I think the most recent X-Men movie was about origins. Of course, we would know that if we went to the movies around here but that’s something that doesn’t happen very often at Atlanta’s A-List. That doesn’t mean we don’t like comic books…er, I mean, graphic novels. We do. We’re even considering a review of a couple right now, but you gotta watch da ole blogspot for that kind of stuff.
No, we start this week with Wolverine for a couple of reasons (and not just because some of us are Marvel and others are DC – which one are you?) We’re a little bit behind since we took Memorial Day off, so why not start off with a behind the times reference? (is that movie out on DVD yet?) Second, feeling a little bit guilty about missing our own self-imposed deadline of Monday night, it seemed like a good reason to explain once again how this thing got started. If you think you have read this before, it’s a little bit different this time and since it’s our story we get to tell it the way we like (that’s how revisionist history works too).
Atlanta’s A-List is an excuse for a personal project. Though we really are more than one right now, the words are still all flowing from a single source (as if that wasn’t evident by the abhorrent proofing alone). Moving the weekly email from Sunday to Monday became a necessity. Skipping yesterday, well that was just me. So to get it all off my chest, I want to tell you why this started. The personal project just mentioned was about writing. Writing regularly. Writing on deadline. Writing when there seemed to be nothing to say. Writing when there was so much to say that you stay up all night hacking at the keyboard (not taking that typing elective in high school still haunts). Writing for practice. Writing for fun. Writing to discover a voice. Writing to try on another voice (heels hurt too much to try on anything like that). By now you get it, write..uh, right?
So we’re a little different than some of our music blogging brothers and sisters. We’re more than lists and quick links. Don’t get us wrong, we love what they do and lean on them for info and updates all the time. (Check out our growing list of interweb friends by scrolling down the lefty column of the blog.) And just so you don’t think we’re being more hypocritical than usual, we do know we have lots of links in our posts. And yes, there is the occasional list (which despite the name is not really our style) – check them out here and here. We also have overcome our fear of html, at least long enough enough to post a couple videos – check out updated posts here and here. (A little trip through our archive will uncover all kinds of new surprises.)
What we’re saying is that while we’re trying to to be a little more..well, bloglike, that doesn’t mean that the words will go away. We’re committed to the words. That’s why we started after all and more words will be coming by way of more reviews, more contributors, more mid-week posts. We’re just trying to offer a little more (in case you missed that one too). So take comfort. By struggling through this every week, you’re supporting a good cause – my personal development. If that doesn’t comfort you in these troubled times than at least there are the links.
Today the Blah, Tomorrow the Blog
Wednesday night is a great place to start. There’s what we know and love – Bernadette Seacrest & Her Provocatuers at the Highland Inn Ballroom. We saw Charles with his other gig on Saturday on the square in Decatur and they were great. Bernadette’s been spotted in Decatur recently too (okay not actually seen, but figuratively speaking) as the Director of the new Onyx Consulting Foundation. She’s reselling donated computers, professionally refurbished by the tech studs at Onyx Consulting, and donating the proceeds to the Decatur Rape Crisis Center. (I told you she was cool!)
Another local favorite takes the stage in at the East Atlanta Restaurant and Lounge (that’s the EARL people) in Dead Confederate. Yes, if you just clicked through to the Wrecking Blahg, they’re not pretty but they’re ours (well, Athens I guess, but that’s sorta ours too). In case you didn’t know, this is not country music. It’s loud, well-constructed and their latest track, “The Rat“, sort of reminds me of that second wave out of Seattle lo those many years ago.
If you want to see the momentarily famous, tickets still seem to be available for The National at the Tabernacle. I don’t know why the show was moved from the smaller but far superior (and independent!) Variety Playhouse. Since I don’t know, I won’t speculate about the band being controlled by a corporate ticket selling monopoly or just being greedy or some other ugly thing. I just won’t do it (go to the show I mean).
We’re headed out of town (again) but we wish we were here for one of our new favorites, Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun on Friday night at Starbar. This band may be Atlanta’s own version of Metric. You’ll get strong, compelling female vocals fronting electro-drum driven, guitar heavy anthems and they’re one better than Metric. Instead of just three dudes behind the blond lead singer, TTM,TTS has a bass player chick who’s pretty hot too. Can’t miss right? If that isn’t enough, Sealions will be on stage right before them. Scene deep locals know who these two electro-psychedelic hipsters are, but many others out there still don’t. Yes, two guys with a Macbook, a guitar and a keyboard do make a band – and a quite good one at that.
Finally, the week ends for us back in East Atlanta Village for the East Atlanta Beer Festival. This is the sixth year for this local festival which generates funds to support local non-profits that make East Atlanta a cool place to live, visit, and be on Saturday. VIP tickets are $55, regular tickets are $30, and designated drivers get in for $15. There are too many breweries to count (or too many for us to bother to count) and about 120 craft brews to sample. While you’re out there, buy a vinyl discus at Reactionary Records or grab a Doc Savage collection at Bound to Be Read Books.
Once you’re all hopped up (get it, it’s a pun!) you can head to the 529 where local stars The Coathangers may take a break from their new full-length, Scramble, to ask you to “Snuggle in my Boobies”. Don’t let these punk rock rebelles scare you, just scream “Yes!”. They will be partnering up with The Selmanaires whose more refined sounds may remind you of Roxy Music or even the later pop of Talking Heads. Good stuff too.
Wow, that’s another Atlanta’s A-List and write your letters in the sand, for in the day I’ll take your hand, in the land that our grandchildren knew.
