If you’re reading this blog, you probably already know about Athon’s death last November. He was the larger-than-life bassist in Black Tusk, and he was a larger-than-life presence around Savannah too. I think all of us involved in the music scene here are still mourning his loss even while trying to embrace the immediacy of life like Athon did.
Btw, there are some beautiful remembrances of Athon collected in This Time Is Divine: A Tribute To Black Tusk’s Jonathan Athon compiled by the folks at Stereo Embers Magazine. Click here for more info; all proceeds will help Athon’s girlfriend’s mounting medical bills since the accident. (The driver who pulled in front of Athon’s motorcycle has been charged with vehicular homicide.)
Corey Barhorst (of Niche and formerly of Kylesa) has, at least for now, joined Andrew Fidler and James May for their current European tour. Black Tusk had a couple of weeks of headlining dates, beginning in the glorious Budapest, and the band is now supporting Black Label Society through mid-March. Athon was especially looking forward to these dates.
It has been especially satisfying to follow the band’s journey, which seems both an ending and a beginning, on their social media pages. I’ve embedded a few posts below. Click on through for a lot more.