Mixtape Atlanta

Toast of the Town

Thanksgiving Eve hundreds packed both floors of East Andrews and Andrews Upstairs to raise a glass... or several- to jump-start the Thanksgiving holiday celebration. The smoothest band in town The Yacht Rock Revue provided the soundtrack, while Mixtape Atlanta provided the photos. Check out all the great shots from our "yachty" photo booth here!

Rock the Boat Before You Give Thanks

Don't know how to occupy your relatives the day before Thanksgiving? Or maybe you are looking for an escape from your family? Either way, we have your solution. Come out to East Andrews Wednesday, November 25 for a special edition of Yacht Rock. Also be sure to stop by Mixtape Atlanta's photo booth; you can cross family photo off your list. Doors open at 9PM and we will be snapping yachty photos from 9 to 11PM, so get there early!

Be Bold

James Hall and The Futura Bold have been carefully crafting their sound for years, and their eagerly anticipated debut will be available early 2010. Get a sneak-peek of their sound and tracks this Friday at The Earl. Dirty Pollyanna and Corinne Lee (from Snowden) are also on the bill. Mixtape Atlanta wants to make sure you don't miss out on this dynamic night of local music superstars, so we are getting you and a friend on the list! We are giving away a coveted spot on The Futura Bold's guest list as well as their yet to be released single "Euro Skank." To win a spot for you and a friend on the list and their new song, Twitter "I'm a Euro Skank for @thefuturabold & @mixtapeatlanta." Winner will be notified Friday.

In the meantime, check out The Futura Bold's latest single "Consenting Adults."

Consenting Adults

Hot Mess at The Tabernacle

The OP Presents Tour brought Cobra Starship and Boys Like Girls back to Atlanta on Sunday, November 18 along with supporters Versa Emerge, A Rocket to the Moon, and The Maine.

As lead singer Gabe Saporta mentioned, Cobra’s drummer Nate Novarro is from Atlanta so the band has always been popular here, but the success of the band’s recent album, Hot Mess, brought a large number of new fans. The enthusiasm of the people packed into The Tabernacle was reflected in the band’s performance. Saporta has always promised to make you dance, but has admitted he’s not the strongest vocalist. Sunday night however, both were true. Saporta brought all of his talent along with his usual puzzling balance of humility and arrogance. Cobra’s set-list ranged from their very first song “Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)” to the singles off of Mess, and all the favorites in between. It was the best Cobra Starship performance in Atlanta to date.

Next to take the stage were headliners Boys Like Girls. After taking time off to record and release a new album, the boys were back and full of energy. Lead singer Martin Johnson’s smooth moves appealed to the hyped up crowd and continued the momentum of an already great show. Opening with their new single “Love Drunk” it was evident that they have matured as musicians and have more top 40 radio hits on the way.

If you missed Cobra Starship, you can catch them at Star 94’s Jingle Jam on December 17 at the Gwinnett Arena. Get tickets! See more photographs from Cobra Starship and Boys Like Girls concert, here. 

Chloe Stoakes

Head Toward the Red Light

Tonight Rock Solid Entertainment presents a night of quality folk rock performances at Red Light Cafe. Kate Havnevik headlines the night, which will also feature performances by Levi Weaver and Lexi Street. Doors open at 7PM and the show starts at 8PM. All ages are welcome. Tickets are still available at the door for $13.

Save the Date: X- Mix 2009!

Mixtape Atlanta is thrilled to announce X- Mix 2009!

Saturday, December 19 at The Star Bar in Little Five Points

X-Mix is a holiday extravaganza featuring The Greater Vavoom, Club Awesome, and many more musical acts to be released. It will also serve as one of the season's most dynamic charity events with all proceeds benefiting Songs for Kids Foundation as well as a toy drive for Toys for Tots. Admission is $10, but only $5 with a new, unwrapped, toy donation. The Star Bar will never be the same after it is transformed into a Winter Wonderland complete with Mixtape Atlanta's Santa Photo Booth.

We will also be announcing more guest musical acts throughout the month, so mark those calendars!

For constant Mixtape Atlanta updates, follow us on Twitter and become our friend on Facebook.

Mute Math Causes "Chaos"

Fresh off of a much buzzed about performance at VooDoo Festival in New Orleans, Mute Math took to The Tabernacle stage on November 6 and did not disappoint. Playing hits mostly from their current album, Armistice, and their previous self-titled release, Mute Math impressed and downright dazzled the crowd for over two hours. Kicking off their set with “The Nerve,” “Backfire,” and “Chaos,” the band proved that they didn’t have to hold back their hits to keep an audience. With every song the audience grew more engaged and the musically diverse quartet more energetic and inventive.

For “No Response,” drummer Darren King played the songs ambient rhythm section on the back projection wall while following tracking lights. Not only do the four members of Mute Math fully commit to their primary instruments, but if you blink they are expertly playing another instrument or switching stations with a band mate. Originally from New Orleans, Mute Math played the Atlanta circuit many times including Smith’s Olde Bar. Lead singer Paul Meany paid tribute to their early Atlanta shows by dedicating “Stare at the Sun” to the famous Smith’s. Usually encores are just a continuation of a concert and very rarely top what has been done previously; however, Mute Math definitely saved the best for last. Although they started their encore with the calming melody of “Pins and Needles,” the stage was quickly transformed for their final song “Reset.” The band used every piece of equipment to make their symphony. These were clearly the kids that destroyed pots, pans, and anything else to make noise, although their “noise” is always in tempo and sounds completely amazing. While Meany did summersaults over his piano while playing it, King dissembled his drum set, and used Meany’s piano as his “new” drums. Not limited by the stage, band members jumped into the crowd and even received help from the audience playing their instruments. For the ultimate bow, King placed his bass drums in the trusty hands of his fans, climbed on top of it, and fell blindly backwards into their supporting arms. See Mixtape Atlanta’s exclusive photography from Mute Math’s concert including openers As Tall As Lions, here.

Kim Burdges

Get Bit

Don’t miss The Biters (formerly Poison Arrows) prove they still have quite the infectious musical sting Saturday, November 14 at 529. Geri X and Athens’ Part Bear are also on the bill making the $7 cover a steal. Promoters 4th Ward Heroes, Slush Fund Recordings, and Underrated Records are adding even more incentive to attend with great giveaways.

Twitter the phrase “@Slush_Fund! I want Part Bear!” for the chance to win an autographed copy of Part Bear’s self-titled album.

Twitter the phrase “@4WH, I want to be your +1!” for a chance to win more giveaways including complimentary entry and drink tickets for two to the show. The winner will also snag a free copy of Geri X’s entire back catalogue and newly designed The Biters t-shirt.

Doors open at 9PM Saturday night. Be there early; you’ll not want to miss any of these acts.

Flock to Star Bar

On November 11 get a full dose of amazing indie music at the bargain price of $5 at Star Bar. 4th Ward Heroes is hosting a stellar lineup including Jack Carter and The Old Soles & Company, The Meeks Family, Birds & Wire’s Lera Lynn, and Little Horn. Doors open at 9PM.

Paramore Creates a Riot at The Tabernacle

On October 27, tons of teens flocked to The Tabernacle for Paramore’s sold out concert. The audience, dominated by mostly young girls attempting to imitate lead singer Hayley Williams every style choice, took time to warm up. Michigan’s The Swellers kicked off the night with their punk-rock songs. Even though lead singer Nick Diener was visibly sick, the band pulled together to not only assist him with vocals but deliver a solid performance. The Paper Route followed with their unique indie- synch sounds. Although they put on a dynamic performance, their styled stage performance and sound did not seem to fit into the mostly teen punk lineup.

By the time Paramore took the stage, any hesitation their audience might have had about connecting with the earlier acts disappeared. At just 20 years old, Hayley Williams dominated the stage and engaged her audience until the final song. Singing their popular hits from past and current albums, Paramore proved that their energy and influence is here to stay. Check out our photos of the concert here.

Porch Party VII

'Tis the season for one of the biggest parties of the year. Don't miss Porch Party VII this Friday, November 6 at its largest venue yet- The Masquerade. Doors open at 9PM but it is sure to be a late night with some of Atlanta's most entertaining bands and DJ Patrick Scott spinning into the night. Get tickets!

All In The Family

Holly Williams might not be a household name in country music, but she certainly has a rich family history. She's the granddaughter of Hank Williams Sr. and the daughter of Bocephus (Hank Jr.), but all her stock isn't stored up in just her family name. She can hold her own on a mic, and with pen and paper too; Williams wrote or co-wrote all but two songs on her album Here With Me (one of which is a Neil Young cover). Her style is unlike much of what dominates Billboard's country charts, which often sounds more like pop or rock than anything derived from Hank and Waylon.

At first listen, Here With Me sounds like any other country album, but it isn't halfway into the first song that you realize this record is a wolf in sheep's clothing. The album's leadoff track, "He's Making A Fool Out of You," is not the traditional opener for a modern country album. The subdued, mid-tempo track is well written, and sung with so much heart, that you could bet the money you spent on the album that the girl singing actually wrote it. And she did. Williams has a flair for writing songs, not focusing on mindless material, but instead focusing on the sadness in heartbreak and personal experience, not unlike Elliott Smith and Ryan Adams. She doesn't leave her roots though, she faithfully adds the hooks the make country catchy, and it becomes evident that her music is exactly where she wants it to be. "Mama," is another track that stands out, telling the story of growing up as the daughter of a ramblin' man, but who never felt the pain of a difficult marriage. Here With Me is filled with country shuffles, steel guitar, and a whole lot of thought. At times the heartbroken, wordy, lyrics can be a bit much, but honestly, a girl thinking for herself is what country music needs today.

Add this track to your Mixtape: Because I've played it five times on repeat today, I would choose "I Hold On."

Rocking Horses: Cavalia Gallops Into Atlanta

Cirque du Soleil, the Quebec-spawned theatrical  “circus-plus” that’s made itself a worldwide brand, has the lack of animals as one of its organizing principles. Acrobats? They’ll tumble for ya. Jugglers? Hey, catch! But lions, tigers and bears? Oh my…. no.

So Cavalia, the horse-starring show from Cirque founder Normand Latourelle, makes you wonder why Cirque ever limited itself. Even for non-“horse people,” Cavalia is spellbinding, spanning the history of human/horse interaction, from cave drawings to the Old West, evoking everything from ancient Rome to The Lord of the Rings’ Rohirrim in between. The start is a bit slow and halting, much like the first steps of the newborn colt seen in the show’s introductory film, but it really hits full canter in the second act, with trick riders, wire artists and an amazing stable of 53 horses displaying the full range of their combined capabilities.

To catch Cavalia before it trots to its next destination, sprint toward the huge white big top in Atlantic Station before Nov. 15.

Reid Davis