Antibalas – Goat Farm Arts Center – October 5th

October 1-6, 2012
A recap of the good and bad times I had this week at shows.

My week started off rough and sadly set the tone for the entire week.  Monday, the Basement under Graveyard Tavern hosted the sold out Grimes show and it was one of the few times I left a show disappointed.  The openers, Myths and Elite Gymnastics, were forgettable, the venue was way too packed, Grimes took forever to set-up, and the vibe just wasn’t right for me.  With all of that said I would still see Grimes play again, hopefully she’ll play a more suitable venue next time.

Tuesday, I went to the Earl to catch Atlanta’s own Lyonnais and Reverends.  I like to listen to bands I haven’t heard of before shows but with Reverends having little internet presence I had no idea what to expect.  It won’t be my last time seeing them because I was blown away by their set.  I’ll make sure to post when their next show is.  I walked over to 529 to catch one of my favorite Atlanta bands, Damon Moon & The Whispering Drifters.  Damon Moon pours his heart into every performance but this one was extra intense when he started out the set by dedicating the first song to his Father that recently passed.  I felt the heavy emotion through out and I have so much respect for this band and the music they create.

Thursday, I failed to get to Star Bar in time to catch Sneaky Hand’s set and I was incredibly upset with myself.  However, I did catch solid sets from Gun Party and PLS PLS.  Blaine the Mono, a four piece alt-rock band who traveled from Florida also played.  I was impressed with their lead vocalist’s great range, especially her screams that were on point.

The show I was most excited for this week was Antibalas at the Goat Farm Arts Center on Friday.  It is such a unique venue, which found the bands playing in a huge renovated building.  Georgia Soul Council opened up and brought the funk.  By the time Antibalas graced the stage, everybody was ready to dance and just enjoy the moment.  Ten musicians created a mix of funky jazz and afrobeat sounds that filled the venue all the way up to the high ceiling.

There were many good shows around the city on Saturday night but I decided to spend it at 529.  The Left Field Experiment is a collection of talented DJ’s, emcees, and musicians that come together monthly to offer a night full of smooth beats and dance-worthy sounds.  Saturday’s show featured Deku, Panther God, Dabrye, and Shigeto.  Deku won me over with his remix of Cloudeater’s “Hardly Wait” and I knew my night was going to be fun from then on.

Overall, I had a pretty good week witnessing a diverse collection of musicians from around the world. Not every show is going to be a winner but it’s always good to have an open mind when experiencing music. I might make this a weekly post where I recap which shows I went to.  I’ll still do formal show reviews but this will allow me to share my experiences even more.