ATLRetro

By Jordan Barbeau
Contributing Blogger

Monday, November 21

Joe Gransden and his 16 piece orchestra bring big band jazz back to Cafe 290, along with special guest, Nashville-based jazz vocal great Annie Sellick. 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. To break up the Monday monotony, head over to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack for dinner and a show, as local blues/jazz band Dry White Toast performs at 8 PM.

Tuesday, November 22

Monstrous metal heavy hitters GWAR ravage Masquerade, along with Every Time I Die and Warbeast. Grab your horn and head to Twain’s in Decatur for a Joe Gransden jazz jam session starting at 9 p.m. Crosstown All Stars play 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.

Wednesday, November 23

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 presented by Godiva Vodka, at Pub 71 in Brookhaven.

Thursday, November 24

ATLRetro wishes you a Happy Thanksgiving! After stuffing yourself with turkey and Aunt Betty’s casserole, consider heading to Lenox Square for a longtime Atlanta tradition, the 64th Annual Lighting of the Macy’s Great Tree, officially welcoming the Christmas season. Originally placed on top of Rich’s department store in downtown Atlanta in 1948, after that store closed and Federated consolidated most of their holdings under the Macy’s brand name, it was renamed and moved to the top of the Macy’s at Lenox. Thousands of Atlantans still show up to watch it live with contemporary music performers such as Scotty McCreary, Mary Mary, and SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE winner Melanie Moore; a holiday gospel choir, Santa Claus and a spectacular fireworks display, Or stay home and watch from your couch on WSB-TV, Channel 2. Or relax after overeating with a tropical cocktail at vintage tiki bar Trader Vic’s where Tongo Hiti, featuring Big Mike Geier, play Retro-Polynesian luxurious live lounge sounds, as well as trippy takes on iconic pop songs, every Thursday night . The Breeze Kings and The Chickenshack bring on the blues respectively at Northside Tavern and Fat Matt’s Rib Shack.

Big Mike Geier. Photo courtesy of Kingsized Productions.

Friday, November 25

Swing-dance to Kingsized swings Fernbank Museum of Natural History’s Martinis and IMAX back to the big band era. While lounging around under the dinosaurs, check out the Winter Wonderland exhibition of evergreen trees decorated in holiday traditions of countries around the world. The Whigs Plymouth Rock Show comes to Variety Playhouse, headlined by The Whigs, an indie band that melds ’90s grunge, ’60s pop and southern rock with a distinct Cobain-Westerberg vein. Also performing are Ponderosa, who brings more southern rock into the mix, and Jonny Corndawg, a motorcycle-riding, school-dropout country singer whose sound reminds of obscure ’70s gay country.

Hot Rod Walt and the Psycho-Devilles. Photo courtesy of Hot Rod Walt.

Saturday, November 26

Dad’s Garage offers a new take on a Christmas classic with INVASION: CHRISTMAS CAROL, opening today and running through Dec. 23. This nutty interpretation of the Dickens’ favorite throws all the conventional aspects of the story out the window, replacing them with a delicious improv flavor as different spirits visit every evening, to the surprise of even the cast! Former Kool Kat (click here for the interview) Hot Rod Walt and the Psycho-Devilles and Whiskey Belt burn up the Dixie Tavern with their rockabilly honkytonk sounds. For those itching to get on Santa’s naughty list, head over to the Star Bar to kick off the Christmas season like a true metalhead with Death of Kings,
Lazer/Wulf, Sons of Tonatiuh and Iron Whip. And as usual, DJ Romeo Cologne transforms the sensationally seedy Clermont Lounge into a ’70s disco/funk inferno late into the wee hours.

Sunday, November 27

Spanky and the Love Handles serve up blues “dunch” between 1-4 PM at The Earl. Tony Bryant brings on the blues at Fat Matt’s. Even more blues come in the form of Uncle Sugar at Northside Tavern.

Bumble menaces Rudolph, Hermey and Yukon in The Center for Puppetry Arts' live production of RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER. Photo credit: Clay Walker.

Ongoing

The Center for Puppetry Arts’ official stage adaptation of the Rankin-Bass misfit Christmas TV classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is back for a second year with Rudolph, Clarisse, Hermie. Yukon and all the beloved characters. Read our interview with adapter/director and Center Artistic Director Jon Ludwig here. Through Dec. 31.

Explore one of America’s most iconic theaters in AIN’T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING: HOW THE APOLLO THEATER SHAPED AMERICAN ENTERTAINMENT, a special exhibition at the Atlanta History Center . 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. Through March 4, 2012.

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.

PICASSO TO WARHOL, a special art exhibition at the High Museum of Art, features over 100 works of art from 14 of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Through Apr. 29, 2012.

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