Packway Handle Band What Are We Gonna Do Now? Self-released By Scott Roberts You have to admire the tenacity of Athens’ Packway Handle Band. For nearly 10 years, this hard-working quintet has been one of the only purveyors of traditional (well, mostly traditional) bluegrass music in a town known more for its art- and dance-rock, […]
By Susie Ceruto Amanda Hale:
Charlotte Gainsbourg IRM Electra By Al Kaufman Finally, the often asked question, “What would Beck sound like as a French woman?” has been answered. All right, so maybe the question was never asked, but with release of Charlotte Gainsbourg’s IRM, it has been answered anyway. Gainsbourg is the daughter of French singer-songwriter, actor and director […]
By Jhoni Jackson Anyone enticed by the show flyer’s promise of a “big rock and roll show” certainly got what they came for. Like any good rock show, charismatic front-men (and women, mind you) were abundant, the venue was packed and patrons lined every free space at the bar. The bands were punk-derived but heavily […]
Chris Duarte and Bluestone Co. 396 By Sam Parvin Chris Duarte’s latest album, 396, is funky from the first guitar lick. This guy can really wail, both instrumentally and vocally, and his band, Bluestone Co., rocks so hard you’d think they were a bunch of bayou boys with blues in their blood. There are obvious […]
Rebecca Loebe Mystery Prize Self-released By Scott Roberts If you had to use one word to describe Mystery Prize, the winning new CD and third release from Atlanta singer/songwriter Rebecca Loebe, “genuine” would be a perfect choice. Some performers just have a certain knack for emanating a quality that makes listeners instantly want to be […]
Spoon Transference Merge By Al Kaufman Driven by the horn-fueled single, "The Underdog," Spoon went from twitchy indie kids to mainstream successes with 2007's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Transference does not offer anything as remotely radio-friendly as "The Underdog," but it more than makes up for it with its deliciously friction-filled songs. The Austin band […]
Vampire Weekend Contra XL By Al Kaufman With their sunny, eponymous debut CD in January 2008, Vampire Weekend became the darlings of the indie crowd. By the end of that year, however, the band's demise seemed secure. People quickly tired of their quirky beats and African-lite influences. Happy music just doesn't have the depth and longevity […]
Editors In This Light and on This Evening Epic/Fader By Eileen Tilson In the music industry, the third time is definitely is the charm. By a band’s third album, they should have formally gelled creatively, perfected their live show, and understand their own talent enough to expand their music to the next level of fans. […]
The Villains The Villains DCM Records By Al Kaufman Remember the '70s? For those who don't, it was a sort of weird time musically. It was the time when country and rock began to merge. It was led by a band from California of all places, The Eagles. If the Eagles formed today, they would […]
The Head Puckered By Al Kaufman Teen musicians are usually poster ready heartthrobs who sing songs other people wrote and require a lot of vocal tweaking in the studio. The Head are about to change that notion.
By Micah McLain Band of Horses celebrated the arrival of 2010 the same way they did the arrival of the two years previous – with a sold-out two-night stand in Atlanta. The venue this time around was downtown's Tabernacle and the band was able to secure the Dynamites featuring Charles Walker to help them ring […]
By Jhoni Jackson There’s something about country-based music that makes one year for a stiff drink, preferably – considering current below-freezing temperatures – one that warms both the soul and the body. Just as I was wondering why Atlanta bars don’t serve hot toddies in winter, Maryland’s Cotton Jones took the stage. The early show […]
Gills and WingsGills and Wings By Al Kaufman Freddie Mercury lives. Gills and Wings, a five-piece band from Richmond, Va., must have an iPod loaded with "Bohemian Rhapsody." In their wonderfully theatrical rock style, they sing of losers and loners. On "Dealer," their sympathetic paean to the neighborhood drug dealer, lead singer and synth player […]
'Tis the season… to put together "Best of the Year" lists. So we thought we'd get into the spirit in our own way, with a few of our favorite promoters, booking agents and talent buyers telling us what their favorite show of the year at their venue was, brought to you by Ticket Alternative, of […]
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