Paul Simon, who celebrated his 70th brithday last week, returns to Atlanta on his "So Beautiful So What" tour in December. He's shown here performing at Chastian Park Amphitheatre in May. Photo: Robb Cohen, www.robbsphotos.com

ON SALE NOW
DAM & Invincible: Hip Hop for Palestine. 9 p.m. Nov. 9. The Loft. $15. TA.
Kopecky Family Band, Matrimony. 8:30 p.m. Nov. 9. Vinyl. $10; $8 in advance. TA.
I Fight Dragons, the Protomen. 8 p.m. Nov. 14. Vinyl. $12; $10 in advance. TA.
Tony! Toni! Tone!, DJ Nabs. 8 p.m. Nov. 17. Center Stage. $32. TM.

ON SALE OCT. 20
Kaki King. 9 p.m. Nov. 19. The Loft. $20; $15 in advance. TA.

ON SALE OCT. 21
Lalah Hathaway. Second show added. 9:30 p.m. Nov. 5. Variety Playhouse. $32.50; $30 advance. TM.
Jimi Cravity. 8 p.m. Nov. 17. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $8 in advance. TA.
Emperor X. 8 p.m. Nov. 22. Smith’s Olde Bar – Atlanta Room. $8 in advance. TA.
Anthony Hamilton. 8 p.m. Dec. 1. Center Stage. $45; $40 in advance. TM.
Paul Simon. 8 p.m. Dec. 2.

Continue reading Hot tickets: Oct. 18 »

Duran Duran (from l-r) Roger Taylor, Simon LeBon, John Taylor and Nick Rhodes

Back in April, Duran Duran sold out the intimate Center Stage within minutes.

 The band’s terrific 13th album, “All You Need is Now,” had recently received its physical release (the iTunes version arrived months earlier) and Duran was soaring on newfound momentum.

 But then came a hitch in plans. Singer Simon LeBon lost his voice and the majority of the band’s summer European tour was axed while he worked with a voice therapist.

 So much for momentum.

 But after a few months of care, LeBon rebounded and he and original bandmates John Taylor, Roger Taylor and Nick Rhodes hit the road last month for a five-week tour.

 Considering the rapid sellout of Duran’s spring gig, it’s really no surprise that Friday’s show – the finale of the season at Chastain Park Amphitheatre – was nearly sold out. Since it was – mercifully – a non-table setup, the floor was stacked with fans who rarely, if ever, sat down …

Continue reading Duran Duran wraps Chastain season with fizzy show »

Photo credit: Emily Zoladz

New host, new location, same show.

The 3rd Annual Soul Train Awards will return to Atlanta next month, holding down the groove at the Fox Theatre Nov. 17.

The music awards show, which celebrates R&B and soul music of the past and present, will this year bestow career longevity honors upon Earth, Wind & Fire and Gladys Knight.

Comedian Cedric the Entertainer takes over hosting duties from last year’s emcees, Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard, but so far no other presenters or performers have been announced.

The awards are an industry-only event – so sorry, no tickets available for purchase – but the show will air on BET and Centric at 9 p.m. Nov. 27.

No reason was given for Soul Train’s move to the larger-capacity Fox from Cobb Energy Centre, where the spectacle was held last year.

Melissa Ruggieri, Atlanta Music Scene blog

Follow me on Twitter @ajclifestyle

Continue reading Soul Train Awards return to Atlanta next month »

Influential post-punk pioneer Bob Mould brings his words and music tour to Eddie's Attic Friday, Oct. 14. He'll perform songs from his long career and read from his recent autobiography, "See a Little Light." Photo: Noah Kalina

TODAY
Bob Mould
Former Hüsker Dü and Sugar frontman Mould has been a solo artist for longer than he was ever in a band, but he’ll always be remembered for those great and groundbreaking outfits he led in his earlier years. This tour combines music with excerpts from his recent autobiography, “See a Little Light: The Trail of Rage and Memory.”
7:30 p.m. Oct. 14. $25; $20 in advance. Eddie’s Attic, 515 N. McDonough St., Decatur. 404- 377-4976.

TODAY
Duran Duran
Back in 2003, I asked Duran Duran frontman Simon Le Bon whose idea it was to get the original five members back together. “I think it was yours,” he said, “you and pretty much everyone else we had to talk to. Honestly, since 1993, in almost every single interview there was the question, ‘Can we …

Continue reading Live music picks: Oct. 14-20 »

Photo credit: Ellen Von Unwerth

Attending a Cyndi Lauper concert is a lot like spending a holiday meal with your kooky Italian aunt from Queens.

There is an eventual goal to the festivities – at the meal, the food; at the concert, the songs. But first, you’re going to hear a lot of talking.

A. Lot. Of. Talking.

Here’s what we learned about Lauper at Wednesday night’s gig at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre: Her mother used to play Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller records around the house (which Lauper said led to her own long-standing love of the blues). As a kid, Lauper got kicked out of convent school and picked up her fashion sense from the nuns. Her “ill-fated careers” included being a DJ and walking horses (“I couldn’t ride them, I could only walk them”).

But amid all of this rambling –- which, actually, was mostly endearing and hugely entertaining – Lauper had a message: “Because you might do something different than someone else doesn’t mean you can’t do it.”

It wasn’t …

Continue reading Cyndi Lauper, Dr. John display musical prowess at Cobb »

B.B. King returns to Atlanta for a show at the Fox Theatre in December. Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 14. Photo: Raymond Hagans / Special

ON SALE OCT. 14
Reckless Kelly, Mickey And The Motorcars. 8:30 p.m. Nov. 11. Variety Playhouse. $17.50; $15 in advance. TM.
Demi Lovato. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. $37.50-$47.50. TM.
Staind. 8 p.m. Dec. 1. The Tabernacle. $35. LN.
An Evening With Corey Taylor. The Slipknot and Stone Sour member performs. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12. Masquerade. $22. TM.
B.B. King. 8 p.m. Dec. 30. Fox Theatre. $39.50-$79.50. TM.
North Mississippi Allstars. 8:30 p.m. Dec. 30. Variety Playhouse. $22.50;  $20 in advance. TM.
Fountains Of Wayne. 9 p.m. Feb. 10. The Loft. $20. TA.
Teitur. 8:30 p.m. Feb. 18.  The Five Spot. $15; $12 in advance. TM.

ON SALE OCT. 15
Kid Rock. 8 p.m. Nov. 10. Center Stage. $49.50. TM.

UPCOMING SHOWS
Arctic Monkeys, Smith Westerns. 8 p.m. Oct. 11. The Tabernacle. $28.50. LN.
Cavalera Conspiracy, Otep. 8 p.m. Oct. …

Continue reading Hot tickets: Oct. 11 »

Kid Rock wants you to know that he cares.

The Detroit rocker (and sometimes rapper and sometimes country singer) is showing his magnanimous side with a small tour that kicks off at Center Stage Nov. 10.

Rock has joined with a team of Detroit business people to donate money to local charities in a series of cities, which includes Nashville, Chicago and Denver along with Atlanta. The plan is to partner with local radio stations in each market to determine which individuals or organizations need assistance.

The singer behind “Bawitdaba,” “Rock N Roll Jesus,” “Cowboy” and the recent “Born Free,” said he came up with the idea for the tour to coincide with the launch of his new single, “Care.”

“The song says ‘the least that I can do is Care’ – and I want to put my money where my mouth is,” Rock said in a statement. “Everyone knows that Detroit is hurting.  But I want to show that even though we don’t have a lot on our own plate, it doesn’t mean the people of my hometown don’t have …

Continue reading Kid Rock will kick off charity tour in Atlanta »

Phenomenal 21-year-old talent Lydia Loveless is touring behind her just-released new album, "Indestructible Machine," She'll play Smith's Olde Bar on Thursday, Oct. 13. Photo: Paula Masters Travis

TODAY
Lindsey Buckingham
The guitar master/rebel of one of rock’s most popular bands of the past 40 years is still going his own way. Since returning to his solo career in 2006 after a 14-year hiatus, he’s released three albums, including this year’s “Seeds We Sow.” It’s Buckingham’s first self-released album and maintains his standing as one of pop’s greatest craftsmen, and as a longtime critical favorite. “Unencumbered by the commercial and ego demands in [Fleetwood] Mac,” writes the Chicago Tribune’s Greg Kot in a review of the album, “Buckingham affirms his talent for turning eccentricity into twisted pop songs.”
8 p.m. Oct. 7. $45-$95. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 404- 733-5000.

TODAY
Butch Walker and the Black Widows
Walker, who grew up in …

Continue reading Live music picks: Oct. 7-13 »

Fans anticipating Adele’s U.S. return this fall just got a dose of disappointment.

The wildly popular British songbird has canceled her upcoming 10-city tour – including Oct. 16 at the Fox Theatre – due to a hemorrhage in her vocal cord.

This is the second time Atlantans have been denied the chance to see the “Rolling in the Deep” singer live; she postponed a series of dates this summer – including a stint at The Tabernacle – because of vocal problems.

“Singing is literally my life, it’s my hobbie [sic], my love, my freedom and now my job. I have absolutely no choice but to recuperate properly and fully, or I risk damaging my voice forever,” Adele said in a statement.

She just finished a tour of the U.K. and was preparing for the Oct. 7 U.S. launch in Atlantic City, N.J. when her throat issues resurfaced.

Doctors have advised her to take an extended period of rest “in order to begin to recuperate properly.”

Refunds are available at point of purchase, but no other information …

Continue reading Adele cancels U.S. tour »

Vince Gill and Amy Grant bring their "12 Days of Christmas" tour to the Fox Theatre on Dec. 19. Tickets go on sale Friday, Oct. 7.

ON SALE NOW
Murphy’s Law, Brassknuckle Boys, the Krays, Antagonizers ATL. 9 p.m. Oct. 28. Vinyl. $25; $20 in advance. TA.
Voxhaul Broadcast, Ocean Grove, Robert Schwartzman (of Rooney). 8 p.m. Nov. 1. Vinyl. $13; $11 in advance. TA.
“The Stuffing”: Manchester Orchestra’s 2nd Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Celebration. With Cage The Elephant, White Denim, the Dear Hunter, All Get Out, Death on Two Wheels, Harrison Hudson and more. Center Stage, The Loft and Vinyl. 5 p.m. Nov. 23. Pre-Sale tickets available now at manchesterorchestra.com, $23. On sale at Ticketmaster and Ticket Alternative Oct 4, $25. TM, TA.

ON SALE OCT. 7
Flow Tribe. 8 p.m. Nov. 3. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $8 in advance. TA
The Daylights, Andy Davis, Red Letter Agent. 8 p.m. Nov. 8. Smith’s Olde Bar – Atlanta Room. $10 in advance. TA.
Adron. CD release. 8 p.m. Nov. 18. Smith’s …

Continue reading Hot tickets: Oct. 4 »