Zach Galifianakis, Ted Leo split 7-inch in time for Chunklet 20
Grab a spatula, 'cause you're gonna wanna scrape your jaw off the floor. That's right: It's been three years coming, but Athens, Ga.-based Chunklet Magazine has announced that its 20th edition is hitting the streets later this month. And, even better, those brave souls who order through the website can also purchase one of the mag's famous split 7-inches, this time shared by none other than fern-straddling, awkwardness-brandishing, comedian extraordinaire Zach Galifianaikis and head Pharmacist, Ted Leo.... read more
Catching Up With... Mastodon
Brann Dailor and his Mastodon brethren have had their tatooted arms full lately: After playing the main stage of this summer's biggest heavy-metal tour, the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Fest, work culminated on the band's fourth full-length album. Set to drop in January 2009... read more
Yellow Daisy Festival's 40th incarnation proves crafty, sugary, fun
The annual Yellow Daisy Festival at Stone Mountain Park is far and away one of my favorite events in Atlanta. Held for four days every September, the festival has come to be known for it’s vast array of artist booths, southern touched entertainment and fair-like grub. Although I was sad to miss opening day Sept. 4 (Jimmy Buffet tribute band A1A played!), I was equally happy making an appearance on Saturday, buzzing between crowds so thick you had no choice but to stop at nearly every one of the 500 booths.... 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
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
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
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 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
"History Remixed" brings Civil Rights legacy to the High
[Above: Detail of Builder Levy's I Am a Man/Union Justice Now, Memphis, Tennessee, 1968]In the 40th year after Martin Luther King Jr.'s death, Atlanta's High Museum of Art is paying an impressive tribute to our hometown Civil Rights legacy with "History Remixed," running now through October 5.... read more
Informer:Atlanta 9/2/08
Welcome to Informer:Atlanta! Each Tuesday, we bring you the best in upcoming 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! Italics indicate an especially recommended event, (L) indicates local artists.... read more
Following Paper Trail and jail time, what's next for T.I.?
T.I. has the #1 single on iTunes right now with his latest track, "Whatever You Like." The song is yet another "single" from the much-hyped and much-delayed Paper Trail, which has been pushed back once more from Sept. 9 to Sept. 30.... read more
Methane Studios celebrates 10 years of gig postery at Alcove Gallery
When we swung by Alcove Contemporary Arts Gallery early last Saturday afternoon, a chocolate sheet cake from the previous evening's Methane exhibit opening party still lingered on a banquet table in the back room, giving the impression of some child's recently-abandoned birthday party. And the night before had been a birthday party, of sorts: For ten years now, Methane Studios has been gracing the telephone poles, record store windows, venue bulletin boards and-- more recently-- apartment walls of Atlanta and other lucky cities across the US with their vibrant, artful concert posters.... read more
Live Review: Janelle Monae and Gnarls Barkley @ Variety Playhouse 8/11/08
On August 11, Atlanta hosted a combo of musicians who are not only reshaping the city's increasingly diverse music scene, but dismantling preconceptions of popular music as a whole. Gnarls Barkley returned home for a sold-out crowd at Variety Playhouse and, on the eve of her national debut on Bad Boy Records (a extended version of the Metropolis: Suite I she's been selling independently), Janelle Monae teed them up.... read more
Local folks' picks for best of Decatur Book Festival
One of the crown jewels of Paste's hometown, the 2008 Decatur Book Festival, kicks off this afternoon. And, like any self-respecting lovers of beer, corn dogs, funnel cakes, live music, late-summer community gatherings-- and, oh yeah, books-- we're pretty excited about it. If you haven't looked at the schedule yet, do so-- but sit down first, 'cause it's a doozy. As you're plotting out your weekend, make time to swing by the Paste tent, where we'll be offering our Pay What You Want subscription offer to festival-goers. We're also co-sponsoring the closing night festivities, a live performance on Decatur Square... read more
Live Review: Modern Skirts, Y O U and the PleaseRock Review, Trae Vedder @ Star Bar 8/21/08
[Above: Y O U at the beach, apparently.]Trae Vedder of ATL band Death On Two Wheels perched on a stool with an acoustic guitar and an accompanying keyboardist throughout a rare unplugged set that met a full room, but not very much attention. It was too low-key for the party atmosphere that comes hand-in-hand with Pop Death Squad's free Big Trouble In Little Five Points show each month. Vedder himself was in good humor, cracking jokes and wailing out songs in his own gravelly tenor as the audience chatted inattentively and crowded the bar, preparing for the dancing they were... read more
reMIXT meshes art, music, artists, musicians and artist/musicians
A gallery show featuring music that inspired the works on display seems obvious. But actually hanging a mixtape-equipped cassette player below each piece and pasting an artsy, anything-goes playlist next to it, complete with earphones and elbow room? That's a step beyond, and it's exactly what's going down during reMIXT, which opened Saturday night at Mint Gallery.... read more
Informer:Atlanta 8/26/08
Welcome to Informer:Atlanta! Each Tuesday, we bring you the best in upcoming 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! Italics indicate an especially recommended event, (L) indicates local artists.... read more
"The Adventure" leads pack of local shorts at Atlanta Underground Film Fest
[Above: Still from "The Adventure" by Mike Brune]Broad comedy and unexpected bursts of violence characterized the Atlanta Underground Film Festival's collection of local short films screened Friday at the Plaza. These are elements familiar to amateur showcases and turned up often in the nine-film program, but the screening did offer some surprises, not the least of which was its opening act, “The Adventure,” a restrained moral quest that played with its audience through a series of startling tonal shifts.... read more
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