Cave 9: As Indie As It Gets

Cave 9 does things a little bit differently than most venues you’ve ran into. For one, it’s a non-profit organization completely run by volunteers. Two, it’s a punk/indie venue that caters to all ages. Aside from those two small points Cave 9 is just like any other punk and indie venue. They want anyone and everyone to play whenever they can. Cave 9 is one of those rare venues that truly is all about the music. For booking, email the folks at Hugs and High Fives Booking at hugsandhighfivesbooking@gmail.com or, if you are a hardcore or metal act, email Mike Parsons at xmikeparsonsx@gmail.com, and lastly for punk or thrash email Steel City Booking at steelcitybooking@gmail.com to get a gig.

-Michael Aguilar

Capacity: 250

Gear: The venue tell bands, “We don’t have a great PA, but we’ll do the best we can to make you sound good.”

Genres: Punk, metal, hardcore, indie rock

Phone: (205) 821-2576 (don’t call for booking)

Email: caverock9@aol.com

Physical Address: 2237 Magnolia Ave., Birmingham, AL 35205

Mailing Address: PO Box 55298, Birmingham, AL 35205

Website: www.cave9.com

Bailey Brothers Music Company: Birmingham’s Far-Reaching Instrument Store

Starting off with a single store in the Montgomery area so that local musicians wouldn’t have to make the long haul to Atlanta just to pick up the latest gear, Bailey Brothers Music Company now has a total of three locations in Alabama. They sell a wide range of instruments and gear ranging from the classic guitar, bass and drums assortment to recording and pro audio gear to DJ equipment to even band and orchestra instruments. Often clinics will be set up in the stores, hosted by major nationally touring artists, to show off their skills and answer questions from aspiring musicians. They are almost always free of charge and open to the public.

-Matt Frisch

Address: 1006 20th St. S., Birmingham, AL 35205

Phone: (205) 714-7827

Website: www.baileybrothers.com

IN THE NEWS

Following a national summer tour and the mid-July release of its single “Save My Soul,” Birmingham rock group Lynam will release a new album on August 26. The album, Tragic City Symphony, is the band’s fifth album and its second release with EMG.

www.myspace.com/

ynam

The Broken Letters have been spreading their vocal lyricism around the nation this summer and that is not about to stop. The boys from Birmingham are riding on the wings of their new album Sing the Burning Alphabet which was released June 10.

www.myspace.com/

thebrokenletters

Southern, deep-fried and generally messy Auburn rockers Rev. Bubba D. Liverance & the Cornhole Prophets have released their latest record Let My People Dance. It became available to purchase on June 2.

www.revbubbaband.com

One of Birmingham’s indie all-star acts is finding out just what it is like to be on top. Wild Sweet Orange, a Southeast Performer spotlight in February, released its newest album, We Have Cause to be Uneasy, July 24 on and will spend all of this month and foreseeable future on the road. The band will be performing at Lollapalooza in Chicago on August 3 and touring the nation in support of the new album after that.

www.myspace.com/

wildsweetorange

Through the Sparks has spent its summer laying down tracks in the studio for its new album, which the band expects to release sometime in the fall. Lead singer Jody Nelson has this to say about the new album, “Those who didn’t like the first album are really going to hate this one.” Although a comical musing, Nelson’s words apply to few, considering the huge success of the band’s 2007 release, Lazarus Beach.

www.myspace.com/

throughthesparks

Birmingham’s Synchromesh Studios has been staying busy as of late. The studios started the summer off by finishing work on albums by Birmingham locals I Am Terrified, who released its debut album for Goatee records, and roots band Act of Congress. The studio also picked up production for a new album from the Atlanta-based rock group Steadlür.

www.synchromesh

studios.com

Birmingham’s music scene veterans 13ghosts appear to finally be getting their time in the sun. Following the success of their album The Strangest Colored Lights, which was released in March, the band has headed back to the studio to record a short EP. The EP diverges from their previous releases in subject matter and stays away from the band’s personal life. 13ghosts is also planning a fall tour in the U.S. and hope to follow that up with time in Europe. www.13ghostsmusic.com