PREPARING THE WORLD FOR POP IN 2003!

Imperial Fuzz and Groove Essentials present the Shut-Ups, Casper Fandango & the Cookies and What The...? Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2003 at Atlanta's Echo Lounge

Just when you thought you were over that New Years hangover headache, three of Atlantas and Athens finest POP bands are here to jar that skull of yours again (and get your booty shaking while theyre at it)!
   Atlantas the Shut-Ups will not only headline this stellar event, but will make their LIVE debut as well! Be the first kid on your block to hear tracks from their upcoming CD It Hurts To Be Seen, slated for a Spring 2003 release. Two lucky people will win a pair of free passes to the show by joining the bands mailing list at www.imperialfuzz.com/shows/jan8.
   Law-school-grad-turned-rock-n-roller Don Condescending (ex-Lana Becomes A Man) founded and fronts the Shut-Ups, whose website proclaims sound like Gary Numan, Adam Ant and Brian Wilson go[ing] head to head with Smokey Robinson and Sparks at a midnight bowling league, while Randy Newman and Stanley Kubrick keep score."
   Condescending is accompanied by Ben Spraker (frontman of Athens' Ceiling Fan, ex-drummer Casper Fandango & The Cookies) on vocals and guitar; Steve Libbey (aka Robotic Storm Cloud, owner of Imperial Fuzz) on more guitar; Thaddeus Thompson (ex-Parks and Empty Spaces and Orange Hat hour regular) on bass; and via Los Angeles, Darkis Knight (toured with Milli Vanilli, Billy Idol, Teena Marie and others, extra on several seasons of "E.R.") on drums.
   Condescendings close friend and musical collaborator since sixth grade, Jason NeSmith, fronts Casper Fandango & the Cookies, who will make the long trek from Athens to sugar coat your ears. NeSmith (AKA Casper) has played in countless Atlanta and Athens bands over the years, including Orange Hat, Kenny Howes & the Yeah!, and Lana Becomes a Man. Hes backed by Kay Stanton on vocals and bass, Phil Stockman on guitar, and Paul Walker on drums. Critics have compared the cookies to everyone from Pere Ubu and Guided by Voices to the Guess Who and Badfinger. On the 8th, youll just have to come up with your own comparison.
   Rounding out the bill is Atlantas resident rock-n-roll power trio What The...?, featuring Lyle Bufkin on bass, Lee Flier on guitar and Jim "Spyder" Davis on drums. All three of 'em sing, and in such exquisite harmony! What The...? crank out infectiously danceable power pop in the vein of Beatles '65 with a little Led Zeppelin and Marmalade thrown in for good measure. When not playing originals, these guys are one of the best cover bands in the business, playing dead-on renditions of gems from Nick Lowe, the Who, and more.
   For more information about the bands, please visit: www.theshutups.com; www.casperfandango.com; and www.what-the.com. For ticket and venue info, please visit www.echostatic.com.