Still in Season
It’s week two of that season. What does that mean for the A-List? It means fewer out of town acts (they don’t want to be on the road this time of year either) and fewer shows in general (at least at our favorite venues). That doesn’t mean there isn’t something to hear, see or do this week. We’re going to get local, look at some other stuff but still try to stay true to our school.
That other stuff
I’ve mentioned the Garbageman in this space before but this time I am adding his legions to the A-List. (Hello strange people) Bill and his literary offbeats return on Thursday, Dec. 18 (8PM) to Opal Gallery in L5P which is where it all began (for me anyway). It’s a sort of an open mike night for frustrated poets, writers, commentators, and sociopaths. The rules are simple: your story should be super short; anybody who wants to read gets a chance; sobriety not required; BYOB. The man behind the A-List intends to make his second appearance reading a little story ’bout Georgia that has nothing to do with the holidays.
Santacon is coming to Atlanta on Dec. 20. Santacon is a national movement that allegedly started in San Francisco in the 90s. This concept is pretty simple too. Driven to drink by commercialized Christmas, many people dress up like Santa Claus and his elves, excessively imbibe, and wander about town making noise and trying not to do damage to people (property not included). Oh yeah, no messing with kids either. Oregon Public Broadcasting describes it as Burning Man with eggnog. That probably is typical public radio hipster hyperbole, but if you’re curious, the big meet up is Saturday at 6:00 at the Vortex. On a music related note, there is allegedly a pre-Santacon event surrounding the Variety Playhouse show on Friday night…check out santacon.com (not the same link as above) for details.
Wind the Music Box
This week’s primary show of note is Friday night at Star Bar. Drive By Trucker Patterson Hood will be appearing as part of a multi-band line-up to benefit redneck underground stalwart, Ted Weldon of Truckadelic. No longer rocking, Ted has been out of work for medical reasons and many of his local friends are playing Friday and Saturday to help him cover medical expenses. This is a perfect example of how a local music scene takes care of its own. I don’t want to get all Jimmy Stewart here, but it is sort of cool. As for the other acts that will be appearing they will include Greasepaint (who are certifiably weird) and Rock City Dropouts (who are just certifiable). The last time I saw the Dropouts at Star Bar, lead man Jett Bryant crushed a PBR can against his forehead (before drinking most of it) and let it run down his beard. Expect Mr. Hood to be more demure.
If you missed Shawn Mullins at the Variety a few A-Lists ago (A-List Archive 11/23), an earlier show from that venue will be the subject of his new CD and DVD – creatively titled Shawn Mullins: Live at the Variety Playhouse. The label it’s on is an independent (Vanguard) but coming on the heels of this spring’s Honeydew, you gotta wonder if this is a contractual obligation album. Regardless, Shawn will be playing four shows at Eddie’s Attic this week in support of the new release. As much as I love the Variety, there may be no better place to see our local singer songwriter (or anybody in that genre) than Eddie’s. Shows will be early (7:30) and late (9:00) both Tuesday and Wednesday.
That’s Atlanta’s A-List and Ruby don’t take your love to town.
