Norwegian pop songsmith Sondre Lerche comes to the Variety Playhouse June 11. Photo: Ruvan Wijesooria

TODAY
Dick Dale
The 74-year-old king of the surf guitar got a jolt of exposure in the ’90s when his iconic “Misirlou” was featured prominently in Quentin Tarantino’s film “Pulp Fiction.” His 1961 single, “Let’s Go Trippin’,” is regarded by many music historians as the first surf-rock single.
8:30 p.m. June 10. $25. The EARL, 488 Flat Shoals Ave., Atlanta. 404-522-3950.

Atlanta-based Rebecca Loebe was a frequent presence in local music venues for years, when she wasn't on the road. She recently came to national attention on TV competition "The Voice." Photo: Kate Culver

TODAY
Rebecca Loebe
She’s been a regular presence on the local scene for years, when she wasn’t on the road, but her profile just got a big national boost with her appearance on “The Voice.” She was part of Adam Levine’s team on the singing competition, but was eliminated in the …

Continue reading Live music picks: June 10-15 »

The challenge of being Josh Groban is that because his music is serious and intense, people assume he’s humorless and stuffy and that his live shows must be two hours of furrowed brows and weeping.

 In fact, the 30-year-old pop-opera (popera?) singer is an affable fellow with a quick wit and self-deprecating charm who happens to possess a lacquered voice and nimble piano skills.

 For his “Straight to You” tour, which kicked off last month and played at the Gwinnett Center Arena Wednesday, Groban is experimenting in a way by trying to mesh the intimacy of a theater show with the expanse of an arena.

 It’s tricky territory, especially given Groban’s mellow songs. But for the most part, it worked, especially his cleanly lit stage and backdrop of white brick that resembled the crumbled archway of an old theater.

 “You guys paid out the wazoo to be here, so the least I can do is sing my [butt] off for you,” he said at the start of the two-hour show, which began at …

Continue reading Josh Groban charming and chatty in Gwinnett »

Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup

It takes a confident girl to pull off wearing a purple, green and black striped cat suit and ears, but Katy Perry is nothing if not self-assured.

If this “Teenage Dream” tour – which started in Europe in February and made its U.S. debut Tuesday night at the Gwinnett Center Arena – proves anything, it’s that Perry is a princess among her peers, a polished pop star who, on only her second tour, has mastered the art of spectacle.

Granted, her featherweight songs run the gamut from destined-for-decades-of-airplay (“Hot n Cold,” “Teenage Dream”) to already-forgettable (“E.T.,” “UR So Gay”), but the music isn’t what most people will be talking about.

Perry, with her inky Snow White hair and Zooey Deschanel eyes, looks like a Disney heroine, and her exuberant show, while a tad too scripted in places, is a perfect mold of her animated personality.

The story that frames the concert, played on a trio of video screens …

Continue reading Katy Perry brings sugar and spice to tour opener in Gwinnett »

TV on the Radio returns to the Tabernacle in Septemeber. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 10. Photo: Michael Lavine

ON SALE NOW
Harvey Milk, Wizard Smoke. 8:30 p.m. July 7. The EARL. $12. TA.
Dead Confederate. 9 p.m. July 8. The EARL. $12; $10 in advance. TA.
Archers of Loaf. 8 p.m. July 24. The EARL. $20. TA.
Man or Astroman? 8:30 p.m. Aug. 31. The EARL. $15. TA.
Colbie Caillat. 8 p.m. Sept. 16. Atlanta Botanical Garden. $39.50. TA.
Meat Puppets. 9 p.m. Sept. 24. The EARL. $15. TA.
Tapes ‘n Tapes. 8:30 p.m. Oct. 4. The EARL. $14. TA.

ON SALE JUNE 10
Tim Minchin. 8 p.m. July 14. Center Stage. $32; $29 in advance. TM.
TV On The Radio, Broken Social Scene. 8 p.m. Sept. 13. The Tabernacle. $37. LN.
Elbow. 8:30 p.m. Sept. 20. Center Stage. $34; $31 in advance. TM.
Blink 182, My Chemical Romance, Matt and Kim. Sept. 21. Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood. $20-$69. LN.
Opeth, Katatonia. 8 p.m. Sept. 30. Center Stage. $24. TM.
The Script. 8 p.m. Oct. 9. The Tabernacle. $30. …

Continue reading Hot tickets: June 7 »

Adele is suffering from laryngitis, forcing her to cancel the rest of her tour. CREDIT: AP

Adele, the best-selling artist this year to date, had to cancel the final nine dates of her U.S. tour due to laryngitis, Live Nation announced today.

This includes the British singer’s sold-out Tabernacle date originally scheduled for June 17. The Atlanta concert sold out its entire 2,500 seat inventory almost immediately in February.

How hot are the seats four months later?

Stubhub tickets for that show (before they were taken down) were starting today at a whopping $350 apiece though face value of the tickets was a mere $27.50 ($39.50 after fees.)

“I’m really frustrated,” Adele wrote in a press release. “I was hoping with a weeks rest I’d be better to sing again straight away. However there is absolutely nothing I can do but take the doctors advice and rest some more.  I’m so sorry.  See you soon, love Adele”

Live Nation said ticketholders should hang on to their tickets for now. …

Continue reading Adele cancels rest of U.S. tour, including Tabernacle date »

Jars of Clay opens the summer concert series at Six Flags Over Georgia on June 4.

Six Flags Over Georgia will host a concert series of five shows this summer, starting at 5:45 p.m. Saturday with Christian pop-rockers Jars of Clay.

Other acts performing this summer:

• A Rocket to the Moon, known for its hit, “Dakota,” plays at 5 p.m. June 11.

• Shiny Toy Guns, whose latest album, “III,” is due later this summer, arrive at 5 p.m. June 18.

• Florida’s pop-punkers We the Kings perform at 5 p.m. July 23.

• Mr. “Cooler Than Me,” Mike Posner, will take the stage at 6 p.m. July 31.

All shows are free with park admission, which is required for concert entry, and will take place at the Southern Star Amphitheater.

For more information: 770-948-9290, www.sixflags.com/overgeorgia.

Continue reading Six Flags Over Georgia bringing Jars of Clay, Mike Posner to summer concert series »

Miranda Lambert headlines Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre June 4. Josh Kelley and Ashton Shepherd open the show. Photo: Randee St. Nicholas

FRIDAY
The Monkees
Some consider this manufactured-for-TV outfit the original boy band, and they have a good case. That shouldn’t detract from the string of irresistible hits the band scored from 1966 to 1968, including “Last Train to Clarksville,” “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” “I’m a Believer” and “Valleri.” On this tour, as on most of the reunion efforts since the ’70s, Michael Nesmith will not be joining Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork and Davy Jones.
8 p.m. June 3. $25-$59. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive, Atlanta. 404-733-4949.

FRIDAY
Jonny Lang
Lang was just 16 when he released his debut album in 1998. The Grammy-winning American blues guitarist and singer most recently visited Atlanta as part of the Experience Hendrix tour in spring 2010, which celebrated the brilliance of Jimi Hendrix. He was supposed to …

Continue reading Live music picks: June 3-7 »

If you’ve spent much time around Little Five Points, you know Elmyr is a favorite of the late night crowd – and of Brent Hinds of Atlanta’s metal behemoth Mastodon.

Hinds proves his Elmyr loyalty to the folks at the burritos-and-booze purveyor with an appearance in a new commercial. It’s a parody of one of those pharmaceutical spots, complete with a lifestyle montage that includes Hinds doing yoga. It’s kind of awesome and was created by new local media company Newmerica.

Check it out:

Continue reading Mastodon’s Brent Hinds, Atlanta restaurant spokesman »