CD Review: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers — Mojo; Playing Philips Arena, August 11

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Mojo Reprise By Al Kaufman Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are, first and foremost, a bar band. The fact is, they are one of the best bar bands working. Put any type of American music in front of them and they will play the hell out of it. Yes, sometimes […]

A Night At The Opera: Verdi Requiem at the Atlanta Symphony Hall, June 16

A Night At The Opera: Verdi Requiem at the Atlanta Symphony Hall, June 16

By Leila Regan-Porter Living in a city full of rock ‘n’ roll bands and hip-hop stars, a music fan can quite forget that Atlanta has a rather fantastic (Grammy-winning) symphony orchestra. Last night I was lucky enough to have fantastic seats at the sold out, one-night encore performance of Verdi: Requiem. The night was a […]

Live Review: Broken Bells, The Morning Benders @ The 40 Watt, June 11

By Micah McLain Although it makes me feel more and more like Kenny Crucial each time I go, the 40 Watt in Athens is still one of the best places to see bands that usually play venues at least three to four times its size. The Morning Benders opened the evening at such an unusually […]

CD Review: A Million Years — Mischief Makers

A Million Years Mischief Maker By Ellen Eldridge After the revolving door of band members stopped spinning, four unassuming men from Brooklyn, NY created a collection of songs which fit into punk, rock, pop and experimental catalogs; these are the type of guys one would expect to walk past without a second thought on college […]

CD Review: Here We Go Magic — Pigeons; Playing The EARL, August 6

Here We Go Magic Pigeons Secretly Canadian By David Courtright I saw Here We Go Magic at The EARL around this time last year. I had listened to a few of their songs on MySpace, and though none of them hooked me into a mad dash for the box office, it was good – it […]

Live Review: Jeff Beck, Imelda May at Chastain Park Amphitheatre, June 11

Live Review: Jeff Beck, Imelda May at Chastain Park Amphitheatre, June 11

By Jim Simpson If Chastain Park Amphitheater had doors, Imelda May would have blown them off. On a hot and sultry June night, the Irish singer strutted onstage in patent leather stiletto heels and a Kelly-green-and-black tartan slit skirt, plowed through a too-short set of classic rockabilly and original tunes that brought the moist crowd […]

CD Review: Devo — Something for Everybody; Playing Chastain Park Amphitheatre, July 28

Devo Something for Everybody Warner Brothers By Al Kaufman “What we do/Is what we do/It’s all the same/There’s nothing new” sings Devo on their first album of new material in 20 years. And they are correct. Something for Everybody sounds like it’s been only 20 months since Freedom of Choice, Devo’s high watermark. And while […]

CD Review: The Young Veins — Take a Vacation! Playing The Loft with Rooney on July 10

The Young Veins Take a Vacation! One Haven By Alexandra Edwards Plenty of musicians begin their careers making music in the indie world and later move on to major label deals and MTV exposure.  But is it possible to follow that path in reverse? That’s what Los Angeles band The Young Veins are trying to […]

CD Review: Various Artists — AthFest 2010

Various Artists AthFest 2010 Ghostmeat Records By Eric Chavez Athens and its music scene all have a flavor of their own. Hit acts from The B-52’s and R.E.M., to the Indigo Girls and Bubba Sparxxx have all sprung from Athens, making it one of the most recognized, and diverse, small towns in America. At times, […]

Live Review: Plants and Animals at The EARL, June 5

By  David Courtright Plants and Animals showed a great deal of promise with their 2008 album, Parc Avenue. Montreal has no shortage of innovative and successful music acts, and many of those influences and collaborations shine through in the versatility of that album. It weaves through power chord rock, nimble folk interludes, country rhythms, and […]

Live Review & Picture Book: Blitzen Trapper and The Moondoggies at Variety Playhouse, June 9

By Jhoni Jackson; photos by Jason Travis Compared to the abundant media coverage of garage rock, chillwave and other lo-fi of-the-moment indie niches, folk music appears a bit neglected. But the full crowd at The Moondoggies and Blitzen Trapper at Variety Playhouse proved that, despite temporarily existing in the shadow of catchy punk derivatives and […]

Live Review: Blue Rodeo at Smith’s Olde Bar, June 8

By Scott Roberts; photos by Sue Volkert Like an unexpected visit from a reliable, old friend who you only get to see once every few years, a Blue Rodeo performance is like a warm embrace that fills your heart with happiness and makes you feel as if all is right, at least temporarily, with the […]