Live Review: Givers at Masquerade, January 14

By Justin Lyons

Whether it was the frigid temp in Atlanta or the numbness of the New Orleans’ Saints heartbreaking loss, it took Givers some time to warm up to the Masquerade crowd. The Louisiana-based five-piece showed off plenty of potential with shared harmonies by lead vocalists Taylor Guarisco and Tiffany Lamson and thundering percussion. However, the abbreviated set length only hinted at Givers’ pop sensibilities and stage presence.

Early on, Givers lacked the energy the band’s much lauded live performance had earned in 2011.  Despite the overall lethargy, Lamson’s raspy vocals shone and sounded even more enthralling than on the band’s debut album In Light.  The band finally hit their stride with the inescapable “Ceiling of Plankton,” but unfortunately it was almost too late to get the crowd fully engaged. With only one album worth of material on deck, by the time the encore hit fans looked perplexed the band was wrapping up so soon.  After a short break, Givers sounded particularly accomplished in covering Talking Heads’ new wave classic “This Is Where I Want To Be.”

“Up Up Up” closed the night in raucous fashion with Lamson and Guarisco helping out beating side drums and one could finally see why Givers had made so much noise on the 2011 festival circuit. The bright and sun-ready cut mixed with a calypso/Afro pop influence would most certainly shine mid afternoon at southern festivals such as Hangout or Music Midtown.  The most puzzling decision was album favorite and Amazon commercial licensed “Words” was left off the set list, which could have been a show closing winner with the additional percussion in the mix.  Givers have plenty of talent to breakthrough further than their recent success suggests, but their short live set left a lot to be desired.

Live Review & Picture Book: Groove Stain, Pasadena, Beauregard at The Masquerade, January 6

Review and photos by Ellen Eldridge

The resilient, Atlanta-based band Groove Stain played a packed show in The Masquerade’s Purgatory room Friday night. The show began a southeastern tour with Maryland-based Pasadena. The band’s loyal and fun-loving fans danced all the way up to the edge of stage so that trombonist Sam Szpendyk had to watch carefully how he played to avoid hitting someone. The intense energy warmed Purgatory, and genuinely felt like a family reunion for the fans who have loved Groove Stain since the late ‘90s.

Full gallery at the bottom of the post. … Continue Reading

Live Review: Featureless Ghost and Black Lodge at Noni’s, December 29

Review and photos by: Stephanie Roman

The evening began as one of the ladies from Black Lodge, clad in black lace, casually swirled a glass of vino during sound check. Meanwhile, I settled in at a booth with my tasty mushroom and leek bruschetta app (gratefully breaking a three day detox fast). This authentic Italian deli and bar on Edgewood was a suitable backdrop for the quartet, who could have stepped out of an antique lithograph themselves. … Continue Reading

Picture Book & Live Review: Staind, Man Made Machine at The Tabernacle, December 18

Review and photos by Ellen Eldridge

Full gallery at the bottom of the post.

Anyone who read my review of Staind knows that the new material returns to the earliest days of angst-driven rock. But even fans of Aaron Lewis’s solo country-style material enjoyed the rescheduled show at the Tabernacle on Sunday night. After opening with “Falling” and “Right Here” off the fifth studio album, Chapter V, Staind kicked right into, “Eyes Wide Open,” the opening track on the recently released self-titled album. The setlist included several of the new songs, which made fans who hadn’t had a chance to check out Staind aware of the band’s continued ability to craft tight, powerful songs that crowds can croon along to. … Continue Reading

Picture Book & Live Review: SciaticA, Permanent Waves at The Local at Sidelines, December 17

Review & photos by Ken Lackner

Full gallery at the bottom of the post.

I’ve never been a fan of cover bands. As with most rules, this one has an exception. Two exceptions, actually.

It takes a very talented and impressive voice to recreate the vocal styling of Geddy Lee. Matthew Trautwein — better known to some as String of the Renaissance rock ‘n’ roll group The Lost Boys — has the necessary talent. His newest band Permanent Waves covers the early career of Canadian rock legends Rush, from the ’70s through the early ’80s. The set opened with “Working Man” off Rush’s self-titled debut album. Near the end, fans were treated to the entire Side A (anyone still remember what that even means?) of “Moving Pictures.” Permanent Waves closed with one of my all-time favorite Rush tracks, “Subdivisions,” from the 1982 album Signals. I can never get enough of that record. … Continue Reading

Live Review: Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Philips Arena, December 2

By Jenna Hughes; photo by Lewis Lee, from the 2010 tour

“In the moments of our lives, both the joyous and the tragic, if the truth is to be told we are all pursuing magic.”

These words resonated through the crowd at Philips Arena in Atlanta on December 2, a poetic narrative that preceded the onslaught of lights, lasers and pyrotechnics of Trans-Siberian Orchestra. The band erupted onto the stage with “Who I Am,” a fast-paced, heart-pounding song featuring all seven vocalists and an orchestra that had the crowd mesmerized from the very beginning of their two-and-a-half-hour set. … Continue Reading

Live Review: Paul Simon at The Arena at Gwinnett Center, December 2

By Rosie Judd

It was truly a treat to see Paul Simon perform at the Areana at Gwinnett Center Friday night, surrounded by an eight-piece multi-cultural ensemble. The set list showcased a veritable history of rhythm starting with the crowd-pleaser “Boy In A Bubble” which brought about a standing ovation from the enthusiastic arena crowd. Simon kept the audience on a rhythmical journey emphasizing multi-cultural grooves and syncopations in songs like “Dazzling Blue” and his medley of “Hearts and Bones” and blues standard “Mystery Train.” At times there were four of five musicians on percussion instruments alone, inspiring the audience to groove along in our seats.

… Continue Reading

Live Review & Picture Book: Puscifer at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, November 30

Review and photos by Ellen Eldridge

The key to success as a musician, over a period of a decade or more, lies in the need to constantly reinvent oneself. Everyone seated in the Cobb Energy Centre on Wednesday night understood the principles that Maynard James Keenan follows for his art, especially once his video montage from past Puscifer performances, played in-between Carina Round’s opening act and the main show, transitioned into his welcoming warning about no flash photography. Maynard’s menagerie of characters includes a Pattonesque soldier standing drunk before an American flag telling the crowd to verify the text on the ticket stub, and bullies them with a round of verbal mortar to remind them he thinks flash photography is rude and distracting. Many fans who have attended Puscifer shows have seen this skit before and will attest to the staff walking about the arena attempting to arrest anyone caught recording the show.

Full gallery at the bottom of the post. … Continue Reading

Picture Book & Live Review: Tori Amos at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, November 29

Review and photos by Ellen Eldridge

Tori Amos spoke to me when I was 16. Not directly, but from the stage when another fan shouted, “I love you Tori!” Her return quip, “Where were you when I was 16?” instantly won me on her personality. Her persistent passion guided me through my own formative years, deeply impacting my own writing and thought patterns. During the time Amos’ own experimentation pulled away from the piano to entertain with a backing rock band, on albums like From the Choirgirl Hotel, I conducted my own experimentation in college, and pretty well lost touch with the songwriter. I certainly didn’t realize the amount of material I missed, and from Scarlet’s Walk through Midwinter Graces I’d probably only heard every other album released, and not even in full. After reviewing Night of Hunters, I felt reconnected with my idol, and after Tuesday night’s show at Cobb Energy Centre I feel my love for her resurrected.

Full gallery at the bottom of the post. … Continue Reading

Live Review/Picture Book: Lykke Li, First Aid Kit at Buckhead Theatre, November 20

By Justin Lyons; photos by Matthew Smith

Lykke Li’s transformation from curious and blooming songsbird to take-charge chanteuse over the past few years was on great display at Buckhead Theatre on Sunday night.  Li’s latest album, Wounded Rhymes, brushes aside all of the come-ons and questions from her debut Youth Novels and transitions to actions and sexual prowess.  After a three-year hiatus, the maturation is welcome and Lykke Li’s strongest material to date.

Full gallery of pictures at the bottom of the post. … Continue Reading

Live Review & Picture Book: The Warren Haynes Band at The Tabernacle, November 10

By Lisa Keel

The Warren Haynes Band roared into Atlanta’s Historic music venue The Tabernacle touring in support of his first solo record release in 18 years, Man in Motion. They departed leaving a wake through the state of Georgia of smiling and very satisfied fans. Actually, to call them fans is an understatement. The fine folks that faithfully attend every show possible are more like extended family happy to be seeing their favorite band as well as gathering together themselves. It’s been said before that the music created by Warren and of course his other bands (The Allman Brothers Band and Government Mule) is like going to church – meaning it surpasses the usual concert experience and moves into the realm of a joy filled spiritual experience. So with that being said The Tabernacle + The Lee boys + Warren Haynes Band = Church of the best kind! … Continue Reading

Live Review: Feist at The Tabernacle, November 6

Review by David Courtright; photo by Matt Smith

When Leslie Feist strolled out on stage with Vermont vocal trio Mountain Man in tow, holding a full wine glass, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion the evening would amount to something special. For Feist, an internationally-acclaimed pop star (whether she likes it or not), has nothing if not good taste. She hand-picked the indie darlings to be her back-up singers, and in making that decision, brought to her already stunning live performance some of the most startling female vocal talent out there today. It was no surprise that the vocals were tight, and an integral part of the experience. … Continue Reading

Picture Book & Live Review: Iron & Wine at Buckhead Theatre, November 11

Review by Justin Lyons; photos by Catrina Maxwell (www.catmaxphotography.com)

Full gallery after the jump.

Iron & Wine – Buckhead Theatre – Atlanta, GA – 11/11/11

By Justin Lyons

If you haven’t listened to Iron & Wine recently, you might assume two things about Sam Beam & co.’s live performance: a) a simple singer-songwriter style approach with just an acoustic guitar, b) a trademark bushy beard.

Iron & Wine’s first album The Creek Drank The Cradle certainly ushered in a tidal wave of acoustic narrating troubadours, but over the last nine years, the band transformed into multi-talented act. The flowing beard, while tamer than previous years, is still there, but as Iron & Wine releases have grown and diversified, so have Beam’s live experiences.  From Twilight-featured fame to collaboration with Arizona alt country act Calexico to funky, ’70s pop 2011 album, Kiss Each Other Clean, Iron & Wine’s gradual progression has been a welcome one.  … Continue Reading

Live Review: Foo Fighters at The Arena at Gwinnett Center, November 7

By Justin Lyons

Foo Fighters have a good problem on their hands: They can play soaring rock anthems for three hours straight.  It’s actually more of an issue for their fans that barely have time to catch their breath.  From start to finish, there was hardly a moment that Dave Grohl and company weren’t shaking their sweaty locks as they expertly enthralled the near sell out Gwinnett Arena crowd. … Continue Reading

Live Review: Fitz & the Tantrums, Walk the Moon at Center Stage, October 29

By Justin Lyons

Walk the Moon and Fitz & the Tantrums are two bands that you wouldn’t necessarily picture touring together.  However, the two rising acts do have one thing in common: making people move.

Cincinnati-based opener Walk the Moon’s youthful energy was not lost on the diverse crowd of 20-somethings and middle-aged folk.  From the first note, the foursome succinctly displayed the buzz heard round music blogs since CMJ Music Marathon.  “Lisa Baby”‘s growling bass and “Tightrope”‘s glowing synth set the tone with a Talking Heads edge.  The synth pop set seemed even tighter and more stage ready than their Music Midtown appearance only a month prior.  “Quesadilla” and “Jenny” proved most dance-worthy with jangling guitar and pulsing keys.  Turns out chant heavy “I Can Lift A Car” sounds a tad less ridiculous and more fitting in a live setting. War paint covered band members seemed genuinely happy to be back in Atlanta after recording an album in the city recently. When they weren’t smiling, Walk the Moon members were jumping as the crowd emulated the band’s moves.  The lone cover of the set showed the youthful exuberance of the band in turning Fleet Foxes’ “White Winter Hymnal” from a sparse, vocal chant to a stomping, drum-filled anthem.  Show closer “Anna Sun” may have been the only song the majority of the audience knew, but you could tell the band made new fans with a strong and energetic effort.  Walk the Moon’s performance also begged the question, why don’t more bands utilize a side drum? … Continue Reading