AccessAtlanta > Music > Music Midtown > Blog > Archives > 2005 > June > 10
Friday, June 10, 2005
The Game
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
You have to know how to play the game to get ahead, says Jayceon Taylor, aka hip-hop star The Game, on his debut CD. And this is how he played it Friday night: Scheduled to be onstage for an hour and a half on the Hot 107.9 Stage, he clocked in at exactly 25 minutes, then left the stage. Presumably he pocketed the full fee; that is playing the game indeed. For a new star without a huge amount of performing experience, though, he was sharp and gave the crowd a lot of what they wanted: about half a dozen songs from “The Documentary,� a little hometown homage (Atlanta Hawks jersey and cap), a look at that torso and all those tats, and enough name-checks to fill a history book, from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Lisa “Left Eye� Lopes.
Ciara
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thirty minutes late, Atlanta R&B star Ciara was received by the throng in front of the Hot-107.9 stage as if she were right on time.
And for its enthusiastic response, the crowd got a technically-hobbled 35 minute set.
To Ciara’s credit, the one thing a faulty sound system could not affect — her choreography — was perfect. In fact, the first major swell of applause from the audience came when she duplicated the Matrix move from her “Goodiesâ€? video.
But the highlight of the airy singer’s set had to be her closer, “1,2 Step,â€? when the crowd nearly drowned her out as she sang “Automatic, supersonic, hypnotic, funky fresh…â€?
Permalink | Comments (4) | Categories: Coca-Cola/Verizon Wireless/Hot 107.9/Fox 5 Stage
Interpol
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The specter of Joy Division no longer haunts Interpol. The New York band has come into its own after a mountain of comparisons to the late ’70s post-punk act. In a set made up mostly of songs from the 2004 release “Antics,” Interpol played with the poise of a true original.
Even in the evening heat, the men of Interpol came somberly clad in black jackets and ties, sweating out their dark, hypnotic noise. Despite a bleak sound, fans still found beats to dance to, and many sang along.
The highlight came from the group’s first CD, “Turn On The Bright Lights.” The cathartic guitar build-up of the song “PDA” was a satisfying finish.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: News
Lou Reed
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The question on everyone’s mind before Lou Reed’s set: Will he do any Velvet Underground? The query was answered quickly with the noisy drone of “White Light/White Heat.” He even indulged in some atonal guitar strangulation that was hypnotic — at least until his amp went wonky. The sound man brought out a new one. “That’s a real vintage amp,” Reed said. “I can’t replace that one.”
His deep and imperfect — but hugely influential — voice sounded surprisingly strong after a career that’s spanned more than four decades. The title track from his 1982 album “The Blue Mask” was one the set’s highlights, despite missing the original’s powerhouse guitar chug. His four-piece backing band, including cellist Jane Scarpantoni, still worked the tune into a brutal free-for-all.
Even those in the crowd who didn’t recognize anything else started dancing when he strummed the iconic opening chords to “Sweet Jane.” Like thousands of cover bands since he wrote it more than 30 years ago, Reed knows it’s the perfect way to end a set.
Francine Reed
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta vocalist Francine Reed made an energized return to Music Midtown on Friday night after bad weather and scheduling conflicts kept her off stage last year and in 2003.
With her old pals Java Monkey providing backup, Reed blasted through fan favorites like “Trouble in Mind” and “Wild Women Don’t Get the Blues.”
Performing a conga-laced cover of “I Feel Good,” Reed had the crowd dancing and screaming James Brown’s part. Even a bandana-sporting photographer shooting the set on stage couldn’t resist grooving between shutters.
Singing the ballad “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” Reed immediately turned the festival setting into an intimate “blue light in the basement” party. Said Reed: “This is one of the coolest gigs in the world, being a blues singer on a stage this big. We’re feeling all the energy and love y’all are sending us. We’re gonna throw it right back at ya!”
Permalink | | Categories: News
Bobby Valentino
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta R&B singer Bobby Valentino made his solo bow in every sense of the word.
The former member of local R&B group Mista appeared on stage for his first major appearance alone (in sunglasses, though it was very overcast).
He performed his approximately 25-minute set without any accompaniment — no band, hype men or dancers.
And Valentino must have felt pretty alone in front of the meager crowd, as one song into his show he said, to no one in particular, “I don’t care if it is 15 people out there or its 15,000, we’re gonna do it, anyway.”
The “it” was the one song — other than a cover of R. Kelly’s “Bump n’ Grind” — that the audience seemed to recognize, his No. 1 hit “Slow Down,” which Valentino delivered just like you hear it on the radio.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: News
Red Letter Agent
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No doubt about it, Atlanta’s Red Letter Agent brought its A-game to open Music Midtown’s Miller Lite 99X stage. The rock group’s intimate Coldplay jingle translated well to the big festival.
Playing on a bill with the likes of indie-darlings Interpol and The White Stripes, Agent was in a great position to reach its target audience.
And if the band did earn a few new fans, they were well-deserved. Whenever frontman James Templeton nailed a Bono-esque high note, the crowd screamed with excitement.
After the first song, one person near the front of the stage screamed, “It’s good,” as if to let everyone else know the band was likeable. Luckily, his prediction was right.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Miller Lite/99X Stage
Puffy Presence
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We already know that “Sean P. Diddy” Combs will be the Master of Ceremonies for opening the events for Vibe Musicfest on Friday night as well as performing. But rumor has it that he will also make an appearance at Music Midtown on Saturday.
Do you hope the original Bad Boy will make an appearance or does it even matter?
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: News
