Preview: Hellnaw, Kashmerik, Bright at Night / September 17 / Jackie O's
By Eli Schoop, Contributor
Jackie O’s/Thursday, September 17, 2015
Jackie O’s on Thursday will be the recipient of a particularly rocking night, courtesy of Hellnaw with help from Kashmerik and Bright at Night. To celebrate the grand opening of Honey, the new lingerie shop on Union Street, the bands will be coming together to provide an entrance for the new business in Athens that’s sure to be a hit coming from the college-aged populace on campus. ACRN spoke to Hellnaw frontman Josh Wicker about his take on the upcoming festivities.
In regards to Athens music culture in general, Wicker said that “We always love playing in Athens. “We've grown a lot as musicians in this city and our fans always make it a pleasure to perform,” noting how the music scene in the city is notably welcoming. Hellnaw is a particularly intrepid band when it comes to shows and how they take their performances in stride. “We like to give the audience a rowdy, fun-filled experience. We want them to feel supremely satisfied and perhaps a little dirty afterwards.” For a funk outfit that prides itself on being as interactive as possible with the audience, this seems promising for whomever is intent on seeing the duo.
Jackie O’s was another source of praise for Wicker. He exclaimed “It's always the bee's knees. We love the bartenders, sound system, patrons, and the brews. It's a great live venue for shows, and everyone is memorable. We're always going to shows and drinking there when we're not playing, so performing there is an added bonus.” That’s a lot of love for such a memorable venue and speaks volumes on how serious, passionate and mischievous Hellnaw will make this show.
Another interesting point was the excitement of playing a lingerie store opening, with Wicker saying “We're hoping to score some free garter belts and maybe get a sponsorship deal to wear the attire at shows. Also, we're always down to support local businesses and anyone trying to make things happen.” It’s pretty fair to feel this way about something like this; after all, how many bands get this type of opportunity?
Wicker thinks that being a funk group here is satisfying, adding “We're happy about the way Athens has treated us over the years. It's just a great place for music in general.” The optimism from Wicker was palpable and it seems obvious that he’ll bring that type of commitment to the show on Thursday. So, if you’re looking for a fun time filled with funk and fervor, Jackie O’s is the place to be at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday.
