"Everything I Write Has A Soundtrack"

This interview from Between The Lines (here as a podcast) kept me in the car long after I'd reached my destination, listening with fascination. Author David Fulmer has written a mystery novel, Dying Crapshooter's Blues, that incorporates Atlanta myths and legends -- and Atlanta's rich music history.

This podcast with Fulmer talking about Dying Crapshooter's Blues is from the book discussion show Between The Lines on WABE. In the interview, Fulmer talks about Atlanta's significant role in the birth of the modern music industry, something I previously knew nothing about.

Between The Lines is hosted by the delightful Valerie Jackson, Atlanta's former First Lady (Maynard's wife). Jackson's interviews are thoroughly compelling, and she's always so intrigued (so thus we are too) by the authors and their books she brings to her Thursday evening show on WABE. There's a pleasant touch of Momma (Susan) Stanberg about her; she's warm and engaging, a true fan of the material she's inquiring about. You can tell Jackson's a lifelong reader. She really knows her Atlanta and music history too, as we discover here.

If WABE has any other compelling, original programming though, I've yet to hear it. Unfortunately, Between The Lines, a half hour weekly show, seems to be it. And that's a shame. I know they, and our tax dollars, can do better.

The Vast Sweet Quiet Dark Inside

Embrace it, 'cause hon, Lucinda surely has. Just in time for Valentine's Day, she's created another freakin' masterpiece. I'm downloading the new album now, in tears from the very first song. How does she manage to craft my very own heart, it seems? And every other hardcore fan's too of course. That's an artist at work for you.

From the cut, Unsuffer Me: "Undo my logic, undo my fear."

From Come On: "You didn't light my fire. So fuck off. You didn't even make me... come... on."

From Rescue: "He can't carry you past the door of every danger, every poet, every stranger. He can't save you from the plain and simple truth. He can't save you. He can't fix you. Your tears will always leave their mark."

That woman just don't hold back. She puts it out there. She's Emily Dickinson reborn with a bad attitude and a mean guitar. She's fucking great.

In other local, sad sad news, WCLK's Ken Batie has passed on. My friend and local musician, Chilton, sends his thoughts and remembrance of Ken, a man who lived a life of genuine heart and soul:

It is with great sadness that I inform you that Ken Batie has passed away. From all that I have been able to ascertain he died in a head on car crash.

I have to share. Ken was one of the only Atlanta media/radio personalities that embraced my debut cd "Is" instantly! He championed not only my project but the projects of other artist who don't fit so neatly in the box of mainstream radio.

Ken opened up his radio show on WCLK and gave me a platform to perform. He interviewed me on his "Hot Ice in the afternoon" radio program exposing me to many in Atlanta who had never heard me before.

I can honestly say that he was a hero of all who like "real music" and a champion for the "little guy" to be heard.

Rest In Peace, Ken. Your strength, vision, character, personality, soul and friendship will be missed by all.
Chilton

He'd Have Been A Good Man...

"... if he'd had a bad rocker to bash him in the head every day."

Since a couple of you have enquired into the matter, let me direct you to the blog thread from over a year ago in which someone (I'll never tell) posted the "Tony Paris is buried in the Kremlin" comment. Many choice eighties-Atlanta references lie within, if you're over 38 and still alive.

In a devilish new twist, the plot of the Fox TV show, Vanished, set in Atlanta and on Monday nights at 9pm, hints of a romp through the "Atlanta underground music scene." Such a story line should make for intense TV -- how about that wanker redneck drummer from Duluth who once did blow with Ashley Smith lounging about on your East Atlanta Ikea couch for three weeks instead of the one week it promised in the first place? Now that would be frightening.

It's a shame the show does not incorporate the truly evil and horrid realities of Atlanta's much more infamous and always-flourishing sex trade business instead. That could indeed scare someone.

While bad TV, Vanished does make for an excellent drinking game. For instance, you can drink every time they botch an Atlanta reference. Something along the lines of I-20 going through Stone Mountain. You'll be crocked by 9:15, if you can make it through the laughable, very unsouthern-esque acting for that long.

One other note, wanna hear something real pretty? Check out the song on Caroline Monroe's MySpace. Just as lovely as it can be. We were delighted to have her on TrueGritz twice. Caroline's surely a star in the making.