Q&A with Rodrigo Y Gabriela; Playing Center Stage, March 13

By Eric Chavez

Combining the sensual heat of flamenco and the hardcore touch of metal in their music, Mexican duo Rodrigo Y Gabriela have captivated the world with their rhythmic guitars. With their latest release, 11:11, the duo have added another hit album to the list. On tour to promote the record, the duo will be adding some spice to the Center State on Saturday, March 13.

For people in Atlanta who have never heard of you, or have only heard your name, how would you describe your sound?

Rodrigo: Well, it’s good to let them know this show is not very quiet. It’s pretty loud. Some people think we play flamenco, whatever, no. It’s totally the opposite. We love flamenco but this is not flamenco style. It’s acoustic rock and it’s very energetic and it’s quite loud. Just to warn people in case they expect someone else.

With your last album, you were influenced by many artists, but who would you say would be the artist who inspired you to pick up a guitar your first time?

R: That was probably Metallica. I have an older brother, so when I was ten he was in high school, and he came back with the Kill ‘Em All album, and that was my first introduction to their music. He was listening to stuff like Motley Crue and all crazy sh…um…bands. Once he discovered Metallica, he stopped listening to that and we were really into that. … Continue Reading

Q&A with Cymbals Eat Guitars’ Joseph D’Agostino; Playing The EARL March 11

By Julia Reidy

What do you do when your debut record gets more attention than you ever thought it would? When it’s the blogosphere that drives your success, and your nascent band suddenly has the weight of the critical community behind it? You go on tour!

March 11, Cymbals Eat Guitars will stop at The EARL on the sixth date of their first national headlining run. They’ll be performing selections from Why There Are Mountains, the much-lauded, muscular LP the band released this past September via Sister’s Den Records. Supported by recent indie luminaries Bear In Heaven and Freelance Whales, it stands to be a night to remember. Atlanta Music Guide talked with frontman Joseph D’Agostino about the snowball of success and what it’s like to live with your ears burning.

I really enjoyed your record. Can you talk to me about what it’s been like on your end? It got the mythical Pitchfork Best New Music tag, and people have been noticing it in a pretty big way.

We didn’t have an audience or a career or anything that you might consider serious before we received that review. Really, receiving the Best New Music and the amount of play that we were starting to get from WOXY radio in Cincinnati, those were the two big things that sort of helped elevate our band to the point where we had to be viable — like we had to be a good live act, because we hadn’t been playing any shows before March of 2008, really. At the same time, there’s definitely a disconnect between internet hype and actually attending shows and things. But I get the feeling that we are enjoying a pretty unique situation, because it also seems that the spread of our record has been very much a word of mouth kind of thing, rather than one huge crush, and then suddenly we’re just ubiquitous. … Continue Reading

Q&A with Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg of Avi Buffalo; Playing with Rogue Wave at The Loft, March 8

By Jhoni Jackson

Avi Buffalo’s bright, melodic indie-pop is making huge waves that rival those of their native Long Beach, and even their musical peers – most of whom are well beyond Avi Buffalo’s age. Though youth may limit their experience, you’d never know listening to their pre-album teasers. “What’s in It For?” boasts a catchy melody so sticky with psych-pop references its chorus will loop in your head for days.

Just a week into their first proper tour, this four-piece is poised to shake indie rock’s ageist culture out of complacency with their April 27 eponymous release on Sub-Pop. We spoke with frontman Avi as the band made their way to Philadelphia, and he was looking forward to his first Atlanta visit. Catch them at the Loft this Monday with Rogue Wave – when they’re headlining a sold-out show at Variety Playhouse on their next tour, you’ll be proud to say you saw them first.

I know this is a nagging theme, but you guys are all really young.

Yeah…

I think it’s actually a relevant topic though, because bands this young aren’t usually this good or authentic sounding.

Thank you so much for that. That’s really wonderful to hear. We are still very young musically. There’s a lot to be done.

So did everyone who was still in school graduate yet?

Our drummer is in her senior year, and she’s taking packets out on the road with her, so she’s almost done with it. Our oldest member is 21, he’s been graduated for a while. He even went to college for a bit but dropped out because we’re too busy.

This tour isn’t too long though, and you get a break at the end of March, right?

Yeah, looks like we might get a little time to go back home, but we might stay out somewhere. They want us to film a music video at some point in there, so we’re going to try to like figure that out in that time. And then we’ll go back out with Japandroids for another month. It looks like we’re going to Europe for all of May too. Busy stuff. It’s crazy; we have never done a real tour like that, so it’s really interesting to be figuring out what it’s like to be out this long.

It definitely takes some getting used to. I read on your blog about Sheridan throwing up and Rebecca feeling sick too.

I threw up the first day too. Everyone gets sick on tour. I went on the tour a little bit sick already, I had an ear infection, sinus infection. I had been battling that. I haven’t been getting much sleep lately. I still have it a little but I’m feeling good otherwise. But we’ve all been sick pretty much. Usually when you’re on tour you get a little bit of a tour sickness, just from moving and not sleeping all the time. It’s kind of a bummer, but we are trying our best. … Continue Reading

Q&A with John Linnell of They Might Be Giants; Playing Variety Playhouse March 5 & 6

By Jim Simpson

Two-time Grammy winners and college-radio veterans They Might Be Giants bring their playfully surreal sound to Atlanta for two shows at the Variety Playhouse, March 5 and 6. The first is a “grown ups” (14+) show Friday, and a Saturday matinee for families (tickets for both shows are on sale here), where the Johns (Linnell and Flansburgh) will feature their smart, jumpy tunes – and puppets! – just for the kiddies. We spoke with accordion virtuoso John Linnell just before the TMBG show in Tallahassee Wednesday evening.

We’ve always heard that too much television is bad for us, but your music seems to owe a certain amount of its appeal and quirky, goofy charm to that medium.

It had an influence. We felt like TV was just part of the culture, typically, and I think that we’ve had the opportunity, especially over the last 10 years, to pay back our debt by doing television themes, incidental music and commercials.

I was thinking specifically about the selections that appeared on Apollo 18 as “Fingertips,” the 15-second songs that sounded like commercial jingles.

Yeah, I’m glad you pointed that out. Those were based on a kind of TV ad that was prevalent at the time, which was an ad for a collection of songs where they would play just the choruses of each song as the titles scrolled past. For many of those songs, the only versions we got to know were the ones in the commercials, so we only knew just a little snatch of a particular song. It seemed like that was its own kind of music, just knowing only three bars of a song.

You also did a song called “Oranges and Graphic Design” as a commercial for a web design company called The Chopping Block. Were they friends of yours?

They’ve done design work for us and we’ve done jingles for them in return, and we’ve played at parties for them. We’ve had an agreeable relationship with them, and they were just happy to trade with us.

TMBG are well-known for their exceptionally smart lyrics. Are you the primary lyricist?

John and I really do share all the different parts of songwriting. We’ll both write entire songs, for the most part, and we each try our own songs and bring them to the project.

This might not be the best description, but I’ve always got the impression that some of your songs, at least the lyrics, have a sincere insincerity about them, but in a playful way – with healthy does of paradoxical wordplay thrown in.

I don’t know if I’d describe it that way, but there’s kind of an oblique mysterious kind of lyric that we were into fairly early on, a kind of surrealism. But we’ve always done a broad range of types of lyrics with different rhetorical modes … we’ve done stuff that’s very earnest, and we’re ultimately sincere about what we’re doing. There’s not too much that’s unclear about the intent of what we’re doing, there’s nothing hidden. A lot of the songs are just objects that are meant to be appreciated on their own merits.

You’re just laying out interesting ideas for people to think about.

Yeah, that’s a good way of putting it.

We haven’t really done a stylistally themed album before. We’ve done EPs that have a particular attitude that’s roped together. We had one called The Spine Surfs Alone where the material was more aggressive and sort of a little more demented than usual.

Along with that tour, back in 2004, you did a series of “venue songs” where you wrote and performed original compositions for each city’s venue. You even released an album called Venue Songs. For Atlanta, you wrote “Variety Playhouse Freak-In” that compared our venue to a hospital where the “nurses are guitars” and the audience pays their hospital bills in applause. Will you be playing that this Friday at the “grown up” show?

We absolutely will. We’ll be playing it at the Variety Playhouse grownup evening show, but not at the family matinee show on Saturday.

I would hope not, because the song’s ending is rather freaky.

[Laughs] Right. … Continue Reading

Q&A with Trish Thompson, friend and collaborator of Wally Gates

By Eileen Tilson

Musicians and friends that knew, worked, played, drank, sobered, loved, hated, sinned and prayed with Wally Gates will pay tribute to him in the best way they know how – a night of Wally Gates’ favorite music performed live by his friends. Wally Gates, a respected and dedicated musician and producer, had made his mark in two local music scenes (New Haven, Conn. and Atlanta, Ga.).  During his life, he played, produced and assisted many rock, powerpop and alt-country bands in both cities, most notably 100 Faces (New Haven), Kathleen Turner Overdrive and Loudflower (Atlanta).  Gates battled depression for many years before taking his own life in December 2009.

We spoke with Wally’s dear friend and fellow musician, Trish Thompson about how the event came to fruition.

How did you meet Wally? How long did you know him?

I met Wally in front of my house on a warm night in the early ’90s.  I was introduced to him by a mutual friend, Sally.  Wally and Sally picked me up and we drove to Athens to see Insane Jane, quite a popular Atlanta band, at the time.  Wally later ended up playing in Legend of the Giant Squid, with Insane Jane guitarist, Tom Branch. Wally says that I was the first person he met when he got to Atlanta, we weaved in and out of each others’ lives for 17, 18 years or so.

You said you “played with Wally in a very unconventional duo called “Screwtape and Wormwood” for several years” – describe further; unconventional how?

Wally and I both came from a background of original bands. The thought of starting another band and pouring your heart out to a crowd of 11 on a Tuesday didn’t sound fun.  So we decided to just get together and learn a bunch of songs we loved (both being huge British Invasion and powerpop fans). As we began to explore our musical influences we found ourselves drawn to playing the mid-’70s hits of the day (in retrospect, I guess we were going back to the innocence of our childhood).  Paul Simon, Captain and Tenille, Led Zeppelin, Wings, Randy Newman, Stevie Wonder, any genre, we didn’t care as long as it was a good song. It made us a little hard to book, but we had great fun at many an art opening or last minute opening slot. We did all of these tunes with one guitar and vocal. By the end of our five years of sporadic playing, we had both strengthened our repertoires, our ability to play and sing, and our friendship. It was fun and liberating and not your typical steakhouse cover act. … Continue Reading

Q&A with B-52s’ Fred Schneider; DJing The Gold Room March 5

By Eric Chavez

B-52s front man Fred Schneider is back! It’s been years since the groups last LP Funhouse, but not only are the group coming back, but Schneider has a few side projects going for himself, including the group The Superions. Now the Atlanta native will be making his way to The Gold Room for his Spring Thang Bingo Dance Party on March 5.

I know you have a new project, The Superions, could you tell me a little about that side project?

Well, it started off as a one-off thing. My music partners, Noel and Dan came up with a track, so we stayed with them in Orlando while the band [The B52s] was doing Funplay performing a show, and I came up with “Totally Nude Island” and then we got a remix and did a video for it, and it really took off. We got some great remixes and it just turned into a great EP, and the CD and vinyl came out today [February 23]. Now I’m working on a Christmas album, a Halloween album, and a regular album with The Superions.

You’re coming to Atlanta’s Gold Room next Friday for an event, what can people expect?

On March 5, we’re doing a bingo-dance party. I will be there as a DJ playing wild, crazy dance music and hanging out with everybody.

When did you start DJing?

Well, people asked me if I did, I said “yeah.” I DJ’d for two big parties at Target. What I do is I let someone else play the record, but I pick ‘em. It’s a gig.

You’ve been around in music with the B-52s, you have so many classics, in your whole music career, with them or without them. What would you say is a song that you’re part of that you’re most proud of as an artist?

Represents me? That’s hard, because I’ve written so many songs for my solo album and with The B-52s are mostly collaborations. You know I’d have to say “Rock Lobster.”

You know I heard this Madonna demo from the early ’80s that ripped off the guitar riff from “Rock Lobster.”

Well I wish she would have recorded it and given us the money! She’s not known to be original. You can say it, but you probably wanna interview her about her children. … Continue Reading

Q&A with Real Housewife of Atlanta Kim Zolciak and Producer Tracy Young; Performing @ Gold Room, February 26

By Eric Chavez

Guilty pleasure of the year “Tardy for the Party” is heading back to the VIP. “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star Kim Zolciak is combining forces with famed remixer Tracy Young to add some dancefloor flavor to her hit single. Young breathes her usual electronic bliss to the sound, making it even more club-friendly. In celebration of the newly released remixes, the two will make their way to Atlanta’s Gold Room on Friday, February 26 to perform.

Why did you decide to record “Tardy For The Party”?

My daughter Brielle and her vocal coach Ed Davidson came up with the concept of Tardy for the Party and I thought it was catchy. Still, it was more of an emotional decision.  Brielle has written several songs and I, of course, am my daughter’s biggest fan so I wanted to support her. I gave the song to Kandi and she went in and rewrote the song and made it a hit.

How did you and Tracy come together for TARDY FOR THE PARTY?

Back when the song first came out, a mutual friend had suggested I do a remix for Tardy For The Party.  He connected Tracy and me via Twitter and after many messages, we finally met in LA and discussed the song. I liked her ideas and thought it was a good fit.  It was such an honor to meet her and even more of an honor that she wanted to remix the song. … Continue Reading

Q&A with Blake Thomas; Playing Smith’s Olde Bar with Josh Harty, February 17

By Eileen Tilson

Blake Thomas is no stranger to country music. Flatlands (2008), his third studio release, has been dubbed “a must for country and folk fans.” Thomas, born in Minnesota, literally worked his way up from the bottom when, at 19, he moved east and began his career busking in the subways of Boston. He spent the following years traveling, grinding through the club circuit and honing his craft while sharing the stage with Leon Russell, Greg Brown, Pieta Brown, Peter Mulvey, The Honeydogs, Holly Golightly, Ben Taylor, Tom Russell, Jon Dee Graham & others. Thought it would be easy to lump Thomas into the the hundreds of midwestern country singers, his lyrics will have you begging to differ. Upon listening to Flatlands, it quickly dawns on you that Blake Thomas’ music is not to be read about, but experienced.

After reading about you and your music, the first thought that popped into my head, was “This guy is a modern day vagabond.” I like to imagine that you are train hopping every few months and collecting stories from your travels. What is it inside you that keeps you moving around, and do you think you will ever settle down?

First of all, train hopping is very dangerous and I don’t recommend it. I’ve never personally hopped a train but I do know that it’s a good way to get your legs chopped off. I think everyone, to a certain extent, is enamored with the idea of a “vagabond” lifestyle. You pick up On The Road when you’re 17 years old and it’s romantic and glorious, etc… I spent a number of years moving about the country sleeping in friends’ attics and basements. I think you can stomach that kind of thing more easily when you’re younger. I don’t want to tarnish the image you have of me but I enjoy having a home base at this point in my life. I have some recording equipment in my living room, a closet that contains my fishing poles, a book shelf full of Calvin and Hobbes, a stack of records, a tree frog. I still love traveling though. I do a lot of my writing on the road. There’s a feeling you get when you roll into a new city. Everything is new and unique. It’s the closest thing I’ve found to being a kid again. … Continue Reading

Q&A with Please PleaseRock Me; Playing Smith’s Olde Bar February 17, March 31, April 28

We all love The Beatles. Well, most of us, as music fans, at least appreciate them. And of course the majority of us will be happy to sing along at the top of our lungs on a night like the three Please PleaseRock Me (from the lads who brought you Y-O-U and other PleaseRock goodies) has created for Smith’s Olde Bar.

We asked the group to tell us about their favorite Beatles tunes, but first, singer Nick Niespodziani gave us this brief introduction:

First an explanation:  Please PleaseRock Me won’t be a traditional Beatles “tribute” band – we won’t be dressing up like the Beatles.  With the exception of my unfortunate resemblance to John Lennon (unfortunate because I’ve wanted to be exactly him my entire life), we don’t look like the Beatles.

But we can sound like the Beatles – and we can sound like other bands as well.  Which is why we’re not only doing verbatim Beatles versions of songs, but also famous covers of Beatles tunes (think Joe Cocker’s “Little Help From My Friends”), our own versions of Beatles songs, and any songs the Beatles did in other bands or in their solo careers.  So we’ve got lots of options!

Nicholas Niespodziani (Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards): The pop perfection of “She Loves You” captures an enthusiasm for life that can defeat the bluest of the Blue Meanies.  Hooks flow from lead vocals to backing vocals to drums to guitar, showcasing the Beatles’ effortless genius.  Every time I hear it I want to jump out of my own skin, fly in a glorious burning rocket ship to the moon of harmonic perfection where daisies chime in the wind, and land screaming at the top of my lungs… perfectly in tune.

Peter Olson (Bass, Vocals): I don’t know that I can pinpoint exactly what draws me to “Dear Prudence,” but it became one of my favorites on my first listen when I was in high school.  The wistful drone of the picked guitar part and the descending bass line are definitely two of the sonic attractions for me.  Not to mention, the lines “The sun is up/The sky is blue/It’s beautiful/And so are you” landed it as the opening track on the first mix-tape that I ever made for my wife.  Oh, hopeless romanticism.  Guilty.

Mark Cobb (Drums, Vocals): My favorite Beatles song as a drummer would have to be “Rain.”  No other drummer back then would have made the decisions Ringo made in the studio with his choice of fills and playing around with the tempo the way he did.  It might not be the most memorable or emotionally charged Beatles song, but it’s one of the most inspiring as a drummer to listen to. … Continue Reading

Q&A: John Douglas of Ten Story Relapse; CD Release Party @ The 183 Room at Legends, February 13

Stylistically diverse Atlanta rockers Ten Story
Relapse have chosen a unique way to celebrate the release of their fifth CD,
the intriguingly-titled Buddha & The
.38. They’ve decided to combine that achievement — which also happens to
coincide with the band’s 10th anniversary — with a one-night-only art
exhibit hand-picked by Atlanta legend Fay Gold and a benefit for The C5 Youth
Foundation of Georgia. TSR’s dynamic vocalist John Douglas sat down with
Atlanta Music Guide to discuss the band’s interest in the C5 organization, the
new CD, and the secret of playing with the same musicians for 10 years.

How did you become involved with The C5 Youth Foundation of Georgia?

I found out about them about a year and a half ago through a mutual friend and I was just so impressed with the work they do, I wanted to help out in some way. I’d worked with some charitable organizations before, but I’d never seen the dedication these guys have.

What does C5 do, essentially? 

They have a five year program that gives kids opportunities and tools to overcome challenges and obstacles that would otherwise be difficult to overcome. About 300
kids are nominated every year and only 70 get accepted, but they have a 95-percent college acceptance rate, which is pretty amazing.      

So, what can people expect musically from Buddha & The .38?

… Continue Reading