Live Review: Justin Townes Earle, Dawn Landes @ Eddie’s Attic, January 31

By Jennifer Gibson

Anyone remember uber-geek Waldo from the Van Halen video for “Hot for Teacher”? Well, if I didn’t already know Justin Townes Earle was the eldest progeny of former junkie and sometime-musician Steve (sorry, but his records have been hit or miss for me for the past decade), I’d swear he was sired by that bespectacled runt. With oversized dark-framed glasses, slicked back hair, a red bow tie and ill-matched socks exposed by a pair of highwater dress pants accentuating a stature ripe for an ass-kicking, Earle most definitely does not look like the sort of guy who could bring some bad ass back to country music.

But there’s a reason old sayings like “don’t judge a book by its cover” have such staying power. While he may look in desperate need of a pocket protector, Justin Townes Earle wields a fierce blues streak coupled with a knack for penning lines that belong on every lovelorn drunkard’s jukebox selection. And his live performances don’t lack an ounce of the heartfelt, ragtime-y bite of his recordings. In fact, his dimly-lit sold-out Sunday set at Eddie’s Attic showed far richer skills than have been laid down on tape. Even if you have a hard time appreciating his style of music, Justin Townes Earle’s live show is quite a story time, as well. If you’re not into the genre, he’ll have some off the cuff musings to make you laugh or think, and not so much that you forget where you are. But chances are his engaging personality will win you over on both fronts. And if the audience make up is any indication, everyone from punks to blues boys to Old Navy shoppers can find something to appreciate this man. … Continue Reading

Picture Book: Amanda Hale, Big Snow, FERVoR @ Hard Rock Cafe’s Velvet Underground, January 29

By Susie Ceruto

Amanda Hale:

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Live Review: Très Bien, Stolen Hearts, The Greatest Hits, The Biters, The Booze @ Star Bar, January 23

By Jhoni Jackson

Anyone enticed by the show flyer’s promise of a “big rock and roll show” certainly got what they came for. Like any good rock show, charismatic front-men (and women,
mind you) were abundant, the venue was packed and patrons lined every free space at the bar. The bands were punk-derived but heavily pop-inclined, as if
they’ve been listening to old-school punk all their lives (probably accurate for all musicians present) but long-since gave in to catchy, danceable
melodies.

… Continue Reading

Live Review: Band of Horses & the Dynamites featuring Charles Walker @ The Tabernacle, December 31

By Micah McLain

Band of Horses celebrated the
arrival of 2010 the same way they did the arrival of the two years previous -
with a sold-out two-night stand in Atlanta. The venue this time around was
downtown's Tabernacle and the band was able to secure the Dynamites featuring
Charles Walker to help them ring in the new year.

The Nashville-based Dynamites
are becoming an increasingly important part of the southeastern music scene as
Walker looks to claim the present day crown of "the hardest working man in
music." While they might seem like a surprising opener for the folk rock
stylings of Band of Horses, the Dynamites welcomed this opportunity to play a
larger venue full of music lovers who would be unlikely to give their band a
chance otherwise. Despite Walker most likely being the oldest man in the
building this evening, his stage presence and impressively youthful vocals
proved to rival the most energetic performer. Although he was not feeling his
best, Walker admirably led his seven-piece band through an up-tempo, hour long
set of horn-fueled, soul-soaked funk that was sure to win over plenty of new
fans.

… Continue Reading

Live Review: Cotton Jones, Greg Ashley, Dutchess and the Duke @ The EARL, December 16

By Jhoni Jackson

There’s something about
country-based music that makes one year for a stiff drink, preferably –
considering current below-freezing temperatures – one that warms both the soul
and the body. Just as I was wondering why Atlanta bars don’t serve hot toddies
in winter, Maryland’s Cotton Jones took the stage. The early show time –
barely 9 p.m. – hadn’t helped draw a large crowd, but the ‘60s psychedelic-tinged
country-folk quickly warmed the empty spaces with twangy goodness – helping
ease the harsh sting of the weather outside.

… Continue Reading

Shows of the Year from Our Favorite Atlanta Promoters

Live Review: Benefit for Ruthie Morris @ The EARL, December 15 w/Amy Ray, Warm In The Wake, & Tim Lee 3

By Scott Roberts; photos by Sue
Volkert

“It sucks to lose your stuff.”
Headliner Amy Ray succinctly proclaimed this during her rocking solo set at The
EARL last Tuesday at the benefit for Magnapop guitarist/all-around swell person
Ruthie Morris who lost, among other things, thousands of dollars worth of
musical/recording equipment, the entire first pressing of the brand new
Magnapop CD, and irreplaceable photos and personal memorabilia in the
torrential flooding that hit Atlanta last September. And while the show may not
have been able to actually replace what Morris lost, it served as a positive
step toward her financial and emotional recovery, and allowed the giving spirit
of Atlanta’s
musical community to shine brightly. And rock!

… Continue Reading

Live Review: Brendan Benson, Cory Chisel @ The EARL, December 11

By Jennifer Gibson

Let me start off by saying something that might actually
garner me some hate mail from people I consider friends: I don’t trust Jack
White. I make it a point to avoid much of what he touches, largely because he
seems to get a lot of undue praise for being one hell of a faux bluesman. But
his pal and fellow Raconteur Brendan Benson is a special case. As far as I can
tell, this guy operates on no pretenses other than shaggy hair plus jeans and a T-shirt equals infatuating pop-rock; ie. what you see is what you get. There’s
not a lot of pretending going on in Benson’s world, and it’s that ease and
comfort with the self that made his December 11 show at The EARL feel downright
comfy, kind of like hanging out in your friend’s basement and playing just for
the fun of it, with all the mistakes included. Even struck with a cold and a
scratchy throat, which he admitted to treating mostly with “red wine and cigarettes,”
he didn’t seem like the sort of guy who would gyp anyone out of the best he’s
got to give.

Benson’s main misstep was inviting his pal Cory Chisel to
open for him, and even that wasn’t a gaping error. But it wasn’t the right
move, either, considering Chisel seems to exist in a land of mostly formulaic
alt-country tunes. He did, however, deliver them with some passion, which shored
the gap between him and Benson just a little. His band played with the same
sort of presence, but as engaging as the personalities were they often just
couldn’t get out of the bland country rock rut. There was nothing that hasn’t
been seen or heard before. It was mostly a rehashing of early 2000s Americana, but without the
spark or the likeability or the catchy hooks. In a word, boring.

But Chisel’s got some tricks up his sleeve – he started
winding down his set with an incredibly well-crafted bluesy piece, and even
stuck in a few semi-memorable pop songs. He’s got something going on inside
other than mimicry, but he’s not accessing it frequently enough. If his time on
stage were set to the kinds of songs he ended with, there would be more to say
about his performance. But bland and boring mostly covers it. Going any further
than that might verge on mean spiritedness.

… Continue Reading

Live Review/Picture Book: DRINKSHOP Live with Last Chance Runaround, Little Tybee @ W Downtown Atlanta, December 10

By Jhoni Jackson; photos by Kevin Griggs

The dimly lit lounge-style bar
tucked away inside the downtown W Hotel typically draws a fast-paced crowd of Atlanta’s upper social
crust, with its sleek décor and limos frequently circling the entrance. So when
Last Chance Runaround began their acoustic folk set, complete with a harp and a
heaping scoop of granola, a culture clash could have easily ensued. Instead,
lead singer Scott Linn Roberts and Sue Volkert (on harp and secondary
vocals) played their mellow repertoire as comfortably as they would at a laid-back
neighborhood coffee bar. Aside from a chatty, self-absorbed group up front
(seriously, it was like the Friends cast on the Central Perk couch), the
crowd was surprisingly responsive. Last Chance Runaround cites late-’80s
alternative band Winter Hours and their airy sound as a primary influence, and
they’re not kidding – they even have a disclaimer on their MySpace about not
being a Winter Hours cover band. But the band’s strummy interpretations give
the legacy of Winter Hours, who generally went underappreciated even after the
group’s dissolution, a much-deserved extended life.

The second local band, Little Tybee,
confidently shifted the show’s vibe from Earth-friendly to a spacey variety of
whimsical. With a solid folk underpinning and a penchant for ambient melodies,
the resulting sound would be the perfect soundtrack to running barefoot through
a grassy mountain valley by moonlight. Lead singer Brock Scott’s drawn-out
inflections didn’t hit a single sour note, even through occasional moments of
buzzing speakers. The band’s friendly musicianship felt natural and was visible
from the furthest corner of the bar – likely because Scott and guitarist Josh
Martin have been playing together since college, and everyone but violinist
Ryan Gregory played in Scott’s former band, The Brock Scott Quartet. Martin was
easily the best part of the show to observe — he plays with the intricacy of
Minus the Bear’s early work, but always with a smooth, gentle approach.
Gregory’s masterful violin playing topped off the sound perfectly, and Scott’s
voice, unfaltering and octave-crawling, elevates the music to the dreamiest of
altitudes.

Last Chance Runaround:

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Live Review: Cursive @ Lenny’s Bar, December 7

By Micah
McLain

Cursive
took the stage Monday night at a surprisingly early 11:15 p.m. after opening sets
from Winston Audio and Capgun Coups. I, however, had assumed that headliners at
Lenny's still didn't start until after midnight – a mistake that I paid dearly
for. While I only caught the tail end of their set, I can imagine how powerful
and intense the rest of their time on stage was.

While playing to a
disappointingly half-full room, Tim Kasher and company ripped through a variety
of songs from their full catalog. The slowly building "From the Hips" off 2009's
Mama, I'm Swollen had the entire crowd chanting and thrashing along with
the band as Kasher escalated his lyrical delivery from speaking "I'm at my best
when/I'm trying to look and think/And talk and sing and read/And write
like all the rest," to screaming "And I wish that we had never talked/Our hips
said it all" by songs end.

… Continue Reading

Live Review/Picture Book: The Electric Cycles. Lindsay Appel, The Electric Cycles @ Highland Ballroom, December 4

By Kevin Griggs

Local singer and song writer Lindsay
Appel played a quaint short set at The Highland Ballroom last Friday. Her
blues/rock style is based around a piano or guitar and fits great with the
relaxed lounge atmosphere of the venue. For about a year now she has been
carrying Mario (drummer from Tiger!Tiger!) and Steve (bassist from Friend
Without a Face) to complete the band. In 2008 she won the Creative Loafing Reader’s
Choice Award for Best Singer/Songwriter. Lindsay’s voice is strong and her
lyrics fitting. The next Lindsay Appel show will be at 529 January 15 with The
Goldest and Night Driving in Small Towns.

The Electric Cycles were the
headliners for this show. Vintage gear usually means vintage sound, and that is
exactly what you get out of these guys. Their ’60s psychedelic sound is
a foot tapping noise fest. I was hit with jolt of energy that had my head bobbin’
and all I wanted was more. Look for these guys at Wonderroot February
6.

Lindsay Appel:

… Continue Reading

Live Review/Picture Book: The Jaguars, Los Straitjackets @ The EARL, December 1

By Kevin Griggs

So I get this email from Spencer Garn on Sunday inviting
me to come to The EARL on Tuesday to see his three piece The Jaguars. The
Jaguars were opening up for Nashville’s Los Straitjackets and El Vez's Viva
Christmas show. This was the second time I got to hear this super tight
lounge/surf trio play. These guys are so, so very cool and the rhythm section for
local soul girl Ruby Velle to boot. Hearing The Jaguars play can fool your brain
into thinking your at a Ventures show in the '60s. The sound is classic with rich
organs, deep reverb, and echoes. Mark Raudabaugh keeps the trap kit on lock down
and Scott Clayton bends the strings into a psychedelic bliss. My only regret was
not having stiff cocktail.

In just a few minutes time, after The Jaguars
finished, The EARL was packed with rock-a-billies, tattoos, and pompadours. Los
Straitjackets are also an incredibly tight instrumental band. All the songs
played where classic Christmas songs with a surfer/rock twist. They have been
doing the Christmas theme music for years and even use to play Conan O’Brien
during the holiday season in the late '90s. El Vez brought his Elvis styled
antics and the El Vettes to add some vocal support. The show was visually
captivating. There where four dudes wearing black suits and luchador masks just
behind El Vez in a Santa costume and his two candy striped El Vettes. Between
the ripping guitar riffs, El Vez's splits, and the hot El Vettes it would be
hard not to stare.

Los Straitjackets:

… Continue Reading

Live Review: Adam Arcuragi and More @ Wonderroot, November 31

By Kevin Griggs

Wonderroot Community Art Center hosted an acoustic folk show on November 31.
Playing on the bill: Adam Arcuragi, Gary Eddy, Sydney Eloise, Emory Goocher and
Molly Pardon. There where a lot more people attending than I
expected.

I arrived in time to catch the last of Sydney Eloise’s
set. Sydney’s soft chords and structure left me feeling relaxed after a hectic
day of running errands in the rain. The last few songs where accompanied by a
harp that filled in the gaps with just enough meat to stick to your
bones.

The only traveling act of the night,  Adam Arcuragi,
followed. He is looking for a banjo or lap steel player to take to Europe if
anyone is interested. Adam’s song lyrics are fantastic but the sound felt a bit
hollow. I am just not a big fan of one-man-and-his-guitar acts. Hopefully he
will hit Atlanta again after his European tour and bring either a banjo or lap
steel, or both.

Gary Eddy, who plays keyboards for Book Of
Colors, played next. His solo folk project is quite nice. Gary had a trombonist
and an upright bass flanking his subtle voice and ukulele. I dig his slant on
folk music. Using a uke as the driving sound seems tough and he pulls it off. All
I can say is “Kudos”.

This was far different from the progressive
rock and metal shows I am use to seeing at Wonderroot. If you have not attended
a Wonderroot show, you are missing the most underground music acts in the city.

Live Review: Nigels With Attitude, The REMakes @ The EARL, November 24

By Scott Roberts; photo by Sue
Volkert

Tribute bands are fascinating
entities to consider. What compels a group of musicians, who generally begin
their rock and roll journeys by incorporating their admired influences into
their own visions hoping to forge something new and fresh, to throw that idea
out the window and decide to exclusively mine the catalog of one band instead
of playing their own music? In the cases of Nigels With Attitude, an XTC
tribute band led by seasoned Atlanta-and-beyond veterans Tim Smith and Peter
Stroud, and The REMakes, well-respected producer/musician Geoff Melkonian’s
tribute to the “early catalogue” of R.E.M., the answer is probably that
learning and playing the music of these respective bands is a fun and temporary
labor of love.

… Continue Reading

Live Review: Eilen Jewell with Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles @ Eddie’s Attic, November 22

By Sam Parvin

When I found out Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles were finally
making their way back to Atlanta,
I knew I had to plan on going to the show. When I found out they were playing in one of the best-sounding rooms in Atlanta, my presence went
from probable to mandatory. On Sunday,
November 22, Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles, an Americana/alt-country /rock foursome from Boston,
Mass., opened to a packed Eddie’s
Attic. 

… Continue Reading