Mixtape Atlanta

Who Let the Hounds Out?

Mixtape Atlanta was at the Quiet Hounds show on Saturday... Were you? If not, you definitely missed out! If you were one of the lucky ones to come out to the unveiling of Atlanta's most buzzed bands, you can pick up your Quiet Hounds photo booth picture HERE.

An En-Trances Evening

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.

Related Articles:
Trances Arc Still Got It Going
Tesla Rossa's "Kinectic" Energy
X-Mix 2011 Wrap Up: Wolves

Boppin' Along

Only nine more days left until 500 Songs for Kids 2011, and Mixtape Atlanta is continuing our video countdown of memorable performances from last year. Today, we bring you a previously unreleased performance from last year's event. Watch this fun performance of one of The Ramones classic hits brought to life by Jonathan Baker and Trances Arc.

Jonathan Baker w/ Trances Arc at 500 Songs for Kids 2010 from Mixtape Atlanta on Vimeo.

SXSW 2011: Saturday, March 19

The final night of SXSW 2011 came to a close with diverse and high profile showcases across Austin. Perez Hilton presented his fourth annual One Night in Austin party with a lineup of dancey pop acts including Selah Sue, Zowie, Kids of 88, and Liz Phair. However, one the show's best performance was from the DJ duo of Mia Moretti and violinist Caitlin Moe.

Earlier in the day, Athens and Atlanta artists like Trances Arc, Reptar, Futurebirds, and more played the 40 Watt and Go Big Or Go Back to ATL shows. Atomic Tom also drew a solid crowd at The Rusty Spurs to close out their SXSW experience.

Check out photos from the 40 Watt showcase, Trances Arc, Atomic Tom, Perez Hilton party, and more, here.

Related articles:
SXSW 2010: 40 Watt Showcase
Trances Arc headlines X-Mix Vacation

Atlanta Gets Ready to Raise the Roof

On Saturday March 19, Mindzai Creative and Whynatte present some of Atlanta's best bands to the rooftop bar of Cheers Shot Bar. Don't miss this open SXSW showcase.

ATL Yeah! in Austin

Atlanta invades Austin again with another killer showcase at SXSW 2011. Download a sampler (mixtape!) of some of our favorite Atlanta bands here.

X-Mix Vacation 2010

Saturday, December 18, Mixtape Atlanta returned to Star Bar for their annual holiday charity showcase, X-Mix. All proceeds from the event benefited Songs for Kids Foundation, raising more money than last year. Several barrels of toys were also collected for Toys for Tots. Partiers sipped on Whynatte drink specials (such as Gingerbread Man and Why-nog-tte), nibbled on Sugarbuzz Cupcakes, and cooled off throughout the night with King of Pops popsicles.

2010’s theme was based on the popular holiday film Christmas Vacation and “X-Mix Vacation” kicked off in grand fashion. Yacht Rock Revue made a special appearance to lead the crowd in Christmas carols and light the X-Mix stage, with drum roll and all. Young Orchids then took the stage and really got the crowd fired up. Playing just as a trio, Young Orchids kept their edgy rock hits flowing and the dueling guitars roaring. In between sets Yacht Rock returned for a special performance of the Saturday Night Live classic, “D*ck in a Box,” made popular by Justin Timberlake and Andy Sandberg.

While the upstairs revelry and rock continued, downstairs partiers crowed in to buy King of Pops popsicles and take their photo in the Mixtape Atlanta photo booth. Get your photo and check out the photo booth fun, here.

Trances Arc headlined X-Mix’s talented showcase and it was one of their most energetic performances to date. The packed house, filled with devoted fans as well as first time Trances Arc listeners, never stopped dancing or singing along. After their set, the band was greeted by impressed concert goers and new fans gobbled up Trances merchandise.

Local music legend James Hall closed out the live performances as only he could. Being the only musicians who have performed back-to-back years, James Hall and Corinne Lee performed several songs, before James returned to the stage with The Futura Bold. The Futura Bold, who have been on a hot streak of popular shows, strengthened the crowd’s energy even more. Even after the live music wrapped the party kept hopping, thanks to DJ Jack Frost and his mix of surefire dance hits.

Check out all the fun and madness of the upstairs performances and crowd, here.

It's That Time, X-Mix is Here!

Last year, Mixtape Atlanta launched our annual holiday extravaganza, X-Mix! The response was amazing. The holiday themed music showcase raised over $1,000 for Songs for Kids Foundation as well as several barrels of new toys for Toys for Tots. This year we want to raise even more for these worthy causes.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 18 for X-Mix Vacation at Star Bar. This year we are celebrating the festive frivolity of holidays with The Griswolds. Trances Arc, Young Orchids, The Futura Bold, Yacht Rock Revue, and more will be performing their catchy original tunes as well as some holiday favorites. Need a last minute gift? Any of these bands' CDs or merchandise would make even Mr. Shirley smile. DJ Jack Frost will keep the dance floor toasty with his signature party tunes.

99x is partnering with Mixtape again to help spread the word and cheer about this amazing night of music for great charities. Whynatte will help everyone stay enegerized and fesitval with some special seasonal cocktails, and Sugarbuzz Cupcakes and King of Pops will be onsite for some tasty treats. Mixtape Atlanta's photo booth will be buzzing too to make sure everyone remembers the fun.

Admission is $10 or $5 with a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. All proceeds benefit Songs for Kids Foundation. Door open at 9PM.

 

Endless Trance

Saturday, July 17 Highland Ballroom was the place to be for Trances Arc's Endless Summer CD Release party for their new album TA. The Ballroom was packed! The band had a much deserved amazing turnout of fans and fellow artists that crowded the venue. Members of Ponderosa, Y O U, and Dropsonic also joined the guys on stage for a couple energic, sweaty, passionate performaces. Mixtape Atlanta's summer themed photo booth was also a popular destination. Check out all the photo booth fun in the video below set to Trances Arc's "Boom City" off TA. Pick up your photos here (You can also purchase hi-res versions of your picture here.)! Buy your copy of TA here!

Trances Arc Endless Summer Party Photo Booth from Mixtape Atlanta on Vimeo.

'Boom'-bastic Party

Tomorrow night, July 17 Pop Death Squad is presenting the party of the summer: Trances Arc's CD Release Party with The Jaguars, King of Pops, and MIXTAPE ATLANTA! Come out to Highland Ballroom for this Endless Summer celebration. Doors open at 9PM, The Jaguars take the stage at 9:30PM, and Trances Arc will start their set at 10:30PM. Be sure to get there early, grab a popsicle from King of Pops, and get your photo taken in Mixtape's Summery photo booth. Cover is only $7, which is a steal considering Trances will be joined by good friends and talented musicians from Y O U, Ponderosa, Dropsonic, and more! Check out Trances recent video for their song "Boom City" off of their new album TA. The video was shot in just 3 hours and edited in one day; I told you these guys were fun. If you don't have a copy of TA yet pick one up Saturday at 2PM for Trances' in-store at Criminal Records before you come to their party at Highland Ballroom.

Boom City // Trances Arc // TA from Trances Arc on Vimeo.

Must Have Summer Soundtrack

After months of rain, the sun has returned in full force to Atlanta; summer is definitely here. As more people hit the pool, beach, and backyard parties, there is one thing every gathering needs and that is good music. Trances Arc has you covered. On July 20, the Atlanta band is releasing their new full length album, TA. With infectious tracks such as "Boom City," "Black Lung," and "Camera Gun Shy," you will want to play this album loud and often making it the soundtrack to your summer.

Like all good rock stars, Trances Arc is planning a killer party with Pop Death Squad and Mixtape Atlanta to celebrate their new release. Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 17 and come out to Highland Ballroom to celebrate TA and get crazy at this Endless Summer party. Mixtape Atlanta will be providing an ultimate summer photo booth and King of Pops will be there to help cool everyone off with their homemade popsicles. The Jaguars will also be performing. Before the Endless Summer CD Release Party, Trances Arc will also be performing in-store at Criminal Records at 2PM on July 17.

Get your first taste of TA. Listen to "Boom City."

Boom City

Like what you hear? Download it for FREE! (Right click "FREE" to download. MAC: Choose "Download Linked File As"| PC: Choose "Save Target As")

AthFest 2010

AthFest 2010 kicked off Thursday, June 24 with The Flagpole Music Awards at the Morton Theatre. Flagpole has been the must-read magazine for Athens’ vibrant music scene for years, but the live show didn’t quite live up to the interesting content found on its pages. Opening act and award showhands, Mr. Blank’s Carnivale of Black Hearts set an eccentric vibe to the show but the longwinded performances and lack of in-house award recipients made the initial excitement quickly fade. Chris Patton and TJ Edmond did a fine job of hosting and were the perfect hometown emcees for the event. However, the multiple song performances especially by Elite Tha Showstoppa and Los Meesfits made the awards show feel unnecessarily long. With the influx of excitement and AthFest goers rapidly filling the streets looking to start the weekend, the Morton Theatre and the Flagpole Awards Show felt confining.

Several blocks from Morton, Team Clermont and New West Records had a must-see showcase that proved to be the much-needed AthFest fire starter. Futurebirds, Roadside Graves, and Atlanta’s own Ponderosa got the crowd rocking and drinks flowing at 40 Watt for a rowdy night of rock ‘n roll. Friday, the outdoor stages started live music sets at 5PM, but thunderstorms settled above as soon as several of the most anticipated acts (Reptar, Spring Tigers, Packaway Handle Band, and Modern Skirts) took the stage. The non-stop rain and intermediate strikes of lightening created a dramatic yet enthusiastic collective mood from the crowd and artists. Although some shows were delayed and shortened, the audience stayed steady throughout. Due to increasing rain, it seemed uncertain that Pulaski Stage headliners Modern Skirts would take the rain soaked stage but they did. Not only did they perform their full set, but the rain worked to their advantage adding theatrical intensity to all of their songs, especially the newer one off of their upcoming EP, Happy 81. When the quartet performed beat driven “Bridges and Overpasses” and the closing “DUI,” rain sprayed from the deconstructed drums adding more strength to their set. After the outdoor sets finished, BMI hosted an impressive indoor showcase at The Melting Point featuring Trances Arc, Part Bear and Hightide Blues. For photos from the first two days of AthFest, click here.

Night 10- We Will Rock You

The final night of 500 Songs for Kids came to a close Saturday, May 8 with a long list of powerhouse performances. Death on Two Wheels was one of the first bands to perform with The Beatles classic "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band." Songs for Kids Foundation members Josh Rifkind, Sanjay Kothari, and Justin Kerenyi grabbed guitars to rock out to Beastie Boys' "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (to Party!)." Talented guitar wizard Ryan Waters led his band Ill to a stunning rendition of The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again." Athens experimental rockers Reptar grabbed the audience's attention with their energetic cover of New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle." Peter Stroud, Tim Smith, and Kevin Spencer channeled English rockers Yes to perform "I've Seen All Good People." Legendary Bluesman Herman Hitson returned for the 500 Songs for Kids stage for the second time this year to perform The Troggs' "Wild Thing." Local favorites Ponderosa performed Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son" with as much passion and confidence as if it were their own. James Hall & The Futura Bold got the crowd rocking with the ultimate mashup of stadium anthems, "We Are The Champions/ We Will Rock You." After being assigned "Fight the Power" last year, the always inventive Modern Skirts added more edge and funky pop to Madonna's "Like A Virgin." Trances Arc successfully mastered one of the most critiqued covers Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven." Songwriting icon Angie Aparo performed the classic "Imagine" by John Lennon.

Check out all of Night 10's photos! View all of Mixtape Atlanta's Songs for Kids coverage at MixtapeAtlanta.com/500-Songs-for-Kids.

Night 2- Rockin' in the Free World

Night Two of 500 Songs for Kids was full of rocking performances spanning hits from the 1960s to 2000s. Former Second Shift frontman and local Citysearch editor, Jonathan Baker, joined Trances Arc for The Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop." Several Neil Young classics were on the countdown Friday night, including "Rockin' In The Free World," which is actually #83 on the list of 500 Greatest Era-Defining Songs of All Time, but performers Dead Confederate stopped by to perform it early. The Athens rockers did an amazing cover of the rock anthem and they had the whole crowd singing and dancing along, while being supported on stage by the Songs for Kids Foundation members providing background vocals. Reuben Bidez kept the crowd engaged with Bon Jovi's signature song "Livin' On A Prayer." StoneRider, The Brilliant Inventions, and Granville Automatic provided several of the night's stripped down yet moving performances. Energetic performances by Evelynn Rose covering "Sweet Home Alabama" and County Line Strangers' cover of R.E.M's "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" had the crowd still dancing and partying until the early morning hours. Check out all of Night 2's photos here!

Kick-Ass Photos

April 1, BMI and 99x presented a showcase featuring some great local rock bands including Trances Arc, Falcon Lords, The Orkids, and Andy Lehman at Vinyl. While superhero rockers, Falcon Lords, are no strangers to donning masks and costumes, many new superheroes were minted at Mixtape Atlanta’s Kick-Ass photo booth. Produced by Brad Pitt and others, starring Aaron Johnson, Nicholas Cage, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kick-Ass will introduce us all to a new breed of self-made superheroes. If you stopped by our Kick-Ass photo booth, get your photos here! Don't miss Kick-Ass in movie theaters April 16.

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