Ever tried, ever failed, no matter, try again, fail again, fail better.
Thanks to legends like REM and The B52s, by the time I arrived in Athens, Georgia, there were already hundreds of local bands to foster a vibrant scene. As the head of marketing and public relations for the city, my job was to attract more visitors. From a new website and marketing collateral, complete with a new city logo and slogan, I was producing content at breakneck speed. I was also sent off to trade shows and conferences as a spokesperson but what I kept thinking was: We need a music festival. Fortunately, the powers that be agreed and today Athfest (Athens Music and Arts Festival) is one of the most popular events in the southeast. As co-founder, producer and promoter of the inaugural event, a spark was reignited, after all I came to Athens to play in bands first, get a degree second. Following, are a few stories, reviews, clippings and actual paid jobs that marked more than a decade as a touring musician, publisher, promoter, venue and label owner. I also reluctantly accepted a gig as ASCAP’s Atlanta and Athens A& R guy to produce more events. There’s a lot to unpack here, as they say, but I do literally have boxes to sort through before the full tale can be told. Yes, this category is in progress.
Prologue, Part II —
I had I finally started contributing regular articles for Flagpole Magazine while I was working for the University of Georgia’s Peabody Awards program at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
After multiple CMJ Campaigns for other independent labels, I leveraged the ISP brand to promote our music and center of influence
The first two releases were vinyl 7 inch records printed pink and gray with black and white labels and sleeves.… read more
Elevado Tour Blog – I documented hundreds of hours over months of touring in our veggie-fueled bus… read more
Hoping to add a spirit of community to Atlanta’s independent music scene, Industrial Strength Promotions has unsealed an all-purpose venue next to the Earl in East Atlanta.… read more
BEST ROCK CLUB THAT CLOSED BOA AWARD WINNER: 2007 » After Dark » Critics Pick
RIP stands for rest in peace, and ISP stands for Industrial Strength Promo. ISP was like an open-till-whenever convenience store for edgy music, art and activism.… read more
Scrappy East Atlanta venue shuts its doors for now
ISP, Aug. 16 — it’s Elvis’ death day, but you wouldn’t know it at ISP. Here, the focus is strictly on a night of new, independent music. Even though the scrappy little 10-month-old venue on busy Flat Shoals Avenue has only a couple of weeks to live, it’s a distant concern.… read more