ON SALE NOW
Under The Porch. 9 p.m. March 24. Vinyl. $10. TA.
Will Hoge. 8 p.m. March 29. Vinyl. $15. TA.
Lefty Williams Band, Michelle Malone. 9 p.m. April 13. Vinyl. $12; $10 in advance. TA.
Kollaboration ATL 5 Featuring Clara C. 8 p.m. April 14. Center Stage. $30; $25 in advance. TM.
All Atar Comedy Show: Atlanta vs. Detroit. 8 p.m. April 20. Center Stage. $30; $25 in advance. TM.
Overkill, God Forbid, Suidakra, Diamond Plate. 6 p.m. May 10. Masquerade. $22.50. TM.

ON SALE MARCH 2
Eric Roberson, Algebra Blessett. 9 p.m. March 4. Center Stage. $30; $25 in advance. TM.
Leigh Nash. 6 p.m. April 13. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $15 in advance. TA.
Alan Evans Trio. 6 p.m. April 30. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $12 in advance. TA.
Nick Lowe and His Band. 8 p.m. May 3. Variety Playhouse. $30; $27.50 in advance. TM.
Styx, REO …

Continue reading Hot tickets: Feb. 28 »

Kelly Clarkson performed for a sold out crowd Thursday night at the Fox Theatre on her Stronger Tour 2012. Matt Nathanson was the opener. Kelly Brianne Clarkson was born on April 24, 1982, in Ft. Worth, Texas. The singer, songwriter and actress came into prominence after becoming the winner of the inaugural season of American Idol in 2002 and later was the runner-up in the television special World Idol in 2003. In 2003, Clarkson released her debut album, Thankful, which was a commercial success and established herself in the pop music industry. The release of its first single, “A Moment Like This” (2002), broke The Beatles’ record for the biggest leap to number one, from 52, in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In a career spanning a decade, Clarkson has become the most successful Idol contestant around the world, with over 24 million albums and 39 million singles worldwide, according to Billboard and Nielsen SoundScan. Clarkson’s work also gained her numerous …

Continue reading Kelly Clarkson Rocks Out The Sold Out Fox Theatre Thursday Night »

Photo credit: Harper Smith

At this point in her career, Kelly Clarkson really has nothing to prove.

 She long ago surpassed the need for “American Idol winner” to preface her name, her five albums have sold about 11 million copies in the U.S. and she’s back at the top of the charts with her latest single, “Stronger” (What Doesn’t Kill You).”

 So it was fitting that her super-sold-out show at the Fox Theatre on Thursday opened with a parade of negative headlines (likely not authentic, but versions of things said about her) about her weight, her singlehood, even her makeup, illuminated on a gauzy curtain shrouding the stage.

 Get it? Clarkson doesn’t have to care what anyone thinks of her anymore.

 It was the first of many self-deprecating jabs made by the powerhouse singer throughout her 90-minute show and a fitting message to complement her opening song, “Dark Side.”

 Looking perfectly cute – and yes, a bit slimmed down – in her black pants, short …

Continue reading Kelly Clarkson spunky and solid at sold-out Fox »

Atlanta quartet Uncle Green – from left, Matt Brown, Bill Decker, Pete McDade and Jeff Jensen – in the days of the band's major label debut album, 1992's "Book of Bad Thoughts." The guys recently got back together to finish up their final album, "Rycopa," with a little financial help from the fans. They'll play a CD release show at Smith's Olde Bar on Saturday, Feb. 25.

TODAY
Steep Canyon Rangers
North Carolina’s Steep Canyon Rangers were the International Bluegrass Music Association’s 2006 emerging artists of the year. In recent years, they’ve been recording and touring with famed comedian and actor (and accomplished banjo picker) Steve Martin. They collaborated with Martin on a their latest album, “Rare Bird Alert,” which was released just shy of a year ago and includes guest appearances by Paul McCartney and the Dixie Chicks.
8:30 p.m. Feb. 24. $18; $16 in advance. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-524-7354.

SATURDAY
Needtobreathe
This …

Continue reading Live music picks: Feb. 24-March 1 »

Laura Story is up for five Dove Awards.

Laura Story is having a kudos-filled month.

Slightly more than a week after nabbing her first Grammy Award for best contemporary Christian music song for “Blessings,” Story, a worship leader at Perimeter Church in Johns Creek, scored five nominations for this year’s Dove Awards – Christian music’s most treasured acknowledgement.

The nominees for the 43rd annual ceremony, to be held for the second year in Atlanta on April 19 at the Fox Theatre, were revealed Wednesday morning across the street from the venue in the Georgian Terrace hotel.

A trio of Christian artists – quadruple nominee Jamie Grace, champion wrestler AJ Styles and hip-hopper-turned-minister Montell Jordan – announced the competitors in key categories in more than 40 categories.

Grace performed her nominated “Hold Me,” with her sister Morgan playing guitar.

“I remember sitting at the kitchen table holding the antenna so I could watch the Doves and hear …

Continue reading Georgia artists score big among Dove nominations »

A sold out show at Aaron's Amphitheatre for Macon-born country star Jason Aldean has led to an additional date being added. Tickets for the May 18 show go on sale Friday, Feb. 24. Photo: James Minchin III

ON SALE NOW
Comedian K-Dubb & Friends. 9 p.m. March 13. Center Stage. $20 general admission; $50 reserved floor seats. TM.
Micah Dalton, Peter Groenwald. 9 p.m. March 16. Vinyl. $12; $10 in advance. TA.
Conya Doss. 8:30 p.m. April 21. The Loft. $25; $20 in advance. TA.

ON SALE FEB. 24
Jason Childs, Tessla Rossa. 8 p.m. March 10. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 in advance. TA.
Wednesday If Not Before. 8 p.m. March 15. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $8 in advance. TA.
Shinobi Ninja. 8 p.m. March 21. Smith’s Olde Bar – Atlanta Room. $8 in advance. TA.
Erin Enderlin. 8 p.m. April 12. Smith’s Olde Bar – Atlanta Room. $8 in advance. TA.
Vonnegutt. 8 p.m. April 13. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 in advance. TA.
Hank Williams, Jr., Jamey Johnson, .38 …

Continue reading Hot tickets: Feb. 21 »

Whitney Houston fans who wish to see the singer eulogized have several funeral viewing options.

The ceremony will be streamed live on websites including www.wsbtv.com, www.cnn.com/live and http://livestream.com/aplive.

Bounce TV is expected to be the only broadcast TV network that will carry the funeral live. The station’s over-the-air signal is 36.2. It can also be seen on channel 244 (Comcast) and 111 (Charter).

The ceremony takes place at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark. N.J., beginning at noon. Invited guests include Kevin Costner, Clive Davis, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin.

CNN’s Piers Morgan, Soledad O’Brien and Don Lemon will anchor live coverage beginning at 11 a.m. on CNN and CNN International.

The service will also be carried live on SiriusXM channel 48. Afterward, listeners can call 1-866-478-6262 to share Houston stories and memories.

Continue reading Where to watch Whitney Houston’s funeral »

After taking a break from the road in 2011 – an unprecedented move for the beloved jam band – the Dave Matthews Band will return for an extensive tour launching March 18.

Atlanta is slated as the fourth date on the five-month tour, with a May 22 date set  for Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood. The Head and the Heart will open.

A presale for the DMB Warehouse Fan Association launches at 10 a.m. Feb. 16 at www.warehouse.davematthewsband.com. Citi cardmembers will also have access to pre-sale tickets beginning March 5. Tickets for the general public go on sale on March 9.

The band recently went into the studio with Steve Lillywhite –producer of its first three studio albums – to work on the follow-up to 2009’s “Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King.” The album will be released this year.

Also in concert world, The Beach Boys announced dates for their extensive reunion tour. The 37-date tour – which kicks off April 24 – has an Atlanta stop penciled in for April 28 …

Continue reading DMB, Beach Boys, announce tour plans »

Cleveland's Cloud Nothings are touring behind the January-released "Attack on Memory," which is one of the best-reviewed albums released this year. Catch the band at the EARL Friday, Feb. 17. Photo: Ryan Manning

FRIDAY
Cloud Nothings
Just when you think you have this Cleveland-born band figured out, another snippet recalls the thing that made you love some other band. There are traces of Wire, Pavement, the Pixies, Hüsker Dü, Nirvana and many more high points of the past several decades in the band’s fantastic third album, the January release “Attack on Memory.” There’s a raw energy and excitement that burns through the album, and it never lingers long without a memorable hook. It’s one of the best releases of this still-young year.
9 p.m. Feb. 17. $10; $8 in advance. The EARL, 488 Flat Shoals Ave. S.E., Atlanta. 404-522-3950.

SATURDAY
O.A.R.
This rock quintet, formed at Ohio State University, had already built a major following through word-of-mouth buzz about …

Continue reading Live music picks: Feb. 17-23 »

Philips Arena is the third busiest arena in the nation, according to concert trade magazine Pollstar.

The 21,000 (concert) capacity venue moves up a notch from 2010 and trails the Staples Center in Los Angeles and Madison Square Garden in New York.  The Verizon Center in D.C. and American Airlines Arena in Dallas round out the top five.

Philips also ranks 12th worldwide and was nominated by industry peers for Pollstar’s Major Arena of the Year.

Rankings are based on shows held from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2011, which for Philips included a dozen sold out shows — Taylor Swift and Jay-Z/Kanye West among them.

This year, Philips is already set to host major tours from Radiohead (March 1); Bruce Springsteen (March 18); Van Halen (April 19); Coldplay (July 2) and Madonna (Nov. 17).

Continue reading Philips Arena ranked third busiest in the nation »