This Week's Shows (3/28 - 4/2)

The theme for this week seems to be its lack of a theme.  As with most weeks, it starts off a little slow, with only a few shows on Monday, and steadily picks up the pace as the week progresses, with the Daughter show at Terminal West on Friday probably the highlight of the week, followed by Andrew Bird at The Tabernacle on Saturday.

March Madness, it appears, is over.  It was an odd season, in that instead of several weeks of bands passing through Atlanta going to and from Austin and SXSW as in years past, it seems like everybody worth hearing arrived and played Atlanta on either one of two Saturday nights, and the rest of the month was rather lackluster by comparison.  But those two Saturday nights rocked.

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; it's advisable to confirm any of the information below on your own before making plans. 

MONDAY, MARCH 28

★Autolux, Eureka The Butcher (Terminal West)

LA's Autolux feature a unique sound that samples equally from electronica, noise pop, post-punk, and shoegaze.  Their eclectic sound has been compared to artists such as Can, Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine.

Ployd, NuK (Aisle 5)

A dubstep show billed as "Slow & Low: Episode 14 The Slow and The Serious. 2 Slow. 2 Low."

Rod Hamdallah, Deadly lo-fi, DJ Jared Swilley (529)

Seven-inch release show for roots rocker Hamdallah, with The Black Lips' Jared Swilley providing a DJ Set. 

Los Rabanes, Zakke, La Rica Vibra  (Music Room at Smith's Olde Bar)

Los Rabanes is a Latin Grammy-winning ska-rock fusion band from Panama. With a career spanning two decades and eight albums, they are the first band from Central America to win a Latin Grammy in the Best Rock Album Category.

Diet December, Bast, Bold Ashes, Famous By February (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)

Diet December is an alternative rock band that fuses blues, folk, punk and metal elements.

I The Victor, Take A Breath, Cody T, Monday’s Mona Lisa, Sunnycide (Purgatory at Masquerade)

I The Victor is Atlanta pop singer Rebecca Ramos' kaleidoscopic alt/pop project. The opening dance-punk band Sunnycide is no stranger to Masquerade audiences, having already played there several times this year.

TUESDAY, MARCH 29

★Magma, Muuy Biien, Deadcat (Aisle 5)

According to Creative Loafing, "Magma may be the greatest reunion that no one saw coming. The French prog rock masters excelled in the ’70s. Frontman and drummer Christian Vander often sings in an invented language known as Kobaïan, named after a fictional planet he uses as the location for his sprawling space operas. For those confused by Magma’s dense mythology, the band can be appreciated solely for its ability to merge free jazz experimentation with the best of psych-rock extravagance."

Creature Comforts, Baby Baby, Small Reactions (Terminal West)

Nashville's Creature Comforts is an indie rock band combining sweeping guitar licks, mobile bass lines and creative percussion with down-home lyrics.  Baby Boy is a post-punk band form Baton Rouge.  The music of Atlanta's Small Reactions has tinges of new wave and post punk; it's often angular, sometimes surfy, and generally quick.  

Unwritten Law, FENIX TX, Suck Brick Kid, Dog Years (Hell at Masquerade)

Unwritten Law formed in 1990 in Poway, California and have released seven full-length studio albums and have toured internationally, including performances on the Warped Tour. They are notable for their singles Seein' Red and Save Me (Wake Up Call), both of which entered the top 5 in the US Modern Rock charts. 

The Smith Street Band, Hard Girls, Worriers (Purgatory at Masquerade)

Originally conceived as the vehicle for Australian singer/songwriter Wil Wagner to perform under, the Smith Street Band, minus the "Wil Wagner &," would eventually become its own entity after two years of existence. Touring constantly on the Australian punk underground, the five-piece built a considerable reputation for their folk-infused punk sound. 

Leotards (529)

Leotards are a no-gaze punk rock band from Atlanta.

Poynte, Guns Out At Sundown, Avermour (Music Room at Smith's Olde Bar)

Poynte are a hard rock band from Atlanta.

Archgoat, Valkyrja, Hellfire Deathcult, Hellgoat (Heaven at Masquerade)

Metal.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30

Bonerama (Center Stage)

Rock-oriented New Orleans brass band Bonerama was formed by trombonists Mark Mullins and Craig Klein, both of whom had been members of Harry Connick's band since 1990. Despite its horn-heavy instrumentation, Bonerama were a rock band, known for playing covers such as Frankenstein by the Edgar Winter Group along with songs by Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and the Allman Brothers Band. 

Skin Jobs, Nurse, Rop (The Earl)

Skin Jobs are an Atlanta punk band that take their name from Philip K. Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, the source for the movie Blade Runner.

  

The Mumzees, Gláss, The Francis Vertigo, Sea Ghost (529)

North Georgia's The Mumzees are a loud, brash band that should appeal to fans of Ty Segall, Diarrhea Planet, The Black Lips, and Jeff the Brotherhood.

Heather Nova, Chris Riff (Eddie's Attic)

The sweetness of Heather Nova consumed the indie rock market throughout the 1990s, when she was a rising star across the globe into the new millennium. Born in Bermuda, she spent the first 16 years of her life aboard a 40-foot boat with her parents, brother, and sister, incessantly listening to taped records from her mother.  Her ninth studio album, the Americana-infused The Way It Feels, was recorded in Charleston, South Carolina and released in the summer of 2015.

The Gordon Vernick Quartet (Red Light Cafe)

Every Wednesday night, The Gordon Vernick Quartet performs a few numbers and then invites other musicians and singers to join them on stage for a jam session. The quartet features Kevin Bales on keyboard, Marlon Patton on drums, Craig Shaw on bass, and Dr. Gordon Vernick on trumpet. There's no cover charge and plenty of free parking. Whether you're a professional or amateur musician, you're welcome to sit in; everyone who wants to perform will be given a chance to play.

No Genre Unplugged feat. Scotty ATL, London Jae, Kissie Lee, Jaquebeatz (Music Room at Smith's Olde Bar)

Hip-hop & rap.

Phil Barnes, Corey James Bost, Wes Harllee, Kylie Odetta (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)

Singer-songwriters.

THURSDAY, MARCH 31

Baauer (Variety Playhouse)

According to The New Yorker, Harry Bauer Rodrigues' 2012 track Harlem Shake was a case study of the meme-as-song, and "spawned thousands of user-uploaded dance videos showing fans flailing spastically to the monstrous drop of coiling zipper synths, though the dances bore little resemblance to the decades-old hip-hop shoulder shuffle from which the single pulls its name." The Philadelphia d.j. and producer has subsequently been releasing music "that’s at once more ambitious and closer to his heart: One Touch, from 2014, pays glowing homage to the shiny hip-hop featured in mid-aughts blockbuster dance films, and Aa, his début album, released in March, lays rattling club knock under verses from Future, Pusha T, M.I.A., and the grime upstart Novelist."

★Book of Colors, Fantasy Guys, Slow Parade (The Earl)

The much ­anticipated debut album from Book of Colors​ sees frontman André Paraguassu surrounded by an impressive cast of fourteen players that includes members of Little Tybee, Adron​, Christ Lord, Lily and the Tigers​, Hello Ocho, and Faun and a Pan Flute.

Book of Colors at East Atlanta Strut, September 24, 2014

MultipleTap USA Tour (The Cleaners)

MultipleTap will present the chaos and excess of the Japanese Scene.  Born on the small islands of Far East Asia, the overwhelming power of Japanese Scene represents an extreme not seen in most other parts of the world.  Appearing on the Main Stage will be Japan's Hijokaidan, Optron, Yusuke Fuyama, Kou Katsuyoshi, Makoto Oshio, Ucnv, and Hatis Noito, as well as Baltimore's Jeff Carey. The Local Stage will feature the bands Egg, FiatNil, Dux, Jon Cilberto, Alec Livaditis, David Kirby, Macht und Ohnmact, Aww Phooey with Kim & Kooi, Article Collection, and Gurgle Twins.  The show will also include video installations by creative Atlanta artist Kris Pilcher.

Twiddle, Walden (Terminal West)

Vermont-based quartet Twiddle conjures up jazz, classical, bluegrass, reggae and funk with complex arrangements that obliterate the laws of improvisation.

Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re, We Are The Asteroid, Swank Sinatra, Cinema Novo (The Drunken Unicorn)

If the extreme of the MultipleTap USA Tour at The Cleaners sounds like a bit too much, there;s always Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re, an all-girl Japanese eclectic punk-rock trio that mixes noise and pop instrumental sounds with idiosyncratic, quirky, and often funny or disturbing lyrics. They become famous in the US through the SXSW music festival and also through their performances at anime conventions.

Phalse Prophet, featuring The Sagas, Buzzards of Fuzz, Bearknuckle, Nina Charrise (Star Community Bar)

Phalse Prophet is a comedic rock opera based out of Atlanta. The audience will witness a false prophet tell of his background meeting an angel betrayed by God. The prophet will perform magic tricks under the guise of miracles and attempt to convert the audience. There will be prophecy, music, praise, worship, communion, and if the spirit moves, maybe even a baptism.

Hey Monea, Paul Pfau, Fairshake, Battlefield Collective, The Quarks (Purgatory at Masquerade)

Hey Monea is a Canton, Ohio-based rock band that has been together since 2005. Paul Pfau is a singer-songwriter from Nashville who gained national exposure on The Voice. 

Withered, Death of Kings, Hellrad (Clermont Lounge)

Brutal black, death, and doom metal at the Clermont.  What's not to love?

Laura Gibson, Michael Nau (Red Light Cafe)

Laura Gibson's new album, Empire Builder, is slated for release on April 1 via Barsuk. Michael Nau (of Cotton Jones) opens the show.

Jenny & Tyler, Matt Hires (Eddie's Attic)

Jenny & Tyler are a husband-wife pop-folk band originally from Delaware and currently based in Nashville. Their style is a fusion of folk, pop, funk, rock, soul, and bluegrass that has been called "soul-grass". 

Angie Aparo (Eddie's Attic)

Angie Aparo is a highly respected and accomplished singer and performer who has appeared on stage and in recordings with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Edwin McCain, Matchbox20, and the Zac Brown Band, but don't hold that against him.

Maya Neiada, Alexandea Lushington (Music Room at Smith's Olde Bar)

Born in the Bronx but raised in South Carolina, singer-songwriter Maya Neiada has been called the "Neo-Soul Siren from the South."

Deadwin, Ashes of Old Ways, Danielle Howle, Jordan Igoe (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)

Deadwin is a "folk 'n' roll" band based out of Folly Beach, South Carolina.

JeRonelle McGhee, Teeya Skipper, Nica Nashae and Algebra Blessett (Vinyl)

The sixth installment of The Revivial R&B showcase.

FRIDAY, APRIL 1

★★Daughter, Wilsen (Terminal West)

Incorporating moody folk and hushed electronics in ways that recall Cat Power as well as the xx, Daughter began as the solo project of singer/guitarist Elena Tonra of North London. Tonra was performing on her own when she met Swiss-born guitarist Igor Haefeli, who joined Daughter along with French drummer Remi Aguilella to complete the band's lineup. After playing the local London circuit, they toured around Europe and have since played headlining tours in North America and Australia. They have released four EPs, three singles and two albums, and are currently signed to Glassnote (North America) and 4AD (Europe). Their song Smother was used in a BBC One TV trailer for the three-part mini series Death Comes To Pemberley, at the end of Episode 7 of Season 4 of the TV show Covert Affairs, and for The Vampire Diaries in the episode titled Killer (Season 4).

Daughter at Variety Playhouse, September 20, 2013

G Love and Special Sauce (Variety Playhouse)

G. Love & Special Sauce are a Philadelphia-based trio whose unique, laid-back, sloppy blues sound encompasses classic R&B production and the energy of rap artists like the Beastie Boys. The group is fronted by G. Love (born Garrett Dutton) on guitar/vocals/harmonica.

G Love in Candler Park, Midsummer Music Festival, 2012

★Hello Ocho (Mammal Gallery)

An intimate night of performance debuting In Portuguese, the long awaited second LP from the Atlanta-based indie/psych-rock/jazz/pop group. The event will also kick-off the group's North American tour.   The band insists that this is not an April Fools joke. 

Hello Ocho at The Mammal Gallery, May 31, 2014

Dr. Dog, Wild Child (Buckhead Theater)

In 2001, some members of this goofy, trippy Pennsylvania psych act collected a handful of half-baked song fragments on a tape they called The Psychedelic Swamp. The concept album, which focused on a man stumbling through a subterranean fantasy world, was never released, but in 2013 the group was awarded an artist grant from the Knight Foundation to craft a multimedia project featuring theatrical and musical elements, and they decided to give the songs a second chance. The result is a zoned-out, stoner-pop rock opera, and the group is currently performing selections on this tour. 

Dr Dog in Candler Park, Midsummer Music Festival, 2011 

Rockin Bones, Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause, James Hall (The Earl)

A show by three Atlanta institutions.  Rockin' Bones are a rootsy rock band that emerged in the 1980s, and Anna Kramer and James Hall are both established presences in the Atlanta music scene.

Doesin, Frick, Eddie Rascal, Flower (The Drunken Unicorn)

Atlanta's Doesin describe themselves on their Facebook page as "Heavy jazzy occult psychedelic prog-funk blues-metal freak rock."  Opener Flower has been playing around town a lot lately; frontman Jack Fowler is also the vocalist for Atlanta's exwhy and has turned his attention to showcasing his more vulnerable side, pouring his heart and soul into brutally honest and surprisingly emotional songs.

Dank, Viva La Hop (Aisle 5)

Atlanta's Dank plays an original blend of blood-boiling, foot-stomping, funky rock 'n' roll.  Openers Viva La Hop are a live hip-hop group with roots in funk & jazz and featuring horns, keys, and strings. 

High-Functioning Flesh, Body of Light, Pyramid Club, DKA (529)

HFF is an electro-punk act from LA with unique hard-beating electronics in the vein of bands like Portion Control and Cabaret Voltaire.  Body of Light are from Arizona .  DKA will provide DJ Sets between bands.

Emrah Kotan (Steve's Live Music)

Emrah Kotan is a classically trained percussionist who came to the United States from his native Turkey and received a Master's degree in Jazz Studies from Georgia State University. His debut album, The New Anatolian Experience, is a collection of original compositions and arrangements that fuse world music and jazz, creating stylistically sophisticated vibes and a genuine model of personal artistic expression.

The War and Treaty, Band of Lovers, Fairshake (Red Light Cafe)

The War and Treaty is a little bit of classical, soul, folk, and Americana.  Band of Lovers have a modern take on folk sound and pop structure; their songs draw inspiration from the stories and landscapes of North America. Fairshake makes indie southern pop that's catchy and infectious.

The Wild Injuns, Fiend Without A Face, Whiskey Dick, Night Terrors (Star Community Bar)

A show of several lo-fi garage bands, headlined by Munster, Indiana's The Wild Injuns.

   

Fiend Without A Face, Little Five Fest, 2013

Miss Tess & The Talkbacks, Kristina Murray, Mateo Alexander & The Wayward Souls (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)

Miss Tess & The Talkbacks are an American roots music band from Brooklyn.  

Joe Purdy, Garrison Starr (Vinyl)

Singer-songwriters.

Kris Allen, Zeke Duhon (Eddie's Attic)

More singer-songwriters.

Fear Factory, Soilwork (Heaven at Masquerade)

Metal.

21 Savage (Hell at Masquerade)

Hip-hop and rap.

SATURDAY, APRIL 2

★Andrew Bird (The Tabernacle)

Chicago singer/songwriter/violinist Andrew Bird updates the traditions of small-group swing, German lieder, and New Orleans jazz, mixing Gypsy, folk, and rock elements into his own distinctive style. Initially known through his work with the band Squirrel Nut Zippers before forming Bowl of Fire, he is now best known as a solo musician.  Bird's primary instrument is the violin, but he is also proficient at various other instruments including the guitar, the mandolin, the xylophone, whistling, and the glockenspiel. He wrote The Whistling Caruso for The Muppets, and performed the whistling heard in both the film and the soundtrack. He also composed the score for the FX series Baskets, created by Louis C.K. and Zach Galifianakis.

Andrew Bird at The Tabernacle, March 17, 2012 

★Blackbird Blackbird, Chad Valley, Brett (Purgatory at Masquerade)

Blackbird Blackbird is the moniker of San Francisco based wünderkind Mikey Maramag. His unique style of dreamy folktronica recalls influences from all ends of the musical spectrum. Within elongated song structures, Blackbird Blackbird harnesses thematic elements of dynamism and composition to create depth and complexity, while never losing sight of his pop sensibilities.  Chad Valley is the solo project of Oxford-based Hugo Manuel of the band Jonquil, who produces dreamy Ibiza- and R&B-inspired electro-pop songs.  Chad Valley released Entirely New Blue last October.

Belinda Carlisle, Gabe Lopez (Center Stage)

Belinda Carlisle gained worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of The Go-Go's, one of the most successful all-female bands of all time. The band sold 8 million albums in just three years and she later went on to have a successful solo career with hits such as Mad About You, I Get Weak, Circle in the Sand, Leave a Light On and Heaven Is a Place on Earth, among others.  Her autobiography, Lips Unsealed, published in June 2010, was a New York Times Best Seller and received favorable reviews. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as a member of the Go-Go's on August 11, 2011.

Uncle Green, The Preakness, Paul Melancon and the New Insecurities (The Earl)

Atlanta-based Uncle Green are a jangly Southern power pop band in the classic REM mold. Last time we saw long-time Atlanta band The Preakness, they played a carefully curated set that gradually took them from slow-core emo to frantic punk over the course of 40 or so minutes.  Opener Paul Melancon plays literate, moody, indie-pop music. 

The Preakness opening for Torres at The Earl, July 1, 2015

Pretty Please, Bardus, The Glorious Rebellion, Palaces (The Drunken Unicorn)

Pretty Please are a three piece from Atlanta known for their very loud, ferocious live shows, whose music has been dubbed "slundge" - grunge and sludge with some noise thrown in for good measure. 

Dirty Fences, Dinos Boys (529)

Dirty Fences call themselves "NYCs favorite rock 'n' roll hard-workin' band."  Openers Dinos Boys may have been born in New York, but their garage punk sound fits right in with Atlanta.  And in case you're wondering, the name is an acronym for Despicable, Ignorant, Nasty, Ole Shitstirrers.

The Thing, Part 2 (The Mammal Gallery) 

"A little razzle dazzle" featuring performances by Inframan, Ferris, My Son Gordeaux, French Mistake, King Guru, and Weed Mario.

A Tribute to Merle Haggard (Star Community Bar)

Merle Haggard was the most important country artist to emerge in the 1960s, and he became one of the leading figures of the Bakersfield scene in the '60s. While his music remained hardcore country, like his idol, Bob Wills, he pushed the boundaries of the music to become a melting pot that drew from all forms of traditional American music - country, jazz, blues, and folk - and in the process, developed a distinctive style of his own. Performng on this tribute will be Slim Chance & The Convicts, Downer Bros, Mark Kirby & Dry Gulch, Wade Sapp. Georgia Slim, and Al Shelton. 

Yodel, Al Chauncy, Felixx, Keyz, Kierra Shunte, Taryn Mai, Athena Renee, Azar (Vinyl)

The DZMG Affair 4 Concert Series

Ghost Eagle, Farm Dog (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)

Folk rock.

Station 7, The Rovers (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)

Spacey blues rock.

Resist Capture, As Animals Eat My Insides, Beliefs, Athegus, Hall of the Elders, Her Pride (Hell at Masquerade)

Metalcore, post-hardcore, and alternative.

Sweetwater Creek Bluegrass Band, Honey Be Nice (Red Light Cafe)

Bluegrass.

Earphunk, Georgia Soul Council (Terminal West)
Prog-funk, funk-rock, and R&B.

AtYyA, Goopsteppa, Tsimba, Alpha Cortex (Aisle 5)
EDM

Roxie Watson (Eddie's Attic)
Country singer-songwriter.

Barry Waldrep, Kelli Johnson (Eddie's Attic)
More singer-songwriters.

SUNDAY, APRIL 3

★Ry Cooder, Sharon White, Ricky Skaggs (Center Stage)

No matter where his interests are heading at any moment, it's never advisable to ignore Ry Cooder. Whether serving as a session musician, solo artist, or soundtrack composer, Cooder's chameleon-like instrumental virtuosity, songwriting, and choices of material encompass an incredibly eclectic range of North American musical styles, including rock 'n' roll, blues, reggae, Tex-Mex, Hawaiian, Dixieland jazz, country, folk, R&B, gospel, and vaudeville.  This show is billed as "An Evening with Cooder, White & Skaggs," and will spotlight Cooder's bluegrass and country stylings.

Lowland Hum, Oh Jeremiah (Eddie's Attic)

Lowland Hum are Daniel and Lauren Goans, a husband-and-wife folk duo from North Carolina. Part songwriter, part artist, the duo has crafted a multi-sensory performance experience that provides a fertile space for audience members to connect with their art and with a each other as fellow listeners.

Phil Cook, The Dead Tongues (Eddie's Attic)

Phil Cook is a banjoist, pianist and singer, a member of the freak-folk band Megafaun and of Gayngs, and a former member of DeYarmond Edison, a band led by Bon Iver's Justin Vernon.  In his music, Cook draws on diverse influences including Bill Evans, Bruce Hornsby, Keith Jarrett, Jerry Douglas, Ry Cooder, Greg Leisz, John Kamman and Bill Frisell.  

Mindset, Praise, Head Creeps, Faze, Abuse Of Power (Purgatory at Masquerade)

Hardcore.

Salsa Chest, 100 Watt Horse, Oh Rose, Sea Ghost, Moses Nesh (The Mammal Gallery) 

Atlanta synth-pop duo Salsa Chest headline an eclectic line up at The Mammal Gallery.  Athen's 100 Watt Horse is a folk-rock projec, while Olympia, Washington's Oh Rose is a psychedelic rock band fronted by singer and guitarist Olivia Rose.

Black Tusk, Whores, Savagist (The Drunken Unicorn) 

Black Tusk are a metal-thrash-punk band from Savannah.

Bay Station, The Stoplight Roses, Stephen Chopek (Red Light Cafe)

An evening of Americana-folk-pop-indie rock with California's Bay Station, Atlanta's The Stoplight Roses, and Memphis' Stephen Chopek.

Stick Figure, Fortunate Youth, Raging Fyah (Terminal West)

Reggae.

This Week's Shows (3/14 - 3/20)

And now we're in the calm after the storm.  After last week's stampede of musicians through Atlanta on their way to SXSW, we're now faced with a relatively slow week because virtually every band worth hearing is in Austin, Texas, playing a virtually endless series of showcases, promos, day parties, and street jams.  A few late stragglers are still passing through (XXYYXX and Larry and His Flask, for example), and it's a great opportunity for local bands who weren't invited to SXSW to play the city's stages, but other than that, there's not a whole lot going on until all of those bands begin their return trips from Austin.  Even having St. Patrick's Day in this week doesn't bring much to this city's stages, especially since The Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly have already passed through town.

One more thing, and on a personal note:  I know these listings aren't about me, but I just have to say that this week's post was particularly challenging and difficult for me to compile.  Mid-week, my computer died and I was, for a day or two, without a laptop, but worse, my new replacement didn't have any of my trusted and reliable software, bookmarks, etc., on which I rely to compile these listings. Not to mention that I lost all of my photographs and over 100 gigs of MP3 files.

Impermanence, baby.  Life is change.

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; it's advisable to confirm any of the information below on your own before making plans. 

MONDAY, MARCH 14

Coheed & Cambria (The Tabernacle)

"These rafter-rattling prog-rockers have an affinity for high-concept albums; past releases have tied into their grand, interplanetary sci-fi saga called The Amory Wars.  On The Color Before The Sun, the band's eighth album, the group makes a left turn with bracing, autobiographical lyrics and more modest orchestral scope" (The NY Times).

Charlie Puth, Phoebe Ryan, Sophie Beem (Terminal West)
Pop singer, songwriter, and Berklee College alum Charlie Puth began his career with acoustic covers uploaded to YouTube, and last year he released his debut single Marvin Gaye, a duet with Meghan Trainor. He gained more exposure as a featured vocalist on Wiz Khalifa's See You Again, recorded as a tribute to actor Paul Walker for the soundtrack to Furious 7. Phoebe Ryan's energy and charisma strikes frequent comparison to the likes of Tove Lo and other Scandinavian pop artists. Opener Sophie Beem is 16 years old and in the eleventh grade (really).

Weedeater, Author & Punisher, Today is The Day, Lord Dying (The Earl)

Weedeater is a stoner metal band that formed in Wilmington, North Carolina in the 90s as the side project of vocalist/bassist "Dixie" Dave Collins, who was otherwise engaged with sludge metal cult favorites Buzzov*en at the time. Author & Punisher is the industrial doom/drone project of San Diego bassist and vocalist Tristan Shone and his drone and dub machines.  Nashville's  Today Is the Day emerged in 1992 as a trio lead by founder, guitarist, and vocalist Steve Austin, combining the musical proficiency of King Crimson with the intensity, volume, and power of Slayer, utilizing everything from found samples to acoustic instruments to synthesizers to all-out death metal and grindcore beats. Portland's Lord Dying opens.

Sniper 66, Drink & Destroy Crew, Invasion (529)

Oi! is a subgenre of punk that originated in the UK in the late 1970s.  The music and its associated subculture had the goal of bringing together punks, skinheads and working class youth.  The Oi! movement was partly a response to the perception that many participants in the early punk scene were posers, "trendy university people using long words, trying to be artistic...and losing touch". Oi! shares many similarities with folk music; in addition to its often simple musical structure, it is also brutally honest and usually tells stories based in truth.  For example, Austin's Sniper 66 features brash, hard-hitting punk, played tight and crisp with bullet-paced drums.  Atlanta's Drink & Destroy Crew delivers a blend of street punk that includes elements of Oi! pop punk, and hardcore. Atlanta's Invasion will open with punk rock, hardcore and Oi!.

Pentagram, Mondo Drag, Crawl (Hell at The Masquerade)
Pentagram have been churning out hard rock/doom metal for over four decades. At the onset of the 1970’s, the DC band helped procreate a behemoth called “heavy metal,” and ten years later, they went to plant the seed of what would grow to be known as “doom.”

Open Circuit, Kissing Electric, Nelward (Aisle 5)
Open Circuit will be an improvised psychedelic journey of galactic proportions with guest appearances/sit-ins - a fusion of jazz/electronics/rock and everything in between. Kissing Electric is a Atlanta trio with a combination of pop, modern jazz, and electronic music. Nelward is the solo project of Atlanta musician Nick Elward, who describes himself as melodic and jazz fusion-ish.

★Ancient Warfare, The Stargazer Lilies, Absence of Ocean (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
While the band name suggests metal, Ancient Warfare is actually a Lexington, Kentucky quartet that plays cinematic Americana focused around the songwriting, singing, and guitar playing of Echo Wilcox.  Her lyrics are anchored by multi-instrumentalist Emily Hagihara, classically trained violinist Rachael Yanarella, and bassist Derek Rhineheimer.  Throughout their musical career, The Stargazer Lilies released three albums as a dream pop/shoegaze/psychedelic duo and two albums as The Stargazer Lilies.  Absence of Ocean is a shoegaze band from Atlanta, that incorporates both post-rock and electronic elements to create lush soundscapes within hypnotic songs.

Stargazer Lilies at 529, February 14, 2014

Somos, Petal, The Superweaks,  Auspice (Purgatory at The Masquerade)

Rock.

The Word Alive, Fit For A King, Out Came the Wolves, Hounds (Heaven at The Masquerade)
Metal.

Sean Tyrell (Steve's Live Music)
Irish (why isn't he playing here Thursday?).

TUESDAY, MARCH 15

★XXYYXX, Jim-E Stack (Terminal West)
Orlando's XXYYXX is producer Marcel Everett, who works out of his bedroom creating harmonious music that provokes emotion and transmits vivid images of peace and still sadness.  The Terminal West bio lists his age as 16, but when we saw him at MFNW (RIP) in 2013, his bio listed his age as 17, so let's just say he's young and not try to get too specific.  Jim-E Stack grew up in San Francisco, playing drums in school bands, to honed his craft as a teenager in New Orleans, and later moved to New York City, and channels his world into a heartfelt sound, deeply rooted in house music.

XXYYXX at Roseland Theater, MFNW (RIP) 2013

★Larry & His Flask, The Great Perhaps. Aree & the Pure Heart (The Drunken Unicorn)
True story: on the same day of MFNW (RIP) 2013 that we saw XXYYXX at the Roseland Theater, we also saw Redmond, Oregon's Larry & His Flask at Dante's.  Regarding that performance, we wrote, "To say this band was energetic would be an understatement.  Their sound was reminiscent of the Andew Jackson Jihad, and not only did they play their peculiar brand of Appalachian folk-punk fast and loud, encouraging the audience to dance, holler at them, or at least to do something, but the members themselves were jumping around, crashing into each other, and appearing to be having a blast on stage.  At one point, the bass player leaped up and grabbed a rail hanging from the ceiling, and swung himself back and forth over the audience. These guys were madmen." Jesse & The Great Perhaps started in early 2011, when Woodstock, Georgia's Jesse Nighswonger started playing ukulele shows around the Atlanta area.  The band features quirky instrumentation, heavy vocal arrangements, and always a surprise or two.  Aree & the Pure Heart are an Atlanta punk trio fronted by vocalist Aree.

Larry & His Flask at Dantes, MFNW (RIP) 2013

Exwhy, Between Symmetries, Bird Laww (529)

Atlanta's exwhy, fronted by Jack Fowler, incorporate solid bass and drum play, spacey guitars, and powerful melodies to back puzzle-like lyrics that serve as "Easter eggs hidden in plain view.” Savannah's Between Symmetries play rock, hard rock, punk, and grunge.  Opener Bird Laww are a sweaty rock band from Atlanta.

The Whiskey Gentry, Sara Rachele (The Earl)

Atlanta's The Whiskey Gentry are a “toe-tapping, steamrolling kind of band, its fingers picking deep into fields of bluegrass…with a punk-inspired kick drum” (Paste), playing some country, some bluegrass, occasional honky-tonk, western swing, country rock, and even some Slavic numbers that would make Beirut proud. Opener Sara Rachele is an independent singer-songwriter from Decatur. 

The Whiskey Gentry at the 2013 Red Stripe Midsummer Music and Food Festival inCandler Park 

Le Butcherettes, The Dead Ships (Hell at The Masquerade)
Le Butcherettes was created by vocalist/guitarist Teri Gender Bender. Their live act, featuring 1950s fashions and props such as brooms, feather dusters, and bloody aprons, as well as artificial blood, flour, eggs, meat, and a real pig's head on stage, quickly achieved acclaim in the Mexican underground scene.  LA’s howling garage rock trio The Dead Ships open.

Ceschi, Gregory Pepper & His Problems, Wake, Tommy V (The Mammal Gallery)
New Haven's Ceschi is a folk-rap/hip-hop/indie rock/punk project of Ceschi Ramos and friends. Gregory Pepper plays DIY pinball pop from Guelph, Ontario.  Wake is a hip-hop, experimental, noise band from Atlanta.  Tommy V opens.




Black Pussy (Music Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
Portland's Black Pussy plays heavy, bluesy rock with clear influences of Kyuss, Hendrix and The Who, an have found a niche in the stoner-rock movement. The band uses a massive 44 speakers when playing live; however, their classic, upbeat, relentlessly hooky tracks have earned the term "stoner pop," sort of like The Cars meets Black Sabbath.

Chamomile and Whiskey, The Brookses, Hill Roberts (Red Light Cafe)
Chamomile and Whiskey play an eclectic blend of raucous roots rock, drunken Irish songs, and mountain funk.  The Brookses are a daughter/father duo playing traditional folk, country and blues. Singer-songwriter Hill Roberts opens.

Kip Winger, Tyler Fillmore (Eddie's Attic)
Kip Winger, formerly of the metal band Winger, going solo as a singer-songwriter.

Mystery Skulls, French Horn Rebellion, Culture Culture (Purgatory at The Masquerade)
Electro-pop.

Come Back Alice, Donna Hopkins Band (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
Southern gypsy funk and blues.

Shawn Spencer Band (Steve's Live Music)
Modern Americana band with old school pop sensibilities.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

Rickie Lee Jones (Variety Playhouse)
From her 1979 debut onward, Rickie Lee Jones has proved to be an original, mixing beatnik-based poetic sensibilities with R&B, jazz, folk, and pop. Most of her commercial success came at the outset of her career, but a restless creative spirit - combined with a stubborn refusal to fit comfortably into any one musical niche - sealed her ultimate destiny as that of a highly regarded cult heroine. Interestingly, Variety Playhouse is billing this as "An Intimate Evening With Rickie Lee Jones," begging the question of just how intimate an evening this will be.  Will we have exchanged Facebook friend requests by the end of the show?  Will we all be having sex?  Will we all be getting on the tour bus together and travelling with Jones to her next show?  We may need to all go to this show to find out for ourselves.

Poguetry in Motion (Terminal West)
Pogues founding member Spider Stacy announced last year that he will be curating Poguetry In Motion ¬ the music of the Pogues played live with bands of his choosing.  The first band he has chosen to work with is Grammy-nominated Cajun band Lost Bayou Ramblers, and Spider and the Ramblers will be playing Pogues songs at Terminal West this evening.

Moon Honey, Sleep Dance, Fox Grin (The Drunken Unicorn)
Baton Rouge band Moon Honey, made up of guitarist Andrew Martin and vocalist Jessica Ramsey, play psychedelic pop with a 70's Top 40 influence that might appeal to some fans of early Kate Bush or Joanna Newsome, but to others (including me) they sound a bit too contrived and derivative. Atlanta's Sleep Dance and Fox Grin open.

Hot Wives, Quiet Hollers, Fake Image, The Marrows (529)

Hot Wives play distorted rock and garage songs "that will make you drive fast, drink, and get in a fight."  Louisville's Quiet Hollers is a vehicle for singer/songwriter Shadwick Wilde's reverb-soaked stream-of-consciousness confessionals and literate, hook-laden narratives, blasted through tube amps in swirls of violin and piano with a strong post-hardcore influence.  Fake Image is a noise punk quartet from Atlanta.  Openers The Marrows are punkers with a penchant for the psychedelic straight from the basements and garages of Atlanta.

The Gordon Vernick Quartet (Red Light Cafe)
Every Wednesday night, The Gordon Vernick Quartet performs a few numbers and then invites other musicians and singers to join them on stage for a jam session. The quartet features Kevin Bales on keyboard, Marlon Patton on drums, Craig Shaw on bass, and Dr. Gordon Vernick on trumpet. There's no cover charge and plenty of free parking. Whether you're a professional or amateur musician, you're welcome to sit in; everyone who wants to perform will be given a chance to play.

Dynamic Duo (The Loft)
Dynamic Duo, formed in 2004, is the hip-hop duo of Korea's Choiza and Gaeko, originally members of the underground hip-hop crew CB Mass.

Bird Dog Jubilee, The Gypsie (Aisle 5)
Bird Dog Jubilee is a southern jam band from Atlanta, Georgia, with a sound that blends classic and psychedelic rock with a touch of the blues.

Crystal Bowersox, Julia Haltigan (Eddie's Attic)
First of a two-night stand at Eddie's by American Idol semi-finalist Crystal Bowersox.

Secrets, Palisades, Too Close To Touch (Hell at The Masquerade)

Post-hardcore/punk pop.

Neil Garrard (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
Electronic rock.

Marlatov Cocktail Swingers (Steve's Live Music)

Swing.

THURSDAY, MARCH 17 (St. Patrick's Day)

The Darnell Boys, Old Salt Union, Max and Maggie (The Earl)

There are at least three Darnells in Athens' The Darnell Boys, who play their Americana laced with blues, country, and soul. Old Salt Union stretches the boundaries of traditional bluegrass music by incorporating in-depth musical arrangements, a catchy hook, and a pop sensibility. Max and Maggie are a high-energy, old-time Americana music duo based in Atlanta.

The Rocket Summer, Farro (Vinyl)
The Rocket Summer is the solo project of Dallas multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and producer Bryce Avary.  The Rocket Summer's indie rock power pop, with its optimistic lyrics and upbeat rhythms, has been compared to Ben Folds, Justin Timberlake, and Michael Jackson. Josh Farro is best known as the former lead guitarist and backing vocalist of Paramore. He is currently pursuing a solo career as the lead vocalist and guitarist of his self-named band.

Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, Dead 27's (Terminal West)
New York soul-funk outfit Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds originally formed in 2008 in the Catskill Mountains, before powerhouse vocalist Arleigh Kincheloe and her harmonica-playing brother Jackson headed to New York City to put together a fully fledged soul ensemble. They've built up a reputation as a dynamic live band who mix soul, funk, blues, rock, and country.   Charleston, SC's Dead 27s have been described as a Southern blend of rock and soul.

Crystal Bowersox, Julia Haltigan (Eddie's Attic)
Second of the two-night stand at Eddie's by American Idol semi-finalist Crystal Bowersox.

Horror Business, Nevermind, Devomatix (Star Community Bar)
Cover bands for The Misfirs, Nirvana, and Devo, respectively.

Lucidea, The Nadis Warriors, T.I.M.E.S. (Aisle 5)
EDM.

The Bent Phonographs, Woodsong, Vox Titan (Music Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
Alternative Rock

Ferris & The Wheels, Drucker, Ides of June (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
Rock.

Todd Prusin Experience, Alex and Todd (Red Light Cafe)
Rock.

Gigamesh, Solidisco (Hell at The Masquerade)
Pop.

Mark Michelson & Friends (Steve's Live Music)
British Invasion.

FRIDAY, MARCH 18

The Infamous Stringdusters, Nicki Bluhm And The Gramblers (Variety Playhouse)
Formed in 2006, Nashville's Infamous Stringdusters manage to balance old-time bluegrass playing with indie jam-grass sensibilities.   The rootsy, country, R&B, and blues-soaked San Francisco-based Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers are centered around vocalist Bluhm and her husband, keyboardist Tim.

The Werks, Consider The Source, BIG Something (Terminal West)
The Werks fuse psychedelic shredding, wailing organ, and slap bass with synthesizers and modern dance beats to produce a blend of jam-rock and deep electronic funk.   Consider The Source is an instrumental trio from New York, who've traveled to India, and whose music combines influences from Turkish, Bulgarian, North and South Indian styles with jazz and fusion, and then filter it through their own heavy, rock and psychedelic styles.  North Carolina's Big Something is known for their high-energy live performances, making them a popular staple for East Coast music festivals.

PLS PLS, The Locksmyth, Slowriter (The Earl)

Three Atlanta bands.  PLS PLS ("please please") play melodic electronic infused alternative rock; frontman Dan Dixon has been a staple of the independent Atlanta music scene for over a decade now. The Locksmyth was an  avant-garde alt/blues-rock band.  Slowriter is Bryan Taylor, whose music rises from a creative flow of all sorts of sounds, clips, vocals and beats to form a unique blend of music that is "infectiously catchy and strikingly quirky.” 

PLS PLS at Criminal Records, L5Fest, 2013

Count Bass D, Dillon Maurer (529)

Rapper, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Count Bass D has been the quintessential underground hip-hop musician for the past twenty years.  Based in Nashville, he uniquely eschews sampling techniques in favor of recording his own keyboard/bass/drum grooves completely live in the studio. Atlanta rapper, DJ, producer, and master chef Dillon Vaughan Maurer opens.

SafetySuit (The Loft)
SafetSuit is a alternative pop/rock band from Tulsa currently based in Nashville and known for its energetic live performances.

Ben Nevis, Boo Reefa, Drew Williams (The Drunken Unicorn)
Ben Nevis is an Atlanta indie rock band.  Boo Reefa is an Atlanta-based indie-folk act comprised of brother and sister Andrew and Laura Leidner and their friend, guitarist, Andrew Hale.  Drew Williams is vocalist and guitarist for Atlanta folk-rock band Dear Mr. Peasant.

Migrant Worker, Allen Thompson Band, Lindsay Rakers (Red Light Cafe)
Atlanta's Migrant Worker play Americana, country and rock. Joining them will be Nashville psychedelic roots rockers Allen Thompson Band. Opening the night will be local songwriter Lindsay Rakers.

Erick Baker (Eddie's Attic)
A sold-out set by at Eddie's by singer-songwriter Erick Baker.

Matthew Mayfield (Eddie's Attic)
A late-night set at Eddies by Birmingham native Matthew Mayfield.

So Much Light, Alicia Walter, Smooth Aviator, Brother Mary (Purgatory at The Masquerade)

Electro-pop.

Truth, Organik, Variant (Aisle 5)
EDM.

Fighting Sides, World's Greatest Dad, Heartless Romantic (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
Pop punk.

A Slow Boar To China, The Dreaded Marco, Navajo Joe (Music Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
Rock.

Absynthe Makes the Art Garfunkel (Steve's Live Music)
Simon and Garfunkel tribute.

SATURDAY, MARCH 19

★Tinashe, The Shadowboxers, Ryan Hemsworth (Center Stage)
Tinashe is a forward-thinking R&B singer-songwriter, producer and dancer known for her electrifying, genre-bending take on modern R&B and pop.   Tinashe found fame for her DJ Mustard-produced single 2 On featuring Schoolboy Q and has continued to prove herself as an exciting artist. Her new album, Joyride, comes out soon, and she shares this bill with Atlanta pop band The Shadowboxers.  Canadian producer and DJ Ryan Hemsworth, who was recently selected to perform in the Hundred Waters-curated Arcosanti festival, FORM, opens.

Lee Fields & The Expressions, White Lion Shim Sung And The Lightning Orchestra Band (Terminal West)
Lee Fields is an R&B and soul artist from North Carolina who has been called "Little JB" for his physical and vocal resemblance with James Brown.  White Lion Shim Sung is a new Atlanta funk/afrobeat/pop super group led by Travis Murphy and backed by the deeply grooving Lightning Orchestra.

Small Reactions, Through the Sparks, Black Linen, Flower (The Earl)

The music of Atlanta's Small Reactions has tinges of new wave and post punk; it's often angular, sometimes surfy, and generally quick.  Through The Sparks are a veteran Birmingham, Alabama indie-psych band fronted by Jody Nelson. The songs of Atlanta old-meets-new garage-rockers Black Linen fall somewhere between ‘60s Britpop and a Quentin Tarantino soundtrack. Flower has been playing around town a lot lately - they just played The Drunken Unicorn on March 10.  Frontman Jack Fowler is also the vocalist for Atlanta's exwhy and has turned his attention to showcasing his more vulnerable side, pouring his heart and soul into brutally honest and surprisingly emotional songs.

DOT.S, Culture Culture, Grandchildren, Grand Prize Winners From Last Year, Moloq (The Mammal Gallery)
Atlanta's Dot.s started as Ryan James' solo project and has since grown to a five-piece group combining acoustics, electronics and layered vocal harmonies, and their album Jellyfiss alternates complex rock songs with comedy sketches.   Culture Culture are a synth-pop/electro-pop band from Atlanta. Grandchildren describe themselves as an orchestral pop band with tight beats from Philadelphia. The sound of Atlanta's Grand Prize Winners From Last Year has been compared to Outkast-meets-Green Day.  Finally, Atlanta's Moloq is Jake Aron's combination of pop, experimental, electronic, rock, noise, psychedelic,  and funk.

DOT.S at The Earl, September 12, 2014

We The Kings, AJR, She Is We, Elena Coats & The Brothers James (The Loft) 
Bradenton, Florida's We The Kings and a melodic emo pop band who produce Top 40 singles and include duets with pop stars like Demi Lovato on their songs.  NY-based indie pop trio AJR mix barbershop harmonies, electronic music, and other styles into their sound.  She Is We is the current project of pop singer Rachel Taylor.  Elena Coats & The Brothers James open.

Chantae Cann, Journey To Golden (Vinyl)
Chantae Cann’s music blends the exploratory sounds of jazz with the feel good vibes of soul to inspire, uplift and encourage the lives of others through music.  Journey To Golden opens.

Jib Kidder, Mans Trash, Victor St. Baloo, Clothes, Wey (529)

Jib Kidder is multimedia collagist Sean Schuster-Craig, who grew up in Georgia and was inspired by the Southern hip-hop scene.  He has self-released many electronic albums and  mixtapes under the Kid Slizzard name, but since 2008 has released albums of everything from plaintive folk balladry to bass mixtapes to makeshift low-budget gamelan.  Equally eclectic Mans Trash from Athens manages to evoke Philadelphia soul, video game chiptunes, jangle pop, and freak folk, often in the course of one song.  Atlanta's Victor St. Baloo plays "lyrical post-folk, contemporary whatever, post 9/11 no irony acoustic songs from the heart."  Clothes and Wey open.

Rumours, The Dirty Doors, Refugee (Star Community Bar)
Cover bands for Fleetwood Mac, The Doors, and Tom Petty, respectively.

Glen Pridgen Band, The Beggar's Guild Reunion, Jon Harris Band, Gabe Jones (Music Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
Rock.

Chris Connelly, Aaron Gibson Trio (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
Singer-songwriters.

Blackfox, Kenny Howes & The Wow, Dot 22 (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
A late power-pop show at the Atlanta Room.

John Zedd (Eddie's Attic)
Singer-songwriter.

Alan Doyle & the Beautiful Gypsies (Eddie's Attic)
A sold-out late show at Eddie's by Newfoundland's Alan Doyle (Great Big Sea).

Voodoo Visionary, The Groove Orient, Dead Affect (Aisle 5)
Voodoo Visionary is an improvisational funk/dance band from Atlanta.

Abbath, High On Fire, Skeletonwitch, Tribulation (Heaven at The Masquerade)

Metal.

The Bastard Suns, Urban Legend, Like Mike (Hell at The Masquerade)

Alternative and pop punk.

Bonaventure Quartet (Steve's Live Music)
Jazz.

The Clermonts (Red Light Cafe) 
Party-rock cover band.

SUNDAY, MARCH 20

Wiki, Antwon (Aisle 5)
Patrick "Wiki" Morales is a member of Harlem left-field hip-hop collective Ratking, but is probably best known for his appearance on Earl Sweatshirt's I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside LP. Antwon is a hip hop artist from San Jose, who Spin described as "an affable guy who might have one of rap's biggest, best-sounding voices, which he usually focuses on goofy jokes and surprisingly sweet bedroom raps."  Antwon has often been compared to The Notorious B.I.G., although he's named  Kid Rock as the greatest influence.

Majid Jordan (Vinyl) 

Majid Jordan is a Canadian producing and performing duo composed of Majid Al Maskati and Jordan Ullman. Jordan, originally from Toronto, and Majid, arriving in Toronto by way of Bahrain, met as students at the University of Toronto in 2011. This show is sold out.

Joey Muha, Elijah Stavely (Purgatory at The Masquerade)
Metal drummers.

Sarah Potenza, Lilly Hiatt (Eddie's Attic)
Singer-songwriters.

Mickie James, Steve Guettler (Eddie's Attic)
More singer-songwriters.

This Week's Shows (2/15 - 2/21)

Musicians and night-club proprietors lead complicated lives and I'm prone to errors, mistakes, typos, and fubars; it's advisable to confirm any of the information below on your own before making plans. 

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15

Kid Cudi (The Tabernacle)

Cleveland rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, film composer, and music video director Kid Cudi is also the bandleader/sidekick to host Scott Aukerman on IFC's Comedy Bang Bang, at least until Weird Al Yankovic takes over soon.  In addition to his own recordings, he appears along with rapper Future on Track Two (Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1 • Pt. 2) of the new Kanye West album, The Life of Pablo.  

Spray Paint, Shepherds, Onchi, Death Stuff (529)

Punters On A Barge, last year's album from Austin's gritty post-punk band Spray Paint, "would be perfect dancefloor fodder for your next paranoid post-apocalyptic party in the Forbidden Zone" (Bill Pearis, Brooklyn Vegan).  A trio of Atlanta-area bands, Shepherds, Onchi, and Death Stuff, open.

Bryson Tiller, They (Center Stage)

Second night of the 22-year-old Louisville singer/songwriter/rapper's sold-out two-night stand at Center Stage.  

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16

★Hey Marseilles, Bad Bad Hats (The Earl)

Hey Marseilles are a folk-rock sextet but sound almost like a mini-orchestra as they feature a string section (cello and violin), guitars (electric and acoustic), keys, accordion, and drums, giving their full-bodied songs a memorably rich texture. On their most recent, self-titled album, Hey Marseilles go for an even bigger rock sound without losing their characteristic intimacy. Opener Bad Bad Hats are a trio out of Minneapolis featuring the vocals of Kerry Alexander.

Mara, Small Reactions, Newark Wilder (529)

Mara is the solo project of Vera Vera's Jordan Parker, who wrote the songs alone in his bedroom, channeling the dark vibes of Vera Vera into a more intimate and ethereal sound that he describes as "phantom pop” or “garage gaze.”  The music of Atlanta's Small Reactions has tinges of new wave and post punk; it's often angular, sometimes surfy, and generally quick.  Clinton Callahan of Small Reactions (and Hello Ocho) will also be performing as Palm Lines at 529 on Friday night (see below).  Newark Wilder, who just headlined a showcase set at The Mammal Gallery last week, open and if you miss them here, they'll be headlining at The Drunken Unicorn on March 26.

Marty Friedman, Holy Grail, Anger Within (Hell at The Masquerade) 
Marty Friedman began his career as a solo recording artist but is best known for his tenure as the lead guitarist for Megadeth, which spanned nearly all of the 1990s. Friedman has resided in Tokyo since 2003, where he has hosted Japanese television programs, and has continued to record solo records, often embarking on adventurous musical forays far removed from his work with Megadeth, including an album with new-ager Kitaro.  On this tour, he is supported by Holy Grail, a metal band out of San Diego. Atlanta's Anger Within fuses metal, hardcore, and militant, death-like vocals to create a brutal, non-compromising form of heavy thrash.

Beacon, Natasha Kmeto, Group Sound Therapy (Aisle 5)
Brooklyn duo Beacon explore the dark side of melody by fusing the deceptively sweet melodies of R&B with an intoxicating undercurrent of darkness, drawing on influences as disparate as Warp’s back catalogue and Underworld.  Natasha Kmeto is an electronic producer/vocalist dedicated to the art of emotional engagement, combining her sensuous voice with a dancefloor ethic.

Bernie Sanders (Morehouse College)
Vermont's Senator Bernie Sanders is a democratic socialist currently running for President of the United States of America.  His Feel The Bern Tour comes to Atlanta to engage students on his policies and platforms and to explain why he is the best candidate for the presidency.

Ides of June, Ghosts of the Kodiak, Paradigm, Elonzo Wesley (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
Atlanta's Ides of June have been influenced by many different styles of rock music and try to deliver as much soul, emotion, and all out rock 'n' roll energy as possible.  Ghosts of the Kodiak play indie-style rock, and Paradigm are a metal band from Kennesaw.  Singer-songwriter Jeremy Davis formed indie-rock band Elonzo Wesley after moving from Atlanta to Charlotte, naming the band after his father, and has released three LPs and two EP’s.

Bad Ash Allstar Team (Red Light Cafe)
Bad Ash Allstar Team is a community of Atlanta musicians that play frequent tribute jams, this time another tribute to the late David Bowie.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17

Grizfolk, Knox Hamilton, The Well Reds (Vinyl)
LA's Grizfolk are an alternative rock quintet with a distinctive sound that forges sharp, raw vocals with edgy electronic textures and heavy guitar and drums.  Their video for song Troublemaker merges themes from Thelma and Louise and The Walking Dead, and if I'm not mistaken, features the Walking Dead's Josh McDermitt (Eugene) as the character driving the car.  Little Rock's Knox Hamilton and Atlanta's Well Reds open.

Ballyhoo! (Terminal West)
Baltimore's Ballyhoo! are a rock band with punk energy and pop reggae grooves.

Digigost, Grand Prize Winners From Last Year, Meek Freaks, Erv Lockett (The Earl)

Digigost is the alternative/soul/industrial project of singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Jericko Digigost.  The sound of Atlanta's Grand Prize Winners From Last Year has been compared to Outkast-meets-Green Day; the band played a benefit show here at The Earl back on January 14.  Meek Freaks and Erv Lockett open.

Billy Joe Shaver (Eddie's Attic)
Texas troubadour and legendary outlaw Billy Joe Shaver's finest songs prowl and punch with welterweight fury, and his Long in the Tooth LP was voted best country album by Rolling Stone. This show has sold out, so if you're planning to go and don't have tickets, well . . .

Foxtrot & The Get Down, The Instructors, Bearing Torches, The Young & The Elder (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
As demonstrated on their debut EP Sold the Soul, Foxtrot & The Get Down has crafted a sound comprised of rock, blues, soul, and Americana.   The Instructors are an Atlanta collective spanning jazz, funk and reggae genres. Lead singer Jon Ellison of Kansas City's Bearing Torches pushes his powerful, jagged-edged vocals to soaring heights with Bon Jovi-like swagger, aided by driving guitar riffs and tribute chords.  The Young and the Elder compose songs with strong melodic lines, densely packed rhythms, and introspective lyrics about life's twists and turns, dead ends and successes.

The Gordon Vernick Quartet (Red Light Cafe)
Every Wednesday, The Gordon Vernick Quartet perform a few numbers then invite other musicians and singers to join them on stage for a jam session. The quartet features Kevin Bales on keyboard, Marlon Patton on drums, Craig Shaw on bass, and Dr. Gordon Vernick on trumpet.  There's no cover charge and plenty of free parking. Whether you're a professional or amateur musician, you're welcome to sit in; everyone who wants to perform will be given a chance to play.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18

★Nikki Hill, Southern Ska Syndicate (The Earl)

Nikki Hill’s unique voice mixes raw rock and soul dynamics with the strength, passion, and honesty of blues shouters of the past, creating a breath of fresh air with her authentic approach to American roots music.  Openers Southern Ska Syndicate just headlined the Hollyfest VIII at the Star Bar back on February 6.

Breaking Benjamin, Starset (The Tabernacle)

Wilkes-Barre's Breaking Benjamin was founded in 1999 and after several successful LPs, the band entered an extended hiatus in early 2010 due to the recurring illnesses of frontman Benjamin Burnley, who remained the sole member of the band until late 2014, when the band's current lineup was announced. Despite the lineup changes, Breaking Benjamin's formulaic hard rock style and angst-heavy lyrics, swelling choruses, and crunching guitars has remained remarkably consistent. Starset's musical style blends the progressive aspirations of Muse with the open-hearted approach of emo and muscular power of tourmates Breaking Benjamin; their style is described by founder Dustin Bates as "blending symphonics with electronics with riff-driven, baritone guitar hard rock." 

Morgan Heritage, Blackalicious (Terminal West)

Morgan Heritage, who have been called the "Royal Family of Reggae" and the "Rolling Stones of Reggae" (in large part due to their electric stage shows), have established themselves as one of the premiere live groups on the reggae circuit. Blackalicious is an American hip-hop duo from Sacramento made up of rapper Gift of Gab and DJ/producer Chief Xcel, noted for Gift of Gab's tongue-twisting, multisyllabic, complex rhymes and Chief Xcel's classic beats.

Ron Pope & The Nighthawks, Truett (Variety Playhouse)

Nashville-based artist Ron Pope crafts indie pop rock songs.  Opener Truett is a blues guitar virtuoso with a powerful singing voice.

Frosted Orange, The 200s, Samadha (529)
A funk/jazz show headlined by Frosted Orange, featuring ex-members of Atlanta's former Noot D'Noot. The 200 is a quartet featuring Atlanta Funk Society's Ian Newberry. Samadha, the jazz/improv vehicle for Little Tybee/Adron keyboardist Chris Case, opens.

Chris Case with Samadha at Smith's Olde Bar, January 20, 2012

denitia and sene, Keithcharles Spacebar, Haunted, Command (Aisle 5)
The chilled-out, futuristic, electro-soul vibes of Brooklyn duo denitia and sene moves seamlessly between pure pop, subdued electronica, and slinky R&B with a sound that brings to mind everything from Massive Attack and The Fugees to the shadowy late-night atmospherics of The XX.  Their LP His & Hers may have been one of the comfiest albums of 2013. Atlanta's Keithcharles Spacebar plays experimental hip-hop and soul.  Haunted and Command open.

Enforcer, Warbringer, Cauldron, Exmortus (Hell at The Masquerade)

Enforcer, a metal band from Stockholm, are supported on this tour by Ventura, California thrash metal band Warbringer.  Toronto's Cauldron and Whittier, California's Exmortus open.

Til Someone Loses An Eye, James Leg, The Bohannons (Star Community Bar)
Aileen Loy and her band, Til Someone Loses An Eye, just headlined the Bloody Valentines show at The Earl, and will play the Star Bar with Port Arthur, Texas' psychedelic punk-ass rock 'n' soul Fender Rhodes maniac James Leg. Openers The Bohannons are from Chattanooga and make heavy rock ’n’ roll that is equal parts Motörhead and Neil Young, with lead guitar chops that rival both.

Piper Lou-Renee, Hunger Valley String Band, Scott Low & The Southern Bouillon (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
The music of Kansas' Piper Lou-Renee, who has appeared on America's Got Talent, is a fusion of folk and country. The Hunger Valley String Quartet is a bluegrass quartet from Smyrna.  Athens' Scott Low has been writing and playing songs for a long time and has dabbled in punk, jazz, bluegrass, rock, blues, folk, Americana, and country.

Patrick Sweany, Rod Hamdallah, DC Rail (Music Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
On any given night, musical omnivore Patrick Sweany might swing through blues, folk, soul, bluegrass, maybe some classic 50s rock, or a punk speedball.  Atlanta's Rod Hamdallah has been tearing up southeast music halls with his delta blues and garage-rock sounds since he was 17. Openers DC Rail are a blues-rock band.

The Georgia Crackers & Rev. Jeff Mosier (Red Light Cafe)
The Frank Hamilton Folk School kicks off its inaugural concert series with a journey back to 1920s old-time and country music with The Georgia Crackers and a performance by Jeff Mosier, one of the more eclectic musicians Atlanta has to offer. A portion of the proceeds will benefit FHFS and its continuing development and community involvement.

Kristy Lee (Eddie's Attic)
Kristy Lee is an Alabama-based singer-songwriter known for her powerhouse vocals. Lee calls the pure, raw emotion of her sound dirt road soul.

Steve Baskin (Steve's Live Music)

Steve Baskin writes, records and plays a unique blend of smart, energetic pop and Americana rock 'n' roll. In 2015, Baskin released his third full-length release, Dead Rock Star.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19

★Pylon Reenactment Society, Dressy Bessy (The Earl)

I first discovered Athens' Pylon after moving to Atlanta back in 1981, and immediately fell in love with the band's new wave sound.  Pylon had everything: the propulsive, Sara Lee-style bass of Michael Lachowski, the post-punk guitar of Randall Bewley, but most especially and notably, the fiery vocals of Vanessa Briscoe. As much as fellow Athenians REM and the B-52s, Pylon's role as elder statesmen of alternative rock is unassailable.  Legend has it the band practiced in a studio in downtown Athens which they called the "40 Watt Club" as it was lit by a single 40-watt light bulb; the Athens nightclub takes its name from this legend.  Sadly, guitarist Randall Bewley passed away in 2009, but The Pylon Reenactment Society features their original vocalist, now Vanessa Briscoe Hay.  Opener Dressy Bessy is an indie band from Denver associated with the Elephant Six Collective (guitarist John Hill also plays with The Apples in Stereo). This year's Kingsized LP is their first in eight years.

Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam (Variety Playhouse)
Dave Mason was a founding member of the classic rock band Traffic along with Steve Winwood, although Mason's subsequent participation in the band was disjointed; he left the band following the recording of their 1967 debut album, Mr. Fantasy, only to rejoin halfway through the sessions for their next album, Traffic, after which he left again. Traffic later re-formed without Mason, although he went on and played and recorded with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Fleetwood Mac, Delaney Bramlett, and Mama Cass Elliot.  Feelin' Alright, one of Mason's best known songs, was recorded by Traffic in 1968 and later became a huge hit for Joe Cocker in 1969.  Mason also wrote the song Hole in My Shoe for Traffic, which was disliked by the other three members of the group, who felt that it did not represent the band's musical or lyrical style, and it sounds today almost like a parody of 60s psychedelic pop.  To my mind, Dave Mason was the more pop-oriented songwriter for Traffic, the Paul McCartney of the band if you will, while the rest of the band were more adventurous, experimental and jam-oriented. While Dave Mason is unquestionably rock royalty, it's ironic that he calls his band "Traffic Jam" considering his contentious  relationship with both Traffic and with jam sessions.

Excision, Figure (The Tabernacle)
Excision (Jeff Abel) is a Canadian dubstep producer and DJ.  Opener Figure is Evansville, Illinois' Joshua Gard's bass-heavy music project.

Larry League, Danny Wolf, Pollari, Lil Yachty (Heaven at The Masquerade)
Atlanta's Larry League is an alternative hip-hop/rap band consisting of Larry LoudPack, DJ Dolphin Tits, Bert Sausage, and Randy Provolone.  Atlanta's Danny Wolf opens, along with Pollari and Lil Yachty.  I'm no authority on alternative hip-hop, but do these guys really have a big enough following to warrant the big Heaven stage at the godforsaken Masquerade?

Archer, Dead Reckoning, Inviolate (Purgatory at The Masquerade) 
Santa Cruz's Archer delivers uncompromising and unrelenting ass-kicking hard rock and heavy metal music.   Dead Reckoning mixes old and new metal elements with the goal of creating something powerful, lasting and unique. Atlanta's Inviolate opens.

Chris Hunt, Deku, Palm Lines, Transcend All Identities (529)

Chris Hunt is an Atlanta-based producer who, following the dissolution of his band Cloudeater, began focusing on a new personal and intense sonic project, his Tomb and Tomb II EPs. This show will be the release party for Tomb.  Deku is Brett Leggitt, an Atlanta producer who makes loop-based experimental electronic music,and Palm Lines is Clinton Callahan of Hello Ocho and Small Reactions (see Tuesday night),  Transcend All Identities opens.

Finish Ticket, Vinyl Theatre, Irontom (Terminal West)
Finish Ticket is an alternative/indie pop band from the Bay Area. Vinyl Theatre are a Milwaukee-based quartet with a buoyant synth-based alternative-pop sound. Malibu's Irontom opens.

Zoogma, Turbo Suit (Terminal West)
A late-night EDM set at Terminal West.  Oxford, Mississippi's Zoogma's sound is an eclectic fusion of electronica, rock, jazz, world, and hip-hop.  Turbo Suit is a versatile Indianapolis trio that includes a live tenor sax in their electronic music.

★Salsa Chest, White Lion Shim Sung and the Lightning Orchestra, The Hecks, Vision Kaushik, Tan Korean (The Mammal Gallery) 
According to the good folks at The Mammal Gallery, Salsa Chest "gives your grandma the excuse she wanted to kick her slippers off and slide across the linoleum."  White Lion Shim Sung is a new Atlanta funk/afrobeat/pop super group led by Travis Murphy and backed by the deeply grooving Lightning Orchestra. The Hecks are "Chicago's finest weirdo best rock band" and have a tense, stripped down sonic sound that manages to be beautiful, distressing, and unique all within three to four minute spans.  Vision Kaushik allegedly always wants to be in a slow dance and Tan Korean is Giriami Deleuze.  If you want to know what any of all of this means, watch the video below or, better yet, go on down to South Broad Street and check it out for yourself.

Carrie Newcomer (Eddie's Attic)

Carrie Newcomer is an American singer, songwriter and author who has produced 15 solo CDs and has received numerous awards for her music and related charitable activities. She has collaborated with authors, academics, philosophers and musicians and in 2009 and 2011, she traveled to India as a cultural ambassador, including musical performances organized by the US State Department, and in 2012, she made a similar trip to Kenya on behalf of the Interfaith Hunger Initiative. Her range of causes, activities, collaborations and philosophies significantly influences her music.

Eliot Bronson, Caleb Caudle (Eddie's Attic)
Atlanta-by-way-of-Baltimore singer-songwriter Eliot Bronson will headline the late show at Eddie's. Winston-Salem's Caleb Caudle will open.

Wrenn, Zale, Kara Claudy (Music Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
Athens' Wrenn is armed with a voice that can be sultry, lilting, playful, or bold; her music can be B-52 quirky or Beatle melodic, but always fresh to the ear.  Zale is a young singer who combines her classical training with love of the blues narrative and rock 'n’ roll attitude.  Kara Claudy is an Atlanta-based singer-songwriter whose dynamic lyrics are informed by a multicultural identity and international upbringing.

Saturn Valley, Musical Mindz, Professor John (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
Athens' Saturn Valley has a distinct, improvisatory style with jazz, funk, synth-pop and heavy prog influences.  Musical Mindz are instrumentalists who play as an ensemble and occasionally back up vocalists. Atlanta bassist/producer Professor John combines electronic instrumentation and live bass guitar in hip-hop and R&B settings.

Barry Richman & Friends (Steve's Live Music)
Barry Richman, an Atlanta transplant from the Big Apple, has been performing his psychedelic blend of original music all over the Southeast.

Cissy, Robot Party, heY! ALLigator, Spines (Star Community Bar)
Headliners Cissy are a noise/grunge band from Atlanta who will be opening for Illegal Drugs at The Drunken Unicorn on March 4.  Robot Party (formerly the Rotating Point Source) is a five-piece rock/dance/pop band originally from Statesboro and now settled in Atlanta whose music draws on everything from Nirvana to Lady Gaga. heY! ALLigator is a variety/crunk/hip-hop/punk-rock duo from Auburn. Atlanta's Spines had to drop out of last week's showcase at the Mammal Gallery featuring Newark Wilder, but they plan to open this show.

FrazierBand, Kristina Murray, Battlefield Collective (Red Light Cafe)
FrazierBand inventively mix rock and newgrass via infectious hook-driven pop tunes, adding textures from a variety of influences, including jazz and psychedelic jam rock. Kristina Murray’s music is steeped in troubadour storytelling, southern rock grit, and the audible legacies of country queens of yesteryear. Battlefield Collective is high-energy, in yo' face mix of bluegrass, Americana, punk rock, and roots.

Cosmic Charlie (Aisle 5)
Athens' Cosmic Charlie claim to be a Grateful Dead cover band for folks that are ambivalent about Dead cover bands. Rather than mimicking the Dead exactly, Cosmic Charlie taps into the Dead's energy and style as a foundation on which to build.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20

Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Mike Doughty (Variety Playhouse)

Colorado's Big Head Todd & The Monsters will bring their good-time, jam-band sound to Variety Playhouse, supported by Mike Doughty, formerly of Soul Coughing.

Soul Coughing at Criminal Records, 1994

Corey Smith, Lanco (The Tabernacle)

Georgia's Corey Smith is an Americana singer and guitarist.  Nashville's Lanco were described by Rolling Stone as "country's Imagine Dragons, full of arena-ready pop hooks and chant-along choruses."

Andrew Ripp, Swear & Shake, Act As If (Vinyl)

Andrew Ripp is a singer/songwriter from Chicago.  Nashville's Swear & Shake play postcard-perfect indie folk with an undercurrent of sly humor.  LA's Act As If open.

Daley (Center Stage)

24-year-old UK singer-songwriter is redefining the way R&B and soul not only looks but sounds and feels. This is a re-scheduled show from October 5, 2015.  

Agent Orange, In The Whale, El Capitan and the Band With No Name (The Earl)

Agent Orange, the original SoCal punk/surf power trio, is one of only a handful of bands who have been continually active since the earliest days of the West Coast punk scene. In the Whale is a high energy, two-piece rock band from Denver.  El Capitan and the Band With No Name will open with their strange mixture of spaghetti western trumpets, surf-rock drums and reverb drenched electric guitars.

Yamin Semali, Boog Brown, Melaphyre Etheoryall, Dirty Rotten, Willi Dudat, DJ Rock Most (529)

Yamin Semali is a member of hip-hop collective Clan Destined, as well as a solo performer.  Boog Brown is Atlanta-by-way-of-Detroit artist and musician Elsie Swann.  Atlanta's Melaphyre Etheoryall make soulful revolutionary hip hop.  Dirty Rotten are New York City's Joe Stu and Atlanta's Shred TVT fusing together the raw grittiness of the dirty south with the rugged realness of the hip hop’s birthplace.  Atlanta's Willi Dudat opens and DJ Rock Most will provide a DJ set.

This is your brain on EDM

ScottyATL, Spodee, QuickTrip (Hell at The Masquerade)
A showcase featuring three rising, up-and-coming, Atlanta rappers.

G Jones, Bleep Bloop, Yheti (Terminal West)
An EDM bass show headlined by Santa Cruz's G Jones.  Support act Bleep Bloop is a bass music producer out of Northern California and the founder and head of 710 Records.  Yheti is the bass fusion project of Ohio's Tyler Holler.

Studio Le Bradshaw, Lady of the Lake (Atlanta Room at Smith's Olde Bar)
Studio le Bradshaw is the pet project of Alex Bradshaw. His upcoming debut album draws influence from 60's British  folk and psychedelia like Davey Graham and The Moody Blues, as well as modern artist such as Johnny Flynn and Fleet Foxes. Lady of the Lake front woman Emily Stilwell's gentle jazz chords and crooning, yet powerful voice are fortified with an impressive lead guitar and string instruments.

Blood on the Harp, Ex-Wives, Cold Heart Canyon, Revenge Beach (Star Community Bar)
Blood On The Harp is an Americana/bluegrass band from Atlanta.  Ex-Wives call their sound "outlaw shoegaze;" this will be an EP release show for  the Atlanta quartet. Fold Heart Canyon are a bluegrass/pop band, and Athens' Revenge Beach will open with some surf rock, desert rock, and spaghetti-western and Italian-horror soundtracks. On a related note, don't you agree that the Star Bar consistently produces the best show posters?

Sonia Leigh, Carl Anderson (Eddie's Attic)

Singer-songwriter Sonia Leigh relocated to Nashville in 2012 from her longtime home of Atlanta, and quickly won over the approval of audiences there with her gritty vocal delivery and bold, disarmingly honest approach to songwriting. Carl Anderson melds classic Nashville instrumentation, Muscle Shoals flourishes, and West Texas poeticism into "a perfectly balanced musical pastiche."

John Hammond, Amy Black (Eddie's Attic)
Blues legend John Hammond remains one of the world's premier acoustic blues artists. A Blues Hall Of Fame inductee with 33+ albums to date, he is one of a handful of artists who can say they have been steadily working and recording for over 50 years.  Muscle Shoals' Amy Black will open this late show at Eddie's.

Escape Vehicle, The By Gods (Red Light Cafe)
Escape Vehicle play gritty, down-home, whiskey-drenched rock 'n' roll with a touch of outlaw country. Nashville-based band The By Gods breed hook-laden, roll-your-windows-down rock, respectfully reminiscent of their early- to mid-90’s alternative predecessors.

Scarlett Hill, Jimmy T (Steve's Live Music)
Scarlett Hill is a country band built on modern folk and Americana roots, and driven by tight harmonies and twangy guitars and banjos. Jimmy T has been performing Americana decades before the genre even had a name and blends the core elements of Americana - rock, country, R&B, and folk.

Yuppie Scum Band (Steve's Live Music)
Frustrated bankers, techies and lawyers by day, the Yuppie Scum Band will entertain a late-night audience at Steve's with a collection of favorite classic rock, dance, and party tunes.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21

Voivod, Vector, Eight Bells, Death of Kings (Heaven at The Masquerade)
The musical style of band's band Voivod has changed several times since their origin in Quebec back in the early 1980s, and there's still no one else quite like them.  Starting out as a speed metal band, Voivod have subsequently added a mix of progressive metal and thrash metal to create their own unique metal style.  For this show, they will be supported by Philadelphia progressive thrash metal outfit Vector, and Portland.'s Eight Bells, who explore the dark sonic realms with ethereal, haunting female vocals. Openers Death of Kings are an Atlanta-based metal band.

Mother's Finest, Von Grey (Terminal West)

Mother's Finest;s sound has been described as a fusion of funk, rock, gospel, R&B, metal, and jazz, and as "Afro-Euro mosaic soul electric."  Von Grey, Alpharetta's indie-folk quartet of young sisters, have appeared on David Letterman, but still deserve greater recognition.

Von Grey at Oakland Cemetery, May 20, 2012

Native Suns, Auspice, Capillaries. No Way Out, Fuiste (Purgatory at The Masquerade)
A showcase featuring five rising, up-and-coming Atlanta rock bands. Native Suns play alternative rock and will be headlining this show, and Auspice list their genres as "alternative, punk, indie, emo, whatever."  Capillaries are an instrumental quartet.  Our Way Out is an alternative rock band from Acworth that formed in 2013.  Fuiste will open with loud collage rock.

Johnny A (Eddie's Attic)
Massachusetts-based guitarist and bandleader Johnny A has been captivating serious students of the six-string guitar from working-class bars to international amphitheaters and his virtuosity has earned him the rare honor of having his name placed on a signature Gibson guitar.

Malcolm Holcombe, Nine Years Apart (Red Light Cafe)

Malcolm Holcombe, a folk/Americana performer of national stature, celebrates the release of his new album Another Black Hole.  Nine Years Apart are a duo out of Decatur consisting of Justin Hylton on guitar and vocals and Jessica Almand on fiddle and vocals.