Show Preview: Blackout Fest Day 3
Saturday, 19 April 2013 / Union Bar
By Garrett Bower, Staff Writer
It’s a busy weekend. There’s some Record Store Day action, stoner’s delight 4/20, and Athens International week. But rising above all of these events like a great hulking monolith is the 19th annual Blackout Fest, put on by Athens’ own Union Bar and Grill.
The fest has an incredible 3-day lineup including Buffalo Killers, Dead Hand of Man, Weird Science and Total Blam Blams, but fans should be sure to show up Saturday night for one hell of a show with New York natives Shilpa Ray, Speaking Suns, Slut Castle and so many more.
Shilpa Ray is an absolutely demented powerhouse of musical talent that bottles up all their fury, the rugged yet suave flourishes of blues, and the corrosion of punk, which they then spike on the ground for unbelievably explosive jams. The music was practically made for the stage, dealing out a great bit of improve that vocalist Ray howls and wails perfectly into with incredible fervor. At their softest, they’re sure to make listeners nod along with a slick grin and at the absolute loudest, listeners will be hard pressed to stop themselves from jumping around in spastic mania.
Also on Saturday’s lineup is the Athens familiars Speaking Suns, hailing from Yellow Springs but no strangers at all to the local flavor.
“Speaking Suns is an ever shifting group,” commented bassist Conor Stratton. “The members all have a lot of personality in this band musically.” Stratton went on to talk about how the band plays shows often to stay sharp since practicing isn’t always an option with the group being divided between Yellow Springs and Athens.
“Our lives our are always filled with music and activity and it is interesting to see how a week can change the vibes of how we’re playing,” said Stratton, “It’s interesting and it keeps things fresh.
The vibes are always top notch with Speaking Suns’ live performance. The band prides itself on eclectic, psych pop that swells with sound and rich tones. The music lends itself perfectly to getting down or just zoning in the background.
“It’s an honor, honestly,” said Stratton on being a part of a fest with such a killer lineup. “It feels kind of reassuring. There’s bands that we’ve played with and grown with and are now big-ticket bands,” continued Stratton. It’s like, ‘Woah, that’s really cool that we’re being considered,’ it’s really nice.”
Those Record Store steals can wait until Sunday, so come chill at the Union and hold onto your butts for a relentless show of tons of great acts. Tickets are on presale at Haffa’s records across the road for $8 for one night or $20 for all three. Or a similar door charge for the unambitious.
