Lady Antebellum, a trio made up of Augusta boys Charles Kelley (on left) and Dave Haywood and bandmate Hillary Scott, performing at Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood in May. The band returns to Atlanta to play the Fox Theatre on Nov. 12. Photo: Robb D. Cohen / www.robbsphotos.com

ON SALE NOW
Indigo Girls. 8 p.m. Oct. 15. The Buckhead Theatre. $35. TM.

ON SALE JULY 23
American Carnage Tour with Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax. 7 p.m. Oct. 1. Gwinnett Arena. $10-$59.50. LN.
Unknown Hinson. 8 p.m. Oct. 16. Variety Playhouse $21. TM.
Blonde Redhead. 9 p.m. Oct. 29. Variety Playhouse. $20. TM.
The Dandy Warhols. 8 p.m. Nov. 11. Center Stage. $21. TM.

ON SALE JULY 24
Guided By Voices. 8 p.m. Oct. 23. The Buckhead Theatre. $27.50 advance. TA and TM.
Drive-By Truckers. Oct. 29. The Buckhead Theatre. $25 advance. TM.
311. 8 p.m. Oct. 31. Fox Theatre. $59.50. LN.
Lady Antebellum with David Nail. 8 p.m. Nov. 12. Fox Theatre. $25-$45. LN.

ON SALE JULY 26
Jamey Johnson. 9:30 p.m. Sept. 25.

Continue reading Hot Tickets, July 20 »

When singer songwriter Curtis Mayfield died the day after Christmas in 1999, he left a legacy of socially conscious funk and psychedelic soul that 30 to 40 years later still transports you to a time and a moment when life was hard but good.

On Friday night, Atlanta and the National Black Arts Festival celebrated Mayfield and the timeless gifts of music he shared with people around the world.

As perfect as Symphony Hall is for a classical orchestra, the venue was less than perfect for many of the night’s performers or their 18-piece band. Fortunately, even less than optimal acoustics couldn’t diminish the magic of the man or his music.

From the moment Frank McComb sang “We People Who Are Darker Than Blue,” to the full company’s sway at the end of the night to “Move On Up,” fans were treated to a sampling of Mayfield’s greatest hits at the 2010 Legends Celebration: To Curtis With Love. See photos here.

The Impressions (formerly The Roosters), the group that gave a teenage …

Continue reading Atlanta celebrates Curtis Mayfield with tribute concert »

Frankie Beverly, pictured at a Maze gig at the Fox Theatre earlier this year, plays Chastain Park Amphitheatre on Friday. Photo: Robb D. Cohen / www.robbsphotos.com

TODAY
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
This R&B combo is a perennial favorite in Atlanta. Beverly has been the master of seductive crooning for as long as many young neo-soulsters have been alive. If you haven’t heard stone soul classics such as “Joy & Pain” and “Lady of Magic,” you’re missing some great music. With Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and Kevon Edmonds.
6:30 p.m. July 16. $38-$78. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive N.W., Atlanta. 404-233-2227.

SATURDAY
Mary Chapin Carpenter
The country-folk tunesmith’s latest album, the April release “The Age of Miracles,” is another in the long line of finely crafted albums she’s released in the 23 years since her debut, “Hometown Girl.” Carpenter has sustained a level of quiet brilliance that seems so effortless yet gets overlooked all too often.
8 p.m. July 17. …

Continue reading Live music picks, July 16-22 »

After 45 years of performing, German heavy metal kings Scorpions played what is promised to be their last tour Wednesday night at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Alpharetta. The band is known for their hits “No One Like You”, “Send Me an Angel, “Still Loving You”, and “Wind of Change”. Having sold over 100 million albums worldwide,  they were ranked #46 on VH1’s Greatest Artists of Hard Rock program. “Rock You Like a Hurricane” is also #18 on VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs. On April 6, 2010, Scorpions were enshrined in Hollywood’s Rock Walk in a handprint ceremony.

If you were at the show, tell us what you saw and heard. How did it compare to other Scorpions shows?”

(Photo Credit: Matt Alexandre/ www.robbsphotos.com)  For other concert photography linked to Access Atlanta, please visit for Atlanta Concert Photography Galleries.

Continue reading Scorpions Rock Alpharetta Like a Hurricane »

Adam Lambert, pictured performing at last year's American Music Awards, hass added a second Atlanta show at the Tabernacle on Sept. 15. He plays Symphony Hall the night before. Photo: Matt Sayles / Associated Press

ON SALE JULY 16
The Chapin Sisters. 8:30 p.m. Sept. 3. Red Light Cafe. $12; $10 advance. TM.
Kottonmouth Kings, Authority Zero, Big B. 7 p.m. Sept. 9. Masquerade. $23; $20 advance. TM.
Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15. The Tabernacle. $35. LN.
Ghostland Observatory. 8 p.m. Sept. 18. Masquerade. $28; $25 advance. TM.
James. 8 p.m. Sept. 22. Variety Playhouse. $27.50; $25 advance. TM.
RJD2. 8 p.m. Sept. 25. Masquerade. $20; $18 advance. TM.
Trevor Hall. 7 p.m. Sept. 29. Masquerade. $12; $10 advance. TM.
Foals. 7 p.m. Oct. 3. Masquerade. $17; $15 advance. TM.
Primus. 8 p.m. Oct. 5. The Tabernacle. $39.50. LN.
Grupo Fantasma. 8:30 p.m. Oct. 30. Variety Playhouse. $17.50; $15 advance. TM.
MGMT , Kuroma. Nov. 2. The Tabernacle. $35. LN.
Louis CK. 8 p.m. …

Continue reading Hot Tickets, July 13 »

Concert Review
Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band
July 10, 2010 at Chastain Park Amphitheater

By Jon Waterhouse
For the AJC

Having a Beatles pedigree allows bombastic, self-indulgent live performance and rightfully so. Yet Fab Four skin man Ringo Starr opts to share the spotlight with fellow hit makers spreading the musical love unselfishly across the stage and into the audience. With the eleventh version of his All Starr Band in tow, Starr kept the theme in tact Saturday night at Chastain Park Amphitheater.

The affection was apparent even before Starr took the stage. Merchandise, including T-shirts and necklaces, rocked peace symbols, which proved to be more than just a marketing aesthetic. Starr stepped in front of the Chastain crowd, a two-finger peace sign in each hand, and continued repeating the peace and love mantra throughout the night. While some children of the ’60s may have forgotten the mindset, a spry and unbelievably youthful 70-year-old Starr seemed as optimistic …

Continue reading Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band concert review »

Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band packed a nearly full Chastain Park Amphitheatre Saturday night, July 10, 2010. This year’s tour marks the eleventh incarnation of a concept that was created by Ringo with producer David Fishof. Ringo, who just celebrated his 70th birthday, performed some of his solo and Beatles songs and then each band member took turns performing a hit from their own career. The 2010 All Starr Band consists of the following:
Ringo Starr – drums, vocals
Wally Palmar(The Romantics) – guitar, bass, harmonica, vocals
Rick Derringer – guitar, vocals
Edgar Winter – keyboards, saxophone, vocals
Gary Wright – keyboards, vocals
Richard Page(Mr. Mister) – Bass, vocals
Gregg Bissonette(Santana, Steve Vai) – drums, vocals

And while we weren’t there to cover it, AJC’s Robb Cohen was handy with his camera. Check out the 15-photo online gallery: Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band rock Chastain  . Tell us about what you saw and heard. How did it compare to other Ringo Starr …

Continue reading Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band Pack Chastain Saturday Night »

Serj Tankian appears with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra at Chastain Park Amphitheatre on Friday. Photo: Daragh McDonagh

FRIDAY
Serj Tankian with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Tankian is the frontman of the progressive-metal behemoth System of a Down. He’s also the founder, along with Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, of Axis of Justice, a nonprofit organization that, according to its Web site, seeks to “bring together musicians, fans of music, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice.” This Atlanta date is the final North American stop on his symphonic tour, which includes music from his first solo release, “Elect the Dead” and the upcoming follow-up, “Imperfect Harmonies.”
8 p.m. July 9. $25-$49. Chastain Park Amphitheater, 4469 Stella Drive N.W., Atlanta. 404-733-4949.

FRIDAY
She & Him
Actress Zooey Deschanel is also half of She & Him, a duo that includes indie-rock singer-songwriter M. Ward. Deschanel’s an unconventional vocalist …

Continue reading Live music picks, July 9-14 »

Of Montreal returns to the Variety Playhouse in early November, following the release of a new album, "False Priest," on Sept. 14.

ON SALE JULY 9
Mutlu. 8 p.m. Aug. 20. Eddie’s Attic. $15; $12.50 advance. TM.
David Ryan Harris. 8 p.m. Sept. 7. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $20 advance. TA.
Mandorico. 8 p.m. Sept.18. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 advance. TA.
Mike Zito. 8 p.m. Oct. 12. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 advance. TA.
Shawn Phillips. 8:30 p.m. Oct. 16. Red Light Café. $25; $22.50 advance. TM.
Band of Horses. 8 p.m. Oct. 30. Fox Theatre. $30-$37.50. TM.
Of Montreal. 8:30 p.m. Nov. 6; 8 p.m. Nov. 7. Variety Playhouse. $27.50; $25 advance. TM.
Social Distortion. 8 p.m. Nov. 10. The Tabernacle. $30. LN.

ON SALE JULY 10
Scissor Sisters. 8 p.m. Aug. 21. The Buckhead Theatre. $31. TA and TM.

ON SALE JULY 17
Sarah McLachlan. 8 p.m. Aug. 5. Chastain Park Amphitheater. $38-$72.50. LN.

CANCELED
Lilith Fair featuring Sarah McLachlan, Loretta Lynn, Indigo Girls, Court …

Continue reading Hot Tickets, July 6 »

It’s becoming the summer of canceled concerts.

Now the Lilith Fair date at Aaron’s Lakewood Amphitheatre August 8 has been nixed, presumably due to poor sales. Dates around the country have been cut as acts such as Norah Jones and Kelly Clarkson have bailed.

Locally, acts that would have been here included Sarah McLachlan (the creator of the concept back in the 1990s), Indigo Girls, Loretta Lynn, Corinne Bailey Rae and Courtyard Hounds.

You can get refunds at point of sale.

Sarah McLachlan will do a date at Chastain Amphitheatre instead on August 5. From the press release:

Patrons who previously purchased tickets for Lilith Fair @ Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood will have an opportunity to purchase tickets for the new show prior to the general public on-sale on July 17th @ 10AM. This presale will run Wednesday, July 14th @ 10AM – July 16th @ 6PM

Continue reading Lilith Fair concert dropped at Lakewood Amphitheatre »