FLASH TO BANG TIME
Gig Seeker Pro

FLASH TO BANG TIME

Athens, Georgia, United States | INDIE

Athens, Georgia, United States | INDIE
Band Alternative Rock

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"A banging good time"

Thursday night at Flicker Theatre saw a fun lineup of bands, one in particular led by one of Athens longtime muses. Lynda Stipe, of Oh-OK, Hetch Hetchy (and yes sister of the guy from that other Athens band) joined Charles Greenleaf, Kevin Sims, Matt Tamesin and Ritchie WIlliams onstage with her latest band Flash to Bang Time.

Boasting songs with mid-change tempos, thumping bass and soaring vocals, Flash cruised through with a fine 45-minute set in front of an SRO crowd in Flicker’s comfy side room (and yes, her brother from that other band sat proudly in the audience, cheering with a few hearty “Bravos”).

Ahh, Athens, full of such tiny delights. - Abandoned Couches


"Visualizing Music"


Flash to Bang Time

Visualizing Music

In a small room in the corner of the house, there is just enough space for Flash to Bang Time to set up shop. The amps are all shoved up against the faded baby-blue walls, the drum kit barely fits in the corner, and lengths of wire and cable cross each other throughout. You have to tread carefully, taking care not to step on the little one-eyed dog named Rico who wanders in and out of the proceedings, apparently unfazed by the flurry of activity and occasional bursts of sound.

Flash to Bang Time

Old posters, pictures, records and set lists cover the walls, punctuated by the odd glittering star or makeshift trash bag background the band used for publicity photos. There’s a cat clock on the wall that hasn’t worked in years but you’ll look at it expectantly all the same, as will the band. It’s a very odd and eclectic room but then again, Flash to Bang Time is a very odd and eclectic band.

The members all bring a variety of musical tastes and experiences with them. For Lynda Stipe, this has been her main band since singing and playing with pop acts Oh-Ok and Hetch Hetchy. Drummer Charles Greenleaf and bassist Kevin Sims recently released a record with their musically experimental trio Bosch. The newest members, guitarists Ritchie Williams and Matt Tamisin, come from a more traditional rock and roll sound, honed by their time with Commander Chameleon. The band itself has been around since 2000, but its current line-up only just settled in. The resulting mix is something that eludes any easy labels.

The name Flash to Bang Time refers to the amount of time that passes between seeing the light from a nuclear detonation and actually hearing it. The occurrence is a natural visual-aural disconnect, but for the band, the visual and aural go hand in hand. It’s not quite synesthesia, more like trying to make a movie soundtrack.

“OK, y’all be the critters,” says Stipe, pointing towards Williams and Tamisin. “You can be the mountain, and you can be the road.” There is a slight quiet pause in the room as the band looks at one another.

Tamisin starts up an echoing effect on his guitar’s pedal board, followed by Williams scratching and noodling a high-pitched pattern. Soon enough, it sounds like chipmunks and rabbits and all sorts of woodland creatures are coming from the guitars. Greenleaf brings in the drums and you hear the bass follow suit, laying down a low and steady rhythmic loop, changing volume occasionally for emphasis. Stipe fluctuates between a low moaning and a high keening vocal, keeping a drone going on the keyboard. The song is called “Sideways Mountain” and is indicative of how a few of Flash to Bang Time’s songs come about. It’s a very visual way of creating music, evoking mental images in order to produce just the right sound for a song.

But the band is not content to stay with just a musical landscape kind of sound. A quick discussion and a false start later, Flash to Bang Time has morphed into a rock band proper, walking the line between pop and new wave alternative. “Shapeshifter” is what they call this one, a straightforward, upbeat track that begins to spiral off into unexpected places halfway through. After the song, there’s another pause as the band does some mental figuring for the next show’s set list. The adorable dog begs to sit on your lap, and you oblige, listening to the band as they animatedly discuss the songs they would like to play, the ones they haven’t trotted out in a while, and the time constraints typical of a shared show. There are a lot of possibilities to be gone through here.

“We’ve got a ton of other stuff recorded,” says Greenleaf. “We’ve just never released it. I know we’ve got enough for an album or two.”

Flash to Bang Time comes to a pretty quick agreement about the set list. It’s an important task since they’ll be sharing the Melting Point limelight with some dear friends of theirs. The Atlanta group Magnapop will take the stage with its trademark punk pop, headed up by another former Oh-OK-er, Linda Hopper. Hopper’s band has had its own lineup changes, now consisting of longtime guitarist Ruthie Morris, bassist Scott Rowe and drummer Chad Williams.

Last up will be Supercluster, the band that seems to draw more Athens musicians to its creative nucleus than a flame draws moths. The quirky collective boasts members of Pylon, Olivia Tremor Control, the Squalls and some half-dozen other well respected groups from around town. It’s quite a lot of talented bands gathered in one place, all led by strong female vocalists. The night is just full of opportunities for some great reunions.

“There is something very old-school Athens about it,” Stipe muses. “I’m looking forward to the show.” It’s getting a little late in the evening, not that you can really tell between the broken cat clock and the barely restrained energy still being expelled from the band. Even after you walk out of the house and past the wooden gate, you can hear the music coming from the blue practice room. Flash to Bang Time has gotten those critters scampering once again, and they sound more than ready for a change of scenery.

Jordan Stepp
- Flagpole Magazine


Discography

"Seethru" Lp
-Produced by Andy LeMaster (2009)

"Lead Balloon/ Lemon Meringue/ Shapeshifter" 7" (2010)
-Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records
-iTunes

Full Length out on Happy Happy Birthday To Me
February 2012

Photos

Bio

Flash To Bang Time
----------------------------------
Raised on Brian Eno, Monty Python and electricity. Name courtesy of the Illustrious Robin Edwards (Mystery Date). Began out of Organ Grinder's demise as a project/brainchild of the aforementioned Edwards (bass) and Lynda Stipe (Oh-OK, Hetch Hetchy). Actually to back up, it began as songs fed into the earliest of Windows machines via keyboard (Casio) and vocals (Stipe). From there, Ch. Greenleaf purchased a plane ticket for an early CMJ event for Jamey Huggins (of Montreal) in trade for a beautiful set of red sparkle Norma drums in order to help keep time until they found someone who actually knew how to play. Turns out, Greenleaf can play. Inspires Stipe to decide she can play cello, buys one and does so. After a really good run producing the ep Glo (Sinus Recs) in 2000, which features vocalist/ violist Jenny Culler (and includes the track "Deville Creme" featured on the Athfest 2001 cd), Edwards bows out but remains friendly.
Enter Kevin J Sims (Floorwalker, Bosch). Answers an ad in Flagpole, shows up, turns up his amp and destroys the plaster on the wall next to it. The band records Seethru with Andy LeMaster which includes "Silent Movie"- later featured on AthFest's 2005 collection
Guitarist Matt Tamisin and guitarist/ vocalist Ritchi Williams both ex-Commander Chameleon join in 2009 and add to recordings begun at Andy Bakers by way of Chris Bishops that same year. Into 2010- recordings proceed with Abe Tamisin and Matt Tamisin.

In July 2010 Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records releases the "Lead Balloon" 7" on vinyl which also features "Lemon Meringue (pt.1)" "Lemon Meringue (pt.2)" and "Shapeshifter"

In March 2011 Flash To Bang Time played SXSW in Austin w/ Mike Watt, the fleshtones and Supercluster.

Wuxtry Record Store Day compilation released in April 2011 included "Beggarweed (edit)" as well as tracks by Elf Power and REM.

October brings PopFest with the Throwing Muses and Bob Mould as well as CMJ appearances in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Members
 * Lynda Stipe-Vocals, keyboard, bass, occasionally cello

* Charles Greenleaf-Trap set, vocals

* Philip Kohnen-Bass, Glockenspiel

* Richie Williams-Vocals, guitar

* Dyan Holt-Keys, Vocals

* Matt Tamisin-Guitar, Vocals

Albums
-----------
* Full Length out on HHBTM Recs early Spring 2012
* Lead Balloon 7" Fall 2010
* Wuxtry Record Day Comp 2011 (w/ Elf Power/ REM /etc)
* Seethru LP
* Glo Ep

Venues Played

------------------------
* SXSW 2011-the Ginger Man
* PopFest 2011 (October)/40 Watt Club
*CMJ - (October)/Bruer Falls, Brooklyn/CakeShop-NYC
* Flicker
* Caledonia
* Eyedrum
* Earl
* Echo
* Little Kings
* Exit Inn
* Melting Point

Played With
-------------------
Mike Watt
Elf Power
the Fleshtones
Circulatory System
Supercluster
Champale
Drive by Truckers
the Instruments
Oh OK (not with, as)
Jill Carnes
Brave New Citizen
Pylon
Deerhoof
Mountain Goats
Five Eight
Magnapop
Time Toy
Dexter Romwebber
Tunabunny
Mission of Burma
Bob Mould (October 2011)
Throwing Muses (October 2011)
the Goons
the New Sound of Numbers
Witches

Trivia, Ephemera, Folklore, Other Connections
-------------------------------------------------------------------

* Oh-OK
* Mystery Date
* Magnapop
* Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records
* Commander Chameleon
* Hetch Hetchy
* Japanski Studios
* Bosch
* Floorwalker