THIS WEEK’S BEST BET:
Tokyo Police Club
w/ Two Door Cinema Club, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Tuesday, January 25
Masquerade – 695 North Avenue NE in Atlanta 30306
Admission $17 / Purchase Tickets
I don’t know about you, but I played the shit out of that first Tokyo Police Club EP. All those angular guitars and off-kilter rhythms wrapped around sing-along hooks really resonated with me for some reason (the bucket loads of scrappy, youthful energy certainly didn’t hurt any). Unfortunately, some of that manic exuberance gave way to a more stately pop approach on the band’s first full-length, Elephant Shell. I still enjoyed the record, but in comparison to A Lesson in Crime’s frantic flow, it seemed much too guarded and reserved. I missed that punch, that cold bucket of water to the face that those first songs provided.
On their latest LP, Champ, the band cuts loose some of those stiff moorings that at times made Elephant Shell a drag. The songs are still polished and meticulously constructed, but they’re played with a casual looseness that’s invigorating. And more importantly, at least for the purposes of this post, is that despite the album’s radio-ready veneer, the songs seem tailor-made to be played live. There is a freewheeling basement show enthusiasm that underscores the music, a spunky giddiness that should make tomorrow night’s show one hell of a fun time.
THE BEST OF THE REST:
Small Reactions
w/ Cute Boots,The Compartmentalizationalists, Curio Museum
Monday, January 24
529 – 529 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission is FREE
Two Door Cinema Club
w/ Tokyo Police Club
Tuesday, January 25
Criminal Records – 1154-A Euclid Avenue in Atlanta 30307
Admission is FREE
Little Dragon
w/ Billygoat
Tuesday, January 25
Masquerade – 695 North Avenue NE in Atlanta 30306
Admission $17 / Purchase Tickets
The Moondoggies
w/ Quiet Life
Wednesday, January 26
The Earl – 488 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $10 / Purchase Tickets
The Vaginas
w/ Young Antiques, Charges
Thursday, January 27
529 – 529 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $TBA
Adron
w/ Little Tybee, Justin Evans’ Normaltime Ramblers
Thursday, January 27
The Earl – 488 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $7 / Purchase Tickets
Yo La Tengo
w/ William Tyler
Friday, January 28
Variety Playhouse – 1099 Euclid Avenue in Atlanta 30307
Admission $20 ADV / $22.50 DOS Purchase Tickets
Ninja Gun
w/ The North Trolls, Authors Apology
Friday, January 28
The Earl – 488 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $8 / Purchase Tickets
Sons of Tonatiuh
w/ Wolves & Jackals, Demonaut, Black Pussy
Friday, January 28
529 – 529 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $TBA
The Memorials
w/ Just Like Vinyl, Bodega Roja
Friday, January 28
Five Spot – 529 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $8 ADV / $10 DOS / Purchase Tickets
Liz Phair
w/ The Forty-Fives
Friday, January 28
Variety Playhouse – 1099 Euclid Avenue in Atlanta 30307
Admission $20 ADV / $22.50 DOS Purchase Tickets
Cinemechanica
w/ Manray, Lazer/Wulf
Saturday, January 29
529 – 529 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $7
StoneRider
w/ Damon Moon and the Whispering Drifters, A: The Color
Saturday, January 29
The Drunken Unicorn – 736 Ponce de Leon Avenue NE in Atlanta 30306
Admission $5 21+ / $7 18-20
Weapons of Audio
w/ The Aristocrats, Goldstein
Saturday, January 29
Star Bar – 437 Moreland Avenue Northeast in Atlanta 30307
Admission $5 21+ / $7 18-20
Soulphonics & Ruby Velle
w/ The Distribution
Saturday, January 29
The Earl – 488 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $10 / Purchase Tickets
Imagination Head (CD Release)
w/ Misfortune 500, DJ and the Bear
Saturday, January 29
Highland Inn – 644 N. Highland Avenue NE in Atlanta 30306
Admission $5
Sorry No Ferrari
In-Store Performance
Saturday, January 29
Criminal Records – 1154-A Euclid Avenue in Atlanta 30307
Admission is FREE
