Sweetwater 420 Fest 2015 Day 1: Snoop Dogg, Thievery Corporation

Snoop Dogg performs on stage during the SweetWater 420 Fest at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta on Friday, April 17, 2015 at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta. The first day of the three day music festival featured Snoop Dogg, Thievery Corporation, Beats Antique, Aer and Big Data. JONATHAN PHILLIPS / SPECIAL

The first day of Sweetwater 420 Fest at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta kicked off with a whole lot of rain. But if there’s one thing Atlanta festivalgoers are used to, it’s experiencing their live music with a side of the wet stuff — the past two years has seen CounterPoint Festival, two Shaky Knees Festivals and Music Midtown, amongst others dumped on.

420 Fest-goers in particular saw the less-than-stellar weather as an opportunity rather than a drawback. The field in front of the main stage has become a mud pit? No problem, we’ll just turn it into a slippery dance floor. Your had to cover up your cute outfit with a poncho? That’s OK, you can still see your cute flower crown or stylish hat from beneath your hood.

It does help that the fest has a history of catering to the “what’s from the earth is of the greatest worth”, go with the flow-variety of crowd, and there seemed to be few complaints once the beer and other fun-time substances began to flow freely. Women swung illuminated hula hoops around their waists along to the music, guys greeted each other with pats on the back and everyone danced along to the music, especially when Snoop Dogg, the Crown Prince of Weed City, took the stage at the end of the night.

Centennial Park provides the perfect setting for 420 Fest’s hippie village for the second year in a row (the event moved to the venue last year from Candler Park to celebrate its 10^th anniversary and an expanded musical lineup).

The setup – including two live music stages, a Not-So-Silent Disco area featuring DJs and electronic acts. a Relapse 420 Comedy Tent headlined by Rory Scovel; and a Planet 420 Eco-Village, not to mention food trucks and art and clothing vendors – is easy to navigate, and is just spread out enough so sound doesn’t travel between stages (a necessity at outdoor festivals) but not so spread out that you feel like you’re going on a cross-country hike every time you want a beer.

Read: Everything you need to know about this year’s Sweetwater 420 Fest

Of course, the festival’s first day wasn’t without its snags– there were reportedly issues at will call later in the evening, with people waiting up to 30 minutes for their wristbands and then another 10 minutes to get in, and Mr. Dogg took the stage about 25 minutes late, just as the rain resumed.

But overall, it was a solid start to the three-day event, with appearances from Big Data, Aer, Beats Antique, Cold War Kids, Thievery Corporation and Snoop Dogg. It bodes well for the rest of the weekend, even if more rain is in the forecast.

Some musical highlights:

Cold War Kids – The first act of the night to take the stage from Long Beach, Calif. (Snoop Dogg also hails from the city just outside of L.A.), indie rock stalwarts Cold War Kids played a solid mix of tunes from their newest album, 2014’s “Hold My Home,” including “Hot Coals” and favorites off their first couple of albums, including the hit “Hang Me Up To Dry,” from their 2006 debut “Robbres & Cowards,” which turned into a rainy singalong. Nathan Willett’s distinctive voice and the band’s tight playing made the case for their third appearance in Atlanta in the past year (they appeared at last year’s Shaky Knees Fest and headlined at the Buckhead Theatre earlier this year).

Thievery Corporation — It’s hard to believe 2015 marks two decades since the Washington, D.C.-based

Thievery Corporation performs on stage during the SweetWater 420 Fest at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta on Friday, April 17, 2015. The first day of the three day music festival featured Snoop Dogg, Thievery Corporation, Beats Antique, Aer and Big Data. JONATHAN PHILLIPS / SPECIAL

collective Thievery Corporation hit the music scene, mostly because they still sound so fresh. Rob Garza and Eric Hilton got a strong assist from their frequent collaborators including hip-hop artist Mr. Lif on the “wave your hands like you just don’t care” song “Unified Tribes,” and Sleepy Wonder and Ras Puma, who lent some Rasta vibes to “Amerimacka.” At times, there were so many people onstage that it appeared to be a small village, lending to the air of collaboration, and a nod to how seamlessly the group weaves their many and varied influences. It was a performance that rivaled their set at last year’s CounterPoint Fest, and provided a nice set up for the headliner who next took the stage. Speaking of which…

Snoop Dogg — It’s been awhile since Snoop Dogg’s been in peak form as a rapper — you’d have to look back to the ’90s for that — but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t put on a damn fun show. He’s dabbled in reggae of late — he recorded his 2013 release “Reincarnated” as his alter ego Snoop Lion — and his Sweetwater appearance might have been a decent place for him to try out some Rasta-inspired material.

But Friday night was all about the rap and pop hits. Snoop performed backing tracks to perform his parts in recent collaborations with Katy Perry (“California Girls”), Akon (during which he made an ill-advised attempt at singing the chorus to “I Wanna F*** You”) and older ones including the classic “Nuthin’ But a “G” Thang” with mentor Dr. Dre. He sounded decent, although he’d sometimes lose track of his flow and let the backing track take over. He fared better on hits including “Gin and Juice” which, not surprisingly, got the biggest reaction of the night and “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” which he originally recorded with Pharrell. At one point, he inexplicably paced the stage while Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock and Roll” played, and then encouraged the crowd to rap along to a Notorious B.I.G. song. But ever for the missteps, there was no getting around the infectiousness of Snoop’s happiness. The guy was clearly having a good time, at one point sparking up a special cigarette on stage, bringing out a man dressed in a giant dog head smoking his own blunt and encouraging the crowd to — what else? — smoke weed. Performance-wise, it was slightly lackluster, but you still left feeling like an hour spent with the Doggfather was time well spent.

On tap for today: Stokeswood, Marc Broussard, The Wood Brothers, Anders Osborne. Marchfourth Marching Band, Gov’t Mule, The Floozies, Primus and Cage the Elephant.

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Concert review: Bryan Adams shines through rainy night at Verizon

Remember “Reckless”? Bryan Adams and his band performed the whole album, plus some other favorites, on April 17 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Alpharetta.

BY LIZ MINIET

When the video for “Cuts Like a Knife” was showing up on MTV all the time around 1983-84, I was a sophomore in high school.

Please don’t do the math. Please!

By the time Bryan Adams’ massive hit album “Reckless” came out in 1984, what teen girl could ignore that man, that voice? (Not me.)

So when I had the chance to see his concert Friday night and hear him perform the songs from that album (think “Run to You,” “Summer of ’69,” “One Night Love Affair,” “It’s Only Love”), along with other favorites, it’s that feeling you get ahead of a reunion. Would that guy you thought was so great in high school still be worth a second look (or listen)?

Mother Nature didn’t make it easy to get to this “reunion.” It was a rainy night at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park in Alpharetta, where the Canadian rocker and his band opened the season. Concertgoers and even the stage seemed to need some drying off before the show.

But would it be worth it? Was Adams still that guy?

Yes!

Thirty years later, his voice is as strong as ever. His guitar playing is still amazing, and it’s interesting to watch him switch among at least four guitars, depending on the song. (He often shared the spotlight with his lead guitarist, Keith Scott.)

Adams’ show made good use of the screen behind him and his band, which also included drummer Mickey Curry, bass player Norm Fisher and keyboardist Gary Breit, throughout the show. While a lot of acts do that, it felt especially appropriate when you realize how much exposure Adams had on MTV throughout the ’80s. If that had slipped your mind, some clips that appeared here and there would remind you.

So, how was our reunion?

Like 30 years ago, you had to share the popular guy with everybody else. That’s OK. He was happy to see you … and you and you. He opened the show with the song “Reckless,” which is funny because that song wasn’t originally on the album with that title. Just a few dates into a tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of the “Reckless” album, Adams brought an enthusiasm that seemed to say, “I really want to be here and I want you all to be part of this!”

Did you want to hear Adams’ love songs? Of course. There were plenty of women in the audience, but it also looked like date night for a lot of couples. There was the voice that can melt hearts, plus a quiet atmosphere for “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” and “Straight From the Heart.” The latter came with Adams playing harmonica.

Did you want to sing along? Sure. Sometimes, he held up the mic to encourage the crowd, like on “Heaven” (which had great “last dance” effects) and “Cuts Like a Knife.” Other times, the crowd didn’t need much of a push. I’m not sure I realized how much of a party song “Can’t Stop This Thing We Started” was until I heard the audience really get into it. And of course, folks at Avalon might have heard the singalong for “Summer of ’69.”

Were you hoping for more of a party? Happy to oblige.

Perhaps some dancing — besides at your seats — would help. Adams looked for one “wild woman” who could dance (well, that ruled me out twice) to stand in the aisle and dance along with “If Ya Wanna Be Bad Ya Gotta Be Good.” It became a bit of a game as the chosen lady would get overshadowed by other women sharing in the dancing — and the time appearing on the video screen.

On the encore, Adams even invited people to move toward the stage and showed it on the screen, with audience members getting a kick out of seeing closeups of themselves up there. And there was an awesome scene at the amphitheater when Adams encouraged everyone during the encore to put their cellphones to good use and hold them up as lights for “All for One.”

Even if it was just a one night love affair, it’s a reunion I’m glad I didn’t miss.

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Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott involved in tour bus fire

Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley (left) and Dave Haywood.

By MELISSA RUGGIERI

It was a bit of a scary morning for Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, when her tour bus caught fire on a road trip to Dallas.

Scott, her husband Chris Tyrrell, the band’s tour manager and tour bus driver were traveling from Nashville for the American Country Music Awards on Sunday when one of the bus’s tires caught fire.

Scott, who performs in the Grammy-winning band with Augusta natives Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, posted an Instagram photo of the charred ride and a note assuring fans that everyone was OK.

“Hey guys, we had a crazy morning on the way to Dallas today. Our bus tire caught on fire and we had to evacuate very quickly. EVERYONE IS SAFE AND SOUND. It was me, my husband, our tour manager, and driver. Thanking God for our safety and the safety of all of those who helped put this fire out and keep us safe. Love you all!!!!”

Lady Antebellum is nominated for Vocal Group of the Year at the ACMs, competing against Atlanta’s Zac Brown Band, Georgia-rooted Little Big Town, The Band Perry and Rascal Flatts.

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Atlanta Concerts: Sleater-Kinney, The Who

The Sleater-Kinney comeback included their first new album in a decade.

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI

FRIDAY

Bryan Adams

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of his landmark “Reckless” album, Adams and his band are performing the record in full — bonus tracks included — and then treating fans to another block of hits from his extensive career. In a recent interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Adams credited the durability of “Reckless” hits such as “Summer of ’69,” “Somebody” and “Run to You” to careful songwriting with partner Jim Vallance and also mentioned that the album was “performed with real musicians, not with computers. It’s a very real-sounding record.” Adams’ show opens the season at the Alpharetta amphitheater.

8 p.m. April 17. $19.50-$99.50. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta. 1-800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

SATURDAY

Changefest

As the name implies, Changefest is about making a difference — or at least learning how it’s possible, from organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Street Grace and Midtown Assistance Center. But, along with the serious side of the event, there will be music from the Glenn Phillips Band — featuring Cindy Wilson of the B-52s — as well as Robert Schneider of the Apples in Stereo (who will perform an acoustic set), Atlanta New Wave legends the Swimming Pool Q’s and indie rockers Starboarders. In between the bands, a Beer & Hymns gospel sing-along will take place in the festival beer garden (you also can check out the sing-along during its monthly occurrence at Smith’s Olde Bar).

11 a.m. April 18. Free. Parking lot of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 731 Peachtree St., Atlanta. changefest.org.

SUNDAY

Diana Krall

A lengthy bout with pneumonia sidelined the jazz singer-pianist last fall when she originally planned to hit the road. But now she’s ready to unleash her soulful contralto on her Wallflower tour, named after her most recent album covering songs by artists that include Paul McCartney, Elton John, the Eagles and Bob Dylan, whose song gives the album its name.

8 p.m. April 19. $49.50-$125.50. Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

The Waterboys

A couple of weeks after the release of “Modern Blues,” his first new Waterboys album in eight years, Mike Scott will embark on a nationwide tour that includes bassist David Hood (father of Drive-By Truckers frontman Patterson Hood) on his first tour since playing with Traffic in 1972. Other musicians joining Scott include longtime Waterboys fiddler Steve Wickham and drummer Ralph Salmins.

8 p.m. April 19. $35. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.

MONDAY

Denny Laine

With a pedigree that includes being an original member of the Moody Blues and one of the guitarists in Wings, Laine will have an extensive catalog of songs to choose from during his live performance. He also maintained a robust solo career, releasing more than a dozen albums between 1973 and 1999.

8 p.m. April 20. $20 (advance general admission); $40 (general admission and meet and greet); $100 (reserved table for four); $200 (front row reserved table for four plus meet and greet). Eddie’s Attic, 515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur. 1-877-725-8849, ticketalternative.com.

TUESDAY

Sleater-Kinney

The heralded punk rock trio from the ’90s is enjoying a resurgence with this reunion tour. Corin Tucker, Janet Weiss and Carrie Brownstein (now also a TV star thanks to “Portlandia”) earlier this year released “No Cities to Love,” their first album of new material in a decade.

With THEESatisfaction. 8 p.m. April 21. $30. The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St., Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, livenation.com.

THURSDAY

The Who

The band’s hit list is extensive enough to guarantee that a Who song is always playing on some classic rock station somewhere in the world. The Who Hits 50 tour launched April 15 in Florida and is expected to feature what Pete Townshend described as “hits, picks, mixes and misses.”

With Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. 7:30 p.m. April 23. $39.50-$139.50. Gwinnett Arena, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 1-888-929-7849, gwinnettcenter.com.

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Little Big Town’s Kimberly Schlapman to sign copies of her new cookbook

Schlapman’s Southern roots are evident in the cookbook’s title.

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI

Fans of Kimberly Schlapman are used to seeing her with the other three members of Little Big Town, and they’re usually winning a country music award or doing something left of center like performing with Ariana Grande at the CMA Awards .

But Schlapman has another talent – cooking.

She hosts “Kimberly’s Simply Southern” on the Great American Country channel and just released the cookbook “Oh Gussie!”, in which she shares recipes and stories about growing up in Cornelia, Ga. (some examples: Georgia Peach Salsa, Kimberly’s Chicken and Dumplings and Big Batch Banana Pudding).

Schlapman will sign copies of the book – and there might even be some culinary samples – at 7 p.m. May 8 at the Norcross Cultural Arts Center.

Schlapman wrote “Oh Gussie!” with James Beard Award-winning author Martha Foose and says the book represents her roots in north Georgia, her road travels and her life at her current home base in Nashville.

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SweetWater 420 Fest aims big with Snoop Dogg, 311, the Wailers, Primus and more headed to Centennial Olympic Park

More than 60,000 people attended last year’s SweetWater 420 Fest. Organizers expect about 90,000 over three days this year.

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI

Until last year, the SweetWater 420 Fest gained its reputation as an annual neighborhood gathering in Candler Park, a small-time shindig with some tunes and brews.

But for its 10th anniversary in 2014, the event blasted onto a new level of Atlanta festival — one that took place in sprawling Centennial Olympic Park and attracted a reputable spread of alt-rock and jam bands (Sublime with Rome, Galactic and the Chris Robinson Brotherhood were among the headliners).

This year, the festival has intensified its standing yet again.

Snoop Dogg is one of the headliners at Sweetwater420. He takes the main stage at 9:30 p.m. Friday, April 17.

Snoop Dogg, 311, the Wailers, Primus, Thievery Corporation, Cage the Elephant, Slightly Stoopid, Moe. and Gov’t Mule are just a handful of the 48 acts that will commandeer two stages at Centennial Olympic Park this weekend.

It’s a bit of an understatement when Jennifer Bensch, president of Happy Ending Productions, which produces the event, says, “We really decided to go for it this year.”

As Atlanta’s SweetWater Brewing Company expands its reach in the Southeast, as well as in Ohio and Texas, it became apparent that the brewery’s companion event needed to complement the scope of the company.

Of course, with bigger acts come bigger price tags. The daily general admission for last year’s event rolled in at $10. This year, a daily dose of music, comedy, beer and beer education will cost $42.

Bensch acknowledged that the team was a little concerned about the price jump, but is confident the festival will sell out its 30,000 capacity each day (last year’s attracted 60,000 patrons during the three days and was affected by some unwelcome April showers).

“Most of the people we’ve heard from are super-understanding (about the price) and see the level of talent going up. Everyone still feels we’re very reasonable for the type of fest that we’re doing,” Bensch said.

Given the increasingly crowded festival landscape in Atlanta — Shaky Boots, Shaky Knees, CounterPoint, Candler Park Music and Food Festival, Wrecking Ball, Music Midtown, TomorrowWorld — it’s more of a challenge than ever to deliver a distinguishable event.

SweetWater 420 Fest is doing that in several ways, starting with the fact that it’s held on the weekend prior to Earth Day and is dedicated to promoting environmental awareness through its on-site Planet 420 Eco-Village. In addition, steel refillable mugs, recyclable cups and serveware will be used, and patrons are encouraged to take MARTA or ride their bikes to the park instead of driving.

Last weekend, members from Happy Ending Productions and the SweetWater 420 Fest, among others, participated in the “Earth Day Work Day” by picking up trash and weeds and helping to paint downtown.

The two groups also donated a Bigbelly solar trash compactor to help improve service and collection efficiency on Broad Street. (Bensch said the compactor might need to be emptied every three weeks rather than three times a day.)

But back to the entertainment.

311 will close out the Sweetwater420 Festival with a main stage set at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 17.

While the SweetWater 420 Fest is offering a heavy-duty lineup of rock, hip-hop, jam and funk artists, the Relapse 420 Comedy Tent, Not-So-Silent Disco and a local band stage will also keep patrons engaged.

Rory Scovel, star of TBS’ just-canceled “Ground Floor,” will perform each night in the comedy tent, along with members from more than a dozen other comedy troupes.

And really, what would a festival called SweetWater 420 be without SweetWater beer?

SweetWater has created a special “420 Fest” beer — a double IPA with experimental hops — and for those interested in expanding their palates, the SweetWater Experience tent will offer tastings of more than 25 styles of beers and stage panel presentations and Q&A sessions with the company’s founder and other brewers and beer experts.

So get ready to drink up. And if beer isn’t your thing, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to listen up as well.

SweetWater 420 Festival

Cage the Elephant will perform at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 18.

Who: Snoop Dogg, 311, the Wailers, Primus, Thievery Corporation, Cage the Elephant, Slightly Stoopid, Moe., Gov’t Mule, Beats Antique, Cold War Kids, Aer, Big Data, the Floozies, Anders Osborne, the Revivalists, Delta Rae, Wood Brothers, Kyle Hollingsworth Band, Marc Broussard, the London Souls, Red Wanting Blue, March Fourth Marching Band, Stokeswood.

Visit http://ift.tt/1yM8wEF for set times as well as lineups for the Not-So-Silent Disco and the Relapse 420 Comedy Tent.

When: 3-11 p.m. April 17; 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. April 18; 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. April 19.

Where: Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave. W. N.W., Atlanta. http://ift.tt/1yM8wEF.

Cost: General admission wristbands are $42 per day; a three-day general admission wristband is $75; VIP “Big Fish” wristbands are $115 per day; a three-day VIP “Big Fish” wristband is $265. Children under 10 are free with a wristbanded adult. Anyone 10 and older requires a wristband. All patrons under 17 must be accompanied by an adult 25 or older.

Getting there: Attendees are encouraged to take MARTA to the Philips Arena/Dome/GWCC Station or Peachtree Center stations and follow the signs to Centennial Olympic Park. Free bike valets will be available for those who pedal to the park. Parking will be available in the red deck near the Georgia World Congress Center for $10 per day. Prepaid parking passes are available on www.gwcc.com. Day-of parking is subject to availability.

Race: The 11th annual SweetWater 420 Fest 5K takes place at 8:30 a.m. April 18 at Centennial Olympic Park. In-store registration available only at Road Runner Sports Buckhead or race day registration available at Centennial Olympic Park. $50.

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ATL Live on the Park readying launch of sixth season

Australian singer Olivia Escuyos will help open the sixth season of ATL Live on the Park on Tuesday.

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI

Sometimes, R. Kelly shows up. Other times, it might be an unknown singer trying to gain visibility, like Miguel circa 2010.

That’s a big attraction for ATL Live on the Park, which launches its sixth season at Park Tavern in Midtown on Tuesday.

The monthly — minus the chillier ones — music series was created by veteran music executive Shanti Das and event promoter Marlon Nichols as a supper club-style evening for adults.

Through the years, acts ranging from Luke James to Jagged Edge to Big Gipp to Avery Sunshine to Johnny Gill have taken the stage erected in the back of Park Tavern. So have plenty of up-and-comers — as well as those who were neophytes at the time and, like Miguel, have since rocketed to fame.

This year, Das said, the goal is to bring in more new talent, along with names that don’t always pepper the local music landscape.

“In the Atlanta nightlife scene, we start regurgitating talent. We have some promising folks set to do showcases,” she said. “I want to diversify the talent a little more and get some pop acts in there as well.”

The creative artists in Janelle Monae’s Wondaland Records stable have piqued Das’ interest, as well as some of the burgeoning hip-hop stars from Fox’s juicy music drama, “Empire.”

For Tuesday’s season opener, Australian singer Olivia Escuyos, who is in town recording an album, and Atlanta transplants Rock City, the production wizards behind hits for Rihanna, Miley Cyrus and Usher currently working on their own new album, will be featured.

Regular patrons of ATL Live on the Park might also notice the inclusion of video screens this year. Das said the series is partnering with some TV and film companies to premiere trailers during the event, which runs from 8-11 p.m.

For next month’s installment, ATL Live on the Park will collaborate with the Atlanta Jazz Festival and its “31 Days of Jazz” campaign. Acts for the May 12 performance won’t be announced until closer to the date, but Das said the artists will reflect the amalgamation of soul, jazz and R&B that the larger festival now represents.

But one thing ATL Live on the Park will always retain is its distinctive approach of mixing upstarts with veterans — with the surprise drop-in of a big name or two.

“I want ATL Live to be known as one of those unique platforms when you really don’t know who you might see,” Das said. “If Darius Rucker showed up and wanted to come on stage, we’d welcome him.”

ATL Live on the Park

With Olivia Escuyos and Rock City. 8 p.m. April 14. $15-$70. Park Tavern, 500 10th St. N.E., Atlanta. Upcoming performances on May 12, June 9, July 14, Aug. 11, Sept. 22, Oct. 13 and Nov. 10. http://www.atlliveonthepark.com.

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Concert review: The Decemberists deliver a whale of a show at The Tabernacle

The Decemberists perform on stage at The Tabernacle in Atlanta on Friday, April 10, 2015. JONATHAN PHILLIPS / SPECIAL

Let’s get it out of the way right now – yes, the giant whale Decemberists fans have come to hope to see during the band’s live shows did indeed make an appearance during Friday night’s set at the Tabernacle. The wood cutout of the creature moved steadilly across the stage during a dramatic encore performance of “The Mariner’s Revenge Song,” as a burst of confetti fell on the crowd and the audience screamed on cue in mock horror as the tale of the bloodthirsty whale was recounted.

It was just one of many crowd-pleasing moments in a night of crowd-pleasing moments, one of the specialties of the indie rock quintet from Portland. Helmed by the affable Colin Meloy — whose ease talking to fans should be a lesson to many of his contemporaries — the group delivered a nearly two-hour set stuffed with favorites from the seven studio albums they’ve released since 2002, including their latest, 2015’s excellent “What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World.”

The band has dabbled in different musical styles and experimented on their albums over the years, but their sound is so distinctive – in particular, Meloy’s voice – that there’s no mistaking a Decemberists tune for anyone else’s. The band handles songs as stylistically different as “The Crane Wife” cycle from the album of the same name to the ‘50s doo-wop vibe of “Philomena” equally well live, with Jenny Conlee’s keys and John Moen’s drums adding some musical heft.

Many of the songs but a lovely boost from the backing vocals of Atlanta native Kelly Hogan and Chicagoan Nora O’Connor, who are touring with the band. O’Connor in particular provided a Heart-esque rock growl on “The Wanting Comes In Waves,” from “The Hazards of Love,” one of the highlights of the night.

See photos from the show

It’s a testament to the band’s staying power that the audience – mostly in their 30s and 40s — sang along with nearly every word and gave knowing laughs to the funny throwaway songs Meloy played, including one about convincing his son to eat his oatmeal which eventually turned into “Calamity Song,” and “Dracula’s Daughter,” a jokey jingle from the group’s live album.

Meloy checked in on the crowd about halfway through the show, making sure they were “staying hydrated, moving their knees so they don’t pass out and being kind to their neighbors,” a nice moment from the King of the Hipster Dads.

The band is more grown up, sure, since the release of 2002’s “Castaways and Cutouts,” but they’re no less able to deliver a consistently solid – and really fun – set. They’re playing a second show tonight at Tabernacle – do yourself a favor and find a ticket.

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Frankie Beverly and Maze set annual Atlanta date at Chastain

Frankie Beverly never misses a beat. Photo: Getty Images.

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI

All is now right in the concert world – Maze featuring Frankie Beverly will return to Chastain Park Amphitheatre this summer.

The perennial favorites, along with guest Brian McKnight, will perform June 6.

Tickets are $79.75-$125.25 for reserved seating and $59.75 for general admission lawn seating. This is a table set-up show, so coolers and carry-ins are permitted.

Tickets for the show will go on sale at 10 a.m. April 10 through all Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com, www.livenation.com and by calling 1-800-745-3000.

The R&B-soul band hasn’t had a hit in more than 20 years, but like many veteran acts, that fact is irrelevant when it comes to live appeal. “Back in Stride,” “Running Away,” “Joy & Pain” and “Can’t Get Over You” remain concert staples and that familiarity is the prime reason fans continue to flock to the band’s shows.

Maze and Beverly played Chastain last fall with Ruben Studdard and current “Dancing with the Stars” queen, Patti LaBelle.

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Memorial concert and fundraising efforts set in honor of crash victims in Wormreich and Khaotica

Members of Khaotica and Wormreich were involved in the deadly crash as the bands headed from South Carolina to Atlanta.

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI

Following the news of the devastating car crash involving members of the metal bands Khaotica and Wormreich, a memorial concert and GoFundMe page have already been established.

Three people died Monday and eight others were injured when a van carrying members of the two heavy metal bands wrecked in northeast Georgia, authorities said (follow all of the AJC’s updates here ).

The benefit concert will take place on April 13 at The Basement, the venue where the bands were headed to perform tonight. The GoFundMe page is accepting donations and also providing updates on those in the vehicle who are hospitalized.

Money raised from the fund will benefit the survivors and families of the band members.

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Avenue of the Giants will represent Atlanta in Hard Rock Rising competition

Avenue of the Giants are representing Atlanta. Photo: Enka Lawson.

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI

Avenue of the Giants nabbed the winner’s crown in the final round of Hard Rock Café Atlanta’s Hard Rock Rising competition.

The band, which bested other finalists On ‘Til Morning and Marty Manous Band, received a cash prize of $1,000 and will move on to compete against winners from Hard Rock locations around the world.

The next stop is Las Vegas to compete in the national finals. Winners, chosen by a panel of international music industry professionals, will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Barcelona, Spain, to perform at the first-ever Hard Rock Rising Barcelona global music festival July 24-25.

Avenue of the Giants was formed in 2011 by guitarist Fazal “Foz Rock” Syed, previously of the band Rehab, and singer Devon Lewow. Their debut video, “So You’d Like to Think,” won Video of the Year honors at the 2014 Georgia Music Awards.

The band – which also includes drummer Darrick “Agent Method” Atwater and bassist Justin Aldrich – will release their second album (tentatively titled “Whisper to Lions”) this fall.

For more on Avenue of the Giants, visit www.aotgmusic.com and check out their video below.

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Watch new R5 video and check out when they will play Alpharetta this summer

R5 will bring their catchy pop-rock to Alpharetta this summer. Photo: Getty Images.

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI

Pop-rockers R5 have debuted the video for their new single, “Let’s Not Be Alone Tonight,” as well as plans for their sophomore album and supporting tour.

The perky quintet will release “Sometime Last Night” on July 10, the same day that their tour will play Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park in Alpharetta.

Jacob Whitesides and Ryland are special guests for the tour, which kicks off July 7 and runs through August.

Tickets for the Atlanta date are $29.50-$45 and go on sale at noon April 17 through the venue box office, www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets and by calling 1-800-745-3000.

R5 is comprised of siblings Ross Lynch (vocals), Riker (bass), Rocky (guitar) and Rydel (keyboards) along with friend Ellington “Ratliff” (drums). The platinum-tressed Riker is currently competing on “Dancing with the Stars,” while Ross stars as Austin Moon on the Disney Channel comedy, “Austin & Ally.”

Check out the video for “Let’s Not Be Alone Tonight.”

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Brandy Clark talks performing live, ‘Hee Haw’ and new album

Brandy Clark plans to release a new album this fall.

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI

In February, Brandy Clark competed against Iggy Azalea, Bastille, Haim and Sam Smith for a best new artist Grammy.

She didn’t win — the honor went to show-sweeping Smith — but her inclusion signaled a newfound acceptance by the mainstream music industry.

It also indicated, again, that the criteria for best new artist is a bit hazy, because Clark has been a viable presence since 2011 when she, frequent collaborator Shane McAnally and more recent musical soulmate Kacey Musgraves wrote “Mama’s Broken Heart” for Miranda Lambert.

She’s also the songwriting voice behind the Band Perry’s haunting “Better Dig Two” and, along with McAnally and Musgraves, “Follow Your Arrow,” the candidly inspirational hit for Musgraves that earned the trio song of the year honors at last year’s CMA Awards.

But, thanks to Clark’s own beauty of a record, 2013’s “12 Stories” (also nominated for a Grammy; Lambert’s “Platinum” won), she’s now also being courted as a performer as well as a songwriter.

Along with a current spate of dates opening for Alan Jackson, Clark is headlining her own shows. She’ll swing by Terminal West on Wednesday for a performance with her band that she says will prompt fans to “have a really good time, laugh a little and maybe cry some.”

Calling from Nashville, Tenn., recently, Clark admitted that life on the road is a bit different from her old habits of holing up on Music Row to hunker down and write songs.

“It’s definitely been an adjustment,” she said with a knowing laugh. “I’ve learned that I can work harder than I ever knew. I’ve gained a lot of empathy for artists. Being a songwriter all those years, you think you’re the one with the tough job. But the truth is there’s really no harder job than being an artist. I’ve had to learn to do my makeup for the stage and learn how to be a performer every night and be ‘on.’ That takes a lot of energy.”

Clark gained treasured experience last year when she hit the road as the opening act for Jennifer Nettles’ solo tour and, later in the year, joined Eric Church for several dates.

But working with — and learning from — Georgia native Nettles earned a special place in Clark’s heart.

Along with songs from “12 Stories,” Clark will also perform songs she wrote for other artists, such as Kacey Musgraves and The Band Perry.

“That tour was the greatest thing,” Clark said. “Jennifer is such a generous performer and person overall. She was a great artist for me to open for. The whole time I was out with Eric I saw him maybe one time and I see Alan very little, but Jennifer and I became friends.”

As if touring relentlessly weren’t enough to crowd a schedule, Clark and McAnally are tweaking the music and lyrics for the new musical “Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical,” which opens in Dallas in September.

The songwriting pair has worked on the production for more than two years — “It’s such an undertaking, but I’ve learned so much from it,” Clark said — and hopes it will eventually land on Broadway.

“The first thing I always tell people (about the musical) is that it’s not the variety show, but it’s based on ‘Hee Haw’-esque characters. It’s a love story set in Kornfield Kounty. It’s a linear story.”

“Moonshine” was written by Robert Horn (“Lone Star Love,” “13”) and directed by Gary Griffin (of the soon-to-close “Honeymoon in Vegas” musical).

Clark will continue to wear out the highways through May, but then plans to take about six weeks to concentrate on writing and recording the sequel to “12 Stories,” which she intends to release this fall.

“I definitely feel that pressure,” she said of following up an award-contending album, “but I don’t want to let that affect what happens in the studio. The biggest thing for me is to not try to re-create it or even top it. I don’t want to create a twin of it. I want it to be more of a cousin.”

Brandy Clark with Caitlin Gutierrez. 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. $25. Terminal West, 887 W. Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta. 404-876-5566, http://ift.tt/Ycs3g0.

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Tupac Shakur movie put on indefinite hold

The Tupac Shakur movie isn’t happening any time soon.

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI

Tupac Shakur fans eagerly awaiting the long-awaited biopic by John Singleton will have to remain patient.

Singleton told XXL this week that he’s put his involvement in the project on hold “because we’re trying to figure out some things.”

The film, which was supposed to go into production in June, already had a script and the approval of Shakur’s family, but Singleton isn’t rushing.

“You just want to get it right,” he said. “I think the picture is not going to be good unless it’s offensive to some people…. When I’m making my movies, John Singleton movies, it’s really just my voice. So I can’t be listening to all the other suggestions of all these other people and s***.”

Singleton’s comments echo the feelings of Tony-winning director Kenny Leon when he undertook the challenge of bringing Shakur’s music to Broadway last year.

Although “Holler If Ya Hear Me” didn’t bring in enough Shakur curiosity seekers to survive more than a few weeks , Leon spoke often about protecting the memory of the late rapper.

While Shakur fans will have to wait indefinitely to see his story told on the big screen, the Grammy Museum exhibit celebrating his writings will be on display through April 22 in L.A. (here’s my story from a recent visit ).

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The Masquerade plans 25th anniversary celebration with Wrecking Ball festival

The inaugural Wrecking Ball festival takes place this summer

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI

The Masquerade is celebrating its 25^th anniversary with a two-day concert blowout this summer.

The Wrecking Ball 2015 will include 60 bands on four stages – Heaven, Hell, Purgatory and the Masquerade Music Park – on Aug. 8-9.

Leading the lineup are Coheed and Cambria, Descendents, Thrice, Glassjaw, The Get Up Kids, Desparecidos, American Nightmare and The Lawrence Arms. Check out the full lineup here .

The festivities will launch Aug. 7 with a Punk Rock Karaoke pre-party that will boast Greg Hetson of Bad Religion, Derek O’Brien of Social Distortion and The Adolescents, Eric Melvin of NOFX, and Stan Lee and Edward Tater of the Dickies.

Tickets for the festival go on sale at 10 a.m. April 6. A two-day general admission pass is $110; two-day VIP is $199; and entry to the Punk Rock Karaoke party is $15. Tickets can be purchased via all Ticketmaster outlets and www.ticketmaster.com .

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Atlanta spring concert preview: Zac Brown Band, The Who, Death Cab for Cutie, Diana Ross and many more

Atlanta’s Zac Brown Band will play a pair of hometown shows at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Alpharetta on May 8-9. Photo: Danny Clinch.

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI

Forget about the annoying aspects of spring — the pollen, the rain, then more pollen and more rain — and remember that it’s the start of another glistening concert season, both indoors and out.

There is a glut of festivals in April and May, but those will be detailed in their own stories. Also excluded here are some artists who will receive their own preview stories closer to their shows — so you’ll soon be reading more about Bryan Adams, Brandy Clark, Steve Winwood, Bette Midler, Barry Manilow and some others.

Make sure to check out Live Music Picks and Hot Tix every week in Go Guide and on the Music Scene blog for complete listings of updated concert information.

All tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000 unless otherwise noted.

The Bangles. With their combination of sunny harmonies (“Manic Monday”), New Wave inflections (“Going Down to Liverpool”) and dusky dabblings (their cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Hazy Shade of Winter” is superbly moody), the Bangles offered much to love in their ’80s heyday. A trio since bassist Michael Steele departed in 2005, the band is anchored by the mellifluous vocals of Susanna Hoffs, combined with the guitar and drums, respectively, of sisters Vicki and Debbi Peterson. 8:30 p.m. April 11. $35. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta.

Diana Krall returns after postponing her tour last fall due to illness.

Diana Krall. A lengthy bout with pneumonia sidelined the jazz singer-pianist last fall when she originally planned to hit the road. But now she’s ready to unleash her soulful contralto on her “Wallflower” tour, named after her most recent album of covers by artists including Paul McCartney, Elton John, the Eagles and Bob Dylan, whose song gives the album its namesake. 8 p.m. April 19. $49.50-$125.50. Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta.

The Waterboys. A couple of weeks after the release of their first new album in eight years, “Modern Blues,” Waterboys leader Mike Scott will embark on a nationwide tour that includes bassist David Hood (father of Drive-By Truckers frontman Patterson Hood) on his first tour since playing with Traffic in 1972. Other musicians joining Scott include longtime Waterboys fiddler Steve Wickham and drummer Ralph Salmins. 8 p.m. April 19. $35. Variety Playhouse.

Denny Laine. With a pedigree that includes being an original member of the Moody Blues and the guitarist in Wings, no doubt Laine will have an extensive catalog of songs to choose from during his live performance. He also maintained a robust solo career, releasing more than a dozen albums between 1973 and 1999. 8 p.m. April 20. $20 (advance general admission); $40 (general admission and meet and greet); $100 (reserved table for four); $200 (front row reserved table for four plus meet and greet). Eddie’s Attic, 515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur. 1-877-725-8849, http://ift.tt/1a74Wvt.

Sleater-Kinney. The heralded punk rock trio from the ’90s is enjoying a resurgence with this reunion tour. Corin Tucker, Janet Weiss and Carrie Brownstein (now also a TV star thanks to “Portlandia”) earlier this year released “No Cities to Love,” their first album of new material in a decade. With THEESatisfaction. 8 p.m. April 21. $30. The Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St., Atlanta.

The Who. The band’s hit list is extensive enough to guarantee that a Who song is always playing on some classic rock station somewhere in the world. “The Who Hits 50” tour will launch April 15 in Florida and will feature, according to Pete Townshend, “hits, picks, mixes and misses.” With Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. 7:30 p.m. April 23. $39.50-$139.50. The Arena at Gwinnett Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 1-888-929-7849, http://ift.tt/1gci9F7.

Newly minted MusiCares Person of the Year, Bob Dylan, will perform at the Fox Theatre April 24. Photo: Getty Images.

Bob Dylan. At his recent christening as the MusiCares Person of the Year, Dylan unfurled a fascinating, insightful speech (read all of it here) that reiterated his intriguing eccentricity. He’ll bring his unique voice and timeless songs on a 19-city tour with his band in support of his new album, the Sinatra homage, “Shadows in the Night.” 8 p.m. April 24. $64.60-$137.30. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 1-855-285-8499, www.foxtheatre.org.

Death Cab for Cutie. The Washington state-based indie-alt rockers just released the new album “Kintsugi,” their eighth. Joining them on this tour to support the release are Dave Depper (guitar/keyboards) and Zac Rae (keyboards), who replace guitarist Chris Walla, who left the band last year after 17 years. 8 p.m. April 27. $32-$38. Fox Theatre.

The Doobie Brothers. The band now falls into that “perennially touring” category, but hey, as long as fans keep coming to hear well-worn radio classics such as “China Grove” and “Long Train Runnin’,” the band will keep flexing its muscles. This summer, they’ll be joined by former Eagles guitarist — and one of the nicest guys in rock ‘n’ roll — Don Felder. 7:30 p.m. May 2. $19.50-$99.50. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park, 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta.

The Whispers with Stephanie Mills and Angela Winbush. It’s a dream bill for fans of classic R&B. The Whispers recently released the gospel album “Thankful,” but will surely break out hits including “And the Beat Goes On” and “Rock Steady,” while Mills, the voice behind “Never Knew Love Like This Before” and “(“You’re Puttin’) A Rush on Me,” has her own heady catalog from which to draw. 7 p.m. May 2. $35-$90. Wolf Creek Amphitheatre, 3024 Merk Road S.W., Atlanta. 1-877-725-8849, http://ift.tt/1a74Wvt.

Zac Brown Band. The band’s impending fourth album, “Jekyll + Hyde,” might be the most appropriately named album this century. The Atlanta country superstars haven’t abandoned their breezy harmonizing, but a whiplash-inducing grinder with Chris Cornell (“Heavy Is the Head’) and the James Taylor-esque “Dress Blues” suggest interesting detours lie ahead. 7 p.m. May 8-9. $36.50-$89.50. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre.

Georgia native Butch Walker will visit Atlanta Symphony Hall this spring.

Butch Walker. The Georgia native has never shied from digging deep while remaining accessible, whether on his own songs or the trove he’s written for artists including Pink and Keith Urban. But “Afraid of Ghosts,” written following the death of his beloved father, finds Walker exploring mortality. Ryan Adams produced the album, which features guest shots from Johnny Depp and Bob Mould. 8 p.m. May 15. $25.50-$59.50. Atlanta Symphony Hall.

Todd Rundgren. What is more impressive — Rundgren’s career as a producer (Grand Funk Railroad, Meat Loaf, XTC), as a songwriter (“Hello, It’s Me” “I Saw the Light”) or his regular stints as a multi-instrumentalist on Ringo Starr’s “All Starr Band” tours? You can marvel at his musical gifts during this tour to support his new album, “Global,” coming April 7. 8 p.m. May 20. $26-$31. Center Stage, 1374 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta.

Diana Ross will launch the 2015 Live Nation Chastain concert series on May 22.

Diana Ross. Miss Ross the Boss can always be counted on to produce a slick, brisk show stocked with hits. For her “In the Name of Love” tour, she’s been rolling out a 22-song set list that ranges from a Billie Holiday cover (“Don’t Explain”) to Supremes classics (“You Can’t Hurry Love,” “Baby Love”) to aching ballads (“Theme From Mahogany [Do You Know Where You’re Going To]”). 8 p.m. May 22. $46-$76. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, 4469 Stella Drive N.W., Atlanta.

Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet. Their zippy mixture of zydeco, Cajun and folk music has been enlightening listeners since the mid-’70s. Since then, the band has released more than two dozen albums, most recently “From Bamako to Carencro” in 2013. 8 p.m. May 22. $20-$25. Red Clay Music Foundry, 3116 Main St., Duluth. 404-478-2749, http://ift.tt/1Jbsdtg.

Billy Idol. The most famous sneer in ’80s rock was supposed to launch his tour in January with dates in New Orleans and Atlanta, but a chest infection postponed those plans. But no worries — William Broad is back in top form and, along with longtime guitar sidekick Steve Stevens, will trot out the meaty fist-pumpers that enthralled a generation, as well as some new songs from his robust new album, “Kings & Queens of the Underground.” With Broncho. 8 p.m. May 26. $38.50-$46.50. The Tabernacle.

New Kids on the Block with TLC and Nelly. Although NKOTB are the rightful headliners of this nostalgia blast, the homecoming of Atlanta’s TLC is what will pique the interest of many local fans. In a recent interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, TLC’s Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas said of her and Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins’ tour mates, “They have crazy hits and we share that same thing. Once you have surpassed a certain number of sales, we’re all sharing the same fans.” 7 p.m. June 6. $29.50-$105. Philips Arena, 1 Philips Drive, Atlanta.

Al Jarreau. The silky voice behind such timeless R&B-jazz gems as “We’re in This Love Together,” “So Good” and the theme from “Moonlighting” last year released the tribute album, “My Old Friend: Celebrating George Duke.” 8 p.m. June 6. $45-$100. Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, 201 McIntosh Trail, Peachtree City. 1-877-725-8849, http://ift.tt/1a74Wvt.

Kenny Chesney will take over the Georgia Dome in June with some friends.

Kenny Chesney. Chesney’s “Big Revival” bash launched last week in Nashville, Tenn., and the three-hour blowout didn’t even include Eric Church, who will join Mr. “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems.” The Atlanta date will mark Chesney’s third visit to the Dome in four years. With Eric Church, Brantley Gilbert, Chase Rice and Old Dominion. 5 p.m. June 13. $39.50-$199.50. Georgia Dome, 1 Georgia Dome Drive N.W., Atlanta.

Lana Del Rey. Last fall, Del Rey performed a set at Music Midtown, a perhaps too-large stage for her ethereal voice. She’s opting for large amphitheaters for her 18-city tour — her first official headlining outing — to support her second full-length studio album (as Lana Del Rey), “Ultraviolence.” The singer is expected to release another album, “Honeymoon,” sometime this year. 7:30 p.m. June 14. $25-$79.50. Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood, 2002 Lakewood Way, Atlanta.

“Weird Al” Yankovic. The parody master with the distinctive mane nabbed his fourth career Grammy this year for his No. 1 album, “Mandatory Fun.” At a pre-Grammy event, Yankovic discussed his tour, which starts in May. “It’s not just being on stage with the guys rocking out,” he said. “There are costume changes and film on a big screen. I’m working with a stylist to come up with costumes. There are a lot of moving parts.” 8 p.m. June 20. $39.50-$89.50. Chastain.

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Ed Sheeran returning to Atlanta; Smashing Pumpkins and Marilyn Manson announce joint tour

Ed Sheeran will return to Atlanta exactly a year after he played Gwinnett Arena. Photo: Melissa Ruggieri/AJC

BY MELISSA RUGGIERI

The Rolling Stones might make the bigger bang , but a couple of other artists announced tours on Tuesday as well.

Ed Sheeran continues to thrive on the road has added a fall leg to his North American tour.

The ginger-haired singer-songwriter-guitarist will next bring his sensitive sounds to Philips Arena on Sept. 12. The show is a year to the date that he played The Arena at Gwinnett Center.

Since then, Sheeran scored an album of the year Grammy nod for “x” and is currently riding the success of his Van Morrison-like ballad, “Thinking Out Loud.”

Tickets for Sheeran’s Philips Arena show will go on sale at noon April 17 at the venue box office, www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets and by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are $59.50-$69.50.

Members of Sheeran’s fan club and Amex cardholders can purchase tickets during a pre-sale that begins at 10 a.m. April 13.

****************************************************************************************************************

Make sure you have black clothes available for the show.

Also hitting the road are The Smashing Pumpkins with Marilyn Manson for the co-headlining “The End Times” tour.

The show will swing through Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood on July 25.

Tickets are $27-$72 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. April 3 via Ticketmaster. A Citi cardmember pre-sale is available now.

The Pumpkins, fronted by Billy Corgan, released “Monuments to an Elegy” in December, while Manson’s “The Pale Emperor” arrived in January.

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