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February 2009
Atlanta Music Scene Has Moved To WordPress
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Slowly but surely, the Atlanta Music Scene blog has been transitioning to WordPress - a bigger and better blogging and commenting experience!
See you there, at http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-music-scene/
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Hoax or not? Joaquin Phoenix rumored “secret” guest tonight at Lenny’s Bar
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Actor Joaquin Phoenix, who recently showed up on David Letterman to promote his film “Two Lovers” in a most bizarre way possible, is rumored to be a guest performer tonight at Lenny’s Bar (486 Decatur St., Atlanta).
Until mid afternoon today, Phoenix’s name was on the MySpace page of Lenny’s, which fashions itself to be a dive bar with a capacity of about 400.
Phoenix’s name was recently stripped off the page and changed to “SUPER SECERT [sic] PERFORMANCE TONIGHT!”
The person who answered the phone at Lenny’s early this afternoon didn’t know what was going to happen tonight and said the manager wouldn’t be in until 7 p.m. A promoter Bean Summer whose email is on the MySpace page did not confirm nor deny the rumor to me earlier today but he told another promoter Alex Weiss that it’s not true, according to Paste magazine
According to blogger Nikita Gale, the show starts at 10 p.m. and costs $5. Acts include Yelawolf, Priceless, Young Trimm and Killer Mike. She said she received a bulletin that stated:
PLEASE NO PHOTOGRAPHY DURING Joaquin Phoenixx SET! THIS IS NOT A JOKE! WE COULD NOT TELL PEOPLE TILL TODAY! ( YOU CAN REPOST IF YOU LIKE!!) Joaquin Phoenixx will be bring his REAL RAP GAME! GET READY ATL!!!!!!!!!!”
Phoenix told Letterman he was leaving acting and going into hip hop. A lot of people are speculating that this is one grandiose joke. His brother-in-law Casey Affleck is taping a documentary about his musical career.
Here’s that now classic David Letterman/Phoenix interaction a couple weeks ago:
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Ne-Yo At The Fox Theatre
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo chose his sold-out homecoming last night at the Fox Theatre to show off all of his Las Vegas upbringing.
From the moment his music cranked up around 10:15 p.m., and for the next 75 minutes or so, it was total show.
A show, first, of the kind of class the artist born Shaffer Smith brings to popular music. His eight-piece band — wait, we can stop right there. After all, how often do you see a band accompanying a young artist? (And we’re talking a band with a horn section, not just a phalanx of keyboard players).
But back to the initial point — his eight-piece band was sharply dressed in crisp white shirts, suit pants and vests.
Then, of course, there was the non-stop show of hits (“Because of You,” “So Sick,” a really nicely reworked “Do You” and the currently inescapable “Miss Independent”); as well as Ne-Yo’s process as a James Brown/Michael Jackson/Usher-like (take your pick) dancer.
And the bonus was when the three-time Grammy winner showed — or more than likely, simple reminded — the heavily-female audience of his contributions as a songwriter in a medley. While the response to his take on Beyonce’s “Irreplaceable” and Jennifer Hudson’s “Spotlight” was certainly spirited, it was hard not to miss how loudly and vigorously the crowd sang along to Rihanna’s “Take A Bow.” Especially the first line: “You look so dumb right now.”
“Shout-out Rihanna!” he yelled mid-song, to applause. “I love you baby!”
“Ah hell, we in the A-T-L!” Ne-Yo also remarked several times during the show, clearly pleased by the reception he got on his first headlining tour in his mere three years as a recording artist.
Fellow Atlanta transplant Musiq Soulchild — accompanied by a five-piece band — was a big hit at home as well. Five albums into his career, the R&B singer clearly knows the importance of pacing and putting together a good set list. (And it doesn’t hurt that he has a number of popular ballads — “Love” “Teach Me” and current hit “So Beautiful” — to pack into that list).
Wednesday night marked Jazmine Sullivan’s second official Atlanta show since the release of her five-time Grammy-nominated debut, “Fearless.” And while the R&B singer was more confident and dynamic — in parts (“In Love With Another Man”) — as a vocalist, there’s still some obvious breathing issues.
Starting it all off was Atlanta singer-producer The Dream’s new girl group, Electrik Red; who in their just-right 10 minute set proved at least an interesting combination of Vanity 6’s X-rated bravado and Pussycat Doll style.
After the concert, Ne-Yo got to wheel his own convertible Bentley over to the Whiskey Bar at the W Atlanta Midtown where he traded one group of celebrities at the Fox (comedian Bruce Bruce, rapper Pastor Troy, DJ Nabs) for another (actor Darrin Dewitt Henson, R&B singer Mario, rapper Diamond, stylist Patrick Cooper and DJ Mars).
Were you at the show and/or the after party — and if so, your take? See our Q&A’s with Ne-Yo and Musiq?
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Ne-Yo Talks Rihanna and Chris Brown (And Of Course, His Homecoming Show Tonight)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As his tour bus made its way back home to Atlanta — where he’s playing tonight at the Fox Theatre — R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo took a few minutes to discuss his recent Grammy wins, the next movies he’s shooting and of course, his duet partner and “Stomp The Yard” co-star: Rihanna and Chris Brown:
Q. So let’s start with the Grammys (where he’s pictured above, with Tennille Jimenez). You were the top nominee with Georgia connections, with six; and you came home with two. Still celebrating?
A. It was beyond anything I could ever put into words. I mean, I walked into that building with six nominations. That’s a victory already. And to walk away with two of them (best R&B and best male R&B vocal performance, both for “Miss Independent”) — wow! — I mean, I can never say this industry has not acknowledged what I do.
Q. Where is the first one you won (last year for best contemporary R&B album, “Because of You”)?
A. At my mom’s house. Had to give it to moms.
Q. Is she getting the next two when you get them in the mail?
A. Nah I think I might have to keep the next two. I’ve got some new shelves in my place back in Atlanta and I already know the perfect place for them. Sorry mom!
Q. Now about this tour - it seems like it took you a really long time to get on the road to promote [his latest CD] “Year of The Gentleman”. It came out like last September.
A. I know! And the reason being is, I was told our timing was just a little off. At one point we were thinking [of touring with] John Legend — that didn’t happen. Then Robin Thicke — and we looked up and he was already moving. And I was like, ‘Well damn!’
But things happen as they should because this is perfect. I’m on the road with two artists [Musiq Soulchild and Jazmine Sullivan] that do real music. No disrespect to anybody else, but they do what I define as real music. Real instrumentation and actual voice — not Auto-Tuned to death. Not following the new trend. Real voice. Real lyrics. Real music.
Q. Do you have a favorite Musiq song?
A. I think ‘Dontchange’ — that’s one of my personal favorites. There’s a real sentiment to that song. You know, once you have real love for a person, it doesn’t matter how big her butt is, how flat her stomach is, how cute she is — that’s nice, but that’s stuff that goes away. The real grit, the real real is the personality, the person. The things that make you fall in love all over again over the years.
Q. Same question regarding Jazmine Sullivan.
A. “Lions, Tigers & Bears.” Definitely. One thing about it is the melody. I love the way that it’s put together. Atypical of anything on the radio right now. And what I really, really like about it is what she’s saying: I can do all of these amazing things- things that I should be scared of - but I’m afraid of loving you. That’s a real sentiment as well. I know dudes that can’t hold down a relationship for nothing. They can do all of these other great and amazing things, but the whole falling in love, falling out of love, maybe getting your heart broken, strikes this paralyzing fear in them.
Q. Speaking of songs that seem to really connect with people, are you surprised that “Miss Independent” and the remix (“She Got Her Own” with Jamie Foxx and Fabolous) have had such staying power? And to what do you attribute that?
A. I think it must be that everytime someone hears it, they find something new about it that they like. That’s what I hear. They just hear the utter respect I have, we have, for women out there doing it. That’s heartfelt. And maybe that’s what’s connecting. It’s a beautiful thing; and I am so appreciative.
Q. Who have you been writing for recently?
A. I’m not doing a whole lot of writing now because I have to spend a whole lot of my time doing press and promoting this show. This is my first time headlining, so with that comes a whole lot of responsibilities.
But you know, I’ve done some stuff for Mary J. Blige. Monica. LeToya Luckett. Leona Lewis. I’m going in with Usher pretty soon. Michael Bolton. Whitney Houston. But again, the writing thing is taking a back seat to the tour. And after that, the movies.
Q. The movies?
A. I’m shooting two movies: One, “Red Tails” about the Tuskegee Airmen. I play a young fighter pilot who was thinner than average, and speaks in [affects a cartoonish drawl] heavy, heavy, southern accent. Chews tobacco — the whole deal. I do that right after the tour in Prague. Then there’s “Venice Beach” — which is my “Purple Rain”. My original music. My movie, starring me.
Q. There’s no way we can let you off the phone without asking about Rihanna and Chris Brown. Have you talked to them since the night before the Grammys (when a reported incident occurred between the two)?
A. I have not. Of course I can pick up the phone and get either one of them, but that’s got to be a long, in-depth conversation. Ideally, in person. Not just, ‘Hey, y’all alright?’ I don’t want to do that. I want to hear exactly what happened — from them. I want to pray with them. Right now, I’m just praying for them.
[Since this conversation, Ne-Yo has reportedly told MTV that he did ring Rihanna “I spoke to Rihanna. She says she’s fine. She didn’t go into detail about what happened. I understand it’s a painful situation; I didn’t push.”
“I saw the picture,” Ne-Yo also told MTV’s Shaheem Reid, referring to the leaked photo of a beaten Rihanna taken reportedly after her altercation with Brown. Brown turned himself in during the Grammys, was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats, and released.
“That just really — that hurt me to my heart, man. Again, I still don’t know what happened, ‘cause I haven’t had the opportunity to talk to Chris yet. But to take it to that level really hurt my heart. All I can say is, I’m praying for both of them.]
Planning to go to the Fox tonight? Read our 3 Questions For Musiq? Familiar with the opening act for Ne-Yo, Musiq and Jazmine Sullivan — The Dream’s new Atlanta-based girl group Electrik Red? (See a YouTube clip of one of their performances BELOW)
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Rate The New T.I. and Justin Timberlake Video
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At the end of the second episode of Atlanta rapper-actor T.I.’s MTV reality show last week, there was a sneak preview of the video of the latest single from his “Paper Trail” CD, “Dead and Gone,” featuring Justin Timberlake.
Now we’ve got the whole thing.
Watch and share your take on the YouTube clip — as well as, if you’ve seen it, “T.I.’s Road To Redemption”; a new episode of which airs tonight at 9:30.
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Pre-Order Mastodon’s New CD On iTunes, Starting Today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Exactly a month before Mastodon’s new CD, “Crack The Skye,” hits stores, the Atlanta rockers are offering up a new digital track (“Oblivion”) from the Brendan O’Brien production if they pre-order the album on iTunes, starting today.
Here’s the pitch from the label: “iTunes will also offer a special deluxe pre-order package, which includes the “Crack The Skye” digital album along with the full album presented as a “score,” in its entirety. The instrumental score version will invite fans into a completely unique listening experience that enhances the music’s sonic ebb and flow into a cinematic adventure. The deluxe package will also include the live XFM “Oblivion” track, and an exclusive PDF album booklet file. The downloadable booklet contains album artwork and in-depth explanations of the intricate and otherworldly concept behind “Crack The Skye.”
On the same day, fans should directly proceed to www.mastodonrocks.com to purchase the second in a series of extremely limited-edition fan packs, which consists of the “Oblivion” single, along with the instrumental “score” version of the track, and an exclusive Oblivion T-shirt that is not available outside this web location. Cost of the fan-pack bundle is $24.99.”
And there you have it — in edited form, actually. Excited about the new Mastodon? Already downloaded “Oblivion” — and if so, your thoughts? Planning to see them at the Scion Rock Fest Saturday at Masquerade Music Park?
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Rate The New Alan Jackson Single
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The fourth single from Alan Jackson’s “Good Time” CD, “Sissy’s Song” officially hits radio this week.
According to a press release, Newnan, Ga.’s own penned it after the sudden death of a woman who worked in the Jackson’s home.
“She was just a real sweet young woman,” he said. “The sudden death of someone so young who we saw every day was really hard on me and all of us. I didn’t sleep for a while. I just didn’t feel right. I sat down one day and wrote this song and after that I felt alright.”
Afterwards, Jackson went into the studio with Keith Stegall, the release says, recorded it with just guitar and vocals and gave it to the family for the funeral. “A lot of people told me how much it made them feel better and helped them get through it a little easier, so I was very proud of it.”
Jackson is currently enjoying his longest streak of No. 1 hits since 1995-1996, according to his publicist. He’s had three consecutive number ones from “Good Time” — “Small Town Southern Man,” the title track and his 25th #1 “Country Boy”.
Hear “Sissy’s Song” on Jackson’s MySpace page — No. 2 on the featured playlist — as well as him discussing it, then tell us whether you think this could be his fourth chart-topper from his latest disc, and why.
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Sugarland Hitting European Stages For The First Time
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This time next week Atlanta’s superstar country duo Sugarland will be on their way overseas for their first European tour.
First stop for recent Grammy winners Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush? The army base in Aviano, Italy. They’re hitting seven countries total, wrapping things up March 22 at Premier Hall in Thurles, Ireland.
“We’ve done Australia before,” Nettles said. “So you know we have been across the water. But this time we’re doing it in a major way, basically all of March.” Asked whether any of the nuances of their No. 1 hits (“Want To,” “Settlin’ ” and that Grammy winner “Stay”) may get lost in, say, Bressum, Netherlands, Bush replied: “They may not understand our language in some places…but hopefully they will feel our heart. Our energy.”
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Dru Hill In Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In celebration of tonight’s debut of “Keith Sweat’s Platinum House” on Peachtree TV, Sweat and the R&B group the Atlanta crooner reunites on the reality show, Dru Hill, all were partying at Aquaknox Sunday. Joining in on the fun were rapper MIMS, Hot-107.9’s Rashan Ali, DJ Nabs, songwriter-producer Teddy Bishop, local entertainment power Charles Mathis, Peachtree TV consultant Ryan Glover, “Being Bobby Brown” (and “Platinum House”) producer Tracey Baker-Simmons, Ne-Yo’s mother (Lorraine) and sister (Nikki), S.T.E.P.S. Jamahl King (who put on the event) and others. Many were probably too busy munching on skewered chicken and mini-burgers — or figuring out what Dru Hill member Nokio (pictured above) did to his hair (that’s his daughter’s name Chloe on one side, in top photo) — to notice that “Platinum House” was actually playing on the screens. As previously reported in the AJC, Sweat and Glover’s plan is to take this one-time special national — which is what happened with the Peachtree TV show “Jermaine Dupri Presents: Brutha”; and (it’s being whispered) is going to happen with Peachtree TV’s “The Single: Monica”. Planning to watch “Platinum House” tonight at 10 p.m.? (See our video of them before you do). Think there’s still a place for Dru Hill in 2009? Oh — and and did you see “The Single: Monica” (which along with “Brutha” will be replayed tonight at 8 and 9 p.m.) and if so, find it it interesting enough to make a national series out of it?
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Casting Crowns, Third Day, Karen Peck Gooch and Other Georgians Up For Dove Awards
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Casting Crowns (pictured above), Third Day and Karen Peck Gooch are among the many acts with Georgia connections contending for the 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards April 23 in Nashville.
“It’s been an amazing year of ministry for Casting Crowns,” said Mark Hall, whose group leads in that number, with five — for artist of the year, group of the year, Christmas album of the year, short form video and long form video. “We are proud to be a part of Christian music and we thank GMA for making the Dove Awards such a special event.”
The other nominees - announced today - with homestate ties, include:
Third Day
artist of the year
group of the year
pop/contemporary gospel abum
recorded music packaging
Mac Powell (of Third Day)
special event album (twice)
Karen Peck Gooch
female vocalist of the year
Karen Peck & New River
southern gospel album
The Blind Boys of Alabama
traditional gospel recorded song
traditional gospel album
CeCe Winans
contemporary gospel recorded song
contemporary gospel album
Dottie Peoples
traditional gospel album
Aaron Shust
special event album
Regina Belle
traditional gospel recorded song
Alan Jackson
special event album (twice)
Patty Loveless
special event album
Plan to watch on the Gospel Music Channel? Know of any other Georgia Dove Award nominees? Seen the video (“Slow Fade”) Casting Crowns was nominated for? If not, watch a YouTube clip of it BELOW:
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Regina Belle Is Recuperating (Though From What, We Don’t Know)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Though her publicists won’t reveal what Atlanta Grammy winner Regina Belle is/was suffering from, and for how long — saying it has not been disclosed because it is a private matter — GQ Media & Public Relations, Inc. has released a statement from the R&B and gospel singer thanking supporters for their well-wishes and prayers.
“Belle thanks friends, fans and industry associates for the outpouring of support, well-wishes and prayers she has received concerning her recent illness,” the statement reads. “Belle is currently home recuperating and is anticipating her return to performing in the spring and early summer. ”
“We have been moved by the outpouring of support for Regina,” her manager Brian Springle of Springle Entertainment Group continues in the same statement. “The doctors said that Regina is recovering very well. She is in great spirits. We are working on numerous entertainment projects for Regina this year which will include several international performance dates. She will have a full schedule of activities this spring and is looking forward to recording her new album this year and getting back to her speaking engagements, as well as resuming her full concert schedule this fall.”
Want to send her a personal note directly? Email her at reginabelleonline@ymail.com.
Plus cards or other correspondence can be mailed to: Regina Belle c/o SPRINGLE ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, 3230 East Flamingo Road, Suite 8 - 250, Las Vegas, NV 89121.
And - of course - you can share your well-wishes here; or perhaps your favorite Belle song. (Go an and admit it, you loved “A Whole New World.”)
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Hear Grammy Winner Art Rosenbaum On AM 1690 Today (And Every Wednesday)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
PHOTO CREDIT: Margo Newmark Rosenbaum
Two Sundays ago Art Rosenbaum was in Los Angeles picking up his first Grammy for Atlanta-based record label Dust-To-Digital’s “Art of Field Recording Volume I: Fifty Years of Traditional American Music Documented By Art Rosenbaum,” which was named best historical album.
Now the Athens-based field recorder is back, hosting his continuing series “Backroads and Banjos” on AM 1690 — which airs each Wednesday at 8:30 a.m., 1:20 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. .
“In each episode,” the station explains in a press release, “Rosenbaum opens his archive of recordings for the listener and colors these pieces with anecdotes about the musicians and the context in which their music was captured.”
And of winning the music industry’s highest honor, Rosenbaum (pictured above with Dust-To-Digital’s Lance Ledbetter and Mike Graves) says in the same release: “It was great that the Grammy’s recognized this category [historical album] of music that is created, not in a studio, but on back porches, and in churches and living rooms. Some of the musicians are professionals and semiprofessionals, but most of them are not. They are the voices and musicians that make up the heart of American music and I am glad it was recognized.”
Picked up “Art of Field” yet? Heard “Backroads and Banjos” — or plan to tune in today?
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Agree With Patti LaBelle On The Atlanta Civic Center?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
R&B superstar Patti LaBelle was not-so-civil to the Atlanta Civic Center this past weekend, where her reunited group Labelle performed.
“When is someone going to take the time to fix up this theater?” Labelle (pictured above, spotting something else wrong, perhaps?) asked the near-capacity crowd. “I’ve been coming to this city for 50 years. This isn’t right. You’ve got Mickey mice back there and roaches. I’m a diabetic, and I couldn’t eat back there.”
Then she added, with her voice breaking, “I’m up here looking all cute, but I’m suffering inside. You all deserve to be sitting in better seats. I can’t stand this place.”
Ever been to a show at what is officially known as Boisfeuillet Jones Civic Center — maybe the recent Killers concert (pictured above, from our photo gallery) — and if so, what marks would you give it? And if you are a frequent concertgoer in the metro area, give us your top three venues.
Oh -and just in case you missed it — see Richard Eldredge’s full story on LaBelle’s on-stage attack; his report on the show; our photo gallery and our pre-concert interview with LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash before their first appearance here as Labelle in 33 years.
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Christopher Hicks Appointed To Friend Shakir Stewart’s Position At Def Jam
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Island Def Jam Music Group announced today that Atlanta-based executive Christopher Hicks has been appointed Executive Vice President of Def Jam Recordings — the title his longtime friend Shakir Stewart held before he died of an apparent suicide in November of last year.
Hicks - who like Stewart will be based in Atlanta and New York - has been a longtime player in the local and national music industry. He and fellow Californian Stewart, and others, launched Atlanta’s music publishing company Noontime. (Between 2004 and 2007 Noontime songwriters - including Bryan-Michael Cox and Teddy Bishop - had more than 25 Top 10 hits on Billboard’s Hot 100 and/or Hip-Hop/R&B listing.)
He recently shared manager duties of Atlanta R&B superstar Usher with Benny Medina and he was instrumental in Mary J. Blige’s comeback with “The Breakthrough”.
“Before that record [‘Be Without You’] came along, people weren’t believing I could come back,” Blige told the AJC in 2007. “They wanted me to put out a greatest hits album. But Christopher stepped up and was like, ‘Are you kidding me? This record’s done, and this record’s a smash!’ ” Blige continued. “And soon enough, people started believing like we did.”
In his last label positions Hicks served in the joint posts of Senior Vice President, Urban A&R at Atlantic Records and Senior Vice President, A&R and Head of Urban Music for Warner/Chappell Music. There, he was key to securing publishing agreements with Lil Wayne, Timbaland and Atlanta’s T.I. and The Dream.
“Chris has a musician’s ear for talent and hit songs that has brought him huge long-term success in the industry,” Island Def Jam Music Group Chairman Antonio “L.A.” Reid said in a statement. “His track record in Atlanta has resulted in breaking some of the biggest names in Urban and hip-hop out of that city over the past decade. We look forward to the next quarter-century of history with Def Jam as we welcome Chris aboard.”
If you are knowledgeable about industry happenings — or just know Hicks — feel free to weigh in on this decision.
(And if you still would like to contribute to the fund set up for Stewart’s two children, go to shakirsstewart.com).
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And The “Welcome To Dreamland” Winner Is…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Drumroll please - Leaf.
Yes you read that right — the winner of Peachtree TV’s reality show where Atlanta producers Jazze Pha (top photo) and Drumma Boy (second photo, with show host and executive producer Vawn) competed to find and develop a star, concluded last night with Drumma’s Erykah Badu-like (at least according to one of the judges) Leaf beating out Jazze’s Beyonce-like Kia for a record deal.
Did you follow “Welcome To Dreamland” over its six episodes, and if so, what did you think of the decision? Interested in Peachtree TV’s next local-centric show, “Keith Sweat’s Platinum House,” which begins next Monday? (See OUR VIDEO and a YouTube clip of the “Platinum House” commercial BELOW ).
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Labelle In Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For the first time in 33 years, funk-rock-R&B trio Labelle is back on stage together, and Saturday Patti LaBelle (top photo above), Nona Hendryx (middle) and Sarah Dash (third) landed — judging from those outfits — in Atlanta.
And as Peach Buzz columnist Richard Eldredge summarized: “We probably don’t want to calculate exactly how much Patti LaBelle ended up giving the audience in Prada shoes and false eyelashes Saturday night at the Civic Center.”
Were you there - and if so what did you think of the concert? Heard their “Back To Now” CD? Even better question: Were you at the Royal Peacock when they performed there, as well as the Atlanta Civic Center this past weekend?
Well, see the rest of Rich’s report from the show, our photo gallery and our interview with the threesome — during which LaBelle assured fans, “this is a reunion tour, not a farewell tour.”
And Dash added: “Some women in their 60s may feel like there is nothing else…We’re proof, on stage, right before your eyes that is not so. That does not have to be so.”
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Jennifer Nettles On Sugarland’s First Grammy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jennifer Nettles of Atlanta country duo Sugarland resurfaced from celebrating this morning to tell us what it was like for the group to win its first Grammy this past weekend.
“Well first of all, the Grammy is the highest honor you can be given in the music business — other than people coming to see you play and clapping for you,” Nettles began. “It’s a huge honor and it’s such a thrill…The fact that we got to perform was great too. But to be able to win my first Grammy as Sugarland, that’s a big deal to me. It’s an honor to celebrate that with Kristian [Bush].”
The bonus was that she also got to bring her mother to the ceremony — whom she thanked from the stage for “carting me to every wedding, funeral and civic event so I could sing.”
“She was thrilled! It was so fun having her there and going, ‘OK mama there’s Paul McCartney. Look over there, that’s Smokey Robinson. And you see that blonde woman over there? That’s the back of Nicole Kidman’s head.”
Nettles has yet to receive the two Grammys she won Feb. 8 — one for best country song (for “Stay,” which she wrote) and the other for country performance by a duo or group with vocals (also for “Stay,” which went to Sugarland). But when they come in the mail, she already has a space on her window sill next to the first one she won - for best country collaboration with vocals (with Bon Jovi) — and her ceramic cat.
And how is she planning to spend Valentine’s Day tomorrow?
“I’m getting a group together over here and I’m going to cook,” Nettles said. “Probably a shrimp garlic sauce and a nice baguette…Then we’re going to see a show. A burlesque show. And I’m not talking strippers. Like a fun, burlesque dancing show with feathers and boas. Reminiscent of Moulin Rouge…The fun continues!”
After we hung up with Nettles, the Blind Boys of Alabama’s Eric “Ricky” McKinnie — an Atlanta resident — picked up in Tallahasse, Fla., where they are performing tonight.
“Oh we had a good time in Los Angeles,” said the drummer, whose group won traditional gospel album for “Down In New Orleans”. “We performed at the Louisiana brunch. I went to the Grammy party afterwards, and to listened to some music. It was such a great pleasure…Winning a lifetime achievement award while our new work is still being recognized, it shows that even though I’m a dreamer, if you do the work and keep the faith dreams do come true.”
Part-time time Atlantan CeCe Winans e-mailed us a quote after her pop/contemporary gospel album Grammy win - her eighth total — for “Thy Kingdom Come”: “I’m always appreciative of the acknowledgment in being nominated, but to win again after all these years is humbling indeed. I’m grateful to God, family and the continued support of fans.”
And with T.I. and Lance Ledbetter of Dust-To-Digital checking in earlier this week — winners of best rap performance by a duo or group (“Swagga Like Us” featuring Jay-Z, Kanye West and Lil Wayne) and best historical album (“Art of Field Recording Volume I: Fifty Years of Traditional American Music Documented By Art Rosenbaum”) , respectively — we’ve got five of the six Grammy winners with Georgia connections down, and Ne-Yo to go.
Did you expect more local winners? What did you think of the part of Sugarland’s performance with Adele at the Grammys? (See it BELOW)
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Rate The New The Dream Video
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The roll-out of Atlanta singer-producer The Dream’s sophomore follow-up, “Love Vs. Money” (in stores March 10), officially begins with the bow of the video of the first single, “Rocking That Thang”.
See a YouTube clip of it BELOW and tell us how you rate it/the song:
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Natalie Cole Coming To Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK, you tell us what’s most curious about this announcement (if anything):
Fresh off of her traditional pop vocal album win at the Grammy’s Sunday, for “Still Unforgettable,” R&B and jazz legend Natalie Cole is coming to town Feb. 22 — but not to perform. She’s signing autographs.
But wait, she’s not signing autographs at a performance venue - or even a record store for that matter - she’s doing it from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Pottery Barn at Lenox Square (3393 Peachtree Rd., 404-812-9726).
And here’s the kicker: Cole will only be signing copies of “Still Unforgettable” purchased at Pottery Barn. (Proof of purchase is required). But at least you have three Pottery Barns — Lenox, Forum on Peachtree Parkway (5155 Peachtree Parkway in Norcross; 770-409-8580) and Northpoint Mall (1000 North Point Circle in Alpharetta; 678-624-9974) - to choose from.
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Sugarland, Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town Up For ACMs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While Sunday’s Grammy Awards were only kind to one country act with Georgia connections, it was announced today that at least six will have another chance to bring home some industy hardware — as well as two Georgia businesses. The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will air April 5 on CBS, live from Las Vegas; and this year’s first-time Grammy winner, Sugarland (top photo), is up for top vocal duo and vocal event of the year - with Little Big Town (second photo) and Jake Owen, for “Life In A Northern Town”. Also in that latter category is Monticello’s Trisha Yearwood, for “Another Try” with Josh Turner. Lady Antebellum (third photo), Little Big Town and The Lost Trailers are competing against each other in the top vocal group category. Plus the Zac Brown Band is contending with fellow locals The Lost Trailers in the top new vocal duo or group category — one of three newcomer categories you can vote on, starting Friday, at GACTV.com. And Augusta station WKXC-FM is a nominee for radio station of the year (small market); while Duluth’s own Wild Bill’s has been nominated nightclub of the year. Ever been to Wild Bill’s? Think Lady Antebellum and Little Big Town got robbed at the Grammys? Feel like the ACMs do a better job of picking winners?
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The Live Nation/Ticketmaster merger
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s the story I wrote for the print edition about the Live Nation/Ticketmaster merger announced earlier today. It may not impact consumers directly but it doesn’t have any obvious benefits for consumers either.
Musicians such as Bruce Springsteen have always been the voice of the little guy. And the Boss is none too pleased with the news Tuesday that two monstrous entertainment entities are joining forces.
Live Nation, the nation’s largest concert promoter with a major presence in Atlanta, and Ticketmaster, the nation’s largest ticket seller, have agreed to merge in a deal worth an estimated $2.5 billion. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval.
“Being able to put Live Nation and Ticketmaster into an equal partnership will allow the companies to get through this difficult period and be able to expand live entertainment options to audiences throughout the world,” Ticketmaster Chairman Barry Diller said in a statement.
The timing of this merger announcement came on the heels of bad publicity Ticketmaster received last week after Springsteen tickets went on sale. The rock star, whose tour comes to Atlanta April 26, became angry when Ticketmaster referred fans to a ticket brokerage it owned selling tickets at prices far higher than face value.
The stink over tickets forced Ticketmaster CEO Irving Azoff to issue an apology. On his Web site, Springsteen denounced the merger, recommending fans complain to their representatives.
“The abuse of our fans and our trust by Ticketmaster has made us as furious as it has made many of you,” Springsteen wrote.
The combined Live Nation Entertainment would be deeply entrenched in concert ticketing, venues, promotion and artist management.
“I can understand the motivation since these are two public companies with struggling stock prices,” said Gary Bongiovanni, editor in chief of Pollstar, which follows the industry. “But it’s looking a lot like a vertical monopoly.”
Ticketmaster sells tickets for more than 80 percent of major arenas and stadiums in the U.S., according to concert tracking firm Pollstar. It also has a controlling interest in Front Line Management, which handles the careers of the likes of Jimmy Buffett, Aerosmith and Christina Aguilera.
Live Nation is the world’s No. 1 concert promoter (with more than 160 million tickets sold last year) and owns 140-plus venues including Lakewood Amphitheatre and the Tabernacle, both in Atlanta.
Live Nation also has comprehensive deals to tours of such artists as Madonna, Jay-Z, U2, Nickelback and Shakira, and recently developed its own rival ticketing service to Ticketmaster.
Ticketmaster was able to take control of major concert ticketing in the 1990s by signing long-term exclusive deals with many of the major venues in town including Philips Arena and Fox Theatre.
As a result, competitors such as Atlanta-based Ticket Alternative are locked out of virtually all big concerts. Rather, the five-year-old company handles mostly smaller venues such as Hard Rock Cafe’s Velvet Underground downtown, the Loft in Midtown and special events such as Taste of Atlanta at Atlantic Station.
“While the big get bigger, there’s still room for the small guy and Ticket Alternative provides great customer service,” said Dan Nolan, who co-owns the Midtown venue Smith’s Olde Bar. Its upstairs performance space fits about 300 people max.
Live Nation, before the merger announcement, tried to break Ticketmaster’s dominance by creating its own ticketing service earlier this year, but there’s no evidence consumers are saving any money.
Ticket Alternative, which sells 250,000 tickets to events nationwide, prides itself on significantly lower service charges. A $33.50 ticket, for instance, would include a $3.25 service charge, said president Iain Bluett. Live Nation, for a $33.50 ticket for Ben Folds at the Tabernacle later this month, the “convenience charge” is a whopping $12.25, or nearly 37 percent of the face value of the ticket.
Bluett said he can only hope enmity toward this potentially even larger entity might bring business to his business as a true alternative.
Steve Harris, who runs the 1,000-seat Variety Playhouse in Little Five Points, has stuck with Ticketmaster despite the rising service charges but calls the pending merger “scary.”
“I can’t see the good in it.” he said. “We’re exploring ticketing options.”
Local talent manager Charlie Brusco, who oversees the rock band Styx and is friends with Azoff, has no qualms about the merger. He said he hopes Live Nation Entertainment will help make ticket pricing “more transparent” for fans. In other words, he thinks all those “service” charges will be eventually incorporated into the ticket price.
Atlanta-based concert promoter Rich Floyd, who has been in the business for 35 years, said Live Nation’s overarching strength has already forced him into doing mostly private corporate gigs instead of traditional concerts. This merger, he says, won’t help matters.
“Most of us little guys have already been wiped out,” he said.
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Rate The New India Arie Video
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Yes Atlanta singer-songwriter India Arie and recent local transplant Musiq Soulchild are together — in the video for “Chocolate High”; a new single from Arie’s “Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics”, in stores today.
See a YouTube clip of the video BELOW and tell us what you think:
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Jennifer Hudson Coming To Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The first winner during the televised portion of last night’s Grammy Awards — Jennifer Hudson — is headed out on her first tour, and Atlanta’s on the itinerary.
People.com is reporting that the five-week outing with Robin Thicke will start April 2 in Philadelphia. The exact Atlanta date and venue were not included in the report.
The tour announcement comes as the Oscar winner slowly returns to the spotlight after her mother, brother and nephew were murdered in October of last year.
Did you see Hudson at her intimate V-103 “Soul Session” at Sugar Hill last year? What did you think of her performance last night? (See a YouTube clip BELOW) Think her self-titled CD deserved best R&B album?
(For a complete list of Grammy winners click HERE; Georgia winners HERE; and a Grammy wrap-up HERE).
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Georgia Grammy Winners React
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On his way to dinner to celebrate his third Grammy, Atlanta rapper-actor T.I. said he was “honored to be honored in this fashion. This is a result of a lot of hard work during what has been a very hard year”.
The artist born Clifford Harris (pictured above with fiancee Tameka “Tiny” Cottle) said he wasn’t sure when he would be in Atlanta, as he still has lots to promote — including his MTV reality show “T.I.’s Road To Redemption:45 Days To Go,” which debuts tomorrow night at 9 p.m. on the cable channel.
“This is something I wanted to do to kind of take the focus off of my situation,” T.I. said of “Road”. He is facing a sentence of 366 days in jail next month after pleading guilty to weapons charges. “And instead,” he continues, “use my experience to help those who may be headed towards the situation I unfortunately find myself in.”
During the series he will help seven at-risk teenagers, as well as give fans glimpses of his personal life. “I’m proud of the show,” he added. “And I’d like to say ‘thank you’ to Atlanta for just supporting me.”
What did you think of his performances of “Swagga Like Us” (featuring Jay-Z, Kanye West and Lil Wayne) — which won him best rap performance by a duo or group — and “Dead and Gone” with Justin Timberlake? (See YouTube clips BELOW) Planning to watch his MTV show?
For a list of Georgia winners click HERE; and the entire list of Grammy winners, HERE
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Georgia’s Grammy Winners
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tonight’s leading Grammy nominee with Georgia connections, R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo, will bring home two of the six he was up for — male R&B vocal performance (“Miss Independent”) and R&B song (“Miss Independent”) — and he has plenty of metro area company:
Atlanta rapper T.I.’s “Swagga Like Us” - featuring Jay-Z, Kanye West and Lil Wayne — won rap performance by a duo or group.
One half of Atlanta country duo Sugarland, Jennifer Nettles, now has her second Grammy for penning best country song, “Stay”. And her group won its first - country performance by a duo or group with vocals — for the same ballad.
Part-time Atlantan CeCe Winans was the choice for a pop/contemporary gospel album statue, for “Thy Kingdom Come”.
And “Down In New Orleans” by the Blind Boys of Alabama — which includes Atlantan Eric “Ricky” McKinnie — added a traditional gospel album grammophone to their four for “Down In New Orleans”.
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Georgia’s Early Grammy Winners: The Complete List
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tonight’s leading Grammy nominee with Georgia connections, R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo, has already one of two of the six he was up for — male R&B vocal performance (“Miss Independent”) and R&B song (“Miss Independent”) — and he has plenty of metro area company:
Atlanta rapper T.I.’s “Swagga Like Us” - featuring Jay-Z, Kanye West and Lil Wayne — won rap performance by a duo or group.
One half of Atlanta country duo Sugarland, Jennifer Nettles, now has her second Grammy for penning best country song, “Stay”.
Part-time Atlantan CeCe Winans will bring home pop/contemporary gospel album for “Thy Kingdom Come”.
And “Down In New Orleans” by the Blind Boys of Alabama — which includes Atlantan Eric “Ricky” McKinnie — added a traditional gospel album grammophone to their four for “Down In New Orleans”.
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Ne-Yo, Jennifer Nettles and T.I. Early Grammy Winners
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia’s one-time Grammy winners Ne-Yo and Jennifer Nettles have already added another grammophone to the collection, and the televised portion of the Grammy Awards won’t start until 8.
R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo - the state’s leading nominee, with six — won male R&B vocal performance for “Miss Independent” and Sugarland’s Nettles won best country song for the duo’s single “Stay”.
Plus two-time Grammy winner T.I. now has a third for “Swagga Like Us”, featuring Jay-Z, Kanye West and Lil Wayne, all of whom are to perform the song for a live audience for the first time tonight at the ceremony.
See YouTube clips of “Miss Independent” and “Stay” BELOW and tell us whether you think they are Grammy-worthy:
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Grammy nominated Brit singer Estelle (“American Boy”) in Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
cREDIT: Katie Jacobs
Estelle, the striking British R&B singer, opened for her buddy John Legend at the Fox Theatre Tuesday.
At a downtown publicist’s office (KEF Media) where she was doing a satellite interview tour, I spent a few minutes with her talking about her Grammy nominated song “American Boy” and her career thus far.
Q: How was the show last night at the Fox Theatre?
A: Pretty cool. We had fun. It looks like a real old-school theater. I kept thinking Robin Hood. Look at the castles! The acoustics are beautiful in there. It’s built for projecting I’m sure. How big were those voices back in the day?
Q: How did ‘American Boy” come about?
A: It took an hour to write the lyrics. two hours to do the vocals. The beat had been written two years before.
Q: So was this almost a throwaway song for you?
A: I didn’t take it seriously at all. I was thinking, “This is a joke.” I was really messing around. It turns out the world loved it. In my case, I’m an overnight sensation that was 10 years in the making. I work on my career my whole life. All of a sudden, I have a hit!
Q: What’s your thoughts about Kanye West [who is featured on “American Boy’ with her.]?
A: I met him six years ago. He heard the song and loved it. His girlfriend love it. I have his girlfriend to thank! He appreciates good music. He had just come out with “Stronger” so it made sense. He was in the U.K. a lot. He got where I was coming from with the music.
Q: Did you have an American boyfriend at the time?
A: No, not at the time. But I was hanging with John Legend and his mates in Miami. It was the Super Bowl. There were American guys everywhere. What else was I going to rap about?
Q: What was your reaction to getting nominated for song of the year with “American Boy”?
A: A moment of complete joy, like wow! Everyone is losing their minds!
[She takes a break from talking with me to talk to an R&B station in Los Angeles. She hears Stevie Wonder is an owner of the station and is a big fan of hers.]
A: I feel famous! Stevie Wonder! Wow!
Q: Do you think you have a shot against Coldplay [“Viva La Vida”] for song of the year?
A: Hell yes! Sure, it was one of those songs you hear every hour on every station in the world. At the same time, I can’t even complain. I feel like this is a blessing. You write a great song, you have to sing and hear it forever. I’m blessed people want to hear it.
Q: Who do you think will win Record of the Year? [I read the nominees.]
A: I wish I was in that category! I like ‘Viva La Vida.’ That song is just beautiful. It just felt like it’s in the freaking sky. You feel encapsulated when you hear it. You want a song that gives you that great feeling. You want it to grab you so you feel something. That’s one of those songs. Next to “American Boy,” that did it this year.
Q: How about album of the year?
A: Lil Wayne. That’s the one I listen to the most. I wasn’t a Lil Wayne fan until I heard that album. My two favorites were “Comfortable” and “Tie My Hands.” Those had the most feeling.
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Tim Brantley - From The Road
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Today’s Dispatch From The Road comes from Atlanta pop-rocker Tim Brantley, in town tonight at Smith’s Olde Bar and due back to play Eddie’s Attic March 27.
Will you be at Smith’s this evening? Already picked up “Goldtop Heights” on iTunes?
Then you should especially appreciate this “postcard”:
Greetings from Atlanta! Now, I know this is supposed to be a message from the road or some exotic locale but truth be told, I’m sitting in my studio right now…I just did a November and December run with Graham Colton, Michael Tolcher and Bryan Greenberg that was a lot of fun. I’m getting ready to play an Atlanta show on Friday with the band for the first time in a year. They’re gonna put me on a the television that morning as well so you should tune in if you have a set… There’s a tour coming up along the east coast that will take us up to the official release of my new record “Goldtop Heights” in stores in April (it’s out on itunes now)…I guess to me, the record is an account of my time here in the city…I tried to get back to the music that I listened to as a boy growing up here- and I really tried to capture that feeling I got going downtown with my parents as a kid to Braves games and parades and the park and whatever else…I had such a great time making the record. We recorded it downtown in Castleberry Hill and I had the pleasure of working with some A+ musicians. Me and the boys are really excited to play these songs off the record live for the first time as a band. Lately, I’ve been traveling around doing a lot of radio shows to promote the single “Damage”. It’s been a lot of fun meeting and working with the great folks on our radio waves… Actually getting to a point in my musical career where I’m able to do these things is a real honor-and obviously something I have been working very hard to achieve for the last number of years.
Compared to making the record, being on the road is a breeze…It’s great to be able to play songs with a clean slate every night for new people and see their reactions…It’s a lot different actually recording the record in that you obsess for months on it’s final shape- then you have to eventually make that decision of when to let it go. Playing a song live is like getting a mulligan every night if you want it, and you never have that much time to worry about anything…every day a new town- with new people. I think that if there is a downside to the road- it’s the long drives. After the first couple of 15 hour drives, you’re tired of every album you own, and your life is this funny cycle of getting gas and stopping at rest areas. And drinking lattes. I like to drive in silence. I also like to spend too much money on cheap necklaces and weird things at truck stops. It passes the time. Like little pockets of excitement. If you ever wonder what it’s like, listen to that Bob Seger song “Turn the Page” because it absolutely captures the feel of the road. It’s really paints a perfect picture. There are places where you’ll stop and people will just stare at you because you’re different. I’ve had old guys point and make fun of me because I have long hair. You almost feel like you’re stuck in that restaurant scene in “Easy Rider” or something…
I’m very proud of the fact that I’m from Atlanta. It’s always great to come home from a tour and see that familiar skyline. I like to drive straight home after the last show no matter how far it is because I’m usually that ready to be back…I sneak through the city in the middle of the night and sleep all day because honestly, there’s not a lot of sleeping while you’re gone…That’s usually followed the next day by going to eat at one or more of my favorite spots, and taking a motorcycle ride. Let me tell you, there’s nothing like La Fonda Latina or Harry’s in the Highlands after a month away…
I hope you can make it out [tonight] to Smiths Olde Bar. We’d love to have you. Looking forward to seeing some new faces this weekend and hopefully growing together with the good people of Atlanta.
Here’s to our great city,
Tim Brantley
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Pick Your Hometown Grammy Winner - Day Five
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The music industry’s highest honor - the Grammy Award - will be handed out Sunday in Los Angeles. And as has been the case in recent years, there are a remarkable number of contenders with Georgia connections.
With that in mind, each day this week we’ve been highlighting a category with Atlanta (or Georgia) nominees - in italics - and asked for your winning pick.
Today’s category - the last of our online look - is the biggest: Album of the Year, where Atlantans recorded and/or contributed to two of the five nominated discs:
(Awarded to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s)/Mixer(s) & Mastering Engineer(s), if other than the artist.)
“Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends”
Coldplay
Markus Dravs, Brian Eno & Rik Simpson, producers; Michael H. Brauer, Markus Dravs, John O’Mahony, Rik Simpson & Andy Wallace, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer [Capitol Records]
“Tha Carter III”
Lil Wayne
Babyface, Brisco, Fabolous, Jay-Z, Kidd Kidd, Busta Rhymes, Juelz Santana, D. Smith, Static Major, T-Pain & Bobby Valentino, Betty Wright, featured artists; Alchemist, David Banner, Vaushaun “Maestro” Brooks, Cool & Dre, Andrews “Drew” Correa, Shondrae “Mr. Bangladesh” Crawford, Darius “Deezle” Harrison, Infamous, Jim Jonsin, Angelo Morris, Mousa, Pro-J, Play-N-Skillz, Rodnae, D. Smith, Streetrunner, Swizz Beatz, Robin Thicke, T-Pain & Kanye West, producers; Angel Aponte, Joshua Berkman, Andrew Dawson, Joe G, Darius “Deezle” Harrison, Fabian Marasciullo, Angelo Morris, Pro-J, Miguel Scott, Robin Thicke, Julian Vasquez & Gina Victoria, engineers/mixers; Vlado Meller, mastering engineer [Universal Motown/Cash Money]
“Year Of The Gentleman”
Ne-Yo
Chuck Harmony, Ne-Yo, Polow Da Don, StarGate, Stereotypes, Syience, Shea Taylor & Shomari “Sho” Wilson, producers; Kirven Arrington, Jeff Chestek, Kevin “KD” Davis, Mikkel Eriksen, Jaymz Hardy Martin, III, Geno Regist, Phil Tan & Tony Terrebonne, engineers/mixers; Herb Powers, Jr., mastering engineer [Def Jam/Compound]
“Raising Sand”
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer; Gavin Lurssen, mastering engineer [Rounder]
“In Rainbows”
Radiohead
Nigel Godrich, producer; Nigel Godrich, Dan Grech-Marguerat, Hugo Nicolson & Richard Woodcraft, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer [TBD Records]
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T.I.’s Fiancee “Tiny” Planning Reality Show
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Both eurweb.com and essence.com are reporting that Atlanta rapper-actor T.I.’s fiancee - and mother of two of his children - Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, is working on “a reality show that will follow the daily activities of a ‘hot mom’ ”.
Eurweb.com attributes the info to a video interview with Sister 2 Sister magazine publisher Jamie Foster Brown — where Cottle also discloses that she plans to open a nail salon here by Valentine’s Day.
But essence.com talked to Cottle, where she discusses facing a year without T.I., who is scheduled to be sentenced to prison on gun charges next month.
“It hasn’t really hit me,” she says in the article, where she is curiously referred to as a mother of six. “His sentence is a year and day and begins either toward the middle or end of March. I’m praying he gets out sooner. I’m pretty sure when the day comes for him to leave I’m going to be very sad and lonely. Although I know our family is going to be straight [financially], I’m still going to miss him like crazy because I got used to spending time with him when he had to be home. I’m going to go with him and stay with him until he gets ready to walk out that door.”
Would you be interested in a reality show centered around Cottle — which may also reportedly include fellow Xscape member Kandi Burruss and what eurweb.com refers to as Lyfe Jennings wife Joy (Is he married?) and Lil Wayne’s ex-wife Toya (Was he married?)
Planning to watch “T.I.’s Road To Redemption,” his own reality show debuting Tuesday on MTV?
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Pick Your Hometown Grammy Winner - Day Four
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The music industry’s highest honor - the Grammy Award - will be handed out Feb. 8 in Los Angeles. And as has been the case in recent years, there are a remarkable number of contenders with Georgia connections.
With that in mind, each day this week we’ve highlighted a category with Atlanta (or Georgia) nominees - in italics - and asked for your winning pick.
Today’s category: Best Rap Performance By A Duo or Group - especially remarkable in that it is the only one, out of the 110 that will be handed out Sunday, where four out of the five nominees have hometown connections. (Not to mention, only two out of the five were really heard on radio). Here they are - in, fair warning, unedited form:
“Royal Flush,” Big Boi featuring Raekwon and Andre 3000
“Swagga Like Us,” Jay-Z & T.I. featuring Kanye West and Lil Wayne
“Mr. Carter,” Lil Wayne featuring Jay-Z
“Wish You Would,” Ludacris featuring T.I.
“Put On,” Young Jeezy featuring Kanye West
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Pick Your Hometown Grammy Winner - Day Three
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The music industry’s highest honor - the Grammy Award - will be handed out Feb. 8 in Los Angeles. And as has been the case in recent years, there are a remarkable number of contenders with Georgia connections.
With that in mind, each day this week we will highlight a category with Atlanta (or Georgia) nominees - in italics - and ask for your winning pick.
Today’s category: Best Rap/Sung Collaboration - where three of the five nominees have hometown ties:
“American Boy,” Estelle featuring Kanye West
“Low,” Flo Rida featuring T-Pain
“Green Light,” John Legend and Andre 3000
“Got Money,” Lil Wayne featuring T-Pain
“Superstar,” Lupe Fiasco featuring Matthew Santos
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“The Black Lips Get Kicked Out of India”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Or at least that’s what was in the subject line of the release Atlanta’s garage rockers press people sent over.
(Guess this should make for even more of a fervor for their Feb. 24 album, “200 Million Thousand” and their Feb. 27 concert at the Variety Playhouse. Planning to pick that CD up, and/or attend the show? )
But back to that release - here it is:
Like the Sex Pistols’ January ‘78 tour of the Deep South, The Black Lips recent expedition to India was marked by a series of fairly seismic culture shocks. Everything from bottle-throwing fans at a gig in Pune, to livid show promoters in Chennai, all in response to a bunch of full-frontal punk rock provocateurs from Atlanta.
For those that still haven’t heard the story, the band was booked to play on India’s equivalent of American Idol, The “Campus Rock Idol” Tour, a big-ticket televised series with large corporate sponsors.
Last Saturday, in Chennai, the band entertained the crowd with what stateside fans would consider a typically raucous Black Lips show, replete with intra-band lip locking, and Cole de-pantsing, mooning the crowd, and attempting to play his six-string with, well, his privates.
Barely okay in America, definitely NOT okay in India, the band was subsequently chased out of the country and the sponsors pulled the plug, effectively canceling the rest of the tour and the television season. The events have caused an international wave of news coverage, rounded out by everything from defensive “It’s only rock n roll” stories to meatier pieces that tease out the more nuanced concepts at play here, namely artistic freedom versus cultural respect.
Considering the wealth of information - some accurate, some not so much - that washed up on American shores after the event, it’s fortunate that VBS.tv cameras were there to document what transpired. Over the coming weeks, VBS will be running a series entitled “The Black Lips in India,” which faithfully documents the band’s turbulent experience before and after the Chennai gig, their escape to King Khan’s pad in Berlin, and beyond. The (100% NSFW!) trailer for the series — which captures every bit of Cole — is now available on VBS.tv.
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John Legend In Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
PHOTO CREDIT: ROBB D. COHEN/www.robbsphotos.com
The R&B singer who made his debut four years ago elegantly sitting behind a piano, appeared on the Fox Theatre stage Tuesday night up and sweating in a boxing ring.
And for the next almost two hours, there was hardly a musical swing (from gospel to pop to reggae to hip-hop), a song or even an unexpected cover that five-time Grammy winner John Legend didn’t land solidly.
Like Alicia Keys — another lauded vocalist withe exceptional skills at the keyboard - Legend has been trying to break out of the somewhat reserved, VH1 persona he initially fell under. After all, he does have the biggest dance hit of his career with “Green Light” (featuring Atlanta’s Andre “Dre” Benjamin of OutKast). And, as he told the sold-out Fox crowd, he only just turned 30.
And to his credit, last night’s show was a big step towards proving him an “Evolver” (as his current CD is called). After his Ali-like opening on screen, the real Legend took center stage and confidently- and comfortably -began with an uptempo set including “Used To Love U” and “It’s Over”. He was personable, welcoming a rather unabashed woman to “Slow Dance” with him. And for the first time in his three studio-CD career, when Legend got to the ballads in the well-paced set - including a surprise bit of “Computer Love” - they weren’t the concert highlights. They were merely beautiful parts of a remarkable turn for Legend as a concert artist, and entertainer.
Were you at the Fox last night, and if so, what’s your take? (See the rest of our photo gallery HERE ) And did you get a chance to see opening act Estelle? How would you say she compares to other Brit-soul upstarts of late?
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Ne-Yo and Sugarland Added To Grammy Performers List
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The 51st annual Grammy Awards will have more than 30-plus nominees with Georgia connections contending for music’s highest honor in the audience, and at least two more Atlantans expected on stage.
This year’s six-time nominee Ne-Yo (top photo) and two-time nominees Sugarland (second photo) have just been added to the list of performers this Sunday night. They join fellow Atlantan T.I., along with top nominee Lil Wayne, Kenny Chesney, Coldplay, Jennifer Hudson, Jonas Brothers, Paul McCartney, Chris Brown and others on that list.
Plus it was just announced that Atlanta Grammy winner T-Pain will be among the presenters, which will also include Sheryl Crow, Craig Ferguson and Queen Latifah.
Will you be tuning in to CBS for the Grammys? What about Katie Couric’s special tomorrow night?
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Party With Nominee Anthony David Grammy Night- In Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No offense, Grammy Awards — Atlanta nominee Anthony David insists — but he won’t be in Los Angeles this weekend to pick up his first statue, should he win.
“Not that I’m thinking I won’t or anything,” David said with a laugh. “It just started getting to be a little expensive, thinking about flying my mom and everybody out there. So I just decided to stay here and party with the fam[ily]”.
And you — if you RSVP to muddywatermgmt@gmail.com in time. Then you can join the R&B singer-songwriter up for best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals (for the ballad “Words” with fellow Atlantan India Arie) at Cafe Circa, 464 Edgewood Ave. S.E . His Grammy viewing party starts with a red carpet - of course - at 6, with the show airing at 8 p.m. . And Salah Ananse is scheduled to be on the turntables afterwards. (For more information call 404-477-0008).
Planning to go? And since we’re soliciting Grammy picks this week, think he’ll win against Boyz II Men (“Ribbon In The Sky”); Al Green featuring John Legend (“Stay With Me - By The Sea”); Jennifer Hudson featuring Fantasia (“I’m His Only Woman”); and Raphael Saadiq featuring Stevie Wonder and CJ Hilton (“Never Give You Up”)? Ever even heard the other singles nominated?
Well, to hear David’s “Words,” see the YouTube clip BELOW:
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Pick Your Hometown Grammy Winner - Day Two
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The music industry’s highest honor - the Grammy Award - will be handed out Feb. 8 in Los Angeles. And as has been the case in recent years, there are a remarkable number of contenders with Georgia connections.
With that in mind, each day this week we will highlight a category with Atlanta (or Georgia) nominees - in italics - and ask for your winning pick.
Today’s category: Best New Artist - which includes Lady Antebellum (pictured), the country trio made up of Augusta’s Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood.
Adele
Duffy
Jonas Brothers
Lady Antebellum
Jazmine Sullivan
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Pick Your Hometown Grammy Winner - Day One
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Yes the Steelers won last night, but another Super Sunday remains on this year’s calendar.
The music industry’s highest honor - the Grammy Award - will be handed out Feb. 8 in Los Angeles. And as has been the case in recent years, there are a number of contenders with Georgia connections.
With all of that in mind, each day this week we will highlight a category with Atlanta (or Georgia) nominees - in italics - and ask for your winning pick.
And since Little Big Town (pictured above) - which includes two members from the Georgia area - was just here this past weekend (see our photo gallery of the Tabernacle show HERE; Rodney Ho’s take on it HERE and LBT member Karen Fairchild “postcard” to the Atlanta Music Scene HERE ) let’s start with the category they’re up for, Best Country Collaboration With Vocals:
“Shiftwork,” Kenny Chesney and George Strait
“Killing The Blues,” Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
“House of Cash,” George Strait and Patty Loveless
“Life In A Northern Town,” Sugarland, Jake Owen and Little Big Town
“Let The Wind Chase You,” Trisha Yearwood and Keith Urban
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Little Big Town at the Tabernacle 1/30/09
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I checked out Little Big Town at the Tabernacle, which features two Georgia women: Lassiter High School grad Karen Fairchild and Cornelia, Ga. native Kimberly Roads.
The band nearly sold out the Tabernacle Friday night, a testament to a lot of touring over the years and a couple of big hits, including Grammy-nominated “Boondocks.”
ABOVE: Jimi Westbrook.
Besides many of their best-known songs (“I’m With the Band,” “Fine Line,” “Bring It On Home”), they threw in a few covers by bands they admire. The band did a rugged version of “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac, which also featured multiple male/female harmonies and interchanging lead singers. It also did “Heartache Tonight” by the Eagles, another band with multiple lead singers. And they did a lovely a capella version of Coldplay’s “Fix You” and a surprise hit a couple years ago with ’80s hit “Life in a Northern Town” (which they did with Jake Owen and Sugarland on tour and for the CMT Awards.)
Here are a few more photos I took.
ABOVE: I took this from the third level of Kimberly Roads, Karen Fairchild and Phillip Sweet.
Kimberly & JImi rock it out.
A closeup of Phillip Sweet at work.
Karen and Jimi, who are married, work the crowd.
I did a video of the band’s hit “Boondocks” here on YouTube. Notice how Karen and Kimberly both take audience members’ cel phones and record themselves while performing. Cute!
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