THE VINYL WARHOL: Stop Cop City Needs 70,000 Atlantan Signatures Before August 15
Also, two ATL debuts and upcoming concerts!
Over two years have passed since the beginning of the Stop Cop City movement, though its roots go back even further. What started as a handful of passionate activists setting up camp in the Weelaunee Forest to stop its being bulldozed to make way for police training facility has garnered worldwide attention as a larger fight against the increased militarization of police in the United States in the aftermath of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. (In my travels though Europe recently locals everywhere were familiar with what is happening here.) In the last year, one forest defender, Manuel Paez Terán, better known as Tortuguita, was killed by police and many, many have been arrested — 23 were charged with domestic terrorism in March.
$90 million is the slated bill for Cop City, a sum paid for by Atlantan taxes and numerous corporations, including The Home Depot, Chick-fil-A, Delta Airlines, the Atlanta Hawks, and Waffle House. In June, the Atlanta City Council approved the funding for Cop City, ignoring the will of the people, displayed by the thousands that showed up at City Hall to speak out against it.
While the funding has been approved, the fight, protests continue. Organizers of Stop Cop City have until August 15 to gather 70,000 signed petitions to force a referendum, giving voters the chance to overturn City Council’s decision. Here’s what you need to know:
- You must sign a petition IN-PERSON. There are field teams with petitions waiting at Park Avenue Baptist Church, 486 Park Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312. (404) 627-2175. , (Monday to Saturday, 11am to 8pm) and American Friends Service Committee, 711 Catherine St SW, Atlanta, GA 30310, (404) 586-0460. (Monday to Sunday, 11am to 8pm). Additionally, there are numerous canvassing events happening thought the city.
- Not everyone can sign. You must be a current resident of Atlanta and be registered to vote as in the City of Atlanta as of October 4, 2021.
- You can check to see if you were registered in the 2021 election at mvp.sos.ga.gov. Enter your information. Check the registration date at the top of the next page to make sure it’s on or before October 4, 2021. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “View/Print Precinct Card.” If you live in the city limits, it will say “ATLANTA” under “Municipality.”
- If you want to help canvas, learn how at copcityvote.com/events. —CL—
New Music
BABYSP1DER — “stick up” (Song) (Self-Released)
BABYSP1DER has been one of Atlanta’s most in in-demand DJs for a minute. I first saw her spin for ATL it girls Coco & Clair Clair late last year, and she’s been on bill after bill around the city consistently. Now, she’s not only releasing her own music, but rapping on it as well.
“stick up” is a grimy song with a glitchy beat and threatening bars. BABYSP1DER lurches through the verses with a detached and distorted delivery. “All gas, no breaks. We drive fast ‘round here.”
There’s a hypnotizing break in the chaos, as BABYSP1DER lures you enter her web. The sample slows. It’s an eerie reprieve, but just as you get settled, the beat returns to bites your head off. “It’s a stick up, stick up.”
Follow BABYSP1DER on Instagram!
Split Diopter — “Falx Cerebri” (Song) (Self-Released)
Over the last couple years, alternative and goth culture has increasingly grown in popularity. Dark wave, EBM, post-punk, and nu wave are influencing a huge chunk of music right now. Leading the sound — in Atlanta at-least — for sometime has been DKA Records, a label who have been releasing projects in those genres since at least 2013.
DKA co-founder TWINS has had numerous musical projects over the years, his newest being Split Diopter, a post-punky trio whose debut single is “Falx Cerebri.” Now, I won’t claim to know everything about post-punk. But I have interviewed Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook, so I think I can say that this song is a faithful continuation of the sound pioneered by Joy Division and The Cure. (I just wanted to flex that old interview)
“Falx Cerebri” is dark and moody. There are creepy guitar runs that make my picking hand tired just thinking about them playing them. I also really love the hand claps that pop up in the last minute. They add a bit of nu wave glee to the overall gloom, magnifying the song’s parting words, “Do you want joy or do you want truth?”
Follow Split Diopter on Instagram!
Upcoming Concerts
Thu., Aug. 3
Klypi & Buddy Crime, The Inner Space at Underground Atlanta — Pop weirdo Klypi left Georgia for the greener pastures of Los Angeles a few years ago. To my knowledge, August 3 will be their first show in Atlanta since that move. If you’re a fan of the terminally-online fringes of pop music, like Dorian Electra or Rebecca Black, Klypi will fit snuggly in your ears.
$15-$20. Thu. Aug. 3, 7:00p.m., The Inner Space at Underground Atlanta, 150 Upper Alabama St. instagram.com/innerspace_atl/ @innerspace_atll
Fri., Aug. 4
Daikaiju Attack Atlanta, Boggs Social & Supply — I’ve never seen a Daikaiju show, but I have heard the stories. Back in my Orlando days, the kaiju-themed surf rock band would play small bars and turn the place upside with their electric live show. Video evidence shows Daikaiju lighting their instruments on fire and having the crowd hoist the drum set and drummer into the air while not missing a beat. When they say they’re “attacking Atlanta,” Daikaiju isn’t joking.
$15-$20. Fri. Aug. 4, 7:00p.m., Boggs Social & Supply, 1310 White St. S.W. boggssocial.com @boggssocial
Sat., Aug. 5
Y’all Ball: A Queer Variety Show, Purgatory at The Masquerade — Southern Fried Queer Pride has had a slammed summer. The Atlanta-based Black queer and QTPOC organization marked their 9th anniversary in June with a week full of events as a part of the Southern Fried Queer Pride 2023 Festival. They didn’t slow down in July, and in August are throwing a queer variety show that includes drag performances, musicians, and a standup comedian.
$20. Sat. Aug. 5, 8:00p.m., Purgatory at The Masquerade, 50 Lower Alabama St. masqueradeatlanta.com The Masquerade
Sun., Aug. 13
Narcan and Overdose Training, Create ATL — While looking at Southern Fried Queer Pride’s event calendar for details on their previously featured event, I noticed one that may not be as flashy, but is certainly more important. Drug overdoses are leading cause of injury mortality deaths, the leading cause of death among young adults. Narcan is an easy-to-use medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose, the number one type drug found in overdoses.
It’s miraculous how someone can go from dying on the floor to completely normal once they’ve been administered naloxone, better known by its brand name Narcan. Everyone who is in proximity to drug use should carry Narcan and know how to administer it. SFQP are teaming with Georgia Harm Reduction Coalition to hold a short training session on how to use Narcan. Attendees will be given free Narcan kits and testing strips after they complete training. You could save a life by going to this event.
FREE. Sun. Aug. 13, 2:00p.m., Create ATL, 900 Murphy Ave SW southernfriedqueerpride.com @sfqp
Thu., Aug. 17
JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown, The Tabernacle — In 2023, “Scaring The Hoes” doesn’t have to be a negative. The phrase — which, in the context of music, Urban Dictionary describes as “plays music that is not appealing or ‘mainstream’ in a sense” — has been reclaimed by two of raps bravest hoe-scaring warriors and used as name for the duo’s recent collaborative album.
However, the album title is true to the content that lies beneath the cover. Danny and JPEG have, in their typical fashion, created music that is very unorthodox and challenging, mashing R&B samples, hand claps, saxophone solos, guitar breaks, and more into what is currently my favorite album of the year.
$37.50-$45. Wed., Aug. 7, 8:00 p.m. The Tabernacle, 1152 Luckie St NW @tabernacleatl
Fri., Aug. 18
August Friday Jazz Night, High Museum of Art — Hands down, jazz nights are the best way to experience the High Museum. I love museums. But, my biggest complaint about them is that visiting a museum is too similar to going to the library. On jazz night, however, The High is alive. People are drinking and laughing and clapping. Everyone gets dressed up. The main corridor is buzzing from the energy produced by world-class musicians giving their all. And you’re free to walk through the exhibits as usual, but even that feels electrified. Somehow, Atlanta’s biggest arts institution gets even more creative.
$25. Fri. Aug. 18, 6:00 p.m. High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E. high.org @highmuseumofart