Athens alternative rock foursome, Five Eight, has been rocking stages all across the country since signing with Sky Records in 1990. Now, more than 20 years and countless hit records later, the band is preparing for the re-release of its album Weirdo and an accompanying tour! Today we revisit a 2012 AMG interview with the band as we countdown to the return of Five Eight.
Athens rockers, Five Eight, have made their scene on the Bulldog town, having toured with the likes of R.E.M., Cheap Trick, and more.Their songs have lyrical depth and they are bringing that intensity to The Earl tonight, and joined us for our 5GB series.
What’s the first gig you ever attended?
In 1978 I was 16 years old on Long Island, NY. I had blown dry hair and an Italian horn. My friend had a pontiac firebird and we would wait outside the liquor store and ask people to buy us beer.I had a band and we practiced in my basement. Kiss was coming to Madison Square Garden and I wanted to go so bad, but my mother said she had to come to make sure I was behaving, so me, my best friend Kevin, and my mom went to Kiss. The show was amazing, everything you hoped for, except for one issue the place was so huge there was a lag with the sound and I kept feeling like things weren’t in sync. Still Gene blew fire, they had the rising platforms Paul Stanley’s Ibenez Iceman blazed Ace freaked out and and even my mother was blown away.
What is the best gig that you ever played/performed?
In 2004 early spring while standing on the second floor of my single story bungalow in Grant Park ATL. With a nail gun in one hand and a cell phone in the other, I listened to my manager tell me that REM had asked us to play with them in the fall on their US tour. The first show would be one of the seven best shows of my life. At the Greek Theatre, an amphitheater carved into a cayon in the foot hills of LA. Five Eight opened up for REM. They had us up on the big screen. REM treated us like royalty and for one week of shows we played with the rock stars we always wanted to be.
What is the best gig you have ever seen?
One of the best gigs I’ve ever seen is pretty much an impossible question to answer. Four shows at the old forty watt come to mind back in the late 80’s Fugazi, The Silo’s, Vic Chesnutt also Billy Bragg, but one of the most influencial gigs I ever saw was The Minute Men and Black Flag at the SUNY Binghamton gym on Tuesday march 15th 1983. The Minute Men came on first and the thing that blew me away about the show was how normal and cool the guys in the band were and how amazing they all played together. I stood there in awe as they weaved the guitar solos bass and drums together George Hurley, Mike Watt and D. Boon made me wanna run back to my dorm room and practice my guitar pogoing all the way! Then black flag hit the stage. To this day I had never been so close to a front man with such intensity he was covered in welts and bruises and he scratched his back till he bleed as he sang. Saying he had a sarcastic attitude would be an understatement vitriol fueled by inner rage mixed some how with a keen sence of irony was how I remember Henry Rollins. He was completely possessed as the kids started slamming he just fed off their energy.
Gig you would most like to play?
I have a bunch but playing at the Garden with ACDC would work.
What would be the lineup for your dream gig?
Dream show line up Coachella 2013 would probably suffice.
Don’t miss Five Eight live at Eddie’s Attic on February 28 at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $8 in advance, $12 at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m.
