ATLRetro

Monday Oct. 10

We’re usually skeptical of ’80s cover bands, but we’re mighty tempted to hear about the chance to enjoy a free 90-minute concert of favorite ’80s hits as Denim Arcade auditions at 37 Main in Buford at 9:20 p.m. To find out why, read our Kool Kat interview from last June 8 with lead singer Becky Cormier Finch (also of Three Quarter Ale) here. From 3 PM 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.

Tuesday Oct. 11

Bruce Campbell battles demon hordes in cult classic EVIL DEAD 2 (1987), the best of Sam Raimi‘s EVIL DEAD series, in Splatter Cinema‘s Halloween-month offering at Plaza Theatre (Trailer here). Read our Retro Review by Philip Nutman here.  Grab your horn and head to Twain’s in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 PM. JT Speed is at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack. Catch Tues. Retro in the Metro nights at Midtown’s Deadwood Saloon, featuring video mixes of ’80s, ’90s and 2Ks hits.

The Stumblers.

Wednesday Oct. 12

Cyndi Lauper and Dr. John take you back to the true colors of the ’80s at Cobb Energy Centre. It’s a honky tonk/rockabilly Wednesday at Star Bar with The Serenaders, The Stumblers and Mississippi’s Horse Opera. If you missed our Kool Kat feature on Keith Martin of The Stumblers, catch it here. Get ready to rumba, cha-cha and jitterbug at the weekly Swing Night at Graveyard Tavern. Frankie’s Blues Mission plays 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 MetroWednesdays presented by Godiva Vodka, at Pub 71 in Brookhaven.

Thursday October 13

NATURE’S BELOVED SON: REDISCOVERING JOHN MUIR’S BOTANICAL LEGACY, a new exhibition at the Atlanta History Center, starts today and runs through Decd. 4. The display traces the life and accomplishments of America’s most famous and influential naturalist – the father of the National Park system and cofounder of the Sierra Club. The Breeze Kings and Frankie’s Blues Mission bring on the blues respectively at Northside Tavern and Fat Matt’s Rib Shack.Lauren St. James & the Dead Westerns play Bluegrass Thursday at Red Light Cafe.

Duran Duran from their debut LP.

Friday Oct. 14

We can’t tell you if ’80s synth-pop idols Duran Duran will leave you with “Careless Memories” at their concert tonight at Chastain Park Amphitheatre, but we can only hope Simon Le Bon and Co. will be go really retro and romance you with our favorite songs off their first album. Innovative post-punk musician Bob Mould (Husker Du, Sugar) never goes out of style. He plays an acoustic gig tonight at Eddie’s Attic in support of his new autobiography, SEE A LITTLE LIGHT: THE TRAIL OF RAGE AND MELODY  and his latest ANTI-Records release, LIFE AND TIMES. The Electromatics swing into Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s Martinis and IMAX. The Casanovas play Fat Matt’s, and Heather Luttrell brings her eclectic blues/Americana sound to Northside Tavern. Meanwhile CineProv! pokes fun at big-budget over-the-top BURLESQUE (2010) at Relapse Theatre. Yes, it’s retro if it’s about burlesque and stars Cher!

Or if you’re more in a shopping mood,  the Factory Frocks Vintage Clothing Show opens tonight from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and features vintage fall fashions for mena and women from the ’30s to the ’80s at the Antique Factory  vintage showroom in Chamblee. The show promises all sizes and prices, as well as accessories from jewelry to handbags, and continues Sat. 11-5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m.

Saturday Oct. 15

Magnapop, in their original line-up, is on the top of the marquee for tonight’s all-star fundraiser for to save Criminal Records. But ATLRetro is always excited when now Chicago-based Kelly Hogan, former lead singer of The Jody Grind and cocktail chanteuse extraordinaire, returns to her Atlanta roots. If she sings at least one duet with Big Mike Geier, we’ll frankly be in heaven. Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers also is slated to play with fellow DBT members Brad Morgan and Jay Gonzalez, and we hear there may be more additions.

The Silver Scream Spookshow‘s screening of a rare 35mm print of THE HAUNTED PALACE (1963), is an early Halloween treat today at The Plaza Theatre. A pinch of Poe, a lot of Lovecraft, and stir Vincent Price and Lon Chaney Jr. into the cauldron of this AIP cult classic, and you’ve got a witches brew sure to inspire Professor Morte and his ghoulie gang to new heights of horrific humor. If you’re not familiar with this fun and frightening flick,check out Philip Nutman’s Retro Review here. HAUNTED PALACE isn’t the only horror classic onscreen locally today. GSU’s Cinefest presents a rare 35mm print of Lucio Fulci‘s HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY(1981), about a deranged killer who lives in a basement and harvests body parts, at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Want a more serious dose of cinema? The High Museum of Art‘s “Modern Masters of Film: From Edison to Scorsese” series features 11 archival 35mm prints from the collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), New York, and launches today with THE STORY OF TEMPLE DRAKE (1933) at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Directed by Steven Roberts and based on William Faulkner‘s controversial 1931 novel about a society girl violated by a gangster, this risque Paramount Pictures adaptation triggered church boycotts and stricter enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code.

Mon Cherie Presents Cirque Debau’Cherie – The Sexiest Show on Earth at The Chamber at Masquerade – a revival of Atlanta’s most notorious ’90s nightclub. The exotic evening blends a traditional circus/carnie show with a fetish aesthetic, including drag skits, belly dancers (featuring Stormy Knight), trapeze artists, a tricycle clown piercing pull, a jugglin’ stilt walker, hula-hoop dance by HoopEssence, and the Wild Kitty Kats Show (Trainer none other than the Chameleon Queen). Tarot reading, a freak side show, big top raffle and much, much more hosted by the marvelous Miss Mason. Doors are at 9 p.m. but expect the thrills and titillation to last to the wee hours of the next morning.

EL DIA DE LOS PERROS takes Mexico’s DAY OF THE DEAD and gives it literally to the dogs to raise money for three dog rescue charities. Organized by Ink for Paws, a nonprofit group founded by Rockabilly Luau organizers Chris Mattox and Jessica Vega, the free public festival features Mexican-themed games, food, craft vendors, a costume contest (for both humans and dogs), kids craft and activity area, and a mariachi band from noon to 5 p.m. at 559 Flat Shoals Ave. (30316) in East Atlanta.

The 4th annual Jazzoo serves up cocktails and jazz at Zoo Atlanta, as well as a chance to sample 30 Atlanta restaurants and rock to ’70s/’80s cover band Yacht Rock. Apparently creative attire is encouraged for the $100 ticket event, but ATLRetro thinks Willie B would never have shown up in flip-flops. Now a zoot suit and spats or a vivacious vintage cocktail dress will make you really stand out in Atlanta. VIP tickets at $150 each also get you a chance to hear the Kayla Taylor Jazz Trio play a VIP pre-reception and enjoy a private VIP area with bar, cupcakes and complimentary massages. All proceeds benefit Zoo Atlanta.

Veteran blues man Ike Stubblefield tickles the ivories at 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. 16

Something zombie this way comes, or rather it’s the official day for Zombie Walk Atlanta, commencing at WonderRoot at 3 p.m. and creeping along the usual route which includes Oakland Cemetery and then heads downtown. Zombies are encouraged to do their own make-up and costuming and to behave responsibly (no splattering of blood on the Victorian headstones please or munching on mundanes who don’t have a sense of humor). Get there at noon if you do want help with your make-up and be a cool ghoul and donate a little to support the cost of this event which organizer Gorehound Productions‘ Luke Godfrey (Splatter Cinema, Chambers of Horror) funds out of his own pockets, which ain’t deep. The walk usually takes about two hours and there’s an after-party at Diesel Filling Station to catch the first episode of the second season of THE WALKING DEAD.  Os Ossos serves up Brazilian jazz at blues “dunch” between 1-4 PM at The Earl. Fatback Deluxe brings on the blues at Fat Matt’s.

Ongoing

It’s the last week to see Dad’s Garage‘s  ZONKERS – An Eighties Tit Comedy.Yup the zany guys and gals at Dad’s celebrate a beautiful and largely forgotten movie genre – films about girls with big boobs that are out of the league of the nerdy boys that crave them. At a summer camp! Plus zero gravity scenes set in outer space and a Boob Bot. Through October 14 on the Main Stage.

The Supremes at the Apollo Theater. Photo courtesy of The Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. Photo by Kwame Brathwaite.

Explore one of America’s most iconic theaters in AIN’T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING: HOW THE APOLLO THEATER SHAPED AMERICAN ENTERTAINMENT, a new special exhibition opening today at the Atlanta History Center and running through March 4, 2012. Presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, in collaboration with the Apollo Theater Foundation, the display includes historic and contemporary costumes, playbills, music scores, graphic images and recorded music.

LIFE AND DEATH IN THE PYRAMID AGE: THE EMORY OLD KINGDOM MUMMY features the first public viewing in 50 years of the oldest Egyptian mummy in the Western Hemisphere, acquired from excavations at Abydos by Emory Theology Professor William A. Shelton in 1920. Watch for a Really Retro piece on this fascinating exhibit at Emory’s Michael C. Carlos Museum soon. Through Dec. 11, 2011.
If you know of a cool happening coming up soon, send suggestions to ATLRetro@gmail.com.