34-year old Bobby Ubangi (neé Benjamin Jay Womack) passed within the last couple hours. He'd lost all motor control and could only communicate with grunts. As sad as I am right now, I'm heartened to know that Bobby's done suffering. It's rare that I well up with tears while writing, and that's what I'm doing right now. Not that you should care.

Bobby was full of life and a funny, funny fucking guy. Always quicker than anybody in a room to take the piss out of a situation and always the first to lend a hand. I feel like a significant part of the Atlanta scene has just died with him. And we will all miss that.

Chunklet is continuing to take donations (which have already exceeded $2000!!!) to cover his burial costs via paypal at henry@chunklet.com

It's a sad night, people. Rest in peace, Beej. You deserve it.

So I'm never one to make this website a place for charity, but I feel really strongly about this, so please take this seriously.

Here in Atlanta, there's a guy named Bobby that's in the final stages of his battle with cancer. I've known this cat for years. Years. And has never been anything but a sweet, fun, awesome guy. Read the whole story here.

So with that out of the way, now there's the not-so-delicate point of telling you that neither he nor his family are rich. Furthermore, everybody in town wants to abide by his dying wish which is to have a "green funeral" near Conyers which'll cost around four to five grand. I know, dying ain't cheap.

Anyway, if you've ever cared about the Atlanta music scene, please donate. If you've ever bought a Lids album, please donate. If you wonder why Deerhunter, Carbonas, Black Lips and every other band in town cares about BJ's well being, please donate. Even if you have only a few dollars to contribute, please donate.

Paypal funds are easy and remind me a lot of play money because you never really miss it if it was never in your pocket, so what are you waiting for? Send paypal funds to henry@chunklet.com and we can all bury BJ together.

That is all.

(Addendum: A reprint of "UBANGI" t-shirts are available on ebay with all profits going straight to BJ. Click here.)

(Postscript: Criminal Records has offered an mp3 of Bobby and the Midnights performing at the store which you can download below.)

Bobby And The Midnights - Can't Get Her Off (Of My Mind)

Throw in a shitty Big Black drum machine, and your cat can get booked at F Yeah Fest.

What have you done with your life?

I lived in Athens for a majority of the 90's, asked tons of old time locals and nobody could ever give me a straight answer about Limbo District. In the movie "Athens, GA-Inside/Out," they stand out as the one band that's the most enigmatic. Shown in a Victorian style carnival movie shot by the legendary art teacher/film maker Jim Herbert, what you see is what you get of them in the movie. People gushing about them and a fraction of some of their abstract tunes. That's it.

Limbo District from a Red & Black article

I've been scanning eBay for the better part of five years for anything by Limbo District. No dice. I have the band in my Google searches. Nothing. It seems like every attempt to find out about them ends up with a dead end.

However, this past week I stumbled upon the film by Jim Herbert that has been encoded in its entirety. Finally! Something!

I also ripped the audio from the movie and (with help from Sloan) edited the audio into four separate tracks for listening enjoyment.

Limbo District poster

Seeing as how this website has served as a clearing house for solving some nagging questions about releases or bands in the past, I'm hoping that such will be the case with Limbo District.

Tom Smith stated that Limbo District were the only Athens band that his band Boat Of ever identified with as being kindred spirits. Take that as you will.

I'll open the comments up to anybody that might have any information, anecdotes or, hell, more recordings or insight as to what Limbo District was all about.

Limbo District set list (from the collection of Tom Smith)

Limbo District - A La Maison

Limbo District - Daydreaming

Limbo District - Rhythm Forward

Limbo District - Those Devil Eyes

Well, I'll start by saying that, in a word, it was incredible. Absolutely. An absolute blast. Chunklet was put in a unique position to curate a stage at NXNE in Toronto, be flown up to enjoy it and then spoke on a panel. I mean, what's the problem with that, right?

The first day I was there, I was interviewed for the Eye Weekly (read the embarassingly name-drop-heavy interview here) over a mountain of nachos (literally, not figuratively) and then swept up in record shopping ('natch!) with comedian/Brutal Knight Nick Flanagan. It was all a blast! I went back to the hotel to clean up and then hopped over to the Chunklet showcase at the Bovine Sex Club, yes, that's it's name. Would you believe it might've also happened at Rancho Relaxo? Simpsons reference anybody? Hello? Anybody? Is this thing on

Chunklet showcase emcee Nick Flanagan with poster!

Sadly, I missed the So So Glos because I got lost on my way from the hotel to the venue, but was fortunate enough to see The Homosexuals who took over the slot of Prizzy Prizzy Please who were slated to play but had to cancel. And I gotta tell you, I was really impressed. I missed all their sets at this last year's SXSW, and I'm glad I finally got a chance to witness their truly flighty, arty skronk. Really enjoyable.

Towards the end of their set, the Easy Action guys showed up and I drifted to the back room to visit with them during The Coathangers set who are from my hometown, so I'm sure they understand that I was pulled away from the action. Tyvek (who I'm surprised haven't yet been sued by DuPont) were great and spazzy in the same way I've seen them in the past.

By this time, I had been talking with John Brannon about the Laughing Hyenas for the better part of an hour with Graham Williams helping in the nerd department. Amazingly, he told me that the only time people ask about the Hyenas is when he's on the west cost which, I hate to say, I don't believe. I mean, it's the Laughing Hyenas we're talking about here! I give it a few years when interest in hardcore will dwindle and people will discover late 80's/early 90's noise rock and the Hyenas will get their due. Mark my words.

Easy Action at the Bovine Sex Club

Easy Action were in terrific form and, after their technical difficulties during the first song, played a set heavy on new material. What new material? Well, tracks from the new single on Shake It for one. And....*cough*.....new tunes from the next Shake It single. Isn't that right, Billy?

By the time EA were off stage, the Bovine was packed to the rafters with people vying for a good spot for Youth Brigade. At that point of the night, though, I wasn't feeling like being crammed in that madhouse. It was just inhumane. After convincing a doorman who had turned about 50 punk rockers away, I went up and told him I wanted to close my tab and that I would be back outside momentarily. The 30-foot trip to the bar took ten minutes. Brutal.

My second day at NXNE was pure pleasure. I met up with Damian Abraham, his charming bride and their new bambini for breakfast hamburgers before jetting over to the hotel where the panels were. The panel was really fun as the moderator just let go of the reins to let us just go nuts. Buddies Sean Carlson (Fuck Yeah Fest) and Michelle from Panache Booking (along with myself) talked about the Phil Collins song "Against All Odds" for about an hour and then took questions. On my way out, Grant Lawrence (of the legendary Smugglers) interviewed Damian and me for Sirius radio which was awesome. In the lobby we also got this goofy Flight of the Conchords photo taken. Cute, ain't it? And after that bit? Non-stop record shopping until sunset. I swear we walked 4 miles and I had my suspicions reaffirmed when I had a cab drive me back to my hotel which cost $17!

I think next year's Chunklet showcase will be tempered by experience, but I gotta tell you, it was a blast. Thanks, NXNE! I'll see you jokers next year!

Damian & yours truly let our hair down....