Inthesummerof1978,theB-52’sconqueredtheNewYorkunderground.Ayearlater,theband’sself-titleddebutalbumburstontotheBillboardcharts,capturingtheimaginationoffansandmusiccriticsworldwide.ThefactthatthegrouphadformedinthesleepysoutherncollegetownofAthens,Georgia,onlyincreasedthefascination.Soon,moreAthensbandsfollowedtheB-52’sintothevanguardofthenewAmericanmusicthatwouldcometobeknownas“alternative,“includingR.E.M.,whocatapultedoverthecourseofthe1980stothetopofthemusicalmainstream.AsactsliketheB-52’s,R.E.M.,andPylondrewtheeyesofNewYorktastemakerssouthward,theydiscoveredinAthensanunexpectedmeccaofmusic,experimentalart,DIYspirit,andprogressivepolitics--acreativeundergroundasvibrantasanytobefoundinthecountry’smajorcities.InAthensintheeighties,ifyouwereyoungandwillingtolivewithoutmuchmoney,anythingseemedpossible.CoolTownrevealsthepassion,vitality,andenduringsignificanceofabohemianscenethatbecameamodelforotherstofollow.GraceElizabethHaleexperiencedtheAthenssceneasastudent,small-businessowner,andbandmember.Blendingpersonalrecollectionwithahistorian’seye,shereconstructsthenetworksofbands,artists,andfriendsthatdrewonthethingsathandtomakeanewartofthepossible,transformingAmericanculturealongtheway.Inastoryfullofmusicandbrimmingwithhope,Haleshowshowanunlikelycastofcharactersinanunlikelyplacemadeasurprisingandbeautifulnewworld.
