1st Annual Twangapalooza Fest at The Office Lounge in Athens GA!

Pure americana goodness will abound in Athens, GA on Saturday, July 23rd at The Office Lounge.

If you have never been to The Office Lounge, it is one of the BEST kept secrets in this music town! For the past two years these wonderful folks have hosted "Strung Out Like The Lights at Christmas Time" to benefit the Empty Stocking Fund here in Athens. Last Christmas over 400 people packed the house at a place that can only hold 185!

This summer we are going to turn it up a notch with some very dear friends in bringing some hard edge americana music to Athens with the 1st Annual Twangapalooza!

Who's playing?? 

David Dondero

The Burning Angels

The Welfare Liners

Dodd Ferrelle

Adam Klein

Border Hop 5

The Starlite Devilles

What it's about:

Twangapalooza will bring bands and artists from the americana/alt-country genre for 1 night of honky tonk (or punky tonk) goodness.

The cost is $5 either pre-sale or at the door (physical tickets or will call, your choice). A portion of the proceeds will go to our good friends at Nuci's Space, who have been a life line to the musicians and artists in this town.

The remainder of the proceeds will go to the artists who put on all the work to bring the joy of music to you. Good lookin' T-shirts will also be for sale ($15) and will also go to the artists performing. Please spread the word and your support for local music by attending. If you would like a T-shirt, please e-mail us here at Steady Roller Music or let your favorite artist who is performing you want one.

You can also order tickets and T-shirts through Paypal!

Twangapalooza Tickets

Twangapalooza T-shirts!

Sizes

Small $15.00 Medium $15.00 Large $15.00 XL $15.00 XXL $15.00 XXXL $20.00

Support local music and come out to The Office Lounge on July 23rd for the 1st Annual Twangapalooza Fest! If your interested in being a sponsor contact us today!

All of the artists will have their CD's, merch and various other wares to purchase so support them that way as well!

See you at the show!!

Steady Roller Music

Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band passes at 69

Who can mistake that soulful wail, sometimes mournful and haunting, sometimes causing you to rise up in exaltation.

Clarence Clemons, a stalwart figure in Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band from the beginning, passed away at 69. I was fortunate to come of age during the time of the E Street and often think back to the time when I first heard Springsteen. It was completely different from anything that I had ever heard on the old Athens station, Q 105 (damn, I'm old) because it wasn't simply blaring guitars and disco. With the E-Street Band you could hear every member and visualize what they were playing and it was one of those moments when I thought to myself, "That's what I want to do." Spin Records in 5 Points received a worn out copy of "Darkness at the Edge of Town" from me when I was 12-years-old. I remember telling the guy working the counter, "I'm not sure how it got worn out so quickly."


Springsteen is the master of weaving his lyrics around a composition and E Street was his instrument. You can hear and see why this band has been together for so long because every time that they perform they are laying every bit of their heart and just pure life into the music. The electrifying energy, sweat, driving heartbeat and soul is what makes a musician and a band. "The Big Man" was such an integral part of that sound and energy.

Be at peace, Clarence Clemons.

Wednesday June 22nd at New Earth Music Hall

On Wednesday, June 22nd at New Earth Music Hall in Athens, Georgia a great night of music will be taking place!

 Jon Lindsay

“One of the best records to come out of the Southeast over the course of the decade” -Performer Magazine, December 2010

“Coming off like a synthed-out version of the DBs, this is weird, wonderful stuff. A keep! And a treasure” -Ken Stringfellow (REM, The Posies, Big Star, Minus 5, The Disciplines)

“The songs blend into each other while remaining distinct and original, making it one of those albums you just want to listen to uninterruptedly from beginning to end.” -The Rock and Roll Report

“Though Escape From Plaza-Midwood is the first full-length from 29-year-old Charlotte bandleader Jon Lindsay, it’s hardly his first foray into music, which is apparent in the kaleidoscopic LP’s remarkable cohesiveness. A songwriter since age 3, Lindsay fronted power pop units Carlisle, The Young Sons and The Catch Fire and has performed or recorded with neo-soul crooner Benji Hughes, indie folk singer-songwriter Nicole Atkins and former bandmate Justin Williams’ vintage pop project Twelve Thousand Armies. The shimmering, dreamy tunes on last year’s self-released solo EP, Magic Winter & The Dirty South, hinted at Lindsay’s savvy craft. But on Plaza-Midwood, Lindsay finally folds those myriad experiences into a sprawling opus of pop-rock splendor. Other than the lush orchestration, rich textures and offbeat lyrical fragments, few threads tie these 15 eclectic tracks together. “Indie Prince Paul” is a Hughes-style, soul-pop number drenched in organ and synths, while Beach Boys-inspired harmonies, sputtering drumbeats, swinging horns and soaring solos splash the record elsewhere. “If I could rewind, I would storm your castle/ I would Bernie Makeoff with your heart today,” Lindsay offers during the stream-of consciousness ramble that accompanies the nonchalant, string-abetted jangle of “These Are The End Times.” It’s clear that Lindsay is having a blast on this record, though never at the expense of the song. To wit, it’s not all smiles and winking lyricism. On the frenetic power pop anthem “My Blue Angels,” Lindsay contemplates choosing the church of rock ‘n’ roll—complete with archangel Randy Rhoads—rather than following in the footsteps of his preacher father. The jazzy, piano-led ballad “I Take Care Of You Now” has a tender core of devotion amid its down-and-out love story.” -Indy Weekly

Mark Cunningham & The Nationals

Mark Cunningham was born and raised in Athens, Georgia in 1968. From the earliest age, Cunningham learned the mournful sound from Texas songwriters like Townes Van Zandt and Willie Nelson. Coming of age in the beginnings of the burgeoning Athens music scene, Mark became enthralled with the sounds of R.E.M, Chickasaw Mudpuppies, Flat Duo Jets and Plyon. Combining those with the classic country sounds of Johnny Cash, the americana sounds of Gram Parsons and Steve Earle, he began writing the sound for what was to be The Burning Angels.

“Rounding out Cunningham’s emotionally-loaded but cerebrally-balanced vocalizing is Natalie Garcia, who harmonizes in that oh-so-sweet Southern way (definitely some June Carter/Johnny Cash dynamic there).”

Chris Miller - The Red and Black

 

“That red white & blue guitar, Buck Owens & electric Waylon all influenced Cunningham, right up until the burgeoning music scene around the University of Georgia in the late 1970s, where the neighborhood kids had regular escapades to Wuxtry Records to listen to Television (the band) and then return the opened records. ”

Sloane Spencer - Country Fried Rock

 

“Cunningham takes you to that place where sweet tea, heartbreak and slow trains never get old.”

Patricia Bennett - Underground Sound

Tickets available today!!

 
 

The Dimestore Redemption

 
The CD Release Party of The Dimestore Redemption!  Tickets available now!       This event will be held on July 15th at The Flicker Theater in Athens, Georgia

 

Mark Cunningham & The Nationals 

David Dondero

Nightingale News

Tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased by clicking the link below. For this night only The Dimestore Redemption will be available for $5.00!! You can pre-order your copy and purchase your ticket securely through Paypal  here or clicking the button below. 

If you would just like to pre-order your copy of The Dimestore Redemption at the Release Party cost of $5 you can do that, too!! Your CD will be shipped at no extra charge after July 15th!

              

I began working on The Dimestore Redemption in December 2010, not really expecting it to overwhelm me musically like it has. The follow up LP was to compliment my 2009 release of Desolation Row, which was created as stripped down as possible. One of the main differences was that I have taken on the task myself in the ultimate "DIY" fashion or experiment. I was determined to follow the course of an album from beginning to end in order to sharpen my skills with my band, The Burning Angels, and our next studio effort.

The Dimestore Redemption was to be a full-length album with just myself performing a majority of the instruments, recording and engineering, producing and mastering. As any songwriter can tell you it is an agonizing process and with doing everything by yourself this can be an arduous task at best. Half way through writing and recording the songs for the album, I had some very dear friends start playing the songs that I had somewhat finished and, lo and behold, The Nationals were born.

Daniel Marler (Electric guitar, banjo, acoustic guitar, vocals) and Coy Campbell King (upright bass, vocals) and Louis Romanos (drums) have turned this experiment in DIY music into a completely heart felt body of work.

With this blog being somewhat of a journal for the album and progression of creativity for the bands working with Steady Roller Music (The Burning Angels, The Welfare Liners, Mark Cunningham & The Nationals), we hope to create a platform for local musicians everywhere.

See you at the show!!
~M