Atlanta Music Guide

Music Man: Bands-Obama Can Teach You Something

This isn't a political blog, I swear.
Last night as I was watching Barack Obama bring 80,000 plus people to their collective knees in Denver's Mile High Stadium, it occurred to me that from a sheer marketing standpoint, he did exactly what I tell bands aspiring towards world domination to do on a regular basis. After honing in on what his message and mission would be, his "sound" if you will, Barack Obama started building a small, organic fan-base, and grew it from there using innovative techniques via the Web and other technologies. In the process, he collected the names of everyone who supported him and constantly stayed in touch with them, telling them where he was and what he was doing on an almost daily basis. He made his fans feel as if they were a part of something very important--a movement, and consequently he insured that those who were beginning to catch on to his message stayed loyal, and continued investing in him. Once his base was established, he needed to grow it. And he did that the old fashion way...A lot of touring, a lot of playing to half-filled rooms, and a lot of sleepless nights, along with a plethora of scrutiny and criticism. There were, I'm sure, several "off nights", but he endured, his message got stronger and his performance masterful, and the payoff has been great...Fast forward eighteen months and he's filling stadiums, and bringing down the house on a nightly basis, and oh yeah, he will most likely become the leader of the free world.
Bands take note, maybe there's something to be learned from politics after all.
-mm
Currently Listening Ponderosa"I Don't Mind"

Bow Wow Show CANCELED

The October 10 show of Bow Wow as Shad Moss at The Tabernacle has been canceled. No rescheduled date will be announced. Refunds are availible at the point of purchase. For more information contact LiveNation.

Trouble Shooting with Palmettos Pt. 2

"I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. Life moves pretty fast. And if you don’t stop to look around every once in a while, you just might miss something.”

Sometimes, the remedy is as simple as a good road trip. If anything, only to get away from your problems and routine for a few days. Different towns give a different perspective on shit- tomfoolery and a tan doesn’t hurt either.

Riding in The Hiss van has always been a treat. I’ve been from England to Austin with these boys and theirs always sparks of brilliance out of a necessity from boredom. Truck stops usually providing comic relief. Wacky t-shirts and whacked out locals never dim the applause light. Or George Reece (bass) explaining the truck stop chapels- Actual tractor trailers that have been transformed into roadside holy hot boxes, sometimes with a kick-ass mural on the side with Jesus, maybe truckers, and if you’re lucky, a lightning bolt. He says they have pews inside but no preacher, just a T.V. and VCR with a tape you pop in. I ask would it be wrong to steal the tape?

TV on the Radio

Brooklyn's TV on the Radio are ready to follow up the success of 2006's Return to Cookie with Dear Science; their third full length album which will be released on September 23. In support of their new album, the quintet will hit the road for a national tour starting in September. TV on the Radio will perform at The Tabernacle on October 25. Find tickets!

Check out a sample from their funky new single "Golden Age."

Golden Age - TV On The Radio

Eat Like a Rockstar

Starting tonight at 10pm, you can indulge in some of your favorite rockers late night treats at Denny's. Yes, Denny's. The Americana eatery has teamed up with Plain White T's, All- American Rejects, Taking Back Sunday, and Eagles of Death Metal to create a rocker friendly late night menu. Such dishes like Taking Back Burger Bacon Fries, and Plain White Shake will be available from 10pm -5am. The entire vibe of the restaurant will also transform during those late night hours, when the jukebox switches from soft pop to alternative rock, and the staff exchanges their aprons for t-shirts and jeans. It is sure to be a show in itself.

Music Man: If It Sounds Good It Is Good

To bite a line from Atlanta's very own Mayor of Ponce (who bit it from David Lee Roth), "If it sounds good it is good"...we're talking of course about music, and the various genres and sub-genres that have come into being over the past century.

In doing what I do, I spend a lot of time with very young artists, and one thing I've noticed is how open to all types of music the younger generation is. It really is cool rolling though an 18 year-old's iPod and seeing everything from Justin Timberlake to Oasis to T.I. to The Academy Is...You see, they don't care what you, or I, or anyone else think about how cool or uncool their collection is, because to them it sounds good, therefore it is good, and who cares how it's perceived by others? And isn't that how it should be? They weren't even born when Diamond Dave coined his phrase, but somehow they get it, and I think it's awesome. That's not to say that this mentality is limited only to people in their teens, it just seems like people like me who were raised in the 80's had a problem stepping outside the boundaries of whatever genre they were into at the time. If you liked The Cure, for example, then you probably didn't admit to liking Sir Mix-a-lot (even if you were like me and devoured both at break-neck speed). Or if you were into REM, Motley Crue was probably not simultaneously in your CD player, that is at least when your friends came over.

Point is, music shouldn't be about how others perceive you when looking at your collection, it should be about how it makes you feel and how it moves you when you listen to it. David Lee got it, and so does an entire new generation of music lovers--and that can only be good for music as a whole.
-MM
Current Listening: Kings of Leon "Sex On Fire" Tyga "First Timers" Port Obrien "I Woke Up Today"

Kevin Devine and Matt Pryor play Vinyl

Kevin Devine is pop tunesmith in the realm of Michael Penn and Pete Yorn. His melodies are warm and infectious. His songs are clever, yet without an ounce of pretension. It is this fact that distinguishes him from the likes of Conor Oberst. Lately, he's taken on a more political tone, releasing the 7" "Another Bag of Bones," backed with the Phil Ochs' cover, "Love Me, I'm a Liberal." Devine is currently on tour, backed by The Goddamn Band, and they bring their act to Atlanta on Thursday, August 29th, when they play at Vinyl, opening for Matt Pryor, who fronted the Get-Up Kids and the New Amsterdams, as well as the children's band, The Terrible Twos. He recently released his first solo CD, Confidence Man.



Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 on the day of the show. Be forewarned, this show is only for people who appreciate great pop.

Tuesdays with Clay Cook

Beginning tomorrow night Atlanta's own Clay Cook will embark on a three week tour around town in promotion of his new album, The Year I Grew Up. Every Tuesday night, Cook will perform at some of Atlanta's most unique and best local music venues. Cook will also be joined by some of the city's greatest musicians. Don't miss it!

August 26- Eddies Attic- Be a part of Clay's live record recording and see Emily Kate Boyd open. Show starts at 8pm.
September 2- Kavarna- Clay will be joined by Oliver Wood (The Wood Brothers), Nick Niespodziani (Y-O-U), and Aslyn.
September 9- Smith's Olde Bar- Official CD release party, including an opening performance by Nic Cowan and Clay playing with a full band. Find Tickets!

Check out AMG's CD Review of The Year I Grew Up.

American Iold Blake Lewis coming to Atlanta

American Idol's Blake Lewis will perform at Vinyl on Monday October 20th (tickets) - Blake released his first CD, post-Idol entitled Audio Day Dream. If you want to hear what it sounds like visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7Y1L0ogUJs

Tickets are only $10.00 in advance. Support comes from LA-based Carlotta

Bill Morrissey -- Come Running

Bill Morrisey
Come Running
Turn and Spin

by Al Kaufman

Bil Morrissey is a storyteller. His songs can be seen as well as heard. He sings of small people in small towns doing or thinking small things. The net result is also something small; in the same way that a polished diamond is also small. Morrisey's songs glitter just as brightly. They are tiny gems filtered through a voice as worn and weathered as the New Hampshire mountains he calls home. He has even written a novel about small town folks, Edson, and is friends with literary recluse Cormac McCarthy, who plays harmonica on the new CD.