Atlanta Music Guide

Leila's Three Picks of the Week - Halloween Edition!

Here's what I'd be checking out this weekend for Halloween if I were you. We're gonna pop up some videos this time around so you get a chance to hear the band's I'm gushing about right off the bat.

Atlanta's own Constellations just got signed to Virgin Records and are surely headed on to much greatness with their hip, indie-funk sound. They'll be playing the bawdy event "The Most Legendary Halloween Party You Will Ever Attend" this Saturday in Atlanta so catch them then if you can - tickets are available here.

Modern Skirts

Modern Skirts | MySpace Video

The Modern Skirts have been making all kinds of good music up in Athens, from glorious indie pop to tribal drumming madness. They play Smith's Olde Bar - tickets are here.

Travelers of their own funky galaxy, Noot D' Noot play The EARL with rock 'n' rollers Gentleman Jesse and His Men. Get your tickets here.

The Whiskey Gentry Premiers Video at Star Bar Tonight!

Catch The Whiskey Gentry tonight at Star Bar. They'll be showing their new video "Four Horsemen" - which we reported on from behind the scenes earlier. Also playing is Blair Crimmins & the Hookers and Chris Unck and the Black Roses. It's sure to be a killer - especially with the scary holiday coming up!

Van Hunt and Patterson Hood Just Announced for Andrews Upstairs Shows

This upcoming month is an exciting one for Andrews Upstairs. The venue just announced two big hitters for shows in November.

Van Hunt will play with Janie Chu and the Jaspects on November 20. Tickets are available at Ticket Alternative.

Then the very next night, Drive-By Truckers founder Patterson Hood will play with Connor Christian. Tickets are available at Ticket Alternative.

Live Review: Y-O-U's Last Show, October 10 @ Smith's Olde Bar

By Leila Regan-Porter

I really should have written this weeks ago. But it's been a bit of a tough one to write. It's fair to say that I have been putting it off.

Let me begin by saying I don't like reading "personal" reviews with first person references. Unless it's on your own blog, or you have a column specific to you, then there should be no appearance of the dreaded "I." This is obviously an exception. Y-O-U was one of the first - if not the first - local band I ever became a true fan of. They were the first band I wanted to put on the cover of the magazine I used to edit, Southeast Performer. And now they are the first local band I admired to break up. 

It's almost like a coming-of-age period in one's life. It happens to every music fan. Paste even dedicated their last 1690 AM radio show to Georgia bands who should have been huge, but broke up before they managed to make good on the possibilities; they started off the show with Y-O-U.

CD Review: The Low Anthem -- Oh My God, Charlie Darwin; Playing with Blind Pilot at The EARL November 4

The Low Anthem
Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
Nonesuch

By Al Kaufman

The Low Anthem recorded Oh My God, Charlie Darwin in a log cabin in the middle of a harsh Rhode Island winter. And while it is bleak at times, it is also riveting, loud, and, best of all, never boring. In fact, it is downright brilliant.

Ben Knox Miller's falsetto is featured in the opener, "Charlie Darwin," a gorgeous chamber-sounding song that chills through the skin. The following "To Ohio" is a lovely hushed ballad, while "Ticket Taker" recalls the folk poetry of an early Leonard Cohen. "I am a ticket taker/Many tickets have I torn/And I will be your ark/We will float above the storm." The main character in the song is even named Marianne.

The Atlanta Creative Projects' Night of Music and Photography

Local photographer Neda Abghari has been putting together some great pieces for the Atlanta Creatives Project, which features some of Atlanta's greatest DJs and producers (like Dres The Beatnik and Rob Wonder) photographed in their studios with the favorite childhood objects. There will also be some great shots of local musicians like Snoden and Black Lips. And to top it all off, DJs Kemit, Cullen and more will be spinning some wicked tunes. Join them on November 6 at the Art Department at Studioplex.

Music Man--What's Next?

I recently asked a group of people who I knew to be true music fans what they thought the next wave of music will be. In other words, what style of music will unseat the current crop of pop music that is selling like gangbusters? Everyone answered exactly the same; they said it’s the one or two-man electronic artists that will continue to break through and catch on in the mainstream ala Owl City and others like them. While that may be true (and wow I hope it isn’t), I couldn’t help but think that that style is what’s partially current right now, but it was The Postal Service who started this sound back in 2003 when they released their groundbreaking record “Give Up," hence spawning many imitators, with only one or two really breaking out. Obviously, that sound isn’t all that’s popular now, but the point is that one band laid the groundwork for others to come and capitalize on, and I’m curious to know who the ground-laying band is right now that is going to pave the way for the next big sound, or maybe be the next big sound themselves.

Young Blood Gallery and Boutique Launch Online Store INDI-e BOUTIQUE, Throw a Party

Atlanta's Young Blood Gallery and Boutique in the Poncey-Highland 'hood is launching their online store INDI-e BOUTIQUE on November 7, and are throwing a party to celebrate! It all kicks off at Young Blood with an art opening (Yi-Hsin Tzeng’s “My Magazine Project”) and then carries on at The Highland Ballroom Lounge with a burlesque troop (Ginger Collins & the Garter Girls), bands (SONEN and Nick Ogawa) and a DJ (DJ Keith Evans)

CD Review: Elise Witt -- Valise

Elise Witt
Valise
EMWorld Records

By Al Kaufman

Elise Witt is one of those local treasures that nobody knows about. The multi-linguist from Switzerland, who has called Atlanta home since 1977, has been a cultural ambassador to South Africa, China, Italy, Nicaragua and Switzerland, represented Georgia for the Kennedy Center's 25th Anniversary Celebration, has studied under Bobby McFerrin, sung under the direction of Robert Shaw for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus for 20 years, created singing workshops for adults and children all over the globe, and hosted musicians from outside countries to play locally.

CD Review: The King Khan and BBQ Show -- Invisible Girl; Playing Star Bar November 4

The King Khan and BBQ Show

Invisible Girl

In the Red Records

By Bryan Aiken

Once and current bandmates Arish Khan and Mark Sultan have made a rich and respected history of historically-accurate rock ‘n’ roll thuggery. Since their graduation from the '90s punk outfit The Spaceshits, the Canadian duo have reformed and refashioned into pompous frontman and “Supreme Genius” King Khan, and be-turbaned drummer-guitarist-vocalist BBQ, respectively. The names may have changed, but little else has budged; the Show’s third album, Invisible Girl, is the classic, unshaven garage-gospel you could have seen staggering up a mile away.