Week of the Earth

Post to Post

Time to step back for a minute. It’s the 39th anniversary of our first posting (I know it’s not paper, silver, or gold; is it iridium?) Nonetheless, it seems as good a reason as any to take a moment to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going. This little project started with an ounce (or maybe a pound) of passion, a little extra free time, and the desire to do a couple things at least once a week (no, that – it’s like shaving). Obviously one of those things was not to make money, but one was to take some time each week to see who was coming to town.

After doing this for more than nine months (might not seem long to you), organization imposed its ugly head into the process. I have coped with dignity though. More than one bartender at a local tavern has seen me order a Franziskaner on a Tuesday night and pour over the local free papers (& mags) with a highlighter marking up the shows for the month (see, told you I was low tech).

It’s not often I get to a Sunday night and I haven’t decided at least who (even if not what) I might write about. This week was a little different. No theme. That is not unusual (or surprising for you loyal readers), but no shows either (well one, but we will get to that). So off I go to sort through the stack of free papers that usually occupies some random space in this house I live in. After a fairly careful review, nothing satisfies (and no, I will not cop to that ad campaign now). Okay, this must be why Al Gore invented the interweb. I surf all my favorite venues and…finally, found what I was looking for. You’ll have to wait (and read on) to find out what it was.

But finding it was not only a pleasant surprise, but also a moment of inspiration (in case that wasn’t evident enough) and a thoughtful trigger. Surprises are fun. Sometimes the planning takes all the thrill out of discovery. And new isn’t really new if you’ve known about it for three weeks, right? This thing, Atlanta’s A-List, live music, life – whatever you want to call it – is about exploring, expanding, and letting yourself stay just young enough to get excited every once in a while.

Coast to Coast

I mention the reach of our little A-List (that’s Atlanta’s A-List for all you other search engines) often because it still amazes me. I mean, I actually know that this is being read from the Charleston Harbor to the San Francisco Bay. Given its inauspicious beginnings (do I need to ask you to reread the first paragraph?), I am still a little bit in awe. When I step back for a minute and realize the conversations, interactions and opportunities it has sparked in the last several months, well…I think of hanging it all up (and this is where I fantasize that somebody out there in hyperspace just let out a soft sigh of disappointment). No, not really. Don’t pretend to fret. I’m not done yet. We’ll be here again next week, but first here’s what’s in store this week.

Monday to Monday

Tomorrow night I will be jettisoning the confines of the working world just a little bit early to head to Athens for Wilco at the Classic Center Theatre. I won’t bore you with my personal history with Wilco, but the reader’s digest version goes something like this: I used to go to bed every night listening to Being There, took several years off, then not that long ago found myself waking up every morning to Kicking Television (aren’t those CD-playing alarm clock radios cool?). I still regret missing their Atlanta appearance on the Sky Blue Sky tour at Chastain in the rain (really). When this tour was announced and no Atlanta dates were posted and these tickets went on sale and I knew I had to see them, and, and…well, I bought the tickets. (And I am excited.) This may turn up to be an exceptional fortnight for live music. Coming off of Alejandro Escovedo‘s great show at Eddie’s Attic this past Wednesday, there is a lot potential ahead of us.

The other show that has me excited, but is not my exciting discovery of the week, is Magnapop next Monday, April 27, at The Earl. I missed one half of this band when it opened for Al last Tuesday night at Eddie’s. And I have to tell you I really would have liked to heard their brand of melodic punk, power pop in an acoustic set. Having missed that, I will not let Linda Hopper and company take it to East Atlanta next Monday night without me. Their first record in four years is expected later this year and with some luck we will get to preview some of the new songs at this show. They go on before Tommy Keene, so get there early enough to get your $10 worth.

And now, the moment you have all been waiting for (as if!) – the surprise show that got me excited this week – Scott Miller & The Commonwealth – Thursday night, April 23, at Smith’s Olde Bar. Okay it might not excite you the way it does me, but like Wilco, I have never seen him. I know it’s not uncommon for Scott to make the trip down from Kville to play a night or two in our town. I also know that there are enough Volunteers around here (no reason to make fun) that many of you have seen him in his own locale over the years.

There are plenty of reasons to get excited about this show (apart from the fact I didn’t realize it was happening until 3 hours ago). Scott plays the kind of real Americana that has its origins in real America. Let me just borrow his words: “Unlike most of the faux-simplified-effete’-elite-