Picture Book: Train, Maroon 5 & Matt Nathanson at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, September 1

By Catrina Maxwell (www.catmaxphotography.com) The trio of man pop rockers played a packed, heated sold out show last night. They all kicked out the hits, as well as a few tasty covers. Matt Nathanson took on Florence and the Machine’s “Dog Days Are Over,” and Train shared their versions of U2’s “Still Haven’t Found What […]

CD Review: Hotel Lights — Girl Graffiti; Playing Vinyl, September 9

Hotel Lights Girl Graffiti Bar/None By Al Kaufman Girl Graffiti is so full of hushed tones that when the band finally breaks into the mildly upbeat “Dave Sharkey to the Dance Floor,” (with its “Sweet Jane” guitar intro) it feels like an all out frenzy, albeit the most reserved frenzy in music history. Darren Jessee, […]

CD Review: The Greencards — The Brick Album; Playing Eddie’s Attic, September 9

The Greencards The Brick Album Darling Street Records By Al Kaufman The Aussies are doing everything they can to out-American the Americans in music. Kasey Chambers continues to make country music better than anything heard on country radio north of the equator. And, since 2003, Aussies Carol Young and Kym Warner have helmed a four-piece […]

CD Review: The Front Bottoms — The Front Bottoms; Playing WonderRoot, September 5

The Front Bottoms The Front Bottoms Bar/None By Al Kaufman One thing is sure; Brian Sella and Mathew Uychich, who play acoustic guitar and drums respectively, and make up the folk-punk band The Front Bottoms, have had their hearts ripped out through their noses a few times. It’s a safe bet to assume that this […]

Live Review: DJ Cobra’s First Shows in Atlanta at Wild Bills and Gold Room, August 18 and 19

By Garrett Webster. After attending one of DJ Cobra’s parties, you quickly understand why he’s hired to spin at Hollywood’s most exclusive events. Playing close to 300 gigs annually, his client list includes Madonna, Tyra Banks, Sarah Jessica Parker and brands such as Victoria’s Secret, Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures. This past weekend he found […]

CD Review: The Weeknd — Thursday

The Weeknd Thursday OVO/XO By Justin Lyons Though some of the mystery surrounding Canadian act The Weeknd (aka Abel Tesfey) has subsided, he still has enigmatic qualities that make Thursday enticing.  While the down tempo production from Doc McKinney & Illangelo continues on most of the new tracks, The Weeknd examines a broad range of […]

CD Review: Hercules and Love Affair — Blue Songs; Playing Aaron’s Amphitheatre, August 23

Hercules and Love Affair Blue Songs Moshi Moshi Records By Al Kaufman Hercules and Love Affair never got memo issued some 30 years ago that simply stated, “Disco is dead.” This is a band that likes its music to pump and thump and bump. Listen to “Answers Come in Dreams” and listen to what can […]

CD Review: Muppets — The Green Album

Muppets The Green Album Walt Disney Records By Jeremy Frye Kermit and his crew have certainly been around in the last decade, but your local multiplex has been Muppet-free since 1999’s Muppets From Space. Actor Jason Segal considered this a grave injustice and made it his personal mission to get The Fuzzy Pack back on […]

CD Review: The War on Drugs — Slave Ambient; Playing The EARL, October 13

The War on Drugs Slave Ambient Secretly Canadian By Al Kaufman Much like Beck is essentially a folk rocker with ambient tendencies, so too are Philadelphia’s The War on Drugs. The band’s 2008 debut, Wagonwheel Blues, was more of a straight ahead rock and roots affair. Then Kurt Vile left the group for his rather […]

CD Review: The Features — The Wilderness; Playing The EARL, August 26

The Features The Wilderness Bug Music/Serpents And SnakesBy Justin Lyons Murfreesboro, Tenn.’s four-piece outfit The Features show their maturation since 2008’s Some Kind of Salvation.  On their third album they ditch a horn section that never seemed right in favor of  driving rhythms and howling guitar. The resulting effect is much darker on The Wilderness, […]