Oh Nine, Our Favorite Things
Posted: January 4th, 2010 | Author: 4th Ward Heroes | Filed under: 4TH WARD HEROES, BLOG, EVENTSI have taken a moment to reflect back on 2009. Wow. It. Has. Been. Quite. A. Year. A year ago 4th Ward Heroes did not even exist. I want to thank all of you who have lent your love and support not just to me personally but to the bands 4WH has worked with. You have made all the difference. Thanks for being there.
A few weeks ago I asked friends to jot down their favorite things to happen in the local music scene to post here on 4thWardHeroes.com. In one of the emails, I inadvertently hit cc instead of bcc. I am usually good about this, so please accept my sincerest apologies. I guess that’s what happens when you communicate all day long: everything gets blurry. The deadline has passed, but if you want to contribute just go ahead and send your list or leave it via a comment here. I have enjoyed the responses I have received thus far though. Fun stuff.
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Dave Chait wrote:
4 Things I Loved About the Southeast Music Scene in 2009 with some spillover from other years throughout the decade…you got a problem with that, do you want to fight about it?
1. The Matt Kurz One – So sometime within the past few years, my fellow bearded weirdo friend from that went to college with me in upstate fucking New York ends up moving to Athens GA, quits drinking, shuts himself in, figures out how to play five instruments at the same time better than most of us know how to play one, and wrote some pop gems to let us know that he isn’t a complete gimmick. He played a lot in 2009 and even put out a record, the cover shot was taken in my old backyard in Grant Park.Wanna hear it – FOR FREE!http://www.quoteunquoterecords.com/qur025.htm (Look up The Matt Kurz One – Debt Sounds)2. Bradford Cox - I think with the release of Logos this year, Bradford solidified himself as an indie rock god. Fuck, is that him playing with my hero Britt Daniel from Spoon? Is that Bradford playing fucking CORTEZ THE FUCKING KILLER WITH FUCKING JIM JARMUSCH! I HATE BRADFORD COX!!!!!!!!! Actually, that’s not true, I love Brad…here’s where it gets interesting…Brad and I have known each other since we were about 14 years old. I remember going to see his first band Alternajerk (yes, that’s right, Alternajerk, seriously) at the Pterodactyl in Marietta. We would see each other at shows for the next ten years or so and even hung out and got high a couple of times. Somewhere in my house is an old Polaroid picture of me standing with Thurston Moore outside of the Roxy (I look like a little girl standing next to TM) and who photobombs the picture? you guessed it…Bradford. One thing I truly believed was that Bradford Cox Is never ever ever ever going to be able to write a decent fucking song. For the past couple of years or so I am proud to say that Bradford has shut my sorry ass up and proven me wrong. After hearing Walkabout from the new album I can honestly say that Bradford Cox is the best songwriter in Atlanta, and that Dave Chait is an idiot.3. 529 – Sure, its smoky, sometimes way too packed, and they start super late on days when I just want to get to bed. But I can’t think of another venue in town that was more supportive of local artists and gave everyone a shot…okay, maybe the Star Bar.4. Free Shows at the Star Bar - ever since Pop Death Squad landed the eventually over-hyped Black Kids for one of their Big Trouble in L5P shows, I knew that they were on to something good. This past year, when you’re broke, feeling down, having a public meltdown like I’m prone to do, you can always count on a cheap Thursday night at the star bar to lift your spirits.Thanks to everyone who talked to me, bought me a drink, gave me a hug, or even put a band on a bill that I suggested, it made me feel special.-Dave Chait – The Harold Group/Terrible Noise Trio/DC² = DJs
My favorite thing that happened for the Atlanta music scene in 2009 would be Malissa Sole.
I’m also pretty happy about The Judies getting signed to Slush Fund…- Kahle Davis, Manager, The Judies
These are a few of my favorite things in no particular order:Mike Wright – awesome recording engineer (he’s been around for a minute, but he’s done some especially awesome work this year). Multiple bands getting whats due to them (Zoroaster, Constellations getting record deals). Woody getting a promotion and Bean signing on as the local PBR Rep! and of course 4thwardheroes.-Travis Thatcher
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Thanks fellas!
High up on my list of favorite things local music related this year: Record Store Day 09 at Criminal Records. SO MUCH FUN. Thank u Criminal Records! Thank u PBR! RSD09 is in a very round about way the reason I met Nick Le May (also known as John-Boy) one of my favorite people in the universe. Thank u Nick for being so awesome. Oh, and I ended up in several videos which is proof I can have fun when I am not in charge! Bon Iver at Variety Playhouse this summer was AMAZING. Teaming up w/ Esperanza & Whynatte to pull off the impossible TWICE! Nice. Having scenes for a film shot at a show I produced, beyond cool (stressful at the time, but cool to watch now). Highest up on my list: the birth of 4th Ward Heroes! and my first official 4WH show on May 29, 2009 at 529 with The Constellations, The Judies and Prince Presto. Good times. Later, Sean Mc Pherson said, It’s too bad the best show of the Summer happened in the Spring. That might be the best compliment of the year. Ok, it’s between that and the time Kyle King called me the Harriet Tubman of Atlanta nightlife. I will forever be grateful to all of u who attended, to the artists who were willing to be the first on a 4WH bill, and to Chris Dragon at 529 for taking a chance on me. Cheers to that. Come to think of it, I have had the good fortune to witness first hand a lot of great moments in local music this year, because 4WH has afforded me the opportunity to meet some truly amazing, dedicated, and absurdly talented human beings all of whom shine light in my life when Georgia Power cuts off my electric. I made some great friends this year. Thank you again for the love and support. 2010 here we come! M!
