Some musical moments transport you to a world where only what is reverberating in your eardrums exists. Mine are as follows:

my first Bruce Springsteen concert, finishing an original song for the first time, the Modern Skirts (post-break up) performance of “DUI” at Camp Amped, listening to Patterson Hood play for the first time, my first album release, and opening for the Drive-By Truckers for a sold-out crowd at the 40 Watt.

In October 2015 I was recording while Debbie Watson sat in. We started talking about the band the Drive-By Truckers, and Debbie mentioned that a Camp Amped band opens up for their Nuçi’s benefit concert every year. A big Drive-By Truckers fan, I had heard about this and hoped for the chance, but I didn’t think it would actually happen. Then the incredible happened—Debbie asked me if I would lead the Camp Amped band at the 40 Watt that year. I managed to stay com-posed because I was only halfway through the session, but I came home and freaked out a little.

A few weeks after finding out I would be play-ing the show, I sent Patterson a line and let him know—he responded asking and urging me to do some original music from my album.

Words often can’t express how lucky and grate-ful I am to have stumbled upon Camp Amped. If it weren’t for Nuçi’s Space and the summer camp program, there is no way I would have even played music outside my room, much less make an album. And the opportunity to meet a south-ern rock star like Patterson Hood through the program and for him to encourage me to pursue and perform my music—it was exhilarating.

I tapped other Camp Amped alums to join the band: Dylan Loftin on lead guitar, Javi Romero on bass, Jordan Rhym on drums, and Madison

Wilkins on keys. Luckily, everyone I asked to join the band agreed with enthusiasm. Our rehearsal process taught me a lot. As band leader I held a lot of responsibility when it came to organization and communication, which sometimes meant being the ‘bad cop.’ It was Camp Amped that prepared me for that role. From knowing that I needed to communicate with the other bands and making sure everyone had their stuff to load-in, to carrying myself professionally during sound check and onstage, Camp Amped was fully responsible for my professional music education.

On the day of the show, I woke up at 6:30 a.m. to my iPhone alarm “GET UP—DBT DAY!” I tried to sit through school, but all I could think about was the show that night. Caught in a mix of excitement and nerves, I ended up leaving school early because I knew I had to get my head on straight before load-in. I ran through the set by myself one last time at home and had some last-minute amp issues. Panicked, I drove straight to Nuçi’s Space where the staff rallied around me. Dave grabbed another amp, helped me test it out, and loaded it into my trunk; Debbie handed me a bottle of water and asked me I had eaten enough that day; others sent encouragement and love my way as I got ready to head to the biggest show of my life. For one moment, all the stress floated away as I felt the arms of Nuçi’s Space wrap around me. I was reminded that they were there to support me in following my dreams and doing what I love. I remembered that underneath it all, that’s what this night was really all about—I had been chosen to spread the word about the incred-ible work of Nuçi’s Space.

I drove to the 40 Watt with my car radio blasting “Livin’ Was Easy” by The Glands—my

APRIL 2016

nuçi’s space396 Oconee StreetAthens, GA 30601706.227.1515space@nuci.orgwww.nuci.orgwww.facebook.com/nucisspace

Newsletter Contributors

Bob SleppyLesley CobbsDave ChamberlinAmanda InnesMamie DavisKristie Greene

Photos

Lesley Cobbs

Design & Layout

Larry Tenner

Camp Amped in Action By Mamie Davis

the newsletter for nuçi’s space, a nonprofit musicians’ support/resource center

continued on next page

Nuçi PhillipsMemorial Foundation

Board of Directors

President: Helen Herring

Vice President: Lisa Allen

Secretary: Amy Coenen

Treasurer: temporarily vacant

David BarbeBarrie BuckTodd EmilyDrs. Jon & Nadine Forché

Jack JonesEllie MacKnightDr. Bill OrrDr. Charles MixsonLinda PhillipsMelissa & Keyes Williamson

Anna & Ken Zankel

Founding Family

Linda PhillipsDr. Pierre PhillipsKP Devlin

Legal Counsel

Jim Warnes

Executive Director

Bob Sleppy

Nuçi’s Space Staff

Chris ByronLesley CobbsDebbie WatsonKristie GreeneDave ChamberlinGlenn ReeceJoe LinehanMikey HeptinstallBobby Gray

final group song at Camp Amped. When I got to the venue I saw “CAMP AMPED BAND” on the marquee in the same large black letters that had spelled so many of my inspirations: “OF MONTREAL,” “PYLON,” “R.E.M.,” and tonight, “THE DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS.” I smiled like an idiot and snapped a picture on my way inside.

I knocked on the black doors, which opened to reveal Jay Gonzalez and Brad Morgan hidden behind Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley and Matt Patton halfway through a song as David Barbe paced in front of them. Patterson interrupted his song to smile and wave in my direction, shooting me a thumbs-up. The venue was mostly empty, so I sat in a side booth and waited for the rest of my bandmates. Watching the band make jokes and tease one another, I realized that they were just like my band. It was humbling and incredible.

When the rest of my band arrived, the Drive-by Truckers’ tour manager led us to the green room, which was lined with famous stick-ers and signatures. We’d be sharing this space with another graduated camper, Sienna Chandler, and her band Monsoon. We threw our stuff down on the couch (as thousands of bands before us had done) and headed on-stage for soundcheck. When soundcheck was done, we returned to the green room and a box of cookies was on the table with a note from my best friend from back home: “Good luck!” It had been so hard to move dur-ing my sophomore year of high school—Camp Amped and Nuçi’s Space were a big part of what got me through it alive. Seeing those two worlds collide, both full of nothing but love, made me too joyous for words and I cried.

Full of too much nervous energy, the band and I walked to the nearby Waffle House. Among other things, we ended up singing Springsteen’s “Downbound Train” acapella, accompanied by silverware percussion. As our nervousness

diminished and excitement increased, we reminded ourselves of all the things we were taught at camp: everyone wants you to succeed; keep going if you mess up; try your best; and a thousand other cliché, yet effective, comforts.

We walked back past the long line of people waiting to enter, which made us feel way cooler than it probably should have, and holed ourselves up in the greenroom. I was shaking with nerves and excitement when I heard “Alright, y’all! Ten minutes!” Everything felt surreal. I entered my own world, knowing that it was time to let my music speak for itself. The Rocky soundtrack blared from the monitors and we walked out to Patterson Hood prepping the audience. He patted me on the back and then exited the stage, leaving us alone with the audience.

I turned to my band and told them we were good to go. Jordan counted off and played the intro for our first song while I began to grasp just how many people were there. People were close enough to use the edge of the stage to hold their beer cans and others were all the way to the back wall. My worries about how the audience might react melted away when I sang the opening words to our first song Camper Van Beethoven’s “Take the Skinheads Bowling.” I even saw two guys in the front row look at each other, scream, and mouth, “DUDE!! IT’S OUR SONG!!”

As we continued our set, I was getting excited about our middle song, “Hold On” by The Alabama Shakes. I picked this song because it represented all that Nuçi’s stands for—to hold on despite whatever’s happening. Vocally it was a tough song, and I went back and forth on whether I should challenge myself or stick in my comfort zone, eventually deciding to take a risk. When the song began, the audience roared. I felt inspired by the energy of the audience and at the difficult part put my hand around the mic and wailed—and the audience went wild. That was probably the sweatiest and the happiest I’ve ever

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been simultaneously.The rest of the set flew by, and we stepped off the stage

with raucous applause from the audience. Back in the green room, we all hugged and freaked out a little, still buzzing from the energy of being on stage. In fact, because of how insanely happy and proud I was feeling, I didn’t even notice that I had injured myself while on stage until the adrenaline settled.

I stayed backstage until I was ready to find my brother, whom I had seen crying with pride and joy during “Hold On.” Nuçi’s Space had played a major role in my brother’s life too, enabling him to become the happy, stable, and sober guy he is now. I was so honored to have him in the audience and to know that I made him proud. When I had composed myself I found him and hugged him as tightly as I could.

I stuck around to see the rest of the show, but as I waded through the audience, someone stopped me every few steps. One woman cried and told me how much Nuçi’s Space and Camp Amp amazed her. A group who had driven from five states away to come to the show told me how excited they were to tell their teenage daughters about me. A few people saw me and screamed, “YOU WERE THE COOL GIRL THAT WAS JUST UP THERE?! NO!!” People were excited and encouraging, and I felt so privileged to be a part of it all.

That was my last official Camp Amped experience, and I wouldn’t end it any other way. In my heart I will always

be a Camp Amped and Nuçi’s Space kid. The opportunity to represent this organization that has meant so much to me was beyond any musical or professional honor I could ever receive. Words cannot express how grateful I am for the programs and the people who have gotten me this far and who continue to be a call or drive away anytime I need them. The love I hold for this organization is incompara-ble—my life is forever changed because of Nuçi’s. ■

Help us welcome our newest board member,Jennifer Davidson, as she shares below why it’s important for her to be a part of our organization.

I love being a part of something that helps families and friends surviving suicide. The wake of suicide

leaves families and friends with a lifelong path of heal-ing through helping others. Programs offered at Nuçi’s give survivors a place to remember, heal, and help. We give our community a safe place to get help through being with others who have felt exactly the same way, and give them hope that working through these times is possible. I joined Nuçi’s to help continue the space that Linda and an amazing group of people have given my friends, our community, and me.

The 2016 Drive-By Truckers Homecoming party and auction was highlighted by a low country boil organized by fans and supporters of Nuçi’s Space from all across the coun-try. Attendees were treated with everything from shrimp from off the coast of Charleston, to sausage from Chicago, all topped off with local sweets from a bakery in Athens.

The idea was initiated by a group of fans led by Hank Mathewes, when he reached out to us inquiring about the idea of hosting a low country boil as part of the annual pre-party. It was an intriguing, yet seemingly daunting, proposal, but we at the Space decided that if they were up for it we might as well give it a shot.

On the day of the event, people

started showing up a few hours before it started with tables, propane burn-ers, and all of the food and paper goods needed to feed well over 100 people. Did I mention that literally

everything was donated, organized, and run by the fans? We’re not talking cheap seafood and sausage from the

bulk store, either, but mouth-watering cuts of Chicago meat and rich, sweet Charleston shrimp!

Along with the supreme good eats flowed a happiness and generosity that

seemed uniquely fed by people contributing to and being part of a cause bigger than themselves, and the joy of doing it all with friends from all over the globe brought a positivity that radiated like the sun that was shining down warming us on that cool, but bright, February afternoon.

Not only is this annual event a great opportunity to meet up with friends once a year, but it’s also one of our biggest fundraisers

and this year we were blown away by the turnout! The generosity of fans and supporters totally surpassed our

Homecoming 2016

Volunteers are an essential part of what we do here. They provide support at events, and most importantly, are often the first face you see when you enter The Space. We count on our devoted and talented volun-teers to keep things running smoothly, and Amanda Innes has been at the front desk on Tuesday after-noons since July of 2015. Check it out below to see how she got connected at Nuçi’s Space.

Six years ago I moved from my home state of Michigan all the way to sunny Athens, Georgia. It was the in the midst of a thick, sweltering summer that was so over-whelming to my northern blood that I refused to unpack the moving van until after the sun had set for fear I would pass out from heatstroke. I was unprepared for Athens. I didn’t know what to make of the heat that made me feel as though I was living inside someone’s mouth. I didn’t know how to navigate the friendly-bordering-on-intrusive questions posed by strangers about my cir-cumstances and my faith. And I didn’t know how to find myself in this southern sea of charm and politeness.

In Michigan I had a strong support system. I had doc-tors, counselors, family members, and friends all tuned in to my “wellness journey.” They were all invested in making sure that I stayed safe. Here in Athens it was just me and my sister, and I felt more vulnerable and less safe than ever. I knew that I needed to find support; not because I was in crisis, but because by the time I went into crisis it would be too late to intervene. I utilized Google the Great and found that almost all of the options available here were closed to me because I wasn’t a resi-dent, I wasn’t indigent, or I wasn’t “sick enough.”

By chance I attended a service at the Unitarian Universalist church Timothy Road. I’m not a religious person, but I had come to believe that the only way I would be able to build a support network here would be to do what everyone else here seemed to do: go to church.

A man stood in the pews and made an announcement about a group he was starting for peer mental health support. It would be run by people who suffered from the same challenges I did and was designed to provide exactly what I needed most. The next Tuesday I drove to Nuçi’s Space for the first time to attend that meeting and in many ways I’ve never left.

Over the years I have worn many hats at Nuçi’s. I have volunteered at the front desk, worked events, sought mental help and psychiatry assistance—heck, I even ended up running that original group for over a year! In all that time I have felt cared for, respected, and even loved. Everyone at Nuçi’s—the staff, the volunteers, their community referrals—has gone out of their way to make me feel accepted and important. It’s not enough that they provide the very real assistance I need, they also make me feel as though my presence is needed too; that the world (and Nuçi’s itself) would be less without me in it. This was an important and deeply powerful message for someone like me.

Since that fateful summer many years ago I have come to love Athens and I now call it my home with pride. That southern charm I was once so disdainful of now feels comfortable and kind. I have favorite businesses here and restaurants that I frequent so often that when I come in the staff politely ask, “The usual?” I have a trusted team of support including my primary care physician, my counselor, my psychiatrist, and some great friends who care about me and who are there whenever I call. I even kind of like the summers here now—which I would never admit to my northern friends. But when people ask me what I like best about Athens or what I think the most important resource in the community is, there’s no question—I’ll say Nuçi’s every time. What we do here is unlike anything else you’ll find in most of the rest of the country. It’s incredible and it has saved my life, more than once.

Volunteer Profile: Amanda Innes

expectations; the low country boil was free with a suggested donation, and it raised over $1,000!

Additionally, the fine folks from the Drive-By Truckers fan club, Three Dimes Down, once again produced a DVD and Blue Ray disc documenting a concert from last year’s Homecoming shows. Their enthusiastic members contributed over $8,000 in donations generated from the DVD sales, not to mention the fact that they provided the

majority of the support for our memo-rabilia auction, which brought in a record smashing $9,597!

The good times were also fueled by Jittery Joe’s, who donated cans of their new DBT inspired roast “Trucker Speed”. Of course good, strong cof-fee needs some dessert to go with it, and Tara Cardinal from a local Athens bakery, Cat and the Fiddle Sweet Company, lavishly donated a bounty of her incredible desserts to top

everything off!It was truly inspiring to see how

people came from far and near to con-tribute in their own ways for the com-mon goal of carrying out our mission of providing access to mental health care for our community! Maybe I’m still caught up in the afterglow, but it doesn’t seem a stretch to point out that when you throw a bunch of quality ingredients into a pot, you come up with a pretty incredible final result… ■

RECENt DoNoRSNovember 23, 2015–

March 30, 2016

Athens Area Community FoundationAthens-Clarke County Charity Drive Committee

Athens-Oconee Junior Woman’s ClubAthfest, Inc.Babaliaros, Constantine & FotiniBishop Iolta, Mark ABolen, ChristinaBryan, Philip & JaneBurch, CharlesBurch, Travis & SusieBel-Jean Copy & Print CenterCarlin, Drs. Richard & EnidCarson, Jr., RobertCastellion, KathyChick Piano Co.Coastwise Consulting, Slay, ChrisCobbs, Lesley & MauriceDavis, Dr. Charles & Mrs. JulieDavidson, JenniferDavison, Heidi & AlDePeterse, EdwardDorsey, Alan & JackieDuplicating Systems, Jones, JackEdwards, PatrickEmily, ToddEntourage Clothing & AccessoriesFreer, MonaGaetzi IV, JohnGaines, Joseph & VickiGeorgia Music FoundationGoetz PHD PC, Theodore M.Gootman, Elliot & MarilynGriggs, JeffGrisar, Lila & Manganiello, ChrisHale, DavidHanmer, Don & PenelopeHerron, ChrisHicks, Brandon “Kip”Holcomb, BenHood, BurtonHouser, BarbetteHuszagh, Rick & SandiJohnson, JenaJones, Jeff & ShanaJuras, Philip & Gavrilles, BethKarchenes, RuthKim, Bo-YungLamb, CathyLee, JohnLester, DavidLeyes, DrewLowrance, Hughes & SaraLyle, ElisabethMark C Pope III FoundationMartin, Dr.& Mrs. DavidMcCrory, Clint & Custance, SueMcLucas, BryanMeijas, Erin & SergioMental Insight Foundation

Miller, Scott & PatriciaMixson, Charles & Mastrodonato, Jordan

Monroe, DougNewman, Wendy & MikeNicholson, Dr. PeterNorton, Jim & LaneOrr, Jr., WilliamOsora, DamonPattavina, DenisePerry, SharonPorter, Derek & KendallRaeburn, Susan DelaneyRasula, Jed & Wong, SuziRiverview FoundationRose, II, RichardRust, GarrettSaad-Dine, Yssa & JinanSamuelson, Paul & SaraSaucier, Scott & CindyShropshire, Mr. & Mrs. WilliamSiebentritt, Joel & Vest, CarterSleppy, DavidSmillie, DennisSmith, Walter E.& Rosie O.Sommer, MarcTeam ClermontTed’s Most BestThe George Link Jr. Charitable TrustThe Oak Hill FundThomas, KeciaVandyck, Peter & MarlaVarnedoe, StephanieWampler, JohnWarnes, Jim & CarolWhorton, Joseph & EdithWiegert, FrederickWhitman, William B. & Schwanenflugel, Paula J.

In Honor of Amanda MartinRogers-Berry, Christine

In Honor of Camp Amped InstructorsWatkins, Cathianne

In Honor of Chrissy ReedLawson, Tim

In Honor of Elite EllisonValentine, Thomas

In Honor of Holden & Patterson MartinMartin, Lindsey

In Honor of Jesse MangumMangum, Larry

In Honor of Jon & Nadine ForcheBrinson, Ryan & Kate

In Honor of Larry WeissmanWeissman, David

In Honor of Linda PhillipsDevlin, KPPayne, Adam

In Honor of Michael & Beth HernadezHernandez, Nancy

In Honor of Pier SelenicaSala, Gezim & Evis

In Honor of Robert MotesMotes, Pamela D.

In Honor of Will KiserLarinade, Funmi

In Memory of A. Nuçi PhillipsBaron, Richard & MaggieBarstow, JanetCuller, Kaye & MelPeach, JanePhillips, Dr. & Mrs. PierreRoberts, Virginia

In Memory of Alan BrownBrown, Jeffrey

In Memory of Angela RobertsRoberts, Donald

In Memory of Ben SeibertSeibert, David

In Memory of Bradley RobinsonRobinson, David & Christine

In Memory of Brian CraneCrane, Jerry & Lynn

In Memory of Bruce CooperCooper, Denise

In Memory of Carl LindbergByrd, JonathanCredle, BenHouston, Jack & JacquelynKagel, MartinKeane, James Dubconscious LLCWilliams, Rick

In Memory of Carlton HaynesWhitlow, Francis & Bruce

In Memory of Casey NettlesNettles, Victor & Quist, Charlotte

In Memory of Christopher M. PagePage, Cathy

In Memory of Craig LieskeLieske, Wayne & MarieWeissman, Barr

In Memory of David Peacock BraunBraun, Jon & Peacock, Harriet

In Memory of Elissa HadleyStroud, Tracy

In Memory of Garrie VereenMallis, Hampton & LauriePurvis, JoyceRust, Garrett

In Memory of Herb GuthrieBiddle, Pat & JeanGlikin, EddieO’Neal, Kevin

In Memory of Joe CauseyCausey, Joseph

In Memory of Joe CrosbyWatts-Magness, Leigh Ellen

In Memory of Joseph Ernest “Jay” Lowe IV

Bennett, Amanda

In Memory of Joseph KinchHoughton, Stephanie

In Memory of Joshua BistritzRabinowitz, Marc & Alison

In Memory of Michael Blaine CourtnerAthens Holiday Market

In Memory of Michael RoberdsRoberds, Thomas & Pamela

In Memory of Nichlos LiolinBoland, Mr. & Mrs. Kevin

In Memory of Nick MartinBroad, Adam

In Memory of Patrick CullenCullen, Theresa

In Memory of Richard turner Bartenfield

Mathews, Rachel

In Memory of Ross ShapiroAlmstead, Gretchen & Derek

In Memory of Sam CroweConley, Tim & Ann

In Memory of Scott WeilandLohlein, Matthew

In Memory of Sims HibbertBarwick, Clark & Molly

In Memory of Susan Haywood CroweAflatoon, Felicia

In Memory of ted HaferHafer, Matt & Mary Kay

In Memory of trey DeanYaconelli, Lisa

In Memory of Vince GladinGladin, Sue

In-Kind DonationsAnderson, PatrickBarbe, HenryButts, Pam & BruceCollins, DanielDonegan, RyanHanmer, AndrewHeintzman, BenjaminHood, BurtonKennedy, IanKinard, DebraMurawski, AlexNeff, JohnPaul, LeeQuinter, HeidiTobin, AmyWright, Allison

DAy 1: There was a wedding at The Space on a Monday morning. We had champagne to toast the newlyweds, followed by some glorious cake, and a photograph of the Nuçi’s Space staff with the bride and groom.

DAy 2: Bob brought his new puppy Riley in to work and staff moral went through the roof. Riley instantly made friends with all of us!

DAy 3: Kristie had a birthday but didn’t want to make a fuss, so Debbie and Lesley built her a birthday free zone one square meter wide. Debbie decorated everything else in sight!

DAy 4: The 40 Watt donated $714.50 toward their Athens Business Rocks total and Chris had to count it out and carry it to the bank. It was all in small change.

DAy 5: Lesley was asked to make a video reading some lines from Hamlet so someone could study her accent for the play.

DAy 6: Dave led an eager group of volunteers on an Adopt-A-Highway cleanup where they made their mark on beautifying our street.

DAy 7: We had a carpet fitted in the office, which means we got to spend most of the morning on the porch in the sun.

DAy 8: Bob won professor of the year!

8 DAyS A WeekThe wonderful world of nuçi’s space

A Benefit for Nuci’s Space

Punchlist Technical Services Audio Visual

Billy Rubin and the Bile Boys Athens-Clarke Emergency Specialists

Automatic Weapons for the People Starlite Showroom

Honey, I Lost My Mind Honey’s Salon

Wrecks & Parks Athens-Clarke County

Leisure Services Department

Mother Tucker and the Knockouts Medical Center Anesthesiology of Athens

40 Cent 40 Watt Club

Botjam Friends of the State

Botanical Garden of Georgia

Weep Urkel Guitar Center Athens

Doughmination Your Pie

https://nuci.wufoo.com/forms/cast-your-vote-for-abr-2016/

Vote Here:

See these bands battle for supremecyon May 14th at the 40 Watt!

Nine Inch Whales The Rook & Pawn