‘We Were Nice Guys, And We Threw Great Parties’

We knew going in to production that while we wanted to be as broad as possible with the people we interviewed for our film, there would be a few that we’d really need to hear from.  To gain some good insight and to get some good stories of how things were in the late 80’s and early 90’s, we really wanted to spend some time with the guys from Widespread Panic.  So after a few months of negotiating times and places, through the help of their management, we were able to grab some time with bassist Dave Schools last weekend before their show at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Alpharetta, GA.  A nice guy who serves as the low end of Panic’s sound, Schools has had no shortage of involvement in Athens, from working the door at The Uptown Lounge as a college undergrad at UGA to being a one time owner of The Caledonia.

One of the most popular bands in America, these guys tour incessantly, having played upwards of 250 shows a year.  That’s roughly every day for 8 straight months. Yet, for a large part of the band and crew, all the roads home still go to Athens. The band’s management offices are housed on the east side of town. They still are largely influential and mentor some  younger up and coming bands in the area, and they likely provided a shot in the arm to the city’s economy on April 18^th, 1998 when 100 thousand people packed the streets of Athens for the release of their live album “Light Fuse, Get Away.”

We’ve spoken with Schools as well as the other half of the Panic rhythm section, drummer Todd Nance. Todd  is involved in a number of side projects around town, including a project with Bloodkin guitarist/singer Danny Hutchens that is focused solely on children’s music.  After our conversation with Dave, Panic proceeded to fire on all cylinders for a good three hours, including closing the show with Athens producer John Keane joining them on stage for a string of songs by the late great Vic Chesnutt.  No shortage of Athens representation here. Here’s a short clip from our chat with Schools last weekend. Enjoy.

Wait, Let’s Stop-Where Are We So Far?

As we come up on a one-year mark since we really turned the dial up on the production of our Athens, GA documentary, we tend to look back at where we’ve been, and what we’ve managed to gather in those 12 months.  When we started this project, we wanted to maintain a little engine that could attitude to our process and it’s safe to say that one year later, we’re still chugging down the track.  We wanted to keep the operation and production process relatively simple. The more hands that go into the pot, the more complicated things become.  So Outside Film, with a small skeleton group, has continued moving forward on this film, which to date, still has no name.  We’re assuming that at some point, that will come to us.

One of the conversations that really jumps out is the afternoon our creative director, Albie, spent with Vic Chesnutt at his home just a few months before his death.  There isn’t an interview or shoot we’ve done where Vic’s name hasn’t come up. His words that afternoon have clearly resonated with Albie, who really got a grasp for what this town’s music scene was about after sitting on Vic’s front porch, listening to him talk about what Athens meant to his music.

One of our favorite characters in the story that is Athens music is Sloan Simpson, who single handedly moves the music of this town forward with his website, Southern Shelter, where he’s posted hundreds of shows he has recorded over the years.  Sloan lives in a small one bedroom apartment in town, has thousands of people daily who frequent his website, and has probably spawned thousands of people to become fans of the music of Athens.  Recording shows began as a hobby, and now he’s just as vital to the scene as any of the hundreds of bands who call Athens home.

We’ve had some great conversations over the past year, and learned a great deal about the passion the musicians of Athens have for their craft.  We got some great insight from Matthew Woolley and Adrian Zelski-two fifths of the band Dubconscious-who also serve as talent buyers and promote shows for New Earth Music Hall.  They-as well as the rest of the band-gave us some great insight as to why Athens has managed to become such a destination for musicians over the years.

So while we continue to plug away on the production, we anticipate the people who make up this community will continue to share some great stories and anecdotes about the city and its musical legacy.  We’re excited to hear them, and even more amped to share them with everyone else.

Logging Interviews, It’s The Glamorous Part Of The Film-making Process

Anyone who has experienced the process of putting together a documentary would probably tell you, there’s one part of the process that is extremely tedious, very time consuming, and for the most part, awful.  It’s called logging, and it entails the mind numbing process of listening to every word of every interview on every tape, and literally transcribing it word for word.  While it’s tedious, it’s also probably the most important part of the process, as you have a chance to craft the people as characters, and listen to what tey have to say and get a good idea of where they fit in the larger picture of the project.

I’ve spent the last few hours listening to our interview with John Keane, a record producer and engineer who lives in Athens, and has a resume as impressive as anyone in the business.  Fresh of producing the latest Widespread Panic album, he sat down with us in his studio, and had alot of great insight on why Athens has become such a musical mecca. Once i finished the interview, it was quite impressive to see the folks who have pulled up to his studio nestled on a quiet street in Athens.  Aside from Widespread Panic, Keane has hosted Warren Zevon, REM, The Indigo Girls, Cowboy Junkies, Nancy Griffith, Uncle Tupelo, and a list of others that keeps growing.  He’s got a lot of good things to say about the town he was born and raised in, and we’re hoping to post a few clips in the coming days. In the meantime, i’m going back to logging, and the coordination of interviews and schedules keep going, as we roll forward……

3 am, Kegs, And A White German Shepherd? Sounds Like A Party……..

This isn't the actual party, but it could be.

Let me begin this post by saying that i’m 30 years old.  My “party” going days well behind me, shlepping around a college town in search for a party at 2am is certainly something that’s buried well in my past. You can imagine the surprise when upon leaving the 40 Watt club and Dead Confederate’s AthFest performance, I was a little shocked when the boss, Albie, explained we were still working.  Only this time, instead of getting in to shoot a performance, coordinated through band management and venue security, we were apparently going to be shooting a band at a party in town.   Only this time, the party is held in secret, in a location only given to those who are invited, and it begins at about 2:30.  In the morning.

Somehow, the boss had managed to make contact with an individual in town who coordinates these gatherings, which are completely secretive.  They aren’t advertised, and are spread solely through word of mouth, with bands from all over coming to play them.  At first, I doubted the legitimacy of this show until I overheard others on the way out of the 40 Watt talking about the show, and whether or not they would be able to find the location.  Wow, I thought.  I’m 30, and swimming in a sea of twenty-somethings looking for the next stop.

With cameras in hand, we found ourselves in a dark parking lot parked next to a few cars getting our gear ready.  I had no idea where we were, we had no idea what we were walking into, aside from the fact that the organizer asked us not to reveal the name of the event, and other than that, we were free to roam as we pleased. As we walked up to the gathering of people, i couldn’t help but flash back to my college days when you walk into a party, and don’t know a soul.  There’s no animosity at all, but the desperate attempt to find a familiar face. I’m 30, and all these people were 22-24. At the most. Suddenly, I realized Athens and it’s music really is a different world.  These parties/concerts are quite legendary to be honest, with bands coming from all over to play to the truest of the hardcore music fans, who long after the lights of AthFest had dimmed, continued on their relentless pursuit of music.  It was about 3am, we were in what appeared to be an abandoned garage, it was June, and there was no air conditioning.  So comfort was certainly something we were lacking.  As we walked in, I noticed a white german shepherd roamed the party, and like everyone, was looking for the keg.  I mean, what party at 3 am, where it’s 100 degrees, doesn’t have a german shepherd roaming freely?  If Hunter S. Thompson were still alive, this would have been his kind of hangout.  The band finally started playing, and while Albie rolled tape, navigated his way through throngs of sweaty and somewhat smelly party revelers, i realized that yes, I am 30, and no, I cannot stay out this late anymore.  But anything I suppose, to get the shots we need. As we moved from spot to spot, watching the band unleash their brand of art house alt-pop on the crowd, I waved the white flag.  I was done, and I could go no more.  And with a high five to the white german shepherd, and the walk to the car in the dark and abandoned parking lot, we called it a day.  And honestly, I was still not sure what I had just experienced.  Crazy kids and their music.  And dogs.

Drew

Producer

What’s This Film About? Funny You Should Ask…..

We’ve been at this thing for about 7 months now, which, in documentary filmmaking years, is actually about a three days.  Throughout the seven months of production, we’ve pretty much been focused on the end result, and have stayed pretty focused on what we want this film to say at the end of the day.  We’re not trying to solve world peace with this film, and we certainly aren’t trying to encapsulate every band that’s ever set foot in Athens and called it home.  That would be nothing more than a film that never ends.  But what we do want to do is be honest, and accurate with what we’ve found in our conversations with people.

They say (and by “they” I mean people much more knowledgeable than I) that at any given moment, there are about 500 bands within the Athens/Clarke County, GA community.  So for that reason, i will be the first to make the statement that the Athens Music Project will NOT be a completely comprehensive story of music in the Classic City.  What it will be however, is a snapshot of this town, and how it’s people and resident enthusiastically wrap their arms around the strum of a guitar, the pounding of a kick drum, and sometimes, a musician like Vic Chesnutt, who for all intents and purposes, defies classification.  More than once, speaking with those who knew him well, they have been left speechless when trying to describe what he was and what he sounded like.

My first experience in Athens was actually about 7 years ago, not long after I moved to Georgia, having heard things about this town that really had nothing to do with the University of Georgia, but everything to do with some downright bitchin’ music.  My first trip was of course, to come to see a show at The Georgia Theater.  Old Crow Medicine Show, who were in the midst of a southeast tour, were completely skipping Atlanta where I live, and honestly, i didn’t understand why.  ”Athens but not Atlanta?” I thought.  And after making the trek, I still didn’t get it.  But over the course of a few years, i made more and more trips to Athens to see bands who had every intention of completely ignoring Atlanta, and making their money in Athens, where the beer was cheaper and the town would put up a great crowd.  After seeing a number of shows here, and getting a good glimpse of how the music here is cultivated, I began to understand.  Over the course of the last 7 or 8 months, we’ve spoken to dozens of musicians, producers, writers, promoters, club owners, and all of them seem to have a similar sentiment about this town.  Athens doesn’t try to be anything musically. It doesn’t have to, because it already is. Now, we just have to figure out a way to make a movie with that as the backbone of the picture.  Nahh…..this won’t be hard at all.

Drew

Producer

Dead Confederate Loves Athens…….And LOTS Of Fog.

Prior to this past weekend and our work on this project, I wasn’t familiar with the music of Dead Confederate. I know that for some that might seem preposterous, as they’ve been on the fast track to notoriety the last few years, but the music they play isn’t necessarily always on my radar screen.  But after reaching out to their management to book them for an interview for the Athens Music Project, I was doing my due diligence to learn more about them, and realized they are seemingly, the quintessential rock and roll success story.

They got their start in Athens, and for their frontman Hardy Norris, it was an easy sell.  He was in Athens for the now legendary Widespread Panic concert that brought over 100,000 fans into town to mark the release of their live album Light Fuse, Get Away. Drummer Jason Scarboro was sold in five days, after coming to The Classic City to visit friends-and then deciding he never wanted to leave.

Dead Confederate was a good group of guys, who clearly love what they do-Then again, who WOULDN’T like traveling the country, playing to packed clubs and venues, dropping in for appearances on Late Night w/ Conan O’Brien, and generally testing the limits of eardrums everywhere they go.  That’s not to say they aren’t good, they are just loud.  Very loud.  Perhaps it’ s just me beginning to turn into an older man, but they certainly make the decibel level jump when they plug in.

They certainly have no shortage of fans from Athens, as evidenced by their show at The 40 Watt this past Saturday night, which for a moment, was a little hairy as the club was bursting at the seams, and the doormen had to turn people away.  A close call for our crew, who at first were told there wasn’t any room, but upon a second mention, we managed to get in.  Those that DID get in were treated to a pretty awesome show, complete with fog and lights-The guys warned us in their interview there would be fog, and with good reason.  Fog there was………and alot of it.  Thanks to Dawson, and the rest of the guys-They were good sports, and clearly have no intentions of leaving Athens, regardless of how much further they go down the musical path. And that, in essence, is what keeps the musical notes in this town going.

Walker Howle, Hardy Morris and the rest of Dead Confederate had The 40 Watt stuffed to the gills.

Jason Scarboro hits the skins. Hard.

AthFest 2010-Part I: It’s Hot.

We kinda figured going in that the heat would be bad.  But not necessarily oppressive. Boy were we wrong.  As the Outside Film folks descended on Athens, it became increasingly clear that the heat would be just as prominent on our shoot as the potential for technical issues and logistical snags.  There was a little of all three, but the heat decided to stick around and be the 4th member of our crew.  Bossman Albie, myself and our hot shot cameraman Nader were all in town for AthFest 2010, generally the biggest party of the year in Athens, and certainly the highlight of it’s always busy musical calendar. Two stages, 60,000 people, multiple venues throughout the town with multiple shows at night, and a whole lot of beer flowing makes a cameraman happy, as it means one thing: Late at night, when the taps are still flowing, people loooooove to chat. And we loooooved hearing what they had to say. That comes later.

We’d scheduled a couple interviews for the day, the first with Mark Cunningham and the folks from The Burning Angels, who couldn’t have been nicer.  Mark is an Athens resident, has been all his life, and has seen alot in his time in The Classic City.  Adam and Natalie were great to talk to as well, with some great perspective on Athens and it’s music community. The fine folks at The Globe allowed us to commandeer their upstairs area, and after rearranging the furniture, opening drapes, moving tables, and adjusting mic stands, Albie and Nader hadfinally gotten the shot setup.  I stood in the corner and tried not to sweat.  Didn’t happen.

The real amazing thing about Athens, that we’ve heard over and over, is the support musicians lend each other, going to their shows, supporting their causes, and reaching out to others and giving them a step up when needed.  It was interesting to see so many musicians this weekend who, while they weren’t on stage, were genuinely listening and taking in the other folks who were filling the time slots across the stages.  There isn’t any sense of pretentiousness, which, in the music business can sometimes be pretty rare.

One of the more popular bands to come from this neck of the woods in recent years is Perpetual Groove, who in front of their hometown crowd, managed to have the entire length of Washington Street moving in one giant coagulated mass, moving as an independent unit.  One of the road warriors of the “jamband circuit”, Perpetual Groove, or as some of the locals have taken to calling them, certainly bring their share of star power, and it was evident during their Saturday night set which seemed to mark the festival’s transition from evening to late night status.  There was certainly a different feeling in the streets as PGroove wrapped it up,and as the hours went on, the music did as well.  I realized really quickly that i’m not designed for nights that end at 3:30 am.

Next: Dead Confederate Is Loud.  Really Loud.

YouTube Is A Vortex, And Will Swallow The World Whole

The internet has officially made it impossible for anything to die.  Doing some research this morning about some different angles we’re working on for the film, i ventured on to YouTube, and as any self respecting music nerd would tell you, as soon as you type the words into the browser, you’re pretty much done.  Don’t plan on working out, getting the dishes done, or anything else productive, because 2 hours later, you’ve seen every video and concert clip you ever knew existed from The Smithereens.  Or you’ve discovered that yes, you DO love Rod Stewart.  Well, two hours ago i set out to find a clip of The Allman Brothers, which led to a clip of them in Athens, which led to a clip of Widespread Panic, which led to a clip of love Tractor, which led to a clip of REM, and before I knew it, it was two hours gone, and i still hadn’t seen what I came for.  Damned internet.  So I’ll just leave you with some of the goodies that i found, including a clip from the original Athens music documentary, from 1986, Athens, GA Inside/Out……enjoy.

AthFest 2010? Yes Please.

AthFest is generally the biggest party of the year in Athens, GA.  Well, outside of any Saturday in the fall, when the Dawgs are in town.  But that’s a whole different league.  AthFest is the citry’s annual music and arts fair and festival, and Outside Film is looking forward to making the hour trip eastward from Atlanta to spend a day or so in the streets, with the people who really make this town’s music scene hum.

Thanks to the folks at AthFest, we’ll be meandering the streets, shooting, talking to locals, and generally immersing ourselves in the Athens music culture for a day or two.  We’ll be the folks with a couple cameras, sweating profusely, asking anyone who is willing to speak with us what exactly it is they love about the town and it’s music.  Of course, we’re planning to get some great material from the performances as well, but this should be a great chance to be amongst those who push this town’s music to the forefront.

            It’s important to point out that AthFest isn’t just a festival where the town and producers just grab anyone within a 300 mile radius to come and play.  This is a festival in Athens, with Athens bands, and musicians who call Athens home.  It’s really, from all indications, the ultimate showcase of this town and it’s musical prowess.  So we’ll see you there on Clayton St, and have cameras in hand, ready to roll.  For all the info on AthFest 2010, check it all out here.

Athenians Love Their Music

So we’ve been blogging of late about the various folks we’re talking to for our film. But I’ve managed to step back, and realize that in fact, we haven’t really given people a more broad idea of what we’re doing with this project.  Sure, it’s about Athens, GA and the world renowned music scene, but it’s important to try and make sure people understand what it isn’t.  It’s not the A to Z history of Athens and it’s music, it’s not a blatant excuse to get passes to shows of great Athens bands, and it’s not a project we’re taking on to make millions of dollars.  This is, after all, a documentary.  We’re lucky to make enough to cover the gas to and from Atlanta and Athens.

What we hope this film will be is pretty simple: An accurate portrait of a town that is fanatical about it’s music, fosters an amazing creative environment for musicians from all over, and a town that truly creates some of the best music you have or haven’t ever heard before.  And through the eyes of those who continue to turn the wheel of the music scene, we want you to get an idea of the passionate approach the people of Athens bring to the table.  Musically, Athens doesn’t try to be anything.  They just are.  Whether or not that translates, I’m not so sure, but the hope is, once our film is complete, it will make perfect sense.

 This isn’t a town of people trying to fit in a certain musical genre, or be the most respected music town in the country.  They go about their business, make their music, and leave it up to the rest of the country to do all the labeling and analyzing of what they are.  And the attitude among the people of Athens? They probably wouldn’t have it any other way.  There’s no time for it.  They’ve got a show to get to.