BY MELISSA RUGGIERI/AJC Music Scene
FRIDAY
Phantogram
The rock-tronica duo of Josh Carter (vocals, guitar) and Sarah Barthel (vocals, keyboards) are heading into their seventh year together. Last fall came their third studio album called, appropriately, “Three,” which included the single “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore,” a song covered by Canadian rockers Three Days Grace. Notable to Atlanta music fans, the duo has also paired with Outkast’s Big Boi for the project Big Grams, which spawned a self-titled EP in 2015. Expect to see him there.
With the Veldt. 8 p.m. March 17. $36. Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.livenation.com.
Antigone Rising
It’s kind of a cool thing when your bio sheet can claim that your band was the first to be promoted in the Starbucks Hear Music Series. Indeed, the female quartet of alt-country rockers earned the distinction with their 2005 album, “From the Ground Up.” Having opened for everyone from the Rolling Stones to Aerosmith to the Indigo Girls, the band detoured into more of a pop-rock lane and in March 2015 released “Whiskey & Wine Volume 2.”
With Lindsey Hinkle. 7 p.m. March 17. $18-$23. Eddie’s Attic, 515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur. 1-877-725-8849, www.eddiesattic.com.
SATURDAY
Vanessa Carlton
While she will always be associated with her breakout 2002 hit, “A Thousand Miles,” and its sweetly chiming piano riff, Carlton has remained a steady, if quieter, presence. In 2015, she brought her lush piano pop to a fifth studio album, “Liberman” (named for her late grandfather), which yielded a live follow-up the following year. Last month, Carlton released another live album, “Earlier Things Live,” on her own label; the record includes six songs from albums released pre-“Liberman.”
With Tristen. 8 p.m. March 18. Sold out (wait list available). City Winery Atlanta, 650 North Ave., Ponce City Market, Atlanta. 404-946-3791, www.citywinery.com/atlanta/.
SUNDAY
M. Ward
Whether working with Zooey Deschanel in She & Him, joining Jim James, Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis in Monsters of Folk, producing Mavis Staples or Jenny Lewis or doing his own thing, Matthew “M.” Ward is always, always busy. The Portland-based singer-songwriter last year released his eighth studio album, “More Rain,” his first solo effort since 2012.
With Amy Vachal. 8 p.m. March 19-20. $40-$50. City Winery Atlanta, 650 North Ave., Ponce City Market, Atlanta. 404-946-3791, www.citywinery.com/atlanta/.
TUESDAY
Minus the Bear
The Seattle indie rockers named after a band joke about the ‘70s TV show “BJ and the Bear” have lived through a couple of member changes since their 2001 inception and earlier this month released “Voids,” their sixth studio effort. The band’s label, Suicide Squeeze Records, also released limited quantities of the new record on splatter colored vinyl and cassette. The quartet of Jake Snider (vocals, guitar), Dave Knudson (guitar), Cory Murchy (bass) and Alex Rose (synthesizers, vocals) will tour the U.S. and Europe through June.
With Beach Slang and Bayonne. 8 p.m. March 21. $26-$29. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 1-877-987-6487, www.ticketfly.com.
THURSDAY
Conor Oberst
The latest solo album from the Bright Eyes founder, “Salutations,” will have landed a few days before Oberst returns to Atlanta for the first time since a 2014 Shaky Knees performance. The new record, out March 17, is a companion to his 2016 effort, “Ruminations.” For his tour, which spans dates through the summer, Oberst partnered with the organization Plus 1 and $1 from every ticket sold will benefit Planned Parenthood.
With the Felice Brothers. 8 p.m. March 23. $31-$36. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 1-877-987-6487, www.ticketfly.com.
For more music news, concert reviews and interviews, visit The Music Scene blog at AJC.com.
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