It's a good day for the Zac Brown Band. Photo credit: Cole Cassell

The Zac Brown Band is not only “Uncaged,” but unstoppable.

The band demonstrated its prowess on the Billboard 200 album chart this week, where “Uncaged” arrived at No. 1 with sales of 234,000.

Their victory sends last week’s chart-topper, Chris Brown, to No. 5.

Making a strong showing at No. 2 is R&B singer (and frequent songwriter-to-the-stars) Frank Ocean, who has been in the news consistently the past week or so with discussions about his sexuality.

Though the physical version of his debut release, “Channel Orange,” which features an appearance from Andre 3000, didn’t arrive until this week, it was given an exclusive bow on iTunes last week, and thus, chart eligible.

Ocean plays a sold out show at Center Stage on Sunday.

As for ZBB, though the band’s last album, “You Get What You Give” also debuted at No. 1 when it was released in September 2010, it opened with about 153,000 in sales. …

Continue reading Zac Brown Band debuts at No. 1 on Billboard chart »

Interesting new song and video from George Michael. The video for “White Light” is filled with images of death — or near death — Kate Moss and a zebra (that kind of sounds like the start of a joke) while Michael sings about being grateful to be alive.

“I’ve got so much more that I want to give. Was it music, was it science that saved me?” he sings over a pulsing electronica beat.

Fans of the singer will be happy to hear that he recently told BBC 2 that he has his “most commercial record since ‘Faith’” in the works.

What do you think of the video and song (which, just an FYI, does contain some language)?

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By Melissa Ruggieri, Atlanta Music Scene

Continue reading George Michael returns with new song, video »

Rascal Flatts headlines Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood in October. Tickets go on sale Saturday, July 21. Photo: Getty Images

ON SALE NOW
Neil Cribbs and the Rough Gentleman, Patrick Scott, Prisca. 9 p.m. Aug. 24. Vinyl. $10; $5 in advance. TA.
Rockie Fresh. 8 p.m. Sept. 8. Vinyl. $13; $10 in advance. TA.

ON SALE JULY 20
Eric Dodd. Aug. 31. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 in advance. TA.
The Rouge, Makeshift Prodigy. Sept. 3. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 in advance. TA.
Please PleaseRock Me. Sept. 7. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $12 in advance. TA.
Chris Knight. Sept. 8. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $20 in advance. TA.
Natalie Stovall. Sept. 8. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $8 in advance. TA.
Paper Bird. Sept. 12. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $8 in advance. TA.
The Chris Robinson Brotherhood. 8 p.m. Sept. 29. Center Stage. $20; $18 in advance. TM.
No Justice. Oct. 11. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 in advance. TA.
The Temper …

Continue reading Tickets: Rascal Flatts, Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Chris Robinson »

The rapper who once declared “Hip-Hop is Dead” is anything but lifeless on his 10th studio album.

 For starters, Nas is obviously working through some unresolved issues with Kelis, the R&B singer he married in Atlanta in 2005 and split with four years later.

 There’s the green wedding dress draped over his leg on the album cover – the one thing he said she left behind after moving out. Then comes the early shout-out in “No Introduction” when he announces, “Some of you might know Kelis. This goes to her with love.” And as a coda to his swirling emotions on the closing “Bye Baby,” he wonders, with equal parts pride and rage, how it all went wrong when, “I was your Johnny Depp, you were my Janis Joplin.”

 “Life is Good” is achingly personal throughout and Nas never recoils from honesty.

 He also has a lot to say, all of the time. “Loco-Motive,” with Large Professor, is a loping song containing lyrical gallops, while “Daughters” is a …

Continue reading Tuesday Tunes: Spotlight on Nas »

A picture obviously taken in winter. Photo credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

The Sept. 14 Il Volo concert at the Fox Theatre has been canceled.

The announcement cites “an unforeseen scheduling conflict” as the reason for the cancellation. There are no plans to reschedule the Atlanta date (apparently there are many scheduling conflicts in the boys’ future).

 Il Volo – not to be confused with Il Divo – is the Italian trio of young men whose most recent album, “Il Volo…Takes Flight: Live from the Detroit Opera House,” hit No. 1 on the Billboard classical chart (the group’s name means “the flight” in English).

The threesome received a huge promotional push with their performance of the Italian standard “O Sole Mio” on a May 2011 appearance on “American Idol.”

Refunds are available at point of purchase; those purchased through Ticketmaster online or via phone will be automatically refunded.

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By Melissa Ruggieri, …

Continue reading Il Volo concert at Fox canceled »

Storm damage at Little Tybee home.

Little Tybee can use some help.

 The Atlanta house where three of the members live – and the band rehearses – was struck by lightning last week, sending an uprooted tree through the roof.

 In a message on the band’s record label site, guitarist Josh Martin said they were able to salvage some gear, but “much of our lives are currently buried in what is now a water-logged tree fort.”

 On the site, Little Tybee is asking for donations to help with their living situation and promises that all funds will go directly to the band to repair damages.

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By Melissa Ruggieri, Atlanta Music Scene

Continue reading Little Tybee’s home wrecked by storm »

You'd be smiling like Chris Martin, too, if your band made more than $20 million the first six months of the year. Photo credit: Robb D. Cohen / www.robbsphotos.com

Even in death, Michael Jackson is making a mint.

The Cirque du Soleil tribute to the King of Pop, “Michael Jackson: The Immortal,” tops the North American mid-year touring chart compiled by concert industry trade magazine Pollstar.

The show, featuring choreography from Atlanta native Travis Payne, recently completed a three-day stint at Philips Arena and has grossed $78.5 million so far this year.

Following is Roger Waters’ spectacular retelling of “The Wall,” which has pulled in $61.9 million. This is the second go-around for Waters, who first revisited the show in 2010. He also rules the worldwide chart, raking in $158.1 million. No wonder he’s considering taking “The Wall” back overseas next year.

Coming in a distant second worldwide is Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band with $79.9 million. The …

Continue reading Cirque’s ‘Immortal,’ Roger Waters top mid-year touring chart »

Glen Campbell frequently chatted and laughed with the Chastain crowd. Photo credit: Max Blau

Glen Campbell had barely been escorted to the front of the stage when the crowd leapt up in a pre-concert ovation.

It was a deserved gush of goodwill, a message from the Chastain Park Amphitheatre crowd that even if Campbell stumbled during his hour-ish set, it would be understood.

The country music legend is in the midst of a poignant “Goodbye Tour,” an outing prompted by his disclosure last year that he’s suffering from Alzheimer’s disease as well as a graceful exit from an extraordinary career.

Campbell, 76, relied heavily on a trio of TelePrompTers arranged at the foot of the stage, and sometimes stopped playing his guitar mid-riff, as happened during “Galveston.” But in between were many lighthearted jokes about memory loss and much hearty chuckling from Campbell, who looked happy and sounded strong.

Backed by a six-piece band including daughter Ashley on banjo and …

Continue reading Glen Campbell says goodbye at Chastain; Kenny Rogers entertains »

Yes, Randy, that is indeed two gone. Your move, dawg. Photo credit: Photo credit: Michael Becker/AP

Jennifer Lopez confirmed on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show that she, too, is leaving “American Idol.”

The singer-actress-dancer-expert-clothing-wearer reluctantly told the “Idol” host during a 15-minute interview that “something has to give.”

“I honestly feel the time has come that I have to get back to doing the other things that I do that I put on hold because I love ‘Idol’ so much,” she said. “I feel we had an amazing run.”

When Seacrest asked if the door was open for her to return, she said, “No matter what you guys need over there, I’m always going to be here.”

Lopez originally signed to do one year on the singing talent show, but wound up doing two because she “fell in love” with the show and the “Idol” “family.”

Yesterday, Steven Tyler announced his departure. That leaves Randy Jackson – an original panelist – as the only one …

Continue reading Jennifer Lopez tells Ryan Seacrest she is leaving “American Idol” »

Since this is sort of a return-to-the-‘90s weekend, with Sugar Ray, Gin Blossoms and others playing tonight’s “Summerland” concert at Chastain; Richard Marx offering his hits with a string section on Saturday at The Fred; and Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler and others coming to Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on Monday, it seemed like a good week to pay homage to our favorite one-hit wonders from the decade that brought us Nirvana AND MC Hammer.

There are plenty of artists who could have made this list, like Lit, who is also on the “Summerland” bill. Or others, such as Ben Folds Five, Shawn Colvin, Sinead O’Connor and Marc Cohn. In the case of the former, well, they’re getting enough attention this weekend. And the latter acts still have thriving careers, despite a regular chart presence.

So here are 10 of my favorites – and just choosing 10 took much more time than really necessary.

Weigh in below with some of your picks from the decade of flannel and …

Continue reading Friday Riffs: What’s your favorite ’90s one-hit wonder? »