THIS WEEK’S BEST BET:

Kylesa
w/ Blood Ceremony, White Hills, Lazer/Wulf
Friday, June 21
The Earl – 466 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $15 / Purchase Tickets

I’m running really far behind on this post today, so I’m going to keep things as simple as possible. Basically, it goes something like this: in a Southern sludge scene flush with talent, Savannah’s Kylesa has consistently stood out as an innovator and leading voice. And while the group’s latest effort, the uneven Ultraviolet, doesn’t pack the dynamic punch of its predecessor Spiral Shadow, or the hurricane wind force of 2009′s Static Tensions, it still carries with it an enviable amount of bulldozing aggression and psychedelic grandeur. It’s far from perfect, but like all the best bands, the missteps are well worth the journey.

THE BEST OF THE REST:

Tame Imapala
w/ Fascinator
Monday, June 17
The Tabernacle – 152 Luckie Street NW inAtlanta 30303
SOLD OUT!

Pretty Please
w/ Cusp, Dead Fiero, Hollow Stars
Monday, June 17
529 – 529 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission is FREE

Tiger’s Jaw (Last Atlanta Show)
w/ Pianos Become the Teeth, Fairlane, Dad Punchers
Monday, June 17
Under the Couch – 350 Ferst Drive NW in Atlanta 30332
Admission $10

Baths
w/ Houses, D33J
Monday, June 17
The Masquerade – 695 North Avenue NE in Atlanta 30308
Admission $12 / Purchase Tickets

The Electric Nature
w/ Evangelicals, Companion, Nobra Noma
Tuesday, June 18
529 – 529 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $7

Twin Shadow
w/ Elliphant
Tuesday, June 18
Terminal West – 887 West Marietta Street in Atlanta 30318
Admission $17 ADV / $20 DOS / Purchase Tickets

Grandchildren
w/ Yip Deceiver, DAMS, Fine Peduncle, The Fleeting Ends
Tuesday, June 18
The Basement – 1245 Glenwood Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $6-8

Christopher Owens
An Evening with Christopher Owens
Wednesday, June 19
The Earl – 466 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $15 / Purchase Tickets

Demonaut
w/ Destroyer of Light, Black Tar Prophet, Dirty Magazines
Wednesday, June 19
529 – 529 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission is FREE

Parallels
w/ Technicult, The Palace Wolves
Wednesday, June 19
Drunken Unicorn – 736 Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta 30306
Admission $6 ADV / $8 DOS / Purchase Tickets

Dax Riggs
w/ Ben Trickey
Thursday, June 20
The Earl – 466 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $10 ADV / $12 DOS / Purchase Tickets

Swank Sinatra
w/ Gun Party, Hot Wives
Thursday, June 20
The Clermont Lounge – 789 Ponce De Leon Avenue NE in Atlanta 30306
Admission $7

Kendrick Lamar
w/ Ab Soul, Jay Rock, Kid Ink, Schoolboy Q
Thursday, June 20
The Tabernacle – 152 Luckie Street NW inAtlanta 30303
SOLD OUT!

Plastic Visions
w/ Concord America, Shepherds, Marrows
Thursday, June 20
529 – 529 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $7

Distal
w/ Speakerfoxxx, The Difference Machine, Divine Interface
Thursday, June 20
Terminal West – 887 West Marietta Street in Atlanta 30318
Admission $7 ADV / $10 DOS / Purchase Tickets

Merchandise
w/ Milk Music, Destruction Unit, The Pinecones
Friday, June 21
529 – 529 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $10 / Purchase Tickets

Fartherout.Com Pledge Allegiance Vol. 3
w/ Glenn Saddler & Bias the Black, Money Makin’ Nique, Alkebulan, more…
Friday, June 21
Drunken Unicorn – 736 Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta 30306
Admission $10

Evan Andree
w/ Brandon Funk (The Levee), Pioneer Fires
Friday, June 21
House Party – 443 Woodward Avenue SE in Atlanta 30312
Admission is FREE

The Baptist Generals
w/ Spirits and the Melchizedek Children
Wednesday, June 12
Star Bar – 437 Moreland Avenue in Atlanta 30307
Admission $10 / Purchase Tickets

Small Black
w/ Heavenly Beat, Skybison
Saturday, June 22
Drunken Unicorn – 736 Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta 30306
Admission $10

Mikal Cronin
w/ Shannon and the Clams, Del Venicci
Sunday, June 23
The Earl – 466 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $10 Purchase Tickets

Cardova’s debut full-length, Draw in the Light, has been out for a minute now, but the local quartet will finally celebrate the release tonight when they open for alt-rock up-and-comers the Dangerous Summer and Cute is What We Aim For at the Masquerade. And what better way to get caught up in the festivities than by cranking up the band’s latest single, the driving and anthemic “Immortal Lights”? Opening with grainy guitars and a tempestuous swirl of drums, it doesn’t take long for the group to hit their stride and lock into a series of dynamic grooves that shift seamlessly between melodic rock and atmospheric post-hardcore. It’s a well-worn sound, but Cardova play with enough conviction (and throw in enough new wrinkles) to keep it sounding fresh.

Cardova perform tonight at the Masquerade in support of Cute is What We Aim For, the Dangerous Summer and Made Violent. Doors open at 6pm. $12 gets you in the show and a FREE CD.

More Info:
Web: www.cardovamusic.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cardovamusic
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/cardova
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cardovamusic

If you’re searching for further evidence of Mood Rings’ steady ascension to next-level status, look no further than the quintet’s latest track, “The Line.” The third single from their upcoming debut full length, VPI Harmony, is a thing of shimmering, starry-eyed beauty, an engrossing synth-pop stunner shot through with smoky ambiance, moonlit guitars and the existential pangs of urban dread. I’m feeling something of the Chromatics’ narcotic late-night vibe at work here, but the post-punk tension left behind by their previous efforts helps add some bite to all the dreamy decadence. Give it a listen below.

VPI Harmony is due out June 25 via Mexican Summer.

More Info:
Bandcamp: www.moodrings.bandcamp.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MoodringsAtl
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mood_rings

Courtesy of PopMatters, here is “Taste,” the first single from Tedo Stone’s upcoming LP, Good Gone Bad. It’s a scruffy little pop song that manages to sound bigger and more casually infectious the more you listen to it. Stone’s swaggering self-assurance shines through as he guides his band through one blissfully exuberant melody after another, throwing off hints of T. Rex and the Strokes in the process. But probably the best part is how easily the track tumbles out of your speaker. In talking about the song, Stone notes: “It was one of those songs that comes to you like lightning—I wrote the whole thing in less than an hour,” which feels exactly right. “Taste” may not have taken long to write, but it sounds like it has existed forever.

You can grab the track here. Good Gone Bad is due out July 9 via This is American Music.

More Info:
Web: www.tedostone.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tedostone
Twitter: www.twitter.com/tedostone

Just a few weeks removed from unveiling its first ever release (a new EP from electronic pop outfit Countless Others), Boom Done! Records, the new Atlanta imprint started by Countless Others mastermind Sam Fisher and his Wowser Bowser bandmate George Pettis, has announced the signing of local indie rockers Shook Foil. The label will release the band’s debut full-length, The Tethered Life, on July 19. In the meantime, make sure to check out the album’s fantastic lead single, “Some Heavy Weight.”

More Info:
Web: www.boomdonerecords.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BoomDoneRecords

More Info:
Web: www.swanksinatra.com
Bandcamp: www.swanksinatra.bandcamp.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/swanksinatra
Twitter: www.twitter.com/theswanksinatra

Misery Loves Chachi is a newish project led by Nathan Sadler, who also plays keyboards and bass for local rockers the Mad Flight. Contrary to his chosen moniker, Sadler seeks to deliver emotional uplift via hopeful exuberance, framing his warm-weather indie pop jams with chiming pianos, bright guitars and warm choral passages. His band’s debut EP, Long Live the Lazy Choir, was written and recorded over the course of three years and will finally be available tomorrow, just in time for your summer listening pleasure. For my money, lead track “All is Alive” is the EPs finest moment—a slow-pulsing, anthemic number that ripples with symphonic elegance. Give it a listen below.

Misery Loves Chachi will celebrate the release of Long Live the Lazy Choir tomorrow night, June 11, at 529. Supporting them will be Nerdkween and Alexander & the Grapes. Post-hardcore trio Mice in Cars headline. Doors open at 9pm. $5 gets you in.

More Info:
Bandcamp: www.miseryloveschachi.bandcamp.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MiseryLovesChachi
Twitter: www.twitter.com/miserychachi

THIS WEEK’S BEST BET:

Red Stripe MidSummer Music & Food Festival
w/ Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Soul Rebels, The Whisky Gentry, more…
Saturday, June 14-Sunday, June 15
Candler Park – 1500 McLendon Avenue NE in Atlanta 30307
Admission is FREE

Weird week for shows. At least for me. Nothing is really jumping out at me as a can’t-miss event, which is why I’m going with a freaking summer festival with my pick this time. (Plus Candler Park is my hood so you know I’m gotta rep for the 30307.) Entry is free and there will be plenty of beer and food trucks, which can only ever be a good thing. Also, there are not a whole lot of events where I get to hang with my kid and see live music, so I always try my best to make it out to the neighborhood festivals. To be honest, I’m not all that big on Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, but the dude has his moments and the Whiskey Gentry are always great, so there you go. Now if the OTP crowd will just PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, TAKE MARTA, we’ll all be okay and enjoy the weekend.

THE BEST OF THE REST:

Sting
An Evening with Sting
Monday, June 10
Chastain Park Amphitheatre – 4469 Stella Drive in Atlanta 30342
Admission $58-$128 / Purchase Tickets

The Whigs
w/ Deep Vally, Death on Two Wheels
Monday, June 10
The Masquerade – 695 North Avenue NE in Atlanta 30308
Admission $13 / Purchase Tickets

Billy Idol
An Evening with Billy Idol
Tuesday, June 11
The Tabernacle – 152 Luckie Street NW inAtlanta 30303
Admission $38.50-$46.50 / Purchase Tickets

Mice in Cars
w/ Misery Loves Chachi, Alexander and the Grapes, Nerdkween
Tuesday, June 11
529 – 529 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $5

Cannibal Corpse
w/ Napalm Death, Immolation, Magrudergrind
Tuesday, June 11
The Masquerade – 695 North Avenue NE in Atlanta 30308
Admission $20 / Purchase Tickets

MammaBear
w/ Low Cut Connie, My Rebel Episode
Wednesday, June 12
Star Bar – 437 Moreland Avenue in Atlanta 30307
Admission $6

Xtra Colours
w/ Tricil, Tayo
Thursday, June 13
Drunken Unicorn – 736 Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta 30306
Admission $5

Talib Kweli
w/ The Pharcyde
Thursday, June 13
Reign Nightclub – 1029 Peachtree Street in Atlanta 30309
Admission $22.50 ADV / $27.50 DOS / Purchase Tickets

Say Anything
w/ Eisley, HRVRD, Northern Faces
Thursday, June 13
The Masquerade – 695 North Avenue NE in Atlanta 30308
Admission $18 / Purchase Tickets

Atlanta Bred “We Are the South” Concert Series
w/ MICXSIC, Shred TVT, Naj Murph, Ante Meridian, Methuzulah
Friday, June 14
The Basement – 1245 Glenwood Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $5-7

Sex BBQ
w/ Hotels, Starfighter, Rogue Dynamo, Stealth
Friday, June 14
529 – 529 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $5

Marijuana Deathsquads
w/ Solid Gold, Hydrabadd
Friday, June 14
Drunken Unicorn – 736 Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta 30306
Admission $8 ADV / $10 DOS / Purchase Tickets

Boris Records Fest
w/ Mangled, Sadistic Ritual, Death of Kings, Disfigurement, more…
Saturday, June 15
529 – 529 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $7

Blake Schwarzenbach’s 2013 Mobile Disco Decathlon
w/ Killing Kuddles, Outrageous Fun
Saturday, June 15
Drunken Unicorn – 736 Ponce de Leon Avenue in Atlanta 30306
Admission $8 ADV / $10 DOS / Purchase Tickets

Zero Boys
w/ Predator, Manic, Ralph
Saturday, June 15
The Earl – 466 Flat Shoals Avenue in Atlanta 30316
Admission $15 / Purchase Tickets

In addition to sharing a plethora of members (the entirety of Small Reactions’ lineup also performs in Gold-Bears), Atlanta’s Gold-Bears and Small Reactions also share a love for fuzzy, punk-inflected pop, so combining forces on the road only seems natural and practical. Oh yeah, and totally awesome. The two bands are embarking on a quick, five-date tour up the East Coast next week, starting with a June 11 date at the Pinhook in Durham, North Carolina and ending with a performance at the Northside Festival in Brooklyn on June 15. Hopefully this little jaunt will signal the beginning of a touring trend for both bands, especially Small Reactions who recently announced the completion of their debut full length and are currently searching for a label to help release it.

Check out the full list of dates below.

Gold-Bears and Small Reactions East Coast Tour Dates:
Jun 11 – The Pinhook – Durham, NC w/ Gray Young
Jun 12 – CD Cellar – Arlington, VA w/ Sansyou (members of Lorelei)
Jun 13 – Kungfu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA w/ Literature, Forever Evers
Jun 14 – Cake Shop – New York, NY w/ Literature, The Hairs
Jun 15 – NYC Popfest Showcase at Northside Festival – Brooklyn, NY

More Info:
Web: www.gold-bears.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/GOLDdashBEARS

Web: www.smallreactions.blogspot.com
Bandcamp: www.smallreactions.bandcamp.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/smallreactions
Twitter: www.twitter.com/smallreactions

When I close my eyes and listen to Jabre’s “Back to Life,” the first single off the local rapper’s upcoming EP, Character Development, I imagine an apocalyptic march through a storm so terrifyingly powerful that buildings shake and crumble. I think it’s because the deep brass embraces the gravity of tornado sirens, and everyone knows to take cover when those boom through grey skies. Jabre has captured the great cinematic edge of hip-hop, conjuring suspense and aggression through a menacing address to his competitors and the rap game in general. Jabre taunts: “You knew I was a killer when you met me / probably shouldn’t but you let me in / and now you try to neglect me,” and then starts roaring a bit: “it’s almost like you regret me / I’m almost slightly offended you know what I think I must be!” This song is best defined as Jabre harnessing a temper he boasts as dangerous when lost, all inside a controlled space (the studio). Many hip-hop/rap world artists make songs about ascension credited to tenacity, however what’s noble about Jabre’s take is he makes the process seem like a compulsion. You want to believe him, because “Back to Life” is your kick-ass theme song.

Character Development is due out this July.

More Info:
SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/brefontaine