Decatur singer-songwriter Caroline Herring plays Friday night and Saturday afternoon at Eddie's Attic. The Saturday afternoon show focuses on a new project based on a children's book. Photo: Jeffrey Fasano

FRIDAY-SATURDAY
Caroline Herring, the Charles Williams Trio
Whenever this Decatur-based singer-songwriter plays on her home turf, it’s a reason to celebrate. Her latest album, “Golden Apples of the Sun,” a work of magical intimacy and immediacy, has been receiving glowing notices from across the nation (and in the U.K.). On Saturday afternoon, she’ll be doing something a little different. “Shelter” is a set of songs based on the children’s book “The Little House” by Virginia Lee Burton. Williams and his trio will be on hand for this show, too, and Atlanta artist Sylvia Cross will narrate. Peter Cooper and Eric Brace join Herring for tonight’s performance.
8 p.m. Oct. 29. $18; $15 in advance. Also, 1 p.m. Oct. 30. $10; $5, ages 12 and under. Eddie’s Attic, 515 N. McDonough …

Continue reading Live music picks, Oct. 29-Nov. 4 »

Seems the thing about Macy Gray’s distinctive voice is that you love it or hate it. Obviously, the Atlanta fans who came out in the nasty weather Wednesday night LOVE Gray. She rewarded them with a two-hour, up close and personal show at The Buckhead Theatre, which was nowhere near sold out. Gray, who was joined by Maiya Sykes, singing background and more, performed about 20 songs, opening with “Ghetto Love” and ending with “Beauty in the World.” Photos from the performance.

Gray appeared to be every bit of 6 feet tall and she was somewhat elegant in flowing gowns — one black, one powder blue and one silver — all graced with feather boas.

The “sexy people,” as Gray called her fans, were in two groups, the first on the lower level of the cozy theater who stood and danced with Gray and Sykes throughout the show, many right in front of the …

Continue reading Macy Gray in Atlanta: Up close and personal at The Buckhead Theatre »

Brad Paisley heads to the Gwinnett Arena Feb. 10 and he'll bring along Darius Rucker. Photo: David McClister

ON SALE OCT. 29
Hayes Carll. 8:30 p.m. Dec. 3. The Five Spot. $15. TM.
Fran Healy. 9 p.m. Dec. 8. $20. The Loft. TA.
Dave Barnes, Drew Holcomb. 9 p.m. Dec. 3. $18; $16 in advance. The Loft. TA.
North Mississippi Allstars. 8 p.m. Dec. 29. Variety Playhouse. $20. TM.
Patty Larkin, Peter Mulvey. 8 p.m. Jan. 8. Red Light Cafe. $20. TM.
Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10. Gwinnett Arena. $29.75-$59.75. LN.

ON SALE NOV. 5
John Prine, Old Crow Medicine Show. 8 p.m. Feb. 25. Fox Theatre. $39.50-$59.50. TM.

UPCOMING SHOWS
Lifehouse, Kris Allen. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26. The Tabernacle. $26. LN.
Carrie Underwood. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Gwinnett Arena. $35.50-$55.50. TM.
Jason Derulo. 8 p.m. Oct. 27. Center Stage. $24. TM.
Matthew Dear. 7 p.m. Oct. 27. Masquerade. $10. TM.
Macy Gray. 8 p.m. Oct. 27. The Buckhead Theatre. $26 advance. TM.
Jakob Dylan. 8 p.m. Oct. 27. Variety …

Continue reading Hot tickets: Oct. 26 »

Three 6 Mafia

Three 6 Mafia will headline a Halloween and costume party at the new 688 Club starting at 7 on Halloween eve.

The club, which has re-opened at a new location (714 Spring St. NW in the Spring4th Complex), has a long history in Atlanta, hosting in the ‘80s then-up-and-comers R.E.M., Billy Idol, The Black Crowes and The Go-Go’s among its hundreds of shows.

Steve May, former manager and co-owner of the original 688 Club, is back on board as GM of the new spot.

Along with Memphis hip-hoppers Three 6 Mafia – who will judge the costume contest — the Halloween event will feature Project Pat, Lil Wyte, Tom P, Jamie Drastik and DJ Golden. Maurice Garland hosts.

The party is open to all ages (21 and older to drink, obviously). General admission tickets are $30; VIP packages are $120.

For tickets, visit www.ticketalternative.com, or for event info, www.688club.com or 404-870-0040.

Continue reading Three 6 Mafia headline Halloween show at new 688 Club »

Slick Rick

The Soul Train “Fusion” Concert scheduled for Nov. 9 just added Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Mr. Vegas (up for a Soul Train “Best Reggae Artist” award) and Atlanta R&B singer Ray Lavender to a lineup that already featured Erykah Badu and Rick Ross.

The concert, a precursor to the actual Soul Train Awards, will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Atlanta Civic Center. Tickets are $39.50-$85.50 and available through www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations and 800-745-3000. A VIP package that includes a backstage pass and VIP reception is available for $200.

Check out www.soultrain.com for info about how to win tickets and other prizes.

The Soul Train Awards (an invite-only affair) tape Nov. 10 and will be simulcast on Centric and BET at 9 p.m. Nov. 28.

Continue reading Soul Train Awards pre-concert adds Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh »

Adventurous and energetic string quartet ETHEL performs at Emory University's Schwartz Center on Friday. Photo: Steve J. Sherman

TODAY
ETHEL
Hip, adventurous New York-based string quartet is at the forefront when it comes to promoting contemporary classical music, taking on the work of young composers with rock influences. The group will perform works by Terry Riley, Huang Ruo, David Lang, Julia Wolfe and Philip Glass.
8 p.m. $10-$15. Emory University Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, 1700 N. Decatur Road, Atlanta. 404-727-5050, www.arts.emory.edu.

The Rock4Research benefit brings Athens quartet Modern Skirts to Vinyl Friday.

TODAY
Rock4Research Benefit
This annual concert raises money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Atlanta’s Tealights will perform and the melodic pop-rock power of Athens quartet Modern Skirts will cap the evening.
9 p.m. $15. Vinyl, 1374 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta. 404-885-1365, www.vinylatlanta.com.

SATURDAY
Gretchen Wilson
It was just a few years …

Continue reading Live music picks: Oct. 22-28 »

Photo: Dana Tynan

It’s always welcome – and exceedingly rare – when a band makes an extra effort to connect with fans.

Sugarland pulled a combo deal of remembering its Atlanta roots and promoting the just-released “The Incredible Machine” Wednesday at the Fox Theatre at an all-comped show open to fan club members/media/corporate sponsor employees and those who snagged some last-minute tix from an afternoon Facebook announcement.

The colorful serenity of the Fox contrasted well with Sugarland’s stage full of grinding wheels and chugging steam – sort of if you criss-crossed the sets of “Oliver Twist” with “Alice in Wonderland.”

The purpose of the show was for Jennifer Nettles, Kristian Bush and their polished five-piece band to play “Machine” in its entirety, in order – something that, Nettles said from the stage, the band had never done before.

“There’s a lot of history being created here,” she said, as the nearly-full audience whooped with adoration.

Fresh from wrapping a …

Continue reading Sugarland celebrates “Incredible” at Fox Theatre show »

Ledisi brings a little Christmas cheer to the Variety Playhouse on Dec. 9. Photo: Vincent Soyez.

ON SALE OCT. 22
The Shadowboxers. 8 p.m. Nov. 3. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10; $8 in advance. TA.
Lullwater, Fulturn Jones. 8 p.m. Nov. 18. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10; $8 in advance. TA.
The District Attorneys. 8 p.m. Nov. 23. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10; $8 in advance. TA.
Atlanta Food Bank Kickoff Party with Dubconscious. 8 p.m. Nov. 25. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 in advance plus two cans of food.  TA.

Jafferson native Corey Smith is close to home for a gig at the Tabernacle on the day after Thanksgiving. Photo: Scott Greene.

Corey Smith. 8 p.m. Nov. 26. The Tabernacle. $25. LN.
Ledisi: “It’s Christmas.” 8 p.m. Dec. 9. Variety Playhouse. $30. $27.50 in advance. TM.
Strawberry Fields, Deja Vu. 8 p.m. Dec. 16. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $12; $10 in advance. TA.
Kathleen Madigan. 8:30 p.m. Feb. 11. Variety Playhouse. $27.50; $25 in advance. TM.

ON …

Continue reading Hot tickets: Oct. 19 »

University of Georgia loyalists might want to give thanks to Band of Horses for the Bulldogs’ recent turnaround.

The group’s cover of Cee Lo’s “Georgia” – which leaked from his upcoming “The Lady Killer” album – became the team’s victory anthem after its Oct. 9 win, which snapped a four-game losing streak. And then, of course, came Saturday’s blowout.

Seattle-formed-South-Carolina-based Band of Horses teamed with the UGA Redcoat Marching Band for its own version of Cee Lo’s song, which is being played by the university’s station, WUOG and is available for purchase.

On its website, Band of Horses singer Ben Bridwell referred to Georgia as the band’s “second home of sorts” and said he had been thinking about writing an homage to the Bulldogs but didn’t have any ideas.

Then Bridwell heard Green’s song and “figured that’s as good as any tribute to any state I’ve ever heard.”

Since Atlanta’s Green has covered Band of Horses’ “No One’s Gonna Love You” for his “Lady Killer” album, …

Continue reading Band of Horses’ ‘Georgia’ helps Bulldogs get back on track »

(l-r) Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh

The Eagles may never get the critical adulation of the Beatles or the Rolling Stones, but they sure know how to entertain. And they didn’t disappoint the die-hards who attended last night’s packed Green Concert  at Piedmont Park with a set list laden with greatest hits from their 1970s heyday.

Sure, there weren’t any real surprises. But that’s not the point of this type of concert. Their vocals, harmonies and musicianship were impeccable. Their sturdy portfolio of songs, played ad infinitum on the radio over the decades, were well represented, from “Take it to the Limit” to “Hotel California” to “Lyin’ Eyes” to “Life in the Fast Lane.”

The audience vibe was happily California mellow, the odor of a certain illegal substance wafted through the air and the backdrop of a half-crescent moon and the Atlanta skyline comforting.

Here’s a snippet of “Peaceful Easy Feeling”:

Though Don Henley, at age 63, is looking his age thanks to a paunch …

Continue reading The Eagles spread their wings at Piedmont Park »