Crib Notes

We had Woodruff Arts Center’s Art Fusion 40 covered Saturday night. If you missed it, you should cry. Or you could watch our video of the event and feel a little better.

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Money $hott

By William McCullough

“It was a real $hott Show.” This was the response given to describe the show at East Andrews on Friday, July 25, when the band Money $hott made one of their almost strictly quarterly appearances at the Buckhead club.

The $hott show started at 11 p.m. and finished after 1:30 a.m. It covered the usual array of fist-pumping, powerhouse songs from the ’80s, and while there is no lack of talent among the group, the show’s clear emphasis is placed on getting black-out drunk with Buckhead’s finest. There are at least 3 costume changes per band member, not including their “dancer,” the sweaty mid 30’s side act — who, by the looks of it, was obviously no stranger to frat house dance floors during the ’90s. His outfits ranged from full suit and beer bong (left) to a Baywatch bathing suit and life vest (below).

While the side acts and general antics do manage to remove the focus from the music itself, I would have to say that as someone who has frequented a lot of ’80s cover band shows, there is clear sense of focus, unity and synergy to be found within the group. The trajectory of the shows are very carefully planned and choreographed to manipulate the changing energy of the crowd, recognizing that, as the show progresses, so too does the level of alcohol intake.

At several points during the small musical interludes and costume changes, it was possible to see not only mass exoduses to the bar for refills, but also multiple people returning with 12-pack cardboard containers filled with varieties of bottled beers. By the end of the show, the stage was littered with crushed beer cans, broken glass bottles and a lot of miscellaneous props, furthering the image of Money $hott as a band that doesn’t take itself too seriously and just wants to see the kids having a good time.

If you do plan on attending one of the future quarterly cock rock evenings in Buckhead with the members and fans of Money $hott — and you should — I offer several pieces of wisdom and advice:

1. Buy tickets online in advance, or get there an hour or so early to buy your ticket upstairs, because they are guaranteed to sell out and turn you away at the door. *NOTE: at this point it’s not about who you know, or how much cash you have on hand, rather the fact that they are very near capacity inside, as evident by an omnipresent member of the fire department, and the venue just can’t support the numbers. You can’t argue with math.
2. Wear closed-toe shoes. This should be self-explanatory. It’s a packed room full of drunken animals, someone is going to step on your foot, and there will be broken glass everywhere.
3. Have some drinks before, either at the bar or somewhere close, because when the show starts, there are going to be a lot of people coming in “pretty hot.” I think we all know what it is like to be in a room full of people running into you when you are dead sober…
4. Don’t drive, or if you do park your car somewhere where you can leave it overnight, and then forget about the car until the next day. *NOTE: for those who have problems with this, park your car on East Andrews and then throw your keys in the woods. Trust me I realize paying $400 for new keys to your Infiniti G35 seems annoying the next day, but Atlanta Fulton County jail and a good DUI lawyer will hit you much harder.

5. During the concert, when you make a trip to the bar, buy in bulk. Hey, it saves time, everyone else is doing it, and your friends will thank you.
6. Forget the bathroom, find a trash can.
7. Remember, this is going to be fun whether you are ready for it or not, so just let it happen.
8. Nothing you could do is too ridiculous, as long as no one gets hurt.
9. Yes, it is perfectly acceptable to be in love with the lead singer of a cover band, even if it’s just for the evening.
10. You have two fists, so if one gets tired, you can always use the other.

In an unusual scheduling slot, Money $hott will be showing their softer side on Saturday, August 9 at Five Paces bar on Irby Avenue (right next to Henri’s and a block from their usual East Andrews spot) for the Answer Atlanta Charity event. They will be playing outdoors from 7-11 p.m.

(Photos by William McCullough)

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CL has launched a new blog called Sideshow that exists merely so happy party-goers can see their happy faces the day after. We want to help people remember exactly how much fun they had before they were hungover. And we need a couple awesome photographers to do that.

We’ll be giving you the access to the coolest shows, parties and festivals. You’ll be posting wicked photos to our website. And we’ll pay you. It’s an exceedingly symbiotic relationship.

If you think you’re down for the task or know someone who is, contact me at taralynne.pixley@cln.com. Send me some shots you’ve taken that pass for “nightlife photos” (i.e. you and your friends at a party, drinking in your backyard or wreaking havoc elsewhere) and you just might get picked to be CL’s photo ambassador to the nightcrawlers of Atlanta.

Email me with any questions but check out the Sideshow photo galleries first to get an idea of what we’re looking for. Don’t send me photos of your dog, your grandma or that artsy shot of a fire hydrant. Party pics, people.

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The sound of ecstatically beaten drums was what greeted me on my first trip to Eyedrum and the energy of a happy throng of art and music lovers is the feeling that stays with me. Rising Appalachia played Concrete Pandemonium III, a collection of music, art, poetry and activism meant to unite a community and inspire a little joyful communing. The duo will soon be taking separate trips to far-flung countries and will return with a new name (R.I.S.E) and a new feeling (revived).

[Show as slideshow]

(Photos by Tara-Lynne Pixley)

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