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Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > January
January 2008
Tritt and Stuart together again in Savannah
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Marty Stuart. Photo: Jim Arndt
The Savannah Music Festival announced yesterday that Marty Stuart, originally scheduled to perform with the late Porter Wagoner, has asked Georgia country great Travis Tritt to join him for an acoustic duo performance. The show will take place on March 21 at Savannah’s Lucas Theatre for the Arts.
Stuart and Tritt have a long history together. They performed together on “The Whisky Ain’t Workin’,” from Tritt’s 1991 album “It’s All About to Change.” Then Stuart released the album “This One’s Gonna Hurt You (For a Long, Long Time)” in 1992, with the title track another duet with Tritt. The title track of Stuart’s 1996 album, “Honky Tonkin’s What I Do Best,” found him singing with Tritt again. The pair toured together in the early ’90s, too, about the time when both musicians were enjoying some of their biggest chart successes.
Stuart is one of country’s most respected traditionalists, despite the variety of styles he’s tackled. He was also the president of the Country Music Foundation, which oversees the Country Music Hall of Fame, from 1996 until 2002.
Marietta native Tritt infused country with a touch of Southern rock on his 1990 debut, and soon took up residence near the top of the country charts with songs such as “I’m Gonna Be Somebody” and “Here’s a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares).” His latest album, “The Storm,” was released in August 2007.
The 19th annual Savannah Music Festival, which runs March 20-April 5, covers a wide array of musical genres from bluegrass to jazz to classical. Among the highlights at this year’s edition are “The World of Slide Guitar” — with Jerry Douglas, Derek Trucks, Indian classical musician Debashish Bhattacharya and acoustic guitar master and world music scholar Bob Brozman — and the world premiere of a new work by Police drummer Stewart Copeland.
Visit the festival’s official site for tickets and more information about the schedule.
Avril coming to Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Pop-rocker Avril Lavigne is playing Philips Arena April 18, and tickets go on sale this Saturday.
The question is: Why does Avril Lavigne seem like so many Saturdays ago?
Maybe it’s Britney fatigue, or that Lavigne’s peers (of sorts), like Christina Aguilera, are becoming better known as wives - as is Lavigne now- and moms, and tabloid staples, but that whole Avril/Britney/Christina/Pink/Jessica Simpson and whomever else feels like a musical moment that’s passed.
Sure, it’s hard to minimize the fact that Lavigne has sold nearly 30 million albums in her three-CD career. Or put the final nail in her professionally when - come one - she’s only 23.
But…Well, what do you think? Does Avril have the potential to transition into an adult recording artist, like Justin? Or will she forever be the “Sk8rboi” girl in your head?
R.E.M. Dates Announced
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Photo: Laura Noel/AJC Staff
R.E.M. has announced the first batch of dates for the upcoming North American tour. They’ll be touring to support upcoming new album, “Accelerate,” out April 1. The band has also revealed that Modest Mouse and the National will be opening the shows. No word yet about on-sale dates, but we’ll let you know as soon as those are announced.
The hot news for Atlantans is the June 21 date at the newly re-christened Lakewood Amphitheater. Here’s the list, straight from R.E.M.’s official site:
May
23 — Vancouver, Deer Lake Park
29 — Los Angeles, Hollywood Bowl
31 — Berkeley, the Greek Theatre
June
3 — Denver, Red Rocks Amphitheatre
6 — Chicago, United Center
8 — Toronto, Molson Amphitheatre
10 — Raleigh, Walnut Creek Amphitheatre
11 — Washington, D.C., Merriweather Post Pavilion
13 — Boston, Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts
14 — Long Island, Jones Beach Theater
18 — Philadelphia, Mann Center for the Performing Arts
19 — New York City, TBA
21 — Atlanta, Lakewood Amphitheatre
Rate the NHL All-Star Music
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There was rapper-singer-producer Wyclef Jean on a musical and political tear at the Tabernacle, the Disney sensation the Jonas Brothers (above) on stage at Philips Arena and Atlanta’s five-time Grammy nominee Ne-Yo actually on the ice at Philips, fearlessly trotting out some of his best Michael Jackson moves.
That - plus The Hives (Sunday), the Halftime Live marching band (Sunday and Saturday), Ne-Yo again at a private party (Saturday), the Old 97’s (Saturday) and OneRepublic (Thursday) - made for a wide range of musical offerings this past weekend, all here courtesy of the NHL All-Star weekend.
Did you check out any of the shows? Pleasantly surprised? Really disappointed? Or how about this: Happen to learn anything about hockey just by attending one of the concerts?
The Hives and Ne-Yo at NHL All-Star
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Playing “Tick, Tick, Boom”, rockers the Hives kicked off the NHL All-Star Game at Philips Arena Sunday with a literal bang.
It was the first of two riveting performances of the evening. The Hives’ was such because of the sheer energy of the song. As for Atlanta R&B superstar Ne-Yo’s - who played after the second intermission - one couldn’t help but pay close attention just to see if someone would fall.
Unlike the Hives, on a stage, the singer came out on the ice - along with his midriff-baring dancers and the Halftime Live Marching Band. To his credit, Ne-Yo seemed to be unphased by the surely unusual conditions, hitting Michael Jackson steps and spins as he sang “Because of You.”
If you were there, what did you think of the musical performances? Better yet, if you’re a hockey fan who goes to see the games in general, how often do you hear R&B played?
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The Hives and Ne-Yo at NHL All-Star
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Playing “Tick, Tick, Boom”, rockers the Hives kicked off the NHL All-Star Game at Philips Arena Sunday with a literal bang.
It was the first of two riveting performances of the evening. The Hives’ was such because of the sheer energy of the song. As for Atlanta R&B superstar Ne-Yo’s - who played after the second intermission - one couldn’t help but pay close attention just to see if someone would fall.
Unlike the Hives, on a stage, the singer came out on the ice in a drum major costume- along with his midriff-baring dancers and the Halftime Live Marching Band. To his credit, Ne-Yo seemed to be unphased by the surely unusual conditions, hitting Michael Jackson steps and spins as he sang “Because of You.”
If you were there, what did you think of the musical performances? Better yet, if you’re a hockey fan who goes to see the games in general, how often do you hear R&B played?
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All-Star: All Screams for Jonas Bros.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ahhhhh…There’s nothing like the screech of boy-crazy adolescence in the morning to wake you right up.
Or for hockey-crazed boys, seeing their favorite NHL players up close, in one venue.
And for those teen girls and boys dads, well, let’s just say quite a few Bud and Miller Lites were being sold Saturday morning at Philips Arena, even though the clock hadn’t even struck 10 a.m. .
That was some of the sights, sounds and sips happening at the Verizon Wireless/NHL Rockin Skate Saturday at Philips; where hockey was supposed to be the focus of this NHL All-Star Weekend event, but the loudest screams were for the Jonas Brothers. And when the pop-rock trio actually got on stage for their closing eight-song set - wow!
Amongst the many teen girls in the audience (surely an anomaly at a “hockey event”) were Peachtree City 14-year-olds Taylor Kemp, Katie Gingher and Jessica McCloskey. They were holding a homemade sign in the arena aisle that read: “Hello Beautiful Hold On To Your S.O.S. When You Look Me In The Eyes” — a greeting made up of songs from the Disney stars’ latest self-titled CD.
Sure “Friday Night Lights’ ” long-haired pin-up Taylor Kitsch was co-hosting, along with actress Alyssa Milano (promoting her new line of clothing) and Atlanta’s five-time Grammy winner Usher (whose non-profit organization New Look benefited from the ticket sales).
But even the one-time teen fave himself seemed to realize as he was explaining his foundation, that the only thing those in the maybe half-full arena wanted to hear were the words ‘Jonas Brothers’.
“i don’t know if you guys know much about what I do but I mentor at-risk youth,” Usher said. “I teach them about the business side of the sports and entertainemnt industry…As you look at your screen you’ll see what we’re doing with New Look here in Atlanta. But also, there’s an intern program that has been put into action with the NHL allowing those kids to apply a lot of what they learn through our, uh [pauses] Jonas Brothers!”
It was like, “Jarome Iginla, who?”
And after the east and west teams took to the ice for skating, interviews and some of the SuperSkills demonstrations, that point was only underlined by the high-decibel response to the arrival of siblings Joseph, Kevin and Nicholas.
Their mostly up-tempo show (“Year 3000,” “That’s Just The Way We Roll”) slowed only twice for the girls to raise their cellphones and free glo sticks to “Hello Beautiful” and “When You Look Me In The Eyes.” But the closer was the charging “S.O.S.”, reason number 102 during the three-hour event for Taylor, Katie and Jessica to test out the adult’s ear plugs — again.
Did you wear out your vocal chords with the others at Philips Arena? How would you rate the show? Happen to see the Jonas Brothers when they opened for Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus a couple of months back at the Gwinnett Arena? And if so, how did it compare?
All-Star Music at the Tabernacle
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta R&B superstar Usher capped what had to have been a taxing week back in his hometown Friday night, where he played host at the NHL All-Star Weekend concert featuring Wyclef Jean.
Though Usher walked the red carpet at the Tabernacle, and posed for pictures, he did not discuss his father’s passing days earlier, his campaign appearance with Barack Obama Tuesday, or even his New Look Foundation, for which the Jean concert was a fundraiser.
On stage, however, he warmly welcomed the near-capacity crowd, and paused a few times to soak in its applause and adoration. “It’s all about the love in here tonight,” he remarked.
Actually, the Jean concert was about a lot of things: Before the incredibly talented musician wrapped up his set, after midnight, he had addressed the country’s economic state (“I love America - we’re going in a recession right now”); poked at this country’s president (“George Bush don’t care about me. He care about the oil”); flashed back to his days with the pioneering hip-hop trio the Fugees (playing “Fu-Gee-La” and “Ready Or Not”); channeled a bit of late rock legend Jimi Hendrix (playing his guitar with his mouth); welcomed Atlanta rapper-producer Akon to the stage (with whom he performed Jean’s recent single “Sweetest Girl - Dollar Bill”) - deep breath here - and finally, created a bit of Carnival.
Jean called it a “hip-hop rock and roll show”. But with all of that - plus a mighty eight-piece band (including a four-piece horn section), a bit of Shakira, and many local notables (Willie O’Ree of the NHL, Atlanta City Council member Kwanza Hall, Bert Weiss of Q100’s “The Bert Show”, Slim of 112, Nicci Gilbert of Brownstone) in the audience - it was, spectactularly, so much more.
Were you at the Tabernacle for the concert? How would you rate it? And what about opening act the Old 97’s?
Eagles tour takes off from Alpharetta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rock legends the Eagles will launch their Long Road Out Of Eden World Tour right here at the new Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, in Alpharetta,
The May 14 show is sure to feature material from the band’s recent No. 1 CD “Road Out of Eden,” the best selling album by a group last year, according to Nielsen SoundScan. But of course, when you have the best-selling album OF ALL TIME as well - “Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975,” now at 29 million units and counting - it’s a safe bet you’ll hear singles from that CD, including “Take It Easy,” “Take It To The Limit” and the like.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Feb. 1 at Ticketmaster, 404-249-6400 or go to www.ticketmaster.com. Planning to attend? Happen to be among the 711,000 who bought “Long Road Out of Eden” its first week out in October, or the 7 million who’ve purchased it to date? And were you surprised that a group that started in the ’70s could still make such an impact, saleswise, three decades later?
Manilow Rescheduled: Looks Like He’ll Make It
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Photo: Jeff Katz
If you can’t smile without a little Barry Manilow, January was not your month. The long-serving crooner’s January 19 Philips Arena date was canceled when Atlanta was blessed with a rare dusting of fluffy white precipitation. Fear not, Mani-lovers, the show has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 29. Tickets purchased for the original date will be honored on the new date.
Tickets are still available through Ticketmaster and are priced from $9.99 up to $150.00.
I’m Sticking With You
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Marty McSorley on his way to provincial court in Vancouver for his 2000 assault trial. Photo: Chuck Stoody/Associated Press
Kathleen Edwards. Photo: Victor Tavares.
Here’s a nifty little tidbit to get you in the mood for the events surrounding the 56th NHL All-Star Game, which takes place at Philips Arena on Sunday, Jan. 27.
Leave it to a hockey-loving Canadian to bring us a four-and-a-half minute celebration of a player who toiled in the shadow of a marquee, household-name star. This tribute comes courtesy of alt-country singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards.
Edwards has a new album, “Asking for Flowers,” coming in March, but you can hear some of the tracks online now. One of them, “I Make the Dough, You Get the Glory,” is about enforcer Marty McSorley. During his time with the Edmonton Oilers, McSorley was responsible for protecting hockey legend Wayne Gretzky on the ice. When the player they call “The Great One” was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988, McSorley went with him.
McSorley later gained some infamy of his own. Eventually landing with the Boston Bruins, he was suspended and found guilty of assault in a Canadian court after hitting another player with his stick in the closing minutes of a Vancouver Canucks-Bruins game in 2000. It effectively brought an end to his NHL career, even though his suspension was eventually lifted.
Hear Edwards’ ode to the enforcer at her MySpace page.
And if you’re in the mood for more, check out her outstanding 2003 album “Failer,” which includes the tune “Hockey Skates.” That one isn’t really about hockey, though.
Update: Edwards’s publicist informs us that Edwards will be singing the Canadian national anthem at the beginning of the NHL All-Star Game on Sunday.
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More Atlanta All-Stars at NHL All-Star Weekend
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The National Hockey League is taking even more advantage of having its All-Star weekend in Atlanta, by adding yet another Atlanta act to its musical line-up.
Five-time Grammy nominee Ne-Yo will be a part of the halftime activities Sunday at the All-Star Game at Philips Arena. (Previously, the R&B singer-songwriter was just scheduled to perform at a private party the night before - which he will still do.)
Ne-Yo will join Atlanta’s Usher in the festivities, who, as previously announced, will host the Wyclef Jean concert Friday at the Tabernacle - benefiting the R&B superstar’s New Look foundation - as well as the Rockin’ Skate Saturday with the Jonas Brothers and Taylor Kitsch.
Ne-Yo’s performance of his single “Because of You” isn’t the only announcement the NHL made Wednesday. Swedish rockers The Hives will do “Tick Tick Boom”. And the act will be joined by the Atlanta Boy Choir - yes, that’s even more hometown appreciation - singer/songwriter Kathleen Edwards and the Halftime Live marching band.
What do you think of the wide range of musical offerings happening here during the NHL All-Star weekend? When you think hockey, what recording artists comes to mind? And are you planning to attend any of the shows?
Who do you love?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Whigs. Photo: Big Hassle Publicity.
Atlanta and Athens have several musical reasons to boast today. The Drive-By Truckers, the Whigs, the Selmanaires and Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause all released fine albums today. It’s just the beginning of what could be a banner year for Atlanta’s indie rock scene.
We want to hear about your favorite local bands and musicians. Which artists do you catch every time they play? Any other local musician with an album coming that you’re really looking forward to? Go on, talk up that musician or band that you think will be the next big thing, then you can say you were there from the start.
DJ Don Cannon’s Greatest Hits
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Once again, if it’s Friday at the Atlanta Music Scene blog, it must be time to to talk about Janet Ja…no she’s not the topic today.
We’re picking up on the subject raised in the Music Insider column yesterday in Access Atlanta: DJ Don Cannon of Atlanta’s mixtape/record label power the Aphilliates.
Well, not only was he willing to let readers behind his turntables, but Cannon shared a bit of news - he’s releasing his first “greatest hits” mixtape, of sorts, of his own productions Jan. 22.
What singles do you think should be on it? How do you think he and fellow Aphilliate, DJ Drama, have fared since their big arrest on piracy charges last January? (The two still have yet to go to trial). And did the long-awaited release of DJ Drama’s first official CD have the impact you expected?
An Unattractive Gig
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Attractive Eighties Women’s Phoebe Cates at an earlier, and presumably less dangerous, show. Photo: Ashley Zeltzer
Last week, one of my recommended shows was the CD release gig for Atlanta’s Attractive Eighties Women on Jan. 12 at the EARL. Unfortunately, that show got cut short by flying glass.
Just four songs into the band’s set, frontperson Phoebe Cates sustained a cut on his wrist that shut down the gig. On the band’s Web site, Cates writes that “a mysterious female assailant hurled her drink at me.” In an earlier post, he calls it “just an unfortunate drunken accident.” After seven stitches and an EARL-full of disappointed fans, he’s on the mend.
The band promises to schedule a make-up gig soon, but in the meantime you can hear the mayhem as it happened. AEW has released a downloadable EP of the four songs that were played before the flying glass incident. It’s called, naturally, “In Stitches” and the cover photo features the instrument of destruction. The remains of the actual glass sit atop the set list that would never to be completed. The entire incident is caught on the EP, with the expected four-letter words flying, so consider this your Parental Advisory Sticker. The band’s Web site is attractiveeightieswomen.com, but if you go that way, you’ll get a picture of Cates’ stitched up wrist. For the faint-hearted, go this way: attractiveeightieswomen.com/index_2.html.
Another casualty of the bloody incident was Cates’ “official Myron Cope Terrible Towel.” The Pittsburgh Steelers fan has posted an open letter to the NFL franchise. He explains that the towel, which he normally uses to wipe sweat from his brow during gigs, came to his rescue when the glass cut his wrist. The towel is now, understandably, bloodstained. The open letter reads, in part, “There are not many Steelers fans here in Atlanta, so finding a new Terrible Towel has proven very difficult. So difficult in fact, I was hoping you could just send me a new one. If you could do that, I assure you I will wave it proudly and often.”
Once, Twice, Three Times For Sugarland
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Monday we delivered the good news that Atlanta rapper-producer-label executive Akon was named the top pop artist of 2007 by industry staple, Billboard magazine.
Today even more hometown hurrahs are in order. Country duo Sugarland has scored its third No. 1 single from its latest, multiplatinum CD, “Enjoy The Ride.” First there was “Want To,” then “Settling” and now it’s “Stay” atop the Mediabase/Country Aircheck Singles chart.
And the bonus for Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush is that the video for the spare ballad also tops CMT.com and CMT Mobile’s listing of the 20 most popular country music videos streamed at those two mediums in 2007.
What do you think has given “Enjoy The Ride” such staying power? What in particular is affecting about “Stay”? As you’re contemplating your comment, watch the “Stay” video below from YouTube:
Bradford Cox on Deerhunter
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bradford Cox. Photo: Hisham Bharoocha
The fate of adventurous Atlanta band Deerhunter has been up in the air in recent months. 2007 was a breakthrough year for the band, as they stormed through Europe and wound up on many year-end best-of lists with the album “Cryptograms.” But in November, frontman Bradford Cox announced that Deerhunter would be going on hiatus.
Online indie-rock mainstay Pitchfork (www.pitchforkmedia.com) has just published an interview with Cox that doesn’t really clarify the situation, but it is an entertaining and informative read on many other fronts. It’s not for those with delicate sensibilities, though, because you’ll find a boatload of the proverbial four-letter words and some frank talk about sexuality.
As for the status of Deerhunter (and his current project Atlas Sound), here’s what Cox told Pitchfork:
“I’m not saying the band’s breaking up, I’m not saying the band’s not breaking up. I’m not saying that the hiatus will be more than six months, I’m not saying the hiatus could be over in two weeks. I’m saying, whatever happens, happens. It’s not that I’m focusing on Atlas Sound now and that’s taking over Deerhunter. It’s just that I’m doing whatever. I’m playing music every day, and whoever wants to play music with me, let’s play music, you know?”
Atlas Sound’s full-length debut album, “Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel,” is scheduled to be released Feb. 19. Cox and his Atlas Sound crew will play Atlanta’s Drunken Unicorn that same night.
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Atlanta’s Akon Top Pop Artist
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The numbers are in, and Billboard magazine has announced them.
Drumroll please…The top pop artist of 2007 was none other than Atlanta’s own singer, songwriter and producer Akon (pictured above). Rounding out the industry publication’s Top 5 were Fergie (2), Justin Timberlake (3), Daughtry (4) and Carrie Underwood (5). And hometown observers will be happy to know that another Atlanta made it into the top 10, Akon’s artist T-Pain, who came in at No. 9 on the pop listing.
The pop designation, in particular, brings to mind an oft-debated question: What qualifies as a pop act or pop music these days? The general notion is that “pop” is simply short for popular — which can mean anyone or anything that’s selling well and getting frequent airplay.
But when Atlanta’s Usher had the best-selling CD of the year a few years back with “Confessions” - a CD, mind you, that topped Billboard’s CD and singles pop charts —and wasn’t nominated in any pop categories at the Grammys, the AJC music staff explored what it perceived to be a snub; and again, the meaning of pop.
Usher himself thought the pop Grammy omissions were curious, as he did Rolling Stone magazine tagging Justin Timberlake the New King of Pop (after Michael Jackson).
What’s your take on this? When you think “pop” do you think Britney and Justin? Akon and Usher? Or all of the above?
V-103 morning announcer Frank Ski weighed in on this a bit on the air, when he relayed the news from Billboard about Akon: “People here don’t even think of [Akon] as anything other than hip-hop or R&B. But around the world he is a global superstar. He’s a pop superstar…We’ve got to think bigger about what pop means.”
Now, Rate Janet’s New Video
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
If it’s Friday, it must be Janet Jackson day here at the Atlanta Music Scene blog - or at least that’s what you could be thinking of late.
After all, last Friday we asked for your opinion of the part-time Atlantan’s new single from her Feb. 26 CD, “Discipline,” titled “Feedback.” (And this week we learned from her label, Island Def Jam, that it was the No. 1 most added record at all formats, with 112 stations).
Now we’ve got the “Feedback” video, and want your, well, you know…
(Hot 107.9’s “A Team” morning show co-host Rashan Ali has already weighed in: “Kinda dark.”)
Best Country 2007
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Over the past few years, I’ve been participating in the annual critics’ poll for Nashville Scene, an alternative weekly in the Tennessee capital. It’s like a country music take on the Village Voice’s annual critics’ poll. Since I put this together for the poll, I thought I’d share it here on our blog. So, here are my top 10 country albums and singles of 2007. What are your country favorites of 2007?
FAVORITE COUNTRY ALBUMS OF 2007:
- Miranda Lambert - “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”
- Josh Turner — “Everything Is Fine”
- Pam Tillis — “Rhinestoned”
- Alison Krauss and Robert Plant — “Raising Sand”
- Trisha Yearwood — “Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love”
- Joe Nichols — “Real Things”
- Dwight Yoakam — “Dwight Sings Buck”
- Jason Aldean — “Relentless”
- Luke Bryan — “I’ll Stay Me”
- Brad Paisley — “5th Gear”
Luke Bryan. Photo: Courtesy Capitol Records
Trisha Yearwood. Photo: Mark Tucker
FAVORITE COUNTRY SINGLES OF 2007:
- “Famous in a Small Town” — Miranda Lambert
- “Firecracker” — Josh Turner
- “Watching Airplanes” — Gary Allan
- “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)” — Dierks Bentley
- “All My Friends Say” — Luke Bryan
- “Good as Gone” — Little Big Town
- “Get My Drink On” — Toby Keith
- “Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love” — Trisha Yearwood
- “Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)” — Alison Krauss and Robert Plant
- “Band in the Window” — Pam Tillis
Radiohead Coming … Sometime
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There aren’t any dates yet, but Radiohead is coming to Atlanta in 2008.
The band’s publicist sent out an alphabetical list of the cities that will be on the itinerary for the band’s North American tour this year and Atlanta sits at the top. The list includes 21 other cities, and some will get to see the band a lot sooner than others.
The press release states that the “tour will take place in two segments, one prior to and one following the recently announced summer tour of the U.K. and Europe.” No word on when the exact dates will be announced.
The band’s new album, “In Rainbows,” was released in physical CD form on Jan. 1 after being made available for download last October. It was announced today that the album is the new No. 1 on the Billboard album chart, having sold 122,000 copies during the past week according to Nielsen SoundScan. “In Rainbows” actually debuted at No. 156 on the previous week’s chart due to some early sales because of retail street date violations.
A Country Bonanza
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s a big deal for country fans.
Kicks 101.5, Eagle 106.7 and Lakewood Amphitheatre have teamed up to offer four different packages to five different concerts from May through October. (And yes, the former Lakewood Amphitheatre is once again Lakewood Amphitheatre after spending most of this decade as HiFi Buys Amphitheatre.)
Each package offers tickets to the Kicks Country Fair with Dierks Bentley (above), Miranda Lambert and Luke Bryan on May 16, Tim McGraw with Jason Aldean on June 11, Rascal Flatts on Aug. 15, Toby Keith and Montgomery Gentry on Sept. 11 and Brad Paisley on Oct. 4.
The packages come in at four levels: platinum, gold, silver and the non-metallic and largely self-explanatory lawn. With the $150 lawn package, you get a guaranteed lawn seat and access to a presale for next year’s package (the latter comes with all levels). The silver level at $250 gets you the same reserved seat for each show in the uncovered portion of the upper pavilion, and the gold at $450 gets a seat in the covered upper pavilion.
The platinum is, as Toby Keith might say, the big dog daddy at $575. You get VIP Club access, a reserved seat in the lower pavilion and a special entrance-adjacent parking pass for every two platinum tickets.
The packages will be available only online at the Megaticket site, and for a limited time. They’re also being made available before the individual shows go on sale. Sales to the general public begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, but radio station Kicks 101.5 is offering its Country Club members a jump on that. Just go to the station’s site and sign up. Once you’re done, you’ll be able to purchase those Megatickets early.
It brings up an interesting question. Are the same folks who desperately want to see Rascal Flatts the same folks who would be first in line for Brad Paisley? How much overlap is there between Dierks Bentley’s fanbase and Toby Keith’s? Will you be getting in on this deal, or do you plan to wait for the individual shows to go on sale?
Atlanta Baby Buzz
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Congratulations to Grammy-winning Atlanta R&B singer Monica, who just had her second son Tuesday afternoon; and - as of this posting at least - he still doesn’t have a first name.
His middle name is Montez, however, according to Monica’s manager (and cousin) Melinda Dancil. (Montez is Monica’s brother’s name). And the 19 and a half-incher arrived at 5 pounds, 6 ounces.
Mom (pictured above) and baby are fine, added Dancil. In fact, she says Monica was recording right up unto his birth, and has about 13 songs done.
Meanwhile, we also heard from Atlanta music mogul Michael “Mr. ColliPark” Crooms Wednesday morning, and he said his latest hot find, Atlanta rapper Soulja Boy (the bottom photo), denies the rumors heard across the radio airwaves that he has impregnated another teen.
Are you ready for Monica to return back to the scene as a recording artist? What did you think of her last CD, 2006’s “The Makings of Me”? And as for Soulja Boy, well, if you want to comment, try to refrain from using lyrics from a certain “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” song…
Musical Philanthropy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kristian Bush of Sugarland is among the musicians lending a hand to help out Eddie’s Attic sound engineer Shalom Aberle. Photo: Marc Baptiste
Atlanta musicians are a giving bunch, always pulling together to help one of their own.
Last month, Eddie’s Attic soundman Shalom Aberle suffered a heart attack. He’s out of the hospital and on the road to recovery, but he’s unable to work for a while. That’s where local musicians come in. Over the next three nights, an impressive lineup of talent will take the stage at the Attic to raise money for the ailing Aberle in a benefit dubbed “Calling All Friends.”
Scheduled to perform tonight (Jan. 8) are Adam Dorfman, Adrianne, Brent Lindley, Brian Webb, Caroline Herring, Doria Roberts, Kodac Harrison and Kristin Markiton, Kristian Bush, Matthew Kahler, Mike Willis, Nathan Beaver, Ronnda Cadle and Tommy Dean.
The Wednesday, Jan. 9, roster includes Blake Guthrie, Caroline Aiken, Emily Kate Boyd, Evan McHugh, Gareth Asher, Jeff Talmadge, John Pringle, John Stanek, Arlo Finch, Michael Tolcher, Rebecca Loebe, Telegram and Tom Willner.
On Thursday, Jan. 10, the performers are Alex Brenner, Arlington Priest, Bain Mattox, Garrett Freireich, Garrett Moore, the Harringtons, Kitty Snyder, Little Country Giants and Dappled Grays, Mike Killeen, Mike Kinnebrew, Paul Melancon, Pierce Pettis and Tin Cup Prophette.
Doors open each night at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Instead of a cover charge, the Attic is asking for donations for Aberle.
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Name T.I.’s Next Child
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last week the bad news for Atlanta rapper-actor T.I. (above) got worse when the artist born Clifford Harris - currently on house arrest for federal firearm charges - learned that he’ll have to spend at least another six weeks in confinement because the judge in his case postponed a suppression hearing until that time.
(Guess that means no going to the Grammys for the nominee next month, either).
But this week began with much better news as his record label confirmed to us that he and on-and-off fiancee Tameka Cottle are expecting their second child, a son, together.
OK so dad is called Tip by his family and friends, and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter mom goes by Tiny. He already has kids named King (the other child with Cottle) and Messiah Ya’Majesty, among others.
What do you think his next boy should be - or perhaps, could be- named?
Rate Janet’s New Single
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As Peach Buzz reported yesterday, a single has been leaked from part-time Atlantan Janet Jackson’s upcoming CD “Discipline,” and buzz on iTunes, at least, is really good.
But we want to hear from you. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
(And as a bonus for spending eyeball time here, here’s a YouTube video of Jackson talking to EXTRA on the New York set of the video for the single):
Meanwhile, as you’re offering opinions, can somebody please explain how this Mickey Avalon guy merited a spot in this Boost Mobile commercial with Jackson’s longtime Atlanta beau Jermaine Dupri, and local hip-hop power Young Jeezy?
WATCH IT HERE:
R.E.M. Accelerates
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Photo: Laura Noel/Staff
The upcoming R.E.M. album now has a title. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will release their 14th full-length studio album, “Accelerate,” in April.
The album was recorded in Dublin and Vancouver and produced by Jacknife Lee. Lee has worked with U2 and Snow Patrol, among others. Interviews and reports from some live shows in Dublin have indicated that the new album is a more rocking and guitar-oriented affair than its low-key predecessors “Reveal” and “Around the Sun.”
The only live date R.E.M. has booked for 2008 is the Langerado Music Festival, taking place on the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation in the South Florida Everglades March 6-9. The band is expected to embark on a full-scale tour in the spring, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
Are you looking forward to the return of an amped-up R.E.M.? Will you be lining up for tickets when tour dates are announced?
Your 2007 Top CDs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Two thousand seven is finally over, but alas, the list-making is not.
We’ve given you our top album picks (in alphabetical order, by artist) — “Emotionalism,” The Avett Brothers (above); “Cease to Begin,” Band of Horses; “Armchair Apocrypha,” Andrew Bird; “Sound of Silver,” LCD Soundsystem; “I Am,” Chrisette Michele; “Boxer,” The National; “The World Has Made Me The Man of My Dreams,” Meshell Ndegeocello; “Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire,” Various artists; “Graduation,” Kanye West; and “Back to Black,” Amy Winehouse (second picture) — and now we want to hear from you.
What 2007 CDs were in frequent rotation on your mp3 or CD players, or dare we say it — turntables? And while you’re sharing, what CDs do you think didn’t get the attention you feel they merited, and which ones were just over-hyped?
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