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

Jay-Z (above) and Young Jeezy will perform at Philips Arena on Feb. 27. Credit: Jim Cooper / Associated Press

ON SALE SOON
George Strait and Reba McEntire. Feb. 25. Philips Arena. On-sale date and prices TBD.

ON SALE NOV. 11
95.5 The Beat Pajama Party. 9 p.m. Nov. 19. Wild Bill’s. $10. TM.
The Blast From the Past. 8 p.m. Dec. 11. Philips Arena. $23.75-$93.75. TM.

ON SALE NOV. 12
BlizzFest ’09. 9:30 p.m. Dec. 5. Wild Bill’s. $12-$50. TM.

ON SALE NOV. 13
Benefit for David Hulsey. 6 p.m. Nov. 29. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $15; $12 advance. TA.
Jimmy Gnecco with James Hall. 7 p.m. Dec. 14. Smith’s Olde Bar – Atlanta Room. $15; $12 advance. TA.
Sam Thacker. 8 p.m. Dec. 16. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $12; $10 advance. TA.
A Blues Christmas with Blues Cat, Jigsaw Johnson and Barry …

Continue reading Hot tickets, Nov. 10 »

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 »