Thursday night, the Tabernacle hosted Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse featuring Dethklok, Mastodon, Converge and High on Fire. And while we weren’t there to cover it, Robb Cohen was handy with his camera. See his complete photo gallery here. In the meantime, tell us about what you saw. How did it compare to other Mastodon shows?

(Photo Credit: Robb Cohen/ www.robbsphotos.com)  For other concert photography linked to Access Atlanta, please visit for Atlanta Concert Photography Galleries. by Atlanta Photographer Robb Cohen www.RobbsPhotos.com

Continue reading Adult Swim Presents Dethklok & Mastodon At Sold Out Tabernacle »

Rhonda Vincent. Photo: Rounder Records

FRIDAY
Rhonda Vincent and the Rage
This bluegrass beauty still draws the occasional comparison with Alison Krauss, but she’s carved out her own identity, winning the International Bluegrass Music Association’s female vocalist of the year a record seven times.
8 p.m. Nov. 6. $28-$38. Ferst Center for the Arts, 349 Ferst Drive N.W., Atlanta. 404-894-2787, www.ferstcenter.gatech.edu.

FRIDAY
Mute Math
Strange keyboard squiggles and loads of atmosphere gave way to crackling, wiry guitars on “Typical” from Mute Math’s full-length, self-titled 2006 debut album. Think Radiohead, but not as otherworldly and frightening, or perhaps a weirder Coldplay. The follow-up, “Armistice,” finally saw the light of day in August and displays a more mature sound.
7:30 p.m. Nov. 6. $24.50. The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. N.W., Atlanta. 404-659-9022, tabernacleatl.com.

FRIDAY
Foreigner
This is just a remnant of the Foreigner that you remember. …

Continue reading Live music picks, Nov. 6-10 »

Lenny Kravitz’s “Let Love Rule” tour rolled into Atlanta to the nearly full Tabernacle on Wednesday night with JJ Grey of Mofro opening the show. The tour marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Kravitz’s “Let Love Rule” album. He kicked off the U.S. tour on Oct. 11.

Wednesday morning, a sleepy Kravitz Tweeted and videotaped his arrival into Atlanta. He put on one heck of a show at the Tabernacle later that night (more on that shortly) and posed for a photo with his “ATL brothers: LK, Jermaine Dupri, Dallas Austin and Nelly” at an afterparty.

We have photos from the show, but otherwise don’t know first-hand about Kravitz’s performance. Judging from the photos, he was in his usual “fine” form. Were you there? What was your favorite song from the concert? Did anyone actually get in to the after-party that he attended? Tell us about that, too.

TELL US WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS SHOW COMPARED TO PREVIOUS TOURS FROM LENNY KRAVITZ. (Photo Credit: …

Continue reading Lenny Kravitz Rocks the Tabernacle »

LN = Live Nation, 1-877-598-8698, www.livenation.com
TM = Ticketmaster, 404-249-6400, www.ticketmaster.com
TA = Ticketalternative, 1-877-725-8849, www.ticketalternative.com

Martina McBride will perform at Gwinnett Arena on Dec. 12. Credit: www.martinamcbride.com

JUST ANNOUNCED
George Strait and Reba McEntire. Feb. 25. Philips Arena. On-sale date and prices TBD.

ON SALE NOV. 4
Last November Xmas Show. 7 p.m. Dec. 18. Masquerade. $10 advance. TM.
Jungle Bells 2009. 9 p.m. Dec. 19. Masquerade. $15 advance. TM.

On SALE NOV. 6
Martina McBride. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12. Gwinnett Arena. $39.75-$49.75. TM.
Drivin’ ’n’ Cryin.’ 8 p.m. Dec. 26. The Tabernacle. $25; $20 advance. LN.

On SALE NOV. 7
Gabriel Iglesias. 7 p.m. March 6. The Tabernacle. $34-$36. LN.

ON SALE NOV. 16
Bon Jovi. 7:30 p.m. April 15. Philips Arena. $29.50-$139. TM.

UPCOMING SHOWS
Brand New with Thrice. 7 p.m. Nov. 3. The Tabernacle. $28; $25 advance. LN.
Star Wars in Concert. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3. Gwinnett Arena. …

Continue reading Hot tickets, Nov. 3 »

The Atlanta Pride Committee presented beatboxing “American Idol” alum Blake Lewis as the headliner Sunday for this year’s Oct. 31-Nov. 1 festival. Lewis, who was voted runner-up to Jordin Sparks in Season 6, took Pride’s Coca Cola stage by storm on a beautiful afternoon in Piedmont Park.

“We think Blake’s diverse fan base will draw some new people to the park on Sunday,” said J. Sheffield, Atlanta Pride event manager. “In addition to Blake, our Entertainment Committee, in close collaboration with Q&A Entertainment, reviewed hundreds of applicants to select a lineup that we’re really proud of.”

Blake Colin Lewis was born on July 21, 1981 in Redmond, Washington. The singer-songwriter and beatboxer was the runner-up on the sixth season of American Idol. His major label debut album A.D.D. (Audio Day Dream was released on December 4, 2007 through 19 Recordings/Arista Records. On October 30, 2007, his first single “Break Anotha” was released. The song landed …

Continue reading Blake Lewis Entertains at Atlanta Pride Sunday »

Atlanta was the second stop on the 16 city “Sexy Soul” tour featuring Eric Benet, with Mint Condition and Ledisi. It was Saturday night at the Fox Theatre and it was Halloween, which meant at least one couple showed up in costume (he was a pimp, she was something in red). The show, which runs in other cities through December, was an interesting mix of Tricks and Treats.

Trick: Surprise! Ledisi took the stage first. I expected to see Mint Condition, if for no other reason than Ledisi has received more critical acclaim (more on this later). The energetic singer performed songs from her new album “Turn Me Loose,” kicking things off with “Knockin” before moving into her personal favorite and title song “Turn Me Loose.”

Treat: Ledisi fans that are familiar with her first two albums and have accepted her classification as a jazz singer will hear remarkable growth. She’s evolving as an artist and her range can’t be denied. Performance wise, watching her do a James …

Continue reading Sexy Soul Tour filled with tricks and treats »

The Zac Brown Band and a host of friends serenaded a sold-out crowd at the Fox Theatre with more than four hours of music Friday night, in a benefit to rebuild the Georgia Theatre.

The historic Athens venue burned in June, putting the AthFest music festival on the spot. It’s a hall that has nurtured many young bands, including the Zac Brown Band.

Zac Brown plays all night for the recently-burned Georgia Theatre. Photo courtesy Zac Brown

Besides putting on a great show Friday, Brown ably handled responsibilities as a traffic cop, bringing numerous friends and colleagues on and off the stage. At one point he had 17 musicians crowding the ample Fox facilities, including two drummers and five guitarists.

Rumors flew thick and heavy the weeks before the show and the list of anticipated guests stopped just shy of the second coming of Hank Williams Sr. The actual show was slightly less star-studded – there was no Kellie Pickler, Luke Bryant or Kenny Chesney — though some of …

Continue reading Zac Brown benefit for Georgia Theatre goes deep »

Zac Brown Band. Photo: www.jeffography.com

FRIDAY
Zac Brown Band
This gig is a benefit for Athens’ Georgia Theatre, which was heavily damaged by fire in June. That venue served as host to this band many times, so this is a way of giving back. It could also serve as a celebration of another milestone for the Georgia sextet. Brown and his bandmates just scored their second No. 1 country single with “Toes.”
7:30 p.m. Oct. 30. $100. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404-881-2100, www.foxtheatre.org.

FRIDAY
Gogol Bordello
The Eastern European flavor of this New York-based gypsy-punk ensemble comes courtesy of Ukrainian frontman Eugene Hutz. Hutz is also an actor, playing the English-mangling Ukrainian guide in the film adaptation of the Jonathan Safran Foer novel “Everything Is Illuminated,” and he played the lead in Madonna’s 2008 directorial debut, “Filth and Wisdom.” At times, Bordello’s music bears a striking resemblance to some of the Pogues’ …

Continue reading Live music picks, Oct. 30-Nov. 5 »

Popular rockers Paramore sold out the Tabernacle Tuesday night, October 27, along with openers Paper Route. The band hung out earlier in the day with 99X contest winners and played Whirleyball at Mad Mad Whirled in Marietta. Check out photos from the meet-and-greet plus the band’s live show in this blog gallery.

From Wiki: Paramore is a Grammy-nominated American rock band that formed in Franklin, Tennessee in 2004 consisting of Hayley Williams (lead vocals/keyboards), Josh Farro (lead guitar/backing vocals), Jeremy Davis (bass guitar), Zac Farro (drums), and Taylor York (rhythm guitar). The group released their debut album All We Know Is Falling in 2005, second album, Riot! in 2007, which was certified platinum in the US and gold in the UK, Ireland and New Zealand. Brand New Eyes, Paramore’s third album, was released on September 29, 2009.

Band members

• Hayley Williams – A native of Meridian, Mississippi, born on December 27, 1988 (age 20), is the band’s lead singer.
• Josh …

Continue reading Paramore Sells Out Tabernacle »

Lady Gaga will perform at the Fox Theatre on Dec. 28. Credit: Robb D. Cohen / www.robbsphotos.com

LN = Live Nation, 1-877-598-8698, www.livenation.com
TM = Ticketmaster, 404-249-6400, www.ticketmaster.com
TA = Ticketalternative, 1-877-725-8849, www.ticketalternative.com

ON SALE OCT. 30
Brendan Benson. 9 p.m. Dec. 11. The EARL. $12. TA.
Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa. 8 p.m. Jan. 11. Variety Playhouse. $55 VIP; $40 day of show; $38 advance. TM.
Keller Williams. 8 p.m. Feb. 18. Variety Playhouse. $25; $22.50 advance. TM.

ON SALE OCT. 31
Lady Gaga with Kid Cudi and Jason Derulo. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 28. Fox Theatre. $47.85-$88.95. TM.

ON SALE NOV. 1
Keith Sweat and Friends. 8 p.m. Feb. 19. Atlanta Civic Center. $39.50-$76. TM.

ON SALE NOV. 2
Kem. 8 p.m. Dec. 30. Fox Theatre. $57.85-$116.45. TM.

UPCOMING SHOWS
Paramore with Paper Route and The Swellers (sold out). 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27. The Tabernacle. $27.50. LN.
Hanson and Hello Goodbye. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28. The Tabernacle. $25. LN.
…

Continue reading Hot tickets, Oct. 27 »