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Indigos for free
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Indigo Girls, like many other artists, have a soft spot for independent record stores, an endangered species in this day and age of downloading and cheap CDs at Wal-Mart.
So, as a thank you to the hardy Little Five Points store Criminal Records, the veteran Atlanta singer-songwriting duo did a free seven-song acoustic set and CD signing there Friday.
“We’ve never played this parking lot before,” cracked Emily Saliers before about 250 mostly female fans, who stood in the lot while they played under an Aurora Coffee sign. (The crowd was a bit smaller than what Criminal owner Eric Levin had hoped for.)
“It feels good to be in Little Five Points,” added the other Indigo, Amy Ray. “We love Criminal Records, and we want to thank Eric for carrying on and being a trouper and having the muscle to get through these corporate-record-store times.”
The earnest pair played songs from their new release, “Despite Our Differences.” At the end of the set, Ray and Saliers skipped their biggest hit, “Closer to Fine,” in favor of “Galileo,” a classic from their 1992 album “Rites of Passage,” which the crowd lustily sang along to.
Quiz champ picks up pen
Ken Jennings became the most famous game show winner in decades with an incredible 74 “Jeopardy!” victories in a row in 2004, pocketing $2.5 million. He quit his computer programming job and wrote a book, dubbed “Brainiac.”
Jennings, a straight-laced Mormon who’ll sign copies of those books at the Buckhead Borders starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, writes with self-deprecating flair, interspersing stories about his journey through “Jeopardy!” with tidbits of trivia lore, including a man who wrote questions for “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” and overly serious pub trivia players in Boston.
Jennings said he’s enjoyed his fame, as grandmothers pinch his cheeks and teenage girls excitedly whisper behind his back. But he feels bad for another Ken Jennings, a Broadway actor whose name has been eclipsed by that of “Mr. Jeopardy.” “The guy is probably pretty ticked,” Jennings said. ” ‘Suddenly, this nerd from Utah has my name!’ “
Jennings already has been a clue in a New York Times crossword puzzle and may end up in “Trivial Pursuit” one day. “It’s become an apotheosis to be a trivia question,” he told Buzz.
And speaking of trivial, he said he ran into “American Idol” loser William Hung in the airport last week. “I wonder if anybody saw us together, they’d be thinking, ‘Look! Two 2004 has-beens hanging out together!’ “
Diddy never stops in whirlwind Atlanta visit to push his new CD
Your usual recording act promotes an upcoming album by visiting a few radio stations, maybe having a listening party for retailers and the press, and going on to the next locale by day’s end.
Then there’s Diddy.
At 4 a.m. Friday, entertainment mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs hit town in support of his Nov. 17 CD “Press Play,” and he was scheduled to party with V-103’s Greg Street as late as Sunday evening. On Friday alone, he visited three morning shows — breakfast at his Buckhead restaurant, Justin’s, with V-103’s “Frank and Wanda Morning Show,” tequila shots with Q100’s “Bert Show” and a liquor-free visit with Hot-107.9’s A Team. Then Diddy did TV, a video show and print interviews at the InterContinental Hotel, followed by a quick stop at Frederick Douglass High School and a talk with V-103’s Ryan Cameron, where he was joined by his pregnant longtime Atlanta girlfriend, Kim Porter. Diddy then partied at Compound and hit the studio for a late night/early morning stop. All of which happened in front of an MTV cameraman, trailing him for an upcoming “Diary.”
On Saturday, the entertainer hosted an afternoon listening session at Lotus. NBA superstar Dwyane Wade, Diddy’s recording group B5, Disturbing the Peace exec Chaka Zulu, songwriter Bryan-Michael Cox and choreographer and label president Devyne Stephens were in the crowd, but apparently that wasn’t enough to please the guest of honor. “I’m going to need y’all to have a little more energy!” Diddy declared as he arrived about 5:55 p.m. for what was scheduled to be a 4-to-6 p.m. event. “I know it’s early. But the drinks are free. Drinks on Diddy! Drinks on ‘Press Play’!”
Double-dutch education
Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin doesn’t brag about her management abilities, but she did tout her double-dutch jump-roping skills last week at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ron Clark Academy in south Atlanta, an independent school that the educator hopes to turn into a laboratory for his teaching philosophy. (To learn more, see www.ronclarkacademy.com.)
Clark, who was portrayed by Matthew Perry in the TNT film “The Ron Clark Story,” said that he too can double-dutch, a skill he learned from his students in Harlem, a moment featured in the film. During the groundbreaking ceremony, Franklin jokingly challenged Clark to a double-dutch duel down the road, noting her days growing up in Philadelphia working the ropes on the sidewalks. “I haven’t done it in 45 years,” the mayor told Buzz afterward, chuckling, “but I can still do it in my head!”
Random radio bits
Popular ponytailed good ol’ boy “Southside Steve” Rickman, known for his catchphrase “Yeah c’mon!” is considering a return to the 96rock “Regular Guys” morning show. Rickman left the show in 2004 and had his own afternoon gig with Tim Rhodes until management canned them earlier this year. But those bosses are no longer around. Larry Wachs of the Regular Guys posted a poll on his blog last week seeking input. With 72 percent in favor of his return, Rickman will be on the air this morning to talk about it … .
99X’s Axel Lowe is back in the afternoons today after temporarily filling in mornings after Fred Toucher and Jimmy Baron left in late winter. A new 99X morning show is supposed to launch Oct. 2, but Cumulus VP John Dickey won’t reveal the morning show team except to say that Leslie Fram will remain in the picture. Rumors include the possible return of former 99X night jock Will Pendarvis or ex-afternoon host Sean Demery.
Peace in the park
And now, as promised, here’s another snippet of lyrics from the Buzz reader-driven theme song for Woodruff Park. Songwriter Melanie Massell will debut the song in the downtown park during a noontime concert Wednesday:
“The focus now is making it user-friendly, like a patch of peace in the city. / Woodruff Park, a patch of peace in the city, an urban oasis in the heart of downtown. / There’s something for everyone; the place is so pretty, it’s guaranteed to turn a frown upside down. / Woodruff Park, a patch of peace in the city, where downtown businesses are coming alive. / There are walls of water and fountains are plenty; / It’s a gathering place to relax and unwind.”
Celebrity birthdays
Actor Michael Douglas is 62. Model Cheryl Tiegs is 59. Actor Mark Hamill is 55. Actress Heather Locklear is 45. Actor-singer Will Smith is 38. Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones is 37. Atlanta rapper T.I. is 26.
Contributing: Sonia Murray, Richard Eldredge and news services. If you have a tip, call 404-526-5688 or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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