TA Live! Ticket Alternative Blog

African Festival of the Arts in Chicago to Feature Dancing, Music and More

Chicago's African Festival of the Arts is set to take place this September 4-7, and it's their 20th Anniversary Celebration. The event will feature dancing, fashion and music all at the lovely Washington Park. And with the likes of Ohio Players and Booker T. Jones, this year's event is sure to pack a huge crowd. Get your tickets now at Ticket Alternative.

The Angry Samoans and Destroyer 666 to Play Club Hell in Providence, RI

We've got some raucous gigs coming up for Club Hell. The Angry Samoans will be joined by Dirty Tactics and The Brunt of It on September 10 (tickets are available at Ticket Alternative) and on September 29, the venue will welcome Destroyer 666 (pictured above) with support from Vital Remains, Baphomets Horns and Revocation (get your tickets at Ticket Alternative). Both gigs will be loud, angry and awesome.

Polvo, Zap Mama, David Bazan and Black Heart Procession Coming to Black Cat

We've got a handful of awesome shows coming up for DC's Black Cat. First up is Polvo, the Chapel Hill indie rockers from yesteryear who only just reunited last year. Get your tickets for their September 26 show now at Ticket Alternative.

Afro-Euro fusion goddesses Zap Mama are coming to Black Cat on October 15. Watch their colorful video for "Bandy Bandy" (featuring Erykah Badu) above to check their vibe if you're unfamiliar. Tickets are on sale for their show now at Ticket Alternative.

Pedro The Lion man David Bazan plays on October 16. Get your tickets now at Ticket Alternative.

Lastly, San Diego indie rockers The Black Heart Procession are coming on October 29. Tickets are on sale now at Ticket Alternative.

Music Man: 30 Million Nickelback Fans Can't Be Wrong (Or Can They?) Pt. 1.

Our sister site just put up a very popular post from a regular columnist known as the "Music Man." Check it out here.

CD Review: Yim Yames -- Tribute To

Yim Yames

Tribute To

ATO Records

By Scott Roberts

A successful tribute record should accomplish at least two things: one, the chosen source material should reveal some historical insight into the musical influences of the particular artist performing the songs, and two, the new performances should pique the curiosity of the listener enough to explore the original artist’s work. The recently released Tribute To, a six-song EP of George Harrison songs interpreted by My Morning Jacket’s Jim James (using an inexplicably slight — possibly Swedish influenced? — variation of his given name) equally and effortlessly achieves both of these goals.

CD Review: School of Seven Bells -- Alpinisms; Playing Rock and Roll Hotel September 27

School of Seven Bells

Alpinisms

Vagrant

By Beverly Bryan

School of Seven Bells is a welcome refuge from all of the bland pop coming out now. The airy songs on Alpinisms, released last Octobeer, may melt on the tongue rather than stay with you, but they’re still far more than flavorless background noise. Electronic tribal rhythms support the twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza’s buoyant and breathy vocals as they circle and dip over skeletal melodies. It’s prettier than it is strange, but it’s strange enough to be intriguing.

There’s a lovely, filmic quality to the ethereal harmonies and the shimmering sonic effects encasing them on songs like “Half Asleep” but, fortunately, it’s not all gossamer. Despite the plaintive vocals and jangly guitars, there’s a sparseness and austerity in “White Elephant Coat” that calls up early Joy Division. The rhythms are tough and there’s a bit of experimentalism and post-punk edge in the jump cut songwriting on much of the album. Many of the choral passages blend the delicate and the dissonant. There’s plenty of shadow, but it’s always broken by bursts of light.

There’s a real accomplishment in making an album that takes risks without sounding like an experimental album. School of Seven Bells is too effervescent to be an experiment. There are moments of tremendous tension, but most of the time Alpinisms feels like an escape into a softer world, possibly a parallel universe remake of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Blonde Redhead and Coco Rosie fans are advised to snap it up.

School of Seven Bells plays Rock and Roll Hotel September 27. Tickets are available at Ticket Alternative.

Win Tickets for a Night of Tango, Salsa and Gaucho Exhibition Dancing at "Rhythm and Passion" in San Gabriel, California

Hey California customers! We have a pair of tickets to give away for a spectacular night of dancing. Rhythm and Passion, the October 3 show at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, features amazing performances of salsa, tango and gaucho dancing, sure to excite and amaze. For your chance to win tickets, simply email win@ticketalternative.com with the words "Rhythm and Passion" in the subject. Alternatively, you can buy your tickets at Ticket Alternative.

Who's Bad Pay Tribute to Michael Jackson @ Electric Cowboy in Johnson City, Tenn., September 17

Electric Cowboy is preparing to celebrate the lift of the King of Pop in the best way possible - with a show from Michael Jackson tribute band Who's Bad. The Atlanta-based cover group has been packing the clubs in their hometown and are now spreading the love all over the region. Get your tickets now at Ticket Alternative and get ready to dance the night away.

CANCELED: D12 and Pot Luck @ The R Bar in Denton, TX, September 4

We just got news that the D12 gig at The R Bar in Denton, TX has been canceled until further notice. The event will hopefully just be postponed and rescheduled for another venue. We'll let you know when further details are available.