Ring in a vintage New Year with ATLRetro! Come celebrate what once was in 2017 and welcome with open arms what will be in 2018! Start the New Year off with a bang with all the hoppin' shindigs we've dug up just for you!
1. BLUES, SOUL & FUNK, OH MY. Kool Kat Ruby Velle & The Soulphonics dish out a helluva night of rockin' '50s and '60s Georgia soul at Venkman's. Doors 9pm! For some classic blues and jazz, shimmy on down to Blind Willie's for their Bluesy New Year's Eve with the powerhouse vocals of The Fabulous Francine Reed & The Shadows! Doors at 7pm and $50 gets you guaranteed seating, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight! Fire up the blues at the Northside Tavern with Mudcat's Rockin' Blues New Year's Eve Party featuring Danny 'Mudcat' Dudeck, Eddie Tigner, Lola, Albert White, Beverly "Guitar" Watkins, Eddie Hinton, Mandi Strachota, the Atlanta Horns and more! Doors at 9pm! Funk up the New Year with Funk You and the Hedonistas at Aisle 5! It's a night of funky jazz fusion with Tauk featuring The Naughty Horns and special guests, The Big Easy's Naughty Professor at the Variety Playhouse at 9pm! The Tom Hill Band gets some soul at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Atlanta! And blues on down to Darwin's Burgers & Blues for their New Year's Eve Blues Bash with the Barry Richman Band! $15 gets you gourmet appetizers, desserts and a champagne toast at midnight! Doors 9pm!
2. HEY! HO! LET'S GO! Hey all you miscreants! Get rebellious and rock into the New Year with The Coathangers, Mattiel, Kool Kat Rod Hamdallah with The Gartrells and Skin Jobs at The Earl! $20 advance/$25 door. Doors at 9pm. The Highlander raises a ruckus with one hellacious NYE '80s Punk Rock Dance Party, featuring special appearances by ELZIG and his sidekick The Crimson Ghost! No cover. Doors 9pm!
3. FOLK ROCKIN' ROOTS 'N' ROCKABILLY 'N' BLUEGRASS. Rock into 2018 with Drivin N Cryin at The Star Bar! Doors 8pm. Rev on down to New Year's Eve on Marietta Square for a helluva night with Kool Kat Hot Rod Walt and the Psycho-DeVilles and more! Folk rock it up with Band of Horses at The Roxy! Doors at 9pm! For a New Year's Eve filled with foot stompin' Americana, blues and rock 'n' roll, make your way to Eddie's Attic for two hoppin' helpings of the sultry Michelle Malone Band and her traditional New Year's Eve Bash! 8pm/10pm. Stomp on down to the Crimson Moon Café and blaze into the New Year with Bluebilly Grit! Stomp on down to Hottie Hawgs BBQ and raise a New Beers Eve ruckus with Whiskey Dixie and The Possum Kingdom Ramblers! Cover: $60, Doors: 6:30pm.
4. SMOOTH OPERATOR. Get '70s toasty and sail into 2018 with Yacht Rock Revue at Park Tavern during their all-inclusive shakin' shindig at 9pm! $200/VIP Pass includes champagne, oysters, sushi, drinks and more! Soft rock into the New Year at Smith's Olde Bar with Rumours – A Fleetwood Mac Tribute. $30 advance/$40 door/$150 VIP tables. Doors 8:30pm.
5. LIFE'S A BEACH. Tiki it up into 2018 at Trader Vic's New Years Eve in Paradise featuring a night with Bogey & The Viceroy dishing out some soulful island tunes with a midnight champagne toast! Doors at 9pm!
6. JAMMIN' PSYCHEDELIA & CLASSIC ROCK 'N' ROLL. Terminal West dishes out a night of psychedelic soul 'n' gritty garage rock with Gringo Star (Kool Kats Nick and Peter Furgiuele) and J. Roddy Walston & The Business! The Georgia Players Guild delivers a rockin' NYE Tribute to Queen and Tom Petty at The Earl Smith Strand Theatre, from 9-11pm. $40 cover. The Fox Theatre continues their 30 year tradition and jams into the New Year with Widespread Panic at 9pm.
7. THE CURE FOR BANANARAMA. Boogie down '80s-style with Kool Kat VJ Anthony during his New Wave New Years: 80s Music Video Dance Party at Amsterdam Atlanta! Doors 10pm and $10 cover. Electric Avenue rings in the New Year with a night of MTV-era rockin' shenanigans at The Vista Room! Doors 8pm and $20/person. Eighties it up with Kool Kat Becky Cormier Finch with Denim Arcade at Wild Wing Café in Dunwoody featuring a breakfast buffet, a champagne toast and more! $40 advance/$60 door. Doors at 8:30pm!
8. RAT PACKIN' IT IN. Celebrate the New Year while crooning it up at the Red Phone Booth for their Rat Pack New Year's Eve Celebration featuring Tony Mele as Frank Sinatra, Mark Phillips as Dean Martin, and David Williams as Sammy Davis Jr. Doors 7pm and $150/person.
9. RETRO GOOD VS. EVIL 'N' GEEK-A-RAMA. Dante's Labyrinth III NYE Masquerade is calling all fairies, gnomes, trolls, maidens, devils, Goblin Kings and mystical creatures for a fantastical, demented trip through Dante's Labyrinth at the Masquerade! Doors 9pm. $10/$15 in advance; $20 at the door. Get bewitched at Battle and Brew's New Year's Yule Ball! Special prizes for the most eloquently dressed witches and wizards! Doors at 7pm and $15 gets you entry and a champagne toast at midnight!
10. PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ AND ALL THAT JAZZ (AND EVERYTHING ELSE). Celebrate the New Year in style! Grab your favorite guy or gal, get dressed to the nines and shimmy on down to the Red Light Café as the Speakeasy Electro Swing presents their 2nd annual Gilded Age Gala, featuring live tunes by Mayhayley's Grave, a Burly-Q feast for the eyes, music by MC/DJ Doctor Q and so much more! Doors at 8pm/$40 advance/$60 at the door. Or boogie on down to the Euclid Avenue Yacht Club's Suck It 2017 NYE Dance Party, featuring DJs, party favors and a free champagne toast at midnight!
Category: Features, Tis the Season To Be... | Tags: 80s music video dance party, Becky Cormier Finch, beverly "guitar" watkins, bogey and the viceroy, Denim Arcade, DJ Doctor Q, Drivin' n Cryin', Euclid Avenue Yacht Club, Fox Theatre, Francine Reed, Hot Rod Walt & the Psycho Devilles, Masquerade, Michelle Malone, new wave, new years eve, Park Tavern, rat pack, Red Light Cafe, retro new year's eve, Rod Hamdallah, Ruby Velle, speakeasy, speakeasy electro swing, Talloolah Love, The Coathangers, The Earl, the star bar, Trader Vic's, Variety Playhouse, vj anthony, Yacht Rock Revue
Rockin' Retro Guide to Dragon Con 2015
Posted on: Sep 3rd, 2015 By: Anya99
By Claudia Dafrico
As the famed pop culture extravaganza that is Dragon Con takes over downtown Atlanta once again this Labor Day weekend, one has to think: where to even begin? In between countless meet and greets, discussion panels, vendors, and amazing cosplays to ogle at, it seems impossible to do everything Dragon Con has to offer in just four days. ATLRetro is here with our top picks to help you get your nerdy Retro fix without short circuiting from overstimulation.
CAROLL SPINNEY. The legendary muppeteer behind everyone's favorite SESAME STREET resident, Big Bird, will be speaking at the Imperial Ballroom in the Marriott Marquis Atlanta on Saturday at 2:30 P.M. This is a must-do for any con-goer, child or adult, that grew up with Big Bird and his neighbors.
PETER MAYHEW. With STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS approaching at near-light speed, the hype for the new film has reached peak levels. Be at the Mariott Imperial Ballroom Sunday at 4:00 P.M. to hear Peter Mayhew, the actor behind beloved Chewbacca, talk about the new installment in the saga and his experience appearing in all three STAR WARS trilogies.
BARRY BOSTWICK. If you're one of many that have spent weekends past midnight with Dr. Frank N Furter and freinds, you'll definitely want to make your way over to the Hyatt Regency Atlanta on Friday at 1:00 P.M. to catch up with Barry Bostwick, aka Brad Majors, from THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (1975), and see why he was compelled to audition for the film. Also catch him at Lips Down on Dixie's live performance accompanying RHPS at 1:30 A.M. on Sunday in the Hyatt Centennial Ballroom.
TERRY JONES. Terry Gilliam has been a guest at a couple of DragonCons. Now we get the other Monty Python Terry. What's he best known for? Well, here's a hint: "Spam! Spam! Spam! Spam! Spam! Spam!" Here him share his Python memories and more on Sunday at 11:30 A.M.. and he presents "Terry Jones: A Very Naughty Boy Live!" about the making of LIFE OF BRIAN (1979) on Monday at 10 A.M., both in the Sheraton Atlanta's Grand Ballroom.
COMIC & POP ARTIST ALLEY
DEREK YANIGER. If the art of perpetual Kool Kat Derek Yaniger looks familiar, it's probably because you can see it at the top of this article. Derek designed ATLRetro's fabulous logo. Stop by his booth to get your fix of rockabilly, tiki and more in a sea of fantasy and steampunk.
THE HISTORY OF PULP FICTION. Science fiction, fantasy, horror, weird fiction, adventure, noir. They all appeared in the pages of pulp magazines so it makes sense that Pulp Fiction has its own panel. Join fellow pulp lovers in a discussion of Pulp's fascinating past and exciting future. (Sun. 10 AM; Augusta 3, Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel)
PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE: WE KNOW YOU ARE. There is perhaps no movie that is quite as quotable as Tim Burton's classic PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE (1985) With a reboot rumored to be in the works, be sure to celebrate the original on its 30th anniversary. Tell 'em Large Marge sent ya! (Sun 10 PM; M303-M303, Atlanta Marriott Marquis)
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY REUNION. Since its premiere in 1968, Stanley Kubrick's sci-fi epic has bewitched viewers of all generations. Two of the film's stars, Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood, reunite to reminisce on the unbelievably unique experience they had performing in this landmark film. (Fri. 1 PM, Sat. 5:30 PM; Grand Ballroom East, Hilton Atlanta)
CHRISTOPHER LEE & LEONARD NIMOY: CLASSIC SCI FI LEGENDS. 2015 saw the loss of two of the most talented actors the Sci-Fi and Horror genres have ever known. Join other fans to celebrate the lives of Leonard Nimoy and Sir Christopher Lee, whose contributions to pop culture will never be forgotten. (Sat. 5:30 PM; M303-M304, Atlanta Mariott Marquis)
CTHULHU: NEW SPINS ON OLD MYTHOS. Everyone's favorite Elder One has resurged in popularity in the past few years, and it looks like it is here to stay. Stop by to hear the experts explain how and why Cthulhu "works" in today's world of pop culture, and where he's headed in the years to come. (Fri. 7 PM; Peachtree 1-2, Westin Peachtree Plaza)
EXPLOITATION! In what might end up being the most entertaining and liveliest panel at Dragon Con, panelists and fans will gather to celebrate exploitation and cult films and all the revelry they bring. A late night panel for a late night crowd. (Fri. 10 PM; Peachtree 1-2, Westin Peachtree Plaza)
HISTORICAL HORROR. ATLRetro's own Anya Martin will be moderating this panel, which will discuss and analyze the role history plays in horror fiction and how historical settings can bring new life (or death) to a story. Other panelists include Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Leanna Renee Hieber, Kenneth Mark Hoover and L. Andrew Cooper. (Sun. 11:30 AM; Peachtree 1-2, Westin Peachtree Plaza)
PIN UPS BY THE POOL. Who doesn't love mermaids? Come see Dragon Con's finest sea sirens compete for the grand prize, and join in on the fun by channeling your inner pin up for some poolside glam. (Fri. 8:30 PM; Sheraton Atlanta)
SUITS, SINATRA & STAR WARS. In wonderful Dragon Con fashion, two fabulous themes (the STAR WARS saga and the Rat Pack) have been combined to create what promises to be a swingin' night for all. Dancing with a wookie to a Sinatra song is the best kind of night one can have, after all. (Fri. 10 PM; A601-A602, Marriott Marquis Atlanta)
MONSTER MASH FOR CHARITY. Halloween may be over a month away, but that doesn't mean you can't break out your Dracula fangs and Frankenstein bolts early. And the best part of this classic monsters graveyard smash? It's all for a good cause! (Fri. 10 PM; Regency VI-VII, Hyatt Regency Atlanta)
MECHANICAL MASQUERADE. Go really retro Steampunk style at the Artifice Club's annual four-hour bash, orchestrated by Kool Kat Dr. Q and always a Dragon Con highlight. The theme this year is "Dystopia A Dark Future to Remember." ( Sun. 10 PM;Peachtree Ballroom, Westin Peachtree Plaza)
DRAGONCON BURLESQUE: A GLAMOUR GEEK REVENUE-Burlesque is a Dragoncon staple; no Labor Day weekend would be complete without at least one show. Stay up late Saturday night to get a chance to check out Kool Kat Taloolah Love and the rest of the lovely ladies and mayhaps lads, too, of D-Con burlesque; they're sure to put on a show that brings down the house. (Sun. 12:00 AM; Reg. VI-VII, Hyatt)
To check out the complete Dragon Con schedule, download the Pocket Program and/or app at www.dragoncon.org.
Category: Features | Tags: 2001 a space odyssey, 2015, 30th anniversary, Anya Martin, Artifice Club, Atlanta, ATLRetro, barry bostwick, big bird, brad majors, burlesque, carroll spinney, chelsea quinn yarbro, chewbacca, Christopher Lee, classic monsters, comic and pop art alley, convention, Cthulhu, Derek Yaniger, DerekArt, DJ Doctor Q, Doctor Q, dragon con, DragonCon, exploitation, fantasy, gary lockwood, Glamour Geek Revue, hilton atlanta, historical horror, horror, HP Lovecraft, Hyatt Regency Atlanta, keir dullea, kenneth mark hoover, l andrew cooper, labor day weekend, leanna renee hieber, leonard nimoy, life of brian, Lips Down on Dixie, marriott marquis atlanta, Mechanical Masquerade, Monster Mash, Monty Python, mythos, Pee Wee Herman, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, peter mayhew, pin-up, pop culture, pulp fiction, pulps, rocky Horror Picture Show, science fiction, Sesame Street, Sheraton Atlanta, Sinatra, Stanley Kubrick, Star Wars, Talloolah Love, Terry Jones, the force awakens, tim burton, westin peachtree plaza
Kool Kat of the Week: Ooh-la-Love! Talloolah Love Embraces Her Inner Geek Girl Power and Finds It Gloriously Glamorous at Dragoncon 2013
Posted on: Aug 27th, 2013 By: Anya99
Hair, makeup and photography by Pin Up Girl Cosmetics.
By Gretchen Jacobsen
Burlesque and pin-up culture have been a part of Dragoncon back to the Bettie Page Contests of the 1990s. But this week's Kool Kat, Talloolah Love, is taking it to another level as producer of DragonCon Burlesque, A Glamour Geek Revue and other titillating events throughout the weekend.
Talloolah has long been a force in Atlanta's burlesque revival, cabaret and Retro scenes. Known across the United States and even internationally, for her burlesque performances, the "Sweetest T in the South" is an instructor at the newly opened Atlanta School of Burlesque. She is also one of the founders of the retro arts organization, The Artifice Club, known for splendid steampunk events extraordinaire including Mechanical Masquerade: The Retropolis, Sunday Aug. 31 at 8:30 p.m. at the Westin Peachtree Plaza, as well as bringing the growing electro-swing movement to Atlanta.
The lovely Ms. Love somehow managed to find time out of her crazy schedule this week to talk to ATLRetro and share a bit about her fascinating career, her perspective on the burlesque revival today, and how she'll be entertaining us this weekend at Dragoncon. We couldn't be happier!
ATLRetro:What drew you to burlesque?
Talloolah Love: I grew up watching musicals, blue comedy, Carol Burnett and THE MUPPET SHOW. My idols were Betty Grable, Rosemary Clooney, Mae West and, of course, Marilyn Monroe. But it all started with belly dancing. I had taken classes in Colorado, but when I moved here, I found the community difficult to move around in as a newcomer. Burlesque embraced me with both arms, and I haven't looked back since.
Who inspires you as a performer?
Besides the aforementioned stars of yesteryear, my modern inspirations are Amber Ray, Immodesty Blaize and Russell Bruner [Editor's note: read our Kool Kat on Russell, the 2012 King of Burlesque here] All three are ferocious on stage. They leave indelible marks of inspiration on my soul when I watch them. Amber and Immodesty both for their fierce stage presence and mind-blowing costumes. Russell for his incredible timing, charisma and musicality. All of them have a devotion to their craft that really takes my breath away.
What is your philosophy as a performer?
To me, it doesn't matter what style of burlesque you do. It doesn't matter what size, shape, color, sex or race you are. As long as what you bring to the stage is polished, cared for, speaks from the heart, and makes you happy to do it, I call it burlesque.
Does it look like they are having fun? Does it look polished? Are you having fun watching them? Burlesque is so subjective. What I love about it is you cannot like that first act, but the second one lives with you for years. All you have to do is wait five minutes, and the channel gets switched to something new and different. You may love it, you may hate it, but wait till you see what's going on in the next five minutes. Variety is the spice of life, you know?
Do you think burlesque is "girl power"?
I do. I grew up being told I wasn't right for one part or the next. Burlesque gives me the power to say, "Oh yeah? Well, I think I was stellar for that show, so I am going to do it and there's no one who can tell me I can't." You have to have some brass balls to get up on stage and own everything you do in spite of the fact that not everyone will love you. Burlesque has given me the ability to say, "Well, I hope some of you liked my form of art." It's how I express myself. When I am on stage, or even rehearsing a number in my unitard, I feel empowered because I make the decisions on my hair, my costume, song, choreography, absolutely everything. Sure I want opinions on things, but I have the final say on what goes on stage. There's something exhilarating and very empowering about that.
You're the one of the founders of The Artifice Club. What is the club all about?
The Artifice Club is a group that DJ Doctor Q and I founded together. It's a coalition of artists who support artists. Besides my need for passion in one's art, I believe in collaboration of minds. In the past, the Club did this by doing shows and displays of peoples' art in hopes for exposure. Now, it is so much more than that. It is a not-for-profit organization that facilitates grants, helps promote, donates back to the community, and holds fundraisers to assist artists in keeping their mind on their creations rather than how they are going to pay for their space, or for a trip to the next festival to show their wares. It is now an organization with a board of directors and will be doing more good on a bigger scale for anyone who applies to the guidelines of the club.
What events are you involved in at Dragoncon?
Thursday Aug. 29, 8:30 p.m. at the Pulse Lounge in the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, I will be strutting out in my bunny ears with the ladies at The Annual Bunny Hutch. This isn't my event, but I am very excited about it.
Friday Aug. 30 8:30 p.m. The Sheraton Atlanta pool will be the location for the Second Annual Pin-ups by the Pool Party. Presiding over the show will be the returning and illustrious New Orleans Jon (see his recent Kool Kat profile here). There will be a pin-up competition and a mermaid competition, so please come see and be seen. I expect it to be quite a spectacle.
Saturday Aug. 31 11:59 p.m. in the Regency Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta is DragonCon Burlesque, a Glamor Geek Revue. This is the second year I have been in charge of the show, and I couldn't be more elated! This year has some really out-of-the-park acts. For example, fresh off his world tour the KING of Steampunk Funk, Montague Jacques Fromage, will be the Master of Ceremonies weaving a story of intrigue and sexy interludes throughout the entire show, along with the 2013 Queen of the Southern Fried Burlesque Festival, Lola Lesoleil, and other prestigious award-winning performers. This promises to be the show not to miss!
What is unique about Atlanta's burlesque scene?
I feel like the scene has changed so much in the past ten years. When I first started out, Atlanta was unique because the troupes were really the only way anyone could perform regularly, and there really wasn't a lot of cross-pollination. Each troupe did what they did and that was it. It's so different now. We all work together, and the independents seem to outnumber the troupe members. Personally, I think that is a great thing. It means a patron can go to a show and really not know who they are going to see. I think that a golden age in Atlanta Burlesque really is on the horizon thanks to Ursula Undress and the efforts being made with The Atlanta Burlesque Alliance and The Atlanta School of Burlesque. Plus, with social events like my Atlanta Burlesque and Cabaret Society and Sadie Hawkins' Cougar Crawl, we all have a real good time with each other. Kind of like a burlesque SEX IN THE CITY, only we get high on E-6000 rather than sip cosmos together.
What do you think about Atlanta being named the nerdiest city in America?
Oh, I love it. It's appropriate too. DragonCon is huge, and it's run privately for geeks by geeks. Besides DCon, Atlanta plays host to at least five other major fan fueled conventions. Add to that the vast LARPing communities and bookstores/comic book shops out here, then throw in that Cartoon Network is deep in the heart of Atlanta's arteries, and you have a cultural cornucopia of Nerd-dom! I think it's great.
What are you working on for the future?
I am always looking for what's next. Fascination was an [electro-swing] event the good DoctorQ and I worked on together this past year, and I really loved the format. The venue was just an issue. Venues tend to be the big issue when it comes to producing big shows. My hope is that we find the RIGHT venue and that we start doing one big bang-out show – a little of the Fascination format with a few other big ideas I have cooking on the back-burner. Otherwise, I plan to do a Midwest tour next year. It's still in the planning stages, but once it gets off the ground, you can bet I am going to social network the bajeezus out of it!
Who would you like to perform for or with?
I started to list them all out, but that would take all day. I want to perform with everybody. Then perform with them again because once is never enough!
Where can we see you next?
After Dragoncon, I am going on a much deserved vacation, but I will be back at the beginning of October at The Shelter. I am going to be shaking it up as an airship pirate for this new mash-up music club night called Bootie Atlanta on October 5 – $5 admission before 11 and $10 after that.
Anything you'd like to add?
If you are interested in getting into burlesque, I have a few suggestions for you. If you already have an act and just need a venue to perform it in, I suggest auditioning. There are a lot of troupes and even a production company in Atlanta where you can audition, and then, you're there! The best way to get involved in the Atlanta Burlesque community is to come out to Atlanta Burlesque and Cabaret Society meetings at The Elliott Street Pub in Atlanta. We meet the first Thursday of the month at 8 p.m., we go till 10, and at these meetings, you will meet other burlesque performers, photographers and fans of the local scene, you may even get to catch an act on the stage down there for a workshop on new and established performers. It's a great way to market yourself. Speaking of marketing yourself, you will want to do your research and attend burlesque shows, figure out who the important people are and make sure you let them know you are serious. All of the troupes are very different and have a lot to offer the right person if they fit into their dynamic. If you don't like how one show runs, that's ok, check out another troupe!
If you do not have an act, and just really want to be involved, then I suggest classes at The Atlanta School of Burlesque. Check out their teaching schedule and come to a few classes. There's a fundamentals class for the very very basic, and then beginning choreography classes. I recommend that you look at videos of the different teachers. They are also active performers in the scene; go catch them out at a show. I guarantee you that going up to a teacher after they have performed to tell them that you will be taking a class from them in the near future is better than bringing an apple to them any day!
Category: Kool Kat of the Week | Tags: Amber Ray, Artifice Club, Atlanta, Atlanta Burlesque and Cabaret Society, Atlanta School of Burlesque, Bettie Page Contest, Betty Grable, Bootie Atlanta, Bunny Hutch, burlesque, Cabaret, Carol Burnett, Cartoon Network, Cougar Crawl, DJ Doctor Q, DragonCon, electro-swing, Elliott Street Pub, Fascination, Glamour Geek Revue, Immodesty Blaize, Kool Kat, Kool Kat of the Week, Lola Lesoleil, Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, Mechanical Masquerade, Montague Jacques Fromage, Muppet Show, pin-up, Pin-Ups By the Pool Party, Retro, retropolis, revival, Rosemary Clooney, Russell Bruner, Sadie Hawkins, Southern Fried Burlesque Festival, steampunk, Talloolah Love, The Shelter, ursula undress
Really Retro: STEAMPUNK BIBLE Co-Author S.J. Chambers Muses on the Appeal of Alt-History & A Paranormal Fantasy at This Saturday's Mechanical Masquerade
Posted on: Nov 10th, 2011 By: Anya99
When The Artifice Club presents the 2nd annual Mechanical Masquerade: A Paranormal Fantasy this Saturday Nov. 12 at Blue Mark Studios, a renovated 110-year-old church, they couldn't have picked a better judge for their ghost story contest than S. J. Chambers, co-author with Jeff VanderMeer of the critically acclaimed THE STEAMPUNK BIBLE (published by Abrams Image this spring). S.J., you see, suffers from Poepathy, a dread affliction whose symptoms include "daydreaming…reveries that include black birds, scents of an unseen censor or aberrant alliterative applications." She contracted it, she says mournfully (or enthusiastically, depending on your point of view), from excessive contact with the works of seminal American horror author, Edgar Allan Poe, on whose works she has penned a frightful quantity of essays and journalistic works.
Lately though, S.J.'s journalistic adventures have sailed towards Steampunk, a fast-growing international movement whose participants dream of an alternate world powered by steam technology and resplendent with airships, corsets, goggles, mad scientists and other fantastical wonders of a Jules Verne-ian nature. Lavishly illustrated, THE STEAMPUNK BIBLE is the first definitive guide to the wildly, weirdly imaginative literature, art and costuming of the subculture, which has a vibrant chapter here in Atlanta. A Tallahassee resident (she also treated us to the Cute and Creepy art exhibit review here), SJ also will be signing that esteemed tome at the Mechanical Masquerade, The Artifice Club's most elaborate event yet—planned to play out like a story itself in which a supernatural-themed masquerade ball is staged on a magical rift accidentally created by one infamous Montague Jacques Fromage whle experimenting with a curious invention in service of her majesty Queen Victoria. And yes, masks are not just encouraged but required (come unfashionably without one, and we're told you may be asked to leave or to purchase one from the lovely Dread Sisters). The fantastical festivities start with afternoon seminars on topics such as Steampunk Burlesque (see this week's Kool Kat feature on Indigo Blue here). Then the main event runs from 5 p.m. to way past midnight and features a bazaar, libations, costume contest and performances by an eclectic ensemble of talent including the Mezmer Society, Doc Volz and his Steampunk Trunk, The Ghosts Project, Vauxhall Garden Variety Players and the Fantasia de Mode Fashion Show presented by The Steampunk Chronicle.
ATLRETRO asked S.J. to demystify steampunk for the uninitiated, tell us what she learned about steampunk abroad on her recent book tour to England and France, and tease us with a sneak peek into her role in the Paranormal Fantasy. She not only kindly obliged, but then some…
What's the origin story behind THE STEAMPUNK BIBLE (Abrams Image) and how you personally became involved?
It did some editorial work for Ann and Jeff VanderMeer with [surrealist flash-fiction anthology] LAST DRINK BIRD HEAD and some other miscellaneous projects, so my role with THE STEAMPUNK BIBLE began as an editorial assistant. However, Jeff loved what I was doing, and saw how much I was getting into the project, that he asked me to contribute to the writing. One thing lead to another and we were co-authors. I can't say enough what a great experience it has been to work side-by-side with Jeff. He's full of wisdom and one of the best writers alive, imho.
Why are you excited to be attending THE MECHANICAL MASQUERADE: A PARANORMAL FANTASY and what will you be up to while you're here?
There are several reasons why I am excited about this event. First, I have an extreme case of Dance Party deficiency, so I can't wait for DJ Doctor Q to start spinning at midnight. Second, I'm excited about wearing a costume, which I don't usually do. The clothes I wore on tour are pretty much what I wear normally, even the more Pre-Raphaeliteish pieces, so this is my first true sojourn into Steampunk chic. Not sure how great it'll be, as everything I touch seems to turn Regency, but it should be fun.
But vanity aside, what I am REALLY excited about is the ghost story contest that I am judging. From 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., I am challenging guests of The Mechanical Masquerade to scare me! Contestants will have five minutes to spin a paranormal yarn—doesn't have to be gruesome horror, but must have something of the unexplainable and strange. If participants are reading this, I'll give them a clue as to what endears me most. I love stories—and this goes for any type of story really—that strike me emotionally. So, if you make me split my petticoat with laughter, or drown my veil in tears, you'll get a lot of bonus points. Being the Poepathist that I am, some of my favorite tales involve haunted houses and dead lovers, and the more monsters the merrier.
In any case, we will have lots of prizes for winners, including a first prize of signed copies of THE STEAMPUNK BIBLE and Ann and Jeff VanderMeer's wonderful, new anthology THACKERY T.LAMBSHEAD'S CABINET OF CURIOSITIES, which I have a sundry tale in, and a $25 gift certificate to Octane Coffee. Not bad for five minutes. If you don't want to vie for a copy of THE STEAMPUNK BIBLE via the competition, they will be available for purchase and signing throughout the night.
The Mezmer Society. Photo credit: Farad Rezei of Rakadu.
THE STEAMPUNK BIBLE seems to be thriving in a time when books and authors in general are having a tough time. You even had a whirlwind signing tour which took you through New England and to England and France. What's the secret to its success and why is steampunk so popular right now?
I would say publishing is in a state of transition right now, thanks to e-publishing, and in trying to figure out what that means in the grand scheme of things, on top of the recession, authors and books are having to work double-time to stay afloat. I definitely know that I, Jeff, our editor Caitlin Kenney, our publicist Amy Franklin, and the wonderful people at Abrams, as well as our contributors, believed very strongly and worked really hard on promoting this book. So, I attribute a lot of the success we've had to our collective sweat and tears.
The fact that, in this burgeoning world of two-dimensional and grey e-books, the THE STEAMPUNK BIBLE is very tactile and visually pleasing hasn't hurt. This is a book with a lot of textual as well as visual content, and it invites people to peruse it in both ways, which really appeals to readers. I think this attraction ultimately ties into the same technological fatigue that is making the Steampunk spirit very resonant: the world is tired of being spoon-fed culture and knowledge. We need Steampunk in our lives because it promotes imagination and ambition, it promotes awareness of how things work and also sustainability. People think of Steampunk as a fashion fad or a science fiction trend, but it is an umbrella term for a lot of reactionary and revolutionary philosophies on modern life, which we try to touch on in the book.
Speaking of England and France. You even went to a steampunk convention over there, didn't you? How do English and French steampunks or steampunk fans differ from the American variety?
While I did an event in London, and an event in Paris, I am afraid I didn't make it to the Weekend at the Asylum in Lincoln. Towards the end of planning the Europe Tour, an assignment in Paris came up, so I had to take those few extra days to make sure I had time to work on it. I was sorry to miss it, as I had just met Jema Hewitt and Kit Cox who were going, and I would have loved to spend more time with them, as well as meet some of the U.K. Steampunk luminaries like John Naylor and Professor Elemental.
The differences between U.K., French and U. S. Steampunk are subtle. U.K. tends to be more Victorian-oriented because that's where she reigned and that's their direct history. However, I think we over here in the states misunderstand U.K. Steampunk as nostalgists ignoring skeletons in the Empire closet, and I found that to not be true. At the Last Tuesday Society event, there was a lot of interest in multicultural Steampunk, and I think that dialogue is just waiting to burst through the gates there. French Steampunk was very interesting because a lot of its participants are interested in CosPlay, but there aren't really any venues for that. The fine folks of French Steampunk, like Morgan Guery and Franck Gouraud are trying to promote conventions around France, and I think that will contribute to a very strong and cohesive scene there. Also, just like U.K. Steampunk operates within their history, so do the French Steampunks. Queen Victoria and the Empire is irrelevant, and while we had our Civil War, they were dealing with their own strife with the Paris Commune and the reign of Napeoleon III. It has led to a lot of beautiful and innovative art like Sam van Olffen, Futuravapeur and Anxiogene.
The "Sultan's Elephant" at The Machines of the Isle of Nantes exhibit, Nantes, France. Photographed in 2009 by Yann Langeard - Le Chatrou Electrique.
What makes a literary work, piece of art, costume steampunk at the most basic level and do goggles have to be involved?
Ha! No goggles do not need to be involved, nor necessarily cogs, nor gears. Tor editor Liz Gorinsky explained Steampunk best when she compared it to porn—"I know it when I see it"—which perfectly encapsulate the difficulties of defining this aesthetic. I know I should have an elevator pitch-like answer for this, but the real answer is too complex. It is why we wrote a book about it.
As just flipping through the book will show, there are a lot of characteristics that bind artists together under the umbrella Steampunk—like the iconic goggles, a retro ambiance, gears, cogs, rayguns, hoop skirts, leather corsets, mecha animals, steel and steam—but it is also an ever-changing and evolving aesthetic that can feature a lot of versatile and disparate characteristics informed by cultural history, and even era. What was once a retro-futurist movement that looked only as far back as the 19th century has participants looking back even further, evaluating our present on all aspects of past failures and successes. The Steampunk of today will not be the Steampunk of tomorrow.
To the uninitiated person who wants to experience steampunk, what three authors could they read and get a good sense of what it's all about?
Jules Verne, Cherie Priestand Scott Westerfield. I know I am cheating with Jules Verne, but I feel like if you don't understand Verne's world, you are missing a key part of Steampunk history and its context. Also, since I've already cheated once, it won't hurt to cheat again. I would say Steampunk newcomers would find a lot of guidance in Ann and Jeff VanderMeer's two STEAMPUNK anthologies, as they do a wonderful job of displaying the movement's full literary spectrum.
What was your favorite part about researching THE STEAMPUNK BIBLE?
Getting to talk with artists, makers and writers about their craft, and finding contemporary work that I really identify with. The past 10 years of my life can be characterized as observing Remodernism, but not quite understanding where I fit in with it. THE STEAMPUNK BIBLE changed that for me.
S.J. Chambers.
What did you learn about steampunk that surprised you the most?
That most people working within the Steampunk aesthetic, icons like Jake von Slatt and Libby Bulloff, did not begin doing so consciously. Steampunk adopted them. To me, the fact that all of these disparate figures were unknowingly working within a common aesthetic attests more to the aesthetic's importance. It's a zeitgeist, not a fad.
The art direction on the book was stunning. Were you involved with that part or what can you tell us about that side of the book's development?
Jeff and I were very much involved with the art direction. Jeff had the wonderful idea of the Jules Verne Hetzel cover, and Abram's designer Galen Smith did a wonderful job of that. We were responsible for gathering the images, and organizing them with the text. The nice nuances that really tied it all together, like the margins, the font and chapter covers were all Galen Smith's genius.
How's the popularity affecting you personally and your career? Do you have any time left for Poe, and where else can we read your work?
This has been one of the most stimulating and positive experiences in my writing life. There are numerous outcomes that I am thankful for, including getting to go on tour and meet people that have quickly become kindred spirits and friends. I have been busier than I am accustomed too, but it has been a good busy, and I've been able to begin a few projects that I hope will really pick up steam next year. One of them does involve Poe, but on that for nonce, I'll say nothing more.
I try to keep my blog The Flightless Philosopher updated, but lately my Twitter [@selena_jo] has become a more immediate marquee for my whereabouts and publications. You can also find other work in the wonderful and very curious THACKERY T. LAMBSHEAD'S CABINET OF CURIOSITIES, in which I adapted my "Poe-Bug" essay into a short story, and I've been reviewing a lot lately for Bookslut.
Tell me more about THE STEAMPUNK BIBLE, VOLUME 2.0?
Volume 2.0 is our sister site that has been running extra content from the book, like raw interviews, dispatches and exclusive interviews. There is a lot in our archives, and I had to construct an automaton, Mecha Underwood, to help me manage and man the helm of this beastly webship. Poor Mecha! She really has it hard since I built her with a Lachrymose 5000 chip, and seeing Jeff and I gallivant around the states last summer has made her a bit morose. She yearns for sand in her gears, and forgets to post sometimes, but I have found that a gauntlet of oil and some Keats poems rolled into her printing case cheers her right up.
Finally, what question has nobody asked you yet which you wish they had? And what's the answer?
Is Spongebob Steampunk taking it too far? [The answer is] I don't know. It would depend on whether the movie version incorporating Spongebob Steampunk, Geary Gary and Colossal Squidward in a battle against Corporate Nemo's Krabby Patty takeover will successfully capture the Steampunk Spirit. Can't be worse than THE THREE MUSKETEERS (2011), but you never know.
Category: Really Retro | Tags: Abrams Images, Amy Franklin, Ann VanderMeer, Anxiogene, Artifice Club, Blue Mark Studios, Bookslut, British Steampunk, Caitlin Kenney, Cherie Priest, Colossal Squidwad, Corporate Nemo's Krabby Patty, cute and creepy, DJ Doctor Q, Doc Volz, Dread Sisters, Edgar Allan Poe, Fantasia de Mode, Flightless Philosopher, Franck Gouraud, French steampunk, Futuravapeur, Galen Smith, Geary Gary, ghost stories, Ghosts Project, Hetzel, Jake von Slatt, Jeff VanderMeer, Jema Hewitt, John Naylor, Jules Verne, Keats, Kit Cox, Lachrymose 5000, Last Drink Bird Head, Last Tuesday Society, Libby Bulloff, Liz Gorinsky, machines of the isles of nantes, Mecha Underwood, Mechanical Masquerade, Mezmer Society, Montague Jacques Fromage, Morgan Guery, Napolean III, Octane Coffee, Paranormal Fantasy, Paris Commune, Poepathy, Professor Elemental, Queen Victoria, Remodernism, Sam van Olffen, Scott Westerfield, selena_jo, sj chambers, Spongebob Steampunk, steampunk, Steampunk anthology, Steampunk Bible, steampunk burlesque, Steampunk Chronicle, steampunk fashion, sultan's elephant, tallahassee, Thackery T Lambhead's Cabinet of Curiosities, Three Musketeers, Tor, Vauxhill Garden Variety Players, Victorian, Victoriana, Weekend at the Asylum
Weekend Update, April 22-24, 2011
Posted on: Apr 22nd, 2011 By: Anya99
American icon and lounge legend Tony Bennett plays the Fox Theatre. Charleston to the ragtime sound of Blair Crimmins & the Hookers at the Dancing in the Street Party outside Elliot Street Deli & Pub, 10 PM in Castleberry Hill. Also on the bill are hotdogs, icy delights from the King of Pops and music by the Artifice Club's DJ Doctor Q. Grammy Award-winning saxophonist/composer Joe Lovano joins the Georgia State University Jazz Band for an evening of music at vintage-movie-theater-turned-arts venue Rialto Center. Learn the Argentine tango with Tango Rio at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Saxophonist Traci Wynn delivers the jazz at Fernbank Museum of Natural History's Martinis and IMAX. Joe Gransden Trio jazzes up Haven Restaurant in Brookhaven. Frankie's Blues Mission is at Fat Matt's Rib Shack, and Mudcat plays the blues at Northside Tavern.
Treasure hunt for vintage and contemporary clothes, housewares and other fun stuff from retailers and artists such as recent Kool Kat Chris Hamer at Funky Flea ATL from 1 to 6 PM at Ambient Plus Studio.
At night, Antsy McClain & the Trailer Park Troubadours serenade the "good life" on the road again of Airstream trailer living via a sound that's a marvelous mix of rockabilly, country, swing and R&B at Red Light Cafe. For a casual chat with Antsy, who is this week's Kool Kat, click here. Lil Ed & the Blues Imperials play Blind Willie's,and Mudcat plays a second night in a row at Northside Tavern. Better Than The Beatles pays tribute to the Fab Four at Jerry Farber's Side Door. DJ Romeo Cologne transforms the sensationally seedy Clermont Lounge into a '70s disco/funk inferno.
Sunday April 24
Jazz up your family Easter brunch with saxophonist Traci Wynn at Copeland's in Buckhead from 11 AM to 3 PM. The Barrow Boys serve up a side of country during blues "dunch" between 1 and 4 PM at The Earl.
Leave it to the mad geniuses at Dad's Garage to transform a beloved children's classic into a bloody puppet musical. SCARLETT'S WEB features all your favorite characters from Wilbur the pig to Templeton the rat but adds some splattery special effects. Never mind, it's all in fun though, they say, and definitely recommended only for anyone old enough to appreciate adult humor. Thurs., Fri. and Sat. nights at 8 p.m. through May 7.
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec died in 1901, but it's not a stretch to say that his vibrant posters and prints of showgirls, nightclub stars and the café culture influenced the 20thcentury romantic view of Paris and still inspire today's burlesque performers. The High Museum of Art's dynamic new special exhibition, TOULOUSE-LAUTREC AND FRIENDS: THE IRENE AND HOWARD STEIN COLLECTION, runs through May 1. Also at the High through May 29 is the MOMA-organized HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON: THE MODERN CENTURY, another blockbuster exhibit showcasing a photographer and photojournalist who captured on film many of the seminal moments of the 20th century from World War II to the assassination of Ghandi, China's cultural revolution to civil rights and consumer culture in America.
Be sure to tune back in on Monday for This Week in Retro Atlanta. If you know of a cool happening we've missed, send suggestions to ATLRetro@gmail.com.
Category: Weekend Update | Tags: ambient plus studio, Antsy McClain, Artifice Club, Barrow Boys, Blair Crimmins, Blind Willie's, Callanwolde, Chris Hamer, Clermont Lounge, Copelands, Dad's Garage, DJ Doctor Q, Elliot Street Pub, Fat Matt's Rib Shack, Fernbank, Fox Theatre, Frankie's Blues Mission, funky flea atl, Georgia State University Jazz Band, Haven, Henri Cartier-Bresson, High Museum of Art, Jerry Farber's Side Door, Joe Gransden, Joe Lovano, King of Pops, Lil Ed & the Blues Imperials, Martinis & Imax, Mudcat, Northside Tavern, Red Light Cafe, Rialto, romeo cologne, Scarlett's Web, tango, Tango Rio, The Earl, Tony Bennett, Toulouse-Lautrec, Traci Wynn, Troubadours
This Week in Retro Atlanta, April 18-24, 2011
Posted on: Apr 20th, 2011 By: Anya99
Monday April 18
Swing to Joe Gransden, trumpet player extraordinaire, and his 16-piece orchestra and celebrate the release of his newest recording this week during Big Band Night at Cafe 290 on the first and third Monday of every month. Northside Tavern hosts its weekly Blues Jam.
Tuesday April 19
Head back to the '70s and '80s with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band at Philips Arena. Grab your horn and head to Twain's in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 PM. The Emory Jazz Ensemble is also playing tonight at the Schwartz Center. J.T. Speed plays the blues at Fat Matt's Rib Shack. Notorious DJ Romeo Cologne spins the best '70s funk and disco at 10 High in Virginia-Highland. Catch Tuesday Retro in the Metro nights at Midtown's Deadwood Saloon, featuring live video mixes of '80s, '90s, and 2Ks hits.
Wednesday April 20
Get ready to rumba, cha-cha and jitterbug at the weekly Swing Night at Graveyard Tavern. Deacon Brandon Reeves and Danny "Mudcat" Dudeck bring on the blues at Fat Matt's Rib Shack and Northside Tavern respectively. Dance to '70s, '80s and '90s hits during Retro in the Metro Wednesdays presented by Godiva Vodka, at Pub 71 in Brookhaven, starting at 8 PM.
Thursday April 21
Not sure either of these bands is exactly Retro, but they certainly are wacky, making this perhaps the quirkiest night of the year in Atlanta concerts. At The Earl, forget Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots, Atlanta's own crimefightin' Falcon Lords face off in a no-holds-barred rock challenge against Captured by Robots promises Sci-fi fun with lead singer JBOT and the rest of his band robots built by him because he couldn't get along with people. However, the crafty cyborgs have enslaved him by sticking a chip in his head, so they're all robots now. Retro question, do they obey Asimov's laws of robotics or are they more the Cyberdine kind? Nearby at the Masquerade, Japan's Peelander-Z are well-known to Anime Weekend Atlanta attendees for their anime-inspired brightly-colored superhero suits, silly hats and their crazy antics which involve some serious audience interaction! Oh, and some dude named Charlie Sheen (I think he was pretty good in that movie PLATOON back in the '80s but now he's gone a little wild) is at the Fox Theatre tonight, too.
Cadillac Jones serves up some serious jazz funk at Atlanta's tastiest new concert venue, Kathmandu Kitchen and Grill, formerly Pho Truc, in Clarkston from 8-10 PM. Listen to Tongo Hiti's luxurious live lounge sounds, as well as some trippy takes on iconic pop songs, just about every Thursday night at Trader Vic's. Wayne K. Li, Oliver Professor of Practice in Design and Engineering at Georgia Tech, delivers a gallery talk on "Experience in Motor Design" and get a chance to catch the special exhibit PASSIONE ITALIANA: DESIGN OF THE ITALIAN MOTORCYCLE during MODA's Thursday night Drink in Design from 6-8 PM. Read ATLRetro's Kool Kat piece on curator Joe Remling here. Party '70s style with DJ Romeo Cologne at Aurum Lounge. Breeze Kings and Chickenshack bring on the blues respectively at Northside Tavern and Fat Matt's Rib Shack. Johnny Roquemore & the Apostles of Bluegrass are on the bill for Bluegrass Thursday at Red Light Cafe.
Category: This Week in ATLRetro | Tags: 10 High, ambient plus studio, Anime Weekend Atlanta, Antsy McClain, Apostles of Bluegrass, Barrow Boys, Blair Crimmins, Bob Seger, Breeze Kings, Cadillac Jones, Cafe 290, Callanwolde, Captured by Robots, Castleberry Hill, Charlie Sheen, Chickenshack, Chris Hamer, Clermont Lounge, Copelands, Dad's Garage, Deacon Brandon Reeves, Deadwood Saloon, DJ Doctor Q, Drink in Design, dunch, Elliot Street Pub, Emory Jazz Ensemble, Falcon Lords, Fat Matt's Rib Shack, Fernbank, Fox Theatre, Frankie's Blues Mission, funky flea atl, Georgia State University Jazz Band, Graveyard Tavern, Haven, Henri Cartier-Bresson, High Museum of Art, italian motorcycles, J.T. Speed, Jerry Farber's Side Door, Joe Gransden, Joe Lovano, joe remling, Johnny Roquemore, Kathmandu Kitchen and Grill, King of Pops, Martinis & Imax, Masquerade, moda, Mudcat, Northside Tavern, passione italiana, Peelander-Z, Philips Arena, Pho Truc, Pub 71, Red Light Cafe, Retro in the Metro, Rialto, romeo cologne, Scarlett's Web, Schwartz Center, swing dancing, tango, Tango Rio, The Earl, Tongo Hiti, Tony Bennett, Toulouse-Lautrec, Traci Wynn, Trader Vic's, trailer park troubadours, Troubadours, Twain's
Really Retro: Step Right Up, Ladies and Gents, The Clockwork Carnival is Coming to Town
Clockwork Carnival and Artifice Club ringmaster DJ Doctor Q
Long for a bygone era that never was of elegance, adventure and glorious gadgetry? Then you may be one of the steampunk subculture growing across America. In Atlanta, one of the prime organizers of activities for aficinados of steampunk is The Artifice Club, founded by DJ and master event planner Doctor Q. Over the past six months or so, the Artifice Club has put on a number of affairs both independently and as part of other steampunk and alt-history gatherings such as Anachrocon.
This Saturday April 16, however, The Artifice Club is pulling out all the stops to present The Clockwork Carnival, a veritable steampunk circus featuring a night full of gypsies, fire eaters and other curiosities at The Goat Farm. Featured acts encompass who's who of entertainers in the vibrant local scene including The Imperial Opa, Hot Toddies Flaming Cabaret, the amazing aerial feats of Blast-Off Burlesque's Sadie Hawkins, Thimblerig Circus, Pyro Salto of Birmingham, AL, music by DJs Doctor Q and The Davenport Sisters, and more. Also planned are a Vendor's Market Caravan, photography sessions, The Circus Contraption Contest with prizes awarded for the most creative device you would need to work at a carnival, and a steampunk costume contest to crown the King and Queen of the Carnival. Festivities start at 4 PM and will last into the very wee hours of the night, we suspect.
ATLRetro askedRingmaster and DJ extraordinaire Doctor Q for a sneak preview of the fabulous festivities, and he kindly obliged…
Category: Really Retro | Tags: AnachroCon, Artifice Club, Blast-Off Burlesque, Clockwork Carnival, Davenport Sisters, DJ Doctor Q, Hot Toddies Flaming Cabaret, Imperial Opa, pyro salto, really retro, Sadie Hawkins, steampunk, Talloolah Love, thimblerig circus
Last week was fairly quiet when it came to Retro-inspired activities in Atlanta, So ATLRetro took a bit of a rest. This week starts slowly, too, but once Saturday hits, even I'm not sure what to do. Let's just say EVERYTHING happens all at once and ATLRetro revs back up, too, with a bunch of special features including a bedazzling look back at last month's Southern Fried Burlesque courtesy of the tantalizing Talloolah Love, an exclusive preview of Saturday night's The Chamber Reunion courtesy of Kool Kat of the Week Mon Cherie, the Dogwood Festival celebrates its 75th anniversary with two vintage amusement rides, and more.
An acclaimed musician whom B.B. King says has "soul," D.B. Rielly takes rock and country back to its roots at Smith's Olde Bar, with back-to-the-basics, '70s-rock-inspired Saturn 5 and alt-folk Little Brave also on the bill. Northside Tavern hosts its weekly Blues Jam.
Splatter Cinema travels back to 1985 with A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2: FREDDY'S REVENGE at 9:30 PM at the Plaza Theatre. While ATLRetro reviewer Mark Arson admits the first sequel may not be the most creative of the Krueger movies, it still features a lot of fun scares, and you know the Splatter gang will dream up a photo op that will haunt your sleep.
Grab your horn and head to Twain's in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 PM. J.T. Speed plays the blues at Fat Matt's Rib Shack. Notorious DJ Romeo Cologne spins the best '70s funk and disco at 10 High in Virginia-Highland. Catch Tuesday Retro in the Metro nights at Midtown's Deadwood Saloon, featuring live video mixes of '80s, '90s, and 2Ks hits. Or go really retro with the Atlanta Opera's COSI FAN TUTTE at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. In Mozart's comedic masterpiece, two Italian officers boast of their fiancees' faithfulness, only to have a clever friend put it to the test.
ATHENS BURNING, a documentary about the history of the historic Georgia Theatre, a key venue in the college town's famous music scene, screens at The Plaza Theatre at 7:30 PM. Cowboy Envy strums up some mighty fine traditional and original Western tunes at Atlanta's tastiest new concert venue, Kathmandu Kitchen and Grill, formerly Pho Truc, in Clarkston from 8-10 PM. Listen to Tongo Hiti's luxurious live lounge sounds, as well as some trippy takes on iconic pop songs, just about every Thursday night at Trader Vic's. Watch the classic Gregory Peck–Audrey Hepburn romance-on-a-motorscooter movie ROMAN HOLIDAY (1953), drink some wine, hear Free Poems on Demand, and check out PASSIONE ITALIANA: DESIGN OF THE ITALIAN MOTORCYCLE during MODA's Thursday night Drink in Design from 6-8 PM. Party '70s style with DJ Romeo Cologne at Aurum Lounge. Breeze Kings and Chickenshack bring on the blues respectively at Northside Tavern and Fat Matt's Rib Shack.
Category: This Week in ATLRetro | Tags: Artifice Club, Athens Burning, Athens scene, Atlanta Opera, Atlanta Rollergirls, Aurum Lounge, Blair Crimmins, Breeze Kings, Brian Hogans, Chickenshack, Clermont Lounge, Clockwork Carnival, Cobb Energy Centre, Cosi fan tutte, Cowboy Envy, d.b. rielly, Danny Mudcat Dudeck, Davenport Sisters, Deacon Brandon Reeves, Deadwood Saloon, Denim Demons, Dirty South Derby Girls, Dixie Tavern, DJ Doctor Q, Dogwood Festival, Fat Matt's Rib Shack, Fernbank, Freddy Krueger, Gentleman Jesse, Goat Farm, Graveyard Tavern, Henri Cartier-Bresson, High Museum of Art, Hollidays, Hot Toddies Flaming Cabaret, Imperial Opa, J.T. Speed, Jackson County Line, Joe Gransden, Kathmandu Kitchen and Grill, Kenny Banks, Lefty Williams, little brave, Mansion on Peachtree, mark arson, Martinis & Imax, Masquerade, moda, Mon Cherie, motorcycles, Mozart, Nightmare on Elm Street, Northside Tavern, passione italiana, Pho Truc, Piedmont Park, Plaza Theatre, Psycho Devilles, Pub 71, pyro salto, Raveonettes, Reagan Rock prom, Retro in the Metro, roller derby, Roman Holiday, romeo cologne, Sadie Hawkins, salsambo, saturn 5, Seattle Wheel, Sidelines, Smith's Olde Bar, Splatter Cinema, Star Bar, steampunk, Swamp Funk Quartet, swing dancing, Taj Mahal, Talloolah Love, Tampa Tantrums, The Basement, The Chamber, The Earl, The Loft, thimblerig circus, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Tongo Hiti, Toxic Shocks, Trader Vic's, Twain's, Variety Playhouse, Wanda Jackson, Yaarab Shrine Center
ATLRetro Weekend Update Jan. 28-30, 2011
Posted on: Jan 28th, 2011 By: Anya99
OK, I'd planned to do Weekend Updates on Thursdays, but the Jon Waterhouse interview got so many hits yesterday (thanks to everyone who reposted; you make me and Jon blush with gratitude!) that I decided to leave it at the top of the blog. But without further ado, here are ATLRetro's top picks for things to do this weekend…
Category: Weekend Update | Tags: ATLRetro, Bart Webb Studios, Blast-Off Burlesque, Boris Karloff, Chameleon Queen, Decatur CD, DJ Doctor Q, Eddie's Attic, Escovedo, Fernbank, Frankenstein, Jon Waterhouse, Katherine Lashe, Kingsized, Magic Hat, Martinis & Imax, Plaza Theatre, Richard Roundtree, Sabrina Pandora, Shane Morton, Silver Scream Spookshow, Talloolah Love, Trumpet Awards