Crib Notes

If you’re one of those people who likes to plan in advance, than you will be happy to know that Of Montreal is playing a New Year’s Eve show at the Fabulous 40 Watt in downtown Athens.

So if you just saw their fantastic show at the Tabernacle in Atlanta, and want to see them again, and hopefully not have to endure the hell ride into ironic false hair metal that was Limozeen, this is your ticket.

Some thoughts on the Atlanta show that happened over the weekend…

Of Montreal played to a comfortably crowded house on Saturday night at the Tabernacle. It seems like it was only yesterday that they played the old Eyedrum downtown to all of about eight people. Alas, that was eight years ago, and since then their following has grown exponentially. Icy Demons played a cool, rhythm-heavy set, but my memory of their show is tainted by the travesty that was/is Limozeen. I don’t know where these guys came from, but I hope that I never have to endure their shite metal shtick ever again.

I lived through indie rock in the ‘90s and the one thing that never ever sat well with me was the bloated sense of irony that was such a huge part of the culture. The slacker chic thing really did a number on the collective consciousness of the times that still creeps out from time-to-time in the here and now. Remember when Urge Overkill dressed-up and did that Neil Diamond crap? Pavement’s image? Weezer’s career? Unfortunately I do too. These days it shows up in horribly mutated outgrowths, like those FreeCreditReport.com commercials where the dipshit slacker guys sing about how badly they screwed up their credit and now they have to work at a seafood restaurant.

At one time indie rock was dominated by this kind of tongue-in-cheek stupidity, and bad memories of those times are made all the more horrible when a band like Limozeen is given a stage in front of a huge audience. It’s a terrible idea and in their minds it justifies what they are doing.

In essence it was a bad joke… A fake metal band… Something that could have been funny if it lasted for a maximum of 1-to-3 songs tops. But no… These guys went on and on and on, thrashing their fake wigs, posing in ridiculous outfits, wailing, riffing and taking the joke way too far.

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By Chris Parker

Things have been on the upswing for the quirky pair Dan Auerbach (guitarist) and Patrick Carney (drummer) of the Black Keys.

Since signing to Warner Bros. subsidiary Nonesuch for 2006’s Magic Potion, their songs have been featured in commercials starring Heidi Klum and Shaun White, and on TV shows including “Friday Night Lights” and “The O.C.”.

The Akron, Ohio-based blues-rock duo has fully emerged from the shadow of its Rust Belt cousins, the White Stripes, with the release of its fifth full-length, Attack & Release, produced by Brian Burton, aka Danger Mouse.

But the real reason for the Keys’ unadulterated joy? Auerbach and Carney recently accomplished the greatest feat a band could hope for – next to quitting the day job.

They got a tour bus.

Read the rest of this article here.

The Black Keys play the Tabernacle tonight, Thurs., Oct. 2 at 9 p.m. $25. 404-659-9022. www.tabernacleatl.com.

(Photo by James Carney)

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The headline says it all. According to a recent communique from British duo the Kills via their label, Domino Records, an extensive bus/man hunt is sweeping across the U.S. and Mexico. Here’s what the band has to say:

“While on tour in the United States with the Raconteurs, our bus and driver have vanished. It is thought that the driver has commited grand theft auto or that he is in some kind of trouble. The bus and driver were last seen on the morning of the 26th of September at a Prevost dealership in Los Angeles. The driver got some new tires and was set to head to Austin, Texas to meet back up with us. His phone has been off since that afternoon.

Federal investigators and police are searching for the bus and driver through out the U.S. and Mexico. We are currently traveling to Nashville and have no luggage or belongings. But aside from this bad luck, touring with the Raconteurs has been great, so we’re in good spirits. The magnitude of the loss hasn’t quite sunk in to our shell shocked bones. If anyone has seen a black Prevost tour bus with Tennessee plates 0305 EA, call the police.”

A quick glance at the Kills’ website confirms it all. “How can 3 tons of black metal vanish into thin air? I’m asking myself the same fucking question. Anyone seen a black ziggys tour bus traveling somewhere between los angeles and austin texas?”

The Kills play The Tabernacle in Atlanta with the Raconteurs, tonight (Wed., Oct. 1). $38.50. 8 p.m. Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. 404-659-9022. www.livenation.com.

Click below to watch the video for the song, “URA Fever”

(Photo courtesy the Kills)

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Four years ago, the Boston Globe ran a story that exposed the darker side of hitting the lottery jackpot. As expected, most achieved instant popularity as they spent winnings on expensive cars and lavish vacations. But many also shared an overwhelming sense of isolation as distant relatives came out of the woodwork seeking financial gain.

Psychologists call it sudden-wealth syndrome. Hip-hop refers to it as the Biggie Smalls theory: Mo’ money, mo’ problems.

“When I come home,” Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy states via phone, “I have to deal with my family and friends. These are people I’ve been knowing that are going through real hard times. You can’t save everybody; It’s just real, especially when you come from [equally hard times].”

And you thought he was all about clubbin’ with Usher.

It’s not your fault, though. Cats like Jeezy have built careers spitting hot 16s about cool cars and buying out bars. No other genre of music has created a wider gap between the fantasy it depicts and the reality lived by its fan base. Mainstream rappers have painted such lavish images of themselves that it’s hard to distinguish the truth.

Read the rest of this article here. 

(Photo courtesy Def Jam)

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The tornado that struck downtown Atlanta Friday night left the Tabernacle with significant roof damage and water damage inside.

The venerable concert facility owned by Live Nation has no shows scheduled until March 29. The company expects to learn the full extent of the damage on Friday.

“Structural engineers are looking at the building,” Molly Sandman, a spokeswoman for Live Nation, says. “There is damage to the roof, but we don’t know the extent of it. There’s also water damage. But we’ll get it all fixed up.”

A press release issued today by Live Nation described the damage as “significant.”

Finish reading about the Tabernacle’s damage control in the Fresh Loaf post.

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(photo courtesy Big Hassle Media)

Remember when Regina Spektor postponed her sold-out Nov. 15 concert at the Tabernacle, only to reschedule the gig for Wednesday, Dec. 5? Well, it looks like the concert has been postponed again. Here’s the explanation from her website:

Regina Spektor re-scheduled four shows at the tail end of her North American tour after collapsing on stage during soundcheck at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN on November 14th. The immediate diagnosis was vertigo, caused by a severe viral inner ear infection. She returned home to New York to rest, recover, and seek treatment. Unfortunately, according to her doctor, the infection may take many more weeks to clear, and the vertigo episodes will randomly continue to occur throughout her healing process.

Spektor’s management promises that the concert will be rescheduled soon, but won’t promise when it will happen. In the meantime, did you know you could have seen her for free a year ago at Park Tavern?

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(photo courtesy www.pro-rock.com)

Depending on which side of the Warped Tour ticket aisle you’re on, vocals from Coheed and Cambria’s lead singer Claudio Sanchez — along with the band’s kicky riffs, melodramatic lyrics and even more dramatic storyline — are probably the biggest reasons to wait through the lesser-known acts or arrive earlier for bands that make it truly an all-day event. Opening for C&C on this tour but fully capable of headlining its own, CLUTCH is no such conceptual/nu-rock group, driving home straight-up stompers that you’d expect out of some no-frills guys from Up North. Eight full-length albums in, From Beale Street to Oblivion continues the low-end, gritty rock that’s kept Clutch in the game since ‘91. Look forward to the older stuff, and any side-project tracks they decide to throw into the set. The Fall of Troy also plays. $27. 7:30 p.m. The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. 404-659-9022. www.tabernacleatl.com.

For more Sound Menu, click here.

For more See & Do, click here.

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Every rapper in the world should’ve been at Common’s concert Monday at the Tabernacle. They would’ve received a perfect tutorial in Stage Show 101. It was dramatic, emotional, climactic. And not once did he grab his crotch (not that I was looking). He even had several wardrobe changes. What rapper does that? Perhaps his producer/label head Kanye is rubbing off on him a bit.

(photos by Perry Julien)

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