Walking into Buckhead Theatre I have no clue what to expect from tonight’s music. I know Mumford & Sons saw the headlining act at a Bluegrass festival downtown and invited them to open their show. That is why I am here. As I head inside I hear rock coming from the stage. I make my way down to the front of the crowd. Justin Allmet is performing and I see people dancing and demanding more.  He only plays a short set but I will find him in Atlanta again! Next up is Lera Lynn, a country music group. Twang and heartfelt ballads belt from Lera’s mouth.  This is my “type” of country: a mixture of classic country with a modern Southern twist. Last to come on is Seven Handle Circus. The Circus enters playing and soon the crowd is jumping and swaying as a unit to the sound of Bluegrass, rock, alternative, and even rap. Seven Handle Circus wows me. There is non-stop sound and a stage performance that engages the audience. These guys pack the house. If you have not been out to see a Seven Handle Circus show,  it is an Atlanta “must” do.  At the end of the night I did not want to leave or have the music stop. I expect to see these guys on top of the charts soon.

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It’s a Tuesday in February, but it feels like spring has finally sprung on the city of Atlanta. Though it’s a school night, there’s a lot going on in our fair little city this evening. I’ve made my way to The Masquerade to see the local rockabilly band Atomic Boogie open for Canadian psychobilly band The Creepshow. The Creepshow are beginning their tour this evening in support of their recently released CD, They All Fall Down. Perhaps it’s the mild temperatures or the promise of a night filled with amazing music, but the room seems to have a certain electric energy.

As Atomic Boogie takes the stage, old friends greet each other and new friends are made. The band begins with the instrumental title track of their most recent CD, Slung A Rod and visits many fan favorites like Leadfoot Mama, Shakin’ My Heart Apart, I‘ll Be Leaving Memphis, and Broken Hearted Blues. By the time that the band ends with Broken Whiskey Bottle, it’s obvious that Atomic Boogie was the perfect choice to start the night!

The Creepshow takes the stage and the crowd welcomes the visitors from the great white north with wide open arms! The band plays songs from They All Fall Down and their previous CD, Run For Your Life. Every song seems to garner the same excited response from the fans who are singing and dancing. The Creepshow set list includes Rue Morgue Radio, Run For Your Life, Hellbound, Demon Lover, Get What’s Coming, Going Down (one of my personal faves!), and Take My Hand. Lead singer Sarah Sin announces that the band is going to do a slow song to dance to and couples break off to dance to Sleep Tight, a sweet du-wop sounding tale of a boyfriend who kills his girlfriend and buries her under his floor. Have no fear dear readers because soon The Creepshow is rocking again with other favorites like Keep Dreaming, Buried Alive, and Dearly Departed. All too soon, however, the music is done and as I glance around the room…noone looks disappointed! The fans look happy and satiated, content that they got their money’s worth on this night.

Backstage, Sarah confesses to me that she was worried that they weren’t going to make it to Atlanta since they had to contend with snow in Ohio. “We had to drive like 600 miles today! That’s why we got here so late today.” She also compliments me on my ring, a black heart with the word Bitten across the middle. While I do admit to paying $5 for the ring at Wal-Mart, I don’t mention that it was from the Twilight line of accessories. ;o)

I’m sure I’ll have a killer hangover tomorrow, but the night was worth it. Tonight was the kind of night that reminds me why I love music so much.

Photos by Karla Hill

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Visit The Creepshow’s Myspace page for upcoming tour dates and to hear songs off the newest CD.

Be sure to check out local boys, Atomic Boogie for upcoming dates (there’s a lot of ‘em!) and songs from their CD, Slung A Rod.

It’s Saturday night!  I have my tickets in hand walking into Wild Bill’s to see Almost Kings.  Tonight they are releasing their new EP, CLUBROCK.  It would not matter if it was a CD release or not, I would still be here for the show.  I walk in and am hit by a gigantic crowd of people.  This group is unique in that they are not signed and handle everything from merchandise to booking venues.  Their business savvy and marketing works.  Tonight I see hundreds of fans.  I am a fan.  I head to the front with my camera in tow and I am ushered into the throngs of a huge group of people.  I feel the crowd’s excitement is only for an energy rush of adrenaline caused by being entertained with good music and listening to a great performance.  Almost Kings enter stage right.  The drummer begins to tap lightly with his sticks and then BAM!  Onto the stage comes the rest of the group.  I have said once and I will say it again, it is hard to get pictures of these guys because they simply do not stand still.

If Rage Against the Machine and 311 had a baby, I do believe it would be named Almost Kings.  A band of 2011 heavily influenced by the grunge, rap, and heavy metal of the 1990’s; Almost Kings manages to intertwine all these genres of music in their lyrics.  To see AK perform BOUNCE! Live is a treat.  This is a high energy band.  They jump and bounce off of almost anything . . . and when they jump?  They catch air.  Thank you guys for putting on a great show.   The new songs off your EP are great.  Thanks to all who I met throughout the night. It was a great one.  Happy Birthday to Keith Minor who has a rendition of the wild night and his celebration details. He was there with me tonight.  I tried finding him. I was never able to locate him.  Even with “text” directions :)  Almost Kings . . .  I will sum up the night and I think there are several out there who would agree with me: It was a perfect combination, a perfect storm.

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