THIS WEEK’S BEST BET:
Bon Iver
Thursday, July 28
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre – 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway in Atlanta 30339
Admission $30.50-$38 / Purchase Tickets
Bon Iver is exploding. Blowing up. Getting huge. With the release of his sophomore full-length, Justin Vernon and his musical cronies are making the leap; much the same as, say, Arcade Fire or Death Cab for Cutie or the Decemberists or the National, they are beginning to leak into the consciousness of mainstream America. And while it’s highly unlikely this newfound awareness will spill further than the outermost fringes, you have to admit — he’s come a long way from that lonesome cabin in the woods.
For one thing, the music has changed dramatically. The stark, skeletal simplicity that marked For Emma, Forever Ago has been stripped away in favor of a sound that is more expansive and ambitious. On the whole, the new record is a lot warmer and more embracing than the heartbreaking intimacy that defined his debut. It’s richer and more textured, which gives Vernon’s voice, one of the most unique and beautiful of our time, a lot more freedom to roam. The result? Many more ears are tuned into what Bon Iver is doing.
This means that the fraying point, the point where Bon Iver’s popularity exceeds and pulls away from cult status, is likely near. That special feel of connectedness that being in the know brings is wearing away, unlikely to ever return. For many, this is too bitter of a pill to swallow; it’s enough to begin severing ties with the group. While this sort of reaction is ridiculous, looking back at the history at some of the band’s mentioned above, it’s hard not to argue that Thursday night’s performance at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre will likely be the final opportunity to catch the band before it dissolves into a debate, a measuring stick, something beyond just the music. I’m not sure if I’m explaining myself correctly, if you can understand fully what I mean, but, trust me, it’s already happening. All I can say is take advantage now, before the music is overshadowed by all the meaningless cultural noise, and it’s too late.
THE BEST OF THE REST:
YOB
w/ Dark Castle, Demonaut
Monday, July 25
The Earl – 488 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $10 ADV / $12 DOS / Purchase Tickets
Bambara
w/ El Fossil, Cars Can Be Blue, Lucy Dreams
Tuesday, July 26
529 – 529 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission TBA
The Weeks
w/ A: The Color, Junior Astronomers, Big Jesus
Wednesday, July 27
The Masquerade – 695 North Avenue NE in Atlanta 30306
Admission $8 / Purchase Tickets
Order of the Owl
w/ Osedax, You Die
Wednesday, July 27
529 – 529 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $5
Cassandras
w/ The Forms, Faun and a Pan Flute
Tuesday, July 12
Drunken Unicorn – 736 Ponce de Leon Place in Atlanta 30306
Admission $5 for 21+ / $7 for 18-20
She Came From Above
w/ New Animal, Slowriter, Luster
Wednesday, July 27
Eastside Lounge – 485 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $5
Turf War
w/ The Boom Bang, Ghost Bikini
Wednesday, July 27
The Earl – 488 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $7 / Purchase Tickets
He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister
w/ Adron, Night Driving in Small Towns
Thursday, July 28
The Earl – 488 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $8 / Purchase Tickets
Superpill
w/ Tesla Rossa, The Dandyls
Thursday, July 28
Star Bar – 437 Moreland Avenue in Atlanta 30307
Admission is FREE
Sealions
w/ Modern Skirts, Oryx and Crake
Friday, July 29
The Earl – 488 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $7 / Purchase Tickets
Siberia My Sweet
w/ TBA
Friday, July 29
The Basement – 1245 Glenwood Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission TBA
Buckhead Music Festival
w/ Little Tybee, Abby Gogo, Gift Horse, Turf War, more…
Saturday, July 30
The Buckhead Theatre – 3110 Roswell Road in Atlanta 30305
Admission $15
A. Grimes
w/ The Difference Machine, Aku You, Serene Branson, Psych Army DJs
Saturday, July 30
529 – 529 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission is FREE
The Rocketboys
w/ Damon Moon & The Whispering Drifters, Sleepy Genes
Sunday, July 31
529 – 529 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $5
He’s My Brother She’s My Sister is great. i saw them in Aspen on vacation last week and was knocked out. The drummer tap dances while she drums. Sounds like a gimmick, but its not, it really works. The songs are great. The entire crwod was dancing and singing along. never saw so much uninhibited musical joy! I will be at the Earl on Thursday for sure.