Backtracks, Sidetracks and Train tracks
If you’re lucky you’ll get two or three of those. Guess which one gets left out right now and you will receive…well, nothing (the give away was last week).
As you all know, I did manage to cross the train tracks last week and make it into EAV for The Long Ryders. While there I made my usual stop at Bound to be Read Books (which we have mentioned in this space before (A-List Archive 12/08)). It was a typically pleasant visit. I added another volume to my collection, missed out on the word of the day (which was “twang” and would have won a me freebie), and added owner, and otherwise nice guy, Jeff to the A-List. The A-List…we’re on the grow!
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This week I can stay a little bit closer to home. The first show to mention this week is, of course, Bernadette Seacrest & Her Provocateurs at Eddie’s Attic on Wednesday night. I know for a fact that there are too many of you who haven’t been out to see B yet and still others who have never made upstairs to the Attic. Both are easily worth the eastbound trip. She’s once again returned to myspace (despite being hacked and justifiably hacked off) so if you need a teaser to get you out to this show, take a free listen to “My Man” or “God’s Been Drinking” and know that digital reproduction cannot replicate the original in person. Unfortunately, the day job will have me far from home, in the Nutmeg State that night, so somebody take my spot on the steps.
Speaking of out of town, I know (but maybe you don’t) that the A-List reaches from Chicago to New York every week despite our strictly local focus. I was pleasantly surprised this week when I found out that the A-List got picked up in Austin, Texas and added to his website by none other than Alejandro Escovedo. While I am sure the fact that his Eddie’s Attic show topped our Best of Oh-Eight list had something to do with it, but some recognition in the home of Austin City Limits, South by Southwest, etc., ranks pretty high on the sorta cool meter and might be the first step in fulfilling one of our Christmas wishes.
I will be back in town in time to catch Les Savy Fav (pronounce it like you’re in eleventh grade French class) on Friday night at The Earl. These indie stalwarts have been “missing out on cashing in for over a decade“. In the that time they have put out four or five records of their own (there I go guessing again) and launched a label, French Kiss Records, smart enough to sign personal favorites, The Hold Steady, to their first contract. All this despite the fact that they cannot get a good link to their own label’s page from their myspace page. That might explain part of the missing out. I also saw a show flyer in the window at Wax ‘N Facts with the lead, “Les Savy Fav is going bald”. Again maybe another reason why they are missing out. Seriously though, for the indie band lovers out there this Brooklyn based band is supporting their new effort Let’s Stay Friends and from what little I have heard it is worth the time.
Finally, in the news section of the A-List (though I guess it’s all news, huh?) I should mention that Ryan Adams has announced that he will be leaving the music scene (that is, not recording or touring) indefinitely this spring. That is important to us here because his March 20 show at the Fox Theatre will be his last (anywhere) before this musical hiatus (or retirement?). Tickets went on sale on Friday and I expect that the last of them will be snatched up by Craig’s List speculators before mid-week if not sooner (tickets seemed still to be available on Saturday night). If you have a serious jones for Ryan Adams’ work (I confess I once did but it has since faded) then get your tickets now before the carpetbaggers come calling.
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There are only a couple types of music that don’t interest me and from time to time I can be found listening to selections from records as disparate as Verdi’s Otello and Sammy Hagar’s Standing Hampton. Heck, I even like some show tunes – “I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General” (really, it completely cracks me up). But there are two genres that I rarely venture into and sometimes even avoid – celtic and reggae. There is no real reason for this. Which is to say that I was never beat up by a whiskey swillin’, ganja smokin’ Jamaican named O’Neil when I was in middle school. I guess I just hear a lot of sameness in these styles and get bored with it sort of quickly, though I recognize many would say the same about my blues or country passions (beauty in the eye, blah, blah, blah). Regardless, if you like the afro-beat reggae style, you might want to try Dubconscious at the Variety on Friday night. I don’t have much more to say than that (well, the artwork they use is cool too). Jus’ lettin’ y’know.
Which brings up another sidetrack. There are plenty of places in Resurgens City, free and otherwise, were you can keep up with what’s coming to town without getting on the e-mail list of every promoter in town (trust me that’s not as glamorous as it sounds). What sets the A-List apart is that I’m not “jus’ tellin’ ya.” Despite the name, it is certainly more than a list (and for that matter as a list it should fail miserably). It is also more than a collection of p.r. plugs sent out by the band, promoter or label. Copy and paste with words is fine – but try working with them. Yeah, the A-List might get to the point where we actually post a picture to the website (or even run a banner ad) but the heart and soul of this project starts with the words. If it isn’t worth writing about, why bother? At least that’s the point and that’s why atlantasalist.blogspot.com remains gloriously lo-fi (or is that lo-tech?).
Scott Weiland is here on Monday night (also known as tomorrow) at Center Stage. I admit that his voice is sort of addictive (no pun intended) though be Happy in Golashes (pun intended there) that Atlanta is at the front end of his tour because it greatly reduces your odds of receiving a rehab-related rain check instead getting to see an actual show. Nonetheless, despite his enchanting vocals I always find myself cutting it off at some point (often mid-stream) after answering the introspection, “Why am I listening to this?” I must be the minority because there are at least three different Atlanta radio stations that insist on playing an STP cut during drive time every single day. Despite that perpetual revenue stream, the lead article on his website blog is that merch is now available on-line. Ugh. I still owe all of you the merch table rant (and its importance to emerging and indie artists), but if there is a guy that doesn’t need more cash in his hands…
In the interest of ending on a more positive note, The Paul Collins Beat will be at The Earl joined by our own Gentleman Jesse on Saturday night. They are kicking off a national tour together. If you enjoy the power pop of Pete Yorn, Butch Walker (Marvelous 3), or Jakob Dylan (Wallflowers) then you should enjoy these boys.
That’s the A-List and Alice it’s my turn today.
