Help celebrate the new Gentleman Jesse album at the EARL on Friday, March 9. "Leaving Atlanta" is the second album from Atlanta's Jesse Smith and his band, and locals might recognize the location used on the front cover.

FRIDAY
Gentleman Jesse
Anytime there’s a new Gentleman Jesse recording, it’s a reason to celebrate. So, crank up the old Victrola (that’s a record player for you youngsters), because this is a release celebration for the Atlanta musician’s second full-length album of blazing rock that splices together jangly ’70s power-pop and the more melodic edges of vintage punk. In fact, much of “Leaving Atlanta,” out March 20, sounds like it could have come from that exact moment in music history when British pub rock crashed into punk. Anyone with an affection for Rockpile, Nick Lowe, Graham Parker or the like should definitely check it out.
9 p.m. March 9. $10. The EARL, 488 Flat Shoals Ave. S.E., Atlanta. 404-522-3950.

FRIDAY
The …

Continue reading Live music picks: March 9-14 »

The Beach Boys reunion show will launch Chastain's summer series.

A Beach Boys reunion, some disco ball action and the return of a pop icon highlight the Chastain Park Amphitheatre season.

Tickets for the (deep breath) Georgia Natural Gas Concert Series A at Chastain Park Amphitheatre are on sale at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Here is the first round of shows for summer at Chastain.

• The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Tour: 8 p.m. April 28

• Steve Winwood with Michael Franti and Spearhead: 7:30 p.m. May 19

K.C. & The Sunshine Band with The Trammps: 8 p.m. May 25

• 

  Sting will play a non-table setup show in June. Credit: Clive Barda

  Sting (non table setup/no coolers or carry-ins): 8 p.m. June 7

• Willie Nelson (and guest): 8 p.m. June 15

• Earth, Wind & Fire with orchestra: 8 p.m. June 27

• Al Green with The Blind Boys of Alabama: 8 p.m. June 29

• Sarah McLachlan with orchestra: 7:30 p.m. July 3

• TBA: 8 p.m. July 8

• Chicago and The Doobie Brothers: 7:30 p.m. July 24

Tickets for …

Continue reading Chastain announces 2012 summer series »

Broadway, television and recording star Kristin Chenoweth comes to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in June. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 9.

ON SALE NOW
This Is Dom Kennedy Tour. 8 p.m. March 25. The Loft. $18. TA.
The Nominees, Roshambeaux, Southern Gothic Revival. 8:30 p.m. April 12. Vinyl. $8; $5 in advance. TA.
Ron Pope, Josiah Leming, Jesse Ruben. 9 p.m. April 28. Vinyl. $15; $12 in advance. TA.
Atlanta Jewish Music Festival Closing Concert with the Jacob Jeffries Band. 9 p.m. May 12. The Loft. $20. TA

ON SALE MARCH 9
Stereomonster. 8 p.m. March 28. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $8 in advance. TA.
Trigger Hippy. 8 p.m. April 22. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $15 in advance. TA.
Planet of the Abts featuring Gov’t Mule’s Matt Abts and Joegen Carlsson. 8 p.m. April 24. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $12 in advance. TA.
Early Bird Specials: Grandmothers of Invention. 5 p.m. April 27. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $20 in advance. TA.
Gomez. …

Continue reading Hot tickets: March 6 »

Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul, performs “Higher and Higher” for a sold out crowd Monday night at the Fox Theatre.  Aretha Louise Franklin was born in Detroit on March 25, 1942. Although known as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Aretha atop its “100 Greatest Singers of All Time” list,as well as the ninth greatest artist of all time. She has won 18 competitive Grammys and two honorary Grammys. She has 20 No.1 singles on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart and two No.1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: “Respect” (1967) and “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” (1987), a duet with George Michael. Since 1961, she has scored a total of 45 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Between 1967 and 1982 she had 10 No.1 R&B albums—more than any other female artist. In 1987, Franklin became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
On February 11, 2012, Whitney Houston, …

Continue reading Aretha Franklin Thrills The Sold Out Fox Theatre Monday Night »

BY HOLLY AGUIRRE

It was standing room only at a packed Philips Arena, Thursday night as Radiohead, reigning kings of the ’90s British invasion, hit the stage running, performing for just over two hours to the delight of some of the most well-behaved concertgoers we’ve ever seen.

 A well-groomed Thom Yorke greeted audience members at around 8:45 p.m. with a spring in his step and a smile on his face.

“Welcome to our world everyone. It’s a bit confusing at times,” he laughed. “Sorry about the wait.”

Radiohead early adopters may remember the days when Yorke was so in his cups that he could hardly hold his head up much less grasp a guitar.

 The pixie-like frontman could be so painfully shy, one wondered what he was thinking, being a performer in the first place; he’d rarely engage his audience though he inexplicably managed to charm us, belting out hit after hit, night after night. Brothers Jonny and Colin Greenwood (lead guitar and bass, respectively), jangled …

Continue reading Radiohead electrifies a packed Philips Arena »

Diana Ross received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy last month. Photo credit: AP

If all you wanted from your Diana Ross experience was a brisk parade of hits sung well and performed by a tight band, then you likely exited the Fox Theatre Thursday night feeling fulfilled and singing “Baby Love.”

 But if you were looking for a little warmth, a little spontaneity, a little chatter, a little something to suggest that Ross wasn’t merely going through the motions of songs she’s sung a gazillion times, well, this wasn’t that show.

 The indefatigable Ross, who turns 68 later this month, has been on some form of a greatest hits tour since May 2010 – in fact, her last Atlanta appearance came at Chastain in June 2010.

 At this return engagement, the thousands of fans in the nearly sold-out Fox greeted the pop goddess with worshipful applause and ovations as she took the stage in a puff of white taffeta over a gold and white sequined dress for one of her many anthems, …

Continue reading Diana Ross slick and brisk at Fox show »

Genre-bending pianist Robert Glasper comes to the Variety Playhouse on Sunday, March 4, in support of his recent album, "Black Radio." Chrisette Michele, who appears on the album, is also on the bill. Photo: Mike Schreiber

FRIDAY
Christopher O’Riley
Hey kids, classical is cool. That’s the message pianist Christopher O’Riley tries to impart as host of the National Public Radio show “From the Top,” which focuses on pre-college-age musicians. That’s not the only way he’s trying to win converts to the classical cause. He also explored the Radiohead oeuvre in a classically inclined solo piano setting on “True Love Waits” and “Hold Me to This,” the music of Elliot Smith on “Home to Oblivion” and the songs of Nick Drake on “Second Grace.” Expect to hear selections from those albums, along with classical works and tunes by other rock and pop artists, at this performance.
8 p.m. March 2. $46. Emerson Concert Hall, 1700 N. Decatur Road, Atlanta. …

Continue reading Live music picks: March 2-8 »