Mixtape Atlanta

Friday Night Fever

Friday, March 5, The Yacht Rock Revue brought disco back to Buckhead with a special edition of their monthly Andrew's Upstairs show by performing a special set featuring the music of The Bee Gees. From "Jive Talking," "Nights on Broadway," and "Stayin' Alive," Yacht Rock had the crowd spinning and swaying to the classic disco hits before transitioning into their other smooth rock standards. Many disco goers stopped by Mixtape Atlanta's special disco photo booth before they put on their boogie shoes. Pick up your pics, here. Don't forget you can purchase hi-res, prints, and merchandise of your photos, here.

Shamrocked

March 6, A Social Mess took over Park Tavern for Sham (Yacht) Rock Irish Fest. Making the most of the year's first warm sunny day, thousands dressed in their greenest attire flooded Park Tavern and Piedmont Park for speciality drinks, a performance by Yacht Rock, and an ice slide. Check out all of Mixtape Atlanta's photos, including the crowd, band, and one slippery slope, here.

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's a FALCON!

March 4, The Falcon Lords celebrated the release of their new CD, Straight From The Center of Their Volcano Lair, at Star Bar. The superhero trio donned their signature costumes to stop crime, perform music, and take photos with fans in Mixtape Atlanta's superhero photo booth. Check out all the falcon-tastic photos, here. Also read Mixtape Atlanta's album review of Straight From The Center of Their Volcano Lair, here.

Get the A to Austin

Help get an amazing roster of Atlanta bands to Austin's South By Southwest festival so they can perform in the locally organized We Put the A in Austin showcase. Tonight Monday, March 8 head to D.B.A. Barbecue for $1 Yuengling drafts and delicious food. The guys from Esperanza will be guest bartenders and they are graciously donating all of their tips to the cause. All money raised tonight will go to a fund to help cover gear, travel, and other costs associated to getting Atlanta bands to South By Southwest. Ocha La Rocha, one of the bands on the We Put the A in Austin showcase, will also perform at D.B.A. Keep the weekend fun going tonight and grab your friends and head to D.B.A. for delicious food, cheap beer, good music, and an awesome cause. Bar opens at 6PM.

Trances Arc Still Got It Going

February 19, Trances Arc returned to The Earl’s stage for a dynamic performance. Although the band has played The Earl numerous times over the years, February’s show was full of new enthusiasm and polish. As the band prepares the release of their much-anticipated full-length album, TA, their own anticipation of bringing new live music to their fans was palpable. Each member of the band radiated enough energy to power an arena much less the backroom at The Earl. Perhaps what makes Trances' shows a must-see is the fact that the band has as much fun as the audience. Even lead singer Eric Toledo, couldn’t suppress a smile no matter how hard or high the vocal. Trances may come off as a rowdy rock band, but their live and recorded performances show there is a lot of heart behind that party.

Trances’ music is a blend of catchy rock that doesn’t quite pass over the line into pop. Songs like “Tell Me Where You’re Going” from 2008’s XOXOX and “Boom City” off TA could easily be played on any Top 40 radio station, but unlike most songs dominating the pop waves these songs are more complicated. TA is full of multi-layered rock jams, which like a good movie only get better with more plays. On “Camera Gun Shy,” the band focuses their blockbuster instrumentation into a powerful crescendo that is as impacting as the other tracks, but with even more emotion. Combining interesting chord progressions, subtle but powerful harmonies, driving percussion, and clear yet textured vocals, TA is an excellently produced album that showcases impressive musicianship and classic rock with an independent spirit.

Trances Arc plays 40 Watt with Part Bear and Spring Tigers this Friday, March 5. Stay tuned to Mixtape Atlanta for more Trances Arc announcements. Check out photos of the band onstage at The Earl, here.

Kim Burdges

Help Put the A in Austin TONIGHT!

Come out tonight to mingle with the artists scheduled to play the We Put The A in Austin showcase at SXSW on March 19th at Light Bar!

We Put The A in Austin:
Meet and Greet the Artists
w/ DJ BLACK DOMINOES

TONIGHT, Tuesday March 2nd!
Lenny's Bar
486 Decatur Street Southeast
Atlanta, GA 30312

$5 Suggested donation at the door.
All proceeds to Project:
We Put The A in Austin
Doors 8 PM / 21+

The Falcon Lords Set to Invade Star Bar

If you have ever seen three characters dressed clad in black and gold spandex at local music venues, you are not hallucinating. They are The Falcon Lords and they are insuring that our city has no lack of comic dance grooves. Similar to their live performances, The Falcon Lords’ new album, Straight From The Center of Their Volcano Lair, is an experience. Forget liner notes, this CD is accompanied with a fully illustrated comic book storyboarding each songs lyrics. James Callahan’s detailed illustrations instantly help transport the listener into The Falcon Lords world and scarily enough into their mindset.

One of the most alluring aspects of The Falcon Lords concept, music, and concerts is their ability to never break character, which makes their comedy funnier and performances even more enjoyable. Although Volcano Lair could easily be catalogued under comedic dance pop, this trio of self-appointed superheroes prove to be talented clever writers. On the opening track “Falcon Surprise,” it is the juxtaposition of passionate rapping with electronic music over such lyrics like “I’ve got an underground lair/ It’s so hard core/ It’s got a dance floor/ Plus a bodyguard at the door,” that keep the listener hooked to find out more about their crazy world. The funky beat of “Falcon Love” will have you laughing over such lyrics like “I wanna take you to the Clermont on our first date/…My Honda Civic’s gonna ride like a Mercedes,” and bouncing to the rhythm at the same time. “Metallic Vagina” is a surprisingly catchy love song about a motorcycle- “I met a girl made out of chrome/ Now she’s trying to take me home/ And so we hit the road.”

If you have never seen The Falcon Lords live don’t miss The Official Executive Release Party for the new album at Star Bar on Thursday, March 4. The Falcon Lords will even be invading Mixtape Atlanta’s superhero photo booth to take photos with guest before taking the stage. Futureshock and Hollyweerd will also be performing. Did we mention it is FREE?!

"Sing Sing" Music Video

Check out Stellate's brand new music video for "Sing Sing" off their 2009 EP I Get A Rush. Directed by Rett Thompson and produced by Mixtape Atlanta's Kim Burdges, the video was shot across Atlanta last summer at various locations including The Loft.

Stellate's New Music Video Premiere

Tonight- Friday, February 26- Stellate is premiering their new music video "Sing Sing" at Hard Rock Cafe's Velvet Underground. Before you see the first collaboration between producer Kim Burdges (Mixtape Atlanta) and Rett Thompson (Rett Thompson Video), see the exclusive behind the scenes photography of the video shoot from POParazzi Photography. Check out all the photos, here. Get more information about the Premiere Party, here.

Causing Trouble

Pop Death Squad has done a solid job of creating the third Thursday of every month as a must-do in the Atlanta music scene by hosting Big Trouble in Little Five at Star Bar. The show is free (one incentive), draws a good crowd (another plus), and features bands that people in the industry and out genuinely want to see (selling point). A great example of this musical promotion hurricane was the bill on February 18.

Lera Lynn and The Wandas warmed the stage and the crowd for two Atlanta favorites and standouts. The Aristocrats, featuring James Hall, Darren Dodd, and Dropsonic's Dan Dixon and Dave Chase, played a short but powerful set of new music by a true super group. James Hall, who might as well have a bronze statue of himself outside Star Bar, proved why he is rightfully called a rock star. His wild yet controlled performance of belting, harmonica playing, dancing, and ripping down light gels, silenced most of the talkative crowd. Being the consummate performer he is, when finished he calmly took a bow, replaced the light gel, and retreated to the crowd to watch the next act.

Ponderosa was next and did not disappoint. The band, comprised of Atlanta music veterans, illustrated why they have such a devoted following. Playing familiar and brand new songs, Ponderosa solidified much of the hype that has surrounded them for the past few years; they are a talented group with a classic sound but modern appeal. They can chug a pitcher of beer onstage but not miss a chord or waver on harmony, and that makes them a rock band you don’t want to miss but most importantly-like all the greats- party with.

Check out more photos from The Aristocrats and Ponderosa, here.

Stay tuned to see what tricks the Pop Death Squad team has in store for March's Big Trouble in Little Five on March 18.

Kim Burdges