5GB With Pat McGee; Playing Eddie’s Attic, Saturday, April 14

With 18 years of touring, Virginia’s rocker, Pat McGee (of Pat McGee Band), has been around the block.  After writing his first song, “Rebecca,” in 1994, the rock-pop and country-folk artist quickly signed with Warner Bros. Records subsidiary Giant Records.  The band has performed on NBC’s Last Call with Carson Daly and released an iTunes-only release of Live From the Southland in January 2009. The recording was made at Eddie’s Attic...and charted at No. 5 on the iTunes Rock Chart. Having produced seven critically-acclaimed albums, the band has collaborated with artists like The Who, Fleetwood Mac, The Allman Brothers, James Taylor, Jimmy Buffet, Willie Nelson, and Bob Dylan. He joined us for our 5GB series:

What’s the first gig you’ve ever attended?

Well technically the first “gig” was a backyard BBQ for my then bassist’s friend. I was 16 and I still remember it like it was last week. The excitement over which tunes to play-the answer was obviously ALL of them. We split $50 between 4 guys. We sipped warm beer in the back of our guitarist’s pickup truck (with a cab on it) in the sweltering VA summer heat. I still have photos of it, I knew right then I was hooked. That feeling of being at a real “gig,” being able to tell my friends and family, we had a gig, there simply is nothing cooler. Oh how I wish I had video footage!

What is the best gig that you’ve ever played/performed?

Well that really is hard to answer. Each gig is truly special for many reasons. Getting to different benchmarks of our career every time we would move up the ladder of success in the touring world it was a thrill. But the biggest venues were not always the best shows, sometimes it was that small club in buffalo, where the band had the perfect mix of feeling way overtired, slightly buzzed, had a great hang that day, whatever the variable is, musically we just nail it for all of 37 people. Then there are the nights were the stars align and we have massive crowds AND play well…I can recall playing with Alanis Morrisette at On The Bricks in Atlanta, they estimated the crowd at 100,000. It was truly amazing to play to a sea of people. Touring with my lifetime heroes, The Allman Brothers Band was truly a mind blowing experience. Opening for James Taylor and getting a chance to chat with him (that guitar I had him sign still hangs on the wall). Playing The Gorge in Seattle with The Who–truley I am not worthy, Nashville with Bob Dylan and Memphis with Willie Nelson. I still can’t believe these things actually happened. Again though it’s our own shows in the smallest of towns that lead to amazing unforgettable musical and emotional moments that are the true golden memories.

What is the best gig you have ever seen?

Best “gig” I went to? I assume you mean concert that I wasn’t playing at…? If that’s what your referring to I will also answer the first question properly I suppose…Robert Plant was my first real deal concert. The kind where you go with your friends and drink beer in the parking lot, smell weed for the first time in mass amounts and leave with a bad ass overpriced t shirt. I worshipped Led Zeppelin and this was the closest I was going to get to hearing that music live! He rocked as I knew he would and I was sold! I wanted to go to more concerts immediately. What a feeling. Sigh…

Gig you would most like to play?

Well, I suppose it would a Bonaroo type gig where we went on right before the headliner and proved to people that we belong there. Musically, my band has always been able to appeal to al sorts of different types of music fans. I grew up loving on Dead Kennedy’s, Sex Pistols, Devo and early B52′s. But also connecting with Jackson Browne, CSN&Y, even old Jimmy Buffett. That type of mix I really feel peeks its influential head out in our shows. I credit my brother and sister for opening my ears to ALL sorts of great music.

What would be the lineup for your dream gig?

Well the perfect gig for me? I feel very fortunate that I have had so many epic experiences but if your askinge to make one up with my musical gods, then it would have to be a bill with: Eric Clapton with guest Duane Allman of course, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Ray Charles, Bob Marley, Led Zeppelin could close the show right after The Beatles. But if we are talking possible reality…I’d love to open for Bonnie Rait. She is just perfect. We met at the Grammys one year and she was the kindest, sweetest person on top of being a full blown bad ass. Oh and Vince Gill is on that Bonnie show as well…

Catch Pat McGee tomorrow night April 14 at Eddie’s Attic

5GB With Michelle Malone; Playing Vinyl Tonight, April 13th

Michelle Malone is one of the original Atlanta bad asses. She (according to the Nashville Rage) “ has the soul of a bluesman, the heart of a folk singer, and the guts of a rock and roller all wrapped up in one fiery bad ass.”  Michelle is playing with Lefty Williams Band tonight, and  joined us for our 5GB series before the show tonight at Vinyl.

What’s the first gig you’ve ever attended?

My first concert was The Clash at the Fox in Atlanta. I got arrested…but there was a riot so they let me go

What is the best gig that you’ve ever played/performed?

Two totally different gigs….one was when I sang The National Anthem at The Braves Stadium for the 4th of July in front of 40,000 fans…I mean IT WAS FOR MY TEAM!!!…I was so nervous. I called my friend Dan Baird (Georgia Satellites) and asked him how I was going to get through it because it was to be sung acapella..he said ” what leg do you keep time with?…just keep that one going!”…I did and I got through it, and it was awesome! Fly over and all! AND honestly, the best gig always my next one! I remain grateful.

What is the best gig you have ever seen?

Paul McCartney….he played everything i ever wanted to hear, from my favorite Beatles songs, to Wings, to his solo stuff. Amazing!

Gig you would most like to play?

Well I hear I have a lot of fans in Italy!…so maybe the Folkfest in Spilimbergo <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spilimbergo> !…I’ve always wanted to go to that amazing country…

What would be the lineup for your dream gig?

Anywhere with amazing sound and a lot of people….with: Mavis Staples, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt, Neil Young and The Stones…

ok…and Me!

Catch Michelle Malone w/ Lefty Williams tonight April 13th at Vinyl

5GB With Vonnegutt; Playing Smith’s Olde Bar, April 13th

They might be young, but the boys in  Vonnegutt did not take long to make an impression on a very BIG musician. Outkast’s Big Boi quickly signed the band to his label, Purple Ribbon and this Spring the long awaited debut full length, Falling Up The Stairs is set to release with their debut single “Lights” featuring their legendary label owner Big Boi. They joined us before their show tomorrow at Smith’s Olde Bar for our 5GB series.

What’s the first gig you’ve ever attended?

The first concert I ever went to was with my parents when I was like 5 or 6. It was some sort of reunion tour for the Beach Boys and The Temptations. That was the first one I can remember. My first gig that I went to without my parents was the Sprite Liquid Mix tour in Atlanta GA with 311 and Jay-Z. It was sick, I was like 15 and a bunch of my friends took Marta to Lakewood Amphitheater downtown. I remember Nappy Roots, Talib Kweli and NERD opened up for them. It was incredible, I was blown away. Especially when Jay-Z came on, I remember getting chills seeing him just stand there like Frank Sinatra or something.

What is the best gig that you’ve ever played/performed?

The best gig I performed at was 2011 Lollapalooza. It was a Kyle Lucas & Captain Midnite show but we played with the rest of the guys from Vonnegutt. I had so much fun, there was like 7,000 kids there at 1pm on a Sunday. We had played the year before for like 300 people and this time I was looking around at the kids seeing them sing all the words to “Bright Eyes” and “Going Home.” I remember thinking, “Wow, what a difference 1 year can make.”

What is the best gig you have ever seen?

I saw Coheed and Cambria play a sold out show at The Tabernacle in Atlanta. That’s my favorite venue in Atlanta. It’s like a old church rebuilt as a venue. It fits about 3,000 but you still feel close to the stage. I feel it’s the most intimate venue of that size without moving to an arena. The show was incredible. Coheed & Cambria are my favorite band so to be able to see them in that setting blew me away. It was like a religious experience.

Gig you would most like to play?

I would love to play Glastonbury. I saw some footage of when Jay-Z headlined it and it looked insane! All those people waving all those flags from there country looked like the Olympics of music or something haha.

What would be the lineup for your dream gig?

I think a great bill for Vonnegutt would be playing something like the Tabernacle size venue 3,000 with Sam Adams, Breathe Carolina, T.Mills & Vonnegutt. That’d be insane cause I know the type of fans those acts bring and I feel our music would blend well with theirs.

Catch Vonnegutt tomorrow April 13th at Smith’s Olde Bar

5GB With Gringo Star; Playing The Earl, April 13th

Atlanta’s own, Gringo Star has made a name for themselves as indie darlings with a bit of Brit-rock fuzziness. Their 2008 critically acclaimed debut, All Y’all was praised by several music publications, allowing them to tour in the U.K. as well. The band released their follow up album, Count Yer Lucky Stars, this past October, and are back in their home town and playing at The Earl tomorrow. They joined us for our 5GB series.

What’s the first gig you’ve ever attended?

Bob Dylan in 1988, when I was about 8 and Peter was 4. Sure it was a little past his heyday, but everyone got kinda weird in the 80′s. It was at some auditorium. I remember they were handing out earplugs to everyone coming in cause they were playing so loud. This was when I first decided earplugs were useless if you are trying to hear anything.

What is the best gig that you’ve ever played/performed?

A couple months back we had the amazing opportunity to close the Pepsi Stage at the Super Bowl Village on one of the nights before the super bowl. We got to play for like 100k people. They had about 12 city blocks shut down, and it was wall-to-wall people everywhere. They had giant speakers/ video screens every block to project the music around the city. That was a lot of fun. We got warned that they were gonna have all this security, and they were gonna take a dog and search our van for bombs, and all this, and when we got there, we just drove right down a pedestrian path to the stage, and not one of the 20,000 cops even stepped forward to check our parking pass. We were just driving through a giant crowd, and no one said anything. But we still stuck all the pot in a peanut butter jar to be safe.

What is the best gig you have ever seen?

Sovus Radio at the Earl with All the Saints. THAT was a good night. Sovus killed it as always, but nothing tops ‘my fantasy is an apocalyptic western.’ I did however, by accident, throw a glass bottle that shattered around my feet and the feet of those around me, and then later in the night felt pretty bad when my friend Carly lost one of the diamonds in her wedding ring, but mostly because I realized how much broken glass looks like diamonds. Sorry about that.

Gig you would most like to play?

Jimmy Fallon’s show, and Conan, and Letterman.

What would be the lineup for your dream gig?

That would happen at the Tabernacle, with Lightnin’ Ray Jackson and Sovus Radio. Billy Fogg would be manning the lighting station.
And the whole thing would be catered by El Torero.

Catch Gringo Star tomorrow April 13th at The Earl

5GB With Cursive; Playing The Earl, Sunday April 8th

Luckily for indie rockers, Cursive, they don’t have to be men of many words (as you will see below!), their actions speak for themselves. I Am Gemini, the band’s seventh LP, is the follow-up to 2009’s critically praised Mama, I’m Swollen, which caught the attention of publications including Alternative Press, Billboard, Playboy, Rolling Stone, and Time Out New York, among others, and earned the band their network television debut on The Late Show with David Letterman. Cursive has released six full-length albums – including the heralded Cursive’s Domestica (2000), The Ugly Organ (2003), and Happy Hollow (2006) – two EPs, a disc of rarities, and numerous singles since the band’s 1995 inception. They joined us for our 5GB series before their Easter show at The Earl.

What was the first gig you ever went to?

Gloria Estefan and band. My mom took me in 1986 or so. Aksarben Collesium Omaha, NE.

What is the best gig that you ever played/performed at?

Curiosa tour, San Francisco, 2005

What is the best gig you have ever been to?

Uncle Tupelo, Ranch Bowl, Omaha, NE  1992

Gig you would most like to play?

Bonnaroo.

What would be the lineup for your dream gig?

Pink Floyd (with Gilmour, Waters, Mason, and Wright) or Genesis reunion with Peter Gabriel anywhere outdoors anytime.

Catch Cursive,  April 8th at The Earl

5GB WIth Lissy Rosemont & The Junior League Band; Playing Eddie’s Attic, April 6th

Why would an Atlanta singer with a Southern accent and a bluegrass-music-loving dad end up in Washington, D.C.? To get a master’s degree in physiology and biophysics from Georgetown, of course. Since its formation in the fall of 2006, The Junior League Band has graced numerous stages throughout the country in an effort to introduce a new legion of fans to its unique blend of rock and bluegrass-inspired music. The music on Junior League Band’s third album, “Mitchell Williams Fo Govena,” features fiddle, banjo and dobro, but it’s not bluegrass.  Fans of Alison Krauss, Levon Helm, Jenny Lewis, Old Crow Medicine Show will enjoy The Junior League Band.

What was the first gig you ever went to?

The Junior League Band’s first gig was at the BlackCat backstage in march 2007. My first show ever was performing on stage at my family’s fiddlers festival, Fiddlers Grove, in NC as a little girl withy Dads band , Hal Beaver and Blackgrass. I still play that every year Memorial Day weekend.

What is the best gig that you ever played/performed at?

The best gig I ever played was at Floydfest in 2008. They had us kick off the festival on the main stage on Thursday evening before Chatham County Line and Donna the Buffalo.  From our view on stage, you could see the sun setting over the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was a beautiful scene to perform for.

What is the best gig you have ever been to?

This is hard to answer as we have been really lucky and been able to play so many wonderful gigs. One of the best gigs we ever went to was probably at Chelseas in Baton Rouge in 2009. We had never played in Louisiana before, and stepped on stage to do our thing. The next thing we knew, this steady crowd of strangers were dancing and twirling and having a ball to our music. Lots of soulful dancers up for new music in Baton Rouge!

Gig you would most like to play?

I’d love to play the Ryman in Nashvile opening for Alison Krauss or at the Midnight Ramble at Levon Helms house in Woodstock, NY.

What would be the lineup for your dream gig?

I’d love to play some sort of variety show with Alison Krauss, Doc Watson, my Dad, The Wood Brothers and the Levon Helm Band, where we are all on stage and take turns calling out the song and backing each other up. This could be in a living room, or a crowded Carnagie Hall- my dream is to have all that music in one room playing together.

Catch The Junior League Band,  April 6th at Smith’s Olde Bar

5GB With Jameson Elder; Playing Eddie’s Attic, Sunday April 1st

Jameson Elder returns to Eddie’s Attic after competing in the November Songwriter’s Shootout. The Nashville singer/songwriter’s latest project, The Home I’ve Never Known, is set to release this Sunday. The project was funded by fans through a successful Kickstarter campaign that launched in November. Splitting time between the Smoakstack in Nashville, Dewey and Jameson’s homes, and a cabin in the North Georgia foothills, they brought the songs back to the places where many of them were written. Jameson chatted with us before his Atlanta album release party this Sunday at Eddie’s Attic.

What was the first gig you ever went to?
I’m pretty sure it was a Beatles cover band called The Roaches… I was 8

What is the best gig that you ever played/performed at?

I opened up for Matthew Mayfield at Eddie’s Attic about a year ago. He’s one of my favorite modern rock-n-roll guys right now and it was a lot of fun. I was a hired guitarist for a band last year that played to a packed house at The Living Room in NYC, that was pretty awesome too.

What is the best gig you have ever been to?

That’s a tough one, but I think it’s a toss up between Paul McCartney at Piedmont Park the summer of 2010 and U2 360 at the Georgia Dome a few months later.

Gig you would most like to play?

Living in Nashville, I’d have to say a headlining show at the Ryman Auditorium. Such a cool history and an amazing list of folks who have been on that stage.

What would be the lineup for your dream gig?

Sharing the stage with Bruce Springsteen and the Counting Crows at Madison Square Garden, and I get to trade guitar solos with The Boss and Steve van Zandt during their set, and sing a song with Adam Duritz… (“Time and Time Again” or “Mr. Jones” perhaps).

Catch Jameson Elder this Sunday  April 1st at Eddie’s Attic

5GB With Tim Smith Of Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds; Playing The Tabernacle, Friday April 6th

By Eileen Tilson

For a self-declared Anglophile, I was semi-shocked that I was not aware that one of Atlanta’s own played with Noel Gallagher’s (of Oasis) new act, High Flying Birds. Tim Smith has had quite the rockstar history, playing with The Producers and Jellyfish before jumping on with Sheryl Crow. Smith actually continued to play with Sheryl until lsat year when he got a phone call from a friend to come play on Noel’s new record. The recording obviously went great cause Gallagher asked Tim to join him on the road. Coming off of a massive world tour, Tim Smith joined us for our 5GB series before their Atlanta show next Friday at The Tabernacle.

What was the first gig you ever went to?

I saw KISS when I was around ten. It was the Love Gun Tour, and my parents took me. Going to see KISS at that time was like going to see a Superman movie.

What is the best gig that you ever played/performed at?

The most memorable gig I have ever played was back in 1999 when I played with Sheryl Crow Live in Central Park. She had all of these amazing musicians come out on stage and join her, so at any point during the night I would look over and I was be jamming out with Eric Clapton or Keith Richards. Stevie Nicks and Chrissie Hynde came out and sang, and the park was just packed. It was pretty incredible.

What is the best gig you have ever been to?

I remember seeing Supergrass back in the old Cotton Club days and that pretty much blew my mind. Hmm, some other really great ones though were Midnight Oil at Center Stage, and seeing David Bowie play at the Omni back in 1995.

Gig you would most like to play?

I’m pretty fortunate to have played a lot of amazing gigs, so right now for me it is more about the countries. I would love to play Russia & China. Also, playing Rocking Rio in Brazil would be pretty spectacular. We are playing Coachella this year with High Flying Birds, and I am really looking forward to that.

What would be the lineup for your dream gig?

Hmm, I think I would rather put together a band with Keith Moon on drums, Colin Moulding on bass, and John Lennon singing. We would play somewhere small like the Beacon Theater in NYC. And we would be playing with David Bowie and his Spiders From Mars act.

Catch Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds next Friday April 6th at The Tabernacle

5GB With Andy Davis; Playing Eddie’s Attic, Wednesday March 28th

By Eileen Tilson

I remember vividly the first time I saw Andy Davis play. Years ago in Atlanta, at the legendary Eddie’s Attic, I saw the wonderful Ten out of Tenn traveling show, and was blown away by the subtle, Andy Davis. The Louisiana native wraps you around his guitar picking fingers with his sultry lyrics and pop soul. Having had his music featured in shows like One Tree Hill and Greys Anatomy, Davis has no plans on settling down anytime soon. In February of 2011, Davis broke back onto the scene when he raised over $41,000 strictly from fans in just 30 days through a Kickstarter campaign to record his new album. Davis is currently in the studio working diligently to finish his brand new record due out Fall 2011. He joined us for our 5Gb series before his show tonight at Eddie’s Attic.

What was the first gig you ever went to?

First gig ever…(I’m assuming this means first big concert)–proudly embarrassed to say it was a Carman concert. If you don’t know who that is, don’t worry about it.

What is the best gig that you ever played/performed at?

My favorite gig experience was probably the time when I played my first headlining show at a little place called The Living Room in Muncie, IN–I had no idea people would show up–there were tons of people at the show, so I assumed the opener was really popular. I walked out and people started cheering and then when I started singing the first song, everyone knew all the words and started singing really loudly….I thought it was a big practical joke. really special night.

What is the best gig you have ever been to?

Coldplay’s Rush of Blood tour in Birmingham, AL at a theater.

Gig you would most like to play?

Headlining at Red Rocks in Colorado.

What would be the lineup for your dream gig?

I’d put together a show where Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Randy Newman, Paul McCartney and myself would all play each others’ songs.

Catch Andy Davis Wednesday March 28th at Eddie’s Attic

5GB With Youth Lagoon; Playing The Drunken Unicorn, March 22

By Eileen Tilson

Twenty-two year old Trevor Powers, whose musical venture is called Youth Lagoon, has had a long year. Not because he’s been endlessly touring or pursuing some wild dream, but because of life – the life of a kid going to college, being in love, dealing with heartache, and just living. Pretty impressive coming from a kid whose debut album got him an 8.5 review on Pitchfork. Loved by hipsters around the country, Trevor joined us as part of our  5GB series before his show tomorrow night at the Drunken Unicorn.

What was the first gig you ever went to?

What is the best gig that you ever played/performed at?

What is the best gig you have ever been to?

Gig you would most like to play?

What would be the lineup for your dream gig?

Catch Youth Lagoon tomorrow night at The Drunken Unicorn.

5GB With Polica; Playing The Drunken Unicorn, March 20

Polica (pronounced po-lisa) began as a collaboration between fellow Gayngs’ members Channy Casselle and Ryan Olson in June of 2011. By July they had completed 11 songs, made the key additions of drummers Ben Ivascu and Drew Christopherson, bass player Chris Bierdan, and headed into the studio. After Mike Noyce (Bon Iver) lent his voice on “Lay Your Cards Out” and “Wandering Star,” the record was brought to Austin, TX to be mixed with Jim Eno (Spoon). In a few days, the LP was completed and the band Poliça was formed. On stage, the original beats composed by Olson play amongst Channy’s passionate vocals & an intense rhythm section, that lead to a description somewhere in the area of electro-r&b goth-pop. Channy joined us for our 5GB series before their show tomorrow night at The Drunken Unicorn.

What was the first gig you ever went to?

I saw Prince at the metrodome when I was 8.

What is the best gig that you ever played/performed at?

My favorite was in LA at the Bootleg theater a couple days ago.

What is the best gig you have ever been to?

Amel Larieux & D’angelo, saw that over 12 years ago and it still sticks with me.

Gig you would most like to play?

I’d like to play in Japan  someday.

What would be the lineup for your dream gig?

I like playing shows with friends most of all but I’d also love to tour with a comedian or a dance company.

Catch Polica tomorrow night at The Drunken Unicorn.

5 GB With Liam O’ Connor; Playing The Buckhead Theater, St. Patrick’s Day

It’s pretty impressive to be know as the “Jimi Hendrix of the accordion,” although probably more so impressive if you live in Ireland. On this St. Patrick’s Day, Ireland’s own Liam O’ Connor will be jigging it out with traditional Irish music to get your Patty’s day groove on. He joined is for our 5GB series before he starts spreading his luck around.

What was the first gig you ever went to?

As a young person I enjoyed lots of local gigs around my home area of North Cork with many well known traditional musicians. It is from these, including my father and Mother, that I gained my first love of music. The first big professional gig I attended was U2 Live in Párc Uí Caoimhe, Cork Ireland. To this day I include a cover of U2′s ‘”Still Haven’t Found What I Am Looking For” in my performances.

What is the best gig that you ever played/performed at?

I would split this into my time as lead musician with Michael Flately’s Lord of the Dance where Radio City Music Hall in New York. As a solo performer it has to be Croke Park Dublin at the All Ireland Hurling Final in front of 80,000 people. I have been lucky to play at 6 All Ireland Finals in both hurling and football. (Ireland’s Superbowl)

What is the best gig you have ever been to?

Michael Jackson was rightly named The King of Pop. His shows were experiences and his ability to entertain is something that really resonates with me as a performer.

Gig you would most like to play?

I have great hopes that one of my forthcoming albums will be nominated for a Grammy and to play at those awards would be great. But the gig that I would really love to perform is at half time in the Super Bowl.

What would be the lineup for your dream gig?

Paul Wertico on drums, Bella Fleck on Banjo and Mark O’Connor on Fiddle, Jerry Douglas on Dobro, John Themis Musical director and Guitar, Pat Metheny on Guitar, Ian Parker on Keyboards, Alison Krauss on Fiddle & Vocals, Van Morrison on Sax and Vocals. My daughter Saoirse on concertina, Sons Oisín and Cillian on Bodhrán hand drums.

Catch Liam O’Connor tomorrow night at the Buckhead Theater

5GB W/ Young The Giant; Playing Center Stage, 3/15

By Eileen Tilson

Comprised of Sameer Gadhia (vocals), Jacob Tilley (guitar), Eric Cannata (guitar/vocals), Payam Doostzadeh (bass) and Francois Comtois (drums/vocals), Young the Giant’s unique brand of sun-soaked rock has received praise from fans and critics alike, including Spin, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Billboard, and Nylon Mag. The band’s self-titled debut album was released on January 25th. The band, originally from Newport Beach, CA, has been hitting the pavement hard with a string of sold out dates across the country.. We chatted with Eric and Francois as part of our 5GB series.

What is the the first gig you ever went to?

The first show I ever went to was to see Throwdown at a small club in Orange County. I was 15, and listened to a lot of hardcore music at the time, don’t judge me.

Best gig you have ever played/performed at?

So far the biggest show we’ve ever played was in Austin, TX for ACL festival. I was told there were around 30-40,000 people for our set.

Best gig you’ve ever been to?

That has to come down to a tie between Kanye West’s set at Splendour in the Grass in Australia and My Morning Jacket at Austin City Limits a few weeks ago.

What is the gig you would most like to play?

I would love to play Fuji Rock festival in Japan. We’ve haven’t made it over there and keep hearing how amazing it is.

If you could put your dream lineup on a gig, who would it be?

I would love to play with Little Dragon, My Morning Jacket and Radiohead.

THIS SHOW IS SOLD OUT!

5 GB With Fanfarlo; Playing Vinyl, Saturday March 10

By Eileen Tilson

London based indie pop group, Fanfarlo, formed in 2006 under the leadership of  Swedish musician Simon Balthazar. The band started catching attention with their single, ”The Walls Are Coming Down,” which helped land them on a ton of popular TV shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, House, and even on the  2010 film The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.  We chatted with bassist, Justin Finch, before their show tomorrow night at Vinyl. 

What was the first gig you ever went to?

What is the best gig that you ever played/performed at?

What is the best gig you have ever been to?

Gig you would most like to play?

What would be the lineup for your dream gig?

.

Catch Fanfarlo tomorrow night at Vinyl

5 GB With Steve Lillywhite & Oberhofer; Playing The Drunken Unicorn March 8th

By Eileen Tilson

I got turned on to NYC eclectic musician, Oberhofer, by accident. I like keeping my ear to the ground when it comes to new music, and the word on the NY streets was that there was a kid named Brad Oberhofer, whom all the famous producers were just itching to work with. I was intrigued, and then I noticed one of my favorite labels, Glassnote Records (Phoenix, Mumford & Sons, Temper Trap) had just signed this young innovator. I checked out his music and was instantly a fan of his spiky, lo-fi guitar-led singles.   The indie-rock wunderkind  won notice over the last 18 months to the point where Super-Producer Steve Lillywhite (U2, Dave Matthews Band, The Killers, Perter Gabriel) decided he wanted to produce Brad’s debut album,Time Capsules II “ featuring the single, “Heart.” The album, being released March 27, is a radical — and lovely — step forward. We chatted with Brad Oberhofer AND Steve Lillywhite as part of our 5GB series before his upcoming shows in Atlanta.

What was the first gig you ever went to?

BO: I saw Macy Gray at the Bumpershoot Festival in Seattle. I think I was around 12? All I remember about the show was that I wasn’t really into it. Actually I believe my really first concert was actually at a Bah Mitzvah.

SL: Oh goodness that was a long time ago! I saw Blind Faith play in Hyde Park when I was about 14 years old. There was around 100,000 people, I still can’t believe my parents let me go! The Rolling Stones played the very next week, so it was a great introduction to the world of music!

What is the best gig that you ever played/performed at?

BO:  Honestly every day is better than the one it preceded. Every show has been amazing for me, and they just keep getting better. It’s been great being with Glassnote…they get my ideas and trust my vision.

SL:  Well I suppose I am going to have to pretend I am a musician! Actually  I did plays some gigs with Guster! I was recording them, and had played some bass on their album. They were still looking for a bass player, so I went on the bus  after the NY gig at Hammerstein Ballroom, and did 5-6 gigs. I loved every minute of it, definitely made me feel like a rockstar!

What is the best gig you have ever been to?

BO:  I saw The O.C.’s in NYC and they were amazing.

SL:  I would say probably when I saw U2 perform at Red Rocks in 1985 for their Under a Blood Red Sky live album. They were recording that show and making a video, and it had been raining terribly all day. Right before the band went on stage, the rain stopped and there was this beautiful mist all around us. I was standing at the back of the stage watching them play and looking out into the crowd….it was simply magical. It was a very big gamble for them, they would have lost a lot of money if it hadn’t stopped raining.

Gig you would most like to play?

BO:  I would like to play at Messiah College..although, now that I am thinking about it, it would be pretty cool to play Coachella with Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre.

SL: Let’s just go ahead and start my musician career now! Hmm, I would have liked to have played bass with the Sex Pistols. Not even just the old band, even if they reformed right now, I would still love to play with them. I just love good, fast, punk music.

What would be the lineup for your dream gig?

BO: I really don’t know, I have never thought of that before. Hmm, ok, how about the Beach Boys w/ Brian Wilson, David Bowie, and The Cure….and we would all be playing in my parents back yard.

SL: Ooh, this could be fun! How about Oberhofer, The Killers, 30 Seconds to Mars, Dave Matthews Band, and U2 all at Irving Plaza in NYC….that would be quite a show!

Catch Oberhofer March 8th @ Drunken Unicorn

Drunken Unicorn