A sold-out crowd turned out Friday night for Part 1 of Maxwell’s two-night tour to Atlanta’s Philips Arena.

The first night featured eclectic songstress Erykah Badu, who had to start her set over after serious sound problems with her microphone during the opening song “20 Feet Tall” from her new album, the sonic “New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh.”

See photos from Friday night’s Maxwell & Erykah Badu concert.

For a while it seemed that Badu was in her own world, hardly connecting with the crowd that didn’t appear familiar with the material she was singing or its flow. Maybe it was the big top hat and the long, black double-breasted jacket that was creating the distraction or at least setting a tone that was certainly different from the lyrics spilling out of her mouth.

She looked like a British toy soldier, but she was singing about unrequited, addictive and desperate love. “I’d pray for you, crochet for you, Make it from scratch for you, Leave out the last for you,” …

Continue reading Maxwell, Badu bring night of love »

R&B star Maxwell entertained a female-dominated crowd at Philips Arena Friday night in the first of two shows at the downtown venue. Erykah Badu and comic Guy Torry warmed up the audience. We sent the AJC’s Robb Cohen to cover the event with his camera. Check out the 15-photo online concert gallery: Maxwell, Erykah Badu entertain Philips. Please tell us about what you saw at the show. How did it compare to other Maxwell concerts?”

Last October’s concert at Philips Arena: Maxwell and Common make Philips swoon (w/ Chrisette Michele)(AJC.com)(10-5-09)

(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 Maxwell & Erykah Badu Entertain Philips Arena Crowd Friday »

Broken Bells, featuring James Mercer of the Shins & Brian Burton, aka Danger Mouse, performed to a sold out house Thursday night at Center Stage Theater in Midtown Atlanta. Let us know what you think of this new project.

(Photo Credit: Matt Alexandre/ 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 SuperGroup Broken Bells Rock Out At Center Stage »

Tracy Lawrence

FRIDAY
Tracy Lawrence
His career has had its ups and downs in the 15-plus years since his debut, hitting the spotlight most recently with the 2006 No. 1 hit “Find Out Who Your Friends Are.” A version of the song recorded with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney received musical event of the year honors at the 2007 Country Music Association Awards and vocal event of the year award at the latest Academy of Country Music ceremony. He’s been in a hit-making lull of late, but Lawrence seems to bounce back again and again.
8 p.m. June 11. $20-$87.50. Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre, 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton. 770-819-3285.

FRIDAY
Packway Handle Band
Phenomenal vocal harmonies, bluegrass chops and a rock-informed sense of abandon are getting the Packway Handle Band noticed. If you’re a fan of the Avett Brothers or Nickel Creek, you need to check out these guys.
7:30 and 10:30 p.m. June 11. $12-$15; $20 for both shows. Eddie’s Attic, 515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur. …

Continue reading Live music picks, June 11-17 »

Comedian, "Drop Dead Diva" co-star and frequent Atlanta visitor Margaret Cho performs at the Tabernacle Dec. 12. Photo: Austin Young

ON SALE JUNE 11
Devo. 8 p.m. July 28. Chastain Park Amphitheater. $19-$59. TM.
Rick Springfield. 8 p.m. Aug. 14. Atlanta Symphony Hall. $35-$89. TM.
Dubconscious. 8:30 p.m. Aug. 20. Variety Playhouse. $15. TM.
Beth Orton. 8:30 p.m. Aug. 21. Variety Playhouse. $25; $22.50 advance. TM.
Paul Thorn. 8:30 p.m. Aug. 28. Variety Playhouse. $17.50; $15 advance. TM.
The Avett Brothers. 8 p.m. Sept. 1. Chastain Park Amphitheater. $25-$35. TM.
The xx. 9 p.m. Oct. 6. The Tabernacle. $25. LN.
Menomena. 8:30 p.m. Oct. 8. Variety Playhouse. $15. TM.
Anthony Bourdain. 8 p.m. Nov. 20. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. $33-$126. TM.
Margaret Cho. 8 p.m. Dec. 12. The Tabernacle. $28.50-$45. LN.

Toby Keith will take the stage at Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood on Sept. 2. Photo: Richard McLaren

ON SALE JUNE 12
Toby Keith with Trace Adkins. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2. …

Continue reading Hot Tickets, June 8 »

One of the most successful and iconic female singers of all time, Diana Ross wowed a near sellout crowd Friday night at Chastain Park Amphitheatre. Since the beginning of her career with The Supremes and as a solo artist, Ross has sold more than 100 million records. In 1976, Billboard magazine named her the “Female Entertainer of the Century.” She received a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her 1972 role as Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues, for which she won a Golden Globe award. She has won awards at the American Music Awards, garnered twelve Grammy Award nominations, and won a Tony Award for her one-woman show, An Evening with Diana Ross, in 1977.

Check out the 10-photo online gallery: Diana Ross entertains Chastain  and review. Kindly tell us about what you saw. How did it compare to other Diana Ross performances?”

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

Continue reading Legendary Diana Ross Entertains At Chastain Friday Night »

Diana Ross

FRIDAY
Diana Ross
She doesn’t top the charts like she used to, but this Motown diva is still a hit with the oldies-loving set. And you can’t go wrong with a catalog of hits that includes “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “Baby Love”  and “Where Did Our Love Go.”
8 p.m. June 4. $25-$69. Chastain Park Amphitheater, 4469 Stella Drive N.W., Atlanta. 404-733-4949.

SATURDAY
Cheap Trick
Popular in the ’70s for their irresistible power-pop (“Surrender,” “I Want You to Want Me”), the band reached another generation in the new millennium in the opening credits of “That ’70s Show” with a cover of Big Star’s “In the Street.”
7 p.m. June 5. $45-$55. Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, 201 McIntosh Trail, Peachtree City. 770-631-0630.

SATURDAY
Daughtry
Chris Daughtry’s mainstream rock has proven to be one of the more durable products of the “American Idol” star-maker machine. More proof that winning isn’t everything, since Daughtry came in fourth in season five.
7:30 p.m. June 5. …

Continue reading Live music picks, June 4-10 »

The National, touring in support of an acclaimed new album called "High Violet," comes to the Fox Theatre on Oct. 5. Photo: Keith Klenowski

ON SALE JUNE 4
Arcade Fire, Spoon. 8 p.m. Aug. 11. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park. $36-$46. TM.
The National. 8 p.m. Oct. 5. $27.50-$35. Fox Theatre. TM.

ON SALE JUNE 5
Maroon 5, Kris Allen, VV Brown. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21. $29-$54. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park. $36-$46. TM.

Donna Summer will perform as part of the Chastain Series B at Chastain Park Amphitheater on Aug. 22. Photo: John McConnico / Associated Press

ON SALE JUNE 6
Chastain Series B. Tickets for the full series or any combination of two or more shows will be available online at www.chastainseries.com  or charge by phone at 404-233-2227.  Single-show tickets will go on sale at a later date. All shows at Chastain Park Amphitheater.
Counting Crows’ Traveling Medicine Show with Augustana. July 18.  $48-$63.
Bad Company. July 25. $47-$67.
Santana, Steve …

Continue reading Hot Tickets, June 1 »

The 33rd Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival is regarded as one of the Country’s largest free Jazz Festivals.  This annual musical showcase celebrates jazz legends and up-and-coming jazz greats in venues throughout metropolitan Atlanta during the entire month of May. With the weather cooperating, Memorial Day weekend saw this year’s 2-day festival feature a host of national and local talent, plus dozens of vendors, kids activities and a Green theme at Piedmont Park. As usual, Robb Cohen was handy with his camera. Click here for more AJC staff photos from the festival. Tell us about what you saw and heard. How did it compare to previous Jazz Festivals?

Pictured in this blog are the following performers, from top to bottom: Marcus Miller featuring Christian Scott, Spyro Gyra, Celebration of Lionel Hampton featuring Diane Schuur and Jason Marsalis, Stanley Clarke posing with Cultural Affairs Director Camille Love and Mayor Kasim Reed, Stanley Clarke and Hiromi, Trombone Shorty and …

Continue reading Thousands Celebrate 33rd Jazz Festival Weekend At Piedmont Park »