AthFest: Muuy Biien and Mothers (24 June 2016)
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AthFest Day One: 6/24/2016
As always, I fell in love with a whole new slew of bands this year, while witnessing the evolution of bands I’ve loved for years.
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Muuy Biien at Georgia Theatre (06/24)
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On Friday night I went to the Georgia Theatre main stage to see Muuy Biien. They are masters of punk with a hard rock twist. Front man Joshua Evans’ staccato vocal delivery forms a nice counterpoint to the band’s Black Sabbath-era hard rock. At this show they played a song that is an excellent example of this dynamic; Fallin’ Out from This Is What Your Mind Imagines. Fallin’ Out does a great job of demonstrating just how good Muuy Biien is at maintaining a perfect balance of punk and rock.
Evans is a stunning, strutting peacock of a man with a voice and a stage presence to rival any punk singer out there. He gives a whole new meaning to the word ‘strut’ and adds a whole new dimension to the word ‘attitude.’ Add to that one of the tightest rhythm sections I’ve seen, two dynamite guitarists, and you’ve got yourself a mosh pit.
Muuy Biien has recently announced that they will tour with Hockey Dad in August and September.
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Mothers at 40 Watt Club (06/24)
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In a drastic change of pace, after Muuy Biien’s set I went to see Mothers at the 40 Watt Club. They are a band that evolved from the solo work of vocalist/rhythm guitarist Kristine Leschper. When I hear her voice I can’t help but be reminded of early 80s band The Motels and the haunting voice of their singer Martha Davis. On Friday night the 40 Watt Club was packed with fans of the Athens trio.
Mothers makes me glad I’m capable of experiencing melancholy. This haunting, lovely melancholy is such a wonderful feeling when you listen to songs like Copper Mines. Then, with a pleasantly surprising departure from their customary ethereal style, the band suddenly changed gears with their own rendition of Glenn Frey’s The Heat Is On. Kristine introduced the song by telling us it was in the film Beverly Hills Cop. I was surprised to find myself not just swaying, but dancing at a Mothers show. What a fun blast from the past, as well as a nice tribute to Glenn Frey, who we lost earlier this year.
NPR recently added Mothers on their “Your Favorite New Musicians Of 2016 (So Far)”.
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Mothers at 40 Watt Club, Athens (24 June 2016) |