Crib Notes

GUCCI MANE: The Atlanta rapper keeps it way too real on the cover of upcoming album, The State vs. Radric Davis.

With Gucci Mane once again headed back to jail, his new song, “My Own Worst Enemy,” feels particularly apropos. Over a melancholy synth beat from Drumma Boy, Gucci touches on his near-deadly beef with Young Jeezy, his conversations with the currently incarcerated T.I., and his own frequent brushes with the law: “Me, Jeezy and T.I. share one thing in common/All are poets/Role models to young people/Though at times man we still ignore it.”

On Nov. 12, Gucci (née Radric Davis) was sentenced to 12 months behind bars for violating his probation and was removed from a Fulton County courtroom in handcuffs. He is expected to serve about half of that time. A judge ruled that he had not completed community service requirements, that he failed drug tests and that he did not secure permission to travel. The case dates back to a 2005 conviction for attacking a club promoter, and this is the second time he has failed to meet the terms of his probation – the first time last year, sent him to jail for seven months.

The setback seems to come at a bad time for him. The Atlanta-bred rapper is more popular than ever, and his highly anticipated new album, The State vs. Radric Davis, is due Dec. 8. But it has already caused chaos with fans and concert promoters around the country. His past incarceration and probation terms have led to the cancellation of about a dozen shows this year. His absences have left promoters squabbling with his manager and booking agent — and threatening to file lawsuits.

But beyond the allegations lies the allegory. If Gucci is the frog prince of Atlanta trap-rap, impatiently waiting as he has for the better half of a decade to take his turn on the throne, he doesn’t need anything else to stunt his growth. Despite collaborating in 2009 with the likes of Mariah Carey, Black Eyed Peas, Mario and Usher – who’s featured in the current single “Spotlight” from his upcoming album – Gucci’s transition from ‘hood star to pop star remains fraught with hiccups. It’s something the industry may have to come to terms with, warts and all.

Continue Reading “The case of the canceled Gucci Mane concerts”

(Photo Courtesy So Icey/Asylum/Warner Bros)

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crib notes TV catches up with Atlanta recording artist Spree Wilson to learn more about his recent move to New York City and what’s he’s discovered on his journey. We talk about his upcoming projects and his debut solo music video for “Word!” (produced by No I.D.) which premieres this month on MTV.

Click here for the full, uncut audio interview.

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The Little Country Giants (photo by Justin Evans)

Tuesdays are never the most exciting nights in Atlanta, but there’s always something to do.

If you’re into jazz the smart money tonight is on the Joe Gransden Quartet who are playing over at Twain’s in Decatur. It’s free and the music gets going around 9 p.m.

The Little Country Giants and Robinella are playing at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur. It’s a CD release party for the Little Country Giants’ latest release, Fists of Foam and Furry. $15.

Tonight’s country night at 529 as DJ’s Jacob & Brian spin a robust set of all country records all night long. It’s Free. Records start spinning around 9:30 p.m.

Cherri Swan, Gemini Mission, the Word, Faithless Town and the Yogurt Dolls play Lenny’s. $5. 9 p.m.

Soul of John Black and Mike Zito play Smith’s Olde Bar. $12. 8 p.m.

The Weekly Tru Skool Hip-Hop Jam Session takes over Apache Cafe. $7 before 10:00 p.m. $10 after.

Parachute and the Natural Dawn is Broken play the Masquerade. $8. 7 p.m.

There’s an open mic jam at The 5 Spot. It’s free and starts around 9 p.m.

Rocksploitation (formerly the A Sides) plays at Blind Willies $?. 9:30 p.m.

DJs Prince Presto and Cristo spin at the Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge. Free. 9 p.m.

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Austin Showlist is running one of the more accurate and discerning lists of shows taking place throughout the week at SXSW this year that won’t require SXSW credentials, and probably no admission fee.

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Have You Heard Session: Tealights from HaveYouHeard on Vimeo.

Tealights is the reincarnation of former Atlanta fey electro/experimental pop outfit One Hand Loves the Other, minus vocalist Lou Rodriguez. Judging by their performance for Haveyouheard.net the group has come a long way since changing their name, direction and shedding their frontman. The reinvented group combines a palette of electronics, cello, keys, guitar and live drums to conjure a darker, richer — though no less dramatic — sound than that of their previous group. The recordings captured during these sessions are amongst the first documented looks at what the band has in store.

“Passport” mp3

“Bib” mp3

“No Sound to Hear” mp3

“Wasted Fingers” mp3

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The Vernal Vinyl Equinox record show comes to the Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge on Saturday, March 21, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. $3 entry. Dealer tables are available for $20. The bar will be open and DJs will be spinning records. If you’re interested in buying, selling, DJing send an e-mail to Shannon.

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This Thursday night (March 5) Pine Magazine returns to the Star Bar for another first Thursday of the month free show.

The line-up includes Batata Doce, Sorry No Ferrari, This Piano Plays Itself, Blair Crimmins and the Hookers, Tous les Jours and DJ Press Play.

The show is free and the music starts at 9 p.m. The Star Bar, 437 Moreland Ave. 404-681-9018.

Click below to read Pine Magazine’s rundown of who’s on the bill.

(more…)

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… and if you’re still lurking around after Ricky Powell’s DJ set at Criminal Records, the Black Lips are sitting up for a 5 o’clock in-store to celebrate the release of 200 Million Thousand.

When they’re done, Austin, Texas high-concept rockers …Trail of Dead will play an in-store at 7 p.m. Both shows are free.

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This week the Atlanta Braves put out the call that they’re looking for bands who “think they have what it takes to energize and entertain thousands of fans at Turner Field before a Braves’ home games this year.”

Country, rock, pop, cover and/or original bands can submit their information to be considered for review.

Bands selected will receive free tickets for their members to that night’s game and a special discount code to pass along to their loyal followers to see them live in action.

One group will be named the “Braves Band of the Year” and win a free suite to the final home game of 2009. The “Band of the Year” will be chosen by the Braves game entertainment staff, who will judge the groups based on combination of factors including crowd participation and enthusiasm.

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Over the weekend there was a significant amount of clamor in the record stores and in Little 5 Points leading up to Antony and the Johnsons‘ show at the Variety Playhouse on Sun. Feb. 8. The $30 price tag seemed to be scaring a few people away, but the new record and this first time visit to Atlanta had definitely piqued local interests. Antony is nothing short of an icon who’s songs and presence illicit a strong response. People either love him or hate what he does, and there seems to be no middle ground.

I asked a few people to give us their thoughts on the show.

Tom Cheshire who write for Dry Ink Magazine and fronts local punk elder statesmen the All Night Drug Prowling Wolves writes,

I first heard Antony on a Mojo compilation CD a few years back. I remember loving it instantly. Then I got a mix tape from friend of mine in New York with the song “Fistful of Love” on it and I just lost it. It sounded like Nina Simone hangin’ with King Tubby and Ethel Merman, and at some point they had all hit the pipe.

Antony & crew brought it down on Sunday evening. He/she hid behind a piano on the darkened stage with his band behind him. The band consisted of Antony on piano, a cello player, a violinist, a gentleman who switched off from violin to guitar, another person who switched from tenor saxophone to guitar and a bass player standing in the background. They were tight, quiet, tasteful, at some points loud, gorgeous and off the hook.

At one point he said that he always had a crush on and wanted to marry Otis Redding, to which one one guy in the crowd screamed “I’ll marry you!” There were times during songs when you could hear a pin drop in the audience. There were other times when the music and the applause were uproarious.

The highlights of the set for me were the classic “Cripple and the Starfish,” a cover of Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love,” “You are My Sister,” “Epilepsy is Dancing” and a beautiful, beautiful version of “Fistful of Love.” It was a wonderful evening. Sweet, sexy, no joke. Thank you Antony.

More thoughts on the show are coming soon.

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Creative Loafing’s freelance music writer Hal Horowitz was honored today (Sat., Feb. 7th) in Memphis, TN at the 25th annual International Blues Challenge sponsored by the Blues Foundation, receiving the prestigious “Keeping The Blues Alive” award for Journalism. Horowitz has been writing for various Georgia-based publications since 1994, and is also a contributing editor to Blues Revue. Horowitz is especially proud of the award, offering, “when I see who has won in the past. But mostly I’m humbled that what I do strictly for the love of it has touched others enough to take notice. That’s just a bonus.”

Horowitz sees the blues as a reflection of everyday life, and is not surprised at the genre’s continuing popularity. “It speaks universal truths that are, like all the best roots music of any genre, timeless. When has there ever been a time when people didn’t get the blues? Like most music, it adapts to changes but at its heart is a truth that can’t be found in most pop. People often respond to that.”

When asked to cite some essential blues artists, he responds, “John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and the entire Chess stable from the 60s. Willie Dixon. Stevie Ray Vaughan. Johnny Winter and Jimi Hendrix. But you can find blues in the music of Miles Davis, Sly Stone, John Coltrane, Bob Marley, even the Velvet Underground and R.E.M. It’s a music that knows no color or age boundaries. I hear blues in U2 and Coldplay.”

In spite of all the changes in the way music is sold these days, Horowitz is sure some things will never change. “Live music, especially blues, thrives in the concert environment. There will never be a replacement for the feeling generated when a musician or band is firing on all cylinders in front of an appreciative crowd.”

(Photo courtesy Hal Horowitz)

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For today’s Roll Call we call out Jennifer O’Connor.

Who are you?
I am Jennifer O’Connor.

Describe yourself in three words.
Honest. Loving.  Sleepy.

Who — dead or alive — would you most like to meet?
Kanye West.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
No one.

What song do you wish you had written?
“When Doves Cry.”

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
Costello.

LP, CD or MP3?
Like them all.  But probably CD.

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
Song-driven music gaining popularity.

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
Style-driven music waning in popularity.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
Jennifer Beals or Mark Ruffalo.

“Here With Me” MP3
“Valley Road ‘86″ MP3

Jennifer O’Connor plays the 5 Spot on Thurs., Feb. 5. $10. 8:30 p.m. 1123 Euclid Ave. 404-223-1100.

(Photo by John Von Pamer)

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Of Montreal’s “An Eluardian Instance,” from Skeletal Lamping has been given the remix treatment from producer/composer extrodanaire John Brion. The so-called “First Time High (Reconstructionist Remix)” is a sneak peak of what the forthcoming remix EP has to offer. If anything Brion’s interpretation reins the song in a bit, via some very subtle changes in the mix, and at a decidedly more logical pace.

“An Eluardian Instance First Time High (Reconstructionist Remix).”

(Photo courtesy of Polyvinyl Records)

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Call it the home field advantage, but ex-Nerves drummer Paul Collins’ show at the Earl Saturday night was fantastic to say the least. Not to say that his last show at the Earl back in August wasn’t a good one, but this grand unveiling of the line-up of the Beat, featuring Jesse Smith (bass), Dave Rahn (drums) and Warren Bailey (guitar), wielded a much stronger dose of chemistry than what the prior Beat brought last time around. If ever there was a time to catch Paul Collins, it was Saturday night.

It’s interesting to note that at the same time Paul Collins’ Beat was tearing it up at the Earl, British Ska band the English Beat was playing across town at the Loft, which has to have set some sort of historical precedent. In case you aren’t familiar with the story, the English Beat has to alter their name in the states because Mr. Collins already had the name for his far superior power pop outfit. Photographer Perry Julien shot some photos at the other Beat show .

(Photos by Chad Radford)

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Deerhunter posted a video for the song “White Ink” over the weekend. The video was directed by Justin Gaar and is a gorgeous accompaniment to the instrumental number taken from the group’s second album, Cryptograms.

Deerhunter – White Ink from justin gaar on Vimeo.

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For today’s Roll Call we call out John Hannah of Facehugger.

Who are you?
My name is John Hannah.

Describe yourself in three words.
Absurdist. Deconstructionist. Hooligan.

Who — dead or alive — would you most like to meet?
My pretentious answer would be Friedrich Nietzsche. My not so pretentious answer is Jimmy Johnstone. He was a winger for Celtic FC when they won the European Cup in 1967. A good combination would be James Joyce. Praise God for the philosophers and drinkers.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
There are many people whom I would love to punch in the throat. I am in no position at this time, though to be making my enemies public.

What song do you wish you had written?
There are so many of them. Any of Bach’s cello concertos, “Romeo’s Distress” by Christian Death, “Idumea”, all of Madame Butterfly, “I Saw the Light,” the entire discography of the Misfits, all of Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), “I Saw the Light” by Hank Williams, “If I Should Ever Fall From Grace With God,” “Flower of Scotland…” I could continue this forever.

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
St. Elvis of Munster.

LP, CD or MP3?
Lathe cut, CD-R, Cassette.

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
For people to quit concerning themselves with the reactions that their peers will have with what they do. For Atlanta to not concern itself with whether or not it is the next New York or any other city that has considerable cultural focus. Focus comes to people who are not trying to be like anything else, this is how every community or scene in any field of art that is worth a damn started. There is nothing less interesting than seeing people rehash the same ideas without real passion or without their own voice. Also for the Generals to start winning some games against the Globe Trotters.

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
I think what I wrote above was killing both of these birds with one stone. I would like to see an end to Buckhead/Midtown idiots encroaching on places that I enjoy spending time.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
Camille Claudel, Kate Moss and Rosemary Kennedy before she was lobotomized.

“Gone”

Facehugger plays a free show at Vacation Gallery & Boutique on Sun., Jan. 18th. 674A N. Highland Ave. 404-875-4413.

(Photo by Sunni Johnson)

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Ruzow (right).

For today’s Roll Call we call out Roger Ruzow of the 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra.

Who are you?
Roger V. Ruzow. Teacher/Composer/Musician.

Describe yourself in three words.
Obsessed with music.

Who — dead or alive — would most you like to meet?
It’d be nice to have a few drinks with Captain Kangaroo, Kurt Vonnegut, Emile Jaques-Dalcroze and Lester Bowie if their schedules don’t conflict.

Who would you most like to slap in the face?
Myself when I was in undergraduate school.

What song do you wish you had written?
The windows start-up sound. I hate that damn noise, but the royalties would sure help to fund other ideas.

Elvis Costello or Elvis Presley?
What time of day or night is this question asked and which one of them is buying?

LP, CD or MP3?
See above answer for clarification.

If you could start one trend, what would it be?
Thinking… assuming I figure out how to do it.

If you could end one trend, what would it be?
Cell phones.

With whom would you most like to play a game of spin the bottle?
Ingrid Bergman.

“Greater Lagos Wednesday Night Talmud Meeting”

The 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra plays the Highland Inn Ballroom on Sat., Jan. 24th w/ Kinnah Boto’s Ayah Drummers. $5. 9 p.m. The Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge. 644 North Highland Ave. 404-874-5756.

(Photo by Stevie Brown.)

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Kevin Blechdom makes avant-garde music seriously fun and engaging while at the same time seriously disturbing. Blechdom, aka Kristen Erickson, melds electronic pop music shaped by heady academia and twists it into irreverent, Dada-esque weirdness and wide-eyed musings that are both beautiful and grotesque. Like the sound of deranged Muppets singing about heartbreak, self-discovery and nose jobs, Blechdom’s songs are not meant for the faint of heart. For her show tonight Irene Moon opens. Moon hones the sounds of insects to create buzzing, droning vignettes that are filled with drama and hidden dimensions of organic/industrial plod. The World Provider and Judi Chicago also perform. $6. 9 p.m. Drunken Unicorn, 736 Ponce de Leon Place.

(Photo by Crackerfarm)

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The Lost Cause DJs (a.k.a. Adam Renshaw and Shannon Mulvaney of Anna Kramer and the Lost Cause) bring “Geology 101″ to the Highland Inn tonight from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Prepare yourself for a history of “rock” as they spin records that school all within earshot about the ins and outs and obscurities of music that matters. Expect a face full of power pop, bong rock jams, punk, metal and psychedelic journeys. You will hear a lot of songs that you know and love, and you’ll hear even more that you’ve never heard before. Renshaw and Mulvaney are a couple of record store dudes. This kind of thing is what they do, and they do it well.

Free. The Highland Inn Ballroom Lounge. 644 North Highland Ave. 404-874-5756.

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Last week Of Montreal unveiled the video for “An Eluardian Instance” on Rolling Stone’s Rock & Roll Daily blog.

At first glance it seems like the video player is stalling as it tries to keep up with the visual stream, but take a closer look and you’ll notice that the video is comprised of what appears to be hundreds of thousands of still images placed together, causing the herky jerky effect.

Of Montreal ~ An Eluardian Instance (2008) Dir: Jesse Ewles from jesse ewles on Vimeo.

We’ve seen this kind of thing before with something like No Age’s “Boy Void.”

… and closer to home with the Coathangers’ “Tanya Harding.”

The visual effect is cool and very psychedelic, and if you stare at it long enough the stop motion nature of it all feels very natural. But as with everything else, Of Montreal’s mastermind Kevin Barnes takes it one step beyond the realm of the rational with all sorts of added visual/mental stimuli, such as little crabs wandering through the frame, and all sorts of other Frankensteinian narratives and weirdo point-of-view shots that make you wonder what really is going on under the surface here.

Since the first time I listened to Skeletal lamping I have wondered about the mountian goats mentioned in the songs and if it bares any reference to the Mountian Goats’ frontman John Darnell. This video doesn’t answer anything in that department. In actuality the mountain goat that does make an appearance in the video only leaves more unanswered questions concering his symbolic significance and/or double entendre in this particular song. Make of it what you will …

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