ATLRetro

Monday, Oct. 1

Cinefest at GSU starts a week run of the Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi/action/ horror classic PREDATOR (1987). Northside Tavern hosts its weekly Blues Jam featuring Lola Gulley. Head over to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack for a hearty serving of BBQ and Dry White Toast.

Tuesday, Oct. 2

Dinosaur Jr brings back grunge at Variety Playhouse. Recent Kool Kat Calu Cordeira mixes tiki libations at Mai Tai Tahitian Tuesday starting at 9 p.m. at the Dark Horse Tavern tonight. Grab your horn and head to Twain’s in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 p.m. J.T. Speed 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, Oct. 3

We can’t promise a Once in A Lifttime performance, but it’s still mighty cool to see David Byrne live. This time he’s with St. Vincent at Cobb Energy Centre. The Mystery Men? surf down to the Star Bar with Moon Base, Hope to Death and Hello Cobra. Hoop Essence, featuring Kool Kat Rebecca DeShon, starts a Hula Hooping for Everyone class at 6-7 p.m. at CORE Dance Studios. Get ready to rumba, cha-cha and jitterbug at the weekly Swing Night at Graveyard Tavern. The Hollidays make it a soulful night 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 Oct. 4

Atlanta Burlesque & Cabaret Club holds its monthly meeting at Elliott Street Pub. Plaza Theatre screens 1987 fairy tale satire cult classic THE PRINCESS BRIDE. Filmmaker David Markey (1991: THE YEAR PUNK BROKE) goes hardcore, mixing in-depth interviews, rare live footage and historical perspective in CIRCLE JERKS: MY LIFE AS A JERK (2012) the story of one of the most influential bands in the American underground, at Cinefest at GSU. Eat, drink and play a classic game with an adult spin every Thursday night as Mon Cherie presents Mad Lib-Ations, Atlanta’s newest Retro weekly pastime, starting at 7 p.m. at the Corner Tavern in Little 5 Points. The fun-filled night includes games and prizes from some of the city’s most fun Retro retailers, Psychobilly Freakout and punk faves spun by The Right Reverend Andy and a raffle. 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. The Breeze Kings and Chickenshack bring on the blues respectively at Northside Tavern and Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Culliton, Dean & Bass play Bluegrass Tuesday at Red Light Cafe. Mike Z Trio honkytonks it up at Big Tex.

Friday, Oct. 5

Get in the Halloween spirit as Plaza Theatre‘s Universal Monster Month kicks off with the Boris Karloff classic THE MUMMY(1932), playing all weekend. Meanwhile over at Cinefest, in DRILLER KILLER (1979), an artist slowly goes insane and takes to the streets of New York after dark to randomly kill derelicts with a power drill.The Lizardmen pay respect to The Who, The Pinups cover David Bowie’s PINUP and Cherry Bomb are all Joan Jett all the time at Star Bar. Abbey Road Live! brings back The Beatles at Terminal West at King Plow. Swamp Funk Quartet bring on the blues, down and dirty at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. on the big screen at GSU’s Cinefest at 9 p.m.The Plaza. LOLA blues it down at Northside Tavern. Frank Barham plays Big Tex. The Bonaventure Quartet throw a Swing Dance Night under the dinosaurs at Fernbank Museum of Natural History Martinis & IMAX.

Saturday, Oct. 6

Our top pick for Saturday is a truly scrumptious tribute to one of our favorite Retro treats. Willy Wonka would appreciate the World of Pure Imagination that is the Sugar Dolls‘ annual Day of the Cupcake celebration. The confectionary-inspired festivities begin at Sacred Heart Tattoo ( Little Five Points location) from noon to 7 p.m. with $50 cupcake tattoos, sugar skull decorating & contest, free cupcakes, games and live performances. Then at 7 p.m., the fun moves to  The Five Spot where a $15 cover ($10 with cupcake tattoo) gets you $5 Lucid absinthe, free masks for early arrivals and music by bands Christ, Lord, Toy Devils and Till Someone Loses an Eye featuring Aileen Loy, as well as special guests The Thimblerig Circus, The Chameleon Queen, Clay Crocker of Prentice Suspensions and aerial performances by: lori Vanvoorhis, Mara Chanin, Aileen Loy and Alexis Gorsuch. And of course, the Cupcake Eating Contest will be back as well! There’s also an art auction, and eccentric garb is encouraged but not required! The entire day and evening supports Aid Atlanta.

Of course, every Saturday night in Atlanta has too many choices. Dress in your best wicked 1850’s funeral attire, you thieves, gamblers, and loose women, and walk in a Jazz Funeral for Snake Nation, a rowdy red light district that was cruelly and deliberately burned down. Today that district is Castleberry Hill. Come early to build a saloon lantern in free workshops for a 40 Saloon Salute! Meet at 217 Walker Street at 7:30 p.m. and step off at 8 p.m. Also on Saturday, Journey will help you not stop believin’ at Lakewood Amphitheatre. The Matron of the Atlanta Burlesque and Cabaret Society Talloolah Love teaches the Burlesque in the Bedroom workshop to channel the art of the peel, the roots of burlesque and how to challenge society’s cookie cutter norms of beauty and art at Liberator Factory Store. Or go Really Retro and show off your steampunk at the Artifice Club meeting at Cypress Street Pint and Plate. Veteran Atlanta singer/songwriter Michelle Malone plays Eddie’s Attic with Deja Vu. Tommy Dean Trio plays Big Tex. Jason Patros Trio is at Fat Matt’s.  Matt Wauchope & The Martans rock Northside Tavern. And as usual, DJ Romeo Cologne transforms the sensationally seedy Clermont Lounge into a ’70s disco/funk inferno late into the wee hours.

Sunday, Oct. 7

Historic Oakland Cemetery hosts its annual Sunday in the Park celebration from noon to 6 p.m. with free tours, open mausoleums, live entertainment, food, vendors and a Victorian costume contest. The Brit gals with the biggest hair,  Bananarama, are really singin’ something at Hard Rock Cafe in support of Pinktober breast cancer research fundraising. Pat Metheny Unity Band jazzes up Variety Playhouse. Fat Back Deluxe rock the blues at Fat Matt’s, and Uncle Sugar blues it down at Northside Tavern.  Os Ossos brings a Brazilian jazz sound to dunch at 1 p.m. at The Earl.

Ongoing

DRACULA THE ROCK OPERA merges JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR with Grand Guignol in a production that rocks hard but is surprisingly true to Bram Stoker‘s original novel. Not to be missed, this DRACULA has the energy, musical, acting and staging quality of an off-Broadway find but yet is completely homegrown, conceived by Rob Thompson (Dracula) of the Little Five Points Rock Star Orchestra and directed by Del Hamilton and Justin Welborn. Its cast and creative team also include Naomi Lavender (Mina), Chris Love (Jonathan Harker), Jeff Langston of AM Gold (Van Helsing) and Shane Morton of the Silver Scream Spookshow (Quincey). Watch for a full Retro Review soon. Through Oct. 14.

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