Tweet Kid Rock blew my mind live. I don’t even like his music and his electricity onstage zapped me into reconsidering. But wait. Legendary crooner Tony Bennett is playing live across the park in just a few minutes. Let me run over there. Music Midtown Festival circa 2002…Atlanta’s greatest showcase of a colorful mix of [...]
Tweet The internal pressure for Lindsay Lohan to keep doing drugs is nothing compared to the crushing expectations of the anticipated sophomore album. Mumford & Sons debut album Sigh No More, Adele’s 21, and The Civil Wars’ Barton Hollow changed the trajectory of music, launching 1,000 copycats chasing the same results. Before anyone jumps on [...]
Tweet There’s something about a heart-pounding drumbeat that makes you want to bang on the steering wheel of your car. A song that’s unforgettable and instantly recognizable. In fact, I’ve been known to identify songs within two beats at grocery stores and in elevators everywhere. What can I say? It’s a gift. Sometimes it’s precision and skill that pumps your [...]
Tweet Albums are completely dead. Trends show that users are barely downloading songs nowadays, let alone buying albums. Streaming is where it’s at. And streaming services now have their own charts, too. Ex-music industry exec ranter Bob Lefsetz had an interesting take on the fall of the album and the trends involving Spotify, MOG, YouTube, [...]
Tweet Lana Del Rey, the internet sensation touted as one of iTunes Artists to Watch in 2012 made a disastrous spectacle from her first appearance on Saturday Night Live last night. Almost immediately, legions of people have colored the internet blasting Lana’s performance, including celebrities like Juliette Lewis. Lana’s performance was stiff as a nervous [...]
Tweet It’s a cute video. Just a week ago, I saw The Daylights open for Needtobreathe in Atlanta. Rumor has it that a year before, these guys were just hanging out in Los Angeles not sure if they wanted to continue with the band. And just like that, someone came up with a creative concept, [...]
Tweet Terrestrial radio is littered with talented musicians opting for half-baked formulaic shards of what they once were. All right. All right. We get it. You’re 31 and you still like to snarl. Excessive drinking makes you cool. I bet you could kick my ass. Your lame attempt to relate to the wannabe bad-ass population [...]
Tweet Who is the best songwriter of all time and what makes them the best? Although I have some theories on how to manipulate songs to make them blockbuster hits, the subjectivity is the true discussion. Some people have a natural gift at picking up the lyrics of songs and singing every last line as [...]
Tweet RUMOR HAS IT THAT Ray LaMontagne cut his early set short last Monday at Atlanta’s Chastain Park due to chatter in the open amphitheater, reports a venue insider. Ray and his band performed several cuts off of his new album God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise with his band to a largely noisy crowd and clocked roughly [...]
Tweet In a recent interview with Elvis Costello for Sundance Channel’s “Spectacle” show, Bruce Springsteen made a bold statement. He said “Musicians are always bothered! Something bothers GOOD musicians every single day” so they can keep writing those great songs (paraphrasing). He’s so right! Since the majority of love songs are so often break-up songs, it’s a safe bet that [...]
Tweet I have a secret. And I think I let it slip out this weekend. And it was NOT pretty. I got a chance to spend some time with people I met through Twitter and ultimately, RadioPotato.com last night. Three super-cool girls that are REALLY into music and v-e-r-y into Sugarland. Maybe because I have interviewed Eddie [...]
Tweet It’s no secret that rock stars get laid. Some of the fugliest dudes can get some serious hot chicks…and I promise you, it’s not because of their milk-and-cookies wholesome personality (see Hot Chicks with Douchebags - they might not be rock stars but it’s pretty damn funny). It usually has something to do with a microphone, tight pants, and a guitar. [...]
Tweet Music trivia and useless thought-provoking musical “what-if” scenarios reign supreme in the Rizk family. Not too long ago, I embarked on a road trip from Atlanta to Charleston with my brother. Another futile musical debate was imminent. This trip’s burning question? What is YOUR definitive artist for each decade? Not THE definitive artist, although that’s debatable too…but YOURS! [...]
Tweet Before the Jersey Shore was aware of the convenient short cut of an orange spray tan, I used to pile on my way-too-dark foundation, pour myself into my hoochie mama ho’ clothes and head down the shore to see my favorite local band play at Jenk’s Night Club on the Point Pleasant boardwalk. Back in the dirty days of [...]
Tweet My friend, Jason once told me that if a homeless man was beating on a garbage can, I would think he was the most amazing musician. I did see Bjork’s movie Dancer in the Dark and while this concept may not be unheard of, there are plenty of bands/artists that I can’t stand. I [...]
