Crib Notes

There was a disturbing number of children at Saturday night’s Butthole Surfers show at the Masquerade. And by “disturbing number,” I mean two — or two that I came across. But I’m talking 7 or 8 year old boys, staring intently at the huge projection films playing behind the Buttholes, or eventually slumped asleep in their mother’s arms.

It brought two things to my mind. 1) Dear fellow Buttholes fans: we are old. 2) I am trying to imagine what effect watching those projected movies would have on an 8 year old boy.

For most of the night much of the left side of the stage was dedicated to the juxtaposition of various vagina images with medical oddity surgery movies. Vagina. Bloody unidentifiable genitalia. Vagina. Lacerated eyeball. Etc. I can’t help but think that if either of those boys ever comes across a real vagina, the first thing they will think of is pulsating gore and Gibby Haynes droning “I don’t give a fuck about anything.”

(more…)

Bookmark to:

Maurice Garland, author of this week’s CL cover story — A dirty job for Goodie Mob — posted a rare find on his blog mauricegarland.com. It’s so sweet I had to swipe, uh, repost it.

It’s a link to instrumentals from Soul Food, the group’s 1995 debut. This was when Organized Noize Productions (Ray Murray, Rico Wade, Sleepy Brown) was in its prime. Sonically, Soul Food can’t be touched, with influences ranging from Curtis Mayfield to Old Negro Spirituals creeping up in their production.

For those who haven’t purchased tickets for tomorrow’s show yet, shame on ya. Get yours before they sell-out. Otherwise, you’ll be singin’ the blues like Cee-Lo on “Thought Process” come Sunday morning.

$40. 7 p.m. Sat., Sept. 19. Masquerade Music Park, 695 North Ave. 404-577-8178. masq.com. Purchase via Ticketmaster link.

Bookmark to:

… AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD comes to Atlanta in support of its latest release, The Century of Self, an indie-rock power chord opus that litters piano interludes and a pulverizing rock bend with images of war, religion and all sorts of heady fodder. Dallas, Texas, trio the Secret Machines open with a set of sprawling and visceral indie-rock chargers. Mon., Sept. 14. $15. 8 p.m. The Masquerade, 695 North Ave. 404-577-8178.

Trail of Dead’s “Inland_Sea” mp3

Bookmark to:

RESETTING THE STANDARD: Psyche Origami

Like a ninja stealing away on a quest for spiritual enlightenment, Psyche Origami slipped out of public view some time ago.

When MC Wyszstyk and DJs Synthesis and Dainja dropped their 2005 full-length, The Standard, they were Atlanta’s premiere indie hip-hop trio. It was an intricate concept album that came off as ambitious, but was a solid confluence of the group’s heady lyricism, jazz, funk and turntablism. It beckoned to the beats and rhymes of the ’90s, when De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and Digable Planets reigned supreme. But after touring extensively and watching their label Arc the Finger Records fall apart, the future of the group became cloudy. “We took a year off to gather our thoughts,” says Wyszstyk (née Charles Gilbert). “After being a touring, independent hip-hop act for five-plus years and watching the label dissolve, we had to reach back into ourselves and figure out what we wanted to, or if we wanted to keep doing it at all.”

Continue reading “Psyche Origami lightens up with Flagship“

(Photo courtesy Psyche Origami)

Bookmark to:

Goodie Mob reunion. $35-$40. Sat., Sept. 19. Masquerade Music Park, 695 North Ave. 404-577-8178. www.masq.com.

Tickets go on sale this Saturday at Ticketmaster.com.

(Flier spotted at mauricegarland.com)

Bookmark to:

A fire that ignited outside Atlanta’s Masquerade Music Park Saturday night has been extinguished, with no reported injuries. The fire did, however, destroy a storage space separate from the music venue.

Around 10 p.m., three Atlanta Fire Department engines responded to the venue’s open-air music park.

Witnesses said they walked outside to find plumes of smoke billowing from the the rear of the venue. Another witness standing in a nearby parking lot said he saw smoke as well. He said he walked to the rear of the venue and found flames had already engulfed trees and were spreading to nearby booths.

Firefighters managed to contain the blaze to a fenced-in area that stored portable toilets. All of those toilets — an estimated 20 — appeared to be destroyed.

The main venue, which tonight was hosting a punk rock showcase, was not impacted.

Firefighters did not immediately know what caused the fire. Witnesses said the blaze appeared to have started in the portable toilet storage area.

CL attempted to take a photo of the damage but was told by firefighters we were not appropriately dressed to enter the scene. You know, because of the contents of the burnt portable toilets and the fact that we were in sandals. Tessa from Drive a Faster Car has pics from Twitter of the blaze.

Bookmark to:

It’s been about nine years since Florida’s Rabbit in the Moon brought its full post-apocalyptic stage show to Atlanta (not counting a performance at the Echo Project suburban music festival in 2007). Sure, Confucius and Monk have done individual and combined DJ gigs from time to time. But when it comes to their highly theatrical performances where grinder shows, fire performers and other visual stimulation compliment the band’s blend of trance, house, breakbeat and industrial rock, Atlantans have been missing out for quite a while.

Like some sort of sci-fi cross between Cirque du Soleil and Marilyn Manson, Rabbit in the Moon finally returns to Atlanta this week for a performance at Opera. And whether you’re dancing to the infectious sounds or entranced by the overall spectacle, you’re not likely to be bored by a couple of guys standing behind turntables in the dark. Rabbit in the Moon takes live electronica to an entirely new level.

Rabbit in the Moon. $20-$50. 10 p.m. Thurs., April 16. Opera, 1150 B Peachtree St. 404-874-0428. www.liquified.com.

Door 44 Anniversary Party Kickoff. It was one year ago that Door 44 opened its doors, offering a more rock ‘n’ roll take on Midtown clubbing. Celebrating its anniversary all weekend, the party begins Wednesday night as DJ Menelik, who made a name for himself in Atlanta spinning rock, hip-hop, soul and pop, returns from Los Angeles for a headlining set. Danny M spins in the parlor while the Door 44 pinup girls provide additional stimulation.

Free. 10 p.m. Wed., April 15. Door 44, 44 12th St. 678-949-9531. www.okellypromotions.com.

(more…)

Bookmark to:

Like the Pied Piper rolling through town, every time King Khan shows up, his ability to charm the pants off this city grows increasingly stronger. The Canadian-Indian by way of Germany returns to the States with his psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll ensemble the Shrines for a victory lap in support of last year’s masterpiece, The Supreme Genius of King Khan and the Shrines. Local favorites Balkans, New York City’s trash-can cabaret-punk six-piece Golden Triangle, and Thomas Function open. $10. 9 p.m. Masquerade, 695 North Ave. 404-577-8178.

(Photo by Natasha Papadopoulou)

Bookmark to:

As the Feb. 28 date for the epic SCION Rock Festival at the Masquerade draws near, Criminal Records has announced that it will open its stage the night before the festival for bit of a preview of things to come. On Fri., Feb. 27 the store is hosting performances from Athens, OH thrash metal-death kings Skeletonwitch, and Atlanta’s very own blackened metal monsters Withered. More bands will surely be added to the bill soon, so stay tuned for details.

The shows are free. Music start at 5 p.m. There will be beer.

(Photo by Paul Romano)

Bookmark to:

Static Tensions, the new album from Savannah metal staple Kylesa, now has a face. This week the group unveiled the album’s cover art — created by Baroness’ John Dyer Baizley and produced by the band’s guitarist/vocalist Phillip Cope (Baroness, Withered).

The album is scheduled for a March 17 release via Prosthetic Records. In the meantime you can hear the song “Said and Done” from the new album at Kylesa’s Myspace page.

“’Said and Done’ was the first song we wrote for Static Tensions and has a little bit of everything that can be heard on the album,” explains guitarist/vocalist Laura Pleasants in a press release. “We think it is a good introduction.”

Kylesa plays the SCION Rock fest at the Masquerade on Sat. Feb. 28th and again at the Masquerade on Fri., April 24th with the Haunted, Nachtmystium.

Bookmark to:

JACKSON BROWNE West Coast singer/songwriters have faded from favor but Browne’s 35-year legacy has proven to be remarkably sturdy. He’s touring behind his first album of new music in six years, a set of songs that could have slotted into his 1972 debut. That’s no criticism, though, as his politically and personally driven material has always intertwined gracefully with Browne’s forever-young voice, effortlessly inviting melodies and addictive lyrics. He’ll play many of the hits that the graying boomers come to hear, but his new tunes are nearly as impressive, and his band is always top-shelf. $40-$75. 7:30 p.m. Tabernacle. 404-249-6400. www.livenation.com. — HH

WORLD/INFERNO FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY Aptly described as “cabaret punk”, World/Inferno Friendship Society blur the line between classic ska and the cultured punk of bands such as Gogol Bordello and Flogging Molly. With a list of band members long enough to intimidate the Masquerade’s stage space, two things are for certain: it will be loud and it will be upbeat. $10. 7 p.m. Masquerade. www.masq.com — SI

(Photo Credit: Henry Diltz)

Bookmark to:

Howdy friends and neighbors,

I’m Reverend Andy and I’m the new guy here on Creative Loafing’s Crib Notes.

So, who am I and why should I be allowed to post on a music blog?

Well, I’ve been a radio DJ in Atlanta for over five years now — mostly working in the underground rock ‘n’ roll scene. I created a radio show called “Psychobilly Freakout” on Album 88 (WRAS-FM) that ran from 2004-2008 where I spun rockabilly and psychobilly music every Monday night.

These days you can catch me most weekends on 92.9 Dave FM, and every Tuesday night at 9 p.m. on 91.1 (WREK-FM) where, once again, I’m spinning rockabilly music. I also book shows around town, host events, DJ at places such as the Star Bar and Lenny’s, and I’m proud to return as host for this year’s Horrorfest!

Speaking of Horrorfest, the Head Ghoul in Charge, Luke Godfrey, was kind enough to tell me about Horrorfest and what he has in store for us this weekend…

Reverend Andy: What inspired you to create Horrorfest?

(more…)

Bookmark to:

Were you at the Sex Pistols’ show at the Great Southeast Music Hall in 1978? Did you hang with GG Allin while he shopped for jock straps? Did you hook up with Wendy O. Williams after a show in Atlanta? Is your idea of a perfect rap song “Institutionalized” by Suicidal Tendencies?

On Oct. 4, the Masquerade Music Park will host the Metroplex/688 Reunion, an event celebrating the legacies of Atlanta’s two greatest punk music venues. In preparation for that happy day, CL would like to collect your memories of the city’s punk scene back in the day.

We invite you to send us your anecdotes, reminiscences and drug-fueled fever dreams about punk’s heyday in Atlanta. What were your favorite punk venues? Favorite local punk bands? Shows you’ll never forget? Crazy stories? Send ‘em on!

You can either comment to this posting or you can e-mail longer items to scott.henry@creativeloafing.com. I’m working on an article about Atlanta’s punk scene and would appreciate your contributions – you stinkin’ pigs!

Bookmark to:

Submitted by: Niki Lemeshka 

Kill Hannah @ Masquerade (Hell). Fri., Aug. 1.

Androgynous-voiced frontman Mat Devine kicked off Chicago quintet Kill Hannah’s set with “Boys and Girls.” Devine commanded the stage, sprinkling sugary-goth tunes with odd orders — including a sporting-event-worthy wave.  The appreciative crowd, which ranged in age from teens to an unlikely 40-plus set, happily obliged his requests.  After an almost two year absence, fans enjoyed standout tracks including “Kennedy” and “Lips Like Morphine.”  The light box and laser-fused stage spectacle entertained — even during yet-to-be-released track “Acid Rain” — as the fog-filled hotbox erupted into a dancehall.

Bookmark to:

Any drum and bass head who hears the phrase “All the massive!” can’t help but get amped. (But then, we’re talking about a relatively hyped group of people.)

Tomorrow’s Mass Transit is definitely a reason to be excited, not only for the stellar DJs lined up, but also in celebration of five years of 404 Audio.

I’m most excited about the Upbeats, who put it down last March, but it will also be interesting to hear live how AK’s hip-hop-inflected style has evolved. $30 (I know!). 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12. The Masquerade.

AK1200 [Project 51 Records / POTD / Moving Shadow - Orlando, FL]
GRIDLOK [Project 51 Records / Virus / Violence Recordings - San Francisco, CA]
THE UPBEATS [BC Presents / Virus / Project 51 Records - Wellington, NZ]
RANDOM MOVEMENT [Creative Source / Liquid V / InnerGround Records - Columbus, OH]
TESTER
BRANDON B

Hosted by MC RACE ONE

Bookmark to:

(photo by United Talent Agency)

CAFÉ TACUBA may be the best indie-pop band you’ve never heard, but that doesn’t keep the Mexican quartet from selling out large theaters around the country and packing them with multicultural audiences. The group’s following includes everyone from Spanish-speaking fans who can recite all the lyrics to English-speaking fans who simply love the music. The key to Café Tacuba’s success is a series of brilliant albums, including 2004’s Cuatro Caminos. A tour for its new album, Sino, lands at the Masquerade Thurs., DEC. 13. $30. 8 p.m. 695 North Ave. 404-577-8178. www.masq.com.

For more See & Do, click here.

For CL’s Sound Menu, click here.

Bookmark to: