The Union is having a different kind of blackout starting tonight ' one that spans three nights and features 31 bands from Athens and all around the country.
River City Tanlines, one of the bands playing at 12th annual Blackoutfest ' which goes until Saturday at The Union, 18 W. Union St. ' originated in Memphis, Tenn., the home of rock 'n' roll. Because of the band's musical background, the members of River City Tanlines listen to music from a variety of genres, said lead singer Alicja Trout, who also has her own record label, Contaminated Records. The band itself plays in the classic garage band, new wave and punk styles.
Having a female lead singer almost guarantees an interesting crowd reaction, Trout said.
'I never saw a girl play like that before' is the typical response
Trout said.
Even though River City Tanlines has toured all around the country and in the United Kingdom, Trout said the band is looking forward to Blackoutfest.- and I have a hunch a lot of people will be coming out for the show this year she said.
Chicago- based Miss Alex White & the Red Orchestra is also playing at Blackoutfest, and lead singer Alex White promised the band will make an impact.
(Athens will) never be the same again! White said.
The band started when White's high school band, Red Lights, played with Detroit's Clone Defects.-
White said.
The other band members then came together with White to form the band. History buffs might recognize red orchestra as a term coined by the Nazis to refer to Communist resistance rings in wartime Europe. Nazis called them an orchestra because of the melodic signals emitting from their transmitters, which they nicknamed music boxes.
Our music is fraught with scientific and historical references
White said of the band's intellectual spin on their punky, psychedelic sound.
Having been musicians for more than 10 years, Detroit-based The High Strung has been on so many tours that the thought of not touring frightens them, said guitarist and vocalist Josh Malerman.
From all of the band's tour experiences, Malerman said playing the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, last year was the best one yet. At this festival, The High Strung played with fellow Park The Van Records label mates The Capitol Years, the band that referred Malerman's band to the record label more than two years ago, boosting their career and launching their new album, Get The Guests.-
Malerman said. Every time we come to Athens we are excited.
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Kelly Kettering
