C&T ticket giveaway: Ray Davies and Locksley at Variety Playhouse, December 2

Ray Davies - "Working Man's Cafe"

On Tuesday, December 2, Ray Davies of The Kinks headlines at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, with Brooklyn's Locksley opening up. Davies is supporting his current release Working Man's Cafe and the forthcoming The Kinks: Picture Book box set due on December 8. Locksley is supporting their Don't Make Me Wait, released in September.

Locksley - All Over Again
Locksley - Why Can't I Be You (Why Not Me) [live]

I have a pair of tickets to the show available to one winner. If you would like them, send me an e-mail with "D/L tix" in the subject line. I will pick a winner at 12pm EST on Monday, December 1. Good luck!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Comics Cavalcade #18 (December-January 1947), cover by E.E. Hibbard
Happy Thanksgiving to C&T's American readers! Please keep the people in Mumbai in your thoughts today.

Ryan Adams make-up date for botched ATL show, March 20

I mentioned the truncated Ryan Adams show at Lakewood last month, and it looks like Ryan and the band are going to make up for any disappointment. Atlanta Music Guide says that they will play at the Fox Theatre on March 20, and fans who attended the October 17 show can go for free. I presume other individuals can buy tickets per usual, but the show is not yet on the Fox calendar.

Ryan Adams - Oh, My Sweet Carolina [5-11-2005]
Ryan Adams - Winding Wheel [2-15-2006]

Head over to AMG for further details on the ticket exchange program.

Reason #312 not to smoke

You don't want to look like The Thing, do you?

Image courtesy of Mike Sterling's Progressive Ruin.

R.E.M. tribute at Carnegie Hall, March 11

Last night was the 25th anniversary party for R.E.M.'s Murmur at the 40 Watt. It was an enjoyable evening, with particularly nice sets from Liz Durrett and Iron Hero. However, it looks like it may be topped by a little event at New York's Carnegie Hall on March 11.

That night 20 artists will honor R.E.M. by playing music from their extensive catalog. The list so far includes The Apples in Stereo, Vic Chesnutt & Elf Power, Throwing Muses with Kristin Hersh, Bob Mould, Glen Hansard, Kimya Dawson, Patti Smith, Guster, The dB's, Tommy James and the Shondells, Jolie Holland, Keren Ann, Ingrid Michaelson, and Rachel Yamagata. Along with that all-star lineup, the house band for the evening will be Calexico. Pretty impressive, no?

Tickets are available now, and all proceeds will benefit music education programs for underprivileged youth.

Well, that's shameless

NBC's Heroes has been a bit better lately, in my humble opinion, but last night it had a particularly groan-inducing moment. At one point Hiro needs guidance on his "hero's quest," so he and Ando wander into the fictional Sam's Comics in Lawrence, Kansas. What did they spot surrounding Sam, portrayed by Seth Green?

From "The Eclipse Part I"

Both covers for this year's Hulk #1 and a poster for Captain America: White. The kicker? Both of these books were written by comics scribe Jeph Loeb, who also writes and produces Heroes. Well, he did until three weeks ago when he and fellow writer-producer Jesse Alexander were axed. At least he got to plug his books first.

You can watch the full episode at NBC Rewind.

'Paste' subscriptions 2-for-1 deal

Decatur-based Paste is offering a nice deal for the holiday season, with 2-for-1 subscriptions for a limited time. The discount rate of $19.95 gets you two subscriptions, with each additional one costing another $10.

If you're curious what Paste digs, you can already check out their lists of the best music, top films, and choice television programs of 2008.

Band of Horses/Whigs NYE ticket contest at RED Music

The Whigs

If any of C&T's Atlanta-area readers got shut out of tickets for Band of Horses and The Whigs on 12/30 or 12/31, you may be in luck. RED Music is giving away tix to each show. The only catch is that you will be signed up for The Whigs mailing list.

Band of Horses - The Funeral
Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost
The Whigs - Like a Vibration
The Whigs - Right Hand on My Heart

Enter at the RED site. Good luck!

That's a sweet ride, Murphy

Robocop. Unicorn. Winner.

Art by Tim Doyle, via Supervillain.

Update: More such magic at Flickr [thanks Fishboy!].

Around the horn

Kneel before Zod.

Some news and views of interest....

Amazon is having a huge DVD sale, with steep discounts and many titles at $4.99.

Creative Loafing's Crib Notes blog has been great lately. Today Chad notes that Gentlemen Jesse got some love in December's Spin magazine, and has recently featured that band's Jesse Smith along with Mathis Hunter (The Selmanaires, Noot d'Noot) and Jason NeSmith (Casper & the Cookies).

Gentlemen Jesse - You Don't Have To (If You Don't Want To)
Noot d'Noot - Neighborhood Clucker
Casper & the Cookies - You Love Me

Stereogum notes that Decatur-based Paste has revealed its Top 50 for 2008. Some surprising picks, and a #1 that I really don't feel deserves the spot.

Paste:Local Atlanta catches up with Noot d'Noot.

Aquarium Drunkard writes up the Vic Chesnutt/Elf Power collaboration Dark Developments, probably my favorite album of the year.

Vic Chesnutt/Elf Power - And How

The New Yorker says that Coldplay may be breaking up next year.

MTV's Splash Page claims that an Incredible Hulk sequel is in the works, and that the Jade Giant (maybe Ed Norton, maybe not) is likely to take on The Leader portrayed by Tim Blake Nelson.

The gang at /Film claim that an Arrested Development flick is ever closer to becoming a reality.

The Day Jobs previews the weekend ahead in Athens, while OhmPark does the same for Atlanta.

The Buddy System tease new song/video

The Buddy System are promising a new song/video pairing at their December 4 show in Athens, and as evidence they're offering a couple frames from the animation. One of them features Egyptian pyramids and prairie dogs a little too into their PBR. This is going to be good.

See more (and larger) images at the Kindercore blog. The show will be WUOG's Winter Party, held at Athens Cine (234 West Hancock, downtown).

Goodies galore at Southern Shelter

From Amazing Spider-Man #42 by Stan Lee and John Romita, Sr.

If you're not reading Sloan Simpson's great blog Southern Shelter, you really should be. Sloan tapes a lot of shows in Atlanta and Athens, and is so generous with his time and bandwidth that he shares many of them via his site. A few of Sloan's recent gems from the local area:

Stereolab @ 40 Watt, Athens 9-27-2008
Gentlemen Jesse & His Men @ Whirlyball, Roswell 1-19-2008
Jay Reatard @ Variety Playhouse, Atlanta 10-31-2008
Sleepy Horses @ 40 Watt, Athens 9-26-2008
Deerhunter @ Variety Playhouse, Atlanta 10-31-2008
Drive-By Truckers @ Tabernacle, Atlanta 11-1-2008
Tenement Halls @ 40 Watt, Athens 6-27-2008
Atlas Sound @ 40 Watt, Athens 9-27-2008
Tin Cup Prophette @ The EARL, Atlanta 9-18-2008

There's plenty more where those came from, too. Be sure to thank Sloan for all his efforts while you're at it!

LIFE image archives now online

LIFE image archives now on Google. Millions of productive labor hours to meet instant death.

BeaucoupKevin leads the charge.

Andrew Bird in Atlanta on February 4

The Falconer sends word that the great Mr. Andrew Bird will perform at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta on February 4. Huzzah! Last time I saw Bird required a drive to Nashville, so a jaunt to Atlanta will be a relief.

Tickets go on sale this Saturday at 10 AM.

Dates for the full tour are at Brooklyn Vegan.

"Big Ear Boy with Turntable"

Lauren Gregg is the bassist for The Buddy System, and she's also a damn fine artist. Gregg is now selling some pieces from a recent Kindercore art show, and they'd be great gifts for the stylish guy or gal on your holiday list. The original pieces are $200 each from the Kindercore shop.

Oh, Batman, you rogue

You may know Batman as a dark vigilante or a goofy TV character, but you probably don't think of him as a skirt-chasing scoundrel. In Batman #153, dated February 1963, the Caped Crusader showed off his bad behavior.

While stranded on a strange world with his editorially mandated proof of heterosexuality, Batwoman, Bruce Wayne said sweet words when the pair were in dire straits.

Apparently, one follows such a declaration of Bat-love with the most dispassionate smooch in the history of snogging.

At least try to enjoy it, man.

Where was the worst of Batman's behavior? That came once the Bat-couple emerged from danger.

It's like Larry from Three's Company put on a cape and cowl. Real classy, Bats.

All this making out and freaking out takes place in Batman #153 by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff, reprinted in Batman: The Greatest Stories Ever Told, Vol. 2.

Gentlemen Jesse at The EARL tonight, November 15

While the Black Lips are at the 40 Watt tonight, Atlanta will host a big show of its own. As part of the Atlanta Mess-Around, Gentlemen Jesse and His Men will play The EARL supported by Nobunny, Hex Dispensers, Cheap Time, and more. Gentleman Jesse recently released one of the best power pop albums I've heard in ages, so this should be more than worth checking out.

Friday night only: All 21 Bond flicks for $90 at Amazon

A tip for the bargain hunters out there -- Amazon has all 21 James Bond films tonight only for $89.95. That's $200 off the retail price, and a pretty sweet deal.

Carry on.

'Watchmen' art show featured at /Film

The crew at /Film spotlight a recent art show curated by the Philadelphia Cartoonist Society featuring works inspired by Watchmen. The exhibition was titled "Children of the Watchmen" and hosted by Philly's own Brave New Worlds Comics. Love this image of Rorschach:

"Dear Diary" by Scott Derby

Head to /Film for much more.

The collected works were sold in a $3 comic at the show, and I hope it will be available online soon.

New 'Watchmen' trailer online

A new trailer for Watchmen will be shown before Bond flick Quantum of Solace this weekend, and it's already online:

Via Yahoo Movies.

If you haven't read Watchmen yet, get on that.

A Fight to the Death, The Preakness, LA Tool & Die at Lenny's on Friday night, 11/14

C&T's Atlanta-area readers should note that Performer Magazine is sponsoring a great show at Lenny's Bar on Friday night. Atlanta indie acts A Fight to the Death and (C&T fave) The Preakness will share the stage with Charlotte's LA Tool & Die (another blog fave). A Fight to the Death is new to me, but I've been enjoying tunes from The Preakness and LA Tool & Die for quite a while. Should be a darn fine show.

A Fight to the Death - Killdeer
The Preakness - Demons
LA Tool & Die - My Brother In Law

The show will run from 9pm-midnight, to be followed by the Down and Dirty dance party. Admission is just $5.

The Builders and The Butchers at Variety Playhouse on Sunday night, November 16

Ladies and gents, I've waited about three years to have this show on the horizon. One of my favorite bands, Portland's The Builders and The Butchers, are finally going to appear at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta this weekend. I've covered them here several times, but I've never seen them live. This should finally be corrected when they appear Sunday with Amanda Palmer of Dresden Dolls fame. They play wonderful gothic folk, with Ryan Sollee's wicked vocals backed by an elegant and rugged brand of acoustic folk and blues. Frankly, I adore them.

The Builders and The Butchers - Bottom of the Lake
The Builders and The Butchers - The Night

If you dig these guys as much as I do, I urge you to hit this show. Who knows when these gents will find their way back across this great (and large) nation.

The Builders and the Butchers are on Bladen Co. Records, and you can buy their self-titled release or split 12" with Loch Lomond from the Bladen Co. shop. More tour dates throughout the U.S. are available on their Myspace.

New Madeline song - "White Flag"

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Athens singer-songwriter Madeline Adams. Given that fact, it should come as no surprise that I was excited to receive a song today from her forthcoming White Flag. The album is due in February on Orange Twin Records, and now the title track is available for public consumption. It's as wonderful as you'd expect, and features the full band that backs her on the entire release.

Madeline - White Flag

Madeline will appear at Nuci's Space in Athens on December 13 for an all-ages show.

Black Lips at 40 Watt on Saturday night, 11/15

If you're looking to dance, drink, and throw some beer this weekend, I know just the place. On Saturday night, Black Lips play the 40 Watt and bring along punks The Spits and Atlanta psych-metal band All the Saints. Should be a raucous night for all involved. Wear a helmet.

Black Lips - Cold Hands
The Spits - Erica
All the Saints - Sheffield [via Spinner]

Tickets are $10 and are available now.

Of Montreal at 40 Watt on New Year's Eve!

Holy cow and hot damn! Word just in from Tiffani that Of Montreal will be playing the 40 Watt Club here in Athens on New Year's Eve. After seeing them again at Tabernacle this weekend, I am very excited indeed.

Of Montreal - Disconnect the Dots

Their Myspace confirms the good news. Woohoo!

Bella - "Give It a Night"

Califonia trio Bella released their album No One Will Know a year ago, but single "Give It a Night" only recently found its way into my regular rotation. This is glittering indie pop with a driving beat and girl vocals, and it's hard to resist. I'm just kicking myself for being so late to the party.

Bella - Give It a Night

No One Will Know is available from Mint Records.

New video from How I Became the Bomb - "Salvage Mission"

Nashville Cream notes that there's a new video from Music City fave How I Became the Bomb. It's for their song "Salvage Misison," and it's spacetastic.

You can download much of The Bomb's catalog from their website for free. They play at the Star Bar in Atlanta on November 20. Get excited.

Letterman, Spider-Man, and Jamba Juice

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to send a bunch of Spider-Men into a smoothie shop? My fellow Hoosier Dave Letterman did, and hilarity ensued. There's even a little Marvel-DC crossover action at the end.

Via Hero Complex.

Flaming Lips contest, Wayne Coyne chat on Monday

Oh, Wayne Coyne. How can anyone not love this man?

A couple of Coyne and Flaming Lips events of note are happening on Monday, November 10. That day Coyne will take part in a live streaming chat via Ustream.tv and the band's Myspace page. The whole thing starts at 9pm EST/6pm PST. It looks like the primary topic will be the band's new Christmas on Mars film, so write those questions now.

The band's ongoing "Dear Wayne" contest also ends Monday. To participate you need to record a video or write a letter about your Flaming Lips fandom and submit it at the Christmas on Mars site. Fifty winners will receive a code to watch the whole movie from the site.

I'm looking forward to seeing the flick, as odd as it may be.

Of Montreal in Atlanta on Saturday night

One of my most anticipated shows of the year takes place this Saturday in Atlanta, as Of Montreal play The Tabernacle. They're supporting their new release Skeletal Lamping, which you should probably have by now in some form or another. There are, of course, plenty of options.

Opening for Kevin Barnes and company will be Icy Demons and metal goofballs Limozeen, one of Strong Bad's favorite bands.

Of Montreal - Id Engager [via Spin]
Icy Demons - Miami Ice

Tickets are still available. Hope to see some of you there!

ROM, Chief of Staff

Wow. I know President-elect Obama promised to bring change to Washington, but I never expected him to name a Galadorian spaceknight as his Chief of Staff. Watch out, Dire Wraiths.

Oh, it's this guy? That's okay too, I guess. Maybe ROM can be Barack's Chief of Staff in the Marvel Universe, where BHO beat Stephen Colbert despite losing the popular vote.

Polling place locator, free stuff on election day (Starbucks, Ben & Jerry's, and more)

Oh, Google Maps. Do your wonders never cease? Locate your polling precinct.

Also, take note of free stuff for voters on election day at Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, Ben & Jerry's, and more.

Update: More election day freebies noted here.

The Boss plays "The Rising" for Barack Obama

Last night in Cleveland, Bruce Springsteen opened for Barack Obama and introduced the Democratic candidate to the crowd. Among the songs he played was "The Rising" from his 2002 album of the same name.

If you haven't yet cast your ballot, vote on Tuesday!

GET OUT AND VOTE!

Art from Captain America #2 (2005), by Michael Lark

This is it, folks. The 2008 general election is Tuesday, November 4. Get out and vote!

Quick links:

President: Barack Obama-Joe Biden (D). John McCain-Sarah Palin (R). Obama YouTube. McCain YouTube.

U.S. Senate from Georgia: Jim Martin (D). Saxby Chambliss (R).

Voting: Georgia polling places. Voter Assistance Hotline (1-866-OUR-VOTE). All 50 Secretaries of State.

Polling data: Nate Silver. RealClearPolitics. Pollster.

Election results: Georgia Secretary of State. AJC. CNN. MSNBC.

How I think it'll shake out...

Obama 338, McCain 200 (52% O, 46% M, 2% other); Senate Dems +7; House Dems +26

I'll keep this post at the top of C&T through Tuesday night.

Update: Ha! Karl Rove and I have exactly the same predicted outcome, state by state.

Band of Horses on NYE in Atlanta nearly sold out

If you hope to attend the Band of Horses show at Atlanta's Variety Playhouse on New Year's Eve, I suggest you get your tickets soon. The December 30 show is already sold out, and December 31 is very close. The Whigs will open.

Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost? [from Cease to Begin]
Band of Horses - The Funeral [from Everything All the Time]
Band of Horses - The Great Salt Lake [from Everything All the Time]

You can snag the remaining tix online, and they're in the $30 range.

The Sensational Character Find of 2008: The Cat, Dex-star

Browsing over at Scans Daily, I saw that I've missed the emergence of the next great comic book villain. While it is established that members of the Green Lantern Corps draw their strength from willpower (and their power rings), recently other colored corps have been appearing with their own emotion-based powers. Among the most recent are the Red Lanterns, who are fueled by anger and hatred. In this week's Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns #1 we met the obvious superstar among those angry evil-doers.... The Cat, Dex-star.

The kitty, like, murdered that dude! See?



Holy crap. But, seriously, that red power ring on his tail is adorable.

The word on Dex-star from writer Geoff Johns and artist Shane Davis [via Wizard]:

We know two of the Red Lanterns, Vice and Atrocitus. Are there any others you can mention?
JOHNS: Sure. One of my favorites is somebody that Shane came up with, Dex-star. He's definitely become the most sadistic and malicious of the Red Lanterns. Hate comes from small places I guess.

DAVIS: [Laughs] Really small hearts have big hate. I wanted to be able and contribute in a way that I'm not just drawing an alien with a power ring. My goal is 10 years from now, someone will point at a Red Lantern and say, "Oh yeah. The cat, Dex-star."

Brutal and hilarious. I can only imagine the Lolcat parodies to come.

Bonus mp3: Rusted Root - Cat Turned Blue [4-19-2003]