Live Review: Ray LaMontagne and David Gray at Chastain Park Amphitheatre, August 23

Review and photo by Jeremy Frye

If you count the bats circling the night sky, Chastain Park Amphitheatre was over capacity. It was a “rock” setup, with rows of chairs down front replacing the usual tables. This meant there were no fancy picnics, no tablecloths, no wine, and no cheese platters. Instead, every seat was packed with almost 7,000 people there to see the most sublime folk-rock pairing since Kenny Loggins first laid eyes on Jim Messina. Sadly, Ray LaMontagne and David Gray would not be teaming up to perform together. Rather, under a beautifully clear sky and a full moon, the two distinct and talented performers co-headlined an evening of Adult Album Alternative radio hits. … Continue Reading

Live Review: Scissor Sisters at The Buckhead Theatre, August 21

By Giles Turnbull

“I didn’t have to queue this long to see Madonna!” quipped one eager concert goer; but everyone knew it’s not the length that’s important, but how it swings! The disco party atmosphere was bubbling away even as the queue snaked its way around The Buckhead Theatre, sparkling with silver spandex under a drizzly sky.

Inside, Casey Spooner (of Fischerspooner) and Scissor Sister’s DJ Sammy Jo, slammed down some thumping techno dance beats with aplomb. The atmosphere quickly grew until Scissor Sisters took the stage before a cheering  sell-out crowd in Atlanta, for the start of their North American tour. … Continue Reading

Live Review: Miniature Tigers, Young Orchids, Lera Lynn at Star Bar, August 20

By David Courtright; photo by Sam Parvin

On a line-up of very disparate but talented performers, Athens’s Lera Lynn and Atlanta’s own Young Orchids joined Phoenix’s Miniature Tigers at the Star Community Bar last Friday. It was pouring outside, the water in the street sluicing toward the meeting of the five points, but the crowd was faithful. By the time the headliners took the stage, the room was brimming with energy. … Continue Reading

Live Review: Rosanne Cash Reading and Performance at Agnes Scott College Presser Hall, August 14

By Jim Simpson

Rosanne Cash made a stop at Agnes Scott College in the midst of a whirlwind book tour behind her already critically acclaimed memoir, Composed. (The book entered the New York Times Best Seller list at #20, eight days after publication.) … Continue Reading

Live Review: Lauris Vidal at Drinkshop, August 19

By Giles Turnbull

If you turned up at Drinkshop hoping to hear some dub hardcore Hawaiian, as Lauris Vidal describes his music on his MySpace, or the slightly more laid back, chilled out vibe of the songs actually on said website, then you might have been a little surprised. … Continue Reading

Live Review: Lissy Rosemont of the Junior League Band, John Pringle at Eddie’s Attic, August 13

By Jim Simpson, photos by Ashlee-Jean Trott

Lissy Rosemont came back home on Friday, literally and figuratively. The Atlanta native and current D.C. resident recalled coming to Eddie’s Attic as a child with her father, a local fixture on the Bluegrass scene years ago — and here she was headlining. … Continue Reading

Live Review: Here We Go Magic, Beach Fossils at The EARL, August 6

By David Courtright

I was surprised at first to see Beach Fossils and Here We Go Magic on the same bill: stylistically, they are very far apart. When Beach Fossils’ front man Dustin Payseur introduced them as Brooklyners, the geographical connection made sense. Ah Brooklyn, the slim-panted, neon-imitation-Wayfarer-wearing cradle of Indie civilization! … Continue Reading

Live Review: Crowded House at The Tabernacle, August 1

By Jeremy Frye

Most Americans, if they are familiar with New Zealand (via Australia) pop group Crowded House’s music at all, know them as a two-hit wonder, thanks to their back-to-back 1987 top ten hits, “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” and “Something So Strong.” Internationally, however, they are a beloved and respected hit machine, a band whose greatest hits album is five times platinum in the UK, and 13 times platinum in Australia. At the band’s 1996 farewell concert at the Sydney Opera House, roughly 200,000 people showed up to see them. … Continue Reading

Live Review: Lo Country at 529, July 26

Review by Sam Parvin; photo by Lauren Betty.

Being the avid live music fan I am, I’m almost ashamed to say that the night of Monday, July 26 was my first visit to East Atlanta’s ultra-hipster new music venue and bar, 529.  I was expecting the venue to be a little larger and “fancier” than it is because they have pulled in some darn good and popular acts since its opening less than a year ago.  The likes of The Coathangers, The Constellations, and Dead Confederate have left their notes in the walls of 529, and now Lo Country can say the same. … Continue Reading

Live Review: Future Islands at 529, July 19

By David Courtright

Somehow this was my first experience at 529. I’ve seen the gory insides of most of the dive bars and music joints in this town, but for one reason or another, this was my maiden voyage into the cramped, smoky, and entirely magical world that is 529. As previously mentioned, Future Islands have made quite an impact on me. So it was nothing but a delight that my first experience at this place was with them. … Continue Reading