As Athens transforms from sleepy summer hamlet into bustling college town virtually overnight, here’s the end of the summer weekend update:
BASEBALL PROJECT SHOWS AND BROADSIDE BALLADS
The Baseball Project (this time it’s Scott McCaughey/Steve Wynn/Linda Pitmon/Mike Mills) will be in North Adams, MASS, on Saturday where they’ll play the SolidSoundFestival (with WILCO & MAVIS STAPLES). The band took Maxwell’s in Hoboken by storm last night.
If you click on the “Broadside Ballad” banner on your right, you can download the Baseball Project’s latest song.
U2 GIVES A SHOUT OUT TO R.E.M.:
Bono paid homage to R.E.M. and MIchael at U2’s show Tuesday night in Frankfurt according to Interference.com. Michael was in the audience as Bono injected a snippet from It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) into “Vertigo” which the band played towards the end of their set.
Read more about the U2 concert in Berlin.
POPFEST
As we reported late last week, Popfest makes its return to Athens this summer after a one-year hiatus. Popfest serves up several strong bands tonight led by Elephant 6 pop powerhouse the Apples in Stereo. Saturday night’s bill is highlighted by Mission of Burma at the 40 Watt along with a reunited Oh Ok! who open. More information is available at athenspopfest.com.
MORE ON NET NEUTRALITY
Verizon-Google has issued its “regulatory framework” proposal for the internet, which, according to our friends at the Future of Music Coalition, has amplified the dialogue and debate about net neutrality, a subject about which we are all very concerned. FMC took the announcement as an opportunity to reiterate their basic stance on the open internet and musicians which you can read here.
Read what Slate.com has to say about the Verizon/Google proposal.
GULF COAST RESTORATION NETWORK, MOTHER JONES AND SLATE ON THE OIL SPILL
Unfortunately, even though BP and the government say the spill is fast disappearing, dramatic new science, according to
Mother Jones reveals that its worst effects may be yet to come.
Gulf Coast Restoration Network’s video series on the effects of the oil spill on local communities continues:
“As a signs of hope show up at the well-head, the impacts on coastal economies become more apparent for tourist-focused businesses, such as the Gulfport MS passenger ferry that takes people out to Ship Island, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. An interview with Captain Louis Skrmetta reveals the economic reality…
Finally, in area politics, Russell Edwards who is running for the Congressional seat for Georgia’s 10th District has been given some strong coverage of late. Check out what Crooks and Liars and Down With Tyranny are saying about him.