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Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > May
May 2008
Usher On GMA Today — And His Performances Recently
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On his way to rehearsals for his performance this morning on “Good Morning America,” Atlanta R&B superstar Usher offered his take on his recent appearances on “Saturday Night Live” and “Dancing With The Stars”:
“First of all, understand, they’re warm-ups for me. And they allow me the opportunity to put the songs out there for a huge audience. Now when you see my show, and everything in proper context, it’s everything: It’s lighting, it’s wardrobe, it’s great sound and shot to perfection.
“With ‘SNL’ (see a YouTube video below) it’s the immediate response in front of the live audience that stood out to me. And the viewing audience for that show is it. That’s the place to be as an artist. It’s what you want.
” ‘Dancing With The Stars’ (see the YouTube videos below) I thought was fun too. A good look. A good place to introduce [his recent No. 1 single] ‘Love In This Club’ in a dance setting, on a very popular show. The finale even. And you know I love dancing.”
“But another reason I do things like that - other than promote an album - are the opportunities to step outside the box. I love that. Like when I did the Gene Kelly tribute on ‘Movie Rocks’ (YouTube video below). It’s a reminder of what a classic performance is. And that I am a product, and student of things like that. Things like Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal’ [performance]. They serve greater purposes than record promotion. They live forever. It’s not just about a moment.”
Usher added that he plans to do four songs on GMA — “Love In This Club,” his new single “Moving Mountains,” “This Ain’t Sex” and the title track to his new CD, “Here I Stand”.
Three will air on TV and the other online. If you watch, come back here and give us your review. And what about his recent appearances on “SNL” and Dancing” — “classic performances,” in your opinion?
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Madonna, Chris Rock, Rascal Flatts tickets on sale
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Madonna. Photo: Warner Bros.
The coming weekend will be a big one for ticket sales, with three high-demand shows going on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 31.
Madonna will bring her “Sticky & Sweet Tour” to Philips Arena, but you’ll have to hold on to those tickets for a while. Though tickets go on sale Saturday, the show will be just a few days before Thanksgiving, Nov. 24. Ticket prices start at $57 and go up to $352.
Chris Rock was just here in March, but demand was high enough that the comedian’s “No Apologies Tour” will return to the Fox Theatre on July 12. Tickets are $45.50. $55.50 and $75.50.
Country superstar trio Rascal Flatts will bring the “Bob That Head Tour” to Lakewood Amphitheatre on Aug. 1. Young country phenomenon Taylor Swift is also on the bill. Lawn tickets are $30, reserved seats $75.25.
Tickets for all three shows go on sale at 10 a.m. May 31 through the Live Nation site, respective box offices (except the Lakewood box office, which will be closed Saturday) and by phone at Ticketmaster (404-249-6400).
Will you be lining up (or dialing up) for tickets to any of these shows? Is Madonna worth all that cash?
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Mastodon recording with Brendan O’Brien
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mastodon (from left): Troy Sanders, Bill Kelliher, Brent Hinds and Brann Dailor. Photo: Ryan Russell.
Are you adequately prepared to rock? Well, you better be, because Mastodon is back in an Atlanta studio working on the follow-up to 2006’s mighty Grammy-nominated “Blood Mountain.”
For the new album, the megalithic roar of the Atlanta quartet will be produced by another notable local, producer Brendan O’Brien. A post on Mastodon’s official site dated May 26 reads: “sessions will be begin immediately. More details will follow soon…”
Atlanta’s O’Brien has produced Bruce Springsteen’s recent work, but first made his name shepherding albums by ’90s rockers such as Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots and Rage Against the Machine. He’s reportedly involved with the long-awaited new AC/DC album and has re-teamed with Pearl Jam for the first time since 1998.
They’ve just started working on it, so there’s no word on a title or release date for the Mastodon album. But you’ll have plenty of opportunities to catch Mastodon live in the coming months. The band will be playing at Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tenn., on June 14 before joining the Mayhem Festival tour with bands such as Disturbed and Slipknot. The Mayhem Festival hits Atlanta on August 12 at Lakewood Amphitheatre. For more info on the Mayhem fest, go to the tour’s site or Ticketmaster.
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Alicia Keys and Ne-Yo in Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The ticket may have said this was the Alicia Keys’ “As I Am” Tour Wednesday night at Philips Arena, but it sure looked like Daughters Night Out. Everywhere you turned in the less-than-capacity crowd, there were moms and daughters, dads with daughters, families with daughters, all at Philips to see one of the most talented and inspiring female artists in contemporary R&B music (above). Let’s hope mom or dad covered their ears when “American Idol” Jordin Sparks got a little sad before she sang “Freeze,” and told the audience to cherish each other “because you guys, we don’t know how long we’re going to be here.” Here’s hoping the little ones’ eyes were shielded as well, when one of Atlanta R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo’s dancers pranced suggestively in front of him, in lingerie, during “Mirror” and “Say It”. And with all of that early use of their hands, maybe they didn’t mind only having sporadic things to applaud during the main attraction, like Cedric the Entertainer’s sermon in the opening video; Keys’ dynamic performance of Prince’s “How Come You Don’t Call Me” in the middle of the curiously-paced, and sometimes sleepy two-hour set; and whenever her piano was rolled out, and she stopped with the choreography. Were you there Wednesday, and if so what did you think of the Keys show? (Look for your favorite part of the concert in the photo gallery HERE) Did her part “meaningful” singer-songwriter, part humanitarian, part Beyonce presentation work for you? What about Ne-Yo in tails, with tributes to Marvin Gaye, Jodeci, Frankie Beverly and the like? 
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R.E.M. On GPB - Tonight
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Public Broadcasting begins its 34th season of “Austin City Limits” tonight with one its own — legendary Athens rockers R.E.M. .
Michael Stipe (above), Peter Buck and Mike Mills will play from their latest CD, “Accelerate”, and will of course include the classics (“Losing My Religion”), in its hour-long show; beginning at 9 p.m. .
(Here’s the set list: “Living Well’s the Best Revenge”; “Mansize Wreath”; “Drive”; “Accelerate”; “Hollow Man”; “Electrolite”; “Houston”; “Supernatural Serious”; “Bad Day”; “Losing My Religion”; “I’m Gonna DJ”; “Horse to Water”; “Until the Day is Done”; and “Man on the Moon”.)
Are you an “Austin City Limits” fan, and if so, planning to watch? (See the “Hollow Man” performance NOW) Did you buy “Accelerate”? Think it’s getting the attention it’s deserved since its release?
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Music at Screen on the Green
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Blue Flashing Light (from left): Joshua Schwarber, Ian Schwarber, JJ Bower, Adam Monica and Ryan Cattie. Photo: Chris Mckay for ConcertShots.com. Stylist: Kim Singer.
When you think Screen on the Green, you think movies, right? Well, that’s not all you’ll get for free at the annual outdoor summer movie fest.
The weekly screenings, taking place this year at downtown’s Centennial Olympic Park, will be preceded by musical entertainment. Here is this year’s list of movies and the performers who’ll get things started each night. The music begins at about 7 p.m. with the movies scheduled to screen at about 8:30 p.m.
May 29: “Jaws” - opening entertainment: Blue Flashing Light
June 5: “Big Momma’s House” - opening entertainment: DJ Aaron Pittman
June 12: “Chicago” - opening entertainment: Damian Cartier
June 19: “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” - opening entertainment: Bria Kam
June 26: “Footloose” - opening entertainment: DJ Aaron Pittman
The event is normally held at Piedmont Park, but drought conditions have forced Screen on the Green to move to Centennial this year.
If you run into Blue Flashing Light’s frontman Ian Schwarber and his bandmates in the park during the opening night of Screen on the Green, ask them about their spring tour of China. See what Schwarber had to say about the experience here. The Athens band performed in the Sichuan capital of Chengdu in March, just a few weeks before the area was devastated by earthquakes.
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The Tabernacle Reopens Today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Promoters for the Tabernacle say they have done more improvements in the past 18 months than it took to rehab the one-time Baptist church into a concert venue in time for the Olympics.
And tonight, concertgoers can judge for themselves.
(See the most recent photo gallery HERE)
Atlanta’s historic downtown facility has been closed since the mid-March tornado tore its roof and caused a broken water pipe, among other damages. Adam Cohen, vice president of booking for Live Nation SE — which operates the Tabernacle — says they had already spent approximately $1.5 million in recent months to improve the venue. But when the storm hit, they had to shut the doors in order to make the 98-year-old building structurally sound again, as well as do more cosmetic enhancements. Shows had to be moved, canceled or rescheduled.
In its down time, Live Nation lost “in excess of a couple of hundred thousand dollars” in business, Cohen said. But he estimates they’ve put between $5 million and $6 million into the building.
“People have already heard the news that we’re about to get back up and running,” Cohen continues, “and we have had no problems booking shows.”
And when fans of the progressive rock band Dream Theater come to the sold out Tabernacle show tonight, they’ll walk up a brand new stairwell, leading to new seating, bathrooms, and a reconfigured stage with a new lighting and surround-sound system — all under a brand new ceiling.
A dream Tabernacle, perhaps?
You make the call. If you’re going to the show, afterwards, share your critique here.
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New Anthony David, Cherish and Lloyd videos
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In Music Insider and Peach Buzz over the past few weeks, there’s been reports on Atlanta singer-songwriter Anthony David (above), R&B sister group Cherish and R&B pin-up Lloyd shooting videos in their hometown.
Well now we have the actual videos.
See Anthony David’s HERE
Cherish’s (above) HERE
And Lloyd (above with dancer Che Mack) HERE Then tell us what grade you’d give each of them.
(That’s it — an especially easy request today as it is a holiday).
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Erykah Badu performs in Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Grammy-winning R&B singer Erykah Badu (above) returned to what she called “my second home” Friday night, and appropriately enough, it was hard not to get sucked into at least some part of what she has billed “The Vortex Tour.
Her 11-piece accompaniment — which included fiery Atlanta singer Keshia Jackson —played a great deal from her latest CD, “New Amerykah Part One - 4th World War”. And in the span of her two-hour set the somewhat eccentric artist also found time to tell presidential candidate Barack Obama to “Hold on!”; discuss a documentary about government occupation; toward the end, she rolled around on balls in a leotard; and closed with “The Wiz” tune, “Believe In Yourself”.
Badu’s rare performance also drew many local and national music notables. Spotted in the capacity Fox Theatre crowd Friday night were: film/video director Bryan Barber; Disturbing Tha Peace Records co-president Chaka Zulu; singers Anthony David, Gordon Chambers, Scar and Madame CJ, and walking hand-in-hand with local drummer Lil John Roberts was none other than the million-selling artist he’s been playing with of late — Jill Scott.
Scott — in town to promote the bra she designed with Ashley Stewart— actually was a surprise guest during opening act the Roots show, where she joined the hip-hop band in a rocked out version of a song Badu orignally recorded with them, “You Got Me.”
(SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE SHOW)
Were you at the Fox last night? Have a review you want to share? Surprised that Badu didn’t do more of her hits, like “Honey” or “Love Of My Life”?
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A “Happy Birthday Janet,” From Jermaine
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A week ago today, superstar Janet Jackson celebrated her 42nd birthday.
And one of the “gifts” to her fans — apparently intentionally — is a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse of life with the part-time Atlantan and her local music mogul boyfriend, Jermaine Dupri (pictured above). And it was taped, it seems, at Dupri’s direction.
On this YouTube video, you see the couple at her birthday celebration in Los Angeles, with Jackson throwing back a shot on a private jet back to Atlanta, and — believe it or not — Janet cheating.
(You’ll just have to see for yourself to understand that last one.)
After you watch the video, share what you think of this “gift”. Warning: There’s some foul language.
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Acting musicians or musicians acting?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
She & Him aka M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel. Photo: Autumn de Wilde.
While everyone is chattering about the new Scarlett Johansson album, a far superior piece of music that involves another actress sits quietly on the shelf.
If the name Zooey Deschanel sounds unfamiliar, check out her resume on the Internet Movie Database. Chances are you’ve seen her before, and she’s one of the leads in the upcoming M. Night Shymalan film “The Happening.”
Deschanel is also half of She & Him, a duo that also includes indie-rock singer-songwriter M. Ward. The pair released the low-key “Volume One” back in March.
Johansson’s “Anywhere I Lay My Head” is an admirable failure, largely due to the work of her collaborator Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio. But unexpected arrangements and instrumental invention — and the songs of Tom Waits — can only do so much. The monotonous warbling of Johansson, buried deep in the mix, drags the whole enterprise down. You can hear some samples on MySpace.
Deschanel, on the other hand, brightens everything she sings. She’s an unconventional vocalist with a hint of country twang despite her California upbringing. But there’s also a sweet sensuality in her delivery that feels cozy and comforting. For those who have been anxiously awaiting a whole album of Deschanel’s vocals since her charming duet on “Baby It’s Cold Outside” in “Elf” (with co-star Will Ferrell in the film and Leon Redbone on the soundtrack), “Volume One” is a godsend. Have a listen at the She & Him MySpace page.
Actor-turned-musician doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Most of the time, though, it’s a truly awful thing. There have to be a few more good ones, right? Got any favorites? Any that were exceptionally bad?
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Voting Starts Today For Hometown BET Nominees
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlantans are in every musical category except gospel and best female hip-hop artist at this year’s BET Awards, and today you can start voting in, well, one of them.
The would be the Viewer’s Choice Award, where the nominees are “No One” by Alicia Keys; “Lollipop,” Lil Wayne featuring Static; “Kiss Kiss,” Chris Brown featuring College Park’s T-Pain (see the video HERE); “Let It Go,” our own Keyshia Cole (above) featuring Missy Elliott and Lil Kim (see it HERE); “Crank Dat (Soulja Boy),” by the teen phenom from the 404 area code, Soulja Boy Tell ’em (go to it HERE ); and “No Air,” Jordin Sparks featuring Chris Brown.
As for the other categories with Atlantans competing, they are:
Best female R&B artist: Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Rihanna and Keyshia Cole.
Best male R&B artist: Raheem DeVaughn, Trey Songz, Chris Brown and hometown favorites Ne-Yo and J Holiday.
Best group: Danity Kane, Day 26, UGK and Atlanta’s Playaz Circle and Gnarls Barkley (somehow spelled differently on the BET site this morning).
Best male hip-hop artist: Common, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Snoop and Atlanta native Kanye West. (OK we fudged that one a bit).
Video of the year: “The Way That I Love You,” Ashanti; “Honey,” Erykah Badu; “Just Fine,” Mary J. Blige; “Int’l Players Anthem (I Choose You),” UGK and history-making local duo OutKast; “Good Life,” Kanye West and T-Pain.
Best video director: Erykah Badu and Mr. Roboto, Benny Boom, Gil Green, Chris Robinson and part-time resident Hype Williams.
Best collaboration: “Kiss, Kiss,” Chris Brown featuring T-Pain; “Let It Go,” Keyshia Cole featuring Missy Elliott and Lil Kim; “Low,” Flo Rida featuring T-Pain; “I’m So Hood (The Remix),” DJ Khaled featuring fellow Atlantans Young Jeezy, Ludacris and Big Boi, along with Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman and Rick Ross; “Good Life,” Kanye West featuring T-Pain.
And best new artist: Estelle, Flo Rida, Chrisette Michele, Soulja Boy Tell ‘em and the last of out metro area talents, The Dream.
Planning to cast your vote for the June 24 show, and if so, want to share your picks? Surprised there isn’t an Atlantan in the female hip-hop category? Or Ludacris, T.I., Young Jeezy, even Soulja Boy aren’t up for male? And with so much local gospel star power, anyone you feel should have been there with Franklin and the rest?
(Oh - and just because the Erykah Badu “Honey” video is the one nominee in the video of the year category that hasn’t gotten frequent airplay, she’s here this Friday at the Fox Theatre, AND it’s good, here’s a YouTube video of it below:
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No David Spade, but still a winning night for country newcomers Lady Antebellum
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lady Antebellum (l-r): Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood. Photo: Andrew Southam.
It’s rare for a band to get nominated for an award before releasing its debut album, but that’s what happened to Lady Antebellum. The trio was among the nominees for the Academy of Country Music’s top new duo or vocal group, and on Sunday night, Augustans Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood and their bandmate Hillary Scott went home with the award.
“It caught us off guard,” Kelley says. “We went into the weekend telling ourselves just to have no expectations and when they called out our names like that, I don’t know, I was so nervous. It was crazy. It’s funny thinking about it now, it’s such a a blur. It happened so fast.”
It wasn’t Kelley’s first time at the awards ceremony. “I actually went last year, but no one really knew who I was. I felt like an imposter last year, so this is actually the first official ACMs for us.”
It’s a good thing he got to take in the show last year, because there wasn’t much time for watching the proceedings this year. “We presented at the beginning of the show and then we got our award basically ten minutes after we presented,” Kelley says. “Then after we got done, we had to go over and do press for close to an hour. So, honestly I didn’t even get to see much of the awards show.”
Because he and his bandmates were so busy, Kelley missed an opportunity he was looking forward to. “I really wanted to meet David Spade. He was a presenter and I’m a big fan of his,” he says, but he did get to meet a fellow Georgia native. “I met Trisha Yearwood for the first time. I walked up to her and shook her hand and she says, ‘I love your new single,’ so that was kinda crazy to hear.”
And where is that award going? “You know what, I’m going to send it to my mom,” Kelley reveals. “I found out they don’t give you the actual award the night of, they send it to you. So whenever they send it to me, I’m going to send it up to her. She lives in North Carolina now, and, I don’t know, I think it’ll just be a big treat for her to have it there. You know what, if it’s in my house it’ll probably get stolen. I’m not very good at keeping my door locked. She’ll take better care of it.”
The award wasn’t the only good news for Lady Antebellum in recent days. “We found out we’ve got a top 5 single this week and with the album debuting so well, honestly, if we were to just fall off the face of the earth tomorrow, it’s been a fun little ride for us so far.”
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Usher is ‘Dancing with the Stars’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
That’s right. Atlanta’s own R&B superstar Usher Raymond will perform during Monday night’s finale (8 p.m. on ABC).
The singer/actor/husband/father/businessman is scheduled to sing his chart-topping single “Love in the Club” (read story). He’s also expected to do a choreographed rendition of the hit single “Yeah”, joined by his dancers as well as some pros from “Dancing.”
And if all of this leaves you panting for more, don’t worry. Usher’s new CD, “Here I Stand,” hits stores on May 27.
Are you tuning in to see Usher perform? Or would you rather just see the “Dancing” stars?
(“AMERICAN IDOL” BUZZ: The battle of the Davids goes down Tuesday night)
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Is Kenny Chesney Wrong?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kenny Chesney. Photo: Glen Rose.
Kenny Chesney won his fourth entertainer of the year award from the Academy of Country Music on Sunday night. After accepting, Chesney made some controversial remarks to the press backstage.
This year, the ACM allowed fans to vote in the entertainer of the year contest for the first time. Chesney criticized it as “a sweepstakes to see who can push people’s buttons the hardest on the Internet.” In previous years, the award has been voted on by music industry peers (a process similar to the Grammy Awards).
He brings up an interesting point. Should these awards be judged by the fans? After all, they’re the ones buying the CDs and the concert tickets. On the other hand, fans are casting their votes by doing just that, buying what the musicians are serving up and sending those hits up the charts. We already have fan-driven awards such as the American Music Awards and the CMT Music Awards, so is it wrong for Chesney to wish for awards shows that limit the voting to industry professionals?
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Janet and T.I. Concert News
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Part-time Atlantan Janet Jackson (top picture) has announced that she will tour for the first time in seven years, starting in September, with tickets going on sale June 7. (Read more here)
And this morning, Hot-107.9’s “A-Team” revealed that Atlanta rapper-actor T.I. (pictured below) will be a part of its annual “Birthday Bash” June 14 at Philips Arena.
It is believed to be T.I.’s first concert performance since his arrest on gun charges last October, hours before he was to take the Atlanta Civic Center stage as the top nominee at the BET Hip-Hop Awards.
(The Grammy winner has since pled guilty to those charges, in an agreement that requires at least 1,000 hours of community service followed by a sentence of one year and one day in prison).
As Jackson’s latest CD, “Discipline”, seems to have faded from the charts - and the radio dial — do you think a tour will be the spark she needs professionally? Planning to go? And what about T.I. — considering his recent troubles, and community service efforts, will it be appropriate for him to rap things such as “it’s hard to yell with the barrel in your mouth” (“Bring Em Out”)? Or contradictory?
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Jesse McCartney’s Atlanta Connections
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jesse McCartney’s transition from pop pin-up to the blue-eyed soul territory of Robin Thicke and Justin Timberlake included many stops in Atlanta.
The singer-actor’s new CD “Departure” — in stores tomorrow — features production from local talents Tricky and The Dream, Sean Garrett and The Clutch.
Just before its release, he (above) told the Atlanta Music Scene why - and how things went: “I made a shopping list of people I hoped to work with to crystallize this new sound, and way up there was Tricky and The Dream,” McCartney began.
“And before I got into the studio with them, they had already done some writing, and- confident guys that they are - they were like: ‘We think we have your first single’…So they sent me an MP3. And though I wanted to shoot whoever it was singing [the demo], I lived with it for about a week, put my stamp on it, and was like, ‘You know, I think they’re right.’ “
The single was “Leavin’,” the first release from his third CD “Departure” - as Tricky and The Dream predicted — and one of two songs McCartney has in the Top of Billboard’s pop charts this week. (He co-wrote Leona Lewis’s recent No. 1 single “Bleeding Love” - now at No. 2; and his “Leavin’ ” is at No. 12).
“I wanted to work with The Clutch [Candice Nelson, Ezekiel “Zeke” Lewis, Patrick “J.Que” Smith, Balewa Muhammad and Keri Hilson] because I’d heard the stuff they’d done with Timbaland and for Mary J. Blige,” McCartney continued. “I knew their writing abilities. But I also know how amazing they are with vocal production. And again, this time out was about strengthening and really pushing myself vocally in the R&B department. And J.Que and Balewa definitely paid attention to that.”
“And with Sean Garrett - I mean, the man has had nine No. 1 hits in the last four or five years. He has an unbelievable track record. And I have to say he is one of the people I was intimidated to work with, at first. I know what he did for Usher. And how Usher was completely freaked out about doing [the Garrett production] ‘Yeah!’ .
“So when I get to the studio - he was already working on the first track - and when I got in there, he was rapping. And I was like, ‘Oh oh, here we go!’. I said, “Sean, I’m not a rapper. I’m not about to be rapping on this album, at all! And he just looked at me, and he smiled, and he said ‘I didn’t write that for you. I wrote that for myself.’ And we just clicked like instantaneously…Now he’s become like a mentor to me. We still keep in touch. We made a lot of good records together.”
McCartney added that he didn’t spend much time hanging out in Atlanta when he was here. “I was basically going from the hotel to the studio,” he said “I did get to go to the R. Kelly show at Philips Arena. Hit up a couple of adult bars, if you will. Some restaurants — like Bones I went to a lot of times. But I was mainly in the studio, putting together a record I hope people will enjoy.”
Think McCartney may have Robin Thicke-like potential? Like his first single,”Leavin’ “? Remember his first hit, “Beautiful Soul”, back in 2004?
If not, see a YouTube video for “Soul” as well as “Leavin’ “, below.
(And notice how much he’s grown).
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T.I. Welcomes New Son
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta rapper-actor T.I. and fiancee Tameka “Tiny” Cottle (in the top picture above) welcomed their second child together, Major Harris, early Friday morning in an Atlanta area hospital.
T.I.’s label publicist said he was 7 pounds, 4 ounces at birth, and he and his parents are due to go home today. There’s still the matter, it seems, of a middle name for Major.
With siblings named Domani Uriah, Messiah Ya’Majesty, Dejah Iman and King C’Andre - many of whom are pictured with T.I. and Cottle in the second picture above - any suggestions? Or just want to send your congratulations?
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Rate The “New” Cee-Lo/Jack Black Single
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Granted, the big news out of “Kung Fu Panda” these days is that co-star Angelina Jolie is having twins, but of course we’ve found an Atlanta connection.
Our local Grammy winner/Gnarls Barkley frontman/former - and returning?- Goodie Mob member/Pussycat Dolls penman/and underappreciated solo force Cee-Lo (above) has teamed up with the almost-equally-outrageous actor/rocker Jack Black, and they have remade “Kung Fu Fighting” for the soundtrack of Black’s “Kung Fu Panda,” due in theaters nationwide June 6.
“A fan of the song first, it was inspiring and an honor to have the opportunity to reintroduce the record to a brand new audience sprinkled with a little of me on top,” Cee-Lo said in a press release.
Hear a snippet HERE - it’ll be available to download May 27 — and tell us what you think.
If you’re interested, watch a trailer from the animated film HERE
And to get your weekend off to a comical start, here’s two YouTube videos of the No. 1 1974 original by Carl Douglas, below:
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Usher’s Mom Launches New Label
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
![jonnetta press photo[10].JPG](http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/MusicScene/upload/2008/05/jonnetta%20press%20photo%5B10%5D.JPG)
Atlanta’s JPat Management President/CEO Jonnetta Patton (above) has started her own independent record label - JPat Records — and two new acts on her roster are performing today
R&B group Kwiet Storm (above) and R&B artist Donte will sing at the 30th Annual Bauder College student fashion show tonight at AmericaMart. You can see a live stream of their performances HERE at 8 p.m. . AND you can hear Kwiet Storm’s first single “Get To Know You” now. Patton, as many know, was her superstar son Usher’s longtime manager. And she is still guiding the career of his producing younger brother, JLack (who has already scored a hit with the Lloyd single “Get It Shorty”; and whose work will be on his sibling’s upcoming CD, “Here I Stand”). What did you think of the production on “Get It Shorty”? What about the single here, “Get To Know You”? Interested in being on the new label?![jpat records Kwiet storm press photo[6].JPG](http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/MusicScene/upload/2008/05/jpat%20records%20Kwiet%20storm%20press%20photo%5B6%5D.JPG)
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Breaking down and blowing up with the Hives
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Hives, including frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist (second from left).
Even globe-trotting international rock stars have cars that break down in the middle of a tunnel every once in a while.
The first time Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist of the Hives was supposed to talk with us about his band’s upcoming Atlanta gig, his car konked out on him.
“I have this old car that I use in the summer because it looks cool,” he says. “It’s an old Mercedes convertible. I was trying to get it out of the garage, and there was something wrong with it, so it sounds like you’re honking your horn all of the time. And it stalled in the middle of a tunnel … Then I get the car started and I managed drive it — with the horn honking — out into an illegal parking spot where it is now. The story is much longer than that, but you know…”
And 24 hours later, he told his tale of car trouble over the phone from his home in Sweden, just two weeks before the dynamic frontman and his garage-rocking Hives begin a short North American tour in Atlanta tonight at Center Stage.
And what is it with the Hives and explosions (check the first single, “Tick Tick Boom” from the band’s latest, “The Black and White Album”? They seem to have a fascination with them. “Yes we do,” Almqvist says. “Well, I think, to be fair, rock ’n’ roll has always had an obsession with explosives, from all the rockabilly songs about the atomic bomb. It just sounds good. It has something to do with the way the music makes you feel. If it’s a rock ’n’ roll song and it makes you think about things blowing up, that’s usually a good thing. That means it’s successful as a rock ’n’ roll song.”
And how does one of rock’s most energetic frontmen stay in shape?
“I don’t really stay still a lot. I’m just kind of a restless guy. I walk all the time.”
The Hives play tonight, May 15, at Center Stage. Tickets are $20. 1374 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta. 404-885-1365, www.centerstage-atlanta.com.
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Tabernacle To Reopen May 28
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Promoter Live Nation confirmed this afternoon that the Tabernacle will reopen May 28 with the Dream Theater (above) show. The 98-year-old Baptist church-turned-concert venue took a major hit during the March 14 tornado, including roof damage and a broken water pipe. Several shows booked at the Tabernacle were moved, rescheduled or canceled. Have you missed the Tabernacle the past couple of months? Any concerns about returning? Attend one of the relocated shows, and discover a new favorite local venue?
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Second Chastain Series Announced
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Series and mini-series tickets for the Live Nation Concert Series B go on sale this Sunday, and we have the line-up:
Lyle Lovett (above)
July 6
Tony Bennett
July 24
B.B. King & Willie Nelson
July 27
Journey
August 3
with special guests Heart & Cheap Trick
(Non Table Set-Up)
Collective Soul/Live/Blues Traveler
August 17
(Non Table Set-Up)
Backstreet Boys
August 20
Dave Stewart & His 30-Piece Rock Fabulous Orchestra
August 31
David Byrne - The Songs of Byrne & Eno
September 20
The Allman Brothers Band
October 10 & 11
(Non Table Set-Up)
Tickets for the entire series or any combination of three or more shows will be available at www.chastainseries.com or by phone, by calling Chastain Tickets at 404-233-2227.
Interesting line-up to you? Plan to attend?
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Eagles, Encore, 12,000 fans: The scene
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Eagles have been around since 1971.
Encore Park has been up and running since Saturday.
But the spankin’ new Alpharetta amphitheater turned to the well-aged rock vets Wednesday night to kick off its first rock concert of the season. The night was a dual opening: for Encore’s summer rock show season, and for the Eagles’ summer tour. Folks seemed impressed with Encore (the full name of which is Verizon Wireless Amphitheater at Encore Park), which feels like Chastain on steroids. It’s twice the size (it holds 12,000-plus to Chastain’s 6,500), and it still has that new arena smell.
The new facility got high marks from the crowd. “It’s awesome; it’s one of the best looking venues I’ve seen,” said Snellville’s Brian Warner, a student at Georgia Perimeter College. He and girlfriend Lindsey Newman sat on a plastic tarp on the large sloping rear lawn, where even the cheap seats go for $80 on this particular high-priced show.
Some folks started traditions right out of the gate. Randy and Linda Pulliam of Dacula and friends tailgated in the A parking lot, complete with covered table, lemon drop martinis, wine and a feast. Eagles songs blared from an iPod plugged into speakers in the back of their SUV.
The tailgaters caught the eye of Paul and Bowe Land of Roswell. “We saw the tailgaters and said damn, that looks like fun,” said Paul, while eating concession stand pizza from a cardboard box. “Next time we’ll get here early to try that.”
Unlike Chastain, there’s no picnicing inside. Also unlike Chastain, people seemed to be there more for the music than to chat. At Eagles prices - $190 for regular seats, $1,000 for front row through a “broker” - it pays to pay attention.
The Eagles gave value for those prices, however, playing 30 songs in a set that lasted way past three hours. About 10 of the songs were new ones from “Long Road Out of Eden,” the double CD they released last year, and the audience was respectful and sometimes even enthusiastic toward the new material.
But it was the oldies that made the venue go nuts, in a middle-aged way, from the chiming guitar intro to “Hotel California” to the old Joe Walsh material like “Life’s Been Good.” Walsh stole the show, and the others seemed happy to indulge him, from goofing with a “Helmet-Cam” pointed into the audience to tearing off amazing guitar licks. I saw Walsh and the Eagles almost 30 years ago, and while the band plays with an admirably consistent professionalism through the years, Walsh is the rock ‘n’ roll equivalent of single-malt Scotch.
The Eagles have three more shows scheduled at Encore on Friday, Saturday and next Tuesday. All are sold out, but there are tickets being offered on ebay. If your timing and luck are good you might score some without paying too much of a markup.
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A Ludacris Schedule This Week
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Some people power their way through the work week with caffeine in the morning and energy drinks midday.
For Ludacris, however, his fuel is chicken lollipops.
That’s what Atlanta’s multimedia star jokingly told us during the grand opening of his Straits restaurant in Midtown Tuesday.
One hectic day — of many — for Ludacris this week.
Monday he was welcomed back to his old high school, Banneker, where the gymnasium was renamed after him. Tonight his Ludacris Foundation is honoring NBA legend-turned-entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson, V-103’s Frank Ski and his Frank Ski Foundation as well Anheuser-Busch. And Thursday he launches wemix.com, “an online record label for the people”, as he calls it, where unsigned artists can produce and share their music, and get critiques from the three-time Grammy winner himself.
“I’m taking it all one hour at a time,” Ludacris said on the crowded red carpet alongside Straits. “I’m eating chicken lollipops baby — every five hours. So I can make sure I can get through this.”
Oh - and did we mention that all week long a trail of cameras and crew people have been following him and legendary rocker Tommy Lee as they tape “Battleground Earth”, for the Discovery Channel?
“It’s been so much fun, so good,” Ludacris said. “We’ve gone to the 9th Ward [in New Orleans] - right where the levees broke — and we built solar panels for a church. Ironically, the name of the church we gave something back to is called Battleground Church. It was crazy.
“We went to Oakland, Cal.,” he continued. “And the whole show was about recycling. So basically we went to an Oakland A’s game. And you know how people throw trash out after the baseball game? Well we got some kids and we recycled all of this trash. You know you can exchange trash for cash, right? Well we got so much cash - like thousands of dollars -that we bought all of this alternative grass for a park that was really run down. Totally redid it. We were playing football on it, and welcomed a bunch of Oakland’s inner city youth to come play. I’m loving the show ‘Battleground Earth’; and it comes on in August.”
His “Battleground” companion Lee — or as he occasionally calls him, “Toxic Tommy”— was at Straits Tuesday (both pictured above), and was surprised by the fare (which includes chicken lollipops, and Ludacris’s other personal favorites: sea bass, salmon and the roti bread).
“When [Ludacris] said it was Thai, I was like, ‘What?!’,” Lee said. “It just completely took me by surprise. I figured it would be soul food or barbecue.
“But I should have known with him, to expect the unexpected,” he added about his buddy “Luda the Polluta” (Lee’s nickname for him). “In all of hip-hop, his style and the things he says are actually like, legitimate. Because there’s a lot of like stupid [expletive] out there where it’s all about the club, and the this and the that. He’s actually saying things. Different things. I think he’s just extremely clever and I’ve been a fan of his for a long time. So to get a chance to do anything together -whether its make music or make a fun TV show —whatever, we’re having a great time.”
Joining Lee in that great time at Straits was actress Vivica A. Fox; NBA great Alonzo Mourning; former mayor Andrew Young; radio personalities Ski - with wife Tanya —and Q-100’s Bert Weiss; Sister 2 Sister magazine’s Jamie Foster Brown; 100 Black Men of Atlanta’s Thomas Dortch; Bronner Bros. executive Bernard Bronner as well as Ludacris’s mom, Roberta Shields.
Have you made it to Straits yet? (It’s actually been open to the public a couple of weeks). Interested in “Battleground Earth”? Spotted Ludacris and Lee around the city this week?
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Dancing With Atlanta Star Tonight
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Look closely at the Michael Jackson tribute tonight on ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars”, and you’ll see Atlanta’s own Eshe of Grammy-winning rap group Arrested Development.
Travis Payne choreographed the medley - which will also feature R&B singer Omarion - and solicited the fellow Atlantan (pictured above, left, with former AD member Dionne Farris).
“I submitted my piece in April, an African dance to ‘Wanna Be Starting Something’,” Eshe said. “And by the end of the month I was in L.A. at rehearsals.”
The tribute was actually taped May 6, the dancer/singer added. “And it was so great because ‘Dancing With The Stars’ tapes right next to ‘American Idol’, and [‘Idol’] was doing its 100th episode. Everyone was there, and I got to meet a lot of people — Vivica Fox, Paula Abdul, Raven Symone, Marques Houston, Chris Stokes; and everybody was so cool.”
“The whole experience was just incredible,” continued Eshe, who along with AD, just completed another campaign stop/performance with Barack Obama; as well as a charity performance for Josh Rifkind’s “500 Songs For Kids” at Smith’s Olde Bar. “And I’m praying that from this experience, I can be a contestant [on ‘Dancing’]. Because dancing is my first love…and I believe I am the first hip-hop female artist to be on that show.”
Are you an Arrested Development fan? A “Dancing With The Stars” watcher? Think Eshe would make a good contestant?
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Clap Hands: Tom Waits returns to Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tom Waits. Photo: Michael O’Brien.
The last time Tom Waits came to play Atlanta — in August 2006 — it had been about 30 years since he had performed here.
Now, less then two years have passed, and he’s coming back.
Waits’ music — distinguished by his guttural growl and stark, vivid character sketches — is idiosyncratic, often poignant and unlike anything else. He’s among the music world’s most beloved cult figures — and that’s why his 2006 Tabernacle gig sold out in less than 30 minutes.
Tickets for Waits’ July 5 show at the Fox Theatre go on sale Friday, May 16, at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster, and only through Ticketmaster (online at Ticketmaster.com and at 404-249-6400). There will be none available at retail outlets or the box office. All tickets sold through Ticketmaster will be paperless; buyers will not receive paper tickets. You must take the credit card used to purchase tickets and a government-issued photo ID for entry, and your entire party must enter the venue at the same time. Tickets are non-transferable. There will be a limit of 2 tickets per order per household. Duplicate orders will be canceled. For more information go to Ticketmaster.com/tomwaits. Tickets are $65 and $85, plus applicable fees.
Will you be working out your dialing finger and/or firing up the modem Friday morning for Waits tickets? It could be a long time until the next time — or it could be two years. With Waits, you never know.
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Monica’s TV Turn
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta R&B singer Monica IS headed for the airwaves, but not “Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
Her longtime manager Melinda Dancil shot us a note denying reports on MediaTakeOut that the Grammy winner may appear on a local version of the Bravo reality series.
But “she is doing a very HOT TV show”, Dancil said; adding that she will get us the details as soon as possible.
Interested in seeing Monica (above, with her first son Rodney Hill III) on TV? Looking forward to what she does next, musically?
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Single - and cheaper - Chastain tickets on sale today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For some Atlantans, it’s not officially summer until they load up the cooler, dust off the candelabra and lug it all up to Chastain Park Ampitheatre for some music under the stars.
Well, to those Atlantans, it’s that time again.
Individual tickets go on sale today for the Delta Classic Chastain season. And because this is the 35th anniversary of the series, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is offering a limited number of $35 tickets.
But wait, there’s more: Country superstar Trace Adkins (above) and Tony Award winner Idina Menzel have been added to the series lineup, as have Marty Stuart and the Del McCoury Band, who are scheduled to headline the “Kickin’ Pickin’ Bluegrass Party”.
So here’s the entire series bill, so far:
Saturday, June 14
Chris Botti and Paula Cole
Wednesday, June 18
Frankie Valli
Friday, June 20
Melissa Etheridge
Saturday, June 21
George Benson with special guest Earl Klugh and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: A Special Tribute to Nat King Cole
Wednesday, June 25
Kenny G
Friday, June 27
Emmylou Harris
Saturday, June 28
Edwin McCain with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Wednesday, July 2
Boz Scaggs with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Wednesday, July 9
Soul Asylum and Gin Blossoms
Friday, July 11
Trace Adkins and Ronnie Milsap
Saturday, July 12
The Temptations and The Four Tops
Wednesday, July 16
Michael McDonald and Al Green
Friday, July 18
Idina Menzel
Saturday, July 19
Corey Smith
Friday, July 25
Boyz II Men and Morris Day & The Time
Wednesday, July 30
Jill Scott
Friday, August 1
Hootie and the Blowfish - Homegrown Tour 2008
Saturday, August 2
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Wednesday, August 6
“The Kickin’ Pickin’ Bluegrass Party” featuring Marty Stuart and the Del McCoury Band and Doyle Lawson
Friday, August 8
Hippiefest featuring Eric Burdon & The Animals, Jack Bruce of Cream, The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, Melanie, Badfinger featuring Joey Molland, Jonathan Edwards
Saturday, August 9
Gipsy Kings
Wednesday, August 13
Beach Boys with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Friday, August 22
G. Love & Special Sauce
Saturday, August 23
Sister Hazel with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Wednesday, August 27
TBA
Friday, August 29
Regeneration Tour 2008: The Human League, Belinda Carlisle, ABC, A Flock of Seagulls, Naked Eyes
Saturday, September 13
Indigo Girls
Individual tickets and subscription packages are available at the ASO Season Ticket Office (1280 Peachtree St. at 15th St.), 404-733-4800 and classicchastain.com.
Ever been to a Chastain show? Already purchase one of the subscription packages for this season? Is the new $35 ticket offer making you consider one (or more) of the shows now?
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Usher’s Latest Atlanta Connection
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Usher is such a multi-hyphenate at this moment, it’s almost easy to forget we first got to know him as a singer.
At last count the Atlanta superstar (above) was a husband, a father, an actor, a restaurateur, a fragrance endorser, and a part owner of an NBA team. Now his nonprofit organization New Look has gone into business with Atlanta’s WNBA team the Dream, so that the kids in the foundation can get hands-on experience in sports management, player development and game day operations and marketing.
“The Atlanta Dream shares Usher’s commitment to inspiring young men and women to reach their dreams,” Atlanta Dream President and COO Bill Bolen said in a press release. “We are excited to partner with Usher’s New Look Foundation and look forward to the New Look youth participating with us this season.”
“I’m extremely excited about Camp New Look’s partnership with the Atlanta Dream, and look forward to witnessing how this new partnership motivates our young people to even greater heights,” Usher said in the same press release. “We wanted to do something extra special for our students, and I’m happy that the Atlanta Dream has provided an avenue for our young entrepreneurs to attain real life experience.”
Usher’s foundation also partnered with the NHL during its All-Star weekend in Atlanta. Did you attend any of the events he hosted? Anticipating his new CD, “Here I Stand”?
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Baby D Calls From Jail
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last we reported on Atlanta rapper Baby D here, it was about him being in an Ohio jail — without bond — following his arrest for allegedly trafficking cocaine.
Well, he’s still there.
But at least now he sees a bit of daylight.
Baby D (above) rang his mother, who in turn rang us, to let his Atlanta fans know “I’m cool, cool. Just holding it down until my court date, May 20. Hopefully I can get a bond…I will be exonerated on all charges.”
(D also has three pending assault charges in Tennessee, according to his Koch Records label).
“It’s just a little misconception,” he said. “We’ll be able to answer to that, and the other one. People just try to make you guilty by association. And it’s all about the facts.”
The member of Atlanta’s Big Oomp camp noted that he’s been reading a lot since he was locked up on March 26. “I was reading a book called ‘The 48 Laws of Power,’ and one of the things they say in it is don’t wear yourself out. Sometimes if you disappear for a minute it makes people anticipate you’re coming back. So maybe this is a blessing in disguise.”
D also added that his latest CD, “A-Town Secret Weapon” - released last week - “is doing really well…My fans stick by me and have stayed loyal…We’re preparing for the second single, ‘Girls Gone Wild’… And we’re planning a big ‘Welcome Home’ when I’m found innocent.”
Do you think Baby D’s incarceration may in some way revive interest in the artist, whose first/last hit was the 2000 single “Eastside Vs. Westside”? Are you a Baby D fan? Bought “A-Town Secret Weapon”?
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Tina Turner Returns to the Road
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Still feisty and fabulous, Tina Turner performs at the Grammy Awards ceremony in February 2008. She’ll return to touring later this year. Photo: Associated Press/Kevork Djansezian.
Not even retirement could keep Tina Turner down for long. The vocal powerhouse — still with a pair of legs that just won’t quit — returns to the road, about eight years after her 2000 farewell tour. She’ll be performing in Atlanta at Philips Arena on Nov. 9, but tickets go on sale Monday, May 19, at 10 a.m. They’ll be available at the Philips Arena box office and all Ticketmaster locations, or at 404-249-6400 and online at Ticketmaster.com.
Following a comeback performance on the Grammys earlier this year, the 68-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Famer apparently decided that she missed the stage, so she’ll be doing a 17-city North American tour.
Turner joins a long list of retirement recanters: Jay-Z, Kiss, the Who, David Bowie, to name a few.
So remember, next time someone in the music business tells you they’re retiring, don’t believe them. They’ll be back.
Will you be lining up for tickets to see a rock legend in action? Could this one really be the last time around?
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Big names for 500 Songs for Kids
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cee-Lo Green celebrates his record label debut of Radiculture Records in Atlanta, Ga. on May 10, 2007. He’s among the headliners for the charity event 500 Songs for Kids. (Mikki K. Harris / AJC staff)
The second annual 500 Songs for Kids event is in full swing at Smith’s Olde Bar, and organizer Josh Rifkind has some big guns coming in for the finale.
The fundraiser for children’s charities puts Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 greatest songs of all time in the hands of 500 artists over 10 nights. This year, the final night includes some very cool musical pairings: Arrested Development takes on Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” Shawn Mullins does John Lennon’s “Imagine,” Angie Aparo will sing Don McLean’s “American Pie” and Cee-Lo, best known these days as half of Gnarls Barkley, will perform the Beatles’ “Hey Jude.” Also scheduled for the last evening are Butch Walker and some of the talented guys from Sheryl Crow’s band. And there are always some surprises.
The best part is that all the money raised goes to help children in need, both through Rifkind’s own Songs for Kids Foundation and many other participating charities. Songs for Kids Foundation brings musicians to sick, troubled and needy children at camps and hospitals. They perform for the kids, but also interact with the youngsters, encouraging them to dance, sing and play along.
500 Songs for Kids continues nightly through Saturday, May 10. 6:30 p.m. May 8-9, $10. 6 p.m. May 10, $20. Smith’s Olde Bar, 1578 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-875-1522, www.smithsoldebar.com.
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Madonna’s coming to Atlanta November 24
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Madonna is returning to Atlanta for the first time since 2004 on her new “Sticky & Sweet” tour. She’ll be hitting Philips Arena November 24, with tickets going on sale May 31.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame winner will be 50 by then but she’s been working hard not to show her age. Her latest album “Hard Candy” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard sales chart last week, moving 280,000 copies. This is her 7th No. 1 album, the second most of all female artists except Barbra Streisand. Her single “4 Minutes” (featuring Justin Timberlake) became her 37th top 10 hit, the most in the rock era, just ahead of Elvis.
Tickets will range from $55 to $350. Fan club members and Citicard members (http://privatepass.citi.com) will get early access.
Live Nation is handling the tour. After this album, Live Nation will also oversee her music in an unusual partnership.
Madonna skipped Atlanta for her 2006 Confessions tour.
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Joey Sommerville Makes Major Move
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Another day, another major record label move on the Atlanta Music Scene.
Tuesday Shane Harrison reported here that rap duo Rehab has been resurrected as a quintet by original member Danny Boone; and it has a deal with Universal Republic.
Now there’s news that much-buzzed-about local trumpeter Joey Sommerville (above) has inked a deal with with Three Keys Music — a label launched by BET founder Robert Johnson and pianist/businessman Marcus Johnson, and distributed by Koch. (Guess that will make him labelmates, of sorts, with Ray J, DJ Khaled and others).
“Joey is a great musician and he understands the new music business model,” Marcus Johnson said in a press release. “His talent, tremendous work ethic and drive have allowed him to create a truly incredible album.”
Sommervile’s latest CD, “Like You Mean It,” will be released next week, with guest appearances from Wayman Tisdale, Mike Phillips, Marion Meadows and Phil Perry.
And on May 15, there’ll be a CD release party/performance at Sambuca Jazz Cafe, from which Sommerville’s performances have been broadcast live each Thursday on Smooth Jazz 107.5.
Have you heard and/or seen Sommerville perform before? Planning to pick up the CD and/or go to the shows at Sambuca? Are there are any other jazz acts bubbling under on the Atlanta Music Scene that you think merit national exposure?
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A Second Act for Rehab
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rehab’s 2000 release “Southern Discomfort”
It’s been nearly 8 years since Georgia duo Rehab released “Southern Discomfort,” a shotgun wedding of rap and redneck that was oodles more fun than most of its hick-hopping brethren.
Though “It Don’t Matter” was a hit on modern rock radio, the duo soon went their separate ways. Brooks Buford went to Jermaine Dupri’s SoSoDef label, which released his “Straight Outta Rehab” in Europe, though some label shuffling meant it never got a proper U.S. release. He’s been working on the follow-up, “Suspicious Package,” and spent some time as host of MTV’s makeover show “Trailer Fabulous.”
The other half of Rehab, Danny Boone, has resurrected the group as a quintet and just signed with Universal Republic after a re-recorded version of “Sittin’ at a Bar” (originally on “Southern Discomfort”) started getting attention on the Internet and in jukeboxes. The label will reissue the new Rehab’s 2005 independent release, “Graffiti the World,” with three new tracks “later this spring,” according to a press release from Universal Republic. Hear some of the new stuff here and here.
Does anyone else have fond memories of “Southern Discomfort”? It was chock full of terrific turns of phrase (still love the band’s use of this old chestnut: “I got a drinkin’ problem, man, one mouth and two hands”). Will you check out the new stuff?
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Kanye West Lands In Duluth
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hip-hop phenom Kanye West finally brought his live show to his Atlanta fans Sunday night, and while his Glow In The Dark tour may feel a little past his latest CD’s expiration date, his concert was something light years from now.
Whatever epoch his visually arresting stage show was set in, apparently it was not a time when anyone other West (above) needed to be on the Arena at Gwinnett Center stage — as his incredible band was set just underneath him in an orchestra pit, and in all black. Apparently it was also not a time where any other recording artists should make an appearance with him — as the only person who joined West was opener, rapper Lupe Fiasco on one of the closing tunes, “Touch The Sky”. And apparently it was not a place much on typical audience banter either — as the only time West seemed to kind of acknowledge where he was was during “Good Life”, when he changed the chorus to “The good life — it feel[s] like A-Town/it feel[s] like A-Town/it feel[s] like A-Town!”
The capacity crowd, however, had no problem acknowledging West, as it remained on its feet almost the entire concert as the 10-time Grammy winner gave what felt like a breathless, almost athletic 90-minute performance. And again, it was just him in a kind of urban, universal soldier get-up; his spectacular, crashed-space-ship stage outfitted with everything from movie-like lighting, white and yellow flame blasts to an unnecessary (and unfortunate) near-naked plastic woman; and a three-CD catalog made up of some of the biggest hits (“Stronger,” “Gold Digger”, “Through The Wire”) of the past four years.
The first highlight may have come a mere half an hour in, when he went into the chorus of the DJ Toomp-produced “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”, the house lights came up, and seemingly everyone in the arena was singing “Naaaaa/Naaa/Na-na/ Wait til I get my money right!”
And even with the lights lowered it was hard not to spot the numerous music (Chris Brown, Bow Wow, Musiq, Scar), music industry (Quincy Jones, Jermaine Dupri, Chaka Zulu, Shakir Stewart, Phillana Williams, Catherine Brewton, DJs Nabs and Doc, Rico Brooks, Ricardo Spicer, Keinon “Sleep” Johnson, Ron Hurd), TV (Kenny Burns, Ryan Glover) and sports (Jamal Anderson) stars in attendance.
The dynamic West more than made up for the lack of energy in Rihanna’s 30 minute-plus set, which the widely diverse audience mostly stood and watched like it was a fashion show. (And to her credit, the singer - in fishnet stockings and a tight, black, short, leather one-piece with hot pink piping — was certainly fashionable).
Perhaps Rihanna was just worn out from the N.E.R.D. show that preceded hers, where producer/recording artist/singer/pin-up Pharrell Williams’ ensemble surged through their lesser-known singles with the kinetic energy of a punk band.
And where West was clearly “the biggest star in [this] universe” — as that unfortunate plastic woman “told” him during the show— Rihanna, the eye candy, and N.E.R.D. the electric current, timely opener Fiasco was hip-hop at its best, and most basic: Just him, a DJ, and something thoughtful to say.
Were you in the capacity crowd last night? How would you rate the show? Do you think he and Rihanna should have toured when their latest CDs were hotter, or did Glow in the Dark feel timely to you?
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Atlanta Music Scene Offers Hawks Advice
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Down 3-2 in the best of 7 series, and coming back tonight to Philips Arena, we figured the Atlanta Hawks would appreciate some hometown tips.
And who better to offer some, here, than two Atlanta music notables who actually show up to games — frequently:
“Continue to show heart [like they did in Atlanta], offensive rebound and penetrate the perimeter,” rapper-actor T.I. says. “Most importantly, keep Ray Allen inside the 3 point line and KG outside the 3 point. They’ve already surpassed a lot of expectations.”
“Keep going to the hole,” adds producer Polow Da Don (above), actually a Hawks season ticket holder. “Just drive, drive, drive! Because one thing we’ve learned about Kevin Garnett [in the Atlanta games] is he’s not as mean as people thought he was. He’s not as strong as we thought he was and he’s not as physical as we thought he was.
“I think that’s just his image. Really, he can’t check Josh Smith. Josh Smith could be LeBron James — he’s just lacked that confidence. But he stepped up and led emotionally, and by example, Saturday and Monday. And [the Hawks] are breaking and exposing Boston, because they’ve been reduced to being physical.
“Now they just have to keep trusting each other,” Da Don — always passionate — continues. “Now it’s only a question of heart. I think they’ve beat Boston already. They actually couldn’t wait to get out of here. Now we have to finish the job. As veterans, [Boston has] the experience to know how to do that. We don’t. But all the Hawks need to know is when they hit that wall, keep pushing…Keep playing with heart. Like [Josh] Childress. Like Al Horford — he stepped up and made everybody believe in our team. We’ve always had the talent.
“I went on Hot-107.9 like 10 games into this season and said that. Said that we could be in the playoffs, if we had a leader. An emotional leader. And never before in Atlanta have I seen the excitement in a crowd, just the energy that I felt… And I was there when the Falcons were making their Super Bowl run too. But Saturday night I was looking around at [rapper] Young Jeezy and everybody, [R&B singer] Ciara was texting me, it was crazy. It was like it must have been like to watch Dominique Wilkins play. Atlanta felt like L.A. for a minute.”
Pretty sound advice, in your opinion? Seen any other music celebs at the Hawks games? Plan to be there tonight?
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A “Catch” for Ken Will Morton
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Athens musician Ken Will Morton got some national exposure this week thanks to the Discovery Channel’s gritty adventure/reality series, “Deadliest Catch.”
The bluesy “Oh Lord,” from Morton’s latest album “King of Coming Around,” provided part of the soundtrack to this week’s new episode on Tuesday. The show will repeat this weekend at 9 p.m. Saturday, May 3. To celebrate, Morton’s label, Fundamental Records, is offering the disc for just $5.
You can hear “Oh Lord” and more of Morton’s music at his MySpace page. He’ll be playing at Eddie’s Attic on May 4 and at Park Tavern on June 1.
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