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What do the Indigo Girls, Shawn Mullins and John Mayer have in common? All are recognized artists that got their start at Eddie's Attic, an acoustic music venue in Decatur, Ga. Claire Kettlebelle, vocalist for the band, hope for agoldensummer, and seasoned performer at Eddie's Attic, might one day join the ranks as a nationally acclaimed musician too. Don't miss your chance to see her band play live alongside Leslie Helpert at 10 p.m. tomorrow night at Edgar's Pub in the Student Union.
Born and raised in the heart of Atlanta, Ga., Kettlebelle has "always sung a song," as she poetically puts it. Do not be mistaken, however. Not only has Kettlebelle been blessed with a naturally beautiful voice, but she has also mastered a wide variety of musical instruments, including the slide and bowed guitar, the singing saw, the clarinet, the accordion and the kazoo, as well as foot percussion (which includes tambourines, cackles, and desk bells). During her childhood, Kettlebelle fooled around with the viola and piano, taking up her first serious instrument at age 16: the guitar. Two years later she broadened her musical horizons even more and began writing songs.
Even at this early stage in her life, Kettlebelle was already accustomed to performing before people. She had gained plenty of experience by sitting in on performances with her father's various R n B cover bands over the years, strumming her B&W Fender Telecaster and singing harmonies. Her first band was a trio in high school amusingly named The Git Krunk Band. Her next band, a duo called Claire & Santiago, was followed by yet another double act: Claire & Bain's Maple Yum Yum. After performing continuously for some time, Claire & Bain's Maple Yum Yum amassed a strong and loyal following in the Southeast. Despite the band's local success, however, the duo chose to split up last summer.
Kettlebelle emerged from the split in July 2002 as the lead vocalist in her latest project, hope for agoldensummer, a quintet that is composed of Kettlebelle, Deb Davis, Jamie Shephard and Will Taylor. According to Kettlebelle, the band's mission is to "create beautiful, dynamic sounds by way of multi-instrumentalism and soaring vocals." Each member contributes his or her own instrumental expertise to the band's eclectic sound. Davis, a hardcore vegan pacifist and former lead guitarist of The Josh Joplin Group, plays guitar, xylophone and accordion for the band. Shephard, drummer for the Atlanta band, Solaar, primarily provides the drumbeat, but also plays the coke bottles, bells and guitar. Taylor, a member of the Athens Chamber Music Society and three orchestras, is the violoncello expert of the group. With Kettlebelle's lyrics and vocals, hope for agoldensummer produces music so unique that it is difficult to classify it. Until Kettlebelle settles on a new genre name, the group desires to have its music referred to as "eclectic acoustic, grotesquely beautiful."
The members of the band found each other and are held together by their mutual admiration and respect of each other's musical genius. They also connect because of their cause, which is, in Kettlebelle's words, to "align ourselves with positivity in the midst of disgruntled, disillusioned complacence." At their shows, the group usually hands out political literature.
The band is currently working on a full-length album that will be released at some point in the future. According to Kettlebelle, the upcoming album is currently on an "indefinite pause" because of her constantly changing ideas. Anyone anxious to hear a sample of the sublimely raw, heart-wrenching music that hope for agoldensummer creates, should drop by Edgar's Pub tomorrow night at 10 p.m..
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