local

Public art displayed on vacant building

A new mural brings an artistic flair and sense of style to downtown Macon

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Published Oct 24, in Local

The College Hill Initiative wants to bring public art to downtown Macon. The Facade Squad and the Community Foundation of Central Georgia have answered the call with a mural located on a vacant commercial building on College Street.
Facade Squad began the process almost two years ago as they applied for a grant to fix what they deemed an eyesore in the community. MiLady Cleaners used to work from the building, but they closed down and left the building empty.
The Facade Squad felt the building needed some character and decided to apply for a grant to put a mural on the building’s side.
Facade Squad is a non-profit organization full of volunteers that believe Macon can be great. They strive to beautify Macon and put energy into their city.
“We see a need, find a way, and find the money to fix it,” stated Facade Squad Director Chris Kiker. To find the money for this project, the Facade Squad had to apply for money from the Knight Neighborhood Challenge Grant.
They applied initially two years ago, but failed to leave room in the budget for an artist. They had to resubmit the budget and then choose a design, a process which was completed in early spring 2012.
Then summer came and work had to be postponed so that the artist was not working in such a strong heat. After a long process, work began on the mural early this fall.
The mural depicts an older person tutoring a young student under a tent-shaped book. Around them there are fireflies and a night sky.
The scene takes place on a stack of books, with “Leaves of Grass” by Walt Whitman at the top and “A Journey to the Center of the Earth” by Jules Verne at the bottom. The work is supposed to represent community and exchange of knowledge.
“It is really a cool piece of work,” stated Kiker.
It is the hopes of the Facade Squad and the Community Foundation of Central Georgia that this mural is the first of an initiative to bring more public art to Macon.
“It was brought to us through the Facade Squad and it lined up with the College Hill Master plan,” explained Community Foundation Director of Donor Services Julia Wood. “There has been talk of public art in general and this was a good place to start.” The College Hill Corridor wants to increase public art in Macon and increase the visual appeal of the city through works with strong art content.
After the mural is finished, landscaping will be done around the mural to make it more attractive.
The mural will improve visual appeal of Macon and increase walk-ability from Mercer to downtown.
According to a work by Richard Florida, if a work with visual appeal is placed every so often along a path, people will be more likely to walk along it.
“We want downtown to look attractive so people want to move there and work there and exercise there,” stated Wood.

Museum comes to Macon until September 16

exhibit featuring animatronic dinosaurs

By:
Published Aug 15, in Local

Looking for a fun and cheap study break on the town? Did you love the latest installment to 20th Century Fox’s “Ice Age” series? Then look no further than the Museum of Arts and Sciences on Forsyth Road, which will continue to host its “Life Through Time: Dinosaurs and Ice Age Mammals” exhibit until September 16.
The exhibit, which has been up and running since mid-May, features ten animatronic representations of animals that existed between the late Jurassic and late Pleistocene ages.
Familiar faces like the saber-toothed tiger and the wooly mammoth snarl and stamp in their exhibits alongside more obscure creatures, including the gigantic Paraceratherium—an ancestor of the rhinoceros—and the Maiasaura, whose name means “good mother lizard” in Greek.
In the lobby visitors can see the mechanics of the animatronic dinosaurs at work with a “skeleton” that they can control.
Supplementing the exhibit is a new planetarium show, “Dinosaur Prophecy,” included with the price of admission to the museum.
Additionally, visitors can view the museum’s collection of fossils and lithographic artwork depicting prehistoric scenes as visitors walk through the attraction.
Other new attractions at the museum include “Native American Prints and Points” and “The Story of Apollo.” “Prints and Points” displays Native American pottery, weaponry and other artifacts in addition to a collection of prints on loan from Beverly Fitzpatrick, who has loaned them out of the collection of her late husband, Duross Fitzpatrick.
“The Story of Apollo” recounts the history of manned space flights with visual aids provided by Rob Sumowski. Both exhibits are open through Sept. 30.
If dinosaurs, Native Americans and space travel aren’t enough to capture your attention, the museum also includes a live animal exhibit with Geoffrey’s tamarins, geckos, snakes, turtles, tropical birds and a variety of insects and arachnids.
A nature trail snakes through the woods just outside the building.
Those who love to watch the skies can attend the museum’s state-of-the-art Mark Smith Planetarium, which in addition to “Dinosaur Prophecy” plays presentations about constellations and astronomical phenomena.
For an additional $2 stargazers can attend the “Skies Over Macon” show at 8 p.m. on Friday nights. The program includes a regularly updated planetarium show and the opportunity to use the museum’s telescopes.
Admission for students is $7. For questions about museum hours or other attractions, visit the website at www.masmacon.org.

The freshman’s survival guide to Macon

Where to go for the best bites in Macon

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Published Aug 15, in Local

La Berry Frozen Yogurt
4646 Forsyth Road
This frozen yogurt shop on Forsyth Road recently opened in 2011. As frozen yogurt continues to become more and more popular, the Macon community and Mercer students cannot get enough La Berry! This frozen yogurt shop has eight different flavors to choose from and the flavors change daily. Once you have chosen your yogurt, do not forget to stop by the topping bar and take advantage of the wide variety of toppings that you can add to your yogurt. Yogurt is sold by the ounce and punch cards are available for frequent customers. With the punch card, for every six yogurts you purchase at La Berry, your next six-ounce yogurt is free! Be sure to check out their Facebook page to stay updated with any offers that they may have and to find out what different flavors they are offering daily. La Berry is an inexpensive and healthier way to tackle your sweet tooth. If you’re craving something sweet, make your way to this frozen yogurt shop!

The Rookery
543 Cherry Street
The Rookery is a popular hang out for many college students. Whether they’re in the mood for lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch, or just to stop by the bar for a drink, The Rookery is the place to go. The Rookery serves a wide variety of American-style food, including appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and burgers. Every Wednesday night around 8 p.m., this downtown joint hosts a trivia night and anyone is welcome to participate. The trivia teams compete for prizes such as gift certificates and tickets to local attractions. Whether you want to get a team together to participate in trivia night, or if you just want to come and try some of their famous burgers, make your way downtown to this popular hang out!

Moe’s Southwest Grill
3111 Vineville Avenue
Moe’s Southwest Grill, located on Vineville Avenue, is quite a popular choice for college students. Especially on a Monday. On Mondays, Moe’s hosts their famous ‘Moe Monday’ where customers can purchase a burrito, chips, and a drink all for only five dollars. Many Mercer students choose to take advantage of this special offer. If you want to get a lot of food for only five dollars, check out Moe’s Southwestern Grill on a Monday! Moes is also quite a popular choice for students on Tuesdays through Sundays as well. Also, don’t forget that you can use your Bear Bucks at this local restaurant. Add some cash to your bear card and head over to Moe’s Southewestern Grill!

Bear’s Den
1191 Oglethorpe Street
The Bear’s Den, located just a few short blocks from campus, is known for their famous southern style cookin’. Their menu features a wide variety of what is known as, ‘southern soul food’ such as: fried chicken, green beans, biscuits, cornbread, macaroni and cheese, and of course, sweet tea. Their menu items change daily. The Bear’s Den is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. unil 3 p.m.  Since this popular southern style restaurant is only opened for lunch,  stop by in between classes to grab a quick meal! If youre craving some southern style cookin’ after 3 p.m., remember that they still cook take out orders until 6 p.m. Come in and try this restuarant that has been popular since 1989!

Lemongrass
442 Cherry Street
Lemongrass is a sushi and Thai bistro that is located downtown. They serve lunch and dinner daily and they serve brunch on Sundays. Lemongrass chef, Saravudh “Tom” Sarrtsud, is a Bangkok-native  who brings his native cooking skills to the table. With the use of fresh ingredients and with a hint of Asian flare, this restaurant serves and prepares bright and flavorful dishes that have continued to please the Macon community. This Thai cuisine is known for its balance of 5 flavors: spicy, sour, sweet, salty, and bitter. Lemongrass offers traditional Thai dishes,  Thai Fusion, and they even offer non-Thai specialties. If you’re in the mood for some fresh sushi and Thai cuisine, this local restaurant is a must!

Bearfoot Tavern
401 Cherry Street
This local tavern was the new addition to the downtown area in November of 2011; so far it has been a hit! This restaurant is decked out with Mercer spirit and has a sporty atmosphere. They capture the atmosphere of a sports bar by having a total of 16 flat screen televisions covering the walls and having a personal 24 inch screen television in each booth. Owner Ceasare Mammarella says to The Telegraph, “I want this to be Mercer’s sports bar.  They are our hometown college and it is important that as their programs continue to expand we support them as a community.” If you’re looking for a place to eat some good food while watching sporting events with friends, Bearfoot Tavern is the place to be!

Greek Corner Deli
587 Cherry Street
Greek Corner Deli is located in downtown Macon and is famous for their hummus, sandwiches, and gyros. This is a very popular lunch joint for many Mercer students. The quick service and low priced food draws in many graduate and undergraduate students. Owners Arty and Desi Passias have recently opened another location on Forsyth Streeth. This new addition serves the same Greek cuisine as Greek Corner Deli. However, they also serve pizza. Both restaurants also serve a wide variety of pastries if you’re in the mood to tackle your sweet tooth. If you’re craving a Greek-style meal, then Greek Corner Deli is definitely the way to go!

Coffee shop wars: battle of the bean

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Published Sep 21, in Features

With the first round of exams and papers bound to hit agendas in the near future and midterms looming in the distance, Mercerians new and old will be searching for a coffee shop with fast internet and quality caffeine to energize and motivate. Three coffee shops near and dear to students’ hearts are evaluated to assist you when weighing your options.
Starbucks

Everyone is familiar with this “green giant.” Since its founding in 1971, this sprawling company has become emblematic of the coffee craze worldwide, hosting a symbol that is universally recognizable and on just about every street corner.
While nonconformists and patrons of local java joints loathe this monster of a distributor and bemoan its prices, Starbucks wins major brownie points for consistency. “Starbucks [gets] your order right every time,” said former music student Edward Atkinson. A venti-skim-double drip latte is interpreted the same at its Times Square store as its quaint corner location in Fayetteville, Ga. The convenience of interstate locations make this shop an easy stop for weary travelers, and installations in grocery stores, shopping malls and college campuses enforce Starbucks’ monopoly in coffee consumption. Its reward program is unparalleled, because few coffee chains can compete with its annual profits.
When looked at from the perspective of a discerning coffee connoisseur, one can notice a few flaws. Commercialization keeps Starbucks from being a personal experience. If you have been inside one location, you have visited them all. The quality of their whole bean coffee is undeniable, but their blended drinks make a mockery of traditional cafes. Words like “frappuccino” and “macchiato” have come to be commonplace in the vernacular. To say that Starbucks is a household name is true, but to snobby coffee-goers it will always represent all that is inherently wrong with globalization.
Joshua Cup

Located on Washington Avenue, Joshua Cup is a treasured secret for its customers. Its subdued, chic atmosphere and high-quality coffee is what keeps Mercerians coming back for more. Joshua Cup is a favorite of Sara Black, Mercer student: “The coffee is better than Jittery Joe’s and the atmosphere is better than Starbucks.” Like its competitors, Joshua Cup offers customers a range of blended and espresso beverages, but keeps true to traditional preparation. A macchiato is an espresso shot with a dollop of steamed milk, not an overdone caramel syrup catastrophe. The store itself is divided into two spaces, one hosting the brewing station and another which can be closed to reduce noise. “There’s more space to move around and find somewhere comfortable, like the side room if you really need quiet and focus or the main room if you want to be around more of the coffee shop hustle and bustle,” said Marshall. Joshua Cup keeps similar hours to Jittery Joe’s, opening 30 minutes earlier on weekdays, and offers wireless service that is considerably faster than Mercer internet. Its location outside of walking distance deters most students from visiting, but its loyal constituency speaks for its quality beverages and comfortable environment.
Jittery Joe’s

If you are unfamiliar with this Mercer mainstay, you are blind, deaf and most certainly living in an altered version of reality. This store is always packed with college students, professors, law and medical students and Maconites. Run by a personable band of hipster students and young adults, Jittery Joe’s rewards its loyal customers with its drink cards. When I was a freshman, every staff member knew my drink order and where I usually liked to sit. Its hours are perfect for stretched and stressed Mercerians; doors open at 7 a.m. and close at midnight every day of the week, with a 24-hour schedule during finals week. Located right across the street from the Lofts at Mercer Village, it is a natural choice for students to grab a bagel or coffee in between classes, and is a common meeting place for friends and business partners.
What’s the catch? Students crowded around electrical outlets are frequently frustrated at the slow speed of its wireless internet; whether this is a Mercer problem, or can be attributed to the number of students on the network is not the concern of this article.
Other students commented on the quality of coffee: “Jittery Joe’s [coffee] is bitter and has a horrible after-taste,” said Dana Marshall.
The space of the actual store is also a straight slab without a real division between a stage where local performers entertain and a study area, a situation that can get annoying when there are a lot of customers conversing.

Your guide to Bearstock

Everything you need to know about the upcoming music festival in Tattnall Square Park

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Published Apr 13, in Entertainment, Features

So, we all know Bearstock is coming up this Saturday, and we all know that it’s going to be completely awesome, as it is every year. But some people don’t know that this year will be a little different than the past few festials, so your pals at The Cluster have prepared this guide to the festivities. We cover pretty much everything, form the lineup to where to buy food. You can thank us later. Preferably with cash.

The Location
Unlike the past couple of years, Bearstock 2011 won’t be held on campus at Porter Patch. Instead, in an effort to reach out to the larger Macon community, the concert will be held at Tattnall Square Park, from noon until 11 p.m. As in past years, the festival will feature two stages in order to decrease band set-up time. The two stages will both face the same direction, unlike last year’s set-up, which caused a small amount of confusion. Here’s a map.

Click to englarge.

 

The Bands
As with last year’s lineup, which featured pop-punk groups We The Kings alongside rapper Jeremih, Quadworks has paired together headliners of various genres in order to increase interest for Mercer students and Macon residents who have divergent tastes in music.
Headlining the event are electro-hop group 3OH!3, Atlanta-based rapper Roscoe Dash, The Dirty Guv’nahs, and indie pop-rock act Parachute Musical, who will be appearing courtesy of Macon music promotion group The Blue Indian. Other acts include The Less, Stribling, Ocean is Theory, and more. Get to know a few of the bands in the feature below.
“We want Bearstock to be representative of the students at Mercer as well as the Macon community. We have a lot of different people who like different things, and we want a well rounded day of music so that everyone can enjoy it, not just a select group of people. We also want to highlight the talent that Macon has to offer,” said McGarity. “We literally took the artists with the most votes and went down the list until we had someone who was free for our date.”

The Schedule
Stage A
Noon — The Silver Comet
1:20 — Venice Is Sinking
2:40 — Broken Bootstraps
4:00 — The Less
5:20 — Ocean Is Theory
6:40 — Parachute Musical
8:35 — Roscoe Dash
9:45 — 3OH!3

Stage B
12:40 — A Ransom Plea
2:00 — Stribling
3:20 — Chelsea Hughes
4:40 — JuBee and the Morning After
6:00 — theKey
7:30 — The Dirty Guv’nahs
8:15 — DJ Pharmer (DSEL promo)

Other Activities
Of course, there’s always more to do at Bearstock than stand and listen to music. Quadworks will also be hosting a pop art booth, where students can have   their picture taken and manipulated into resembling the work of 1960s counterulturalist Andy Warhol.

The Food
Gloria Holland, who catered the African Diaspora events in the past, will be providing food at Bearstock. The menu will include wings, hot dogs, hamburgers, fries and lemonade.
Mercer Village is just a block away as well, and students can pick up pizza or wings and Ingleside Village Pizza or Francar’s, respectively.
Additionally, Sixty Feet is sponsoring a nationwide cupcake sale called The Cupcake Kids, which benefits orphans in the troubled African nation of Uganda. All proceeds go to Sixty Feet, a charity and ministry dedicated to providing both clean water and hope to orphans in the country.

Meet the Bands

3OH!3


3OH!3 (pronounced three-oh-three) is a Boulder, Colorado-based group that blends rock, hip-hop, and electronica into high-energy anthems. The single “Don’t Trust Me,” off their second album, Want, was rated double platinum by the RIAA for selling over two million copies in the United States. The group released a third album, Streets of Gold, in July 2010, which peaked at number four on the Billboard charts. Look forward to their electrifying electronic set at Bearstock this Saturday.

Roscoe Dash


Roscoe Dash, best known for his 2010 single “All the Way Turnt Up” with Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em, is an up-and-coming rapper based out of Atlanta. The aforementioned single reached number 8 on the Billboard hot rap songs and established the young artist as a creative force to be reckoned with. His first album, Ready Set Go! is set to be released in March, and features tracks produced by Boi-1da, a highly sought out producer who has worked with Eminem, Dr. Dre, and Usher. He has released several mixtapes.

Parachute Musical


Parachute Musical, based out of Nashville, Tennessee, is an indie pop-rock four-piece with a penchant for captivating hooks and souring melodies. Their piano-based sound is at times reminiscent of a more melodic and slowed-down Ben Folds Five. The group recently released their debut full-length Everything is Working Out Fine in Some Town. Standout tracks include “Leave Me” and “Flashback ’83.” Parachute Musical’s set is being sponsored by local promoter The Blue Indian.

Ocean is Theory

Ocean is Theory plays a unique and exciting blend of indie rock that is at the same time melodic and energetic. The group has toured all across the United States over the past three years, and recently recorded a full-length record with Razor & Tie records, due out later this year. Their debut record, which is currently untitled, will be released this year. Look for it on store shelves soon. In the mean time, check out their other two releases, the EPs In My Blood Again and Into The Mouth of Lions.

The Less


Atlanta pop-rock act The Less has drawn comparisons to other hook-laden acts such as Between the Trees and Holiday Parade throughout their career. Their 2007 album Loud Machines is an intensely  catchy experience, perfect for anyone that considered themselves a lover of pop rock. The group has recorded a new record, which is due to be released at Athens, GA’s 40 Watt Club on April 27. Until their new album is released, get your fill of their music at their performance on Saturday.

theKey

The Mercer-based modern rock group theKey recently won the Georgia Lottery All Access Music Search. The band describes thier sound as “modern-day ’90s.” Some of their main influences are bands like Matchbox 20, Fastball and the New Radicals, with hints of newer acts like Coldplay, Keane, and Switchfoot. The group is currently working on their first full-length record, to be released later this year. Look forward to their exciting pop hooks, bold instrumentals, and energetic performance on Saturday.

Bearstock bands announced

3OH!3, Roscoe Dash, and Parachute Musical to play at Mercer

By:
Published Feb 23, in Entertainment

3OH!3 performs for a festival crowd

 

UPDATE: Find more information on Bearstock here!

Fans of Bearstock need wait no more. On Wednesday, Quadworks held a press conference to announce the three headlining bands at this year’s music festival. Headlining the event are electro-hop group 3OH!3, Atlanta-based rapper Roscoe Dash, and indie pop-rock act Parachute Musical, who will be appearing courtesy of Macon music promotion group The Blue Indian.

More bands will be announced soon, and the application process is still open to any local bands wishing to play at Bearstock.

As with years before, this year’s Bearstock will be a completely free event, open to all Mercer students as well as Macon residents. The concert will be held at Tattnall Square Park on April 16.

3OH!3 (pronounced three-oh-three) is a Boulder, Colorado-based group that blends rock, hip-hop, and electronica into high-energy anthems. The single “Don’t Trust Me,” off their second album, Want, was rated double platinum by the RIAA for selling over two million copies in the United States. The group released a third album, Streets of Gold, in July 2010, which peaked at number four on the Billboard charts.

“I’ve been a big fan of 3OH!3 for a long time because their music is so much fun to listen to, and their live shows are the best because they basically turn it into one huge party. It’s just a lot of fun and I’m really excited to be able to see them live again,” said Brittany McGarity, who serves as the Live Chair for Quadworks and is responsible for organizing this year’s event.

Roscoe Dash, best known for his 2010 single “All the Way Turnt Up” with Solja Boy Tell ‘Em, is an up-and-coming rapper based out of Atlanta. The aforementioned single reached number 8 on the Billboard hot rap songs and established the young artist as a creative force to be reckoned with. His first album, Ready Set Go! is set to be released in March, and features tracks produced by Boi-1da, a highly sought out producers who has worked with Eminem, Dr. Dre, and Usher. In addition to the upcoming album, Roscoe Dash has released several mixtapes as well.

Parachute Musical, based out of Nashville, Tennessee, is an indie pop-rock four-piece with a penchant for captivating hooks and souring melodies. Their piano-based sound is at times reminiscent of a more melodic and slowed-down Ben Folds Five. The group recentlyreleased their debut full-length Everything is Working Our Fine in Some Town. Standout tracks include “Leave Me” and “Flashback ’83.”

As with last year’s lineup, which featured pop-punk groups We The Kings alongside rapper Jeremih, Quadworks has paired together headliners of various genres in order to increase interest for Mercer students and Macon residents who have divergent tastes in music.

“We want Bearstock to be representative of the students at Mercer as well as the Macon community. We have a lot of different people who like different things, and we want a well rounded day of music so that everyone can enjoy it, not just a select group of people. We also want to highlight the talent that Macon has to offer,” said McGarity. “We literally took the artists with the most votes and went down the list until we had someone who was free for our date.”

Unlike previous years in which the free, all-day festival was held on campus in Porter Patch, Bearstock 2011 will take place across the street from campus in Tattnall Square Park. Quadworks spokespersons say this move is so that Bearstock can engage more with Macon residents and the local music scene.

Be sure to join fellow students at Tattnall Square Park on April 16 for Mercer’s concert event of the year.

Floco’s Modern Life

By:
Published Feb 9, in Columns, Entertainment, Minority Report

Promo shot of Floco Torres

At approximately 2:52 p.m. every Friday afternoon, I feel it. By “it” I’m referring to that campus-wide anxiety “to do.” You know what I mean. You don’t really care what you do. You just want it to either a) not be homework or b) not be regrettable (if you withdraw from a class later in the semester, go ahead and include option” c” which is regrettable homework, a sad combination of options “a” and “b”).

On January 28th, this collegiate malaise was noticeably absent from my afternoon. In its place, I felt an unfamiliar and soothing calmness. Was I high? No. Was I really high? No. I had plans.

Actually, “plans” is a bit of an understatement. I had PLANS. I was set to go to a Floco Torres concert. Who is Floco Torres? That’s your first problem.

Floco Torres is Macon’s premier emcee. I was first introduced to him during the Bearstock of 2009 and have been a fan ever since. Unlike your favorite rapper (I assume your favorite rapper is Swizz Beatz), Floco is incredibly versatile. For his latest performance, departing from the spacey, eclectic sounds of his last album Psychadelphia, Floco mostly showcased songs from his upcoming album Floco’s Modern Life, his first album with his recently formed band, “Dope as Fuck.” I’m not sure if that’s the actual name of the band, but he said it and I heard it, so there you go.

Rather than jumping right into his new material, Floco opted to team up with his DJ and start us off with some of his older works. Slyly endorsing his album by donning an insidiously clever T-shirt that said “FML” on the front and “It doesn’t mean what you think” on the back, Floco began his set with “Runaway Girl,” a dreamy, somber song in which he wittily and reluctantly dismisses a former lover.

Although for many rappers such a subject often leads to misogynistic ranting, Floco avoids this path, making it clear that despite his regret at her decision to leave him (again?) he respects her wishes and respects her too.  A few songs later, he performed “I Want You to Hate It,” another of his “classics.” In this song, Floco details the paradoxical relationship he has with his haters. Although their hate is intended to derail his train, to their dismay, he ironically uses it to keep his locomotive running at full power.

His next song “Side Walk Talk,” which featured Jubee of fellow Macon group City Council, was one of his newer tracks. Although this song is also dedicated “to the haters,” the smooth collaboration of the summer jam-like instrumental with Floco’s wit (“Cuz you’re side walk talkin’, speakin so fast that we don’t hear you like an auction,/You ignore the cones and proceed without caution, not noticing the traffic jam that you are causing”) and Jubee’s faintly raspy yet dynamic vocals made the song a true treat and made it easy to forgive Floco for playing such conceptually similar songs back to back.

Following a very brief intermission in which the band set up and the members of crowd “adjusted” their blood-alcohol levels, Floco returned to the floor with his crew and from there the night ’twas but a dream. Whether they were performing rock remixes of Floco’s old hits such as “Beastie Flow” and “Hot Like the Sun”, a lyrical showcase and a catchy summer jam tune respectively, or performing newer joints such as “Give & Take” and “Bad Day at a Carnival”, they rocked. Hard.

My favorite part of their performance was the fact that the lyrics were discernible despite the fact that — well, a band was playing. If you had the misfortune of hearing Gym Class Heroes at the Bearstock of 2009, you might recall (to your acute displeasure) that the vocals were nothing more than a loud, grating murmur amidst an overly produced cacophony. It was kind of like listening to Linkin Park perform chopped and screwed covers of Glee songs in Arabic (that might be a compliment). Also, there was a guy waving a giant flag for some reason. Floco and his crew don’t do that. They give you the best of both worlds (rock/rap), not the B-sides to a Justin Bieber album (Bieb-sides?).

All that to say, look out for Floco’s Modern Life, due to drop within the next two months. Support (good) local music.

An interview with Andy Hull

Manchester Orchestra frontman talks touring, new record

By:
Published Feb 3, in Entertainment

Andy Hull posing for his solo project, Right Away Great Captain!

Over the past four years, Andy Hull has established a record as one of the most talented and emotionally honest emerging musicians.
As the frontman for Atlanta-based rock act Manchester Orchestra, his band’s brand of intricate, stripped-down and highly charged rock leads to a multitude of critical acclaim and an impassioned, firmly established fanbase.
Thanks to Macon’s music news and review site TheBlueIndian.com, Manchester Orchestra’s lead singer Andy Hull performed in Macon at the 567 along with fellow indie-troubadour Kevin Devine on Dec. 3.
Hull and Devine have toured together previously and even collaborated together, releasing a record under the name Bad Books.
Their set was noticeably intimate, featuring songs from Manchester Orchestra, Kevin Devine’s solo material, Bad Books, Hull’s side project Right Away Great Captain and various covers.
After the show, I spent a few minutes with Hull discussing playing in Macon, the band’s early shows and what to expect with their latest record. A transcript follows, edited for clarity (and to cut out a few words the paper won’t let me print).
Eric Brown: I know Macon’s a lot smaller than many of the places you’ve played in the past few years, so what was behind your decision to come here, and how did you feel about playing the 567?
Andy Hull: I mean, Macon’s not too much smaller than other places we’ve played in before. It was a great show with great energy. I loved it. But we came here because Sean [Pritchard, booking agent for TheBlueIndian.com] is here. We know him, and when Kevin [Devine] and I came up with the idea to come do the solo tour, out of the five venues we could have played we decided to do this one.
EB: It was really fantastic.
AH: Thank you. Thank you.
EB: I actually saw you guys, I guess five years ago with Anathallo at Swayze’s in Marrietta.

AH: Oh, Jesus Christ!With, like, Colour Revolt, and that other band—I forget their name… [A long section of us trying to remember the band’s name follows. We couldn’t do it, though Hull remembered that it was “super emo” and “Something Tomorrow”.]
EB: Well, since then, you’ve had a very different sound — it’s a lot more raw, a lot more aggressive.

AH: Yeah, I mean, I think back then we were pretty raw and aggressive, but we didn’t know what the hell we were doing. Those were the first shows we’d ever done, man. Colour Revolt and Anathallo broke our band, no doubt.
EB: Yeah, those were some fantastic shows. But as your sound’s been maturing, what kind of direction are you moving in now?
AH: Uh, it’s like some really raw, classic rock s***. Kind of like Neil Young, Built to Spill, Pavement, Pixies. Kind of a mix of all that. So that’s on the new record. It’s done now, actually, and it’s coming out in a couple of months and it’s definitely different than anything we’ve ever done before. A lot more singing and screaming, I would say. A bunch of harmonies and s***. Yeah. The other thing [“Mean Everything to Nothing”] was more like a temper tantrum; this is more like a thought.
EB: I can’t wait to hear it. So, are you going on a big tour to support that?
AH: No,we’re just gonna stay at home. But yes, we’re going on a big tour. I mean, I hope it’s big. Maybe a small tour if it doesn’t sell so well. That’s what we do, you know? Make record and tour.
EB: What’s been your favorite part of touring so far?
AH: Nothing, man. I hate f***ing touring. I don’t like touring at all. It’s not fun. I mean, if there’s a good part about it, it’s time with friends and time with the realization that what you do doesn’t have to do with you, so for me, I kind of see God when we play, because I don’t feel like anything I’ve done has been—I’m blessed, is all. That’s it. I’m f****ing blessed to have people that give a f*** what I’m talking about.
Manchester  Orchestra fans can expect to see their latest record “Simply Math” in stores next year. It was produced by Dan Hannon at both the band’s own Atlanta-based Favorite Gentlemen Studios and Nashville’s Blackbird Studios.