Mule Train Records

The Incredible Sandwich

Mule Train Records is proud to announce that The Incredible Sandwich has been selected to appear on the AthFest 2010 CD!

“Where You Are” was recorded this winter by Nathan Sheppard at Green Room Studios in Athens, GA.  This is the debut appearance of both Green Room Studios and The Incredible Sandwich on this annual compilation.

The AthFest CD features a sampling of local music from Athens, GA, and is released every spring in anticipation of the festival the following June.

An official announcement was made in the February 17, 2010 issue of Athens’ own Flagpole Magazine and stated that out of 143 submissions, only 16 artists were selected.  Other artists slated to appear on the CD are The Whigs, Five Eight, Modern Skirts, William Tonks, and Ken Will Morton, among others.  Find a full listing of this year’s lineup here.

This 13^th annual AthFest CD, produced by Ghostmeat Records, will be released on May 11, 2010.  A CD release party (that is free of charge!) will take place around that date. The event feature three bands that appearing on the CD.

According to the AthFest web site, “Proceeds from CD sales and the electronic distribution of the album benefit AthFest, Inc.- the local non-profit that produces the annual Athens Music & Arts Festival and supports year-round efforts in music and arts education.”

                              
The Incredible Sandwich won a Battle of the Bands to play Wakarusa 2010 this summer. The vote was decided by all who attended the February 1 event at New Earth Music Hall. Music began at 9 p.m., and The Sandwich played at 1 a.m.

Other competing bands included Jazzchronic (funk,rock,fusion,) Mama’s Love (jam, rock, funk,) Sumilan (progressive, rock, ambient,) and The Head (rock and roll). All were chosen through a submission process.

This multi-artist gig wass part of the Waka Winter Classic, which will be touring though 20 cities this winter in a quest to locate the best musicians across the country. The winner of each talent showcase will receive an invitation to play at the Wakarusa festival. The winners will also have their music featured on the Wakarusa Web site and will compete in an online talent showcase.

The 6th Annual Wakarusa Music and Camping Festival will take place on in June 3-6, 2010 at Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, Arkansas.

Genres heard will include a cappella, acoustic, adult contemporary, alternative, Americana, avant-garde, bluegrass, blues, celtic, children’s music, classic rock, classical, comedy, contemporary christian, country, cover band, electronic, folk, funk, gospel, goth, hip-hop/rap, jam band, latin, metal, new age/ambient, non-music performer, pop, punk, reggae, rock, singer/songwriter, soul, spoken word, urban and world.

Artists already scheduled to play the mountain-top festival include STS9, The Disco Biscuits, Lotus and Tea Leaf Green.

See The Incredible Sandwich’s video promo here.

In the past few months, TIS achieved a top 15 ranking on national radio charts (see a map here and more info here) and has been touring to great success.

Here are some video versions of the band’s new songs.
(Note: Some of the song titles may change at a later date)

• “B Thing”
• “Round and Round” (this video is especially psychedelic)
• “In the Pines”

To keep updated on The Sandwich’s activity, please friend Mule Train Records on Facebook or tweet with us on Twitter.

Mardi Gras in Athens? Yes, indeed.

Mule Train Records is one of 12 sponsors for the Mardi Gras Athens on February 12 at the Melting Point. The event will benefit the local, non-profit Family Counseling Service of Athens. A costume party, an authentic Cajun meal, a $1,000 cash prize and raffles, as well as a silent auction and door prizes are all part of the festivities.

A $25 ticket gets you New Orleans Hor d’oeuvres, a complimentary drink and door prizes. The raffle tickets are sold separately for $10 each, or 12 for $100, and are for many prizes including the $1000 cash prize. There will also be free prizes for those in costume. The silent auction will include items from several Athens area restaurants, salons, theaters and many others.

Purchase event and raffle tickets online at Family Counseling Service of Athens.

Other event sponsors include: Athens Banner-Herald, Carson Advisory, Inc., R.E.M., Dalton Carpet One, Raymond James, an Anonymous Donor, St. Mary’s Health Care of Athens, Body in Motion, Inc., Peach Mac, Merrill Lynch, Catholic Health East.

Tickets to the Half Dozen Brass Band concert after the party are available separately from Melting Point Web site.

They are $8 in advance or $12 at the door.

Want more Mardi Gras in Athens? See this 2007 slide show from Josh D. Weiss Photography.

In the December issue of Performer Magazine—Southeast version—writer John Barret reviews The Incredible Sandwich.

He points out the musical skill and talent of the members, especially Matt (guitarist/singer) whom he has this to say about:

Matt [...] snakes in and out of lithe, cascading solos and suave , syncopated rhythms.

He considers the 10-minute-plus song “It’s Gone” to be the album’s centerpiece cycling, “through everything from turbulent chromatic passages, to ambient drones, to heavy, gut-pommeling breakdowns to wide, open, sunlit solos”.

He does also point out Matt’s voice as the one weakness of the Sandwich’s EP.

Despite this, in The Red & Black (UGA’s student newspaper) he awards the band the title of “Best New Local Band” for this year.

Video with shots of the recording session at John Keane Studios.