The Swimming Pool Q's

2020 Winter & Spring News

Join The Swimming Pool Q's + Mitch Easter, on Friday, Feb. 7th at The Vista Room ATL. Tickets are on sale now at:

https://www.freshtix.com/events/spq-2-7-20

The Swimming Pool Q's will play a two-date stand this Summer, with the original Love Tractor! The shows will be in Decatur at The Vista Room ATL on Fri. June 28, and in Athens at the 40 Watt Club on Sat. June 29. The Athens show is all ages, 8 pm door, $15-20 tickets

Atlanta, come join us! Tickets available at:https://www.freshtix.com/events/lt-spqs-6-28-2019

Athens, Ga friends! All ages show! Tickets are available at:https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/1850364.

"Corruption" Music Video with Aylmer from Bill Burton on Vimeo.

In 1988, the Swimming Pool Q’s appeared in the movie Brain Damage performing “Corruption” from the group’s album Blue Tomorrow. At a special April screening at Atlanta’s historic Plaza Theatre, presented by the Videodrome dvd rental shop, the Q’s Jeff Calder and Bill Burton introduced the cult horror classic with a short film especially created by Bill for the event. Brain Damage star (and Daytime Emmy Award nominee), Rick Hearst, was also on hand to share his hilarious recollections of the shoot. It includes clips from the movie, live Q concert footage and elements of an astonishing Aylmer tribute film made by Gary Brady, Chris Martin and puppeteer / artist Noel Kellett. Enjoy!

Jeff Calder and Bill Burton of the Swimming Pool Q’s will be on hand to introduce the 1988 cult horror classic, "Brain Damage" at Atlanta’s Plaza Theatre on Thursday, April 18 at 9 PM. The Q’s performed “Corruption” from their Blue Tomorrow album in the film. Jeff and Bill will attempt an acoustic version of the song at the Plaza and will share stories about their involvement in the film. Stay tuned for more info, and for ticketing and details, feel free to join the Plazadrome event on Facebook at: at:https://www.facebook.com/events/306505866683576/?ti=as

In just a few weeks, The Swimming Pool Q’s will be playing the Tenth Annual 30A Song Writers Festival 2019 in South Walton Florida. The event is the weekend of Jan 18 – 21. Tickets are on sale now. The day, time, and venue that the Q’s will be playing will be announced the week of the event. For more information, please visit either the 30 A Facebook page. You can visit The 30 A official website at or stay tuned here to the SPQ’s FB Official, and we’ll inform you as news develops! There will also be a downloadable app for your smartphone, as we approach the week of the festival.

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2018

The Swimming Pool Q's & Wuxtry Records Double 40th Anniversary

The Swimming Pool Q’s celebrate their 40th Anniversary on Friday, November 9 at The Vista Room ATL in Decatur at 8 PM. The show will be a special double-event co-hosted by one of Atlanta’s oldest vinyl emporiums, Wuxtry Records-Decatur, also commemorating their 40th Anniversary. The evening features a guest appearance by 3, which has two members of the legendary Atlanta post-punk trio, 86, guitarist Ken Schenck (guitar) and Max Koshewa (bass), with Richard C. Kuykendall on drums. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day-of-show. Each of first 200 tickets will come with two free drinks.

True pioneers of Georgia’s new wave scene, the Swimming Pool Q’s were founded in 1978 in Atlanta. They performed at Wuxtry’s Decatur grand opening on September 30 of that year, an in-store shindig documented by photographer Richard Perez.

When they opened their first Wuxtry Records in Athens in 1976, Mark Methe and Dan Wall had already been students together at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

“We took a quick loop of the South,” Mark says. “We ended up in Knoxville, but there was already a store there. On the map, we saw that Highway 441 went straight to Athens. When we got there, we met a guy named Brian, who, at the time, was married to Kate Pierson [of the B-52’s]. He turned us on to a location down the street.”

Wuxtry’s inventory grew so quickly between 1976 and 1978, it was clear they would need a second location. They found a spot in Atlanta at North Decatur Plaza near Emory.

“That was the whole Wuxtry formula,” Mark reveals. “Put it near a university. The name of our store came from an old Jack Kirby comic, Boy Commandos, [which had] a newsboy yelling, ‘Wuxtry! Wuxtry!’ It was Brooklyn dialect, or slang, for ‘Extra! Extra! Read all about it!’

Photo: The Swimming Pool Q’s, Wuxtry Records, September 30, 1978

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A SPECIAL EVENING WITH THE SWIMMING POOL Q’s & MITCH EASTER AT THE VISTA ROOM ON FRIDAY, MARCH 30.

Join the Swimming Pool Q’s and Mitch Easter (& his combo!) for a special evening at Decatur’s The Vista Room ATL on Friday, March 30. Founder of Let’s Active and co-producer of R.E.M.’s Murmur and Reckoning, songwriter/ guitarist Mitch Easter is one of the giants to emerge from the South’s original New Wave & Post-Punk explosion. The Q’s are celebrating our 40th Anniversary this year, and at the Vista we’ll be playing new songs and fan favorites from our entire career. Q’s are at 8:30 with Mitch at 10:00. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 day of show.

Tickets: https://www.freshtix.com/events/swimm

Jeff will also be playing with his dark psychedelic band The Hot Place, opening up once again for David J (Bauhaus/Love and Rockets) on Thursday, March 1st. 2018 at Little Tree Studios in Avondale Estates,with special guest James Hall. Advance Tickets Only with Limited Seating. You can purchase tickets on David J's Bandcamp Page here. Speaking of The Hot Place, Mr. Calder just played EBow and Backwards Guitar on "Little Doll", a special holiday 7" single cover of The Stooges song, by Album Gatefold + The Hot Place. All proceeds go to support the THORN charity, Digital Defenders of Children, www.wearethorn.org. You can stream and purchase the single on Bandcamp here.

<a href="http://sashimmyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/little-doll-7-single">Little Doll 7" single by Album Gatefold + The Hot Place</a>

Love Tractor & The Swimming Pool Q's will play The Vista Room ATL, on Friday Nov. 17th. The Q's go on at 8 p.m. and Love Tractor will go on at 9:30 p.m.Tickets are ON SALE NOW at: https://www.freshtix.com/events/love-tractor-and-the-swimming-pool-qs-reunion

The Swimming Pool Q's & Pylon Reenactment Society play The Vista Room ATL, on Friday, July 28. Doors at 7 p.m., The SPQ's will take the stage at 8 p.m. and PRS will go on at 9:30 p.m. Please visit The Vista Room for ticketing.

MORE Q's NEWS: Since 2013, Jeff Calder of the SPQ’s has written over three dozen book reviews for the AJC. His most recent, "Like a Fading Shadow" by Antonio Muñoz Molina, a major Spanish author, appears this Sunday, July 23. Here are Jeff's reviews of biographies about the Allman Brothers and Jerry Lee Lewis, as well as, "Borne", a current science fiction novel by the Nebula Award-winning Tallahassee writer Jeff VanderMeer, whose Annihilation is a forthcoming film directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina).

"One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band" by Alan Paul; 3.2.14

"Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story" by Rick Bragg; 10.26.14

"Borne" by Jeff VanderMeer; 4.30.17

Author, Musician, and Producer Jeff Calder of The Swimming Pool Q's- photo by Glenn Bewley

J.E. Garnett (bass) and Jeff Calder (vocals) of the Swimming Pool Q’s in the booklet of the new Brain Damage Limited Edition Blu-Ray package released by Arrow Films in May, 2017. The Q’s appeared in the 1988 Frank Henenlotter cult horror classic performing “Corruption” from Blue Tomorrow. (Photo courtesy of DJ Gnosis and Videodrome, Atlanta, GA.)

Swimming Pool Q’s' drummer, Bill Burton, is one of the top Lighting Directors [Directors of Photography] in Georgia's film industry. Among his recent cinematographic endeavors, Bill has shot 25 episodes of Adult Swim’s hit comedy series, "Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell.” Season 3 of YPF attracted over a million viewers per episode in its first broadcast run on Adult Swim in May; season 4 is currently in production for 2018. Here’s Bill performing a “Dana dolly shot” wearing his custom hat created by the YPF Special Effects Make-up Team. (Source:Showbuzzdaily.com)

The Hot Place, Georgia Theatre Rooftop, Athens, photo by David McDaniel

David J and Jeff Calder, Little Tree Studios, ATL, photo by Chad Radford

Swimming Pool Q's singer/guitarist Jeff Calder just finished a Southeast Mini-Tour, supporting David J of Bauhaus/Love and Rockets, with his dark psychedelic band The Hot Place. The entourage toured Little Tree Studios, ATL; Criminal Records ATL; Georgia Theatre Rooftop, ATHENS; and The Chapel inside historic Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah. Jeff Calder and Lisa King of The Hot Place joined David J for several songs each night, including the Love and Rockets favorite, "Waiting for the Flood"; "The Day that David Bowie Died" from David's new double LP, "Vagabond Songs", and a haunting rendition of the Bauhaus classic, "Bela Lugosi's Dead" in a crypt!

Lisa King, David J, and Jeff Calder (L to R), GATH Rooftop, Athens, photo by Cat Bobon

Lisa King, David J, and Jeff Calder (L to R), The Chapel at Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah GA.

Photo by David Mc Daniel.

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The Swimming Pool Q’s will appear, along with David Olney and Randall Bramblett, in Savannah on Friday, May 12 at the the 42nd Anniversary Celebration of the Night-Flight Cafe (1975-2017) to be held at the Ships of the Sea Museum, 41 MLK Blvd., Savannah, GA 31401. Doors are at 6 PM, with the Q’s taking the stage at 7 PM. Tickets are $42 general admission.

The Swimming Pool Q's first performed at the Night-Flight Cafe in 1979. There weren’t many opportunities for quirky New Wave bands in the Southeast then, but Night-Flight proprietors Tim Coy and Scott Alexander gave us a chance and treated us royally well.

Join the Facebook Event Page Here.

Jeff Calder of The SPQ's will be performing with his dark psychedelic band The Hot Place, (with Lisa King and Mike Lynn) in June. The band will be opening up for David J (of Bauhaus/Love and Rockets) on a Southeastern leg of David's "Vagabond Songs" LP tour. Tickets for The Atlanta show on 6/7. the Athens Show on 6/9, and the Savannah show on 6/11 are on sale now. These intimate and acoustic living room shows will be held at Little Tree Studios in Atlanta, The Georgia Theatre Rooftop Bar in Athens, and The Chapel at Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah.

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Jeff Calder of The Swimming Pool Q's / The Hot Place will be performing with The Glenn Phillips Band, Friday, November 4 at the Red Clay Music Foundry in Duluth GA. This special performance will celebrate the album release of Glenn's 1977 Rainbow Theatre concert in London exactly 39 years after it was recorded. For more information, please join the FB event page!

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Musician, producer, and writer Jeff Calder, of The Swimming Pool Q's/The Hot Place/The Glenn Phillips Band, will be having a busy September! Here's where you can find the hardest working man in showbiz appearing live for the next few weeks:

DECATUR, GA, Sunday, Sept. 4th, 3:45-4:30, AJC Decatur Book Festival: Jeff will interview author Thomas Mullen. Mullen's latest novel, "Darktown", set in 1948 Atlanta, is an explosive crime drama spotlighting the city's first black police officers. Venue: Decatur Presbyterian Sanctuary, presented by Emory University. For info, visit the DBF website.

DECATUR, GA, Sunday, Sept. 4th. 5:00-5:45, AJC Decatur Book Festival: Jeff will interview Rodger Brown. Brown is the author of "Party Out of Bounds: The B-52's, R.E.M. and The Kids Who Rocked Athens, Georgia." Venue: Old Courthouse, presented by Lenz. For info, visit the DBF website.

ROME, GA, Saturday, Sept. 10th, 7 p.m.-11 p.m., with The Glenn Phillips Band at Schroeder's in Rome, Ga: Jeff will be playing keys, guitars, and singing with The Glenn Phillips Band at Schroeder's New Deli.The show will be outdoors, rain or shine, and two sets.

AVONDALE ESTATES, ATLANTA, GA, Sunday, Sept. 19th, 7 p.m., with The Hot Place as opening support for David J of Bauhaus/Love & Rockets: Jeff will be playing guitar with his newest musical project The Hot Place, opening up for David J Haskins, with special guests James Hall & Jaz Jillette and Sasha Vallely of Midnight Larks, at Electron Gardens Studio in Avondale Estates, Ga. The Hot Place will be playing from 7 p.m.-7:30 p.m. RSVP, advance tickets only.

ATHENS, GA, Monday, Sept. 20th, 7 p.m., with The Hot Place as opening support for David J of Bauhaus/Love & Rockets: Jeff will be playing guitar with The Hot Place, opening up for David J Haskins atThe World Famous in Athens, Ga. The Hot Place will be playing from 7 p.m.-7:30 p.m. RSVP, advance tickets only.

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A nice list of articles, about the new "Pylon Live" album release. Many of these pieces mention The Swimming Pool Q's, and Jeff Calder, who acted as the tape preservationist on the project. Click on the logos below to access the articles for Eldredge ATL, Aquarium Drunkard, the AJC, NPR, and E ATL with Vanessa of Pylon as Guest Editor.

You can Order your standard or deluxe copy of "Pylon Live" at Chunklet Industries, or click the photo below.

The Swimming Pool Q's will be playing two dates in July, with The Pylon Reenactment Society, celebrating the release of "Pylon LIVE". Tickets go on sale Friday, 5/27.

ATLANTA: Pylon Reenactment Society, We Love Tractor & The Swimming Pool Q's.The EARL, Friday, July 29 at 8 PM. $15 in advance/$18 day of show, 21+. Presented by Chunklet Industries Please join the FB event page!

ATHENS: Chunklet Industries Presents a Record Release Party for “PYLON LIVE” Saturday Jul 30, 2016. Pylon Reenactment Society & The Swimming Pool Q's. 40 Watt Club, 285 West Washington Street, Athens, GA. Doors: 8:00 PM, Show: 9:00 PM, All Ages.$10 - $12.

Jeff Calder will be playing keys and guitars with The Glenn Phillips Band, at theAlzheimer’s Music Fest, which will be held on August 6, 2016 at the Red Clay Music Foundry in Duluth, Georgia.

Jeff Calder will interview authors Thomas Mullen and Rodger L. Brown at the tenth AJC Decatur Book Festival, Labor Day Weekend, September 2-4. Thomas Mullen's latest novel, Darktown, set in 1948 Atlanta, is an explosive crime drama spotlighting the city's first black police officers. Rodger Brown is the author of Party Out of Bounds: The B-52's, R.E.M. and The Kids Who Rocked Athens, Georgia.

The AJC Decatur Book Festival is America's largest independent book festival.

PAST EVENTS:

Join David J (of Bauhaus/Love & Rockets) and special guest The Hot Place (featuring Lisa King, Jeff Calder of the Swimming Pool Q's, and Mike Lynn, ) for TWO intimate Living Room Shows this Summer! The events will be Acoustic, RSVP-only, and Limited Seating on Sunday, June 12 at Electron Gardens Studio in Avondale Estates, and on Tuesday, June 14 at ATHICA: Athens Institute for Contemporary Art.

For advance tickets, please visit the DAVID J OFFICIAL website.

The Q's will be playing at the Inman Park Festival on The Delta Stage, on May 1st, 2:30-3:30. Please visit the festival's website for all information about the event!

The SPQ's will be playing Rataid, on May 14th 2006 at Smith's Olde bar. Please click here for ticketing and more information about the show! The Q's will go on "10 p.m.-ish" according to the site.

Jeff Calder and the Q's received a nice shout out by Glenn Phillips, in this recent article for The Atlanta Business Chronicle. Check it out!

Jeff Calder of the Q's recently opened up the David J (of Bauhaus/Love & Rockets) Atlanta Living Room Show with The Hot Place, featuring Lisa King and Mike Lynn. Jeff is producing the band's second album, which is due out in 2017. For more information you can listen to "The Language of Birds", the band's debut album on their Bandcamp site.

The Language of Birds by The Hot Place (No Big Wheel Records) is among David Bash's Top 125 Albums, in his "Best of 2014" lists. The record was produced by The Swimming Pool Q's Jeff Calder, who also plays guitar on the album and performs live with the band. Featured both on the recording and behind the kit live, Robert Schmid of the Q's plays with The Hot Place on drums. Mike Lynn rounds out the lineup on guitar. Special Guest Richard Lloyd of Television makes an appearance on two songs from TLOB. Congrats, all!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Jeff Clark has spoken. You guys pick up a print copy of Stomp and Stammer magazine while you're out and about in THE ATL. The Hot Place, featuring two SPQ's, Jeff Calder and Robert Schmid, gets a mention in this month's 18th Anniversary Issue (Nov. 14). You'll find the bit in the Support Our Troops section:

"The debut LP from Lisa King's long-simmering group The Hot Place is finally out in a fancy tangerine-color 12” vinyl package showcasing ten cuts of seductive, impeccably crafted pop-rock with a smudge of goth-girl eyeliner. The mood throughout The Language of Birds is largely wistful, the songwriting is top-notch and the sound, production, and musicianship are pristine, which is no surprise considering the veteran players she's enlisted (Jeff Calder and Robert Schmid from The Swimming Pool Q's, guitarist Mike Lynn from King's 90s groupUnminded and ex-Television guitarist Richard Lloyd guesting on two tracks) and the time and work they've all put into this project. After only making their debut performance in September at the Star Bar, this month they're throwing a record release party at Little Tree Art Studios in Avondale Estates. The Nov. 15th event is free, BYOB and non-smoking. Copies of the vinyl will be for sale, and because there weren't enough old men already involved, Kevin Dunn will also be playing."

-Jeff Clark
Support Our Troops
Stomp and Stammer, Nov.14
18th Anniversary Issue

THIS Saturday, Nov. 8th: Join Tinsley Ellis, Glenn Phillips Band (featuring Jeff Calder of The Swimming Pool Q's and The Hot Place), and AJ Ghent for a night of great Georgia guitarists at the Historic DeSoto Theatre presented by 95.7. We're celebrating music's greatest invention -- the electric guitar! JoinTinsley Ellis, Glenn Phillips, and AJ Ghent for a night of great Georgia guitarists at the Historic DeSoto Theatre presented by 95.7 The Ridge. This is a part of the VenueDog Concert Series, and is a benefit for the Historic DeSoto Theatre Foundation.

http://www.venuedog.com/rome/events/georgia-guitar-explosion

No Big Wheel Records presents an album release party for The Hot Place, (Jeff Calder and Robert Schmid of the Swimming Pool Q's with Lisa King and Mike Lynn) with very special opening guests DJ Gori & Kevin McFoy Dunn, on Saturday, November 15th from 7 p.m. until Midnight, at Little Tree Studios in Avondale Estates, Ga. The Hot Place will play The Language of Birds live in its entirety. Maestro Kevin will be playing his own special blend of cocktail music from space, peppered with baroque guitar and acoustic resonator slide.

The Hot Place will have copies of their 180 gram limited edition orange vinyl available for $20, Digital Download Cards for $10, t-shirts, pins, and posters. The band will be available after the show to sign merch, and take photographs. The event is free, with some refreshments provided. It is an all ages show, you can BYOB, and snacks. It is a no smoking event. Parking is available in front of the space, and on the street. Be aware that this event may be filmed.

Members of the #SAVEWRAS movement will be in the house, educating YOU on how you can help keep Album 88.5 student-run 24/7.

Jeff Calder of the SPQ's will be moderating two panels at the Decatur Book Festival at the end of August. "Song of The Shank" (Introducer) on Saturday, Aug. 30th, 10:00 at City Hall Stage and and "For Motorheads" (Moderator) Sunday, Aug. 31st, 3:45 at Eddie's Attic Stage. Jeff's writings have appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia Music Magazine, and Duke University's South Atlantic Quarterly.

The Hot Place, featuring Jeff Calder & Robert Schmid of The Swimming Pool Q's, with Lisa King and Mike Lynn, will be playing the 2014 International Pop Overthrow Festival on Friday, Sept. 12th at The Star Bar in Atlanta. There's an amazing lineup of bands and rock that night. Stay tuned for more information!

Jeff Calder and Bob Elsey of The Swimming Pool Q's will be talking to Mike Holbrook on his 1690 AM Radio Free Radio show this Thursday, April 24th at 7 PM and again on Saturday, May 26 at 8 PM. Jeff and Bob will spin some of their favorite songs and recall performing with NRBQ, The Police, The Plasmatics and The Power Station. Host Mike Holbrook was the bassist for the legendary Hampton Grease Band (Music to Eat). Mike has also performed and recorded with the Supreme Court, which features Glenn Phillips and The Q's' Jeff Calder.

1690 AM Live broadcast web link is:
http://1690wmlb.com/radio-free-radio/

The Swimming Pool Q's will be playing The Melting Point in Athens, GA. on Friday, March 14th with March 14th with Murray Attaway (of Guadalcanal Diary). For ticketing, show times, and more info please click here.

The Q's are featured in FLAGPOLE Magazine, Athens, Ga. (below)

Jeff Calder of The Swimming Pool Q's will be appearing with Glenn Phillips Band for two dates at the 30A Songwriters festival in Florida this weekend, January 17-19. Glenn will play two dates: Saturday, January 18 at Pandora's Main Room at 9:30 pm (just before Matthew Sweet!) and Sunday, January 19 at noon at the Gulf Place Amphitheater. The 30A SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL is a three-day music festival featuring more than 150 songwriters and over 200 performances in venues ranging from intimate listening rooms to spacious outdoor amphitheaters along scenic Highway 30A in Northwest Florida. For information, schedules and updates visit: http://www.30asongwritersfestival.com/

Thanks from Lisa King and Jeff Calder, Mike Lynn and Robert Schmid, to all of the Q's fans who helped fund The Hot Place's debut album produced by Jeff, The Language of Birds, which will be pressed into 180 gram orange vinyl by No Big Wheel records in late March. Stay tuned for some cool video footage of Lisa and Jeff in the studio remastering the album specifically for the most amazing vinyl experience ever, visiting the United Record Pressing facility, and creating some of the fine art and t-shirts that were available to backers. You can "like" The Hot Place's FB page to follow the project, and for info on their upcoming album release party/live shows here:

https://www.facebook.com/thehotplace

We have some really exciting news! The current December/January Best Of 2013 issue of Rolling Stone magazine has chosen The Swimming Pool Q’s The A&M Years 1984-1986 as one of 10 Best Reissues of The Year.

Fricke writes: "...Lou Reed's favorite Dixie New Wavers got their due...Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, the Q's were literate and buoyant, a Dixie-noir blend of the B-52's, Sixties folk rock and the Velvet Underground circa Loaded. Lou Reed liked the Q's' first A&M LP so much he took them on tour. Never doubt his word."

Thank you, David!

If you'd like to pick a copy up, the cover features Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy (Issue 1198/1199), and it is out on the newsstand shelves now!

Thanks to Pop Matters Picks: The Best Music of 2013, for featuring the Q's The A&M Years 1984-1986 as one of the 25 Best Album Re-Issues of 2013, alongside ZZ Top, Drive by Truckers, Miles Davis, David Bowie, REM, The Breeders, and more! Cheers!

Lisa King has completed her debut album, The Language of Birds. She calls her band The Hot Place. She co-produced the album with The Swimming Pool Q's' Jeff Calder, who also played guitar, and contributed his multi-instrumental diversity within the album. The Q's Robert Schmid plays drums on the recording. Mike Lynn, formerly of Betty's Not a Vitamin, is also a contributing guitarist. The album includes special guest guitarist Richard Lloyd of 1970's proto-punk band Television on two songs.

To listen to a streaming preview of The Language of Birds, produced by Jeff Calder, visit their Bandcamp page.

The Hot Place is Kickstarting The Language of Birds on 180 gram tangerine orange vinyl. You can watch a short 5 minute informational video about the project, and become a Backer at the link below. Lisa, Mike, Jeff and Robert hope you will join us and help Kickstart The Language of Birds!

Kickstarter link:http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/184504331/the-language-of-birds-pressed-into-180-gram-orange

Like The Hot Place on FB at:https://www.facebook.com/thehotplace

Following on the runaway success of the Kickstarter-funded double-CD reissue The A&M Years, The Swimming Pool Q’s release The System of Love EP, the first new Q’s material since 2003’s critically acclaimed Royal Academy of Reality. In addition to new singles "System of Love", "Science Moon", and "Easy Prey", the EP also contains an exclusive – a live New Year's Eve 1987 recording of “Wreck Around." Each of the singles is available for individual purchase, and the live track is exclusive to the EP.

The Swimming Pool Q's will by playing Jake's in Columbia, SC on Nov.8th, and The Pour House Music Hall with Marshall Crensaw on Nov.9th. You can purchase advance tickets for the Marshall Crensaw/Q's show here.

Jeff Calder remembers Lou Reed in a tribute for The Vinyl District, Don't Believe a Word of it: Two Months on the Road with Lou Reed.

Jeff Calder and Anne Richmond Boston of the Swimming Pool Q's will be on "City Cafe" on Atlanta radio channel WABE 90.1 from Noon until 1 p.m. tomorrow June 25th, chatting about the reissue of "The A&M Years" which hits the shelf in the morning! There may be a special acoustic performance as well. Tune in and see! The piece permanently streams On Demand here.

Didn't get in on the Q's Kickstarter campaign? Well, here's your opportunity to purchase our Double CD Reissue! Available NOW to our fans! Here are the links to pre-order the Swimming Pool Q's reissue "The A&M Years: 1984-1986" on Amazon.com. There will be TWO separate links--one for thestandard reissue (2 disc set) and one for thedeluxe version (extra cd of rarities and a DVD). The links will also be broken down for easy access in the comments section below. Available June 25th! You can pre-order NOW!

Standard 2 disc reissue: http://smarturl.it/QsReissue
Deluxe 3 disc and 1 DVD reissue: http://smarturl.it/QsDeluxe

LIVE SHOW TO SUPPORT THE RELEASE:

The SPQ's will be playing Smiths Olde Bar in Atlanta, on June 15th to celebrate their 35th Anniversary and their Double CD Reissue of "The A&M" Years! We strongly recommend purchasing advance tickets to Smith's!

Didn't get in on the Q's Kickstarter campaign? Well, here's your opportunity to purchase our Double CD Reissue! Available NOW to our fans! Here are the links to pre-order the Swimming Pool Q's reissue "The A&M Years: 1984-1986" on Amazon.com. There will be TWO separate links--one for thestandard reissue (2 disc set) and one for the deluxe version(extra cd of rarities and a DVD). The links will also be broken down for easy access in the comments section below. Available June 25th! You can pre-order NOW!

Standard 2 disc reissue: http://smarturl.it/QsReissue
Deluxe 3 disc and 1 DVD reissue: http://smarturl.it/QsDeluxe

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The SPQ's will be playing The Windjammer in Charleston, SC on Saturday, August 17th to celebrate their 35th Anniversary and their Double CD Reissue of "The A&M" Years!

LIVE SHOW TO SUPPORT THE RELEASE:

Scheduled for release on June 25, The Swimming Pool Qs: The A&M Years 1984-1986 will have an exclusive, limited 24-hour early availability at Atlanta area shops on Record Store Day, Saturday, April 20.

The long-awaited 2-CD (first time on CD in the U.S.) reissue, which includes The Swimming Pool Q’s and Blue Tomorrow, is also offered as a limited edition deluxe package featuring two additional discs Pow Wow Hour, a 3rd CD of bonus material, and Auto Zoom, a DVD of live clips, TV appearances and promotional videos from the period.

Participating stores will be Horizon Records (Greenville, SC), Decatur CD,Criminal Records, and Wuxtry.

At Wax ‘n’ Facts, in Little Five Points, Atlanta, there will be a signing session at 5 PM. Quantities are very limited at all locations! See you there!

Pre-orders available soon. Stay tuned!

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We are so excited that Kickstarter packages are starting to arrive in the mailboxes of fans, and that you are all happy with your collections! If you have not received your package yet, be on the lookout. It will be arriving very soon!

In the meantime, many of you have asked us about live shows, how to purchase some of the extra items that were included in some pledge packages such as the "Auto Zoom" DVD and "Pow Wow Hour" bounus disc, T-Shirts, Pins, and more. We will be posting a FAQ both on FB and here on the Q's official website very soon, with answers to all of your questions at one time!

The next Q's live show will be in Atlanta, at The Inman Park Festival, on Sunday, April 28th!

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First things first – a special THANK YOU to all you backers who have sent notes of encouragement and enthusiasm about seeing this project through! You anticipated, better than we ourselves, the magnitude of this undertaking, and we appreciate the kind words. And now some tremendously exciting news…We are thrilled to tell you than the last of the project’s many pieces are now in place and that the moment we have all been waiting for is upon us! We expect everyone will have the long-awaited double-CD, DVD collection, and other pieces in their hands by the end of the month. We are also pleased to tell you that the finished products sound and look beautiful beyond our expectations and we are delivering a product we can all be proud of, especially you backers who made it happen.

Also, look for the Q's playing live this Spring at the Inman Park Festival, in Atlanta, GA on April 28th!

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This summer we celebrate our 34th Anniversary. The Q’s would like to thank all of our fans for supporting us since…1978!

Over the years, we’ve had great interest in our two albums, The Swimming Pool Q’s and Blue Tomorrow, originally released on A&M Records in the 1980s. Neither has been available in America on CD. We'd like to invite you to help us raise funds for the deluxe reissue of both albums by visiting our project on:

*2/27/2013: The Swimming Pool Q's Kickstarter Rewards are in manufacturing, and are going to be on their way to fans very soon!You should be receiving periodic inbox updates (please make sure you allow your spam settings to give Kickstarter permission to mail to your inbox), or you can visit the "Updates" area of Kickstarter's website for more info here:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/swimmingpoolqs/the-swimming-pool-qs-double-album-reissue-project/posts

On May 19th Jeff Calder of the Swimming Pool Q's and Lisa King of The Hot Place had a ball talking to Dennis Johnson and Duane Johnson on their radio show Arts Talk, chatting about the new album they co-produced together,"The Language of Birds". There is now a transcript of the interview up, with archival photos of LK & JC's musical history, links to visit some interesting websites, pics and links to LK's artwork, and groovy things like that! Join Jeff and Lisa as they talk about recording, The Swimming Pool Q's, their collective backgrounds, fine art, some new music they have been listening to, Southern Tracks Recording studio, and much more! Link here to read or listen to the interview.

The SPQ's will be playing Smiths Olde Bar in Atlanta, on June 15th to celebrate their 35th Anniversary and their Double CD Reissue of "The A&M" Years!

Atlanta band The Hot Place is educating the general public about acceptance and compassion for cultures outside the mainstream by giving away a free single of their new song, Petals of Ruin produced by The Swimming Pool Q's Jeff Calder, in celebration of World Goth Day May 22.

You can participate by sharing/downloading HERE!

Participating stores will be Horizon Records (Greenville, SC), Decatur CD,Criminal Records, and Wuxtry.

At Wax ‘n’ Facts, in Little Five Points, Atlanta, there will be a signing session at 5 PM. Quantities are very limited at all locations! See you there!

Pre-orders available soon. Stay tuned!

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Also, look for the Q's playing live this Spring at the Inman Park Festival, in Atlanta, GA on April 28th!

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The Swimming Pool Q's Kickstarter Rewards are in manufacturing, and are going to be on their way to fans very soon! The Q's are sending out updates to every backer via Kickstarter, to each fan's personal email address. You should be receiving periodic inbox updates (please make sure you allow your spam settings to give Kickstarter permission to mail to your inbox), or you can visit the "Updates" area of Kickstarter's website for more info here:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/swimmingpoolqs/the-swimming-pool-qs-double-album-reissue-project/posts

The Swimming Pool Q's and their Kickstarter Project is featured in a wonderful piece by Richard Eldredge, for Atlanta Magazine.com. Check it out!

The Swimming Pool Q's will launch their Kickstarter Project on Friday, August 24th to raise funds for the deluxe reissue of their two albums on A&M Records, The Swimming Pool Q's and Blue Tomorrow. In addition, the SPQ's website has been redesigned and updated with new sections including Special Features, Archival Video footage, Downloads, and Rare Photographs.

Jeff Calder's extensive interview with Jack Partain appears in the esteemed online journal Perfect Sound Forever.

Q's bassist Robert Schmid plays drums on Kevin Dunn's forthcoming album, The Miraculous Miracle of the Imperial Empire. Check out Kevin Dunn Radio on MySpace for more information on the Atlanta based experimental guitar virtuoso.

A recollection of The SPQ's wild night with The Plasmatics and Charles Rocket at the University of Florida on Halloween in1981 has been added under the Jeff's Archive link in the Special Features section of the site, which also includes other writings by Jeff Calder.

Lisa King has completed her debut album The Language of Birds. She calls her group The Hot Place. Inseparable from her Mosrite bass guitar, she also played a steamer trunk of vintage guitars & analog synthesizers. She co-produced the album with The Swimming Pool Q’s’ Jeff Calder at Southern Tracks Recording in Atlanta. Jeff played guitar and lent his vocal talents on much of the recording. Also featuring Mike Lynn on guitar and Robert Schmid on drums. Mixed by Greg Quesnel and Steven Morrison. Additional recording, editing, and arranging by Tim Delaney at Electron Gardens.

Three songs from the upcoming release are available for a special preview on Bandcamp, "Petals of Ruin", "Saturn Moved" which features guest guitarist Richard Lloyd of Television, and a performance of David Crosby's "Triad", penned in 1967.

Listen and Download 3 Tracks by The Hot Place at:
http://thehotplace.bandcamp.com/album/the-language-of-birds

photo of Richard Lloyd by Chester Higgins, Jr. NYT

Anne Richmond Boston sings on two songs on Widespread Panic's May 2010 CD, Dirty Side Down, their career high Billboard Chart debut. The tracks are "This Cruel Thing", written by the late Vic Chestnutt, and "When You Coming Home." Anne will also appear on Panic's forthcoming live set Live in Classic City II, scheduled for September 2010.

A discussion about The Swimming Pool Q's takes place near the end of this interview with Stewart Copeland of The Police conducted by Jim Reed.

Jeff Calder interviews Australian author Deirdre O'Connell about her book, "The Ballad of Blind Tom." She has also made documentaries for the Jimi Hendrix Estate and the United Nations Environment Program. It can be accessed on the GPB Cover to Cover website. The archive of interviews Jeff has conducted for Cover to Cover are available on the GPB Blog.

Jeff Calder's interview with Michael Gray for his book, "Hand Me My Travelin' Shoes: In Search of Blind Willie McTell" can be accessed on the GPB Cover to Cover website. The archive of interviews Jeff has conducted for Cover to Cover are available on the GPB Blog.

SPQ's Drummer Bill Burton returns to his movie making roots with, "My Sweet Misery." Burton was the Director of Photography for this independent film. You can read an interview with Bill at the Access Atlanta online article.

Photo by Adrian Sosebee

2009 News:

Jeff Calder's interview with the poet Coleman Barks airs 8 PM this Sunday August 9 on Georgia Public Broadcasting's literary show Cover-to-Cover. (WUGA in Athens and other stations statewide.) Coleman is the internationally renowned translator of the Sufi poet Rumi. It's a special one hour version ofCover-to-Coverthatspotlights Coleman in multiple musical formatsincludingperformances withTuatara, the world music combo featuring Peter Buck of R.E.M. It can be streamed live http://www.gpb.org/radio-streaming or accessed laterin the Cover-to-Cover archive http://www.gpb.org/covertocover/term.

From the GPB Cover-to-Cover blog: Coleman Barks is one of the most popular literary figures to emerge from the South in recent decades. In person, he is gentle and accommodating, not at all fearsome until he draws himself up to recite a poem. Then everything gets extra real in the manner of 800 BC. The great seductive power of his voice—fully evident in the interview that runs this Sunday, August 9 at 8 PM—seems to put the listener in touch with the time when language first began to express complex psychological states. Coleman has achieved an international profile as an interpreter of Rumi; his many translations of the Sufi poet have sold over a half-million copies worldwide.

He has written a half-dozen books of his own poetry, selections of which have recently been published under the title Winter Sky by the University of Georgia Press. He runs Maypop Books, a publishing company based in Athens, Georgia. He’s taken part in two hour-long PBS specials with Bill Moyers. Coleman has appeared on an astonishing variety of recordings, reciting his own poetry and Rumi’s against backgrounds of mandolins and oboes from the West, sitars and tablas from the East. 2008 marked the release of The Here and The Gone, his third collaboration with Tuatara, the world music combo featuring Peter Buck of R.E.M. A variety of these songs can be heard throughout this hour-long interview. In 2006, Coleman Barks received an Honorary Doctorate in Persian Language and Literature from the University of Tehran. He taught at the University of Georgia for 30 years and has since retired as Professor Emeritus.

For more information about Coleman and the interview, please visit the GPB Cover-to-Cover blog http://gpbcovertocover.blogspot.com/

SPQ's Jeff Calder is referenced in Q&A about the recording of Siamese Dream w/ producer Butch Vig and engineer Jeff Tomei about the intro for the song "Hummer":

"The sitar was a coral sitar that belonged to a musician named Jeff Calder in an Atlanta band called the Swimming Pool Qs. We never recorded the real Sitar Billy brought in. I seem to remember Butch making a Loop in his Akai S-1000... I think Billy played it through an amp to get the distortion"-Jeff Tomei

Special Double Bill on St. Patrick's Day Weekend
THE SWIMMING POOL Q's & GLENN PHILLIPS BAND

In a special double bill, The Swimming Pool Q's and The Glenn Phillips Band will be appearing on Saturday, March 14
at the Red Light Café in Atlanta, Georgia

Glenn Phillips Band plays at 8:30
The Swimming Pool Q's play at 10:30
All-Ages, No-Smoking
Bring the Family

The Red Light Café
553 Amsterdam Avenue in Atlanta
Phone: 404.874.7828

The Supreme Court CD Supreme Court Goes Electric (with Jeff Calder, Anne Richmond Boston, and Glenn Phillips) is now availabale for downloads! Link to Downloads here:

iTunes / eMusic (Glenn Phillips) / eMusic (Supreme Court) / Rhapsody / napster / Zune / Amazon

The Swimming Pool Q's will appear at the 688/Metroplex Reunion event at the Masquerade in Atlanta on Saturday evening, October 4. Q's showtime will be 11 PM. The Q's will also support Tom Gray and Charles Wolf for several songs by their legendary band, The Brains.
Artists include Follow For Now, Mary My Hope, The Nightporters, Phreddy Vomit & Plastic Jesus, The Restraints, Hallows Eve, The Roys, Vietnam, Dead Elvis, Rotten Gimmick, and Liers In Wait.

The Swimming Pool Q's would like to thank Lakeland Music and Friends for their presentation of The Q's at the Polk Theater in Lakeland Florida on April 26. Carey Blanton and Roi Cornish organized a spectacular event that attracted a crowd of over 800. Photos are available here.
The Q's first bassist, Billy Jones, sat in with the group on two early Q's songs including "Ballad of the Wildman". (You can read about and listen to the Wildman in Jeff Calder's acount of Florida in the 1970s, A Tomorrow of Moons.

Other artists on the bill were Conrad Oberg, Take Five with Franke Everett and Larry Berwald (Larry played acoustic guitar with The Q's in on Ballad of the Wildman), and The Mudbreakers featuring Charlie Souza and Danny Roberts. Note: Danny has sustained a remarkable recovery from a near-fatal automobile accident the following week.

Jeff Calder's interviews with authors can be heard on Georgia Public Broadcasting's literary show Cover-to-Cover. Poets featured include Sean Hill and Ed Pavlic. Hill's Blood Ties & Brown Liquor is an imagined history of Milledgeville, Georgia's African-American community. To access these interviews please click here.

Ed Pavlic's book is poetic appreciation of Donny Hathaway, the singer/musician/songwriter who committed suicide in 1979. Jeff's interview with historian James C. Cobb (Georgia Odyssey: A Short History of Georgia) is forthcoming.

The Supreme Court, featuring Jeff Calder of The Swimming Pool Q's and Atlanta guitarist Glenn Phillips, will be opening for Richard Lloyd & The Sufi-Monkey Trio on Monday, August 4 at Savannah Smiles(314 Williamson St., Savannah, GA 31401 - behind the Bay Street Quality Inn). Showtime for The Court is 8 PM.

Advance tickets are available from Tiny Team Concerts.

Guitar legend Richard Lloyd was cofounder of TELEVISION with TOM VERLAINE. Supporting Richard in the Sufi Monkeys will be Television drummer BILLY FICCA. This is a rare stop on Richard's first Southeastern tour in more than two decades. He'll be performing songs from his new album The Radiant Monkey (2008), as well as his own versions of old Television tunes.

The Q's will be appearing at The Hummingbird in Macon, Ga. on Friday, May 2nd. For more information, visit: http://www.myspace.com/thebirdstage

The SPQ's will begin celebrating their 30th Anniversary with a special show, Living by Night in the Land of Opportunity Tour: Returning to Lakeland after 30 Years on the Road in the Music Business. The show will be on Saturday, April 26th at the ornate, historic Vaudeville-era movie palace, the Polk Theater in Lakeland, Florida. Doors open at 6 p.m. The event was named after an essay written by Jeff Calder in the book, "Present Tense, Rock & Roll and Culture", edited by Anthony De Curtis, Duke University Press, 1992. For ticketing, and more information about the event, visit the Lakeland Music and Friends website.

On Saturday, March 15, St. Patrick's Day Weekend, The SWIMMING POOL Q's and THE GLENN PHILLIPS BAND will be appearing on at Red Light Café in Atlanta, Georgia. Glenn Phillips Band plays at 8:30; The Swimming Pool Q's play at 10:30. Jeff Calder of The Q's will also play keyboards and guitar with Glenn. It will be an all ages, non-smoking event. The Red Light Café is located at 553 Amsterdam Avenue in Atlanta, 403.874.7828

Q's Drummer Bill Burton suffered a broken jaw in an accident in December, 2007. We're happy to report his full recovery. Above you can see him enjoying his recuperation with the Queen Live DVD, getting it on with his 80's pointy Creepers. Additionally, you can click here to visit the trailer for the new comedy series Bill shot for VH-1 featuring special guests such as Keifer Sutherland and Howie Mandel.

You may enjoy scrolling to the bottom of The Q's photo archive link to see some recently discovered shots of Jeff, Anne and Bob circa 1985 with Paul Shaffer of The David Letterman Show. Paul/Q's photos by Diane Allinson. Click here to see photos.

The Pylon reissue of Gyrate Plus is finally available from DFA Records. Here's a nice interview with bassist Michael Lachowski in Flagpole.

Following their recent appearance at the Cox Capitol Theatre in Macon, sponsored by the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, The Q's are back by popular demand this Friday, November 2, appearing at The Hummingbird in downtown Macon.

www.hummingbirdstageandtaproom.com
430 Cherry St.
Macon, GA 31201
(478) 741-9130

The Swimming Pool Q's will appear at the Cox Capitol Theatre in Macon, Georgia on October 23 for the Live @ Five concert sponsored by the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. Also appearing will be Hank Vegas. Show starts at 5:30. Cox Capitol Theatre is located at 382 Second St. in downtown Macon.

In a special double bill, both THE GLENN PHILLIPS BAND and THE SUPREME COURT will be appearing on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th at SCHROEDER'S in Rome, Georgia!

On Friday, July 27, The Swimming Pool Q's will play Five Spot in Atlanta's Little Five Points community. http://www.fivespot-atl.com/ Throughout the evening, The Q's will hit a number of rarely played songs from our 2003 disc Royal Academy of Reality.

The Q's have recently had several successful regional dates, including a full house at the spectacular ballroom of Savannah's American Legion Post No. 135 and Roswell's Riverside Park, where 1500 people turned out. Members of The Q's also joined Tom Gray, Charles Woolf and Keith Christopher of The Brains at an Atlanta benefit at Club 29 for the late producer/engineer/musician Mark Richardson.

The Q's will appear Saturday, July 7th, Roswell, GA at the Roswell Riverside Sounds concert series. 2 sets. 7:30 to 9 PM.

There is a new interview with Jeff and Bob in the Press section, from the Atlanta Journal Northside Review By Adrianne M. Murchison

In June The Q's will be playing the following dates:

Friday, June 22 in Macon, Ga. The Hummingbird.
Saturday, June 23 in Savannah, Ga. American Legion Post No. 135, 8 p.m. door; A Tiny Team

Jeff Calder will perform with The Glenn Phillips Band on Saturday, June 2nd at Schroeders in Rome, Georgia at 8 p.m.

In May 2007 the Q's will play two dates in South Carolina.

The Windjammer at the Isle of Palms, SC on Thursday, May 10
Doc's Gumbo Grille in Columbia, SC on Friday, May 11.

The Q's played at International Pop Overthrow held in Atlanta at Vinyl onSaturday, February 24. Bill Rea, the legendary bassist for Glenn Phillips Band was our special guest on fretless bass this evening. Old friends Magnapop were also on the bill.

The Q's and The Brains were contemporaries on the late 70s/early 80s Atlanta music scene. The Brains' classic "Money Changes Everything" won the 1979 Village Voice Pazz & Jop Single of the Year. ("Money" eventually became a hit for Cyndi Lauper.) They recorded two albums for Mercury/Polygram, produced by British ace, Steve Lillywhite (U2, XTC, Peter Gabriel) and an ep for Atlanta's Landslide Records, Dancing Under Streetlights (1982).

Currently, Tom performs and records regularly with his combo, Delta Moon (http://www.deltamoon.com/). He contributed dulcimer and lap steel on The Swimming Pool Q's 2003 release, Royal Academy of Reality. His recent appearance with The Q's at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta can be be viewed on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfVj2XFQQc8

The Swimming Pool Q's appeared at Club 29 in Atlanta on Saturday, January 27. As a special feature, The Q's backed singer/songwriter Tom Gray, performing several of the songs he recorded with his legendary Atlanta group, The Brains. ().The Q's and The Brains were contemporaries on the late 70s/early 80s Atlanta music scene. The Brains' classic "Money Changes Everything" won the 1979 . ("Money" eventually became a hit for Cyndi Lauper.) They recorded two albums for Mercury/Polygram, produced by British ace, Steve Lillywhite (U2, XTC, Peter Gabriel) and an ep for Atlanta's Landslide Records, (1982).Currently, Tom performs and records regularly with his combo, Delta Moon (). He contributed dulcimer and lap steel on The Swimming Pool Q's 2003 release, . His recent appearance with The Q's at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta can be be viewed on YouTube:

The Swimming Pool Q's played at Doc's Gumbo Grille in Columbia, SC on Friday, Nov. 10. In addition to performing songs from their classic repertoire, The Q's set featured selections from their most recent release Royal Academy of Reality and their album-in-progress, Suddenly Not Yet.

Saturday, August 26th The Q's with the Glenn Phillips Band at the Red Light Cafe, Atlanta. 8:30-GPB and 10:30- SPQ's. For the first time in 20 years, the Q's will play "Wig of Sensation."

Jeff Calder appears in a promo spot for Cartoon Network's Adult Swim for the Brak Show and SeaLab2021 DVD box set release. To see the video on the site click here.

On Sunday, June 4, the Swimming Pool Q's will take part in the Wax & Facts Records 30th Anniversary celebration at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta. This should be an entertaining evening featuring The Selmanaires, Anna Kramer, Vietnam, Tim Lee Band, Good Friday Experiment, The Carbonas and more. Beginning around 9, The Q's will perform several songs including the great Brains' hit, "Money Changes Everything" with the song's composer, Tom Gray. (Tom will also accompany the illustrious guitarist Kevin Dunn on "Nadine," his 1979 discombobulation of the Chuck Berry standard.) The event starts at 6:30. More details at http://www.myspace.com/waxnfacts

Two nights before, on Friday, June 2, Q's guitarist Bob Elsey plays with the Hampton Grease Band reunion at Atlanta's Variety Playhouse. This is the group's first show with Col. Bruce Hampton in 33 years, so it should be a historic outing. Opening act: Thermos Greenwood!

The Swimming Pool Q's appeared at noon on Saturday, May 27 at the Decatur Arts Festival on the gazebo stage. The wooden structure somehow survived the detonation of J.E. Garnett on bass. We played many songs from our A&M albums, The Swimming Pool Q's and Blue Tomorrow. Lots of out-of-town fans turned up, and it was most enjoyable affair. Many thanks to the event for inviting us to play!

The Swimming Pool Q's date at Jake's Toadhouse on Saturday, May 20, was postponed. The club's extensive renovation was not completed in time for The Q's show with the Tim Lee Band and Shanghai Gesture. We'll be in touch about a return date later this summer.

A note: Tim Lee was a cofounder of the legendary Mississippi group, The Windbreakers. Concrete Dog, his new CD was released on April 11. It is one of his strongest albums ever, and it has a very funny cover shot which says it all. Tim is an extremely versatile musician who has played with The Swimming Pool Q's and Mitch Easter's famous combo, Let's Active. www.timleemusic.com

The Swimming Pool Q's televised performance at the 2004 Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards Show can be viewed on The Q's website. Also, last week's "Big Fat Tractor" at Inman Park Festival is up on You Tube.

Several unreleased studio cuts and live performances are stashed on the Q's site, including Geoffry Himes 1986 NPR All Things Considered review of Blue Tomorrow.

Photos from www.concertshots.com of the Q's at the 3 Rivers Festival in Columbia, SC have been added to the Photo Gallery section.

Jeff Calder's interview with Clarence "Jockey" Etienne, the legendary drummer on Slim Harpo's "I'm A King Bee," appears in the Jan/Feb/Mar issue of Classic Drummer. CD is an excellent magazine based in Marietta, Georgia. Visit their website at http://www.classicdrummer.com/archives/index.htm and select the Clarence "Jockey" Etienne link, or Download the PDF file here: http://www.classicdrummer.com/archives/vdmarchives/The_Jockey.pdf

The Swimming Pool Q’s song "Pharaoh’s Rocket" from Royal Academy of Reality will be featured in Random 1, an original A&E series that premiered Tuesday, November 1, 2005. "Pharaoh" will appear in episode 6 of the new reality show, to be aired in December 2005.

Here’s what Alessandra Stanley wrote about the series in the New York Times (11.1.05):

" ‘Random 1’ on A&E takes on the cases that most casting directors would instantly reject: losers who make people turn their heads, not open their hearts…[The] rescuers are two friends…who tour the country in a pickup truck, looking for random strangers to help. Their organization is called Random 1…‘Random 1’ is not nearly as melodramatic [as other reality shows], but it doesn't manufacture its miracles. It offers small, random acts of kindness, and that is sometimes a much better deal."

To learn more about the Random 1 visit www.random1.com.

The Swimming Pool Q's are preparing material for a new album.

On Saturday, August 27, 2005, at the Red Light Café in Atlanta, Jeff Calder and Bob Elsey of The Swimming Pool Q’s joined original Hampton Grease Band members Jerry Fields, Mike Holbrook and Glenn Phillips for a special tribute performance honoring guitarist Harold Kelling. They played every song from the Grease Band's 1971 classic double-album Music to Eat. Kelling, who died in May, was a founder of the HGB. He was also a talented painter who created the surreal album cover for, Music To Eat, as well as covers for Supreme Court Goes Electric and the forthcoming Supreme Court disc, Sun Hex. Glenn's eulogy for Harold is posted on the band's website www.glennphillips.com

In late July, The Swimming Pool Q’s performed at The Windjammer in Isle of Palms, SC and Boc’s Gumbo Grille in Columbia, SC. On both occasions, J.E. Garnett played bass (J.E. was the The Q's bassist on The Swimming Pool Q's, Blue Tomorrow, and World War Two Point Five.) Brief notes: The sound system at The Windjammer was astounding; Boc's is run by Doug Goolsby who first booked The Q's in Columbia at his legendary club Greenstreet's in March, 1979; among the unreleased tracks in the repertoire was "Make Me Bigger Than The U.S.A."; both gigs were a blast.

With engineers Karl Egsieker and Tom Tapley at Atlanta’s Southern Tracks Recording, Jeff Calder supervised the master tapes reassembly of Gyrate, the first Pylon album from 1981. With bonus cuts and their debut single, "Cool" b/w "Dub," the reissue will be retitled Gyrate Plus. The Athens’ quartet has been playing shows recently, and they are working on new material. No release date on Gyrate Plus as yet. www.wearepylon.com

Archiving of The Q's video and film performances continues, including black & white footage of the group's first engagement in June, 1978 at the Underwear Invitational in Atlanta, recently discovered.

Supreme Court, featuring Jeff Calder of The Q's and Glenn Phillips are completing their second disc, Sun Hex, recorded on magnetic tape at Southern Tracks studio in Atlanta; Anne Richmond Boston contributes vocals to several tracks; the group's first lp, Supreme Court Goes Electric, was well received, including a 4-star notice in Rolling Stone.

In May, 2005, The Swimming Pool Q's performed at the Inman Park Festival and The Red Light Cafe in Atlanta.

The Q's played a benefit to help cover medical expenses for Phillip "Fly" Stone of the infamous Nasty Bucks at Jake's Toadhouse in April; among the many artists on the bill was the legendary Atlanta band Thermos Greenwood & The Colored People; Bob Elsey of The Swimming Pool Q's joined Thermos to play guitar on this date, as well as at their full-blown reunion gig in 2004.

At his luxurious underground studio in mid-town Atlanta's Biltmore Hotel, Q's bassist Tim DeLaney has been producing/engineering several up-and-coming Atlanta acts including The Selmanaires, Roy Owens, Jr. and Silver Lakes...

2003 was one of the great years for The Swimming Pool Q's. Their compact disc, Royal Academy of Reality, reestablished contact with old fans and brought the group a whole new audience. Following its release in May, 2003, on Bar/None Records, RAR collected Four Star-plus reviews throughout the American music press, including praise from David Fricke in Rolling Stone and Richard Gehr in Village Voice, as well as raves in British publications like Wire (Ed Ward) and Q (Ian Gittins). Royal Academy of Reality appeared on numerous Year-end Best-of writer, radio and industry polls, including the prestigious 2003 Village Voice Pazz & Jop Poll, in which Charles Johnson and Voice writer Richard Gehr made RAR their number one album of the year, with additional high rankings from Jim Musser, Scott Wilson, Kevin O' Hare, and Bob Townsend.

Kevin O'Hare of Newhouse News Service (42 papers, 7 million readers), made Royal Academy his No. 2 disc of the year, one click behind acclaimed Atlanta fellows, Outkast.

Geoffrey Himes of Washington Post ranked RAR as one of his top recordings and The Q's DC appearance as one of his best shows.

The Wallflowers' Greg Richling, listed RAR as one of his favorites of 2003: http://www.wallflowers.com/greg.html

Beta, a superb publication from Singapore, called Royal Academy "The Years Best Comeback" and ran a lengthy interview with Q's vocalist, Jeff Calder. See http://betamusic.i.am

At radio, Barry Smolin of KPFK 90.7 FM in LA listed RAR his No. 2 Album of the Year. See http://www.mrsmolin.com/radio.php

Eric Levin of Atlanta's Criminal Records and President of Alliance of Independent Media Stores (AIMS) dropped Royal Academy into his Hits Magazine Top Ten.

And, finally, James Mann wrote at Ink 19: "[Royal Academy of Reality] will achieve the masterpiece status afforded works such as Neutral Milk Hotel's In An Aeroplane Over The Sea and R.E.M.'s Murmur. Yeah, it's that good."

The Q's charted at College Radio, generated considerable play at AAA (Adult Alternative) formats, and received broad support from XM Satellite Radio (see details below).

In a surprise turn, "More Than One Heaven," a song from 1986 album, Blue Tomorrow, surfaced in the Steven Spielberg Scifi Channel miniseries, Taken.

In November, 2003, The Q's visited Washington DC to play at Club Iota. The next afternoon, they recorded a live performance at the magnificent studios of XM Satellite Radio, which supported Royal Academy since its release. The session was engineered by XM's Quinton Roebuck and later mixed in Atlanta at Southern Tracks Recording by Greg Quesnel, producer of The Q's 1989 album, World War Two Point Five. The song selection featured the following cuts from RAR: "Everybody Knows Tomorrow"; "Light Arriving Soon"; "For No Reason"; "Earth Makes Us Feel Things"; "Yesterday's Rain"; "Alpha Centauri's Rise". From their back catalog, The Q's also tracked "The A-Bomb Woke Me Up," "Overheated," "Wreck Around," and "Rat Bait." Their DC jaunt was documented by Andy King, who created photographic record at http://www.unminded.com/xm/.

Backstreets, the quarterly magazine dedicated to Bruce Springsteen, ran the first promotional photo of The Swimming Pool Q’s, shot in the summer of 1979 by Atlanta photographer Richard Perez, who documented The Q’s early career. The location of the original picture was the rooftop of a midtown apartment building, then the residence for Q’s Deep End drummer, Robert Schmid. When Danny Clinch, the gifted photographer for Bruce’s album, The Rising, came across the old black & white, he thought it would make an excellent site for a photo session with Bruce. Indeed, Danny’s images from the Ponce roof appear throughout the CD booklet, including the cover. The Rising was recorded at Southern Tracks, the magnificent Atlanta studio where The Q’s tracked and mixed much of their album, The Royal Academy of Reality. Of historical note, The Rising’s internationally acclaimed producer, Brendan O’Brien, engineered and mixed The Swimming Pool Q’s 1989 album, World War Two Point Five. Brendan is also credited with co-producing (with Rob Gal) and engineering, Anne Richmond Boston’s 1990 solo disc, The Big House of Time (DB 90). He also plays bass on three songs on Royal Academy.