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Breaking down and blowing up with the Hives
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Hives, including frontman Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist (second from left).
Even globe-trotting international rock stars have cars that break down in the middle of a tunnel every once in a while.
The first time Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist of the Hives was supposed to talk with us about his band’s upcoming Atlanta gig, his car konked out on him.
“I have this old car that I use in the summer because it looks cool,” he says. “It’s an old Mercedes convertible. I was trying to get it out of the garage, and there was something wrong with it, so it sounds like you’re honking your horn all of the time. And it stalled in the middle of a tunnel … Then I get the car started and I managed drive it — with the horn honking — out into an illegal parking spot where it is now. The story is much longer than that, but you know…”
And 24 hours later, he told his tale of car trouble over the phone from his home in Sweden, just two weeks before the dynamic frontman and his garage-rocking Hives begin a short North American tour in Atlanta tonight at Center Stage.
And what is it with the Hives and explosions (check the first single, “Tick Tick Boom” from the band’s latest, “The Black and White Album”? They seem to have a fascination with them. “Yes we do,” Almqvist says. “Well, I think, to be fair, rock ’n’ roll has always had an obsession with explosives, from all the rockabilly songs about the atomic bomb. It just sounds good. It has something to do with the way the music makes you feel. If it’s a rock ’n’ roll song and it makes you think about things blowing up, that’s usually a good thing. That means it’s successful as a rock ’n’ roll song.”
And how does one of rock’s most energetic frontmen stay in shape?
“I don’t really stay still a lot. I’m just kind of a restless guy. I walk all the time.”
The Hives play tonight, May 15, at Center Stage. Tickets are $20. 1374 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta. 404-885-1365, www.centerstage-atlanta.com.
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Tabernacle To Reopen May 28
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Promoter Live Nation confirmed this afternoon that the Tabernacle will reopen May 28 with the Dream Theater (above) show. The 98-year-old Baptist church-turned-concert venue took a major hit during the March 14 tornado, including roof damage and a broken water pipe. Several shows booked at the Tabernacle were moved, rescheduled or canceled. Have you missed the Tabernacle the past couple of months? Any concerns about returning? Attend one of the relocated shows, and discover a new favorite local venue?
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Series and mini-series tickets for the Live Nation Concert Series B go on sale this Sunday, and we have the line-up: Lyle Lovett (above) Tony Bennett B.B. King & Willie Nelson Journey Collective Soul/Live/Blues Traveler Backstreet Boys Dave Stewart & His 30-Piece Rock Fabulous Orchestra August 31 David Byrne - The Songs of Byrne & Eno The Allman Brothers Band Tickets for the entire series or any combination of three or more shows will be available at www.chastainseries.com or by phone, by calling Chastain Tickets at 404-233-2227. Interesting line-up to you? Plan to attend?
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The Eagles have been around since 1971. Encore Park has been up and running since Saturday. But the spankin’ new Alpharetta amphitheater turned to the well-aged rock vets Wednesday night to kick off its first rock concert of the season. The night was a dual opening: for Encore’s summer rock show season, and for the Eagles’ summer tour. Folks seemed impressed with Encore (the full name of which is Verizon Wireless Amphitheater at Encore Park), which feels like Chastain on steroids. It’s twice the size (it holds 12,000-plus to Chastain’s 6,500), and it still has that new arena smell. The new facility got high marks from the crowd. “It’s awesome; it’s one of the best looking venues I’ve seen,” said Snellville’s Brian Warner, a student at Georgia Perimeter College. He and girlfriend Lindsey Newman sat on a plastic tarp on the large sloping rear lawn, where even the cheap seats go for $80 on this particular high-priced show. Some folks started traditions right out of the gate. Randy and Linda Pulliam of Dacula and friends tailgated in the A parking lot, complete with covered table, lemon drop martinis, wine and a feast. Eagles songs blared from an iPod plugged into speakers in the back of their SUV. The tailgaters caught the eye of Paul and Bowe Land of Roswell. “We saw the tailgaters and said damn, that looks like fun,” said Paul, while eating concession stand pizza from a cardboard box. “Next time we’ll get here early to try that.” Unlike Chastain, there’s no picnicing inside. Also unlike Chastain, people seemed to be there more for the music than to chat. At Eagles prices - $190 for regular seats, $1,000 for front row through a “broker” - it pays to pay attention. The Eagles gave value for those prices, however, playing 30 songs in a set that lasted way past three hours. About 10 of the songs were new ones from “Long Road Out of Eden,” the double CD they released last year, and the audience was respectful and sometimes even enthusiastic toward the new material. But it was the oldies that made the venue go nuts, in a middle-aged way, from the chiming guitar intro to “Hotel California” to the old Joe Walsh material like “Life’s Been Good.” Walsh stole the show, and the others seemed happy to indulge him, from goofing with a “Helmet-Cam” pointed into the audience to tearing off amazing guitar licks. I saw Walsh and the Eagles almost 30 years ago, and while the band plays with an admirably consistent professionalism through the years, Walsh is the rock ‘n’ roll equivalent of single-malt Scotch. The Eagles have three more shows scheduled at Encore on Friday, Saturday and next Tuesday. All are sold out, but there are tickets being offered on ebay. If your timing and luck are good you might score some without paying too much of a markup.
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Some people power their way through the work week with caffeine in the morning and energy drinks midday. For Ludacris, however, his fuel is chicken lollipops. That’s what Atlanta’s multimedia star jokingly told us during the grand opening of his Straits restaurant in Midtown Tuesday. One hectic day — of many — for Ludacris this week. Monday he was welcomed back to his old high school, Banneker, where the gymnasium was renamed after him. Tonight his Ludacris Foundation is honoring NBA legend-turned-entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson, V-103’s Frank Ski and his Frank Ski Foundation as well Anheuser-Busch. And Thursday he launches wemix.com, “an online record label for the people”, as he calls it, where unsigned artists can produce and share their music, and get critiques from the three-time Grammy winner himself. “I’m taking it all one hour at a time,” Ludacris said on the crowded red carpet alongside Straits. “I’m eating chicken lollipops baby — every five hours. So I can make sure I can get through this.” Oh - and did we mention that all week long a trail of cameras and crew people have been following him and legendary rocker Tommy Lee as they tape “Battleground Earth”, for the Discovery Channel? “It’s been so much fun, so good,” Ludacris said. “We’ve gone to the 9th Ward [in New Orleans] - right where the levees broke — and we built solar panels for a church. Ironically, the name of the church we gave something back to is called Battleground Church. It was crazy. “We went to Oakland, Cal.,” he continued. “And the whole show was about recycling. So basically we went to an Oakland A’s game. And you know how people throw trash out after the baseball game? Well we got some kids and we recycled all of this trash. You know you can exchange trash for cash, right? Well we got so much cash - like thousands of dollars -that we bought all of this alternative grass for a park that was really run down. Totally redid it. We were playing football on it, and welcomed a bunch of Oakland’s inner city youth to come play. I’m loving the show ‘Battleground Earth’; and it comes on in August.” His “Battleground” companion Lee — or as he occasionally calls him, “Toxic Tommy”— was at Straits Tuesday (both pictured above), and was surprised by the fare (which includes chicken lollipops, and Ludacris’s other personal favorites: sea bass, salmon and the roti bread). “When [Ludacris] said it was Thai, I was like, ‘What?!’,” Lee said. “It just completely took me by surprise. I figured it would be soul food or barbecue. “But I should have known with him, to expect the unexpected,” he added about his buddy “Luda the Polluta” (Lee’s nickname for him). “In all of hip-hop, his style and the things he says are actually like, legitimate. Because there’s a lot of like stupid [expletive] out there where it’s all about the club, and the this and the that. He’s actually saying things. Different things. I think he’s just extremely clever and I’ve been a fan of his for a long time. So to get a chance to do anything together -whether its make music or make a fun TV show —whatever, we’re having a great time.” Joining Lee in that great time at Straits was actress Vivica A. Fox; NBA great Alonzo Mourning; former mayor Andrew Young; radio personalities Ski - with wife Tanya —and Q-100’s Bert Weiss; Sister 2 Sister magazine’s Jamie Foster Brown; 100 Black Men of Atlanta’s Thomas Dortch; Bronner Bros. executive Bernard Bronner as well as Ludacris’s mom, Roberta Shields. Have you made it to Straits yet? (It’s actually been open to the public a couple of weeks). Interested in “Battleground Earth”? Spotted Ludacris and Lee around the city this week?
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Look closely at the Michael Jackson tribute tonight on ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars”, and you’ll see Atlanta’s own Eshe of Grammy-winning rap group Arrested Development. Travis Payne choreographed the medley - which will also feature R&B singer Omarion - and solicited the fellow Atlantan (pictured above, left, with former AD member Dionne Farris). “I submitted my piece in April, an African dance to ‘Wanna Be Starting Something’,” Eshe said. “And by the end of the month I was in L.A. at rehearsals.” The tribute was actually taped May 6, the dancer/singer added. “And it was so great because ‘Dancing With The Stars’ tapes right next to ‘American Idol’, and [‘Idol’] was doing its 100th episode. Everyone was there, and I got to meet a lot of people — Vivica Fox, Paula Abdul, Raven Symone, Marques Houston, Chris Stokes; and everybody was so cool.” “The whole experience was just incredible,” continued Eshe, who along with AD, just completed another campaign stop/performance with Barack Obama; as well as a charity performance for Josh Rifkind’s “500 Songs For Kids” at Smith’s Olde Bar. “And I’m praying that from this experience, I can be a contestant [on ‘Dancing’]. Because dancing is my first love…and I believe I am the first hip-hop female artist to be on that show.” Are you an Arrested Development fan? A “Dancing With The Stars” watcher? Think Eshe would make a good contestant?
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tom Waits. Photo: Michael O’Brien. The last time Tom Waits came to play Atlanta — in August 2006 — it had been about 30 years since he had performed here. Now, less then two years have passed, and he’s coming back. Waits’ music — distinguished by his guttural growl and stark, vivid character sketches — is idiosyncratic, often poignant and unlike anything else. He’s among the music world’s most beloved cult figures — and that’s why his 2006 Tabernacle gig sold out in less than 30 minutes. Tickets for Waits’ July 5 show at the Fox Theatre go on sale Friday, May 16, at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster, and only through Ticketmaster (online at Ticketmaster.com and at 404-249-6400). There will be none available at retail outlets or the box office. All tickets sold through Ticketmaster will be paperless; buyers will not receive paper tickets. You must take the credit card used to purchase tickets and a government-issued photo ID for entry, and your entire party must enter the venue at the same time. Tickets are non-transferable. There will be a limit of 2 tickets per order per household. Duplicate orders will be canceled. For more information go to Ticketmaster.com/tomwaits. Tickets are $65 and $85, plus applicable fees. Will you be working out your dialing finger and/or firing up the modem Friday morning for Waits tickets? It could be a long time until the next time — or it could be two years. With Waits, you never know.
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Atlanta R&B singer Monica IS headed for the airwaves, but not “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Her longtime manager Melinda Dancil shot us a note denying reports on MediaTakeOut that the Grammy winner may appear on a local version of the Bravo reality series. But “she is doing a very HOT TV show”, Dancil said; adding that she will get us the details as soon as possible. Interested in seeing Monica (above, with her first son Rodney Hill III) on TV? Looking forward to what she does next, musically?
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution For some Atlantans, it’s not officially summer until they load up the cooler, dust off the candelabra and lug it all up to Chastain Park Ampitheatre for some music under the stars. Well, to those Atlantans, it’s that time again. Individual tickets go on sale today for the Delta Classic Chastain season. And because this is the 35th anniversary of the series, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is offering a limited number of $35 tickets. But wait, there’s more: Country superstar Trace Adkins (above) and Tony Award winner Idina Menzel have been added to the series lineup, as have Marty Stuart and the Del McCoury Band, who are scheduled to headline the “Kickin’ Pickin’ Bluegrass Party”. So here’s the entire series bill, so far: Saturday, June 14 Wednesday, June 18 Friday, June 20 Saturday, June 21 Wednesday, June 25 Friday, June 27 Saturday, June 28 Wednesday, July 2 Wednesday, July 9 Friday, July 11 Saturday, July 12 Wednesday, July 16 Friday, July 18 Saturday, July 19 Friday, July 25 Wednesday, July 30 Friday, August 1 Saturday, August 2 Wednesday, August 6 Friday, August 8 Saturday, August 9 Wednesday, August 13 Friday, August 22 Saturday, August 23 Wednesday, August 27 Friday, August 29 Saturday, September 13 Individual tickets and subscription packages are available at the ASO Season Ticket Office (1280 Peachtree St. at 15th St.), 404-733-4800 and classicchastain.com. Ever been to a Chastain show? Already purchase one of the subscription packages for this season? Is the new $35 ticket offer making you consider one (or more) of the shows now?
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Usher is such a multi-hyphenate at this moment, it’s almost easy to forget we first got to know him as a singer. At last count the Atlanta superstar (above) was a husband, a father, an actor, a restaurateur, a fragrance endorser, and a part owner of an NBA team. Now his nonprofit organization New Look has gone into business with Atlanta’s WNBA team the Dream, so that the kids in the foundation can get hands-on experience in sports management, player development and game day operations and marketing. “The Atlanta Dream shares Usher’s commitment to inspiring young men and women to reach their dreams,” Atlanta Dream President and COO Bill Bolen said in a press release. “We are excited to partner with Usher’s New Look Foundation and look forward to the New Look youth participating with us this season.” “I’m extremely excited about Camp New Look’s partnership with the Atlanta Dream, and look forward to witnessing how this new partnership motivates our young people to even greater heights,” Usher said in the same press release. “We wanted to do something extra special for our students, and I’m happy that the Atlanta Dream has provided an avenue for our young entrepreneurs to attain real life experience.” Usher’s foundation also partnered with the NHL during its All-Star weekend in Atlanta. Did you attend any of the events he hosted? Anticipating his new CD, “Here I Stand”?
Second Chastain Series Announced
July 6
July 24
July 27
August 3
with special guests Heart & Cheap Trick
(Non Table Set-Up)
August 17
(Non Table Set-Up)
August 20
September 20
October 10 & 11
(Non Table Set-Up)Eagles, Encore, 12,000 fans: The scene
A Ludacris Schedule This Week
Dancing With Atlanta Star Tonight
Clap Hands: Tom Waits returns to Atlanta
Monica’s TV Turn
Single - and cheaper - Chastain tickets on sale today
Chris Botti and Paula Cole
Frankie Valli
Melissa Etheridge
George Benson with special guest Earl Klugh and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: A Special Tribute to Nat King Cole
Kenny G
Emmylou Harris
Edwin McCain with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Boz Scaggs with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Soul Asylum and Gin Blossoms
Trace Adkins and Ronnie Milsap
The Temptations and The Four Tops
Michael McDonald and Al Green
Idina Menzel
Corey Smith
Boyz II Men and Morris Day & The Time
Jill Scott
Hootie and the Blowfish - Homegrown Tour 2008
Crosby, Stills & Nash
“The Kickin’ Pickin’ Bluegrass Party” featuring Marty Stuart and the Del McCoury Band and Doyle Lawson
Hippiefest featuring Eric Burdon & The Animals, Jack Bruce of Cream, The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, Melanie, Badfinger featuring Joey Molland, Jonathan Edwards
Gipsy Kings
Beach Boys with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
G. Love & Special Sauce
Sister Hazel with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
TBA
Regeneration Tour 2008: The Human League, Belinda Carlisle, ABC, A Flock of Seagulls, Naked Eyes
Indigo Girls Usher’s Latest Atlanta Connection
Latest comments
I’ve got to agree with Charles. Journey is not Journey w/o Steve Perry. Now that’s a show I’d shell out for. Thankfully all the shows I’m going to at Chastain will have music louder than the talkers.... read the full comment by J | Comment on Second Chastain Series Announced Read Second Chastain Series Announced
MG, Its all over AJC.com. Pictures and everything.... read the full comment by Music Fan | Comment on Tabernacle To Reopen May 28 Read Tabernacle To Reopen May 28
The new Journey singer is very good (the now 6th singer - Steve Perry was their 3rd singer)but I kinda wish they had stuck with Jeff Scott Soto. He was fantastic on the last tour with Def Leppard. I LOVE Cheap trick, but they are not what they used to be.... read the full comment by jungleland | Comment on Second Chastain Series Announced Read Second Chastain Series Announced
David Byrne and Allman Bros….the only 2 decent acts this summer! Hopefully Gregg will be able to make it…they’ve been cancelling a lot of shows this summer due to his health.... read the full comment by J | Comment on Second Chastain Series Announced Read Second Chastain Series Announced