Crib Notes

Like everyone else in the mid-’90s, I loved Portishead. I adored Dummy, its classic 1994 album. Although it took me a few tries, I learned to love its difficult and astringent 1997 self-titled follow-up. I bought both editions of Andy Smith’s The Document. (Andy Smith was the tour DJ for Portishead.) And when the reclusive Beth Gibbons put out her solo album with Rustin Man, Out of Season, I not only bought the 2002 vinyl import, but the 2003 U.S. edition on CD. (Actually, a publicist sent me the CD.)

So it’s safe to say I’m a Portishead fan. The impending arrival of its new album, Third, however, just worries me. What if it sucks? I mean, 10 years is a long time — what if Portishead has fallen off? Worse, what if it’s the equivalent of a reunion album — Portishead rehashing the highlights of its “Sour Times” glory years? I guess it could turn out to be great. But honestly, what’s the likelihood of that?

We’ll find out for sure when Portishead’s Third comes out April 29.

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This just scoped out via MTV.com: Butch Walker has posted a live album that you can download for free. It’s called Leavin’ the Game on Luckie St., perhaps a nod to Walker moving from Atlanta to Los Angeles (and then New York) last year. Not sure how the album sounds — I just saw the post a few minutes ago. With luck, however, it will be resemble the amiable glam-rock pastiche of Walker’s underappreciated 2006 album, Butch Walker & the Lets Go Out Tonites and not the radio crap … uh, hits … that he writes for Avril Lavigne. Plus, while you’re downloading the album, you can sign up for an account with Friends or Enemies, the latest social networking miasma.

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(Photo from El Bar’s MySpace page)

El Bar, the Midtown hot spot tucked in the basement beneath El Azteca restaurant, is going the way of the dodo bird. Last Tuesday, while the Triple D’s crew celebrated an “anti-Valentine’s Day party” with inflatable sex dolls and raffle prizes, co-owner and indefatigable DJ Rob Wonder broke the bad news. Closing night is set for Friday, Feb. 29, but Rob says he has no special plans other than to just, you know, spin some records. If you’ve never been to the stonewalled club billed as “Atlanta’s best-kept secret,” you’ve got until the end of the month to pay a visit.

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(Photo by Sarah Friedman)

Fresh from his memorable performance at the 50th annual Grammy Awards, hip-hop genius/royal brat (depending on your point of view) Kanye West is heading to Atlanta. He’s bringing a killer lineup with him, too: Rihanna, Lupe Fiasco and Pharell Williams’ N.E.R.D., which is putting out a new album this year. It all happens at Gwinnett Center in Duluth on Sunday, May 4. Tickets go on sale on Friday, Feb. 15.

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YOUNG, BLACK AND WEIRD: Hollyweerd rocks the Drunken Unicorn.

(Photos by Hannibal M.)

“We on some black hipster shit in here!” announced Wil May, host for the hip-hop showcase “Perfect Attendance.” Yes, it’s true: Atlanta’s black hipsters are back and in full force. For the past several months, they’ve been organizing concerts and parties with the fervor of punk rock bands. Rarely a week goes by without a show featuring either Proton, Gripplyaz or Hollyweerd. Typically, all three were on the Perfect Attendance lineup.

Perfect Attendance was held at the Drunken Unicorn Friday, Feb. 8. It was presented by Fadia Kader’s Come Up Kids crew, and much of the two-hour showcase featured Jaspects as both lead performer and backing band. Several of the scene’s players were either performing or were in the audience, including Battery 5, Kid Kaos and others. Perfect Attendance was just the latest of dozens of events seeking to inflate the ATL hip-hop buzz to record levels, but it was as good an opportunity as any to see what the hype was all about.

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THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES: Herbie Hancock wins Album of the Year at the 50th annual Grammy Awards.

(Photo by Kwaku Alston)

Every year, we get excited about the Grammys and the Oscars in the weeks before they’re held, and then complain about them the night afterward. But out of the two, I think the Grammys have it tougher. When it comes to film, people love their niches — art flicks, action movies, teen comedies, whatever — but manage to agree on a few great movies. Unfortunately, music is hobbled by generational, cultural and even racial divides. Worse, each group claims to have the best musical taste, and has little tolerance for anything else.

It’s rare when everyone agrees an album is good, which seemingly happened with Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black last year. An indicator of its vast appeal was the wide range of media that gossiped about her well-chronicled drug problems: websites and blogs, tabloid glossies such as Us Weekly, music magazines such as Rolling Stone, and even mainstream publications such as the New York Times. Black and white, young and old audiences bought Back to Black, and everyone took interest in her musical and personal life.

That’s why Winehouse dominated the 50th annual Grammy Awards last night. She won five out of the six awards she was nominated for and nearly swept the major categories, picking up Record of the Year and Song of the Year for her “Rehab” single and Best New Artist.

Winehouse’s sole loss came in the Album of the Year category. Although many observers were surprised when Herbie Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters beat Winehouse’s Back to Black and Kanye West’s Graduation, it wasn’t out of the ordinary. When it comes to the Album of the Year, the Recording Academy, which hands out the awards, tends to opt for two choices: a multiplatinum hit that draws a diverse audience or a late-period work from a legacy artist. Hancock’s win was something akin to a lifetime achievement award for a jazz legend. (My colleague Andisheh Nouraee calls this the “Steely Dan award.” Steely Dan’s Everything Must Go famously beat out West’s The College Dropout at the 2004 Grammys.)

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As everyone knows, CL published several stories on Sloppy Seconds in 2007, including my controversial column in the Dec. 26 issue. Those stories often ran with the above photograph.

Take a close look. Standing up in the top center of the photo is Caleb Gauge, the impresario behind Sloppy Seconds. Kelly B., his former business partner, is sitting to Caleb’s left. To his right is Ian Ford, another former business partner who now throws cool events such as the Art of Partying. However, the blond girl sitting in the center below Caleb has nothing to do with Sloppy Seconds.

Her name is Roxy Cottontail. She’s not from Atlanta, but New York. She’s the subject of countless articles in your favorite tastemaker glossies, and currently graces the cover of URB magazine. The last time Roxy appeared here was at a Sloppy Seconds party in late 2006, and she absolutely killed it on the decks. She also promotes a lot of cool parties, has her own fashion line and even writes her own songs. Although I think her songs are kinda wack (sorry, gotta be honest), they add to her mystique as an arbiter of style.

Anyway, Roxy will return to Atlanta for the February edition of Sloppy Seconds on Saturday, Feb. 16. She’ll be joined by local kids DJ Klever, Rob Wonder and Hollyweerd.

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THEY ONLY LOOK HOMELESS: Morning State

(photo courtesy Indie Outlaw)

In this week’s issue of CL, I wrote a story about Livewire Recordings, home to ATL bands such as Warm in the Wake and (formerly) Morning State. I first got a tip that Livewire was going under last December. After talking to several people and managing to get label co-owner Colin Cobb on the phone for a few minutes, it’s clear that the label suffered from serious money problems. Cobb claims that Livewire is only going on hiatus, but it is unclear if he will ever re-launch it.

Meanwhile, Morning State has been vocal about its frustration with Livewire. As the article explains, Morning State was one of two bands that was unable to get its album out before the label went on hiatus. (The other was Lake Charles, La., band Tuesday’s Debut.) However, manager/publicist Ian Wheeler sent me an e-mail today clarifying that Morning State is not “homeless.” The group plans to issue its debut album in April on Indie Outlaw, a boutique label set up by Wheeler.

Morning State’s “You Know People, I Know People” is slated for a late-April release on indie outlaw. The album was re-recorded over the past 10 days in Athens with Asa Leffer and features guest performances by members of Hope foragoldensummer, Dark Meat, and Gnarls Barkley collaborators. The band and myself feel that this new version of the album is 1 million times better than the previous take. The band will be playing multiple shows at SXSW this year, including the official indie outlaw showcase. They will also be touring with De Novo Dahl at the end of the month.

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After a disastrous and bloody CD-release party last month, Attractive Eighties Women is getting a do-over. This Saturday, Feb. 9, at Criminal Records, the group behind such favorites as “Murder Kroger” and “They Shoot Hipsters, Don’t They” will convene for a free concert. Free beer and hot dogs will be provided, but free beer bottles will not. After all, a “Master Cylinder” of cold Pabst brew isn’t a metaphor for a glass. If you are unfamiliar with Attractive Eighties Women’s specialness, check out my profile in CL’s Jan. 9 issue.

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These days, with an ascendant progressive hip-hop scene on the horizon, everyone’s talking about Dungeon Family and OutKast again. (Like we ever stopped.) It’s important to remember, though, that while OutKast, Goodie Mob and Organized Noize blew up, most of the crew never really had much success, at least from a sales standpoint. Some will argue that classic yet underperforming singles such as Cool Breeze’s “Watch for the Hook” are all the success you need. Yes, they may be godhead in Atlanta, but to the rest of the world they’re almost famous.

Tonight, prodigal son Killer Mike has a big show at Django, and he’ll perform with Gripplyaz, one of those hotly tipped leaders of the new school. Both will be backed by Atlanta go-go group the X.O. Band. To mark the occasion, here’s a quote from a recent Killer Mike interview with HipHopDx.com that addresses Dungeon Family’s complicated legacy.

Dungeon Family fans got the shit end of the stick for over 10 years. They’ve seen their heroes like Witchdoctor, like Cool Breeze, like Backbone, like Slimm Calhoun, slip into the abyss. They have seen factionalization, they’ve seen disenfranchisement, they’ve seen everything except a glorious comeback. And the fans deserve that.

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(Photo by Stevie Brown)

In this week’s issue of CL, I covered International Hits and two of its artists, the Selmanaires and Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause. But the story ended up being more about the record label than the music. Regrettably, I didn’t have much space to talk about the Selmanaires and its ambitious new album, The Air Salesmen, even though I had a great conversation with the band at Manuel’s Tavern beforehand.

So on Monday, Feb. 4, I’ll post a two-part excerpt of my interview with the Selmanaires. Tommy Chung and the Harris brothers, Herb and Jason (Mathis Hunter was AWOL that afternoon), had an insightful take on their new album as well as the Atlanta scene in general. It was a conversation that gave me a better appreciation of their music.

To tide you over until then, here’s a video of “Broken Mirrors in the Mud” that the Selmanaires posted on YouTube. The quality is pretty low-fi but imaginative, with a lot of odd puppets and stuff.

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A3C BOUND: The Cool Kids head to Atlanta in March.

(Photo courtesy Biz 3)

Back in December, I interviewed former ATF Records co-owner Brian Knott, and promised I would follow up with exclusive details about the upcoming 2008 A3C Hip-Hop Festival, which takes place March 20-22 at C&W Midtown Music Complex. Unfortunately, Knott embargoed most of the information. But with the event only a month and a half away, I called him and pressed him for some details.

Knott told me Del the Funkee Homosapien, Aceyalone, the Cool Kids, Guilty Simpson and Blu & Ta’Raach (aka C.R.A.C.) will definitely be at the event, and MySpace.com is a major sponsor. He declined to give any more names, but said an announcement will be made very shortly. He also said that A3C 2008 will feature an incredible assembly of performers — including some gold and platinum stars — fashion shows, video-game presentations and other treats.

Early-bird discounts for three-day passes are available, but Knott warns that prices will go up in a matter of days. You can purchase a pass at Ticketalternative.com. More information soon.

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The good folks at Lenny’s Bar have posted the dates for Corndogorama, the annual blowout of rock bands, hot dogs and random shenanigans.

CORNDOG-O-RAMA : 2008- The Year of the Mustard King!
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June 26,27,28.29 @ Lenny’s Bar

*Now with 100 bands, over 4 days, on 4 main stages, 2 indoor and 2 amazing outdoor stage in the shadow of historic Cabbage Town at the legendary Lenny’s. This year’s signature back-to-back format is a line up only Atlanta’s mainstay Corndog-o-rama mastermind and founder David Railey can deliver: Artists: Independent music artists and fans will reap the benefits of the festival’s outdoor stage experience with pro-level sound, lighting, and staging music festival lovers expect, we think the local artists deserve, and the Corndogorama now delivers to America’s breakout independent music
scene.

Costume-wearing pranksters should start raiding their favorite thrift stores now. If you don’t know what Corndogorama is all about, read Chad Radford’s story in CL’s July 11, 2007 issue.

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Yesterday, Gnarls Barkley continued teasing the bloggerati with bits about its upcoming album. First, Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse leaked a new song, “Run,” that replicates the late ’60s soul-pop of St. Elsewhere’s “Smiley Faces.” It’s all over the Web, and I found it here.

The duo also revealed the name of the album: The Odd Couple. Billboard.com reports that the two are still in the studio finishing the album, but promise to have it ready for the audience’s inspection in April.

The new Gnarls Barkley album anchors a busy year for former Atlantan Danger Mouse, ending a relatively quiet 2007 in which he only produced Damon Albarn’s project The Good, the Bad & the Queen (which I initially found boring, but the album grew on me). He has finished producing retro-blues duo the Black Keys’ Attack & Release, which drops April 1; is completing a long-delayed album with former Tricky muse Martina Topley-Bird’s The Blue God for this summer; and has worked on British indie-pop band the Shortwave Set’s Replica Sun Machine. None of it is Gorillaz, of course, but it will do.

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R.E.M. just announced the first round of dates f0r its tour promoting Accelerate, which drops April 1. Unlike the Drive-By Truckers, who ungraciously left us out of their touring plans, R.E.M.’s itinerary winds up at Lakewood Amphitheatre (formerly known as Hi-Fi Buys Amphitheater) on June 21. Supporting acts include celebrated bar band the National, and Modest Mouse, which made the most disappointing album of 2007 in We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, aka Just Because I Hired Johnny Marr Doesn’t Mean My Album Doesn’t Stink. But hey, I’m a big Modest Mouse fan, so it will be nice to hear the rest of the group’s catalog.

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FREAKS OF THE YEAR: Kevin Barnes (center, in dress) and the merry Of Montreal

(Photo by Jim Newberry)

The polls are open for the 2008 Plug Independent Music Awards, and there’s plenty of local nominees that need your vote. Athens band Of Montreal’s Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? is up for best album and several other categories. Deerhunter’s Cryptograms is up for best indie-rock album. The Black Lips’ Good Bad Not Evil is down for best punk album. Paste magazine, Criminal Records, Album 88 (WRAS-FM 88.5), and Elliot Garstin’s “Sunday School” program on the now-extinct 99X (WNNX-FM 99.7) drew nominations, too.

In short, it’s an indie-rock fest for Atlanta indie rockers. If you don’t want to go local, you can always cast a vote for deserving contenders such as Battles, El-P, Spoon, and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. The ballot closes Feb. 8, and the awards ceremony takes place March 6 at Terminal 5 in New York City.

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Yesterday, Rolling Stone magazine’s Rock & Roll Daily blog posted an item about the upcoming Gnarls Barkley album. While I’m skeptical the album will be ready by April — Billboard magazine made a similar announcement last July — I’m heartened to read that someone outside of Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse’s camp has actually heard some completed songs.

The new Gnarls Barkley disc won’t be released until April, but we got the chance to hear a few new cuts early. The verdict: Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse have produced another album of super-catchy tunes that veer between retro-soul shakedowns, tricked-out psychedelic rock and trunk-rattling hip-hop.

So maybe the follow-up to St. Elsewhere will actually come out this year. Personally, I’m waiting to see if Cee-Lo will ever release any product on his Radiculture Records label.

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MUSIC IN BLOOM: The Whigs headline a sold-out concert at the Earl Friday, Jan. 25.

(Photo courtesy of Big Hassle)

Starting tomorrow, Jan. 25, Atlanta will have a full slate of concerts to choose from for the first time this year. Finally, after several weeks of crappy weather (still can’t believe it snowed last weekend) and MIA bands (Deerhunter, where are you?), music fans can spend their time and money at several excellent concerts. I’ll post more specifics about individual shows over the next day or so. For now, though, here’s the rundown.

1) At the Earl, the Whigs will celebrate their solid new album, Mission Control, on Friday. Tickets are already sold out.

2) If you didn’t get a ticket to the Whigs, then pick up a pass to the International Hits showcase Saturday at the Earl. The Selmanaires, who just issued their two-years-in-the-making The Air Salesmen, will headline along with Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause, which also issued its two-years-in-the-making The Rustic, Contemporary Sounds of Anna Kramer & the Lost Cause. The ever-capable the Roy Owens Jr. and funky groove crew Noot D’Noot round out a big night.

3) Stickfigure Distribution is presenting its annual showcase at the Drunken Unicorn. The four-day series began on Wednesday and reaches a finale on Saturday with avant-pop band One Hand Loves the Other.

4) Soul freakazoid Rahbi celebrates his new album, Rahbi Raw, on Saturday over at Apache Cafe.

5) The Star Bar will present major gigs by Red Letter Agent on Friday and Cassavetes on Saturday.

6) Lenny’s Bar has a showcase of “black progressive rock bands” (the venue’s words, not mine) Saturday, including Rev Rebel, Ryan Waters and others.

7) But wait, there’s more! The Rev. Andy, host of “Psychobilly Freakout,” which happens Mondays from 8-10 p.m. on Album 88 (WRAS-FM 88.5), presents the Psychobilly Freakout Music Showcase at Smith’s Olde Bar on Friday. Rocket 350, the Hot Rods and others will join in the fun.

8) At CW Midtown Music Complex, there’s the Georgia Music Concert Series, a six-day event held in conjunction with the Atlanta chapter of the Grammy Foundation. Highlights include Arrested Development on Thursday and Manchester Orchestra on Friday, both at the Loft; and Lyfe Jennings, Algebra and Phillippia at Center Stage Atlanta on Friday.

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Tomorrow at the Loft, car manufacturer Toyota Scion presents an evening with Pharoahe Monch in the latest installment of its Live Metro series. As usual, the show is free. But the audience should bring its good manners in return. At the last Live Metro concert in December, the crowd was so impatient to see Slick Rick that they barely clapped for his sterling backing band, Connie Price & the Keystones. And you’d figure that a hip-hop audience would recognize the opening act, Percee P, a prime influence since his epic 1988 single “Let the Homicides Begin,” right? Nope. The crowd didn’t even acknowledge his existence.

So yes, cheer loudly for Pharoahe Monch, but give some dap to Orgone, the L.A. funk band that will work its ass off to convert Organized Konfusion’s “Stress” and Pharoahe’s “Simon Says” into bristling live jams. And don’t forget to say thanks to DJ Eleven from the Rub, who will open the night with a selection of killer tunes. In short, don’t be one of those idiots who only claps for the headliner.

RSVP for Pharoahe, Orgone and DJ Eleven at www.scion.com/livemetro. But make it quick — the list closes at noon tomorrow.

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THIS COULD BE YOU: Daath at Ozzfest

(Photo from Daath’s MySpace page)

Ever had a hankering to sing death metal anthems in front of hundreds of screaming and slightly scary people? Daath, the Roadrunner Records-approved band, has been looking for someone to replace departed vocalist Sean Farber since last October.

“We don’t want a one dimensional singer, we want someone diverse with range and power,” says DAATH guitarist Eyal Levi. “We like vocalists like David Vincent, Corpsegrinder, Michael Akerfeldt, Vortex, and Phil Anselmo.”

If you sound like the aforementioned fellows — or better yet, if you even get those references — then contact Daath via its MySpace page. The search appears to be ending soon, however, so if you’re interested send in your materials immediately. The band hits the studio in March to record the follow-up to last year’s The Hinderers. Finally, if you’re more familiar with Darth Vader than Daath, read Hamilton Jordan Jr.’s May 30, 2007, CL profile.

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