• In your opinion what distinguishes Athens music scene from other destinations and how would you describe how special it is to you?             

 Artists choose Athens Georgia to have fun and create with their friends, to be themselves, and to experiment.   Athens doesn't have the competition or the hustle of other cities known for music (thankfully!), so artists and musicians here can express themselves in a way that’s free of pretense or awkward motives.  If you come to Athens to check out the music, what you're going to find is just some really weird, honest, fun, pure, heartfelt, truly alternative (and energetic!) stuff.  Can’t speak for everybody, but I don’t think you move to Athens, Georgia to get famous making music... we're here to throw house parties and see how many friends we can fit in a clawtooth bathtub at one time, or dress up like larva and simulate the life cycle and mating of bugs. Hopefully our guests can understand we aren’t really that concerned with the mainstream.. But that’s the good stuff!  We’re pretty queer.

• What is your favorite music venue to watch a show in Athens?

Lately, it’s been band shows in the Lab at Ciné for me!  I dig the lights and projection, and the blank space feels like an art gallery full of potential.  I like shows everywhere in Athens, though: 40 Watt, Hendershot’s, Flicker, Nowhere Bar, GA Theatre rooftop, Buvez, the breweries: Creature, Athentic… Got some cool new spaces opening up outside downtown too- Spaceball Bazaar, Bolo Bolo.. (not to mention Johnny’s skate ramp!)  Good things happening all over. 

• Where would you tell visitors to go if they were looking for Athens local artists to perform?

Well, see my above answer with all the venues and spaces I mentioned!  There’s music somewhere every night!  And then definitely I would recommend for people to come for large-scale annual events that happen in Athens, like Athfest, the Wild Rumpus, Scrapstock, EarthdayEveryday, Latinx, Pride, Black Market, Hot Corner... bunches more!!

• What are some activities you'd recommend for music lovers?

You've got to come to Athens and experience the scene by hitting up some local shows at the smaller venues.  There’s a great history here, but what’s happening now is where the excitement is.  Take a chance on a show- it’s like a fun musical roulette- and see something you’ve never seen before!  It doesn’t have to be a weekend either. You can come to Athens on a Tuesday night and stay a few days and have your run of the town, and see world-class music.  Chances are, the person who just poured your latte just got back from a tour of Japan, and the person who brought out your noodles has a painting show up across town.  You can catch an opening at a local art gallery, then some fabulous eats at one of our famous (or not famous!) local restaurants, And then bop around to two or three different shows seeing an incredible variety of music.. it's like a cultural adventure into the unknown!

• How do you think being part of a college town influences Athens music culture?

I think Athens music scene came out of the college scene, especially when UGA art school was right next to downtown and you had a lot of creative folks doing stuff just for fun and creating with friends, like my personal fav, the B-52’s.  I feel that what you have here now is that a lot of young people get to Athens having grown up in cities or towns without a lot of art, music, or social life/culture, and they (like most of us) have been raised on tv, movies, Instagram, tik tok, etc.  So what they might find in the Athens music scene might feel unfamiliar at first, but it's great for them to experience the reality in Athens vs the image-based conditioning we all kinda grow up with in America.  I’ve seen those lights go on for people many times when first exposed to live music in Athens! We all gotta get exposed at some point!  Some students will gravitate to that real Athens and eat it right up, and I love it when that happens.

• Reflecting on your creation of Wild Rumpus in 2009 what was your original inspiration and how does it feel to witness its substantial growth over the years?

The original inspiration for the Wild Rumpus came out of a conversation I was having with Athens music aficionado and small-label creator Daniel Peiken about promoting a record of mine that he was putting out (which was called Nerd Sexy). Daniel suggested the idea of a parade and it struck me that a Halloween parade would be good. I think I haven't missed a year since moving to Athens in 1992 of putting on some kind of Halloween event with my band, so it seemed like a natural thing to try. That first year, I was sure it was going to be a flop, but it proved to be exactly the opposite! I've been thrilled to see how the city has embraced the Wild Rumpus, and its growth has been wonderfully organic and very fun, and a lot of work haha! People now tell me it's one of the things that makes Athens Athens and that it's their favorite time of the year, which is an incredible honor. I couldn't be more proud.

• Three Athens musicians that you deeply respect and what qualities about them do you admire?

I have 300 friends in Athens that fit this description. I can't imagine narrowing it down to three. I have to do a huge shout-out to my bandmates in Wonderland Rangers, though-  I love what we’re doing, and I’m so thankful to them.  Definitely want to recognize some music organizers who really create and foster the scene here, too- Troy Aubrey of Aubrey Entertainment, and Athens Hip-Hop Ambassador Montu Miller, both of whom do tremendous work putting events and shows together and make opportunities for Athens artists!!  Shout out also to my friends, Afterglo.. DJ and band parties which always benefit a worthy cause!

• Where do you typically seek out inspiration in Athens?

If I'm looking to get out of my box and let in the cosmic rays, you'll find me on my bicycle on Greenway or meditating in one of our parks by the river, but my fire also gets consistently lit being out with friends or running around solo downtown, experiencing our city's culture seeing live music shows at small venues like I've been talking about!  Plus, our scene is starting to transition to being much more sober-friendly as well, and that’s a very welcome change. Non-self-destructive partying is what’s on tap y’all!!  Peace and Love-