Cartel. Photo: Ray Lego

FRIDAY
Cartel
You might remember this Atlanta band as the pop-punk quintet that recorded an album in a glass-encased studio sponsored by MTV and Dr. Pepper. The band’s third album, “Cycles,” has been a long time coming and it’s the first for Wind-Up Records (home of Evanescence, Seether, Finger Eleven and Creed), the band’s third label. The group’s first album, 2005’s “Chroma,” was released by the Militia Group. Sony/BMG affiliate Epic Records then signed the band for the self-titled follow-up (that’s the one they recorded in the glass bubble).
7 p.m. Nov. 27. $16.50. The Masquerade, 695 North Ave. 404- 577-8178, www.masq.com.

FRIDAY
Corey Smith
Jefferson native and UGA grad Smith melds country, rock and blues and plays to packed houses across the Southeast. He gets the Bulldog faithful going with “Every Dawg” and keeps the spring-break spirit alive for the post-grad crowd with “If I Could Do It Again.”
8 p.m. Nov. 27. $25. The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie …

Continue reading Live music picks, Nov. 27-Dec. 3 »

George Strait and Reba McEntire will perform at Philips Arena on Feb. 25. Credit: Tony Baker

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 NOV. 25
Kreator. 7 p.m. March 31. Masquerade. $16.50 advance. TM.

ON SALE NOV. 27
Betty Rebel. 8 p.m. Jan. 7. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $8 advance. TA.
Larry McCray. 8 p.m. Feb. 10. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 advance. TA.

ON SALE DEC. 1
Fringe Atlanta. 7 p.m. March 13. Redeemer. $10-$15; $7.50-$12.50 advance. TA.

ON SALE DEC. 4
George Strait and Reba McEntire. 7 p.m. Feb. 25. Philips Arena. $83.50-$93.50. TM.
Michael Bublé. 8 p.m. March 14. Gwinnett Arena. $49.50-$89.50. TM.

Michael Bublé will perform at Gwinnett Arena on March 14. Credit: Reprise Records

UPCOMING SHOWS
Skinny Puppy. 8 p.m. Nov. 24. The Loft. $27; $25 advance. TA.
Switchfoot. 8 p.m. Nov. 24. Center Stage. $25. …

Continue reading Hot tickets, Nov. 24 »

Continue reading AMA winner Aventura to perform in Gwinnett Wednesday »

Keith Urban, wife Nicole Kidman

Atlanta − and Georgia − were well represented at the 2009 American Music Awards (red carpet photos …  show photos).

• Former Atlanta resident Whitney Houston, who was honored with the International Star Award, delivered a vocally strong ballad. With lines like “I crashed down, I stumbled, I did not crumble,” she kept the vocals in a safe range but was still powerful.

• Country singer Jason Aldean presented award for Country Duo/Group. Noms included fellow Atlanta/Georgia ties Sugarland and Zac Brown Band (both lost to Rascal Flatts)

• Aldean was also nominated for Country male artist, which was presented by Zac Brown Band, but he lost out to Keith Urban.

• Atlanta R&B singer Keri Hilson lost the Soul/R&B female award to Beyonce.

R&B singer Ne-Yo

• Atlanta rapper T.I. faced off against Eminem and Jay-Z for Rapper/Hip-hop male (Jay-Z took it).

• Atlanta singer Ne-Yo introduced Rihanna, whose “comeback” performance (where did she go?) was less than …

Continue reading AMAs 2009: Zac Brown Band, Jason Aldean, Keri Hilson »

Friday night, the Variety Playhouse in Little Five Points hosted Camera Obscura and Papercuts. And while we weren’t there to cover it, Robb Cohen was handy with his camera. Click here for a full gallery of the show. In the meantime, tell us about what you saw. How did it compare to other Camera Obscura 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 Scotland’s Indie Popsters Camera Obscura at Variety Playhouse »

Camera Obscura. Photo: Donald Milne

FRIDAY
Camera Obscura
Only baby pandas can hold a candle to the adorableness of Camera Obscura. The band’s sprightly sweet pop is the perfect thing to cuddle up with as the days get colder, and their albums just keep getting better. This year’s “My Maudlin Career” marks a new pinnacle in memorable cuteness and charm.
8:30 p.m. Nov. 20. $16. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. 404- 524-7354.

FRIDAY
Robert Earl Keen
Texas singer-songwriter and storyteller Keen has an appeal that spans generations. At a Keen show, you’ll see rowdy college kids and graying fans of alt-country, all of them having a raucous good time, singing and stomping along to excerpts from a catalog that spans 25 years.
9 p.m. Nov. 20. $20-$100. Wild Bill’s, 2075 Market St., Duluth. 678- 473-1000.

Van Hunt

FRIDAY
Van Hunt
This Atlanta singer and songwriter evokes the spirit of R&B greats such as Stevie Wonder and Curtis Mayfield, and in a just world he would be a massive …

Continue reading Live music picks, Nov. 20-25 »

Singer-songwriter-actor Lyle Lovett brought his 13-member Large Band to the Tabernacle Wednesday night  for an entertaing evening of eclectic, country-tinged music. The enthusiastic, though modest crowd thoroughly enjoyed the 2- plus hour concert which featured reserved seating on the Tabernacle main level. And while we weren’t there to cover it, Robb Cohen was handy with his camera. Click here for a full gallery of the show. Then, tell us about what you saw. How did it compare to other Lyle Lovett 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 Lyle Lovett and His Large Band Energize The Tabernacle Wednesday »

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 NOV. 18

John Mayer will perform at Philips Arena on March 17. Credit: Carlo Allegri / Associated Press

Fifth Dimension. 8 p.m. Feb. 13. Jennie T. Anderson Theatre. $40. TM.
Julianne Hough. 8 p.m. March 6. Jennie T. Anderson Theatre. $40. TM.
Osmond Brothers. 8 p.m. March 13. Jennie T. Anderson Theatre. $40. TM.
Frankie Avalon. 8 p.m. March 27. Jennie T. Anderson Theatre. $40. TM.
Vicki Lawrence. 8 p.m. April 10. Jennie T. Anderson Theatre. $40. TM.

ON SALE NOV. 20
Abbey Road Live. 8 p.m. Dec. 19. Variety Playhouse. $17.50; $15 advance. TM.
Who’s Bad (A Michael Jackson Tribute). 8:30 p.m. Jan. 22. Center Stage. $20; $16 advance. TM.
American Carnage Tour: Slayer and Megadeth with Testament. 7 p.m. Feb. 1. Gwinnett Arena. $25.50-$59.50. TM.
Al Di Meola. 8 p.m. Feb. 4. Variety Playhouse. $30; $27.50 …

Continue reading Hot tickets, Nov. 17 »

In 1985, young R&B singer Meli’sa Morgan made her solo debut with a remake of Prince’s “Do Me Baby.” The song went to No. 1 on the R&B charts and to No. 41 on Billboard’s Hot 100. Since then, she’s recorded a half dozen albums. Many in Atlanta are probably wondering what happen to the popular ’80s singer who had other hit tunes such as “Love Changes” and “Do You Still Love Me.”

We caught up with Morgan Saturday morning right before she was about the make the drive from her home in South Carolina to Atlanta for a Sunday performance at Sambuca.

You’ve been out of the spotlight for a while. What have you been up to?

I’m not going to co-sign on that. I haven’t been out of the spotlight. You just haven’t seen me. A few years ago, I had a CD titled “I Remember,” which did pretty well. I’ve been touring with people like Frankie Beverly & Maze, Freddie Jackson. And I just got back from Bermuda where I had two sold out shows. I also just finished a TV pilot for a show called “Cougars …

Continue reading Whatever happened to singer Meli’sa Morgan »

Gary Allan. Photo: Tony Baker

FRIDAY
Gary Allan
One of mainstream country’s most thoughtful craftsmen, with a string of powerful albums — and hit singles — to his credit. Jack Ingram and the Eli Young Band join the California-bred singer-songwriter for the “Get Off On the Pain Tour.”
7:30 p.m. Nov. 13. $36.50. The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. N.W., Atlanta. 404-659-9022.

FRIDAY
Benevento Russo Duo
This pair creates music that could be the soundtrack to an art film riddled with jarring tonal shifts. The sounds Marco Benevento and Joe Russo make on organ and drums could underpin scenes of transcendent beauty or unspeakable horror. It’s a stormy and fascinating hybrid of rock, jazz and experimental music unlike anything else around.
8:30 p.m. Nov. 13. $15. Five Spot, 1123 Euclid Ave., Atlanta. 404-223-1100.

FRIDAY
Leo Kottke
Athens-born guitarist-singer is a rhythmically and melodically inventive player whose music covers the terrain between traditional folk music and jazz. Since …

Continue reading Live music picks, Nov. 13-18 »