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[Above: Baby Shakes play the first night of the Atlanta Mess-Around.]
Though the three Atlanta labels behind the two-day Atlanta Mess-Around have released a diverse array of music, their punk and power pop offerings have evolved into the unquestionable centerpieces of the scene, as evidenced by the Mess-Around's line-ups: The second night would boast a strong pop sensibility, but the first was almost all about punk rock.
And when talking about punk rock in Atlanta, you start with B Jay Womack, alias Bobby Ubangi (Lids, Gaye Blades, Bobby & the Soft Spots). Like the Gaye Blades, Blade II is anchored by the duo of Ubangi and Jared Swilley (Black Lips), but with (Gentleman) Jesse Smith and Dave Rahn (Lids, Carbonas) rounding out the all-star quartet on drums. The group opened the Mess-Around with rough, rollicking set of mostly Gaye Blades songs with a few new tunes interspersed. Ubangi, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, played well but seemed to have a tough time on stage, though the outpouring of support he's received since his diagnosis continued throughout the night. 
Fortunately, New York’s Baby Shakes were there to pick up the pieces. With a new bassist in place, The all-girl trio (joined by the omnipresent Dave Rahn) was sharper than ever. Though its full-length debut from this year can get monotonous, the new songs were an absolute blast live as the normally pristine power pop group added just enough distortion.
Next, the Mess-Around wasted no time getting back into punk with Carbonas and The Spits. Carbonas shows in Atlanta have always been inconsistent: Sometimes only half the members show and you get fifteen minutes of sloppy songs, but sometimes you get what happened Friday night. In their best Atlanta set in over a year, Carbonas perfected their incomprehensible blend of punk intensity and pop melody. From the opening notes of “Blackout,” the crowd went crazy. The moshing commenced right away, and during “Phone Booth” the stage-diving began. Reacting to the positive response, Carbonas played rare treats like “Frothing at the Mouth” and “Cold Waste,” which served to rile the crowd further. Friday provided proof that Carbonas are Atlanta punk at its finest.
[Blade II]
Following a set of local staples, it was time for the out-of-towners to take the stage. Denton, Texas’s Wax Museums play deceptively catchy hardcore, while the hyperactive lead singer physically acts out each song. The HoZac classic “Claw You Like a Cat” highlighted one of the weekend’s best sets.
[Wax Museums]
Wax Museums' songs rarely last two minutes, which posed a disadvantageous contrast to the next band: Atlanta’s All Night Drug Prowling Wolves plodded through interminable songs from its new album while lead singer Tom Cheshire pranced drunkenly around the stage. It was the weekend’s lone dud.
[All Night Drug Prowling Wolves]
[Baby Shakes]
[Carbonas]
The headlining Spits have been around forever and, boasting some of punk’s most intense fans, the band didn’t disappoint. Though they paled in comparison with Carbonas (who count themselves as fans), The Spits closed the first night of the Mess-Around in spectacular fashion as the crowd constantly goaded the black-robed band into playing one more.
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You guys are clueless. Prowling Wolves rocked that night. They were the only band that didn't sound like any other band that weekend. The last name of the singer is CHESHIRE not CHESIRE. And even at his drunkest, he is a better frontman, singer & songwriter than anyone there. The bass player of the Baby Shakes, she is not new. She has been with them from the beginning. You need to get a clue. Get your stuff straight. It is called music journalism.
B-Shaker- oz new York
Prowling Wolves killed it that night. Especially thrower on keys.
Fixed the Cheshire typo. Thanks for the catch!
Thanks for the comment. Regarding the Baby Shakes, that's my fault. This is the third time I've seen the band (Last year at the Douchemaster fest at the Drunken Unicorn, opening for Jay Reatard at Lenny's, and at the Whirlyball), and I thought the bassist looked completely different.
Looking at it now, I guess she just changed her hair. She looked so different to me I didn't even consider she was the same person. Sorry about that, I should have fact-checked. But if you look at some old pictures and the pictures from the mess-around, you'll see how I got confused.
With regard to the Wolves, look, I like that band. I like the new record. I've been saying nice things about them for years ( http://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/all_night_drug_prowling_wolves/i_cannot_say/ - my review ). I've seen them a couple times at the Drunken Unicorn and they were much better than they were at the mess-around.
At the Mess Around, they were sloooooooowwww and sloppy (and not in a good way). I realize that's part of what they are about, but, it didn't fit into the line-up that night, especially not between the Wax Museums and the Baby Shakes, neither of whom could be called anything other than fast & tight.
Sorry again about the Baby Shakes bassist confusion,
Eliot
appreciate it and noted. nice job. paste is a good mag.
b-shaker
oz-new york