ATLRetro

Friday, August 19

The F'n Heartbreaks. L-R: Brook Bolen, Stephanie Hudson, Carrie Manuel. Photo courtesy of the F'n Heartbreaks.

All-female Elvis tribute band The Pelvis Breastlies, awesome Atlanta garage-gal-trio The F’n Heartbreaks, and surf band extraordinaire The Mystery Man? rock the Highland Inn Ballroom tonight old style with a special El Dia De Elvis tribute gig. It’s also billed as a Day of the Dead Costume party, so let your creativity flow into your clothes. If you missed last week’s Kool Kitten interview with Brook Bolen of The F’n Heartbreaks, read it here.

The Last Waltz Ensemble, a Dylan and The Band tribute band, Moontower, and a host of Atlanta’s finest local musicians honor one of Atlanta’s finest blues musicians a two-day tribute Blue Waltz: A Benefit for the Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Disorder starting tonight at Smith’s Olde Bar. Tonight’s guests include Jon Liebman, Ike Stubblefield, Rev. Jeff Mosier, David Blackmon, Mudcat, Joe McGuinness, Rod Hamdallah, Nelson Nolen, Aaron Trubic, Greg Baba and Greg Hester. To find out more about Costello’s impact on Atlanta’s music scene, be sure to read our tributes by Dr. Paul Linden (Big Al and the Heavyweights), Jon Liebman (Electromatics) and Rod Hamdallah (Facebook page).

We’re not sure if it’s really Retro but the age-18+-only Mon Cherie‘s School Daze: Naughty Girls & Nuns with Bad Habits at Masquerade is produced by Rockabilly Lounge/Va-Va-Voom burlesque shows mistress Mon Cherie and pays homage to a tried and true tradition of mixing Catholic school days with naughty fantasy. Soundtrack is alt-dance with go-go dancers and other treats including cupcakes by the scrumptious Sugar Dolls.

Soulphonics & Ruby Velle make for a soulful R&B night at Vinyl. The Hot Rod Walt Trio heads south to The Groove in Locust Grove. Catch an IMAX movie and try out your salsa moves with Salsambo Dance Studio at Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s Martinis and IMAX. J.T. Speed brings the rockin’ blues to Fat Matt’s.

Saturday August 20

Catch up with your psychobilly and honky tonk kinfolk, listen to great bands, dine on fine Southern BBQ and drink ice-cold beer at the Hellbilly Family Reunion end of summer super shindig at Elliott Street Deli & Pub. OOh-la-la, the Righteous Rev. Andy of Garage 71 (hot-rod-inspired Internet radio) will be hosting the 1st annualMiss Hellbilly swimsuit contest, and performers include Uncle Daddy and the Kissin’ Cousins, BareKnuckle Betties (read our Kool Kat interview with lead vocalistJulea Thomerson here), Hoop Essence, Sinder and Incendia fire entertainment and burlesque troupe Minette Magnifique (whose Baroness VonSchmalhausen and Kellyn Willey are Kool Kats). There’ll also be fun opportunities to support charities such as pink strawberry lemonade and sweet tea for Cathy’s Help (breast cancer), homemade mini-pies and cobblers served by the sexy Pinups for Soldiers, and shooting and kissin’ cousin booths for Madison Arf (animal rescue).

The Last Waltz Ensemble. Photo courtesy of The Last Waltz Ensemble.

Two-day tribute Blue Waltz: A Benefit for the Sean Costello Memorial Fund for Bipolar Disorder continues at Smith’s Olde Bar with Last Waltz Ensemble headlining, opening set by Turtle Folk, and a host of guest musicians including Jon Liebman, Ike Stubblefield, Richie Jones (Donna Hopkins Band), Preston Holcomb (The Grapes), Daniel Hutchens (Bloodkin), Charlie Wooten (Zydefunk), Will & Lee Haraway (The Sundogs), Lee Schwartz (Outformation), Justin Brogden, Randy Chapman, Skye Paige, Jessica Sheridan and more.

Gareth Asher

Gareth Asher plays two soulful Birthday bash shows at Eddie’s Attic at 7 and 1o p.m. His influences range from Otis Redding to Jackson Browne, Don Henley and The Eagles. Blues/rock/and all their own The Booze plays 529 Club with The Accidents and Ignitor. Rocakbilly/honky tonk/garage Sonoramic Commando plays Highland Inn Ballroom with garage-rock Superpill and country/classic rock Cute Boots. Psycho-Devilles rockabilly it up at Sweetwater Brewing Co. Mudcat plays Northside Tavern.  And of course, DJ Romeo Cologne transforms the sensationally seedy Clermont Lounge into a ’70s disco/funk inferno late into the wee hours.

Sunday August 21

Today is your last chance to catch MODERN BY DESIGN at the High, which celebrates three key moments in modern design and also the Museum of Modern Art, New York‘s (MOMA) collection history. The works on loan from MOMA cover “Machine Art” (1934), “Good Design” (1950-55) and “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape” (1972), with the latter addressing modernism in the context of 1960s and ’70s counterculture.

Os Ossos plays blues “dunch” between 1 and 4 PM at The Earl. Tony Bryant reps four generations of Georgia blues at Fat Matt’s. All right, ramblers, The Masquerade is resurrecting its former incarnation as Excelsior Theatre with a screening of RESERVOIR DOGS. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., cover is a bargain $3, and arrive before 7PM to receive FREE BEER & A BAG OF POPCORN!!!! Tableside theatre seating, Full bar, and popcorn!

Ongoing

RADCLIFFE BAILEY: MEMORY AS MEDICINE, the most comprehensive exhibition of the Atlanta artist’s works to date, runs through Sept. 11 at the High Museum of Art. Read more about the artist and this powerful exhibition in this Kool Kat.

JOHN MARIN’S WATERCOLORS: A MEDIUM FOR MODERNISM, a companion exhibit also at the High this summer through Sept. 11, surveys the work of the man named America’s number one artist in a 1948 LOOK magazine survey. While his name is not a household one today, this exhibition reminds us of his important place in the modernist movement and why watercolors became such a powerful instrument for avante-garde art in the hands of him and other artists in the Stieglitz Circle,including Georgia O’Keefe.

The Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA)‘s current exhibit WaterDream: The Evolution of Bathroom Design, runs through Sept. 24 in the dynamic new Midtown space. Displays take visitors through a four-part journey into the bathroom from the birth of minimalist aesthetics in 20th century design to current concepts.

Get a rare chance to view original manuscript pages from the  last four chapters of ATLANTA’S BOOK: THE LOST GONE WITH THE WIND MANUSCRIPTat the Atlanta History Center. The exhibit runs through Sept. 5 and is part of a series of activities celebrating the 75th anniversary of the publication of the international bestseller and also includes foreign and first edition copies, the desk Margaret Mitchellused while writing it and select images.

Tune back in on Monday for This Week in Retro Atlanta. If you know of a cool happening that we’ve missed, send suggestions to ATLRetro@gmail.com.