Category: Music Industry Tales – Etcetera

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.

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ISP: The little engine that could

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

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Elevado Releases “This World is on Fire”

ISP-Music, my record label from 1998-2008,  co-produced and released this album, I added trumpet, accordion, drums, bass and synthesizer then toured for a couple of years. Highlighted by playing The Echo Project with The Flaming Lips, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Thievery Corporation, The Bravery, Cat Power and The Killers among many others.… read more

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Articles, Reviews and Show Notes: urban henry

The loudest, most abrasive “post-post-punk” band in Athens GA, Urban Henry … Ballard Lesemann, Club & Wire, Flagpole Magazine, Athens, Ga.  July 18, 2001

Athfest  Caledonia:  Saturday, June 21, 2003  w/ David Barbe, The Tom Collins and The Close – I’ ll be at the Bar, Kelley Hirt , The Red and Back

Album Review, Stereotype (Karate Media)     February 12, 2003 – Flagpole Magazine, Gordon Lamb.… read more

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urban henry recordings

working to make these available for download, in progress

Briefly coupled with and available through Dust Bunny Records (Lo-Yo Records) and Karate Media,  Urban Henry’s DIY catalog was primarily available via the fledgling indie label ISP, which came back to life years later in Atlanta.… read more