ATLRetro

Monday, May 7

Joe Gransden and his smokin’ 16-piece orchestra swing the bimonthly Big Band Night at Cafe 290 the first and third Mondey of every month. This show’s special guests are Toni Byrd and the Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra. From 3 p.m. on, savor tropical sounds and libations, as well as a Polynesian dinner, during Mai Tai Monday at Smith’s Olde Bar. Northside Tavern hosts its weekly Blues Jam. Head over to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack for BBQ and Pead Boy and Steven Tea.

Tuesday, May 8

The fine folks of Splatter Cinema present cult classic ZOMBIE HOLOCAUST (1980), aka DR BUTCHER M.D. in glorious 35mm of gore at the Plaza Theatre. Show starts at 9:30 p.m. but get there early to pose for your pic with an unbelievably realistic recreation of a scene from the movie. Another great opportunity to support Atlanta’s only locally-owned nonprofit independent cinema. Gregg Allman signs his memoir MY CROSS TO BEAR at Eagle Eye Books from 7-9 p.m. Grab your horn and head to Twain’s in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 p.m. Crosstown Allstars rock the blues at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Nathan Nelson & Entertainment Crackers blues it down at Northside Tavern. Dance the night away at Tues. Retro in the Metro nights at Midtown’s Deadwood Saloon featuring video mixes of ’80s, ’90s and 2Ks hits.

Wednesday, May 9

Retro-’60s revivalist band extraordinaire Andrew & the Disapyramids continues their May residency at the Star Bar with special guests Senator Artie Mondello and The Buggs. If you missed our Kool Kat interview with the Disapyramids’ Joshua Longino, catch up here. Bonnie Raitt rocks Cobb Energy Centre. Mose Davis Trio jazzes up The Sundial. Get ready to rumba, cha-cha and jitterbug at the weekly Swing Night at Graveyard Tavern. Frankie’s Blues Mission brings on the blues at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Danny “Mudcat” Dudeck blues it down at Northside Tavern. Dance to ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s hits during Retro in the Metro Wednesdays at Pub 71 in Brookhaven.

Thursday May 10

Relax with a tropical cocktail at vintage tiki bar Trader Vic’s where Tongo Hiti play Retro-Polynesian luxurious live lounge sounds, as well as trippy takes on iconic pop songs, every Thursday night. Big Mike’s off in Seattle till June performing with El Vez in Teatro ZinZanni’s CALIENTE SHOW, so Atlanta Funk Society’s Jonathan Lloyd will be filling in on vocals. Remember Lloyd’s Rockstead Review, his killer reggae collaboration with Kingsized? The Breeze Kings and Chickenshack bring on the blues respectively at Northside Tavern and Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Johnny Roquemore & Apostles of Bluegrass jam at Red Light Café’s weekly Bluegrass Thursday.

Friday, May 11

Enter a secret garden of whimsy and spectacle at 7 Stages‘ 9th annual Taste for Theatre and support one of Atlanta’s most innovative and edgy nonprofit performance companies, including the completion of DRACULA: THE ROCK OPERA. The event is at Cator Woolford Gardens in Druid Hills and costs $50, a bargain for local and international wine, delicious catering by Sun in my Belly and performances in a  burlesque carnival theme, a departure from the event’s garden party feel in the past. One of Atlanta’s premier burlesque troupes, Musée du Coeur, will serve as hosts and hostess for the evening, Steampunk favorites Imperial Opa feature uncommon people doing wondrous things, and there’ll be live music, games and, a silent and live auction featuring unique items. The HELL NAW Summer Surf Party brings the tide in in The Masquerade‘s Purgatory with The Mystery Men?, The Clap, Ghost Bikini and more.

District Attorneys

The District Attorneys, The Quaildogs and Tedo Stone play special full band acoustic sets to support the Songs for Kids Foundation in the Atlanta Room at Smith’s Olde Bar. Tonight The Quaildogs will be pulling double duty downstairs and then upstairs to perform a cover of Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U.”  Derryl Rivers Band with Mose Davis bring on blues, jazz and funk at Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s Martinis and IMAX. Tommy Dean Trio honkytonks it at Big Tex.

Saturday, May 12

For just 10 bucks, from 1-11 p.m., enjoy a great line-up of some of ATLRetro’s favorite honkytonk, soul, rockabilly and ragtime acts during Springfest at Twain’s in Decatur including The Mighty Bison, The Stumblers (read our Kool Kat interview with front man Keith Martin here), Caroline and the Ramblers, Abby Wren and What It Is, Heather Luttrell, Grinder Nova, Uncle Daddy and the Kissing Cousins, Villain Family, The Soulphonics, featuring last week’s Kool Kat Ruby Velle and Blair Crimmins & the Hookers. Atlanta’s coolest musical family Spooky Partridge rocks Shorty’s in Tucker. And just in time for Mother’s Day, Spooky Partridge’s Katy Graves, the hottest rock n roll mama in Retro Atlanta, is this week’s Kool Kat. It’s a Mother of an Atlanta Rollergirls Saturday at the Yaarab Shrine Center with the Atlanta Rumble Bs going up against The Mad Rollin’ Dolls’ Team Unicorn from Madison, Wisconsin at 5 p.m. and then Atlanta’s All-Star Dirty South Derby Girls battlin’ The Dairy Dolls at 7:30 p.m. The District Attorneys come back to Smith’s Olde Bar to cover David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust.” Read our Kool Kat interview with lead vocalist Drew Beskin here. Jimmy Hall of Wet Willie headlines Riverfest 2012 with Drippin’ Wet and special guest Diane Durrett. Also performing are The New David Decker Band, Jeff Robinson and the Barry Richman Band and more. Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion comes to the Fabulous Fox Theatre. And as usual, DJ Romeo Cologne transforms the sensationally seedy Clermont Lounge into a ’70s disco/funk inferno late into the wee hours. Cineprov mocks it doggie style with the Lassie classic, THE PAINTED HILLS (1951), at Relapse Theatre.

Sunday, May 13

Tony Bryant brings on the blues at Fat Matt’s, and Uncle Sugar blues it down at Northside Tavern. Todd Prusin plays dunch at 1 p.m. at The Earl.

Jake La Botz and Kylie Brown in the Alliance Theatre’s world premiere production of GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY. Photo by Greg Mooney.

Ongoing

The long-awaited Stephen King-John Mellencamp collaboration GHOST BROTHERS OF DARKLAND COUNTY plays at the Alliance Theatre. Through May 13. Catch our exclusive interview with Jake La Botz who raises hell as The Shape here and our Retro Review by Contributing Music Editor James Kelly here. 

AKA BLONDIE plays at the Plaza Theatre for a one-week run. An intimate view of the most famous exotic dancer in the Southeastern U.S., the new documentary provides a fresh, provocative look at the complex, morally ambiguous world of the 55-year -old Atlanta icon. Anita Rae Strange, also known as Blondie, recounts her childhood with an absent father, her brief stint as a prostitute, the loss of loved ones to AIDS and the infamous Clermont Lounge. Through May 10.

If you know of a cool happening coming up soon, send suggestions to ATLRetro@gmail.com.