Week of Firsts (Grace Potter)

Don’t fall behind on your reading.

Set your alarm. Create a reminder. Stick a post-it to the screen. Don’t risk it man. You could miss out. Check out the A-List every Monday morning. atlantasalist.blogspot.com

And if you fell behind last week you did miss out. Both featured artists played to packed houses and left it all on the stage. Don’t forget now… atlantasalist.blogspot.com

First Things First

After last week’s ode to Bernadette Seacrest, you might find me fickle if I tell you that I love Grace Potter…but I do. (Sorry B.) Both of these ladies possess the kind of talent and showmanship that can drive any red blooded boy wild, but Grace Potter and the Nocturnals deliver a decidedly different show in a different genre. This is American rock n’ roll. You can expect…and will get big guitars, backbeats, and infectious hooks.

I discovered Grace on a live track she recorded while touring with Government Mule sometime last year. She has been on the road with Dave Matthews this summer and will be supporting our own Black Crowes this fall. The Nocturnals’ sound fits in with those boys but with the added joy of a vocal that can touch the sky. Check out “Mastermind” to hear for yourself.

Grace does most of the songwriting and it’s not just the Hammond and Fenders that shine. The lyrics are worth a careful listen. Unfortunately, some of her best tracks are not streaming in cyberspace. To hear “Ah, Mary”, “Ragged Company”, and “Mr. Columbus” (sort of apropos just days after our national holiday, eh?) you will have to catch her headlining Saturday at the Variety Playhouse. Calendar it and yes, I will be there.

Also On Stage this Week

Tuesday night Chris Trapper will be climbing the stairs to Eddie’s Attic. You probably haven’t heard of Chris and might not even know his other project – The Push Stars – but I might guess his voice will sound vaguely familiar especially if you’re a movie maven. Either Chris or the Push Stars have been featured in: “The Devil Wears Prada” with Meryl Streep; “There’s Something About Mary”; “August Rush” starring Robin Williams; and the Farrelly Brothers film “Say it Isn’t So”. His songwriting is best when it is earnest and not reaching. He hit that mark when I saw him and The Push Stars at the Knitting Factory in support of their 1999 After the Party LP. But it seems that Chris has been keeping his best stuff to himself in recent years and that’s what you will hear on Tuesday. Don’t look for me there though. I will be in D.C. on another project where I will probably catch the Legendary Shack Shakers at the Rock & Roll Hotel.

There is more than one show to see on Thursday night (see below), but my choice will be Manchester Orchestra at Star Bar. They will go on late as is the norm for the community bar of L5P. This is not a “CD release show” but the Orchestra’s new EP will drop on Tuesday and this may be your first chance to pick it up. Look for it soon enough at Criminal Records – after they move of course.

Really this is more of a warm up show as they get ready to hit the road this fall with Dead Confederate and All Get Out (both Southeast acts that I like a lot). If you haven’t heard “Wolves at Night” (the song that launched this local band to national prominence and led some to call its forthcoming full length the most anticipated indie record of 2009) it has long since been pulled from their My Space page and you may have to invest in 2007′s Like a Virgin Losing A Child…or just show up at Star Bar around 11:00 on Thursday evening.

Quick Shots

You might also want to see Citizen Cope on Monday night at Center Stage; Dead Confederate on Wednesday night at the Five Spot; Los Lonely Boys, Thursday night, and Ray Lamontagne, Saturday night, both at the Tabernacle.

End Notes

The Tuesday night Rodney Crowell show at Smith’s Olde Bar is cancelled. No word on whether or not he will make Thursday night’s show at Melting Point in Athens.

Speaking of Thursday night, the Girl Talk show at the Variety is sold out. You’ll have to grab your ticket from the guys on the street. If you get there early somebody will probably have one.

Watch for a special mid-week A-List to help you sort out your Halloween plan.

Coming Soon – Live Show Reviews at alistlife.blogspot.com.

And that’s the A-List…while Rhiannon sings like a bell through the night.