Atlanta Music Guide

Additional Date Announced for Floor at The EARL (April 3 and 4)

Floor, the early-'90s sludge rocker band that paved the way for bands like Torche and House of Lightning, have been selling tickets at a crazy rate for their upcoming show at The EARL on April 3. So the good folks at the venue have added another date on April 4. Tickets are on sale now at Ticket Alternative (April 3 and April 4), and are sure to all go long before the shows' dates.

The Black Swan Effect

The Black Swan Effect are an exciting English band signed to Peter Gabriel's Real World Records. The band features ex-Reef drummer Dominic Greensmith and relative newcomer Gareth Hale. Former Reef guitarist Kenwyn House joined the band most recently for a South African tour with Peter Gabriel. (you might remember the band Reef from their big hit 'Place Your Hands')

You can listen to some of the band's songs on their Myspace page www.myspace.com/TheBlackSwanEffect  - there are definitely some Radiohead influences in there, especially on the track 'Come Home'.

Here's the video for the song Rat In A Cage

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The Black Swan Effect | MySpace Music Videos

News Update

By Kevin C. Madigan

Mute Records has just announced that Goldfrapp's fifth album, Head First, will be released on March 23, 2010, preceded by the single 'Rocket' on March 9. The label is calling it "Goldfrapp's most powerful trip to date, a speedy rush of synth optimism, euphoria, fantasy and romance." We'll see about that when the time comes....Chapel Hill band Spider Bags comes to The Star Bar on December 9. The current album is called Goodbye Cruel World, Hello Crueler World (Birdman Records) and it just makes you want to cry in your beer....The Whigs, from Athens, offer two new songs - "In The Dark" and "Hundred/Million" - for free download, and on December 4 they will play at Variety Playhouse, a set that will no doubt include these and other tunes from their new album, also called In The Dark....Also coming through town will be Nitzer Ebb, touring with a project they are calling Industrial Complex and presenting a new look, new live show and a new line-up. The gig is at The Masquerade on December 10....No tour dates set for this guy, but good news anyhow: Ryko has announced the U.S. release of Seasick Steve’s Man From Another Time on March 16.  Seasick Steve has a platinum-selling album in the UK (I Started Out With Nothin’ And I Still Got Most Of It Left) as well as being a Brit Award nominee and the winner of Mojo’s Best Breakthrough Act award....Boston punkers Street Dogs are setting off on their Wreck the Halls tour in an effort to entice you into the holiday spirit. On behalf of Toys For Tots, the lads will accept new, unwrapped toys for children in need. Do your bit. It all happens at The Masquerade on December 12....Check out the new music video for the song "Sugar Pill" from The Bravery. The new album Stir The Blood just came out....The ninth annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival will take place on June 10 - 13, 2010, and will again be held at the same 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tenn., south of Nashville. Ticket pre-sales are now going on and will last until 11:59 p.m. eastern time on December 31....

Keni Thomas singing the National Anthem at the World Series

I first met Keni Thomas around 2000 when I was in my band Film. His band at the time was Cornbread. We were both working hard promoting and managing our own bands and our paths crossed several times and we played a few gigs together. He's also a a former member of the US Amy's Elite Task Force Ranger Unit who earned a bronze star for valor at the Somalia battles, recounted in the movie Black Hawk Down.

Check out the video below of Keni singing the National Anthem at Game 1 of the World Series in New York and the video for his new single Gunslinger

U2 announce new 360 Tour dates for 2010

U2 will be back on the road in 2010 and have announced more US tour dates. For ticket on sale information visit www.U2.com

U2 360° TOUR 2010 North American Dates

6-June Anaheim, CA
On sale soon

12-June Denver, CO
On sale Nov. 6

16-June Oakland, CA
Presale opens Oct. 27th
On sale Nov. 2

20-June Seattle, WA
On sale soon

23-June Edmonton, AB
Presale opens Oct. 27th
On sale Nov. 2

30-June East Lansing, MI
On sale soon

03-July Toronto, ON
Presale opens Oct 27th
On sale Nov. 2

06-July Chicago, IL
On sale soon

09-July Miami, FL
On sale soon

12-July Philadelphia, PA
On sale soon

16-July Montreal, QC
On sale soon

19-July New York
On sale soon

If you missed the live webcast of the Rose Bowl show from Sunday October 25th, you can still catch it at www.youtube.com/u2

Rock Band comes to the iPhone

Looking for a little music this Monday? Well here it is! Rock Band is now available for the iPhone or iPod Touch for $9.99 from the app store. The initial download comes with 20 songs and additional songs/bundles are available to purchase. The game uses the same format. Just use your thumbs to strum the notes and shake the iPhone for extra points.

Official site: www.rockband.com/games/iphone

Download from iTunes


There are 4 ways to play, with a variety of levels. Multiplayer via Wi-Fi is also available.

Song List

    * 30 Seconds to Mars - “Attack”
    * AFI - “Girls Not Grey”
    * All American Rejects - “Move Along”
    * Beastie Boys - “Sabotage”
    * Blink 182 - “All the Small Things”
    * Blondie - “Hanging on the Telephone”
    * Foo Fighters - “Learn to Fly”
    * Foo Fighters - “Everlong”
    * George Thorogood and the Destroyers - “Bad to the Bone”
    * Jethro Tull - “Hymn 43”

    * Joan Jett - “Bad Reputation”
    * Lynyrd Skynyrd - “Simple Man”
    * Motörhead - “Ace of Spades”
    * Rise Against - “Give It All”
    * Silversun Pickups - “Lazy Eye”
    * Steve Miller Band - “Take the Money and Run”
    * The Pixies - “Debaser”
    * The Presidents of the United States of America - “Ladybug”
    * The Go Go’s - “We Got The Beat”
    * Smashing Pumpkins - “Cherub Rock”

Get Out of the Garage Music Contest

Converse and Journeys have a pretty cool contest going on right now that could see your band playing a 'festival in Austin' come March. Last year's winners, Flying Machines, signed to EMI Records. This March, they’ll play for thousands of fans at a music festival in Austin.

Enter your band before November 22nd at www.getoutofthegaragemusiccontest.com

Win the Collector's Editions of Radiohead's Kid A, Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief

We've got an incredible giveaway up for grabs. One lucky Radiohead fan will win a prize pack of all three recently released collector's editions of Kid A, Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief. Each set includes a bonus CD of live versions, session tracks and other unreleased goodies. We'll be reviewing the CDs here so stay tuned for some sneak peaks. You can get a taste now by checking out the streams of some Kid A tracks by clicking the links below.

"Everything In It's Right Place"

"National Anthem"

"Optimistic" (Live)

To win, just shoot us an email at win@ticketalternative.com - we'll pick the winner in a couple of weeks.

We Celebrate Beatles Day: Win a Beatles Lithograph!

We're exited about Beatles Day (today, September 9, 2009. Yup, 9/9/09). Their Rock Band is coming out, the extra-special, super-awesome remasters are coming out (see below), and it's all a great excuse for actual "music" networks (ahem, VH1) to play something music-related (the amazing "Anthology" documentary is a must), and for folks to throw Beatles-related events (like our Beatles Rock Band tent at Atlanta Arts Festival oh September 12-13 and Criminal Records' Beatles Day extravaganza). And for giveaways.

Still with me? All those parentheses didn't make your head bleed? Good. Cos I'll make it worth your while. We're giving away a gorgeous Beatles lithograph (of the iconic image above) to one lucky winner. Simply email us at win@ticketalternative.com with the word "Beatles" in the subject - and do it quickly, because we'll be drawing a winner before the day is out!

Pre-Sale Details for Band of Horses' December 30 and 31 Shows at The Tabernacle

 We have the details for Band of Horses' annual New Year's Eve shows, coming to The Tabernacle this December 30 and 31. Presented by OK Productions and Windstorm Productions, the shows will have a presale on Wednesday, August 26 (tomorrow!) at 10 a.m. on Live Nation, which fans can access with the password NIGHTRAINBOW. At this presale, you can also get a two-day pass, but you gotta grab them quick because there is a limited number of discounted ones available.

Tickets go on sale to everyone else on Friday, August 28. For those coming from out of town, or for the lucky few who are just happy to stay in town for the night, The Highland Inn is offering 10% off their rooms for Band of Horses concert goers.