carrasco & the Crowns performing "Dinero"
Winner: Tom English, Archdale, NC. Co-winners: Darryl White, Melbourne, AU; Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, NC; Andy Johson, Athens, GA; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK; Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC; Mitch Harris, Athens, GA; Craig Williams, Portland, OR; Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA; Melissa Kemmerly, Atlanta, GA; Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA
Hint: We'd like to extend our condolences on the passing of Her Majesty's consort Philip of Greece, Duke of Edinburgh. That thought led us to decide on dedicating this week's episode of Band of the Week to the royal family, and to tie it in with our band this week. The signature sound of this group ought to make it a cinch to recognize, and it explains the front man's well-earned title of King of Tex-Mex rock n' roll. We want the name of the frontman (which was part of the bill when they performed) and the name of the band in its entirety, please. We'll also award a 5 point bonus to everyone who can provide the real name of the front man. Good luck everybody!!
Week #552
April 16, 2021
Wheel of Cheese performing "Kurt's Revenge"
Winner: Andy Johnson, Athens, GA. Co-winners: Darryl White, Melbourne, AU; Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, NC; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK; Tom English, Archdale, NC; Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC; Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA; Craig Williams, Portland, OR; Melissa Kemmerly, Atlanta, GA; Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA
Hint: this was the debut of a well-known Athens band that decided to create an alter ego, using their popularity as an Athens stalwart to provide a platform as a jam/party band. They became hugely popular with the fraternity crowd as a result, without forsaking their reputation as a top-tier original Athens band as well. This particular clip featured an erstwhile member of the band who also performed in another Athens band, all of whom had ties to a notable evening in April of 1980 and a certain Episcopal church on Oconee Street. We'll award an extra 10 bonus points to anyone who can name that erstwhile member and his band.
Week #553
April 23, 2021
Tinsley Ellis & the Heartfixers performing "Wild Weekend"
Winner: Darryl White, Melbourne, AU. Co-winners: Mitch Harris, Athens, GA; Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, NC; Tom English, Archdale, NC; Celeste Dickson, Athens, GA; Matt Morris, Winston-Salem, NC; Andy Johnson, Athens, GA; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK; Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA
Hint: this band was a regular at the Watt on Broad, usually on Saturdays because Doug was convinced they only drew an older crowd. What he couldn't deny was that they typically packed the place and the bar was always one of our best. They were a personal favorite and one of the bands I almost left the Watt to go to work for. The frontman has gone on to a very distinguished solo career that includes 18 studio albums. For our purposes, we want the front man's name and the name of his backing group, which is how they were billed when they came to play the Watt.
Week #554
April 30, 2021
28 Days performing "1954 Pontiac"
Winner: Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, NC. Co-winners: Andy Johnson, Athens, GA; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK; Darryl White, Melbourne, AU; Mitch Harris, Athens, GA; Tom English, Archdale, NC; Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA; Celeste Dickson, Athens, GA; Craig Williams, Portland, OR; Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA
Hint: this was an all-female group and, while not the first of that distinction, was one of the best in my opinion. They appeared around the first of 1989 and played the Watt on Clayton after that. The first drummer for the band left toward the end of '89.
Week #555
May 7, 2021
Cowboy & Spin Girl performing "Wish You Were Here"
Winner: Tom English, Archdale, NC. Co-winners: Darryl White, Melbourne, AU; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK; Mitch Harris, Athens, GA; Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL.
Hint: This band played the Broad Street Watt only once, in the summer of 1986. There isn't much on them online so I'm forced to guess, but what I did find suggests they were from the UK. My recording reveals a pop/rock group of three people, and they apparently swapped instruments during their performances, a la the Squalls. They have a fairly extensive online catalog that is featured on a rare vinyl/cassette website based in England. I'm afraid that's about all I can provide by way of clues, so you're on your own detectives.
Week #556
May 14, 2021
BANG! performing "Count the Warriors"
Winner: Tom English, Archdale, NC. Co-winners: Andy Johnson, Athens, GA; Darryl White, Melbourne, AU; Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA; Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL; Dan Matthews, Athens, GA; Craig Williams, Portland, OR; Mitch Harris, Athens, GA; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK
Hint: this band consisted of three members of the Little Tigers (two of whom are sadly deceased), backing an Athens regular. The recording was made at the Clayton Street Watt on a Sunday night after I took over soundman duties from Paul following his tiff with Doug, which led to Paul's leaving the Watt permanently. At the time I was living in the small space above the bathroom in the Watt, and I secured Doug's permission to bring this band in and set them up on the stage on a Sunday night and perform to an empty room, although toward the end of the session some friends of the band showed up and provided an impromptu audience. This band was only together for a few months in late 1982 and early 1983.
Week #557
May 21, 2021
Bill Sheffield & the XLs performing "Heard it Through the Grapevine"
Winner: Darryl White, Melbourne, AU. Co-winners: Tom English, Archdale, NC; Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL; Andy Johnson, Athens, GA; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK; Mitch Harris, Athens, GA; Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA; Matt Morris, Winston-Salem NC.
Hint: this band was a staple in Atlanta music clubs during the late '70s and early '80s, when they were known as the kings of blue-eyed soul. They came to play the Watt on Broad the year after we moved from Clayton Street and came back several times after that. Fronted by an outstanding vocalist who enjoyed a lengthy career in the Atlanta area, they performed on the 40 Watt Uptown stage numerous times while we were located there. Good luck everybody!!
Week #558
May 28, 2021
Damage Report
Winner: Darryl White, Melbourne, AU. Co-winners: Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL; Tom English, Archdale, NC; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK; Andy Johnson, Athens, GA; Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA; Matt Morris, Winston-Salem NC.
Hint: this was an Athens duo that was way ahead of its time, bringing its own unique sound and technique to the 40 Watt on numerous occasions in the late 80's and early 90's. To my knowledge they brought computers for the first time to the stage at the Watt, and brought a loyal and vocal audience when they did. When we featured them on a previous episode I was berated by the front man/vocalist for referring to them as techno pop, so I won't make that mistake again. I'll leave the characterization of their music to you and the members of the band. Good luck everybody!!
Week #559
June 4, 2021
Georgia Hellhounds performing "Birmingham"
Winner: Kip Shepherd, Huntsville, AL. Co-winners: Andy Johnson, Athens, GA; Darryl White, Melbourne, AU; Tom English, Archdale, NC; Mitch Harris, Athens, GA; Kenneth Rogers, Atlanta, GA; Steve Fleming, Seattle, WA; Chris Hartstonge, London, UK.
Hint: this was an Atlanta band that sprouted from the roots of another Atlanta band with a similar name, after that band broke up. Keeping the same personnel on guitar and bass, many people tend to conflate the two groups despite the fact that the lead vocalist was the key figure that left and those duties were assumed by the guitarist and bassist. They performed together for a couple of years in the early 90's but broke up for good around 1992, when they re-formed under the name of the original group. Good luck everybody!!