Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > March > 27 > Entry
R.E.M. listening party and auction
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An R.E.M.-signed Gretsch guitar, donated as part of the guitar-maker’s 125th anniversary.
R.E.M.’s new album, “Accelerate,” won’t be released until Tuesday, April 1, but if you happen to be in Athens on Monday, March 31, you can get a sneak preview.
A listening party is taking place at the Melting Pot (295 E. Dougherty St., Athens), and doors open at 6 p.m. with the album preview beginning at 8:15 p.m. The event is also a benefit for Community Connection of Northeast Georgia & Family Connection / Communities in Schools.
Though the band won’t make it to the event, there will be a live auction of an R.E.M.-signed Gretsch guitar and a concert package to the band’s Saturday, June 21, concert at Lakewood Amphitheatre, The package includes 6 tickets, a VIP table, transportation to the concert from Athens from Touch of Elegance Limousine Service, and a VIP parking pass. There will also be other R.E.M. items in the live auction and in a silent auction.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on the day of show. Get them through www.athensmusic.net, www.meltingpointathens.com or call 706-254-6909.
Comments
By David Lee
March 27, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
zzzzZZZZzzzz…Boring
By ESR
March 27, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
Can we hear a collective…..WHO CARES.
By Bee atch
March 27, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
you guys are both bums
By John
March 27, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
You obviously care enough to comment. Why be a jerk?
By ozzfest
March 27, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this
To hell with REM. Isn’t it funny that they are SO closely associated with Athens, yet have not played a concert where tickets were available to the public since I started school there in 1986. Yes, I know about the 1992 Greenpeace show and the bowling alley show in 2002. You may argue that there is not a large enough venue. UGA approved the use of Sanford Stadium for concerts in 1989, though no one has ever actually played there. REM’s business name is Athens Ltd, which is true…for the fans it is indeed Athens limited.
By srschirm
March 27, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
Evidently both of you care if you made the effort to comment.
By Bee atch
March 27, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this
I think the first two comments started the JERK thing Johnny Boy.
REM is an icon and put Athens Music on the world map along with the B-52’s. It helped WSP as well.
So Johhny Boy go jump in a lake!
By TYoung44
March 27, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
COME ON REM, FORGETTING YOUR ROOTS? SHOULD HAVE WROTE “DONT GO BACK TO ATHENSVILLE……. YALL COME HOME AND GIVE US GEORGIA FOLKS A CHANCE TO SEE ONE OF OUR FAVORITE BANDS……..HURRY UP!
By C
March 27, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
REM just played at the 40 Watt last fall with a bunch of other Athens bands. So there goes your whole point there ozzfest. In addition the band has their offices are on Washington Street, and if you look on the bands website they are plugging Athens bands, resturants, and other businesses constantly. Do some homework before commenting.
By Lahoma VanZandt
March 27, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this
“R.E.M.’s new album, “Accelerate,” won’t be released until Tuesday, April 1, but if you” know where to look, you could have downloaded it over two weeks ago. That is, if anybody really cared. Stoopid.
By Julio
March 27, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
Does anyone know when tickets go on sell for the 6/21 show at Lakewood?
By Will
March 27, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
Tickets go on sale 4/25, Julio. R.E.M. and their offices provide a huge amount of support for local Athens charities, and as someone said, they played a not-so secret show at the 40 Watt that was open to the public about a year ago.
The new album’s great, by the way.
By John
March 27, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
Bee Ach, My comment was in response to the first two comments. I like R.E.M. Sorry to offend you.
By Bee atch
March 27, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this
No my bad John. I didn’t realize I got posted first.
By Dudeman
March 27, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
I wonder if this is a straight or gay guitar. It probably has never been played because it’s been in the closet all this time.
By Ryan
March 27, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
R.E.M. are full of themselves. Last couple albums didn’t do much for me either. I’d like to believe but past these guys. If you want to hear some revolutionary music listen to Ray Parker Jr. sometime…
By ozzfest
March 27, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this
Thank you C. You just confirmed my point. How many people beside their insider’s do you thing got into the 300 capacity 40 WATT to see REM? If you know so damn much, tell me why they have not played at the coliseum or stadium, or simply played a show at the Fairgrounds? By the way, I still drive from ATL to shows at the 40 WATT all the time. Please advise.
By jhalil boyd
March 27, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
i want it
By Bee atch
March 27, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this
Ryan I bet you watch and live the lives of American Idol.
By Dan Matthews
March 27, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
It’s the Melting Point and I am excited to go
By bigigigig
March 27, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
Athens is so cool.
By Iman Azol
March 27, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
B52s are from Athens?
I never knew that.
Oh, wait, I just remembered I never cared.
They’re fun and entertaining, but who cares what one-horse hick town they came from?
By decaturflyer
March 27, 2008 9:28 PM | Link to this
REM was new and exciting in the 80’s. Honestly, the should call it quits. I can play 10 cords on my kid’s guitar, I could do what they do.
By Athena the Rock of Groupies
March 27, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this
Lame. Lamest band ever. Totally Lame. If lame by any other name that name would be rem
By Menopause Maude
March 27, 2008 10:29 PM | Link to this
College was so kool. I loved to get freaky behind Samford and leave my bobby-sox behind all the while jamming to radio free europe. I concur with Athena lamest gayest wimpiest puss-rock ever. I wish Bob Dole would moon them, because somehow he has become cooler then rem and I am a bed-wetting liberal
By bryan
March 28, 2008 12:33 AM | Link to this
you REM sh!t talkers can eat a dck. REM donates SO MUCH MONEY to athens nonprofit organizations. They love athens. they dont play because the city cant get a place to play safeley annnnnnnd also - they play at least 2 or 3 secret shows a year…
By Sharon
March 28, 2008 1:01 AM | Link to this
Stipe looks like Grampaw. Buck looks like a bloated burnout. Mills looks like a crackhead.
They’re old. Accelerate sounds like their early stuff, i.e. throwing in the towel, trying to cash in on what fame they have left.
Bill Berry knew when the ride was over. He got out with dignity and grace. REM is one of those nostalgia groups now, reenacting their former selves so their aging fans can relive some glory days. Shoulda hung it up when Bill did…now they are a parody of their former selves.
By Mr. Freedom
March 28, 2008 1:05 AM | Link to this
Yo peeps. You don’t have to wait until April 1. I see Accelerate is already all over the torrent sites for download. Get you some…warning: it ain’t that great, but hey, YMMV.
By KR
March 28, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this
Album sux…don’t waste your time.