What’s Up Thursday?

The countdown of Leila’s last days continue, and here are a couple more reasons that we are going to miss this fancy chick:

3. Leila is all smiles all of the time…There are folks in the world that have abundant energy and kindness, and truly radiate their positivity wherever they are. Leila is like this…..She has a brilliant way about to her to always uplift folks, and when you walk away from Leila your day has been made a little brighter.  She is the friend you have always wanted.

-Tonight at Eddie’s Attic, Nashville’s own Cumberland Collective will be playing…For this show, The Cumberland Collective will feature; Mike Willis, Connor Rand, Clay Evans, Isaac Hayden, Jason Eskridge, Debra Gordon, De Marco Johnson, Reggie Sullivan, Brendan Bull, and Philip Lowman.

-Singer/Songwriter, Bob Schneider has quite the history. His songs have been featured on several movies including Miss Congeniality, Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood and Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back–and to the TV series “Men In Trees.” His whopping 24 Austin Music Awards range from Musician, Male Vocalist and Songwriter of the Year to Best Bluegrass Band for Bob Schneider’s Texas Bluegrass Massacre. See him tonight at Smith’s Olde Bar.

-The Old Fourth is at The Earl tonight, and joining them is Dark Horses.

- Indie faves, Dead Confederate are having a FREE show at the Star Bar. Joining them are Abby GoGo, so you know the house will be packed with hipsters!

- There will be some glow stick action happening tonight at The Masquerade, where Sam Sparro and Soap Disco will be rocking out.

40 Watt Club “Athens In Austin” 25th Anniversary Party

Some of you might know that the 40 Watt holds an annual, “Athens in Austin”, party at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas.  This is our chance to bring some of Athens’ music and culture to people from all over the nation.  This year’s party is extra special because it marks Barrie Buck’s 25th year with the club.  The 40 Watt would not be here today without Barrie’s passion and dedication.

Our parent company Ticket Alternative is very excited to be a part of this great party as a sponsor – we love the 40 Watt and appreciate everything they have done for the Georgia music scene.

40 Watt Club “Athens in Austin” 25th Anniversary Party
Saturday, March 17, 2012
12:00pm – 7:00pm
The Side Bar
602 East 7th Street Austin, TX 78701
FREE - RSVP http://on.fb.me/wJU89I

Lineup:
Dead Confederate, Futurebirds, Reptar, Heavy Cream, Jonny Corndawg, Gringo Star, Ponderosa, The Hounds Below, Bambara, White Violet,Velveteen Pink, and the new supergroup Diamond Rugs!

Supergroup Diamond Rugs Play First Ever Show at The EARL on December 29 – Win Tickets!

By Al Kaufman

Do you know how about 400,000 actually attended Woodstock but a few million claim that they did? Well, lower that down a notch or two and you have the situation at The EARL on December 29 when Diamond Rugs play their very first show. There will be a couple hundred people there, but years from now, thousands will have claimed to be.

Diamond Rugs is the creation of musical savant John McCauley. McCauley fronts the Rhode Island band Deer Tick*, who quietly put out one of the best CDs of 2011 with Divine Providence, a heartfelt, indie rock gem. McCauley also has a side project called Middle Brother, but he found himself with a few minutes of free time recently and decided to record a new CD. While doing so, he went backstage at a Los Lobos show and convinced Steve Berlin to come into the studio with him. Then things mushroomed and Ian Saint Pe of Atlanta’s Black Lips signed on. So did Hardy Morris of the Athens band  Dead Confederate and Bryan Dufresne of Rhode Island’s Six Finger Satellite. Fellow Tick Robbie Crowell rounded out the band on bass. The boys discovered they liked playing together and, instead of just serving as an incredible studio band for McCauley,  they began working on music together. Their album will be out in the spring of 2012 on Partisan Records. But while we wait, they have released “Christmas in a Chinese Restaurant,” a drunken and depressing acoustic Christmas song which, while fun, is not indicative of the harder edge sound that encompasses the rest of their forthcoming CD. However, it does answer the question of what kind of carol would Paul Westerberg and Shane MacGowan write after going off on a weekend bender together.

McCauley, like all of Diamond Rugs, writes music that pulls at your heart strings and your funny bone, but never forgets about your ears as well. These are great rock songs from what could be the next great rock band.

We have a pair of tickets up for grabs for their EARL show. Just fill out the form below for your chance to win.

*Fun fact — Deer Tick occasionally performs as a Nirvana cover band under the moniker Deervana.

5GB With Deer Tick; Playing The Buckhead Theatre Friday Oct. 21

By Eileen Tilson

Did you know that the guys from Deertick consider themselves, “metal heads?” I love these Rhode Island boys, who have been wooing the hipsters and non-hipsters, alike since 2004. Even though they have been compared to the likes of Bright Eyes and Modest Mouse, Deer Tick have always remained a little punk rock in my eyes. Fortunately for me, I received an early copy of their new album Divine Providence (which comes out next week, Oct. 25) and let me tell  you, it is awesome!  Also make sure to be on the lookout for the SUPERGROUP, Diamond Rugs, featuring members of Deer Tick, The Black Lips, Dead Confederate and Los Lobos to creep out into the world the beginning of next year! We sat and chatted with Robbie, before their show this Friday at The Buckhead Theatre.

What was the first gig you ever went to?

Haha, um actually my first concert was Slayer. I saw them in Halifax when I was about 21 or 22. I am a huge metal head….actually, most of the guys in the band are. Most people are surprised when they hear that.

What is the best gig you’ve ever been to?

The first time I saw Neil Young was pretty incredible. He was just flawless, he melted my mind.

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

Well for me, our Letterman performance was pretty spectacular, but that was because it was the first time we ever had a horn section. Bonnaroo was obviously amazing, but I think our show this year at Deervana at SXSW was probably one of my all-time faces. The venue was way over capacity, we were all getting a little buzzed, and people started crowd surfing. It was epic.

What gig would you most like to play? (festival or event or a location or a venue)

Well we have been really lucky to have played the big U.S. festivals, so Glastonbury would be pretty awesome. We love playing in tiny little clubs though. One of our favorite clubs, is this hole in the wall in Germany. It is a really punk-like atmosphere, and by the end of the show, there is always a ton of broken glass.

What would the line-up be at your dream gig? Who would you play with?

Oh I got this one. First we would be playing in some shitty little club. And the lineup would be: Deer Tick opening, then J. Roddy Walston & the Business, and The Replacements would headline. That show would be so bad ass.
Deer Tick play The Buckhead Theatre Friday, October 21.

AMG Weekend Picks: Dead Confederate, Indigo Girls, Motley Crue and More!

Now that the holiday weekend is over, live music is fully back on a roll. One of our favorite venues, The EARL, celebrates its 12th anniversary with a weekend of amazing shows, and we fully recommend that you stop by and raise a glass in the great club’s honor. And by the looks of the huge slew of on sales, fall is in sight! … Continue Reading

15 Questions With Hardy Morris Of Dead Confederate; Playing The EARL, July 8 – And Win Vinyl!

By Eileen Tilson

In a place like Georgia, saying the words “dead confederate” could be referring to many things. However, anyone who is even remotely interested in music will immediately know that the Dead Confederate I am referring to are the Athens band who have toured across the States and Europe with the likes of The Whigs, Dinosaur Jr. and The Meat Puppets. After the successful release of two albums, countless tours and TV appearances, Dead Confederate have found themselves in unknown territory; they officially don’t have a label home anymore, thus no timeline, and they are in the studio again writing and demoing to the beat of their own drum. Lead singer Hardy Morris chatted with Atlanta Music Guide about the band’s future..

What is the most outrageous gift you’ve ever received from a fan?

A fan once made a box full of odd things, like charms and guitar pics, and then remembered she forgot something and came back in with an old Mars bar, that she says she thought of me when she saw it.

How do you take your coffee?

One spoonful of sugar, unless I am hungover, in which I put some milk in it, so I am can slam it back quick! Now I have a questions for you! What do coffee and Eric Clapton have in common? They both suck without Cream! … Continue Reading

Celebrate The EARL’s 12th Anniversary with Dead Confederate, Noot D’Noot and More!

It’s crazy to think that The EARL has be a part of East Atlanta’s brilliant music scene for 12 years now. We think this is a great reason to celebrate with ace music over a whole weekend. On Friday, July 8 Dead Confederate kicks off the celebrations for a sweet $10. And then on Saturday, July 9, Noot D’Noot give away their  Live At The EARL 7-inch with admission, and play some smooth eclectic Atlanta funk with Mathis Hunter and the Rinse and Carnivores. All for only $5. We can’t wait!

Q&A with Dead Confederate; Playing The Stuffing at Center Stage, November 24

By Ellen Eldridge

In the middle of touring to support the recent release of its sophomore album, Sugar, Dead Confederate returned home for a short break, which it took after opening for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at The Masquerade on October 4 (check out our review HERE). Shortly before the show, vocalist Hardy Morris, drummer Jason Scarboro, and keyboardist John Watkins conversed with AMG about the making of the video for “Giving It All Away,” influences from bands met along the last year of touring, and the band’s headlining spot on the Favorite Gentleman “Stuffing” show scheduled for November 24.

So, you’ve released Sugar and made a video for the single “Giving It All Away.” Can you describe the creative differences in making this video from what you did with the video for “The Rat,” the single from the Wrecking Ball debut?

Hardy Morris: Well, with this one, we met with Jason Miller, the guy that directed the video, and we had a few ideas bouncing around. One of which involved having kids, as the audience of a show, ransack the stage and take our stuff from us and they start playing. So, that was one idea and he had another idea; he said, “I had an idea of you guys selling your organs for money so that you can keep playing music.” We thought that was a funny idea too. So, we just kind of incorporated the ideas…we thought, “Why don’t we have the kids do the surgery?” and, instead of organs, we decided to use musical instruments. It was a conglomeration of a bunch of different ideas. … Continue Reading

Live Review: Dead Confederate at The Masquerade, October 4

Review and photos by Ellen Eldridge

The light sifted through heavy fog as Dead Confederate quietly took the stage. No dramatic rush on stage; the men just walked on, picked up their instruments and started playing. Quietly. The effect on the audience was the same as the attention brought on by whispering in a crowded area; conversations stopped and faces turned toward the group of grunge guys just jamming. A smell like perfume emanated from the fog as it absorbed the blue and orange lights. Dead Confederate fans might have expected an opening chord from one of the band’s more abrasive songs to cut through that dense atmosphere, but this minimal approach really drew the audience in and probably converted quite a few Black Rebel Motocycle Club fans into Dead Confederate fans as well. … Continue Reading

Manchester Orchestra Bring Their Favorite Gentlemen to Center Stage on Thanksgiving Eve

We’re super-excited to hear that Manchester Orchestra’s label Favorite Gentlemen is going to be putting on an awesome Thanksgiving feast. A feast of bands that is! On Wednesday, November 24, Manchester Orchestra will be taking the stage with bands like Dead Confederate, Kevin Devine, Death On Two Wheels, Harrison Hudson, All Get Out and more at the Center Stage Complex. Oh and there will also be a killer Midnight DJ Party after Manchester Orchestra finish their headline set. Phew. Should be a great night that will surely get you enough of an appetite to stuff your face with all the usual turkey nonsense the next day.

CD Review: Dead Confederate — Sugar

Dead Confederate
Sugar
The Artists Organization (TAO)

By Ellen Eldridge

From the start of the warping and undulating tones of the guitars, it would be easy to instantly feel lost. For fans who expected some semblance of similarity from the debut Wrecking Ball, prepare to take a turn through the jungle of sound and emotion brought on by Dead Confederate. The sophomore release Sugar doesn’t disappoint, but it does take getting used to if listeners anticipate that harsh Southern bite found in tracks like “The Rat” and “Start Me Laughing.” Tracks like the drawn out yet incredibly inspiring and poetic “Flesh Colored Canvas” are missing from Sugar as well. The longest song on the album is the single, “Giving It All Away,” at four minutes and 50 seconds and includes a guest appearance by J. Mascis. An aching sentiment still exists in driven and introspective lyrics written by frontman Hardy Morris and bassist Brantley Senn, but the music exchanges the telltale slide guitar and whining tone for a more pop albeit cinematic atmosphere. … Continue Reading

Bits and Bobs: Dead Confederate, Cee-Lo, Klever, Jason Isbell and More

- Dead Confederate are streaming their new album, Sugar, here right now. Check it out and then go see them play their in-store at Criminal Records on Sunday, where you can get the CD and get it signed.

- In other awesome Georgia people news, Cee-Lo just released a video for his new song, “F*ck You,” which is just the lyrics popping up against a colorful background, but we love it. The tune has a sweet early ’70s, late ’60s soul vibe, but the lyrics are, as you can guess, pretty grumpy. Check it out here.

- East Atlanta’s Graveyard Tavern is going to be hosting a showcase for killer record label Slow Roast with Klever, Craze, Kill The Noize, 12th Planet and Rob Wonder. Tickets are on sale now at the link below.

- Locally-based mag Paste is launching their first tour, with ex-Drive-By Truckers man Jason Isbell, Langhorne Slim and others. The tour stops at The EARL on October 28. Paste has the scoop on their website, of course.

- And finally, we were sad to hear that Michael Been, vocalist and guitarist of ’80s band The Call and father of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Robert Been, has passed away after suffering from a heart attack. He was touring in Belgium with BRMC as a sound engineer.

AMG Weekend Picks: Young Orchids, Caddy Shack, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Deer Tick and Crowded House!

We’re all looking forward to a weekend inside, with cool drinks and the AC turned up way, way high. So for this week’s Weekend Picks, we’re staying away from the outdoor events and have even included a movie at The Fox, because when it gets this hot, sometimes you just want to sit in a dark room and laugh for a couple of hours. We’ve also started including events that are  going on sale this weekend too, not least because it reminds us that fall is just a month and a bit away. Enjoy! … Continue Reading

Buckhead Theatre Opens with Shows by Deer Tick with Dead Confederate and Built To Spill

We’ve missed the Roxy Theater. Despite all the things working against it – the expensive parking, Buckhead traffic, Buckhead in general – it was a venue of a certain size that was not too small (The EARL) or too big (The Tabernacle) for acts like Echo and the Bunnymen and Flogging Molly. But there was a cull of midsized venues a couple of years ago, and the Roxy breathed its last on March 21, 2008 with the Gutter Twins and Great Northern.

Luckily, music mogul Alex Cooley and business giant Charlie Loudermilk teamed up to create a new venue, complete with huge renovations and gorgeous facelifts. We do wonder how long those beautiful carpets will last, but for now concert-goers can bask in the glow of the new Olde-English-meets-Arabian-Nights style (eastern-style sconces neighbor stag’s head emblems throughout the venue), as well as added luxuries like additional bars (remember the horrendous lines?) and lovely new bathrooms. Not to mention the fact that the foyer area has more than doubled in size and has some cozy seating.

While the majority of tickets will be sold through TicketMaster, Ticket Alternative will also be selling a limited number of tickets for each show, starting with the Deer Tick and Dead Confederate show on July 31 (available HERE) and the Built To Spill show on August 9 (available HERE).