The Bad Ends

Athens, GA occupies a curious corner of American history. Living up to the nickname of “The Classic City,” it harbors all kinds of heritage, dating back to 1801 (with enough of its own Southern Gothic flavor to fill a William Faulkner novel). At the same time, it remains a breeding ground for all things alternative, serving as home to the B-52’s, Widespread Panic, Neutral Milk Hotel, and R.E.M., to name a few. In this respect, the genesis of The Bad Ends may have been predestined all along. The lineup— Mike Mantione [Vocals, Guitar], Bill Berry [Drums, Guitar, Electric Sitar], Dave Domizi [Bass, Vocals], Geoff Melkonian [Keyboards, Piano, Guitars, Vocals], and Christian Lopez [Guitars, Mandolin, Banjo]—owes as much to the local scene as it does to the everyday community, forming through musical encounters as well as simple run-ins on the streets.