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re: "A RIVER OF BOOZE... Inside one college town’s uneasy embrace of drinking"...
Posted on 12/12/14 at 12:09 pm to K9
Posted on 12/12/14 at 12:09 pm to K9
quote:
was randomly looking at the Widespread Panic wikipedia page and it said Uptown Lounge is where they got famous. Played on Mondays. Did you get to see them?
No. That was before my time. And was at the original location further up the street before it moved to the location that connected to Nowhere Bar. There was no live music at that one. Lots of other famous bands started out at the original too, i think.
By the time I got to Athens, Panic had already moved out of the downtown bars and fraternity houses and were playing the auditoriums and mid-size venues.
1
Posted on 12/12/14 at 12:37 pm to Jefferson Dawg
The uptown didnt seem to be supporting the Dead scene at that point, but if they say they played there, I guess that is all that matters. They were known as a Dead cover band which was rather frowned on in the Athens Music scene at the time. Also, being a frat party band was not considered to be "part" of the Athens Music scene. Their Frat/Sorority BMW with a Dead Head sticker fan base is what really made them. Frankly, they were kind of a joke, but then the Greatful Dead guy died and they stepped in and filled the role. Good for them, but they were not some underground cornerstone of the Athens Music scene back then... far from it actually. When they got famous, the revisionists opened their arms to them...
...and it is nothing personal, they were all actually nice dudes other than Schools
...and it is nothing personal, they were all actually nice dudes other than Schools
This post was edited on 12/12/14 at 12:39 pm
Posted on 12/12/14 at 12:52 pm to Peter Buck
It was wiki article so it could be full of shite, and yeah I've never been a fan of WSP. I don't not like them, but I dont go out my way to listen to them. Just though it was random to see the Uptown Lounge mentioned in there.
Posted on 12/12/14 at 1:07 pm to K9
I mean it could be true. The Uptown kinda lost its edge there towrds the end and Monday Night gig competed with open Mic nights... but in any case, I feel I can say with certainty that they were not really part the "Down Town" Music scene... in fact, they were the antithesis of it...
Posted on 12/12/14 at 2:05 pm to Peter Buck
quote:
but in any case, I feel I can say with certainty that they were not really part the "Down Town" Music scene... in fact, they were the antithesis of it...
Athens music-snobbery is an interesting topic. There's people that share your opinion, but I know that there's also people that reminisce about the downtown Uptown Lounge days of Widespread Panic, etc in the same condescending way that you talk about your view of the "downtown" music scene.
This much is true though. IN the 90's, while the the B-52s were making videos for MTV.....and REM was making unlistenable songs like "Losing my religion" and that rap song with KRS1........the jam-bands were stealing the Athens music scene out from under their proteges noses. And they reigned supreme over Athens for many years. That's not an opinion. That's just what happened.
I know there were hipster pockets of resentment to this, and there was still an ecclectic mix that makes Athens special, but the jam bands were at the top for a while. With Widespread Panic considered the grand-fathers of the "scene".
And what's funny is that the appeal of it was that these jambands were something different. It was a new sound and different from the artsy fartsy oh-so-impressed with itself stale Athens sounds. I'm not defending or criticizing any kind of music. It's just how it was.
The bands that filled the GA theatre were all jam bands. The fraternity houses and small bars downtown were full of jambands hoping to play the GA theatre one day. The annual Athens music fest that came to be known as "Super Jam" out at the fairgrounds was jambands from top to bottom with Panic as the headliners. And then, of course, they played their free show downtown that brought a million people to Athens.
Must have really been infuriating for hipsters and protectors of the "Down Town scene" back then.
Posted on 12/12/14 at 2:16 pm to Jefferson Dawg
Yea Panic's distinctly southern sound (as far as jam bands go) was a big contrast to a lot of the other big stuff coming out at that time. Not a huge Panic fan (I don't dislike them) but I definitely think of Athens when I think of them.
Music is also one of the most interesting things because everyone always wants part of it to be "theirs." It leads to interesting debates whenever bands start getting more popular or when people start claiming they were part of a certain "scene." It's especially true in the jam band world. Listening to people bitch about whether someone is a "real Dead fan" or whether they got to see the "real Phish" is hilarious.
Music is also one of the most interesting things because everyone always wants part of it to be "theirs." It leads to interesting debates whenever bands start getting more popular or when people start claiming they were part of a certain "scene." It's especially true in the jam band world. Listening to people bitch about whether someone is a "real Dead fan" or whether they got to see the "real Phish" is hilarious.
This post was edited on 12/12/14 at 2:19 pm
Posted on 12/12/14 at 2:21 pm to Jefferson Dawg
fricking crazy
wasn't there a lot of rain around this time? One of my professors said a bunch of hippies got flooded in the middle of the night when they were camping out for a Panic show. They were camped over by the kudzu train trassels that REM made famous.
Also, you didn't like REM? Murmurs is fricking badass man.
Posted on 12/12/14 at 2:42 pm to Jefferson Dawg
quote:
........the jam-bands were stealing the Athens music scene
The late 80's early 90's were great IMO because you had a blend of the outgoing music scene coupled with the emerging of the jam bands.
You could see Drivin' & Cryin' at the Theatre, Dreams So Real and the Connells during the week....and then Widespread just about every weekend. With every type of music conceivable in between.
quote:
"Super Jam"
That was always a mixed bag for me. It always went from the "wow I've never been this high" euphoria of tripping and dancing to "oh shite, where are my people and how am I getting home" type thing we're you're climbing in the back of some beat up Jetta for a lift downtown by a bunch of lunatics.
Posted on 12/12/14 at 2:52 pm to K9
quote:
wasn't there a lot of rain around this time?
It didn't rain at all that day or during the show, but I do remember it coming down pretty hard all the next day though.
It was a blast. Was kind of like a big UGA home game ............but everybody was in town tailgating for an outdoor WSP show in the streets of downtown that night.
The "Super Jam" festivals at the fairgrounds were probably even more fun though. COuld bring coolers, kegs, couches, lawn furniture, tents, whatever you wanted. Zero law presence. ANything goes. And great great music when it was brand new.
quote:
Also, you didn't like REM?
I like some REM. Mostly the early stuff.
The whiny songs like "Losing My Religion" make me scratch my head though. But, to each his own.
Posted on 12/12/14 at 2:59 pm to TMDawg
quote:
Music is also one of the most interesting things because everyone always wants part of it to be "theirs." It leads to interesting debates whenever bands start getting more popular or when people start claiming they were part of a certain "scene."
I guess it's all about perspective.
I think downtwon Athens today hardly resembles what i knew as downtown Athens during my time there. So, it makes sense that Peter Buck would feel the same way about his time there before me.
That's the cycle though, isn't it? SOmething unique and special paves the way for it to get bigger and bigger..............and eventually it collapses under it's own weight.
Posted on 12/12/14 at 2:59 pm to Jefferson Dawg
quote:I
"A RIVER OF BOOZE... Inside one college town’s uneasy embrace of drinking"...
quote:
but in any case, I feel I can say with certainty that they were not really part the "Down Town" Music scene... in fact, they were the antithesis of it...
Athens music-snobbery is an interesting topic. There's people that share your opinion, but I know that there's also people that reminisce about the downtown Uptown Lounge days of Widespread Panic, etc in the same condescending way that you talk about your view of the "downtown" music scene.
This much is true though. IN the 90's, while the the B-52s were making videos for MTV.....and REM was making unlistenable songs like "Losing my religion" and that rap song with KRS1........the jam-bands were stealing the Athens music scene out from under their proteges noses. And they reigned supreme over Athens for many years. That's not an opinion. That's just what happened.
I know there were hipster pockets of resentment to this, and there was still an ecclectic mix that makes Athens special, but the jam bands were at the top for a while. With Widespread Panic considered the grand-fathers of the "scene".
And what's funny is that the appeal of it was that these jambands were something different. It was a new sound and different from the artsy fartsy oh-so-impressed with itself stale Athens sounds. I'm not defending or criticizing any kind of music. It's just how it was.
The bands that filled the GA theatre were all jam bands. The fraternity houses and small bars downtown were full of jambands hoping to play the GA theatre one day. The annual Athens music fest that came to be known as "Super Jam" out at the fairgrounds was jambands from top to bottom with Panic as the headliners. And then, of course, they played their free show downtown that brought a million people to Athens.
Must have really been infuriating for hipsters and protectors of the "Down Town scene" back then.
THough there is plenty of snobbery in the Music industry, it is fact that Wide Spread was not part of the down town Athens Music Scene in the 80s. They were a frat band making good money doing dead covers for rich frat kids who wanted to be in the Greatful Dead scene. They exploded on the national scene after the Greatful Dead dude died. It was bizzare how it went down. I am not a fan of the music, but have no ill will towards them other than one of them. Like I said, they were nice dudes. I guess it is just that they kinda want to hide their frant belonging and frat playing past...
Posted on 12/12/14 at 3:03 pm to Jefferson Dawg
quote:
Jefferson Dawg
Oh yea I wasn't criticizing people in here. Just an observation I've always thought was interesting. It's definitely understandable that everyone has a certain nostalgia for the time they associate with the most.
And yea, Athens seems like it keeps changing pretty fast. In a few years, we won't parts of it. But then there will still be parts that seem like they haven't changed a bit. Unfortunately it seems like a lot of traditional college towns are going through this too. Sucks for the most part.
Posted on 12/12/14 at 3:07 pm to Peter Buck
Did you meet your first wife at the frog pond?
Posted on 12/12/14 at 3:34 pm to TMDawg
What was the Italian restaurant downtown that had the little train running around on a track just below the ceiling - Rocco's or Rocky's or something like that. Always liked that place - though I'd be willing to bet it's long gone.
Posted on 12/12/14 at 3:49 pm to ohmdawg
I met David's first wife there... 
Posted on 12/12/14 at 3:49 pm to FaCubeItches
Wasn't it Amici's? It was still there a few years ago I know.
Isn't that where one of the players was found passed out drunk in the bathroom before the 07 season or something? I think it was a lineman for some reason.
ETA: Ian Smith I forgot they had to break down the door
Isn't that where one of the players was found passed out drunk in the bathroom before the 07 season or something?
I think it was a lineman for some reason. ETA: Ian Smith I forgot they had to break down the door
This post was edited on 12/12/14 at 3:52 pm
Posted on 12/12/14 at 4:24 pm to TMDawg
quote:
Amici's?
Amici's was Bird Dog Tavern before it was Amici's. I loved that bar. That was my spot.
Posted on 12/12/14 at 5:23 pm to Peter Buck
quote:
It is fact that Wide Spread was not part of the down town Athens Music Scene in the 80s.
That's just not true. Unless you have to do something besides play hundreds of shows in downtown Athens to be an approved part of "the scene".
You act like it's a fluke that they were allowed to play at the sacred Uptown Lounge, but they played there two or three times per week over several years. Which would pretty much makes them the Uptown Lounge house band during that time.
Also, i thought pretty much every athens band played fraternity parties at some point. Not sure why that's a put-down. Although for some teason, widespread did have the ability to make frat dudes stop getting haircuts and to bathe less frequently. Which is weird.
Posted on 12/12/14 at 5:39 pm to FaCubeItches
quote:
"A RIVER OF BOOZE... Inside one college town’s uneasy embrace of drinking"... What was the Italian restaurant downtown that had the little train running around on a track just below the ceiling - Rocco's or Rocky's or something like that. Always liked that place - though I'd be willing to bet it's long gone.
Rocky's... And it is gone. I really Liked that place.
Posted on 12/12/14 at 5:45 pm to Jefferson Dawg
quote:
"A RIVER OF BOOZE... Inside one college town’s uneasy embrace of drinking"... quote: It is fact that Wide Spread was not part of the down town Athens Music Scene in the 80s. That's just not true. Unless you have to do something besides play hundreds of shows in downtown Athens to be an approved part of "the scene". You act like it's a fluke that they were allowed to play at the sacred Uptown Lounge, but they played there two or three times per week over several years. Which would pretty much makes them the Uptown Lounge house band during that time. Also, i thought pretty much every athens band played fraternity parties at some point. Not sure why that's a put-down. Although for some teason, widespread did have the ability to make frat dudes stop getting haircuts and to bathe less frequently. Which is weird.
Semantics I guess, but they were a Dead cover band and I don't recall them playing down town until they got more established and started demanding too much money to play Frat houses unless it was a real special occasion. By then it was the Ga Theatre and the scene was Fratastic... By then however, things were already changing.
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