What’s Up Wednesday?

Happy Hump Day Atlanta! We are half way through the week, waaahhhoooo! The first song I heard this morning was “Wild Horses” so it looks like it’s gonna be a great day!

Hey, so there are a ton of great bands playing tonight so do yourself a favor and check one out!

-Canadian hard rockers, The Trews, are back in Atlanta and are playing at Smith’s Olde Bar.

-It’s Georgia music day at The Earl tonight where Hare and the Hounds & Sydney Eloise will be playing.

-Toronto synth-pop trio Parallels are at the Drunken Unicorn tonight, playing with Fader Vixen.

-The Milk Carton Kids, a harmonizing, minimalist duo, use two guitars and two voices to create a new combination of back-porch Americana and classic folk. Catch them tonight at Eddie’s Attic.

Picture Book: Active Child @ The Earl, May 7, 2012

PHOTOS By Matthew Smith

Full gallery after the jump.

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What’s Up Monday?

So how did you all survive? Anyone do anything crazy this weekend? OK, don’t answer that….Check out what’s happening tonight in Atlanta.

-Have you checked out one of the 500 Songs for Kids yet? Every cool band in the state of Georgia is participating in this awesome cause, so go out to Smith’s Olde Bar and support!

-Pat Grossi, aka Active Child, has toured with many notable acts of differing genres, including dubstep producer James Blake, dreamy synth-pop of School of Seven Bells, and the indie-rock bands White Lies and White Rabbits. See him tonight at The Earl.

-Japanese Psychedelic band ( yes I really did just say that) Acid Mothers Temple are in Atlanta at the Drunken Unicorn tonight, for what I am sure will be interesting to say the least.

-Looking for som untapped talent? Head over to Eddie’s Attic, where you just might find the next star for Songwriter’s Open Mic Night. Trust me, it will be more satisfying than watching The Voice. 

-Over at the ever-so-scary Masquerade, you can check out Fear Factory, Shadows Fall, the Browning, the Devastated, Legacy of Disorder. I am sure all of these bands will give you nightmares.

AMG Weekend Picks: Counting Crows, 500 Songs For Kids, Foreigner, Cinco de Mayo, & More!

I hope your liver is ready, cause it’s Cinco de Mayo weekend! Let the tequila start flowing! It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful weekend with a ton of fun events to check out. Here is where you can find Atlanta Music Guide:

Friday, May 4 – 500 Songs for Kids at Smith’s Olde Bar

One of the best causes in this city is back again for the next ten days! Join all the wonderful musicians in our city for one of the coolest causes for kids.

Friday, May 4 – Counting Crows at the Tabernacle

Mr. Jones will be joining the hundreds of other die hard Crows fans of 90′s rock’s original emo band.

Friday, May 4 – Five Eight at The Earl

Athens rockers, Five Eight have made their own imprint on the college town, touring with the likes of R.E.M. and Cheap Trick.

Friday, May 4 – Gretchen Peters at Eddie’s Attic

Ms. Peters is a Grammy Nominated, CMA award-winning, bonafide bad ass~ As a songwriter, she has composed hits for Martina McBride, Etta James, Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, George Strait.

Saturday, May 5 – Coheed and Cambria at 40 Watt

I hope you got your tickets to this show at the 40 Watt early, because these indie rockers have solo the place out!

SOLD OUT

Saturday, May 5 – Foreigner at Frederick Brown Jr. Ampitheater

Kicking off the concert series, these vintage rockers have SOLD OUT this show, hope you got your tickets early!

SOLD OUT

Sunday May 6 – Project 961 Cinco Party at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

Hard Core rockers unite! Seether, Three Days Grace, and Chevelle while be giving whiplash out in Alpharetta.

Sunday, May 6 – Strange Boys at The EARL

Born in 2008, The Strange Boys have released two excellent albums, The Strange Boys and Girls Club (2009, the original sessions of which were equally botched and scrapped production attempts by the late Jay Reatard as well as the band) and 2010’s Be Brave. Check them out at The Earl.

On Sales:

Corey Smith’s Red Clay Jamboree at Coolray Field, July 14 -

Maxwell at Philips Arena, July 27 -

IDENTITY FESTIVAL 2012 at Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood, August 2 -

Honda Civic Tour presents Linkin Park and Incubus at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, August 19 -

Phish at Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood, August 28 -

Music Midtown 2012 at Piedmont Park, September 21 and 22 -

5GB With Hanni El Khatib; Playing The Earl Tonight May 3rd

Growing up in San Francisco as the son of of Palestinian and Filipino immigrants and the first American in his family, Hanni El Khatib he became obsessed with classic Americana and pop culture of the 1950s and 60s. The multi-instrumentalist serves as singer, songwriter & producer for his one-man band (live he is joined by a drummer) that is part blues, part garage rock, part soul, part folk & part doo whop. As the creative director for HUF and lifelong skater, El Khatib professes to a love for well-crafted objects: classsic cars, cans pomade and stiletto switchblades. This craftsmanship carries over into his music, where El Khatib is inspired and informed by the specificity of a guitar tone or the fuzziness of an amp sound . His background in DIY and skate culture manifests as a desire to “keep mistakes in” and make things “as raw as possible.” Merging primitive rock sounds with punk aesthetics, El Khatib toes lines between all genres and ends up firmly in his own. He joined us for our 5GB series before his show tonight at The Earl.

What’s the first gig you ever attended?

Neil Young in golden gate park in SF. I was still a kid, but I knew I was witnessing something awesome.

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

The show we played last night.

What is the best gig you have ever seen?

Danzig in New York City.

Gig you would most like to play?

Anywhere in South America

What would be the lineup for your dream gig?

T-Rex, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, James Brown, Curtis Mayfield & Nirvana.

Catch Hanni El Khatib Today May 3 at The Earl 

What’s Up Thursday?

Well kids we are rolling into the weekend! We made it! And the best part about this particular weekend is that it is Cinco de Mayo, and the tequila will be flowing! Here are some thoughts about where I think you should be tonight!

-Tonight kicks off the beginning of the ten day 500 Songs For Kids at Smith’s Olde Bar! In its 6th year, this year’s fundraiser includes performances from Janelle Monae, Sonia Leigh, Coy Bowles and the Fellowship and more!

-You gotta hand it to Nashville, they just know how to pump out some amazing songwriters. Tonight at Eddie’s Attic, Patrick Davis, who co-wrote Jason Michael Carroll’s Top 10 hit, “Where I’m From,” as well as the closing track, “Be Wary of a Woman,” on fellow South Carolinian Darius Rucker’s platinum-level Learn To Live album will be performing. His songs are being heard on new albums from Lady Antebellum, Jewel , Josh Kelley and Carroll. Hannah Miller joins.

-The multi-instrumentalist, Hanni El Khatib, serves as singer, songwriter & producer for his one-man band that is part blues, part garage rock, part soul, part folk & part doo whop. Check him out tonight at The Earl.

-Tonight at the Drunken Unicorn check out Racebannon with Order Of The Owl and there satanic imagery.

-Park Tavern is excited to announce a new monthly concert series, Unfiltered Live, featuring an array of live performances from artists from various genres. Celebrating music at its core, Unfiltered Live is hosted by Radio Potato.com’s Allison Rizk and will be held in Park Tavern’s expansive air-conditioned Garden Tent. Los Angeles party blues musician Andy Frasco with Phillip Roebuck will be the featured artist today. Doors open at 6 p.m. with music kicking off at 7 p.m.

Picture Book: Dick Dale And Grinder Nova at The Earl on April 29th, 2012

PHOTOS By Hillery Terenzi

Full gallery after the jump.

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Live Review: Bear in Heaven – The Earl

By Margaret Price

For anyone who was fortunate enough to see Bear in Heaven at the Earl on March 11, 2010, the band that took the same stage on April 27, 2012, just two short years later and now playing to a sold out audience , had clearly grown into their own. The once-mustachioed lead singer, Jon Philpot, an Atlanta (or, more specifically, Marietta) native seemed confident, collected, displaying more finesse in his androgynous, pseudo-falsetto vocals and enigmatic stage presence. Performing a set mainly composed of tracks from their critically acclaimed third full-length album, I Love You, It’s Cool, the band did pepper in songs from their 2009 release Beast Rest Forth Mouth as the show progressed.

After about a minute’s worth of rhythmic drumming, the band was suddenly silent, a slight technical difficulty halting their performance. But the crowd, ever enthused and supportive of their (once) hometown band, wasn’t fazed in the slightest, and Philpot was all smiles. A few minutes of casual chitchat later and the set officially launched into the shimmering psychedelia of “Idle Heart,” the opening track off of their newest album, followed by the pulsating, trance-inducing sensualism of “You Do You” off of their second full-length. Highlights from the new album included “Warm Water,” a song that sounded even more textured and intricate live, and “Kiss Me Crazy,” which they dedicated to a recently married couple in the crowd who met at their show in 2010, while they drew from their full catalogue on “Lovesick Teenagers” and “Ultimate Satisfaction.”

While there were no real set list surprises, Bear in Heaven’s performance was transcendental and almost other-worldly. For the encore, they closed with their explosive, synth-ridden cover of Lindstrøm & Christabelle’s disco hit “Lovesick,” and the crowd erupted into a frenzy, a perfect ending for a band finally finding themselves back at home.

1. Idle Heart
2. You Do You
3. Sinful Nature
4. Warm Water
5. Cool Light
6. The Reflection of You
7. Space Remains
8. Lovesick Teenagers
9. Noon Moon
10. Ultimate Satisfaction
11. Kiss Me Crazy
12. World of Freakout
13. Lovesick

What’s Up Tuesday?

Well Good Morning Atlanta! It’s that time of the year where the girls dress in just barely what they can get away with, and boys in skinny jean shorts are in abundance…..but oh yes, the music is aplenty! There is some pretty great stuff going on tonight, here are some shows that I think you should check out:

-Man of man, this man is SCANDALOUS!! And Awesome. Go see Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears tonight at The Earl...with all the dancing  you will do, you won’t even have to work out today.

-Are you a fan of Black Kids like I am? Well over at The Drunken Unicorn tonight you can catch Gospel Music (featuring Own Holmes of Black Kids).

-San Diego Christian hard rockers, P.O.D. will be bringing their divinely inspired tunes to The Loft tonight. Joining them is Should Harbor….should be a hell of a time.

- NYC indie rockers, Woods, made their way down past the Mason Dixon line and will be performing tonight at 529.

-Singer-songwriter Kate Campbell learned the piano at age seven before switching to the guitar as a teenager during the folk-rock heyday of the 70s. She is having her CD-release party tonight at Eddie’s Attic.

-Skinny jeans and white belts will be in abundance at The Masquerade where Rise Against, A Day To Remember, Title Fight will be getting the kids feeling all pop-punk like.

What’s Up Monday?

Alright Atlanta, I think it is officially summer! Or at least it feels like it! The best part about this time of year is the amount of great shows that start making it over to Georgia! Here are your Monday choices!

-It’s straight up old school at Smith’s Olde Bar tonight, where 99X presents 90′s rockers, Lit with A Thousand Horses

-Downstairs in the Atlanta Room, The Alan Evans Trio will be keeping the folks in line entertained with his multi-instrumental skills.

-Born in a village not far from the famed city of Timbuktu, Khaira Arby mesmerizes her audience with her mix of African and Western instrumentation and soul filled lyrics. See her tonight at The Earl.

-Did you know that Eddie’s Attic’s Songwriter’s Open Mic Night has been breaking acts for the past 20 years! Go check out some stars in the making tonight!

-Love me some Joe McGuiness (as does most of Atlanta!). He is playing tonight at Blind Willie’s; don’t miss the chance to see him if you are over that way.

Live Review & Picture Book: Sharon Van Etten at The EARL, April 25

By David Courtright; photos by Matthew Smith

One always wonders how a singer’s artistic personality will translate in a live, or in-person setting. Does melancholic music equal depressive live show? In truth, sometimes it does. In Brooklyn’s Sharon Van Etten’s case, it was quite the opposite.

While her music can easily be called “introspective,” the singer seems far from that persona. She was engaging of the crowd, chatting casually as she tuned her guitar, scolding that obnoxious drunk in the front row who everyone kept shushing. There was an extended conversation about John Travolta. She even took requests. … Continue Reading

AMG Weekend Picks: Over the Rhine, The Beach Boys, Dick Dale and More!

Wow, it looks like we have a pretty busy weekend on our hands. Outdoor concert season is being kicked off officially with some legends coming to town, and the weather looks like it’s going to comply with our plans. And there are some indie greats, old school heroes and more getting ready to rock out too. Oh and don’t forget the on sales – Music Midtown tickets go on sale on Saturday morning! … Continue Reading

Picture Book: Third Man Rolling Record Store at The EARL, Sunday, April 22

By Hillery Terenzi

Full gallery after the jump.

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What’s Up Tuesday?

I have to tell you Atlanta, I am a little bummed out this week because our dear Ticket Alternative Promotions Director, Leila Regan-Porter is leaving Atlanta, and as anyone who knows Leila agrees, she is one of the greatest people you will ever meet…This is Leila’s last week, so I am going to show off the “reasons why we love Leila” until Friday (her last day).

1) Leila Regan Porter has better style than any fashion designer, this girl makes creppy 70′s curtains into the trendiest of dresses.

Here are your Tuesday choices:

-Arizona pop-rockers, The Maine, will have the kiddies heads a bopping tonight at The Loft.

-The 3rd Annual Georgia Tech Glee Club is one of the oldest in the country, and will be rocking it out with the Agnes Scott Choral Group tonight at Eddie’s Attic.

-Chicago indie rockers,  Disappears are at The Earl tonight, joining them is Lotus Plaza.

-Matt Abts , 2003 Grammy Nominated drummer, original member of Gov’t Mule, first started playing music in high school in Panama before getting a break playing with Dickey Betts and Chuck Leavell in 1984. He is at Smith’s Olde Bar tonight for Planet of the Abts: Matt Abts and John Carlsson.

Picture Book: Chairlift at The EARL, April 19

By Michael Koenig (http://vacantmoon.viewbook.com/)

Full gallery after the jump.

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