Eric Clapton brings his tour to the Gwinnett Arena in March. Tickets go on sale Friday, Nov. 30. Photo: Getty Images

RESCHEDULED

Ray LaMontagne. 8 p.m. Dec. 6. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. $32.50-$62.50. LN.

Morrissey, Kristeen Young. 8 p.m. Jan. 31. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. $37-$53. TM.

ON SALE NOV. 30

Lisa Lampanelli. 7 p.m. Jan. 19. The Tabernacle. $39.75-$49.75. LN.

Ed Sheeran, Foy Vance, Rizzle Kicks. 7 p.m. Jan. 21. The Tabernacle. $30; $28 in advance. LN.

Meshuggah, Animals as Leaders, Intronaut. 8 p.m. Feb. 12. Center Stage. $24.50. TM.

Railroad Earth. 8:30 p.m. Feb. 15-16. Variety Playhouse. $27.50; $25 in advance. TM.

Desaparecidos featuring Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes. 8 p.m. Feb. 21. Variety Playhouse. $25. TM.

That 1 Guy. 8:30 p.m. March 2. The Five Spot. $15. TM.

Dropkick Murphys. 7:30 p.m. March 4. The Tabernacle. $35; $29 in advance. LN.

Eels. 8 p.m. March 5. Variety Playhouse. $27.50; $25 in advance.

Excision. 9 p.m. March 8. The Tabernacle. …

Continue reading Tickets: Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton, Lisa Lampanelli »

From left: Canaan Smith, Kristian Bush, Brandon Bush and Patrick Davis share their talents. Photos: Melissa Ruggieri

Kristian Bush loves Christmas music and he loves introducing his songwriting friends to one another.

Those are reasons enough for his annual post-Thanksgiving-weekend shows at Eddie’s Attic, a tradition he began about eight years ago and continued with two shows on Sunday and one three-hour marathon of awesomeness on Monday night.

The male half of Sugarland, a Decatur native with a long history at Eddie’s Attic, took the stage in his usual unassuming manner, a sweet grin on his face and an array of acoustic guitars and an electric mandolin behind him.

For Monday’s show, Bush brought along Nashville singer-songwriters Canaan Smith – who opened for Sugarland on their recent tour – and Patrick Davis, who flanked Bush on the tiny stage. Bush’s quiet brother Brandon, he of the distinctive moustache, played behind them, stealthily coloring in the musical sketches …

Continue reading Kristian Bush strips down at Eddie’s Attic »

Alicia Keys has always presented herself with a level of maturity far beyond her age. But in the three years since her last album, the lukewarm “The Element of Freedom,” she’s grown up at the most basic levels – by getting married (to rapper/producer Swizz Beatz) and having a son (Egypt, now 2).

Those two major life changes obviously had an effect on her outlook and, consequently, her songwriting, which helps make her fifth album, “Girl on Fire,” a confident rainbow of sounds.

The album is bookended by Keys’ lovely piano playing – though it’s ushered in like a lamb and goes out like a gospel-tinged lion – and it’s immediately apparent that marriage and motherhood haven’t diluted her strong-woman stance.

“I’ve taken one too many excuses, one too many lies,” she sings on the opening “Brand New Me,” her voice frequently falling into that rasp that pops up when she leans into a lyric. It’s an affectation that could be annoying, but with Keys, it sounds so natural that it’s instead …

Continue reading Tuesday Tunes: Spotlight on Alicia Keys »

Brown performed last week on the AMAs. Photo: Getty Images

Another day, another Chris Brown tantrum.

After engaging in a profane Twitter exchange with comedy writer Jenny Johnson late Sunday night, the hot-tempered performer deleted his Twitter profile – again.

He likely isn’t sulking about it too much, considering he was spotted hanging out with Rihanna in Berlin over Thanksgiving (she tweeted a photo of a shirtless Brown sprawled across a bed, giving ammunition to the rumors that they’re back together).

But the cyber-skirmish with Johnson began when she responded to a photo Brown tweeted of himself last week, looking drawn and haggard. “I know! Being a worthless piece of s*** can really age a person,” Johnson responded, which set Brown off on a vulgar tirade (you can read the exchange here, but beware of language).

Brown, recently named the Musical Turkey of 2012 on this very blog, then deactivated his Twitter account after sending a final rambling tweet that signed off …

Continue reading Chris Brown goes on Twitter tirade, deletes account…again »

For years at my old newspaper, I would make Thanksgiving more than a day to enjoy fowl and football and take the opportunity to target some music celebrities who had engaged in some sort of dopey behavior during the year – musical turkeys, if you will.

So why not continue an amusing tradition, a Thursday Riffs, if you will?

Of course, as with most lists, this one could go far beyond 10 picks. Some weeks it seems as if idiotic behavior among the well-compensated is a requirement, so feel free to tack on any additions you think belong under the “musical turkey” header and have some fun.

Also, here’s wishing you a happy Thanksgiving – and thanks, as always, for reading.

10. Christina Aguilera: She, herself, is not a turkey for any reason in particular – though one could argue that her stylists certainly belong on this list – but despite her extreme exposure on “The Voice” and her undiminished vocal ability, Aguilera laid a giant turkey egg with her new album, “Lotus,” which had …

Continue reading Musical turkeys of 2012: Nicki, Axl, we’re talking to you »

Kristian Bush has written 80-plus songs this year. Expect to hear some of them. Photo: Courtesy

Back in the days of Billy Pilgrim, Kristian Bush and Andrew Hyra were fixtures at Eddie’s Attic.

But then came Sugarland, and while Bush and Hyra never really broke up, they played less and less frequently. Still, Billy Pilgram had its stable of fans who yearned to hear those songs so Bush had an idea: Why not play an annual show at the Attic and pull out the whole repertoire – the Billy Pilgram songs, the Sugarland songs, the songs that no one had really heard yet and might become Sugarland songs.

That was eight years ago.

This weekend, Decatur-resident Bush is back at the super-intimate Eddie’s Attic – where he literally helped paint the walls and was the first performance when it opened 20 years ago – for two sold-out shows on Sunday and, for the first time, a third show that was added for Monday night.

He’ll be joined by old friends (Ellis Paul) and new ones (Canaan Smith) and …

Continue reading Kristian Bush talks Thanksgiving shows, songwriting and the future of Sugarland »

Todd Snider will be joined by Jack Ingram for a show at Variety Playhouse on Jna. 4. Tickets go on sale this Friday, Nov. 23.

ON SALE NOV. 23

Todd Snider, Jack Ingram. 8:30 p.m. Jan. 4. Variety Playhouse. $22.50; $20 in advance. TM.

Escape Vehicle. Jan. 5. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 in advance. TA.

Col. Bruce Hampton. Feb. 1. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 in advance. TA.

Trampled Under Foot. Feb. 10. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 in advance. TA.

The Kicks. Dec. 15. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $10 in advance. TA.

The Corduroy Road, Have Gun Will Travel. Feb. 14. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $8 in advance. TA.

#urbanoutkast presents Afro Funk Night: Heavy Mojo. Jan. 18. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $8 in advance. TA.

Rebirth Brass Band. Jan. 11-12. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $20 in advance. TA.

Corb Lund. Feb. 3. Smith’s Olde Bar – Music Room. $12 in advance. TA.

UPCOMING SHOWS

Lamb of God, In Flames, Hell Yeah, Sylosis. 7 p.m. Nov. 20. The …

Continue reading Tickets: Todd Snider, Jack Ingram, Rebirth Brass Band »

Catch Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at the Buckhead Theatre on Friday, Nov. 23. Photo: Erika Goldring / All Eyes Media

TODAY
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, the Whigs
The holiday season is a great time to catch locally based artists, and this show is among the best of the bunch. Isbell, formerly of Athens’ Drive-By Truckers, has been going from strength to strength with his acclaimed solo career, winning song of the year for “Alabama Pines” at the 2012 Americana Music Awards. His latest album is “Live From Alabama,” which includes his own take on “Outfit,” a brilliant gem he originally recorded with the Truckers. Crafting crunchy modern rock that transcends most of its contemporaries with hook-filled and memorable songs, Athens’ Whigs proves that you don’t need gimmicks to make great records. The band’s fourth album, “Enjoy the Company,” was released in September. They’re joined by Athens alt-country chanteuse Lera Lynn and Atlanta rock quintet the District Attorneys.
8:30 p.m. …

Continue reading Concerts: Martina McBride, Ray LaMontagne, Megadeth, Kristian Bush »

Age really is just a number for 12-year-old Evancho, who has already released four albums. Photo: Keith Munyan

A little more than two years ago, Jackie Evancho won America’s hearts.

OK, so she didn’t win “America’s Got Talent,” coming in second in 2010 to singer Michael Grimm.

But Evancho was an immediate standout, a pre-pubescent cutie-pie with the pipes and poise of someone three times her age (she’s now a ripe old 12).

She quickly cornered the holiday market with that year’s “O Holy Night,” which sold so fast, Evancho became the best-selling debut artist of 2010 and the youngest Top-10 debut artist in Billboard chart history.

Now she’s a chart vet with three more albums on her resume – 2011’s “Dream with Me” and “Heavenly Christmas,” and her latest, “Songs from the Silver Screen,” which includes such well-known ballads as “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (“The Lion King”) and “My Heart Will Go On” (“Titanic”).

The album also provides Evancho an opportunity to croon a piece …

Continue reading Youth is no obstacle for Jackie Evancho »

This is Martina McBride's first Christmas tour since 2006. Photo: Courtesy

[UPDATE - WE HAVE OUR WINNER. JON, WHO POSTED BELOW, WAS RANDOMLY SELECTED. THANKS EVERYONE, AS ALWAYS, FOR PARTICIPATING. HOPE I'LL HAVE MORE FUN THINGS TO GIVE AWAY OVER THE HOLIDAYS.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

MELISSA

Want to win a pair of free tickets to see Martina McBride's Christmas show at the Fox Theatre on Friday? Leave a comment below and we'll randomly choose a winner at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Tickets can be picked up at will call. And thanks to our friends at the Fox for making these great seats available!]

Six years have passed since Martina McBride’s last Christmas tour, and 14 years since “White Christmas,” her last holiday album.

But the country chanteuse known for “This One’s For the Girls,” “A Broken Wing,” “Independence Day” and a couple of dozen other hits, is ready to embrace the Christmas spirit this year with her “Joy of Christmas” tour, launching Friday at the Fox Theatre.

McBride, last seen …

Continue reading Martina McBride reveling in the Christmas spirit »