5GB With Dave Barnes; Playing Center Stage April 27th

Nashville just knows how to pump out those songwriters, and Dave Barnes is no exception. Barnes has had success with #1 song “God Gave Me You,” Grammy nominated this year for the Best Country Song as performed by Blake Shelton on 2011’s Red River Blue album. Barnes’ and Shelton’s versions of the song have sold over one million singles to date.   Often recognized by the industry as a rising songwriter, Barnes has had many of his songs recorded by other artists including, country singer Billy Currington as well as Marc Broussard, Kelly Clarkson, and Bethany Dillon. He is playing Center Stage tomorrow and joined us for our 5GB series before the show.

What’s the first gig you ever attended?

I’m pretty sure it was Amy Grant.

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

One of the most fun gigs I’ve played was a couple of years ago here in Nashville downtown called “Live on the Green” outside – a BEAUTIFUL night – great band – killer crowd. One of those pinch me moments for sure!

What is the best gig you have ever seen?

There are a few – Paul Simon at the Ryman last year – Stevie Wonder in Memphis 4 years ago – Burlap to Cashmere at Exit In in 1998 or so. Those three really stick out.

Gig you would most like to play?

I’d really love to play at a festival in London. DYING to play over there. LOVE England.

What would be the lineup for your dream gig?

Perfect bill – Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt, Me?

Catch Dave Barnes , Tomorrow at Center Stage

Q&A with Buzz Osborne of The Melvins; Playing The Loft, April 25

By Ellen Eldridge

I took a deep breath and a heaping dose of “get over it” advice when conquering the overwhelming feeling of trying to come up with insightful questions for a band that has influenced and acted as the undercurrent for so much mainstream music over the last three decades. The Melvins’ own Buzz Osborne took a healthy dose of good humor and perseverance in answering those questions. The sludgy, abusively heavy and unapologetically creative punk band plays The Loft on April 25. It’s never too late to learn to love these punks.

What does it take to keep a band together for decades?

Insanity toned with anarchy. You need to play with good musicians. You can feed off their energy. Or something. I don’t know really. Has it really been DECADES? Jesus! … Continue Reading

Win Tickets! Dom Kennedy Plays The Loft Sunday March 25th

California rapper, Dom Kennedy, has released 5 Independent record label mixtapes, most notably his 2010 critically acclaimed mixtape, “From the Westside with Love.” His first studio album “From the Westside with Love II” released on iTunes June 28, 2011. As his debut commercial album, “From the Westside with Love II” is also Kennedy’s first album associated with The OPM Company, Kennedy’s self established record label.

He is playing the Center Stage this Sunday, March 25th! Enter below to win a pair of tickets to the show, or buy them before the show sells out!

Picture Book: Young The Giant and Grouplove at Center Stage, March 15

By Ken Lackner (www.kenlacknerphotography.com)

Full gallery after the jump.

… Continue Reading

AMG Weekend Picks: St. Patrick’s Day at Atlantic Station, Fado, RiRa, The Buckhead Theatre, Eddie’s Attic and More!

You all know what day it is on Saturday. We don’t have to tell you. You’re getting your green eyeliner, green shoes, green hat, green cupcakes, green beer, green wig… you know what we’re getting at. Even if you’ve never danced a gig or taken a swig of Guinness, there’s a good chance you are getting ready to party with the best of them for St. Patrick’s Day. And if the thought of all that merriment makes your stomach turn before you’ve even had a sip of whiskey, then we have plenty of other non-Irish gigs to keep you going.

Friday, March 16 – The Last Waltz Ensemble at Smith’s Olde Bar

An Atlanta favorite, The Last Waltz Ensemble takes the entire catalog of Dylan and The Band and artfully plays them in a progressive way.

Saturday, March 17 – ShamRock the Station with Better Than Ezra at Atlantic Station

Meehan’s Public House teams up with Atlantic Station for a blast of a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, with Irish dancing, games, face painting, balloon art, bagpipers, craft beer and fireworks. Phew!

Saturday, March 17 – St. Patrick’s Outdoor Festival at Fado Irish Pub

Start off with Irish breakfast, then check out the rugby, and keep going with Irish dancers, bagpipers, U2 tribute band, Desire, and of course, copious amounts of whiskey and Guinness.

Saturday, March 17 – RiRa St. Paddy’s Day at RiRa The Irish Pub

99X will be rocking out at RiRa with Francisco Vidal Band, The Geeks and Stereotype providing the entertainment while the pub serves up Irish food and Guinness to the masses.

Saturday, March 17 – Liam O’Connor at The Buckhead Theatre

Get some real Irish music with the emerald isle’s virtuoso accordion player Liam O’Connor, who mixes traditional Irish music with blues, jazz, Cajun, reggae, samba and classical reals to create a sound that celebrates what Ireland is all about today.

Saturday, March 17 – Joel Kosche of Collective Soul at Hard Rock Cafe’s Velvet Underground

The man who started as Collective Soul’s guitar tech ended up as a member of the band takes the stage solo after the haze of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade subsides.

Saturday, March 17 – 20th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Hooley at Eddie’s Attic

The Buddy O’Reilly Band takes on Eddie’s Attic for a right knees up twice on St. Patrick’s Day, with a terrific noise created by uileann pipes, wooden flutes, fiddles, banjos, bones and more.

Saturday, March 17 -Kasabian at Center Stage

The British rockers are eagerly eying the thrones that Oasis just recently left empty, and with their thrilling live show they might just have a chance.

Saturday, March 17 – Andrew Bird at The Tabernacle

The uber-talented multi-instrumentalist wows audiences with his mixture of bird sounds, folk, pop and rock.

Sunday, March 18 – Housse De Racket at 529

This Parisian duo is France’s latest thrilling disco export, and is a guaranteed way to get you shaking your hangover away.

On Sales:

Eagles at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, May 2 – on sale Saturday, March 17

Steel Panther at The Tabernacle, May 11 – on sale Friday, March 16

Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan at Atlanta Civic Center, May 11 – on sale Friday, March 16

Zac Brown Band at Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood, May 12 – on sale Friday, March 16

Def Leppard at Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood, June 29 – on sale Friday, March 16

An Evening with Collective Soul at The Tabernacle, July 7 – on sale Friday, March 16

Kaskade at The Tabernacle, July 12 – on sale Saturday, March 17

What’s Up Thursday?

Oh holy mama, it’s Thursday! We made it to the end of the week, and as we all know Atlanta likes to get it’s St. Patrick’s Day on!! Start the weekend out right by checking out on these killer shows.

-Back by popular demand to play a SOLD OUT show, Young the Giant will be rocking out at Center Stage.

-A self described “rock-solid frontwoman in sundresses and Frye boots” Knoxville-based, Jill Andrews is at The Earl tonight.

-No strangers to Atlanta, Wednesday If Not Before, will be getting the crowd going upstairs at Smith’s Olde Bar. 

-Atlanta’s favorite soul-pop son, Ben Deignan will be holding court in the ever so awesome, Eddie’s Attic.

-Live From Loews welcomes second runner up on season five of “American Idol,” Elliott Yamin, to the stage . Yamin’s self-titled album, later re-titled Wait For You, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart.

Live Review & Picture Book: Fun. at Center Stage, March 9

Review by Jenna Hughes, photos by Ken Lackner

Full gallery at the bottom of the post.

With a band name like fun. (the period is intentional), one would expect a lively, upbeat and well, fun live show. The band definitely lived up to its name on Friday night, touring in support of their new album Some Nights. Fun. must have made an impression on Atlanta after their last tour with Panic! At The Disco, because this time they played before a sold out crowd. From the very first song, the stunning title track, the fans were on their feet singing along and shaking the floor beneath them. … Continue Reading

AMG Weekend Picks: fun., Gentleman Jesse, Shawn Mullins, Kaiser Chiefs and More!

We’ve got a hell of a rocking weekend lined up – there are so many indie darlings, bands who have been blogged beyond belief, locals that are held tightly to our bosom, and a new British mainstay to boot, that you’ll have a tough time choosing. But not a tough time rocking out.  … Continue Reading

AMG Weekend Picks: David Allen Coe, Diana Ross, Radiohead, Rich Robinson and More!

Country outlaws, soul divas, college rock heroes, experimental indie rock legends… oh my! This weekend is ridiculously packed with the best music the past five decades have given us. We’re not sure how you’re going to make all these choices, so let us know what you decide on in the comments below. … Continue Reading

CD Review: fun. — Some Nights; Playing Center Stage, March 9

fun.
Some Nights
Fueled By Ramen

By Justin Lyons

It’s doubtful anyone would truly call fun. a “supergroup”, but their debut album Aim & Ignite showed promise as three talented musicians from indie acts banded together for a new project.  Side projects come and go, but this trio featuring Nate Reuss (The Format), Jack Antonoff (Steel Train) and Andrew Dost (Anathallo) actually seem poised for something greater than their previous acts could achieve.   … Continue Reading

Win Tickets! Andy Grammar, Kasabian, and More!

Oh you are in luck!! To kick off the weekend right, we are giving away a boatload of tickets today!!! First up, our friends at Rival Entertainment have decided to give away some tix to some kick ass shows! Enter below to win tickets to see one of these amazing shows:

Andy Grammer – 2/25 The Loft

Kasabian – 3/17 Center Stage

Incognito – 4/6 Center Stage

The Boxer Rebellion – 4/16 Vinyl

Dave Barnes – 4/27 Center Stage

What’s Up Thursday?

By Eileen Tilson

Um highs today in the 70′s?!?!?! I can’t help but to think that mother nature is just playing a little trick on us all. “Oh yeah, whip out the shorts and flip flops, and then right when you start getting a little color back in your cheeks BAM! I’m gonna drop the temps on you again.” Whatever Mama nature, we are gonna brave you anyway. Here’s your picks:

-It’s night two of Mike Cooley of the Drive by Truckers rare solo acoustic show at The Earl. This show is SOLD OUT so I hope you got yourself some tickets early!

-For those of you who know Zac Brown Band’s Clay Cook, the chances of spotting him tonight at the Fox Theater are pretty high. His favorite celebrity crush, Kelly Clarkson, will be there showing off her pipes. Sure to be an interesting crowd.

-Adron is the nom de guerre of Adrienne McCann, young singer and songwriter who has been lately rejuvenating the pop music scene in Atlanta, Georgia. Adron blends Classical harmony with the playfulness of ‘60s Brazilian Tropicàlia and the sentiment of 70′s songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Harry Nilsson. See her tonight at Eddie’s Attic.

-The Romans are going to be a bad you will be very familiar with in the upcoming months. Led by the multi talented Aaron Whitehouse, I have been a fan since day one. Make sure and catch their show tonight at the Drunken Unicorn before you will only be able to see them in a bigger venue.

-Tennessee twanger and picker, Rayland Baxter is known for his storytelling songs. Should be a great night for his show at Smith’s Olde Bar.

-Australian pop singer, Cody Simpson, will be whooing the wee ones tonight at Center Stage. So let this be a warning to you, there will be a swarm of screaming teenage girls on the corner of 17th and West Peachtree.

-And the hipsters will be coming in droves to the Star Bar in Little Five Points tonight where  former keyboard player/percussionist with Washed Out’s live band, Phil Jones his new band Dog Bite. Joining him tonight are Mirror Mode and Divine Interface.

What’s Up Wednesday?

By Eileen Tilson

Happy Wednesday to you all! We are a little late getting started today, but better late than never! Looking for some fun things to do tonight? I just might have some suggestions:

-You gotta support our home town boys! Mike Cooley is at The Earl for a rare solo appearance by the Drive-By Truckers‘ guitar player and songwriter.

-Born and raised in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina, Malcolm Holcombe is being recognized by the contemporary U.S and European folk/americana community as a performer of national stature, and an uncommonly unique guitarist/vocalist about whom Rolling Stone magazine says: “Haunted country, acoustic blues and rugged folk all meet [here]…” See him tonight at Eddie’s Attic.

-California old school rockers, Tesla, will be thrashing around at Center Stage tonight with Built By Stereo.

-Our pal Chad Radford over at Creative Loafing says that R. RING is a gruff and low-fi recording project that can be quite schizophrenic in its mood swings. In one instant it’ll lull you into a sweet and happy place with a dose of tender folk balladry. The next, it hits you over the head with a layered and noisy pop mantra that’s as rousing as it is abrasive. Check them out tonight at the 529 with Knaves Grave and Black Swans.

What’s Up Monday?

By Eileen Tilson

Happy Presidents Day y’all! I love these random holidays where I completely forget it’s a holiday! Hopefully, you have the day off as well and are sitting in your pi’s while reading this! As an extension of the weekend, you are definitely allowed to go out tonight, so go ahead and pick one of these fine things to do with your Monday night.

-Tonight at Center Stage, the BET presents the beautiful Estelle. Joining her tonight are Stacy Barthe, Elle Varner and Luke James.

-We LOVE Eddie’s Attic! Go support your own at the ever-strong Songwriter’s Open Mic Night. 

-Bobaflex and Hollow Drive are at the Masquerade tonight.

-You could always go hit up N. Highland Ave. and double do it with Metalsome Monday at the Ten High, and then hit Blind Willie’s for Midnight Revival.

Win Tickets To See Fun; Playing Center Stage March 9th

New York indie pop band, Fun, have toured with the likes of Jack’s Manequin and Paramore, and in September 2011, Fun announced they would support Janelle Monáe on The Campus Consciousness Tour. The band is most known for its hit single “We Are Young”, featuring Janelle Monáe, which was also covered by the cast of the TV show Glee in its 3rd season. Getting ready to release their latest album, Some Nights, on Feb 21, the band is currently on tour and coming to Atlanta on March 9th. Enter below to win a pair of tickets to the show!