Sam Lipkin

Noticing the pterodactyl tattoo on the forearm of The Grawks frontman Steve Phillips and knowing the band has a fondness for the extinct flying reptile, it felt necessary to ask, “So, what’s the deal with the pterodactyl?”

Earlier this month, Strolling Bones Records reissued Rick Fowler’s 2008 blues album, Back On My Good Foot, as part of the label’s Cold Case Tapes series—providing an under-promoted record with a deserved second wind. At the time it was released, Back on My Good Foot received high praise from music critics around the world. The solo musician was backed by a powerhouse of peers: Bill Berry and Gerry Hanson on drums, keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Randall Bramblett, bassist Michael C. Steele and organist Tim White. But the recession was in full swing, and investors pulled out of the record label backing the album. The company shut down, and the album’s momentum fizzled out. Many years later when Fowler was talking with […]

7 Brew Coffee opened at 3455 Atlanta Highway today, with its soft opening over the weekend causing reports of a traffic jam on Timothy Road. The chain serves the usual hot and iced coffee drinks, in addition to customizable energy drinks, sodas, teas, lemonades, smoothies and shakes.

There’s no shortage of live music pouring out of the coffee shop and bar venues around Athens year-round, but the largest venues in town wait out the summer to stack their lineups with touring bands and musicians in the fall. Here are a few concerts to look forward to, but be sure to check out the Live Music Calendar in print and online at flagpole.com for a more comprehensive list of shows.

Ghavi’s The Steak Place opened at the corner of Prince and Hawthorne avenues, in the former Synovus Bank property, under owner Bahman “Dr. G” Ghavimi with local chef Mimi Maumus as senior executive chef. The renovation and expansion has been under development since 2023, and the bright interior is now Athens’ largest restaurant space. Reservations can be made by calling 762-246-3078 or 844-246-3078. Chain coffee drive-thru Dutch Bros opened at 3131 Atlanta Hwy. serving hot and cold coffee drinks, sparkling sodas, energy drinks, refreshers, lemonade, iced teas, shakes, smoothies and more. Local coffeehouse Hendershot’s is now open on Mondays, with lots of internal renovations that took place over the summer. Foxglove PlantBar added a fully-functioning cocktail bar to its space […]

The Portico in Good Hope, just 20 minutes outside of Athens, is an event space in the restored former High Shoals Baptist Church, which was built in 1868. North Georgia-based recording company Piedmont Sound is hosting its first music performance open to the public in the space, featuring Americana songwriters Gabe Lee, Tyler Key and Cody Marlowe. The ticket price includes a lowcountry boil dinner served at door time before the intimate show begins. Over the past year Piedmont Sound has hosted video and audio recording sessions at The Portico, and this will be a behind-the-scenes look at the space for guests ahead of Piedmont Sounds’ first annual festival, Piedmont Stomp, that will be held Nov. 21–22. Session videos from […]

When reflecting on your teenage years, you can relate to the process of forming your own identity while also still being stuck in situations outside of your control, and starting a healing journey from childhood trauma. Now imagine that and opening yourself up to the world through raw, vulnerable music. Throw in navigating the music industry and going straight from long days at high school to long days touring on the road, and you’re completely out of your depth.

The Segar Jazz Affair is celebrating its 17th anniversary and 105th show with a special performance by contemporary jazz alto saxophonist Marcus Click. There will be two sets hosted by DJ Dwain Segar, who has successfully made it his personal mission to bring live jazz to Athens over the years. Alongside the smooth jazz show he hosts on WXAG 92.7 FM, the Segar Jazz Affair concerts have brought the sounds and styles of musicians from around the nation to Athens. Click received the InterContinental Music Award for Instrumentalist of the Year for his performance on “Higher Ground” last year, and he released a single earlier this year, “Gratitude,” that was produced by Grammy-, Stellar- and Dove Award-nominated Mel Holder. Advance tickets for the night are available for $20 at bit.ly/HendershotsAug23.

Gabe Lee performed with Tyler Key and Cody Marlowe at The Portico in Good Hope on Sunday, Aug. 23. This intimate concert was the first hosted by Piedmont Sound, and the recording company will put on a two-day festival in the historic space later this year.

Selling out a reunion show nearly a month in advance is what any band hopes for, although it being the first time the band has ever sold out the 40 Watt Club naturally comes with a little amusing irony—but times are different than when Athens country luminaries The Star Room Boys last hit the stage together in 2002. “Capacity at the 40 Watt was a little bit more on the generous side. That was probably three or four fire marshals ago, right? I don’t think they even hit 700 anymore,” says Dave Marr, frontman and rhythm guitarist of The Star Room Boys. The 40 Watt website says the official capacity is 460, which it seems to stick to nowadays. Together […]