With the eve of the 11th annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival only weeks away, I’d like to take the time to pay special attention to the bands that claim the Peach State home and will be playing at the four day festival located in Manchester, Tennessee. While not all of the artists currently live in Georgia, they each have a special connection with the state and its people – whether they were born and raised here or moved and settled down. Some of our best and brightest will be taking This Stage, That Stage, or The Other Stage in a few short weeks and we’re incredibly proud that they’ll be representing our home.

The 11th annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival will be held on a 700-acre farm outside Manchester, Tennessee from June 13th to June 16th. General admission tickets are available for $269.50 + fees, however there are a number of VIP packages available too. Over 100 artists will take the stages that weekend – including headlining performances from Paul McCartney, Mumford & Sons, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and Bjork.

We’ll see you there.

TheBlueIndian.com’s “10 Artists to Watch at Bonnaroo 2013″

von Grey

These sisters were featured as one of our “10 Artists to Watch at Bonnaroo 2013″, and for a good reason. When they’re not making appearances on Letterman, Brian Williams, and Conan, they’re either touring the States or relaxing in their hometown of Atlanta. Kathryn, Annika, Fiona, and Petra – von Grey respectively – released Live at Criminal Records 1.1.13  earlier this year and the album has been a topic of conversation from everyone from DayTrotter.com to Billboard. As mentioned in our previous Bonnaroo post, it’s worth noting that only half the is even old enough to drive. That should make McCartney feel old..

Royal Thunder – Photo by Christy Parry

Royal Thunder

To steal a term from o’brother‘s lexicon, Royal Thunder are all about “tone worship”. The Atlanta-based band released CVI last year, quickly garnering acclaim from NPR that the album was a “revved-up Southern hard-rocker that howls like Led Zepplin astride a psychedelic unicorn”. How’s that for convincing?! Along with Baroness, Royal Thunder will be putting on one of the “darker” sets at the Festival. Let’s just say there probably won’t be a great deal of rompers in the crowd while they’re playing. Royal Thunder is currently on tour supporting The Faceless and Dillinger Escape Plan and will be embarking on a run with Baroness following the festival. I’m particularly excited about their set at Bragg Jam 2013 this year as well..

Futurebirds

Albeit that only one member of the band still actually lives near Athens, these boys are Georgians through and through. Their most recent album, Baba Yaga, is a testament to their Athens’ roots, but more so to life beyond the homefront. Though we’ll always have the memories of shows at Caledonia, Futurebirds have grown more accustom to theaters and festivals – where they rightfully belong. 2013 marks the band’s second appearance at ‘Roo – they made their debut in 2011.

Reptar

Reptar

If you’re headed to Manchester and feel like participating in a giant daytime dance party, Reptar’s 12:30pm set time on Friday the 14th will be the place to be. Since forming in 2009, they’ve toured alongside Grouplove, Foster the People, Rubblebucket, Stepdad, Phantogram and just about any other band in that vein. Their set at AthFest last year will go down in Festival history as one of the wildest (bloodiest) performances to ever grace the Main Stage.

Baroness

Now recovered from their tragic bus crash last fall, the Savannah-based metal outfit is back in full force. Though their lineup has changed a bit, the band is in the middle of a headlining tour in support of their album titled Yellow & Green - released last July. Like aforementioned with Royal Thunder, Baroness is stylistically one of the bands that varies from the Bonnaroo lineups of yesteryear, but that’s one of the things that makes this festival so great. Let the “tone worship” begin..

Cat Power

Cat Power

Originally a resident of Atlanta, Chan Marshall (Cat Power) has been responsible for some of the most prolific songwriting of her time. Personally, You Are Free and The Greatest are two of my favorite albums of the 2000′s, for their unflinching honesty and beautiful composition. Marshall begins her 2013 leg of touring with a series of festivals in the States, before playing only two US theatre dates and then heading overseas. This would be the opportune time to see her play this year.

Killer Mike

Your argument for “Best Rap Album of 2012″ is invalid unless it includes Killer Mike’s R.A.P Music somewhere in it. The Atlanta-based rapper teamed up with producer El-P to create a hip-hop masterpiece that is everything I’ve wanted from an album in that genre. Mike is about to start a tour with Big Boi (who also made one of the best albums of the last year), so in between what I expect will be one of the best sets of the weekend and his upcoming club shows, it’s going to be a good year.

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Post tags: bonnaroo, bonnaroo 2013, bonnaroo tennessee, Festival, festivals, georgia, manchester

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With tickets purchased, bags packed, and camping equipment all ready to go, nothing was going to stop TheBlueIndian.com crew from making the long drive to the beautiful white sandy beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama for our first visit to The Hangout Festival, May 18th – 20th. Well, except for some car trouble that delayed us a few hours, followed by a hefty speeding ticket. We were determined to make the best of the experience ahead of us. I’ll say first that the Festival well exceeded my expectations in almost every category I could think of and was well worth every dollar spent.

Arriving for the Thursday kick-off party, we (myself + photographer) randomly ran into Todd Sheaffer of Railroad Earth (we were introduced to the band at Music on the Mountaintop last year) and chatted with him for a few minutes. After catching up, we quickly made our way to the Boom Boom tent to catch Lotus as part of the pre-Fest event. Lotus was a crowd pleaser and really got the festival in full gear for the bands that followed.  The crew quickly moved to the Letting Go Stage to see sets from Railroad Earth, followed by Umphrey’s McGee.  We couldn’t have asked for a better way to start our weekend on the beach. The Gulf Shores area and venue setup gave the Festival an incredibly cheerful and lively atmosphere and is truly a one-of-a-kind layout. Whether on top of the Ferris wheel, lounging in the sand, or catching a break from the sun at a beachside bar, the energy of the place was untiring.

By Friday, we were sunburnt and slightly hungover, but ready for a piece of the action. The setup of the festival was very well planned, with a street of food and drink tents running in between the four stage areas.  An extremely large open beach area, where the main two stages were located, created a spacious and comfortable area for people to lounge around. The great thing about this festival was the difference in areas and places you could escape to, nothing looked the same. You could be checking out food vendors on the street, sitting on the beach, dancing at one of the stages, drinking frozen margaritas at the bar, or even sliding down the water slide. You can’t have a festival on the beach without seafood, so we made more than a few stops for the different types of shrimp offered. Highlights from Friday included a beautiful set from Jim James,  sets from Ryan Bingham, Big Gigantic, The Shins, and to end the night right, Kings of Leon. A few of the fans we spoke to actually said they drove three days from Montana to see Kings of Leon perform at Hangout.

As the sun rose on Saturday and awoke us from the tent, the realization of “This is just the second day. This is wonderful” sunk in. The shuttle service that The Hangout offered with a purchased shuttle passes made for an extraordinarily convenient solution to the chaos that festival typically breed. We managed to make stops at Dirty Projectors, Gov’t Mule, The Roots, The Black Crowes, Kendrick Lamar, Slightly Stoopid, and legends Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. Each night of the festival was concluded with an awing fireworks show lighting up the beach. The magnificent firework display was a throughly enjoyed addition.

The last day crept up quickly, as did the inconvenient truth that this was the last day and we would be leaving Gulf Shores in a matter of hours. Sunday started with some Moon Taxi, before moving on to Ellie Goulding, Porter Robinson, Moe., Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Trey Anastasio band, and Stevie Wonder. As the day drew to a closing, Trey Anastasio and his band began to a lengthy set of songs that included covers of “O-oh Child”, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”, “Clint Eastwood”, “Small Axe”, and an encore of “Black Dog”.

So, as I sit here writing, sunburnt and deprived of sleep, I look back on our weekend at The Hangout Fest as one of the most memorable yet. Gulf Shores, we’ll see you next year.

TheBlueIndian.com Featured Hangout 2013 Artist Interviews: The Sheepdogs / The Weeks

Words by Hinson Hays – Photos by Ilona Hartwig

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Aly Tadros, a native of Brooklyn, NY, contacted us earlier this year to set up an Acoustic Alley while on a Southeast tour promoting her recently released album The Fits. Luckily, she had booked a show at The Rookery, so we were able to catch up with her before she went on and capture a couple of her songs. Her simple, soulful style was a perfect match to everything that we hope for an Acoustic Alley to be, save for a pesky car alarm that managed to sneak into “Sweet on Me”. Aly handled it like a pro however, providing us with two beautiful songs that we hope you’ll enjoy as much as we did.

- Andy Carter

Aly Tadros – “Sweet on Me”

Aly Tadros – “Alberta”

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As we prepare ourselves for four days of live music at the premier festival in the United States, we’re admittedly a bit overwhelmed by the lineup. Yes, Bonnaroo has grown past what it used to be – and yes, it’s now one of the largest music festivals in the world – but rightfully so. More laid back festival goers may opt for sets to end at 11:00pm and a lineup that would leave me scratching my head, but Bonnaroo has it all; headlining slots from rock and roll legends, as well as sets from some of the best and brightest new artists and comedians. 

The team behind Bonnaroo has had practice doing this – eleven years of it to be precise. Festival attendees can expect an unparalleled level of quality from the people working. This means no long waiting periods in lines, stages that are laid out in a practical manner, and some of the most unique food, beer, and craft vendors you’ll ever visit at a festival. 

That’s not to say that you won’t find a few problems here and there (what would you expect when you get some 80,000 people in the same area), but nearly all of the festival attendees we’ve encountered in the past have been nothing but welcoming and supportive of the “spirit of Bonnaroo”. 

With four straight days of live music running early into the morning, Bonnaroo 2013 is set to be the best festival Manchester, TN has seen yet. We picked just ten artists from the massive lineup that we would consider to be “Don’t Miss” acts and hope to see you in the crowd. These aren’t the bands you were probably planning to see, so let’s hope this helps you make up your mind. Scheduled for June 13th – 16th, tickets are available but selling quickly.

Vacationer – 6.13 – 4:00pm @ Silent Disco & 6.14 – 4:00pm @ Silent Disco

Just in time for summer, I uncovered Vacationer‘s laid back grooves. Seems like it would be hard to overlook a band that spent time opening for Two Door Cinema Club, but these things happen. And since I’m a good year behind on things, the timing is perfect – I get to spend another summer enjoying the progression of “chill wave” and it all seems new again. Gone will be on heavy rotation throughout the next few months.

Japandroids – 6.13 – 10:00pm @ This Tent

I love it every time these guys updates their Facebook status and I can’t say that about too many artists (or people for that manner). The duo of Brian King & David Prowse have a sound that most five-piece bands envy and simply know how to rock. There’s a firm rule for most Japandroids shows – Do what ever you want, but there’s no standing around.

Jonny Fritz – 6.13 – 10:00pm @ New Music On Tap Lounge & 6.14 – 12:45pm @ Sonic Stage

First things first, I would buy any album titled Dad Country, no matter what it actually sounded like. The fact that the man behind such a record is none other than Jonny Fritz (Corndawg, but those days are over) makes me want to pre-order as many copies as I can. Fritz is the topic of a recent NPR piece titled “A Country Jester Gets Personal”, where he discusses the life behind this new recording and how it differs from past projects. Expect a hell of a show from one of the most “American” men I’ve ever met.

Von Grey – 6.14 – 5:30pm @ Cafe Where?

These four sisters might be the next best thing to come out of Georgia. Though the average age of the group is sixteen, the girls have performed on Letterman and toured alongside Sarah McLachlan, Lindsey Sterling, and Company of Thieves.

Matrimony – 6.14 – 10:40 @ New Music On Tap Lounge & 6.15 – 6:15pm @ Sonic Stage

Comprised of husband and wife Jimmy & Ashley Brown, along with Ashley’s brothers, the group has been a mainstay on TheBlueIndian.com since our very first year. The Charlotte, NC-based band is set to release their Columbia Records debut in June and will be touring throughout much of the summer. Listening to tastefully refined folk-rock sounds exactly like how I want to spend my time at Bonnaroo.

Patrick Watson – 6.15 – 12:30pm @ This Tent & 6.15 – 4:45pm @ Sonic Stage

To quote one of my brothers – “I feel like indie music has hit rock bottom – and still keeps digging. However, I like Patrick Watson because he’s an amazing musician and he’s not trying to be cool.” While I wouldn’t echo his sentiments entirely on the state of indie music, I can completely agree with how he feels about Watson. Just read this review of one of his shows and you’ll understand what you can expect.

Two Gallants – 6.15 – 1:45pm @ That Tent

Going way back to around the time of What the Toll Tells, Two Gallants has been a band that I’ve wanted to see live. And for one poor excuse or another, it’s never happened. As far as the 2013 lineup is concerned, these two have musical grit that you won’t see to often over the weekend. Just be careful how much fun you have, as you don’t want to wind up like the guy in Houston who got tased at their show..

Kasey Musgraves – 6.16 – 12:00pm @ Which State

If we get negative feedback for including any of these artists on this list, it will probably be Kasey. Seeing her on the lineup nearly made us say, “WTF, Bonnaroo?” Yes, she’s the first pop-country artist we’ve ever featured (and we promise not to make a habit of it), but the young girl has been a point of controversy in the country music community for the subjects covered in her debut album, Same Trailer Different Park. Who likes to party? I do.

LiL iFFy – 6.16 – 12:20pm @ New Music on Tap Lounge

Im partial to Harry & the Potters, but I’ll give the “wandcore” electro/hip-hop a try. If the last day of a giant music festival isn’t weird enough, this should help.

Royal Thunder – 6.16. – 8:30pm @ New Music On Tap Lounge

Hard hitting, deeply tonal metal from Atlanta, Georgia. If the fact that Royal Thunder has toured alongside Dillinger Escape Plan, The Faceless, Enslaved, Pallbearer, ASG and more isn’t enough for you – well then you should just pack up your bags early and go home to your mother.

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Daniel Brewer was a namesake on TheBlueIndian.com long before it was anything like it is today. Danny’s music came to us from friends in the Atlanta area, each of them eager to share the beautiful folk melodies he and his revolving cast of friends would come up with. Almost three and a half years ago, we featured our first post about Besides Daniel (the moniker for his work), a short interview Luke conducted leading up to their first release. Since then, his music has stayed close to each of us at the site – including our readers.

Besides Daniel stopped in Macon late last month for a show with another longtime alum of the site, oh dorian (Heather Kemp) and following their show, they made their way down to our faithful alley for what’s hard to believe is the first session we’ve filmed with Danny and company. It’s been our pleasure…

Besides Daniel – “In a Heartbeat”

Besides Daniel – “10,000 Beautiful Angels”

Besides Daniel – “1979″

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Post tags: Acoustic Alley, Danny Brewer, Heather Kemp, Macon, Oh Dorian

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Often times, fame can ruin a persons life, if not end it. Look at the rock heroes of yesteryear (on the grand scheme of things): Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janice Joplin. With fame came money, and with money, drugs… you know the rest: trading one thing for another in greatness’s name.

And while that observation may be a cliché, it’s important to note that the same cannot be said of Charles Bradley. The 64(??)-year-old’s well-deserved spotlight could very well have saved his life. With a heartbreaking story of death, homelessness and illness behind him–supporting him even–Bradley faced fame the right way: with earnest appreciation, not arrogance. He knew he was one of the lucky ones and that idea is the essence of his fans’ admiration for him, and why it continues to grow.

His live performances say it all. For one night we become Bradley’s brothers and sisters. He preaches, but not from a pedestal. At times, he’s downtrodden, bellowing with utter grief about life’s difficulties. At other times, he’s straight boogying, his white teeth gleaming. His passion is staggering and his voice even more so. There is a reason he’s been compared to the greats like James Brown and Otis Redding.

No Time For Dreaming, Bradley’s debut effort released in 2011 on Dualtone Records, was his coming of age in the music world. The album was his call for change after having witnessed such coldness in the world. Honestly troubled but still glittering with hope, Bradley in No Time For Dreaming let us know who he is from the start.

Two years later and Bradley remains as truthful as ever in Victim of Love. This is a man who loves love, who depends on love for the goodness of the world, and who is in love with just about everyone. The album is simple, reflective of Motown’s finest moves with a few modern twists thanks to the youngins of the Menahan Street Band backing Bradley up.

While there is little left up to the imagination as far as lyrical interpretations go, there is a whole lot to feel. Bradley’s screams and Menahan’s Street Band’s grooving vibes are enough to drop panties, but that’s not the point. The point is to feel connected to something and Victim of Love does just that, from the harmony-drive ballad “Victim of Love” to the whacky instrumentals of “Confusion.”

Bradley has managed to make two records that have securely tied the knot between generations seemingly too far apart, too different. Young people of the 2000s have fallen in love with music inspired by African American traditions from four or five decades ago. Of course there lately has been that trend of listening to music history’s best (it came with the vinyl revitalization), but that’s just it. They’ll all from our history. Are there any musicians of our day who will have that lasting impact on music years from now? That thought worried me until Charles Bradley came along. He is one of our greats, so closely connected to our past as he may be.

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Photo by Pete Gurnz

Ben Taylor is doing just fine for being the son of living legends Carly Simon & James Taylor. Not because he’s coasting clean by living off their success, but because he’s spent the better part of his life writing, recording and touring music that is his own. While there are clear influences from his parents work, Ben has managed to build a dedicated fan base around the world. We caught up with him around the time of his last performance at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, Georgia to talk about well, his music. 

You released your first record, Famous Among the Barns, ten years ago – with five release in between then and now. Are there any particular songs that you find yourself continuously going back to, revisiting or reworking, because the idea or meaning behind them has changed?

I would be compelled to argue that a songs natural state is much more liquid, and that the unnatural thing is for a song to be bronzed and frozen the way it is when we record it. Hence the importance of road testing new compositions before committing them to history. What if you have a hit with a record of a song who isn’t finished writing itself? Your adoring fans will never allow you to change any of your “original” words and arrangements.

Songs have lives of their own. Ideally, they should long outlive the artist’s who first found them. They should  spread out into different streams, through the adventurous spirits of musicians yet to be. Have families of their own. echo through the furthest reaches of individuality, back into the one-ness from whence they came.

Short answer: Mostly “Good Day To Be Alive”, because it’s constantly proving itself true, over and over again. But really, songs most often keep writing themselves little by little anyway.

Along with your active music career, you’ve had roles in a number of films over the past few years. Are you currently working on any projects?

I’ve never really taken it very seriously, but I’m definitely getting older and uglier in an attractive way. IF things keep going this way, I may feel more and more inclined toward professional posing in general (no dis-respect to any real thesbo’s).

You’re on the road most of May, with a short run in June and August. You made a stop in Decatur at Eddie’s Attic and from what I assume with your touring history, this won’t be your first time there?

No, last time I was at Eddie’s Attic was one week post-op from a snapped Achilles Tendon. So I was hopping  up the stairs with my crutches and guitar in one hand, and my backpack and the railing in the other… Made it to the second to last step from the top and and then fell all the way back down. Cracked rib, bruised pride, good show.

The newest release, Listening, features the single “World Are Made Of Paper”. Can you give me a breakdown of the idea behind the video? It’s an incredibly clever idea. 

Was going to ask you the same question.

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Post tags: ben taylor, carly simon, james taylor, listen, listening, words

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Shaky Knees was a perfect festival, especially in its inaugural year. The lineup was spectacular, the staff was fantastic, the show was on time, and the beer wasn’t priced out of this world. Everything a person could expect from a top notch festival – all for less than $100 if you were a diligent early bird.

Then the gods peed all over it.

To describe the weekend of Shaky Knees in Atlanta as “rainy” is to call the Ocoee a “stream”. It rained for almost 24 hours straight a constant, cold, harsh, upsetting rain. But people were there, the show was still on time, the beer was still cheap, and the line up was still spectaular.

MoonTaxi

Moon Taxi was probably my favorite from the first day. I’ve seen these guys a couple times in Macon. The last time was at the Big Bird Bash, another festival that experienced heavy rain in early March (not surprisingly) and one that did not handle the downpour nearly as professionally as Shaky Knees did. Moon Taxi’s performance reflects the vibe of the crowd, I think. Shaky Knees folks were having fun despite the rain, were stomping around in ankle thick mud, and Moon Taxi ripped harmonizing dual-guitar/synthesizer solos. It was a stellar improvement from their time in Macon. It could just be these guys working a pretty heavy tour regimen, or it could just be that Shaky Knees was a better run rainy festival.

Jim James was another first day favorite. I got a chance to meet him briefly getting off the plane at SXSW, but Everett is really more of the My Morning Jacket fan, and had to point him out to me. While we were in Austin, we made a couple of scheduling “bumps” because of Shaky Knees. Therefore, we didn’t go and see Jim James “there”, understanding that he would be “here.” James played as the storm intensified in Atlanta, but the show was quite a musical and visual spectacle despite this. Long, spacey interludes of James jumping from sax to guitar while his band rode out a very classic groove were very soothing. But we had to get out of the water.

Back to the Highland Inn we went. After a brief conversation with Hardy Morris, dinner at Cafe 640, and a few loads of laundry in the dryer, we treked back to the festival to see Band of Horses. This is the second time I’ve seen them, the first being Deluna 2012, but I feel they get better each time. The band is very tight, the light show is well produced, and the rain made for a cool effect on Scott’s photos.

For Day 2, the sun shined through most of the day. We were far more active throughout the day, with a few bands really standing out. T. Hardy Morris, the lead singer of Dead Confederate and TheBlueIndian’s current “Band of the Month”, doned for the debut Shaky Knees crowd his debut solo album. The songs are simple, kind of folky crooning with a far more mellow rhythm section than his other other bands. It was a good set — short and simple.

Shovels & Rope opened the Old Fourth Ward stage on Day 2, and were, for a lack of a better word, adorable. The way these two folks play off of one another, switch instruments so seemlessly, and belt out such amazing harmonies, you can’t help but make that gutteral sound we all make when googling “kittens.” It’s awesome. Check out their live show. It’s just as strong as their album last year.

Delta Spirit

Murder by Death might be my favorite band in the afternoon on Day 2. The had great vocals, strong song writing, and featured a cello in the majority of their repetoire. They were playing the same time as Heartless Bastards, a band I’ve seen a few times and generally have not been impressed with. I wandered over for a minute to check them out, but found myself magnetized to Murder by Death. (Their name is terrible, though. Just a thought).

I didn’t listen to Delta Spirit long (another band that just doesn’t really get my goat), but I did make sure to catch Kurt Vile, an incredibly versatile guitarist singer/songwriter. I noticed members of Swear and Shake, Shovels and Rope, and Dr. Dog watching Vile from the wings of the stage as he played some of the most proficient guitar work at this festival.

Dr. Dog was my favorite, though. By far. These guys have charisma for days; and, as they took stage, the storms re-approached and a hurling wind began pummeling the audience with stinging rain. Luckily, it only lasted a few songs and their funky groove never lost a beat. I, however, had lost all my drive, went to the Varsity, and went home. Scott stayed and saw the Truckers and The Antlers (a band I highly recommend).

All in all, the one thing that was bad with Shaky Knees was the one thing they couldn’t control: the weather. Towards the tail end of the festival some of their hired security guys got a little cranky, but that can be expected. I can’t wait for next year, and hope that the sell out crowd this year inspires their friends to brave the elements next year. – Words by David Dorer, Photos by Scott Corkery

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RL Grime

Collard greens,  cornbread, and oxtails. Sweltering summer days, and long reckless nights. Feast and famine. High riding Impalas and hoopties. Glitz, glamour, and grit. Phillie cigars, malt liquor forties, and crack cocaine. Relentless high hats, big, boisterous brass, and 808 bounce.

If you grew up anywhere in the area bounded by Houston, Memphis, New Orleans, and Atlanta, these are sights, sounds, and sentiments that have always been there. We all came up around deeply rooted culture, cuisine, and common courtesies whose vibrancy was always more closely linked to a shadowy subculture than we’d like to admit, even though certain members of that society were held in public esteem and respect. They were the mayors and diplomats of a world we couldn’t relate to, but was always lurking close by like a shoddily chained junk yard dog.

This seclusion, tension, and the need for recognition eventually spawned some of the most memorable mouth pieces of hip hop, backed by producers and beat freaks who just plain ‘got it’. Tales from the ‘trap’, where drugs, violence, and survival were themes faced on a daily basis were thrust into mainstream culture by groups such as Three 6 Mafia, the Cash Money Records crew, E-40 and UGK. The albums they put forth not only became collections of anthems for an urban subculture, they were also full of gems audiophiles could drool over. These tracks were in your face, aggressive, and meant to be played LOUD.

Flash forward ten years, and Atlanta has become the undisputed capital of ‘Trap Music’. With talent such as T.I, Young Jeezy, Lil Jon, Gucci Mane, OJ da Juiceman, and Waka Flocka Flame carrying the torch for southern gangster rap, it only made sense that local DJ’s and producers would see the genre’s potential for fusion with dance music, and run with it.

I like to fancy that I witnessed the birth of the EDM/Trap hybrid movement at a monthly known as ‘Heavy’, held at The Graveyard Tavern, a self proclaimed sunny place for shady people, in the gritty hamlet of East Atlanta Village.

Taste Tester

To this day, I have struggled as a promoter and talent buyer to come up with a name for my events that was as perfect and encapsulating as the name ‘Heavy’ was for this series of soirees. Behind a literal wall of subwoofers, you could find local heavyweights like Daniel Disaster (then known as DJ Megan Foxxx, now as one half of Heroes x Villains) and Anthony ‘Mayhem’ Rotella mixing everything from T.I. to Rick Ross with the full throttle bass driven sounds of the UK born dubstep that was quickly permeating the local underground dance culture. The dubstep we were exposed to at these shows wasn’t your modern mass produced, laser synth laden ‘brostep’, but the tightly coiled, LFO lambasted rhythms of those like Trolley Snatcha, Caspa, Rusko, Funtcase, Reso, and Benga. The pairing of vocals detailing the success and struggles associated with the shadier side of life and the deep, tense vibes of UK bass made good sense from the DJ side of things, both melodically and metaphorically. From the dance floor, many of us had no idea what we were being subjected to, but it just felt right.

Though the sound of the trap scene has long since left the underground, it managed to retain a good helping of its ‘all black everything’ ghetto-glam-goth vibe, though not without a generous smattering of pastel polos and high socks for youthful flavor. Though many older scenesters may sneer at the pop notoriety of the most recent incarnation of the genre, and its accompanying crowd, at the end of the day its a testament to the success and approachability of the music. Sure, deep down we like it grimy and a bit dark, but we also know how to have a good time without taking ourselves or surroundings too seriously.

This mentality and progression of the genre was prevalent at my most recent venture into East Atlanta to see trap big shot RL Grime with local support from Speakerfoxxx and Taste Tester.

Held in the Graveyard Tavern’s newish venue space, the Basement, the atmosphere was decidedly different than the days of Heavy. Minimalistic house lighting, bars tended by tattoo emblazoned ‘not to be messed with’ types, and ominous back drops of classic silent horror movies were replaced with playful LED rigs, scantily clad girls pouring Red Bull and vodkas, and murals that fell somewhere between skate punk graffiti and Sailor Jerry imagery.

The crowd was different than I remembered encountering on this side of town as well. For one, the outfits around me were no longer contained to a monochromatic palate, and instead of fashion statements made with studs and inverted crucifixes, flat bills, high socks, and trainers abounded. Again, I’m not being high and mighty or the least bit hipsterish about the new emerging support system for our decidedly southern sounds. Change is good. It fosters growth within the genre and those like it, and shows that there is indeed a future for all forms of EDM.

Speaking of new faces, the opener for the night, Taste Tester, is one of the youngest players in Atlanta’s trap music scene. His recent productions have been seeing a lot of Soundcloud traffic, and even support from big whigs in the scene such as Baauer, who played out his tracks at Coachella this year, and RL Grime, who featured his remix of Jeremih’s ‘Gurlz Gon Wyld’ in a recent mix hosted by Diplo on BBC Radio 1. That’s pretty big moves for a youngster with only around 1700 fans on Facebook. True to the tunes you can find on his Soundcloud, his set was full of different takes on the trap sound, ranging from minimalist and atmospheric dubby cuts, to full on hat and snare driven juke/footwork tracks. Considering myself a somewhat educated listener, I could really appreciate his song selection, and the fact that he was able to play that ever crucial opener role of keeping the pot at a simmer and no more. However, I felt that as such a fast rising figure in his arena his delivery would have been a bit more assertive and confidence a bit higher. But whatever, dude is young, talented, and doesn’t come off as cocky. That being said, it should be fun to watch him progress, as he already has been working with major local players MUST DIE!, HPNTK, and HYDRABADD. Apparently all caps is the new thing. I don’t know.

Speakerfoxxx

Having never seen Speakerfoxxx spin, but having heard the legend, my guests and myself were anxious to see how her attitude of street-hardened female empowerment put forth in her sophomore mixtape release , Dopegirl Anthems, would translate to a live setting. Taste Tester’s set came to a close with little gusto, and following a lengthy swap of gear, Speakerfoxxx began to put on one of the most impressive performances I’ve seen in a long time. Though Taste Tester’s set kept the crowd interested, it didn’t quite engage them. What was once a crowd of all colors, shapes and sizes nodding along in rhythmic appreciation, had become a mob encroaching upon the stage and Speakerfoxxx’s personal space.

I’d heard of her ability to read and move a room, but the effect was striking. She dove into a medley of Birdman tunes, “I Need a Dime”, “Choppa Style”, and other street level classics blended with the occasional thugged out banger or trap gem. As people began actually climbing on stage to dance, and not only girls, mind you, I turned to my right and saw a middle aged black couple in full business attire grinding like they were back in high school. Well. That escalated quickly. Speakerfoxxx, you have our attention. Her overall demeanor was calm and collected, working the mic only occasionally, but effectively. Though she did delve a bit into the modern versions of instrumental and sample driven trap, I was more impressed with her decision to play mostly rap and hip hop from all corners of the genre. It made her set stand out from the others, and drew a clear division between the opener and headliner, who both were to be playing EDM driven sets. Professional without being uptight, impressive without upstaging the headliner. Well played.

RL Grime is one of the artists who reminds you that although the roots of trap run deep in the south, it is most certainly a coast to coast musical phenomenon. Based out of LA, but having spent his college years in New York, RL Grime brings a lot of different cultural influences and approaches to his brand of music production and live selection. Clad in all black, exuding playful confidence and appreciation from the crowd, Grime pulled no punches during his set. Every hood and trap house was represented, as he wound his way through original and remixed versions of everything from Ace Hood to Chief Keef to The Diplomats, much to the excitement of my yankee friends from Jersey. Admittedly, I spend a lot of time crawling forums and blogs trying to find the newest sounds and reworked classics, but even so, Grime played a multitude of tracks originally cut by trap standards like Flosstradamus, Luminox, Baauer, and others, that had been altered and presented in ways different than any I’d heard. It seems the dubplate culture is strong in the world of trap, which is great. That implies lots of collaboration, growth, and a measure of exclusivity in a world of instant download gratification.

As his set blew past the previously planned time, Atlanta trap royalty Daniel Disaster joined him on stage for a surprise back to back tag set. This treat lasted nearly a full 90 minutes, all the while the two appeared to be having a blast playing off each other and manipulating the crowd, which was in full East Atlanta rage mode at this point. As one of the most well traveled and connected DJ’s based out of Atlanta, he’s worked as an engineer at Grand Hustle for years, Disaster has one of the nastiest collections of trapped out anthems and progressive club bangers in the game. As the night drew to a much later than expected close, the energy given off by these two stars was both inspiring and comforting. Trap and its roots have always been here, and although its venturing further from home everyday, it most certainly isn’t leaving us anytime soon.

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Post tags: Atlanta, Basement, Dub, EDM, RL Grime, Speakerfoxxx, Taste Tester

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If you’ve followed the site over the past few months, you probably know how excited we were to attend the inaugural Bottle Rock Napa Valley Festival in Napa, California. And that excitement only increased after interviews with Tift Merritt & Carolina Chocolate Drops. However, a last minute change prevent the planned crew from attending the Festival and we were left downtrodden and a little worried we’d never see this beautiful part of California.

A contact was made with GumCreative, and luckily Peter Sahaidachny was able to step in and take over our social media for the Saturday of the Festival. While it wasn’t ideal – and we would have loved to spend the whole weekend there – we’re incredibly grateful for Pete coming on board for the day and providing us with a few photos of what we can expect next year. See you in 2014, Napa! (oh yeah, 2014 tickets are already for sale). Photos by Peter Sahaidachny

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Post tags: bottle rock, bottle rock napa valley, California, Festival, napa

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As we make our second trek into the Arkansas wilderness for the return of yet another Wakarusa Festival, we can’t help but admire the steller lineup the team behind the scenes has put together. From co-headlining sets by Widespread Panic, Snoop Lion, Of Monsters & Men and many more, to highly anticipated performances from Buffalo Killers, The Apache Relay, Shovels & Rope, and the Whigs – it’s going to be a weekend to remember. 

TheBlueIndian.com caught up with Wakarusa 2013 Official Artist THE LAST BISON for a short interview about the importance of family, covering M83, and or course – Wakarusa 2013. 

The Last Bison – Matt Eich

Bands often describe themselves as a “family” once they’ve spent a bit of time on the road together. In this case, the term is quite literal. Like with any family, the bond is built by overcoming hardships, developing trust, and learning that sometimes you have to put someone you love in their right place, whether it’s easy or not. If you could pinpoint it to a specific moment(s), is there a point in the band’s timeline where family became more than blood?

Annah – When we went into the recording studio we definitely bonded in a deeper way. Working with a producer for the first time was rewarding and challenging. There was times when we just didn’t agree with what the producer was suggesting, and we found that in spite of any differences we felt within the band, we all were united in preserving certain aspects of our music.

Jay – I felt this last two months, on the Inheritance Tour we really grew together as a band and learned to understand one another better. When it came to working together at shows and also just learning to live together and love each other better than we have on past trips.

Andrew – No one ever explicitly deserves family and it’s not something you can take for granted. When you learn that, I think, is when those relationships start to become three-dimensional. I’d say the same probably goes for most relationships that require love and sacrifice.

Dan – The name Inheritance definitely draws on our family ties and the value we place on traditions.  Even the members of the band who are not related have very close families and there are deep and lasting friendships between us. The musical traditions we inherited are varied, with the Hardesty’s drawing on Americana and Rock roots, while the Benfante’s grew up with their father playing a lot of Jazz in the house. Amos and Teresa are both from a classical background. There is definitely a rich musical heritage represented in the band. Another significance to the Inheritance title is the importance of faith to the band. We are all at different places in our journey but we all recognize that the faith of our families has impacted us deeply.

Annah – We spent four days at Doe Bay Fest on Orcas Island in Washington. The place is absolutely beautiful and the bands and fans form an amazing community and environment that is relaxing and full of creativity. Music pops up everywhere and we had lots of time to relax and enjoy the place. Another festival highlight was Treefort in Boise. The crowd there was so enthusiastic. They were going nuts for the band before us, and we were thinking, “this is going to be a hard act to follow.” When we came on, they turned it up a notch and went wild. It felt like playing to a home crowd. We love Boise!

Jay – After we finished our set in Boise the crowd screamed for an encore for nearly 3 minutes before we told them we couldn’t because there was another band coming on. That was definitely a special moment and I look forward to playing Boise again.

Dan – The M83 cover just kind of happened one night. We were at a rehearsal when a friend showed up who was supposed to have been at a Passion Pit show. There was some issue and the venue announced that ticket holders could either get a refund or sit in on a shorter acoustic set by Passion Pit.  She decided to come to our rehearsal instead. When we heard this, we tried to imagine what an acoustic Passion Pit show would be like, which lead to us discussing what other bands would be odd to hear acoustic. M83 came up, and we thought, “why not give it a try.” When we saw that the folks who had gathered at our rehearsal were bobbing their heads and digging the music, we decided to start performing it live. It was definitely a good decision.

Ben – Actually none of us can trace our roots too far back in Virginia, but we all have a deep love for the area and the history of our state. We all grew up here and I have always loved the music of Appalachia.  I love the idea of reflecting the “music of place” as well. I find my music is affected by geography. When I write songs, the music and lyrics are often tied to an actual place that I have experienced. So, having spent my life in Virginia, definitely has an impact on our music.

Ben – Gogol Bordello!

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Post tags: interview, the last bison, wakarusa, wakarusa lineup

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In the day and age of sprawling, largely corporate music festivals, it’s always comforting to me when an organization pays as much concern to the quality of the event they’re putting on – and not just the quantity of things they can cram into one space. Don’t get me wrong – I love spending the weekend at a large festival, camping next to strangers, and trekking from stage to stage, but I’ve always preferred city-based festivals to the organized chaos of tens of thousands of people in a field together. Over the past seventeen years, AthFest has grown from a mere-idea based on a visit to SXSW to a festival that debuted in 1997 after only ten weeks of planning and has since grown into one of the largest music and arts events in the South East. 

AthFest is a product of determination, local pride, and the power of activism within a small community. Riding high on the success of a 1989 visit to SXSW in Austin, but disappointed at the lack of similar support in Athens, now-Festival Executive Director Jared Bailey wrote an article for Flagpole Magazine titled “Why Can’t Athens Support Our Music Scene” and the project slowly grew there. Combined with support from the Athens Downtown Development Authority and various other organizations, the idea was a point of discussion for a few years before a dedicated team begin meeting at the Athens Brewing Company in early 1997 and the project seemingly exploded overnight. 

As we approach the 2013 Festival, we wanted to take a look back on the sixteen previous years of music, art, and community that have shaped the city – and what you can expect this June 19th – 23rd. 

#1 – July 18th – 19th, 1997

After making the decision of “full steam ahead”, the inaugural AthFest was planned and executed in just ten weeks time. High temperatures affected the turnout, however large crowds showed up for headlining performances from #1 Family Mover, Harvey Milk, and Kevin Kinney (Drivin’ N Cryin’) + 60 other acts through the town.

Cover Art for the 1st AthFest Compilation

#2 – July 16th – 19th, 1998

After only one year, it seemed like everyone was on board with the Festival! After debuting a compilation CD featuring artists on the lineup, NPR profiled the event and album via “All Things Considered” and gave the Festival their first jaunt in the national spotlight. The Wall Street Journal caught wind of the KidsFest portion of the event and included it in a summer piece outlining the twenty different festivals for youth around the world. Randall Bramblett, The Corrector, and the Common People Band headlined the outdoor stage over the weekend, along with the usual cast of Athens’ “best and brightest”.

#3 – June 24th – 27th, 1999

The third year for the Festival debuted with the Flagpole Awards show, an event to honor local business, artists, musicians, and more. The awards show has been held on the opening night of the Festival ever since. Given the intense heat during late July, organizers make the decision to move the Festival to mid-June, a change that positively impacts the event and has lasted through the years. Headlining acts included Five-Eight, Macha, and the UGA Jazz Band. A young artist by the name of John Mayer would perform a short, but well received set on the Acoustic Stage, only to be asked back for a much longer set the following year.

#4 – June 22nd – 25th, 2000

2000′s Festival is most notable, as it happens to the be the only year in the organizations history that they’ve made the decision to cancel any of the events due to weather. A young lady by the name of Jennifer Nettles performs with her band – you may recognize her now as the singer of world-famous country act Sugarland. Despite the poor weather, the crew managed to make some last minute changes and had Randall Bramblett and his band perform at an inside venue.

#5 – June 21st – 24th, 2001

The 2001 Festival featured an exciting exhibit known as the “Athens Music History Exhibit” – featuring memorabilia from the past thirty years of live music in the community. Acting as a precursor to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the exhibit gained awards from the GACVB and drew attention throughout the state. Headliners included Shawn Mullins, Japancakes, and Randell Bramblett Band.

Cover Art for the 2002 AthFest Compilation

#6 – June 20th – 23rd, 2002

A steller performance by Drive By Truckers marked a new milestone of growth for the Festival. The band packed out the streets of downtown Athens, making it one of the most successful years yet. As more and more facets of city and local government begin to catch on, the Athens Welcome Center begins hosting a Music Tour Bus that takes visitors to notable homes, venues, and buildings throughout the city.

#7 – June 19th – 22nd, 2003

Headlining shows from Cracker, Cindy Wilson of the B-52′s, and the Kevin Kinney Band pull yet another large and responsive crowd to the downtown for AthFest 2003. Bailey described the year as being “more or less the same”.

#8 – June 17th – 20th, 2004

Due to continued growth, AthFest moves to the lower end of downtown – closer to the 40 Watt. Film::Athens sees the return of film screenings to the festival and the move proves to be highly beneficial. Wired Electronic Music Festival teams up with AthFest to add a new element of style to the Festival and headliners Camper Van Beethoven, Rehab, and a 40th anniversary reunion show from The Jesters drew record crowds.

#9 – June 23rd – 26th, 2005

Now residing in Nashville, The Whigs made their headlining debut at AthFest to huge crowds. Alongside Pylon and Shawn Mullins, the group makes a lasting impression at the eight-annual Festival and are quickly catapulted to nationally acclaimed success where the band would eventually tour alongside Kings of Leon, Manchester Orchestra and more. The Festival Board made the decision to double the size of the entire Festival, resulting in two full blocks of vendors and music – not to mention the additional venues that had come on board in the recent years.

#10 – June 21st – 25th, 2006

The Festival celebrates their 10th year by expanding to five days total. As expected, the anniversary marks the largest Festival in their short history and a lineup that includes Modern Skirts, Now It’s Overhead, Drivin’ N Cryin’ and now indie-giant Phosphorescent. More than 175 artists graced the various outdoor and club stages around the city.

The Whigs at AthFest 2007 – Photo by Ric Wallace

#11 – June 20th – 24th, 2007

Headlining sets from The Whigs, Drive By Truckers, and (now defunct) Perpetual Groove make for one of the most anticipated Festivals yet. More than 150 artists played over the five days – including sets from Lazer/Wulf, Adam Klein, Venice is Sinking, Velveteen Pink, and Dead Confederate, all of whom still actively play shows throughout Athens.

#12 – June 18th – 22nd, 2008

Modern Skirts were the one of the buzz bands on the bill this year, as shortly after AthFest they would embark on a European tour as direct support to R.E.M., with certain dates with The National and Vampire Weekend. Texas alt-rockers Centro-Matic made their way back to Athens for the Festival, after being introduced to the town (and their largest GA fan base) by their friends in Drive By Truckers.

#13 – June 25th – 28th, 2009

2009 marked the last year where the lineup featured the now defunct group We Verses The Shark, which I have heard countless stories about. Atlanta’s The Black Lips got weird, Nappy Roots got high, and the almighty Reptar made their first ever appearance at the Festival – playing a late night set at Nuci’s Space. In only a few short years, the band would be headlining the Festival. Looking through the 2009 lineup, I found a number of bands that are now touring internationally and sell-out venues whenever they come home (Futurebirds, Betsy Franck, Lingo).

#14 – June 23rd – 27th, 2010

This was going to be the first year TheBlueIndian.com crew attended AthFest and to this day I cannot remember why we weren’t there. David Dondero, Packway Handle Band, Bubba Sparxxx, and Perpetual Groove (to name only a few) were among the highlighted performances on the free outdoor stage. As the night progressed, venues filled up to see favorites like Quiet Hooves, Lefty Hathaway, Woodfangs, The District Attorneys, and Lera Lynn. of Montreal’s film Family Nouveau was among the featured films screened at the Festival and everyone was drunk and enjoying themselves.

#15 – June 22nd – 26th, 2011

Ah yes, my first year at AthFest. Plenty wet behind the ears and eager to drink as many beers as I could while behind closed doors of the port-o-johns, AthFest was quite the experience. I was whipped into shape by the end of the first day and would like to think I enjoy the Festival as much as I do now because of the mistakes I made the first year. Reptar’s “so sold-out even the media can’t get in” show at the 40 Watt was one of the most exciting points of the weekend, though seeing Washed Out with a full-band (finally) was high up there. Futurebirds were great, Hope For AGoldensummer was great, the whole damn weekend was one of my favorite trips to Athens ever.

#16 – June 20th – 24th, 2012

For 2012, TheBlueIndian.com featured “12 Bands of AthFest 2012” (clever, right?), a list that included The District Attorneys, Bit Brigade, Young Benjamin, Lera Lynn, Atlas Sound and more. I paid much more attention to the bands playing at clubs around the town than the acts on the outdoor stage, though Reptar’s set was one of the more magical moments to occur in Athens in a few years. Grass Giraffes were a personal favorite and it was great finally being able to buy my own beer. We had a great time.

#17 – June 19th – 23rd, 2013

AthFest 2013 Compilation Cover Art

Returning for the 17th year in a row, AthFest is back – and better than ever. The outdoor (free) stages lineup includes sets from Twin Tigers, Quiet Hounds, Ruby Velle & the Soulphonics, Dank Sinatra, ZOOGMA, and the very last ever show you can hope to see from Modern Skirts. Expect tears. When were not spending time in the Artists Market or the KidsFest, you can expect to find us at one of the towns many bars celebrating the Skirts’ incredible career.

As the sun sets and venues begin opening their doors, we’ll head out to experience (in my humble opinion) the most talented and well thought-out lineup the Festival has ever had. Ten venues are participating in the concert crawl this year – and that means decisions must be made.

I’m eager to see Dana Swimmer on their home turf, though their shows in Macon and Milledgeville have been nothing short of excellent. The Whigs will be setting up camp at the 40 Watt on Friday at midnight, but you can catch 30 minutes of their set before booking it to the Theatre for Reptar.

DRGN King makes an odd appearance at AthFest, but I couldn’t be happier to see these guys again. TheBlueIndian.com has supported them over the past two years and I know they’re eager to return to the South. They’ll be at the newly opened Green Room on Friday at 11:30pm.

Between Cicada Rhythm, Betsy Kingston, Sumilan, the Wired Music Festival, Manray, and nearly 80 other artists schedule for the AthFest concert crawl, it’s going to be a long, strange weekend. Tickets are already available (and discounted) for the 17th annual Festival, this June 19th – 23rd in Athens, Georgia. A full schedule of events is available at www.AthFest.com.

© The Blue Indian, 2013. | Permalink
Post tags: Athens, athfest, festivals, georgia, history, Music

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Party in the Park 2013 Lineup

The second annual Party in the Park Atlanta is just a few days away and I wanted to familiarize myself with the only band on the lineup that will be representing the fine city. Last year, Ponderosa had the honor of starting off a day of music that culminated with The Flaming Lips, but this year you’ll find THE ELECTRIC SONS kicking the Party off. The duo has caught the attention of Indie Music Review Magazine, FanBolt.com, and a steadily growing fan base in the South. The band, comprised of Andrew Miller & Ben Richards, is eager (as you can imagine) to be a part of such a large production this early in their career, though they’re quite familiar with festival style production and large audiences – they’ve already been featured at Bearstock, CollegeFest 2012, Star94′s Festival, Sounds of the South and more. 

Party in the Park takes place Saturday, May 18th in Centennial Olympic Park. Tickets are available for $35.00 pre-sale, but you can take the chance of winning TWO FREE TICKETS if you want. The lineup includes Yeasayer, Grouplove, Ellie Goulding, Passion Pit – and The Electric Sons. If you want to hang out with The Electric Sons and get your Party in the Park started early, the band is having a pre-party at Slice (nearby). Drink specials, food, free swag etc..See the included poster for more details. 

For being a relatively new band (2011), you all have seemingly taken Atlanta and the surrounding areas by storm. Not to mention the web presence you’ve gained over the past few months. Putting all those successes behind you, do you remember the very first show together and what it was like?

(Andrew) Definitely. Our first show was April 27th, 2012 at Vinyl in Atlanta. It was the very first time getting the music out in a live setting which was pretty cool. I imagine it was MUCH cooler for us than everyone else at that point in our live career, but having the support of so many of our friends and fans, even at that point, was a really great experience for us!

(Ben) Yeah, we’ve been lucky to have a ton of support from our friends and family. That first show was simultaneously awesome and terrifying.

The band hasn’t toured much since you got things rolling, however you’ve been featured on a number of mid-sized festivals – including Bearstock and Star94′s Festival. Is there a summer tour in the foreseeable future?

(Ben) We are actually planning on spending June and July writing for a new E.P. There will be shows sprinkled throughout those months but we’re going to try to hunker down and get it done.

(Andrew) We will be doing some touring in August and throughout the fall, out to Arizona and California with the new material, which we are really excited about.

On May 18th, you’ll have the honor of opening the second annual Party in the Park Atlanta at Centennial Olympic Park. Aside from sharing the stage with Yeasayer, Grouplove, Ellie Goulding, and Passion Pit, what are you excited about for the festival

(Andrew) It’s just being a part of such a big production and stage. Being part of a show that size can be a little intimidating, but it’s a challenge we’ve been waiting to face since we started the group. We’re as honored as we are excited.

(Ben) I’m actually excited to get out in the sunshine for a day. After this show we’re going to turn into studio trolls so it’ll be nice to stock up on some vitamin D.

The Electric Sons are an Atlanta band, through-and-through. What are some of your favorite ATL spots to eat, drink, and be merry?

(Andrew) Huge fan of Falafel King in Emory village and when it’s drinking time, I like Prohibition (if I can get in) in Buckhead.

(Ben) Hands down, Fellini’s is the best pizza in Atlanta. I think Grindhouse wins for burger and Flying Biscuit for breakfast. There’s so many great places– Woody’s Cheesesteaks, Fatt Matt’s, THE MAJESTIC DINER for 3am drunk salvation.

For some circumstance, you all get to be a part of a tour with three bands of your choice – current bands. Who are you heading out with?

(Andrew) Phoenix, Foster the People, Coldplay.

(Ben) STRFKR, Youth Lagoon, Muse

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Post tags: Atlanta, party in the park, the electric sons

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On tour in support of his latest album, Grammy-nominated (for work with Buddy Guy & The Dickinsons) artist Jimbo Mathus of Squirrel Nut Zippers will be setting up camp at the Star Bar in Little Five Points Atlanta on Saturday, May 25th. Mathus has lead a full and adventurous life, from working as a river barge deckhand to travelling thousands of miles of roads across the country

His newest album via Fat Possum Records has been dubbed White Buffalo, a seemingly appropriate name for the unique touch Mathus gives to his sound. Buffalo seeps the sounds of the South, both the “old” and “new”, and conjures up imagery of crowded blues joints, back-alley jam sessions, and the woefully beautiful and tragic story of the working man.

Tickets are still available for this show, but they’ll move fast so get to the venue early. Mathus is widely considered to be one of the top players of his style and always brings a party to Atlanta.

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Post tags: Atlanta, jimbo mathis, jimbo mathus, star bar

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Old Crow Medicine Show

Seeing The Avett Brothers and Old Crow Medicine Show at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on May 17th will be our second trip back to Atlanta this month to cover a bunch of pickers and grinners (we had a great time at Shaky Knees Fest, despite the rain). This time it’s not just about music (and mud) but it’s about the venue, the bands, and how they’ve changed over time.

The first time I heard of the Avett Brothers was 2005-2006 when I was living in East Atlanta. Several of my friends insisted that I go see them at the Drunken Unicorn. It was about $10, I was late (as I am wont to do), and I only got to catch a brief moment of the skill of two brothers picking tunes like they’d been doing since childhood (with a bassist who isn’t kin, but might as well be).

Comparably, this show is in the largest amphitheatre on the north side of Atlanta, the tickets are a bit more than just $10 (but well worth it), and these guys have realeased about half a dozen records, and sold literally millions of albums. I look forward to them being just as stellar as they were in a small dingy Atlanta venue but with years of the road behind them.

To be candid, I knew “Wagon Wheel” more than I knew who wrote it until about last year when my eyes were opened by the Blue Indian photographer for this show, Scott Corkery. Since, I’ve been blown away by their depth and range, and this will be not only first my time seeing Old Crow Medicine Show, and their second time back to Atlanta since the return of Critter Fuqua.

Both bands have 2012 records they are still supporting, so hopefully they’ll test some new material out on a big audience. All in all, it should be a fun show with some folk favorites.

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Post tags: Atlanta, avett brother, old crow medicine show

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