Who's IN TOWN and Playing LIVE MUSIC In ATLANTA This Week? (Aug. 13 - Aug. 19)

Live music returns to Terminal West this week with shows on three consecutive nights (but watch those crazy starting times) and new venue The Eastern debuts its Rooftop bar, although you'll have to wait until September 1 for the main stage to open.  On the other hand, Nashville singer/songwriter Clem Snide postponed his Saturday night show at Eddie's Attic, presumably due to covid concerns (hopefully, Eef Barzelay is healthy himself). 

For the safety and health of their patrons, staff, neighbors and families, and in accordance with CDC guidelines and a City of Atlanta mandate, Terminal West, The Earl, and other venues are requiring their guests to wear facemasks, and some are also requiring proof of vaccination. These venues value your safety and your business, and appreciate your cooperation with these (hopefully temporary) policies.  

As always, please keep in mind that musicians and night-club proprietors lead complicated lives and I'm prone to errors, mistakes, typos, and fubars, so it's advisable to confirm any and all of the information below on your own before making plans.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2021

Maggie Rose, Them Vibes, and Dylan Hartigan (Terminal West, 8:00 pm) - An odd choice for the post-pandemic re-opening of Terminal West.  Maggie Rose is a country pop singer in the tradition of Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood.  She started her musical career at the age of 16 performing with a Bruce Springsteen cover band group before eventually settling in Nashville.  In 2009, she released her debut single, a cover of Kings of Leon's Use Somebody under her birth name, Margaret Durante, before assuming the name Maggie Rose for her 2012 single I Ain't Your Mama.  Nashville's Them Vibes perform "Americana rock 'n' roll" and have recorded several songs featuring Rose on vocals.  Dylan Hartigan was a contestant on Season 14 of The Voice, and made his acting debut when he was three in a 1-800-FLOWERS commercial.  From there, he landed roles in numerous commercials and TV shows, including Nicole Kidman's son on The Stepford Wives in 2004. 

Young Antiques, Rosser, and Anna Kramer & the Easy Nows (The Earl, 8:30 pm) - It takes a certain kind of chutzpah to reschedule a covids-cancelled show from May 15th to Friday the 13th of August, but that's exactly what these three Atlanta bands have done.  Young Antiques is a garage-rock power trio formed in 1999 with Blake Rainey on vocals and guitar, Blake Parris on bass, and John Speaks on drums.  Spin Magazine once called them "a triumph of ramshackle hooks" while AllMusic describes them as "angry-young-man rock that draws from Hüsker Dü and the '80s Minneapolis hardcore scene as well as the Jam and Elvis Costello." In June 2020, they released Another Risk of the Heart, their first album in almost 10 years. Rosser are Atlanta musicians John Rosser, Justin Gray, Kevin Wallace, Leif Westermark and Leroi. Finally, Anna Kramer is an Atlanta-based singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist specializing in rootsy, jangly rock with a distinct country twang.  She's lived in Atlanta's Little Five Points neighborhood since she was six years old, and she's become a fixture in the Atlanta music community for over 15 years.  In addition to her solo work and her bands (Easy Now and the Lost Cause), she also plays in Shantih Shantih and Nikki and The Phantom Callers.  If you're an Atlanta musician, the chances are good that at some point you've shared a stage with Anna Kramer.

Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kansas, and Kurt Towne Band (Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood, 7:30 pm) - This is their "Big Wheels Keep On Turnin' Tour," but why Skynyrd, the definitive Southern rock band, chose to name their tour after a line from a 1969 Creedence Clearwater song is anyone's guess.  If you go to this show, you're probably not interested in all the other shows listed here and vice-versa, but this is probably the one show where you can call out for Free Bird unironically.

The Cadillac Three (Variety Playhouse, 6:00 pm) - The Cadillac Three, originally known as The Cadillac Black, is a southern rock band consisting of Jaren Johnston, Kelby Ray, and Neil Mason. All three members were originally in the band American Bang.  Alright, you can probably call out for Free Bird here, too.

The Producers (City Winery, 6:00 and 9:00 pm) - Two shows by Atlanta's The Producers.  A new wave and power pop band formed in the 1980s, The Producers became a regional favorite in the southeastern U.S., propelling What She Does to Me onto the national singles charts. “What’s He Got”, “Certain Kinda Girl”’ and “Who Do You Think You Are?” had some popularity as music videos, but did not chart. They toured extensively with Cheap Trick and The Motels and also played with such acts as Toto and Hall and Oates.

Three Star Revival and Neutral Snap (Aisle 5, 9:00 pm) -  Chattanooga's Three Star Revival play rock infused with soul, R&B, and funk. Neutral Snap is an up-and-coming pop-punk quartet from New Orleans.

The Dude Ranch, The Great Heights Band, and Warp'd (Purgatory at The Masquerade, 7:00 pm) -  The Masquerade is billing this show as "Blink 182 vs. Weezer."  The Dude Ranch is a Blink 182 tribute band from New York while The Great Heights Band are a "rad pop" band from Baltimore recommended for fans of Weezer.  Warp'd style themselves as a "pop punk tribute."

Malformity, Father Befouled, Exaugurate, and Metaphobic (Boggs Social & Supply, 8:00 pm) - A Rippin' Productions is an Atlanta-based booking and production company formed in 2014, and tonight they're celebrating their 7th anniversary with a set by Malformity.  Malformity plays death metal, primarily influenced by the classic Swedish and Florida sounds on which its members grew up, and further shaped by the members' personal tastes in tech, grind, thrash, and doom, as well as other sounds from the underground. The undercard of Father Befouled, Exaugurate and Metaphobic play in a similar vein.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 2021

✅Wilco and Sleater-Kinney (Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park, 7:00 pm) - Okay, I normally don't like to list shows at Chastain Park, but after all, this is Wilco and Sleater-Kinney and I guess when you get big enough, you can't play The Earl or even Variety Playhouse anymore and have to take gigs at places like the 7,500-seat Chastain Park.  My problem with the venue isn't the performers - although it does tend to typically host middle-of-the-road pop and nostalgia acts (Harry Connick Jr., John Legend, etc.) - but the asshole audience.  The park is usually full of suburban season-ticket holders eating dinner out of picnic baskets and sipping chardonnay under candelabras in a vulgar display of conspicuous consumption.  Many of them have absolutely no interest in the bands on stage and talk incessantly among themselves with total disregard for the performers on stage. Michael Stipe notoriously walked off stage, as did Neil Young and even the normally reserved Garrison Keillor.  It's not a venue for music lovers, but for those who want to take selfies of themselves at a music venue. Anyway, with that off my chest, Wilco always puts on a great show and any opportunity to hear Nils Cline (arguably, America's finest guitarist) in any setting should never be missed.  And even without Janet Weiss, Sleater-Kinney's still worth seeing for Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein.

The Lone Bellow and Early James (Variety Playhouse, 8:30 pm) - The Lone Bellow formed in New York City. Although the emphatic but unforced Americana of their first two albums made it clear the three members of the band originally came from the Deep South, 2020's Half Moon Light found them heading off into new territory. The album was produced by Aaron Dessner of The National, and while there's just enough twang on the album to mark this as Americana, the dominant sound hovers somewhere between indie rock and adult alternative.  The album is a bold step into fresh creative ground for the Lone Bellow. Early James has been compared to Tom Waits and Fiona Apple.  His lyrics are often dark but with a sardonic sense of humor, dealing with such themes as depression, addiction, and relationships.

Manic Focus · Bumpin' In The Voodoo - Manic Focus Ft. Dominic Lalli

Manic Focus, Phyphr, and Rohan Solo (Terminal West, 10:00 pm) - Terminal West's odd re-opening weekend continues, this time with a late-night show (note the starting time) by Manic Focus, the beat-bumpin' project of John “JmaC” McCarten, a Chicago-based electronic music producer hailing from the Twin Cities.  Manic Focus' song Bumpin' In the Voodoo featured the sax of Big Gigantic's Dominic Lalli. North Carolina electro-funk artist Phyphr blends electronic funk, soul, and glitch-hop. while Rohan Solo dives into deep and heavy bass-music territory, incorporating drums and percussion with original music mixed on the spot. 

Van Vleck, Jock Gang, Hubble, and Libra (529, 9:00 pm) -  Shoegaze trio Van Vleck mixes distortion and electronics to form their dreamy cauldron of noise. The band was formed in mid 2019 by brothers Bon and Jon Allinson (abby gogo), with the addition of Jimmy Eastwood (We were here). The trio released their debut EP immortal under the name More during the pandemic, followed by the three-song EP The Wait under the name Van Vleck. With a vibe that calls back to Velvet Underground while pushing forward into post-punk territory, Jock Gang have a grasp on both noise and pop, favoring the former but with a glimmer of the latter.  Hubble and Libra open.  Remember that this is 529, so don't expect to hear the headliners any time before midnight.

Off With Their Heads (The Earl, 8:30 pm) - Off With Their Heads is a Minneapolis punk band formed in 2002. They have often featured a rotating line-up of players, due to members of the band often touring with other music acts, while frontman Ryan Young has remained the sole constant member of the band.

Quaker City Night Hawks (Vinyl at Center Stage, 8:00 pm) - Hailing from Fort Worth, Texas, Quaker City Night Hawks came together in 2009. With songs that have been featured on TV's Sons of Anarchy, singer/songwriters Sam Anderson and David Matsler play a raw, hard-hitting brand of old-school Southern rock that draws on their love of country and blues.

Thrice Groove, Cleotrvppv, and Gina Tollese  (Aisle 5, 10:00 pm) - The show is billed as Theory, "a journey through sound and texture." Be prepared to dance.

Lvvrs, Alto Moon, Everyday Dogs, and Adjust the Sails (Purgatory at The Masquerade, 7:00 pm) - Lvvrs are a young pop-rock band from southern Louisiana.  Atlanta's Alto Moon combines genre-bending productions and soulful vocals reflective of 90’s R&B with an interest in cinematic sound. Everyday Dogs is a rock act made up of brothers Jesse and Julian Inglima and their friends Lucas LoPiccolo and Jack Gregg. They formed in Alpharetta, Georgia at a summer camp in 2017 where they bonded over a shared passion for classic and alternative rock. Adjust the Sails is the creative undertaking of Atlanta's emo vocalist and guitarist Shane Hurst.

The Purple Madness (City Winery, 7:00 and 10:00 pm) - Two Prince tribute shows at City Winery.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 15, 2021

Williamson Brothers and The Great Dying (Boggs Social & Supply, 7:00 pm) - Adam and Blake Williamson have been playing music together since they were kids.  While they play bass and drums for Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, Matt Patton of Drive-By Truckers and Mike Gaut of Bohannons will be on bass and drums here, while the brothers handle the guitars and vocals.  Will Griffith, known musically as The Great Dying, is a Delta-born, country singer-songwriter residing in Oxford, Mississippi. 

Jerry Day ATL (Terminal West, 3:00 pm) - Deadheads unite!  Terminal West's odd re-opening weekend concludes with the day-long 14th annual Jerry Day ATL (note early start time). Celebrating the life and music of Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead on two indoor stages, performers include Georgia's Escape Vehicle, Frankly Scarlet, Webster, String ’n Bones, GR8FLDUDE’s Token Rhyme, Magnolia Express, Ol' Matt Donald’s Farm, Amazing Mongooses, and Lovechild, with Wildman Steve as your Master of Ceremonies.

Little Jesus and Gus (Aisle 5, 7:00 pm) - Founder Santiago Casillas, along with the rest of the members that make up the five-piece Mexican indie band Little Jesus, write catchy dance tunes infused with pop hooks and afrobeat rhythms. The band released their debut album Norte in 2013 and have played in festivals around the world including SXSW, Beautiful Noise Festival, and more. Gus opens.

Gym Shorts, Nuclear Tourism, and Movers (Purgatory at The Masquerade, 7:00 pm) - Gymshorts is a lo-fi garage rock band from Rhode Island. Athens' Nuclear Tourism is a surf-punk guitar band. Movers are a modern progressive rock band from Grayson, Georgia (wherever that is).

MONDAY, AUGUST 16, 2021

Dark night - as far as I can tell, there's not a god-damned thing going on anywhere in town.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2021

Lion Heights + Dem Roots Music and Ras Fraser Jr. (Smith's Olde Bar, 9:00 pm) - Reggae

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2021

Julianna Money, Bandana, and Anna Field (529, 9:00 pm) - A starkly honest writer and performer, Julianna Money walks the line between heartbreak and humor to unearth some of life’s deepest truths through her songs. Julianna crafts indie folk music that skews twangy/soulful (we posted a performance  video of hers here last Saturday).  Indie-pop band Bandana, featuring songwriter Anna Griffith’s powerful vocals and lilting melodies, formed in Tallahassee in the summer of 2018 before moving to Atlanta.  Anna Fields is an Atlanta singer/songwriter.  Remember that this is 529, so don't expect to hear the headliners any time before midnight.

Awake At Last, Vrsty, Clockwise, and Bayvell (Purgatory at The Masquerade, 7:00 pm) -  Delaware hard-rock band Awake At Last use heavy instrumentation and huge drums to create an original theatrical sound. Vrsty, the brainchild of vocalist Joey Varela, is a five-piece R&B/post-hardcore infused band from NYC. Clockwise is a five-piece Georgia metalcore band.  Carrollton's Bayvell rock with a synthesis of trance and progressive elements. 

THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

Langhorne Slim and Travesura (Terminal West, 8:00 pm) - A rootsy singer and songwriter with a knack for heartfelt songs that draw on blues, folk, and country traditions, Langhorne Slim gives his music a sense of rough-hewn sincerity that can be both raucous and introspective.  His 2021 album, Strawberry Mansion, followed a year-long battle with clinical anxiety disorder and prescription drug abuse.  Just as he was regaining his health, a tornado decimated his East Nashville and the covids pandemic put the world on hold.  Strawberry Mansion presents the songs he wrote in response to these inner and outer crises.  Travesura (Spanish for "mischief") opens.

Girlpuppy (Rooftop at The Eastern, 7:30 pm) - This will be Atlanta's first look at new music venue The Eastern.  At least a look at the exterior, as this is a rooftop show and not at the main stage.  Girlpuppy, the performer, is 22-year-old Atlanta-based singer-songwriter Becca Harvey, who admits that she wants to be either Hannah Montana or Taylor Swift.

Rodney Crowell (City Winery, 8:00 pm) - With more than 40 years of American roots music under his belt, Texas native Rodney Crowell is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame with a legacy of songwriting excellence. With strong roots in country music, Crowell has written chart-topping hits for the likes of Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Keith Urban and more. But owing to the distinctly universal, literary quality of his writing, has also penned beloved songs for artists as diverse as Bob Seger, Etta James, the Grateful Dead, John Denver, Jimmy Buffett and countless others.  

PVRIS and Royal & the Serpent (Heaven at The Masquerade, 7:00 pm) - PVRIS (pronounced "Paris") is the alternative-pop act of singer/guitarist and LGBTQ icon Lynn Gunn (born Lyndsey Gunnulfsen). The band originally formed in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 2012 under the name Operation Guillotine as a metalcore band. Now a pop-savvy international headliner, their post-hardcore sound blends dreamy electronica with dark, beat-heavy rock. Opener Royal & the Serpent is the stage name of New Jersey indie pop/electropop singer Ryan Santiago. Santiago has explained that she chose the name "Royal & the Serpent" as a translation of "Me + My Ego."

22Gz, Coach Da Ghost, Raimon, Yung Mono, and Madara TBH (Hell at The Masquerade, 7:00 pm) - Jeffrey Mark Alexander, known professionally as 22Gz, is a rapper from the Flatbush section of Brooklyn and a pioneer of the Brooklyn drill scene. 22Gz released his first major mixtape, The Blixky Tape, in 2019.  Coach Da Ghost's banger Hit List generated 6.8 million YouTube views before he joined forces with 22Gz for the collaborative single Movie. Raimon, formerly known as Atlanta Xay, started making music in the 9th grade.  The producer and songwriter is influenced by T.I, Outkast, and Lil Wayne.  Yung Mono was born Isaiah Sims in Atlanta.  His first project, 40s and Shawtys, was released in March of 2019.  Atlanta's Madara TBH opens.

Faze Wave, Strumbrush, and Trent in the Trees (Purgatory at The Masquerade, 7:00 pm) - A mid-week showcase for some emerging, new bands.  Faze Wave are a Jacksonville-based indie rock quartet.  Strumbrush is the DIY indie project of Foster Wells, an Atlanta multi-instrumentalist who writes, records and produces out of his bedroom studio with the help of friends.  Atlanta's Trent In the Trees opens.

Bruiser Wolf and Dillon (529, 8:00 pm) - Rapper Bruiser Wolf began his career performing as Big Wolf but changed it to Bruiser Wolf shortly after joining Danny Brown's Bruiser Brigade collective to show his commitment to the crew.  Atlanta's Dillon opens.  This is 529, but with the 8:00 pm start and only two acts on the slate, you might actually get to hear the headliner before midnight.

Childish Major (Vinyl at Central Stage, 9:00 pm) - Markus Alandrus Randle, known professionally as Childish Major, is a rapper and producer based in Atlanta. He initially rose to fame as the producer of the 2013 single, U.O.E.N.O., which peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

The Space Cowboys & The Cosmic Girls (Aisle 5, 9:30 pm) - Formed in 2016 and hailing from Asheville, the Space Cowboys & the Cosmic Girls are a Jamiroquai tribute band.  

And that's it for this week.  Most of the major Atlanta music venues are now back on line and, looking forward, new venue The Eastern will premier its main stage with a September 1 show by Atlanta's Big Boi.  We're still waiting on word from the Drunken Unicorn on when (or if) they're reopening.