Crib Notes

Califone’s show at the Earl tonight has been canceled. Refunds for tickets are available at point of purchase.

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By Phillip Mlynar

Ask Donnis what makes him stand out from the swarming mass of rappers seeking a name for themselves, and the Atlanta-bred MC pauses to think before answering, “I tell my story, [and] my story’s totally different from anyone else’s story.”

Listen to the range of material on his debut mixtape album, Diary of an ATL Brave, however, and you might struggle to pinpoint that difference.

In rap, an artist’s backstory is often as important as the eventual byproduct. Part autobiography, part mythology, it fuels the fandom any artist must create if he intends to become a star. Most MCs use it to build up their street-cred. Before Eazy-E became a platinum-selling rapper (thanks to invaluable ghostwriting from Ice Cube), he was an ex-drug dealer who used the loot he earned in the streets of Compton, Calif., to finance his own label, Ruthless Records. Before 50 Cent dropped his multiplatinum debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, he was the Queens street salesman-turned-mixtape MC who got shot nine times by adversaries attempting to silence his mouthpiece for good. Before Lil Wayne became the self-proclaimed “best rapper alive,” he pretty much was a hip-hop prodigy who accidentally shot himself at age 12.

Or so the stories go.

Continue Reading “Donnis may need more than Fool’s Gold to truly shine”

(Photo Courtesy Fool’s Gold)

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Back when we included Fabo of D4L in the 2007 CL music issue, he seemed like the member of the Bankhead snap rap clique who was most likely to blow — not the D4L boss and former trap star Shawty Lo, who wound up dropping two solo albums and garnering a strong regional following in recent years. Fabo was also the member who drew the most criticism, mainly from hip-hop purists who felt the “Laffy Taffy” sound and Fabo’s colorful dances were destined to kill the culture.

But just when it seemed his detractors were about to get the last laugh, Fabo disappeared into the ether.

In the video clip above, he stops to talk to MTV’s Shaheem Reid on the red carpet of the ’09 BET Hip-Hop Awards, filmed in Atlanta earlier this month, and tells him that he returned to high school to get his diploma and is currently studying “business and management” at Ashworth College in Georgia.

I’m getting great grades. I ain’t no honor roll student or nothing like that, but I’m making it. I’m trying to better myself, not wanting this to be the last stop for me. Having a couple of more kids and watching them grow, being there with them. I been in the streets all my life, it’s time to do something for me and my family, you feel me? So I went back to school. That’s a great thing!” (more…)

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Atlanta-based singer/songwriter Kelly Love Jones’ enchanted video for her acoustic wedding song, “For You,” has cast a spell on me. Directed by Roni Nicole, it features Rico Wade (Organized Noize co-founder/producer) playing her love interest. It was filmed  two and a half months ago in various locations around town, including East Point and East Atlanta.

The video also features several other local artists, including Doll Daze, who performs this Thursday night at Drunken Unicorn.

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Mon., Oct. 26 Future of the Left, Hawks and Predator. $7. 9 p.m. 529, 529 Flat Shoals Ave. 404-228-6769.

Future of the Left consists of singer/guitarist Andy “Falco” Falkous and drummer Jack Egglestone, both previously of Cardiff band mclusky, alongside singer/bassist Kelson Mathias, formerly of the Ammanford-based group Jarcrew. … The band were signed to Too Pure who had also signed Mclusky, however the umbrella company Beggars Group disbanded Too Pure transferring the band to 4AD; most famous for signing the Pixies in the mid eighties.

Wed., Oct. 28 Lead by saxophone player Julian Julien, Fractale is a Parisian five-piece jazz/electro ensemble that melds traditional jazz and rock ideas with improvisation and a computer-generated bent to arrive at a simple, melodic sound. The music is cinematic in scope, and vastly experimental. $8. 9 p.m. Eyedrum. 404-522-0655.

Wed., Oct 28 Cocktoberfest featuring:  Stolen Hearts, Pillow Talk DJ’s (in bikinis) with Misty Waters and the return of the Star Bar Dating Game. $5. 9 p.m.  Star Bar, 437 Moreland Ave. 404-681-9018.

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“I’ve been mostly listening to stuff that will put me to sleep,” says Why? frontman Yoni Wolf the morning after a tour stop in Los Angeles, where the band plans to use an off-date to shoot a music video for a track from Eskimo Snow, its latest release on the Oakland, Calif.-based Anticon label. The statement is somehow unsurprising. Besides the elusive nature of quality shut-eye on tour, a quick study of Why?’s lyrical output reveals a man in possession of an incessant inner dialogue and a particular preoccupation with the weightier end of the subject-matter spectrum.

The songs on Eskimo Snow and the band’s previous release, Alopecia (both were recorded simultaneously during a recent, and particularly frigid, winter in Minneapolis), are intricate musings on mortality. Were they not delivered in Wolf’s unmistakable, speak-sing delivery and backed by such luscious, careful instrumentation, they would almost certainly be a drag. Instead, they are lively and bursting with character. Unlike early Why?, which was hip-hop influenced by design, the newer albums shimmer with a refined indie-pop sensibility. But don’t expect them to settle. “I wouldn’t say [Eskimo Snow] is an indication of where we’re going necessarily,” Wolf says. “The bits and pieces that I have written for the next record are more lyrically rhythmic, intricately rhymed,” he continues, though he balks at the suggestion of a total return to form. “I have some sound ideas in my head that are quite different.”

Continue Reading “Why ask Why? It’s a loaded question”

(Photo by Jacob Hand)

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Like the city itself, the music scene in Atlanta often seems fragmented, in search of its identity. And like the city, it is made up of a host of players, and it can sometimes be difficult to find consistency in its frenzied output. That ain’t all bad; smaller, more insular scenes tend to yield a homogeneous result, and the A is nothing if not all over the place. Below, five reasons to hold out hope for music in our fair metropolis.

1. Over in the trendier-by-the-second East Atlanta Village, the newish 529 has been hosting some of the best local and non-local shows in town for several months now with a decided focus on indie rock’s grittier subgenres. The space is nice, too: it’s tiny, but thanks to the outdoor patio, not claustrophobic, and the band area feels more like a house show basement than a rock club. Down the street, the Earl is still the de facto club in the Village, but 529 is quickly becoming a go-to spot.

2. In Grant Park, Eyedrum has brilliantly bridged the gap between D.I.Y. show space and legit music venue for years now. It has long been known as the place to go for experimental and noise; this past year has seen performances from Chicago avant-jazz hotshot Ken Vandermark and sample-driven duo the Books, among others. Earlier this year, they reportedly faced closure due to the high cost of maintaining the space, but it seems they’ve managed to remain solvent enough to continue for now. In addition to live music, the gallery exhibits some interesting stuff from local artists. (more…)

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Here at Criminal we love Halloween. What with monsters, ghosts, scary movies, adult costume (*cough* Eric knows what I’m talking about) parties, and all things creepy and ghoulish, Halloween is the top of the most. So to help us celebrate in spooky fashion, we thought we’d turn the store over to Professor Morte’s Silver Sream Spookshow. Prof.Morte.

On Sunday, October 25 at 2:30pm, Professor Morte and his cast of goblins and monsters will “Atomic Stomp” Criminal by performing hits off their brand new CD Building the Perfect Monster. Thrill to classics like “Witch Doctor” and soon to be classics “Surfin’ in the Black Lagoon” and “Lon Chaney” (What!? No Lugosi?) and many more. Morte, Wretch & Pandora are expecting you. You had better be here or suffer the consequences. Bwah ha ha ha!! Hot damn! That’s entertainment.

Watch for an interview with the abominable Professor Morte next week.

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Of all the things happening this Saturday, Oct. 24 on Dilla Day in Atlanta — including a performance by the deceased hip-hop producer’s brother Illa J that night; a Lupus Walk that morning to support further research into the disease Dilla battled in life; and Dilla’s Dream Camp from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., which will offer MPC production lessons to participants 16-and-under — the most significant event could be the one that takes place at 7 p.m. at the Atlanta Bench (602A Marietta St. 404-512-7671).

That’s when Amond Jackson (co-host, 89.3’s “Beatz & Lyrics Show” w/Jayforce) and taj anwar (hip-hop activist) will hold a name blessing ceremony for their months-old baby boy, Dilla Premier Wonder Jackson.

Named for his parents’ most beloved hip-hop producers (J Dilla, DJ Premier, 9th Wonder), their son has already graced the cover of Creative Loafing (his dad’s holding him up on the Aug. 8 issue) and made a feature appearance in Stahhr’s recent “Still Dope” video.

Not even a year yet, and already the kid’s doin’ it big.

UPDATE: Before posting, I emailed taj anwar to get the story behind her son Dilla’s name. Here it is, in her words:

I chose to name my son Dilla because of my love and respect for JDilla as a person. If my marriage to Amond was a movie- then JDilla’s music is the soundtrack. Our son is a symbol of that.

I met JDilla in 2004. I was a really big fan so when I had the opportunity to meet him- I was amped to say the least. I was introduced to him, and our first conversation went like this- (more…)

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Allen Taylor (sampler, synth, percussion), Drew Haddon (effects), Chris Daresta (bass, vocals) and David Mansfield (drums, vocals) are the four fresh faces that make up the dance punk outfit, Roman Photos. Last month they began passing around a limited number of hand-made live demo CDs as their introduction to the world. The recordings contained within capture two of their earliest live performances at 529, and document the jump-off point for their spacey, bass and drum-heavy grooves.

Chad Radford:  Tell me about the live demo that you just gave me.
David Mansfield:  The demo compiles excerpts from a couple of shows that we did at 529. It was Drew’s idea to put it together.

These were some of your first shows, correct?
DM:  Yeah. Originally we were all part of a similar band that sounded different back in May, but the lineup didn’t work out and we reformed as Roman Photos. We went for more of a dance sound, and added Allen to the line-up to do miscellaneous things with the songs. I dropped the guitar and started playing drums and it became something different altogether.

Drew Haddon: We didn’t have a name until the week before our first show. Before this we really sounded more like the Rapture or Gang of Four because of the guitar, but Mansfiled is a really solid disco kind of drummer and when he dropped the guitar things started sounding really dancey, really fast.

Roman Photos play 529 tonight (Thurs., Oct. 22) with Thy Mighty Contract and Club Awesome. $3. 9 p.m.

The plays a free show at Vacation Gallery & Boutique on Fri., Oct. 30. 9 p.m.

“Ribcage” mp3

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In 1980, Nigerian musician and creator of Afrobeat, Fela Kuti, hooked up with funk-jazz vibraphonist Roy Ayers to release the Pan-African collaboration Music of Many Colors. Ayers’ performance at this year’s fifth annual Atlanta tribute to Fela caps off a three days of educational roundtables and media meet-and-greets for Ayers.

The Saturday night tribute, sponsored by Spread Love, will also feature Mausiki Scales and Common Ground Collective, plus DJs Ausar, Kemit and Rich Medina. $15-$20. 595 North, 595 North Ave. 404-835-2329. www.595north.com. For more info, visit experiencespreadlove.com.

Below the jump, peep Ayers’ full schedule of events, which begin tomorrow in Atlanta: (more…)

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By B. Knight

Mason “Mase” Betha may be the first artist to survive Diddy’s Bad Boy label curse. What curse, might you ask? Have you ever noticed that Bad Boy acts usually get shelved after their first CD? Or something happens and a second or a third album is never released? Think about it: Biggie, Junior M.A.F.I.A, Craig Mack, Black Rob, Shyne, Total, Dream, Carl Thomas, Mario Winans, Loon, The LOX, Danity Kane, just to name a few.

During Diddy’s recent visit to V-103’s Ryan Cameron show to promote his new Dirty Money album Last Train to Paris, Mase surprisingly showed up and got Diddy to sign what appeared to be a contract releasing him from Bad Boy after a 10 year delay. It turns out, according to Miss Info, that the paper signed was only an appearance release form which allows Mase to appear on other artists’ songs but doesn’t release him from his Bad Boy contract. (more…)

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UNTIED AND TRUE: Untied States adds pop to their psychedelic mix.

Three years have passed since Untied States checked in with 2006’s Retail Detail. Since then, a lot has changed for the unhinged art-rock ensemble centered around Colin Arnstein and Skip Engelbrecht. Their third full-length, Instant Everything, Constant Nothing drops this month on the Paris-based Distile Records, and it’s a concerted stab at making a pop record — albeit one filtered through the schizoid, post-industrial psychedelia that’s been their calling card all along.

“Blues, punk, rock and roll … all of these things freaked people out at one point in time, and we want to freak people out, too. But we want the music to be timeless,” says Arnstein, who shares vocal and guitar duties with Engelbrecht. “A great example of what we’re aiming for is Joy Division. Their records scare you. They were stepping out on so much of a limb that you don’t know if you’re comfortable listening to it.”

Continue Reading “Untied States goes pop without going soft”

(Photo By Chad Radford )

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$20 for Atlanta-area college students w/I.D. $25 for non-students. 8 p.m. Wed., Oct. 21. Morehouse College Forbes Arena, 830 Westview Dr. 404-681-2800.

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Earlier this week Andy Hopkins of long-defunct acoustic/indie rock/experimental duo FLAP, who is reuniting to play this Friday night (Oct. 23) at 529, checked-in to give us a run down on the band’s history.

-This will be the first FLAP show in over 11 years, so it’s fair to call it a reunion. The band pretty much went dormant when I moved to Chicago in the Fall of 1998.

-FLAP was active between 1989 and 1998, so it would also be fair to call our show the “20th anniversary show.”

-In the early period, between 1989 and 1993, FLAP was primarily just me and Matt Miller, performing as an acoustic duo. We released two cassette albums in this format, Honkey Donkey, and Guitarded.

-In the period between 1993 and 1998 we primarily played as a rock trio, with our drummer Jason Gillis. We released three CDs during this period: PAL, Buldugs Or The Kid Is Hot Tonite, and Flap Am In The House.

-During all periods of FLAP we reserved the right to break away into all kinds of experimental formats, including cheap electronics, and full rock bands with guest singers.

-The reunion show at 529 will focus mostly on the early two-guitar instrumental period of intense jazz-math-grass compositions.

-”Walkin’ The Bug” is from our very first release Honkey Donkey in 1990. Honkey Donkey was recorded quite well by David ‘Zod’ Watkins, and was only (to date) ever released on cassette, the preferred format of the era.

“Walkin’ the Bug” mp3

(Photo courtesy FLAP)

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R. Timothy Brady is a soft-spoken young man whose immersion in the arts and sense of moral imperative has taken him on a mission to Iraq. Last Saturday, the composer/activist left Atlanta for Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s northern Kurdistan region, to establish an English-language academy where he will teach music, all under the auspices of the nonprofit Soulbird Inc., of which Brady is founder and executive director.

One minor problem: Performing music in Iraq can get you killed.

“It’s been reported that 80 percent of Iraqi singers have left the country, because now all artists are targeted by terrorists and extremists for torture and murder,” says Brady. “So what Soulbird is doing is opening an academy in the relatively safer Kurdistan region of Iraq, in the city of Erbil, to provide a place for artists from all over Iraq to develop and study their craft in a safe and welcoming environment.”

Continue reading “Soulbird hopes to build a safe nest for Iraqi artists”

(Photo Courtesy R. Timothy Brady)

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Tealights play 529 on Tues., Oct. 20. Tealights’ self-released debut CD, Take Us By Sea (out this month), is a sweeping marriage of laptop textures and bold strings sculpting dramatic moods that are very pretty, but very brittle. Take Us By Sea is the backbone of a musical vernacular driven by dark romanticism set adrift in modern classical and experimental arrangements. Like Claude Debussy on a date with Björk, surrealism and impressionism mingle in the dramatic male/female wailing in “Wait.” The lingering string melodies over front lady Nancy Shim’s cool voice are the weeping heart of the CD. White Hinterland from Portland, Ore., opens the show.$7. 9 p.m. 529 Flat Shoals Ave. 404-228-6769.
Tealights “Clouds” mp3

Har Mar Superstar

Wed., Oct. 21 Imagine a sweat-soaked love child of Ron Jeremy and Meatloaf who’s blessed with the soulful pipes of Stevie Wonder and wearing only a pair of tighty whities and a Cheshire Cat grin — that’s Har Mar Superstar. The hirsute sexual dynamo returns with his fourth album, Dark Touches. La Chanson and Roman Photos warm up the stage for him. $8-$10. 9 p.m. The Drunken Unicorn.

Also on Wed., Oct. 21 All Night Drug Prowling Wolves, GG King and Jeffrey Butzer are playing at 529. It’s a release party for a brand new ANDPW 7-inch, titled “Drank Irish.” $6. 9 p.m. 529 Flat Shoals Ave. 404-228-6769.

GG King “Drug Zoo” mp3
Jeffrey Butzer “Theme For A Tailor” mp3
ANDPW “Drank Irish” mp3

(more…)

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Like Michael Jackson when he was alive, R. Kelly is simultaneously worshipped and reviled. Few inspire such widespread curiosity about their private lives, and the intrigue surrounding the pied piper of R&B (great nickname) certainly hasn’t died down since his acquittal on child pornography charges last June.

He recently admitted he was functionally illiterate, and a press tour of his palatial Chicagoland home this summer put his Neverland-like environs on full display. New York radio personality Miss Info reported that the outside of his house looks like a suburban church, the inside looks like a luxury ski lodge, and that he served a punch called “Sex in the Kitchen.” Like his choice of cocktails, his recent music similarly has not shied away from explicitly sexual material.

Continue Reading “R. Kelly recruits Atlantans for new album, Untitled“

(Photo courtesy Parrish Lewis)

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Kenny Burns‘ upcoming documentary on himself looks fierce. The trailer for the doc, entitled B.U.R.N.S., offers a sneak peek behind the scenes of the Atlanta-based cultural connoisseur’s success, with clips featuring early collaborators Diddy, Dame Dash and Jay-Z. Dig it:

B.U.R.N.S means Be Ultimately Realistic & Never Sellout.

Far to many times I hear people idolizing or worshiping the “Entertainment Bizness”.
The crazy thing is half the time they don’t even know what they want from it, or better yet what it will TAKE FROM THEM!
B.U.R.N.S is the story of My Grind and hopefully will show YOU that YOU don’t have to be somebody’s slave to make it in the Entertainment Business (or The World). I NEVER WALKED TO BROOKLYN FOR CHEESECAKE!

As of late, he’s also added Huffington Post blogger to his long list of credentials.

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By B. Knight

It’s always great to capture the grind of a band that shows serious promise before they get gelled-to-perfection hair, a publicist and a Crackberry, because you can truly get a sense of who they are versus the image created for them. (Did someone say Maroon 5?) The Brightsides Suicides would certainly qualify as that gem. The five-member band from Dothan, Alabama has come to Atlanta in search of big music dreams and we’re catching them right in the middle of their REM cycle. You may have seen them at local venues such as Sweetwater, XI in Decatur or Uptown Loft as their following continues to grow. Their eclectic sound includes musical influences such as Radiohead, Modest Mouse, Marvin Gaye, the Beatles and Okkervil River to name a few. You’re definitely in for some dope instrumentation.

The Brightside Suicides have only been in existence for a short time, but have created quite an underground buzz both in Atlanta and their home state with the EP entitled Starring in a New Diary. The bandmates gave us the scoop on why we should care and why others already do.

I’m sure you get this all the time, but how did you all come up with the name, the Brightside Suicides? (more…)

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