July 22nd, 2006
How I Became The Bomb
Casper and the Cookies (Athens, GA)
Bunnygrunt (Athens, GA)
Velcro Stars
Visitations (Athens, GA)
Cars Can Be Blue (Athens, GA)
Ocelots
Russian Spy Camera (Athens, GA)
Ideal Free Distribution (Lexington, KY)
Grand Palace (Murfreesboro)
7:00PM / 18+ / $5
“This is a showcase of several bands from the label Happy Happy Birthday To Me. Also, ALL the bands playing this night are playing the Athens Popfest which is being hosted by Happy Happy Birthday To Me.”
22 Comments
as i sit here on a diet of sausage biscuits and o.j., with the sweat on my body forming a second skin, i look back on tonight with wonderment and awe. it started out like any other night, getting off work, going home to my wife and then going to see a show. i showed up at the grand palace and everyone was a buzz about the pop music that had been happening. the ocelots had just finished playing and everyone said the set was amazing. this did not surprise me since they (the ocelots) are one of the most underrated bands in murfreeville. (yeah i said it, nashboro is so condescending.) so, moving on, a few bands from out of town (athens and st louis i think) played and brought some real heat to the stage. then home town heroes, the velcro stars, took the stage. to say this was one of their shining moments would be an understatement. the stars must have felt the love coming from the place tonight because they kick the shit out of the jams. for those who already knew keith and the gang could bring it, this was a great treat.. but for those who had never seen them before i believe it was a religious experience. one of their best shows to date. after the velcro stars left the stage, there was a band called bunnygrunt who had been touted to be velcro-ish in their sound. and i could see that.. but they really had their own feel. once again, a great pop band playing some great pop songs. as the 7th band of the night played (and i apologize for forgetting their names here, but i was deep in discussion with a guy who’s been in murfreesboro almost as long as i have) you could tell everyone was waiting to see murfreesboros golden boys take the stage. how i became the bombs rick (rickles for those of us “in the know”) walked out on stage with his bass and the room went crazy. it took the rest of the band a few minutes to get situated but the whole time the grand palace show room was filling up to capacity and beyond. small groups of people would start clapping and chanting during the set up. big jon burr started the show off with a eerily good rendition of a dusty rhodes speech. from that point on, that room and all of murfreesboro was graced, nay, blessed with the sounds of all of the bombs best songs. with mr burr doing his mr. rhodes impression here and there, it was one of the most entertaining things ive ever watched. the night was capped off with half of hibtb covering a song from one of the best tv shows ever to be shown on fox, firefly. this night, with all of its shirtless freaks and drunken pop music fans was one that will go down in bucket citys history books. thank you grand palace, tonight was truly grand.
-jamie curtis
Sun July 23, 2006 at 3:56 amP.S.
the minutemen never played murfreesboro in 85 with REM.. i spoke to someone who was at the show. it was a new wave band called the nerve.
just thought id let yall know.
-jme
Sun July 23, 2006 at 4:22 amwhoa were we at the same show? those athens bands sucked (ok, bunnygrunt was ok) and it was hot as hell with everybody crammed in there. basically what i’m saying is i’m not going back until they get an air conditioner. that works.
Mon July 24, 2006 at 10:04 amdamn, sounds like one incredible show. lots of bands (ocelots, velcros, bomb) that i want to see, too. very nice indeed.
Mon July 24, 2006 at 3:41 pmthe athens bands were not shit.. they werent the greatest either.. specially compared to the area pop bands that played. and as far as it being hot, that wasnt hot.. a few nights before at the glossary CD release show.. that was hot. also, most summer pop fest are outside shows, so youre gonna have to get over the heat anyway. the point being, the night was great. and the local bands had some of thier best shows as far as im concerned.
the grand palace doesnt have the cash to put ac in because they have shows like you went to where they only charge 5 bucks for 8 bands. and sometimes theres no charge. i agree that it gets a little uncomfortable but ill give up comfort for solid rock and roll at a great price.
Mon July 24, 2006 at 5:29 pmI swear, Cars Can Be Blue were one of the most entertaining live acts I’ve seen in a while. Especially that last song where the dude stripped to his boxers and started dancing in the crowd. It was a hoot to say the least…
Tue July 25, 2006 at 2:47 pmagreed. and they were really nice. nothing like good home grown nasty pop songs.
Tue July 25, 2006 at 5:52 pmthat 7th band you forgot the name of was casper and the cookies. you know, for the record books.
this night was really fun.
ps-there is secret air conditioning at grand palace. you’ll need a torch and a password.
Wed July 26, 2006 at 4:37 pmi would like to say a big thanks to lynn, chuck, sean (think that’s the correct spelling), and bingham for setting up the mini popfest, and for the 3 non-hhbtm bands for playing. the ocelots were very fun, the velcro stars had me kicking myself for not jumping on that demo when bingham sent it down to me, and how i became the bomb were even better than people had described them to me, which was hard to believe. All the hhbtm bands had fun, and love the town and the now, and we hope that the ocelots, velcro stars, and how i became the bomb all enjoy athens, as much as we did the grand palace when they come down here for popfest in about 2 weeks. thanks again murfreesboro for coming out and having a good time. Mike & all of HHBTM.
Wed July 26, 2006 at 8:18 pmhaha, i’m digging all the love and happiness here. and i really wanna see velcro stars live now.
Wed July 26, 2006 at 9:25 pmThat’s what happens when you have a popfest. It’s all about love and happiness and flowers and trees and sunshine and butterflies.
Thu July 27, 2006 at 8:10 amand pop expolsions.
Thu July 27, 2006 at 9:01 amjakob and steve just need to give each other a hug, and i clean poop, well maybe a new name, and they might hug you too. sorry us folks are too nice. mike
Fri July 28, 2006 at 2:31 amjust thought about it, and i know i haven’t posted here much, so you might not know, but that last comment was me joking around a bit.
Sat July 29, 2006 at 1:21 ambut.. i DO clean poop.
Sat July 29, 2006 at 10:24 pmholy shit! i forgot to tell anyone, but just before the mission of burma show here in philly a couple weeks back, i saw a homeless dude walking around downtown philly, mumbling insane things to himself…and he was dressed in none other than a filthy, stained MTSU t-shirt! haha, it was amazing.
Sat July 29, 2006 at 10:55 pmthats what an MTSU RIM degree can get ya!
Sat July 29, 2006 at 11:10 pmHEY! I resmeble that statement!
Sun July 30, 2006 at 1:09 pman I kan spel tu.
Sun July 30, 2006 at 1:10 pmthats spell with two ll’s.
Sun July 30, 2006 at 9:28 pmSpellll?
Mon July 31, 2006 at 9:14 amno matttt
Mon July 31, 2006 at 7:02 pm