Almost a year after “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County” premiered at the Alliance Theatre, the soundtrack to the Stephen King-John Mellencamp-T Bone Burnett collaboration will see the light of day.
Hear Music/Concord Music Group will release the recording on March 19. It’s an all-star affair featuring Elvis Costello, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Neko Case, Taj Mahal, Ryan Bingham, Kris Kristofferson, Matthew McConaughey, Samantha Mathis and Meg Ryan, and a deluxe version will also feature King’s complete libretto.
The musical’s April debut at the Alliance was met with mostly good reviews – particularly Mellencamp’s rootsy, rustic songs – though most critics noted that King’s book needed some tweaking.
That could be why a new RollingStone.com story about “Ghost Brothers” calls the Atlanta production a “version of the show,” and later notes that a recent table reading in New York for possible investors ended without any plans to bring the dark musical to Broadway.
In Atlanta, Broadway vets Emily Skinner and Marietta native Shuler Hensley fronted the cast, which also included musician-actors Jake La Botz, Justin Guarini and Dale Watson.
On the soundtrack, which will come in several forms, including one with handwritten lyrics and a mini-documentary DVD, Elvis Costello tackles “That’s Me,” the opening song that sets the tone with its vaguely sinister sneer, while Taj Mahal handles the showstopper “Tear This Cabin Down” and also joins Crow and Dave and Phil Alvin on the poignant “Home Again.”
Mellencamp also makes an appearance on the album closer, “Truth.”
Here’s a look at the track listing:
“That’s Me,” Elvis Costello (listen below)
“That’s Who I Am,” Neko Case
“So Goddamn Smart,” Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin, Sheryl Crow
“Wrong, Wrong, Wrong About Me,” Elvis Costello
“Brotherly Love,” Ryan Bingham, Will Dailey
“How Many Days,” Kris Kristofferson
“You Are Blind,” Ryan Bingham
“Home Again,” Sheryl Crow, Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin, Taj Mahal
“What’s Going On Here,” Rosanne Cash
“My Name Is Joe,” Clyde Mulroney
“Tear This Cabin Down,” Taj Mahal
“And Your Days Are Gone,” Sheryl Crow, Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin
“Jukin’,” Sheryl Crow
“What Kind of Man Am I,” Kris Kristofferson, Phil Alvin, Sheryl Crow Dave Alvin, Taj Mahal
“So Goddamn Good,” Phil Alvin, Dave Alvin, Sheryl Crow
“Away From This World,” Sheryl Crow
“Truth,” John Mellencamp
MELISSA RUGGIERI
VISUAL ARTS
Young Blood Gallery says goodbye with ‘Love’
After mounting an exhibition celebrating its 15th anniversary in October, Young Blood Gallery & Boutique has announced that it is closing.
In an email to customers and artists, co-founders Kelly Teasley and Maggie White did not cite the recession, a factor in Saltworks and Jennifer Schwartz galleries giving up long-time spaces in favor of online dealing and pop-up shows in temporary spaces earlier this year.
“As you can imagine, it’s been a very difficult decision that’s kept us up many nights,” Teasley and White wrote in the email. “But after 15 years, we’re ready to move on.”
Young Blood’s final exhibit will be “We Love Atlanta,” running Dec. 1-30. The gallery-boutique, which has showcased more than a thousand emerging artists, printmakers and craftspeople since 1997, will close Jan. 6. Teasley and White did add that they are “entertaining the idea” of selling the business, too.
The gallery is at 636 N. Highland Ave., Atlanta, 404-254-4127, www.youngbloodgallery.com.
MUSIC
Handel’s Messiah the old-fashioned way
The Atlanta Baroque Orchestra will bring a touch of 18th century Dublin to the ears of audiences in Atlanta and Roswell in two programs titled “Holidays in Dublin: Handel’s Messiah.”
The ABO, along with the Georgia Tech Chamber Choir and soloists, will perform Messiah in its entirety at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30 at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, 1328 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta, and 4 p.m. Dec. 2 at Roswell Presbyterian Church, 755 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell.
The artists will use Handel’s original arrangement from its first performance, playing on replicas of the same instruments used in Handel’s day, in the Baroque style.
Vocal soloists are soprano Teresa Wakim, alto Katherine Growdon, tenor Aaron Sheehan and bass Mischa Bouvier. Julie Andrijeski directs the ABO. Jerry Ulrich conducts the Tech choir.
General admission tickets, $25, with discounts for advance purchase, seniors and students, at www.atlantabaroque.ticketleap.com
Carols in Marietta
The 100-voice Georgia Festival Chorus will present its 22st annual “Carols by Candlelight” Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church. Frank Boggs conducts the chorus and guest artists, and the Georgia Festival Ensemble will be featured. The chorus will sing selections by Handel, Mendelssohn, Yon, Rutter and more. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Free. 950 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta. 404-234-3581, www.tgafc.org.
VISUAL ART
Creations of the Jewish spirit
An Atlanta artist whose work frequently depicts Jewish traditions, Flora Rosefsky usually is a busy woman when the holidays approach, and this year is no different:
- Rosefsky's 15-work "Ritual Series," mixed-media works about Jewish holidays and celebrations, is showcased in the exhibition "Interpretations: Contemporary Jewish Art" at the Jewish Cultural Arts Center in Chattanooga through Nov. 30 (www.jewishchattanooga.com).
- She also is exhibited in "Joy of Judaism" at the Marcus Jewish Community Center's Katz Family Mainstreet Gallery, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, through Jan. 31 (www.atlantajcc.org). Many of the pieces relate to the Exodus narrative and are "drawn with scissors," a process in which the artist cuts into the paper, without traced lines or a computer to guide her. More information: www.florageart.com.
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