Blockbuster favorites Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds star in the new action- thriller Safe House opening nationwide on February 10. Washington plays a rogue CIA spy that surfaces in South Africa and must rely on a rookie agent played by Reynolds to figure out who is behind a series of attacks. When a covert safe house is bombed, Washington and Reynolds must join forces to figure out if the attacks are terror related or something internal. Full of powerhouse action and talent, Safe House is sure to be one of 2012 best cinematic rides.
Mixtape Atlanta wants to give you a sneak peek of the action. We are giving away pairs of tickets to an advanced screening on February 7 at Atlantic Station's Regal Cinema. To enter simply send and email with the subject "SAFE HOUSE" to Contest@MixtapeEntertainment.com. Winners will be notified by Monday, February 6.
The Kills are a gross. In the right way. A blues duo with one member from the U.S. and one member from the U.K., they sound like the best of both countries. Dead Weather heroine Alison Mosshart holds down vocal duties, which consist of the most wailing, frustrating stage spasms seen since any Joan Jett show in her heyday. Guitarist Jamie Hince plays guitar like he only listens to blues. Not John Mayer. Not Eric Clapton's Greatest Hits. Real blues-painful, rowdy, gross and beautiful blues. Backed by a track of drum machines and intense noises, they find ways to fill out the sound. It's sleeze rock at it's finest. And you have to go see them live to believe it.
Don't miss The Kills at The Masquerade on Wednesday, February 1; doors open at 7PM. Get tickets here. Check out the band's video for the single, "Future Starts Slow".
Saturday, January 28 Bowe Inc. presents Trances Arc, Tesla Rossa, and Wolves at The Basement in East Atlanta. All three of these bands regularly headline shows, so catch them all in one stop Saturday night. Doors open at 9:30PM and the music starts at 10PM. Get there early so you don't miss any of these talented acts.
It's back! Today Songs for Kids Foundation announced that they will be returning to Smith's Olde Bar for the sixth straight year for their annual fundraiser- 500 Songs for Kids. This year's theme is the 500 Most Beautiful Songs of All Time. The 10-day consecutive music marathon will be May 3- 12, so go ahead and mark your calendars. If you are interested in performing, click here.
The Kicks from Nashville are no stranger to the Atlanta music scene. Over the years they have been familar faces on stages at Vinyl, Smith's Olde Bar, and Park Tavern, and this city's music scene and fans have accepted them as adopted sons. Known for their pop-rock radio friendly songs, The Kicks have- literally- kicked it up an amp with their new EP, Sputnik Sessions. Showing a mature yet refined gritty rock sound, this new album has the band and the listener exploring exciting songs that still maintain The Kicks' same catchy accessibility.
Recently Mixtape Atlanta chatted with The Kicks bass player Gabe Anderson about the new album, 2012 resolutions, and what to expect at their upcoming Smith's Olde Bar show on Saturday, January 7.
I'm really digging the new songs on Sputnik Sessions. The songs have a rawer more emotional drive and rock sound, whether they are fast ("Pretty Little Thing") or slower ("Lay It On Me"). Was this evolution in sound a conscious one? Was it inspired by anything in particular? The sound of the guitars and drums and all is really just something where we try stuff and tweak stuff until we're all smiling about what we're hearing. We feel like the Sputnik Sessions especially (more than King Richie) has a wider range of styles from song to song. A couple that come to mind are "Let Me Love You"- we just kept referencing that Rolling Stones percussive-ness, so that really ended up shaping the tune. "Hawk Eyes"- Lenny Kravitz is awesome, and always posts unbelievable pictures of himself on his twitter.
Are there any plans for a full length album? YES! The plans are in the works! The beginning of this year we'll be finishing up songs and heading back into the studio to get another record out as soon as possible this year. We'll be playing some new stuff at the Smith's show on Saturday night that will probably make it on the new record.
On "Hawk Eyes" and "Pretty Little Thing" there is a great rock rhythm and force that I haven't heard in your previous stuff. Especially with "Pretty Little Thing"'s guitar solo, there is a real Aerosmith quality there. What bands from the past and current- if any- do you look for for inspiration in your own sound? Are there ever any disagreements in favorites among the band? Well, truth be told, the newly discovered force of rhythm comes from Lucas and I, who won the wrestling matches against the other two when it came time to decide whether or not to turn up the bass and drums while we were mixing the songs.
Lately, inspiration has been drawn from: Fitz and the Tantrums, The Kooks, Crash Kings, Jellyfish and a lot of the usual suspects The Beatles, Queen, Aerosmith (pleeeeease YouTube Aerosmith "What It Takes" Live Japan). *We did. Gabe's right. It's awesome.
Nashville these days is becoming as known for its rock acts as it is for its country past. How do you keep your music and live shows fresh? We love to play shows, so we play quite a few of them. But we get tired of doing the exact same things too many times. We'll add new original tunes as often as possible, play a cover song or two, and even re-work older songs just to give ourselves a new jolt...and hopefully the audience as well.
We also build into the show a few moments where we don't know exactly where a song is going to go. Not knowing how long Adam is gonna solo on something (and believe me, HE always things it should keep going!), or how long we're gonna stay "down" in a song before building back up. Those sorts of things. Communicating with head nods and hand gestures is fantastic.
Any New Year's resolutions as a band or personally for the upcoming year? We're really excited about doing this full-length record, so I guess a resolution would be "In 2012, The Kicks are going to release an awesome record, and then be on the road playing that record all the time".
Personally...I think we'd all like to make it in to the massage parlor a bit more often.
If you where making your Ultimate Mixtape of favorite songs, what is the one song you would have to include?
In My Life- The Beatles
Check out The Kicks do their thing live with Red Letter Agent and Indianapolis Jones THIS Saturday at Smith's Olde Bar. Doors are at 8PM and tickets are $10 in advance or $12 day of show.
A Social Mess entered 2012 the same way they entered 2011 with a bunch of booze, partiers, and hangovers. The Atlanta party squad invaded The Buckhead Theatre for the second year in a row for their "legendary" New Year's Eve extravaganza. Mixtape Atlanta was there capturing all the fun and insanity in a special Pee-Wee Playhouse photo booth featuring friends Chairy, Clocky, and Pee-Wee's trusty bike. Check out all the photo booth photos, here. View other event photos of the night, here.
We promise this offer is legit. Mixtape Atlanta is giving away advanced screening passes to Mark Wahlberg's new film, Contraband. This action thriller centers on Wahlberg's character, a former smuggler, who must re-enter his past life of crime for one more job in order to save his brother-in-law from the wrath of a ruthless drug lord (Giovanni Ribisi). Kate Beckinsale and Ben Foster also star. Join the adventure by being one of the first in Atlanta to check out his new film before it hits theaters nationwide on January 13. The advanced screening will take place on Tuesday, January 10 at Regal Cinema Atlantic Station and to enter simply send an email to Contest@MixtapeEntertainment.com with “CONTRABAND” in the subject line. Winners will be notified on Monday, January 9.
A Social Mess is back to ring in the New Year at Buckhead Theatre with a party full of booze, burlesque dancers, Bieber (well, a version of him), and more. Tickets are still available to join the fun and debauchery, get tickets here. Doors open at 8PM and be sure to stop by Mixtape Atlanta's Pee-Wee Playhouse photo-booth from 8-11PM. So get your tickets and get ready to scream your head off!
Mixtape Atlanta's third annual holiday party X-Mix was a Motherfluffin' success thanks to sponsor Whynatte, entertaining musical acts, and a room of party people at Star Bar! Whynatte got the party started in festive fashion by supplying Motherfluffer shots to the entire venue and a celebratory toast led by Whynatte co-founder Jesse Altman.
Lauren St. Jane and the Dead Westerns got the dance floor warmed up with their infectious country and rock original songs. Ben Deignan followed with an acoustic set featuring some of his popular songs as well as creative covers. Songs for Kids Foundation founder Josh Rifkind stopped by for his annual rendetition of "The Hanukkah Song" with a few lyric updates.
Aerobics Cube led the audience in some holiday inspired dance workout moves with their special Christmas song only set, including the creative "playing" of jingle Shake Weights. The newly formed super group of Bruce Butkovich (The Futura Bold), Chris Cox (The Greater Vavoom), Jade Lemons (Injected), and Rob Hammersmith (Skid Row) gave the audience a preview of their new band and songs. James Hall made his third straight performance at X-Mix with an original sing-along holiday song, he recently wrote for the occasion.
Wolves closed the live music section of the night on a high note and they were the perfect kick-off to the night long dance party that lasted well into the early morning.
Check out photos of all the music acts and fun, here. Pick up your Motherfluffer photo booth photos, here.
Special thanks to everyone that made X-Mix 2011 such a great success. Mostly importantly, thank you all for donating to Toys for Tots and Songs for Kids Foundation.
Friday December 9, Yacht Rock Revue docked their annual holiday show into a new destination at The Buckhead Theatre. The gentlemen put on a fine show playing two entertaining sets, including their trademark soft rock and holiday favorites new and old. For the last four songs, the band was joined by the Please Rock choir. A special addition to the show, the choir was first introduced two months ago at the sold-out Thriller/ Purple Rain Halloween show at Variety Playhouse. The choir jammed and side-steped along with the guys on songs like "Africa," "Happy Xmas," and the finale "We are the World."
While Yacht Rock Revue kept the crowd entertained onstage, Santa and Mrs. Claus took photos and listened to wishes before setting sail in their yacht for Christmas Island. Get your Santa Photo Booth photos, here.
