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Lady Gaga; Jason Derulo; Semi Precious Weapons @ the Fox Theatre, 12/28/09 |
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Written by Jeff Clark
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I have a confession to make. I've been strangely fascinated by Lady Gaga ever since I saw her on Saturday Night Live a few months ago. I'm well aware that I arrived at this party sorta late. I'd heard her songs on the radio over the past year, but like nearly everything on commercial hit radio, it all pretty much sounded the same to me. Then I watched her do that song on SNL where she played the piano half-naked in the middle of that spinning silver ring-sphere thing. "That's pretty fuckin' wacky," I thought to myself. "Maybe I need to pay attention to this freaky chick."
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Dan Auerbach; Justin Townes Earle; Jessica Lea Mayfield @ Variety Playhouse, 11/17/09 |
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Written by Jhoni Jackson
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Tuesday's show at Variety brought more cowboy hats to Little Five Points than it has seen in years. The lineup was blatantly cohesive – all three bands were clearly country-derived (excluding the modern commercial kind) and damned proud of it. The stage setup introduced a fitting Mexican cantina, Southern Texas element, with oversized white lights strung loosely on both sides.
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The Dodos @ The EARL, 10/7/09 |
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Written by Jhoni Jackson
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The Dodos' surprisingly sold out show packed out more than just the floor. Formerly a two-piece, the trio's newly added electric vibraphone made for a monstrous centerpiece that pushed the drums close to the edge of the stage. Devoted fans were abundant, crammed notably thick by EARL standards. The band's 2008 album, the college radio favored Visiter, sold out on vinyl before I could get a copy. Lead singer Meric Long excitedly announced that the turnout was "fucking incredible," admitting attendance at their last Atlanta show was overwhelmingly sparse.
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Future of the Left; Hawks; Predator @ 529, 10/26/09 |
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Written by Glen Sarvady
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529 was dreadfully quiet at 10 p.m., implying a drawn out, late night – it's remarkable how often these prove to be the most rewarding. Kudos to Tight Bros. for enlisting simpatico locals for such a compatible triple bill. The music room filled in nicely the moment Predator pounded out their opening notes. The trio was primitive and austere, sounding a bit like a 1980 LA punk band covering Pink Flag. I doubt any of their songs cracked 90 seconds, and the set clocked in under 20 minutes, an ideal length to wring the max from their barebones intensity.
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Wavves @ The EARL 10/4/09 |
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Written by Julia Reidy
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There's a fine line between damaging for the sake of shock value – for effect – and just plain terrible. A band can affront its audience, like so many live musicians do, to involve them, to let out some aggression that's pivotal to the understanding of its music. A band can evoke disgust as a deliberate emotion from listeners. I get it. All that's fine, understandable and frequently enjoyable. (Unless it's AIDS Wolf that's doing it. I hate AIDS Wolf.)
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Dr. Dog; Those Darlins @ the Loft, 9/29/09 |
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Written by Jhoni Jackson
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Good booking is an underrated skill. It's unfortunate when bands are poorly paired and a decent opening act is lost on an uninterested audience. Luckily for Murfreesboro, Tennessee's Those Darlins, charm is somewhat universal – and can sometimes even steal the show a little.
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Frightened Rabbit; The Twilight Sad; We Were Promised Jetpacks @ Masquerade, 9/27/09 |
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Written by Glen Sarvady
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When I first learned of this triple bill of likeminded Scots I literally chuckled – in part because I had taken to describing We Were Promised Jetpacks to friends as a cross between the Twilight Sad and Frightened Rabbit. The evening's prospects reminded me of a harvest-themed dinner a few years back where every course was comprised of tomatoes – sure they're tasty and well prepared, but how many Fat Cats do you need in one sitting?
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Jeffrey Butzer @ the EARL, 9/25/09 |
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Written by Beth Malone
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Comparisons to Tom Waits and Yann Tiersen – the guy who thumbed the Amelie soundtrack – have been following Jeffrey Butzer since he's become a regular fixture in the Atlanta music scene.
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Fruit Bats @ the EARL, 9/6/09 |
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Written by Jhoni Jackson
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Happy bands like Fruit Bats are hard to come by. That is, if you have any musical standards – otherwise, you can listen to Jack Johnson to get your sunshine fill. Smart, thoughtful lyrics distinguish Fruit Bats from other cheerful acts, and listeners have been grateful ever since 2001's Echolation. Fruit Bats most recent album, The Ruminant Band, feels like a breezy extension of summertime and comes with a sigh of relief for many fans. Lead signer Eric D. Johnson's side-gigs playing with The Shins and other indie acts seemed never-ending, as Fruit Bats kept fans waiting four years since their last release. Some EARL-goers really let loose in celebration – several fans road-tripped across state lines just for the show, and a freakishly tall mega-fan from Florida danced relentlessly, from start to finish, in a supernatural rave style that I've never seen before. It was very distracting. |
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How I Became the Bomb; Young Orchids; Sealions @ 529, 8/11/09 |
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Written by Jhoni Jackson
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Sealions opened the night with a blend of a bassy instrumental track into the danceable "Bellwether," creating a mix that well represents the rest of the band's repertoire. Electronic pop beats behind echoing vocals make for a thoroughly '80s sound, but the trio's melodies are fresh, catchy and often moody. The borderline blasé, drawn out vocals from both Jason Travis and Joey Patino attach a depressing feel to the music - like you might feel bad for dancing along if you listened to the lyrics. The show was more serious than energetic with all three musicians relatively stone-faced throughout, but the lack of expression allowed for a calm but engaging set.
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Tales From The Moshpit
