Optical Atlas

The Late B.P. Helium (Bryan Poole from of Montreal) will be playing a rare live set on Friday, December 11th, at the Caledonia Lounge in Athens.  He’ll be opening for the Arcs.  Athens folks, mark your calendars.

I share with Still Flyin’ a deep and abiding passion for the month of October and the holiday of Halloween.  In honor of the single greatest week of the year, here’s Still Flyin’s video for “Good Thing It’s a Ghost Town Around Here,” from their album Never Gonna Touch the Ground.  (For those interested, I’ve also been trying to watch 31 horror films in 31 days, and writing about each at my new personal blog.)

Hi Hi Hi–that’s the Paul McCartney & Wings cover band fronted by The Late B.P. Helium–recently performed at the Team Clermont Summer Camp, and their set has been archived at Southern Shelter in MP3 and FLAC format.  Yes, they even do “Silly Love Songs!”  Download it all here.

As reported earlier, this weekend is the annual Team Clermont summer camp in Athens, and among those scheduled to perform: Tiny Sticks and Hi Hi Hi, both cover bands featuring of Montreal’s B.P. Helium.  (The former covers ESG, the latter Paul McCartney & Wings.)  B.P. will be joined by Jason NeSmith of Casper & the Cookies, Peter Erchick (Pipes You See, Pipes You Don’t), Madeline, Aaron Wegelin (formerly of Elf Power), and much of Dark Meat.  F*ck This Band (covering Mclusky) and Nic Fit (covering Sonic Youth) will also be performing.  It’s a campfire singalong that starts at 9pm this Saturday night at the 40 Watt.  If I were there, I’d request “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey.”

And speaking of the 40 Watt, Gnarls Barkley will be playing Tuesday August 12th, with Elf Power opening.  It’s considered a kick-off to the 2008 Athens PopFest, although you will have to buy your tickets separately (at School Kids Records 706.353.1666).

Because I have four minutes to post this and then get to work, I’m copying-and-pasting from the Team Clermont press release. Blog Journalism!

Team Clermont, the Athens, GA-based PR firm, has announced the dates and lineup of its newest Summer Festival: Team Clermont Summer Camp! Summer Camp will be held from July 31-August 2nd around Athens, Georgia. This year’s event marks the 11th year of the company’s operation and features some of Team Clermont’s favorite musical acts as well as showcasing the various talents of TC Summer Campers through arts, crafts, karaoke, kickball, Four Square, Corn Hole, dancing, drinking, and more. Team Clermont Summer Camp offers an opportunity to tour the finer clubs and sights of beautiful, bucolic Athens, Georgia, where Team Clermont makes its home. And it all culminates in a night of sing-alongs featuring members of Elf Power, of Montreal, Elf Power, We Versus the Shark, Cinemechanica, Casper & the Cookies, Dark Meat, and more covering ESG, Mclusky, and Paul McCartney and Wings songs! That’s quite a diverse lineup of favorites. Add to that performances by So Many Dynamos, Megafaun, Mostly Bears, Benji Hughes, and more, and you’re gonna want your parents to drop you off here right away!

Come to the camp where it’s towel poppin’ and panty raids 24 hours a day: Team Clermont Summer Camp!

FESTIVITIES

Thursday – 07/31
“Camp Orientation” at Caledonia Lounge, Athens, GA

So Many Dynamos
Mostly Bears
Megafaun
Benji Hughes
(18+ , 256 W Clayton St)

Friday – 08/01
Music Director Scavenger Hunt – 12PM-2PM

“Talent Night” at Little Kings featuring…
Karaoke
Dance Party with DJs Cookies & Cream
Arts & Crafts
Four Square and Corn Hole tournaments
Face Painting Station

Saturday – 08/02
Koalas vs. Walruses Kickball Showdown – 10AM-2PM
(All ages, East Athens Community Park, 705 Sunset Drive)
w/ musical performance by Graham MacRae

“Campfire Sing-Along” concert at The 40 Watt Club
(18+ , 10PM – 285 W Washington St)

Tiny Sticks (ESG cover band featuring Josh McKay of Macha/Seaworthy, Bryan Poole, Heather Heyn formerly of Dark Meat, Aaron Wegelin formerly of Elf Power)

Hi Hi Hi (covering Paul McCartney & Wings, featuring Bryan Poole from of Montreal/Dark Meat/Elf Power/the Late BP Helium and Jason Nesmith of Casper & the Cookies)

F*ck This Band (Mclusky cover band featuring Jeff Tobias of We Versus The Shark, Dark Meat and Pegasuses-XL, Scott Smith of We Versus The Shark, Andy Pruett of Cinemechanica, and Brion Kennedy)

For more information, go to Team Clermont’s website.

From a forthcoming documentary on indie record stores.