Live Review: Spiritualized @ Metro 9/8
Fire, death, the soul, drugged-up bliss: Jason Pierce, the force behind Spiritualized, navigated his favorite heavy topics at Metro on Monday, but even during the deepest of lyrical explorations Pierce remained composed, hidden behind sunglasses, standing in profile to the crowd.... read more
Other Sound Festival kicks off tomorrow night, avoids "trendiness" for fourth year running
This year's Other Sound Festival takes place over three days in three venues, and promises to be an exploration of the city's truly independent music, featuring the best bands in Atlanta and beyond. Local labels, publicity firms and non-profits have their hands in the mix, including Containment Theory Records, Eskimo Kiss Records, Industrial Strength Promotions, Sopo Bicycle Co-op and more. We've got the full schedule of events, plus a Q&A with festival organizer Kat Colohan of Containment Theory Records, to start the fest off right.... read more
Kanye West and Q-Tip play secret Knitting Factory show
Starting ominously with publicists leaving "hot tips" about a last-minute performance in the inboxes of bloggers across the boroughs, Tuesday night witnessed two of the most iconic voices in hip-hop perform together as Kanye West and Q-Tip took the stage in the early hours of the morning for a secret-ish show at the packed Knitting Factory. ... read more
ATP schedule announced; My Bloody Valentine taps Trail Of Dead, Yo La Tengo, more
It's been a long, long 16 years since Kevin Shields and My Bloody Valentine bandmates last washed us with their waves of heavenly distortion. But at long last, the All Tomorrow's Parties festival is providing the seminal group a magical weekend to host a blowout of early-90s noise jams, September 19-21 in upstate New York.... read more
Live Review: The Features, The Long Shadows, The Redcoats @ The Earl 8/30/08
[Above: The Redcoats]A typical Saturday night opening act at The Earl often functions as a backdrop for crowd members to consume their first rounds of PBR tallboys and greet friends, but on this night The Redcoats captured the audience in a way that many openers fail to do.... read more
Informer:Atlanta 9/9/08
Welcome to Informer:Atlanta! Each Tuesday, we bring you the very best in the coming week's music, film and culture events in and around Atlanta. Think we missed something? Wanna tip us off to something cool over the horizon? Let us know! All events are recommended, but italics indicate an editor's pick. (L) indicates local artists.... read more
Paste:Local launches in New York City and Chicago
Right on the heels Paste:Local Atlanta, we're excited to welcome Paste:Local New York City and Paste:Local Chicago into the fold... read more
Live Review: Liam Finn @ Bowery Ballroom 9/3
Liam Finn's an extraordinarily talented man, with skills honed in an unlikely place: New Zealand. Better known for its sheep and Lord of the Rings set tours, the Pacific island nation also produced his father (Neil Finn of Crowded House) while its larger neighbor to the south, Australia, is responsible for the younger Finn's bandmate, Eliza-Jane Barnes. And with one album, I'll Be Lightning, under his belt and some formidable critical praise to his name-- including a spot among Paste's Best of What's Next-- Finn's live performance more than lives up to the buzz.... read more
Relapse Comedy Theatre hurts so good
[Above: Relapse headliner Keenan Burton.]Coming up with something to do on an idle Saturday night when the cash is running low is never easy, no matter where you live. Good thing for us, Atlanta has a thriving underground comedy community just waiting to joke away your cares-- and on the cheap, no less.... read more
Grant Park Summer Shade Fest takes the "labor" out of Labor Day Weekend
[Above: Food vendors line the streets in Grant Park.]Atlanta has some awesome festivals, many of which take place each year during Labor Day Weekend alone. While books consumed Decatur, nearby Grant Park’s Summer Shade featured the usual scattering of live local music, vendor food from popular restaurants and an interesting about-town artist exhibition for the sixth year running. The festival also hosted children’s activities and street performers, but I wouldn’t know anything about that. I was too distracted by shiny artisan jewelry and jam sessions.Oh, and I think there was an early-morning 5k run to kick off the festival. But... read more
NYC Band of the Week: Frances
Borough: Brooklyn Fun Fact: The group’s biggest gig this year occurred at Shea Stadium, where the sextet performed before the opening pitch of a Mets’ game. Why They’re Worth Watching: Frances’ densely orchestrated chamber pop perfectly complements vocalist Paul Hogan’s indie-rock sensibilities in their debut LP, All the While. For Fans Of: The Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, Ben Folds An accurate description of the music made by the band known as Frances could fill a textbook. Speaking with all six members of the group-- guitarist Brian Betancourt, drummer Tclael Esparza, bassist Nick Anderson, vocalist/keyboarist Paul Hogam, melodica player Stephanie Skaff... read more
Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond on NYC
As the lead singer of My Brightest Diamond and the head cheerleader of Sufjan Steven’s Illinoisemakers, Shara Worden’s piercing vocals belie a history of musical immersion and training. After studying in Michigan, Texas and Moscow, Worden established herself as one of the most challenging artists to come out of New York City with a line of engaging projects including her latest album, the pop/classical amalgamation A Thousand Shark’s Teeth. Paste spoke with the affable Brooklyn resident to discuss her journey to NYC and what she’s been up to.... read more
Saul Williams On NYC
Poet, actor, musician, writer: There are few limits to the artistic agenda of Saul Williams. His past role as a pioneer in NYC’s spoken-word poetry scene makes him a definitive witness in the city’s history of underground art and symbolic expression. Currently touring in support of his latest album, The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust, and appearing in the upcoming film New York, I Love You, Williams spoke with Paste about his history and thoughts on The Big Apple. Look for more interviews with some of NYC’s most acclaimed artists in the coming weeks.... read more
Dianogah: Qhnnnl
Something new (again) from an old favoriteYou really can rely on Dianogah. Besides the obvious sturdiness of the bass-bass-drums lineup and an established tradition of pushing the envelope of post-rock, the very fact that the band will pull something new out of its formidable hat every time out has become more or less an expectation. This time around, on fourth full-length Qhnnnl, it’s a newfound attitude towards the heavily layered, melodic drive that’s defined the band for the bulk of its 13-year career. Dianogah’s usual propensity towards oscillating rhythms and challenging composition has given way to playful experimentation with vocals... read more
Welcome To Paste:Local NYC!
What can one say about America's marquee city of lights and culture that hasn't been said before? For Paste, it's inevitable that a large degree of our coverage revolves around artists and filmmakers who make this city their home. While our offices are located in the deep South and we spread our love equally to all 50 states, it's hard to ignore the energy of approximately 23 square miles of island that claim so many major institutions of music, film and culture. Despite the mainstream focus the Big Apple receives, it's independent activity is equally as vibrant. The last ten... read more
Book Festival brings music, art, beer and, oh yeah, books to Decatur
[Above: Readers take the stage at the Decatur Book Festival.]Last Friday evening, 1,000 people lined up to witness the Decatur Book Festival’s keynote address by former United States Poet Laureate Billy Collins. The New York native, whom the AJC termed “thoughtful and hilarious,” is one of the most recognized names in contemporary poetry. Though this year’s festival was only the third annual, Collins headed a powerhouse list of featured authors-- and he apparently had the sold-out audience rolling in their seats. That was just the beginning of a weekend that saw the streets of Decatur teeming with literature enthusiasts, despite... read more
Live Review: Andrew Bird @ Pritzker Pavilion 9/3
[Above: Bird and his flock in a video projection onstage at Pritzker.]Don’t be fooled by the violin: The mild-mannered Andrew Bird is actually a badass superhero, capable of launching NASA missions from his loop pedal. Looking like Peter Sellers in The Pink Panther and sounding like his namesake avian counterparts, the diminutive multi-instrumentalist captivated a rapt crowd at Chicago’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Sept. 3.... read more
"Keep the Fire" with yacht rock (on an actual yacht) this Saturday
Ah, smooth jams. Hall & Oates, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Steely Dan, The Eagles: For some, the songs inspired slow dancing, and for others it’s the very music that brought them into this world. “Yacht Rock,” a surprise hit web TV series that spins the hilarious (fictional) tales behind those come-on tunes, gave the genre a new name and also inspired DJ nights across the globe. Chicago was no exception.... read more
Drag City dredges archives for celebration of art and music
[Above: Detail of Emily Price's original embroidery for the cover of Joanna Newsom's The Milk-Eyed Mender.]Launched in 1989 and now home to time-honored, rock-solid acts including the Silver Jews, The Red Krayola, Bonnie “Prince” Billy and comic freak Neil Hamburger, Chicago's Drag City is a label with a distinct personality: Playful, colorful and amorphous, but weary of the pains and struggles of the world that cheery pop music can't mask. In that same vein of duality, Drag City isn't just about music, but also the visual art with which it runs hand in hand: Album covers, show posters, even the... read more
Live Photos: The Coathangers, Derek Lyn Plastic, Sex Tapes @ Star Bar 8/28/08
[Above: The Coathangers rock out at the Star Bar]With bands playing upstairs and downstairs, this night at the Star Bar was part of the venue's free Thursday series, presented by Atlanta's Rob's House Records. Local acts the Coathangers and Derek Lyn Plastic were joined by Charlotte, N.C.'s own Sex Tapes for a night of rock and debauchery, as the names would suggest (and as the photos confirm).... read more
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Gregory Alan Isakov - The Moon Song
Punch Brothers - Punch Brothers at CMJ
Anya Marina - Whatever You Like
David Bazan - Hard To Be
