Gordon Lamb

1 month ago | flagpole.com | Gordon Lamb |Mike White

Words by Gordon Lamb and photographs by Mike WhiteFor as much as Düsseldorf’s Kraftwerk has been casually designated as “futuristic” over the past five decades or so, there’s precious little stance-taking, forward-looking statements, or predictions in the group’s catalog, and the overwhelming bulk of Kraftwerk’s music is simply observant. So much of its observance is of the commonplace (highways, telephones, bicycles) that even the mere vocalization of these can seem like a celebration of them.

1 month ago | flagpole.com | Gordon Lamb

Right toward the very end of this year’s South By Southwest conference it was announced that the 2026 instance would have all three main, and traditionally staggered, festival tracks—music, film and TV, and interactive (AKA technology)—run concurrently. This means the end of the traditional big music weekend that closes out the festival. So this also means that SXSW music as we have experienced it ended in 2025. But it also ended in 2020.

1 month ago | flagpole.com | Gordon Lamb

BUT BEFORE THEN: Pre-orders were very briefly open for the new split 7” single between Jay Gonzalez (Drive By Truckers) and Sloan Brothers,which is named, simply enough, Jay Gonzalez vs. Sloan Brothers. It arrives courtesy of Chunklet Industries. This four-song record—two from each artist—is now completely sold out online, but you can still grab the digital files for a couple of bucks. These records were a very limited edition and lathe-cut (i.e. each was crafted individually by hand).

1 month ago | flagpole.com | Gordon Lamb

Hey y’all, by the time you read this we’ll be neck-deep in the cultural whirlwind that is Austin, TX’s South By Southwest conference. There’s a bit of info below about Athens-related items happening out there, but mostly it’s still all news that’s primarily relevant for those here at home. You know how we do. So, let’s jump in. TEXAS SHOWDOWN: Athens will be well represented in Austin this year courtesy of Indecent Artistry and its corker of a party at Austin’s Chess Club (617 Red River St.).

1 month ago | flagpole.com | Gordon Lamb

ATHENIAN REPTILE: Among the most edifying phenomena of the current music scene is that so many bands are determined to carve out their own personality instead of just treading water. The dark, heavy and legitimately grungy Johnny Falloon does this in spades. The band has a new four-song, self-titled EP out now. While there are some very slight tendencies toward some Soundgarden-y type guitar action, nothing lingers at that polluted pond too long.