THOSE ROCKIN’ ATHENIANS, U.S.A.

Ancient Athens (Greece) has nothing on modern Athens (Ga.) when it comes to delivering the creative goods.

Instead of marble statues and painted vases, Athens, U.S.A., produces rock ‘n’ roll bands at an alarming rate. Everybody knows R.E.M. and the B-52’s. More serious rock followers have seen independent records by Love Tractor, the Kilkenny Kats and Pylon. Few beyond the Athens city limits are familiar with groups like Mantra Factory and the Flat Duo Jets.

They’re all churning it out in this Peach State Liverpool--and “Athens, Ga.--Inside/Out” (tonight and Friday at the Nuart) tries to explore the phenomenon. The film meanders into both dead ends and hot spots, but ultimately it’s too erratic to pay off.

Why such a disproportionate number of bands in Athens? What does it take to survive and to succeed? How many clubs are there? Do the bands make their records in town? Who runs things? What are the politics and conflicts on the music scene? What are the musical influences? Is there a regional sound?

These are a few of the questions the film ignores in favor of generic comments from a cross-section of bands--their comments about motivation and ambitions are the kind you’d get from young musicians in any burg. Director Anthony Gayton doesn’t get into what makes Athens what it is--no history or sociology, and not much musical context either, beyond references to the national success of R.E.M. and the B-52’s.

It also lacks a story line and dramatic build. “Inside/Out” repeatedly bogs down in dull club performance segments, and the grainy, out-of-sync archive footage of the B-52’s and Pylon is especially hard to take. Interviews range from intriguing (Pylon members reflecting on the band’s decision to call it quits) to pointless (a bearded, beer-drinking Athenian named Ort whose position is never explained).

Still, fans of this music will find the film worth sitting through. For one thing, you get to meet a lot of bands (the bratty Flat Duo Jets, a sort of two-man Cramps, is the most engaging), and R.E.M.’s evocative, moody performances in an empty old theater are pretty effective.

The two most interesting characters are probably three times the age of most of the rockers: Rev. John D. Ruth, who built a “Bible garden” in his yard, and Rev. Howard Finster, who received artistic instruction from a face on his fingertip and ended up doing the cover painting for Talking Heads’ “Little Creatures” album.

Gayton implies a connection between the visions and dreams of these folk artists and those of the young rock ‘n’ rollers, but like many other aspects of Athens rock ‘n’ roll, it’s never explored and developed.

‘ATHENS, GA.-INSIDE/OUT’ An ASA Communications presentation. Producer Bill Cody. Director Tony Gayton. Cinematographer James Herbert. Sound Jim Hawkins. Music by R.E.M., the B-52’s, Love Tractor, Kilkenny Kats, Dreams So Real, the Squalls, Flat Duo Jets, Time Toy, Barbeque Killers, Mantra Factory, others.

Running time: 1 hour, 31 minutes.

Times-rated: Family.