FEST!: Athfest 2009 is Coming Soon + Mike White Gallery Bonus!

Spring Tigers @ Athfest 2008 - photography by Mike White

OMG. It's just under a month away! Better get your calendars marked and preparations made! It's almost here!

Athfest 2009
June 25-28
Downtown Athens, GA

www.athfest.com

I can't wait. I only attended one of the evenings last year, but plan on going all three days this time. I discovered one of my favorites, Mass Solo Revolt at last year's Athfest and wrote about them HERE.

Really excited to see who I discover this year! :)

Centro-matic @ Athfest 2008 - photography by Mike White

**BONUS**

Also, one of the most talented photographers, particularly in the field of music, has an exhibit opening the week of Athfest.

Featured HERE back in January, his work has also appeared in Paste, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and SPIN (look for him in the upcoming July '09 issue)... just to name a few!

Check out the incredibly rockin' and badass photography of Athens' own, Mike White!

We Versus the Shark @ Athfest 2008 - photography by Mike White

Mike White Photography Exhibit

June 21 - July 12

The Grit

199 Prince Ave, Athens, GA 30601
(706) 543-6592

For all you facebook users, check out these 2 links:

Athfest 2009
Mike White's Photography Exhibit

Allison Weiss & The Way She Likes It @ Athfest 2008 - photography by Mike White

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE PROPERTY OF MIKE WHITE / DEADLYDESIGNS.COM AND SHOULD NOT BE USED WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION.

Thanks, Mike for letting me put these up here!

GALLERY: Val Emmich - The Melting Point - 03.27.09

Sorry these are so late posting. It takes awhile to process through the several gigs of photos and select for the gallery and though I try to get them up within the timeframe of a show, it sometimes can take longer. Anyways, for all you Val Emmich fans out there... ENJOY! (And if you aren't one yet, you should be! He's AWESOME!)

Photos from Val's show at The Melting Point

in Athens, Georgia, on March 27, 2009.

Click on image below for full gallery.

LISTEN: Lucky Diaz - Rainy Day Dimes (EP)

The most common association of a rainy day is sad and gloom. So if you are feeling down in the dumps, don't despair! This album is your remedy! Get yourself some!

Feeling pretty good about life already? Why not feel even better?! This album is guaranteed to pick-you-up!


Rainy Day Dimes (EP) (2009) is the recent release from, Lucky Diaz, an accomplished musician, composer, and all-around natural creative talent, based in Los Angeles, CA!

Best tracks

• The Way
  
• Song For You
  
• Before The Fall
  

The catchy and uplifting melodies combined with positive lyrics in "The Way" can't help but pick up one's spirits. "Song for You" also instills heart warming feelings of inspiration. That makes both of those songs easy favorites for me. I have to say that
"Before the Fall" rounds out my top 3. I love this one because it's full of romance and charm, yet conveyed in a more subtle and tender manner than the other songs.

Those are my top 3 out of the 5 songs on the album, but as a whole it's all wonderful.

Lucky takes those rainy day dimes and turns them into 'sunshine gold' with this EP. Don't miss out. Pick up this album and just get to feeling good already!

If you are in the Los Angeles area, you are in luck. Lucky's got a show at Genghis Cohen on next Friday, May 29 and an EP Release Party in the VIP Lounge at Cinespace on Friday, June 12. Click HERE for more details, or visit the links below for more on Lucky Diaz!

www.luckydiazmusic.com

On Facebook

On MySpace

On Last.fm

On DigStation

LISTEN: Dare Dukes - Prettiest Transmitter Of All

Twop. Pang. Hmm... trying to make a new word to describe the sound of Dare Dukes. Okay. So those words don't really work. Nevertheless, I love his music. It's like pop...with a bit of twang.


Prettiest Transmitter of All (2008) is the latest from Mr. Dukes. Go on and give it a listen.

Best tracks

• Bakersfield
• Kick + Holler
  
• Sam's Cathedral

So...the thing I love about Dare's music, and how I feel it is unique, is that it has a very retro vibe. I'm a designer, so I noted that even the cd's packaging design emotes a very retro kind of feel.

I need not close my eyes as I listen, to breathe in the feelings of nostalgia I get. Maybe it's because, like me, he's got Northern California roots and makes references in his songs, of places familiar to me.

But I think it's more than that. I think he has found a way to connect music of today with music of days gone by, in a manner that makes one wonder not where he is...but when he is.

Whatever the case, the music is good. Really good. I've been listening for awhile, and I really suggest you do so too.

He's got a couple shows coming up at The Soapbox in NC (05/23) and The Living Room in NY (06/21). So if you are in the area, check him out. See one of the links below for more info and details.

www.daredukes.com

On Facebook

On MySpace

On Twitter

On Last.fm

SPECIAL: Save Paste Magazine!

I've made my donation. Hope you will too if you can!

They have a lot to offer and are a great resource for discovering new music or following up on your old favorites. Downloadable MP3s, great articles, etc.

I've been a fan of the magazine for awhile and love it! If you haven't discovered PASTE yet, do so before it's too late! If you already enjoy this magazine, please help to keep it around!

Please support this great magazine!

LIST: Shuffle Mix - 05.07.09

Just updated the playlist on my iPod shuffle.

Selection of songs from each artist listed below:

Adele - 19
Antje Duvekot - Snapshots, Big Dream Boulevard, Near Demise...
Bat For Lashes - Fur and Gold*
Brody Bond - Lovers Try*
Carter Burwell - Twilight (The Score)*
Death Cab For Cutie - Daytrotter Sessions
The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love*, The Crane Wife
Dido - Safe Trip Home*
Duffy - Rockferry*
The Fray - How to Save A Life*, The Fray*
Hey Rosetta! - Into Your Lungs
Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog*
Jeannine Hebb - Too Late to Change Me
Jenny & Tyler A Prelude*
Jon Hopkins - Insides
Lucky Diaz - Rainy Day Dimes EP*
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone*
The Rescues - Crazy Ever After
Silversun Pickups - Swoon*
Various Artists - Twilight (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)*

*indicates FULL ALBUMS

GOODIES: Free Coldplay Album on May 15th

Just got the latest Coldplay newsletter... and YAY for free music! What a cool way to thank the fans for continued support, especially during these hard economic times. Looking forward to May 15th, guys.

FREE LIVE ALBUM AT SHOWS AND ONLINE

Hello again. We begin with the news that Coldplay will be giving away a live CD, LeftRightLeftRightLeft, at every remaining live show in 2009 (apart from festival shows).


Starting with the band's first North American tour date, at West Palm Beach in Florida on May 15th, every fan attending a show will be given a free copy of the nine-track CD. Also on May 15th, LeftRightLeftRightLeft will be made available as a free download from Coldplay.com, for fans everywhere.

According to the band, the give-away is meant as a recession-busting mark of gratitude to everyone who's supported them: "Playing live is what we love. This album is a thank you to our fans - the people who give us a reason to do it and make it happen."

The album was recorded over the past year in various cities around the world on the Viva La Vida tour. To see LRLRL's tracklisting and artwork, click here