Colorado quartet the Fray comes to the Tabernacle April 25, touring behind third and latest album, "Scars and Stories," which was produced by Atlanta's Brendan O'Brien. Photo: Danny Clinch

ON SALE NOW
Idle Warship: Talib Kweli and Res. 9 p.m. Feb. 16. The Loft. $25; $20 in advance. TA.
Chinua Hawk, the Shadowboxers. 8:30 p.m. March 8. Vinyl. $15; $10 in advance. TA.
Good Old War, the Belle Brigade, Family of the Year. 8 p.m. March 9. Vinyl. $12; $10 in advance. TA.
The Revels, the Black Cadillacs, the Floorwalkers. 8:30 p.m. March 22. Vinyl. $10; $6 in advance. TA.
Gardens & Villa. 8:30 p.m. March 22. The EARL. $10. TA.
Green River Ordinance, Graham Colton. 8 p.m. April 14. Vinyl. $15; $12 in advance. TA.
Sharon Van Etten. 8:30 p.m. April 25. The EARL. $12. TA.
Dave Barnes, Andrew Ripp. 8 p.m. April 27. Center Stage. $19; $17 in advance. TM.

ON SALE FEB. 1
Theory of a Deadman, Pop Evil, Stellar Revival. 6:30 p.m. April 15. Masquerade. $21. TM.

ON SALE FEB. 2
Set Your Goals, …

Continue reading Hot tickets: Jan. 31 »

Widespread Panic performing to a sold out crowd Saturday night at the Tabernacle on their Wood Tour 2012. This was the second of three sold out, acoustic performances for the popular Athens jam rock band.. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz, keyboardist John “JoJo” Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring. Widely renowned for their live performances, as of 2010, Panic holds the record for number of sold-out performances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre (Morrison, Colorado) at 35 and Philips Arena (Atlanta, Georgia) at 17.

AJC photographer Robb Cohen covered the event with his camera. Check out the online photo gallery: Widespread Panic at the Tabernacle. What did you think of the show? How did this show compare to previous Panic  concerts you’ve seen? Who has witnessed the most Widespread Panic concerts?

(Photo Credit: Robb D. Cohen/ www.robbsphotos.com)  For other concert photography …

Continue reading Widespread Panic Jams Out At The Sold Out Tabernacle On Saturday »

Country superstar Blake Shelton performed at a sold out Gwinnett Arena Friday night on his “Well Lit & Amplified Tour 2012.” Justin Moore and Dia Frampton were the opening acts. Shelton, of Ada, Okla., made his debut with the single “Austin” in 2001. The single from the self-titled album “Austin” propelled Shelton into fame when it spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. The country star now serves as a vocal coach on NBC’s “The Voice,” alongside fellow singers Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, and Cee Lo Green.

AJC photographer Robb Cohen covered the event with his camera. Check out the online photo gallery: Blake Shelton rocks Gwinnett . What did you think of the show? How did this show compare to previous Blake Shelton concerts you’ve seen? Did you like Justin Moore and Dia Frampton?

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

Continue reading Blake Shelton Plays To A Sold Out Crowd At Gwinnett Arena On Friday Night »

James Armstrong comes to Blind Willie's Friday, Jan. 27, touring behind a new album, "Blues at the Border." Photo: Laureen Smith

FRIDAY
James Armstrong
This California-born bluesman began his recording career back in 1995 with “Sleeping With a Stranger,” but he was almost derailed by an attack in 1997. An intruder broke into his home and stabbed the singer, songwriter and guitarist multiple times. It left him with injuries that required many months of rehabilitation to recover his ability to play guitar. He bounced back with “Dark Knight” in 1998 and “Got It Goin’ On” in 2000. It took more than 10 years, but he’s back with a new album, “Blues at the Border,” another fine example of his contemporary yet reverent take on traditional blues.
9 p.m. Jan. 27. $12. Blind Willie’s, 828 North Highland Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-873-2583.

FRIDAY
Marc Broussard
This powerful Louisiana singer, songwriter and guitarist is carving out his own musical territory while …

Continue reading Live music picks: Jan. 27-29 »

There is little room for complaint when a song about the struggle to determine if one is mere man or mere Muppet makes the Oscars cut – especially if that song is accompanied on film by the loveable Jim Parsons.

But there is plenty of room for grousing about the fact that a mere two tunes landed in the Best Original Song category for this year’s Oscars.

The aforementioned “Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets” movie is deserving for its sweetly kooky premise alone. Add in some show-tune bravado and we’re sold.

And the other nominee, “Real in Rio” from the animated “Rio” is fizzy and fun.

But, frankly, neither is a “My Heart Will Go On” or “Lose Yourself” – the last Oscar-winning song to make an impact outside of the movie it originated from.

Remember when big acts such as Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and Phil Collins won Oscars? Or when songs such as “Falling Slowly” from “Once” or “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp” from “Hustle & …

Continue reading Oscar song noms present slim pickings »

Bruce Springsteen hits the road again in March and the first show of the tour is at Philips Arena on March 18. Tickets go on sale Feb. 4. Photo: Jo Lopez

The Boss is back.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will be hitting the road again in March, touring behind Springsteen’s 17th album, “Wrecking Ball.” The album will be released on March 6. The first single from “Wrecking Ball,” “We Take Care of Our Own,” is already out and you can hear it at Springsteen’s official website.

The tour’s first show is at Philips Arena on March 18 and tickets go on sale Feb. 4. Tickets are $69 and $99 (plus the usual fees).

Why begin the tour in Atlanta? Perhaps it’s because Springsteen seems to have a fondness for Atlanta, or at least for our Southern Tracks recording studio. Many of his albums since the turn of the millennium have been completely or partially recorded there.

A new Springsteen tour is always reason to celebrate, but there’s a bit of sadness associated with it, too. It will …

Continue reading Bruce Springsteen kicks off tour at Atlanta’s Philips Arena »

Max Bemis, the man behind Say Anything, brings his latest tour to the Masquerade in April. Tickets go on sale Thursday, Jan. 26. Photo: Chris Phelps

ON SALE NOW
M. Ward, Lee Ranaldo. 9 p.m. May 17. Buckhead Theatre. $19. TM.

ON SALE JAN. 26
Say Anything. 6 p.m. April 22. Masquerade. $17.50. TM.

ON SALE JAN. 27
Rayland Baxter. 8 p.m. Feb. 23. Smith’s Olde Bar – Atlanta Room. $8 in advance. TA.
Wailers. 8 p.m. March 9. Masquerade. $20. TM.
Blue Star Connection Benefit Concert featuring Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie. 6 p.m. March 11. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $15 in advance. TA.
The Last Waltz Ensemble. 8 p.m. March 16. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $20 in advance. TA.
Daughtry. March 27. $32.50-$52.50. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. TM.
Col Bruce Hampton and the Pharaoh Gummit. 8 p.m. March 30. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 in advance. TA.
Dan Baird. 8 p.m. March 31. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $15 in advance. TA.
We Were Promised Jet Packs. 7 …

Continue reading Hot tickets: Jan. 24 »

G. Love & Special Sauce performing to a sold out crowd Friday night at the Variety Playhouse. G. Love & Special Sauce is an alternative hip-hop band from Philadelphia. They are known for their unique, “sloppy”, and “laid back” blues sound that encompasses classic R&B. The band features Garrett Dutton, better known as G. Love, Jeffrey Clemens on drums, Mark Boyce on keyboards, and Timo Shanko on bass.

AJC photographer Robb Cohen covered the event with his camera. Check out the online photo gallery:  G. Love & Special Sauce fans get a treat . What did you think of the show? How did this show compare to previous G. Love concerts you’ve seen?

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

Continue reading G. Love Brings His Special Musical Sauce To The Sold Out Variety Playhouse »

Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band will perform cuts off its debut studio album ‘Renaissance Man’ at Smith's on Sunday. Photos: Carl Vernlund

Concert preview

Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band

7 p.m. Sunday. $12 (18 and older). Smith’s Olde Bar, 1578 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta. 404-875-1522, www.smithsoldebar.com.

Those who know the name Jaimoe Johanson immediately connect him with The Allman Brothers Band, the Southern rock behemoths who recruited him in 1969 to be the band’s drummer.

Like everything with the Allman Brothers saga, Jaimoe, as he prefers to be called, had a tumultuous tenure with the group. He splintered off to help form Sea Level in the late ‘70s, then rejoined the Allmans. Left in the ‘80s, then returned later that decade.

A steady member since, he still plays regularly with the band – including their fabled Beacon Theatre shows every March – but also stretches his chops in his moonlighting gig with Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band.

Though he’s lived in Connecticut for 19 …

Continue reading Allman Brothers drummer Jaimoe talks lifetime achievement awards and new band »

Fred Eaglesmith comes to the Red Clay Theatre in Duluth as part of the Eddie Owen Presents series on Friday, Jan. 20. Photo: Kori Heppner

FRIDAY
Fred Eaglesmith
Eaglesmith’s original tunes can sound like long-lost traditional songs with a modern edge or a cross between Springsteen and classic country. With an uncompromisingly independent vision, he continues to release under-the-radar gems, both live and in the studio, but there’s no substitute for seeing the man in person. His latest album, “6 Volts,” is a tribute to the early days of rock ’n’ roll. It’s a powerful piece of work, recorded live in the studio with one microphone to a reel-to-reel tape machine. That’s about as analog as it gets. There’s a raw energy in tracks such as “Betty” and the title track, where the lead guitar slices into the foreground and electrifies the room. The title of the album refers to the power supply for the early transistor radios, which became a part of the public …

Continue reading Live music picks: Jan. 20-23 »