Atlanta's OutKast kicks off the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Rolling Stone magazine has issued a revamp of its “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” list.

Atlanta’s OutKast kicks things off at No. 500 with 1998’s “Aquemini,” which the magazine credits for “put[ing] the duo’s hometown ‘Hotlanta’ on the rap map.” Because that’s a term we just can’t hear enough.

The duo’s “Stankonia,” with the original Atlanta-based “B.O.B.,” slides in at No. 361. Among the other Georgia showings, R.E.M.’s “Document” hovers in the 460s, “Automatic for the People” lands at No. 249 and “Murmur” hits No. 197. And the B52’s self-titled first album – back in the hyphen days — is at No. 152

I won’t be a spoiler and tell you their No. 1 pick, but suffice to say there are plenty of Beatles and Dylan sightings in the Top 10. It’s also fun to cull through the bottom-dwellers (Boz Scaggs! MGMT!) as you scroll to the top.

Do you agree with the Rolling Stone picks? What would be in …

Continue reading OutKast, R.E.M. present on Rolling Stone Top 500 album list »

As much as I like daydreaming about February when it won’t be 16,000 degrees outside, it does seem a bit early to be discussing the Grammy Awards.

But, our friends at the Recording Academy of National Arts & Sciences announced today that the 55th annual show will be held Feb. 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles – its usual home — and air live (East Coast) on CBS.

Nominees will be announced Dec. 5 with another “The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!!”  (double exclamation point!) event, also airing live on CBS.

The eligibility period for releases is Oct. 1, 2011 to Sept. 30, so T.I. can’t afford an album release postponement if he hopes to snag a nomination.

Continue reading Grammys announce 2013 date »

Jazz guitarist and pop hitmaker George Benson comes to the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater on Friday, June 1.

TODAY
George Benson
His distinctive and lyrical guitar lines are instantly recognizable, but this jazz man also enjoyed a period of mainstream success. Between 1976 and 1982, he put four songs into the Top 10 on the pop chart: “This Masquerade,” “On Broadway,” “Give Me the Night” and “Turn Your Love Around.”
8 p.m. June 1. $40-$100. Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, 201 McIntosh Trail, Peachtree City. 770-631-0630.

TODAY
k.d. lang
Canadian lang is a treasure and one of the most versatile vocalists you’ll ever hear. She can do rock, country, jazz and pop standards with equal ease. She could probably sing HTML code and make it swing.
8 p.m. June 1. $49.50. Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-876-5859.

SUNDAY
Jackie Evancho
Discovered on “America’s Got Talent,” this angelic 12-year-old has a voice that belies her youth. Her debut album, …

Continue reading Concert picks: George Benson, kd lang, Sting »

Sometime Atlantan and pop sensation Justin Bieber will play Philips Arena in January. Tickets go on sale Saturday, June 2. Photo: Glenn Pinkerton/AP

ON SALE NOW
Bounce TV:  Live Taping of “Uptown Comic.” Hosted by Joe Torry. 7 p.m. May 30-June 2. Center Stage. Free; text “ thisweek “ to 83361 for four tickets.
Melodime, the Well Reds, Neil Cribbs. 8:30 p.m. June 21. Vinyl. $10; $6 in advance. TA.
The Black Cadillacs, Black Nightingale, the Hunger Valley Boys. 8:30 p.m. July 6. Vinyl. $10; $6 in advance. TA.
Carrie Underwood. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19. Gwinnett Arena. $46-$66. TM.

ON SALE JUNE 1
Haley & Alexis Band. June 16. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 in advance. TA.
Flo Rida, Cee Lo Green, B.O.B., Karmin. 7 p.m. July 5. Gwinnett Arena. $35-$125. TM.
CD Release: Andy Liechty. Aug.2. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $8 in advance. TA.
John Fullbright. Aug. 4. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 in advance. TA.
Carnival Of Madness with Evanescence, Chevelle, Halestorm, New …

Continue reading Hot tickets: May 29 »

John Taylor (left), Simon LeBon and the rest of Duran Duran visit Chastain in August.

A little “Copacabana” and some primo ‘80s New Wave highlight the 2012 Georgia Natural Gas Concert Series B at Chastain Park , which was announced today.

Here are six more shows to add to the summer lineup at the venue.

• Barry Manilow (no tables, no coolers): 8 p.m. July 29.

• The Allman Brothers Band with moe. (no tables, no coolers): 7 p.m. Aug. 1.

• Ledisi with Eric Benet: 8 p.m. Aug. 5.

• Anthony Hamilton: 8 p.m. Aug. 12.

• Duran Duran (no tables, no coolers): 8 p.m. Aug. 19.

• B.B. King and Tedeschi Trucks Band: 7 p.m. Aug. 26.

Tickets for all shows in the series – or any combination of two or more shows – are on sale at 10 a.m. June 3 at www.chastainseries.com or by calling 404-233-2227. Prices TBA.

Continue reading Chastain Series “B” announced: Duran Duran and Allman Bros. highlight »

Luke Bryan opened for Jason Aldean at Aaron's Amphitheatre at Lakewood last weekend. Photo credit: Robb D. Cohen

At least we don’t have to worry about Atlanta’s largest amphitheater being saddled with a ridiculous name like the 1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheatre in Tampa.

 Aaron’s, Inc., renewed its partnership with Live Nation this week, which means it will retain the naming rights to Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood through 2014 with an option to extend to 2016.

 It’s one of several tidbits surrounding the new season at the 19,000-capacity venue, which just wrapped a four-shows-in-five-days run with Jason Aldean, Drake and the Dave Matthews Band (Jimmy Buffett rolls in June 9, Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper June 23 and Def Leppard and Poison June 29).

 Two new VIP decks – with private access and a dedicated bar – were unveiled at the pair of sold-out Aldean shows last weekend.

 The venue is also proudly touting its $4 12-ounce domestic draft beer – a price slash rolled out for most …

Continue reading Aaron’s Amphitheatre retains naming rights; improvements made to venue »

Jesse Smith of Gentleman Jesse and His Men returns to Atlanta for a show at 529 in East Atlanta on Saturday, May 26. He’s been touring in support of his second album, “Leaving Atlanta.” Photo: Tim Song

FRIDAY
KC and the Sunshine Band, the Trammps
Disco lives as these two titans of the genre come together at Chastain Park Amphitheatre. The Trammps’ moment in the spotlight came courtesy of the movie “Saturday Night Fever,” which included the band’s “Disco Inferno.” The song, a No. 11 hit, was the Trammps’ biggest, but the Philadelphia-based outfit had two previous Top 40 entries, “Hold Back the Night” and “Where the Happy People Go.” KC and the Sunshine Band was one of the disco era’s most successful acts, with five No. 1 singles between 1975 and 1980. Few songs evoke the disco years as immediately as “Get Down Tonight,” “That’s the Way (I Like It),” and “(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty.”
8 p.m. May 25. $30.50-$45.50. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive N.W., …

Continue reading Live music picks: May 25-29 »

Dave Matthews lets out a trademark yelp at Aaron's Amphitheatre Tuesday night. Photo credit: Raymond Hagans

In their football jerseys and T-shirts, the current touring lineup for the Dave Matthews Band looked more like a bunch of weekend warriors than a collective of world class musicians. Appearing fit, rested and ready for anything, the super group, which formed in 1993, played to a packed crowd at Aaron’s Amphitheatre Tuesday night, May 22.

They began an extensive summer tour last weekend that will end at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in September and have plans to release their eighth studio album later this year with longtime collaborator Steve Lillywhite as skipper.

Opening the show with the tender and emotional ballad “Sweet,” Matthews kept a level of quiet reserve for about the first hour of the performance meandering into “Grace is Gone” and “Save Me.” There was no Steve Martin-esque banter and very little of the frontman’s trademark pigeon-toed twist. The crowd, many …

Continue reading Dave Matthews Band benefits from a year in the woods »

Get ready for a new year of Bieber fever.

Justin Bieber just announced his tour in support of his upcoming “Believe” release, but Atlanta fans will have to wait until 2013 to see the cherubic-faced singer.

 Bieber will visit Philips Arena Jan. 23. Tickets, priced at $39.50-$89.50 (plus fees), are on sale at 10 a.m. June 2 through www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, 1-800-745-3000 and the Philips box office.

 The tour launches Sept. 29 in Glendale, Ariz., and hits 45 cities before wrapping in Miami Jan. 26.

 The Justin Bieber Fan Club will hold a presale beginning at noon today (visit www.bieberfever.com). Starting Thursday, American Express cardholders will have access to presale tickets through May 31.

 Bieber will donate $1 from each ticket to Pencils of Promise, a charity which works to build schools and increase educational opportunities in the developing world.

 “Believe,” the fourth studio album from the sometimes-Atlanta resident, arrives June 19.

 Follow me …

Continue reading Justin Bieber sets Atlanta date »

Big Mike Geier brings his Elvis Royale show back to Variety Playhouse in August. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 25. Photo: Hyosub Shin, hshin@ajc.com

ON SALE MAY 25
Howle + Mosley. June 13. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $8 in advance. TA.
Copious Jones. June 21. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $8 in advance. TA.
The Kicks. July 27. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 in advance. TA.
Cas Haley. Aug. 11. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $12 in advance. TA.
Big Mike Geier’s Elvis Royale featuring the Kingsized Orchestra and Dames Aflame. 8:30 p.m. Aug. 18. Variety Playhouse. $26. TM.
Ted Nugent, Laura Wilde. 8 p.m. Aug. 22. Center Stage. $39; $34 in advance. TM.

ON SALE JUNE 1
Loretta Lynn, Sonia Leigh. 8 p.m. Aug. 24. $25-$55; $25 lawn. Delta Classic Chastain series at Chastain Park Amphitheatre. TM.

UPCOMING SHOWS
Dave Matthews Band. 7 p.m. May 22. Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood. $45.50-$75. LN.
Reggie Watts. 8 p.m. May 23. Variety Playhouse. $30; $25 in advance. TM.
Yann …

Continue reading Hot tickets: May 22 »