The Eagles, seen here at Piedmont Park in 2010, will return to the Atlanta area to play Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre May 4. Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 17. Photo: Hyosub Shin, hshin@ajc.com

ON SALE FEB. 17
Van Ghost. 8 p.m. March 13. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 in advance. TA.
Dangermuffin. 8 p.m. March 29. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 in advance. TA.
Tinsley Ellis. 8:30 p.m. March 30. Variety Playhouse. $20; $17.50 in advance. TM.
Justin Kennedy. 8 p.m. April 6. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 in advance. TA.
Ultimate Fighting Championship 145. 7:45 April 21. Philips Arena. $54-$404. TM.
Bombino. 8 p.m. May 2. Five Spot. $17.50; $15 in advance. TM.
Bonnie Raitt. May 9. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. $36.50-$91. TM.
Mayer Hawthorne and the County, the Stepkids. 8:30 p.m. May 11. Variety Playhouse. $20; $18 in advance. TM.
The Eagles. 8 p.m. May 4. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre. $65-$185. TM.
Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan. 7:30 p.m. May 19.

Continue reading Hot tickets: Feb. 17 »

Willie Nelson performed for a sold out crowd Sunday night at the Tabernacle; local singer-songwriter Sonia Leigh was the opener. Willie Hugh Nelson was born on April 30, 1933 in Abbott, Texas. The iconic country music singer-songwrite is also an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie (1973), combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger (1975) and Stardust (1978), made Nelson one of the most recognized artists in country music. He was one of the main figures of outlaw country, a subgenre of country music that developed at the end of the 1960s as a reaction to the conservative restrictions of the Nashville sound. Nelson has acted in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and has been involved in activism for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana.

Photographer Robb Cohen covered the event with his camera. Check the photo online gallery. What did you think of the show? How did this …

Continue reading Willie Nelson brings down the house Sunday night at the Tabernacle »

Of course Adele is happy – she just swept the Grammys! Photo: Matt Sayles (AP).

Even if you follow music only casually, there’s no way you could have been surprised at Adele’s sweep. And a well-deserved one at that. Her “21″ album has resuscitated an industry on life support for years and with pure music, too.

So that part of the Grammys was kind of a given.

But what did you think about the rest? Were the Whitney Houston tributes sufficient? Surprised at the five wins for the Foo Fighters (Dave Grohl gets my vote for best speech of the night)? Psyched for Springsteen’s upcoming tour? Hope that Nicki Minaj decides to become a banker so we never have to see her on stage again?

Sound off below while I rewind my TiVo to re-watch that awesome show-closer with Paul McCartney, Springsteen and Grohl.

Continue reading The Grammys are over – what did you think? »

Sure, Chris Brown is a phenomenal dancer, but I thought the Grammys required performers to sing live. After all, it is the GRAMMYS.

That does not seem to be the case during this performance by Mr. Brown.

What do you think – is he singing? Shouldn’t the Grammys have higher standards than, say, the MTV Awards?

Continue reading Chris Brown performs…but is it live? »

After 16 years of covering the Grammys, I can say that’s the first time I’ve seen any kind of official prayer onstage.

But this isn’t a typical Grammys.

Host LL Cool J struck an appropriate tone immediately: “We’ve had a death in our family, so at least for me, the only thing that feels right is to begin with a prayer for a woman we loved, for a fallen sister,” he said.

How fortunate that the Grammys appointed a host this year for the first time in nearly a decade.

But then LL moved on, as he – and we – must.

“This night is about music.”

Continue reading The Whitney tributes begin »

Despite a crazy rumor circulating just before kickoff, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band walloped the opening of the 54th annual Grammy Awards with their new “We Take Care of Our Own” and not a Whitney Houston song.

I’d say that performance bodes well for the Philips Arena tour launch next month, no?

Continue reading Bruce Springsteen kicks off the Grammys E Street style »

 The song won in the categories of Traditional R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song during the pre-show festivities at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

 Fiona was on hand to accept the trophies and thanked her partner for asking her to “collaborate on such an amazing record.” Fiona also offered one of the first of what will surely be many shout-outs to Whitney Houston.

 A few minutes later, when Tony Bennett won for his “Duets II” album, Amy Winehouse’s parents accompanied him on stage, with Mitch Winehouse noting, “Long live Whitney Houston, long live Amy Winehouse, long live Etta James. There is a beautiful girl band up there in heaven.”

 Atlanta hard rockers Mastodon yielded to the Foo Fighters in the Best Hard Rock/Metal …

Continue reading Cee Lo scores two Grammys »

Atlanta's Laura Story won her first-ever Grammy. Photos: Matt Sayles (AP)

It was hit and miss for Atlanta artists early in the pre-show festivities for the 54th annual Grammy Awards.

First, the good news:

Atlanta’s Laura Story, a worship leader at Perimeter Church, scored Best Contemporary Christian Music Song for “Blessings.” Story was up against fellow Atlantans, newcomer Jamie Grace Harper (”Hold Me”) and Chris Tomlin and Louis Giglio (”I Lift My Hands”).

First-time winner Story accepted her award in a pretty green cap-sleeved dress and after expressing an incredulous, “Wow!”, thanked the Lord, her husband “whose faith inspires so many blessings,” and also Perimeter Church.

Tomlin then snagged a gramophone for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for “And If Our God Is For Us…” He dashed from the back of the Los Angeles Convention Center - where the pre-show is held – to accept.

“This is an unbelievable dream,” said the black-suit-and-tie clad Tomlin. “My band has …

Continue reading A couple of wins – and several losses – for Atlanta Grammy contenders…so far »

Photo credit: Patrick Demarchelier

 When Whitney Houston’s self-titled debut album exploded in 1985, she duitifully followed its success with a tour.

She possessed an angelic voice, but performing didn’t come naturally to her, a professional shortcoming that would frequently be noted throughout her career.

 Her first Atlanta stops were a double shot at Chastain Park Amphitheatre.

 Peter Conlon, president of Live Nation Atlanta, remembers she was always surrounded by a phalanx of handlers and seemed like she was trying to find her live footing.

 “She had incredible talent, but she was never very comfortable on stage. She wasn’t a James Brown or someone to whom performing came naturally,” Conlon said.

 The last time Houston performed in Atlanta, according to Conlon, was about four years ago at the Fox Theatre. About a year ago, he looked into booking the singer at the Fox, but based on negative publicity her tour was garnering overseas, decided it wasn’t worth …

Continue reading Whitney Houston remembered by those with Atlanta ties »

Martina McBride comes to the Gwinnett Arena with fellow country superstar George Strait Friday, Feb. 10. Photo: Randee St. Nicholas

FRIDAY
George Strait, Martina McBride
Sixty-eight million albums sold and 58 No. 1 singles (the most chart-topping hits by any artist in history) attest to George Strait’s popularity. His first No. 1 was in 1982 and his current single, “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright,” sits at No. 11 on the country singles chart, bearing witness to his enduring appeal. With 33 albums certified platinum, he has more million-sellers than anyone not named Elvis Presley or the Beatles. Beloved by the music-buying public and the industry powers in Nashville, big-voiced Martina McBride probably needs a separate house just for her awards.
7:30 p.m. Feb. 10.$69.50-$79.50. Gwinnett Arena, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 770-813-7500.

FRIDAY
Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, Eric Benet, Kevon Edmonds
This lovefest at the Civic Center is getting to be a habit. The …

Continue reading Live music picks: Feb. 10-12 »