Picture Book: Blackberry Smoke, The Brian Collins Band at The Buckhead Theatre, January 28
By Lisa Keel
Full gallery after the jump.
By Lisa Keel
Full gallery after the jump.
Over the next three months, student teams from the Joel A. Katz Music and Entertainment Business Program at Kennesaw State, working with Sony Music Nashville and PlayPro Media, a social media start-up that helps artists build fan bases, will be promoting and marketing artists of various music genres. The experience will give the KSU students a chance to learn first-hand the inner workings of the music industry, earning class credit along the way.
“This is a wonderful learning lab for our students,” said Keith Perissi, associate director of the program. “This project will give students hands-on experience in the music and entertainment industry, working with heavyweights such as Sony. They will be doing the job that agents, managers and promoters do. This is about as real as it gets.”
Week after week, the students will be producing video clips, booking the acts at local venues, pitching local and national media, and using social media to launch campaigns. Throughout, they will meet with the artists and post weekly blogs chronicling their progress. On April 11, the 10 artists will perform at Smith’s Olde Bar in Atlanta at an industry mixer, with the top act earning a chance to play for top executives at Sony Music Nashville.
“This is a win-win situation for everybody involved,” said Brad Todd, an entertainment industry executive who founded PlayPro Media. “The artists are getting a consulting team with professionals who have years of experience in the industry.”
Todd explained that this project is the antithesis of the TV singing competition model, as each artist that is selected will not be asked to make any commitment or sign a contract. Sony Music Nashville and PlayPro Media are offering three months of consulting in the areas of production, marketing, booking and management at no cost to the artists.
“We want to see if the synergy is there between the artists and PlayPro before any long-term commitments are discussed,” Todd said. “While we want to work with artists at all stages of their career, we won’t use the fast-track method for the artists that are not ready.”
It all starts with a great song, Todd said, but local artists typically do not have the resources to launch their music careers and get noticed by the big labels. The consulting provided by Sony Music Nashville and PlayPro Media will give them this opportunity. Todd and Duane Hobson, an A&R rep with Sony Music Nashville, are working closely with the students to promote the artists.
“We are doing old school A&R (Artist & Repertoire) with new resources,” Hobson said. “It’s not about trying to reinvent the wheel. We are trying to find local artists using new ways to discover music. We want to get their music heard.”
PlayPro Media has partnered with Education Realty Trust, a national developer and operator of collegiate housing, to help market the artists to local college students living in these facilities. The goal is to get students to sign on as members on PlayPro Media so they can familiarize themselves with the artists and vote for their favorite.
Sony Music Nashville and PlayPro Media selected the 10 artists the students are working with last fall through the A&R Southern Talent Expo, which attracted 62 artists.
The 10 artists that the KSU students are promoting are: Lauren St. Jane & The Dead Westerns; Kurt Thomas; The Whiskey Gentry; Andy Griffen; Mr. Lee; The Armory; A-N-T; Leslie Mack; Amy Gerhartz; and Elgin Nation.
To follow the students’ work with the artists, please go to http://www.facebook.com/KSUMEBUS
By Al Kaufman
Fountains of Wayne is not your typical success story. The New York-based band came up with the name after driving by a yard art store in Wayne, N.J., then quickly signed with Atlantic Records in 1996. They were subsequently dropped after their first two albums did not sell up to Atlantic’s expectations. After a hiatus, they regrouped and used their own money to put together Welcome Interstate Travelers on S-Curve Records. It spawned the monster hit, “Stacy’s Mom,” which was aided by the video that starred Rachel Hunter in various states of undress. It’s a snarky little tune about an oversexed boy in lust with his girlfriend’s mom. The album earned the band two Grammy nominations in 2003, including (inexplicably), Best New Artist. While subsequent albums have not garnered the same success, the band continues to pen sharp, smart pop songs, including their most recent album, Sky Full of Holes, which offers a more Americana feel. It includes great story songs like “Richie and Ruben,” and sweet ballads, such as “Someone’s Gonna Break Your Heart.”
Adam Schlesinger is the songwriter (with Chris Collingwood) and bassist for Fountains of Wayne. In addition to his work with the band, he writes and plays bass for Ivy and Tinted Windows, (a sort of supergroup consisting of Schlesinger, ex-Smashing Pumpkin James Iha, ex-Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos, and Hanson’s Taylor Hanson) co-owns the record label Scratchie Records (with Iha and another ex-Pumpkin D’arcy Wretzky) and the recording studio Stratosphere Sound (with Iha and Ivy mate Andy Chase). He penned the disgustingly catchy title track to the Tom Hanks movie That Thing You Do, and, with David Javerbaum, wrote the Steven Colbert and Elvis Costello Christmas carol duet, “There Are Much Worse Things to Believe In,” which was shown on Colbert’s Christmas special. He’s written tons of music for movies and TV, has produced everyone from Verve Pipe to Fastball to They Might Be Giants, and rumor has it that he occasionally sleeps. Atlanta Music Guide caught up with Schlesinger during Fountains of Wayne’s latest tour that comes to Atlanta on Friday, February 10, at The Loft at Center Stage.
It was almost four years between your last album, Traffic and Weather, and Sky Full of Holes. What did you do during that time?
When Fountains of Wayne wasn’t touring, I worked on a bunch of other projects – TV stuff, a Broadway show, and a bunch of other people’s records. I put out a record with Tinted Windows. And I worked on the new Ivy record, All Hours, which also just came out.
Sky Full of Holes has a rootsier, gentler sound than your past albums. Is this the Fountains of Wayne have grown up album?
Actually, this record is probably the closest to what we sounded like when Chris and I first started making music together, when we were around 20 years old. … Continue Reading
Happy Super Bowl Weekend everyone! Looks like the weekend might be a bit quiet due to everyone revving up their eating and drinking engines for the big game on Sunday, but we still have some killer gigs to take the edge off if you’re not into the whole pigskin thing, with a healthy amount of metal thrown in for good measure. … Continue Reading
By Eileen Tilson/ @tktalt_tn
I know it is a risky thing to proclaim a “my new favorite” band, but in this case, trust me. JEFF the Brotherhood are two brothers from Nashville, who are helping to shake up the rock scene. Jake and Jamin Orrall are the sons of successful producer/singer/songwriter Robert Ellis Orrall and grew up surrounded by music. They founded JEFF the Brotherhood in 2001, while still in high school. They started several other bands and side projects, including Be Your Own Pet, which they left to play in JEFF the Brotherhood full-time. . Their first album released nationwide was 2009′s Heavy Days, followed by 2011′s We Are the Champions. JEFF the Brotherhood performed live instrumentation for Insane Clown Posse’s single for Third Man Records, “Leck mich im Arsch”, a rearrangement of a Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composition produced by Jack White.
Their music is described as containing elements of psychedelic rock, garage rock, punk and pop, and we chatted with Jamin before their show tonight joining The Kills on stage at The Masquerade.
What is the first gig you ever went to?
We went and saw the Rolling Stones when I was like 10 in Nashville. The Rolling Stones are really bad ass, so it made a pretty big impression on me.
What is the best gig that you ever played/performed at?
We played in thus gutted house of friends of ours. It was like a giant fun house. There was like ten foot blow up aliens that we had in the front yard, and everyone was using them to crowd surf, it was awesome.
What is the best gig you have ever been to?
When I saw Levon Helm at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
Gig you would most like to play?
Anywhere in Japan. I just think it would be so awesome. I love Japan.
What would be the lineup for your dream gig?
We would be opening up for Beyonce, Black Sabbath, and Devo. And we would be playing in Joshua Tree. That would be the most perfect show ever.
Catch JEFF the Brotherhood tonight with The Kills at The Masquerade
By Ken Lackner (www.kenlacknerphotography.com)
Full gallery after the jump.
By Jenna Hughes
Full gallery after the jump.
By Hillery Terenzi
Full gallery after the jump.
Review and photos by Stephanie Roman
From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. last Saturday night, a line of young artists and muses snaked to the entrance of the High Museum. For only $7, college students could gain access to the museum’s permanent collection, two bands, one DJ, two art workshops, and the museum’s featured exhibition, Picasso to Warhol: 14 Modern Masters. To fuel up for all of this, I grabbed a cup of coffee at the Warhol-themed Max’s Kansas City. Next, I took a peek inside two rooms where students could create jewelry inspired by Alexander Calder, and modern drip paintings like Pollock. The event continued until midnight, and must have hosted hundreds of students. I even spotted the Museum’s Director, Michael Shapiro, stopping by to check out the music.
Atlanta’s own modern masters, Carnivores, took the stage around 9pm. Pablo Gnecco provided original light projection artwork behind the band for an authentic 1960s vibe. Carnivores sound different every time I see them, but tonight’s set included energetic garage and psychedelic rock. The band closed with a cover of (what else?) “Pablo Picasso,” originally released by The Modern Lovers and notably recorded by David Bowie in 2003. After their set, DJ Santiago Paramo warmed up the dance floor with Latin-inspired grooves echoing throughout the atrium of the Stent Wing. The entire night was a true delight, and I hope the High Museum continues to provide this type of opportunity for young people to flirt with fashion, art, and music.
We snagged Carnivores drummer Ross Politi at The Factory for a few questions too:
If Carnivores were a Campbell’s Soup flavor, which would you be?
They would be the one that sparkles in the night sky. Filled with Noodle Rainbows and Twirling Seaweed Comets, crashing upon the canned goods isle at every Kroger and Whole Foods in the Southeast. … Continue Reading
By Lisa Keel
Full gallery after the jump.
Happy Pre-Valentines Day! The Explorers Club new CD / LP GRAND HOTEL comes out Feb 14th, and if you ask The Explorers Club founder Jason Brewer about his hopes for the band’s sophomore album, GRAND HOTEL, he’ll tell you straight up: “We really want this record to make a lot of people smile, to inject some positivity into the world. Let’s stop making things so serious and introspective, and get away on a musical vacation so we can bring a little bit of joy to people.”
They are playing Vinyl Feb, 10th. Enter below to win some free tickets!
By Ken Lackner (www.kenlacknerphotography.com)
Full gallery after the jump.
By Eileen Tilson/ @tktalt_tn
There are some young ones in Nashville who everyone just simply knows. They are songwriters who are known for representing the city with grace as well as talent. Gabe Dixon is everyone’s friend, as well as being one hell of a musician. I had the great pleasure of speaking with Gabe as part of our 5GB series before his show tonight at Vinyl.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Well the first one that I can actually remember going to was Elton John in 1991 when I was around 12 years old in Nashville. I went with my parents, we are all huge Elton fans. It was great because my brother and I knew every word to every song.
What is the best gig that you ever played/performed at?
When I was living in Miami, we would do these tiny shows at the Pink Palace, this party house, and everyone would be surround us, knowing every word, and having the best time.
What is the best gig you have ever been to?
The best show I ever saw was U2′s 360 tour here in Nashville. It was the most spectacular show I have ever seen. The whole thing was just done so well, I have never seen production to that scale.
Gig you would most like to play?
I would love to play Red Rocks. Just to be able to play music in a natural setting would be pretty amazing.
What would be the lineup for your dream gig?
Hmm, how about opening up for John Mayer and Adele at the Ryman. That would be pretty awesome, huh?
Catch Gabe Dixon tonight at Vinyl
Wow, this weekend is packed with some big hitters! From indie rock legends to country stars old and new, we’ve got a ton of great gigs coming to Atlanta and the surrounding areas (read: OTP). But a fair few are already sold out, so we hope you got your tickets in advance! … Continue Reading
By Eileen Tilson/ @tktalt_tn
This week has flown by! With all the craziness of the week, now is about the perfect time to slow down and catch one of these amazing shows tonight.
-Gabe Dixon is no stranger to the music community. The Nashville based singer songwriter has earned accolades from Paste, The Village Voice, American Songwriter and Performing Songwriter among many others, and virtually the entire album was licensed for use on primetime television. In addition, one of the songs, “Find My Way” was featured as the main title theme for the smash-hit Sandra Bullock & Ryan Reynolds film The Proposal. Check him out tonight at Vinyl.
-The Back Pockets are a flock of musicians and performance artists from Atlanta GA. They roll 5-10 deep, travel extensively, make everything themselves, enjoy costuming & face paint, and audience participation. Check out the spectacle tonight at The Earl.
-Austin based folk-indie rockers, Frank Smith just released their 5th album to date and will be at Smith’s Olde Bar tonight.
-BISHOP DAVIDSON is a newly formed, Nashville-based duo comprised of MJ Bishop and WT Davidson, and described as, “jazzbo acoustic folk with tabasco.Notably, Davidson has had cuts by Ray Charles, Crystal Gayle, Michael Johnson, Gary Stewart and Ray Stevens, to name a few. See this dup tonight at Eddie’s Attic.
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