Tours of duty
CL gives the season’s upcoming shows some summer lovin’
So we’re flipping through magazines one afternoon, and we realize, list issues are on the Hot List. And if everybody else is doing it, we could list the reasons we should, too. Summer is the season when there are so many distractions — your time disappears as quickly as your skin on a dry Slip ‘N Slide. Now, we at CL have compiled these lists of summer concerts to alert you to the best times and places to buy $7 beer and $25 T-shirts outside of NYC.
The song remains the same
Charlie Daniels Band — Sun., May 23, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Hootie and the Blowfish — Sun., May 30, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Kenny Loggins — Tues., June 1, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Woggles — Sat., June 5, The Earl
The Trammps f/ Earl Young — Sat., June 5, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
VH1 Classic Summer Hits f/ Nelson, Peter Frampton, Styx — Wed., June 16, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Cowboy Mouth — Fri., June 18, Centennial Olympic Park
Eric Clapton — Fri., June 18, Philips Arena
Mel & the Party Hats — Sat., June 19, Andrews Upstairs
Jackson Browne — Tues., June 22, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Rock & Soul 2004 Revue f/ Average White Band, Daryl Hall & John Oates, & more — Mon., June 28, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Satisfaction (Rolling Stones tribute) — Fri., July 2, Andrews Upstairs
Chicago/Earth, Wind and Fire — Sun., July 11, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
The Beach Boys — Wed., July 14, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Counting Crows — Mon., July 19, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Peter, Paul & Mary — Wed., July 28, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Three-fourths of the Vans Warped Tour — Wed., July 28, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Rush — Sun., Aug. 1, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Alanis Morissette/Barenaked Ladies — Thurs., Aug. 5, HiFi Buys AmphitheatreCypress Hill — Fri., Aug. 6, Centennial Olympic ParkToto — Fri., Aug 6, Symphony HallMary Wilson and the Supremes — Sat., Aug. 7, Mable House Amphitheatre
Live — Fri., Aug. 13, Centennial Olympic ParkAtlanta Rhythm Section — Sat., Aug. 14, Mable House Amphitheatre
ZZ Top — Mon., Aug. 16, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
The Dead/Warren Haynes — Thurs., Aug. 19, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Crosby, Stills & Nash/Bruce Hornsby — Wed., Aug. 25, Chastain Park AmphitheatreThe Village People — Fri., Aug. 27, Mable House Amphitheatre
Acts that are back (reunited)
Braid — Fri., June 11, Masquerade
Nelson — Wed., June 16, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Camper Van Beethoven — Sat., June 19, Variety Playhouse
DKT/MC5 — Sun., June 20, Echo Lounge
The Dead — Thurs., Aug. 19, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Acts you missed that are back (after playing the area recently)
The Von Bondies — Tues., May 25, Cotton Club
Okkervil River — Tues., May 25, The Earl
The Fire Theft/Secret Machines — Wed., May 26, Cotton Club
Jonathan Richman — Sat., June 5, Echo Lounge
The Unicorns — Tues., June 8, Echo Lounge
The Kingsbury Manx — Thurs., June 10, Echo Lounge
Legendary Pink Dots — Fri., June 11, Echo Lounge
Juana Molina — Sat., June 12, EarthLink Live
Pedro the Lion/John Vanderslice — Mon., June 14, Echo Lounge
My Morning Jacket — Wed., June 16, The Roxy
Indigo Girls — Sat.-Sun., June 26-27, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Joanna Newsome — Tues., June 29, The Earl
N.E.R.D. — Wed., July 28, Tabernacle
Cursive/Mogwai/Muse/the Rapture/Thursday [Curiosa] — Thurs., July 29, TBA
Prince — Mon.-Tues., Aug.8-9, Philips Arena
Blondie [On the Bricks] — Fri., Aug. 20, Centennial Olympic Park
BRMC, Broken Social Scene, the Walkmen [Lollapalooza] — Sat., Aug. 21, Turner Field
Acts that are back (but you didn’t miss nothin’)
The Living End — Mon., May 24, Cotton Club
Don Caballero — Fri., May 28, Echo Lounge
The Wildhearts — Sat., June 5, Masquerade
Nelson — Wed., June 16, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Avenged Sevenfold/Coheed & Cambria/Motion City Soundtrack/Planet Smashers/Rufio/Story of the Year/Tiger Army/Yellowcard — Wed., July 28, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Linkin Park — Fri., Aug. 13, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
The Dead — Thurs., Aug. 19, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Party like it’s 1999:
Prince — Mon.-Tues., Aug.8-9, Philips Arena
Party like it’s 1989:
Curiosa f/ the Cure, the Rapture, Interpol, Mogwai and more — Thurs., July 29, TBA
Party like it’s 1991:
Lollapalooza — Sat.-Sun., Aug. 21-22, Turner Field
Party like it’s 1997:
Hanson — Tues., July 6, The Tabernacle
Match made in heaven:
David Byrne/Juana Molina — Sat., June 12, EarthLink Live
The Shins/The Glands — Sat., June 12, Variety Playhouse
Pedro the Lion/John Vanderslice — Mon., June 14, Echo Lounge
Devendra Banhart/Joanna Newsome — Tues., June 29, The Earl
The Cure/Interpol/the Rapture [Curiosa] — Thurs., July 29, TBA
KISS/Poison — Wed., Aug. 4, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Emmylou Harris/Gillian Welch — Wed., Aug. 11, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Howie Day/O.A.R. — Sat., Aug. 14, The Masquerade
American Idols Live — Sun., Aug. 15, Philips Arena
John Mayer/Maroon5 — Sun., Aug. 29, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Match that makes you say, “What the Hell?”
The Von Bondies/VHS or Beta — Tues., May 25, Cotton Club
Train/Liz Phair — Fri., May 28, Centennial Olympic Park
Bonnie Prince Billy/Broken Spindles — Thurs., June 10, Echo Lounge
Braid/Minus the Bear — Fri., June 11, Masquerade
Piebald/The Jealous Sound — Tues., June 29, Masquerade
Kenny Chesney/Rascal Flatts/Uncle Kracker — Fri., July 23, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Bad Religion/the rest of the Warped Tour — Wed., July 28, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
The Cure/Thursday [Curiosa] — Thurs., July 29, TBA
311/The Roots — Sat., July 31, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Korn/Linkin Park/Less Than Jake/Snoop Dogg/The Used — Fri., Aug. 13, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Lollapalooza Day 1/Lollapalooza Day 2 — Sat.-Sun., Aug. 21-22, Turner Field
Bands you can’t tell your momma you’re gonna see
El Pus — Wed., June 2 and Tues., June 8, 15, 22, 29; 10 High
Alabama Thunderpussy — Fri., June 4, The Earl
Nashville Pussy — Sat., June 5, Masquerade; Sun., Sept. 5, Starlight Six Drive-In
The Cox Family [Great High Mountain Tour] — Tues., June 8, Fox Theatre
The Catheters — Wed., June 9, Masquerade
Alexisonfire — Thurs., June 10, Masquerade
Murder by Death — Fri., June 11, Masquerade
Acid Mother’s Temple — Tues., June 15, Echo Lounge
Peter Frampton [VH1 Classic Summer Hits] (she may want to go with you.) — Wed., June 16, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Cracker — Sat., June 19, Variety Playhouse
Unzipt — Sat., July 10, and Sat., Aug. 14, Andrews Upstairs
The Woodpeckers — Thurs., July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; Andrews Upstairs
Uncle Kracker — Fri., July 23, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Julio Iglesias (she may want to go with you.) — Sat., July 24, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Bad Religion/The Vandals [Vans Warped Tour] — Wed., July 28, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Whiling and beguiling
Great High Mountain Tour — Tues., June 8, Fox TheatreSufjan Stevens — Sat., July 10, Echo Lounge
Cowboy Junkies — Wed., July 14, Atlanta Botanical Garden
Múm — Mon., July 19, Echo Lounge
Sweet Harmony Traveling Revue — Wed., Aug. 11, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Devendra Banhart/Joanna Newsome — Tues., June 29, The Earl
Wiggle like bacon on a summer Sidewalk
Femi Kuti — Sat., June 12, The Roxy
High Contrast — Fri., May 28, The Crescent Room
Planet of the Drums f/ Dieselboy, AK1200, Dara — Wed., June 9, eleven50%
%%Tiesto — Wed., June 16, eleven50Sasha/Ian James — Wed., June 23, eleven50%
%%... And all that jazz
Yusef Lateef and Adam Rudolph Duo — Thurs., May 27, Spivey Hall
Arturo Sandoval — Fri., May 28, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Shirley Horn and more (3-10 p.m.) — Sat., May 29, Piedmont Park
Randy Weston Quintet and more (3-10 p.m.) — Sun., May 30, Piedmont Park
Roy Hargrove Quintet and more (3-10 p.m.) — Mon., May 31, Piedmont Park
Bands that should’ve never left their garage
The Wildhearts — Sat., June 5, Masquerade
Kottonmouth Kings — Sat., June 26, Masquerade
Uncle Kracker — Fri., July 23, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Three-fourths of the Vans Warped Tour — Wed., July 28, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Cooper Temple Clause [Curiosa] — Thurs., July 29, TBA
Korn/The Used — Fri., Aug. 13, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
The Datsuns — Sat., Aug. 21, Turner Field
Bands that will steal your diary
Train — Fri., May 28, Centennial Olympic Park
Three-fourths of the Vans Warped Tour — Wed., July 28, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Linkin Park — Fri., Aug. 13, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Break out your black nail polish
Domination Tour f/ Christ Analogue, Sister Machine Gun — Sun., May 23, 9 Lives Saloon
Skinny Puppy/Tweaker — Fri., June 25, Masquerade
Curiosa f/ the Cure — Thurs., July 29, TBA
Summer itinerary for those who miss Lilith Fair
Wynonna — Sun., May 23, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Liz Phair — Fri., May 28, Centennial Olympic Park
Alison Krauss & Union Station [Great High Mountain Tour] — Tues., June 8, Fox Theatre
Patti Smith — Sun., June 13, Variety Playhouse
Aimee Mann — Wed., June 16, Variety Playhouse
shannonwright — Sat., June 19, The Earl
Nanci Griffith — Fri., June 25, Atlanta Botanical Garden
Indigo Girls — Sat.-Sun., June 26-27, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Diana Krall — Thurs., July 8, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Mary Chapin Carpenter — Sat., July 10, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
k.d. lang — Fri., July 16, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Rosanne Cash — Fri., July 23, Atlanta Botanical Garden
Madonna — Sat.-Sun., July 24-25, Philips Arena
Sarah McLachlan — Tues., July 27, Philips Arena
Melissa Auf Der Mar [Curiosa] — Thurs., July 29, TBA
Carole King — Fri., July 30, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Amy Grant — Wed., Aug. 4, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Alanis Morissette — Thurs., Aug. 5, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Reba McEntire — Sat., Aug. 7, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Emmylou Harris/Gillian Welch/Patty Griffin [Sweet Harmony Traveling Revue] — Wed., Aug. 11, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Norah Jones — Sat., Aug. 14, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Le Tigre [Lollapalooza] — Sat., Aug. 21, Turner Field
Heart — Sun., Aug. 22, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Annie Lennox — Thurs., Sept. 2, Philips Arena
Gloria Estefan — Sat., Sept. 4, Philips Arena
The cock rockin’ block
Andrew W. K. — Tues., June 1, Cotton Club
Appetite for Destruction (Guns N’ Roses tribute) — Thurs., June 24, Andrews Upstairs
KISS/Poison — Wed., Aug. 4, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Nashville Pussy — Sat., June 5, Masquerade; Sun., Sept. 5, Starlight Six Drive-In
A handful of CL critics share how they will beat, and turn up, the heat
Kevin Forest Moreau’s ways of looking forward to looking back: Rush at HiFi Buys Amphitheatre, Sun., Aug. 1: After Yes, Rush is supposed to be the epitome of everything that’s indulgent, excessive and overbearing about prog-rock. Like kids won’t be saying that about Radiohead in a few years.
The inevitable “alt-rock is back!” movement: New albums from Bad Religion, the Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth and Wilco — not to mention an ambitious Lollapalooza lineup and the Pixies’ summer reunion tour — should have the mainstream music media slavering about a return to “real” music, just as they did with the Strokes, et. al., a couple of years ago. I’m getting my fawning muscles in shape now.
She Loves You, the Twilight Singers’ covers record, featuring Greg Dulli’s Gutter Twins partner Mark Lanegan (ex-Screaming Trees) on some tracks. The KISS/Poison Rock the Nation Tour, Part 77 of KISS’ never-ending farewell/reunion tour. By the Wed., Aug. 4, date at HiFi Buys Amphitheatre, founding members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons should have replaced themselves with Justin Hawkins of the Darkness and Fieldy from Korn, respectively.?The promise of a new PJ Harvey album to hold me over until the Pixies arrive at the Fox in October.
Hal Horowitz’s hot times, summer in the city: New Los Lobos — tour and album. “Sweet Harmony Traveling Review” featuring Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, David Byrne, Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven?Patti Smith is always unpredictable, a huge change from the scripted sets of typical touring acts.
Eric Clapton might be sticking with blues on this tour to promote his all-Robert Johnson album, which oughta piss off the soccer moms only there to hear his sappy MOR fare.?ZZ Top rides in on a career-capping box set and their best album in a decade and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Either one is enough impetus to juice them back to the boogie and blues that they still sizzle at.?The triple-jazz fusion bill of ’70s/’80s acts Stanley Clarke, Jean Luc Ponty and Al Dimeola (Fri., June 25, Chastain Park Amphitheatre) might really catch fire if they all share the stage.
Hall & Oates and Michael McDonald (Mon., June 28, Chastain Park Amphitheatre): Strong blue-eyed soul bill with McDonald touring behind his solid album of Motown covers. H&O is always tight when playing hits they should be — but never seem to — get bored with.?Rosanne Cash (Fri., July 23, Atlanta Botanical Garden): She lost her voice! Yikes! Then she got it back! Wow! And released the best album of her career. A welcome return, and with Dad’s passing this year, she’ll surely pull out some cool Johnny covers.
Kevin Madigan’s cheers: Value for your bucks: On the Bricks returns again to downtown Atlanta, and at least two of the shows will be well worth attending: Steel Pulse (Fri., July 23) and Blondie (Fri., Aug. 20).
Rounder Records has announced its summer releases, and they include the Cowboy Junkies (One Soul Now, June 8), Bodeans (Resolution, June 22), the Tragically Hip (In Between Evolution, June 29), and the legendary Heptones (Deep in the Roots, June 15).
and his jeers: Flogging a very dead horse: A mere shadow of their former selves, the members of the Dead have been conning everyone ever since Jerry Garcia split this mortal coil, and they seem quite content to keep plugging away at their tired old repertoire. As if that wasn’t enough, this jaunt — Thurs., Aug. 19 at HiFi Buys Amphitheatre — is billed as the Wave That Flag Tour in a desperate attempt to jump on the jingoistic bandwagon. Die already.
Speaking of death, Great White had the audacity to release an album of Led Zeppelin and AC/DC covers. The nerve of some people. Why hasn’t this band been sued out of existence?
Korn is back, unfortunately. If you plan to see these guys Fri., Aug. 13, at HiFi Buys Amphitheatre, I can only offer my sympathies. What a dreadful racket. On the same miserable bill as Linkin Park, Snoop Dogg and the Used, and if that isn’t ridiculous, I don’t know what is. ...
Lee Smith’s three favorite reasons to break out the lawn chair: On the Bricks (Centennial Olympic Park) featuring Train, Gavin DeGraw, Liz Phair, Graham Colton (Fri., May 28); Cake (Fri., June 4); Chingy (Fri., June 11); Kanye West (Fri., July 9); Fuel (Fri., July 16); Steel Pulse (Fri., July 23); Cypress Hill (Fri., Aug. 6); Live (Fri., Aug 13); Blondie (Fri., Aug. 20).
The Concerts in the Garden (Atlanta Botanical Garden) featuring Rickie Lee Jones (Mon., June 6); Nanci Griffith (Fri., June 25); Cowboy Junkies (Wed., July 14); and Rosanne Cash (Fri., July 23).
Lanierland Music Park (Cumming, Ga.) featuring Joe Nichols and Blackhawk (Sat., July 17); Patty Loveless and Jimmy Wayne (Sat., Aug. 7); Ronnie Milsap and Jeff Bates (Sat., Aug. 21); and Trace Adkins and Buddy Jewell (Sat., Aug. 28).
Blake Guthrie’s list of local singer/songwriters you’ve never heard of who are actually worth heated discussion as well as chilling out to: Daniel Lee: He won the Eddie’s Attic Open Mic Shootout a couple of years ago and then disappeared off the scene. Now he’s back with a new CD, which bears the long-winded moniker Missage Is A Mirror Hold Your Breath, but don’t let that discourage you. Also, he probably gets laid way more than you do, because he’s so sensitive.
Clay Cook: He’s the guy who co-wrote the songs that made John Mayer famous. He’s got a great new CD — Smoke and Mirrors — and he’s a guitar virtuoso. The CD release party is at Smith’s Olde Bar Wed., June 2.
Sean Kagalis: If Ani DiFranco were a man and still liked women, she’d be Sean Kagalis: a brilliant, passionate, pissed-off folkie with a lot on his mind and a keen wit to boot. Playing in the Eddie’s Attic “Shootout” Sat., June 5.
The Brilliant Inventions: They’re an acoustic-pop duo. Before you get done rolling your eyes, keep in mind that they just might have a record deal before your band does — and they’ve only been together for five months. They’re competing in the Eddie’s Attic Shootout June 5, and playing at Java Monkey in Decatur Thurs., June 17.
Edie Carey: She’s not really local, but she dates a guy who is, which means she shows up in town enough to make the list. Angelic voice, great songs and one of the best smiles in show business. Playing with the Brilliant Inventions (see above).
Joe Rathbone: Recently relocated from New Jersey, Rathbone’s 2004 DIY release, I Can Hear the Windows of Your Heart Breaking, should land him a record deal any day now. Maybe he’ll have some luck when he plays the 10 High Sat., July 24, as part of the Atlantis Music Conference.
Mark Gresham’s smog-clearing summer breezes: Howard Shore performing the “Lord of the Rings” score with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (Thurs.-Sat., June 3-5, Symphony Hall); Philadelphia-based power-pop band IKE at 99X’s Unplugged in the Park series (Sun., July 25, Park Tavern); Celtic-influenced, driving modern rock by Seven Nations (Fri., July 30, Symphony Hall); the National Black Arts Festival featuring jazz diva/vocalist/living legend Nancy Wilson (Sun., July 18, Chastain Park) and jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut and his trio, with special guest David “Fathead” Newman (Thurs., July 22, Spivey Hall); the Atlanta Symphony Classic Chastain series featuring Keb’Mo’ and Los Lonely Boys (Sat., June 19); Rite of Strings — Stanley Clarke, Jean-Luc Ponty and Al DiMeola (Fri., June 25); Indigo Girls (Sat., June 26); the Irish Tenors with the ASO (Fri., July 2); the Tops and the Temptations with the ASO (Wed., July 7); Mary Chapin Carpenter (Sat., July 10); the Beach Boys with the ASO (Wed., July 14); k.d. lang with the ASO (Fri., July 16); Boney James (Sat., July 17); “ABBA: The Music” with the ASO (Wed., July 21); Liza Minnelli (Fri., July 23); Julio Iglesias (Sat., July 24); Peter, Paul & Mary (Wed., July 28); Carole King (Fri., July 30); John Pizzarelli (Sat., July 31)
Chad Radford’s top five anticipated CDs to grill out to: Einstrzende Neubauten: Kalte Sterne CD [collection of early singles and rarities] (Mute, U.S.)?Beastie Boys: To the Five Burroughs (Capital)?Edward Ka-Spel: Pieces of 8 2xLP (Beta-Lactam Ring, U.S.)Beep Beep: Business Casual (Saddle Creek)?The Paper Chase: God Bless Your Black Heart (Kill Rock Stars)
The song remains the same
Charlie Daniels Band — Sun., May 23, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Hootie and the Blowfish — Sun., May 30, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Kenny Loggins — Tues., June 1, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Woggles — Sat., June 5, The Earl
The Trammps f/ Earl Young — Sat., June 5, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
VH1 Classic Summer Hits f/ Nelson, Peter Frampton, Styx — Wed., June 16, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Cowboy Mouth — Fri., June 18, Centennial Olympic Park
Eric Clapton — Fri., June 18, Philips Arena
Mel & the Party Hats — Sat., June 19, Andrews Upstairs
Jackson Browne — Tues., June 22, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Rock & Soul 2004 Revue f/ Average White Band, Daryl Hall & John Oates, & more — Mon., June 28, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Satisfaction (Rolling Stones tribute) — Fri., July 2, Andrews Upstairs
Chicago/Earth, Wind and Fire — Sun., July 11, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
The Beach Boys — Wed., July 14, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Counting Crows — Mon., July 19, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Peter, Paul & Mary — Wed., July 28, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Three-fourths of the Vans Warped Tour — Wed., July 28, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Rush — Sun., Aug. 1, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Alanis Morissette/Barenaked Ladies — Thurs., Aug. 5, HiFi Buys AmphitheatreCypress Hill — Fri., Aug. 6, Centennial Olympic ParkToto — Fri., Aug 6, Symphony HallMary Wilson and the Supremes — Sat., Aug. 7, Mable House Amphitheatre
Live — Fri., Aug. 13, Centennial Olympic ParkAtlanta Rhythm Section — Sat., Aug. 14, Mable House Amphitheatre
ZZ Top — Mon., Aug. 16, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
The Dead/Warren Haynes — Thurs., Aug. 19, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Crosby, Stills & Nash/Bruce Hornsby — Wed., Aug. 25, Chastain Park AmphitheatreThe Village People — Fri., Aug. 27, Mable House Amphitheatre
Acts that are back (reunited)
Braid — Fri., June 11, Masquerade
Nelson — Wed., June 16, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Camper Van Beethoven — Sat., June 19, Variety Playhouse
DKT/MC5 — Sun., June 20, Echo Lounge
The Dead — Thurs., Aug. 19, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Acts you missed that are back (after playing the area recently)
The Von Bondies — Tues., May 25, Cotton Club
Okkervil River — Tues., May 25, The Earl
The Fire Theft/Secret Machines — Wed., May 26, Cotton Club
Jonathan Richman — Sat., June 5, Echo Lounge
The Unicorns — Tues., June 8, Echo Lounge
The Kingsbury Manx — Thurs., June 10, Echo Lounge
Legendary Pink Dots — Fri., June 11, Echo Lounge
Juana Molina — Sat., June 12, EarthLink Live
Pedro the Lion/John Vanderslice — Mon., June 14, Echo Lounge
My Morning Jacket — Wed., June 16, The Roxy
Indigo Girls — Sat.-Sun., June 26-27, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Joanna Newsome — Tues., June 29, The Earl
N.E.R.D. — Wed., July 28, Tabernacle
Cursive/Mogwai/Muse/the Rapture/Thursday [Curiosa] — Thurs., July 29, TBA
Prince — Mon.-Tues., Aug.8-9, Philips Arena
Blondie [On the Bricks] — Fri., Aug. 20, Centennial Olympic Park
BRMC, Broken Social Scene, the Walkmen [Lollapalooza] — Sat., Aug. 21, Turner Field
Acts that are back (but you didn’t miss nothin’)
The Living End — Mon., May 24, Cotton Club
Don Caballero — Fri., May 28, Echo Lounge
The Wildhearts — Sat., June 5, Masquerade
Nelson — Wed., June 16, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Avenged Sevenfold/Coheed & Cambria/Motion City Soundtrack/Planet Smashers/Rufio/Story of the Year/Tiger Army/Yellowcard — Wed., July 28, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Linkin Park — Fri., Aug. 13, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
The Dead — Thurs., Aug. 19, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Party like it’s 1999:
Prince — Mon.-Tues., Aug.8-9, Philips Arena
Party like it’s 1989:
Curiosa f/ the Cure, the Rapture, Interpol, Mogwai and more — Thurs., July 29, TBA
Party like it’s 1991:
Lollapalooza — Sat.-Sun., Aug. 21-22, Turner Field
Party like it’s 1997:
Hanson — Tues., July 6, The Tabernacle
Match made in heaven:
David Byrne/Juana Molina — Sat., June 12, EarthLink Live
The Shins/The Glands — Sat., June 12, Variety Playhouse
Pedro the Lion/John Vanderslice — Mon., June 14, Echo Lounge
Devendra Banhart/Joanna Newsome — Tues., June 29, The Earl
The Cure/Interpol/the Rapture [Curiosa] — Thurs., July 29, TBA
KISS/Poison — Wed., Aug. 4, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Emmylou Harris/Gillian Welch — Wed., Aug. 11, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Howie Day/O.A.R. — Sat., Aug. 14, The Masquerade
American Idols Live — Sun., Aug. 15, Philips Arena
John Mayer/Maroon5 — Sun., Aug. 29, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Match that makes you say, “What the Hell?”
The Von Bondies/VHS or Beta — Tues., May 25, Cotton Club
Train/Liz Phair — Fri., May 28, Centennial Olympic Park
Bonnie Prince Billy/Broken Spindles — Thurs., June 10, Echo Lounge
Braid/Minus the Bear — Fri., June 11, Masquerade
Piebald/The Jealous Sound — Tues., June 29, Masquerade
Kenny Chesney/Rascal Flatts/Uncle Kracker — Fri., July 23, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Bad Religion/the rest of the Warped Tour — Wed., July 28, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
The Cure/Thursday [Curiosa] — Thurs., July 29, TBA
311/The Roots — Sat., July 31, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Korn/Linkin Park/Less Than Jake/Snoop Dogg/The Used — Fri., Aug. 13, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Lollapalooza Day 1/Lollapalooza Day 2 — Sat.-Sun., Aug. 21-22, Turner Field
Bands you can’t tell your momma you’re gonna see
El Pus — Wed., June 2 and Tues., June 8, 15, 22, 29; 10 High
Alabama Thunderpussy — Fri., June 4, The Earl
Nashville Pussy — Sat., June 5, Masquerade; Sun., Sept. 5, Starlight Six Drive-In
The Cox Family [Great High Mountain Tour] — Tues., June 8, Fox Theatre
The Catheters — Wed., June 9, Masquerade
Alexisonfire — Thurs., June 10, Masquerade
Murder by Death — Fri., June 11, Masquerade
Acid Mother’s Temple — Tues., June 15, Echo Lounge
Peter Frampton [VH1 Classic Summer Hits] (she may want to go with you.) — Wed., June 16, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Cracker — Sat., June 19, Variety Playhouse
Unzipt — Sat., July 10, and Sat., Aug. 14, Andrews Upstairs
The Woodpeckers — Thurs., July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; Andrews Upstairs
Uncle Kracker — Fri., July 23, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Julio Iglesias (she may want to go with you.) — Sat., July 24, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Bad Religion/The Vandals [Vans Warped Tour] — Wed., July 28, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Whiling and beguiling
Great High Mountain Tour — Tues., June 8, Fox TheatreSufjan Stevens — Sat., July 10, Echo Lounge
Cowboy Junkies — Wed., July 14, Atlanta Botanical Garden
Múm — Mon., July 19, Echo Lounge
Sweet Harmony Traveling Revue — Wed., Aug. 11, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Devendra Banhart/Joanna Newsome — Tues., June 29, The Earl
Wiggle like bacon on a summer Sidewalk
Femi Kuti — Sat., June 12, The Roxy
High Contrast — Fri., May 28, The Crescent Room
Planet of the Drums f/ Dieselboy, AK1200, Dara — Wed., June 9, eleven50%
%%Tiesto — Wed., June 16, eleven50Sasha/Ian James — Wed., June 23, eleven50%
%%... And all that jazz
Yusef Lateef and Adam Rudolph Duo — Thurs., May 27, Spivey Hall
Arturo Sandoval — Fri., May 28, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Shirley Horn and more (3-10 p.m.) — Sat., May 29, Piedmont Park
Randy Weston Quintet and more (3-10 p.m.) — Sun., May 30, Piedmont Park
Roy Hargrove Quintet and more (3-10 p.m.) — Mon., May 31, Piedmont Park
Bands that should’ve never left their garage
The Wildhearts — Sat., June 5, Masquerade
Kottonmouth Kings — Sat., June 26, Masquerade
Uncle Kracker — Fri., July 23, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Three-fourths of the Vans Warped Tour — Wed., July 28, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Cooper Temple Clause [Curiosa] — Thurs., July 29, TBA
Korn/The Used — Fri., Aug. 13, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
The Datsuns — Sat., Aug. 21, Turner Field
Bands that will steal your diary
Train — Fri., May 28, Centennial Olympic Park
Three-fourths of the Vans Warped Tour — Wed., July 28, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Linkin Park — Fri., Aug. 13, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Break out your black nail polish
Domination Tour f/ Christ Analogue, Sister Machine Gun — Sun., May 23, 9 Lives Saloon
Skinny Puppy/Tweaker — Fri., June 25, Masquerade
Curiosa f/ the Cure — Thurs., July 29, TBA
Summer itinerary for those who miss Lilith Fair
Wynonna — Sun., May 23, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Liz Phair — Fri., May 28, Centennial Olympic Park
Alison Krauss & Union Station [Great High Mountain Tour] — Tues., June 8, Fox Theatre
Patti Smith — Sun., June 13, Variety Playhouse
Aimee Mann — Wed., June 16, Variety Playhouse
shannonwright — Sat., June 19, The Earl
Nanci Griffith — Fri., June 25, Atlanta Botanical Garden
Indigo Girls — Sat.-Sun., June 26-27, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Diana Krall — Thurs., July 8, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Mary Chapin Carpenter — Sat., July 10, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
k.d. lang — Fri., July 16, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Rosanne Cash — Fri., July 23, Atlanta Botanical Garden
Madonna — Sat.-Sun., July 24-25, Philips Arena
Sarah McLachlan — Tues., July 27, Philips Arena
Melissa Auf Der Mar [Curiosa] — Thurs., July 29, TBA
Carole King — Fri., July 30, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Amy Grant — Wed., Aug. 4, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Alanis Morissette — Thurs., Aug. 5, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Reba McEntire — Sat., Aug. 7, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Emmylou Harris/Gillian Welch/Patty Griffin [Sweet Harmony Traveling Revue] — Wed., Aug. 11, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Norah Jones — Sat., Aug. 14, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Le Tigre [Lollapalooza] — Sat., Aug. 21, Turner Field
Heart — Sun., Aug. 22, Chastain Park Amphitheatre
Annie Lennox — Thurs., Sept. 2, Philips Arena
Gloria Estefan — Sat., Sept. 4, Philips Arena
The cock rockin’ block
Andrew W. K. — Tues., June 1, Cotton Club
Appetite for Destruction (Guns N’ Roses tribute) — Thurs., June 24, Andrews Upstairs
KISS/Poison — Wed., Aug. 4, HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
Nashville Pussy — Sat., June 5, Masquerade; Sun., Sept. 5, Starlight Six Drive-In
A handful of CL critics share how they will beat, and turn up, the heat
Kevin Forest Moreau’s ways of looking forward to looking back: Rush at HiFi Buys Amphitheatre, Sun., Aug. 1: After Yes, Rush is supposed to be the epitome of everything that’s indulgent, excessive and overbearing about prog-rock. Like kids won’t be saying that about Radiohead in a few years.
The inevitable “alt-rock is back!” movement: New albums from Bad Religion, the Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth and Wilco — not to mention an ambitious Lollapalooza lineup and the Pixies’ summer reunion tour — should have the mainstream music media slavering about a return to “real” music, just as they did with the Strokes, et. al., a couple of years ago. I’m getting my fawning muscles in shape now.
She Loves You, the Twilight Singers’ covers record, featuring Greg Dulli’s Gutter Twins partner Mark Lanegan (ex-Screaming Trees) on some tracks. The KISS/Poison Rock the Nation Tour, Part 77 of KISS’ never-ending farewell/reunion tour. By the Wed., Aug. 4, date at HiFi Buys Amphitheatre, founding members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons should have replaced themselves with Justin Hawkins of the Darkness and Fieldy from Korn, respectively.?The promise of a new PJ Harvey album to hold me over until the Pixies arrive at the Fox in October.
Hal Horowitz’s hot times, summer in the city: New Los Lobos — tour and album. “Sweet Harmony Traveling Review” featuring Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Buddy Miller, David Byrne, Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven?Patti Smith is always unpredictable, a huge change from the scripted sets of typical touring acts.
Eric Clapton might be sticking with blues on this tour to promote his all-Robert Johnson album, which oughta piss off the soccer moms only there to hear his sappy MOR fare.?ZZ Top rides in on a career-capping box set and their best album in a decade and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Either one is enough impetus to juice them back to the boogie and blues that they still sizzle at.?The triple-jazz fusion bill of ’70s/’80s acts Stanley Clarke, Jean Luc Ponty and Al Dimeola (Fri., June 25, Chastain Park Amphitheatre) might really catch fire if they all share the stage.
Hall & Oates and Michael McDonald (Mon., June 28, Chastain Park Amphitheatre): Strong blue-eyed soul bill with McDonald touring behind his solid album of Motown covers. H&O is always tight when playing hits they should be — but never seem to — get bored with.?Rosanne Cash (Fri., July 23, Atlanta Botanical Garden): She lost her voice! Yikes! Then she got it back! Wow! And released the best album of her career. A welcome return, and with Dad’s passing this year, she’ll surely pull out some cool Johnny covers.
Kevin Madigan’s cheers: Value for your bucks: On the Bricks returns again to downtown Atlanta, and at least two of the shows will be well worth attending: Steel Pulse (Fri., July 23) and Blondie (Fri., Aug. 20).
Rounder Records has announced its summer releases, and they include the Cowboy Junkies (One Soul Now, June 8), Bodeans (Resolution, June 22), the Tragically Hip (In Between Evolution, June 29), and the legendary Heptones (Deep in the Roots, June 15).
and his jeers: Flogging a very dead horse: A mere shadow of their former selves, the members of the Dead have been conning everyone ever since Jerry Garcia split this mortal coil, and they seem quite content to keep plugging away at their tired old repertoire. As if that wasn’t enough, this jaunt — Thurs., Aug. 19 at HiFi Buys Amphitheatre — is billed as the Wave That Flag Tour in a desperate attempt to jump on the jingoistic bandwagon. Die already.
Speaking of death, Great White had the audacity to release an album of Led Zeppelin and AC/DC covers. The nerve of some people. Why hasn’t this band been sued out of existence?
Korn is back, unfortunately. If you plan to see these guys Fri., Aug. 13, at HiFi Buys Amphitheatre, I can only offer my sympathies. What a dreadful racket. On the same miserable bill as Linkin Park, Snoop Dogg and the Used, and if that isn’t ridiculous, I don’t know what is. ...
Lee Smith’s three favorite reasons to break out the lawn chair: On the Bricks (Centennial Olympic Park) featuring Train, Gavin DeGraw, Liz Phair, Graham Colton (Fri., May 28); Cake (Fri., June 4); Chingy (Fri., June 11); Kanye West (Fri., July 9); Fuel (Fri., July 16); Steel Pulse (Fri., July 23); Cypress Hill (Fri., Aug. 6); Live (Fri., Aug 13); Blondie (Fri., Aug. 20).
The Concerts in the Garden (Atlanta Botanical Garden) featuring Rickie Lee Jones (Mon., June 6); Nanci Griffith (Fri., June 25); Cowboy Junkies (Wed., July 14); and Rosanne Cash (Fri., July 23).
Lanierland Music Park (Cumming, Ga.) featuring Joe Nichols and Blackhawk (Sat., July 17); Patty Loveless and Jimmy Wayne (Sat., Aug. 7); Ronnie Milsap and Jeff Bates (Sat., Aug. 21); and Trace Adkins and Buddy Jewell (Sat., Aug. 28).
Blake Guthrie’s list of local singer/songwriters you’ve never heard of who are actually worth heated discussion as well as chilling out to: Daniel Lee: He won the Eddie’s Attic Open Mic Shootout a couple of years ago and then disappeared off the scene. Now he’s back with a new CD, which bears the long-winded moniker Missage Is A Mirror Hold Your Breath, but don’t let that discourage you. Also, he probably gets laid way more than you do, because he’s so sensitive.
Clay Cook: He’s the guy who co-wrote the songs that made John Mayer famous. He’s got a great new CD — Smoke and Mirrors — and he’s a guitar virtuoso. The CD release party is at Smith’s Olde Bar Wed., June 2.
Sean Kagalis: If Ani DiFranco were a man and still liked women, she’d be Sean Kagalis: a brilliant, passionate, pissed-off folkie with a lot on his mind and a keen wit to boot. Playing in the Eddie’s Attic “Shootout” Sat., June 5.
The Brilliant Inventions: They’re an acoustic-pop duo. Before you get done rolling your eyes, keep in mind that they just might have a record deal before your band does — and they’ve only been together for five months. They’re competing in the Eddie’s Attic Shootout June 5, and playing at Java Monkey in Decatur Thurs., June 17.
Edie Carey: She’s not really local, but she dates a guy who is, which means she shows up in town enough to make the list. Angelic voice, great songs and one of the best smiles in show business. Playing with the Brilliant Inventions (see above).
Joe Rathbone: Recently relocated from New Jersey, Rathbone’s 2004 DIY release, I Can Hear the Windows of Your Heart Breaking, should land him a record deal any day now. Maybe he’ll have some luck when he plays the 10 High Sat., July 24, as part of the Atlantis Music Conference.
Mark Gresham’s smog-clearing summer breezes: Howard Shore performing the “Lord of the Rings” score with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (Thurs.-Sat., June 3-5, Symphony Hall); Philadelphia-based power-pop band IKE at 99X’s Unplugged in the Park series (Sun., July 25, Park Tavern); Celtic-influenced, driving modern rock by Seven Nations (Fri., July 30, Symphony Hall); the National Black Arts Festival featuring jazz diva/vocalist/living legend Nancy Wilson (Sun., July 18, Chastain Park) and jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut and his trio, with special guest David “Fathead” Newman (Thurs., July 22, Spivey Hall); the Atlanta Symphony Classic Chastain series featuring Keb’Mo’ and Los Lonely Boys (Sat., June 19); Rite of Strings — Stanley Clarke, Jean-Luc Ponty and Al DiMeola (Fri., June 25); Indigo Girls (Sat., June 26); the Irish Tenors with the ASO (Fri., July 2); the Tops and the Temptations with the ASO (Wed., July 7); Mary Chapin Carpenter (Sat., July 10); the Beach Boys with the ASO (Wed., July 14); k.d. lang with the ASO (Fri., July 16); Boney James (Sat., July 17); “ABBA: The Music” with the ASO (Wed., July 21); Liza Minnelli (Fri., July 23); Julio Iglesias (Sat., July 24); Peter, Paul & Mary (Wed., July 28); Carole King (Fri., July 30); John Pizzarelli (Sat., July 31)
Chad Radford’s top five anticipated CDs to grill out to: Einstrzende Neubauten: Kalte Sterne CD [collection of early singles and rarities] (Mute, U.S.)?Beastie Boys: To the Five Burroughs (Capital)?Edward Ka-Spel: Pieces of 8 2xLP (Beta-Lactam Ring, U.S.)Beep Beep: Business Casual (Saddle Creek)?The Paper Chase: God Bless Your Black Heart (Kill Rock Stars)