Tori Amos, creator of the red-headed soundtrack to my adolescence, plays Chastain Ampitheatre Monday night. It seems so long ago and far away, but during my months as an AJC intern in 2003, I interviewed Amos on the phone, keeping my nostalgic fangirl calm. At the end, she told me it was refreshing to talk to someone who sounded so happy. I’ve pretty much never gotten over it.

Here’s the story, courtesy of the AJC archive:

If Tori Amos and Ben Folds were to have a duel on this summer’s “Lottapianos” tour, it’s hard to say who would win.

Folds is known for raucous melodies, a quirky demeanor and a hand-span larger than E.T.’s, suitable for hitting notes in ways most players can only dream of.

But Amos sets fires — well, not real ones, that is, lest anyone point out that she played Center Stage in the 1990s, leaving the Midtown venue just hours before it burned.

In a recent call from Chicago, Amos said every night of the summer’s tour reflects a new element, including fire.

…

Continue reading From the archive: 2003 Tori Amos interview »

Books: Author Richard Doster speaks, 7:15 p.m., Decatur Library Auditorium, Decatur. FREE.

For families: “Under the Sea” IMAX film, 1 p.m., Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta.

Music: Jason Mraz performs, 7 p.m., Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre at Encore Park, Alpharetta.

Music: M. Ward performs with The Moaners, 9 p.m., 40 Watt Club, Athens.

Music: Chanda Leigh performs as part of the National Black Arts Festival, 7:30 p.m., Southwest Arts Center, Atlanta. FREE.

Outdoors: Night Hike, 8 p.m., Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, Buford.

Got an event, venue, restaurant or performance in and around Atlanta? Add it to the AccessAtlanta.com calendar.

For instant updates, follow @insideaccess on Twitter.

Continue reading To do list: July 27 »

Film: “MHz (Megahertz)” shows, 6 p.m., Bound to Be Read Books, Atlanta. FREE.

For families: Chinese Youth Orchestra performance, 3 p.m., The Centre for Performing and Visual Arts, Newnan.

For families: “Dialog in the Dark” continues, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Premier Exhibition Centre, Atlanta.

Music: Neko Case performs, 8 p.m., Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Atlanta. STORY.

Music: Old 97s perform, 8 p.m., The Variety Playhouse, Atlanta. STORY.

Stage: “Bye, Bye Birdie” by Athens Creative Theatre, 3 p.m., Morton Theatre, Athens.

Stage: “Blood Knot” by Theatrical Outfit and True Colors Theatre, 2:30 p.m., The Balzer Theatre at Herren’s, Atlanta. REVIEW.

Got an event, venue, restaurant or performance in and around Atlanta? Add it to the AccessAtlanta.com calendar.

For instant updates, follow @insideaccess on Twitter.

Continue reading To do list: July 26 »

Film: “The Princess Bride” for Movies Under the Stars, dusk, Mall of Georgia, Buford. FREE.

For families: “Moore Family Walk,” 9:30 a.m., Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta.

For families: Girls Rock Camp ATL Showcase, 7:30 p.m., The Variety Playhouse, Atlanta. STORY.

Music: “Beethoven Blockbusters” performed by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, 8 p.m., Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre at Encore Park, Alpharetta.

Music: Drum Corps International Southeastern Championship, 4 p.m., Georgia Dome, Atlanta.

Sports: Atlanta Rollergirls Roller Derby League bout, 5 p.m., Yaarab Shrine Center Auditorium, Atlanta.

Stage: “Once Upon A Dream” previews, 8 p.m., 14th Street Playhouse at Woodruff Arts Center, Atlanta.

Got an event, venue, restaurant or performance in and around Atlanta? Add it to the AccessAtlanta.com calendar.

For instant updates, follow @insideaccess on Twitter.

Continue reading To do list: July 25 »

Two powerhouse female artists will play Atlanta in the next few days, red-headed ladies who do marvelous things with their voices. First, there’s Neko Case, a wanderer between Americana and power pop, who plays Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Sunday. On Monday, it’s Tori Amos, the piano-pounding, emotional-before-emo artist who takes the stage at Chastain Park Ampitheater.

A little breakdown:

Neko Case. Photo Courtesy Anti-Records

Neko Case

Early on: Born in 1970 in Alexandria, Va.
Education: Moved to Vancouver, British Columbia in the 1990s to attend Emily Carr institute of Art and Design.
Co-conspirators: Played in Vancouver punk and country groups. Recorded as Neko Case and Her Boyfriends on “The Virginian.” Has worked with The Sadies and Carolyn Mark. Still handles some vocals for supergroup The New Pornographers. LISTEN.
Atlanta connection: Her voice appeared on the “Sirens” episode of “Aqua Teen Hunger Force,” an Adult Swim show on Atlanta’s own Cartoon Network. …

Continue reading Red-headed powerhouses play: Neko Case and Tori Amos »

Comedy: Jennifer Coolidge (aka Stifler’s mom) performs, 8 p.m., Laughing Skull Lounge, Atlanta. STORY.

Film: “Moonwalker” Michael Jackson tribute, 11:55 p.m., Landmark Midtown Art Cinema, Atlanta. STORY.

For families: “Keep on Dreaming” musical performance, 8 p.m., Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center, Decatur.

For kids: “Linnea in Monet’s Garden” film, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., High Museum of Art’s Greene Family Education Center lecture room, Atlanta.

Sports: Gwinnett Braves vs. Lehigh Valley Ironpigs series begins, 7 p.m., Gwinnett Braves Stadium, Lawrenceville.

Stage: “Oliver!” by The Twilight Theatre, 8 p.m., Frederick Brown Jr. Ampitheater, Peachtree City.

Stage: “rapt” performance of dance, music and technology by gloATL, 8:30 p.m., Woodruff Arts Center, Atlanta. FREE.

Visual art: Castleberry Hill Fourth Friday Art Stroll, 7-10 p.m., Castleberry Hill neighborhood, Atlanta. FREE. STORY.

Visual art: “Images of Zora” by Ann Tanksley opens, 6-10 p.m., Avisca Fine …

Continue reading To do list: July 24 »

In its second year, Atlanta’s Rock Camp for girls has more campers with more skills and more space to show it all off.

Amanda Dwight rehearses at Girls Rock Camp ATL. AJC/Jamie Gumbrecht.

The one-week camp for rock-inclined gals ages 10 to 16 splits them into bands, ones with names like “Defiance” and “On the Edge of Ridiculou(s)z.” They learn to sing or play instruments, to write songs and stand out on stage. They go from practice to performance on Saturday night, when each band plays a public showcase at The Variety Playhouse in Little Five Points. (Expect some bands to play at the East Atlanta Strut on Sept. 19, too.)

Want a closer look? Here’s a gallery of photos from Girls Rock Camp rehearsals and workshops.

It’s not an easy week. Like every rock documentary you’ve ever seen, bandmates squabble. They insist on a guitar/bass/drum solo. One afternoon yields plenty uncertain starts and frustrated moans: “Ready? Set? G—wait, what are we doing again?”

There are campers from …

Continue reading PHOTOS: Lessons in life and music from Girls Rock Camp »

Books: “Invisible Sisters” author Jessica Handler discusses her memoir, 7:30 p.m., Bound to be Read Books, Atlanta. FREE.

Film: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” wine tasting at 5:30 pm., movie at 7:30 p.m., Fox Theatre, Atlanta.

Film: “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” 8:45 p.m., Atlantic Station’s Central Park, Atlanta. FREE.

For families: “Snoopy! The Musical” continues, 8 p.m., Southside Theatre Guild, Fairburn.

For kids: “Horrid Henry” book event, 11 a.m., East Cobb Borders, Marietta. FREE.

Music: Cracker performs with The Moaners, 8 p.m., The EARL, Atlanta.

Music: David Leon, Destiny Cravey and Courtney Dickinson perform for the Brown Bag Lunch concert series, noon-1:30 p.m., Town Green, Duluth. FREE.

Got an event, venue, restaurant or performance in and around Atlanta? Add it to the AccessAtlanta.com calendar.

For instant updates, follow @insideaccess on Twitter.

Continue reading To do list: July 23 »

Eyedrum, the non-profit Cabbagetown gallery and music venue that can’t afford to pay its rent, sent word tonight that it hasn’t gotten a decision yet from its landlord. For now, a benefit art auction is planned for Aug. 14.

The benefit will include live entertainment, a silent auction of work by local artists, a “live auction of art services,” Eyedrum merchandise, free hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Money raised will go toward Eyedrum operating costs and programming.

From the release:

After 10 successful years in Atlanta, funding and donations recently have waned, putting Eyedrum’s livelihood in jeopardy. The organization is still awaiting word from its landlord, Braden Fellman, on the terms of its lease and monthly rent. In addition, a committee is taking shape to address the long-term plans of the organization, including a possible move to a smaller location and a paid staffer. While the disbanding of the organization is a possibility, board members are encouraged by the …

Continue reading Short on cash, Eyedrum plans Aug. 14 benefit art auction »

Joan Baez plays the Atlanta Botanical Garden tonight. In an AJC Q&A, she talked politics, music and memoir, but I particularly loved this part of the conversation:

Q: After 50 years, how have you changed as a performer?

A: I’ve grown into my own skin in way that I certainly never thought I would be able to when I was younger. It’s a joy. When I was young and had stage fright and also had on my mind so many things I had to do — or thought I had to do — I really couldn’t enjoy it the way I do now.

Q: You dedicated this CD to your 96-year-old mother. Living with her must teach you important life lessons.

A: Well, I think you’ve got to learn them, especially about getting old in a country that’s so scared of it. I’m going to keep these wrinkles if it kills me. (Laughs) I saw myself in this documentary that was just made, and the producer said, “Now you’re probably going to wake up in the night, and your stomach’s going to be churning about something. You’re going to see …

Continue reading Joan Baez makes aging sound awesome »