Tiny Sticks, a band that consists of Emily Simpson, B.P. Helium (
Of Montreal), Aaron Wegelin (
Elf Power), and Josh McKay (
Macha), will play a rare performance this week in Athens. The band specializes in covers of the 70's post-punk/dance group
ESG, led by Deborah, Marie, Renee, and Valerie Scroggins.
B.P. writes, "
Tiny Sticks has been around since maybe 2002 or 2003...We only play
ESG, though we did write our own
ESG-sounding original called 'Bronx 80.' Aaron Wegelin approached me after he procured a copy of the
ESG Soul Jazz compilation,
A South Bronx Story. I was blown away by the infectiousness. The music is minimalist, playful, and funky, and the story of the Scroggins sisters is a good one to boot. Josh McKay had been a fan for years and years. He's very familiar with that whole NYC scene with
Liquid Liquid and other bands of the same ilk. Emily Simpson is our lead singer. This is her first band. She's got the pipes and the moves. You have to dance if you see Emily. We formed with hopes of playing house parties. The Athens scene in the late 70's and early to mid-80's was formed around dance bands like the
B-52's and
Pylon. The best part of the Athens scene is these parties. Athens has some great clubs, but you can really cut loose at a party."
This will probably be the last time you'll see the band in a while, as Wegelin is moving to Tucscon, and McKay is currently playing with
Mice Parade. Get ready to shred the floor with
Tiny Sticks this Thursday night, August 23, at Little Kings.