Maximum Busy Muscle

originally published July 2, 2008

There are two of them; the guy plays guitar, the girl plays the drums and sometimes sings. The guy is unassuming Yankee transplant Jay Roach, the girl is North Carolinian firebrand Mary Joyce. Lazy comparisons to other co-ed twosomes are right out because what we have here is a case of the shreds: total weedily-weedily, liberally spiced with some fresh chugga-chugga. Joyce brings the solid Chicago-style deep-dish drumming that seems to surprise even her, while Roach is responsible for the Yngwie Malmstrom shreditude. The impressive intensity of Maximum Busy Muscle's music is in sharp contrast to their shrug-and-smile demeanor, and that makes it that much sweeter. They're playing at your friend's house, go see them.

Jeff Tobias

For more info see www.myspace.com/maximumbusymuscle.

Next show: Check website for updates

Mechanical Angel

originally published July 2, 2008

Listen:

Mother Magdalene

by Mechanical Angel

from Mechanical Angel

Twenty-three-year-old Eric de la Mer prefers to think of his music as "digital" rather than "electronic." So, even though he utilizes a great deal of software to create these tunes, this isn't a bunch of beeps and blips. Mechanical Angel is full-on, heavy alternative rock created by mixing digital instruments with organic, live instruments and samples on a MacBook. Sometimes the results are more on the dreamy Massive Attack side, but by the middle eight the guitars start crunching, and de la Mer's deep, haunting vocals loom over the mix with foreboding darkness. In a lot of ways, de la Mer's project represents the future of homemade music and the endless possibilities provided to one man and his computer. You'll probably want a MacBook of your own after you stop by www.myspace.com/mechanicalangel.

Michelle Gilzenrat

Next show: Check website for updates

The Flowers of Evil

originally published July 2, 2008

Just like one-time Athenians The B-52s, The Flowers of Evil chose to make their debut on Valentine's Day at a house party. While this isn't necessarily the soundtrack for cuddling with your sweetie, fans of minimalist experimentation and edgy folk will certainly coo with affection. Fowke describes his band's sound as featuring "sweet baritone croons and groans from the bottomless, deep, railroad tracks pumping pistons headed directly into some unsuspecting hell's mouth, angels being violently stripped of their wings and bittersweet laments of lost love…" Like the band's name suggests, there are elements here of twisted beauty - like you left your favorite folk cassette in the car during a sweltering summer day and returned to find the tunes warbled, warped and yet strangely more compelling than before. Get twisted yourself over at www.myspace.com/theevilofflowers.

Next show: Saturday, July 5 at Flicker Theatre & Bar

Nationale

originally published July 2, 2008

Listen:

One Percent

by Nationale

Nationale came on to the scene back in January of this year. According to the band, the inspiration for its sound comes from "many DIY bands from the mid-'90s that at the time fell under 'screamo,' a term that's been somewhat bastardized since to include more mainstream, stylized music." Thrower credits Matt Reilly, the eldest of the group, for really steering Nationale's direction. "We represent an interesting mix because Matt, who is a little older than the rest of us, grew up with the raw version of what the rest of us eventually got into." Nationale is also known for putting together eclectic bills in low-key venues such as house parties and DIY spaces. In fact, adds Thrower, "we have a deep hatred of stages." Feed the fear at www.myspace.com/nationale706.

Next show: Tuesday, July 22 at Little Kings

Michelle Gilzenrat

Creepy

originally published July 2, 2008

Athens got a special Christmas present in the form of Creepy back in December of last year. These hard drinkin' and hard rockin' ladies have been compared to bands like ESG and The Roches, but they prefer to describe themselves as sounding like "wailing lady voices over a bed of reverberating rock echo sound... under the influence of whiskey." Get creeped out over at www.myspace.com/creepyashell.

Next show: Wednesday, July 30 at Caledonia Lounge

Michelle Gilzenrat

Bambara

originally published July 2, 2008

Listen:

Shake

by Bambara

from BAMBARA

This threesome has been writing music together for well over seven years, but has existed as Bambara for just about six months. When asked to describe the band's sound, Bateh compared it to what you'd hear if "you break a York Peppermint Pattie in half in close proximity to your ear." So, expect smooth, luscious atmospherics with wafts of refreshing mint. Get the sensation when you bite into www.myspace.com/bambaraband.

Next show: Tuesday, July 22 at Caledonia Lounge

Michelle Gilzenrat