Overall, the Arctic Monkeys reinforced, once again, the notion of existing as a legitimate top-tier rock outfit. Their pageantry is riotous, yet tamed. Polished, though disorderly. Post punk, through the hints of pop. A show deserving of every penny on that ticket price, and a band worthy of your undivided fucking attention.
Enanitos Verdes + Hombres G – Live @ The Coca-Cola Roxy
Ultimately, Enanitos Verdes and Hombres G have collectively aged like fine wines. Their nostalgic cruise through a joint discography best-of is an enticing, dance worthy, beer glass raising, sing at the top of your lungs, fun till you drop extravaganza.
Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls – Live @ The Tabernacle
A Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls affair is not for fragile ears, nor for space sensitive patrons. It’s a noisy, mosh-pit inducing, jump up-n-down but be nice to your neighbor sweaty shindig. There are only three rules when attending a Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls ceremony, 1.- Don’t be an asshole, 2.- Make sure your version of fun isn’t stopping other fans from having fun, and 3.- Have a fucking blast.
Big Boi – Live @ The Tabernacle
Hotlanta homegrown hip-hop hero Big Boi has always been one with a tendency for the odd and the flashy. Naturally, Boi being Boi, ending out his Daddy Fat Saxxx Tour at his sweltering hot stomping grounds would surely play out as an evening as cool as a polar bear's toenail. Long story short, mission accomplished!
Poison – Live @ The Verizon Amphitheatre at Encore Park
In the end, Poison is a bucket-list add-on for anyone that's yet to witness their grandiose stylings, and a do-over for any diehard that relishes in the good times. We won't tell you that Poison puts on the greatest show on Earth, but if you believe that, we won't argue with you either.
POND – Live @ The Loft
The POND gang serviced onlookers with abundant space-inspired hooks, wild and weird lead-singer antics, and just a let-loose dosage of good old-fashioned fun. POND is, most definitely, one act to catch on the live circuit.
Bishop Briggs – Live @ Center Stage
Musically, Briggs' sound is a fusion of power-pop, hip-hop, soulful rock, and a slight hint of goth mixed in there somewhere. Her vocal prowess is that of legends, her bone-chilling high notes can tear the roof off of any venue. Finally, her showmanship is heartfelt and honest, her non-stop violent gallivanting perfectly epitomizes her thumpers. Bishop Briggs is the total package.
Dave Matthews Band – Live @ Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood
In the end, the ceremony flowed superbly and smoothly to the tune of nineteen tracks, nearly three hours, and over eighteen thousand diehards. To witness the Dave Matthews Band in their element is to witness legends at work.
Everclear – Live @ The Buckhead Theatre
It was a legitimate Throwback Thursday in Atlanta. Nineties alt-rock icons Everclear took over the entertainment reins at the Buckhead Theatre, and funneled their contagious raw energy into a gnarly night of grunge that diehards will not soon forget.
Calpurnia – Live @ Terminal West
The kids are young and the tunes are just a handful, but, if these 4 can keep pace with their strong start and fulfill their promise, the sky is the limit. Calpurnia has been able to catch our attention, now it is just a matter of holding on to it. We trust they can.