It's almost time again for that other Athens music festival, AthFest, which spotlights a great variety of musicians from the Athens scene. This year's festival includes quite a few bands of interest to Optical Atlas, such as M Coast, Casper and the Cookies, Zach Gresham (of Summer Hymns), Dark Meat, King of Prussia, Madeline, Russian Spy Camera, Venice is Sinking, We Versus the Shark, and many more. It takes place June 20-24, and you can find ticket information, venues, and a full lineup at the AthFest site.

As part of their annual tradition, the festival is also releasing a musical compilation to promote the festival. AthFest 2007 is now available from Athensmusic.net, and features a previously unreleased track by Dark Meat, as well as material from M Coast and King of Prussia (and such other diverse offerings as the Athens Boys Choir and Tin Cup Prophette.

Web zine SoundsXP has posted an interview with Ben Crum of Great Lakes. He talks about making Diamond Times, the band's latest album, and their already-in-progress next LP. Read it here.

The Sixth Great Lake was originally thought to be a sister group to The Essex Green, as they once had much the same members: a country music answer to the Green's psychedelic 60's leanings. But over the years the lineup has narrowed so that now it only includes one member of the band--Chris Ziter--in addition to Zach Ward and ex-Green Michael Barrett (for the record, all are originally from Vermont's Guppyboy). They've released two splendid albums, both evoking comparisons to The Band and the folk/country/rock that was popularized in the early 70's. First was the well-received Up the Country on Kindercore Records, about which The Onion said, "Like The Ladybug Transistor, The Sixth Great Lake employs the best kind of recycling, finding new uses for old material whose value couldn't have been fully realized the first time around." Unfortunately, that album--like so many wonderful releases on Kindercore--went out of print when the label fell apart, and now awaits some kind of back-catalog resuscitation, such as Polyvinyl did with Of Montreal's. In 2004 the band resurfaced with the undervalued (and underheard) follow-up, Sunday Bridge, on Tup Keewah, their own label. The vinyl-only release came packaged with individual playing cards from various decks; recipients were encouraged to write to the band with a description of their card so they could chart the album's journeys through the world. The band's been silent in the three years since, but they're still recording.

Barrett writes, "This February, I spent a week at Zach's house in Freeport, Maine, recording rhythm tracks for some new Sixth Great Lake material. We got basic tracks for six originals and five or six cover tunes. We're planning on finishing them up this summer and tracking another batch for a possible new record." ApolloAudio has made Sunday Bridge available for download to all those without record players, and you can even still hear Up the Country at eMusic, so their back catalog isn't unavailable. Still, Barrett says, "Sunday Bridge never got a proper CD release, which is too bad. The vinyl sounds good, the MP3s are decent, but the record really sounds fantastic from the original CD master. Since Up the Country is now officially out of print, I would love to see a label package up both records for a double-album release, with a couple outtakes and live tracks."

Me too! But until that happens, here's a rarity from the band: a track available only on their limited edition tour CD from 2003. House of Cards featured demos, home recordings, and live tracks, and this, "Everything is White," which manages the usual Sixth Great Lake trick of sounding like an old standard that you've never heard before.

The Sixth Great Lake - Everything is White

You can order the vinyl of Sunday Bridge, and find more information, at the band's website.

I finally updated the Optical Atlas tour dates section, and even added a new band to our roster, 63 Crayons. New dates include a Florida tour with M Coast and Casper and the Cookies and a trip from Europe all the way to Russia for The Ladybug Transistor. Check all the dates out here.

The Disney Channel series Shorty McShorts will tonight feature an episode scored by The Apples in Stereo's Robert Schneider. From the band's MySpace blog:

Von Hemmling's Jim McIntyre has made his entire discography available for download at the band's website. This includes the 1997 Elephant 6 single My Country Tis of Thee, the J.W. Kellogg EP, and the 2004 CD compilation Wild Hemmling, all as MP3 files, in addition to what was already available at the website: the master-collage La Guerre Est Muertre (as uncompressed WAV files) and 99 from 1999-2000, a collection of ideas dictated into a microphone, as 1 long MP3. The direct link to this page is here. What's nice is that he's also included some credits for the tracks, so you can see that among the contributors are Hilarie Sidney (Apples in Stereo, High Water Marks), Rob Greene (Dressy Bessy), and Rebecca Cole (The Minders). Jim promises to add some unreleased tracks in the future. All in all, a nice deal for us Von Hemmling fans.

We reviewed the new album by Je Suis France, Afrikan Majik, last week, and now Team Clermont has announced that you can win the album in addition to everything the band has ever released (including all the EPs, many of which are out of print), a night of drunken revelry with the band in Lexington, KY (travel expenses will not be reimbursed), plus an "autographed back tattoo" of the Je Suis France Darkness Dead Head shirt, currently being designed ("also to be paid for by the recipient"). Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the most bizarre contest ever. All you have to do to win is to design the artwork for the next Je Suis France EP. So, if you're artistically inclined and live in Lexington (and are old enough to drink), this may be the contest for you. Personally, I want the Je Suis France back catalog, but the back tattoo not so much. Send your submission to thecropper@teamclermont.com.

Here's a great interview and acoustic performance from Robert Schneider of The Apples in Stereo, appearing on Instant Talk Show. Well worth watching.

Gary Olson of The Ladybug Transistor has let us know that on Tuesday, June 5th, a concert will be held to benefit the family of San Fadyl. As you know, the Ladybug drummer tragically passed away in late April after suffering an asthma attack (more details here). Proceeds from this concert, to be held at Soundfix in Brooklyn, will be passed straight along to San's wife, Brigit, and son, Liam. If you're in the area, I strongly urge you to attend--you can see from the flyer that the guest list includes Sasha Bell of The Essex Green, Amy Linton of Aislers Set, the Ladybugs themselves, and more.

In retrospect, it may not have been such a great idea to name your solo recording project Dances with Wolves. After all, if you look up Masters of the Hemisphere in Wikipedia, it inexplicably contains a link to the Kevin Costner Best Picture winner. What's the connection? It's Adrian Finch, of course, late of Elf Power, Summer Hymns, and the Masters, and who, in 2002, released an excellent, moody solo album, South East, under the name. (He also cut a solo track, "Tippytoes," as The Phones for 2000's Kindercore Fifty: We Thank You.) Finch plays all the instruments on every track of this DCBaltimore2012 release, but he had some assist from Chris Bishop (of Radium Recordings), M Coast's Derek Almstead and Summer Hymns' Zachary Gresham, both of whom aided in the mixing. Here's a highlight.

Dances with Wolves - Somewhere Else

Daytrotter has a fantastic interview with Miles Kurosky, discussing his solo album, what he's been doing since Beulah's break-up, and why he might go back and listen to When Your Heartstrings Break again.

Daytrotter - Miles Kurosky: He and His Bloody Stump Are Still Alive

I just posted three reviews in one (what a deal, for such a lack of updates in recent days!): the first two EPs by Still Flyin', and the third full-length by Je Suis France. And they're all connected. Find out how by clicking here!

The initial lineup for the 2007 Happy Happy Birthday to Me Athens PopFest has been announced! While a few more acts will be scheduled, those who have confirmed are listed below. Naturally there are Optical Atlas favorites in force, including Circulatory System, High Water Marks, and The American Revolution (featuring Robert Schneider of The Apples in Stereo). But most surprising are the headliners, undoubtedly the biggest Mike Turner has grabbed yet for his annual summer event: Daniel Johnston and Ted Leo & the Pharmacists. Mike has announced that he's taking at least one year off after this PopFest, so if you haven't been before (like, ahem, me), this is a good chance to make the trip to Athens. I just bought my passes--hope to see you on August 8th through the 11th. All the info, including Paypal ticket purchasing, can be found at the PopFest page.

New video by the 63 Crayons - thanks to Adam for the link!

grimeyno1 asked Robert Schneider a good question about an unfinished track at the Apples message board, and Robert replied with a detailed response about the song's tenuous history (it remains incomplete). But the big news is that he hopes to finish it in time for an upcoming Apples in Stereo rarities compilation. He writes, "We will be including it on Electronic Projects for Musicians which is a seven-inch/B-side/bonus tracks-type comp similar to Science Faire that we are putting out later this year-- which will include all of our non-LP material since Fun Trick Noisemaker came out-- including all of the tracks that were listed here on the Townhall for the unofficial comp that was put together some time ago." Full thread here. We've heard this was coming, but it's good to hear some more details, and to know it's on track!

The Ideal Free Distribution single "Kodak Stare" (which is not on their new, excellent full-length on Happy Happy Birthday to Me) has now been made available for purchase/download at Yep Roc Records' Digital Singles Club. Yep Roc, of course, released The Apples in Stereo's New Magnetic Wonder in collaboration with Simian Records, so now there's yet another tie between the Apples and the IFD (Robert Schneider helped mix the IFD album, his brother-in-law is in the band, and his wife is an occasional back-up singer). "Kodak Stare" was referenced in our recent interview with the band, mentioned as key to the band hooking up with Schneider. (You can read that entire interview here.) Thanks to Samantha for some of the details.

The Digital Singles Club

This was meant to be Tuesday's MP3 to complement the Major Organ news, but now it's Thursday. Here's the first Major Organ and the Adding Machine track ever, a cover of Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" (actually written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss and released by Armstrong in 1967). This version, which its creators could never have imagined, appeared on the Kindercore Records compilation Christmas in Stereo (1997).

Major Organ and the Adding Machine - What a Wonderful World

caitlinbree at the Townhall posted a surprising announcement: last Saturday night at the 40 Watt, a 3-minute trailer was screened for the upcoming film Major Organ and the Adding Machine, based upon the concept album from 2001 which featured the "Elephant 6 Orchestra." Caitlin writes, "Here's what I remember: Two children who seem to be on some sort of quest/adventure. People with long, grey beards. Guy in a lobster suit. A woman baking cookies (Madam Truffle, presumably) & throwing lots of stuff in the blender (photos, records, etc). We heard no dilaogue: just some Major Organ music, some new pieces. High quality filming...looks hilarious...can't wait to see it."

Icons, Abstract Thee, an EP by Of Montreal which was sold on their tour and was available from Polyvinyl's website these last couple of months, will be made widely available in stores beginning tomorrow, which seems appropriate given the band's surging popularity. An Of Montreal EP now available at Best Buy...who would ever have thought? And given the extremely personal nature of the lyrics on the album, it seems even more bizarre--which Pitchfork's Rob Mitchum examines in-depth in his 8.0 review of the EP, which you can read here.

Here's a late Friday update for you. I received a nice note from The Ladybug Transistor's Julia Rydholm to update our readers on the current state of the band's tour. As you know, last week we sadly learned that San Fadyl, drummer for the Ladybugs, passed away suddenly at his home in Switzerland. Rydholm writes, "We intend to play all previously scheduled shows. San would have pitched a fit otherwise, with a generous heap of expletives to underline his displeasure." You can see a full list of dates and listen to some music at the band's MySpace page. The band is touring in support of their upcoming album Can't Wait Another Day, due on Merge Records June 5th. You can see our sneak preview of the album here. Thanks to Julia for letting us know!

Here are some E6 tidbits scattered around the web.

A Hawk and a Hacksaw: Check out this great little interview with Jeremy Barnes, with some information on his new EP and collaboration with the Hun Hangar Ensemble. Thanks to Chris for pointing this out at the Townhall.

The High Water Marks: They still have a new album, Polar, coming out, but it's switched labels from Future Farmer to Happy Happy Birthday to Me. Expect it sometime this summer.

Casper and the Cookies: Rock poet Thax Douglas, who has penned verse for Of Montreal, The Apples in Stereo, and Olivia Tremor Control, wrote a poem to commemorate Casper and the Cookies' recent Chicago appearance. You can read it, and other Cookies memories, in their MySpace blog.

The Apples in Stereo: have been forced to cancel the Scandinavian dates of their upcoming European tour. Check their MySpace site for the current updated schedule. (Haven't updated Optical Atlas' tour dates page yet...I'll get to that this weekend, hopefully.) Oh, and here's my vote for most unusual Apples in Stereo cover ever (video below). Robert Schneider has said, "Thanks to R. Stevie Moore for doing this awesome cover!!! Everybody should check out his very interesting/awesome/strange videos on youtube, not to mention his many, varied records-- R. Stevie was making home recorded experimental pop records before 'lo-fi' was even a word, and he produces songs the way Steve Keene produces paintings: constantly, in great numbers, with something interesting about each one-- Fans of ELO, XTC, and LSD check out I Like to Stay Home which is one of my favorite songs ever. The guy is God (he even has a white beard and big psychedelic glasses just like God)."

Random Rules--a feature in which the Onion A.V. Club asks a celebrity to put their iPod on shuffle and talk about what comes up--today talks to Andrew Rieger of Elf Power. Sure enough, Mark Bolan comes up as one of the first tracks. But also some unexpected choices...